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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 Section 240.14a-12 |
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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 |
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November 19, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. (Pacific Time)
Zanuck Theatre at the FOX Studio Lot
10201 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90035
Fox Corporation 1211 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10036 (212) 852-7000 |
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held on November 19, 2024
Dear Stockholder:
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Fox Corporation (the “Company”) will be held on November 19, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) at the Zanuck Theatre at the FOX Studio Lot, 10201 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90035.
At the Annual Meeting, the Company’s stockholders will be asked to:
• | elect the seven Director nominees identified in this proxy statement to the Company’s Board of Directors; |
• | ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025; |
• | approve, on an advisory basis, named executive officer compensation; and |
• | consider any other business properly brought before the Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof. |
The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the Company’s proxy statement. While all of the Company’s stockholders are invited to attend the Annual Meeting, only stockholders of record of the Company’s Class B Common Stock (“Class B Common Stock”) at the close of business on September 23, 2024 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof. Holders of the Company’s Class A Common Stock are not entitled to notice and to vote on the matters to be presented at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Important Information for Holders of Class B Common Stock
It is important that your shares of Class B Common Stock be represented and voted at the Annual Meeting. If you are a holder of shares of Class B Common Stock, you may submit a proxy for those shares by telephone or the Internet by following the instructions on the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, or if you requested a paper proxy card, you may submit your proxy by mail if you prefer. If you attend the Annual Meeting, you may vote your shares in person. Please review the instructions on the proxy card or the information forwarded by your broker, bank or other nominee regarding the voting instructions. You may vote your shares of Class B Common Stock in person even if you previously submitted a proxy. Please note, however, that if your shares of Class B Common Stock are held of record by a broker, bank or other nominee and you wish to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you must obtain a proxy issued in your name from such broker, bank or other nominee. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to submit a proxy for your shares of Class B Common Stock by telephone or the Internet or, if you requested a paper proxy card, by completing and returning the proxy card as promptly as possible prior to the Annual Meeting to ensure that your shares will be represented at the Annual Meeting. |
The Annual Meeting will be audiocast live on the Internet at investor.foxcorporation.com/annual-meeting. If you would like to attend the Annual Meeting in person, please refer to the information regarding admission requirements, transportation and other logistical information contained in the Company’s proxy statement in the section titled “Information About the Annual Meeting.”
If you would like to register to receive materials relating to next year’s annual meeting of stockholders electronically instead of by mail, please select the “Electronic Delivery” link in the “Resources” section of the Company’s website at investor.foxcorporation.com. We highly recommend that you consider electronic delivery of these documents as it reduces the amount of paper used and mailed to your home.
Laura A. Cleveland
Senior Vice President and
Corporate Secretary
New York, New York
September 26, 2024
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY SHARES OF CLASS B COMMON STOCK YOU OWN AS OF THE RECORD DATE, PLEASE SUBMIT A PROXY FOR YOUR SHARES BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET OR, IF YOU HAVE REQUESTED A PAPER PROXY CARD, BY COMPLETING, SIGNING AND DATING THE PROXY CARD AND RETURNING IT IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED, WHICH IS ADDRESSED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE AND NEEDS NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. IN ORDER TO AVOID THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE TO THE COMPANY OF FURTHER SOLICITATION, THE COMPANY ASKS YOUR COOPERATION IN PROMPTLY SUBMITTING YOUR PROXY BY TELEPHONE, INTERNET OR PROXY CARD.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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2024 Proxy Statement
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This proxy statement contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements other than statements of historical or current fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of federal and state securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include, among others, the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “likely,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “outlook” or any other similar words. Although the Company’s management believes that the expectations reflected in any of the Company’s forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in any forward-looking statements. The Company’s future financial condition and results of operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to change and to inherent risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause the Company’s actual results, performance and achievements to differ materially from those estimates or projections contained in the Company’s forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, government regulation, economic, strategic, political and social conditions. For more detailed information about these factors, see Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.
Forward-looking statements in this proxy statement speak only as of the date hereof. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or release any revisions to any forward-looking statement made herein or to report any events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or to conform such statements to actual results or changes in our expectations, except as required by law.
We are providing our website address in this proxy statement solely for the information of investors. We do not intend the address to be an active link or to otherwise incorporate the contents of the website, including any reports that are noted in this proxy statement as being posted on the website, into this proxy statement or into any of our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
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2024 Proxy Statement
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Date and Time: |
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Place: |
Zanuck Theatre at the FOX Studio Lot, 10201 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90035 | |
Record Date: |
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Voting: |
Holders of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Class B Common Stock”), are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be presented at the Annual Meeting. Holders of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Class A Common Stock”), are not entitled to vote on the matters to be presented at the Annual Meeting. The Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are referred to collectively in this proxy statement as the “Common Stock.” |
Proposal |
Page Number |
Voting Standard |
Board Vote Recommendation | |||
Management Proposals | ||||||
Proposal No. 1: Election of Directors |
7 | Majority of votes cast | FOR each Director nominee | |||
Proposal No. 2: Ratification of Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2025 |
24 | Majority of votes cast | FOR | |||
Proposal No. 3: Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation |
28 | Majority of votes cast | FOR |
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2024 Proxy Statement |
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1 |
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Director Nominee |
Director Since |
Independent |
Committee Memberships | ||||||||||
A |
C |
NCG | |||||||||||
Lachlan K. Murdoch |
2019 |
||||||||||||
Tony Abbott AC |
2023 |
✓ |
✓ | ||||||||||
William A. Burck |
2021 |
✓ |
Chair |
✓ | |||||||||
Chase Carey |
2019 |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
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Roland A. Hernandez |
2019 |
✓ |
Chair |
✓ | |||||||||
Margaret “Peggy” L. Johnson |
2023 |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
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Paul D. Ryan |
2019 |
✓ |
✓ |
Chair |
Diversity |
Independence |
Age | ||
• | FOX News finished fiscal 2024 as the #1 cable network in Monday to Friday primetime and total day viewing among total viewers for the eighth consecutive year. In addition, FOX News continued as the top-rated national cable news channel in Monday to Friday primetime viewing. For the fiscal year, FOX News delivered primetime total viewership that beat the viewership of its closest cable news channel competitors and delivered ratings that were comparable to ratings delivered by the four broadcast networks. FOX Business finished as the most-watched business network among total business day viewers during fiscal 2024. Additionally, FOX News Media continued to enhance its digital footprint through the FOX Nation subscription video-on-demand |
• | FOX Sports was the industry leader in live events for the fifth consecutive calendar year with over 250 billion minutes of live sports viewing on the FOX Network. During the fiscal year, the NFL regular season on FOX averaged 19 million |
2 |
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2024 Proxy Statement |
viewers, while the three NFC postseason games on FOX averaged 45 million viewers, including the most-watched NFC Championship game in over a decade. FOX’s America’s Game of the Week 18-49. FOX aired the most-watched college football, men’s college basketball and women’s college basketball games across the regular season. The University of Michigan versus The Ohio State University football game on FOX was the most-watched college football regular-season game on any network since 2011 and the most-watched regular season college football game in FOX Sports history. FOX’s Big Noon Saturday World Cup World Cup |
• | FOX Entertainment successfully navigated the industry guild strikes of 2023, delivering a full season of primetime programing while returning original scripted content to the FOX Network in the spring of 2024. In 2024, FOX Entertainment implemented a new, three-tiered business structure with FOX Entertainment studios uniting FOX Entertainment’s full scope of studio operations and content creation engines; the FOX Network serving as the central launching pad and first window for content before it migrates to streaming; and FOX Entertainment Global constituting the division’s domestic and international sales and distribution business. FOX Entertainment continued to deliver nearly 150 million unduplicated viewers across all platforms during the 2023-2024 broadcast season. In the key Adults 18-49 demographic, the FOX Network also featured the season’s #1 new entertainment program with the FOX-owned animated comedy Krapopolis The Floor Next Level Chef Hell’s Kitchen MasterChef Junior Kitchen Nightmares co-produced original content for third parties, such as Prime Video’s animated hit Hazbin Hotel |
• | FOX Television Stations remains a leader in local news coverage, producing over 1,200 hours of local news coverage each week across 18 markets, including 14 of the top 15 Nielsen-designated market areas (“DMAs”). During the fiscal year, FOX Television Stations grew and enhanced its digital offerings through the expansion and success of the FOX Local Extension (FLX) digital advertising platform as well as the continued rollout of local news content on connected televisions and FAST services in a number of markets. FOX Television Stations’ total view time through connected televisions for the period of March 2024 through June 2024 was approximately four times higher compared to the same period in the prior year. These initiatives led to Fox Television Stations digital advertising revenue growth of approximately 20% as compared to the prior fiscal year. |
• | In fiscal 2024, Tubi delivered record revenues, which grew 18% compared to the prior fiscal year. Total view time reached approximately 9.7 billion hours over the course of fiscal 2024, an increase of over 40% compared to the prior fiscal year. According to Nielsen’s The Gauge on-demand library, with the launch of over 60 sports, entertainment and local news channels to bring its total offering to over 280 channels as of the end of fiscal 2024. |
• | The Company generated healthy affiliate fee revenue growth of 4% due to higher average rates per subscriber and fees received from television stations that are affiliated with the FOX Network. Additionally, the Company’s key networks continue to be distributed on all major virtual multi-channel video programming distributor (“MVPD”) services, reflecting the highly coveted nature of the Company’s content. |
• | The Company ended the fiscal year with approximately $4.3 billion of cash and cash equivalents on its balance sheet while returning approximately $1.25 billion of capital to its stockholders in fiscal 2024 through the Company’s cash dividend and its stock repurchase program. As of June 30, 2024, the Company has repurchased over $5.6 billion (approximately 169 million shares) under the stock repurchase program since the program’s launch in November 2019, with approximately $1 billion repurchased during fiscal 2024. |
• | FOX continues to broaden and deepen its corporate social responsibility efforts, with a focus on local community engagement. Our recent environmental, social and governance achievements are highlighted in FOX’s annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report, published in August 2024. |
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2024 Proxy Statement |
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3 |
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• | Director Accountability. |
• | Independent Board Oversight. |
• | Independent Board Committees. |
• | Dual-Class Capital Structure. |
• | Board Oversight of Risk. |
• | Stock Ownership Requirements. non-executive Directors to ensure the close alignment of their interests with those of other long-term stockholders. |
• | Prohibition on Hedging and Pledging . |
• | |
4 |
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2024 Proxy Statement |
• | The Company’s executive compensation program is designed to attract, retain and motivate top executive talent, drive performance without encouraging unnecessary or excessive risk-taking and support both short-term and long-term value creation for stockholders. |
• | The Company’s annual bonus program and long-term equity-based program under the Fox Corporation 2019 Shareholder Alignment Plan (the “2019 SAP”) for its named executive officers rely on a number of diversified performance metrics. Collectively, the annual bonus program and equity-based awards granted under the 2019 SAP result in a significant portion of each named executive officer’s total compensation opportunity being dependent upon achievement of target financial performance, stock price appreciation, relative total shareholder returns and individual and group contributions. |
• | The Company has strong governance policies related to executive compensation. The Compensation Committee is comprised entirely of independent Directors. In addition, the Company’s named executive officer compensation programs include risk mitigation features, such as Compensation Committee discretion and oversight, a balance of annual and long-term incentives, the use of multiple performance metrics and performance measurement periods, award opportunities that are fixed or capped and recoupment provisions for performance-based compensation. The Compensation Committee annually oversees an assessment of risks related to compensation policies and practices. |
• | As described above, the Compensation Committee maintains stock ownership guidelines that apply to the Company’s named executive officers, and the Company prohibits hedging and pledging of the Company’s securities by all Directors and employees, including the named executive officers. |
• | To comply with the clawback rules under the Exchange Act and the associated SEC rules and Nasdaq listing standards, the Board has updated the Fox Corporation Clawback Policy (the “Clawback Policy”). The Clawback Policy provides for the mandatory recovery of erroneously awarded incentive-based compensation (if any) from current and former executive officers of the Company (“Covered Officers”) in the event that the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the federal securities laws. In addition, the Clawback Policy goes beyond the SEC rules and Nasdaq listing standards and provides the Compensation Committee with the discretion to require reimbursement of all or any portion of any bonus paid to the Covered Officers with respect to the period in which the executive engaged in harassment, discrimination and/or retaliation, including the failure to respond to allegations or complaints of such behaviors. |
• | Community Forward |
• | People Forward |
• | Sustainably Forward |
• | Policy Forward |
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2024 Proxy Statement |
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5 |
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• | Data Forward |
6 |
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2024 Proxy Statement |
Lachlan K. Murdoch Director Since: 2019 |
Lachlan K. Murdoch has been Executive Chair of the Board since January 2019 and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since October 2018. Mr. L.K. Murdoch served as Executive Chairman of Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. (“21CF”), the Company’s former parent, from 2015 to March 2019, its Co-Chairman from 2014 to 2015 and a Director since 1996. He served as Executive Chairman of NOVA Entertainment, an Australian media company, from 2009 to 2022 and has served as the Executive Chairman of Illyria Pty Ltd, a private company, since 2005. Mr. L.K. Murdoch was a Director of Ten Network Holdings Limited, an Australian media company, from 2010 to 2014 and its Non-Executive Chairman from 2012 to 2014, after serving as its Acting Chief Executive Officer from 2011 to 2012. He has served as a Director of News Corporation (“News Corp”) since 2013, where he served as its Co-Chairman from 2014 to 2023 and its Chair since 2023. Mr. L.K. Murdoch is the son of Mr. K. Rupert Murdoch, who stepped down as Chair and was appointed Chairman Emeritus of the Company in November 2023.Mr. L.K. Murdoch brings to the Board a wealth of knowledge regarding the Company’s operations and the media industry, as well as management and strategic skills. With his extensive experience leading the Company and 21CF and his expertise in the media industry, Mr. L.K. Murdoch leads the Board in developing corporate strategies, directing the corporate agenda and overseeing the Company’s operations. | |
Tony Abbott AC Age: 66 Director Since: 2023 |
Tony Abbott AC has been a Director of the Company since November 2023 and serves as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Mr. Abbott served as the 28 th Prime Minister of Australia from 2013 to 2015. Mr. Abbott was Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia from 2009 to 2015 and a member of parliament from 1994 to 2019. Mr. Abbott was an advisor to the UK Board of Trade from September 2020 to August 2024. In addition, he has served as the Australian Commissioner of the Global Tech Security Commission since 2023 and served on the Board of Trustees of the Global Warming Policy Foundation since 2023, the Advisory Board of The Alliance for Responsible Citizenship since 2023, the Council for the Australian War Memorial since 2019 and the Board of the Ramsay Center for Western Civilisation since 2016.Mr. Abbott brings to the Board decades of executive leadership, expertise in matters of trade, economic and public policy, and a strong international business development network. | |
William A. Burck Age: 53 Director Since: 2021 |
William A. Burck has been a Director of the Company since June 2021 and serves as Chair of the Compensation Committee and as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Mr. Burck is Global Co-Managing Partner of the law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, where he has been a partner since 2012. Mr. Burck served as Deputy Staff Secretary, Special Counsel and Deputy White House Counsel to President George W. Bush from 2005 to 2009. Mr. Burck previously served in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York, and as a law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy.Mr. Burck is a leading trial lawyer and corporate counselor who brings to the Board his decades of experience advising companies, boards of directors, senior executives and government officials in complex litigation and business matters. His experience, including government service, strengthens the Board’s insight on regulatory issues and important constitutional questions. | |
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2024 Proxy Statement |
7 |
Chase Carey Director Since: 2019 |
Chase Carey has been a Director of the Company since March 2019. Mr. Carey is the Lead Independent Director and serves as a member of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee. He served as Chief Executive Officer of Formula 1 Group from 2017 to 2021 and as its Chairman from 2016 to 2022. Mr. Carey served 21CF in numerous roles, including as Vice Chairman of the 21CF Board from July 2016 to March 2019, Executive Vice Chairman from July 2015 through June 2016, President and Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chairman from 2009 through June 2015, Co-Chief Operating Officer from 1996 to 2002, a consultant from 2016 to 2018 and a Director from 1996 to 2007. Mr. Carey served on the Supervisory Board of Sky Deutschland, a German media company, from 2010 to 2014 and as its Chairman from 2010 to 2013. Mr. Carey was a Director of Sky plc from 2003 to 2009 and from 2013 to 2018. He was a Director of Saban Capital Acquisition Corp. from 2016 to 2019 and Chief Executive Officer, President and a Director of DIRECTV from 2003 to 2009.Mr. Carey provides the Board with extensive executive experience and operational expertise in the media and sports industries. Having served in a variety of leadership positions at 21CF and its affiliates for over 30 years, Mr. Carey has a broad and deep understanding of the Company and its operations. | |
Roland A. Hernandez Age: 66 Director Since: 2019 |
Roland A. Hernandez has been a Director of the Company since March 2019 and serves as Chair of the Audit Committee and as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Since 2001, Mr. Hernandez has been the Founding Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Hernandez Media Ventures, a company engaged in the acquisition and management of media assets. Mr. Hernandez was President and Chief Executive Officer of Telemundo Group, Inc. from 1995 to 2000 and its Chairman from 1998 to 2000. Mr. Hernandez also serves on the Board of Directors of U.S. Bancorp and Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Mr. Hernandez previously served on the Boards of Directors of Belmond Ltd., MGM Resorts International, The Ryland Group, Inc., Sony Corporation, Vail Resorts, Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. He serves on the Advisory Board of Harvard Law School.As a veteran media owner and executive, Mr. Hernandez offers strong leadership, operational and strategic expertise. His significant experience on public company boards of directors is a valuable resource to the Board, in particular relating to financial reporting, accounting and corporate governance matters. | |
Margaret “Peggy” L. Johnson Director Since: 2023 |
Margaret “Peggy” L. Johnson has been a Director of the Company since November 2023 and serves as a member of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee. Ms. Johnson has been the Chief Executive Officer of Agility Robotics, a robotics engineering company, since March 2024. Ms. Johnson previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of Magic Leap, Inc., a U.S. augmented reality company, from August 2020 to October 2023. She served as Executive Vice President of Business Development at Microsoft Corporation, where she was responsible for strategic deals and partnerships across various industries, from 2014 to 2020. Before Microsoft, Ms. Johnson was Executive Vice President of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and President of Global Market Development at Qualcomm Incorporated. Ms. Johnson has served on the Board of Directors of BlackRock, Inc. since 2018 and served on the Board of Directors of Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. from 2013 to 2018. She was an Advisor to Huntington’s Disease Society of America, San Diego Chapter from 2010 to 2020. Ms. Johnson brings to the Board a wealth of expertise and leadership experience across the technology sector, providing the Company with unique insight into emerging technologies and over three decades of business operations and strategic development experience. |
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2024 Proxy Statement |
Paul D. Ryan Age: 54 Director Since: 2019 |
Paul D. Ryan has been a Director of the Company since March 2019 and serves as Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and a member of the Compensation Committee. He is a General Partner of the private equity firm Solamere Capital, LLC and Chair of the firm’s Executive Partner Group. He is Vice Chairman of Teneo Strategy LLC and also serves on the Advisory Boards of Robert Bosch Gmbh and Paradigm Operations L.P. and the Boards of Directors of Xactus (formerly UniversalCIS) and SHINE Medical Technologies, LLC. Mr. Ryan served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Executive Network Partnering Corporation from 2020 to 2022. He has been a Professor of the Practice, Political Science and Economics, at the University of Notre Dame since 2019. Mr. Ryan was the 54 th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee from January 2015 to October 2015 and Chairman of the House Budget Committee from 2011 to 2015. Mr. Ryan served as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1999 to 2019. In 2012, he was selected to serve as former Governor Mitt Romney’s Vice-Presidential nominee.A proven leader and policy expert, Mr. Ryan’s extensive experience provides the Company with perspectives on strategy and operations in regulated industries. He offers the Board valuable insight on leadership, public policy and strategic development. |
The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the election of each of the nominees listed above. |
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2024 Proxy Statement |
9 |
• | Director Accountability. |
• | Independent Board Oversight. |
• | Independent Board Committees. |
• | Dual-Class Capital Structure. |
• | Board Oversight of Risk. |
• | The Board, with or through its committees as appropriate, regularly has discussions with and receives periodic updates from the Company’s Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Legal and Policy Officer, Chief Financial Officer and other members of senior management regarding significant risks to the Company, including in connection with the annual review of the Company’s business plan and its review of budgets, strategy and major transactions. These discussions include operational, strategic, legal and regulatory, financial, reputational and sustainability and corporate social responsibility risks, and the plans to address these risks. The independent Directors also discuss the Company’s significant risks when they meet in executive session without management. |
• | In addition, each of the Board’s committees assists the Board in overseeing the management of the Company’s risks within the areas delegated to that committee by providing guidance and reports to the full Board with respect to these risks as appropriate. The Audit Committee is responsible for (i) overseeing the Company’s policies and practices with respect to risk assessment and risk management, including with respect to cybersecurity and the use of artificial intelligence, (ii) overseeing the Company’s financial and other major risk exposures and the steps taken to monitor and control them, and (iii) providing guidance to the Board on such matters. The Compensation Committee has responsibility for monitoring risks associated with the design and administration of the Company’s compensation programs, and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee oversees risks relating to the Company’s corporate governance processes and sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Each committee has full access to management, as well as the ability to engage advisors. Each of the Board’s committees reviews its charter annually. |
• | As previously disclosed in our 2023 proxy statement, in response to a stockholder proposal from Arjuna Capital requesting that the Board issue a report on the merits of a risk oversight committee of the Board, Cleary was retained to analyze and report on the Board’s existing risk oversight governance and practice, the allocation of responsibilities among the Board’s committees and the potential merits of establishing a standalone risk oversight committee. As part of this evaluation, Cleary reviewed the Board’s current risk oversight practices and division of responsibilities, benchmarked company practices across various indices, industry groups and peer companies, and consulted with Arjuna Capital and Open Mic. Cleary’s evaluation and report was completed and presented to the members of the Audit and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees in February 2024. Following deliberations and consistent with Cleary’s findings outlined in the report, the Board determined that it will not establish a separate risk oversight committee. The Board’s current risk oversight responsibilities are appropriately and adequately allocated among its existing committees and the full Board, which the Board believes ensures all material aspects of risks and |
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2024 Proxy Statement |
risk exposures are appropriately reviewed and addressed. Establishing a standalone risk committee would cause oversight redundancies, resulting in potential conflicts and inefficiencies without significant incremental benefit to the Company. This determination is consistent with the current practices of a significant majority of companies in the Russell 3000, S&P 500, and in particular in the Company’s industry and within its compensation peer group. We have communicated this determination to Arjuna Capital and Open Mic. |
• | Board Oversight of Human Capital Management and Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility Matters. |
• | Political Activities. foxcorporation.com. |
• | Stock Ownership Requirements. non-executive Directors to ensure the close alignment of their interests with those of other long-term stockholders. |
• | Prohibition on Hedging and Pledging. |
• | Insider Trading Policy. non-public information, and (ii) subjects our directors, officers and certain other designated individuals to additional trading restrictions. We believe our policy is reasonably designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws, rules and regulations, and the listing standards applicable to the Company. |
• | Codes of Conduct and Other Corporate Governance Policies . |
• | Harassment or Discrimination Based on Sex, Race or Other Protected Categories . |
2024 Proxy Statement |
11 |
reimbursement of all or any portion of any bonus paid to the Covered Officers with respect to the period in which the executive engaged in harassment, discrimination and/or retaliation, including the failure to respond to allegations or complaints of such behaviors. |
• | Workplace Civility and Inclusion. |
• | Oversight and Ongoing Enhancement of Compliance Programs . |
• | Independent, Anonymous Complaint Process. non-employees. All Alertline submissions are reviewed and investigated by appropriate members of management. The results of all such investigations are reported to senior management and the Audit Committee on a quarterly basis. |
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2024 Proxy Statement |
• | presiding over all meetings of the Board at which the Chair of the Board is not present, including executive sessions of the non-executive Directors and the independent Directors; |
• | communicating to the Chair of the Board feedback from executive sessions as appropriate; |
• | serving as liaison between the Chair of the Board and the independent Directors; |
• | approving information sent to the Board and meeting agendas for the Board; |
• | approving meeting schedules to assure that there is sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items; |
• | calling meetings of the non-executive Directors and/or independent Directors, if desired; |
• | participating in the Compensation Committee’s evaluation of the performance of the Chief Executive Officer; |
• | supervising the self-evaluations of the Directors in coordination with the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee; |
• | supervising the Board’s determination of the independence of its Directors; and |
• | ensuring his or her availability for consultation and direct communications, if requested by major stockholders. |
2024 Proxy Statement |
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2024 Proxy Statement |
Total Number of Directors |
7 |
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Female |
Male |
|||||||
Part I: Gender Identity |
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Directors |
1 |
6 |
||||||
Part II: Demographic Background |
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African American or Black |
0 |
1 |
||||||
Hispanic or Latinx |
0 |
1 |
||||||
White |
1 |
5 |
||||||
Two or More Races or Ethnicities |
0 |
1 |
Executive Management Experience |
Public Company Board Experience |
Media Industry Experience |
Finance & Accounting |
Corporate Strategy |
Technology |
Risk Management & ESG |
Business Development, M&A & Capital Markets |
Government & Public Policy |
Non-Profit, Education & Philanthropic Experience | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Directors: | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lachlan Murdoch | ✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
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Tony Abbott | ✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
William A. Burck | ✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
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Chase Carey | ✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
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Roland A. Hernandez | ✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Margaret “Peggy” L. Johnson | ✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Paul D. Ryan | ✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
2024 Proxy Statement |
15 |
• | information provided on the Company’s website foxcorporation.com |
• | reports and other disclosures made periodically to the SEC and Nasdaq; and |
• | notices and proxy statements of special and annual meetings of stockholders. |
• | the integrity of the Company’s financial statements and the Company’s financial reporting processes and systems of internal control; |
• | the qualifications, independence and performance of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and the performance of the Company’s corporate auditors and corporate audit function; |
• | the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements involving financial, accounting and internal control matters; |
• | investigations into complaints concerning financial matters; |
• | the Company’s policies and practices with respect to risk assessment and risk management, including with respect to cybersecurity and the use of artificial intelligence, and the Company’s major financial and other risk exposures and the steps taken to monitor and control them, and it provides guidance to the Board on such matters; |
• | the review, approval and ratification of transactions with related parties; and |
16 |
|
2024 Proxy Statement |
• | the content and operation of the Company’s Ethics and Compliance Program, including the Company’s Standards of Business Conduct. |
• | to review and approve goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer, to evaluate the performance of the Chief Executive Officer in light of these goals and objectives and other factors the Compensation Committee deems appropriate, and, based on this review and evaluation, determine the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer; |
• | to consider, authorize and oversee the incentive compensation plans in which the Company’s executive officers participate and the Company’s equity-based plans and recommend changes in such plans to the Board as needed, and to exercise all authority of the Board with respect to the administration of such plans, including the granting of awards under the Company’s incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans; |
• | to review and approve equity awards and other fixed and performance-based compensation, benefits and terms of employment of the Company’s executive officers (as defined by SEC rules) and such other senior executives identified by the Compensation Committee after consultation with the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and other members of management; |
• | to review and approve employment and severance arrangements and obligations for executive officers, including employment agreements, separation agreements and similar plans or agreements; |
• | to review and approve or ratify the principal employment terms for each other employment arrangement (excluding arrangements for talent) where the sum of the base salary, bonus target and long-term incentive target for the contract period is equal to or greater than a threshold amount set by the Compensation Committee; |
• | to review and approve other separation obligations that exceed by more than a certain amount set by the Compensation Committee those contractually provided for in an employment agreement approved or ratified by the Compensation Committee as described above; |
• | to review the Company’s recruitment, retention, compensation, termination and severance policies for senior executives; |
• | to review and assist with the development of executive succession plans and to consult with the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers regarding the selection of senior executives; |
• | to review at least annually the form and amount of compensation of non-executive Directors for service on the Board and its committees and recommend changes in such compensation to the Board as appropriate; |
• | to review the Company’s compensation policies and practices applicable to all employees to determine whether they create risk-taking incentives that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse impact on the Company; |
• | to consider the results of the most recent stockholder advisory vote on executive compensation matters in evaluating and determining the compensation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and in establishing and determining compensation of the Company’s other named executive officers; |
• | in coordination with the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, to oversee and make recommendations to the Board regarding the Company’s stockholder engagement with respect to compensation and human capital management matters; |
• | to assist the Board, as necessary, in reviewing and assessing the Company’s strategies and policies related to human capital management; |
|
2024 Proxy Statement |
17 |
• | to establish and periodically review stock ownership guidelines for executive officers and monitor compliance with ownership guidelines by executive officers and non-executive Directors; |
• | to review periodically any hedging and pledging policy applicable to Directors and employees; and |
• | to review and approve the creation or revision of any clawback policy allowing the Company to recoup compensation paid to executive officers and to administer, modify and/or terminate any such policy. |
• | to manage a succession planning process for the Board, its leadership and its committees; |
• | to develop, review and recommend to the Board criteria for identifying and evaluating Director candidates; |
• | to review the qualifications of Director candidates according to criteria approved by the Board and set forth in the Statement of Corporate Governance; |
• | to maintain procedures for the consideration of Director candidates recommended by the Company’s stockholders; |
• | to consider the performance and independence of incumbent Directors in determining whether to nominate them for re-election; |
• | to recommend to the Board nominees for election or re-election to the Board at each annual meeting of stockholders or as necessary to fill vacancies and newly created directorships; |
• | to advise and make recommendations to the Board on corporate governance matters; |
• | to review communications from the Company’s stockholders; |
• | to oversee the Company’s stockholder engagement and make recommendations to the Board regarding its involvement in stockholder engagement; |
• | to oversee, review and monitor the Company’s efforts on sustainability and corporate social responsibility and related risks, including reporting with respect thereto, and provide guidance to the Board on such matters; |
• | to oversee the Company’s business practice and corporate value of zero tolerance for sexual harassment, race discrimination and all other forms of discrimination; and |
• | to review and oversee compliance with the Company’s Political Activities Policy, including the annual Political Activities Report. |
18 |
|
2024 Proxy Statement |
• | American Corporate Partners; |
• | Asian American Journalists Association; |
• | National Association of Black Journalists; |
• | National Association of Hispanic Journalists; |
• | Radio Television Digital News Association; |
|
2024 Proxy Statement |
19 |
• | The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists; and |
• | U.S.VETS Camo to Careers Program. |
• | FOX Ad Sales Fast Future Initiative (“FFI”): Launched in 2021, this six-month career development program offers FOX Ad Sales team members resources and experiences designed to equip tomorrow’s leaders with skills they can implement today. FFI nurtures a sense of community, propels career growth and offers opportunities to engage with industry experts. FOX Ad Sales celebrated the graduation of its third cohort in early 2024. |
• | FOX News Multimedia Reporters: This program positions qualified candidates across the country to shoot, produce, edit and report content for FOX News Media platforms. After two years of ongoing development and mentorship, reporters are positioned to become stronger journalists in the field. |
• | FOX Sports Professional Development Program: This program prepares production team leaders with skills for the unique sports production environment, such as communication and influence in the control room under short deadlines. |
• | FOX Television Stations Sales Training Program: This program was created to develop and mentor the next generation of diverse and motivated sales professionals for FOX Television Stations. Trainees participate in both intensive classroom study of all aspects of the television station advertising sales business and shadowing of FOX Television Stations sales account executives. |
• | FOX Writers Incubator Initiative: This FOX Entertainment program, which welcomed its first class in 2022, nurtures and trains talented writers with diverse voices, backgrounds and life experiences. Writers work intensively on their scripts with the support of established writers, executives, directors and producers across all genres (comedy, drama, animation, etc.). |
20 |
|
2024 Proxy Statement |
|
2024 Proxy Statement |
21 |
• | ABLE — committed to breaking the stigma around seen and unseen disabilities and supporting our FOX colleagues, and those affected by them, through education, advocacy and allyship; |
• | ACE (Asian Community Exchange) — serves Asian Americans at FOX and their allies by advancing their members, championing their stories and empowering their communities; |
• | BLK+ — celebrates the intersectionality of our Black colleagues across the diaspora of FOX and seeks to build community through programming and professional development; |
• | HOLA (Hispanic Organization for Leadership and Advancement) — develops Hispanic leaders, enriches FOX’s diverse culture and drives positive impact for Hispanic employees at FOX and their allies; |
• | PRIDE — cultivates community among FOX’s LGBTQ+ colleagues and allies and supports causes important to the LGBTQ+ community; |
• | VETS — committed to the community of veterans, current service members, military supporters and military spouses employed at FOX by embracing four core values – Community, Appreciation, Connection & Education; |
• | WiT (Women in Tech) — attracts, empowers and connects women technologists and amplifies their impact at FOX; and |
• | WOMEN@FOX — committed to developing female leadership at all levels and fostering a culture where all women thrive. |
• | DiversityComm once again recognized FOX as a Top Hispanic, Black and Women Employer and as a Top LGBTQ+ Friendly Company for 2024; |
• | FOX was appointed to the Military Friendly ® Employer list again for 2024 and named a Military Friendly® Brand; FOX also was rated a 4-Star Employer by VETS Indexes; and |
• | FOX was named to Disability Equality Index’s “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion” list for 2024, continuing year-over-year recognition as a top scoring employer. |
22 |
|
2024 Proxy Statement |
|
2024 Proxy Statement |
23 |
The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the proposal to ratify Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. |
Fiscal 2024 |
Fiscal 2023 |
|||||||
Audit Fees (1) |
$ |
12,327,000 |
$ |
11,516,000 |
||||
Audit-Related Fees (2) |
$ |
455,000 |
$ |
657,000 |
||||
Tax Fees (3) |
$ |
653,000 |
$ |
709,000 |
||||
All Other Fees |
$ |
— |
$ |
— |
||||
Total Fees |
$ |
13,435,000 |
$ |
12,882,000 |
(1) | Audit fees include: fees rendered in connection with the annual audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2023; the audit of internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2023 (as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”)); reviews of the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements included in the Company’s regulatory filings; statutory and separate subsidiary audits; and other services normally provided by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with regulatory filings. |
(2) | Audit-related fees principally relate to employee benefit plan audits and due diligence related to mergers and acquisitions. |
(3) | Tax fees include fees for various tax consultations. |
24 |
|
2024 Proxy Statement |
• | the integrity of the Company’s financial statements and the Company’s financial reporting processes and systems of internal control; |
• | the qualifications, independence and performance of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and the performance of the Company’s corporate auditors and corporate audit function; |
• | the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements involving financial, accounting and internal control matters; |
• | investigations into complaints concerning financial matters; |
• | the Company’s policies and practices with respect to risk assessment and risk management, including with respect to cybersecurity and the use of artificial intelligence, and oversight of the Company’s major financial and other risk exposures and the steps taken to monitor and control them, and provides guidance to the Board on such matters; |
• | the review, approval and ratification of transactions with related parties; and |
• | the content and operation of the Company’s Ethics and Compliance Program, including the Company’s Standards of Business Conduct. |
|
2024 Proxy Statement |
25 |
• | EY’s historical and recent performance on the Company’s audit; |
• | an analysis of EY’s known legal risks and significant proceedings; |
• | external data relating to audit quality and performance, including recent Public Company Accounting Oversight Board reports on EY; |
• | the appropriateness of EY’s fees for audit and non-audit services (for additional information on fees paid to EY please see “Proposal No. 2, Ratification of Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm”); |
• | EY’s tenure as our independent registered public accounting firm, and its familiarity with our operations and businesses, accounting policies and practices and internal control over financial reporting (EY has audited the books and records of the Company since the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018); |
• | EY’s industry expertise; |
• | EY’s independence; and |
• | the impact to the Company of changing auditors. |
26 |
|
2024 Proxy Statement |
|
2024 Proxy Statement |
27 |
The Board unanimously recommends an advisory vote “FOR” the approval of the compensation of our named executive officers. |
28 |
|
2024 Proxy Statement |
• | Mr. L.K. Murdoch, the Company’s Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer, was a 21CF director for 25 years and had served 21CF in a number of executive roles from 1994 to 2005, as well as Executive Chairman since 2015 and Co-Chairman from 2014 to 2015. In addition, he has led a number of international and domestic media companies. With his wealth of knowledge regarding the Company’s operations and the media industry, Mr. L.K. Murdoch supervises all strategic, operational and corporate decisions and oversees the Company’s portfolio of news, sports and entertainment assets in addition to leading our Board. |
• | Mr. Nallen, the Company’s Chief Operating Officer, has been employed by the Company and its predecessors for 30 years. He previously served as 21CF’s Chief Financial Officer for six years and as an Executive Vice President and Deputy Chief Financial Officer of 21CF for 12 years, overseeing various functional areas, including corporate finance, tax, internal audit, and planning and analysis. He currently oversees the Company’s finance, strategy, business development, distribution, real estate and human capital functions. |
• | Mr. Tomsic, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, has been employed by the Company and its predecessors for 22 years. He previously served as Deputy Chief Financial Officer of 21CF for two years. He currently oversees all of our corporate and operational finance activities, including capital markets and merger and acquisition transactions, treasury, risk management, tax, financial planning and analysis, accounting and external reporting. |
• | Mr. Ciongoli, the Company’s Chief Legal and Policy Officer, has been employed by the Company since December 2023. He previously served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Sustainability, Corporate Responsibility and Governance Officer at Campbell Soup Company where he was also a member of the Operating Committee. He currently oversees all legal, compliance, and regulatory matters and directs government affairs. |
• | Mr. K.R. Murdoch, the Company’s former Chair, led the Company and its predecessors for 71 years. Mr. K.R. Murdoch has been the driving force behind the evolution of the Company from the single, family-owned Australian newspaper he took over in 1953 to the global public media and entertainment company that was 21CF and that, through his vision and efforts, he transformed into the focused news, sports and entertainment company that is FOX today. With his invaluable knowledge and expertise regarding the Company’s businesses, Mr. K.R. Murdoch provided broad strategic vision, actively advised on capital allocation and key operational decisions, and fostered an entrepreneurial culture throughout the Company. In addition, as Executive Chair of Fox News Media, Mr. K.R. Murdoch vigorously drove brand extensions, digital enhancements and expanded newsgathering to power recent multi-platform growth on top of sustained ratings leadership at FOX News. His unique global perspectives also provided valuable insights to the Board and the Company’s leadership. On November 17, 2023, Mr. K.R. Murdoch stepped down as Chair and was appointed Chairman Emeritus of the Board. |
• | Mr. Dinh, the Company’s former Chief Legal and Policy Officer, was employed by the Company and its predecessors for five years and previously served as a director of 21CF for 14 years. He led all legal, compliance and regulatory matters and oversaw government relations and public affairs. On August 11, 2023, the Company announced that Mr. Dinh would be transitioning from Chief Legal and Policy Officer to Special Advisor, effective December 31, 2023, and will serve as a Special Advisor to the Company for two years. |
|
2024 Proxy Statement |
29 |
Drive performance without encouraging unnecessary or excessive risk-taking |
• | A major portion of target compensation of our named executive officers is variable and performance-based. |
• | Our compensation program features a balanced combination of annual and long-term elements along with fixed and performance-based components. |
• | We cap payouts for annual and long-term performance-based incentives and incorporate risk mitigation features into our compensation program. |
Ensure policies and practices support long-term value creation for stockholders |
• | Performance-based compensation is the biggest element of our named executive officers’ annual pay. |
• | Long-term performance-based incentives awarded to our named executive officers are based on challenging three-year performance objectives. |
• | We maintain robust stock ownership guidelines for named executive officers and non-executive Directors. |
• | We regularly review stock utilization and overhang. |
Structure packages to attract, retain and motivate top executive talent |
• | We compete to recruit and retain executives against a relatively small number of large, complex, diversified and publicly traded broadcasting, cable and satellite, and entertainment companies. |
• | Our goal is to provide compensation packages that are competitive with prevailing practices in our industry. |
Follow compensation best practices |
• | We closely link pay to performance. |
• | We use diversified performance metrics and set rigorous short- and long-term goals for our executives. |
• | We maintain a clawback policy covering performance-based compensation that goes beyond the SEC rules and Nasdaq listing standards. |
Prohibit activities inconsistent with stockholder interests |
• | We do not provide any “single trigger” change in control severance benefits. |
• | We do not pay excise tax gross-ups associated with change in control benefits. |
• | We do not pay dividends on unvested equity awards. |
• | We prohibit all of our Directors and employees, including our named executive officers, from engaging in short sales of FOX securities and investing in FOX-based derivative securities. |
• | We prohibit all of our Directors and employees, including our named executive officers, from pledging any FOX securities they hold directly, hedging any FOX securities they hold directly or indirectly, or hedging or pledging equity compensation. |
30 |
|
2024 Proxy Statement |
Average of the Named Executive Officers as a Group |
Percentage of Target Direct Compensation |
At Risk? |
Rationale | |||
Base Salary |
19% | No | Attract and retain quality executive talent | |||
Annual Incentive |
32% | Yes | Motivate achievement of pre-specified annual goals | |||
Performance-based Stock Units |
12% | Yes | Drive the achievement of: (1) long-term (three-year) operational, strategic goals that promotes the creation of sustainable stockholder value, and (2) relative stockholder return | |||
Performance Stock Options |
12% | Yes | Incentivize sustained share price growth by having the award vest only if FOX’s stock price achieves pre-specified goals; the value of the award increases in line with incremental stockholder value creation | |||
Restricted Stock Units |
25% | Yes | Support retention and the alignment of interests with long-term stockholders | |||
Total Direct Compensation |
100% | 81% | 81% of our named executive officers’ Total Direct Compensation is at risk, and 85% of our CEO’s Total Direct Compensation is at risk, meaning that realizable pay is conditioned on the achievement of short-and long-term goals |
• | FOX News finished fiscal 2024 as the #1 cable network in Monday to Friday primetime and total day viewing among total viewers for the eighth consecutive year. In addition, FOX News continued as the top-rated national cable news channel in Monday to Friday primetime viewing. For the fiscal year, FOX News delivered primetime total viewership that beat the viewership of its closest cable news channel competitors and delivered ratings that were comparable to ratings delivered by the four broadcast networks. FOX Business finished as the most-watched business network among total business day viewers during fiscal 2024. Additionally, FOX News Media continued to enhance its digital footprint through the FOX Nation SVOD service and the FOX Weather FAST service, which doubled its total view time (the total number of hours watched) compared to the prior year. FOX News Digital remained the most-engaged brand in digital news, leading in total views, minutes spent and social interactions in fiscal 2024. |
• | FOX Sports was the industry leader in live events for the fifth consecutive calendar year with over 250 billion minutes of live sports viewing on the FOX Network. During the fiscal year, the NFL regular season on FOX averaged 19 million viewers, while the three NFC postseason games on FOX averaged 45 million viewers, including the most-watched NFC Championship game in over a decade. FOX’s America’s Game of the Week 18-49. FOX aired the most-watched college football, men’s college basketball and women’s college basketball games across the regular season. The |
|
2024 Proxy Statement |
31 |
University of Michigan versus The Ohio State University football game on FOX was the most-watched college football regular-season game on any network since 2011 and the most-watched regular season college football game in FOX Sports history. FOX’s Big Noon Saturday World Cup World Cup |
• | FOX Entertainment successfully navigated the industry guild strikes of 2023, delivering a full season of primetime programing while returning original scripted content to the FOX Network in the spring of 2024. In 2024, FOX Entertainment implemented a new, three-tiered business structure with FOX Entertainment studios uniting FOX Entertainment’s full scope of studio operations and content creation engines; the FOX Network serving as the central launching pad and first window for content before it migrates to streaming; and FOX Entertainment Global constituting the division’s domestic and international sales and distribution business. FOX Entertainment continued to deliver nearly 150 million unduplicated viewers across all platforms during the 2023-2024 broadcast season. In the key Adults 18-49 demographic, the FOX Network also featured the season’s #1 new entertainment program with the FOX-owned animated comedy Krapopolis The Floor Next Level Chef Hell’s Kitchen MasterChef Junior Kitchen Nightmares co-produced original content for third parties, such as Prime Video’s animated hit Hazbin Hotel |
• | FOX Television Stations remains a leader in local news coverage, producing over 1,200 hours of local news coverage each week across 18 markets, including 14 of the top 15 DMAs. During the fiscal year, FOX Television Stations grew and enhanced its digital offerings through the expansion and success of the FOX Local Extension (FLX) digital advertising platform as well as the continued rollout of local news content on connected televisions and FAST services in a number of markets. FOX Television Stations’ total view time through connected televisions for the period of March 2024 through June 2024 was approximately four times higher compared to the same period in the prior year. These initiatives led to Fox Television Stations digital advertising revenue growth of approximately 20% as compared to the prior fiscal year. |
• | In fiscal 2024, Tubi delivered record revenues, which grew 18% compared to the prior fiscal year. Total view time reached approximately 9.7 billion hours over the course of fiscal 2024, an increase of over 40% compared to the prior fiscal year. According to Nielsen’s The Gauge on-demand library, with the launch of over 60 sports, entertainment and local news channels to bring its total offering to over 280 channels as of the end of fiscal 2024. |
• | The Company generated healthy affiliate fee revenue growth of 4% due to higher average rates per subscriber and fees received from television stations that are affiliated with the FOX Network. Additionally, the Company’s key networks continue to be distributed on all major virtual MVPD services, reflecting the highly coveted nature of the Company’s content. |
• | The Company ended the fiscal year with approximately $4.3 billion of cash and cash equivalents on its balance sheet while returning approximately $1.25 billion of capital to its stockholders in fiscal 2024 through the Company’s cash dividend and its stock repurchase program. As of June 30, 2024, the Company has repurchased over $5.6 billion (approximately 169 million shares) under the stock repurchase program since the program’s launch in November 2019, with approximately $1 billion repurchased during fiscal 2024. |
• | FOX continues to broaden and deepen its corporate social responsibility efforts, with a focus on local community engagement. Our recent environmental, social and governance achievements are highlighted in FOX’s annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report, published in August 2024. |
32 |
|
2024 Proxy Statement |
|
2024 Proxy Statement |
33 |
Named Executive Officer |
Annual Base Salary | ||||
Lachlan K. Murdoch |
$3.0 million |
||||
John P. Nallen |
$2.0 million |
||||
Steven Tomsic |
$1.75 million |
||||
Adam Ciongoli |
$1.75 million |
||||
K. Rupert Murdoch (former employee) |
$5.0 million* |
||||
Viet D. Dinh (former employee) |
$3.0 million* |
* | Annual base salaries for Messrs. K.R. Murdoch and Dinh reflect annualized amounts for the 2024 fiscal year. Actual base salaries received by these executives were prorated for the portion of the 2024 fiscal year in which the executives were employed by the Company, and were equal to $1.9 million for Mr. K.R. Murdoch and $1.5 million for Mr. Dinh. |
Performance Level |
Performance Goal as a Percentage of Target Adjusted EBITDA |
Payout as a Percentage of Financial Performance Portion of the Annual Incentive Compensation | ||
Maximum |
120% |
200% | ||
Target |
100% |
100% | ||
Threshold |
80% |
50% |
1 |
“Adjusted EBITDA” is defined as revenues less operating expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses. Adjusted EBITDA does not include amortization of cable distribution investments, depreciation and amortization, restructuring, impairment and other corporate matters, equity earnings (losses) of affiliates, interest expense, net, non-operating other, net and income tax expense. Adjusted EBITDA is the aggregation of the Segment EBITDA of each of the Company’s operating segments. For a discussion of Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA, see pages 48-50 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. |
34 |
|
2024 Proxy Statement |
Named Executive Officer |
Fiscal 2024 Target Annual Incentive Opportunity |
Fiscal 2024 Maximum Annual Incentive Opportunity | ||
Lachlan K. Murdoch |
200% of Base Salary |
200% of Target | ||
John P. Nallen |
150% of Base Salary |
200% of Target | ||
Steven Tomsic |
157% of Base Salary |
200% of Target | ||
Adam Ciongoli |
157% of Base Salary |
200% of Target | ||
K. Rupert Murdoch* (former employee) |
120% of Base Salary |
200% of Target | ||
Viet D. Dinh* (former employee) |
100% of Base Salary |
200% of Target |
* | As previously disclosed, in recognition of Mr. K.R. Murdoch’s 71 years of service to the Company, the Company’s Board approved the payment of a prorated portion (38.25%) of his Annual Incentive Compensation in connection with his retirement, totaling $2.295 million. Additionally, in connection with Mr. Dinh’s separation, the Compensation Committee approved the payment of a pro-rated portion (50%) of Mr. Dinh’s Annual Incentive Compensation, totaling $1.5 million. |
Performance Level |
Adjusted EBITDA (in billions) |
Payout as a % of Target | ||
Maximum |
$3.44 |
200% | ||
Target |
$2.82 – $2.92 |
100% | ||
Threshold |
$2.29 |
50% |
Named Executive Officers |
75% of Target (Quantitative Portion) |
Adjusted EBITDA Payout Multiplier |
Annual Incentive Compensation Earned based on Quantitative Performance | ||||||||||||
Lachlan K. Murdoch |
$4,500,000 |
100% |
$4,500,000 |
||||||||||||
John P. Nallen |
$2,250,000 |
100% |
$2,250,000 |
||||||||||||
Steven Tomsic |
$2,062,500 |
100% |
$2,062,500 |
||||||||||||
Adam Ciongoli |
$2,062,500 |
100% |
$2,062,500 |
||||||||||||
K. Rupert Murdoch* (former employee) |
— |
— |
— |
||||||||||||
Viet D. Dinh* (former employee) |
— |
— |
— |
* | Actual Annual Incentive Compensation received by these executives were prorated at target, and were equal to $2.295 million for Mr. K.R. Murdoch and $1.5 million for Mr. Dinh. |
|
2024 Proxy Statement |
35 |
Qualitative Performance Factor |
Fiscal 2024 Achievements | |
On-screen leadership |
• FOX News continued as the top-rated national cable news channel in Monday to Friday primetime viewing. In addition, FOX News finished fiscal 2024 as the #1 cable network in Monday to Friday primetime and total day viewing among total viewers. For the fiscal year, FOX News delivered primetime total viewership that beat the viewership of its closest cable news channel competitors and delivered ratings that were comparable to ratings delivered by the four broadcast networks.• FOX Sports was the industry leader in live events for the fifth consecutive calendar year with over 250 billion minutes of live sports viewing on the FOX Network. During the fiscal year, the NFL regular season on FOX averaged 19 million viewers, while the three NFC postseason games on FOX averaged 45 million viewers, including the most-watched NFC Championship game in over a decade. FOX’s America’s Game of the Week 18-49. FOX aired the most-watched college football, men’s college basketball and women’s college basketball games across the regular season. The University of Michigan versus The Ohio State University football game on FOX was the most-watched college football regular-season game on any network since 2011 and the most-watched regular season college football game in FOX Sports history. FOX’s Big Noon Saturday World Cup World Cup • Total view time on Tubi reached approximately 9.7 billion hours over the course of fiscal 2024, an increase of over 40% compared to the prior fiscal year. According to Nielsen’s The Gauge on-demand library, with the launch of over 60 sports, entertainment and local news channels to bring its total offering to over 280 channels as of the end of fiscal 2024.• FOX Television Stations remained #1 in the Adults 25-54 demographic in the 7-10am local news daypart for the fiscal year compared to ABC, CBS and NBC. | |
Continued expansion and support for our growth and digital businesses |
• Under new leadership and supported by a content library of over 260,000 movies and television episodes, Tubi delivered an increase in total view time of over 40%. This record engagement delivered record revenues, which grew 18% compared to the prior fiscal year. • The FOX Weather FAST service doubled its total view time compared to the prior fiscal year. • FOX News Digital remained the most-engaged brand in digital news, leading in total views, minutes spent and social interactions. |
36 |
2024 Proxy Statement |
• FOX Sports, along with its partner, launched and broadcast the inaugural season of the UFL professional spring football league that combined the legacy operations of the Company’s United States Football League and the XFL. • FOX Television Stations grew and enhanced its digital offerings through the expansion and success of the FOX Local Extension (FLX) digital advertising platform as well as the continued rollout of local news content on connected televisions and FAST services in a number of markets. FOX Television Stations’ total view time through connected televisions for the period of March 2024 through June 2024 was approximately four times higher compared to the same period in the prior year. These initiatives led to FOX Television Stations’ digital advertising revenue growth of approximately 20% as compared to the prior fiscal year. | ||
Execute Strategic and Commercial Priorities |
• The Company completed multi-year distribution and content licensing agreement renewals with key distribution partners, including a multi-year distribution and content licensing agreement renewal with SiriusXM. • FOX Entertainment successfully navigated the industry guild strikes of 2023, delivering a full season of primetime programing while returning original scripted content to the FOX Network in the spring of 2024. • During the fiscal year, FOX Sports and NASCAR extended their multi-series media rights agreement to carry 14 NASCAR Cup Series races, including practice and qualifying races for the Busch Light Clash, DAYTONA 500 and NASCAR All-Star Race, as well as exclusive rights for the entire 23-race NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series schedule from 2025 through 2031. | |
Corporate culture and furthering our commitment to our environmental, social and governance agenda |
• Our ESG commitments were once again recognized with an “A” rating from MSCI ESG Research and inclusion in the FTSE Russell’s FTSE4Good Index Series, which place the Company as a leader among its peers in terms of ESG rating scores. • Promoted culture and belonging through our approach to talent recruitment, development and retention; fostered employee career growth through increased enrollment in FOX leadership training programs and investment in our early career development and mentorship programs to build the pipeline of next generation of leaders; and grew the FOX Internship Program, welcoming approximately 600 students in fiscal year 2024. • Received recognition from several workplace inclusion organizations as follows: • FOX was recognized as Top LGBTQ+ Friendly Company, Top Hispanic, Black and Women Employer by DiversityComm for 2024. • FOX was appointed to the Military Friendly ® Employer list and named a Military Friendly® Brand for 2024; FOX also was rated a 4-Star Employer by VETS Indexes.• FOX was named to Disability Equality Index’s “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion” list for 2024, continuing year-over-year recognition as a top scoring employer. • Submitted our second response to the CDP Climate Change Questionnaire, improving our score to a “B”; implemented new waste infrastructure at the FOX Studio Lot; and increased environmental awareness by partnering with One Tree Planted for the fifth consecutive year and through several Earth Month campaigns. • Published our third annual Political Activities Report. • Provided training to employees on FOX’s Standards of Business Conduct and other key policies that further integrity and ethics, including Preventing Harassment, Discrimination and Retaliation Policy. • Our Corporate Social Responsibility Report highlights these achievements, our investment in human capital resources, inclusion and diversity and more. Additionally, our Employment Information Report (EEO-1) highlights the diversity of our workforce. Both reports are published on our website. |
2024 Proxy Statement |
37 |
|
Quantitative Performance |
Qualitative Performance |
Total |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Named Executive Officers |
75% of Target |
Multiple |
Subtotal |
25% of Target |
Multiple |
Subtotal |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Lachlan K. Murdoch |
$ |
4,500,000 |
100% | $ |
4,500,000 |
$ |
1,500,000 |
100% | $ |
1,500,000 |
$ |
6,000,000 |
||||||||||||||||
John P. Nallen |
$ |
2,250,000 |
100% | $ |
2,250,000 |
$ |
750,000 |
100% | $ |
750,000 |
$ |
3,000,000 |
||||||||||||||||
Steven Tomsic |
$ |
2,062,500 |
100% | $ |
2,062,500 |
$ |
687,500 |
100% | $ |
687,500 |
$ |
2,750,000 |
||||||||||||||||
Adam Ciongoli |
$ |
2,062,500 |
100% | $ |
2,062,500 |
$ |
687,500 |
100% | $ |
687,500 |
$ |
2,750,000 |
||||||||||||||||
K. Rupert Murdoch* (former employee) |
$ |
4,500,000 |
— | — |
$ |
1,500,000 |
— | — |
$ |
2,295,082 |
||||||||||||||||||
Viet D. Dinh* (former employee) |
$ |
2,250,000 |
— | — |
$ |
750,000 |
— | — |
$ |
1,500,000 |
* | The Target Annual Incentive Compensation opportunities for Messrs. K.R. Murdoch and Dinh reflect annualized amounts for the 2024 fiscal year. As previously disclosed, Total Annual Incentive Compensation received by these executives was prorated at target reflecting each executive’s departure. |
• | Twenty-five percent (25%) of a named executive officer’s target long-term incentive award was granted as performance-based stock options with a three-year performance period (the “PSOs”). PSOs granted to our named executive officers will vest at the end of the three-year performance period and have a term of seven years thereafter. PSOs granted to our named executive officers vest only if, at any point during the three-year performance period, the closing price of the Class A Common Stock exceeds the exercise price of the PSO by at least 15% for at least 30 consecutive calendar days (the “Stock Hurdle”). The performance period for the PSOs granted in August 2023 remains open and the Stock Hurdle is subject to achievement. |
• | Twenty-five percent (25%) of a named executive officer’s target long-term incentive award was granted as performance-based restricted stock units (“PSUs”) with a three-year performance period. PSUs granted to our named executive officers will vest after three years based on achievement of targets for the following performance metrics: |
(a) | Average annual adjusted earnings per share (“EPS”) growth, weighted 15%; |
(b) | Average annual adjusted free cash flow (“FCF”) growth, weighted 15%; and |
(c) | The Company’s three-year total stockholder return as measured against the three-year total stockholder return of the companies that comprise the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (“Relative TSR”), weighted 70%. |
• | Fifty percent (50%) of a named executive officer’s target long-term incentive award was granted as time-vested restricted stock units (“RSUs”) that will vest in equal annual installments over a three-year period. |
38 |
2024 Proxy Statement |
Named Executive Officer |
Fiscal 2024-2026 Target Long-Term Incentive Award Opportunity | |
Lachlan K. Murdoch |
367% of Base Salary | |
John P. Nallen |
250% of Base Salary | |
Steven Tomsic |
171% of Base Salary | |
Adam Ciongoli (a) |
171% of Base Salary | |
K. Rupert Murdoch (b) (former employee |
140% of Base Salary | |
Viet D. Dinh (c) (former employee |
— |
(a) | Mr. Ciongoli received his fiscal 2024-2026 long-term equity-based incentive awards following the beginning of his employment with the Company, in December 2023. |
(b) | Mr. K.R. Murdoch received retirement treatment for his fiscal 2024 long-term equity-based incentive awards under the 2019 SAP, pursuant to which 38.25% of such awards will continue to vest on their regularly scheduled vesting dates. |
(c) | Mr. Dinh did not receive a fiscal 2024 long-term equity-based incentive award. |
2024 Proxy Statement |
39 |
|
Fiscal 2022 – 2024 PSU Performance Metrics |
| ||||||
Performance Levels |
Adjusted EPS Growth (15% Weighting) |
Adjusted FCF Growth (15% Weighting) |
TSR (70% Weighting) (a) |
Payout as a % of Target Opportunity | ||||
Maximum |
11% |
7% |
≥ 75th Percentile |
200% | ||||
Target |
6% |
2% |
50 th Percentile |
100% | ||||
Threshold |
1% |
(3)% |
<25 th Percentile |
0% |
(a) | TSR has a 50% payout at the 25 th Percentile. |
Performance Metrics |
Target Performance |
Actual Performance |
Weighted Contribution | |||
Adjusted EPS Growth |
6% |
6.8% |
17% | |||
Adjusted FCF Growth |
2% |
(7.7)% |
0% | |||
Relative TSR |
50 th Percentile |
32 th Percentile |
45% | |||
Final Performance Factor |
62% |
2 |
“Adjusted EPS” is calculated by dividing adjusted net income by the number of shares of stock (or stock equivalents) of the combined classes of the Company’s common stock used in the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024 included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Financial Statements”) for the applicable fiscal year in determining diluted earnings per share, after adjusting for new share issuances and the effect of corporate reorganizations such as stock splits. Adjusted net income is determined by excluding net income effects of restructuring, impairment and other corporate matters, adjustments to equity earnings (losses) of affiliates, non-operating other, net, tax provisions and noncontrolling interest adjustments. The determination of Adjusted EPS may reflect such other adjustments that the Compensation Committee deems appropriate so that the measurement of performance against the performance metric is not distorted. The Compensation Committee did not make any such additional adjustments to Adjusted EPS in determining Adjusted EPS growth for the fiscal 2022-2024 performance period. |
3 |
“Adjusted FCF” is calculated as net cash provided by operating activities as reported in the Financial Statements, less capital expenditures; comparable adjustments made to net income as reported in the Financial Statements in connection with the determination of adjusted net income will be made to FCF to the extent such adjustments impact FCF. The determination of Adjusted FCF may reflect such other adjustments to FCF that the Compensation Committee deems appropriate so that the measurement of performance against the performance metric is not distorted. The Compensation Committee did not make any such additional adjustments to FCF in determining Adjusted FCF growth for the fiscal 2022-2024 performance period. |
40 |
2024 Proxy Statement |
Named Executive Officers |
Fiscal 2022 Target PSU Award Opportunity (# Shares) |
Final Performance Factor |
Fiscal 2022 Final PSU Award Shares Earned (# Shares) (a) |
|||||||||
Lachlan K. Murdoch |
73,313 |
62% |
47,504 |
|||||||||
John P. Nallen |
33,324 |
62% |
21,592 |
|||||||||
Steven Tomsic |
13,329 |
62% |
8,635 |
|||||||||
K. Rupert Murdoch ( former employee |
46,654 |
62% |
30,230 |
|||||||||
Viet D. Dinh (b) (former employee |
— |
— |
— |
(a) | The number of shares earned with respect to the 2022 PSU Awards includes additional shares of Class A Common Stock that reflect dividend equivalents accrued and settled at the time the underlying PSUs vested. |
(b) | In connection with his separation from the Company, Mr. Dinh’s Fiscal 2022 PSU Award did not have the opportunity to vest. |
2024 Proxy Statement |
41 |
• | Twenty-five percent (25%) of a named executive officer’s target long-term incentive award was granted as PSOs with a three-year performance period. PSOs granted to our named executive officers will vest at the end of the three-year performance period and have a term of seven years thereafter. PSOs granted to our named executive officers vest only if, at any point during the three-year performance period, the closing price of the Class A Common Stock exceeds the exercise price of the PSO by at least 15% for at least 30 consecutive calendar days. |
• | Twenty-five percent (25%) of a named executive officer’s target long-term incentive award was granted as PSUs with a three-year performance period. PSUs granted to our named executive officers will vest after three years based on achievement of targets for the following performance metrics: |
(a) | Average annual adjusted EPS growth, weighted 15%; |
(b) | Average annual adjusted FCF growth, weighted 15%; and |
(c) | The Company’s Relative TSR, weighted 70%. |
• | Fifty percent (50%) of a named executive officer’s target long-term incentive award was awarded in time-vested RSUs that will vest in equal annual installments over a three-year period. |
42 |
2024 Proxy Statement |
Named Executive Officer |
Ownership Guideline | ||||
Lachlan K. Murdoch |
6 times base salary |
||||
John P. Nallen |
2 times base salary |