UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
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Freeport-McMoRan Inc. | ||||
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Notice of | ||||
2015 Annual Meeting | ||||
of Stockholders and | ||||
Proxy Statement |
LETTER TO STOCKHOLDERS FROM OUR LEAD INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
Dear Fellow Stockholders,
During the past year, our company achieved strong operating performance, important project development milestones and positive exploration results. We have taken deliberate steps to deliver on our long-term strategy and to deliver profitable growth, while positioning our company financially to effectively respond to the challenging operating environment caused by movements in the commodity markets late in 2014. We have also continued our stockholder outreach regarding corporate governance and executive compensation.
Stockholder Outreach and Engagement. It is of great importance to our entire board of directors to maintain an open dialogue with our institutional investors and other stockholders. As Lead Independent Director, I am pleased to have continued this practice, having met with stockholders representing more than 25% of our outstanding common stock in 2014 to seek feedback on our executive compensation and governance practices. We are committed to fostering our engagement efforts to increase transparency, and to ensure that the diverse perspectives of our stockholders are represented in the boardroom as your board works to deliver long-term value for you.
Board Leadership and Proxy Access. As part of the boards ongoing assessment of our corporate governance framework and in consideration of stockholder input, we have implemented several changes over the last two years. In addition to extending the responsibilities and duties of the Lead Independent Director, we have appointed four new independent directors and created an executive committee of the board comprised entirely of independent directors. One additional governance mechanism that has gained greater prominence in the last year is proxy access. While proxy access proposals have been presented at a small number of companies in recent years, there has been no standard approach. In early 2015, it became clear that a much larger number of companies had received stockholder proposals on the topic. In recognition of developing trends regarding proxy access, the board initiated a process for collecting stockholder feedback on how proxy access could be effectively integrated into our companys corporate governance framework. As a result, the board has committed to adopt in 2016 a proxy access right that will be specifically developed to fit our investor base and circumstances.
Pay for Performance. Meaningful dialogue with our stockholders also contributes to the evaluation and the evolution of our compensation program. In 2014, in response to feedback received during our extensive stockholder engagement efforts, the board conducted a comprehensive restructuring of the executive compensation program. We reduced base salaries of the members of the Office of the Chairman, as well as each members total target direct compensation, and we implemented a largely formula-driven annual incentive program. Over the last year we have had the opportunity to evaluate the success of this new program. We received positive feedback from stockholders regarding these changes and suggestions for modifications to our long-term incentive plan, which our compensation committee plans to address this year. We will continue to seek stockholder perspectives as we evaluate our approach for the future.
Your vote is very important to us. We strongly encourage you to read both our proxy statement and annual report in their entirety, and to vote your shares at your earliest convenience.
On behalf of the board, I would like to express our appreciation for the confidence you place in us through your investment. We look forward to continuing our dialogue in the years to come.
Respectfully yours,
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GERALD J. FORD Lead Independent Director
April 27, 2015 |
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
June 10, 2015
Date: |
Wednesday, June 10, 2015 |
Time: |
10:00 a.m., Eastern Time |
Place: |
Hotel du Pont, 11th and Market Streets, Wilmington, Delaware 19801. You can obtain directions to the Hotel du Pont on the hotels website at www.hoteldupont.com/map-and-directions-en.html. |
Purpose: |
| Elect 16 directors; |
| Approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers; |
| Ratify the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm; |
| Reapprove performance goals under our stock incentive plan; |
| Vote on one stockholder proposal, if presented at the annual meeting; and |
| Transact such other business as may properly come before the annual meeting. |
Record Date: |
Only stockholders of record as of the close of business on April 16, 2015 are entitled to notice of and to attend or vote at the annual meeting. |
Identification: |
If you plan to attend the annual meeting in person, please bring proper identification and, if your shares of our common stock are held in street name, meaning a bank, broker, trustee or other nominee is the stockholder of record of your shares, please bring acceptable proof of ownership, which is either an account statement or a letter from your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee confirming that you beneficially owned shares of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. common stock on the record date. |
Proxy Voting: |
Your vote is very important. Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting in person, please promptly submit your proxy and voting instructions via the internet or sign, date and return a proxy card. Your cooperation is appreciated. |
By Order of the Board of Directors.
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DOUGLAS N. CURRAULT II Secretary
April 27, 2015 |
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON JUNE 10, 2015.
This proxy statement and the 2014 annual report are available at
www.eproxyaccess.com/fcx2015
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Corporate Governance Guidelines; Principles of Business Conduct |
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Board and Committee Independence; Audit Committee Financial Experts |
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Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement i
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A-1 |
ii Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement
This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this proxy statement. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider, and you should read the entire proxy statement carefully before voting. For more complete information regarding our 2014 performance, please review our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The 2014 annual report to stockholders, including financial statements, is being made available to stockholders together with these proxy materials on or about April 27, 2015.
2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
Time and Date: |
10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, Wednesday, June 10, 2015 |
Place: |
Hotel du Pont, 11th and Market Streets, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 |
Record Date: |
Thursday, April 16, 2015 |
Voting: |
Stockholders as of the record date are entitled to vote. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote for each director position and one vote for each of the other proposals to be voted on. |
2014 Performance Highlights (page 31)
During 2014, we achieved strong operating performance, important project development milestones and positive exploration results despite challenging commodity market conditions that emerged late in the year. We have an optimistic view of our large-scale, geographically diverse natural resource assets and we continue to seek to generate long-term values from our portfolio of assets by continuing our track record of efficient management of our operations and executing development plans to provide future growth and financial returns.
Executive Compensation Highlights (page 30)
In response to the 2013 stockholder vote on executive compensation and stockholder feedback, our compensation committee and its independent compensation consultant worked, with full cooperation from senior management, to design and implement a completely transformed executive compensation program. Highlights of our new executive compensation program implemented in early 2014 include the following:
| Reduced base salaries by 50% for each member of the Office of the Chairman, from $2.5 million to $1.25 million. |
| Reduced total target direct compensation (base salary and performance-based annual and long-term incentives) of each member of the Office of the Chairman by approximately 60% to $7.5 million, of which more than 80% ($6.25 million) is at risk, compared to the three-year average of $19.2 million under our previous program. |
| Implemented a new and more quantitative Annual Incentive Program with significantly reduced payout opportunities based on achievement of multiple metrics that we believe better align with the financial and operational performance targets of the company. |
| Implemented a new Long-Term Incentive Program under which our executive officers receive grants of performance share units that increase alignment with stockholder return with payouts that will vest after a three-year performance period based on our total stockholder return as compared to our peers. |
- | In direct response to stockholder feedback, our compensation committee and its independent consultant are in the process of reviewing our long-term incentive program with the objective of incorporating one or more additional performance metrics for performance periods beginning in 2016. |
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 1
Corporate Governance Highlights (page 6)
Our current corporate governance structure reflects our significant and ongoing commitment to strong and effective governance practices and a willingness to be responsive and accountable to our stockholders. We regularly assess and refine our corporate governance policies and procedures to take into account evolving best practices and to address feedback provided by our stockholders. Consistent with our ongoing assessment of corporate governance best practices and engagement with stockholders, in recent years we have implemented several corporate governance enhancements, including the following:
| Independent directors of the board appointed a lead independent director. |
| Four new independent directors were appointed to the board, adding diverse new perspectives and expertise; 13 of our 16 directors (81.25%) are independent. |
| An executive committee of the board was established, comprised of five independent directors: the lead independent director, as chairman, and the chairman of each of the audit, compensation, nominating and corporate governance, and corporate responsibility committees. |
| The board developed a succession planning process for the chief executive officer and other key senior executives, which is overseen by the fully independent executive committee. |
| Vice chairmen of each of the boards committees were appointed to strengthen board committee leadership. |
Stockholder Engagement (page 4)
We have an extensive stockholder outreach program through which we seek ongoing input from our largest institutional investors and other stockholders regarding our executive compensation and other governance practices, and implement changes based on this input. In 2014, our lead independent director met with stockholders collectively holding over 25% of our outstanding common stock. We value stockholder views and insights and believe that constructive and meaningful dialogue builds informed relationships that promote transparency and accountability. Currently, under the direction of our lead independent director, we are in the midst of meetings with our stockholders as we seek to implement a thoughtful approach to proxy access. We intend to present a proxy access proposal that is designed to reflect the companys specific ownership and governance structures for stockholder approval at our 2016 annual meeting after careful consideration and stockholder engagement.
Agenda and Voting Recommendations
Item | Description | Board
Vote Recommendation |
Page | |||
1 | Election of 16 directors | FOR each nominee | 15 | |||
2 | Advisory vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers | FOR | 58 | |||
3 | Ratification of appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2015 | FOR | 62 | |||
4 | Reapproval of the material terms of the Section 162(m) performance goals under our Amended and Restated 2006 Stock Incentive Plan | FOR | 63 | |||
5 | Stockholder proposal regarding proxy access | AGAINST | 71 |
2 Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement
Director Nominee Highlights (page 16)
Name | Age | Director Since |
Principal Occupation |
Independent | Board Committees | |||||
Richard C. Adkerson |
68 | 2006 | Vice Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Freeport-McMoRan Inc. |
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Robert J. Allison, Jr. |
76 | 2001 | Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Anadarko Petroleum Corporation |
ü | Compensation Corporate Responsibility Executive Nominating and Corporate Governance (Chair) | |||||
Alan R. Buckwalter, III |
68 | 2013 | Retired Chairman JPMorgan Chase Bank, South Region |
ü | Audit | |||||
Robert A. Day |
71 | 1995 | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer W. M. Keck Foundation Chairman Oakmont Corporation |
ü | Audit (Chair) Executive Nominating and Corporate Governance (Vice Chair) | |||||
James C. Flores |
55 | 2013 | Vice Chairman Freeport-McMoRan Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas LLC |
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Gerald J. Ford |
70 | 2000 | Chairman of the Board Hilltop Holdings, Inc. |
Lead Independent Director |
Audit Executive (Chair) Nominating and Corporate Governance | |||||
Thomas A. Fry, III |
70 | 2013 | Retired President National Ocean Industries Association |
ü | Corporate Responsibility (Vice Chair) | |||||
H. Devon Graham, Jr. |
80 | 2000 | President R.E. Smith Interests |
ü | Audit Compensation (Chair) Executive | |||||
Lydia H. Kennard |
60 | 2013 | President and Chief Executive Officer KDG Construction Consulting |
ü | Corporate Responsibility | |||||
Charles C. Krulak |
73 | 2007 | President Birmingham-Southern College Former Commandant United States Marine Corps |
ü | Compensation Corporate Responsibility | |||||
Bobby Lee Lackey |
77 | 1995 | Consultant | ü | Compensation Corporate Responsibility | |||||
Jon C. Madonna |
71 | 2007 | Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer KPMG LLP |
ü | Audit (Vice Chair) | |||||
Dustan E. McCoy |
65 | 2007 | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brunswick Corporation |
ü | Compensation (Vice Chair) | |||||
James R. Moffett |
76 | 1992 | Chairman of the Board Freeport-McMoRan Inc. |
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Stephen H. Siegele |
55 | 2006 | Private Investor | ü | Audit Corporate Responsibility (Chair) Executive | |||||
Frances Fragos Townsend |
53 | 2013 | Executive Vice President of Worldwide Government, Legal and Business Affairs MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc. |
ü | Compensation |
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 3
We have an extensive stockholder outreach program through which we seek ongoing input from our largest institutional investors and other stockholders regarding our executive compensation and other governance practices, and implement changes based on this input. We value stockholder views and insights and believe that constructive and meaningful dialogue builds informed relationships that promote transparency and accountability.
Our lead independent director, Gerald J. Ford, has conducted a series of engagements on behalf of the board since his appointment in 2013, as well as throughout 2014 and in early 2015. His goal is to collect feedback from stockholders on various governance-related topics. After our say-on-pay proposal did not receive majority support in 2013, we used insights gained through engagement with stockholders to develop significant changes to the compensation program. Stockholder views also contributed to the boards efforts to implement several corporate governance initiatives at that time.
Under the direction of Mr. Ford we began conducting outreach with our stockholders as we seek to implement a thoughtful approach to proxy access. We have found that many of our stockholders view proxy access as an important right. We recognize, based on initial discussions with some of our significant stockholders and our review of the voting guidelines of and public commentary by investors, that proxy access is an evolving governance topic, on which our stockholders have a diverse range of views.
Our board is committed to adopting proxy access and believes it requires additional time to develop a proxy access right tailored to our investor base and circumstances. We intend to present a proxy access proposal for stockholder approval at our 2016 annual meeting. For more information, see the section titled Board of Directors Statement in Opposition following the stockholder proposal, beginning on page 72).
Recent Engagements
In March and April 2014, Mr. Ford met with institutional stockholders collectively holding over 25% of our outstanding common stock, and he and the chairman of our compensation committee met with two of the largest proxy advisory firms. These engagements were highly informative.
During the first quarter of 2015, Mr. Ford offered to meet with 15 of our largest institutional stockholders and met with representatives from institutional investors collectively representing over 20% of our outstanding shares.
Engagement Period |
Topics of Discussion | Engagement Outcomes | ||
March April 2014 | Corporate governance changes New executive compensation program Questions from our stockholders |
Stockholder support for our say-on-pay proposal in 2014 increased significantly, which we believe is attributable to open dialogue with stockholders and the significant executive compensation and corporate governance changes implemented
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4 Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement
Engagement Period |
Topics of Discussion | Engagement Outcomes | ||
First Quarter 2015 | Proxy access Board composition and refreshment Succession planning Leadership structure New executive compensation program Business strategy |
We received positive feedback on the new executive compensation program and corporate governance changes we had implemented We received suggestions for further improvements to the executive compensation program and related disclosures, including a recurring suggestion to integrate one or more additional performance metrics in our long-term incentive plan (the current performance metric is relative total stockholder return) We reported all of the feedback and suggestions to the compensation committee and the board of directors for consideration Our compensation committee and its independent consultant are in the process of reviewing our long-term compensation program with the objective of incorporating one or more additional performance metrics for performance periods beginning in 2016 Our board is committed to developing a meaningful proxy access right to be presented to stockholders at our 2016 annual meeting
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Ongoing Dialogue Regarding Social and Environmental Sustainability
In addition to engagement regarding governance and compensation, we have a robust stakeholder communication program addressing corporate social responsibility. As part of this program, we regularly work with our stockholders and other stakeholders via in-person meetings and site visits, teleconferences, inquiries via email and related conferences. Through these engagement and outreach efforts, our corporate sustainable development team and senior personnel address key industry topics, including:
| Health, safety and fatality prevention |
| Environmental management |
| Revenue transparency |
| Human rights |
| Resettlement programs |
| Water resources |
| Community development |
In 2014, our corporate team engaged with over 50 investor organizations, sustainability analyst firms, banking institutions and non-governmental organizations regarding our sustainability programs and performance. In addition, our operational-level teams regularly engage locally with community stakeholders and dozens of development institutions and non-governmental organizations. Our corporate team also works closely with our sales departments to engage both downstream customers and international governmental agencies on sustainability and address specific environmental and public health areas of interest that affect access to markets for our various products within the value chain. We believe that effective stakeholder engagement can help reduce sustainability-related risks and enable us to continue to deliver positive contributions to society.
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 5
Corporate Governance Guidelines; Principles of Business Conduct
Corporate governance is a long-standing priority at our company. We believe effective corporate governance promotes the long-term interests of our stockholders, maintains internal checks and balances, strengthens management accountability, engenders public trust and fosters responsible decision-making and accountability. Our corporate governance guidelines, along with the charters of our principal board committees, provide the framework for the governance of our company and reflect the boards commitment to monitor the effectiveness of policy and decision-making both at the board and management levels.
We are also proud of our commitment to the highest level of ethical and legal conduct in all of our business operations. Our principles of business conduct are a reaffirmation of our commitment to integrity and define the expected behavior of all of our employees and our board. Amendments to or waivers of our principles of business conduct granted to any of our directors or executive officers will be published promptly on our website.
Our corporate governance guidelines and principles of business conduct are available at www.fcx.com under Investor Center Corporate Governance and are available in print to any stockholder who requests a copy.
Succession Planning for Senior Executives
The board is focused on ensuring that the company has a robust emergency and long-term succession plan in place for key senior executive positions. In the event of an unexpected executive departure, the emergency succession plan allows for smooth transfer of responsibilities to an individual who may or may not be permanently tasked with the new role. In the event of a senior executives departure, both internal and external candidates may be considered for permanent appointment to a given role.
The long-term succession plan is intended to develop a pipeline of qualified talent for key roles. The planning process includes a discussion of succession candidates, assessment of relevant skills and planning for professional development where necessary. The companys short and long-term business strategy will be considered when evaluating candidates and their skills. Multiple succession candidates may be identified for an individual role and provided with relevant growth opportunities. Where possible, the board gains insight through direct exposure to internal succession candidates from their presentations to the board, work with individual directors or board committees, and participation in board activities.
The board has tasked the executive committee, which is fully independent, with responsibility of overseeing the succession planning process. Each year, the lead independent director and other members of the executive committee partner with the members of the Office of the Chairman to review the companys succession plan for all key senior executives. Succession planning for the roles of the chairman, chief executive officer of the company and chief executive officer of Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas is overseen by the independent executive committee and is formally discussed at least once annually by the independent directors. In the event that the succession plan is triggered for any of these roles, the full board would participate in the discussion and consideration of any action with a final decision to be made by the independent directors of the board.
6 Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement
We recognize the importance of board refreshment to achieve the right blend of institutional knowledge and fresh perspectives. The composition of our board has changed significantly in recent years. We have added four new independent directors since mid-2013, bringing in diverse professional experience while balancing independence and tenure. Our board currently consists of 16 members, 13 of whom the board has affirmatively determined have no material relationship with the company and are independent within the meaning of our director independence standards, which meet, and in some respects exceed, the independence requirements of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Independent directors comprise 81.25% of our board and the average tenure of our directors is 9.5 years, compared to an average of 9.7 years for all directors at the companies in the S&P 500 index according to Institutional Shareholder Services. We remain committed to an ongoing review of our boards composition to ensure we continue to have the right mix of skills, background and tenure.
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Our board believes that the decision to combine or separate the positions of chairman and chief executive officer is highly dependent on the strengths and personalities of the individuals involved and must take into account current business conditions and the environment in which the company operates. The positions of chairman and chief executive officer have been separate at our company since 2003. While our by-laws and corporate governance guidelines do not require our chairman and chief executive officer positions to be separate, the board believes that having separate positions continues to be the appropriate leadership structure for the company at this time.
Office of the Chairman
Following completion of our acquisition of Plains Exploration & Production Company (Plains Exploration) in 2013, we established the Office of the Chairman, comprised of our top three executives James R. Moffett, Executive Chairman, Richard C. Adkerson, Vice Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and James C. Flores, Vice Chairman of the company and President and Chief Executive Officer of Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas LLC. The members of the Office of the Chairman develop and execute our operational and financial strategy. We recognize that our Office of the Chairman structure is unique; however, in light of the history of our company and the leadership team we currently have in place, our board believes it is the right leadership structure for our company at this time. Messrs. Moffett, Adkerson and Flores are not considered independent directors because each is part of our management team and each receives compensation for services to the company.
Mr. Moffett has over 50 years of experience in the natural resources business and is one of the founders of the company. He has served as chairman of the board since 1992 and was chief executive officer of the company from 1995 to 2003. As executive chairman, Mr. Moffett furthers our business strategy by applying his exceptional talents and experience as an accomplished geologist. He leads our global exploration programs and guides our company strategy.
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 7
Mr. Adkerson has over 40 years of experience in the natural resources business. As vice chairman, president and chief executive officer, he leads our global mining business and is responsible for the executive management of our company. Mr. Adkerson has demonstrated exceptional leadership abilities in developing and executing a financial strategy that has benefited our stockholders, and in building an operational, financial and administrative organization that efficiently supports our business.
Mr. Flores has over 30 years of experience in the energy business. As vice chairman of our board, and president and chief executive officer of our oil and gas business, he leads our oil and gas business. Mr. Flores has had an extensive career in the oil and gas industry, including co-founding a private oil and gas company. He has served in the roles of chief executive officer, president and/or chairman of one private and four public oil and gas exploration and production companies, providing him with vast knowledge and a keen perspective with respect to the issues, trends and strategic and operational opportunities and challenges within the oil and gas industry.
Lead Independent Director
The board recognizes the importance of having a clearly identified independent leader on the board with clearly defined roles and responsibilities. Shortly before our 2013 annual meeting, our independent directors appointed Gerald J. Ford to the newly created position of lead independent director in response to feedback from our stockholders regarding our board leadership structure.
The primary responsibilities of the lead independent director include:
| presiding at all meetings of the board at which the chairman is not present, including executive sessions of the non-management directors; |
| serving as a liaison between the chairman and the non-management directors; |
| approving information sent to the board and agendas for meetings of the board (which includes the authority to add information and agenda items); |
| approving schedules for meetings of the board to assure there is sufficient time for discussion; |
| having the authority to call meetings of the non-management directors; and |
| if requested by significant stockholders, being available for consultation and direct communication. |
In accordance with our corporate governance guidelines, our non-management directors meet in executive session at the end of each regularly scheduled board meeting. The lead independent director presides at each executive session meeting and, following each executive session meeting, serves as a liaison between the non-management directors and the chairman regarding any specific feedback or issues that have been discussed in the executive session meeting.
Since his appointment as lead independent director, Mr. Ford has proposed, and our board has implemented, several governance initiatives, including the following:
| formed a fully independent executive committee comprised of five independent directors: the lead independent director, as chairman, and the chairman of each of the audit, compensation, nominating and corporate governance, and corporate responsibility committees; |
| provided recommendations to the nominating and corporate governance committee on two new directors, adding diverse new perspectives and expertise to the board; |
| provided recommendations to the nominating and corporate governance committee on board committee memberships, including chairman and vice chairman roles; and |
| worked with the chairman of the compensation committee in the implementation of our new executive compensation program and the negotiation of the revised executive employment arrangements. |
Mr. Ford has also directed the boards efforts in conducting extensive outreach with our stockholders on a variety of corporate governance issues, including proxy access, succession planning and board refreshment, as well as executive compensation. For more information on our stockholder engagement efforts, see the section titled Stockholder Engagement beginning on page 4.
8 Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement
In light of perspectives gathered in discussions with stockholders, the board has concluded that the current leadership structure provides an appropriate framework for our directors to provide independent, objective and effective oversight of management. The board periodically reviews the leadership structure and may make such changes in the future as it deems appropriate.
Board and Committee Meeting Attendance
The board held six meetings during 2014. During 2014, each of our directors participated in more than 75% of the total number of meetings of the board and meetings held by each committee of the board on which each director served. Directors are invited but not required to attend annual meetings of our stockholders. Mr. Moffett attended the last annual meeting of stockholders.
The board has five standing committees: an audit committee, a compensation committee, a nominating and corporate governance committee, a corporate responsibility committee and an executive committee, each of which is composed entirely of independent directors. Each committee operates under a written charter adopted by the board. All of the committee charters are available on our website at www.fcx.com under Investor Center Corporate Governance and are available in print upon request. The following table identifies the current committee members.
Name of Director | Audit Committee |
Compensation Committee |
Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee |
Corporate Responsibility Committee |
Executive Committee | |||||
Richard C. Adkerson |
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Robert J. Allison, Jr. |
ü | Chairman | ü | ü | ||||||
Alan R. Buckwalter, III |
ü | |||||||||
Robert A. Day |
Chairman | Vice Chairman | ü | |||||||
James C. Flores |
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Gerald J. Ford |
ü | ü | Chairman | |||||||
Thomas A. Fry, III |
Vice Chairman | |||||||||
H. Devon Graham, Jr. |
ü | Chairman | ü | |||||||
Lydia H. Kennard |
ü | |||||||||
Charles C. Krulak |
ü | ü | ||||||||
Bobby Lee Lackey |
ü | ü | ||||||||
Jon C. Madonna |
Vice Chairman | |||||||||
Dustan E. McCoy |
Vice Chairman | |||||||||
James R. Moffett |
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Stephen H. Siegele |
ü | Chairman | ü | |||||||
Frances Fragos Townsend |
ü |
Audit Committee. The audit committee assists the board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities relating to (1) the effectiveness of the companys internal control over financial reporting; (2) the integrity of the companys financial statements; (3) the companys compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; (4) the qualifications and independence of the companys independent registered public accounting firm; and (5) the performance of the companys independent registered public accounting firm and internal audit firm. For more information on the audit committee, see the section titled Audit Committee Report. The audit committee held four meetings in 2014.
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 9
Compensation Committee. The compensation committee assists the board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities by (1) discharging the boards responsibilities relating to compensation of the companys executive officers, and (2) administering the companys cash-based and equity-based incentive compensation plans. For more information on the compensation committee, see the section titled Corporate Governance Compensation Committee Procedures. The compensation committee held four meetings in 2014.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The nominating and corporate governance committee assists the board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities by (1) identifying and formally considering and recommending to the board candidates to be nominated for election or re-election to the board at each annual meeting of stockholders or as necessary to fill vacancies and newly-created directorships; (2) monitoring the composition of the board and its committees and making formal recommendations to the board on membership of the committees; (3) maintaining the companys corporate governance guidelines and recommending to the board any desirable changes; (4) evaluating the effectiveness of the board, its committees and management; and (5) overseeing the form and amount of director compensation. The nominating and corporate governance committee held two meetings in 2014.
Corporate Responsibility Committee. The corporate responsibility committee assists the board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to the companys (1) environmental policy and implementation programs; (2) human rights policy and practices; (3) safety and health policies and programs; (4) community health programs and related public health and medical matters; (5) community policy and practices, governmental and stakeholder relations, and social investment and sustainable development programs; (6) charitable contributions; and (7) political activity and spending practices. The corporate responsibility committee held three meetings in 2014.
Executive Committee. The executive committee assists the board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities by acting on behalf of the board during periods between meetings of the board in order to enhance the boards ability to respond to time-sensitive matters. The members of the executive committee are the lead independent director, who is chairman of the executive committee, and the chairmen of the audit committee, compensation committee, nominating and corporate governance committee, and corporate responsibility committee, who are all independent directors. The executive committee has all of the powers of the board except as limited by law.
Board and Committee Independence; Audit Committee Financial Experts
In accordance with the rules of the NYSE, the board must make an affirmative determination that a director has no material relationship with the company and management. To assist the board in making determinations of independence, the nominating and corporate governance committee established director independence standards, which meet, and in some respects exceed, the independence requirements of the NYSE. In addition, members of the audit and compensation committees must meet heightened standards of independence in accordance with the requirements of the NYSE corporate governance listing standards and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules and regulations. The director independence standards are part of our corporate governance guidelines, which are available at www.fcx.com under Investor Center Corporate Governance.
On the basis of information solicited from each director, and upon the advice and recommendation of the nominating and corporate governance committee, the board has affirmatively determined that each of Messrs. Allison, Buckwalter, Day, Ford, Fry, Graham, Krulak, Lackey, Madonna, McCoy and Siegele, and each of Mses. Kennard and Townsend has no material relationship with the company and is independent within the meaning of our director independence standards. In making this determination, the nominating and corporate governance committee, with assistance from the companys legal counsel, evaluated responses to a questionnaire completed annually by each director regarding relationships and possible conflicts of interest between each director, the company and management. In its review of director independence, the committee considered the commercial, industrial, banking, consulting, legal, accounting, charitable, and familial relationships any director may have with the company or management. The nominating and corporate governance committee recommended to the board that the 13 directors named above be considered independent, which the board approved.
10 Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement
The board also has determined that each of the members of the audit, compensation, nominating and corporate governance, and corporate responsibility committees has no material relationship with the company and satisfies the independence criteria (including the enhanced criteria with respect to members of the audit committee and compensation committee) set forth in the applicable NYSE listing standards and SEC rules. In addition, the board has determined that each of Messrs. Day, Ford, Graham and Madonna qualify as an audit committee financial expert, as such term is defined by the rules of the SEC.
Compensation Committee Procedures
The compensation committee has the sole authority to set compensation for our executive officers, including annual compensation amounts and annual and long-term incentive plan criteria, evaluate the performance of our executive officers, and make awards to our executive officers under our stock incentive plans. The compensation committee also reviews, approves and recommends to the board any proposed plan or arrangement providing for incentive, retirement or other compensation to our executive officers. The compensation committee oversees our assessment of whether our compensation practices are likely to expose the company to material risks. The compensation committee annually recommends to the board the slate of officers for the company, periodically reviews the functions of our executive officers and makes recommendations to the board concerning those functions.
To the extent stock options or other equity awards are granted in a given year, the compensation committees historical practice has been to grant such awards at its first meeting of that year, which is usually held in January or February. Each July or August, the board establishes a meeting schedule for itself and its committees for the next calendar year. Thus, the first meeting of each year is scheduled approximately six months in advance and is scheduled to fall within the window period following the release of the companys earnings for the fourth quarter of the previous year. The compensation committee has a written policy stating that it will approve all regular annual equity awards at its first or second meeting of each fiscal year, and that to the extent the committee approves any out-of-cycle awards at other times during the year, such awards will be made during an open window period during which our executive officers and directors are permitted to trade.
The terms of our stock incentive plans provide that the exercise price of each stock option cannot be less than the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the grant date. Pursuant to the compensation committees policies, for purposes of our stock incentive plans, the fair market value of our common stock will be determined by reference to the closing quoted per share sale price of our common stock on the composite tape for NYSE-listed stocks on the grant date. In addition, our stock incentive plans permit the committee to delegate to appropriate personnel its authority to make awards to employees other than those subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Our current equity grant policy provides that each of the vice chairmen of the board, the chairman of the board and the chief executive officer of the company has authority to make or modify grants to such employees, subject to the following conditions:
| No grant may relate to more than 20,000 shares of our common stock; |
| Such grants must be approved during an open window period and must be approved in writing by such officer, the grant date being the date of such written approval or such later date set forth in the grant instrument; |
| The exercise price of any options granted may not be less than the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant; and |
| The officer must report any such grants to the committee at its next meeting. |
The compensation committee engages an independent executive compensation consultant to advise the compensation committee on matters related to executive compensation. Please refer to the section titled Compensation Discussion and Analysis for more information related to the independent executive compensation consultant. In addition, the board has its own independent legal counsel, with whom the compensation committee consults on an as needed basis.
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 11
Compensation Committee Independence No Interlocks or Insider Participation
The current members of our compensation committee are Messrs. Allison, Graham, Krulak, Lackey and McCoy and Ms. Townsend. In 2014, none of our executive officers served as a member of the compensation committee of another entity, or as a director of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on our compensation committee or as one of our directors.
The nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for overseeing the annual performance evaluation of the board as a whole and each committee of the board. Annually, each director completes an evaluation of the full board and of each committee on which the director serves. The evaluations are intended to provide the board and each committee with an opportunity to evaluate performance for the purpose of improving board and committee processes and effectiveness. The detailed questionnaires seek quantitative ratings and subjective comments in key areas of board practices, and ask each director to evaluate how well the board and committees operate and to make suggestions for improvements. The nominating and corporate governance committee reviews the results and the assessment of board performance is presented to the full board. The results of each committee evaluation are delivered to the respective chairman of each committee.
Director Nominations and Qualifications
In evaluating nominees for membership on the board, our nominating and corporate governance committee applies the board membership criteria set forth in our corporate governance guidelines. Under these criteria, the committee takes into account many factors, including personal and professional integrity, general understanding of our industry, corporate finance and other matters relevant to the successful management of a large publicly traded company in todays business environment, educational and professional background, independence, and the ability and willingness to work cooperatively with other members of the board and with senior management. In selecting nominees, the committee seeks to have a board that represents a diverse range of perspectives and experience relevant to the company. The committee also evaluates each individual in the context of the board as a whole, with the objective of recommending nominees who can best perpetuate the success of the business, be effective directors in conjunction with the full board, and represent stockholder interests through the exercise of sound judgment using their diversity of experience in these various areas. For more information regarding the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills of both potential director nominees as well as existing members of the board considered by the board through the nominating and corporate governance committee, see the section titled Proposal No. 1: Election of Directors on page 15.
Our nominating and corporate governance committee regularly assesses the appropriate size of the board, and whether any vacancies on the board are expected due to retirement or otherwise. In the event that vacancies are anticipated, or otherwise arise, the committee will consider various potential candidates who may come to the attention of the committee through current board members, professional search firms, stockholders or other persons. Each candidate brought to the attention of the committee, regardless of who recommended such candidate, is considered on the basis of the criteria set forth in our corporate governance guidelines.
Director Candidates Submitted by Stockholders
Our nominating and corporate governance committee will consider candidates proposed for nomination by our stockholders. Stockholders may propose candidates by submitting the names and supporting information to: Corporate Secretary, Freeport-McMoRan Inc., 333 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85004. Supporting information should include (a) the name and address of the candidate and the proposing stockholder; (b) a comprehensive biography of the candidate and an explanation of why the candidate is qualified to serve as a director taking into account the criteria identified in our corporate governance guidelines; (c) proof of ownership, the class and number of shares, and the length of time that the shares of our voting securities have been beneficially owned by each of the candidate and the proposing stockholder; and (d) a letter from the candidate stating his or her willingness to serve, if elected.
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In addition, our by-laws permit stockholders to nominate candidates directly for consideration at next years annual meeting of stockholders. Any nomination must be in writing and received by our corporate secretary at our principal executive office no later than February 11, 2016. If the date of next years annual meeting is moved to a date more than 90 days after or 30 days before the anniversary of this years annual meeting, the nomination must be received no later than 90 days prior to the date of the 2016 annual meeting or 10 days following the public announcement of the date of the 2016 annual meeting. Any stockholder submitting a nomination under our by-law procedures must include (a) all information relating to the nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (including such nominees written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected), and (b) the name and address (as they appear on the companys books) of the nominating stockholder and the class and number of shares beneficially owned by such stockholder. Nominations should be addressed to: Corporate Secretary, Freeport-McMoRan Inc., 333 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85004.
Boards Role in Oversight of Risk Management
The board as a whole is responsible for risk oversight, with reviews of certain areas being conducted by the relevant board committees that report to the full board. In its risk oversight role, the board reviews, evaluates and discusses with appropriate members of management whether the risk management processes designed and implemented by management are adequate in identifying, assessing, managing and mitigating material risks facing the company. In addition, as reflected in our principles of business conduct, the board seeks to establish a tone at the top communicating the boards strong commitment to ethical behavior and compliance with the law.
The board believes that full and open communication between senior management and the board is essential to effective risk oversight. Our chairman and our vice chairmen regularly meet and discuss with senior management a variety of matters including business strategies, opportunities, key challenges and risks facing the company, as well as managements risk mitigation strategies. Senior management attends all regularly scheduled board meetings where they conduct presentations on various strategic matters involving our operations and are available to address any questions or concerns raised by the board on risk management-related or any other matters. The board oversees the strategic direction of the company, and in doing so considers the potential rewards and risks of our business opportunities and challenges, and monitors the development and management of risks that impact our strategic goals. The chart below provides an overview of the allocation of risk management responsibilities among the board committees.
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 13
Director and Executive Officer Stock Ownership Guidelines
The nominating and corporate governance committee adopted stock ownership guidelines applicable to our non-management directors and the compensation committee adopted stock ownership guidelines applicable to our executive officers. Under the guidelines, each non-management director is expected to maintain ownership of company stock valued at five times his or her annual retainer, which retainer is currently $75,000. Each member of the Office of the Chairman is expected to maintain ownership of company stock valued at five times his base salary and each of our other executive officers is expected to maintain ownership of company stock valued at three times his or her base salary. The value of the stock ownership is calculated based on the one-year and five-year trailing average monthly stock price. Shares of our common stock currently owned and not pledged, including restricted stock units, count as stock owned for purposes of the stock ownership guidelines. Shares held in trust may also be included; however, due to the complexities of the trust laws, the decision to include the shares is made on a case-by-case basis after reviewing the nature of the specific trust involved and considering whether the individual has maintained a pecuniary interest in the shares. Newly-appointed directors are expected to comply with the stock ownership target within four years. As of December 31, 2014, all of our non-management directors and all of our executive officers exceeded their target ownership levels.
Stockholders or other interested parties may communicate directly with one or more members of the board, or the non-management directors as a group, by writing to the director or directors at the following address: Freeport-McMoRan Inc., Attn: Board of Directors or the name of the individual director or directors, 333 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85004. The communication will be forwarded to the appropriate directors.
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PROPOSAL NO. 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Upon the recommendation of our nominating and corporate governance committee, the board has nominated 16 directors for election at our 2015 annual meeting to hold office until the next annual meeting and the election of their successors. All of the nominees are currently directors. Each agreed to be named in this proxy statement and to serve if elected. The persons named as proxies on the proxy card intend to vote your proxy for the election of each such nominee, unless otherwise directed. If, contrary to our expectations, a nominee should become unavailable for any reason, your proxy will be voted for a substitute nominee designated by the board or the board may reduce its size.
The board, through the nominating and corporate governance committee, considers the following experience, qualifications, attributes and skills of both potential director nominees as well as existing members of the board:
For more information regarding director nominations and qualifications, see the sections titled Director Nominations and Qualifications on page 12 and Director Candidates Submitted by Stockholders beginning on page 12.
Vote Required to Elect Director Nominees
Under our by-laws, in uncontested elections, directors are elected by a majority of the votes cast. In contested elections where the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, directors are elected by a plurality vote, with the director nominees who receive the most votes being elected.
In an uncontested election, any nominee for director who has a majority of votes cast withheld from his or her election will be required to promptly tender his or her resignation to the board. Our nominating and corporate governance committee will recommend to the board whether to accept or reject the tendered resignation. The board will act on the committees recommendation and publicly disclose its decision within 90 days from the date of the annual meeting of stockholders. Any director who tenders his or her resignation will not participate in the committees recommendation or the board action regarding whether to accept or reject the tendered resignation.
In addition, if each member of the nominating and corporate governance committee fails to be elected at the same election, the independent directors who were elected will appoint a committee to consider the tendered resignations and recommend to the board whether to accept or reject them. Any vacancies on the board may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office. Each director elected in this manner will hold office until his or her successor is elected and duly qualified.
Board of Directors Recommendation on Proposal No. 1
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR ALL OF THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES LISTED BELOW.
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 15
Information About Director Nominees
The following table provides certain information as of April 16, 2015, with respect to each director nominee, including information regarding business experience, director positions with other public companies held currently or at any time during the last five years, and the experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that led our nominating and corporate governance committee and the board to determine that such person should be nominated at our 2015 annual meeting of stockholders to serve as a director of the company. Unless otherwise indicated, each person has been engaged in the principal occupation shown for the past five years. Former public company directorships reflect positions held in the last five years.
Richard C. Adkerson
Vice Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Freeport-McMoRan Inc.
Age: 68 Director since: 2006 |
Business Experience: Chief Executive Officer of the company since December 2003. President of the company since January 2008 and from April 1997 to March 2007. Chief Financial Officer of the company from October 2000 to December 2003. Vice Chairman of the Board of the company since May 2013. Co-Chairman of the Board of McMoRan Exploration Co. from 1998 until acquired by the company in 2013. President and Chief Executive Officer of McMoRan Exploration Co. from 1998 to 2004. Vice Chairman of our former parent company from 1995 to 1997. Partner in Arthur Andersen & Co. from 1978 to 1989 where he served as a Managing Director and head of the firms global oil and gas industry services. Professional Accounting Fellow with the Securities and Exchange Commission and Presidential Exchange Executive from 1976 to 1978.
Skills and Qualifications: Mr. Adkerson is a recognized business leader with experience in both the mining and the oil and gas industries, making him highly qualified to serve as a Vice Chairman of the Board of the company. As President and Chief Executive Officer of our company, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership abilities in developing and executing a financial strategy that has benefited our stockholders and building an operational, financial and administrative organization that efficiently supports our business. Mr. Adkerson is recognized as a mining industry leader, having served as past Chairman of the International Council on Mining and Metals and on the Executive Board of the International Copper Association. In addition, Mr. Adkersons experience as an oil and gas industry executive and as a managing director of an international accounting firm, where he headed the firms worldwide oil and gas industry practice, provide him with detailed knowledge and perspective regarding financial, accounting, regulatory and operational opportunities and challenges, particularly as they relate to the oil and gas industry. Mr. Adkersons strong leadership skills and executive management experiences are instrumental in fostering strong relationships with business partners, key customers, suppliers and host governments, thereby enabling him to guide the companys business strategy. He holds a B.S. in Accounting with highest honors and an M.B.A. from Mississippi State University and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
Former Public Company Directorships: McMoRan Exploration Co.
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Robert J. Allison, Jr.
Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
Age: 76 Director since: 2001 Independent
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Business Experience: Chairman of the Board of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation from 1986 to 2005 and Chairman Emeritus from 2006 to present. President and Chief Executive Officer of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation from 1979 to 2002 and March 2003 to December 2003.
Skills and Qualifications: Mr. Allisons experience serving as the former President and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of one of the largest independent oil and gas exploration and production companies in the world provides him with a wealth of knowledge in dealing with operational, strategic, financial, regulatory and international matters at the board level. His business and board experience make him highly qualified to serve as chairman of our nominating and corporate governance committee. He holds a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering from The University of Kansas.
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Alan R. Buckwalter, III
Retired Chairman of JPMorgan Chase Bank, South Region
Age: 68 Director since: 2013 Independent
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Business Experience: Chairman of JPMorgan Chase Bank, South Region, from 1998 to 2003. President of Texas Commerce Bank - Houston, the predecessor entity of JPMorgan Chase Bank, South Region, from 1990 to 1998.
Skills and Qualifications: Mr. Buckwalters over 30 years of experience in the banking industry where he served in various executive management positions, including President, provides him with a high level of financial and managerial expertise, which enables him to provide valuable insight from a capital and financial market perspective. In addition, as a former director of Plains Exploration & Production Company, he provides valuable perspective with respect to the issues, trends and opportunities within the oil and gas industry. He holds B.A. degrees in Political Science and History from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Current Public Company Directorships: Service Corporation International
Former Public Company Directorships: Plains Exploration & Production Company
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Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 17
Robert A. Day
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of W. M. Keck Foundation and Chairman of Oakmont Corporation
Age: 71 Director since: 1995 Independent
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Business Experience: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of W. M. Keck Foundation, a national philanthropic organization. Chairman of Oakmont Corporation, a registered investment advisor. Founder and Chairman of Trust Company of the West, an investment management company and one of the largest independent trust companies in the United States, from 1971 to 2014.
Skills and Qualifications: Mr. Day is an experienced entrepreneur and financial leader with the skills necessary to serve on our board and to lead our audit committee. With his background in economics and his extensive experience in the financial services industry, Mr. Day is well-versed in accounting standards and regulations, and is equipped to evaluate financial results and generally oversee the financial reporting process of a large corporation. Mr. Day brings significant business and finance experience to the board and provides valuable insights into strategies and solutions to address an increasingly complex business environment. He holds a B.S. in Economics from Claremont McKenna College.
Former Public Company Directorships: Société Générale and McMoRan Exploration Co.
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James C. Flores
Vice Chairman of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. and President and Chief Executive Officer of Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas LLC
Age: 55 Director since: 2013
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Business Experience: Vice Chairman of the Board of the company and President and Chief Executive Officer of Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas LLC, our wholly owned subsidiary, since June 2013. Former Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Plains Exploration & Production Company from its inception in December 2002 and President from 2004 until acquired by the company in 2013. Chairman of the Board of Plains Resources, Inc. (now owned by Vulcan Energy Corporation) from May 2001 to June 2004 and current director of Vulcan Energy Corporation. Chief Executive Officer of Plains Resources, Inc. from May 2001 to December 2002. Co-founder, Chairman, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at various times from 1992 to January 2001 of Ocean Energy, Inc., an oil and gas company.
Skills and Qualifications: Mr. Flores is a seasoned oil and gas industry executive with over 25 years of experience in leading and managing oil and gas companies, making him highly qualified to serve as a Vice Chairman of the Board of the company. Mr. Flores has had an extensive career in the oil and gas industry, including co-founding a private oil and gas company. He has served in the roles of chief executive officer, president and/or chairman of one private and four public oil and gas exploration and production companies. As President and Chief Executive Officer of Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas LLC, he brings to the board vast knowledge and a keen perspective with respect to issues, trends and strategic and operational opportunities and challenges within the oil and gas industry. He holds B.S. degrees in Petroleum Land Management and Finance from Louisiana State University.
Former Public Company Directorships: Plains Exploration & Production Company and McMoRan Exploration Co.
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Gerald J. Ford
Chairman of the Board of Hilltop Holdings, Inc.
Age: 70 Director since: 2000 Lead Independent Director |
Business Experience: Principal stockholder and Chairman of the Board of Hilltop Holdings Inc., a Texas-based, publicly traded, diversified financial holding company, since 2007, and a director of Hilltop Holdings Inc. since 2005. General Partner of Ford Financial Fund, L.P. and Ford Financial II, L.P., private equity firms, from 2010 to present. Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Golden State Bancorp, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, California Federal Bank, FSB, a Federal Savings Bank, from 1998 through its 2002 merger with Citigroup Inc. Chairman of the Board of First Acceptance Corporation from 1996 to 2010 and Chief Executive Officer of First Acceptance Corporation from 1996 to 2002.
Skills and Qualifications: Mr. Ford is a banking and financial institutions entrepreneur who has been involved in numerous mergers and acquisitions of private and public sector financial institutions over the past 35 years. In that capacity, he acquired and consolidated 30 commercial banks from 1975 to 1993, forming First United Bank Group, Inc., a multi-bank holding company for which he served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer until its sale in 1994. During this period, he also led investment consortiums that acquired numerous financial institutions, forming in succession, First Gibraltar Bank, FSB, First Madison Bank, FSB and First Nationwide Bank. His extensive banking industry experience and educational background provide him with expertise in financial, accounting and regulatory matters, making him a valuable member of the board of directors. In addition, Mr. Fords service on the board of directors and audit and corporate governance committees of a variety of public companies gives him a deep understanding of the role of the board and positions him well to serve as our lead independent director, chairman of our executive committee and as a member of our nominating and corporate governance and audit committees. He holds a B.A. in Economics and a J.D. from Southern Methodist University.
Current Public Company Directorships: Hilltop Holdings Inc. and Scientific Games Corporation
Former Public Company Directorships: First Acceptance Corporation, Pacific Capital Bancorp, McMoRan Exploration Co. and SWS Group, Inc.
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Thomas A. Fry, III
Retired President of National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA)
Age: 70 Director since: 2013 Independent
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Business Experience: Retired President of National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA), a position he held from 2000 to 2010. Director of the Department of Interiors Bureau of Land Management from 1998 to 2000. Director of the Minerals Management Service from 1993 to 1994.
Skills and Qualifications: As former President of NOIA, a national trade association representing all segments of the domestic offshore energy industry, and as the former director of federal agencies responsible for managing federal onshore oil, gas, coal and other minerals operations and the exploration and development of national offshore oil and gas resources, Mr. Fry brings to the board a vast knowledge of the legal and regulatory environment in which our oil and gas division operates. Mr. Frys directorship at the Department of Interiors Bureau of Land Management, where environmental impact is a central component of assessments of projects on public land, provided him with valuable environmental management experience. Mr. Frys broad understanding of resource development and regulatory issues enables him to provide valuable insight to our board of directors. He holds a B.S. in Political Science from Trinity University and a J.D. from Southern Methodist University.
Former Public Company Directorships: Plains Exploration & Production Company
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Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 19
H. Devon Graham, Jr.
President of R.E. Smith Interests
Age: 80 Director since: 2000 Independent
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Business Experience: President of R.E. Smith Interests, an asset management company, from 1997 to present. U.S. Regional Managing Partner-Southwest, Arthur Andersen from 1985 to 1997. Chairman of the Board of Partners of Arthur Andersen from 1984 to 1986.
Skills and Qualifications: Mr. Graham has over 40 years of experience in public accounting and has served in various leadership positions with an international accounting firm, including Chairman of the Board of Partners, member of the Worldwide Executive Committee, U.S. Regional Managing Partner, member of the U.S. Leadership Committee and Chairman of the Industry Steering Committee, making him a valuable member of our board of directors and our audit committee and well-qualified to serve as chair of our compensation committee. In addition, Mr. Graham brings to the board invaluable management and administrative experience as President of an asset management company. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Mississippi State University.
Former Public Company Directorships: McMoRan Exploration Co.
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Lydia H. Kennard
President and Chief Executive Officer of KDG Construction Consulting
Age: 60 Director since: 2013 Independent
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Business Experience: President and Chief Executive Officer of KDG Construction Consulting, a construction and program management firm, from 2009 to present. Principal of Airport Property Ventures, LLC, a developer and operator of aviation facilities, from 2007 to present. Executive Director of Los Angeles World Airports, from 1999 to 2003, and again from 2005 to 2007. Member of the California Air Resources Board from 2004 to 2011.
Skills and Qualifications: Ms. Kennards over 30 years of executive and operational experience in aviation, construction management and real estate development enables her to contribute to our board her leadership skills and her critical insights into the operational requirements of a large public company. As a result of her former involvement with the California Air Resources Board, she is able to share her understanding of environmental management and pollution control matters, which is valuable in enhancing the boards insight with respect to our companys environmental policies and practices. She holds a B.A. in Urban Planning and Management from Stanford University, a Masters in City Planning from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Current Public Company Directorships: Prologis, Inc.
Former Public Company Directorships: Intermec, Inc. and URS Corporation
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Charles C. Krulak
President of Birmingham-Southern College
Age: 73 Director since: 2007 Independent
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Business Experience: President of Birmingham-Southern College since March 2011. General Krulak has announced his intent to retire from this position in May 2015. Former Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps, the Marine Corps highest-ranking officer. Retired from U.S. Marine Corps in 1999 after 35 years of distinguished service. Executive Vice Chairman and Head of Mergers and Acquisitions of MBNA Corp., a financial services company, from 2004 to 2005. Chief Executive Officer of MBNA Europe Bank, Ltd. from 2001 to 2004, and Senior Vice Chairman of MBNA America Bank, N.A. from 1999 to 2001.
Skills and Qualifications: As a retired Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, General Krulak brings a unique perspective to the board. General Krulaks proven leadership experience in the military, together with his executive experience in the domestic and international banking industry, brings to the board his ability to understand and analyze complex operational, logistic, and strategic matters. He holds a B.S. in Engineering from U.S. Naval Academy and a M.S. in Labor Relations from George Washington University.
Current Public Company Directorships: Union Pacific Corporation
Former Public Company Directorships: ConocoPhillips
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Bobby Lee Lackey
Consultant
Age: 77 Director since: 1995 Independent
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Business Experience: Consultant. President and Chief Executive Officer of McManus-Wyatt-Hidalgo Produce Marketing Co., shipper of fruits and vegetables, from 1998 to 2000. Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of McManus Produce Co., Inc., McManus Cotton Gin, Inc. and McManus Ice Co., Inc. from 1968 to 1998. Former President of Texas Citrus and Vegetable Growers & Shippers Association.
Skills and Qualifications: Mr. Lackeys over 40 years of experience in the agricultural business, where he served in various leadership positions, including President and Chief Executive Officer, makes him a valuable member of the board. This experience provides him with a broad understanding of the operational, financial and strategic issues facing the company. He attended The University of Texas at Austin.
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Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 21
Jon C. Madonna
Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of KPMG LLP
Age: 71 Director since: 2007 Independent
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Business Experience: Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of KPMG LLP, an international accounting and consulting firm. Retired from KPMG LLP in 1996 having held numerous senior leadership positions throughout his 28-year career with KPMG LLP. Chairman of DigitalThink, Inc. from 2002 to 2004 and Chief Executive Officer of DigitalThink, Inc. from 2001 to 2002. President and Chief Executive Officer of Carlson Wagonlit Corporate Travel, Inc. from 1999 to 2000 and Vice Chairman of Travelers Group, Inc. from 1997 to 1998.
Skills and Qualifications: Mr. Madonnas long career in public accounting with an international accounting firm and his service as an executive and a director for several publicly traded companies provides him with extensive experience in addressing strategic, operational, financial, accounting, and regulatory matters at the board level. His depth of experience enables him to provide valuable insight to our board of directors. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from The University of San Francisco.
Current Public Company Directorships: AT&T Inc.
Former Public Company Directorships: Tidewater, Inc.
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Dustan E. McCoy
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Brunswick Corporation
Age: 65 Director since: 2007 Independent
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Business Experience: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since December 2005 of Brunswick Corporation, a leading, publicly traded, global manufacturer and marketer of recreation products including marine engines, boats, fitness equipment and billiards equipment. President of the Brunswick Boat Group from 2000 until 2005. Joined Brunswick in 1999 as Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Prior to joining Brunswick, served as Executive Vice President for Witco Corporation, a publicly traded specialty chemical products company, with operating responsibility for a variety of global businesses and functions and served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary.
Skills and Qualifications: Mr. McCoys extensive experience in legal and compliance matters generally, and more specifically his experience in corporate governance and disclosure matters for publicly traded companies makes him well-suited to serve on our board of directors. Mr. McCoys executive management experience provides him with a broad understanding of the operational, financial and strategic issues facing large global companies, enabling him to provide valuable strategic advice to the board and management in advancing the companys interests. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Eastern Kentucky University and a J.D. from Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University.
Current Public Company Directorships: Brunswick Corporation and Louisiana-Pacific Corporation
|
22 Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement
James R. Moffett
Chairman of the Board of Freeport-McMoRan Inc.
Age: 76 Director since: 1992
|
Business Experience: Chairman of the Board from 1992 to present. Chief Executive Officer of the company from 1995 to 2003. Co-Chairman of the Board of McMoRan Exploration Co. from 1998, and President and Chief Executive Officer from 2010, until acquired by the company in 2013. Received Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans Award in 1990. Received Norman Vincent Peale Award in 2000 for exceptional humanitarian contributions to society.
Skills and Qualifications: Mr. Moffett, one of the founders of the company, has extensive expertise as a practicing geologist and with respect to our mining and our oil and gas operations, making him exceptionally qualified to lead our board. In 1969, he and two associates founded McMoRan Oil & Gas Co., which developed into one of Americas leading independent oil and gas companies. In 1981, Mr. Moffett led the effort to merge McMoRan Oil & Gas Co. and Freeport Minerals Company. The merger resulted in the establishment of our former parent company, which became one of the worlds leading natural resource companies, of which he served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from 1984 until 1997, when it was acquired. As Executive Chairman of the Board, Mr. Moffett furthers our business strategy by applying his strong leadership skills and extraordinary talents and experience as a geologist. In addition, Mr. Moffett has been actively engaged in petroleum geological activities for many years in the areas of our oil and gas operations and has directed exploration activities leading to the discovery of major natural resource deposits throughout his career. We benefit from his direction of our global exploration programs and his detailed knowledge and perspective regarding strategic and operational opportunities and challenges facing the company. He holds a B.S. with special honors in Geology from The University of Texas at Austin and a M.S. in Geology from Tulane University.
Former Public Company Directorships: McMoRan Exploration Co.
| |
Stephen H. Siegele
Private Investor
Age: 55 Director since: 2006 Independent
|
Business Experience: Private Investor. Founder and Chief Executive of Advanced Delivery & Chemical Systems, Inc. (ADCS), a worldwide leader in advanced chemicals and delivery hardware serving markets in Asia, Europe and the United States, from 1988 to 1997. In 1997, ADCS merged with Advanced Technology Materials, Inc., a public company, where Mr. Siegele became a divisional president and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors until his retirement in 2000. In 2000, he founded Fluorine On Call, Ltd., a private company that designs and manufactures high purity fluorine generators, where Mr. Siegele served as Chairman until his retirement in 2006.
Skills and Qualifications: Mr. Siegele has extensive experience as an entrepreneur and inventor within the semiconductor, microelectronics and chemical industries, and as a director and senior manager of public and private companies. These experiences provide him with a comprehensive understanding of strategic, operational, financial and technical matters, enabling him to provide valuable perspective to the board and making him highly qualified to serve as chairman of our corporate responsibility committee. He holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is an inventor on numerous U.S. patents.
|
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 23
Frances Fragos Townsend
Executive Vice President of Worldwide Government, Legal and Business Affairs at MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc.
Age: 53 Director since: 2013 Independent
|
Business Experience: Executive Vice President of Worldwide Government, Legal and Business Affairs at MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc. from 2013 to present and Senior Vice President from 2010 to 2013. Partner at Baker Botts L.L.P. from 2009 to 2010. Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Advisor to President George W. Bush from 2005 until 2008 and Chair of the Homeland Security Council from 2004 to 2008. Deputy Assistant to President George W. Bush and Deputy National Security Advisor for Combatting Terrorism from 2003 until 2004. Prior to serving the President, Ms. Townsend was the first Assistant Commandant for Intelligence for the U.S. Coast Guard. Before that, Ms. Townsend spent 13 years at the U.S. Department of Justice under the administrations of President George H.W. Bush, President William J. Clinton and President George W. Bush. Ms. Townsend is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Trilateral Commission.
Skills and Qualifications: Ms. Townsend brings to the board over 25 years of domestic and international experience in legal, law enforcement and security. Her extensive public policy, government and regulatory experience enables her to provide valuable insight with respect to complex international and regulatory matters addressed at the board level. She holds a B.A. in Political Science and a B.S. in Psychology from American University and a J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law.
Current Public Company Directorships: Scientific Games Corporation and The Western Union Company
Former Public Company Directorships: SIGA Technologies, Inc.
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24 Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement
STOCK OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
We believe that it is important for our directors and executive officers to align their interests with the long-term interests of our stockholders. We encourage stock accumulation through the grant of equity incentives to our directors and executive officers and through stock ownership guidelines applicable to our directors and executive officers.
The table below shows the amount of our common stock beneficially owned as of the record date, April 16, 2015, by each of our director nominees and our executive officers. Unless otherwise indicated, all shares shown in the table below are held with sole voting and investment power.
Name of Beneficial Owner | Number of Shares |
Number of Shares |
Number of Shares RSUs (1) |
Total Number of Shares |
Percent
of Class (3) |
|||||||||||||||
Richard C. Adkerson (4) |
1,696,483 | 6,720,750 | 1,000,000 | 9,417,233 | * | |||||||||||||||
Robert J. Allison, Jr. |
190,150 | 117,500 | 13,125 | 320,775 | * | |||||||||||||||
Michael J. Arnold (5) |
258,510 | 1,428,750 | | 1,687,260 | * | |||||||||||||||
Alan R. Buckwalter, III (6) |
75,160 | | 4,125 | 79,285 | * | |||||||||||||||
Robert A. Day (7) |
274,150 | 156,804 | 5,125 | 436,079 | * | |||||||||||||||
James C. Flores (8) |
8,566,302 | 95,900 | | 8,662,202 | * | |||||||||||||||
Gerald J. Ford (9) |
1,187,542 | 162,070 | 5,125 | 1,354,737 | * | |||||||||||||||
Thomas A. Fry, III |
26,012 | | 4,125 | 30,137 | * | |||||||||||||||
H. Devon Graham, Jr. |
20,650 | 107,070 | 21,125 | 148,845 | * | |||||||||||||||
Lydia H. Kennard |
950 | | 1,975 | 2,925 | * | |||||||||||||||
Charles C. Krulak |
18,650 | 107,500 | 9,125 | 135,275 | * | |||||||||||||||
Bobby Lee Lackey (10) |
31,592 | 62,500 | 9,125 | 103,217 | * | |||||||||||||||
Jon C. Madonna |
19,180 | 97,500 | 15,275 | 131,955 | * | |||||||||||||||
Dustan E. McCoy |
14,000 | 107,500 | 13,775 | 135,275 | * | |||||||||||||||
James R. Moffett (11) |
3,098,330 | 4,318,250 | | 7,416,580 | * | |||||||||||||||
Kathleen L. Quirk |
344,563 | 2,217,650 | | 2,562,213 | * | |||||||||||||||
Stephen H. Siegele |
250,626 | 117,500 | 5,125 | 373,251 | * | |||||||||||||||
Frances Fragos Townsend |
2,020 | | 1,975 | 3,995 | * | |||||||||||||||
Directors and executive officers as a group (18 persons) |
16,074,870 | 15,817,244 | 1,109,125 | 33,001,239 | 3.13 | % |
* | Ownership is less than 1%. |
(1) | Reflects our common stock that could be acquired within sixty days of the record date upon the exercise of options, vesting of restricted stock units (RSUs), and the termination of deferrals on previously vested RSUs. |
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 25
(2) | In addition to the RSUs included in Number of Shares Subject to Vesting of RSUs, each beneficial owner holds the following unvested RSUs and unvested performance share units (PSUs), which are not included in the table above because they do not vest within sixty days of the record date. |
Name of Beneficial Owner | Number of
Shares Subject to Unvested RSUs |
Number of
Shares Subject to Unvested PSUs | ||
Richard C. Adkerson |
300,000 | 262,000 | ||
Robert J. Allison, Jr. |
10,725 | | ||
Michael J. Arnold |
50,000 | 145,000 | ||
Alan R. Buckwalter, III |
10,225 | | ||
Robert A. Day |
10,725 | | ||
James C. Flores |
70,794 | 262,000 | ||
Gerald J. Ford |
10,725 | | ||
Thomas A. Fry, III |
10,225 | | ||
H. Devon Graham, Jr. |
10,725 | | ||
Lydia H. Kennard |
8,775 | | ||
Charles C. Krulak |
10,725 | | ||
Bobby Lee Lackey |
10,725 | | ||
Jon C. Madonna |
10,725 | | ||
Dustan E. McCoy |
10,725 | | ||
James R. Moffett |
300,000 | 262,000 | ||
Kathleen L. Quirk |
100,000 | 168,000 | ||
Stephen H. Siegele |
10,725 | | ||
Frances Fragos Townsend |
8,775 | |
For more information regarding the RSUs and PSUs, see the sections titled Director Compensation, Compensation Discussion and Analysis and Executive Compensation Tables Grants of Plan-Based Awards.
(3) | Based on 1,040,044,809 shares of our common stock outstanding as of April 16, 2015. |
(4) | Includes (a) 20,330 shares held in his individual retirement account (IRA); (b) 494,009 shares held in a trust and (c) 131,686 shares held in a foundation with respect to which Mr. Adkerson, as a member of the board of trustees, shares voting and investment power, but as to which he disclaims beneficial ownership. Total number of shares beneficially owned includes the 1,000,000 shares underlying the RSUs awarded in connection with the termination of Mr. Adkersons employment agreement in December 2013, which Mr. Adkerson will receive six months after his retirement; these RSUs were vested at grant. |
(5) | Includes 5,959 shares held through our Employee Capital Accumulation Program (ECAP), which is the companys tax-qualified defined contribution plan. |
(6) | Includes 1,500 shares held by his minor children as to which he disclaims beneficial ownership. |
(7) | Mr. Day has pledged, in accordance with the companys policy, 256,000 shares to secure a line of credit. |
(8) | Includes (a) 1,386,041 shares held by Sable Management, L.P., (b) 1,550,458 shares held by Flores Family Limited Partnership, (c) 1,350,000 shares held by Flores No. 2 Family Limited Partnership, (d) 313 shares held through our ECAP and (e) 17,350 shares held by OLF Partnership, L.P. |
(9) | Includes (a) 20,000 shares held as trustee of a trust and (b) 1,000,000 shares held by Diamond Family Investments LP. |
(10) | Includes 2,100 shares held in his IRA. |
26 Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement
(11) | Includes (a) 2,027,559 shares held by a limited liability company with respect to which Mr. Moffett, as a member and the manager, has sole voting and investment power; (b) 1,000,000 shares with respect to which Mr. Moffett has sole voting power but does not have a pecuniary interest; (c) 63,219 shares held through our ECAP and (d) 7,552 shares held by his spouse, as to which he disclaims beneficial ownership. The limited liability company through which Mr. Moffett owns shares has pledged, in accordance with the companys policy, 750,000 shares as security for a line of credit. |
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires our directors and executive officers and persons who own more than 10% of our common stock to file reports of their ownership and changes in ownership of our common stock with the SEC. Based solely upon our review of such reports and amendments thereto furnished to us during 2014 and written representations from our directors and executive officers, we believe that during 2014, with the exception noted below, all required reports were timely filed with the SEC. Ms. Townsend inadvertently failed to timely report a purchase of 400 shares during 2014, which was subsequently reported on a Form 5.
STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
The table below shows persons known to us, as of April 16, 2015, to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner | Number of
Shares Beneficially Owned |
Percent of Outstanding Shares (1) | ||
BlackRock, Inc. 40 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10022 |
93,342,807 (2) | 8.97% | ||
The Vanguard Group 100 Vanguard Boulevard Malvern, PA 19355 |
56,830,782 (3) | 5.46% |
(1) | Based on 1,040,044,809 shares of our common stock outstanding as of April 16, 2015. |
(2) | Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 15, 2015, by BlackRock, Inc. on its own behalf and on behalf of its subsidiaries identified therein, reflecting beneficial ownership as of December 31, 2014. The Schedule 13G/A reflects 93,342,807 shares held with sole dispositive power and 84,291,077 shares held with sole voting power. |
(3) | Based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 10, 2015, by The Vanguard Group on its own behalf and on behalf of its subsidiaries identified therein, reflecting beneficial ownership as of December 31, 2014. The Schedule 13G/A reflects 55,160,145 shares held with sole dispositive power, 1,670,637 shares held with shared dispositive power, and 1,790,802 shares held with sole voting power. |
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 27
EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis, or CD&A, describes and analyzes our executive compensation philosophy and program in the context of the compensation paid during the last fiscal year to our chief executive officer, our chief financial officer, and each of our three other executive officers (collectively referred to as our named executive officers or NEOs). Our named executive officers are:
Name
|
Title
| |
James R. Moffett |
Chairman of the Board | |
Richard C. Adkerson |
Vice Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer | |
James C. Flores |
Vice Chairman of the company, President and Chief Executive Officer of Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas LLC | |
Kathleen L. Quirk |
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | |
Michael J. Arnold |
Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer |
This CD&A is organized into five sections:
| Executive Summary (page 29) |
| Executive Compensation Philosophy (page 35) |
| Overview of Principal Components of Executive Compensation (page 35) |
| Post-Termination Compensation (page 40) |
| Compensation Processes and Policies (page 42) |
28 Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement
Our Distinctive Leadership Structure: The Office of the Chairman
Following completion of our acquisitions of Plains Exploration and McMoRan Exploration Co. (McMoRan Exploration) in 2013, we established the Office of the Chairman, comprised of our top three executives Mr. Moffett, Executive Chairman; Mr. Adkerson, Vice Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer; and Mr. Flores, Vice Chairman of the company and President and Chief Executive Officer of Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas LLC. The members of the Office of the Chairman develop and execute our operational and financial strategy. We recognize our leadership structure is unique. We believe our three top executives are vital to the companys success in each of our businesses. In light of the history of our company, the current structure of our assets and operations, and the leadership team we currently have in place, the board believes it is the right leadership structure for our company at this time. See the discussion under Corporate Governance Board Leadership Structure for more information on why the board believes this leadership structure is right for our company.
Stockholder Engagement and Transformation of Our Executive Compensation Program
In response to the outcome of our advisory vote on executive compensation at our 2013 annual meeting, our compensation committee (the committee) significantly changed our executive compensation program in 2014 as part of implementing our new leadership structure. These changes were viewed positively by many of our stockholders and at our 2014 annual meeting of stockholders, approximately 62% of votes were cast in favor of our executive compensation program. See Stockholder Engagement on pages 4-5 for a thorough discussion of our extensive stockholder engagement efforts.
In early 2014, the committee undertook a thoughtful process to consider the views of our stockholders and assess how the historic design of our executive compensation program aligned with long-term stockholders interests and furthered our long-term business strategy. After careful consideration, the committee determined to undertake a comprehensive restructuring of the executive compensation program for our three top executives, who form the Office of the Chairman. In developing the new program, the committee evaluated the aggregate compensation of our three top executives compared with the aggregate compensation of the three top executives of our peers and other similarly situated companies.
Our new program significantly decreased compensation for the three members of the Office of the Chairman. While the aggregate compensation for the Office of the Chairman is competitive with peer CEO pay, on an individual basis, target pay for each of our top three executives now stands in the bottom 25th percentile for CEOs at peer companies and at S&P 100 companies. In addition, the significant existing stock ownership of our three top executives strongly aligns their interests with those of our stockholders.
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 29
The chart below highlights the changes made to our 2014 executive compensation program:
2014 Executive Compensation Program
| ||||||
Compensation
|
Change Committee Made
|
Result of Change
| ||||
Base Salary | Reduced base salaries of each member of the Office of the Chairman by 50% |
Beginning in February 2014, the annual base salary of each member of the Office of the Chairman was reduced from $2.5 million to $1.25 million.
(See page 36 for more details.)
| ||||
Total Target Direct Compensation |
Significantly reduced total target direct compensation of each member of the Office of the Chairman |
The total target direct compensation (base salary, annual cash incentive, long-term incentives) of each member of the Office of the Chairman is now $7.5 million, a significant reduction (approximately 60%) from the three-year average of such compensation ($19.2 million) reported for each of Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson for 2011-2013. In developing the new compensation program, the committee evaluated the aggregate compensation of our three top executives compared with the aggregate compensation of the three top executives of our peers and other similarly situated companies.
(See page 32 for more details.)
| ||||
Annual Incentive Program (AIP)
|
Implemented a more quantitative AIP for 2014 with reduced payout opportunities
|
Highlights of our AIP for 2014:
Formula-driven plan using the following metrics (weighted as indicated) to determine target and earned awards:
| ||||
Financial
|
50% | |||||
Operational (copper and oil equivalent production volumes)
|
25% | |||||
Safety
|
15% | |||||
Environmental & Social Responsibility
|
10% | |||||
Annual cash awards now capped at a multiple of base salary (for members of the Office of the Chairman, target 1x base salary; maximum 2x base salary) rather than payout opportunities based on a percentage of an award pool.
| ||||||
Annual cash awards, which are based on a multiple of base salary, will be reduced in future AIP payouts, as a result of the reduction in salaries.
| ||||||
(See pages 36-38 for more details.)
|
30 Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement
Long-Term Incentive Program (LTI Program) |
Implemented new LTI Program |
Highlights of our new LTI program:
Greater emphasis on long-term performance versus annual performance. Until 2014, performance-based RSUs were part of the AIP; performance share units are now part of the LTI program.
New PSU award (50% of LTI program awards), which is payable in shares of stock after a three-year performance period, and all of which is at risk based on performance measured by total stockholder return.
- Range of payout of the PSUs is 0% to 200% depending on our total stockholder return compared to our peers; if our total stockholder return is equal to or less than 0%, maximum possible payout is capped at 100%.
Continued use of stock options (50% of LTI program awards).
(See pages 38-39 for more details.)
|
Engagement with our stockholders has been an ongoing and continuous process. During our engagement efforts this past year regarding our enhanced executive compensation program, we have received positive feedback from our stockholders, who were generally supportive of our program design. We also received suggestions for further improvements, including several suggestions to include one or more additional performance metrics in our LTI program. In direct response to stockholder feedback, our compensation committee and its independent consultant are in the process of reviewing our LTI program with the objective of incorporating one or more additional performance metrics for performance periods beginning in 2016.
Business Overview and 2014 Company Performance Highlights
We are a premier United States-based natural resources company with an industry-leading global portfolio of mineral assets, significant oil and natural gas resources, and a growing production profile. Our portfolio of assets includes the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia, one of the worlds largest copper and gold deposits, significant mining operations in North and South America, the Tenke Fungurume minerals district in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa, and significant oil and natural gas assets in the United States.
We have a clear focus on executing a strategy firmly rooted in maximizing stockholder returns over the long term through effectively managing our existing production base, executing on our return-driven growth plans, maintaining a strong balance sheet and returning cash to our stockholders.
During 2014, our organization achieved strong operating performance, important project development milestones and positive exploration results despite challenging commodity market conditions that emerged late in the year. The following highlights our accomplishments during 2014:
| Enhanced our fatality prevention efforts |
| Achieved strong operating performance in mining (Americas and Africa) and oil and gas businesses |
| Entered into memorandum of understanding with Government of Indonesia and advanced contract of work amendment |
| Completed asset sales totaling approximately $5 billion in gross proceeds (Candelaria/Ojos del Salado, Eagle Ford) |
| Advanced important mining development projects to support future growth |
| Completed expansion at the Morenci mill facility |
| Advanced construction of Cerro Verde Mill expansion, which is expected to become the worlds largest concentrating facility |
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 31
| Continued Grasberg underground development activities and advanced plans for new smelter in Indonesia |
| Continued studies on potential large-scale brownfield expansions in copper business |
| Positioned oil and gas portfolio for long-term growth in Deepwater GOM |
| Added high-quality oil development projects (Lucius increased ownership, Heidelberg, Vito Basin) |
| Achieved successful drilling results at Holstein Deep, Dorado and King |
| Advanced Lucius oil development, and field achieved first production in January 2015 |
| Announced discovery at Highlander onshore South Louisiana and established first production in February 2015 |
| Completed approximately $6 billion in new financings (Cerro Verde credit facility, increased revolver, public debt) to improve liquidity and repay higher coupon debt |
Comparison of Target 2014 Direct Compensation to Average Actual Direct Compensation for 2011-2013
The transformation of our executive compensation program had an immediate and significant impact. As illustrated below, 2014 total target direct compensation (the sum of base salary, target annual incentive cash award, and the grant date value of long-term incentives) for each member of the Office of the Chairman was considerably lower than the average of these components for 2011 through 2013 as reported in the Summary Compensation Table for each of Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson (prior to the 2014 redesign of the program, the committee did not target specific pay levels):
The average reported compensation above does not include the value of perquisites, personal benefits, or post-employment compensation for each member of the Office of the Chairman or the RSUs granted to Mr. Adkerson in December 2013 in connection with termination of his employment agreement, which amounts are included in the Summary Compensation Table and the supplementary tables beginning on page 45.
Realizable Pay
2012 2014 Realizable Pay
In addition to reviewing total direct compensation, the committee also believes that it is important to review and assess realizable compensation over the last three years for our executive officers as a group and for our CEO. Realizable compensation differs from the amounts shown in the Summary Compensation Table required by the SEC, which appears on page 45, and provides an additional representation of executive compensation, but is not a substitute for that table. Realizable compensation includes the following elements of compensation found in the Summary Compensation Table, however, the valuation methodology of certain of these elements differs, as noted below:
32 Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement
| Base salary for the three-year period |
* | this value is equivalent to the aggregate value in the Summary Compensation Table |
| Cash awards under the AIP for the three-year period |
* | this value is equivalent to the aggregate value in the Summary Compensation Table |
| For performance-based RSUs and PSUs that were granted during the three-year period: |
| the value of such awards at vesting; or |
| for unvested awards, the value as of the end of the three-year period |
* | this value differs from the aggregate value reported in the Summary Compensation Table, which reports the grant date fair value of the performance-based RSUs granted during the three-year period |
| For stock options that were granted during the three-year period: |
| the value received upon exercise of such awards; or |
| for unexercised stock options, the value as of the end of the three-year period based on the Black-Scholes-Merton pricing model |
* | this value differs from the aggregate value reported in the Summary Compensation Table, which reports the grant date fair value of the stock options granted during the three-year period. |
As shown in the graph below, realizable compensation for our executive officers as a group and for our CEO for the three-year period was lower than the aggregate reported compensation in the Summary Compensation Table, primarily resulting from our actual stock price performance over the three-year period. Specifically, the decline in our stock price during the three-year period impacted both the actual value received in connection with vested performance-based RSUs and also the value of outstanding awards at the end of the period. In contrast, the values included in the Summary Compensation Table for these awards are the grant date fair values and thus do not reflect the impact of future stock price performance. Numbers below shown in millions.
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 33
Forfeiture of a Portion of 2012 Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) Award
In February 2015, the committee certified the results of the performance-based RSUs granted in 2012 for the three-year performance period ending December 31, 2014. These awards were subject to two performance metrics return on investment and total stockholder return. Although the return on investment goal was achieved, because our total stockholder return fell below the median of the applicable peer group, the executives forfeited 20% of the RSUs that were originally granted. The table below details the RSUs that were forfeited in 2015, including the amounts reflected in the Summary Compensation Table for 2012 compared to the amount actually realized.
Executive | Performance-Based Granted in 2012 |
Performance-Based RSUs Earned in February 2015 |
Value of Grant (in millions) |
Realized Value of (in millions) | ||||
Mr. Moffett |
106,998 | 85,598 | $4.7 | $1.7 | ||||
Mr. Adkerson |
106,998 | 85,598 | $4.7 | $1.7 | ||||
Mr. Flores |
n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | ||||
Ms. Quirk |
34,774 | 27,819 | $1.5 | $0.6 | ||||
Mr. Arnold |
29,424 | 23,539 | $1.3 | $0.5 | ||||
Totals |
278,194 | 222,554 | $12.2 | $4.5 |
Compensation Governance and Best Practices
Our executive compensation program is designed and managed by the independent compensation committee of our board. Structuring a compensation program is a complex process that includes weighing various possible incentives and associated risks, assessing the competitive environment for executive talent, and understanding various constituencies. The committee values stockholder perspectives as an element of the review process. The committee is aware of stockholder views both through the broad feedback mechanism of our annual say-on-pay vote on executive compensation, and through direct conversations with investors that allow us to gather more nuanced insights. The committee also seeks input from its independent compensation consultant and strives to incorporate compensation best practices into our program design.
Below we outline the compensation governance practices to which we are committed and which we believe enhance the performance of the company and the long-term value for stockholders, and those practices that we reject.
We Are Committed To:
ü Paying for Performance a significant portion of target direct compensation for our executive officers (83% for our top three executive officers in 2014) is tied to performance of our company and our stock price.
|
ü Limiting Total Target Incentive Compensation we currently limit the total target incentive awards under our AIP and LTI programs that may be received in any one year by our three top executive officers to no more than 5x base salary.
|
ü Clawback Policies we may recover incentive awards paid based on restated financial statements under certain circumstances.
|
ü Responding to Stockholder Feedback in addition to the extensive transformation of our executive compensation program in 2014, our compensation committee, together with its independent consultant, are in the process of reviewing our LTI program with the objective of incorporating additional performance metrics for performance periods beginning in 2016 in response to recent stockholder perspectives.
|
34 Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement
We Reject:
x Excise Tax Gross-Ups we have eliminated all excise tax gross-up provisions from our change in control arrangements with our executive officers.
|
x Single Trigger Cash Payments our change of control arrangements only provide for cash payments related to a change of control if the executive also experiences an actual or constructive termination of employment within one year of the change of control.
|
x Single Trigger Vesting of Equity equity-based awards granted by the company since February 2012 will not accelerate upon a change in control, and will only accelerate upon the recipients actual or constructive termination of employment within one year of the change of control.
|
x Hedging of Company Stock our insider trading policy prohibits our executives and directors from entering into hedging arrangements with respect to our securities.
|
x Excessive Pledging of Company Stock our insider trading policy provides the following limits on the ability of our executives and directors to pledge our securities:
our securities may not be pledged as collateral for a margin loan,
the executive or director must notify the company prior to execution of the pledge,
the executive or director must establish that he or she has the financial capacity to repay the loan without resorting to the pledged securities, and
any shares pledged will not be considered as owned for purposes of the stock ownership guidelines applicable to the executive or the director.
|
Executive Compensation Philosophy
The fundamental principles of our companys executive compensation philosophy are to:
| Pay for performance by emphasizing performance-based compensation that balances rewards for both short- and long-term results, |
| Align compensation with the interests of stockholders and the strategy of our business, and |
| Provide a competitive level of compensation to retain talent. |
In order to achieve these goals, our committee believes that not only should a significant portion of the named executive officers compensation be performance-based, but also that such compensation should correspond to the key measures used by our stockholders in assessing our companys value and driving future growth.
Under our new program, the primary elements of the performance-based pay are (1) the awards under our AIP, which uses financial, operational, safety, environmental and social responsibility metrics to measure performance, and (2) awards under our LTI program, which currently focus on stock price appreciation and total stockholder return.
Overview of Principal Components of Executive Compensation
The principal components of executive officer compensation for 2014 were base salaries, annual incentive awards and long-term incentive awards in the form of PSUs and stock options. In addition, we provide our executives with certain personal benefits and perquisites, as well as post-employment compensation. The following is an explanation of each principal component of our executive compensation program, including a description of our committees compensation decisions for 2014.
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 35
Base Salaries
How base salaries support our compensation philosophy and objectives:
|
Base salaries help us meet the objective of attracting and retaining the key talent and executive officers needed to manage our business successfully.
Fixed compensation in the form of base salary represents a small portion of our executive officers compensation, reflecting our goal to allocate more compensation to the performance-dependent elements of the total compensation package.
Individual base salary amounts reflect our committees judgment with respect to each executive officers responsibility, performance, work experience and the individuals historical salary level; we have not increased the base salaries of our executive officers since May 2007.
The base salaries of Messrs. Moffett and Flores and Ms. Quirk are contractually set pursuant to their employment agreements.
|
2014 Highlights: Base Salaries
|
As part of the redesign of our executive compensation program, we reduced the base salaries of our three top executives by 50%, from $2.5 million to $1.25 million. In addition to reducing the level of fixed compensation each of these executives will be entitled to, the salary reductions also result in the following:
Under the new program, AIP awards are based on a multiple of base salary, and thus the reduced salaries will also operate to reduce future AIP payouts.
For Messrs. Moffett and Flores, under their respective agreements with the company, their base salaries are components of the calculations determining the cash severance payments each would be eligible to receive upon certain terminations of employment before and after a change in control, and thus those potential benefits have also been reduced.
|
Annual Incentive Awards
Our AIP is designed to provide performance-based awards to our executive officers, each of whose performance has a significant impact on our financial stability, profitability and future growth.
How the overall design of the 2014 AIP supports our compensation philosophy and objectives:
|
It encourages the alignment of executive management with stockholder objectives.
Its focus on operating cash flow and copper and oil equivalent production volumes reflects our business goals and objectives, including long-term returns for our stockholders, while its inclusion of safety and environmental and social responsibility metrics promote the goals of operating the business in a responsible manner.
The variability of cash flows associated with changes in commodity prices, fluctuations in production volumes, cost management and other business conditions, closely aligns management and stockholder interests.
Its cap on awards to 2x the executives base salary for the Office of the Chairman limits the value of awards while providing significant compensation opportunities if the companys performance warrants high payouts.
|
36 Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement
General Structure of the AIP for 2014. For 2014, the committee established target performance goals in three categories that it believes effectively measure the performance of the company, with each category accounting for a specific percentage of the target award. In these categories, the committee chose the following metrics to measure performance:
Performance Category
|
Performance Metrics
|
Purpose
| ||
Financial |
Operating Cash Flow Excluding Working Capital Changes |
Directly reflects focus on cash generated from our businesses
| ||
Operational |
Copper Production Volumes |
A meaningful indicator of our operational performance
| ||
Oil Equivalents Production Volumes |
A meaningful indicator of our operational performance
| |||
Safety and Environmental/Social Responsibility |
Safety |
Alignment of our highest priority safety of our people
| ||
Environmental & Social Responsibility |
Supports our significant focus on working toward sustainable development
|
Following the end of the year, each performance metric is evaluated against the target goal, with payout levels defined for threshold (70% of the target goal), target and maximum (130% of the target goal) levels of performance. If performance falls within these levels, a sliding scale is used to determine the appropriate payout.
2014 Highlights: Annual Incentive Program
|
The 2014 AIP represents a significant change from our prior program, which utilized a pool concept that was funded based on specific stockholder approved goals and focused on the committees exercise of negative discretion to reduce awards under the pool. Under the new program, each executive has a target award based on a multiple of salary, and will earn annual cash awards based on the companys performance relative to defined goals established by the committee each year.
Some highlights of the program for 2014 include:
The target annual incentive award for each of Messrs. Moffett, Adkerson and Flores was 100% of base salary, or $1.25 million.
The target for each of Ms. Quirk and Mr. Arnold was 175% of base salary.
Annual cash incentive payments for threshold performance start at 50% of target with maximum performance earning 200% of target, although the committee retains the right to reduce the payment to 0% of target.
|
2014 Earned AIP Awards. In February 2015, the committee evaluated the companys performance against the AIP targets, which were as follows:
Performance Category | Performance Metrics | Weighting | Target (+/-5%) |
2014 Results |
% of
Target Earned | |||||||
Financial |
Operating Cash Flow Excluding Working Capital Changes (in billions)
|
|
50.0
|
%
|
$6.7
|
$6.9
|
100%
| |||||
Operational |
Copper Production Volumes (in billions of pounds)
|
|
17.5
|
%
|
4.0
|
3.9
|
100%
| |||||
Oil Equivalents Production Volumes (MMBOE)
|
|
7.5
|
%
|
53.9
|
56.8
|
100%
| ||||||
Safety and Environmental/Social Responsibility |
Safety (TRIR)
|
|
15.0
|
%
|
0.61
|
0.56
|
100%
| |||||
Environmental & Social Responsibility
|
|
10.0
|
%
|
|
|
100%
|
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 37
Upon establishment of the financial and operational performance goals in February 2014, the committee approved target goals that were consistent with the companys budget for the year, and also approved certain adjustments to these goals. Accordingly, the results were adjusted for the following: Indonesias export ban and the 2014 sales of Eagle Ford and Candelaria/Ojos (in addition, taxes on the asset sales were excluded from actual results reflected). As a result, the company performed at the target level for each of the financial and operational metrics and above target for the safety metric; however, the committee elected to maintain the safety component at target.
With regard to the environmental and social responsibility metric, the committee did not set objective targets for 2014, but instead chose to qualitatively assess the companys performance in this area following the end of the year. During 2014, the committee developed a scorecard to measure environmental and social responsibility performance for 2015 and used those principles to guide the review of 2014 performance in those areas. The committee considered the environmental performance with respect to environmental penalties, reportable spills and releases, and notices of violation. With regard to the social responsibility category, the committee considered a corporate-level human rights impact assessment to further integrate the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights into our programs, investment in community programs, and third-party feedback and recognition of sustainability programs. As a result of its assessment, the committee determined that the executives had earned 100% of the target level of this metric as well.
Accordingly, based on the companys overall performance relative to the metrics, the executives earned 100% of the target payout under the 2014 AIP. The amounts earned by each executive are reflected in the Summary Compensation Table on page 45 under the columns entitled Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation (reflecting the payout of the financial, operation and safety metrics) and Bonus (reflecting the payout of the environmental and social responsibility metric).
Long-Term Incentive Awards
Until 2014, long-term incentives granted by the company to our executives have been in the form of stock options, with performance-based RSUs granted to our executives as part of the prior AIP. As part of the redesigned program, beginning in 2014 the committee awarded a combination of stock options and PSUs for the LTI program, as described below.
How our long-term incentive awards support our compensation philosophy and objectives:
|
Long-term incentives are a variable component of compensation intended to reward our executives for the companys success in achieving sustained, long-term profitability and increases in stock value.
PSU payout is based on our relative stockholder return compared to our peers over a three-year performance period, thus directly linking our executives earnings to our stockholders returns.
Equity-based long-term incentives also strengthen focus on stock price performance and encourage executive ownership of our stock.
Stock options align our executives interests with those of our stockholders as the stock options value is dependent on the performance of our stock price. Based on the past experience of our company, our committee believes that stock options continue to be an excellent performance-based compensation vehicle that links executive compensation to stockholder return.
|
38 Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement
As in the past, stock options vest ratably over a four-year period. The future value of the stock options will be solely dependent on the performance of the companys stock price from the grant date. The PSUs vest and pay out in shares of common stock following the end of a three-year performance period based on the companys total stockholder return compared to the total stockholder return of our peer group (see page 42 for information about the companies in the peer group). The executives will earn between 0% and 200% of the target PSU award based on the companys rank compared to the peer companies; provided, however, that if the companys total stockholder return is equal to or less than 0%, the maximum that can be earned is 100% of the target award. Earned awards will be determined as specified in the following table:
FCX Rank | FCX TSR >0%
Performance Share |
FCX TSR </=0%
Performance Share | ||
1-2 (>87th percentile) |
200% | 100% | ||
3 |
180% | 100% | ||
4 |
160% | 100% | ||
5 |
140% | 100% | ||
6 |
120% | 100% | ||
7-8 (50th-56th percentile) |
100% | 100% | ||
9 |
80% | 80% | ||
10 |
60% | 60% | ||
11 |
40% | 40% | ||
12-16 (<25th percentile) |
0% | 0% |
2014 Highlights: LTI Program
|
Under the new program, our executive officers will receive grants of performance share units (PSUs) and stock options as follows:
For Messrs. Moffett, Adkerson and Flores, the aggregate grant date value of the target PSUs and stock options awarded was equal to approximately 4x base salary.
For Ms. Quirk and Mr. Arnold, the aggregate grant date value of the target PSUs and stock options awarded was equal to approximately 5x base salary.
The awards were equally split between PSUs and stock options.
The committee will be granting long-term incentive awards at the beginning of the applicable year, thus the timing of the disclosure in the Summary Compensation Table now corresponds to the committees view of the compensation.
|
2015 Revisions to PSUs. As noted in the Executive Summary on page 31, in response to recurring feedback from our investors, the committee and its independent consultant will be reviewing the structure of our PSU program during 2015, with the goal of including one or more additional performance metrics for performance periods beginning in 2016. The Committee believes that while total stockholder return is an effective measure of the alignment of executive pay with stockholder returns, there are additional metrics that are helpful to further drive long-term value. Thus, the committee is exploring adding other metrics to the program that will incentivize management to focus on creating long-term value for our stockholders.
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 39
Personal Benefits and Perquisites
In addition to the primary elements of our compensation program discussed above, we also provide certain personal benefits and perquisites to our executive officers. In recent years we have revised this program to discontinue certain benefits, and we will continue to monitor this program and adjust it as we deem appropriate. The personal benefits and perquisites currently offered are reflected in the Summary Compensation Table. Many of these benefits are designed to provide an added level of security to our executives and increase travel efficiencies, thus ensuring the executives ready availability on short notice and enabling the executives to focus more time and energy on company matters and driving performance. Our committee also recognizes the high degree of integration between the personal and professional lives of these executive officers, and that these benefits ensure the security of the companys proprietary information by enabling our officers to conduct business while traveling without concern that company information will be compromised.
In addition to the compensation received by the executive officers during 2014 and benefits under our tax-qualified defined contribution plans, which we provide to all qualified employees, we also provide certain post-employment benefits to our executive officers, including a nonqualified defined contribution plan, as well as a supplemental executive retirement plan and change of control and severance benefits to certain executives.
Nonqualified Defined Contribution Plan
We maintain an unfunded nonqualified defined contribution plan for the benefit of our executive officers, as well as other employees. The plan provides those employees whose earnings in a prior year were in excess of the dollar limit under Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code the ability to defer up to 20% of their base salary after deferrals to the ECAP (the 401(k) plan) have ceased due to qualified plan limits. The company makes a matching contribution (up to 5% of the executive base salary) equal to the participants deferrals in this plan and the ECAP. In addition, in 2014 the company also made enhanced contributions equal to 4% of eligible compensation (base salary plus 50% of bonus) in excess of qualified plan limits for each eligible employee, with employees who met certain age and service requirements in 2000 (including Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson) receiving an additional 6% contribution. The purpose of the nonqualified plan is to make total retirement benefits for our employees who earn over the qualified plan limits commensurate with those available to other employees as a percentage of pay.
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
We established an unfunded supplemental executive retirement plan (SERP) for Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson in February 2004. Our committee, advised by its independent compensation consultant at the time, approved the SERP, which was then recommended to and approved by our board. The SERP provides for benefits payable in the form of a 100% joint and survivor annuity, life annuity or an equivalent lump sum. The annuity will equal a percentage of the executives highest base pay for any three of the five years immediately preceding the earlier of the executives retirement or the completion of 25 years of credited service, plus his average bonus for those years, provided that the average bonus cannot exceed 200% of average base pay. The percentage used in this calculation is equal to 2% for each year of credited service up to 25 years. Income associated with option exercises or the vesting of RSUs is not considered in determining the benefits payable under the SERP.
The SERP benefit will be reduced by the value of all benefits received under all other retirement plans (qualified and nonqualified), sponsored by the company, by FM Services Company, one of our wholly owned subsidiaries, or by any predecessor employer (including our former parent company), except for benefits produced by accounts funded exclusively by deductions from the participants pay. Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson are both 100% vested under the SERP.
40 Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement
Change of Control and Severance Benefits
We provide Messrs. Moffett and Flores and Ms. Quirk with contractual protections in the event of a change of control, and have also entered into employment agreements with each of these executives that provide additional severance benefits. We believe that severance protections, particularly in the context of a change of control transaction, can play a valuable role in attracting and retaining key executive officers by providing protections commonly provided in the market. In addition, we believe these benefits also serve the companys interest by promoting a continuity of management in the context of an actual or threatened change of control transaction. The existence of these arrangements does not impact our decisions regarding other components of our executive compensation program, although we consider these severance protections an important part of our executives compensation packages.
We also believe that the occurrence, or potential occurrence, of a change of control transaction will create uncertainty regarding the continued employment of our executive officers. This uncertainty results from the fact that many change of control transactions result in significant organizational changes, particularly at the senior executive level. In order to encourage certain executive officers to remain employed with the company during an important time when their prospects for continued employment following the transaction are often uncertain, we provide certain executive officers with enhanced severance benefits if their employment is terminated by the company without cause or, in certain cases, by the executive in connection with a change of control. Because we believe that a termination by the executive for good reason may be conceptually the same as a termination by the company without cause, and because we believe that in the context of a change of control, potential acquirors would otherwise have an incentive to constructively terminate the executives employment to avoid paying severance, we believe it is appropriate to provide severance benefits in these circumstances. We do not provide excise tax gross-up protections under any change of control arrangements with our executive officers.
We do not believe that our executive officers should be entitled to receive cash severance benefits merely because a change of control transaction occurs. The payment of cash severance benefits is only triggered by an actual or constructive termination of employment following a change of control (i.e. a double trigger). In addition, beginning with the awards we granted in early 2012, our long-term incentive awards, including the stock options, RSUs and PSUs granted to the executives, provide for accelerated vesting of the award following a change of control only if the recipient also experiences an actual or constructive termination of employment within one year after the change of control.
As described in more detail below under Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control, Messrs. Moffett and Flores and Ms. Quirk would also be entitled under their employment agreements to severance benefits in the event of a termination of employment by the company without cause or by the executive for good reason. Our committee has determined that it is appropriate to provide these executives with severance benefits under these circumstances in light of their positions with the company and as part of their overall compensation package.
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 41
Compensation Processes and Policies
Role of Advisors
Our committee has engaged Pay Governance LLC (Pay Governance) as its independent executive compensation consultant since February 2010. Consistent with our committees longstanding policy, Pay Governance will not provide, and has not provided, any services to the companys management. As required by SEC rules, the committee has assessed the independence of Pay Governance and concluded that Pay Governances work did not raise any conflicts of interest. A representative of Pay Governance attends meetings of our committee and communicates with our committee chair between meetings; however, our committee makes all decisions regarding the compensation of our executive officers. Pay Governance provides various executive compensation services to our committee, including advising our committee on the principal aspects of our executive compensation program and evolving industry practices and providing market information and analysis regarding the competitiveness of our program design, as discussed in more detail below.
Peer Group
Following our acquisitions of oil and gas companies in mid-2013, Pay Governance worked with the committee and management to structure a new peer group that would better align with the companys transformation to a natural resources company. The committee sought to identify peers engaged in international mining activities or oil and gas exploration and production activities. The committee recognized that there are a limited number of international public mining companies of a similar size, scale and complexity as the company. The committee also considered the appropriate mix of mining and oil and gas companies and concluded that two-thirds mining and one-third oil and gas was the appropriate balance. In addition, the committee considered key business competitors that the company has internally tracked for performance and other purposes. The committee determined that the following companies were appropriate peers for us to compare both our executive compensation programs and our performance:
Mining Companies
|
Oil and Gas Companies
| |
Anglo American plc |
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation | |
Antofagasta plc |
Apache Corporation | |
Barrick Gold Corporation |
ConocoPhillips | |
BHP Billiton Limited |
Devon Energy Corporation | |
Glencore plc |
Occidental Petroleum Corporation | |
Newmont Mining Corporation |
||
Rio Tinto plc |
||
Southern Copper Corporation |
||
Teck Resources Limited |
||
Vale S.A. |
Stock Ownership
We believe that it is important for our executive officers to align their interests with the long-term interests of our stockholders. With that philosophy in mind, we have structured our compensation program to ensure that a portion of our executive officers compensation is delivered in the form of equity, such as stock options, RSUs and PSUs.
42 Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement
Under our stock ownership guidelines, each of our executive officers is required to maintain ownership of company stock valued at a certain multiple of base salary. Shares that the executive has pledged, shares held by a spouse or children, and shares due upon the vesting of PSUs are not counted as shares owned for purposes of the guidelines. As of December 31, 2014, all of our executive officers had exceeded their target ownership level.
Executive | Ownership Requirement |
Actual Ownership
Level as of December 31, 2014 (Using 1-year | ||
Mr. Moffett |
5x base salary | 43x base salary | ||
Mr. Adkerson |
5x base salary | 75x base salary | ||
Mr. Flores |
5x base salary | 223x base salary | ||
Ms. Quirk |
3x base salary | 23x base salary | ||
Mr. Arnold |
3x base salary | 19x base salary |
These ownership levels reflect their individual commitments to align their interests with those of our stockholders and provide our executives with an incentive to maximize the value of our stock over the long term. For more information regarding the current stock holdings of our executive officers, please see Stock Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers.
Compensation Clawback Policy
Our committee has adopted an incentive compensation clawback policy that would enable the company to clawback all or a portion of incentive compensation in the event an executives misconduct causes the company to have to issue a restatement of its financial statements, to the extent that such executives incentive compensation was based on the misstated financials. Our committee will amend the clawback policy, as needed, once the SEC adopts the final implementing rules regarding compensation clawbacks mandated by Dodd-Frank.
Risks Arising from Compensation Policies and Practices
After reviewing the companys significant compensation programs, management and our committee believe that the risks arising from our compensation policies and practices for our employees, including our executive officers, are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the company. In reaching this conclusion, we have taken into account the purpose and structure of these programs and the following design elements of our compensation programs and policies: our balance and amount of annual and long-term compensation elements at the executive and management levels; our use of operating cash flow and copper and oil equivalent production volumes as performance metrics for executives and management level employees, which we believe are meaningful indicators of our performance; the multi-year vesting of equity awards and three-year performance period of our PSUs that promote focus on the long-term operational and financial performance of our company; and bonus arrangements for most employees that are not guaranteed and are ultimately at the discretion of either our committee (for our executive officers and senior management) or senior management (for other employees). These features, as well as the stock ownership requirements for our executive officers, result in a compensation program that aligns our executives interests with those of our stockholders and does not promote excessive risk-taking on the part of our executives or other employees.
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 43
Section 162(m)
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (Section 162(m)) limits to $1 million a public companys annual tax deduction for compensation paid to certain highly compensated executive officers. Qualified performance-based compensation is excluded from this deduction limitation if certain requirements are met. The committees policy is to structure compensation awards that will be deductible where doing so will further the purposes of our executive compensation programs. The committee also considers it important to retain flexibility to design compensation programs that recognize a full range of criteria important to our success, even where compensation payable under the programs may not be fully deductible. As such, the committee may implement revised or additional compensation programs in the future as it deems necessary to appropriately compensate our executive team.
The 2014 AIP was structured under our new Annual Incentive Plan, which was approved by our stockholders in 2014. This plan provides the committee the ability to structure annual incentive awards that are designed to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m), although the committee retains the discretion to structure compensation arrangements outside of the new plan that may not be deductible under Section 162(m). The objective performance goals applicable to the financial and operational metrics under the 2014 AIP were designed to qualify for the exclusion from the deduction limitation under Section 162(m), however, the portion of the 2014 AIP based on safety, environmental and social responsibility has not been designed to be deductible under Section 162(m). With respect to the LTI awards granted in 2014, the stock options and the PSUs were also designed to qualify for the exclusion from the deduction limitation under Section 162(m).
The compensation committee of the board has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K, and based on such review and discussion, the compensation committee recommended to the board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement.
Submitted by the Compensation Committee on April 21, 2015:
H. Devon Graham, Jr., Chairman Dustan E. McCoy, Vice Chairman Robert J. Allison, Jr. Charles C. Krulak Bobby Lee Lackey Frances Fragos Townsend |
44 Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement
The table below shows the total compensation paid to or earned by our named executive officers. For a more detailed discussion of our executive compensation program, including recent changes to our program, see the section titled Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning on page 28.
Name and Principal Position |
Year | Salary (1) |
Bonus (2) |
Stock (3) |
Option (4) |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation (5) |
Change in Pension (6) |
All
Other Compensation (7) |
Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
James R. Moffett Chairman of the Board |
|
2014 2013 2012 |
|
$
|
1,354,167 2,500,000 2,500,000 |
|
$
|
125,000 |
|
$
|
2,556,265 9,860,216 4,746,016 |
|
|
$2,489,050 4,941,000 5,190,900 |
|
|
$1,125,000 1,250,000 |
|
|
$1,825,857 1,644,729 1,490,722 |
|
|
$ 1,102,537 1,644,603 1,771,778 |
|
$
|
10,577,876 21,840,548 15,699,416 |
| |||||||||
Richard C. Adkerson Vice Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer |
|
2014 2013 2012 |
|
|
1,354,167 2,500,000 2,500,000 |
|
|
125,000 |
|
|
2,556,265 9,860,216 4,746,016 |
|
|
2,489,050 4,941,000 5,190,900 |
|
|
1,125,000 1,250,000 |
|
|
1,735,332 |
|
|
738,221 36,709,323 1,574,460 |
|
|
10,123,035 55,260,539 14,011,376 |
| |||||||||
James C. Flores Vice Chairman of the company and President and Chief Executive Officer of Freeport- McMoRan Oil & Gas LLC |
|
2014 2013 |
|
|
1,354,167 1,461,795 |
|
|
125,000 |
|
|
2,556,265 |
|
|
2,489,050 |
|
|
1,125,000 1,250,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
624,346 353,190 |
|
|
8,273,828 3,064,985 |
| |||||||||
Kathleen L. Quirk Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
|
2014 2013 2012 |
|
|
650,000 650,000 650,000 |
|
|
113,750 |
|
|
1,652,220 3,286,739 1,542,440 |
|
|
1,634,600 1,647,000 1,730,300 |
|
|
1,023,750 1,100,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
93,472 159,822 132,756 |
|
|
5,167,792 6,843,561 4,055,496 |
| |||||||||
Michael J. Arnold Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer |
|
2014 2013 2012 |
|
|
550,000 550,000 550,000 |
|
|
96,250 |
|
|
1,402,828 1,643,369 1,305,134 |
|
|
1,374,550 1,482,300 1,573,000 |
|
|
866,250 1,000,000 1,200,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
97,143 156,706 134,633 |
|
|
4,387,021 4,832,375 4,762,767 |
|
(1) | The base salaries of Messrs. Moffett, Adkerson and Flores were reduced from $2,500,000 to $1,250,000 effective on February 1, 2014. |
(2) | Reflects the portion of the annual incentive award payments attributable to the environmental/social responsibility performance metric. See the section titled Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning on page 28 for more information. |
(3) | The amounts reported for 2014 reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of the award of performance share units (PSUs). The grant date fair value of PSUs awarded in February 2014 was calculated using a Monte-Carlo simulation model as described in Note 10 of our financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014. The maximum aggregate grant date value of the 2014 stock awards for each of the named executive officers assuming maximum payout of the PSUs is as follows: for each of Messrs. Moffett, Adkerson and Flores$5,489,080, for Ms. Quirk$3,547,820 and for Mr. Arnold$3,012,300. For more information regarding PSUs granted to the named executive officers, see the section titled Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning on page 28 and footnote (2) to the Grants of Plan-Based Awards table. |
(4) | Reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of the options granted to the named executive officers in the year reflected, determined using the Black-Scholes-Merton option valuation model. For information relating to the assumptions made by us in valuing the option awards made to our named executive officers, refer to Notes 1 and 10 of our financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. For more information regarding options granted to the named executive officers, see the section titled Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning on page 28. |
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 45
(5) | Reflects the annual incentive award payments received under our annual incentive program based on the achievement of pre-established goals. See the section titled Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning on page 28 for more information. |
(6) | Includes the aggregate change in actuarial present value of our supplemental executive retirement plan for Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson. See the section titled Retirement Benefit Programs beginning on page 51 for more information. |
(7) | The amounts reported for 2014 are shown in the table below and reflect all perquisites and other personal benefits and (A) amounts contributed by the company to defined contribution plans, which includes amounts contributed to the ECAP and the nonqualified defined contribution plan; (B) the dollar value of life insurance premiums paid by the company; and (C) the dollar value of interest credited on dividend equivalents on unvested restricted stock units (RSUs). |
The perquisites and other personal benefits reported in the table below include (a) personal financial and tax advice under the companys executive services program, (b) for Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson, personal use of fractionally owned company aircraft, which includes the hourly operating rate, fuel costs and incidental fees directly related to the flight, and for Mr. Flores, personal use of company owned aircraft, which includes maintenance expenses, fuel costs, crew travel expenses, in-flight food and beverage services, parking, ramp and landing fees, airport taxes and similar fees directly related to the flight, (c) personal use of company facilities and personnel, (d) personal and business use of company cars and security services, which includes annual driver compensation and annual car lease and insurance costs, and (e) our premium payments for personal excess liability insurance. The amounts reflect the incremental cost to the company.
2014 All Other Compensation
Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits | Additional All Other Compensation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Financial and Tax Advice |
Aircraft Usage |
Facilities and Personnel |
Security and Cars |
Personal Excess Liability Insurance Premiums |
Plan Contributions |
Life Insurance Premiums |
Interest Credited on Dividend Equivalents |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Moffett |
$20,000 | $ | 517,088 | $208,483 | $ | 55,885 | $4,791 | $255,738 | | $40,552 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Adkerson |
20,000 | 145,986 | 51,572 | 175,198 | 4,791 | 255,738 | $22,265 | 62,671 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Flores |
20,000 | 528,898 | | | 4,594 | 26,000 | | 44,854 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ms. Quirk |
2,300 | | | | 1,575 | 76,220 | | 13,377 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Arnold |
18,045 | | | 780 | 1,575 | 68,440 | | 8,303 |
The aggregate incremental cost to the company of Messrs. Moffett, Adkerson and Flores personal use of aircraft does not include the lost tax deduction for expenses that exceeded the amounts reported as income for each executive, which for fiscal year 2014 was approximately $283,424 for Mr. Moffett and $68,947 for Mr. Adkerson with respect to their personal use of fractionally owned company aircraft, and $1,141,309 for Mr. Flores with respect to his personal use of company owned aircraft. Expenses subject to disallowance of deductions in 2014 in connection with the personal use of company owned aircraft include fixed costs such as depreciation, some of which may be recovered by the company in future years upon sale of the aircraft.
46 Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement
Name |
Grant Date |
Approval Date |
Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards (1) |
Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards (2) |
All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options (3) |
Exercise or Base Price of Option Awards (4) |
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Threshold | Target | Maximum | Threshold | Target | Maximum | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
James R. Moffett AIP LTIP PSUs LTIP Options |
|
02/27/14 02/04/14 |
|
|
02/04/14 |
|
|
$562,500 |
|
$
|
1,125,000 |
|
$
|
2,250,000 |
|
|
32,800 |
|
|
82,000 |
|
|
164,000 |
|
|
335,000 |
|
|
$30.94 |
|
$
|
2,556,265 2,489,050 |
| |||||||||||||||
Richard C. Adkerson AIP LTIP PSUs LTIP Options |
|
02/27/14 02/04/14 |
|
|
02/04/14 |
|
|
562,500 |
|
|
1,125,000 |
|
|
2,250,000 |
|
|
32,800 |
|
|
82,000 |
|
|
164,000 |
|
|
335,000 |
|
|
30.94 |
|
|
2,556,265 2,489,050 |
| |||||||||||||||
James C. Flores AIP LTIP PSUs LTIP Options |
|
02/27/14 02/04/14 |
|
|
02/04/14 |
|
|
562,500 |
|
|
1,125,000 |
|
|
2,250,000 |
|
|
32,800 |
|
|
82,000 |
|
|
164,000 |
|
|
335,000 |
|
|
30.94 |
|
|
2,556,265 2,489,050 |
| |||||||||||||||
Kathleen L. Quirk AIP LTIP PSUs LTIP Options |
|
02/27/14 02/04/14 |
|
|
02/04/14 |
|
|
511,875 |
|
|
1,023,750 |
|
|
2,047,500 |
|
|
21,200 |
|
|
53,000 |
|
|
106,000 |
|
|
220,000 |
|
|
30.94 |
|
|
1,652,220 1,643,600 |
| |||||||||||||||
Michael J. Arnold AIP LTIP PSUs LTIP Options |
|
02/27/14 02/04/14 |
|
|
02/04/14 |
|
|
433,125 |
|
|
866,250 |
|
|
1,732,500 |
|
|
18,000 |
|
|
45,000 |
|
|
90,000 |
|
|
185,000 |
|
|
30.94 |
|
|
1,402,828 1,374,550 |
|
(1) | For 2014, under the annual incentive program, each executive had a target award based on a multiple of salary, and earned a cash award based on the companys performance relative to defined goals established by the compensation committee. The amounts reported represent the estimated threshold, target and maximum possible annual cash incentive payments that could have been received by each named executive officer pursuant to the annual incentive program for 2014, excluding the 10% of the payments attributable to environmental/social responsibility performance, which was evaluated by the compensation committee on a qualitative basis. The estimated amounts in the Target column were calculated by multiplying each officers target award, which was 100% of base salary for each of Messrs. Moffett, Adkerson and Flores and 175% for each of Ms. Quirk and Mr. Arnold, by 90% (to exclude the 10% of the payments attributable to environmental/social responsibility performance). For more information, see the section titled Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning on page 28. |
(2) | These awards represent PSUs awarded to the executive officers as part of the 2014 long-term incentive program. Each of the named executive officers received 50% of their 2014 long-term incentive program award in the form of PSUs. Each PSU granted in 2014 represents a contingent right to receive one share of our common stock, with the final number of shares to be issued to our named executive officers based on our total stockholder return (TSR) compared to the TSR of our peer group during the three-year period ending on December 31, 2016. The executives will earn between 0% and 200% of the target PSU award based on the companys rank compared to the peer companies; threshold performance will result in an award of 40% of the target award. For more information regarding PSUs granted to the named executive officers, see the section titled Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning on page 28. |
(3) | Each of the named executive officers received 50% of their 2014 long-term incentive program award in the form of options. |
(4) | The exercise price of each stock option reflected in this table was determined by reference to the closing quoted per share sale price of our common stock on the composite tape for NYSE-listed stocks on the grant date. |
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 47
Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2014
Option Awards (1) | Stock Awards (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Option Grant Date |
Number
of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Exercisable |
Number
of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Unexercisable |
Option Exercise Price (3) |
Option Expiration Date |
Number of Have
Not |
Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (4) |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (4) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
James R. Moffett |
|
01/31/05 01/30/06 01/29/07 01/28/08 02/01/10 02/07/11 02/06/12 05/11/07 02/02/10 02/08/11 02/06/12 01/29/13 02/04/14 |
* * * * * * *
|
|
270,000 270,000 243,000 243,000 243,000 243,000 216,000 750,000 1,000,000 375,000 165,000 112,500 |
|
|
27,000 54,000 125,000 165,000 337,500 335,000 |
|
|
$30.830 36.760 22.650 27.860 29.130 31.950 24.080 36.460 36.255 55.640 46.730 35.010 30.940 |
|
|
01/31/15 01/30/16 01/29/17 01/28/18 02/01/20 02/07/21 02/06/22 05/11/17 02/02/20 02/08/21 02/06/22 01/29/23 02/04/24 |
|
| | 439,798 | $ | 10,273,681 | ||||||||||||||||||
Richard C. Adkerson |
|
01/31/05 01/30/06 01/29/07 01/28/08 02/02/09 02/01/10 02/07/11 02/06/12 05/11/07 02/02/09 02/02/10 02/08/11 02/06/12 01/29/13 02/04/14 |
* * * * * * * *
|
|
189,000 189,000 162,000 162,000 162,000 162,000 135,000 135,000 3,000,000 250,000 1,000,000 500,000 330,000 450,000 |
|
|
335,000 |
|
|
30.830 36.760 22.650 27.860 11.930 29.130 31.950 24.080 36.460 12.295 36.255 55.640 46.730 35.010 30.940 |
|
|
01/31/15 01/30/16 01/29/17 01/28/18 02/02/19 02/01/20 02/07/21 02/06/22 05/11/17 02/02/19 02/02/20 02/08/21 02/06/22 01/29/23 02/04/24 |
|
| | 439,798 | 10,273,681 | |||||||||||||||||||
James C. Flores |
|
12/30/10 06/01/11 06/01/12 02/04/14 |
* * *
|
|
1,350 5,400 5,400 |
|
|
335,000 |
|
|
31.820 32.600 16.340 30.940 |
|
|
12/30/20 06/01/21 06/01/22 02/04/24 |
|
185,568 | $ | 4,334,868 | 32,800 | 766,208 | ||||||||||||||||||
Kathleen L. Quirk |
|
01/31/05 01/30/06 01/29/07 01/28/08 02/02/09 02/01/10 02/07/11 02/06/12 02/01/05 05/11/07 02/02/09 02/02/10 02/08/11 02/06/12 01/29/13 02/04/14 |
* * * * * * * *
|
|
13,500 16,200 40,500 40,500 40,500 40,500 36,450 32,400 371,500 1,000,000 300,000 300,000 112,500 55,000 37,500 |
|
|
4,050 8,100 37,500 55,000 112,500 220,000 |
|
|
30.830 36.760 22.650 27.860 11.930 29.130 31.950 24.080 18.520 36.460 12.295 36.255 55.640 46.730 35.010 30.940 |
|
|
01/31/15 01/30/16 01/29/17 01/28/18 02/02/19 02/01/20 02/07/21 02/06/22 02/01/15 05/11/17 02/02/19 02/02/20 02/08/21 02/06/22 01/29/23 02/04/24 |
|
| | 155,974 | 3,643,553 | |||||||||||||||||||
Michael J. Arnold |
|
05/11/07 02/02/09 02/02/10 02/08/11 02/06/12 01/29/13 02/04/14 |
|
|
700,000 180,000 240,000 90,000 50,000 33,750 |
|
|
30,000 50,000 101,250 185,000 |
|
|
36.460 12.295 36.255 55.640 46.730 35.010 30.940 |
|
|
05/11/17 02/02/19 02/02/20 02/08/21 02/06/22 01/29/23 02/04/24 |
|
| | 97,424 | 2,275,825 |
48 Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement
* | Represents stock options granted by McMoRan Exploration that converted to company stock options in connection with our acquisition of McMoRan Exploration on June 3, 2013. |
(1) | Unless otherwise noted, the stock options become exercisable in 25% annual increments on each of the first four anniversaries of the date of grant and have a term of 10 years. The stock options granted by the company prior to 2012 will become immediately exercisable in the event of a change in control of the company (as defined in the applicable agreement), and stock options granted by the company in 2012, 2013 and 2014 will only become immediately exercisable if there is a qualifying termination of employment following a change in control. |
(2) | Represents RSUs and PSUs held by the named executive officers, as set forth in the tables below. The RSUs will vest and be paid out in shares of our common stock as set forth in the table below, provided that, with respect to the RSUs held by each named executive officer other than Mr. Flores, the average return on investment for the five calendar years preceding the year of vesting is at least 6%. In addition, the RSUs vesting on February 15, 2015 and 2016 are subject to a 20% reduction if our total TSR for the three-year period ending on December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively, is below the median TSR of a peer group. In accordance with this provision, 20% of the RSUs vesting on February 15, 2015 were forfeited. The full amounts of the RSU grants are reflected in the table below. |
Name | RSUs | Vesting Date |
||||||
Mr. Moffett |
|
106,998 300,000 |
|
|
02/15/15 02/15/16 |
| ||
Mr. Adkerson |
|
106,998 300,000 |
|
|
02/15/15 02/15/16 |
| ||
Mr. Flores |
|
28,962 28,962 20,916 20,916 |
* * * * |
|
03/31/15 03/31/16 03/31/17 03/31/18 |
| ||
Ms. Quirk |
|
34,774 100,000 |
|
|
02/15/15 02/15/16 |
| ||
Mr. Arnold |
|
29,424 50,000 |
|
|
02/15/15 02/15/16 |
|
* | Represents RSUs granted by Plains Exploration that converted to company RSUs in connection with our acquisition of Plains Exploration on May 31, 2013. |
In addition to the 99,756 stock-settled RSUs described above, Mr. Flores holds 85,812 RSUs that will vest and be paid out in cash as follows.
Name | RSUs | Vesting Date |
||||||
Mr. Flores |
|
42,906 42,906 |
* * |
|
03/31/15 03/31/16 |
|
* | Represents RSUs granted by Plains Exploration that converted to company RSUs in connection with our acquisition of Plains Exploration on May 31, 2013. |
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 49
The PSUs will vest and be paid out in shares of our common stock as set forth in the table below. The amounts reported in the table above are based on achieving threshold performance goals, resulting in an award of 40% of the target PSU award. The executives will earn between 0% and 200% of the target PSU award based on the companys TSR compared to the TSR of the companys peer group.
Name | PSUs | Vesting Date |
||||||||||||||
Threshold | Target | Maximum | ||||||||||||||
Mr. Moffett |
32,800 | 82,000 | 164,000 | 03/15/17 | ||||||||||||
Mr. Adkerson |
32,800 | 82,000 | 164,000 | 03/15/17 | ||||||||||||
Mr. Flores |
32,800 | 82,000 | 164,000 | 03/15/17 | ||||||||||||
Ms. Quirk |
21,200 | 53,000 | 106,000 | 03/15/17 | ||||||||||||
Mr. Arnold |
18,000 | 45,000 | 90,000 | 03/15/17 |
(3) | Effective January 30, 2007, the compensation committee amended its policies to provide that the exercise price of an option shall not be less than the closing quoted per share sale price of our common stock on the composite tape for NYSE-listed stocks on the grant date or, if there are no reported sales on such date, on the last preceding date on which any reported sale occurred. Thus, the exercise price of the stock options expiring in 2017 and thereafter was determined by reference to the closing price of our common stock. Prior to that time, the exercise price of each outstanding stock option reflected in this table was determined by reference to the average of the high and low quoted per share sale price of our common stock on the composite tape for NYSE-listed stocks on the grant date or, if there are no reported sales on such date, on the last preceding date on which any reported sale occurred. |
(4) | The market value of the unvested RSUs and PSUs reflected in this table was based on the $23.36 closing market price per share of our common stock on December 31, 2014. |
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
Option Awards |
Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||
Name | Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise |
Value Realized on Exercise (1) |
Number
of Shares Acquired on Vesting |
Value Realized on |
||||||||||||||
James R. Moffett |
668,500 | $7,962,900 | 46,539 | $1,570,691 | ||||||||||||||
Richard C. Adkerson |
108,000 | 144,720 | 46,539 | 1,570,691 | ||||||||||||||
James C. Flores |
| | 71,868 | (3) | 2,376,675 | |||||||||||||
Kathleen L. Quirk |
88,500 | 1,070,153 | 13,697 | 462,274 | ||||||||||||||
Michael J. Arnold |
| | 10,771 | 363,521 |
(1) | The value realized on exercise of options is based on the difference between the closing sale price on the date of exercise and the exercise price of each option. |
(2) | The value realized on vesting of RSUs is based on the closing sale price on the date of vesting of the RSUs or, if there were no reported sales on such date, on the last preceding date on which any reported sale occurred. |
(3) | Includes 28,962 stock-settled RSUs and 42,906 cash-settled RSUs that vested in 2014. |
50 Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement
Nonqualified Defined Contribution Plan. We maintain an unfunded nonqualified defined contribution plan (NQDC plan) for the benefit of our executive officers, as well as others. The NQDC plan provides those employees whose earnings in a prior year were in excess of the dollar limit under Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code the ability to defer up to 20% of their base salary after deferrals to the ECAP (our tax-qualified defined contribution plan) have ceased due to qualified plan limits. The company makes a matching contribution equal to the participants deferrals in this NQDC plan and the ECAP limited to 5% of the participants base salary. In addition, in 2014, the company also made enhanced contributions equal to 4% of eligible compensation (base salary plus 50% of bonus) in excess of qualified plan limits for each eligible employee, with employees who met certain age and service requirements in 2000 (including Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson) receiving an additional 6% contribution. Distribution is made in a lump sum as soon as practicable or if timely elected by the participant, on January 1st of the year following retirement, but no earlier than the date allowable under law following separation from service. The table below sets forth the balances under our NQDC plan as of December 31, 2014 for each named executive officer.
Deferred Restricted Stock Units. In connection with the termination of his employment agreement in December 2013, Mr. Adkerson received 1,000,000 RSUs. These RSUs represent the right to receive an equivalent number of shares of our common stock. The RSUs were vested at grant but payout of shares of our common stock is deferred until six months after Mr. Adkersons retirement.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
Name | Plan | Executive in Last Fiscal |
Registrant in Last Fiscal |
Aggregate in Last |
Aggregate Withdrawals/ Distributions |
Aggregate Last Fiscal |
||||||||||||||||
James R. Moffett |
NQDC plan | $98,875 | $221,238 | $1,067,516 | | $33,493,162 | ||||||||||||||||
Richard C. Adkerson |
NQDC plan | 98,875 | 221,238 | 778,687 | | 24,468,825 | ||||||||||||||||
Deferred RSUs | | | (14,380,000 | ) | | 23,360,000 | ||||||||||||||||
James C. Flores |
NQDC plan | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||
Kathleen L. Quirk |
NQDC plan | 107,000 | 52,820 | 45,153 | | 1,493,120 | ||||||||||||||||
Michael J. Arnold |
NQDC plan | 26,500 | 45,040 | 116,515 | | 3,679,261 |
(1) | The amounts reflected in this column are included in the Salary column for each named executive officer for 2014 reported in the Summary Compensation Table. |
(2) | The amounts reflected in this column are included in the All Other Compensation column for each named executive officer for 2014 in the Summary Compensation Table, although the Plan Contributions reflected in footnote (7) to that table also include contributions to the companys ECAP. |
(3) | The assets in the NQDC plan are treated as if invested to produce a rate of interest equal to the prime rate, as published in the Federal Reserve Statistical Report at the beginning of each month. For 2014, that rate of interest was equal to 3.25% for the entire year and none of the earnings were considered preferential. With respect to Mr. Adkersons deferred RSUs, the amount represents the number of deferred RSUs multiplied by the change in the price of our common stock from December 31, 2013 ($37.74) to December 31, 2014 ($23.36). |
(4) | The following amounts reflected in this column were included in the 2013 total compensation for each named executive officer in the Summary Compensation Table: Mr. Moffett $1,016,806, Mr. Adkerson $1,016,806, Ms. Quirk $204,005 and Mr. Arnold $108,905. The following amounts reflected in this column were included in the 2012 total compensation for each named executive officer in the Summary Compensation Table: Mr. Moffett $1,074,250, Mr. Adkerson $993,250, Ms. Quirk $128,360 and Mr. Arnold $107,920. |
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 51
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson. In February 2004, we established an unfunded Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) for Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson. The compensation committee, advised by its independent compensation consultant at that time, approved the SERP, which was then recommended to and approved by the board. The SERP provides for benefits payable in the form of a 100% joint and survivor annuity, life annuity or an equivalent lump sum. The annuity will equal a percentage of the executives highest average base pay for any three of the five calendar years immediately preceding the executives retirement, plus his average bonus for the same three years; provided that the average bonus cannot exceed 200% of the average base pay. The percentage used in this calculation is 2% for each year of credited service for the company and its predecessor beginning in 1981, but capped at 25 years. For Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson, who have attained 25 years of credited service, the annuity was fixed as of January 1st of the year in which the executive completed 25 years of credited service, and will only increase at retirement as a result of mortality and interest adjustments.
The SERP benefit is reduced by the value of all benefits from current and former retirement plans (qualified and nonqualified), sponsored by the company, by FM Services Company or by any predecessor employer (including our former parent company), except for benefits produced by accounts funded exclusively by deductions from the participants pay. The amounts provided in the table below reflect these reductions. Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson are both 100% vested under the SERP, and each has elected to receive his SERP benefit in a lump sum.
Name | Plan Name | Number of
Years Credited Service (1) |
Present Value
of Accumulated Benefit (2) | |||
James R. Moffett |
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan |
25 | $25,512,137 | |||
Richard C. Adkerson |
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan |
25 | 28,729,056 |
(1) | The years of credited service under the SERP is the participants years of service with the company and its predecessor beginning in 1981, but capped at 25 years. |
(2) | The actuarial present value of the accumulated benefit at the normal retirement date is calculated using the following assumptions: the mortality table described in Revenue Ruling 2001-62 of the IRS, and a 6% interest rate. |
52 Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control
Employment AgreementsMessrs. Moffett and Flores and Ms. Quirk. We have entered into employment agreements with each of Messrs. Moffett and Flores and Ms. Quirk, which were approved by our compensation committee and the board. The following describes the general terms of the employment agreements. For additional information, see the section titled Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning on page 28.
Mr. Moffett. Prior to February 1, 2014, the employment agreement with Mr. Moffett provided for a base salary of $2,500,000 per year and eligibility to participate in our annual incentive plan. Effective February 1, 2014, we amended Mr. Moffetts employment agreement to reduce his base salary to $1,250,000 per year. Mr. Moffett continues to be eligible for all other benefits and compensation generally provided to our most senior executives. The term of the agreement continues through December 31st, with automatic one-year extensions unless a change of control occurs or prior written notice is given by the compensation committee that it does not wish to extend the agreement. In the event of a change of control during the employment term, Mr. Moffetts employment will continue for an additional three years following the change of control pursuant to his change of control agreement. Mr. Moffetts agreement also contains non-competition, non-disclosure and other provisions intended to protect our interests if he ceases to be employed by us.
Mr. Flores. We assumed the employment agreement between Plains Exploration and Mr. Flores in connection with our acquisition of Plains Exploration on May 31, 2013. Prior to February 1, 2014, the employment agreement with Mr. Flores provided for a base salary of $2,500,000 per year and eligibility to participate in our annual incentive plan. Effective February 1, 2014, we amended Mr. Flores employment agreement to reduce his base salary to $1,250,000 per year. Mr. Flores employment agreement was also amended to eliminate all tax gross-ups and to eliminate the provision providing for a payout of three times the sum of salary and target annual bonus upon death or disability. Mr. Flores continues to be eligible for all other benefits and compensation generally provided to our most senior executives. The term of the amended agreement continues through February 2019, with automatic one-year extensions thereafter unless prior written notice is given by the compensation committee that it does not wish to extend the agreement. In the event of a change of control, the amended agreement will expire three years following the change of control. Mr. Flores amended agreement also contains non-competition, non-disclosure and other provisions intended to protect our interests if he ceases to be employed by us.
Ms. Quirk. The employment agreement with Ms. Quirk reflects a current base salary of $650,000, and provides that she is eligible to participate in our annual incentive plan. Ms. Quirk continues to be eligible for all other benefits and compensation generally provided to our most senior executives. The term of the agreement continues through January 1st, with automatic one-year extensions unless prior written notice is given by the compensation committee that it does not wish to extend the agreement. In the event of a change of control, the agreement will expire three years following the change of control. The agreement also contains non-competition, non-disclosure and other provisions intended to protect our interests if Ms. Quirk ceases to be employed by us.
In addition to the post-employment benefits provided under the companys retirement benefit programs described above, we provided the following additional benefits to our named executive officers.
Severance BenefitsMr. Moffett and Ms. Quirk. The employment agreements for Mr. Moffett and Ms. Quirk provide that if we terminate the executives employment without cause or the executive terminates employment for good reason, we will make certain payments and provide certain benefits to the executive, including:
| payment of a pro rata bonus for the year in which the termination of employment occurs; |
| a cash payment equal to three times the sum of (a) the executives base salary plus (b) the average of the bonuses paid to the executive for the immediately preceding three years; |
| continuation of insurance and welfare benefits for three years or until the executive accepts new employment, if earlier; |
| acceleration of the vesting and payout of all outstanding stock options and RSUs; and |
| under the PSU agreements, in the case of termination without cause, retention of outstanding PSUs, which will vest after the end of the applicable performance period based on the companys achievement of the performance goal. |
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 53
Under the employment agreements with Mr. Moffett and Ms. Quirk, cause is generally defined as the executives (a) failure to perform substantially the executives duties with the company, (b) breach of the agreement, (c) felony conviction, (d) unauthorized acts resulting in harm to the company or (e) falsification of financial records. Good reason is generally defined as (a) any failure by the company to materially comply with any of the provisions of the agreement or (b) the assignment to the executive of any duties inconsistent in any material respect with the executives position, authority, duties or responsibilities under the agreement.
If the executives employment terminates as a result of death, disability or retirement, benefits to the executive or the executives estate include the payment of a pro rata bonus for the year of termination and, in the case of retirement, the continuation of insurance and welfare benefits for three years or until the executive accepts new employment, if earlier. The executive will also receive an additional years vesting on unvested stock options and the vesting and retention of certain outstanding RSUs and PSUs, all as described in footnotes (1), (2), (3) and (5) to the table below.
As a condition to receipt of these severance benefits, the executive must retain in confidence all confidential information known to him or her concerning our business. Further, Mr. Moffett has agreed not to compete with us for a period of two years after termination of employment. Ms. Quirk has agreed not to compete with us for a period of six months after termination of employment.
Severance BenefitsMr. Flores. The employment agreement with Mr. Flores provides that if we terminate Mr. Flores employment without cause or Mr. Flores terminates employment for good reason, we will make certain payments and provide certain benefits to Mr. Flores, including:
| a cash payment equal to three times the sum of (a) his base salary plus (b) his target annual bonus; |
| continuation of insurance and welfare benefits for three years or until he accepts new employment, if earlier; |
| acceleration of the vesting and payout of all outstanding stock options and RSUs; and |
| retention of outstanding PSUs, which will vest after the end of the applicable performance period based on the companys achievement of the performance goal. |
Under the employment agreement with Mr. Flores, cause is generally defined as his (a) failure to perform his reasonably assigned duties with the company, (b) conduct which is injurious to the company, (c) conviction of certain crimes or (d) failure to notify the company of certain conflicts of interest. Good reason is defined as (a) the assignment to Mr. Flores of any duties that materially adversely alter the nature or status of Mr. Flores office; (b) the failure by the company to continue in effect any compensation plan that is material to Mr. Flores total compensation; (c) the taking of any action by the company which would materially reduce or deprive Mr. Flores of any material pension, welfare or fringe benefit then enjoyed by Mr. Flores; (d) the relocation of the principal executive offices of Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas LLC outside the greater Houston, Texas metropolitan area; (e) the failure to nominate Mr. Flores as a director of the company or (f) the failure by the company to obtain a satisfactory agreement from any successor company to assume the agreement.
If Mr. Flores employment terminates as a result of death, disability or retirement, benefits to Mr. Flores or his estate include the payment of a pro rata bonus for the year of termination and, in the case of retirement, the continuation of insurance and welfare benefits for three years or until Mr. Flores accepts new employment, if earlier. Pursuant to the terms of the award agreements, Mr. Flores will also receive an additional years vesting on unvested stock options and the vesting of certain outstanding RSUs and PSUs as described in footnotes (1), (2), (3) and (5) to the table below.
As a condition to receipt of these severance benefits, Mr. Flores must retain in confidence all confidential information known to him concerning our business. Further, Mr. Flores has agreed not to compete with us for a period of one year after termination of employment.
Change of Control BenefitsMessrs. Moffett and Flores and Ms. Quirk. The change of control agreement for Mr. Moffett and the employment agreement for each of Mr. Flores and Ms. Quirk provide generally that the terms and conditions of the executives employment (including position, compensation and benefits) will not be adversely changed until the third anniversary of the change of control.
54 Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement
If any of Messrs. Moffett or Flores or Ms. Quirk is terminated without cause, as generally defined above, or if the executive terminates for good reason during the three-year period after a change of control, the executive is generally entitled to receive the same payments and benefits that he or she would receive in the event of a similar termination under the employment agreements, described above, except that the executive would receive a cash payment calculated as follows:
| Mr. Moffett and Ms. Quirk would receive a cash payment equal to three times the sum of the executives base salary plus the highest bonus paid to the executive (rather than the average bonus paid to the executive) for the immediately preceding three fiscal years, and |
| Mr. Flores would receive a cash payment equal to three times the sum of Mr. Flores base salary plus the greater of (a) his target annual bonus or (b) the highest bonus paid to Mr. Flores for the immediately preceding three fiscal years. |
In addition, in the event of a change of control, outstanding PSUs would convert into an equivalent number of RSUs based on the target amount, which would vest on the earlier of the last day of the applicable performance period or the date the executive is terminated without cause or terminates for good reason.
These agreements provide double trigger benefits meaning that the executives do not receive benefits unless (1) a change of control occurs and (2) employment is terminated. For Mr. Moffett and Ms. Quirk, the term good reason includes the failure of the acquiror to provide the executive with substantially the same position, authority, duties and responsibilities held prior to the change of control, in addition to the reasons generally provided above. For Mr. Flores, the term good reason includes the failure of the company to obtain a satisfactory agreement from any acquiror to assume and perform Mr. Flores employment agreement, provided that Mr. Flores resigns within one year of the change of control.
If employment terminates as a result of death, disability or retirement following a change of control, the executive will receive the same benefits described above under Severance BenefitsMr. Moffett and Ms. Quirk and Severance BenefitsMr. Flores in the event of death, disability or retirement.
We do not provide excise tax gross-up protections in any of our change of control arrangements with our executive officers. If any part of the payments or benefits received by Messrs. Moffett or Flores or Ms. Quirk in connection with a termination following a change of control constitutes an excess parachute payment under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, the executive will receive the greater of (a) the amount of such payments and benefits reduced so that none of the amount constitutes an excess parachute payment, net of income taxes, or (b) the amount of such payments and benefits, net of income taxes and net of excise taxes under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code.
The confidentiality and non-competition provisions of the executives employment agreements continue to apply after a change of control.
Change of Control BenefitsMessrs. Adkerson and Arnold. We currently do not have severance or change of control agreements with either of Messrs. Adkerson or Arnold. For Messrs. Adkerson and Arnold, the following table shows only accelerated vesting of stock options, RSUs and PSUs upon certain terminations of employment and upon a change of control. For Mr. Arnold, this benefit is a term of the stock option, RSU or PSU grant, and applies to all stock option, RSU or PSU recipients, not just our executives. For Mr. Adkerson, the terms of the award agreements were impacted by his December 2013 letter agreement with the company, which provides that he will receive retirement treatment on these awards as set forth in the applicable award agreement following any termination, except a termination due to death or termination by the company for cause. For additional information regarding the impact of retirement on the various awards, see the footnotes to the Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control table.
The following table quantifies the potential payments to our named executive officers under the contracts, arrangements or plans discussed above for various scenarios involving a change of control or termination of employment of each of our named executive officers. In addition to these benefits, our named executive officers would be entitled to receive the retirement and pension benefits described above under Retirement Benefit Programs, and outstanding vested stock options, which amounts are reflected in the Walk-Away Value column.
In accordance with SEC rules, the information below assumes a termination date of December 31, 2014 and reflects the arrangements in effect at that time. We have used the closing price of our common stock of $23.36 on December 31, 2014, as reported on the NYSE, for purposes of calculating the value of the unvested and accelerated options, RSUs and PSUs.
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 55
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control*
Name | Lump
Sum Payment |
Options (Unvested and Accelerated) (1) |
Restricted (2) |
Accumulated Dividends and Interest Payable on Accelerated RSUs |
Performance (3) |
Accumulated Dividends Payable on Accelerated PSUs |
Health and Welfare Benefits |
Total | Walk-Away (4) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
James R. Moffett |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Retirement (5) |
n/a | | $9,007,569 | $1,389,070 | $1,915,520 | $76,875 | $84,158 | $ | 12,473,192 | $71,651,021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Death/Disability (5) |
n/a | | 9,007,569 | 1,389,070 | 1,915,520 | 76,875 | n/a | 12,389,034 | 71,566,863 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Termination Good Reason |
$ | 25,606,232 | | 9,007,569 | 1,389,070 | n/a | n/a | 84,158 | 36,087,029 | 95,264,858 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Termination No Cause |
25,606,232 | | 9,007,569 | 1,389,070 | 1,915,520 | 76,875 | 84,158 | 38,079,424 | 97,257,253 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Termination after Change |
35,988,048 | | 9,007,569 | 1,389,070 | 1,915,520 | 76,875 | 84,158 | 48,461,240 | 107,639,069 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Richard C. Adkerson |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Retirement (5) |
n/a | | 9,007,569 | 1,389,070 | 1,915,520 | 76,875 | n/a | 12,389,034 | 70,156,095 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Death/Disability (5) |
n/a | | 9,007,569 | 1,389,070 | 1,915,520 | 76,875 | n/a | 12,389,034 | 70,156,095 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Termination No Cause |
n/a | | 9,007,569 | 1,389,070 | 1,915,520 | 76,875 | n/a | 12,389,034 | 70,156,095 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Termination after Change |
n/a | | 9,007,569 | 1,389,070 | 1,915,520 | 76,875 | n/a | 12,389,034 | 70,156,095 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
James C. Flores |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Retirement (5) |
n/a | | 4,334,868 | 961,610 | 1,915,520 | 76,875 | 79,517 | 7,368,390 | 7,406,298 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Death/Disability (5) |
n/a | | 4,334,868 | 961,610 | 1,915,520 | 76,875 | n/a | 7,288,873 | 7,326,781 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Termination Good Reason/No Cause |
7,500,000 | | 4,334,868 | 961,610 | 1,915,520 | 76,875 | 79,517 | 14,868,390 | 14,906,298 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Termination after Change |
7,500,000 | | 4,334,868 | 961,610 | 1,915,520 | 76,875 | 79,517 | 14,868,390 | 14,906,298 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kathleen L. Quirk |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Retirement (5) |
n/a | | 2,985,852 | 459,705 | 1,238,080 | 49,688 | 45,371 | 4,778,696 | 11,881,046 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Death/Disability (5) |
n/a | | 2,985,852 | 459,705 | 1,238,080 | 49,688 | n/a | 4,733,325 | 11,835,675 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Termination Good Reason |
9,504,179 | | 2,985,852 | 459,705 | n/a | n/a | 45,371 | 12,995,107 | 20,097,457 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Termination No Cause |
9,504,179 | | 2,985,852 | 459,705 | 1,238,080 | 49,688 | 45,371 | 14,282,875 | 21,385,225 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Termination after Change |
11,810,217 | | 2,985,852 | 459,705 | 1,238,080 | 49,688 | 45,371 | 16,588,913 | 23,691,263 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michael J. Arnold |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Retirement (5) |
n/a | | 1,717,871 | 274,628 | 1,051,200 | 42,188 | n/a | 3,085,887 | 8,756,848 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Death/Disability (5) |
n/a | | 1,717,871 | 274,628 | 1,051,200 | 42,188 | n/a | 3,085,887 | 8,756,848 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Termination No Cause (8) |
n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 5,670,961 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Termination after Change |
n/a | | 1,717,871 | 274,628 | 1,051,200 | 42,188 | n/a | 3,085,887 | 8,756,848 |
* | n/a means that the benefit is not provided to the executive. |
(1) | Vesting of outstanding stock options may be accelerated under certain termination scenarios pursuant to the employment agreements as discussed above. The value of the accelerated options is determined by multiplying (a) the difference between the December 31, 2014 closing price of our common stock and the applicable exercise price of each option, by (b) the number of unvested and accelerated options. All outstanding stock options held by the executives were out-of-the-money as of December 31, 2014. |
(2) | The values of the RSUs were determined by multiplying the December 31, 2014 closing price of our common stock by the number of RSUs to be vested or retained under each scenario. For additional information, see footnote (5) below. |
(3) | The values of the PSUs were determined by multiplying the December 31, 2014 closing price of our common stock by the number of PSUs to be vested or retained under each scenario. For additional information, see footnote (5) below. |
(4) | Includes the value of the following benefits as of December 31, 2014: outstanding, in-the-money vested stock options, the aggregate balance of the NQDC plan (as reflected on page 51), and the present value of the SERP (as reflected on page 52). These amounts do not include benefits under our ECAP or life insurance policies. In addition to the standard life insurance policy generally available to employees, Mr. Adkerson has an executive life insurance policy providing for a death benefit of $1.5 million. Mr. Moffetts executive life insurance policy was surrendered during 2014. |
(5) | Generally, pursuant to the terms of the stock option agreements, upon termination of the executives employment as a result of death, disability or retirement, the unvested portion of any outstanding stock option that would have vested within one year of the date of termination will vest. |
56 Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement
Pursuant to the terms of the RSU agreements outstanding as of December 31, 2014, termination of the executives employment as a result of death, disability or retirement will not result in acceleration of vesting of outstanding RSUs and the related dividend equivalent credits. Instead, such grants will not be forfeited and will remain outstanding and vest on the regularly scheduled vesting dates, provided the applicable performance condition is met. The RSUs granted in 2012 and 2013 are subject to a 20% reduction if our total TSR for the three-year period ending on December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively, is below the median TSR of a peer group. Because our total TSR for the three-year period ending on December 31, 2014 was below the median TSR of the peer group, 20% of the RSUs granted in 2012 were forfeited. Accordingly, 80% of the RSUs granted in 2012 have been included in the table above. The full amount of RSUs granted in 2013 has been included in the table above. Mr. Flores RSUs that were assumed in connection with the companys acquisition of Plains Exploration would vest in full upon termination of employment as a result of death or disability.
Pursuant to the terms of the PSU agreements outstanding as of December 31, 2014, termination of the executives employment as a result of death will result in acceleration of vesting of the number of outstanding PSUs represented by the target award and the related dividend equivalent credits. Termination of the executives employment as a result of disability or retirement will not result in acceleration of vesting of outstanding PSUs and the related dividend equivalent credits. Instead, such grants will not be forfeited and will remain outstanding and vest on the regularly scheduled vesting dates, provided the applicable performance condition is met. The target award of PSUs granted in 2014 has been included in the table above.
(6) | Certain of the benefits described in the table would be achieved in the event of a change of control alone, and would not require a termination of the executives employment. In particular, pursuant to the terms of our stock incentive plans and the individual award agreements outstanding as of December 31, 2011, upon a change of control as defined in the plans, all outstanding stock options would immediately vest. In addition, in the event of a change of control, all restrictions on Mr. Flores outstanding RSUs that were assumed in connection with the companys acquisition of Plains Exploration would lapse. However, with respect to the stock options, RSUs and PSUs granted by the company in 2012, 2013 and 2014, the agreements provide for the benefits described in the table following a change of control only if the recipient also experiences an actual or constructive termination of employment within one year after the change of control. The amounts stated in the rows titled Termination after Change of Control assume the full vesting of options granted in 2012, 2013 and 2014, RSUs granted in 2013 and PSUs granted in 2014. As noted previously, 20% of the RSUs granted in 2012 were forfeited due to our TSR performance during the performance period ended December 31, 2014. Accordingly, 80% of the RSUs granted in 2012 have been included in the rows titled Termination after Change of Control. |
(7) | Pursuant to the terms of the executives change of control agreement, the total payments may be subject to reduction if such payments result in the imposition of an excise tax under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code. |
(8) | Mr. Arnold is entitled to certain severance benefits in the event of his termination without cause under the companys severance plan, which is generally available to certain eligible employees. |
(9) | Mr. Arnold is entitled to certain benefits in the event of his termination following a change of control under the companys change of control plan, which is generally available to certain eligible employees. |
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 57
PROPOSAL NO. 2: ADVISORY VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Our board is committed to excellence in governance and recognizes the interest our stockholders have in our executive compensation program. As part of that commitment and in accordance with Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, our stockholders are being asked to approve an advisory resolution on the compensation of our named executive officers, as reported in this proxy statement.
This proposal, commonly known as the say-on-pay proposal, is advisory, which means that the vote on executive compensation is not binding on the company, the board or the compensation committee of the board. Nonetheless, our board takes this vote and the opinions of our stockholders seriously and the compensation committee will evaluate the outcome of this vote in making future compensation decisions with respect to our named executive officers. The vote on this resolution is intended to address the companys overall compensation of our named executive officers and our compensation philosophy and practices, as described in this proxy statement.
We are asking our stockholders to indicate their support for the compensation of our named executive officers as described in this proxy statement by voting in favor of the following resolution:
RESOLVED, That the stockholders of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (the Company) approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Companys named executive officers, as disclosed in the Companys proxy statement for the 2015 annual meeting of stockholders pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Summary Compensation Table and the other related tables and disclosures provided in this proxy statement.
At our 2013 annual meeting, our stockholders did not approve the companys say-on-pay proposal. Prior to and following the 2013 annual meeting, we sought input from our investors regarding their specific concerns so that the compensation committee could consider investors views with respect to any potential changes to the companys executive compensation program. Consistent with investor feedback, the compensation committee transformed our executive compensation program effective for 2014, and at last years annual meeting, our stockholders approved the companys say-on-pay proposal. The transformation of our executive compensation program in 2014 incorporated the following:
| A 50% reduction in the base salaries of our top three executives (constituting the Office of the Chairman) from $2.5 million to $1.25 million for each executive. |
| An approximate 60% reduction in total target direct compensation (base salary and performance-based annual and long-term incentives) for each member of the Office of the Chairman ($7.5 million) compared to the three-year average of $19.2 million reported for each of Messrs. Moffett and Adkerson for 2011-2013. |
| New quantitative Annual Incentive Program providing for significantly reduced pay opportunities and based on achievement of multiple metrics that we believe better align with the financial and operational performance targets of the company. |
| New Long-Term Incentive Program under which our executive officers will receive grants of performance share units that increase alignment with stockholder return with payout after a three-year performance period based on our total stockholder return as compared to our peers. |
In considering how to vote on this proposal, we urge you to review the relevant disclosures in this proxy statement, especially the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, which contains detailed information about the recent changes to our executive compensation program.
We currently hold our say-on-pay advisory vote every year. Accordingly, the next say-on-pay vote will occur at our 2016 annual meeting of stockholders.
58 Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement
Vote Required to Approve, on an Advisory Basis, the Compensation of Our Named Executive Officers
Approval of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the common stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote. For more information on the voting requirements, see Questions and Answers About the Proxy Materials, Annual Meeting and Voting.
Board of Directors Recommendation on Proposal No. 2
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AS DISCLOSED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT.
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 59
The audit committee is currently comprised of six directors. The board has determined that each member of the audit committee has no material relationship with the company and that each is independent and financially literate under the listing standards of the NYSE and under the SECs standards relating to independence of audit committees. We, the audit committee, operate under a written charter approved by the committee and adopted by the board. Our primary function is to assist the board in fulfilling the boards oversight responsibilities relating to (1) the effectiveness of the companys internal control over financial reporting, (2) the integrity of the companys financial statements, (3) the companys compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (4) the qualifications and independence of the companys independent registered public accounting firm, and (5) the performance of the companys independent registered public accounting firm and internal audit firm.
We oversee the companys financial reporting process on behalf of the board. Our responsibility is to monitor this process, but we are not responsible for (1) developing and consistently applying the companys accounting principles and practices, preparing and maintaining the integrity of the companys financial statements and maintaining an appropriate system of internal controls; or (2) auditing the companys financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, and reviewing the companys unaudited interim financial statements. Those are the responsibilities of management and the companys independent registered public accounting firm, respectively.
During 2014, management assessed the effectiveness of the companys system of internal control over financial reporting in connection with the companys compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. We reviewed and discussed with management, Deloitte & Touche LLP, the companys internal audit firm (Deloitte & Touche) and Ernst & Young, LLP, the companys independent registered public accounting firm (Ernst & Young), managements report on internal control over financial reporting and Ernst & Youngs report on their audit of the companys internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, both of which are included in the companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm; Financial Statement Review
In February 2014, in accordance with our charter, we appointed Ernst & Young as the companys independent registered public accounting firm for 2014. We have reviewed and discussed the companys audited financial statements for the year 2014 with management and Ernst & Young. Management represented to us that the audited financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the company as of and for the periods presented in the financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, and Ernst & Young provided an audit opinion to the same effect.
We have received from Ernst & Young the written disclosures required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Ethics and Independence Rule 3526, Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence, regarding the companys independent registered public accounting firms independence, and we have discussed with them their independence from the company and management. We have also discussed with Ernst & Young the matters required to be discussed by PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 16 Communication with Audit Committees (PCAOB Rel. No. 2012-004, August 15, 2012), effective pursuant to SEC Release No. 34-68453 (December 17, 2012).
In addition, we have discussed with Ernst & Young the overall scope and plans for their audit, and have met with them and management to discuss the results of their examination, their understanding and evaluation of the companys internal controls as they considered necessary to support their opinions on the financial statements and on the internal control over financial reporting for the year 2014, and various factors affecting the overall quality of accounting principles applied in the companys financial reporting. Ernst & Young also met with us without management being present to discuss these matters.
In reliance on these reviews and discussions, we recommended to the board, and the board approved, the inclusion of the audited financial statements referred to above in the companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
60 Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement
Internal Audit
We also review the companys internal audit function, including the selection and compensation of the companys internal audit firm. In February 2014, in accordance with our charter, we appointed Deloitte & Touche as the companys internal audit firm for 2014. We have discussed with Deloitte & Touche the scope of their audit plan, and have met with them to discuss the results of their reviews, their review of managements documentation, testing and evaluation of the companys system of internal control over financial reporting, any difficulties or disputes with management encountered during the course of their reviews and other matters relating to the internal audit process. The internal audit firm also met with us without management being present to discuss these matters.
Dated: April 21, 2015
Robert A. Day, Chairman Jon C. Madonna, Vice Chairman Alan R. Buckwalter, III Gerald J. Ford H. Devon Graham, Jr. Stephen H. Siegele |
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Fees and Related Disclosures for Accounting Services
The following table discloses the fees for professional services provided by Ernst & Young in each of the last two fiscal years:
2014 | 2013 | |||||||
Audit Fees (1) |
$16,936,000 | $18,903,086 | ||||||
Audit-Related Fees (2) |
1,580,000 | 64,246 | ||||||
Tax Fees (3) |
569,000 | 334,327 | ||||||
All Other Fees |
| |
(1) | Audit Fees were primarily for professional services rendered for the audits of the consolidated financial statements and internal controls over financial reporting in compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the review of documents filed with the SEC, consents, comfort letters and financial accounting and reporting consultations. Of the total amount reported, approximately $680,000 is pending audit committee approval. |
(2) | Audit-Related Fees were primarily for professional services rendered for the audits of disposed businesses and other attest services. |
(3) | Tax Fees were for professional services related to general tax consultation, transfer pricing, tax compliance and international tax matters. |
The audit committee has determined that the provision of the services described above is compatible with maintaining the independence of our independent registered public accounting firm.
Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Proxy Statement 61
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The audit committees policy is to pre-approve all audit, audit-related, tax and permitted non-audit services to be provided by our independent registered public accounting firm. In accordance with that policy, the committee annually pre-approves a list of specific services and categories of services, including audit, audit-related and other services, for the upcoming or current fiscal year, subject to specified cost levels. Any service that is not included in the approved list of services must be separately pre-approved by the audit committee. In addition, if fees for any service exceed the amount that has been pre-approved, then payment of additional fees for such service must be specifically pre-approved by the audit committee; however, any proposed service that has an anticipated or additional cost of no more than $30,000 may be pre-approved by the chairman of the audit committee, provided that the total anticipated costs of all such projects pre-approved by the chairman during any fiscal quarter does not exceed $60,000.
At each regularly-scheduled audit committee meeting, management updates the committee on (1) the scope and anticipated cost of any service pre-approved by the chairman since the last meeting of the committee and (2) the pre-approved fees for each service or group of services being provided by our independent registered public accounting firm. Each service provided by our independent registered public accounting firm has been approved in advance by the audit committee, and none of those services required use of the de minimis exception to pre-approval contained in the SECs rules.
PROPOSAL NO. 3: RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR 2015
The audit committee is responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the independent registered public accounting firm retained to audit the companys financial statements. In February 2015, the audit committee appointed Ernst & Young to serve as the companys independent registered public accounting firm for 2015. This appointment is being submitted to the stockholders for ratification. A representative of Ernst & Young is expected to be present at the annual meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement if he or she so desires and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
The audit committee pre-approves the scope of all audit, audit-related, tax and permitted non-audit services to be provided by Ernst & Young during the ensuing year and determines the appropriate funding to be provided by the company for payment of such services. Ernst & Young has been retained as the companys independent registered public accounting firm continuously since 2002. The audit committee and the board believe that the continued retention of Ernst & Young to serve as the companys independent registered public accounting firm is in the best interests of the company and its stockholders. If stockholders do not ratify this appointment, the audit committee will reconsider the appointment although it may determine the independent registered public accounting firm should continue. Even if stockholders ratify the appointment, the audit committee retains its discretion to change the companys independent registered public accounting firm.
Vote Required to Ratify the Appointment of our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm For 2015
Approval of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the common stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote. For more information on the voting requirements, see Questions and Answers About the Proxy Materials, Annual Meeting and Voting.
Board of Directors Recommendation on Proposal No. 3
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR 2015.
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PROPOSAL NO. 4: REAPPROVAL OF THE MATERIAL TERMS OF THE SECTION 162(M) PERFORMANCE GOALS UNDER OUR AMENDED AND RESTATED 2006 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
Our board unanimously proposes and recommends that our stockholders reapprove the material terms of the Section 162(m) performance goals under our Amended and Restated 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (the plan). The material terms of the performance goals under the plan were last approved by stockholders in 2010. In order to protect our ability to deduct for tax purposes certain compensation granted under the plan, Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (Section 162(m)) requires that these terms be disclosed to and reapproved by stockholders every five years. Accordingly, these terms are being resubmitted to stockholders at this annual meeting.
No changes to the plan have been made since the plan was last approved in 2010, other than the mandatory adjustments to the plan limits as a result of our two-for-one stock split in February 2011. In addition, no changes are being proposed. The plan is summarized below and attached as Annex A to this proxy statement. This summary of the plan may not contain all the information that is important to you and you should read Annex A carefully before you decide how to vote.
Purpose of the Proposal
We are submitting the plan to our stockholders for approval in order to protect our tax deductions under Section 162(m) for amounts paid under the plan, as described below. No amendments or modifications to the plan are being proposed for stockholder approval, and the approval of this proposal by our stockholders will not result in any increase in the number of shares of common stock currently available for issuance under the plan. The purpose of the plan is to increase stockholder value and advance the interests of the company by furnishing a variety of equity incentives designed to (a) attract, retain, and motivate key employees, officers, and directors of the company and consultants and advisers to the company and (b) strengthen the mutuality of interests among such persons and the Companys stockholders.
Under Section 162(m), the federal income tax deductibility of compensation paid to our chief executive officer and three other most highly paid executive officers other than our chief financial officer (the covered employees) may be limited to the extent such compensation exceeds $1 million in any taxable year. However, we may deduct compensation paid to these covered employees in excess of $1 million if it qualifies as performance-based compensation as defined in Section 162(m). In order for a plan award other than stock options and stock appreciation rights to constitute performance-based compensation, the award must, among other things, be subject to objective performance measures established by a committee comprised solely of two or more outside directors (our compensation committee), and the material terms of the performance goals must be disclosed to and reapproved by stockholders no later than the first meeting of stockholders that occurs in the fifth year following the stockholders previous approval of such terms. Because the material terms of performance goals under the plan were last approved in 2010, the board is seeking reapproval of the performance goals at this years annual meeting.
Under the Section 162(m) regulations, the material terms of the performance goals for performance-based compensation that may be awarded under the plan are: the class of eligible persons who may receive compensation under the plan, the business criteria on which the performance goals are based and the maximum amount of compensation that may be paid to a participant under the plan. The material terms of the performance goals under the plan are described below under Eligible Participants, Performance Criteria, and Number of Shares; Plan Limits.
Submission of the material terms of the performance goals for performance-based awards should not be viewed as a guarantee that we can deduct all compensation under the plan. While reapproval of the performance goals is required for compensation to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m), not all plan awards or other compensation approved by the committee are intended to qualify, or if intended to qualify, will qualify as performance-based compensation or otherwise be deductible. Nothing in the proposal precludes us from making any payment or granting awards that do not qualify for tax deductibility under Section 162(m).
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Summary of the Plan
Key Features of the Plan. The plan contains features that our board believes are consistent with the interests of stockholders and sound governance principles. These features include the following:
| No Discount Options. Stock options and stock appreciation rights (SARs) may not be granted or awarded with an exercise price less than the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant or award. |
| No Repricings. The repricing of stock options is prohibited without stockholder approval. This prohibition applies both to repricings that involve lowering the exercise price of a stock option as well as repricings that are accomplished by canceling an existing award and replacing it with a lower-priced award. |
| Compensation Committee Oversight. The plan is administered by our compensation committee, or our nominating and corporate governance committee with respect to director awards, both of which are comprised solely of non-management, independent directors. |
| No Annual Evergreen Provision. The plan provides for a specific number of shares of our common stock available for awards and does not contain an annual or automatic increase in the number of available shares. |
| Performance-Based Compensation. The plan is structured to permit awards that satisfy the performance-based compensation requirements of Section 162(m) so as to enhance deductibility of compensation provided under the plan. |
Administration. The compensation committee of our board of directors generally administers the plan and, except with respect to grants to non-management directors, has the authority to make awards under the plan and to set the terms of the awards. The compensation committee generally has the authority to interpret the plan, to establish any rules or regulations relating to the plan that it determines to be appropriate and to make any other determination that it believes necessary or advisable for proper administration of the plan. The nominating and corporate governance committee of our board has the authority to grant awards to non-management directors, to set the terms of those awards, and to interpret and establish rules regarding non-management director awards. The term committee is used in this section of the proxy statement to refer to both the compensation committee and the nominating and corporate governance committee in their administrative roles. All of the members of each committee are independent, non-management directors.
Eligible Participants. The following persons are eligible to participate in the plan:
| Officers (including non-employee officers and officers who are also directors) and employees; |
| Non-management directors; |
| Officers and employees of existing or future subsidiaries; |
| Officers and employees of any entity with which we have contracted to receive executive, management, or legal services and who provide services to us or a subsidiary under such arrangement; |
| Consultants and advisers who provide services to us or a subsidiary; and |
| Any person who has agreed in writing to become an eligible participant within 30 days. |
A subsidiary is defined to include an entity in which we have a direct or indirect economic interest that is designated as a subsidiary by the compensation committee.
The compensation committee may delegate to one or more of our officers the power to grant awards and to modify or terminate awards granted to eligible persons who are not our executive officers or directors, subject to certain limitations. The committees determinations as to which eligible individuals will be granted awards and the terms of the awards will be based on each individuals present and potential contributions to our success. The number of persons currently eligible to receive awards under the plan is approximately 557, consisting of 5 officers, 13 non-management directors, 529 employees and 10 consultants.
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Performance Criteria. The compensation committee will select the performance goals, which shall be based on one or more of the following performance criteria:
| Earnings per share; |
| Return on assets; |
| An economic value added measure; |
| Stockholder return; |
| Earnings; |
| Return on equity; |
| Return on investment; |
| Cash provided by operating activities; |
| Increase in cash flow; |
| Return on cash flow; or |
| Increase in production of the company, a division of the company or a subsidiary. |