UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
<R> Filed by the Registrant ☒ |
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Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐ |
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Check the appropriate box: |
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a‑6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material under §240.14a‑12 |
LIQUIDITY Services, Inc. |
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) |
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Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply): |
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No fee required. |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a‑6(i)(1) and 0‑11. |
Fellow Stockholders:
We are pleased to invite you to attend the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Liquidity Services, Inc. to be held on Thursday, February 23, 2023, at 3:00 p.m., Eastern Time, at the offices of Liquidity Services, Inc. at 6931 Arlington Road, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814.
Details regarding admission to the Annual Meeting and the business to be conducted are more fully described in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and proxy statement.
Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we hope you will vote as soon as possible. You may vote over the Internet, by telephone or by mailing a proxy or voting instruction card. Voting over the Internet, by phone or by written proxy will ensure your representation at the Annual Meeting regardless of whether you attend in person. Please review the instructions on the proxy or voting instruction card regarding each voting option.
Thank you for your ongoing support and continued interest in Liquidity Services, Inc.
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Sincerely,
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notice of annual meeting of liquidity services, INC. STOCKHOLDERS
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholders Meeting to be Held on February 23, 2023: This Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement, Annual Report and Other Proxy Materials are Available at www.envisionreports.com/LQDT.
Time and Date |
3:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on February 23, 2023.
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Place |
The offices of Liquidity Services, Inc., 6931 Arlington Road, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814.
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Items of Business |
• Elect each of the Class II directors named in the proxy statement to the Board of Directors to hold office until our Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2026 or until his, her or their successor has been elected or appointed; • Ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2023; • Approve an amendment to our Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to limit the liability of certain officers of the Company; • Approve an advisory resolution on named executive officer compensation; • Recommend the frequency of future advisory votes on named executive officer compensation; and • Transact any other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting.
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Adjournments and Postponements |
Any action on the items of business described above may be considered at the Annual Meeting at the time and on the date specified above or at any time and date to which the Annual Meeting may be properly adjourned or postponed.
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Record Date |
You are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and at any adjournment or postponement that may take place only if you were a stockholder as of the close of business on January 4, 2023 (the “Record Date”).
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Annual Meeting Admission |
You will need an admission ticket or proof of ownership to enter the Annual Meeting. If your shares are held beneficially in the name of a broker, bank or other nominee and you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, you must present proof of your beneficial ownership of Liquidity Services, Inc. stock as of the close of business on the Record Date, such as a bank or brokerage account statement, to be admitted to the Annual Meeting. If you would rather have an admission ticket, you may obtain one in advance by mailing a written request, along with proof of your beneficial ownership of Liquidity Services, Inc. stock as of the close of business on the Record Date, to: Liquidity Services, Inc., 6931 Arlington Road, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814, Attention: Corporate Secretary. All stockholders also must present a form of personal identification to be admitted to the Annual Meeting. No cameras, recording equipment, electronic devices, large bags, briefcases or packages will be permitted in the Annual Meeting.
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Voting |
Your vote is very important. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we encourage you to read this proxy statement and submit your proxy or voting instruction card as soon as possible. You may submit your proxy or voting instruction card for the Annual Meeting by completing, signing, dating and returning your proxy or voting instruction card in the pre‑addressed envelope provided, or, in most cases, by using the telephone or the Internet. For specific instructions on how to vote your shares, please refer to the section entitled “Questions and Answers” beginning on page 2 of the proxy statement and the instructions on the proxy or voting instruction card. You may revoke a proxy before its exercise at the Annual Meeting by following the instructions in the accompanying proxy statement. Any stockholder attending the Annual Meeting |
notice of annual meeting of liquidity services, INC. STOCKHOLDERS
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may personally vote on all matters considered, in which event the signed proxy will be revoked.
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This Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, proxy statement, proxy card and voting instructions and our 2022 Annual Report are first being mailed on or about January 24, 2023.
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By Order of the Board of Directors, |
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/s/ Mark A. Shaffer |
table of contents
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Page |
1 |
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Questions and Answers |
2 |
8 |
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23 |
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26 |
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29 |
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30 |
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31 |
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31 |
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34 |
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Proposal 2 – Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
41 |
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44 |
Proposal 4 – Approval of an Advisory Resolution on Named Executive Officer Compensation |
46 |
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47 |
48 |
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81 |
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82 |
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83 |
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85 |
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86 |
PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY |
Proposals |
Board’s Voting Recommendation |
Page Reference |
Proposal 1 – |
FOR |
31 |
Proposal 2 –
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FOR |
41 |
Proposal 3 –
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FOR |
44 |
Proposal 4 –
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FOR |
46 |
Proposal 5 – |
EVERY YEAR |
47 |
1
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q. |
What do I need to bring to the Annual Meeting? |
A. |
You must bring these two items with you to enter the Annual Meeting: (1) Your admission ticket, and (2) Photo identification, such as a driver’s license or passport. |
Q. |
Where is my admission ticket? |
A. |
If you are a stockholder of record, your admission ticket was mailed to you along with these proxy materials. If you are a beneficial owner, you may use proof of your ownership of Company common stock as of the close of business on the Record Date, such as a bank or brokerage account statement, as your admission ticket. If you would prefer to obtain an actual admission ticket, please mail a written request, along with your proof of ownership, to: Liquidity Services, Inc. 6931 Arlington Road, Suite 200 Bethesda, MD 20814 Attention: Corporate Secretary |
Q. |
Are any items prohibited at the Annual Meeting? |
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Yes. Cameras, recording equipment, electronic devices, large bags, briefcases and packages are prohibited at the Annual Meeting. Any stockholder who attempts to bring prohibited items into the Annual Meeting will not be admitted. |
Q. |
How do I vote my shares? |
A. |
You may vote using any of the following methods: (1) By mail; (2) By telephone or Internet; or (3) In person at the Annual Meeting. |
Q. |
How do I vote by mail? |
A. |
Complete, sign and date the proxy card or voting instruction card you received with these proxy materials and return it in the prepaid envelope. If you are a stockholder of record and you return your signed proxy card but do not indicate your voting preferences, the persons named in the proxy card will vote your shares in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors. If you are a stockholder of record, and the prepaid envelope is missing, please mail your completed proxy card to Liquidity Services, Inc., 6931 Arlington Road, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814, Attention: Corporate Secretary. |
Q. |
How do I vote by telephone or Internet? |
A. |
To vote by telephone, call the toll-free telephone number on your proxy card. Please have your proxy card in hand when you call. Voice prompts will allow you to vote your shares and confirm that your instructions have been properly recorded. |
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
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To vote by internet, visit www.envisionreports.com/LQDT (for shares you hold as the stockholder of record) and/or www.edocumentview.com/LQDT (for shares you hold as a beneficial owner in street name). Please have your proxy card available when you go online. If you vote on the Internet, you also can request electronic delivery of future proxy materials. |
Q. |
How do I vote in person? |
A. |
You may vote in person by attending the Annual Meeting. For additional information regarding attendance at the Annual Meeting, see answers to the questions “What do I need bring to attend the Annual Meeting?”, “Where is my admission ticket?” and “Are any items prohibited at the Annual Meeting?” above. You may also be represented by another person at the Annual Meeting by executing a legal proxy designating that person. If you are a beneficial owner of shares, you must obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other nominee and present it to the inspector of election with your ballot to vote at the Annual Meeting. |
Q. |
What can I do if I change my mind after I vote my shares? |
A. |
If you are a stockholder of record, you can revoke your proxy before it is exercised by: • sending written notice to the Corporate Secretary of the Company; • delivering a valid, later dated proxy or a later dated vote by telephone or Internet prior to the Annual Meeting; or • voting in person at the Annual Meeting. If you are a beneficial owner, you can revoke your proxy before it is exercised by contacting your broker, bank or other nominee and submitting new voting instructions. You may also vote in person at the Annual Meeting if you obtain a legal proxy as described in the answer to the previous question. All shares represented by properly executed proxies received before the Annual Meeting and not revoked will be voted under the instructions stated in such proxies. Properly executed proxies that do not contain voting instructions will be voted under the recommendations of the Board of Directors set forth under “What are the voting requirements for the matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting?” below. |
Q. |
What is “householding” and how does it affect me? |
A. |
If you received our proxy materials and fiscal 2022 Annual Report electronically, householding does not affect you. If you received our proxy materials and fiscal 2022 Annual Report through the mail, householding may affect you. “Householding” is a procedure approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) that permits us to send a single copy of our proxy materials and fiscal 2022 Annual Report to stockholders of record who share the same address and last name, unless one or more of these stockholders notifies us they wish to receive an individual copy. This procedure reduces our printing costs and postage fees and conserves natural resources. Stockholders affected by householding will receive separate proxy cards. If you are a stockholder of record, multiple copies of our proxy materials and fiscal 2022 Annual Report were mailed to your address and you would like to participate in householding, please contact our transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (in writing: c/o Shareholder Services, P.O. Box 505000, Louisville, KY 40233-5000, from within the United States by telephone: 800-662‑7232; and from outside the United States by telephone: + 1 781-575‑2879). If you are a stockholder of record and you do not wish to participate in householding, please contact our transfer agent. |
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
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If you are a beneficial owner, you may request information about householding from your broker, bank or other nominee. |
Q. |
What are my voting options? |
A. |
For Proposal 1 (Election of Directors), you may vote “for” one or more nominees, or you may “withhold” your vote from one or more nominees. For Proposal 2 (Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm), you may vote “for” or “against” the proposal or you may indicate that you wish to “abstain” from voting on the proposal. For Proposal 3 (Approval of an Amendment to the Company’s Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to Limit the Liability of Certain Officers of the Company), you may vote “for” or “against” the proposal or you may indicate that you wish to “abstain” from voting on the proposal. For Proposal 4 (Approval of an Advisory Resolution on Named Executive Officer Compensation), you may vote “for” or “against” the proposal or you may indicate that you wish to “abstain” from voting on the proposal. For Proposal 5 (Recommendation on the Frequency of Future Advisory Votes on Named Executive Officer Compensation), you may vote for a frequency of “every year,” “every 2 years” or “every 3 years” or you may indicate that you wish to “abstain” from voting on the proposal. |
Q. |
What is the quorum requirement for the Annual Meeting? |
A. |
The presence of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, is necessary to constitute a quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining a quorum. |
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q. |
What is a “broker non-vote”? |
A. |
A “broker non-vote” occurs when a broker, bank or other nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because that holder does not have discretionary voting power for that particular item and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner. |
Q. |
What are the voting requirements for the matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting? |
A. |
A plurality of the votes cast by stockholders who are present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting is required for the election of directors. This means that the director nominees with the most “for” votes will be elected. Thus, shares as to which a stockholder “withholds” voting authority and broker non‑votes will not be counted towards any director nominee’s achievement of a plurality and will not affect the outcome of the election of directors. Stockholders may not cumulate their votes in favor of any one nominee. The affirmative “for” vote of a majority of the votes cast by stockholders who are present, either in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the proposal is required to approve each of Proposals 2 and 4. Votes cast “against” Proposals 2 and 4 will count against the approval of the proposal. Abstentions and broker non‑votes will not be counted as votes cast and will not affect the outcome of these proposals. The affirmative “for” vote of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the voting power of the outstanding shares of Company capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (as opposed to outstanding shares present, in person or by proxy, at the meeting) is required to approve Proposal 3. Votes cast “against”, as well as abstentions and broker non-votes, will be counted against the approval of Proposal 3. For Proposal 5, the voting frequency (i.e., “every year”, “every two years”, or “every three years”) receiving the affirmative “for” vote of the greatest number of votes cast by stockholders who are present, either in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on Proposal 5 will be the frequency recommended, on an advisory basis, by our stockholders. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast and will not be counted in favor of any recommendation of voting frequency. If you are a stockholder of record and sign your proxy card with no further instructions, your shares will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the Board (“for” all director nominees identified in Proposal 1, “for” each of Proposal 2, 3 and 4, and "every year" for Proposal 5). Brokers, banks and other nominees may not vote without instructions from the beneficial owner on Proposals 1, 3, 4 or 5. Therefore, if your shares are held through a broker, bank or other nominee, they will not be voted on these proposals unless you affirmatively vote your shares in one of the ways described above. If you are a beneficial owner, your broker, bank or other nominee may vote your shares on Proposal 2 even if the broker, bank or other nominee does not receive voting instructions from you. |
Q. |
Could other matters be decided at the Annual Meeting? |
A. |
As of the date of this proxy statement, we did not know of any matters to be acted on at the Annual Meeting other than those referred to in this proxy statement. If other matters are properly presented at the Annual Meeting for consideration, the proxy holders named on the proxy card will have the discretion to vote on those matters for you. |
Q. |
Can I access these proxy materials online? |
A. |
Yes, these proxy materials are available under the Investors section of our website at www.liquidityservices.com. |
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
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If you are a stockholder of record and would like to receive our proxy materials electronically in the future, you may enroll in the electronic delivery service at any time by going directly to www.computershare.com/investor and following the enrollment instructions. If you are a beneficial owner, you also may receive copies of these documents electronically. Please check the information provided in the proxy materials mailed to you by your broker, bank or other nominee regarding the availability of this service. Opting to receive your proxy materials online will save us the cost of producing and mailing documents to your home or business, and also will give you an electronic link to the proxy voting site. |
Q. |
Who will pay for the cost of this proxy solicitation? |
A. |
We will pay the cost of soliciting proxies. Proxies may be solicited on our behalf by directors, officers or employees, acting without special compensation, in person, by telephone or electronically. |
Q. |
Who will count the vote? |
A. |
Representatives of our transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., will tabulate the votes and act as inspectors of election. |
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Governance of the Company
Corporate Governance Guidelines
The Board is committed to sound and effective corporate governance practices and has adopted a set of guidelines describing the corporate governance principles and procedures by which it functions (the “Governance Guidelines”). The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee (the “Governance Committee”) reviews the Governance Guidelines periodically, or more frequently as necessary, and recommends changes to the Board as appropriate. The Governance Guidelines, and the charter of each of the committees of the Board (i.e., the Audit Committee, the Governance Committee and the Compensation Committee), are available on our website at https://investors.liquidityservices.com/corporate-governance. Stockholders may request a free copy of these documents by sending a written request to our Corporate Secretary at Liquidity Services, Inc., 6931 Arlington Road, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814.
Among other matters, the Governance Guidelines address board selection, composition and evaluation, engagement of outside advisors, succession planning and stockholder communication with the Board.
Board Leadership Structure
The Board believes it is important to retain the flexibility to select its leadership structure, and regularly reviews the Board leadership structure as part of the succession planning process. The Board presently believes that combining the role of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) is in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders and has selected Mr. Angrick for these roles. Mr. Angrick, a co-founder of the Company, has extensive industry experience and knowledge gained through 23 years of hands-on management and engagement with the Company’s senior leaders, employees and business partners, as well as industry influencers. Mr. Angrick has a history of outstanding leadership through both strong and challenging periods as our Chairman and CEO since 2000.
Lead Independent Director
The Board believes that strong, independent Board leadership and oversight is critical to effective corporate governance. The Board has established the position of Lead Director to provide an appropriate balance of leadership among directors, given the combination of the roles of Chairman and CEO. The Lead Director is an independent director elected for a period of at least one year by the independent directors and whose responsibilities include:
Patrick W. Gross has served as the Lead Director since August 2013.
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Governance of the Company
Director Independence
The Board makes an affirmative determination regarding the independence of each director annually, based upon the recommendation of the Governance Committee. Under the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC’s (“Nasdaq”) listing standards (the “Nasdaq Standards”), an independent director is a director that the Board determines meets the objective standards for “director independence” set forth in the Nasdaq Standards and who is free of any other relationship with the Company that, in the Board’s opinion, would interfere with exercising such person’s independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. The Board has not established categorical standards or guidelines to use in making these independence determinations but rather considers all relevant facts and circumstances. In addition, the directors who serve on the Audit Committee each must satisfy SEC standards, which state that Audit Committee members may not accept, directly or indirectly, any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from the Company other than their director compensation or fixed payments under a retirement plan for prior service. Similarly, in determining whether the directors who serve on the Compensation Committee satisfy the Nasdaq Standards for service on that committee, the Board must consider the source of compensation of each member, including any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from the Company other than their director compensation or fixed payments under a retirement plan for prior service, as well as whether the member is affiliated with the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any affiliate of its subsidiaries.
The Board has determined that Phillip A. Clough, Katharin S. Dyer, George H. Ellis, Patrick W. Gross, Beatriz V. Infante and Edward J. Kolodzieski (75% of our directors) are independent under the Nasdaq Standards. The Board has also determined that Mr. Angrick, our Chairman and CEO, is not independent under the Nasdaq Standards. Additionally, although the Board has determined that Mr. Mateus-Tique, who retired from his position as our President and Chief Operating Officer in 2009, would qualify as independent under the Nasdaq Standards, the Company has elected to not treat him as such due to his former role with the Company and proxy advisory firm guidelines.
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Governance of the Company
Board Oversight of Risk
The Board has overall responsibility for oversight of the risks facing the Company. The Board implements its risk oversight function both directly and indirectly through delegation to committees that report back to the Board. For example, the Board is directly involved in overseeing cyber security risk while the oversight of other risks, such as risks related to accounting and compensation, is delegated to committees. The below chart describes the Board’s oversight of risk management:
Continuous Oversight; Identification and Management of New Risks. Oversight of risk is an ongoing process. Management continually reviews and analyzes the risk profile of the Company. On at least a quarterly basis, management presents to the Governance Committee on material risks facing the Company and the approach for addressing such risks. To identify material risks, all members of the executive team are surveyed and asked to rank risk categories. The executive team are also polled to identify new risk categories. The members of the Governance Committee are given ample time to review and discuss the risks with management. Information on risks is also periodically presented to the full Board to allow all of the directors the information needed to ensure they can adequately oversee the Company’s risk profile.
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Governance of the Company
Risk Considerations in Our Compensation Program. The Company regularly assesses its risk exposure, including exposures that may be associated with our compensation programs. In fiscal 2022, our compensation risk assessment considered a variety of factors. Through this assessment, we determined that our compensation programs do not pose excessive risk because:
Board and Committee Membership
Our bylaws provide that our Board shall consist of at least three members and the exact number of directors will be determined from time to time by resolution of our Board. Our Board currently comprises eight directors, divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. The term for each class of directors expires at successive annual meetings. The Class I directors are William P. Angrick, III and Edward J. Kolodzieski, the Class II directors are Phillip A. Clough, George H. Ellis and Jaime Mateus-Tique, and the Class III directors are Katharin S. Dyer, Patrick W. Gross and Beatriz V. Infante.
The Board met five times during fiscal 2022. Each director attended 75% or more of the total number of meetings of the Board held while he, she or they was a director and of each committee on which he, she or they served while he, she or they was a member of that committee. Our directors are also encouraged to attend each Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Four directors attended the 2022 Annual Meeting.
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Governance of the Company
The table below provides membership information for the Board and each committee of the Board as of the date of this proxy statement.
Name |
Position |
Year Current |
Director Since |
Independent |
Audit Committee |
Compensation Committee |
Governance Committee |
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Mr. Clough |
Class II director |
2023 |
2004 |
YES |
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● |
Chair |
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Mr. Ellis |
Class II director |
2023 |
2010 |
YES |
Chair |
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Mr. Mateus-Tique |
Class II director |
2023 |
2000 |
NO |
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Ms. Dyer |
Class III director |
2024 |
2020 |
YES |
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● |
● |
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Mr. Gross** |
Class III director |
2024 |
2001 |
YES
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● |
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● |
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Ms. Infante |
Class III director |
2024 |
2014 |
YES |
● |
Chair |
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Mr. Angrick |
Class I director |
2025 |
2000 |
NO |
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Mr. Kolodzieski |
Class I director |
2025 |
2015 |
YES |
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● |
● |
** Lead independent director
Board Committees and Composition
The Board’s current standing committees are the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Governance Committee. The Board reviews committee membership, charters and responsibilities every year. Each committee’s charter is available on the Investors section of our website at https://investors.liquidityservices.com/corporate-governance.
Additional information on each committee, including the members, the number of meetings held in fiscal 2022 and the duties and responsibilities of such committee, are available on the following pages.
12
Governance of the Company
Audit Committee
Members
Mr. Ellis (chair), Mr. Gross and Ms. Infante
Meetings
The Audit Committee met 6 times in fiscal 2022.
Director Independence
The Board has determined that every member of the Audit Committee is independent, as defined by the Company’s director independence standards, the Nasdaq Standards and SEC rules.
Financial Expert
The Board has determined that Mr. Ellis is an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of such term under Item 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Committee Report
See page 43.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities*
13
Governance of the Company
* For a full description of the duties and responsibilities of the Audit Committee, see the Audit Committee Charter, available on our website at https://investors.liquidityservices.com/corporate-governance.
14
Governance of the Company
Governance Committee
Members
Mr. Clough (chair), Ms. Dyer, Mr. Gross and Mr. Kolodzieski
Meetings
The Governance Committee met 5 times during fiscal 2022.
Director Independence
The Board has determined that every member of the Governance Committee is independent, as defined by the Company’s director independence standards and the Nasdaq Standards.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities*
* For a full description of the duties and responsibilities of the Governance Committee, see the Governance Committee Charter, available on our website at https://investors.liquidityservices.com/corporate-governance
15
Governance of the Company
Compensation Committee
Members
Ms. Infante (Chair), Mr. Clough, Ms. Dyer and Mr. Kolodzieski
Meetings
The Compensation Committee met 4 times during fiscal 2022.
Director Independence
The Board has determined that each member of the Compensation Committee is independent, as defined by the Company’s director independence standards and the Nasdaq Standards.
Committee Report
See page 81.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities*
16
Governance of the Company
* For a full description of the duties and responsibilities of the Compensation Committee, see the Compensation Committee Charter, available on our website at https://investors.liquidityservices.com/corporate-governance.
17
Governance of the Company
Recommendation of Director Candidates
As indicated above, one of the primary duties and responsibilities of the Governance Committee is to develop and recommend to the Board criteria for identifying and evaluating director candidates. The Governance Committee has developed, and the Board has approved, the use of the following criteria for identifying and evaluating director candidates.
Identification. Candidates may come to the attention of the Governance Committee through the directors, the CEO, professional search firms (to whom we pay a fee), stockholders or other persons. The Company has also sought to identify potential candidates through professional associations and initiatives, such as the National Association of Corporate Directors (“NACD”), The Boston Club, The Athena Alliance and Stanford Women on Boards.
The Governance Committee will consider candidates for director suggested by our stockholders, provided that the recommendations are made in accordance with the procedures required under our bylaws and described in this proxy statement under the heading “Requirements, Including Deadlines, for Submission of Proxy Proposals, Nomination of Directors and Other Business of Stockholders.” Director candidates recommended by stockholders under these procedures will be evaluated by the Governance Committee like other director candidates using the process set forth below.
Evaluation. Initially, the Governance Committee looks for individuals who meet certain minimum qualifications approved by the Board, including the highest level of personal and professional ethics and integrity, sound judgment, the ability to make independent analytical inquiries, the willingness to devote adequate time and resources to diligently perform Board duties and appropriate and relevant business experience and acumen. For additional information on the types of business experience considered by the Governance Committee, see “Proposal 1—Election of Directors” below. The Governance Committee also considers the number of other boards of public companies on which the candidate currently serves.
Next, the Governance Committee considers whether the candidate would be a good fit for the Board overall. The goal is to find candidates with experiences and skill sets that complement those of current directors to create a balanced Board with diverse viewpoints and deep expertise. The Governance Committee does not prescribe set diversity standards but considers diversity to be an important consideration when evaluating a candidate. The Governance Committee considers the various characteristics of each candidate, such professional experience, race, ethnicity, gender, age, thought, skills and background, to determine if such candidate would provide a unique perspective that may help the Board address the complex issues it faces.
18
Governance of the Company
The Governance Committee is committed to continuously evolving and enhancing our disclosures about Board diversity in response to feedback from stockholders and other stakeholders. Beginning in 2021, we surveyed the Board and asked each Director to self-identify their race/ethnicity, gender identity, disability, military experience, and LGBTQ+ identity. The results are presented below in compliance with Nasdaq’s new disclosure format.
Board Diversity Matrix |
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Total Number of Directors |
8 |
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Part I: Gender Identity |
Female |
Male |
Non-Binary |
Did Not Disclose Gender |
Directors |
2 |
6 |
- |
- |
Part II: Demographic Background |
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African American or Black |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Alaskan Native or Native American |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Asian |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Hispanic or Latinx |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander |
- |
- |
- |
- |
White |
2 |
5 |
- |
- |
Two or More Races or Ethnicities |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
LGBTQ+ |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Did Not Disclose Demographic Background |
- |
1 |
- |
- |
Part III: Supplemental Self-Identification |
||||
Military Veteran |
- |
1 |
- |
- |
Person with Disability/Disabilities |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Person of International/Non-U.S. Origin |
1 |
1 |
- |
- |
Code of Conduct
Our Board has adopted a Code of Conduct applicable to all of our directors, officers and employees to protect and promote organization-wide integrity and to enhance the Company’s ability to achieve its mission.
The Code of Conduct embodies general principles such as compliance with laws, acting with honesty and integrity, avoidance of conflicts of interest, maintenance of accurate and timely financial and business records, use of the Company’s assets for legitimate business purposes only, provision and acceptance of gifts to or from customers, suppliers and governments in compliance with law, protecting the Company’s information and dealing fairly with other companies.
All directors, officers, and employees must report violations and suspected violations of the Code of Conduct and any concerns they may have pertaining to non‑compliance with the Code of Conduct by following certain procedures described in the Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct includes instructions on how to anonymously submit concerns through a hotline that is available 24 hours a day / 365 days a year. All reports of suspected Code of Conduct violations will be forwarded to the Legal Department and the Human Resources Department, except for complaints and concerns involving accounting or auditing matters, which will be handled in accordance with procedures established by the Audit Committee.
The Code of Conduct is available on our website, www.liquidityservices.com, at “Investors—Corporate Governance—Governance Documents.” A free printed copy is available to any stockholder who requests it by writing to us at Liquidity Services, Inc., 6931 Arlington Road, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814, Attention: Legal Department. We intend to disclose future amendments to certain provisions of the Code of Conduct, or waivers of such provisions granted to executive officers and directors, on our website within four business days following the date of such amendment or waiver.
19
Governance of the Company
Reducing Environmental Impact; Increasing Social Impact
We believe that our obligations to our stockholders include being a responsible corporate citizen. Our vision is to build the world’s leading marketplace for surplus and idle assets that benefits sellers, buyers and the planet. This vision, with its emphasis on environmental responsibility, is ingrained in our business strategy and the services we provide. We enable corporate and government agency sellers to directly reduce waste generated by redistributing end-of-life products or assets through our solutions, thereby improving the net financial recovery generated while positively impacting the communities they serve. Some of the world's largest forward-thinking corporations and government agencies have enhanced their stewardship of communities and the environment by using our services and selling their surplus assets through our marketplaces.
Besides our fundamental business model, which emphasizes the importance of reusing assets, we also encourage the disposal of surplus in an environmentally-safe manner. For example, where consumer electronics waste is not sold, we recycle such consumer electronics waste through professional recycling companies with R2 or similar publicly-recognized recycling standards. In our warehouses, we also recycle cardboard and plastic dunnage received from sellers.
Our focus on virtual solutions and online auctions also serve the environment by reducing environmental risks caused by travel and transportation. When using our self-directed solutions on our GovDeals and AllSurplus marketplaces, sellers do not have to ship their goods to a site for an auction, thereby reducing emissions into the environment. In addition, individuals do not have to travel to and from an auction site, further reducing emissions.
Human Capital Management
In order to achieve our goal to build the world’s leading marketplace for surplus assets, it is crucial that we attract, develop and retain employees who deliver outstanding performance. To do so, we strive to make the Company a rewarding place to work and an environment where we promote diversity, equity and inclusion. As of September 30, 2022, we had 735 employees worldwide. We also utilize temporary workers to augment staffing during peak business cycles and to fill certain open positions on a temporary basis.
We believe our employees are key to achieving our business goals and growth strategy. We track and report internally on certain key metrics, such as employee engagement, employee net promoter score, turnover rate, workforce growth and internal mobility.
We embrace diversity, equity and inclusion. We actively recruit talent with a diversity of experiences, backgrounds, and ideas. By doing so, we aim to leverage the variety of skills and perspectives inherent in a diverse workforce, improve our problem-solving abilities, and bring innovative solutions to a wider range of clients and customers.
Communication with Directors
Stockholders and other interested parties may communicate with the Board by writing c/o the Corporate Secretary, Liquidity Services, Inc., 6931 Arlington Road, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814. Communications intended for a specific director or directors should be addressed to the attention of the relevant individual(s) c/o the Corporate Secretary at the same address.
Our Corporate Secretary will review all correspondence intended for the Board and forward to the Board a summary of such correspondence and a copy of the correspondence that, in the opinion of the Corporate Secretary, requires the Board’s attention. Directors may at any time review a log, and receive copies, of all correspondence received by the Corporate Secretary that is intended for the Board.
In addition, the Audit Committee has established a procedure for parties to submit concerns regarding what they believe to be questionable accounting, internal controls and auditing matters. Concerns may be reported through our Compliance Helpline at 888-475‑8376. Concerns may be submitted anonymously and confidentially.
20
Governance of the Company
Our Executive Officers
Our team of experienced executive officers also support the governance of the Company. Biographical information on our executive officers (other than Mr. Angrick, whose biographical information appears in this proxy statement under “Proposal 1 - Our Board of Directors”) is below:
Name |
Age |
Position |
|
Jorge A. Celaya |
56 |
Chief Financial Officer |
|
John P. Daunt |
57 |
Chief Commercial Officer |
|
Steven J. Weiskircher |
49 |
Chief Technology Officer |
|
Mark A. Shaffer |
49 |
Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary |
|
Novelette Murray |
57 |
Chief Human Resources Officer |
|
|
|
|
Jorge A. Celaya has served as our Chief Financial Officer since 2015. Mr. Celaya has more than 30 years of experience in capital markets, financial accounting, operations, and strategic transformation with global and publicly held companies in diverse industries. Before joining the Company, he co-founded Avanz Capital, an independent investment firm focused on private equity investing across emerging markets. Before that, Mr. Celaya was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for both FTI Consulting, a global provider of business restructuring, financial consulting, and e-discovery software and services, and Sitel Corporation, a global provider of business process outsourcing services. From 1990 to October 2003, Mr. Celaya also held various corporate and operating group positions with Schlumberger Ltd. where he worked across multiple industries and sectors both domestically and internationally. Mr. Celaya holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master’s in Business degree from the University of Texas at Austin.
John P. Daunt has served as our Chief Commercial Officer since April 2019. Previously, Mr. Daunt was our Senior Vice President, CAG North America, from June 2018 to April 2019, Senior Vice President, Global Operations and DoD from August 2015 to May 2018 and Senior Vice President, Account Management from November 2014 to July 2015. Before joining the Company, Mr. Daunt served as Senior Vice President of FedBid, Inc., a company that allows federal, state and local governments, and educational institutions to purchase goods and services through a reverse auction-based platform, from March 2013 to November 2014. Prior to that, Mr. Daunt was Vice President and General Manager of AssetNation and an Account Executive at Ariba, Inc. Mr. Daunt also served as a Naval Flight Officer in the US Navy. Mr. Daunt holds a B.S. in Entrepreneurial Studies from Babson College.
Steven J. Weiskircher has served as our Chief Technology Officer since August 2019. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Weiskircher was Vice President, Omnichannel, Marketing, and Digital Delivery Technology at GameStop, a video game, consumer electronics, and wireless services retailer, from July 2018 through July 2019. Prior to that, Mr. Weiskircher worked for ThinkGeek, a retailer, as Chief Information Officer from February 2013 through July 2018. Mr. Weiskircher has also been employed as Chief Information Officer at Fanatics, Inc. and as Vice President, Information Technology at Crutchfield Corporation. Mr. Weiskircher served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. Mr. Weiskircher holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech and a M.S. in Management Information Systems from the University of Virginia.
Mark A. Shaffer has served as our Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary since July 2016. Before this role, Mr. Shaffer was Senior Associate General Counsel and Assistant General Counsel from September 2012 to July 2016. Before joining the Company, Mr. Shaffer served as Senior Counsel and Global Compliance Officer for Barnes Group, Inc., an international industrial and aerospace manufacturer and service provider, from June 2010 to August 2012. Before that, he served in other roles at Barnes Group and as Senior Counsel at the law firm of Miller Canfield, where he focused on industrial and automotive mergers and acquisitions and commercial negotiations. Mr. Shaffer also served as Senior Counsel for Kmart Corporation and as an associate at the law firms of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae LLP and Latham & Watkins LLP. Mr. Shaffer holds a B.S. in Foreign Service and a J.D. from Georgetown University. Mr. Shaffer became a NACD Board Leadership Fellow in 2020.
21
Governance of the Company
Novelette Murray has served as our Chief Human Resources Officer since October 2020. In this role, Ms. Murray leads all aspects of human resources and is responsible for aligning talent with the Company’s business strategy, including hiring, training, development, performance management, diversity and inclusion, and succession planning. Ms. Murray originally joined the Company in 2010 as the Director of Human Resources. She was promoted multiple times during her tenure with the Company, serving as both Sr. Director of Human Resources and Vice President, HR Operations before becoming Chief Human Resources Officer. Prior to her employment with the Company, Ms. Murray served as Senior Human Resources Manager for the U.S. Concrete Pipe Division of Cemex, a global building materials company, from 2006 to 2010. Prior to that, Ms. Murray was the Director of Human Resources for Houston ENT, an otolaryngology physician group, from 2000 to 2006, and a Human Resources Associate at GE Healthcare, a manufacturer of medical imaging equipment, from 1995 to 2000. Ms. Murray received a B.A. in Organizational Communication with honors from Rollins College and a M.B.A. from University of Maryland University College.
22
COMPENSATION OF NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
Director Compensation
Our non-employee directors receive a combination of cash and equity compensation for service as directors. Directors employed by the Company (such as Mr. Angrick) receive no compensation for their service as directors. The Compensation Committee, in consultation with its independent compensation consultant, periodically reviews non‑employee director compensation and recommends changes based on competitive market data. Based on such review and recommendations, the Board approved the following compensation for non-employee directors for calendar year 2022:
23
COMPENSATION OF NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
Non‑employee director compensation for calendar year 2022 is summarized in the following table:
Annual Compensation Element for Role |
Board Compensation |
General Board Service—Cash Retainer |
$45,000 |
Lead Director—Cash Retainer |
$7,500 |
Committee Chair Service—Cash Retainer |
|
Audit Committee |
$20,000 |
Compensation Committee |
$12,000 |
Governance Committee |
$7,500 |
Committee Service—Cash Retainer |
|
Audit Committee |
$10,000 |
Compensation Committee |
$6,000 |
Governance Committee |
$3,750 |
General Board Service—Equity (Each Director Elects One of Three Following Options) |
|
Option Value (60%) |
$60,000 |
RSU Value (40%) |
$40,000 |
Option Value (20%) |
$20,000 |
RSU Value (80%) |
$80,000 |
Option Value (0%) |
$0 |
RSU Value (100%) |
$100,000 |
Vesting Schedule |
Stock options and RSUs |
Cash retainers to our non-employee directors are paid quarterly in advance and may be paid in the form of grants of options or RSUs upon the director making an irrevocable annual election. Mr. Gross was the only director to make such an election for the calendar year 2022.
Non-employee directors also receive equity-based compensation in the form of options and/or RSUs, as elected by the director and described in further detail in the table below. Annual non-employee director equity awards are granted in February and vest on the one-year anniversary of the grant date, subject to the director’s continued service with the Company through that date. Options granted to non-employee directors expire ten years from the date of grant.
For 2022, each non-employee director received an equity award with an aggregate value of $100,000. Such awards vest on February 1, 2023, subject to the director’s continued service with the Company through such date. The number of options to be granted was determined using the Black Scholes model. The number of RSUs to be granted was determined by dividing the value of the award by the closing price of our common stock on the grant date ($19.21).
Non‑employee directors are also reimbursed for expenses they incur in attending Board and committee meetings.
Director Stock Ownership and Anti-Hedging Requirements
We require our non-employee directors to hold shares of our common stock having a value equal to five times the value of his, her or their annual cash retainer. New non-employee directors have five years after his, her or their appointment to the Board to satisfy this requirement. Each non-employee director has satisfied or is on track to satisfying the stock ownership requirement within the applicable timeframe. Non-employee directors may not purchase any financial instrument or enter any transaction that hedges or offsets any decrease in the market value of our common stock (including, but not limited to, prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars, or exchange funds). A copy of the Director Stock Ownership Policy is available under the Investors section of our website at www.liquidityservices.com.
24
COMPENSATION OF NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
Director Compensation for Calendar Year 2022
The following table sets forth the total cash and equity compensation paid to our non‑employee directors for their service on the Board and committees of the Board during calendar year 2022:
Name |
Retainer Fees (Paid in Cash)(1) |
Stock |
Option |
Total ($) |
Phillip A. Clough |
$58,500 |
$100,000 |
$0 |
$158,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
Katharin S. Dyer |
$54,750 |
$100,000 |
$0 |
$154,750 |
|
|
|
|
|
George H. Ellis |
$65,000 |
$100,000 |
$0 |
$165,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Patrick W. Gross |
$0 |
$146,250 |
$20,000 |
$166,250 |
|
|
|
|
|
Beatriz V. Infante |
$67,000 |
$100,000 |
$0 |
$167,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Edward Kolodzieski |
$54,750 |
$100,000 |
$0 |
$154,750 |
|
|
|
|
|
Jaime Mateus-Tique |
$45,000 |
$100,000 |
$0 |
$145,000 |
25
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
The following table sets forth information regarding ownership of our common stock as of the Record Date, other than as set forth below, by each of our directors and executive officers, all our directors and executive officers as a group and the holders of 5% or more of our common stock known to us. The information in this table is based on our records, information filed with the SEC and information provided to us. To our knowledge, except as disclosed in the table below, none of our stockholders hold 5% or more of our common stock. Except as otherwise indicated, (1) each person has sole voting and investment power (or shares such powers with her, his or their spouse) with respect to the shares set forth in the following table and (2) the business address of each of our officers and directors is 6931 Arlington Road, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814.
|
Number of Shares |
Percentage of Shares Outstanding(1) |
5% Stockholders |
||
BlackRock, Inc.(2) |
4,144,617
|
12.41% |
Granahan Investment Management, Inc.(3) 404 Wyman Street, Suite 460 Waltham, MA 02451 |
2,549,009 |
7.63% |
Staley Capital Advisers, Inc.(4) One Oxford Centre, Suite 3950 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 |
2,300,000 |
6.89% |
Renaissance Technologies LLC(5) 800 Third Avenue New York, NY 10022 |
1,967,164
|
5.89% |
The Vanguard Group(6) 100 Vanguard Blvd. Malvern, PA 19355 |
1,954,063 |
5.85%
|
Officers and Directors |
||
William P. Angrick, III(7) |
8,020,852 |
24.01% |
Jorge A. Celaya(8) |
159,968 |
* |
Phillip A. Clough(9) |
174,398 |
* |
John P. Daunt(10) |
254,307 |
* |
Katharin S. Dyer(11) |
28,658 |
* |
*George H. Ellis(12) |
46,373 |
* |
Patrick W. Gross(13) |
279,271 |
* |
Beatriz V. Infante(14) |
81,363 |
* |
Edward J. Kolodzieski(15) |
58,602 |
* |
Jaime Mateus-Tique(16) |
804,518 |
2.41% |
Novelette Murray(17) |
89,323 |
* |
Mark A. Shaffer(18) |
48,118 |
* |
Steven J. Weiskircher(19) |
111,645 |
* |
All directors and executive officers as a group |
10,157,396 |
30.41% |
* Less than 1% of the outstanding shares of our common stock.
26
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
27
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
Stock Ownership and Anti-Hedging Requirements
A NEO must hold common stock with a value equal to 150% of the NEO’s annual base salary except the Chairman and CEO, who must hold common stock with a value equal to 600% of his, her or their annual base salary. Each NEO has five years after her, his or their date of hire or appointment to satisfy this requirement. Each of our NEOs has satisfied, or is on track to satisfy, the stock ownership requirement within the applicable timeframe. Executive officers may not purchase any financial instrument or enter any transaction that hedges, pledges or offsets any decrease in the market value of our common stock (including, but not limited to, prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars, or exchange funds) without advance approval from our Board. On September 11, 2020, the Board approved in advance Mr. Angrick’s pledge of 1,400,000 shares of common stock. This approval was reviewed and extended on December 6, 2021 until such date as the Board revokes its approval. In reviewing and extending this approval, the Board took note of certain facts and circumstances that helped moderate risk to the Company from the pledge, including: (i) shares pledged by Mr. Angrick would be derived from shares purchased by Mr. Angrick for investment purposes as compared to shares received by Mr. Angrick as executive compensation; (ii) the pledge having a 50% loan-to-value ratio and only requiring funding for the difference between 50% of the original share value at the time of pledge and the then current price; (iii) the limited size of the pledge in reference to Mr. Angrick’s overall holdings; and (iv) Mr. Angrick’s lack of reliance on the pledged shares for compliance with the Company’s executive stock holding policy.
Additionally, non-executive employees who are deemed to be “insiders” pursuant to the Company’s Insider Trading Policy cannot enter into hedging, pledging or similar arrangements with respect to the Company’s securities without advance approval from the Board.
28
DELINQUENT SECTION 16(a) REPORTS
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), requires our directors, executive officers and beneficial owners of greater than ten percent of our common stock to file reports of holdings and transactions in our common stock with the SEC. Based solely on a review of these records filed during or with respect to fiscal 2022, we believe that in fiscal 2022 all persons satisfied these filing requirements on a timely basis, except that in August 2022 one Form 4 reflecting the sale of 5,000 shares by Jorge A. Celaya was inadvertently filed on the third business day after the transaction due to an administrative oversight.
29
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
As a general matter, our written Code of Conduct prohibits conflicts of interest. We consider a conflict of interest to exist when a person’s private interest interferes in any way with the interests of the Company, including: (i) a conflict that makes it difficult for an employee, officer or director to perform his, her or their work objectively and effectively; (ii) when an employee, officer or director, or any member of his, her or their family, receives improper personal benefits because of his, her or their position in or with our Company; or (iii) when an employee, officer or director is engaged in a business or business activity in competition with or injurious to us. The Code of Conduct requires that the Chief Legal Officer be consulted with questions about conflicts of interest in addition to requiring that our directors and officers consult with the Chief Legal Officer before engaging in any potential conflict of interest transactions.
30
PROPOSALS requiring your vote
Proposal 1 - Election of Directors
Overview of Proposal 1
Our Class II directors are Phillip A. Clough, George H. Ellis and Jaime Mateus-Tique. Mr. Clough, Mr. Ellis and Mr. Mateus-Tique were last elected at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2020. Their current terms end at this Annual Meeting and each has consented to be nominated to serve as a director for an additional three-year term. Each nominee will, if elected, continue in office until our Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2026 or until his, her or their successor has been duly elected and qualified, or until the earlier of his, her or their death, resignation or retirement.
2023 Director Nominees
|
|
|
|
Nominee Name |
Director |
Independent |
Committee Memberships |
Phillip A. Clough |
2004 |
YES |
Compensation Committee; Governance Committee (Chair) |
George H. Ellis |
2010 |
YES |
Audit Committee (Chair) |
Jaime Mateus-Tique |
2000 |
NO |
None |
If you are a stockholder of record, the proxy holders named on the proxy card intend to vote your proxy for the election of each nominee, unless you indicate on the proxy card that your vote should be withheld from any or all the nominees. Brokers, banks, and other nominees may not vote in the election of directors without instructions from the beneficial owner. Therefore, if your shares are held through a broker, bank, or other nominee, they will not be voted in the election of directors unless you affirmatively vote your shares.
We expect each nominee to serve as a director if elected. If any nominee cannot serve, proxies will be voted in favor of the other nominees and may be voted for substitute nominees selected by the Board, unless the Board reduces the number of directors serving on the Board.
Selection of Directors
In evaluating director candidates and considering incumbent directors for nomination, the Board and the Governance Committee consider a variety of factors as discussed above under “Governance Committee.” Among other things, the Board has determined that it is important to have individuals with the following skills, qualifications and experiences on the Board:
31
PROPOSALS requiring your vote
Proposal 1 - Election of Directors
Name |
Industry Experience and/or Company Knowledge |
Senior Leadership Experience |
High-Growth Company Experience |
U.S. Public Company Board Service Experience |
Media and Technology Experience |
Financial and/or Accounting Experience |
Data Analytics and |
Mr. Angrick |
● |
● |
● |
|
● |
● |
|
|
|||||||
Mr. Clough |
|
● |
● |
● |
● |
● |
|
|
|||||||
Ms. Dyer |
|
● |
● |
|
● |
|
● |
|
|||||||
Mr. Ellis |
|
● |
● |
● |
● |
● |
|
|
|||||||
Mr. Gross |
● |
● |
● |
● |
● |
|
|
|
|||||||
Ms. Infante |
|
● |
● |
● |
● |
● |
|
|
|||||||
Mr. Kolodzieski |
● |
● |
● |
|
● |
● |
● |
|
|||||||
Mr. Mateus-Tique |
● |
● |
● |
|
● |
● |
|
Consideration of Diversity
The Board does not have a specific diversity policy but recognizes the value of diversity among directors. Diversity is important because a variety of viewpoints improves the quality of discussion, contributes to a more effective decision-making process, enhances the overall culture of the boardroom and helps the Board address the complex issues it faces.
Additional information on our directors and their specific qualifications and experience are set forth below. For more information on the director nomination process, refer to “Governance Committee” above.
Vote Required
Each director will be elected by a plurality of the “for” votes cast by stockholders who are present, either in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote in the election of directors.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD |
|
|
Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the election of Phillip A. Clough, George H. Ellis and Jaime Mateus-Tique as directors. |
32
PROPOSALS requiring your vote
Proposal 1 - Election of Directors
33
PROPOSALS requiring your vote
Proposal 1 - Election of Directors
Our Board of Directors
William P. Angrick, III |
|
Director Since: January 2000
Age: 55
Not Independent (Chairman & CEO)
Committee(s): None
|
Key Skills, Qualifications and Experience: ü Industry Experience and/or Company Knowledge ü Senior Leadership Experience ü Financial and/or Accounting Expertise ü High-Growth Company Experience ü Media and Technology Experience
|
Class: Class I Director
Last Elected: 2022 (Votes for: 98%)
Current Term Expires: 2025
|
|
Biography: William P. Angrick, III is a co-founder of the Company and he has served as the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since January 2000. Previously, Mr. Angrick worked with Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown's Consumer and Business Services Investment Banking Group from 1995 to 1999.
|
|
Education:
|
|
Jaime Mateus-Tique |
|
Director Since: April 2000
Age: 56
Not Independent (Co-Founder)
Committee(s): None
|
Key Skills, Qualifications and Experience: ü Industry Experience and/or Company Knowledge ü Senior Leadership Experience Financial and/or Accounting Expertise ü High-Growth Company Experience ü Media and Technology Experience
|
Class: Class II Director
Last Elected: 2020 (Votes for: 86%)
Current Term Expires: 2023
|
|
Biography: Mr. Mateus-Tique is a co-founder of the Company who has served as a director of the Company since April 2000. Mr. Mateus-Tique served as the Company's President and Chief Operating Officer from April 2000 until his retirement in September 2009. Before co-founding the Company, Mr. Mateus-Tique served as a senior engagement manager at McKinsey & Co., a management consulting firm, from September 1995 to March 2000.
|
|
Education:
|
34
PROPOSALS requiring your vote
Proposal 1 - Election of Directors
Phillip A. Clough |
|
Director Since: September 2004
Age: 61
Independent
Committee(s): Compensation Committee Governance Committee (Chair)
|
Key Skills, Qualifications and Experience: ü Senior Leadership Experience ü Financial and/or Accounting Experience ü High-Growth Company Experience ü Media and Technology Experience ü U.S. Public Company Board Service Experience
|
Class: Class II Director
Last Elected: 2020 (Votes For: 88%)
Current Term Expires: 2023
|
|
Biography: Mr. Clough has served as a director of the Company since September 2004 and, currently, serves as chair of the Governance Committee and a member of the Compensation Committee. Mr. Clough is currently a General Partner and the Chairman of ABS Capital Partners (“ABS”), a growth equity firm focused on investments in tech-enabled services businesses. From January 2007 to December 2020, Mr. Clough was a Managing General Partner of ABS. Prior to that, Mr. Clough was a General Partner of ABS from September 2001 to January 2007. Before joining ABS, Mr. Clough was President and Chief Executive Officer of Sitel Corporation, a global provider of outsourced customer support services, from May 1998 to March 2001. Mr. Clough previously served on the board of directors of American Public Education, Inc., a provider of exclusively online post-secondary education, from August 2002 to 2010 and on the board of directors of Rosetta Stone Inc., a provider of technology-based language learning solutions, from January 2006 to May 2014.
|
|
Education: Mr. Clough holds a B.S. degree from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and holds a M.B.A. from the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia.
|
35
PROPOSALS requiring your vote
Proposal 1 - Election of Directors
KATHARIN S. DYER |
|
Director Since: January 2020
Age: 65
Independent
Committee(s): Compensation Committee Governance Committee
|
Key Skills, Qualifications and Experience: ü Senior Leadership Experience ü High-Growth Company Experience ü Media and Technology Experience Data Analytics and E-commerce Marketing Experience
|
Class: Class III Director
Last Elected: 2021 (Votes For: 99%)
Current Term Expires: 2024
|
|
Biography: Ms. Dyer has served as a director of the Company since January 2020 and is a member of the Compensation Committee and the Governance Committee. Since June 2018, she has been the Chief Executive Officer of PivotWise, a strategic advisory firm focused on digital transformation founded by Ms. Dyer. Previously, she was a Global Partner and a member of the senior leadership team at IBM Global Business Services from 2016 to 2018. From 2013 to 2015, she served as EVP and General Manager, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Merchant Services at American Express Company which covers more than 112 million business and consumer card members and 18 million American Express accepting merchants. Ms. Dyer has also served as Global Management Board Member and Global Chief Transformation Officer for the digital and media agencies of the Publicis Groupe; EVP, Executive Leadership Team, and Client Portfolio General Manager of Digitas; and in leadership roles at Advanta, MNC Financial, Sallie Mae, and Citigroup. She has also served as Guest Lecturer at Harvard Business School and Boston College Carroll School of Management. Ms. Dyer is also an Advisory Board Member for two tech ventures: Momenti, an interactive content PaaS venture using AI, and VODIUM, a virtual communication technology. She dedicates her time to organizations including Women in Blockchain and WOMEN in America Executive Mentoring. She also currently serves on the boards of Principal Funds, a leading global mutual fund complex, and the Grameen Foundation. Previously, she served on the boards of Noora Health, Providence Health, the YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee, and CARE, a leading global NGO working to end poverty in more than 90 developing countries. Ms. Dyer is a member of NACD, Women Corporate Directors, and Extraordinary Women on Boards.
|
|
Education: |
36
PROPOSALS requiring your vote
Proposal 1 - Election of Directors
GEORGE H. ELLIS |
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Director Since: May 2010
Age: 73
Independent
Committee(s):
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Key Skills, Qualifications and Experience: ü Senior Leadership Experience ü Financial and/or Accounting Experience ü High-Growth Company Experience ü Media and Technology Experience ü U.S. Public Company Board Service Experience
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Class: Class II Director
Last Elected: 2020 (Votes For: 90%)
Current Term Expires: 2023
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Biography: Mr. Ellis has served as a director of the Company since May 2010 and is the Chairman of the Audit Committee. Mr. Ellis has served as the Chief Financial Officer of Accumen Inc., a provider of health system performance optimization solutions, since November 2020. From 2015 through 2020, Mr. Ellis was a Managing Director in the healthcare practice of Huron Consulting, Inc. Prior to that, Mr. Ellis served as the Chief Financial Officer of Studer Group, a private equity-backed healthcare consulting firm, from September 2011 to February 2015. From July 2006 to August 2011, Mr. Ellis served as the Chief Financial Officer of Global 360, Inc., a software development company. Mr. Ellis has also served in several capacities at Softbrands, Inc., a software developer and provider of related professional services, including as a member of its board of directors from October 2001 to August 2009, as Chairman from October 2001 to June 2006, and as Chief Executive Officer from October 2001 to January 2006. Mr. Ellis is also a director of Blackbaud, Inc., a supplier of software for non-profit companies, where he is Chairman of the Audit Committee. Mr. Ellis served on the board of directors of NEON Systems, Inc., from January 2000 to December 2005 and PeopleSupport, Inc., from October 2004 to October 2008. He also served as a director of AremisSoft Corp. from April 1999 until February 2001 and as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AremisSoft from October 2001 to July 2002. Previously, Mr. Ellis served as Chief Financial Officer of Sterling Software, Inc., Chief Financial Officer and founder of Sterling Commerce, Inc., a spin-off of Sterling Software, and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Communities Foundation of Texas. Mr. Ellis is a Certified Public Accountant and is admitted to the State Bar of Texas. Mr. Ellis is a board fellow with NACD and is certified in Cyber Security for Board Members through NACD.
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37
PROPOSALS requiring your vote
Proposal 1 - Election of Directors
Patrick W. Gross |
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Director Since: February 2001
Age: 78
Independent / Lead Independent Director
Committee(s): Audit Committee Governance Committee
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Key Skills, Qualifications and Experience: ü Senior Leadership Experience ü Media and Technology Experience ü Industry Experience and/or Company Knowledge ü High-Growth Company Experience ü U.S. Public Company Board Service Experience
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Class: Class III Director
Last Elected: 2021 (Votes For: 95%)
Current Term Expires: 2024
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Biography: Mr. Gross has been a director of the Company since February 2001 and is the Lead Independent Director and a member of the Audit Committee and the Governance Committee. Mr. Gross has served as Chairman of The Lovell Group, a private business and technology advisory and investment firm, since October 2002. Mr. Gross is a founder, and served as a principal executive officer from 1970 to 2002, of American Management Systems, Inc., a publicly traded information technology consulting, software development and systems integration firm. Mr. Gross is also a director of Perdoceo Education Corporation, a publicly traded provider of post-secondary educational services. Mr. Gross previously served on the board of directors of Rosetta Stone Inc., a provider of technology based language learning solutions, from 2006 until October 2020, Waste Management, Inc., a publicly traded provider of integrated waste services, from 2006 to 2020, Capital One Financial Corporation, a publicly traded financial services company, from February 1995 to May 2017, and Taleo Corporation, a publicly traded provider of talent management solutions, from August 2006 until April 2012. Mr. Gross currently serves on the boards of directors of various private companies.
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38
PROPOSALS requiring your vote
Proposal 1 - Election of Directors
BEATRIZ V. INFANTE |
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Director Since: May 2014
Age: 68
Independent
Committee(s): Audit Committee Compensation Committee (Chair)
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Key Skills, Qualifications and Experience: ü Senior Leadership Experience ü Media and Technology Experience ü High-Growth Company Experience ü Financial and/or Accounting Experience U.S. Public Company Board Service Experience
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Class: Class III Director
Current Term Expires: 2024
Last Elected: 2021 (Votes For: 98%)
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Biography: Ms. Infante has served as a director of the Company since May 2014, and she currently serves as the Chair of the Compensation Committee and a member of the Audit Committee. Ms. Infante is currently the Chief Executive Officer of BusinessExcelleration LLC, a business consultancy specializing in corporate transformation and renewal. Since October 2017, she has served as director of Ribbon Communications, a cloud communications company formed from the merger of Sonus Networks Inc. and GENBAND Holdings Company, and more recently the acquisition of ECI Telecom Group Ltd, and is currently Chair of the Compensation Committee and member of its Audit and Technology Committees. Since January 2018, she has served as a director of PriceSmart Inc., the largest operator of membership warehouse clubs in Latin America and the Caribbean, and currently serves as Chair of its Digital Transformation Committee and as a member of its Audit Committee. Ms. Infante previously served as a member of PriceSmart’s Compensation Committee from 2018 to 2019 and served as Chair of such committee from 2019 until July 2022.
From January 2010 to October 2017, she served as a director and member of the Compensation Committee of Sonus Networks. From May 2012 until its acquisition by Broadcom in May 2015, Ms. Infante served as a director of Emulex, and was the Chair of its Nominating and Governance Committee and member of its Compensation Committee. From July 2016 until its acquisition by Veeco in May 2017, Ms. Infante served as a director and member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of Ultratech, Inc. From 1994 to 2019, she served on the Advisory Committee to the Princeton University School of Engineering and Applied Science. Ms. Infante served as Chief Executive Officer and a director of ENXSuite Corporation from May 2010 until it was acquired in October 2011. Ms. Infante served as Chief Executive Officer and a director of VoiceObjects, Inc. from March 2006 until VoiceObjects, Inc. was acquired in December 2008. Ms. Infante served as a director and Interim Chief Executive Officer of Sychron, Inc. from December 2004 to June 2005 until its sale to an investor group. Ms. Infante was Chief Executive Officer and President of Aspect Communications Corporation, a market leader in communications solutions, from April 2000 until October 2003, and was additionally named Chairman in February 2001. Between October 1998 and April 2000, she held additional roles at Aspect Communications. Ms. Infante has demonstrated her commitment to boardroom excellence by completing NACD's comprehensive program of study for experienced corporate directors - a rigorous suite of courses spanning leading practices for boards and committees.
Ms. Infante has been a NACD Board Leadership Fellow since 2012. Ms. Infante supplements her board leadership skills through ongoing engagement with the director community and access to leading practices.
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39
PROPOSALS requiring your vote
Proposal 1 - Election of Directors
EDWARD J. KOLODZIESKI |
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Director Since: November 2015
Age: 62
Independent
Committee(s): Compensation Committee Governance Committee |
Key Skills, Qualifications and Experience: ü Senior Leadership Experience ü Media and Technology Experience ü High-Growth Company Experience ü Financial and/or Accounting Experience U.S. Public Company Board Service Experience
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Class: Class I Director
Current Term Expires: 2025
Last Elected: 2022 (Votes For: 92%)
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Biography: Mr. Kolodzieski has served as a director of the Company since November 2015, and currently serves as a member of the Compensation Committee and the Governance Committee. Since 2013, Mr. Kolodzieski has also served as a Senior Advisor for CVC Capital Partners in the consumer products, retail, and supply chain sectors. In addition, he has served on the advisory board of The Welspun Group since January 2017 and on the Board of Directors of 99 Cents Only Stores LLC since January 2020. Previously, Mr. Kolodzieski served as Chairman of the Board for Archway Marketing Services from September 2015 through June 2018, as Chairman of And Go Concepts, LLC from August 2018 through March 2020 and as a Board Director of Vi-Jon Inc from August 2013 through September 2020. Prior to that, Mr. Kolodzieski served as Executive Vice President - Global Sourcing at Wal-Mart, Inc. from February 2010 through his retirement from Wal-Mart in February 2013. Prior to this position, he held several other senior executive positions with Wal-Mart, including Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Walmart Japan, Chief Operating Officer of Wal-Mart International, and SVP of Wal-Mart's Neighborhood Market division. Before joining Wal-Mart, he was the President of Acme Markets of Virginia, a supermarket firm with operations in five Mid-Atlantic States.
Mr. Kolodzieski has been a certified law enforcement officer for over 30 years, and he is currently increasing his training in cyber security and Internet fraud. He has completed courses from the U.S. Department of Justice / National White Collar Crime Center and the Carnegie Mellon University CERT Cyber Security Certification Program.
Mr. Kolodzieski has demonstrated his commitment to boardroom excellence by completing NACD's comprehensive program of study for corporate directors, a rigorous suite of courses spanning leading practices for boards and committees. Mr. Kolodzieski was a 2013 NACD Board Governance Fellow.
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40
PROPOSALS requiring your vote
Proposal 2 – Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Overview of Proposal 2
The Audit Committee has selected Deloitte & Touche LLP to serve as our Independent Auditor for fiscal 2023.
We are asking our stockholders to ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our Independent Auditor. Although ratification is not required by our bylaws or otherwise, we are submitting the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP to our stockholders for ratification because we value our stockholders’ views on our Independent Auditor and as a matter of good corporate practice. If our stockholders fail to ratify the selection, the Audit Committee will review its future selection of our Independent Auditor. Even if this selection is ratified, pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of our Independent Auditor and may determine to change the firm selected at such time and based on such factors as it determines to be appropriate.
Representatives of Deloitte & Touche LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting to answer appropriate questions. They also will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so.
Change of Independent Auditor
As previously reported on the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated December 27, 2021, the Audit Committee conducted a comprehensive, competitive process to determine our Independent Auditor for fiscal 2022. On December 20, 2021, the Audit Committee approved the engagement of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our Independent Auditor for fiscal 2022, replacing Ernst & Young LLP, our prior Independent Auditor.
Ernst & Young LLP’s audit reports on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. During the Company’s fiscal years ended September 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020, there were (i) no disagreements between the Company and Ernst & Young LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, any of which, if not resolved to Ernst & Young LLP’s satisfaction, would have caused Ernst & Young LLP to make reference thereto in its reports, and (ii) no “reportable events” within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
During the Company’s fiscal years ended September 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020, neither the Company nor anyone on its behalf consulted with Deloitte & Touche LLP regarding:
Vote Required
The affirmative “for” vote of the majority of the votes cast by stockholders who are present, either in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the proposal is required for approval of Proposal 2.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD |
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Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our Independent Auditor for fiscal 2023. |
41
PROPOSALS requiring your vote
Proposal 2 – Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Audit and Non-Audit Fees
The following table presents fees for professional audit services rendered by Deloitte & Touche LLP for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022 and by Ernst & Young LLP for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, and for fees billed for other services rendered by Deloitte & Touche LLP or Ernst & Young LLP, respectively, during those periods.
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Fiscal 2022 |
Fiscal 2021 |
Audit Fees(1) |
$1,174,000 |
$1,171,178 |
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Audit-Related Fees(2) |
$0 |
$88,479 |
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Tax Fees(3) |
$15,000 |
$294,108 |
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All Other Fees (4) |
$1,895 |
$0 |
Total Fees |
$1,190,895 |
$1,553,765 |
Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Auditor
Under its Charter, its policy and applicable law, the Audit Committee preapproves all audit and permissible non-audit services to be provided by our Independent Auditor, including audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. The Audit Committee has delegated authority to the Chair of the Audit Committee in some cases to preapprove the provision of services by our Independent Auditor, which preapprovals the Chair then communicates to the full Audit Committee. To avoid potential conflicts of interest, the law prohibits a publicly traded company from obtaining certain non-audit services from its Independent Auditor. We obtain these services from other service providers as needed.
42
PROPOSALS requiring your vote
Proposal 2 – Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Audit Committee Report
The Company’s management team is responsible for the Company’s financial statements, internal controls and financial reporting process. Our Independent Auditor is responsible for auditing the financial statements and for expressing an opinion as to whether those audited financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company in conformity with GAAP. The Audit Committee was established for the purpose of representing and assisting the Board in overseeing the Company’s accounting and financial reporting processes and audits of the Company’s annual financial statements, including the integrity of the Company’s financial statements, the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory authority requirements, the Independent Auditor’s qualifications, independence, and performance. The members of the Audit Committee are not professional accountants or auditors, and their functions are not intended to duplicate or to certify the activities of management or the Independent Auditor.
In this context, the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with management. The Audit Committee has discussed with the Independent Auditor the matters required to be discussed with the Independent Auditor pursuant to the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) and the SEC. The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the Independent Auditor required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the Independent Auditor’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and has discussed with the Independent Auditor its independence.
Based upon the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Company’s audited financial statements for fiscal 2022 be included in the Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended September 30, 2022 to be filed with the SEC. The Board of Directors approved including the Company’s audited financial statements for fiscal 2022 in the Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended September 30, 2022.
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The Audit Committee: |
The Audit Committee Report does not constitute soliciting material and shall not be deemed to be filed or incorporated by reference into any other filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate the Audit Committee Report by reference therein.
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Proposal 3 – Approval of an Amendment to the Company’s Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to Limit the Liability of Certain Officers of the Company
Overview of Proposal 3
At the Annual Meeting, our stockholders will be asked to approve an amendment to the Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Charter”) to provide exculpation from liability for certain officers of the Company from certain claims of breach of the fiduciary duty of care, similar to protections currently available to directors of the Company. The full text of the amendment is attached to this proxy statement as Appendix A (the “Charter Amendment”).
The proposal would amend Article SEVENTH of the Charter to read in its entirety as follows:
“SEVENTH. No director or officer of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, as applicable, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as the same exists or may hereafter be amended. If the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware is amended after the effective date of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors or officers, then the liability of a director or officer of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as so amended, as of the date of such amendment.
No amendment or modification (including any amendment or modification effected by operation of law, merger, consolidation or otherwise) or repeal of the foregoing paragraph shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director or officer of the Corporation hereunder in respect of any acts or omissions occurring prior to the effectiveness of such amendment, modification or repeal.”
Background
The Company is incorporated in the State of Delaware and therefore subject to the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”). The DGCL permits Delaware corporations to limit or eliminate the directors’ personal liability for monetary damages resulting from a breach of the fiduciary duty of care, subject to certain limitations such as prohibiting exculpation for intentional misconduct or knowing violations of the law. These provisions are referred to as “exculpatory provisions” or “exculpatory protections.” Similar exculpatory provisions for directors are currently included in the Charter.
Recently, the Delaware legislature amended the DGCL to permit Delaware corporations to provide similar exculpatory protections for officers. This decision was due in part to the recognition that both officers and directors owe fiduciary duties to corporations, and yet only directors were protected by the exculpatory provisions. In addition, Delaware courts experienced an increase in litigation in which plaintiffs attempted to exploit the absence of protection for officers to prolong litigation and extract settlements from defendant corporations. As adopted, amended Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL protects officers from personal monetary liability under limited circumstances as explained below.
Conditions and Limitations to Exculpation under DGCL Section 102(b)(7)
As amended, Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL provides important conditions and limitations on a corporation’s exculpation of its officers for monetary damages from breaches of fiduciary duty.
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PROPOSALS requiring your vote
Proposal 3 – Approval of an Amendment to the Company’s Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to Limit the Liability of Certain Officers of the Company
Reasons for the Proposal
The Board believes that eliminating personal monetary liability for officers under certain circumstances is reasonable and appropriate. Claims against corporations for breaches of fiduciary duties are expected to continue increasing. Delaware corporations that fail to adopt officer exculpation provisions may experience a disproportionate amount of nuisance litigation and disproportionately increased costs in the form of increased director and officer liability insurance premiums, as well as diversion of management attention from the business of the corporation.
Further, the Board anticipates that similar exculpation provisions are likely to be adopted by the Company’s peers and others with whom the Company competes for executive talent. As a result, officer exculpation provisions may become necessary for Delaware corporations to attract and retain experienced and qualified corporate officers.
A Delaware corporation seeking to extend the benefits of the newly amended Section 102(b)(7) to its corporate officers must amend its certificate of incorporation, as the protections do not apply automatically and must be embedded in the corporation’s certificate of incorporation to be effective. Accordingly, the Board has determined it advisable and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to seek stockholders’ approval for the Charter Amendment.
Effect of the Proposal if Approved
The Charter Amendment would provide for the elimination of personal monetary liability for certain officers only in connection with direct claims brought by stockholders, subject to the limitations described under the heading “Conditions and Limitations to Exculpation under DGCL Section 102(b)(7)” above. As is the case with directors under the Charter, the Charter Amendment would not limit the liability of officers for any breach of the duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders, any acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law, or any transaction from which the officer derived an improper personal benefit.
If the Charter Amendment is approved by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting, it will become effective upon the filing of the Charter Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. In accordance with the DGCL, however, the Board may abandon the Charter Amendment without further action by the stockholders at any time prior to the effectiveness of the filing of the Charter Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, notwithstanding stockholder approval.
Board Approval and Vote Required
On December 6, 2022, the Board authorized and approved the Charter Amendment, subject to stockholder approval, and directed that the Charter Amendment be considered for approval by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting. In accordance with Article THIRTEENTH of the Charter, the Charter Amendment must be approved by the affirmative “for” vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the voting power of the outstanding shares of Company capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD |
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Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the approval of the Charter Amendment.
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PROPOSALS requiring your vote
Proposal 4 – Approval of an Advisory Resolution on Named Executive Officer Compensation
Overview of Proposal 4
We are asking stockholders to approve an advisory resolution on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as reported in this proxy statement. As described below in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section of this proxy statement, the Compensation Committee’s goals in setting executive compensation are to support the attainment of our short-term and long-term financial and strategic objectives, reward executives for continuous growth in earnings and stockholder value and align executives’ interests with those of our stockholders. To achieve these goals, our executive compensation structure emphasizes performance-based compensation, including annual incentive compensation and stock-based awards with multi-year vesting schedules.
We urge stockholders to read the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” beginning on page 48 of this proxy statement, which describes in more detail how our executive compensation policies and procedures operate and are designed to achieve our compensation objectives, as well as the Summary Compensation Table and other related compensation tables and narrative, appearing on page 66 through page 80, which provide detailed information on the compensation of our NEOs. The Board and the Compensation Committee believe that the policies and procedures articulated in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” are effective in achieving our goals and that the compensation of our NEOs reflects and supports these compensation policies and procedures.
In accordance with Section 14A of the Exchange Act, and as a matter of good corporate governance, stockholders will be asked at the Annual Meeting to approve the following advisory resolution:
“RESOLVED, that the stockholders of the Company approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table and the related compensation tables, notes and narrative in the Proxy Statement for the Company’s 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.”
This advisory resolution, commonly referred to as a “say on pay” resolution, is non-binding. Although non-binding, the Board and the Compensation Committee will review and consider the voting results when making future decisions regarding our executive compensation program.
The Board has adopted a policy of providing for annual “say on pay” advisory votes. Unless the Board modifies its policy on the frequency of holding “say on pay” advisory votes, the next “say on pay” advisory vote will occur in 2024.
Vote Required
The affirmative “for” vote of the majority of the votes cast by stockholders who are present, either in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the proposal is required for approval of Proposal 4.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD |
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Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the advisory resolution on executive compensation.
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46
PROPOSALS requiring your vote
Proposal 5 – Recommendation on the Frequency of
Future Advisory Votes on Named Executive Officer Compensation
Overview of Proposal 5
As required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act, we are asking stockholders to recommend whether future advisory votes on named executive officer compensation of the nature reflected in Proposal 4 should occur every year, every two years or every three years.
After careful consideration, the Board has determined that continuing to hold the advisory vote on executive compensation every year is the most appropriate policy for the Company at this time, and recommends that stockholders vote for future advisory votes on executive compensation to occur every year. While the Company's executive compensation programs are designed to promote a long-term connection between pay and performance, the Board recognizes that executive compensation disclosures are made annually. Holding an annual advisory vote on executive compensation provides the Company with more direct and immediate feedback on our compensation programs. However, stockholders should note that because the advisory vote on named executive officer compensation occurs well after the beginning of the compensation year, and because the different elements of our executive compensation programs are designed to operate in an integrated manner and to complement one another, in many cases it may not be appropriate or feasible to change our executive compensation programs in consideration of any single year’s advisory vote on named executive officer compensation by the time of the following year’s annual meeting of stockholders. An annual advisory vote on named executive officer compensation also is consistent with the Company’s practice of annually providing stockholders the opportunity to ratify the Audit Committee’s selection of independent auditors.
We understand that our stockholders may have different views as to what is an appropriate frequency for “say-on-pay” votes, and we will carefully review the voting results on this proposal. Stockholders will be able to specify one of four choices for this proposal on the proxy card: “every year”, “every two years”, “every three years” or “abstain”. This recommendation on the frequency of future advisory votes on named executive officer compensation is non-binding on the Board. Notwithstanding the stockholders’ recommendation, the Board may in the future decide to conduct advisory votes on a more or less frequent basis and may vary its practice based on factors such as discussions with stockholders and the adoption of material changes to our compensation programs.
Vote Required
The voting frequency (that is, “every year”, “every two years”, or “every three years”) receiving the greatest number of “for” votes cast by stockholders who are present, either in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the proposal will be the frequency recommended, on an advisory basis, by the stockholders.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD |
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Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends voting in favor of conducting future advisory votes on named executive officer compensation EVERY YEAR.
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
This section describes our compensation strategy, programs and practices for the below listed executive officers during fiscal 2022:
Executive Officer |
Principal Position |
William P. Angrick, III |
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
Jorge A. Celaya |
EVP and Chief Financial Officer |
John P. Daunt |
EVP and Chief Commercial Officer |
Steven J. Weiskircher |
SVP and Chief Technology Officer |
Mark A. Shaffer |
Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary |
In this proxy statement, we refer to these individuals as our named executive officers or NEOs.
Executive Summary
The Compensation Committee believes in a “pay-for-performance” approach that aligns executive compensation with shareholder interests. This means that a significant portion of an executive's compensation should be at risk and may vary from “targeted” compensation based upon the level of achievement of specified performance objectives. Our pay for performance executive compensation philosophy and the elements of our executive compensation program for fiscal 2022 are summarized below:
48
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Our business and financial performance, combined with several important operational developments, significantly impacted the design of our 2022 executive compensation program and the timing of decisions related to such program. In fiscal 2022, we achieved some notable financial and operational milestones, including:
The following charts provide additional information on our fiscal 2022 financial milestones.
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
For a reconciliation of non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA for fiscal years 2020, 2021 and 2022, see pages 45-46 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended September 30, 2022 filed with the SEC on December 8, 2022. For a reconciliation of non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA for fiscal years 2019 and 2018, see pages 31-35 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended September 30, 2020 filed with the SEC on December 8, 2020.
50
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Company’s actual performance for fiscal 2022 resulted in payouts to our NEOs below target. Additional information on our NEO’s target compensation and the compensation actually received by our NEOs is described in additional detail in the below charts.
* The average NEO target and realized amounts reflected in the above charts were calculated based on the compensation of Messrs. Celaya, Daunt, Weiskircher and Shaffer.
** Realized long-term equity incentive pay includes only those options exercised in the applicable period.
51
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Best Practices
Our approach to executive compensation incorporates these best practices:
“Say‑on‑Pay” Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation
We asked stockholders to vote on a “say on pay” advisory vote on our executive compensation at the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Stockholders expressed substantial support for the compensation of our NEOs with approximately 99% of the votes cast in favor of the “say on pay” proposal. The Compensation Committee carefully evaluated the results of the 2022 advisory vote at its March 2022 meeting. The Compensation Committee also considers many other factors in evaluating our executive compensation programs as discussed in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis, including the Compensation Committee’s assessment of total stockholder return, the interaction of our compensation programs with our corporate business objectives, evaluations of our programs by external consultants, and a review of peer group and survey data, each of which is evaluated in the context of the Compensation Committee’s fiduciary duty to act as the directors determine to be in stockholders’ best interests. While each factor bore on the Compensation Committee’s decisions regarding executive compensation, the Compensation Committee did not change our executive compensation program and policies as a direct result of the 2022 “say on pay” advisory vote.
52
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
General Compensation Philosophy
The Company’s executive compensation program is designed to:
Short-Term Incentive Compensation |
Long-Term Incentive Compensation |
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Annual Base Salary |
Annual Cash Incentive Compensation |
• Aligns executives’ interests with stockholders’ interests and drives decisions and achieves goals that will help us remain competitive; • Attracts executives with an interest in creating long-term stockholder value; • Rewards executives for building and sustaining stockholder value; and • Retains executives both through growth in their equity value and the vesting provisions of our stock awards. |
• Attracts and retains executives by fairly compensating them for performing the fundamental requirements of their positions. |
• Motivates executives to achieve specific annual financial, operational and strategic goals and objectives whose achievements are critical to short-term and long-term success; • Rewards executives in proportion to the goals achieved each year; and • Attracts executives with an interest in linking their composition package directly to higher corporate performance. |
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Factors Considered When Determining Compensation. The Compensation Committee seeks to set executive compensation at competitive levels that it considers appropriate for a company of our size and stage of growth. Annually, the Compensation Committee determines and approves the total compensation level of each of our NEOs based on its evaluation of external market conditions and Company performance. The Compensation Committee also considers each executive’s level of experience, unique skills and abilities critical to the Company, and the executive’s tenure, position, responsibilities and performance with the Company. The Compensation Committee considers recommendations from the Chairman and CEO regarding levels for base salary, annual incentive awards and long-term incentive awards for NEOs. The Chairman and CEO annually provides to the Compensation Committee historical and prospective breakdowns of the total direct compensation components for each NEO.
Pay Mix. Because our NEOs are in a position to directly influence our performance, a significant portion of their compensation is delivered in the form of an annual cash incentive award and a long-term incentive award. We rely on a mix of compensation components intended to reward short-term results (in the form of annual cash incentive awards) and motivate long-term performance (in the form of stock options and RSU grants that vest over several years). We do not have a specific allocation target between cash and equity compensation or between annual and long-term incentive compensation. Instead, we retain flexibility when determining the compensation mix to react to our evolving business environment and our specific hiring and retention requirements. In fiscal 2022, approximately 44% or more of the target total direct compensation for each of our NEOs, including approximately 52% of the target total direct compensation for the Chairman and CEO, was performance-based or tied directly to the performance of our stock (in the form of target annual cash incentive awards and performance-based stock options and RSU awards), consistent with our compensation philosophy to link executive compensation with stockholder returns and achievement of strategic business objectives.
* Percentages reflect the average compensation of Messrs. Celaya, Daunt, Weiskircher and Shaffer for fiscal 2022.
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Role of Compensation Consultant. The Compensation Committee has engaged on an annual basis a leading industry compensation consultant to assess the market competitiveness of our executive compensation program, so our program attracts and retains executive talent essential to achieve our business plans. For fiscal 2022, the Compensation Committee engaged the Compensation Consultant to assess the market competitiveness of our executive compensation program and to assist in evaluating and setting executive compensation levels. Prior to such engagement, the Compensation Committee determined that there was no conflict of interest between the Compensation Committee and the Compensation Consultant. In making this determination, the Compensation Committee considered these six factors regarding the Compensation Consultant:
The scope of the Compensation Consultant’s work included a review of the Company’s executive compensation practices, assistance with developing an appropriate peer group, and presentation to the Compensation Committee of a report regarding executive compensation trends for similarly sized companies and the market competitiveness of our executive compensation program. The Compensation Consultant was engaged directly by the Compensation Committee and provided no services other than the executive and director compensation consulting services.
To assist the Compensation Committee in its market review for fiscal 2022, the Compensation Consultant prepared an analysis of the market competitiveness of the aggregate value of total direct compensation (base salary, annual cash bonus and long-term equity incentives) and the market competitiveness of each element of compensation for each NEO. The market review was based upon two different sources of compensation data—the Radford Global Technology Survey and publicly available market data from a selected peer group of companies. The Radford Global Technology Survey is a national survey that contains compensation data for high-technology sector companies. The survey data was used as a market reference to assess how the Company’s compensation practices for top executives compare to market practices and to confirm that the overall compensation mix is reasonably aligned with the marketplace.
55
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The peer companies utilized in the review were updated for fiscal 2022 by the Compensation Consultant with input from the Compensation Committee and were approved by the Compensation Committee. The updated peer group was developed using several criteria (e.g., sector, market capitalization, revenue and headcount) and consists of companies occupying the e-commerce space of similar size and complexity. As part of the update for fiscal 2022, two companies were removed from the fiscal 2021 peer group due to acquisition (QAD and Stamps.com, which were acquired by Thomas Bravo in October 2021 and November 2021, respectively). Two new companies (PROS and Shutterstock) were added to the peer group. The peer group companies for the fiscal 2022 review were:
• Agilysys |
• Porch Group |
• American Software |
• PROS |
• Benefitfocus |
• PubMatic |
• BigCommerce |
• Quotient Technology |
• CarParts.com |
• Ritchie Bros. |
• Cars.com |
• Shutterstock |
• Channel Advisor |
• SPS Commerce |
• DHI Group |
• Switch |
• LivePerson |
• The RealReal |
• PetMed Express |
• TrueCar |
At the time of the fiscal 2022 review, we were at the 49th percentile of the peer group for revenue, the 21st percentile for headcount and the 44th percentile for market capitalization.
The Compensation Committee considers market data in setting compensation le