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.   )

Filed by the Registrant

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)14a‑6(e)(2))

þ

Definitive Proxy Statement

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Definitive Additional Materials

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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12under §240.14a‑12

ADVANCED ENERGY INDUSTRIES, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

ADVANCED ENERGY INDUSTRIES, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

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No fee required.

o

Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)14a‑6(i)(1) and 0-11.0‑11.

(1)

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Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:


(2)

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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:


(3)

(3)

Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set0‑11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):


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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)0‑11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

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Filed:

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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held May 3, 2018
To

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A Message from Our CEO

Dear Stockholders:

The 2018

It is our pleasure to invite you to attend our Annual Meeting of Stockholders at 9:00 a.m., Mountain Daylight Time, on Thursday, April 30, 2020, at our offices located at 1595 Wynkoop Street, Suite 800, Denver, Colorado 80202.

Fiscal 2019 was a transformational year for Advanced Energy as we accelerated our strategy to be a diversified global leader of precision electric power conversion solutions. Through the acquisition of Artesyn Embedded Power, Advanced Energy is now a leading supplier in each of the four major market verticals we serve: Semiconductor Equipment, Industrial & Medical applications, Data Center Computing, and Telecom & Networking. At the same time, we took actions to streamline our Company while increasing investment in our critical power technologies. As a result, we delivered record revenue and solid profitability during a period of served market weakness and believe we are positioned for accelerated earnings growth going forward.

We are in the midst of the 4th Industrial Revolution. The ability to collect, compute, store and transmit data continues to transform our lives. The use of data analytics is impacting many industries such as health care, automation, manufacturing, security, safety, entertainment and education. These complex analytics are enabled by innovations in technologies such as advanced computing, data storage, Internet of Things and high-speed connectivity. Our broad portfolios of power delivery solutions are at the center of these essential technologies and applications that enable the 4th Industrial Revolution.

During fiscal 2019, we:

    Delivered record revenue with nearly 10% growth over 2018

    Acquired Artesyn Embedded Power and increased our served applications

    Increased our market presence and content

    Invested in next generation technologies, scale and business continuity

    Continued to develop our culture across our growing global organization

    Developed initiatives around our environment & sustainability goals

As we continue to pursue our growth strategy, with our increased addressable market, new verticals, additional applications, continuing focused innovation, and the efficiency gains we can achieve through the integration of Artesyn Embedded Power, we are very excited about the future of Advanced Energy.

On behalf of our employees and directors, we thank you for your continued support and confidence in our Company.

Regards,

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Yuval Wasserman
President & Chief Executive Officer

March 10, 2020

Notice of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders

To be held on April 30, 2020

To Our Stockholders:

You are cordially invited to attend the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. (“Advanced Energy” or the “Company”) will be held on Thursday, May 3, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time, at Advanced Energy’s corporate offices, 1625 Sharp Point Drive, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525. At. Please see below for the meeting you willlogistics and business matters to be asked to vote on the following matters:

1.Election of seven (7) directors;
2.Ratification of the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as Advanced Energy’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2018;
3.Advisory approval of Advanced Energy’s compensation of its named executive officers; and
4.Any other matters of business properly brought before the meeting.
Each of matters 1 through 4 is described in detail in the accompanying proxy statement, dated March 15, 2018.
If you owned common stock of Advanced Energyaddressed at the closeAnnual Meeting.

Logistics

 

Items of Business

 

 

 

 

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When
Thursday, April 30, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time

 

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Where
Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. 1595 Wynkoop Street, Suite 800, Denver, Colorado 80202

 

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Who Can Vote
All holders of our common stock at the close of business on March 9, 2020

 

 

 

Board Recommendation

 

Page

 

1

Election of eight (8) directors;

 

“FOR”

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as Advanced Energy’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2020;

 

“FOR”

 

22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

Advisory approval of Advanced Energy’s compensation of its named executive officers;

 

“FOR”

 

25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

Any other matters of business properly brought before the Annual Meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each of matters 1 through 3 is described in detail in the accompanying proxy statement, dated March 10, 2020.

 

 

 

Your vote is important. All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting in person. If you do not plan to attend the Annual Meeting and vote your shares of common stock in person, please authorize a proxy to vote your shares in one of the following ways:

 

 

 

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Place your vote via internet at www.proxypush.com/aeis    

Call toll-free (if US or Canada)
1-866-390-9955

Mark, date, sign and mail your proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of businessProxy Materials for the Annual Meeting to be Held on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, youApril 30, 2020

This notice for the Annual Meeting, the proxy statement. the proxy card, and the Company’s 2019 Annual Report including the Annual Report on Form 10-K are entitled to receive this notice and to vote at the meeting.

All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the meeting in person. If you do not plan to attend the meeting and vote your shares of common stock in person, please authorize a proxy to vote your shares in one of the following ways:
Use the toll-free telephone number shown on your proxy card (this call is toll-free, if made in the United States or Canada);
Go to the website address shown on your proxy card and authorize a proxy via the Internet; or
Mark, sign, date and promptly return the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope.
available online at: www.proxydocs.com/aeis.

Any proxy may be revoked at any time prior to its exercise at the annual meeting.

Annual Meeting.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

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 Denver, Colorado

Thomas O. McGimpsey

 March  10, 2020

Executive Vice President, Interim Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel, Government Affairs & Corporate Secretary

Fort Collins, Colorado

March 15, 2018

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON MAY 3, 2018:
This notice for the annual meeting, the proxy card, and the 2017 Annual Report, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K are available online at: www.proxydocs.com/aeis.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT

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Date:        March 15, 2018
To:        Our Stockholders
From:        Yuval Wasserman
Subject:        Invitation to Our 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
Please come to our 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to learn about Advanced Energy, what we have accomplished in the last year and our plans for 2018. The meeting will be held:
Thursday, May 3, 2018
9:00 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time
Advanced Energy’s Corporate Offices
1625 Sharp Point Drive
Fort Collins, Colorado 80525
This proxy statement describes the matters that management of Advanced Energy intends to present to the stockholders for approval at the annual meeting. Accompanying this proxy statement are Advanced Energy’s 2017 Annual Report to Stockholders and a form of proxy. All voting on matters presented at the annual meeting will be by proxy or by ballot in person, in accordance with the procedures described in this proxy statement. Instructions for voting are included in the proxy statement. Your proxy may be revoked at any time prior to the meeting in the manner described in this proxy statement.

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2020 ANNUAL

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Yuval Wasserman
President & Chief Executive Officer

PROXY STATEMENT

Proxy Summary

This proxy statement and the accompanying proxy card and materials are first being sent to stockholders of Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. or made available electronically on or about March 15, 2018.




GENERAL
11, 2020.

This summary highlights key information presented elsewhere in this year’s proxy statement.  This section does not contain all the information that you should consider, and you should read the entire proxy statement and the accompanying materials are being sent to stockholders of Advanced Energy as part of a solicitation for proxies for use at the 2018 Annualbefore voting.

Our Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) on May 3, 2018. The Board of Directors of Advanced Energy (the “Board of Directors” or the “Board”) is making this solicitation for proxies. By delivering the enclosed proxy card by any of the methods described on the card, you will appoint each of Yuval Wasserman and Thomas O. McGimpsey as your agent and proxy to vote your shares of common stock at the meeting. In this proxy statement, “proxy holders” refers to Messrs. Wasserman and McGimpsey in their capacities as your agents and proxies.

Agenda

Advanced Energy’s principal executive offices are located at 1625 Sharp Point Drive, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525. The telephone number is (970) 221-4670.
Proposals
We intend to present three (3) proposals to the stockholders at the meeting:

1.

PROPOSAL

MORE INFORMATION

BOARD
RECOMMENDATION

EFFECT OF BROKER NON-VOTES AND ABSTENTIONS

VOTES REQUIRED
FOR APPROVAL

1

Election of seven (7) directors;

eight (8) directors

Page 4

FOR
ALL NOMINEES

No Effect

Plurality of votes present (by proxy or in person) - subject to the resignation policy described on Pages 12-13

2.

2

Ratification of the appointment of Grant ThorntonErnst & Young LLP as Advanced Energy’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2018; and

2020

Page 22

FOR

No Effect

Majority of votes cast at the Annual Meeting
(by proxy or in person)

3.

3

Advisory approval of Advanced Energy’sproposal on the compensation of itsour named executive officers.officers

Page 25

FOR

No Effect

Majority of votes cast
at the Annual Meeting (by proxy or in person)

We do not know of any other matters to be submitted to the stockholders at the meeting.Annual Meeting. If any other matters properly come before the meeting,Annual Meeting, the proxy holders intend to vote the shares they represent on such matters as the Board of Directors may recommend.  The proposed corporate actions on which the stockholders are being asked to vote at the Annual Meeting are not corporate actions for which stockholders of a Delaware corporation have the right to exercise appraisal rights under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

Our Governance Best Practices

WHAT WE DO

WE DO NOT DO

To ensure effective management oversight, our Board Governance Guidelines specify that the Chairman of the Board and CEO positions be held by separate persons.

A substantial portion of compensation is performance-based.

We maintain a highly independent board of directors.

We maintain robust stock ownership requirements for executives.

xThere are no interlocking relationships among our directors.

xThere are no excise tax gross-up arrangements with any of our executive officers

xWe do not guarantee incentive awards

xOur policies prohibit hedging of company stock

xWe do not provide significant perquisites or separate pension programs to our executive officers

Record Date and Share Ownership

PRECISION  |  POWER  |  PERFORMANCE

1

If you owned shares of Advanced Energy common stock in your name as of the close of business on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, you are entitled to vote on the proposals that are presented at the meeting. On that date, which is referred to as the “record date” for the meeting, 39,696,105 shares of Advanced Energy common stock were issued and outstanding and were held by approximately 322 stockholders of record, according to the records of American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, Advanced Energy’s transfer agent.

Voting Procedures
Each share of Advanced Energy common stock that you hold entitles you to one vote on each of the proposals that are presented at the Annual Meeting. Each stockholder entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting may cast his, her or its vote in person or by proxy. To vote in person, a stockholder should attend the Annual Meeting with a completed proxy or, alternatively, the Company will give you a ballot to complete upon arrival at the Annual Meeting. To vote by mail using a proxy card, a stockholder should mark, sign, date and mail the enclosed proxy card as promptly as possible in the enclosed postage-prepaid envelope. To vote by telephone, dial (866) 390-9955 using a touch-tone phone and follow the recorded instructions. To vote via the Internet, a stockholder must go to www.proxypush.com/aeis and complete an electronic proxy card.
The inspector of the election will determine whether or not a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting. A quorum will be present at the meeting if a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote at the meeting are represented at the meeting, either by proxy or by the person who owns the shares. In the event there are not sufficient shares present for a quorum or to approve any proposals at the time of the Annual Meeting, the Annual Meeting may be adjourned in order to permit further solicitation of proxies. Advanced Energy’s transfer agent will deliver a report to the inspector of election in advance of the Annual Meeting, tabulating the votes cast by proxies returned to the transfer agent. The inspector of election will tabulate the final vote count, including the votes cast in person and by proxy at the meeting.
If a broker holds your shares, this proxy statement and a proxy card have been sent to the broker. You may have received this proxy statement directly from your broker, together with instructions as to how to direct the broker concerning how to vote your shares. Under the rules for Nasdaq-listed companies, brokers cannot vote on certain matters without instructions from you. If you do not give your broker instructions or discretionary authority to vote your shares on such matters and your broker returns the proxy card without voting on a proposal, your shares will be recorded as “broker non-votes” with respect to the proposals on which the broker does not vote.
Broker non-votes and abstentions will be counted as present for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present. If a quorum is present, directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes present and each of the other matters described in this proxy statement will be approved by a majority of the votes cast on the proposal. Broker non-votes and abstentions will have


4


no effect on the outcome of any of the matters described in this proxy statement. Cumulative voting shall not be allowed in the election of directors or any of the proposals being submitted to the stockholders at the Annual Meeting.
The following table reflects the vote required for each proposal and the effect of broker non-votes and abstentions on the vote, assuming a quorum is present at the meeting:

2020 ANNUAL

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PROXY STATEMENT

Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability

Our goal as a company is to lead the world in the application of precision power conversion to improve lives and to create value for our global stakeholders. In every aspect of our business operation we strive to be a positive force for our employees and in our communities, while conserving resources to minimize any negative impact on the environment and the planet. We incorporate these principles into everything we do.

Proposal

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Vote RequiredEffect of Broker Non-Votes and Abstentions
Election of seven (7) directorsPlurality of votes present (by proxy or in person) - subject to the resignation policy described below (*)No effect
Ratification of the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as Advanced Energy’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2018Majority of the votes cast at the meeting (by proxy or in person) and voting “For” or “Against” the proposalNo effect
Advisory approval of Advanced Energy’s compensation of its named executive officersThis is an advisory vote which is not bindingNo effect
* Please see the discussion on page 10 under the sub-heading “Required Vote.”

Environment

If any other proposals are properly presented to the stockholders at the meeting, the number of votes required for approval will depend on the nature of the proposal. Generally, under Delaware law and the By-laws of Advanced Energy, the number of votes required to approve a proposal is a majority of the shares of common stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote, excluding broker non-votes and abstentions. The proxy card provided herewith gives discretionary authority to the proxy holders to vote on any matter not included in this proxy statement that is properly presented to the stockholders at the Annual Meeting.

·

Energy-efficient products. Our products take in electrical power from the grid and convert it to an optimal usable form. Efficiency of energy conversion is a key performance factor for our customers. We are committed to producing products with industry-leading energy conversion efficiency in order to minimize overall energy usage by our customers.

Costs of Solicitation

·

Energy-efficient operations. We operate multiple manufacturing facilities around the world.  We strive to lower our energy usage in these factories wherever possible and seek to utilize renewable energy sources. For example, in our new Malaysia factory nearly all of the required electrical power is generated from renewable sources.  Additionally, our Philippines factory employs novel alternatives to reduce the need for thermal testing and our Philippines factory received the Best Environmental Performance Award in 2019.

Advanced Energy will bear the costs of soliciting proxies in connection with the Annual Meeting. In addition to soliciting your proxy by this mailing, proxies may be solicited personally or by telephone or facsimile by some of Advanced Energy’s directors, officers and employees, without additional compensation. We may reimburse our transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, our proxy agent, Mediant Communications, brokerage firms and other persons representing beneficial owners of Advanced Energy common stock for their expenses in sending proxies to the beneficial owners. We do not currently intend to retain a professional solicitor to assist in the solicitation of proxies, however, we may later elect to do so.

·

Recycling. We are committed to recycling the waste generated from our business activities as much as possible. Our facility in Vancouver, Washington was recently recognized and certified as a Clark County Green Business for its efforts to conserve resources and improve recycling practices, and our Fort Collins, Colorado site received the Platinum certification from ClimateWise for achieving environmental goals in areas such as energy use, water, waste, transportation, and social responsibility.

Delivery and Revocability of Proxies

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Social & Community

In addition to the ability of our record stockholders to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you may vote your shares either by (i) marking the enclosed proxy card and mailing it in the enclosed postage prepaid envelope, (ii) voting online at www.proxypush.com/aeis, or (iii) voting by telephone at (866) 390-9955. If you mail your proxy, please allow sufficient time for it to be received in advance of the Annual Meeting.

·

Charitable contributions. Our charitable contributions committee, founded in 2010, and supported and led by our employees, provides financial support for 501(c)(3) corporations, nonprofit institutions and organizations that improve education, the environment and health and social services across the communities in which we operate.

If you deliver your proxy and change your mind before the Annual Meeting, you may revoke your proxy by delivering notice to our Corporate Secretary at Advanced Energy Industries, Inc., 1625 Sharp Point Drive, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525, stating that you wish to revoke your proxy or by delivering another proxy with a later date. You may vote your shares by attending the Annual Meeting in person but, if you have delivered a proxy before the meeting, you must revoke it before the meeting begins. Attending the Annual Meeting will not automatically revoke your previously-delivered proxy.

·

Volunteerism. We offer each employee eight hours of paid time off to volunteer with a self-selected 501(c)(3) organization.

Delivery of Documents to Stockholders Sharing an Address

·

Community Involvement. We work closely with community organizations, including supporting STEM education in local schools, working with universities around the world to facilitate their innovative research projects, participating in local chambers of commerce and partnering with local nonprofit organizations.

If two or more stockholders share an address, Advanced Energy may send a single copy of this proxy statement and other soliciting materials, as well as the 2017 Annual Report to Stockholders, to the shared address, unless Advanced Energy has received contrary instructions from one or more of the stockholders sharing the address. If a single copy has been sent to multiple stockholders at a shared address, Advanced Energy will deliver a separate proxy card for each stockholder entitled to vote. Additionally, Advanced Energy will send an additional copy of this proxy statement, other soliciting materials and the 2017 Annual Report to Stockholders, promptly upon oral or written request by any stockholder to Investor Relations, Advanced Energy Industries, Inc., 1625 Sharp Point Drive, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525; telephone number (970) 221-4670. If any stockholders sharing an address receive multiple copies of this proxy statement, other soliciting materials and the 2017 Annual Report to Stockholders and would prefer in the future to receive only one copy, such stockholders may make such request to Investor Relations at the same address or telephone number.

2   

PRECISION  |  POWER  |  PERFORMANCE


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2020 ANNUAL

PROXY STATEMENT


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Ethical Business Practices


·

Human Rights. Respecting the human rights of our employees and all those involved in our business operations is a core principle for Advanced Energy. Our Code of Conduct, which also applies to our suppliers, specifically prohibits activities involving slave or forced labor, human trafficking, and child labor.

·

Supply Chain. We are committed to sustainable and responsible sourcing of the materials that make up our products. We audit our suppliers to confirm (where possible) that minerals originating within DRC +9 are conflict-free.

·

Employee Training and Helplines.  We actively and regularly train all our employees on ethical business practices and provide a 24-hour hotline to address ethics issues should they arise.

PRECISION  |  POWER  |  PERFORMANCE

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2020 ANNUAL

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PROXY STATEMENT

PROPOSAL NO. 1

- ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

What am I voting on and how should I vote?

You are being asked to elect eight (8) directors at the Annual Meeting. Each of the directors elected at the Annual Meeting will commence their term at the end of the Annual Meeting until the next annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders, or until a successor has been elected and qualified, or until such director’s earlier resignation or removal.

We believe that each of the nominees are sufficiently qualified to lead the Company in the best interest of stockholders.

The Board of Directors therefore recommends you vote“FOR”each of the nominees set forth below.

A board of seven (7)eight (8) directors is to be elected at the Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors has nominated for reelection the persons listed below. Each nominee was recommended for reelection by our Nominating and Governance Committee. Each of the nominees is currently a director of Advanced Energy. In the event that any nominee is unable to or declines to serve as a director at the time of the Annual Meeting, the proxy holders will vote in favor of a nominee designated by the Board of Directors, on recommendation by the Nominating and Governance Committee, to fill the vacancy. We are not aware of any nominee who will be unable or who will decline to serve as a director. The term of office of each person elected as a director at the Annual Meeting will continue from the end of the meetingAnnual Meeting until the next Annual Meetingannual meeting of Stockholders (expected to be held in 2019),the Company’s stockholders, or until a successor has been elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier resignation or removal.

NOMINEES

4   

PRECISION  |  POWER  |  PERFORMANCE

Name Age Director Since Principal Occupation and Business Experience
Grant H. Beard (Chairman) 57
 2014
 Grant H. Beard currently serves as a senior executive Operating Partner for Blue Point Capital, a private equity firm, and as an Executive in Residence at Summit Partners, a global alternative investment firm. Mr. Beard served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Wynnchurch Industries, LLC, a diversified holding company investing in engineered product businesses, from January 2016 to June 2017. Mr. Beard also served as a Senior Advisor to Wynnchurch Capital Ltd. Prior to joining Wynnchurch, Mr. Beard served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Wolverine Advanced Materials LLC, a Wynnchurch company, from July 2012 until October 2015. Mr. Beard served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Constar International, Inc. from 2010 to 2012, where he led the financial and operational restructuring of Constar’s global packaging business that was later sold to Plastipak Corporation. Prior to that, Mr. Beard served as President & CEO of TriMas Corporation, Chairman & CEO of Health Media, and Global Group President of Fluid Management Products at Dana/Echlin Corporation. In addition, Mr. Beard served as a senior executive Operating Partner with Blue Point Capital from 2009 to 2014. Mr. Beard also has experience at two private equity/merchant banking groups, Anderson Group and Oxford Investment Group, where he was actively involved in corporate development, strategy and operations management.
Frederick A. Ball 55
 2008
 Frederick A. Ball has been a director of Electro Scientific Industries, Inc., a leading supplier of innovative laser-based microfabrication solutions for industries reliant on micro technologies, since 2003, and is currently the chair of its compensation committee and a member of its audit committee. In December 2016, Mr. Ball joined the board of Engagio Inc., a leading provider of account based marketing and sales solutions. In April 2017, Mr. Ball joined the board of Sendgrid, Inc., a leading provider of a cloud-based customer communication platform, and is currently the chair of its audit committee and a member of its nominating and governance committee. Mr. Ball previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Marketo Inc., a leading provider of a cloud-based marketing platform, from February 2016 through August 2016. Prior to that, Mr. Ball was Marketo’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from May 2011 to February 2016. Prior to joining Marketo, Mr. Ball was the Chief Financial Officer for a number of private and public technology companies including Webroot Software, BigBand Networks, Inc., and Borland Software Corporation. Mr. Ball also served as Vice President, Mergers and Acquisitions for KLA-Tencor Corporation, a manufacturer of semiconductor equipment, and prior to that as its Vice President of Finance. Mr. Ball was with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC for over 10 years.
Ronald C. Foster 67
 2014
 Ronald C. Foster is currently on the board of Everspin Technologies Inc., a publicly traded provider of MRAM solutions and Mr. Foster serves as chairman of the audit committee. Mr. Foster previously served as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance of Micron Technology, Inc. (“Micron”), a global corporation that produces forms of semiconductor devices, from April 2008 to March 2015. Mr. Foster was appointed to that position in 2008 after serving as a member of Micron’s Board of Directors from June 2004 to April 2005. Before joining Micron, Mr. Foster was the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of FormFactor, Inc., a semiconductor wafer test equipment company. Prior to joining FormFactor, Inc., Mr. Foster served as the Chief Financial Officer for JDS Uniphase, Inc. and Novell, Inc., and also served in various financial and operational roles at Applied Materials, Inc., Egghead Software, and Hewlett Packard Company. He previously served as a board member of Inotera Memories Inc., LUXIM Corporation, and Aptina Company.

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2020 ANNUAL

PROXY STATEMENT


Nominees

The nominees presented below represent a broad group of experienced business leaders. The below table provides a summary of our nominees’ background and responsibilities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Committee Memberships

Name and Principal Occupation

Age

Director
Since

   

Audit &
Finance

Nominating &
Governance

Compensation

Pricing

GRANT H. BEARD (Chairman)

Currently serves as Sr. Executive Operating Partner for Blue Point Capital

59

2014

 

 

C

M

M

FREDERICK A. BALL

Former EVP & Chief Administrative Officer of Marketo Inc.

57

2008

 

C

M

 

M

TINA M. DONIKOWSKI

Former Vice President, Global Locomotive Business at General Electric Company 

60

2018

 

M

M

 

 

RONALD C. FOSTER

Former Chief Financial Officer of Micron Technology, Inc.

69

2014

 

M

M

 

M

EDWARD C. GRADY

Former Chief Executive Officer of Electro Scientific Industries, Inc. 

72

2008

 

 

M

C

 

THOMAS M. ROHRS

Currently serves as Executive Chairman and director of Ichor Systems, Inc.

69

2006

 

M

M

 

 

JOHN A. ROUSH

Currently serves as operating executive advisor to ACON Investments, LLC, a private equity firm.

55

2016

 

 

M

M

 

YUVAL WASSERMAN

Currently serves as President, CEO, and director of Advanced Energy

65

2014

 

 

 

 

 


PRECISION  |  POWER  |  PERFORMANCE

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Name Age Director Since Principal Occupation and Business Experience
Edward C. Grady 70
 2008
 Edward C. Grady is currently on the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville SIUE Foundation board. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Electro Scientific Industries, Inc., a leading supplier of innovative laser-based microfabrication solutions for industries reliant on micro technologies, from February 2014 to September 2016. Mr. Grady served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Reel Solar Inc., an early stage start-up company focused on low cost PV Solar panel production technology and process, from 2010 until February 2014. Mr. Grady retired in October 2007 from his position as President and Chief Executive Officer of Brooks Automation, Inc. (“Brooks Automation”), a publicly traded provider of automation solutions to the global semiconductor and other complex manufacturing industries, including clean tech and data storage. Prior to joining Brooks Automation in February 2003, he ran multiple divisions at KLA-Tencor Corporation, a publicly traded process control company, and served as Chief Executive Officer of Hoya Micro Mask Inc., a supplier of photo masks and services to the semiconductor industry. Mr. Grady began his career as an engineer for Monsanto Electronic Materials Company (“MEMC”) and, during his 14 years with the company, rose to the position of Vice President of Worldwide Sales for the EPI division of MEMC. Mr. Grady also served on several boards of other technology companies, providing cross board experience.
Thomas M. Rohrs 67
 2006
 Thomas M. Rohrs has served as Executive Chairman and director of Ichor Systems, Inc., a leading manufacturer of gas and chemical delivery systems for semiconductor process equipment, since February 2012 and became its Chief Executive Officer in September 2014. Previously, Mr. Rohrs was the Chief Executive Officer of Skyline Solar, Inc., a solar equipment manufacturer, from June 2010 to September 2012. Mr. Rohrs had been an advisor and consultant to a number of companies, both public and private, including renewable energy companies from February 2009 to June 2010. From April 2006 to February 2009, Mr. Rohrs served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the board of Electroglas, Inc., a then public supplier of wafer probers and software solutions for the semiconductor industry. In July 2009, Electroglas filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, citing the dramatic decline in semiconductor manufacturing equipment resulting from the global economic recession. In August 2009, Mr. Rohrs began serving as Interim Chief Executive Officer of Electroglas, which subsequently sold substantially all of its assets. From December 2004 to March 2010, Mr. Rohrs served as a director of Electroglas. From 1997 to 2002, Mr. Rohrs was employed by Applied Materials, Inc. (“Applied”), a semiconductor equipment company, most recently as Senior Vice President of Global Operations, and served as a member of Applied’s executive committee. Mr. Rohrs serves on the board of directors of Intevac, Inc., a publicly traded leading supplier of magnetic media processing systems. Mr. Rohrs served on the board of directors of Vignani Technologies Pvt. Ltd., an engineering services company, from 2005 to February 2014, and Magma Design Automation, Inc., a publicly traded electronic design automation software and design services company, from July 2003 to March 2012. Mr. Rohrs served on the board of Seque Manufacturing Services, a private manufacturing services company, from 2008 to 2015. Mr. Rohrs served on the board of directors of Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc. from 2003 to 2008 and was a member of its compensation and nominating committees. Mr. Rohrs served as a director of Ion Systems, Inc., a then private electrostatic control company, from 2003 until January 2006 when Ion Systems was sold.
John A. Roush 53
 2016
 Mr. Roush currently serves as an operating executive advisor to private equity firms. Mr. Roush also serves as a director of Lemaitre Vascular, Inc., a publicly traded global provider of medical devices and implants for the treatment of peripheral vascular disease, and he is a member of its Audit Committee. Mr. Roush also serves as a director of Applied Life Sciences & Systems, a privately held company that is developing automated vaccine delivery technology for the poultry industry. Mr. Roush previously served as Chief Executive Officer and a director of Novanta Inc., (formerly, GSI Group Inc.), a leading global supplier of precision photonic components and subsystems to original equipment manufacturers in the medical and advanced industrial markets, from December 2010 to September 2016. Mr. Roush joined Novanta after a twelve year career with PerkinElmer, Inc., a provider of technology and services to the diagnostics, research, environmental, safety and security, industrial and laboratory services markets, where he was a corporate officer and served in several leadership positions, most recently leading the company’s $1.2 billion Environmental Health segment. Prior to joining PerkinElmer, Mr. Roush held management positions with Outboard Marine Corporation, AlliedSignal, Inc., (now Honeywell International), McKinsey & Company Inc. and General Electric Company.

2020 ANNUAL

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PROXY STATEMENT



Grant H. Beard (Chairman)

Director Since: 2014

Committees: Nominating and Governance, Compensation, Pricing

Age: 59

Independent Director

Business Experience:

Grant H. Beard currently serves as a senior executive Operating Partner for Blue Point Capital, a private equity firm, and as a senior advisor to Center Rock Capital, a global alternative investment firm. Mr. Beard served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Wynnchurch Industries, LLC, a diversified holding company investing in engineered product businesses, from January 2016 to June 2017. Mr. Beard also served as a Senior Advisor to Wynnchurch Capital Ltd. Prior to joining Wynnchurch, Mr. Beard served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Wolverine Advanced Materials LLC, a Wynnchurch company, from July 2012 until October 2015. Mr. Beard served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Constar International, Inc. from 2010 to 2012, where he led the financial and operational restructuring of Constar’s global packaging business that was later sold to Plastipak Corporation. Prior to that, Mr. Beard served as President & CEO of TriMas Corporation, Chairman & CEO of Health Media, and Global Group President of Fluid Management Products at Dana/Echlin Corporation. In addition, Mr. Beard served as a senior executive Operating Partner with Blue Point Capital from 2009 to 2014. Mr. Beard also has experience at two private equity/merchant banking groups, Anderson Group and Oxford Investment Group, where he was actively involved in corporate development, strategy and operations management.

Key Skills and Qualifications:

   Senior Leadership Experience

Financial Expertise

Public Board Experience

Global Expertise

Industry Experience

Frederick A. Ball

Director Since: 2008

Committees: Audit and Finance, Nominating and Governance, Pricing

Age: 57

Independent Director

Business Experience:

Frederick A. Ball previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Marketo Inc., a leading provider of a cloud-based marketing platform, from February 2016 through August 2016. Prior to that, Mr. Ball was Marketo’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from May 2011 to February 2016. Prior to joining Marketo, Mr. Ball was the Chief Financial Officer for a number of private and public technology companies including Webroot Software, BigBand Networks, Inc., and Borland Software Corporation. Mr. Ball also served as Vice President, Mergers and Acquisitions for KLA-Tencor Corporation, a manufacturer of semiconductor equipment, and prior to that as its Vice President of Finance. Mr. Ball was with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC for over 10 years. In December 2016, Mr. Ball joined the board of Engagio Inc., a leading provider of account-based marketing and sales solutions. Mr. Ball served as a director of Electro Scientific Industries, Inc., a leading supplier of innovative laser-based microfabrication solutions for industries reliant on micro technologies, from 2003 to January 2019, and served as chair of its compensation committee and a member of its audit committee. Mr. Ball served on the board of Sendgrid, Inc., a leading provider of a cloud-based customer communication platform, and from April 2017 until January 2019, having served as chair of its audit committee and a member of its nominating and governance committee.

Key Skills and Qualifications:

   Senior Leadership Experience

Financial Expertise 

Global Expertise 

Public Board Experience

Industry Experience

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PRECISION  |  POWER  |  PERFORMANCE



Name Age Director Since Principal Occupation and Business Experience
Yuval Wasserman 63
 2014
 Mr. Wasserman has served as President & Chief Executive Officer, and as a director since October 2014. Mr. Wasserman joined us in August 2007 as Senior Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Service. In October 2007, Mr. Wasserman was promoted to Executive Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Service. In April 2009, he was promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, and then in August 2011, he was promoted to President of the Thin Films Business Unit. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Wasserman served as the President, and later as Chief Executive Officer, of Tevet Process Control Technologies, Inc., a semiconductor metrology company, until July 2007. Prior to that, he held senior executive and general management positions at Boxer Cross (a metrology company acquired by Applied Materials, Inc.), Fusion Systems (a plasma strip company that is a division of Axcelis Technologies, Inc.), and AG Associates (a semiconductor capital equipment company focused on rapid thermal processing). Mr. Wasserman started his career at National Semiconductor, Inc., where he held various process engineering and management positions. Mr. Wasserman was on the Board of Directors of Syncroness, Inc., an outsourced engineering and product development company, from 2010 to 2017 when it was sold, and joined the Board of Directors of FARO Technologies, Inc., a publicly traded, manufacturer of three-dimensional (3D) measurement, imaging and realization systems,in December 2017. Mr. Wasserman is a National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Governance Fellow. Mr. Wasserman has a BSc degree in chemical engineering from BenGurion University in Israel.

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2020 ANNUAL

PROXY STATEMENT

Tina M. Donikowski

Director Since: 2018

Committees: Audit and Finance, Nominating and Governance

Age: 60

Independent Director

Business Experience:

Tina M. Donikowski retired from General Electric Company, a diversified industrial company, in October 2015 after 38 years with the company. Ms. Donikowski served in a number of senior positions during her career at General Electric Company, including most recently as Vice President, Global Locomotive Business, GE Transportation, from January 2013 until her retirement. Ms. Donikowski currently serves on the Board of Directors of Atlas Copco AB (STOCKHOLM: ATCO), a world-leading provider of sustainable productivity solutions based in Stockholm, Sweden, CIRCO International (NYSE: CIR), a leading provider of flow control solutions and other highly engineered products and subsystems used in energy, aerospace and industrial markets based in Burlington, Massachusetts, TopBuild (NYSE: BLD) a leading installer and distributor of insulation and building material products to the U.S. construction industry based in Daytona Beach, Florida, and Eriez Magnetics, a privately held manufacturer and designer of magnetic, vibratory, and metal detection applications based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Ms. Donikowski also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees, Gannon University, and the Board of Trustees, Boys & Girls Club of Erie, Pennsylvania. Ms. Donikowski holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering, as well as an Honorary Doctorate, from Gannon University.

Key Skills and Qualifications:

   Senior Leadership Experience

Public Board Experience

Global Expertise

Technical Expertise

Financial Expertise

Ronald C. Foster

Director Since: 2014

Committees: Audit and Finance, Nominating and Governance, Pricing

Age: 69

Independent Director

Business Experience:

Ronald C. Foster is currently on the board of Everspin Technologies Inc., a publicly traded provider of MRAM solutions and Mr. Foster serves as chairman of the audit committee. Mr. Foster previously served as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance of Micron Technology, Inc. (“Micron”), a global corporation that produces forms of semiconductor devices, from April 2008 to March 2015. Mr. Foster was appointed to that position in 2008 after serving as a member of Micron’s Board of Directors from June 2004 to April 2005. Before joining Micron, Mr. Foster was the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of FormFactor, Inc., a semiconductor wafer test equipment company. Prior to joining FormFactor, Inc., Mr. Foster served as the Chief Financial Officer for JDS Uniphase, Inc. and Novell, Inc., and also served in various financial and operational roles at Applied Materials, Inc., Egghead Software, and Hewlett Packard Company. He previously served as a board member of Inotera Memories Inc., and multiple other private company boards.

Key Skills and Qualifications:

   Senior Leadership Experience

Financial Expertise

Industry Experience 

Public Board Experience

Global Expertise

PRECISION  |  POWER  |  PERFORMANCE

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2020 ANNUAL

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PROXY STATEMENT

Edward C. Grady

Director Since: 2008

Committee Membership

Committees: Nominating and Governance, Compensation

Age: 72

Independent Director

Business Experience:

Edward C. Grady is currently on the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville SIUE Foundation board. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Electro Scientific Industries, Inc., a leading supplier of innovative laser-based microfabrication solutions for industries reliant on micro technologies, from February 2014 to September 2016. Mr. Grady served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Reel Solar Inc., an early stage start-up company focused on low cost PV Solar panel production technology and process, from 2010 until February 2014. Mr. Grady retired in October 2007 from his position as President and Chief Executive Officer of Brooks Automation, Inc. (“Brooks Automation”). Prior to joining Brooks Automation in February 2003, he ran multiple divisions at KLA-Tencor Corporation, a publicly traded process control company, and served as Chief Executive Officer of Hoya Micro Mask Inc., a supplier of photo masks and services to the semiconductor industry. Mr. Grady has also served on several boards of other technology companies, providing cross board experience.

Key Skills and Qualifications:

   Senior Leadership Experience

Public Board Experience

Industry and Technical Expertise

Global Expertise

Financial Expertise

Thomas M. Rohrs

Director Since: 2006

Committees: Audit and Finance,

Nominating and GovernanceCompensationPricing

Frederick A. Ballxxx

Age: 69

Grant H. Beard

Independent Director

xxx

Ronald C. Foster

Business Experience:

xxx

Edward C. Gradyxx

Thomas M. Rohrs

xx has served as Executive Chairman and director of Ichor Systems, Inc., a leading manufacturer of gas and chemical delivery systems for semiconductor process equipment, since February 2012 and was its Chief Executive Officer from September 2014 to January 2020. Previously, Mr. Rohrs was the Chief Executive Officer of Skyline Solar, Inc., a solar equipment manufacturer, from June 2010 to September 2012. Mr. Rohrs had been an advisor and consultant to a number of companies, both public and private, including renewable energy companies from February 2009 to June 2010. From December 2004 to March 2010, Mr. Rohrs served as a director of Electroglas. From 1997 to 2002, Mr. Rohrs was employed by Applied Materials, Inc. (“Applied”), a semiconductor equipment company, most recently as Senior Vice President of Global Operations, and served as a member of Applied’s executive committee. Mr. Rohrs serves on the board of directors of Intevac, Inc., a publicly traded leading supplier of magnetic media processing systems. Mr. Rohrs served on the board of Seque Manufacturing Services, a private manufacturing services company, from 2008 to 2015. Mr. Rohrs has served on several boards of other technology companies, both public and private.

Key Skills and Qualifications:

   Senior Leadership Experience

Public Board Experience

Industry and Technical Expertise

Global Operations Expertise

Financial Expertise

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PRECISION  |  POWER  |  PERFORMANCE

Picture 1

2020 ANNUAL

PROXY STATEMENT

John A. Roush

xx

Yuval Wasserman

Director Since: 2016

Committees: Nominating and Governance, Compensation

Age: 55

Independent Director

Business Experience:

John A. Roush currently serves as an operating executive advisor to ACON Investments, LLC, a private equity firm. Mr. Roush serves as Chairman of the Board of International Imaging Materials, Inc., which is a privately held portfolio company of ACON Investments, which produces consumable products for the industrial marking and medical device industries.  Mr. Roush also serves on the board of Pine Environmental LLC, an ACON portfolio company that provides test & measurement equipment to the environmental market.  In addition, Mr. Roush serves as a director of Lemaitre Vascular, Inc., a publicly traded global provider of medical devices and implants for the treatment of peripheral vascular disease, and he is a member of its Audit Committee. Mr. Roush also serves as a director of Applied Life Sciences & Systems, a privately held company that is developing automated vaccine delivery technology for the poultry industry. Mr. Roush previously served as Chief Executive Officer and a director of Novanta Inc., (formerly, GSI Group Inc.), a leading global supplier of precision photonic components and subsystems to original equipment manufacturers in the medical and advanced industrial markets, from December 2010 to September 2016. Mr. Roush joined Novanta after a twelve-year career with PerkinElmer, Inc., a provider of technology and services to the diagnostics, research, environmental, safety and security, industrial and laboratory services markets, where he was a corporate officer and served in several leadership positions, most recently leading the company’s $1.2 billion Environmental Health segment. Prior to joining PerkinElmer, Mr. Roush held management positions with Outboard Marine Corporation, AlliedSignal, Inc., (now Honeywell International), McKinsey & Company Inc. and General Electric Company.

Key Skills and Qualifications:

   Senior Leadership Experience

Public Board Experience

Technical Expertise

Global Expertise

Financial Expertise

Yuval Wasserman

Director Since: 2014

Age: 65

Business Experience:

Yuval Wasserman has served as President & Chief Executive Officer, and as a director of Advanced Energy since October 2014. Mr. Wasserman joined us in August 2007 as Senior Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Service. In October 2007, Mr. Wasserman was promoted to Executive Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Service. In April 2009, he was promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, and then in August 2011, he was promoted to President of the Thin Films Business Unit. Mr. Wasserman was on the Board of Directors of Syncroness, Inc., an outsourced engineering and product development company, from 2010 to 2017 when it was sold, and joined the Board of Directors of FARO Technologies, Inc., a publicly traded manufacturer of three-dimensional (3D) measurement, imaging and realization systems, in December 2017. Mr. Wasserman is a National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Governance Fellow. Mr. Wasserman has a BSc degree in chemical engineering from Ben Gurion University in Israel.

Key Skills and Qualifications:

   Senior Leadership Experience

Public Board Experience

Industry and Technical Expertise

Global Operations Expertise

Financial Expertise

PRECISION  |  POWER  |  PERFORMANCE

9

2020 ANNUAL

Picture 10

PROXY STATEMENT

Qualifications

The Board respects its responsibility to provide oversight, counseling and direction to the management of the Company in the interest and for the benefit of the stockholders. Accordingly, it seeks to be composed of directors with diverse skills, experience, qualifications and characteristics. It is critical that directors understand the markets in which the Company operates, particularly in the semiconductor capital equipment and industrial power markets. It is equally important that, collectively, the directors have successful experience in each of the primary aspects of our business, including engineering, research and development, finance and audit, product strategy and development, customer relations, supply chain management and sales and marketing. The following are certain qualifications, experience and skills for Board members which are important to the Company’s business and its future:

Picture 24

Directors who have served in senior leadership positions are important to the Company, as they bring experience and perspective in analyzing, shaping, and overseeing the execution of important operational and policy issues at a senior level. These directors’ insights and guidance and their ability to assess and respond to situations encountered in serving on our Board may be enhanced if their leadership experience has been developed at businesses or organizations that operated on a global scale, faced significant competition and/or involved technology or other rapidly evolving business models.

Senior Leadership Experience

Picture 23

Directors who have served on other public company boards can offer advice and insights with regard to the dynamics and operation of a board of directors; the relations of a board to the Chief Executive Officer and other management personnel; the importance of particular agenda and oversight matters; and oversight of a changing mix of strategic, operational, and compliance-related matters.

Public Company Board Experience

Picture 15

Because the Company is a global leader in innovative power solutions for semiconductor and industrial markets, experience in relevant technology is useful in understanding the Company’s research and development efforts, competing technologies, the various products and processes the Company develops, the manufacturing and assembly-and-test operations and the market segments in which the Company competes.

Industry & Technical Expertise

Picture 3

Because the Company is a global organization with research and development, manufacturing, assembly and test facilities, and sales and other offices in many countries, directors with global expertise can provide a useful business and cultural perspective regarding many significant aspects of our business.

Global Expertise

Picture 2

Knowledge of financial markets, financing and funding operations, and accounting and financial reporting processes is important because it assists the directors in understanding, advising and overseeing the Company’s capital structure, financing and investing activities, financial reporting and internal control of such activities.

Financial Expertise

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PRECISION  |  POWER  |  PERFORMANCE

Picture 1

2020 ANNUAL

PROXY STATEMENT

Grant H. Beard brings to the Board significant management level experience together with experience in the private equity/merchant banking industry. He currently serves as a senior executive Operating Partner for Blue Point Capital and as an Executive in Residence at Summit Partners. Mr. Beard served as Chairman and CEO of Wynnchurch Industries, LLC and has served in various executive level positions including Chairman, President and CEO of Wolverine Advanced Materials LLC and President and CEO of Constar International Inc. and Trimas Corporation. Mr. Beard’s experience also includes serving as Operating Partner at private equity/merchant banking groups Anderson Group and Blue Point Capital.

Frederick A. Ball brings to the Board his extensive experience in senior management, operations, finance and auditing, having recently served as the Chief Financial Officer of a leading provider of cloud-based marketing software. He has also served as CFO, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of various public and private technology companies. Mr. Ball’s greater than 10 years of experience as an accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers also provides finance and accounting expertise. In addition, he served on two other public company boards as either a chair or member of their audit, compensation, and nominating and governance committees. Mr. Ball’s balance of experience enables him to work very productively with both the Board and senior management, particularly on strategic, finance and audit, and executive compensation matters.

Tina M. Donikowski brings to the Board broad senior management, operations and global experience having served for 38 years in leadership positions at General Electric Company, most recently as Vice President, Global Locomotive Business, GE Transportation. Ms. Donikowski’s experience provides the Board with valuable input on strategic, operational, market and product strategies and initiatives. In addition, Ms. Donikowski’s experience as a board member of Atlas Copco AB, a large industrial multi-national corporation based in Sweden, CIRCO International and TopBuild as well as boards of other companies, provides our Board with valuable insight in terms of a broad range of governance topics and international developments.

Ronald C. Foster brings to the Board significant knowledge and experience in the semiconductor and high-tech industry. Mr. Foster served as the Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance at Micron Technology, Inc., and has significant experience in executive level management positions in the semiconductor and high-tech industries. Mr. Foster also brings significant experience in financial management, accounting and finance issues as he has served in the role of CFO for various companies focused on the semiconductor industry.

Edward C. Grady brings to the Board his knowledge and experience in both the semiconductor capital equipment and solar equipment industries, as he has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of an early stage solar equipment company, and has served as CEO of two companies providing services to the semiconductor industry. He shares with the Board and senior management the insight and understanding he has developed from his leadership at several companies, including in the areas of product strategy and development, service and organizational development. Mr. Grady also served on the boards of several other technology companies, providing cross-board experience.

Thomas M. Rohrs brings to the Board executive management and operations experience in the semiconductor capital equipment industry, particularly in the areas of research and development, supply chain management and product development. The Board and senior management benefit from his strategic thinking and prior involvement in the semiconductor capital equipment and solar equipment industries. Mr. Rohrs also has significant experience serving on several other public company boards, where he has been Chairman, as well as a member of the compensation and nominating committees.

John A. Roush brings to the Board significant management level experience in the medical and industrial markets together with public company experience. Mr. Roush most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of a leading global supplier of precision photonic components and subsystems to original equipment manufacturers in the medical and advanced industrial markets. The Board and senior

PRECISION  |  POWER  |  PERFORMANCE

11

2020 ANNUAL

Picture 10

PROXY STATEMENT

management benefit from his extensive experience in the industrial markets, which are a strategic focus area for the Company, and his knowledge of leading a public company.

Yuval Wasserman brings years of management experience in the semiconductor and electronics industries and has significant knowledge of the Company’s history and operations. Mr. Wasserman has held various executive level positions at the Company and currently serves as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Wasserman also currently serves on the board of FARO Technologies, Inc., a publicly traded manufacturer of three-dimensional (3D) measurement, imaging and realization systems, providing cross-board experience.

The Board believes that the qualities and skills listed above for each of the nominees, qualified each such nominee for service as a director of Advanced Energy.

Independence

The Board of Directors has determined that each of the nominees, other than Yuval Wasserman (i.e., Grant H. Beard, Frederick A. Ball, Grant H. Beard,Tina M. Donikowski, Ronald C. Foster, Edward C. Grady, Thomas M. Rohrs and John A. Roush), is an “independent director” within the meaning of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules. Under these rules, to be considered independent, the Board must affirmatively determine, among other things, that neither the director nor any immediate family member of the director has had any direct or indirect material relationship with the Company within the last three years. The Board of Directors has made an affirmative determination that none of the independent directors has had any relationship with Advanced Energy or with another director that would interfere with the exercise of his or her independent judgmentjudgement in carrying out his or her responsibilities as a director. In making this independence determination, the Board considered the potential effects of six of our directors concurrently serving on the board of directors of a company other than Advanced Energy. The independent directors, if all of them are elected at the Annual Meeting, will constitute a majority of the Board of Directors. There is no family relationship amongst any of the directors and executive officers of the Company. The Company’s executive officers serve at the discretion of the Board.

Qualifications
The Board respects its responsibility to provide oversight, counseling and direction to the management of the Company in the interest and for the benefit of the stockholders. Accordingly, it seeks to be comprised of directors with diverse skills, experience, qualifications and characteristics. It is critical that directors understand the markets in which the Company operates, particularly in the semiconductor capital equipment and industrial power markets. It is equally important that, collectively, the directors have successful experience in each of the primary aspects of our business, including engineering, research and development, finance and audit, product strategy and development, customer relations, supply chain management and sales and marketing. The following are certain qualifications, experience and skills for Board members which are important to the Company’s business and its future:
Senior Leadership Experience. Directors who have served in senior leadership positions are important to the Company, as they bring experience and perspective in analyzing, shaping, and overseeing the execution of important operational and policy issues at a senior level. These directors’ insights and guidance, and their ability to


8


assess and respond to situations encountered in serving on our Board, may be enhanced if their leadership experience has been developed at businesses or organizations that operated on a global scale, faced significant competition, and/or involved technology or other rapidly evolving business models.
Public Company Board Experience. Directors who have served on other public company boards can offer advice and insights with regard to the dynamics and operation of a board of directors; the relations of a board to the Chief Executive Officer and other management personnel; the importance of particular agenda and oversight matters; and oversight of a changing mix of strategic, operational, and compliance-related matters.
Industry and Technical Expertise. Because the Company is a global leader in innovative power solutions for semiconductor and industrial markets, experience in relevant technology is useful in understanding the Company’s research and development efforts, competing technologies, the various products and processes the Company develops, the manufacturing and assembly-and-test operations and the market segments in which the Company competes.
Global Expertise. Because the Company is a global organization with research and development, manufacturing, assembly and test facilities, and sales and other offices in many countries, directors with global expertise can provide a useful business and cultural perspective regarding many significant aspects of our business.
Financial Expertise. Knowledge of financial markets, financing and funding operations, and accounting and financial reporting processes is important because it assists the directors in understanding, advising and overseeing the Company’s capital structure, financing and investing activities, financial reporting and internal control of such activities.
Frederick A. Ball brings to the Board his extensive experience in senior management, operations, finance and auditing, having recently served as the Chief Financial Officer of a leading provider of cloud-based marketing software. He has also served as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of various public and private technology companies. Mr. Ball’s greater than 10 years of experience as an accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers also provides finance and accounting expertise. In addition, he serves on two other public company boards as either a chair or member of their audit, compensation and nominating and governance committees. Mr. Ball’s balance of experience enables him to work very productively with both the Board and senior management, particularly on strategic, finance and audit, and executive compensation matters.
Grant H. Beard brings to the Board significant management level experience together with experience in the private equity/merchant banking industry. He currently serves as a senior executive Operating Partner for Blue Point Capital and as an Executive in Residence at Summit Partners. Mr. Beard served as Chairman and CEO of Wynnchurch Industries, LLC and has served in various executive level positions including serving as Chairman, President and CEO of Wolverine Advanced Materials LLC from July 2012 to October 2015, and he previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Constar International Inc. and Trimas Corporation. Mr. Beard’s experience also includes serving as Operating Partner at private equity/merchant banking groups Anderson Group and Blue Point Capital.
Ronald C. Foster brings to the Board significant knowledge and experience in the semiconductor industry. Mr. Foster served as the Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance at Micron Technology, Inc., and has significant experience in executive level management positions in the semiconductor industry. Mr. Foster also brings significant experience in financial management, accounting and finance issues as he has served in the role of chief financial officer for various companies focused on the semiconductor industry.
Edward C. Grady brings to the Board his knowledge and experience in both the semiconductor capital equipment and solar equipment industries, as he has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of an early stage solar equipment company, and has served as Chief Executive Officer of two companies providing services to the semiconductor industry. He shares with the Board and senior management the insight and understanding he has developed from his leadership at several companies, including in the areas of product strategy and development, service and organizational development. Mr. Grady also served on the boards of several other technology companies, providing cross-board experience.
Thomas M. Rohrs brings to the Board executive management and operations experience in the semiconductor capital equipment industry, particularly in the areas of research and development, supply chain management and product development. The Board and senior management benefit from his strategic thinking and prior involvement in the semiconductor capital equipment and solar equipment industries. Mr. Rohrs also has significant experience serving on several other public company boards, where he has been Chairman of the Board, as well as a member of the compensation and nominating committees.
John A. Roush brings to the Board significant management level experience in the medical and industrial markets together with public company experience. Mr. Roush most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of a leading global supplier of precision photonic components and subsystems to original equipment manufacturers in the medical and advanced


9


industrial markets. The Board and senior management benefit from his extensive experience in the industrial markets, which are a strategic focus area for the Company, and his knowledge of leading a public company.
Yuval Wasserman brings years of executive and management experience in the semiconductor and electronics industries, and has significant knowledge of the Company’s history and operations. Mr. Wasserman has held various executive level positions at the Company and currently serves as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Wasserman also currently serves on the board of FARO Technologies, Inc., a publicly traded, manufacturer of three-dimensional (3D) measurement, imaging and realization systems, providing cross-board experience.

Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings

Except as otherwise noted, during

During the past ten years none of the persons currently serving as executive officers and/or directors of the Company has been the subject matter of any of the following legal proceedings that are required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 401(f) of Regulation S-KS‑K including: (a) except with respect to Mr. Rohrs, as more fully described in Mr. Rohrs’ biography above, any bankruptcy petition filed by or against any business of which such person was a general partner or executive officer either at the time of the bankruptcy or within two years prior to that time; (b) any criminal convictions; (c) any order, judgment, or decree permanently or temporarily enjoining, barring, suspending or otherwise limiting their involvement in any type of business, securities or banking activities; (d) any finding by a court, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or the Commodities Futures Trading Commission to have violated a federal or state securities or commodities law, any law or regulation respecting financial institutions or insurance companies, or any law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud; or (e) any sanction or order of any self-regulatory organization or registered entity or equivalent exchange, association or entity. Further, no such legal proceedings are believed to be contemplated by governmental authorities against any director or executive officer.

Required Vote

Our Board has adopted a Director resignation policy (the “Policy”), which is included in the Company’s Board Governance Guidelines. The Policy applies to uncontested elections of directors, in other words, an election of directors where the number of nominees for election does not exceed the number of directors to be elected. A copy of the Policy is available on the Company’s website at http://www.advanced-energy.comwww.advancedenergy.com within the Company’s Board Governance Guidelines. Under the Policy, any nominee for director in an uncontested

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2020 ANNUAL

PROXY STATEMENT

election who does not receive a majority vote “for”“FOR” that director’s election to the Board relative to the number of votes cast with respect to that director’s election (excluding broker non-votes, abstentions and failures to vote with respect to that director’s election) will promptly tender a written offer of resignation to the Board. The Policy provides that the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board will promptly consider the director’s offer of resignation and make a recommendation to the Board. Pursuant to the Policy, the Board would then act on that recommendation within 90 days of receiving the recommendation. When deciding what action to recommend or take regarding the director’s resignation, the Policy permits each of the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Board to consider any factors they deem relevant, including the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

Under Delaware law, a nominee who receives a plurality of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting will be elected as a Director (subject to the resignation policyPolicy described above). The “plurality” standard means the nominees who receive the largest number of “for”“FOR” votes cast are elected as Directors.directors of the Company. Thus, the number of shares not voted for the election of a nominee (and the number of “withhold” votes cast with respect to that nominee) will not affect the determination of whether that nominee has received the necessary votes for election under Delaware law. However, the number of “withhold” votes with respect to a nominee will affect whether or not our Director resignation policyPolicy will apply to that individual. If any nominee is unable or declines to serve, proxies will be voted for the balance of those named and for such person as shall be designated by the Board to replace any such nominee. However, the Board does not anticipate that this will occur.

Stockholders do not have the right to cumulate their votes for the election of directors. Unless otherwise instructed, the proxy holders will vote the proxies received by them FOR“FOR” each of the seven (7)eight (8) nominees. Votes withheld from a nominee will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present but will not be counted as an affirmative vote for such nominee.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” the election of each of the nominees named above.

Director Compensation

Compensation

The compensation policy for non-employee directors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20172019 was as follows:

·

$45,000 annual cash retainer paid in equal quarterly installments in February, May, August, and November;

$45,000 annual retainer paid in equal quarterly installments in July, October, February, and April;

·

An additional $50,000 annual cash retainer for the Chair of the Board, paid in equal quarterly installments in February, May, August, and November;

An additional $50,000 annual retainer for the Chair of the Board, paid in equal quarterly installments in July, October, February, and April;

·

Annual cash retainer fees of $26,000, $15,000 and $10,000 for the chairs of the Audit and Finance, Compensation, and Nominating and Governance Committees, respectively;


·

Annual cash retainer fees of $13,000, $7,500, and $5,000 for committee members of the Audit and Finance, Compensation and Nominating and Governance Committees, respectively;


·

The Board may (but is not required) to grant restricted stock units to a new non-employee director upon initial election or appointment to the Board; and

10

·

3,500 restricted stock units annually to each non-employee director on the date of his or her re-election at the Annual Meeting; each annual grant will vest one year from the date of grant if the director continues to then-serve on the Board.



Annual retainer fees of $26,000, $15,000 and $10,000 for the chairs of the Audit and Finance, Compensation, and Nominating and Governance Committees, respectively;
Annual retainer fees of $13,000, $7,500, and $5,000 for committee members of the Audit and Finance, Compensation and Nominating and Governance Committees, respectively;
The Board may (but is not required) to grant restricted stock units to a new non-employee director upon initial election or appointment to the Board; and
6,000 restricted stock units annually to each non-employee director on the date of his re-election at the Annual Meeting, which units vest as to 100% of the underlying shares on the anniversary of the grant date.

At this time, directors are not separately compensated for their service on the Pricing Committee.

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PROXY STATEMENT

In February 2014, our Board of Directors adopted a Stock Ownership Policy effective for years beginning with 2014, that requires non-employee members of the Board of Directorsdirectors to own an amount of stock of the Company with a value equal to at least five times the annual retainer for Board service (exclusive of any compensation for Committee service, meeting fees, leadership roles, and the like)etc.), based in each case, on the volume weighted average closing price of the Company’s stock for the two fiscal years as of December 31 of the applicable year and subject to the terms in the policy.Stock Ownership Policy. The policyStock Ownership Policy provides for a phase-inphase‑in period over five years for each member to achieve the requisite ownership goals.

requirements. All non-employee members of the Board either currently conform to the policy or are on track to meet the policy within the required time frame.

The Compensation Committee regularly reviews non-employee director compensation with its independent compensation consultant, Semler Brossy. The most recent review, in December 2016, resulted in a reduction in the annual grant of restricted stock units awarded to non-employee directors from 8,000 units to 6,000 units and elimination of the 10,000 restricted stock unit grant upon joining the Board.

Non-employee director equity compensation has historically been denominated as a fixed number of units rather than a specific dollar amount. The Company’s closing stock price on June 4, 2019, the date of grant in 2017the restricted stock unit grants, was $74.29, reflecting a 115% growth in stock price since the 2016 grant date.

$51.87.

The average annual value of a non-employee director restricted stock unit award from 2010 through 20172019 is $189,850.$210,159. The Compensation Committee believes that this long-term view validates the use of a fixed number of units approach, under which the award value is aligned with the movement in the shareCompany’s publicly traded stock price. The Compensation Committee will continue to review and monitor non-employee director compensation, use market data for comparisons to peer programs, and work with Semler Brossy to ensure the program remains appropriate.

The following table showsdetails director compensation information for 2017.2019.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019 Director Compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nonqualified

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-Equity

 

Deferred

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fee Earned or

 

 

 

 

Option

 

Incentive Plan

 

Compensation

 

All Other

 

 

 

 

 

Paid in Cash

 

Stock Awards

 

Awards

 

Compensation

 

Earnings

 

Compensation

 

Total

Name

    

($)

    

($) (1)

    

($)

    

($)

    

($)

    

($)

    

($)

Grant H. Beard

 

$

112,500

 

$

181,545

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

$

294,045

Frederick A. Ball

 

$

76,000

 

$

181,545

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

$

257,545

Tina M. Donikowski

 

$

63,000

 

$

181,545

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

$

244,545

Ronald C. Foster

 

$

63,000

 

$

181,545

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

$

244,545

Edward C. Grady

 

$

65,000

 

$

181,545

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

$

246,545

Thomas M. Rohrs

 

$

63,000

 

$

181,545

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

$

244,545

John A. Roush

 

$

57,500

 

$

181,545

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

$

239,045

Yuval Wasserman

 

 

   

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

2017 Director Compensation
Name 
Fee Earned or
Paid in Cash
($)
 
Stock Awards
($) (1)
 
Option  Awards
($)
 
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
 
Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
 
All Other
Compensation
($)
 
Total
($)
Grant H. Beard, Chairman 112,500
 445,740
  
  
  
  
 558,240
Frederick A. Ball 76,000
 445,740
  
  
  
  
 521,740
Ronald C. Foster 63,000
 445,740
 
 
 
 
 508,740
Edward C. Grady 65,000
 445,740
 
 
 
 
 510,740
Thomas M. Rohrs 63,000
 445,740
  
  
  
  
 508,740
John A. Roush 57,500
 445,740
 
  
  
  
 503,240
Yuval Wasserman 
 
  
  
  
  
 

(1)

As of December 31, 2017, for

During 2019, Messrs. Beard, Ball, Foster, Grady, Rohrs and Roush there are 8,500, 6,000, 8,500, 6,000, 6,000, and 13,500Ms. Donikowski were each granted 3,500 restricted stock units (RSUs) for their service on the Board, which were the only outstanding RSUs, respectively.unvested equity awards held by our directors as of December 31, 2019.

Board of Directors Meetings

The Board of Directors held 11 meetings in 2017. During the year, 11 executive sessions were held. In 2017, the Board of Directors had an Audit and Finance Committee, a Nominating and Governance Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Pricing Committee. In 2017, each incumbent director

Each Director attended at leastwell above 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board of Directors (held during the period for which he or she was a director) and the committees (held during the period for which he served on such committees)or she was a director) on which he or she served.

The Board of Directors held nine meetings in 2019. During 2019, four executive sessions of the Board of Directors were held. The Board’s committees consist of the Audit and Finance Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee, Compensation Committee and Pricing Committee.


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Members of the Board of Directors are welcomed and encouraged, but not required, to attend the Annual Meeting. The Company’s annual meeting of stockholders held on June 4, 2019 (the “2019 Annual Meeting of stockholders. The Annual Meeting held in May 2017Meeting”) was attended in person or by telephone by all memberssix of the then-members of the Board of Directors.

Audit and Finance Committee
Composition and Meetings

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The Company has a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Audit and Finance Committee consists of Messrs. Ball (Chair), Foster, and Rohrs. The Board determined that each of the members of the Audit and Finance Committee is “independent” in accordance with the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules and Rule 10A-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Board of Directors has evaluated the credentials of Messrs. Ball, Foster, and Rohrs and determined that they are “audit committee financial experts” as defined under the rules promulgated by the SEC. The Audit and Finance Committee met 9 times in 2017.
Policy on Audit and Finance Committee Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

2020 ANNUAL

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PROXY STATEMENT

The Audit and Finance Committee approves all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm. These services may include audit services, audit related services, tax services and other services. Approval is provided on a service-by-service basis. In 2017,

AUDIT COMMITTEE

Meetings: 9

Chair: Frederick A. Ball

Other Members:

  Ronald C. Foster

  Thomas M. Rohrs

  Tina M. Donikowski

Independence: 100%compliance with NASDAQ and SEC rules. The Board of Directors determined that each of the members of the Audit and Finance Committee is “independent” in accordance with the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules and Rule 10A-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Financial Expertise: 100% compliance with SEC rules.  The Board of Directors has evaluated the credentials of Messrs. Ball, Foster, and Rohrs and determined that they are “audit committee financial experts” as defined under the rules promulgated by the SEC.

Charter: Available atwww.advancedenergy.com/about-us/leadership-team/audit--finance-committee-charter/

Key Responsibilities:

  selecting Advanced Energy’s independent registered public accounting firm;

  approving the scope, fees and results of the audit engagement;

  determining the independence and evaluating the performance of Advanced Energy’s independent registered public accounting firm and internal auditors;

  approving in advance any audit and non-audit services and fees charged by the independent registered public accounting firm;

  evaluating comments made by the independent registered public accounting firm with respect to accounting procedures and internal controls and determining whether to bring such comments to the attention of Advanced Energy’s management;

  reviewing the internal accounting procedures and controls with Advanced Energy’s financial and accounting staff and approving significant changes;

  engaging advisors and consultants as necessary in connection with the conduct of the Company’s business or as pertains to the assessment of risk or dispute resolution;

  reviewing and approving related party transactions; and

  establishing and maintaining procedures for, and a policy of, open access to the members of the Audit and Finance Committee by the employees of and consultants to Advanced Energy to enable the employees and consultants to report to the Audit and Finance Committee concerns held by such employees and consultants regarding the financial reporting of the Company and potential misconduct.

The Audit and Finance Committee approves all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. Approval is provided on a service-by-service basis. In 2019, the Audit and Finance Committee approved all of the audit services provided by Advanced Energy’s independent registered public accounting firm.

The Audit and Finance Committee also conducts financial reviews with Advanced Energy’s independent registered public accounting firm prior to the release of financial information in the Company’s Forms 10‑K and 10‑Q. Management has primary responsibility for Advanced Energy’s financial statements and the overall reporting process, including systems of internal controls. The independent registered public accounting firm audits the annual financial statements prepared by management, expresses an opinion as to whether those financial statements fairly present the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of Advanced Energy in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and discusses with the Audit and Finance Committee any issues they believe should be raised.

Audit and Finance Committee Charter and Responsibilities

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The Audit and Finance Committee is governed by a written charter, which is available on our website at https://www.advanced-energy.com/en/Audit_Finance_Charter.html. The Audit and Finance Committee is responsible for, among other things:
selecting Advanced Energy’s independent registered public accounting firm;

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2020 ANNUAL

PROXY STATEMENT

approving the scope, fees and results of the audit engagement;
determining the independence and evaluating the performance of Advanced Energy’s independent registered public accounting firm and internal auditors;
approving in advance any audit and non-audit services and fees charged by the independent registered public accounting firm;
evaluating comments made by the independent registered public accounting firm with respect to accounting procedures and internal controls and determining whether to bring such comments to the attention of Advanced Energy’s management;
reviewing the internal accounting procedures and controls with Advanced Energy’s financial and accounting staff and approving significant changes;
reviewing and approving related party transactions; and
establishing and maintaining procedures for, and a policy of, open access to the members of the Audit and Finance Committee by the employees of and consultants to Advanced Energy to enable the employees and consultants to report to the Audit and Finance Committee concerns held by such employees and consultants regarding the financial reporting of the Company and potential misconduct.
The Audit and Finance Committee also conducts financial reviews with Advanced Energy’s independent registered public accounting firm prior to the release of financial information in the Company’s Forms 10-K and 10-Q. Management has primary responsibility for Advanced Energy’s financial statements and the overall reporting process, including systems of internal controls. The independent registered public accounting firm audits the annual financial statements prepared by management, expresses an opinion as to whether those financial statements fairly present the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of Advanced Energy in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and discusses with the Audit and Finance Committee any issues they believe should be raised.

Report of the Audit and Finance Committee

The

In accordance with the Audit and Finance Committee hasCommittee’s written charter duly adopted by the Board of Directors, we have reviewed Advanced Energy’s audited financial statements, as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019, and met together and separately with both management and Grant ThorntonErnst & Young LLP, the Company’s current independent registered public accounting firm for 2019, to discuss Advanced Energy’s  quarterly and annualaudited financial statements as of and reports prior to issuance.for the year ended December 31, 2019. In addition, the Audit and Finance Committee has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters outlined in



12


Statement on Auditing Standards No. 1301, as amended (Communication with Audit Committees), to the extent applicable and received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees). Further, the Audit and Finance Committee received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent accountants required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit and Finance Committee concerning independence, and discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the independent accountant’s independence.

Based on its review and discussion of the foregoing matters and information, the Audit and Finance Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements referenced above be included in Advanced Energy’s 20172019 Annual Report on Form 10-K.10‑K. The Audit and Finance Committee has recommended the appointment of Grant ThorntonErnst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2018,2020, subject to stockholder approval.

ratification.

The Audit and Finance Committee

Frederick A. Ball, Chairman

Tina M. Donikowski

Ronald C. Foster

Thomas M.M Rohrs

Nominating and Governance Committee
Composition and Meetings
The Nominating and Governance Committee consists of Messrs. Beard (Chair), Ball, Foster, Grady, Rohrs, and Roush. Each

This report of the membersAudit and Finance Committee is not deemed “soliciting material” and is not deemed filed with the SEC or subject to Regulation 14A or the liabilities under Section 18 of the Nominating and Governance Committee was, and is, an “independent director” within the meaning of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules. The Nominating and Governance Committee met 4 times in 2017.Exchange Act.

Nominating and Governance Committee Charter and Responsibilities

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17

The Nominating and Governance Committee is governed by a written charter and Board Governance Guidelines available on our website at: https://www.advanced-energy.com/en/Nominating_Governance_Charter.html. The Nominating and Governance Committee responsibilities include:
ensuring that a majority of the directors will be independent;

2020 ANNUAL

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PROXY STATEMENT

NOMINATING AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE

Meetings: 4

Chair: Grant H. Beard

Other Members:

  Frederick A. Ball

  Thomas M. Rohrs

  Ronald C. Foster

  John A. Roush

  Edward C. Grady

  Tina M. Donikowski 

Independence: 100%compliance with NASDAQ rules. Each of the members of the Nominating and Governance Committee was, and is, an “independent director” within the meaning of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules.

Charter: Available at https://www.advancedenergy.com/about-us/leadership-team/nominatinggovernance-comm.-charter/

Key Responsibilities:

  ensuring that a majority of the directors will be independent;

establishing qualifications and standards to serve as a director;

  identifying and recommending individuals qualified to become directors;

  considering any candidates recommended by stockholders;

  determining the appropriate size and composition of the Board;

  ensuring that the independent directors meet in executive session quarterly;

  reviewing other directorships, positions, and business and personal relationships of directors and candidates for conflicts of interest, effect on independence, ability to commit sufficient time and attention to the Board or other suitability criteria;

  sponsoring and overseeing performance evaluations for the Board as a whole, conducting director peer evaluations, coordinating evaluations of the other committees with the other committee chairpersons;

  developing and reviewing periodically, at least annually, the corporate governance policies and guidelines of Advanced Energy, and recommending any changes to the Board;

  reviewing succession plans for the CEO and other key management positions as appropriate;

  considering any other corporate governance issues that arise from time to time and referring them to the Board;

  if the Board requests, developing appropriate recommendations to the Board; and

  overseeing the Company’s insider trading policies and procedures.

identifying and recommending individuals qualified to become directors;
considering any candidates recommended by stockholders;
determining the appropriate size and composition of the Board;
ensuring that the independent directors meet in executive session quarterly;
reviewing other directorships, positions, and business and personal relationships of directors and candidates for conflicts of interest, effect on independence, ability to commit sufficient time and attention to the Board or other suitability criteria;
sponsoring and overseeing performance evaluations for the Board as a whole, conducting director peer evaluations, coordinating evaluations of the other committees with the other committee chairpersons;
developing and reviewing periodically, at least annually, the corporate governance policies and guidelines of Advanced Energy, and recommending any changes to the Board;
review succession plans for the CEO and other key management positions as appropriate;
considering any other corporate governance issues that arise from time to time and referring them to the Board;
if the Board requests, developing appropriate recommendations to the Board; and
overseeing the Company’s insider trading policies and procedures.

Director Nominations

The Nominating and Governance Committee evaluates and interviews potential director candidates. All members of the Board may interview the final candidates. The Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board considers candidates for director nominees proposed by directors and stockholders, as described in more detail below. This committee may retain recruiting professionals to assist in identifying and evaluating candidates for director nominees. The Nominating and Governance Committee has no stated specific or minimum qualifications that must be met by a Board candidate. However, as



13


set forth in the Company’s Board Governance Guidelines, the Nominating and Governance Committee strives for a mix of skills and diverse perspectives (functional, cultural and geographic) that is effective for the Board. In selecting nominees, the

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2020 ANNUAL

PROXY STATEMENT

Nominating and Governance Committee assesses the independence, character and acumen of candidates. The Nominating and Governance Committee also endeavors to establish a number of areas of collective core competency of the Board. Therefore, the Nominating and Governance Committee assesses whether a candidate possesses skills including business judgment, leadership, strategic vision and knowledge of management, accounting, finance, industry, technology, manufacturing, international markets and marketing. Additional criteria include a candidate’s personal and professional ethics, integrity and values, as well as his or her willingness to devote sufficient time to prepare for and attend meetings and participate effectively on the Board.

The Board Governance Guidelines provide that the Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing with the Board, from time to time, the appropriate skills and characteristics required of Board members in the context of the current make-up of the Board. In assessing the diversity of the Board, the Nominating and Governance Committee assesses such factors as leadership, character, reputation, integrity, judgment, diversity, age, understanding of and experience in manufacturing, technology expertise, finance and marketing acumen and exposure and experience in international markets. The Board values a diverse set of viewpoints and experiences, and also considers gender and ethnic diversity. These factors, which are among the factors the Board and the Nominating and Governance Committee considers useful to a well-functioning board, are reviewed in the context of assessing the perceived needs of the Board at any particular point in time and in its search for potential nominees.

The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider any and all director candidate recommendations by our stockholders that are submitted in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws. The Nominating and Governance Committee will apply the same processes and criteria in evaluating director candidates recommended by stockholders as it applies in evaluating director candidates recommended by directors, members of management or any other person. If you are a stockholder and wish to recommend a candidate for nomination to the Board of Directors, you should submit your recommendation in writing to the Nominating and Governance Committee, in care of the Corporate Secretary of Advanced Energy at 1625 Sharp Point Drive, Fort Collins,1595 Wynkoop St., Suite 800,  Denver, Colorado 80525.80202. Your recommendation must include all of the information set forth in Article III, Section 6(a) of the Amended and Restated By-laws of Advanced Energy, including but not limited to, your name and address, the number of shares of Advanced Energy common stock that you own, the name of the person you recommend for nomination, the reasons for your recommendation, a summary of the person’s business history and other qualifications as a director of Advanced Energy and whether such person has agreed to serve, if elected, as a director of Advanced Energy. Please also see the information under the section entitled Proposals of Stockholders” on page  3452 of this proxy statement.

Compensation Committee

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Composition and Meetings

The Compensation Committee consists of Messrs. Grady (Chair), Beard and Roush. Each of the members of the Compensation Committee is (1) a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (2) an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) under the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, and (3) an “independent director” within the meaning of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules. The Compensation Committee met 6 times in 2017.
Committee Charter and Responsibilities
The Compensation Committee is governed by a written charter, which is available on our website at https://www.advanced-energy.com/en/Compensation_Charter.html. The Compensation Committee is responsible for recommending salaries, incentives and other compensation for directors and officers of Advanced Energy, administering and reviewing Advanced Energy’s incentive compensation and benefit plans, reviewing CEO and management succession planning in the context of executive compensation, and recommending to the Board of Directors policies relating to such compensation and benefit plans. The Compensation Committee has also, from time to time, retained an independent compensation consultant to assist and advise the Compensation Committee in fulfilling these responsibilities. In addition, the Compensation Committee has the authority, to the extent it deems necessary or appropriate, to: (i) form and delegate authority to subcommittees; and (ii) ask the Company to provide the Compensation Committee with the support of one or more Company employees to assist it in carrying out its duties.
Pricing Committee
The Pricing Committee consists of Messrs. Beard, Ball and Foster, each of which is an “independent director” within the meaning of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules. The Pricing Committee may exercise all of the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in connection with all matters relating to the Company’s previously authorized stock repurchase program and the issuance of any future indebtedness by the Company; including the terms and conditions, timing and other provisions


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2020 ANNUAL

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PROXY STATEMENT



COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

Meetings:5

Chair: Edward C. Grady

Other Members:

  Grant H. Beard

  John A. Roush

Independence: 100% compliance with NASDAQ rules. Each of the members of the Compensation Committee is an “independent director” within the meaning of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules.

Non-Employee:100% compliance with Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Each of the members of the Compensation Committee is an “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Outside Director:100%compliance with Internal Revenue Code. Each of the members of the Compensation Committee is an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) under the Internal Revenue Code, as amended.

Charter: Available at https://www.advancedenergy.com/about-us/leadership-team/compensation-committee-charter/

Key Responsibilities:

  recommending salaries, incentives and other compensation for directors and officers of Advanced Energy;

  administering and reviewing Advanced Energy’s incentive compensation and benefit plans;

  reviewing CEO and management succession planning in the context of executive compensation; and

  recommending to the Board of Directors policies relating to such compensation and benefit plans.

The Compensation Committee has also, from time to time, retained an independent compensation consultant to assist and advise the Compensation Committee in fulfilling these responsibilities. In addition, the Compensation Committee has the authority, to the extent it deems necessary or appropriate, to:

  form and delegate authority to subcommittees; and

  ask the Company to provide the Compensation Committee with the support of one or more Company employees to assist it in carrying out its duties.

PRICING COMMITTEE

Members:

  Grant H. Beard

  Frederick A. Ball

  Ronald C. Foster

Independence: 100%compliance with NASDAQ rules

Key Responsibility:

  may exercise all of the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in connection with all matters relating to the Company’s previously authorized stock repurchase program and the issuance of any future indebtedness by the Company; including the terms and conditions, timing and other provisions of such stock repurchases or debt issuances.  This committee is ad-hoc in nature and did not meet in 2019.

of such stock repurchases or debt issuances. The Pricing Committee did not hold any meetings in 2017 but did take action by a unanimous written consent.

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2020 ANNUAL

PROXY STATEMENT

Board Governance Structure

The Board Governance Guidelines set forth the Board’s policy that the positions of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer should be held by separate persons to aid in the Board’s oversight of management. The Board Governance Guidelines are available on our website at https://www.advanced-energy.com/en/GovernanceGuidelines.htmlwww.advancedenergy.com/about-us/leadership-team/board-governance-guidelines/.  The Company believes this boardBoard leadership structure is most appropriate for the Company because it provides the Board with increased independence. Additionally, we separate the roles of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer in recognition of the differences between the two roles as they are presently defined. The principal responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer is to manage the business of the Company. The principal responsibilities of the Chairman of the Board are to manage the operations of the Board of Directors and its committees and provide oversight and counsel to the Chief Executive Officer on behalf of the Board.

Senior management manages material risks and reviews such risks with the Chief Executive Officer, and if warranted, the Board. As part of its general oversight role, the Board reviews business reports from management that routinely outlinesoutline operational risks that may exist from time to time. In addition, for risks related more specifically to the financial operations of the Company, such as credit risk and liquidity risk, the Audit and Finance Committee examines reports from management and reviews such risks in light of the Company’s business operations.


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15

2020 ANNUAL

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PROXY STATEMENT



PROPOSAL NO. 2

- RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF GRANT THORNTONERNST & YOUNG LLP AS ADVANCED ENERGY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR 20182020

What am I voting on and how should I vote?

You are being asked to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year 2020. Although our governing documents do not require us to submit this matter to stockholders, the Board believes that asking stockholders to ratify the appointment of Ernst  & Young LLP is consistent with best practices in corporate governance.

We believe that Ernst &Young LLP is sufficiently qualified to conduct their duties as independent auditor.

The Board of Directors therefore recommends you vote“FOR”the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as Advanced Energy’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2020.

On January 31, 2018, the Audit and Finance Committee approved the continued appointment

Ratification of Grant Thornton LLP for 2018 as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. Independent Registered Accounting Firm

If the stockholders fail todo not ratify the appointment of Grant ThorntonErnst & Young LLP,  the Audit and Finance Committee expectswill regard such vote as a direction to reconsider its selection.consider the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm. Even if the selectionappointment of Ernst & Young LLP is ratified by the stockholders, the Audit and Finance Committee in itshas the discretion may direct the appointment ofto select a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time duringif it determines that a change would be in our and our stockholders’ best interests.

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2020 ANNUAL

PROXY STATEMENT

Change in Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm in 2019

The Audit and Finance Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, retention and oversight of the work of any independent registered public accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services for us and our subsidiaries.

After completing a comprehensive competitive bid process to select an independent registered public accounting firm to provide audit and related services to Advanced Energy for the year ifending December 31, 2019, on March 25, 2019, the Audit and Finance Committee feels thatdismissed Grant Thornton LLP (“Grant Thornton”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, effective immediately, and provided Grant Thornton with notice of such a change would be in the best interests of Advanced Energy and our stockholders.

A representativedismissal. The audit reports of Grant Thornton LLP is expectedon the Company’s consolidated financial statements for each of the two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to be present atuncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. On March 27, 2019, Grant Thornton confirmed in a filing with the meetingSEC that, during our two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and willDecember 31, 2017, and during the subsequent interim period through March 25, 2019, the date of the Audit and Finance Committee’s dismissal of Grant Thornton, (i) there were no disagreements with Grant Thornton on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to Grant Thornton’s satisfaction, would have an opportunitycaused Grant Thornton to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with its reports, and (ii) there were no “reportable events” as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

On March 27, 2019, Advanced Energy engaged Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019, which engagement was approved by the Audit and Finance Committee and effective on March 27, 2019.

During the Company’s two fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, and during the subsequent interim period through March 27, 2019, neither the Company, nor anyone on its behalf, consulted Ernst & Young LLP regarding either (i) the application of accounting principles to a statement if hespecified transaction, either completed or she so desires. Moreover,proposed, or the representative is expectedtype of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, and neither a written report nor oral advice was provided to be availablethe Company that Ernst & Young LLP concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to respond to appropriate questions fromany accounting, auditing, or financial reporting issue, of (ii) any matter that was either the stockholders.subject of a “disagreement” (as defined in Regulation S-K Item 304(a)(1)(iv)) or a “reportable event” (as defined in Regulation S-K Item 304(a)(1)(v)). Ernst & Young LLP provided Advanced Energy with notice of acceptance of such engagement.

Audit

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2020 ANNUAL

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PROXY STATEMENT

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees

and Services

The following table presents fees billed to Advanced Energy for professional services rendered by Grant Thornton LLP, our prior independent registered public accounting firm for engagements2018 and Ernst & Young LLP, our current registered public accounting firm for 2016 and 2017.2019. All of the fees in the following table were approved by the Audit Committee in conformity with its pre-approval process. Pre-approval generally is provided for up to one year, and any pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of services and generally is subject to a specific budget. The independent registered public accounting firm and Advanced Energy’s management are required to periodically report to the Audit and Finance Committee regarding the extent of services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm in accordance with this pre-approval, including the fees for the services performed to date. In addition, the Audit and Finance Committee also may pre-approve particular services on a case-by-case basis, as required.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fee Category

    

2019

    

2018

 

 

 

(In thousands)

Audit Fees (1)

 

$

2,650

$

2,033

Audit Related Fees (2)

 

 

175

 

 —

Tax Fees (3)

 

 

891

 

 —

Other Fees (4)

 

 

 —

 

 —

Total Fees

 

$

3,716

$

2,033

Fee Category 2017 2016
  (In thousands)
Audit Fees (1)
 $2,160
 $1,752
Audit Related Fees (2)
 
 
Tax Fees (3)
 
 
Other Fees (4)
 
 
   Total Fees $2,160
 $1,752

(1)

Audit Fees consisted of fees for (a) professional services rendered for the annual audit of Advanced Energy’s consolidated financial statements and internal controls over financial reporting, (b) review of the interim consolidated financial statements included in quarterly reports, and (c) services that are typically provided by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

(2)

(2)

Audit-Related Fees consisted of fees for assurance and related services that were reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of Advanced Energy’s consolidated financial statements and are not reported under “Audit Fees.”

(3)

(3)

Tax Fees. We did not pay any feesincurred the above listed amount to Grant ThorntonErnst & Young LLP for tax compliance, tax advice and/or tax planning during 2016 or 2017.2019.

(4)

(4)

Other Fees consisted of fees for due diligence procedures. are not applicable.

Required Vote

Ratification of the appointment of Grant ThorntonErnst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for Advanced Energy for 20182020 requires the affirmative (FOR)“FOR” vote of a majority of the shares of common stock cast on the matter.this proposal. For purposes of determining the number of votes cast on the matter,this proposal, only those votes cast “For”as either “FOR” or “Against”“AGAINST” are included. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not included.

considered votes cast on this proposal.

Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting to respond to appropriate questions and to make a statement should they so desire.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Grant ThorntonErnst & Young LLP as Advanced Energy’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2018.2020.


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16

Picture 1

2020 ANNUAL

PROXY STATEMENT



PROPOSAL NO. 3

- ADVISORY APPROVAL OF THE COMPANY’S NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

What am I voting on and how should I vote?

We are providing our stockholders an opportunity to indicate whether they approve of our named executive officer compensation as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S‑K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables and narrative discussion in this proxy statement. This proposal is required pursuant to Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Although this vote is advisory and is not binding on the Company, the Compensation Committee of the Board will take into account the outcome of the vote when considering future executive compensation decisions.

We believe that our compensation philosophy and practices are consistent with market practices, designed to retain key executives and reward company performance, and aligned with long term stockholder interests.

Accordingly, stockholders are being asked to vote “FOR”the below resolution.

We are providing our stockholders an opportunity to indicate whether they approve of our named executive officer compensation as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables and narrative discussion in this proxy statement. The proposal is required pursuant to Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Although this vote is advisory and is not binding on the Company, the Compensation Committee of the Board will take into account the outcome of the vote when considering future executive compensation decisions. Accordingly, stockholders are being asked to vote “FOR” the following resolution:

RESOLVED,, that the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K,S‑K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion, is hereby APPROVED.”

This advisory vote, commonly referred to as “say on pay,” is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but instead relates to our overall compensation philosophy as described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the tabular disclosures regarding named executive officer compensation, and the narrative disclosure accompanying the tabular presentation. These disclosures allow you to view the trends in our executive compensation program and the application of our compensation philosophies for the years presented.

96%

At the 2019 Annual Meeting, approximately 96% of the votes cast approved our “say on pay” proposal.

This advisory vote, commonly referred to as “say on pay,” is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but instead relates to the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the tabular disclosures regarding named executive officer compensation, and the narrative disclosure accompanying the tabular presentation. These disclosures allow you to view the trends in our executive compensation program and the application of our compensation philosophies for the years presented. At the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, approximately 95% of the votes cast approved our “say on pay proposal”.

Advanced Energy’s compensation program is designed and administered by the Compensation Committee, which is composed entirely of independent directors“independent directors” within the meaning of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules. We carefully consider many different factors, as described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, in order to provide appropriate compensation for our executives. Our executive compensation program is intended to attract, motivate and reward the executive talent required to achieve our corporate objectives and increase stockholder value. The Compensation Committee has designed our compensation program to be competitive with the compensation offered by those peers with whom we compete for executive talent. Targets for base salaries, annual cash incentive and long-term equity incentive awards for executives factor in competitive data. A large proportion of our executive officers’ total potential compensation is performance-basedperformance-

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2020 ANNUAL

Picture 10

PROXY STATEMENT

based in order to align their interests with those of our stockholders, and place more of their compensation at risk and emphasize a long-term strategic view. The Compensation Committee deliberately designs compensation objectives in order to allocate a significant percentage of each of our named executive officers’ compensation to performance-based measures.

As discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning on page 2029 of this proxy statement, we believe that our executive compensation program properly links executive compensation to Company performance and aligns the interests of our executive officers with those of our stockholders. For example:

PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE

We emphasize
Long-term success
as well as Annual results.

We focus on our stockholders, customers
and employees.

We promote sound
risk management.

We strive to structure our executive compensation programs within a framework that measures performance using a variety of predominantly financial and non-financial metrics. We do this to promote and reward actions that strengthen the Company’s long-term health while promoting strong annual results.

We make annual compensation decisions based on an assessment of each executive’s performance against goals that promote the Company’s success by focusing on our stockholders, customers and employees. We focus not only on results but on how results were achieved.

We strive to structure our executive compensation programs to be consistent with and support sound risk management. We have reviewed the design and controls in our incentive compensation program to assess the effectiveness of the program and our compensation practices in controlling excessive risk.

Required Vote

Advisory approval of the Company’s long-term health while promoting strong annual results.

We make annualnamed executive officer compensation decisions based on an assessmentrequires the affirmative “FOR” vote of each executive’s performance against goals that promote the Company’s success by focusing on our stockholders, customers and employees. We focus not only on results but on how results were achieved.
We strive to structure our executive compensation programs to be consistent with and support sound risk management. We have reviewed the design and controls in our incentive compensation program to assess the effectivenessa majority of the programshares of common stock cast on this proposal. For purposes of determining the number of votes cast on this proposal, only those votes cast as either “FOR” or “AGAINST” are included. Abstentions and our compensation practices in controlling excessive risk.
Required Vote
broker non-votes are not considered votes cast on this proposal. The votesvote on Proposal No. 3 arethis proposal is advisory in nature and, therefore, areis not binding on Advanced Energy. However,the Company; provided, however, the Board and Compensation Committee will review the results of the vote inand take into consideration such results when making future executive compensation decisions. For purposes of determining the number of votes cast on the matter, only those cast “For” or “Against” are included. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not included.
Unless otherwise indicated, properly executed proxies will be voted in favor of Proposal No. 3 to approve the compensation of Advanced Energy’s named executive officers as disclosed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables, and the related disclosure contained in this proxy statement set forth under the caption “Executive Compensation” of this proxy statement.


17


The Company will ask its stockholders to consider an advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers every year until otherwise determined by a vote of our stockholders pursuant to applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules. The next advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers will occur at the 2019 annual meeting of stockholders.


The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” the approval of the compensation of Advanced Energy’sCompany’s named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, theofficer compensation tables and narrative discussion..


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18

Picture 1

2020 ANNUAL

PROXY STATEMENT



SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

As of February 1, 2018,2020, there were 39,603,58438,357,870 shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding. The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of Advanced Energy common stock as of February 1, 20182020 (unless otherwise noted) by:

·

each person known to us to beneficially own more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding common stock;

each person known to us to beneficially own more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding common stock;

·

each director and nominee for director;

each director and nominee for director;

·

each named executive officer; and

each named executive officer;

·

the directors and executive officers as a group.

the directors and executive officers as a group.

Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each individual named below is c/o Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.,  1625 Sharp Point Drive, Fort Collins,1595 Wynkoop St., Suite 800, Denver, Colorado 80525.80202.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares of Common

 

 

 

 

Stock Beneficially

 

 

Name of Stockholder

    

Owned **

 

Percent Owned

BlackRock, Inc.

 

5,753,164

(1)

15%

The Vanguard Group

 

4,092,565

(2)

11%

FMR LLC

 

2,435,972

(3)

6%

Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

 

2,318,893

(4)

6%

Victory Capital Management Inc.

 

2,243,625

(5)

6%

Yuval Wasserman, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

307,322

(6)(7) 

*

Paul Oldham, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

18,804

(6)(7) 

*

Neil Brinker, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

 

25,078

(6)(7) 

*

Thomas O. McGimpsey, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Government Affairs & Corporate Secretary

 

59,619

(6)(7) 

*

Grant H. Beard, Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

51,500

(8)

*

Frederick A. Ball, Director

 

32,500

(8)

*

Tina M. Donikowski, Director

 

9,500

(8)

*

Ronald C. Foster, Director

 

41,500

(8)

*

Edward C. Grady, Director

 

48,300

(8)

*

Thomas M. Rohrs, Director

 

23,500

(8)

*

John A. Roush, Director

 

25,500

(8)

*

All executive officers and directors, as a group (11 persons)

 

643,123

 

2%


*       Less than 1%

**     Unless otherwise noted, all shares are held either directly or indirectly by individuals possessing sole voting and investment power with respect to such shares.

Name of Stockholder 
Shares of Common
Stock Beneficially 
Owned***
 Percent Owned
BlackRock, Inc. 5,204,131
(1)13.1%
The Vanguard Group 3,878,929
(2)9.8%
Yuval Wasserman, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director 312,591
(3)(4)
Thomas Liguori, Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer ** 5,116
(6)
Thomas O. McGimpsey, Executive Vice President, Interim Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary**
 54,612
(3)(4)
Grant H. Beard, Chairman of the Board of Directors 33,500
(5)
Frederick A. Ball, Director 17,000
(5)
Ronald C. Foster, Director 21,000
(5)
Edward C. Grady, Director 28,800
(5)
Thomas M. Rohrs, Director 18,750
(5)
John A. Roush, Director 2,500
(5)
     
All executive officers and directors, as a group (8 persons) 488,753
(7)1.2%

(1)

Information as to the amount and nature of beneficial ownership was obtained from the Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 4, 2020 by BlackRock, Inc. BlackRock, Inc. reports sole voting power over 5,662,348 shares and sole dispositive power over 5,753,164 shares. The address for BlackRock, Inc. is 55 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10055.

(2)

Information as to the amount and nature of beneficial ownership was obtained from the Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 10, 2020 by The Vanguard Group. The Vanguard Group reports sole voting power over 80,266 shares, shared voting power over 7,150 shares, sole dispositive power over 4,010,074 shares and shared dispositive power over 82,491 shares. The address for The Vanguard Group is 100 Vanguard Blvd., Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355.

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2020 ANNUAL

Picture 10

*

PROXY STATEMENT

Less than 1%
**

(3)

Mr. Liguori resigned

Information as to the amount and nature of beneficial ownership was obtained from the Company effective January 26, 2018 to pursue another opportunity. Mr. McGimpsey has assumedSchedule 13G filed with the additional role of Chief Financial OfficerSEC on an interim basis.

***Unless otherwise noted, all shares are held either directly or indirectlyFebruary 6, 2020 by individuals possessingFMR LLC. FMR LLC reports sole voting power over 511,620 shares and investmentsole dispositive power over 2,435,972 shares. The address for FMR LLC is 245 Summer Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210.

(4)

Information as to the amount and nature of beneficial ownership was obtained from the Schedule 13G filed with respect to suchthe SEC on February 14, 2020 by Ameriprise Financial, Inc.  Ameriprise Financial, Inc. reports shared voting power over 2,276,821 shares and shared dispositive power over 2,318,893 shares. The address for Ameriprise Financial, Inc. is 145 Ameriprise Financial Center Minneapolis, MN 55474.

(1)

(5)

Information as to the amount and nature of beneficial ownership was obtained from the Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on January 19, 201831, 2020 by BlackRock,Victory Capital Management Inc. BlackRock,Victory Capital Management Inc. reports sole voting power over 5,107,1922,179,410 shares and sole dispositive power over 5,204,1312,243,625 shares. The address for BlackRock,Victory Capital Management Inc. is 55 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10055.4900 Tiedeman Rd. 4th Floor, Brooklyn, OH 44144.

(2)

Information as to the amount and nature of beneficial ownership was obtained from the Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 8, 2018 by The Vanguard Group. The Vanguard Group reports sole voting power over 76,958 shares, shared voting power over 6,353 shares, sole dispositive power over 3,798,665 shares and shared dispositive power over 80,264 shares. The address for The Vanguard Group is 100 Vanguard Blvd., Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355.
(3)

(6)

Includes beneficial ownership of the following numbers of shares that may be acquired within 60 days of February 1, 20182020 pursuant to stock options granted or assumed by Advanced Energy:

Yuval Wasserman

182,914


127,374

Paul Oldham

Thomas O. McGimpsey

6,995

 —

(4)

Neil Brinker

 —

Thomas McGimpsey

6,995


(7)

Includes beneficial ownership of the following numbers of shares that will be acquired within 60 days of February 1, 20182020 pursuant to stock awards (also called “restricted stock units”) granted or assumed by Advanced Energy:

Yuval Wasserman

77,361


34,228

Paul Oldham

Thomas O. McGimpsey

20,238

7,231

(5)

Neil Brinker

7,954

Thomas McGimpsey

7,832


(8)

The shares reported in the table do not include awards that will be granted to each non-employee director if such person is reelected to the Board of Directors at the annual meeting.Annual Meeting.

(6)

28   

The shares reported in the table are as of September 11, 2017 based on the last Form 4 filed by Mr. Liguori on September 12, 2017.

PRECISION  |  POWER  |  PERFORMANCE

Picture 1

2020 ANNUAL

(7)Because of Mr. Liguori's resignation, his shares noted above in the table are not included in this calculation.

PROXY STATEMENT



19


EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

This compensation discussionCompensation Discussion and analysisAnalysis describes our overall executive compensation philosophy and objectives with a particular focus on the compensation of our named executive officers that appear in the Summary Compensation Table. Our named executive officers for 20172019 were the following threefour individuals:

Name

Position

Yuval Wasserman

President and Chief Executive Officer

Paul Oldham

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Neil Brinker

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Thomas McGimpsey

Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Governmental Affairs & Corp. Secretary

Yuval Wasserman, President and Chief Executive Officer;
Thomas Liguori, Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; and
Thomas O. McGimpsey, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary.
Mr. Liguori served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer until January 26, 2018, when he voluntarily terminated employment with us. Mr. McGimpsey was appointed as Interim Chief Financial Officer on such date. Mr. Liguori forfeited all of his performance based compensation that we granted to him in 2017 and the unvested portion of the performance-based compensation that we granted him in 2016 as a result of his termination of employment. In addition, we have not, and will not, make any severance payments to Mr. Liguori in connection with his termination.

Executive Summary and Overview of 20172019 Compensation

Our Company’s long-term success depends on our ability to fulfill the expectations of our customers in a competitive environment and deliver value to stockholders.

To achieve these goals, it is critical that we can attract, motivate, and retain highly talented individuals at all levels of the organization who are committed to the Company’s values and objectives.

Accordingly, the Company strives to provide compensation to its executive officers that is:

linked to stockholder value creation,

reflective of the overall performance of the Company, and

considerate of the competitive market levels of compensation needed to recruit, retain and motivate top executive talent, while remaining consistent with the other objectives.

As part of the Company’s continued focus on delivering improved stockholder value, the Compensation Committee designs its executive compensation program to closely align executive compensation with stockholders’ interests and reinforce a pay for performance culture.

Picture 35

Our Company’s long-term success depends on our ability to fulfill the expectations of our customers in a competitive environment and deliver value to stockholders. To achieve these goals, it is critical that we are able to attract, motivate, and retain highly talented individuals at all levels of the organization who are committed to the Company’s values and objectives. Accordingly, the Company strives to provide compensation to its executive officers that is (a) linked to stockholder value creation, (b) reflective of the overall performance of the Company, and (c) considerate of the competitive market levels of compensation needed to recruit, retain and motivate top executive talent, while remaining consistent with the other objectives.

PRECISION  |  POWER  |  PERFORMANCE

29

As part of the Company’s continued focus on delivering improved stockholder value, the Compensation Committee designs its executive compensation program to closely align executive compensation with stockholders’ interests and reinforce a “pay for performance culture.

2020 ANNUAL

Picture 10

PROXY STATEMENT

Our Compensation Committee reinforcedreinforces our philosophy of “pay for performance”performance culture” by making the majority of our named executive officers’ 20172019 pay contingent on the achievement of financial performance goals through our Short Term Incentive Plan (which we refer to as the 20172019 STI Plan) and our Long Term Incentive Plan (which we refer to as the 20172019 LTI Plan), which we discuss in more detail below. In 2017, 83%2019, 88% of our Chief Executive Officer’s target compensation was performance-based,performance based, and 72%over 75% of our other named executive officer’s paytarget compensation was performance-based.performance based.

Fiscal Year 2019 Business Performance

We entered 2019 with continued weakness in our business driven by several global factors including slowing growth in end market demand for semiconductor devices (especially from memory devices), digestion of equipment capacity, and uncertainty around trade policies and global economic growth. Our business was further impacted by inventory reductions in both semiconductor devices and finished goods inventory at our customers. Despite the significant reduction in our semiconductor market during this time, the company remained profitable and generated positive cash flow each quarter.

Throughout 2019, we took actions to streamline our cost structure and improve efficiency, including reducing our total headcount by approximately 10%.  At the same time, we continued to invest in the future of the company, by increasing R&D spending, winning several key design wins, strengthening customer relationships and accelerating our strategy to diversify our operational risk by opening a major factory outside of China.  We believe these actions will better position the company for growth and profitability and are already beginning to see the benefits as our semiconductor markets began to improve in the second half of the year. 

Perhaps most importantly, we continued to execute our strategy to diversify the company and accelerate earnings growth with the acquisition of Artesyn Embedded Power on September 10, 2019.  This highly strategic and transformational acquisition strengthens our position as a leader in electrical power conversion, increases our addressable market by almost four times, doubles our revenue, and broadens and diversifies our markets with greater exposure to industrial and medical markets, and new positions in data center computing and telecom & networking.  Most importantly, it positions us for accelerated earnings growth as we execute on our plan to deliver significant synergies as a combined company.

Picture 32

We also acquired Artesyn Embedded Power on September 10, 2019 which added revenues in new markets.

Has Joined

Artesyn Embedded Power expands our addressable market to approximately $9B, doubles our annualized revenue potential to greater than $1.2B, broadens and diversifies our end markets, and creates a platform for accelerated earnings growth.

Picture 31

30   

PRECISION  |  POWER  |  PERFORMANCE

Picture 1

2020 ANNUAL

PROXY STATEMENT

Highlights of our consolidated fiscal year 2017, 2018 and 2019 financial performance and key business metrics are provided below.

Earnings Per Share Summary

Cash from Operations ($M)

Picture 26

Picture 17

Revenue ($M)

Operating Income ($M)

Picture 18

Picture 37

Note: A reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures is provided in Appendix A to this proxy statement.

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

The Company’s executive compensation program is based on the same objectives that guide the Company in establishing all of its compensation programs:

   Compensation should reflect the level of job responsibility as well as Company and individual performance. As employees progress to higher levels in the organization, an increasing proportion of their pay is linked to Company performance because those employees are more able to affect the Company’s results.

   Compensation should reflect the value of the job in the marketplace. To attract and retain a highly skilled work force, we must remain competitive with the pay of other premier employers with whom we compete for talent.

Pay for Performance Philosophy

Picture 25

   Compensation should promote the long-term focus required for the Company’s success by aligning executive officer’s interests with those of stockholders.

   Compensation should reflect the level of job responsibility as well as Company and individual performance. As employees progress to higher levels in the organization, an increasing proportion of their pay is linked to Company performance because those employees are more able to affect the Company’s results.

   Compensation should reflect the value of the job in the marketplace. To attract and retain a highly skilled work force, we must remain competitive with the pay of other premier employers with whom we compete for talent.

Compensation should promote the long-term focus required for the Company’s success by aligning executive officer’s interests with those of stockholders.

PRECISION  |  POWER  |  PERFORMANCE

31

Compensation should reflect the level of job responsibility and Company and individual performance. As employees progress to higher levels in the organization, an increasing proportion of their pay is linked to Company performance because those employees are more able to affect the Company’s results.
Compensation should reflect the value of the job in the marketplace. To attract and retain a highly skilled work force, we must remain competitive with the pay of other premier employers with whom we compete for talent.

2020 ANNUAL

Picture 10

PROXY STATEMENT

Overview of Executive Compensation Program

The Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee is responsible for establishing, implementing and monitoring adherence with the Company’s compensation philosophy. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee strives to develop and maintain competitive, progressive programs that reward executives for continuous improvement in key financial metrics that drive Company performance and stockholder value. The Compensation Committee also recognizes the need for compensation programs to attract, retain and motivate high-caliberhigh caliber employees, foster teamwork, and maximize the long-term success of Advanced Energy by appropriately rewarding our executives for their achievements. The Compensation Committee evaluates risk and rewards associated with the Company’s overall compensation philosophy and structure. In accordance with the Compensation Committee Charter, the Compensation Committee may delegate authority to subcommittees when appropriate.

The Compensation Committee has the authority to engage independent advisors to assist it in making determinations with respect to the compensation of our executives and other employees. For the 20172019 fiscal year the Compensation Committee engaged Semler Brossy to conduct a competitive review of executive compensation and advise the Committee on other compensation related matters. Information regarding the competitive review is provided below under the heading



20


BenchmarkingUse of Market Data for Comparison Against Peer Companies.” Semler Brossy has not provided any other services to the Company or the Compensation Committee and has not received compensation other than with respect to the services provided to the Compensation Committee. In connection with its engagement of Semler Brossy the Compensation Committee evaluated Semler Brossy’s independence from management including the independence of the individual representatives of Semler Brossy who served as the Compensation Committee’s consultants and determined that Semler Brossy is independent based on the NASDAQNasdaq Stock Market’s independence factors.factors, as well as free of conflicts of interest.

Role of Executive Officers in Compensation Decisions

The Compensation Committee meets with the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and other senior executives to obtain recommendations with respect to the Company’s compensation programs and practices for executives and other employees. The Compensation Committee takes management’s recommendations into consideration but is not bound by management’s recommendations with respect to executive compensation. The compensation for the Chief Executive Officer is recommended by the Compensation Committee to the Board for its review and ratification. While management attends certain meetings of the Compensation Committee, the Compensation Committee also holds executive sessions not attended by any members of management or by non-independent directors.

Benchmarking

Use of Market Data for Comparison Against Peer Companies

One factor that the Compensation Committee considers when making compensation decisions is the compensation paid to executives of a peer group of companies. The Compensation Committee also considers other factors discussed below under the heading “Components of Executive Compensation.”

In consultation with Semler Brossy, the Compensation Committee reviewed its list of peer companies in November 2016 that was used for comparative review for 2017 compensation. The list of peer companies consists of the following 13 publicly traded companies of roughly similar size to Advanced Energy.

32   

PRECISION  |  POWER  |  PERFORMANCE

Picture 1

2020 ANNUAL

PROXY STATEMENT

The Compensation Committee reviews the peer companies annually to take into account the volatility of the industries in which Advanced Energy participates in and, whileparticipates. While the Compensation Committee attempts to maintain consistency year to year, adjustments are made as needed. In consultation with Semler Brossy, the Compensation Committee does make adjustments as needed. Allreviewed its list of thesepeer companies in August 2018 that was used for comparative review for 2019 compensation and made several changes to better reflect the company’s size and markets. The list of peer companies consists of the following 14 publicly traded companies of roughly similar size to Advanced Energy all of which are from related industries - including the semiconductor and electronic equipment space -industries and compete with Advanced Energy for executive talent:

Peer Companies

Peer Companies

Brooks Automation, Inc.

Entegris, Inc.

Photronics, Inc.

Astronics Corporation

FEI Company

Thermon Group Holdings,

Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.

MTS Systems Corporation

Integer Holdings (f/k/a Greatbatch Technologies)

Rogers Corporation

Kulicke & Soffa Industries, Inc.

Veeco Instruments, Inc.

Coherent

FormFactor, Inc.

MKS / NewportInstruments, Inc.

Power Integrations, Inc.

Ambarella,

Novanta Inc.

OSI Systems, Inc.

This review and analysis indicated that, on average, Advanced Energy’s executive officers are compensated at or near the 50th percentile of the peer group. The Compensation Committee continues to retain broad discretion as to the extent to which it uses such information. In early 2017, the Compensation Committee determined it to be in the best interests of the Company to continue to offer compensation at or near the 50th percentile in order to recruit and retain top tier executive talent, within the scope of an executive's duties as compared to benchmark positions and the executive’s performance in prior periods.

Components of Executive Compensation

For 2017,2019, the principal components of compensation for named executive officers were: (1) Base Salary,base salary, (2) Annual Cash Performance-Based Compensationannual performance based cash compensation under the 20172019 STI Plan, (3) Long-Term Performance-Based Equity Incentive Compensationlong term performance-based equity incentive compensation under the 20172019 LTI Plan, and (4) Other Benefits,other benefits, each of which are described in more detail below. In determining the amount and relative allocation among each component of compensation for each named executive officer, the Compensation Committee considered, among other factors, the Company’s and each executive officer’s performance during the year, historical rates of executive compensation, data obtained from management’s recruitment activities, the comparative review and analysis provided by Semler Brossy and alignment with the Company’s overall compensation philosophy. As we mentioned above, the Compensation Committee allocated the majority of our named executive officer’sofficers target compensation in 20172019 to performance-based compensation under our 20172019 STI Plan and 20172019 LTI Plan, consistent with our “pay for performance” philosophy.

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33

2020 ANNUAL

Picture 10

PROXY STATEMENT

PRINCIPAL COMPENSATION COMPONENTS FOR NEOS:

Base Salary

Long-Term
Incentive Plan

Short-Term
Incentive Plan

Other Benefits

The amount and relative allocation of each of the above components at target depends on the following factors:

Historical rates of Executive Compensation

Data obtained from management’s recruitment activities

The comparative review and analysis provided by Semler Brossy

Alignment with the Company’s overall compensation philosophy

Base Salary

Base salaries are set at levels that the Compensation Committee deems to be sufficient to attract and retain highly talented executive officers capable of fulfilling the Company’s key objectives. Base salaries of our named executive officers are



21


also set with the goal of rewarding executive officers on a day-to-dayday to day basis for their time and services. For 2017,2019, the Compensation Committee decided to award each of our named executive officersMr. Wasserman, Mr. Brinker and Mr. McGimpsey a merit increase in base salary. The higher 2019 base salary resulting inincrease for Mr. Oldham was based on a combination of merit increase and factors including review of his most recent salary, peer company compensation, general market trends, as well as consideration of the current salaries of the Company’s executives and senior leadership. The base salaries of each of our named executive officers in 2019 were as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Base Salary

 

% Increase

 

Name

    

Position

    

(per annum)

    

from 2018

 

Yuval Wasserman

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

$

721,000

 

3.0

%

Paul Oldham

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

$

425,200

 

6.3

%

Neil Brinker

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

 

$

437,750

 

3.0

%

Thomas McGimpsey

 

Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Government Affairs & Corporate Secretary

 

$

360,500

 

3.0

%

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PRECISION  |  POWER  |  PERFORMANCE

Name Position Base Salary 
(per annum)
% Increase from 2016
Yuval Wasserman President and Chief Executive Officer $650,0004%
Thomas Liguori Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer $420,0005%
Thomas O. McGimpsey 
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary(1)
 $340,0003%
      
(1) Mr. McGimpsey was appointed Interim Chief Financial Officer upon Mr. Liguori’s departure on January 26, 2018.

Picture 1

2020 ANNUAL

PROXY STATEMENT

2017

2019 Short Term Incentive Plan Compensation

The 20172019 STI Plan provides the Company’s management team including each of the named executive officers with an opportunity to earn an annual cash bonus based on the Company’s achievement of certain financial performance goals and in the case of Mr. Wasserman a portion is based on the achievement of individual strategic goals.

The Compensation Committee set each of our named executive officers’ target bonus opportunity expressed as a percentage of his base salary. Actual bonuses awarded to each of our named executive officers may range from 0% to 200% of target depending on actual company and individual performance as described below. For 2017,2019 these annual bonus targets were as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name

    

Target as a % of Base Salary

    

Target ($)

Yuval Wasserman

 

100%

 

$

721,000

Paul Oldham

 

70%

 

$

297,640

Neil Brinker

 

70%

 

$

306,425

Thomas McGimpsey

 

60%

 

$

216,300

Name Target as a % of Base Salary Target ($)
Yuval Wasserman 100% $650,000
Thomas Liguori 75%��$315,000
Thomas O. McGimpsey 60% $204,000

Our named executive officers’ annual bonuses are paid out of a bonus pool, the size of which is contingent on the achievement of certain financial performance goals. Achievement of the various performance goals listed in the table below determinedetermines the size of the bonus pool for Messrs. Wasserman, Oldham, Brinker and McGimpsey, subject to, with respect to Mr. Liguori and Mr. McGimpsey’s entire bonus amount, and $400,000 of Mr. Wasserman’s annual target bonus provided, however, that the bonus pool will not be funded, and thus each of our named executive officer’s annual bonus payouts will be zero, if we do not achieve Non-GAAP Operating Income from Continuing Operations of at least $140.42 million in 2017.Wasserman, a +/- 10% strategic modifier. The Compensation Committee selected the specific financial performance metrics for the 20172019 STI Plan because such metrics are aligned with the Company’s overall strategic plan. Specifically, the Compensation Committee believes that the non-GAAP metrics are better indicators of the operating performance.

Values in $MM, except as noted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

    

    

 

 

  

  

Actual Performance  

  

  

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

Performance Goals

 

 

(Excluding Artesyn)*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Threshold

 

Target ****

 

Stretch

 

 

 

 

 

%.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(50%

 

(100%

 

(200%

 

 

Dollar

 

Incentive

 

 

Weighted

 

Financial Performance Metric

 

Weight

 

  

Payout)

 

Payout)

 

Payout)

 

 

Value

 

Earned

 

 

Payout %

 

Revenue **

 

50

%  

 

$

525

 

$

700

 

$

875

 

 

$

569

 

62

%

  

31

%

Non-GAAP Operating Income from Continuing Operations**

 

30

%  

 

$

55

 

$

140

 

$

220

 

 

$

85

 

67

%

  

20

%

Operational Cash Flow ***

 

20

%  

 

$

62

 

$

83

 

$

104

 

 

$

92

 

142

%  

  

28

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall Achievement

 

80

%


*         

Financial Performance MetricWeightThreshold (MM) (50% Earned)Target (MM) (100% Earned)Stretch (MM) (200% Earned)
Revenue50%$448.05$597.40$746.75
Non GAAP Operating Income from Continuing Operations(excludes the impact of non-cash related charges and non-recurring items)30%$140.42$165.20$189.98
Operational Cash Flow (cash generated by normal operations)20%$125.46$147.60$169.74
     
*Achievement percentages between the threshold and target and between the target and stretch levels are interpolated.
The remaining $250,000 of Mr. Wasserman’s target annual bonusCompensation Committee made the decision to exclude Artesyn results from the performance calculation.

**        Non-GAAP Operating Income from Continuing Operations must be met to trigger pool funding for that goal and for the Revenue goal. Under the 2019 STI Plan, Non-GAAP Operating Income from Continuing Operations excludes non-cash related charges and non-recurring items.

***Operational Cash Flow is basednot dependent on the achievementother goals and represents cash flow from non-GAAP operating income, adjusted for changes in working capital and excluding any tax rate on repatriation of individual performance goals related to organic and inorganic Company growth, determined at the discretion ofcapital. For changes in working capital, the Compensation Committee taking into account both inorganicexcluded impacts resulting from acquired cash in acquisitions.

****     Achievement percentages between the threshold and organic growth strategic goals, but contingent ontarget and limited bybetween the funding of the annual bonus pool based on the goals described above.target and stretch levels are linearly interpolated.

PRECISION  |  POWER  |  PERFORMANCE

35



22

2020 ANNUAL

Picture 10

PROXY STATEMENT



Based on our 2019 performance during 2017,excluding Artesyn, the bonus pool was funded at 174%, according to the calculation in the table below:

2017 STI Performance
Financial Performance MetricWeightActualEarned %Weighted Earned %
Revenue50%$671 million149%74%
Non GAAP Operating Income from Continuing Operations30%$218 million200%60%
Operational Cash Flow20%$183 million200%40%
Overall Achievement174%
As a result of our 2017 performance, Mr. Wasserman received a 174% payout of the $400,000 portion of his bonus opportunity related to Company performance. The Compensation Committee determined that Mr. Wasserman should receive 112.5% of the remaining $250,000 of his target bonus opportunity, resulting in a total 2017 STI Plan payout80%. Applying this percentage to Mr. Wasserman of $977,250. resulted in $576,800 for his bonus payout. In addition, Mr. Wasserman also received $58,200, or a 10% strategic modifier since he achieved the following strategic goals.

·

Market share and content gains as measured by key design wins. All initiatives are taken from the Company’s 2019 Annual Operating Plan and goals support our strategic plan.

Based on the corporate achievement of 174%80% as noted above and Mr. McGimpseyWasserman’s strategic modifier, the NEOs achieved the following payouts for 2019:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial

 

 

(Actual at 80% of Target)

Name

 

Target

 

Actual

Yuval Wasserman

    

$

721,000

    

$

635,000

Paul Oldham

 

 

297,640

 

 

238,112

Neil Brinker

 

 

306,425

 

 

245,140

Thomas McGimpsey

 

 

216,300

 

 

173,040

2020 Short-Term Incentive Plan Performance Period

In an effort to address volatility in the markets the Company serves, we changed the 2020 Short Term Incentive Plan to provide for two six-month performance periods (January 1 – June 30 and July 1 – December 31) instead of a payoutfiscal year performance period (January 1 – December 31). The Company’s management team including each of $354,960. Mr. McGimpsey was additionally awarded a spotthe named executive officers will have the opportunity to earn 50% of their target bonus of $50,000 in February 2018opportunity with respect to each 6-month performance period. Please see the Company’s Form 10-K, Item 9B for assumingfurther information on the interim chief financial officer role. Since Mr. Liguori was not employed at the time we paid bonuses under our STI Plan, he forfeited his right to receive any payout under the 2017 STI2020 Short-Term Incentive Plan.

2017

2019 Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation

During 2017,2019 each of our named executive officers also participated in the 20172019 LTI Plan, pursuant to which we granted equity awards under the Company’s 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan as amended.  For 2017,2019 the Compensation Committee determined the following 20172019 target dollar value for equity awards granted to each of our named executive officers:

Name

Name2017

2019 LTI Plan Target Grant Date Fair Value

Yuval Wasserman

$2,500,000
3,150,000
Thomas Liguori

Paul Oldham

$825,000
900,000

Neil Brinker

$
1,000,000

Thomas O. McGimpsey

$625,000
700,000

LTI Plan targets are set at levels that the Compensation Committee deems to be sufficient to attract and retain highly talented executive officers capable of fulfilling the Company’s key objectives. In consultation with Semler Brossy, the Compensation Committee reviewed the LTI Plan targets of the Company’s executive officers compared to the peer group and general market data to determine an LTI Plan target award value. The Committee determined that each of the named executive officerofficers listed above would receive (a) 50% of the LTI Plan awardsaward value in the form of time-based restricted stock units with a performance hurdle and (b) 50% of the LTI Plan award value in the form of performance stock units. We determined the number of restricted stock units and performance stock units to be granted to each named executive officer by dividing each named executive officer’s target grant date value indicated above by the 30-day30‑day trailing average of the closing price of the Company’s common stock leading up to the grant date. The grant date which was February 2, 2017. You can find further22, 2019 for the named executive officers. Further details regarding the number of restricted stock units and performance stock units that we granted to each of ourthe named executive officers in 2017under the 2019 LTI Plan can be found in the “Grants of Plan-BasedPlan Based Awards” table below.

36   

PRECISION  |  POWER  |  PERFORMANCE

Picture 1

2020 ANNUAL

PROXY STATEMENT

The grants of restricted stock units in 2019 vest ratably over a three (3) yearthree-year period with 1/3 vesting on each anniversary of the grant date, so long as the Company achieves positive Non-GAAP Operating Income from Continuing Operations for 2017. date.

The performance stock units will vest based on the achievement of revenue and non-GAAP earnings per share (“Non-GAAP EPS”) from continuing operations over a 3 yearthree-year performance period (2017-2019)(2019‑2021). All or a portion of such performance stock units can vest in any quarter during such three yearthree-year performance period if any of the performance goals are independently met over a trailing four quarter period (with the first measurement occurring at the end of the fourth quarter of 2017). However,2019), contingent upon non-GAAP EPS achievement for the revenue measure. The Compensation Committee believes this early earning opportunity aligns incentives with the business strategy of accelerating growth of the organization. Three-year targets are based on aspirational goals and represent growth rates well above the underlying markets in which we operate. Some or all of the awards may be earned prior to the end of the 3‑year performance period if growth rates exceed these difficult targets. Since awards are granted annually, there is an “overlapping” effect mitigating the risk of actions to accelerate the earning of any specific year’s award. A threshold level of adjustedNon-GAAP EPS (indicated in the table below) must be met for any performance stock units to vest, evenincluding the performance stock units that would otherwise vest based on the achievement revenue goals.

The performance goals and corresponding payout levels offor the 2019 LTI performance stock units that we granted during 2017 were as follows:
2017 Performance Stock Unit Performance Goals
Financial Performance MetricWeight
Threshold
(50% payout)
Target
(100% payout)
Stretch
(200% payout)
Revenue50%$650 million$750 million$850 million
Non GAAP EPS50%$3.00$3.50$4.00


23


Performance Goal Achievement as of December 31, 2017
Becausefollows and include Artesyn financial contribution to the Company achieved positive Non-GAAP operating income from continuing operations for 2017,overall achievement:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019 LTI Performance Stock Unit Performance Goals

 

 

 

 

Threshold

 

Target

 

Stretch

 

 

 

 

(50%

 

(100%

 

(200%

Financial Performance Metric

    

Weight

    

payout)

    

payout)

    

payout)

Revenue

 

50

%  

$

950 M

 

$

1.19 B

 

$

1.31 B

Non-GAAP EPS

 

50

%  

$

6.50

 

$

7.00

 

$

7.50

At the restricted stock units that we granted in 2017 will vest ratably over a three (3) year period, with 1/3 vesting on each anniversaryend of the grant, provided that3‑year performance period, we will interpolate performance between threshold and target and target and stretch for the named executive officer remains continuously employed through such date. Because Mr. Liguori’s employment terminated on January 26, 2017, he forfeited all of his restricted stock units granted during 2017.

With regard tolast trailing four quarter period in the 3‑year performance period and vest any remaining performance stock units that we granted in 2017, overaccordingly.

Over the four quarterfour-quarter period beginning on January 1, 20172019 and ending on December 31, 2017,2019, the Company achieveddid not achieve the followingthreshold performance goals resulting in thefor revenue or Non-GAAP EPS, and accordingly, no vesting of such performance stock unit vesting listedunits occurred during 2019. As a result, Messrs. Wasserman, Oldham, Brinker and McGimpsey were each granted and earned the number of 2019 LTI stock units reported in the table below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

    

2019 LTI Restricted

2019 LTI Performance

2019 LTI Performance

 

 

2019 LTI Restricted

Stock Units Vested

Stock Units Granted

Stock Units Earned

 

 

Stock Units Granted

during 2019

during 2019

during 2019

Name

 

(#)

(#)

(at Target) (#)

(#)

Yuval Wasserman

 

31,256

 

10,418

 

31,256

(1)

 0

Paul Oldham

 

8,930

 

2,976

 

8,930

(1)

 0

Neil Brinker

 

9,922

 

3,307

 

9,922

(1)

 0

Thomas McGimpsey

 

6,945

 

2,315

 

6,945

(1)

 0

2017 Performance Stock Unit Actual Performance
Financial Performance MetricWeightActual ($)% VestedWeighted % Vested
Revenue50%$671 million50%25%
Non GAAP EPS50%$4.77200%100%
 Target Vested as of December 31, 2017125%
Based on the achievement of the threshold revenue goal and stretch Non-GAAP EPS goal, a total of 125% of the target number of performance stock units were earned as of December 31, 2017. However, our named executive officers must remain employed with us through the date we file our annual report on SEC Form 10-K to receive payment of the shares earned under these awards. The table below shows the number of performance stock units for which the performance goals have been met as of December 31, 2017 for each of our named executive officers. Because Mr. Liguori terminated employment on January 26, 2018, he forfeited each of the performance stock units granted under the 2017 LTI Plan.

(1)

Name

2017 Performance Stock Units (#)
Yuval Wasserman27,112
Thomas Liguori
Thomas O. McGimpsey6,778

Granted at 200% of this amount should stretch targets be met.

Special 2017 Restricted

2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan Performance Stock Unit Grant

Units

In recognition of the Company’s overall performance in 2016, the Compensation Committee thought that our named executive officers should be granted additional restricted stock units in addition to those granted under the 2017 LTI Plan. As such, our Compensation Committee granted Messrs. Wasserman, Liguori and McGimpsey 20,000, 10,000 and 5,000 restricted stock units, respectively, on February 28, 2017. These restricted stock units vest on February 27, 2018, subject to the individual remaining employed by us through such date. Since Mr. Liguori terminated employment on January 26, 2018, he also forfeited such award.

2016 Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation
    Similar to the 2017 LTI Plan, in 2016, we awarded each of our named executive officers performance stock units under our 2018 LTI Plan that vest based on our achievement of performance metrics over a three (3) year performance period (2016-2018)(2018‑2020). Like the performance stock units that we granted in 2019, all or a portion of the 2018 LTI performance stock units can vest in any quarter during the three-year performance period if any of the

PRECISION  |  POWER  |  PERFORMANCE

37

2020 ANNUAL

Picture 10

PROXY STATEMENT

performance goals are independently met over a trailing four quarter period. The performance metricsgoals for the 20162018 LTI performance stock units were as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018 LTI Performance Stock Unit Performance Goals

 

 

 

 

Threshold

 

Target 

 

Stretch 

Financial Performance Metric

    

Weight

    

(50% payout)

    

(100% payout)

    

(200% payout)

Revenue

 

50

%  

$

900 M

 

$

1.13 B

 

$

1.25 B

Non-GAAP EPS

 

50

%  

$

5.50

 

$

6.00

 

$

6.50

2016 Performance Stock Unit Performance Goals
Financial Performance MetricWeight
Threshold
(50% payout)
Target
(100% payout)
Stretch
(200% payout)
Revenue50%$550 million$650 million$750 million
Non GAAP EPS50%$2.50$3.00$3.50


24


During 2017, we achieved

Under the 2018 LTI Plan, the revenue and the Non-GAAP EPS of $3.60, calculated over the four (4) quarter period beginning April 1, 2016 and ending March 31, 2017, resulting in achievement of our 2016 stretch EPS goal and thethresholds required to trigger vesting of either the following numberrevenue or Non-GAAP EPS financial metrics were both not met; therefore, no performance stock units forvested in 2019 under the 2018 grant.

2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan Performance Stock Units

In 2017, we awarded each of our named executive officers (of which, Messrs. Wasserman and McGimpsey are also current named executive officers) performance stock units under our 2017 LTI Plan that vest based on May 4, 2017:our achievement of performance metrics over a three (3) year performance period (2017‑2019). Like the performance stock units that we granted in 2019, all or a portion of the 2017 LTI performance stock units can vest in any quarter during the three-year performance period if any of the performance goals are independently met over a trailing four quarter period, contingent upon non-GAAP EPS achievement for the revenue measure. The performance goals for the 2017 LTI performance stock units were as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017 LTI Performance Stock Unit Performance Goals

 

 

 

 

Threshold

 

Target

 

Stretch

Financial Performance Metric

    

Weight

    

(50% payout)

    

(100% payout)

    

(200% payout)

Revenue

 

50

%  

$

650 M

 

$

750 M

 

$

850 M

Non-GAAP EPS

 

50

%  

$

3.00

 

$

3.50

 

$

4.00

Name2016 EPS Performance Stock Units Earned during 2017 (#)
Yuval Wasserman15,389
Thomas Liguori5,497
Thomas O. McGimpsey4,617
We also

Prior to 2019, all the 2017 LTI performance stock units based on Non-GAAP EPS had already vested because we achieved our 2016 targetthe Non-GAAP EPS stretch goal in 2017 (the first four quarters of the performance period), and a 25% portion of the 2017 LTI performance stock units based on revenue had already vested because we achieved the threshold revenue goal during 2017. During 2019, an additional 44.4% of $650 million, calculated over the four quarters beginning January 1, 2017 and ending December 31, 2017.LTI performance stock units based on revenue vested because we achieved revenue of $788.9M by the end of 2019. As a result, Messrs. Wasserman Liguori, and McGimpsey each earned the number of 2016 revenue performance2017 LTI stock units reported in the table below. For Messrs. Wassermanbelow during 2019. After 2019, there will be no more vesting of the 2017 LTI performance stock units because the performance period expired, and McGimpsey, 50%any unearned 2017 LTI performance stock units were forfeited at the end of such units reported below vested on August 3, 2017, after we filed our SEC Form 10-Q for the second quarter of 2017, and 50% vested on February 15, 2018, after we filed our SEC Form 10-K for 2017. For Mr. Liguori,2019.

2017 LTI Performance Stock Units

Name

Earned in 2019 (#)

Yuval Wasserman

9,630

Thomas McGimpsey

2,408

Additional information regarding the number of performance stock units reportedthat vested under our 2017‑2018 and 2019 LTI Plans for each named executive officer in 2019 can be found below solely reflectsin the “2019 Option Exercises and Stock Vested” table and information regarding the number of stock units that vested on August 3, 2017. Since Mr. Liguori was not employed by us on February 15, 2018, he forfeitedare unvested but remain outstanding for each named executive officer can be found below in the remaining 75%“2019 Outstanding Awards at Fiscal Year End” table.

Artesyn Performance-Based Integration Cash Incentive Program

On October 25, 2019, the Company approved a performance-based cash integration incentive program for select employees and members of management (including the 2016 revenue performance stock units.named executive officers) that would reward

38   

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2020 ANNUAL

Name2016 Revenue Performance Stock Units Earned during 2017 (#)
Yuval Wasserman15,388
Thomas Liguori2,748
Thomas O. McGimpsey4,616

PROXY STATEMENT

participants should the Company achieve identified synergies, accretion targets and significant milestones related to factory and facility optimization, all with respect to the integration of Artesyn Embedded Technologies, Inc.’s Embedded Power business during the 2020 and 2021 performance period (the “Integration Incentive Program”). The Integration Incentive Program is in addition to other incentive programs and may pay out early if targets and milestones are achieved early. Under the Integration Incentive Program, an eligible participant can achieve between 0% and 150% of target with a threshold achievement of 50% of target based on achievement of specific financial and integration goals. The eligible named executive officers under the Integration Incentive Program and their target cash incentive opportunity (shown in parenthesis) are as follows: Yuval Wasserman, President & Chief Executive Officer ($725,000), Paul Oldham, EVP & Chief Financial Officer ($725,000), Neil Brinker, EVP & Chief Operating Officer ($725,000) and Tom McGimpsey, EVP - Integration Manager ($600,000).

Other Benefits

As U.S. employees, the executives were eligible to participate in health and welfare benefits, as offered to our U.S. workforce,workforce. These benefits are designed to attract and retain a skilled workforce in a competitive marketplace. These benefits also help ensure that the Company has a healthy and focused workforce through reliable and competitive health and other personal benefits. These benefits were considered in relation to the total compensation package but did not materially impact decisions regarding other elements of executive officer compensation.

All U.S. employees of the Company including the executive officers are eligible to participate in the Company’s 401(k) savings plan and are eligible to receive matching contributions byfrom the Company of fifty percent (50%) of the first six percent (6%) of compensation contributed to the plan by the employee.

All U.S. employees of the Company excluding the executive officers,and senior leadership team through vice presidents are eligible to participate in the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”), which allows for employees to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock with funds withheld directly from their pay. The ESPP also provides participants with a right to purchase a limited number of shares of common stock of the Company at a purchase price equal to the lesser of eighty five percent (85%) of the fair market value of the stock on either the opening or closing date of an offering period under the plan.

Tax and Accounting Implications

When determining the compensation packages of our named executive officers, the Compensation Committee considers all factors that may have an impact on our financial performance such as accounting rules and tax regulations, including Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. Section 162(m) generally disallows a tax deduction to publicly traded corporations for compensation in excess of $1 million paid for any fiscal year to certain covered executives. For compensation paid for the 2017 fiscal year, our covered executives were Messrs. Wasserman. Liguori, and McGimpsey. Starting with the 2018 fiscal year, as a result of the changes madePrior to Section 162(m) by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act our number of covered executives will increase to include those three executives, plus any executive who serves as our Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer at any time on or after January 1, 2018, or who is among our three most highly compensated executive officers for any fiscal year beginning with 2018.

Forenacted in 2017 (the “Tax Reform Act”), certain performance-based compensation paid for the 2017 fiscal year, the statute generally exempts qualifying performance-based compensationwas potentially exempt from the $1 million annual deduction limit if certain conditions are met. Starting withlimit. However, under the 2018 fiscal year,Tax Reform Act, only qualifying performance-based compensation that is paid pursuant to a written binding contract in effect on November 2, 2017 will be exempt from the deduction limit. Only Mr. Wasserman and Mr. McGimpsey have qualifying performance-based compensation that may be paid pursuant to written binding contracts in effect as of November 2, 2017.

Accordingly, any compensation paid in the future pursuant to new compensation arrangements entered into after November 2, 2017, even if performance-based,performance based, will count towards the $1 million fiscal year deduction limit if paid to a covered executive. Because the Compensation Committee believes that the potential deductibility of



25


compensation is only one of a number of relevant factors to consider when awarding compensation, and as a result of the changes made to Section 162(m) by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, some of the compensation we provide to our executive officers may not be deductible as a result of Section 162(m).

Response to the 20172018 Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

As required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the SEC’s rulemakings thereunder, we offered our stockholders an advisory vote on executive compensation as set forth more fully in

PRECISION  |  POWER  |  PERFORMANCE

39

2020 ANNUAL

Picture 10

PROXY STATEMENT

our 20172019 proxy statement. As reported on the Current Report on Form 8-K8‑K filed with the SEC on May 4, 2017,June 5, 2019, over 32.332.8 million shares of our common stock voted in favor of the executive compensation paid to our named executive officers at our 20172019 Annual Meeting, of Stockholders, representing approximately 95%96% of the votes cast on the proposal. In light of this approval rate, our Compensation Committee believed that no significant changes to our compensation programs were required. We will continue to carefully consider our annual votes in making future compensation decisions. We value the feedback of all of our stockholders and encourage all of our stockholders to vote on Proposal No. 3 as contained in this proxy statement.

Anti-Hedging Policy

The Company’s insider trading policy prohibits all employees, officers, directors and their family and controlled entities from engaging in any hedging transactions with respect to the Company’s common stock.

Stock Ownership Policy

In February 2014, our Board of Directors adopted a Stock Ownership Policy, effective for years beginning with 2014, which is applicable to the Chief Executive Officer, the named executive officers reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (including Mr. Liguori and Mr. McGimpsey) and non-employee members of the Board of Directors. The Stock Ownership Policy provides that (1)(a) the Chief Executive Officer shall own an amount of stock of the Company with a value equal to at least five (5) times his or her annual base salary (excluding any bonus, award or special compensation), (2)(b) the senior executivesnamed executive officers reporting to the Chief Executive Officer shall own an amount of stock of the Company with a value equal to at least three (3) times his or her annual base salary (excluding any bonus, award or special compensation), and (3)(c) non-employee members of the Board of Directors shall own an amount of stock of the Company with a value equal to at least five (5) times the annual retainer for Board service (exclusive of any compensation for Committee service, meeting fees, leadership roles and the like), based in each case, on the volume weighted average closing price of the Company’s stock for the two fiscal years as of December 31 of the applicable year and subject to the terms in the policy. The policy provides for a phase-inphase‑in period over five years to achieve the respective ownership goal. AllThe CEO, named executive officers and non-employee members of the Board either currently conform to the policy or are on track to fully comply.

comply within the required time period.

Compensation Committee Report

The information contained in this report shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or “filed” with the SEC or subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates such information by reference in a document filed under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

The Compensation Committee of the Board has reviewed and discussed with management the above Compensation Discussion and Analysis for fiscal year 2017.2019. Based upon the review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board, and the Board has approved, that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 20182020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Meeting.

This report is submitted by the Compensation Committee.

Edward C. Grady, Chair

Grant H. Beard

John A. Roush

Compensation Risk Assessment

In 2017,2019, the Compensation Committee, with the assistance of Semler Brossy, reviewed the formal risk assessment for all our incentive compensation programs that have material impact on our financial

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2020 ANNUAL

PROXY STATEMENT

statements. In conducting such review, the Compensation Committee considered key information about each incentive compensation plan within our compensation program, including the number of participants, target annual awards, performance metrics, and design features. As a result of such review, the Compensation Committee determined that none of our incentive plans presentpresents a material adverse risk to the financial statements of the Company.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

The current members of the Compensation Committee are Messrs. Grady (Chair), Beard and Roush. There are no interlocking relationships as defined in the applicable SEC rules.



26


During 2017,2019, no executive officer of Advanced Energy served as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of another company that has any executive officers or directors serving on Advanced Energy’s Board of Directors or its Compensation Committee.

Change in Control and General Severance Agreements

The Company is party to aentered into certain executive change in control (“CIC”and general severance agreements (the “agreements”) agreementin 2018 with each of Messrs. Wasserman, McGimpsey,Oldham, Brinker and Liguori.McGimpsey. The CIC agreements provide each of the executive officers with severance payments and certain benefits in the event of a termination without Causecause (as defined in the CIC agreements) at any time (known as the “General Severance Benefits”), or other involuntarya termination without cause or for good reason (as defined in the agreements) following an actual, or during a pending, change in control.control (known as “CIC Benefits”). The Company entered into theprovides CIC agreements and established the payment amounts thereunderBenefits in order to keep management focused on the Company’s stated corporate objectives irrespective of whether the achievement of such objectives makes the Company attractive for acquisition, and to avoid the distraction and loss of key management that could occur in connection with a rumored or actual change in corporate control.

The Company decided to also provide General Severance Benefits in these agreements after determining that such benefits were commonly provided by the Company’s peers. The Compensation Committee approved the terms and conditions of the agreements based on consideration of marketplace benchmark data and the Company’s retention objectives.

Under these agreements, if the CICexecutive’s employment is terminated without cause (and not in connection with a change in control), then the General Severance Benefits provided to the executive are: (a) all then accrued compensation, (b) a lump sum payment equal to one times (1x) (or in the case of the Chief Executive Officer, one and a half times (1.5x)) the executive’s then current annual base salary, (c) continuation of insurance and other benefits for twelve (12) months following the date of termination, (d) an amount equal to the contributions that would have been made to the Company’s retirement plans on behalf of executive, if the executive had continued to be employed for twelve (12) months following the date of termination, and (e) reimbursement, up to $15,000, for outplacement services.

Under these agreements, in the event of an executive’s termination without cause or for good reason within 12 months following an actual, or during a pending, change in control, the CIC Benefits provided to the executive is entitled to receive:are: (a) all then accrued compensation and a pro-rata portion of executive’s target bonus for the year in which the termination is effected, (b) a lump sum payment equal toone and a half times (1.5x) the executive’s then current annual base salary plus his or herand target bonus for the year in which the termination is effected (or in the case of the Chief Executive Officer, two times such(2x) the then current annual base salary and target bonus amount), (c) continuation of insurance and other benefits for 18 months following the date of termination, (d) an amount equal to the contributions that would have been made to the Company’s retirement plans on behalf of executive, if the executive had continued to be employed for twelve (12) months following the date of termination, (e) reimbursement, up to $4,870,$15,000, for outplacement services, and (f) full vesting and right to exercise all stock options, equity grants and other equity awards (at maximum) then held by the executive so terminated. Other than accrued compensation, an executive is not entitled to receive any compensation, benefits or other payments

PRECISION  |  POWER  |  PERFORMANCE

41

2020 ANNUAL

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PROXY STATEMENT

The payment of the General Severance Benefits and CIC Benefits under these agreements are conditioned upon the CIC agreements unless the executive provides the Company withexecutive’s execution of a full release of claims. The Compensation Committee determinedclaims against the terms of the CIC agreements based on consideration of marketplace benchmark data and the Company’s retention objectives.

Company.

CEO Pay Ratio

As required by Securities and Exchange Commission rules we are providing the following information about the ratio of the median annual total compensation of our employees and the annual total compensation of Mr. Wasserman our CEO. For the year ended December 31, 2017:2019:

·

the median of the annual total compensation of all employees* of our Company was reasonably estimated to be $46,644. The median employee is employed in the United Kingdom as a Test Technician I.

·

the annual total compensation of Mr. Wasserman was $4,613,425.

·

Based on this information, the ratio of the annual total compensation of our chief executive officer to the median of the annual total compensation of all other employees is estimated to be 99 to 1.

*The median employee calculation for 2019 for purposes of CEO pay ratio comparison excludes Artesyn employees (approximately 8,317 employees) because the median ofacquisition occurred late in the annual total compensation of all employees of our Company was reasonably estimated to be $35,081.

the annual total compensation of Mr. Wasserman was $5,539,991.
Based on this information, the ratio of the annual total compensation of our chief executive officer to the median of the annual total compensation of all other employees is estimated to be 158 to 1.
fiscal year.

Excluding our CEO, we identified the median employee by examining the 20172019 total targetactual compensation, which includes annual base salary, cash allowances, target cash incentives and targetlong-term equity, for all individuals who we employed on December 31, 2017,2019, the last day of our payroll year.year (excluding Artesyn). We included all our employees, whether full-time, part-time, or seasonal, including any interns, fixed-term, temporary employees, or individuals that we employ through an agency. We annualized the total targetactual compensation for any individual that works full-time but wewas hired after January 1, 2017.2019. For any employee that we paid in currency other than U.S. Dollars, we then applied the applicable foreign currency exchange rate as of December 31, 20172019 to convert such employee’s total target compensation into U.S. Dollars.

Once we identified our median employee, we added together all of the elements of such employee’s compensation for 20172019 in the same way that we calculate the annual total compensation of our named executive officers in the Summary Compensation Table. To calculate our ratio, we divided Mr. Wasserman’s annual total compensation as reported in the Summary Compensation Table above, by the median employee’s annual total compensation.

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2020 ANNUAL

PROXY STATEMENT

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The Company currently maintains two equity compensation plans: theThe Company’s 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended, and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”). Both plans were approved by the Company’s stockholders. The following table sets forth the number of shares of common stock subject to outstanding options and other rights, the weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, and the number of shares remaining available for future award grants as of January 1, 2018December 31, 2019 in each of the equity compensation plans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

A

    

B

    

C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

remaining

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

available for

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

issuance under

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

compensation

 

 

 

Number of securities to

 

Weighted average

 

plans (excluding

 

 

 

be issued upon exercise

 

exercise price of

 

securities

 

 

 

of outstanding options,

 

outstanding options,

 

reflected in

 

 

 

warrants and rights

 

warrants and rights

 

column (A)

 

Plan Category

 

(#)

 

($)

 

(#)

 

Equity Compensation plans approved by security holders

 

185,084

(1)  

21.56

 

2,543,919

(2)

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

Total

 

185,084

 

21.56

 

2,543,919

 




(1)

Includes 185,084 shares subject to stock options.

27

(2)

Includes 236,628 shares available for future issuance under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.



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43

Plan Category
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights
(#)(a)
 
Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights
($)(b)
 
Number of securities remaining available for issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))
(#)(c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders316,922
 (1)18.97
 4,488,326
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
 
 
Total316,922
 18.97
 4,488,326
      
(1) Includes 316,922 shares subject to stock options

2020 ANNUAL

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PROXY STATEMENT


Management

Executive officers of the Company are appointed by the Board and serve for a term of one year and until their successors have been appointed and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal by the Board. The following table sets forth names and ages of our current executive officers of the Company and their respective positions with the Company as of the date of this proxy statement:

proxy.

Name

Age

Position

NameAgePosition

Principal Occupation and Business Experience

Yuval Wasserman

63

YUVAL WASSERMAN

65

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

A summary of Mr. Wasserman’s business experience is included in Proposal No. 11. on page 89.

Thomas O. McGimpsey

56

PAUL OLDHAM

56

Executive Vice President, InterimChief Financial Officer

Mr. Oldham joined the Company in May 2018 as its Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer. Previously Mr. Oldham served as the Senior Vice President of Administration, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of Electro Scientific Industries, Inc., a developer and manufacturer of laser-based production equipment (“ESI”), from February 17, 2016 until December 4, 2017, and as the Vice President of Administration, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of ESI from January 7, 2008 until February 16, 2016. Prior to joining ESI, Mr. Oldham was employed at Tektronix, Inc., a test, measurement, and monitoring company, since 1988, where he held several senior leadership positions, including Vice President Finance and Corporate Controller, Vice President - Treasurer and Investor Relations and European Operations Controller. Mr. Oldham has a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and an MBA in accounting and finance from Brigham Young University.

NEIL BRINKER

44

Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer

Mr. Brinker joined the Company in June 2018 as its Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer. Previously, Mr. Brinker served as the Group President of the IDEX Corporation (“IDEX”), from July 2015, and was Platform President of IDEX’s Material Processing Technologies from May 2014 to July 2015 and General Manager of IDEX’s Fluid Management business from April 2012 to May 2014. Prior to IDEX, Mr. Brinker was a Director of Global Operations at Danaher Corporation (“Danaher”) from July 2009 to April 2012 and held several other operations management leadership positions at Danaher from February 2007 to July 2009. Prior to Danaher, Mr. Brinker held various management positions at General Motors Company from 2001 to 2007. Mr. Brinker holds a B.S.M.E. degree from Michigan State University, a Master of Engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Eastern Michigan University.

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2020 ANNUAL

PROXY STATEMENT

Name

Age

Position

Principal Occupation and Business Experience

THOMAS  MCGIMPSEY

58

Executive Vice President, General Counsel,


Government Affairs & Corporate Secretary

Mr. McGimpsey joined the Company in April 2009 and serves as Vice President and General Counsel and was promoted toits Executive Vice President of- General Counsel, Government Affairs & Corporate Secretary. Mr. McGimpsey was the interim Chief Financial Officer from January to May in 2018, the Corporate Development (M&A) Officer from 2011 to 2015 and General Counsel in August 2011, and heldhe managed the corporate development executive position until mid-2015. In January 2018, Mr. McGimpsey was appointed as the Interim Chief Financial Officer and now has the combined role of Executive Vice President, Interim Chief Financial Officer & General Counsel. Mr. McGimpsey managed Advanced Energy’s IT Department from 2010 to 2013.2013, all while serving as General Counsel. Prior to joining the Company, from February 2008 to April 2009, Mr. McGimpsey held the position ofwas Vice President of Operations at First Data Corporation.Corporation from February 2008 to April 2009. During 2007, Mr. McGimpsey was a consultant and legal advisor to various companies. From July 2000Prior to January 2007,that, Mr. McGimpsey held various positions with McDATA Corporation such aswas the Executive Vice President of Business Development & Chief Legal Officer Senior Vice President & General Counsel and Vice President of Corporate Development.for McDATA Corporation from July 2000 to January 2007 when the company was sold. From February 1998 until its sale in June 2000, Mr. McGimpsey held the position of Director and Senior Corporate Attorney at US WEST, Inc. From 1991 to 1998, Mr. McGimpsey was in private practice at national law firms. From 1984 to 1988, Mr. McGimpsey was a Senior Engineer for Software Technology, Inc. (a Harris company). Mr. McGimpsey has been on the Board of Directors of CPP, Inc., an international engineering services company, since August 2015 and has been a Commissioner on the Colorado Commission on Higher Education since July 2015. Mr. McGimpsey received his Executive MBA (with honors)distinction) from Colorado State University, his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Colorado and his B.S. degree in Computer Science (with a minor in electrical systems) from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Mr. McGimpsey iswas a National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Board Leadership Fellow.Fellow and is licensed to practice law in New York, Colorado, Florida and before the U.S. Supreme Court.


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45


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2020 ANNUAL

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PROXY STATEMENT



Summary Compensation

The following table shows compensation information for fiscal 2015, 2016,2017, 2018, and 20172019 for the named executive officers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

    

 

    

 

    

 

    

 

    

 

    

Change in

    

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nonqualified

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-Equity

 

Deferred

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock

 

Option

 

Incentive Plan

 

Compensation

 

All Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salary

 

Bonus

 

Awards

 

Awards

 

Compensation

 

Earnings

 

Compensation

 

Total

Name and Principal Position

 

Year

 

($)

 

($)

 

($)(2)

 

($)

 

($)(3)

 

($)

 

($)(4)

 

($)

Yuval Wasserman

 

2019

 

721,000

 

  

 

3,246,873

 

 —

 

635,000

 

 —

 

10,552

 

4,613,425

President and Chief

 

2018

 

700,000

 

 —

 

2,880,846

 

 —

 

725,000

 

 —

 

10,867

 

4,316,713

Executive Officer

 

2017

 

650,000

 

 —

 

3,900,326

 

 —

 

977,250

 

 —

 

12,415

 

5,539,991

Paul Oldham

 

2019

 

425,200

 

 —

 

927,648

 

 —

 

238,112

 

 —

 

10,233

 

1,601,193

Executive Vice President

 

2018

 

267,397

 

 —

 

520,998

 

 —

 

121,940

 

 —

 

7,626

 

917,961

and Chief Financial Officer

 

2017

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

Neil Brinker

 

2019

 

437,750

 

 —

 

1,030,749

 

 —

 

245,140

 

 —

 

10,313

 

1,723,952

Executive Vice President

 

2018

 

229,384

 

150,000

(1)

855,867

 

 —

 

104,423

 

 —

 

965

 

1,340,639

and Chief Operating Officer

 

2017

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

Thomas McGimpsey

 

2019

 

360,500

 

 —

 

721,447

 

 —

 

173,040

 

 —

 

10,073

 

1,265,060

Executive Vice President

 

2018

 

350,000

 

 —

 

672,090

 

 —

 

136,500

 

 —

 

10,352

 

1,168,942

and General Counsel

 

2017

 

340,000

 

 —

 

975,020

 

 —

 

404,960

 

 —

 

11,173

 

1,731,153

Name and Principal Position Year 
Salary
($)
 
Bonus
($)
 
Stock
Awards
($)(1)
 
Option
Awards
($)
 
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)(2)
 
Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
 
All Other
Compensation
($)(3)
 
Total
($)
Yuval Wasserman 2017 650,000
 
 3,900,326
 
 977,250
 
 12,415
 5,539,991
President and Chief Executive 2016 625,000
 
 2,581,217
 
 889,500
 
 9,880
 4,105,597
Officer 2015 600,000
 
 841,899
 799,996
 528,000
 
 25,035
 2,794,930
                   
Thomas Liguori 2017 420,000
 
 1,498,162
 
 
 
 11,173
 1,929,335
Former Executive Vice President and 2016 400,000
 
 919,937
 
 386,400
 
 9,616
 1,715,953
Chief Financial Officer(4)
 2015 233,333
 
 1,799,947
 
 132,859
 
 48,103
 2,214,242
                   
Thomas O. McGimpsey 2017 340,000
 
 975,020
 
 404,960
 
 11,173
 1,731,153
Executive Vice President, 2016 330,000
 
 774,348
 
 273,240
 
 9,983
 1,387,571
Interim Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel 2015 314,646
 
 541,878
 199,997
 168,744
 
 9,823
 1,235,088

(1)

In 2018, the Company paid a cash signing bonus to Mr. Brinker.

(1)

(2)

The value of the Stock Awards listed relate to the Long Term Incentive Plan and represents the full grant date value in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 of: (a) time-based restricted stock units with one-third vesting on each anniversary of the date of grant (and,and, for 2017 and 2018, was conditioned on the Company achieving positive non-GAAP operating income from continuous operations)operations and (b) performance stock unit awards that may vest during a 3three year period contingent on achievement of certain performance goals. The value of the 2019 performance stock units is shown in the table assuming the target performance goals were met. The 2019 maximum amount of total stock awards assuming 200% achievement for Messrs. Wasserman, Oldham, Brinker, and McGimpsey would be $4,870,310, $1,391,473, $1,546,098 and $1,008,222, respectively. The value of the 2018 performance stock units is shown in the table assuming the target performance goals were met. The 2018 maximum amount of total stock awards assuming 200% achievement for Messrs. Wasserman, Oldham, Brinker and McGimpsey would be $4,321,338, $781,436, $1,058,059, and $1,008,205, respectively. Mr. Brinker’s 2018 maximum amount total includes a new hire grant of time vested RSUs over a three-year period. The value of the 2017 performance stock units areis shown in the table assuming the target performance goals were met. The 2017 maximum amount of total stock awards assuming 200% achievement for Messrs. Wasserman Liguori, and McGimpsey would be $5,229,490, $1,936,804, and $1,307,342, respectively. The value of the 2016 performance stock units are shown in this table assuming 190% of the performance goals were met. The 2016 maximum amount of the total stock awards assuming 200% achievement for Messrs. Wasserman, Liguori, and McGimpsey would be $2,624,970, $937,451 and $787,483, respectively. The assumptions used to calculate the value of Stock Awards are set forth under Note 1318 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Advanced Energy’s Annual Report on Form 10-K10‑K for fiscal year ended December 31, 20172019 filed with the SEC on February 15, 2018.March 2, 2020.

(2)

(3)

For each named executive officer, the amount shown in this column represents the amount earned under the STI plan with respect to the year shown, though the amounts were actually paid in the subsequent fiscal year pursuant to the terms of the STI plan. Totals include individual, discretionary performance bonuses.

(3)

(4)

All other compensation for each named executive officer consists of a 401(k) employer matching contribution (in the amount of $8,400) and the cost of excess life insurance and disability insurance premiums that the Company paid on behalf of the named executive officer.officer (in the amount of $2,152, $1,833, $1,913 and $1,673 for Messrs. Wasserman, Oldham, Brinker, and McGimpsey, respectively.

(4)

46   

Mr. Liguori was named Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective May 18, 2015. Mr. Liguori served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer until January 26, 2018, when he voluntarily terminated employment with the Company to pursue another opportunity.

PRECISION  |  POWER  |  PERFORMANCE



29

Picture 1

2020 ANNUAL

PROXY STATEMENT



2017

2019 Grants of Plan-Based Awards

The following table shows all plan-based awards granted tofor each of the named executive officers during 2017.2019. The option awards and the unvested portion of the stock awards identified in the table below are also reported in the Outstanding Equity Awards at 20172019 Year-End Table on the following page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Other 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Other 

 

Option 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock 

 

Awards: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Awards: 

 

Number of 

 

Exercise or 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity 

 

Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity 

 

Number of 

 

Securities 

 

Base Price of 

 

Grant Date 

 

 

 

 

Incentive Plan Awards (1)

 

Incentive Plan Awards (2)

 

Shares of 

 

Underlying 

 

Option 

 

Fair Value of 

 

 

Grant

 

Threshold

 

Target

 

Maximum

 

Threshold

 

Target

 

Maximum

 

Stock or Units 

 

Options 

 

Awards 

 

Stock and 

Name

    

Date

    

($)

    

($)

    

($)

    

(#)

    

(#)

    

(#)

    

(#)(3)

    

(#)

    

($/share)

    

Option Awards  ($)

Yuval Wasserman

 

2/22/2019

 

360,500

 

721,000

 

1,442,000

 

15,628

 

31,256

 

62,512

 

31,256

 

 -

 

 -

 

3,246,873

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Oldham

 

2/22/2019

 

148,820

 

297,640

 

595,280

 

4,464

 

8,930

 

17,860

 

8,930

 

 -

 

 -

 

927,648

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neil Brinker

 

2/22/2019

 

153,213

 

306,425

 

612,850

 

4,961

 

9,922

 

19,845

 

9,922

 

 -

 

 -

 

1,030,749

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas McGimpsey

 

2/22/2019

 

108,150

 

216,300

 

432,600

 

3,472

 

6,945

 

13,891

 

6,945

 

 -

 

 -

 

721,447

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

2017 Grants of Plan-Based Awards
    Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards (1) Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards (2) 
All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units
(#)(3)
 
All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options
(#)
 
Exercise or Base Price of Option Awards
($/share)
 
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards
($)(4)

Name

 
Grant
Date

 
Threshold
($)
 
Target
($)
 
Maximum
($)
 
Threshold
(#)
 
Target
(#)
 
Maximum
(#)
    
Yuval Wasserman 
 
 650,000
 1,300,000
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  2/2/2017
 
 
 
 10,844
 21,690
 43,380
 
 
 
 1,329,163
  2/2/2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 21,690
 
 
 1,329,163
  2/28/2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 20,000
 
 
 1,242,000
                       
Thomas Liguori 
 
 315,000
 630,000
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  2/2/2017
 
 
 
 3,578
 7,157
 14,315
 
 
 
 438,581
  2/2/2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 7,157
 
 
 438,581
  2/28/2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 10,000
 
 
 621,000
                       
Thomas O. McGimpsey 
 
 204,000
 408,000
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  2/2/2017
 
 
 
 2,710
 5,422
 10,845
 
 
 
 332,260
  2/2/2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 5,422
 
 
 332,260
  2/28/2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 5,000
 
 
 310,500

(1)

Amounts shown are estimated payouts for 20172019 under the Company’s STI plan. The target bonus amount equals a specified percentage of each named executive officer’s base salary as of December 31, 2017,2019, as described in more detail above under “-Components“‑Components of Executive Compensation-2017Compensation‑2019 Short Term Incentive Plan Compensation.” The maximum amount shown is 2.0 times the target bonus amount for each of the named executive officers. Actual bonuses received by these named executive officers for 20172019 are reported in the Summary Compensation Table under the column entitled “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation.”

(2)

(2)

Reflects the performance stock units that vest upon the Company’s achievement of certain performance goals during the three yearthree-year period 2017-2019.2019‑2021. These awards are described in more detail above under “-Components“‑Components of Executive Compensation-2017Compensation‑2019 Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation.”

(3)

The awards with a grant date of 2/2/2017 reflect

(3)

Reflects restricted stock units that vest in 1/3 on each anniversary of the grant date, contingent on the Company achieving positive non-GAAP operating income from continuous operations.date. These awards are described in more detail above under “-Components“‑Components of Executive Compensation-2017Compensation‑2019 Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation.” The awards with a grant date of 2/28/2017 reflect restricted stock units that vest on February 27, 2018. These awards are described in more detail above under "-Components of Executive Compensation-Special 2017 Restricted Stock Unit Grant."

(4)

(4)

The value of the restricted stock units and performance stock units are based on the fair value as of the grant date of such award determined pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 718.



PRECISION  |  POWER  |  PERFORMANCE

47


30

2020 ANNUAL

Picture 10

PROXY STATEMENT



2017

2019 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

The following table shows all outstanding equity awards held by the named executive officers as of December 31, 2017. The2019.  Some of the following awards identified in the table below are also reported in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table on the previous page.above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Option Awards

    

Stock Awards

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity Incentive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity Incentive

 

Equity Incentive

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plan Awards:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plan Awards:

 

Plan Awards:

 

 

Number of

 

Number of

 

Number of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

Market or Payout

 

 

Exercisable

 

Unexercisable

 

Securities

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

Market Value

 

Unearned

 

Value of

 

 

Securities

 

Securities

 

Underlying

 

 

 

 

 

Shares or Units

 

of Shares or

 

Shares, Units or

 

Unearned Shares,

 

 

Underlying

 

Underlying

 

Unexercised

 

Option

 

 

 

of Stock That

 

Units of Stock

 

Other Rights

 

Units or Other

 

 

Unexercised

 

Unexercised

 

Unearned

 

Exercise

 

Option

 

Have Not

 

That Have Not

 

That Have Not

 

Rights That Have

 

 

Options

 

Options

 

Options

 

Price

 

Expiration Date

 

Vested

 

Vested

 

Vested

 

Not Vested

Name

    

(#)

    

(#)

    

(#)

    

($)

    

(2)

    

(#)

    

($)

    

(#)(1)

    

($)

Yuval Wasserman

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

52,265

(3)

$ 3,721,268

 

120,119

 

$ 8,552,473

 

 

45,429

 

 —

 

 —

 

18.77

 

10/1/2024

 

 —

 

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

83,945

 

 —

 

 —

 

26.32

 

2/5/2025

 

 —

 

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Oldham

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

11,770

(4)

$ 838,024

 

26,379

 

$ 1,878,185

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neil Brinker

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

15,907

(5)

$ 1,132,578

 

26,507

 

$ 1,887,298

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas McGimpsey

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

11,966

(6)

$ 851,979

 

27,603

 

$ 1,965,334

 

 

6,995

 

 —

 

 —

 

26.32

 

2/5/2025

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Option Awards Stock Awards
Name 
Number of Exercisable Securities Underlying Unexercised Options
(#)
 
Number of Unexercisable Securities Underlying Unexercised Options
(#)
 Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options
(#)(1)
 
Option Exercise Price
($)
 
Option Expiration Date
(2)
 Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested
(#)
 Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested
($)
 
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested
(#)(1)
 
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested
($)
Yuval Wasserman 
 
 
 
 
 102,080
 6,888,358
 20,812
 1,404,394
  930
 
 
 12.77
 10/27/2019
 
 
 
 
  3,938
 
 
 15.65
 2/16/2020
 
 
 
 
  2,361
 
 
 16.25
 4/20/2020
 
 
 
 
  3,938
 
 
 14.52
 2/15/2021
 
 
 
 
  3,013
 
 
 14.21
 4/28/2021
 
 
 
 
  7,876
 
 
 12.44
 7/22/2021
 
 
 
 
  11,813
 
 
 9.51
 10/26/2021
 
 
 
 
  8,500
 
 
 11.02
 1/3/2022
 
 
 
 
  56,600
 
 
 18.77
 10/1/2024
 
 
 
 
  55,964
 27,981
 
 26.32
 2/5/2025
 
 
 
 
                   
Thomas Liguori 
 
 
 
 
 43,238
 2,917,700
 7,285
 491,592
                   
Thomas O. McGimpsey 
 
 
 
 
 26,929
 1,817,169
 5,972
 402,991
  
 6,995
 
 26.32
 2/5/2025
 
 
 
 

(1)

Calculated based on the achieved performance for fiscal 2017.2019. Performance stock units can vest in any quarter during their respective three-year performance period if any of the performance goals are independently met over a trailing four quarter period. These awards are described in more detail above under “‑Components of Executive Compensation."

(2)

(2)

All options expire 10 years following the date of issuance. Options issued from 2005 to 2011 vested twenty-five percent (25%) per year over four (4) years. Options issued in 2012 vested in three annual installments upon the Company’s achievement of target return on net assets in each annual period. Options issued in 2014issuance and 2015 vest one-third per year over three (3) years.


(3)

14,120 shares vest on February 3, 2020, 10,419 shares vest on February 24, 2020, 6,889 shares vest on February 2, 2021, 10,419 shares vest February 22, 2021 and 10,418 shares vest on February 22, 2022.

2017

(4)

2,977 shares vest February 24, 2020, 1,420 shares vest May 4, 2020, 2,977 shares vest February 22, 2021, 1,420 shares vest May 3,  2021, and 2,976 shares vest February 22, 2022.

(5)

3,308 shares vest February 24, 2020, 1,110 shares vest on June 18, 2020, 3,765 shares vest on July 19, 2020, 3,307 shares vest on February 22, 2021, 1,110 shares vest on June 18, 2021, and 3,307 shares vest on February 22, 2022.

(6)

3,414 shares vest on February 3, 2020, 2,315 shares vest on February 24,2020, 3,922 shares vest on February 22, 2021 and 2,315 shares vest on February 22, 2022.

48   

PRECISION  |  POWER  |  PERFORMANCE

Picture 1

2020 ANNUAL

PROXY STATEMENT

2019 Option Exercises and Stock Vested

The following table shows all stock options exercised and value realized upon exercise, as well as all stock awards vested and value realized upon vesting, by the named executive officers during 2017.2019.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Option Awards

    

Stock Awards

 

 

Number of

 

 

Number of

 

 

 

 

Shares

Value

Shares

 

Value

 

 

Acquired on

Realized

Acquired on

 

Realized

 

 

Exercise

on Exercise

Vesting

 

on Vesting

Name

    

(#)

($)

(#)

    

($)(1)

Yuval Wasserman

 

 —

 

 —

 

34,982

(2)  

$

1,831,105

Paul Oldham

 

 —

 

 —

 

1,420

(3)

 

81,451

Neil Brinker

 

 —

 

 —

 

4,877

(4)  

 

262,188

Thomas McGimpsey

 

 —

 

 —

 

9,673

(5)

 

506,181

  Option Awards Stock Awards
Name 
Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Exercise
(#)
 
Value
Realized
on Exercise
($)
 
Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Vesting
(#)
 
Value
Realized
on Vesting
($)(1)
Yuval Wasserman 70,494
 4,839,562
 53,796
(2)3,557,079
Thomas Liguori 
 
 45,640
(3)3,311,030
Thomas O. McGimpsey 47,865
 2,799,102
 15,885
(4)1,051,596

(1)

The value realized equals the market value of the Company'sCompany’s common stock on the release date, multiplied by the number of shares that vested.

(2)

(2)

Of this number, 22,6095,447 shares were withheld by the Company to cover tax withholding obligations.

(3)

(3)

Of this number, 21,311454 shares were withheld by the Company to cover tax withholding obligations.

(4)

(4)

Of this number, 7,4612,144 shares were withheld by the Company to cover tax withholding obligations.

(5)

Of this number, 3,868 shares were withheld by the Company to cover tax withholding obligations.

Pension Benefits

Advanced Energy’s named executive officers do not participate in any defined-benefit pension plan. Advanced Energy does not maintain any plan for our named executives that provides for paymentspayment or other benefits at, following, or in connection with retirement other than the tax-qualified 401(k) plan, a defined contribution plan.

Non-qualified

Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation

The Company does not maintain a non-qualified deferred compensation plan.


PRECISION  |  POWER  |  PERFORMANCE

49


31

2020 ANNUAL

Picture 10

PROXY STATEMENT



Potential Payments upon Termination orof Change in Control

The following table describes the potential payments and benefits Mr. Wasserman, Mr. Oldham, Mr. Brinker and Mr. McGimpsey would be entitled to under the Company’s compensation and benefit plans and arrangements assuming their employment terminated on December 31, 20172019 due to a change in control, an involuntary termination entitling them to severance, a voluntary termination, death, and disability. As discussed above, Mr. Liguori voluntarily terminated his employment on January 26, 2018. Pursuant to SEC rules, the amount shown in the table below for Mr. Liguori reflects only the actual amounts that will be paid to him as a result of his voluntary termination of employment, and does not show hypothetical payments he would have received if he had terminated on December 31, 2017 due to a change in control, death, or disability.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Control

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Termination

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

w/o Cause

 

General Severance for

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

or for

 

Termination w/out

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-

 

 

 

 

Good Reason

 

Cause or for Good

 

Voluntary

 

 

 

 

Term

Name

    

Benefits

    

(1)(2)(3)

    

Reason

    

Termination

    

Death

    

Disability

Yuval Wasserman

 

Prorated target bonus

 

$

721,000

(4)

$

 —

 

 —

 

$

1,000,000

(11)

$

120,000

(12)

 

 

Severance

 

 

1,442,000

(5)

 

1,081,500

(6)

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 

Target Bonus

 

 

1,442,000

(7)

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 

Outplacement Services

 

 

15,000

(8)

 

15,000

(8)

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 

Continuation of benefits

 

 

42,543

(9)

 

28,312

(10)

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

  

Paul Oldham

 

Prorated target bonus

 

 

297,640

(4)

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

850,400

(11)

 

120,000

(12)

 

 

Severance

 

 

637,800

(5)

 

425,200

(6)

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 

Target Bonus

 

 

446,460

(7)

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 

Outplacement Services

 

 

15,000

(8)

 

15,000

(8)

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 

Continuation of benefits

 

 

50,902

(9)

 

38,160

(10)

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

  

Neil Brinker

 

Prorated target bonus

 

 

306,425

(4)

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

875,500

(11)

 

120,000

(12)

 

 

Severance

 

 

656,625

(5)

 

437,750

(6)

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 

Target Bonus

 

 

459,638

(7)

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 

Outplacement Services

 

 

15,000

(8)

 

15,000

(8)

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 

Continuation of benefits

 

 

48,971

(9)

 

32,597

(10)

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas McGimpsey

 

Prorated target bonus

 

 

216,300

(4)

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

721,000

(11)

 

120,000

(12)

 

 

Severance

 

 

540,750

(5)

 

360,500

(6)

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 

Target Bonus

 

 

324,450

(7)

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 

Outplacement Services

 

 

15,000

(8)

 

15,000

(8)

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 

Continuation of benefits

 

 

63,883

(9)

 

42,539

(10)

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

Name Benefits 
Change in
Control
Termination
w/o Cause
or for
Good Reason (1)(2)(11)
 
Voluntary
Termination
 Death 
Long-
Term
Disability
 
Yuval Wasserman  Prorated target bonus  650,000
(3)  
 1,000,000
(9)144,000
(10)
  Severance 1,300,000
(4)
 
 
 
  Target bonus 650,000
(6)  
 
 
 
  Outplacement services 4,870
(7)  
 
 
 
  Continuation of benefits 28,177
(8)  
 
 
 
            
Thomas O. McGimpsey  Prorated target bonus  204,000
(3)  
 680,000
(9)144,000
(10)
  Severance 340,000
(5)  
 
 
 
  Target bonus 204,000
(6)  
 
 
 
  Outplacement services 4,870
(7)  
 
 
 
  Continuation of benefits 49,711
(8)  
 
 
 
            
Thomas Liguori 
 
 $0 
 
 

(1)

Pursuant to the Company’s Executive Change in Control and General Severance Agreement, “Cause” means any of the following: (i) the executive’sExecutive’s (A) conviction of a felony; (B) commission of any other material act or omission involving dishonesty or fraud with respect to the Company or any of its affiliates or any of the customers, vendors or suppliers of the Company or its affiliates; (C) misappropriation of material funds or assets of the Company for personal use; or (D) engagement in unlawful harassment or unlawful discrimination with respect to any employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries;(ii) the executive’sExecutive’s continued substantial and repeated neglect of his duties, after written notice thereof from Senior Management (or the Compensation Committee, if Executive is a member of Senior Management or a named executive officer of the Company), and such neglect has not been cured within 30 days after the executiveExecutive receives notice thereof from Senior Management (or the Board of Directors;Compensation Committee, as applicable); (iii) the executive’sExecutive’s gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of his duties hereunder that is materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company;Company (either singly or on a consolidated basis); or (iv) the executive’sExecutive’s engaging in conduct constituting a breach of his written obligations to the Company or any subsidiary in respect of confidentiality and/or the use or ownership of proprietary information.

(2)

(2)

Pursuant to the Company’s Executive Change in Control and General Severance Agreement, “Good Reason” means any of the following: (i) a material reduction in the executive’sExecutive’s duties, level of responsibility or authority, other than (A) a change in title only or (B) isolated incidents that are promptly remedied bywithout the Company;Executive’s express written consent; or (ii) a material reduction in the executive’s base salary,Executive’s Base Salary, without (A) the executive’sExecutive’s express written consent or (B) a correspondingan increase in the executive’sExecutive’s benefits, perquisites and/or guaranteed bonus, which increase(s) have a value reasonably equivalent to the reduction in base salary;Base Salary; or (iii) a material reduction in the executive’s target bonus,Executive’s Target Bonus, without (A) the executive’sExecutive’s express written consent or (B) a corresponding increase in the executive’s base salary;Executive’s Base Salary; or (iv) a material reduction in the benefits, taken as a whole, without the executive’s express written consent; (v) the relocation of the executive’sExecutive’s principal place of business to a location more than thirty-five (35) miles from the executive’sExecutive’s principal place of business immediately prior to the changeChange in control,Control, without the executive’sExecutive’s express written consent; or (vi)(v) the Company’s (or its successor’s) material breach of this Agreement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive will not be considered to have terminated for Good Reason unless (A) the Executive provides written notice to the Company of the circumstance(s) constituting the Good Reason event within 90 days following the

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initial existence of such event, (B) the Company fails to cure the Good Reason event within 30 days following its receipt of such notice, and (C) the Executive provides written notice to the Company of his Date of Termination.

(3)

As described above in the Company’sproxy statement under the heading “Change in Control and General Severance Agreements” in the Executive Compensation section and as described in the footnotes above, under the Executive Change in Control and General Severance Agreement.Agreement, in the event of an executive’s termination without “Cause” or for “Good Reason” following an actual or during a pending change in control, all stock options, equity grants and other equity awards held by the executive so terminated become fully vested and exercisable. For further information regarding the executives’ long-term equity incentive compensation and awards (including options, grants and awards under the various long term incentive plans) please refer to the Executive Compensation section of the proxy statement. Such accelerated vesting of these stock options, equity grants and other equity awards could result in payouts to the executives in such circumstances.

(3)

(4)

Assumes December 31, 20172019 termination date. Executive to receive a pro rata portion of target bonus.

(4)

(5)

CEO to receive a lump sum payment equal to two (2) times and each other NEO to receive a lump sum payment equal to one and a half (1.5) times his then current annual base salary.

(6)

CEO to receive a lump sum payment equal to one and a half (1.5) times and each other NEO to receive a lump sum payment equal to one (1.0) times his then current annual base salary.

(7)

Executive to receive a lump sum payment equal to two (2) times his then current annual base salary.

(5)Executiveand each other NEO to receive a lump sum payment equal to one (1) times his then current annual base salary.
(6)Executive to receiveand a lump sum payment equal to one (1)half (1.5) times his then current target bonus.

(7)

(8)

Executive may be reimbursed for up to $4,870$15,000 in outplacement services.

(8)

(9)

Executive to receive: (a) continuation of medical insurance for eighteen (18) months following the date of termination, and (b) an amount equal to the contributions that would have been made to the Company’s retirement plans on his behalf if he had continued to be employed for eighteen (18) months following the date of termination.

(10)

Executive to receive: (a) continuation of medical insurance for twelve (12) months following the date of termination, and (b) an amount equal to the contributions that would have been made to the Company’s retirement plans on his behalf if he had continued to be employed for twelve (12) months following the date of termination.

(9)

(11)

Executive to receive the proceeds of any life insurance policy carried by the Company with respect to the Executive. In addition to the life insurance death benefit shown in the table above, there is an additional policy for accidental death and dismemberment with a maximum benefit of $1,000,000.

(10)

(12)

Executive to receive annual annuity payments under any long-term disability insurance policy carried by the Company with respect to the Executive.

(11)As described on page 27 of the proxy statement under the heading “Change in Control Agreements” in the Executive Compensation section and as described in the footnotes above, under the Executive Change in Control Severance Agreement, in the event of an executive’s termination without “Cause” or for “Good Reason” following an actual or during a pending change in control, all stock options, equity grants and other equity awards to the executive so terminated become fully vested and exercisable. For further information regarding the executives’ long-term equity incentive compensation and awards (including options, grants and awards under the various long term incentive plans) please refer to the Executive Compensation section on pages 20 - 28 of the proxy statement. Such accelerated vesting of these stock options, equity grants and other equity awards could result in payouts to the executives in such circumstances.




32



Policies and Procedures with Respect to Related Party Transactions

The Board is committed to upholding the highest legal and ethical standards of conduct in fulfilling its responsibilities and recognizes that transactions with the Company involving related parties can present a heightened risk of potential or actual conflicts of interest. Accordingly, as a general matter, it is the policy of the Company to avoid related party transactions.

The Company’s policy in respect of related party transactions is evidenced in the charters and guidelines of the committees of the Board referenced in this proxy statement and CodeCodes of Ethical Conduct. The types of transactions covered by the policy are (1) those transactions described under FASB ASC Topic 850 or required to be disclosed in the Company’s financial statements or periodic filings with the SEC, (2) any monetary engagement between a Board member and the Company or an officer and the Company and (3) business or personal relationships between Board members. Any related party transaction that does arise must be reviewed and approved by both the Nominating and& Governance and Audit and& Finance Committees. All of the members of these committees are independent directors. Such committees, in determining whether to approve the transaction, review the facts and circumstances in respect of the transaction for conflicts of interest, any anticipated effect on a Board member’s independent decision-making or judgment in respect ofto matters affecting the Company, any anticipated effect on a Board member’s ability to commit sufficient time and attention to the Board and other standards deemed appropriate by the committee members in light of the particular transaction being reviewed.

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PROXY STATEMENT

In addition, the Audit and Finance Committee is responsible for reviewing and investigating any matters pertaining to the integrity of management, including conflicts of interestsinterest and adherence to the Company’s CodeCodes of Ethical Conduct. Under the CodeCodes of Ethical Conduct, directors, officers and all other members of the workforce are expected to avoid any relationships, influence or activity that would cause or even appear to cause a conflict of interest.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

Members of our Board of Directors hold various executive positions and serve as directors at other companies, including companies that are our customers. During the year ended December 31, 20172019, we had sales totaling approximately $1.4$1.3 million and no related accounts receivable from such customers at December 31, 2017.2019. No member of the Board of Directors had a direct or indirect material interest in the transactions.

All transactions with these companies have been made in the ordinary course of business on arms-length terms, and the members of our Board of Directors have not personally participated in these transactions on behalf of these companies or Advanced Energy.

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires Advanced Energy’s executive officers and directors and persons who own more than ten percent (10%) of the outstanding common stock (“reporting persons”) to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission an initial report of ownership on Form 3 and changes in ownership on Forms 4 and 5. The reporting persons are also required to furnish Advanced Energy with copies of all forms they file, including any amendments thereto. Based solely on its review of the copies of forms received by it and written representations from the reporting persons, Advanced Energy believes that each of the reporting persons timely filed all reports required to be filed in 2017 or with respect to transactions in 2017, except for a late Form 4 that was filed for Mr. Liguori on May 23, 2017 related to vesting of restricted stock units.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MATTERS

Codes of Conduct and Ethics

Advanced Energy has adopted Codes of Ethical Conduct that apply to the Board of Directors and employees. These Codes of Ethical Conduct are available on our website at www.advancedenergy.com. Any waivers of, or amendments to, our Codes of Ethical Conduct will be posted on our website.

Communications with Directors

The Board of Directors has established a process to receive communications from stockholders and other interested parties. Stockholders and other interested parties may contact any member, or all members, of the Board of Directors electronically or by mail. Electronic communications should be addressed to boardmembers@aei.com.boardmembers@aei.com. Mail may be sent to any director or the Board of Directors in care of Advanced Energy’s corporate office at 1625 Sharp Point Drive, Fort Collins,1595 Wynkoop St., Suite 800, Denver, CO 80525.80202. All such communications will be forwarded to the full Board of Directors or to any individual director to whom the communication is addressed unless the communication is clearly of a marketing or inappropriate nature. It is the Company’s practice to encourage all Board members to attend the Company’s annual stockholder meeting, although no written policy has been adopted in that regard.



33



PROPOSALS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Stockholder Proposals for Inclusion in Next Year’s Proxy Statement

To be considered for inclusion in next year’s proxy statement, stockholder proposals submitted in accordance with SEC Rule 14a-814a‑8 must be received at our principal executive offices no later than the close of business on November 15, 2018.11, 2020. Proposals should be addressed to Thomas O. McGimpsey, Corporate Secretary, Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.,  1625 Sharp Point Drive, Fort Collins,1595 Wynkoop Street, Suite 800, Denver, Colorado 80525.80202.

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2020 ANNUAL

PROXY STATEMENT

Other Stockholder Proposals for Presentation at Next Year’s Annual Meeting

Our Amended and Restated By-laws require that any stockholder proposal that is not submitted for inclusion in next year’s proxy statement under SEC Rule 14a-8,14a‑8, but is instead sought to be presented directly at the 20192021 Annual Meeting, must be received at our principal executive offices not earlier than the 90th day and not later than the close of business on the 60th day prior to the anniversary of the 2018date of the Annual Meeting date.Meeting. As a result, proposals, including director nominations, submitted pursuant to our By-LawsAmended and Restated By‑Laws must be received no earlier than February 2, 2019January 30, 2021 and no later than the close of business on March 4, 2019;1, 2021; provided, however, that in the event that the 20192021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is called for a date that is not within 30 days before or after the date of the 2018 Annual Meeting, of Stockholders, notice by stockholders in order to be timely must be delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the date of the 20192021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and not later than the 60th day prior to the date of the 20192021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.Meeting. In the alternative, if the first public announcement of the date of the 20192021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is less than 70 days prior to the date of such annual meeting, notice by stockholders must be delivered no later than the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meetingthe 2020 Annual Meeting is first made by the Company in order to be timely. Proposals should be addressed to Thomas O. McGimpsey, Corporate Secretary, Advanced Energy Industries, Inc., 1625 Sharp Point Drive, Fort Collins,1595 Wynkoop Street, Suite 800, Denver, Colorado 80525.80202. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Stockholders are advised to review the Amended and Restated By-laws, which contain additional requirements with respect to advance notice of stockholder proposals and director nominations.

FORM 10-K

10‑K

The Report on Form 10-K10‑K is included in the 20172019 Annual Report to Stockholdersstockholders accompanying this proxy statement. You can request an additional copy of the 20172019 Annual Report on Form 10-K10‑K by mailing a request to the Corporate Secretary of Advanced Energy at 1625 Sharp Point Drive, Fort Collins,1595 Wynkoop Street, Suite 800, Denver, Colorado 80525.80202.

GENERAL MEETING MATTERS

The board of directors of Advanced Energy is making this solicitation for proxies. By delivering the enclosed proxy card by any of the methods described on the card, you will appoint each of Yuval Wasserman and Thomas O. McGimpsey as your agent and proxy to vote your shares of common stock at the meeting. In this proxy statement, “proxy holders” refers to Messrs. Wasserman and McGimpsey in their capacities as your agents and proxies.

Advanced Energy’s principal executive offices are located at 1595 Wynkoop Street, Suite 800, Denver, Colorado 80202. The telephone number is (970) 407-6826.

Record Date and Share Ownership

If you owned shares of Advanced Energy common stock in your name as of the close of business on March 9, 2020, you are entitled to vote on the proposals that are presented at the Annual Meeting. On that date, which is referred to as the “record date” for the meeting, 38,419,724 shares of Advanced Energy common stock were issued and outstanding and were held by approximately 303 stockholders of record, according to the records of American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, Advanced Energy’s transfer agent.

REPRESENTATION AT THE ANNUAL MEETING

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2020 ANNUAL

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PROXY STATEMENT

Voting Procedures

Each share of Advanced Energy common stock that you hold entitles you to one vote on each of the proposals that are presented at the Annual Meeting. Each stockholder entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting may cast his, her or its vote in person or by proxy. To vote in person, a stockholder should attend the Annual Meeting with a completed proxy or, alternatively, the Company will give you a ballot to complete upon arrival at the Annual Meeting. To vote by mail using a proxy card, a stockholder should mark, sign, date and mail the enclosed proxy card as promptly as possible in the enclosed postage-prepaid envelope. To vote by telephone, dial (866) 390‑9955 using a touch-tone phone and follow the recorded instructions. To vote via the Internet, a stockholder must go to www.proxypush.com/aeis and complete an electronic proxy card.

The inspector of the election will determine whether or not a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting. A quorum will be present at the Annual Meeting if a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting are represented at the Annual Meeting, either by proxy or by the person who owns the shares. In the event there are not sufficient shares present for a quorum or to approve any proposals at the time of the Annual Meeting, the Annual Meeting may be adjourned in order to permit further solicitation of proxies. Advanced Energy’s transfer agent will deliver a report to the inspector of election in advance of the Annual Meeting, tabulating the votes cast by proxies returned to the transfer agent. The inspector of election will tabulate the final vote count, including the votes cast in person and by proxy at the Annual Meeting.

If a broker holds your shares, this proxy statement and the enclosed proxy card have been sent to the broker. You may have received this proxy statement directly from your broker, together with instructions as to how to direct the broker concerning how to vote your shares. Under the rules for Nasdaq-listed companies, brokers cannot vote on certain matters without instructions from you. If you do not give your broker instructions or discretionary authority to vote your shares on such matters and your broker returns the proxy card without voting on a proposal, your shares will be recorded as “broker non-votes” with respect to the proposals on which the broker does not vote.

Broker non-votes and abstentions will be counted as present for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present. If a quorum is present, the directors referenced in Proposal 1 will be elected by a plurality of the votes present and Proposals 2 and 3 will be approved by a majority of the votes cast on such proposal. Broker non-votes and abstentions will have no effect on the outcome of Proposals 1, 2 and 3. Cumulative voting shall not be allowed in the election of directors or any of the proposals being submitted to the stockholders at the Annual Meeting.

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2020 ANNUAL

PROXY STATEMENT

The following table reflects the vote required for each proposal and the effect of broker non-votes and abstentions on the vote, assuming a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting:

Proposal

Vote Required

Effect of Broker Non-
Votes and Abstentions

Election of eight (8) directors

Plurality of votes present (by proxy or in person) - subject to the resignation policy described on Pages 12-13

No effect

Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as Advanced Energy’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2020

Majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting (by proxy or in person)

No effect

Advisory approval of Advanced Energy’s compensation of its named executive officers

Majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting (by proxy or in person) - this is an advisory vote which is not binding on the Company

No effect


If any other proposals are properly presented to the stockholders at the Annual Meeting, the number of votes required for approval will depend on the nature of the proposal. Generally, under Delaware law and the Amended and Restated By-laws of Advanced Energy, the number of votes required to approve a proposal is a majority of the shares of common stock present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote, excluding broker non-votes and abstentions. The proxy card provided herewith gives discretionary authority to the proxy holders to vote on any matter not included in this proxy statement that is properly presented to the stockholders at the Annual Meeting.

Costs of Solicitation

Advanced Energy will bear the costs of soliciting proxies in connection with the Annual Meeting. In addition to soliciting your proxy by this mailing, proxies may be solicited personally or by telephone or facsimile by some of Advanced Energy’s directors, officers and employees, without additional compensation. We may reimburse our transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, our proxy agent, Mediant Communications, brokerage firms and other persons representing beneficial owners of Advanced Energy common stock for their expenses in sending proxies to the beneficial owners. We do not currently intend to retain a professional solicitor to assist in the solicitation of proxies, however, we may later elect to do so.

Delivery and Revocability of Proxies

In addition to the ability of our record stockholders to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you may vote your shares either by (i) marking the enclosed proxy card and mailing it in the enclosed postage prepaid envelope, (ii) voting online at www.proxypush.com/aeis, or (iii) voting by telephone at (866) 390‑9955. If you mail your proxy, please allow sufficient time for it to be received in advance of the Annual Meeting.

If you deliver your proxy and change your mind before the Annual Meeting, you may revoke your proxy by delivering notice to Thomas O. McGimpsey, our Corporate Secretary at Advanced Energy Industries, Inc., 1595 Wynkoop Street, Suite 800, Denver, Colorado 80202, stating that you wish to revoke your proxy or by delivering another proxy with a later date. You may vote your shares by attending the Annual Meeting in

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2020 ANNUAL

Picture 10

PROXY STATEMENT

person but, if you have delivered a proxy before the Annual Meeting, you must revoke it before the Annual Meeting begins. Attending the Annual Meeting will not automatically revoke your previously-delivered proxy.

Delivery of Documents to Stockholders Sharing an Address

If two or more stockholders share an address, Advanced Energy may send a single copy of this proxy statement and other soliciting materials, as well as the 2019 Annual Report to stockholders, to the shared address, unless Advanced Energy has received contrary instructions from one or more of the stockholders sharing the address. If a single copy has been sent to multiple stockholders at a shared address, Advanced Energy will deliver a separate proxy card for each stockholder entitled to vote. Additionally, Advanced Energy will send an additional copy of this proxy statement, other soliciting materials and the 2019 Annual Report to stockholders, promptly upon oral or written request by any stockholder to Investor Relations, Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.,  1595 Wynkoop Street, Suite 800,  Denver, Colorado 80202; telephone number (970) 407‑6826. If any stockholders sharing an address receive multiple copies of this proxy statement, other soliciting materials and the 2019 Annual Report to stockholders and would prefer in the future to receive only one copy, such stockholders may make such request to Investor Relations at the same address or telephone number.

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2020 ANNUAL

PROXY STATEMENT

Representation at the Annual Meeting

It is important that your stock be represented at the meeting,Annual Meeting, regardless of the number of shares that you hold. You are therefore urged to execute and return, at your earliest convenience, the accompanying proxy card in the envelope that has been enclosed or vote your shares by telephone or Internet as described on the proxy card. Instructions as to how to deliver your proxy are included in this proxy statement under the captionsection entitled “Delivery and Revocability of Proxies” on page 555 and on the enclosed proxy card.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dated March 10, 2020

Denver, Colorado

Dated: March 15, 2018

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57

Fort Collins, Colorado




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2020 ANNUAL

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PROXY STATEMENT

APPENDIX A -  Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures used in CD&A¹

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

    

2017

    

2018

    

2019

GAAP Revenue

 

$

671

 

$

719

 

$

789

Artesyn Revenue

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

220

GAAP Revenue (Excluding Artesyn)

 

$

671

 

$

719

 

$

569

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income from Continuing Operations

 

    

2017

    

2018

    

2019

GAAP Operating Income

 

$

201

 

$

172

 

$

54

Add backs:

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

Stock Based Compensation

 

 

13

 

 

10

 

 

 7

Impact of acquisitions, net of related one-time costs

 

 

 —

 

 

 2

 

 

 2

Facility transition and relocation costs

 

 

 —

 

 

 2

 

 

 5

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

 4

 

 

 5

 

 

12

Restructuring charges

 

 

 —

 

 

 4

 

 

 5

Non-GAAP Operating Income

 

$

218

 

$

195

 

$

85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income & EPS

 

    

2017

    

2018

    

2019

Income from continuing operations, less noncontrolling interest, net of income taxes

 

$

136

 

$

147

 

$

56

Add backs:

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

 4

 

 

 5

 

 

12

Stock Based Compensation

 

 

13

 

 

10

 

 

 7

Acquisition-related costs

 

 

 —

 

 

 2

 

 

20

Facility transition and relocation costs

 

 

 —

 

 

 2

 

 

 5

Restructuring charges

 

 

 —

 

 

 4

 

 

 5

Nonrecurring tax (benefit) associated with inverter business

 

 

(34)

 

 

 —

 

 

(14)

Loss of foreign exchange hedge

 

 

 3

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

Incremental expense associated with start-up of the Asia regional headquarters

 

 

 1

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

Tax cuts and Jobs Act impact

 

 

73

 

 

 6

 

 

 —

Tax effect of Non-GAAP adjustments

 

 

(4)

 

 

(4)

 

 

 3

Non-GAAP income, net of income taxes

 

$

192

 

$

172

 

$

94

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, as reported

 

$

3.39

 

$

3.74

 

$

1.47

Add backs:

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Per share impact of Non-GAAP adjustments, net of taxes

 

$

1.38

 

$

0.63

 

$

0.97

Non-GAAP per share earnings

 

$

4.77

 

$

4.37

 

$

2.44

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g455398g54o11a05.jpg

2020 ANNUAL

PROXY STATEMENT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operational Cash Flow

 

    

2017

    

2018

    

2019

Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations

 

$

190

 

$

151

 

$

48

Add backs to operating profit (Acquisitions, other income, taxes)

 

 

65

 

 

24

 

 

26

Non-GAAP adjustment

 

 

 —

 

 

 8

 

 

19

Depreciation

 

 

(5)

 

 

(8)

 

 

(10)

Other items excluded from operational cash

 

 

(33)

 

 

(5)

 

 

(4)

Adjustment to change in operating assets and liabilities

 

 

(34)

 

 

15

 

 

13

Operational Cash*

 

$

183

 

$

185

 

$

92


*     For variable compensation programs operational cash is defined as Non-GAAP operating profit less changes in Net Working Capital (Changes in A/R; Inventory & A/P)

(1)  Non-GAAP Operating Income and Operational Cash exclude Artesyn.

 aeilogoa07.jpg

 Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.

 aeilogoa07.jpg
Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.

ANNUAL MEETING OF ADVANCED ENERGY INDUSTRIES, INC.

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Picture 6

Annual Meeting of Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.

Date:May 3, 2018to be held on May 3, 2018
Time:9:00 a.m. (Mountain Daylight Time)April 30, 2020 for Holders as of March 6, 2018
Place:
1625 Sharp Point Drive Fort Collins, Co 80525
See Voting Instruction on Reverse Side.            
9, 2020 This proxy is being solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors
VOTE BY: ANNUAL MEETING OF ADVANCED ENERGY INDUSTRIES, INC. Date: Time: Place: April 30, 2020 9:00 A.M. (Mountain Daylight Time) 1595 Wynkoop Street, Suite 800, Denver, CO 80202 See Voting Instruction on Reverse Side. Please make your marks like this: x Use dark black pencil or pen only
VOTE BY:
only. TELEPHONE INTERNET Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR proposals 1, 2 and 3.
interneta08.jpg
INTERNET
calla06.jpg
TELEPHONE
1: Call 866-390-9955 Go To: www.proxypush.com/aeis  Election of 7 Directors
ForWithhold
Directors
Recommend
Go To866-390-9955
iwww.proxypush.com/aeis
= Use any touch-tone telephone.
01 Frederick A. BallooFor
= Cast your vote online.
=  View Meeting Documents .   Use any touch-tone telephone. DIRECTORS RECOMMEND OR Have your Voting Instruction Form ready.
02 Grant H. BeardooFor
= View Meeting Documents.
= Follow the simple recorded instructions.
1. Election of 8 Directors 01 Grant H. Beard 02 Frederick A. Ball 03 Tina M. Donikowski 04 Ronald C. FosterooForOR
04 05 Edward C. GradyooFor
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MAIL
05 06 Thomas M. RohrsooFor
06 07 John A. RoushooFor
07 08 Yuval WassermanooForOR
= Withhold For For For For For For For For MAIL Mark, sign and date your Voting Instruction Form.
= Detach your Voting Instruction Form.
ForAgainstAbstain
Directors
Recommend
= Return your Voting Instruction Form in the postage-paid envelope provided.
i
2:  Ratification of the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as Advanced Energy’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2018.
oooFor
OR By signing the proxy, you revoke all prior proxies and appoint Yuval Wasserman and Thomas O. McGimpsey, and each of them acting in the absence of the other, with full power of substitution to vote your shares on matters shown on the Voting Instruction form and any other matters that may come before the Annual Meeting and all adjournments.
3: For Against Abstain 2. Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as Advanced Energy’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2020. 3. Advisory approval of Advanced Energy'sEnergy’s compensation of its named executive officers;
oooofficers. . For
For All votes must be received by 5:00 P.M., Eastern Time, May 2, 2018.
April 29, 2020. PROXY TABULATOR FOR

ADVANCED ENERGY INDUSTRIES, INC.
P.O. BOX 8016
CARY, NC 27512-9903
To attend the meeting and vote your shares in person, please mark this box.o
Authorized Signatures - This section must be completed for your Instructions to be executed.
EVENT #
Please sign hereSign Here Please Date AboveCLIENT #
Please sign hereSign Here Please Date Above
Please sign exactly as your name(s) appears on your stock certificate. If held in joint tenancy, all persons should sign. Trustees, administrators, etc., should include title and authority. Corporations should provide full name of corporation and title of authorized officer signing the proxy. Copyright © 2020 Mediant Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved Please separate carefully at the perforation and return just this portion in the envelope provided. X





Picture 9

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Revocable Proxy - Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.

Annual Meeting of Stockholders
May 3, 2018, April 30, 2020, 9:00 AMa.m. (Mountain Daylight Time)
This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors
The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Yuval Wasserman and Thomas O. McGimpsey, and each of them, his, her or its lawful agents and proxies with full power of substitution in each, to represent the undersigned, and to vote all of the shares of common stock of Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. which the undersigned may be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Advanced Energy Industries, Inc., 1625 Sharp Point Drive, Fort Collins, Co 80525Inc,1595 Wynkoop Street, Suite 800, Denver, CO 80202, on Thursday, May 3, 2018April 30, 2020 at 9:00 AM, local time,a.m. Mountain Daylight Time, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof, on all matters coming before the meeting.
This proxy is revocable and will be voted as directed. However, if no instructions are specified, the proxy will be voted:
FOR the nominees for directors specified in ItemProposal 1 and FOR each of ItemsProposals 2 and 3.
(CONTINUED (CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE)
To attend the meeting and vote your shares in person, please mark this box. Please separate carefully at the perforation and return just this portion in the envelope provided.