UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.   )

 

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FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION

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March 29, 2019

 

 

 


LOGO


LOGOLOGO

March 31, 2017

 

Dear Fellow Stockholder,

 

You are cordially invited to attend our annual meeting of stockholders at 1 p.m. Pacific time on May 9, 2017,7, 2019, at the executive offices of First American Financial Corporation, located at 1 First American Way, Santa Ana, California 92707.

 

With this letter, we are including the notice for the annual meeting, the proxy statement and the proxy card. We are also including a copy of our 20162018 annual report. A map and directions to our executive offices can be found on the inside back cover of the proxy statement.

 

We have made arrangements for you to vote your proxy over the Internet or by telephone, as well as by mail with the traditional proxy card. The proxy card contains instructions on these methods of voting.

 

Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan on attending the annual meeting on May 9, 2017,7, 2019, we hope you will vote as soon as possible.

 

Thank you for your continued support of First American Financial Corporation.

 

LOGO

Parker S. Kennedy

Chairman of the Board

LOGO

Dennis J. Gilmore

Chief Executive Officer


LOGO

 

LOGO

 

To be Held on May 9, 2017

7, 2019

The annual meeting of stockholders of First American Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (our “Company”), will be held at 1 p.m. Pacific time on May 9, 2017,7, 2019, at the executive offices of the Company, located at 1 First American Way, Santa Ana, California 92707, for the following purposes:

 

1.

To elect the three persons named in the accompanying proxy statement to serve as Class IIII directors on our board of directors for a three yearthree-year term expiring on the date of the 20202022 annual meeting of stockholders;

 

2.

To approve, on an advisory basis, the Company’s executive compensation;

 

3.

To recommend, on an advisory basis, whether a stockholder vote to approve the Company’s executive compensation should occur every one, two or three years;

4.To approve the performance criteria, establishment of a director compensation limit and amendment to individual annual share award limits under the Company’s 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan;

5.To ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017;2019; and

 

6.

4.

To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any postponements or adjournments thereof.

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 16, 201718, 2019 are entitled to notice of the meeting and an opportunity to vote.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting to Be Held on May 9, 2017:7, 2019: First American Financial Corporation’s notice of annual meeting and proxy statement, annual report and other proxy materials are available at www.firstam.com/proxymaterials.

We hope you will attend the meeting to vote in person. For additional information about attending the meeting in person, please see “How do I vote” on page 65. However, if you are unable to attend the meeting and vote in person, please submit a proxy as soon as possible so that your shares can be voted at the meeting in accordance with your instructions. You may submit your proxy (1) over the Internet, (2) by telephone, or (3) by mail. For specific instructions, please refer to the questions and answers commencing on page 6263 of the proxy statement and the instructions on the proxy card.

LOGO

Jeffrey S. Robinson

Vice President and Secretary

Santa Ana, California

March 31, 2017

29, 2019


Table of Contents

 

 

Page

 

PROXY STATEMENT

1

I.       PROPOSALS

PROPOSALS

2

Item 1. Election of Class IIII Directors

5

6

Item 2. Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation

6

7

Item 3. Advisory Vote on the Frequency of the Executive Compensation Vote

8

Item 4. Approval of the Performance Criteria, Establishment of a Director Compensation
Limit and Amendment to Individual Annual Share Award Limits Under the Company’s
2010 Incentive Compensation Plan

9

Item 5. Ratification of Selection of Independent Auditor

17

9

II.

II.       REQUIRED INFORMATION

18

10

Security Ownership of Management

18

10

Board and Committee Meetings

19

11

Independence of Directors

21

13

Board Leadership Structure; Meetings of Independent Directors

22

14

Annual Performance Evaluation

14

Risk Oversight

22

14

Director Attendance at Annual Meetings

23

16

Stockholder and Interested Party Communications with Directors

23

16

Transactions with Management and Others

24

16

Executive Officers

24

17

Executive Compensation

26

19

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

26

19

I. The Company’s Compensation Philosophy & Objectives

Introduction

27

19

II. Role of the Compensation Committee

Executive Summary

27

19

III.Executive Compensation StructureProgram in Detail

28

25

IV. Timing of Equity Grants

Compensation Decision Process

40

27

V. Adjustment or Recovery of Awards

Pay Elements

40

28

VI. Consideration of Prior Amounts Realized

40

VII. Employment Agreements and Post-Termination Payments

40

VIII. Stock Ownership Guidelines, Clawback Policy and Anti-Hedging Policy

43

IX. Impact of Tax and Accounting

43

41

Compensation Committee Report

44

42

Executive Compensation Tables

45

43

2016 Summary Compensation Table

45

43

2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards

46

44

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2016 FiscalYear-End

47

45

2016 Option Exercises and Stock Vested

47

46

2016 Pension Benefits

48

46

First American Financial Corporation   2019 Proxy Statement | i


Page

2016 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

51

47

2016 Potential Payments upon Termination orChange-in-Control

 

52

48

First American Financial Corporation  2017 Proxy Statement | i


 

  Page     

 

 

2016 Director Compensation

Pay Ratio

 

5853

Director Compensation

54

Code of Ethics

59

56

Corporate Governance Guidelines

59

56

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

59

56

Report of the Audit Committee

59

56

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

60

57

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

60

57

Relationship with Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

60

58

Principal AccountingAccountant Fees and Services

61

58

Policy on Audit CommitteePre-approval of Audit and Permissible Nonaudit Services of Independent Auditor

61

58

Stockholder Proposals and Proxy Access

61

58

Appraisal Rights

61

59

III.

III.    CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY

60

IV.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

62

63

V.

IV.    OTHER INFORMATION

69

70

APPENDIX A    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

A-1

APPENDIX B    2010 Incentive Compensation Plan

 

A-1

B-1

 

 

ii | 20172019 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


LOGO

PROXY STATEMENT

Solicitation of Proxies by the Board of Directors

 

First American Financial Corporation’s Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement,

Annual Report and other proxy materials are available at

www.firstam.com/proxymaterials

Our board of directors (our “Board”) is soliciting proxies from holders of our common stock for use at the annual meeting of our stockholders to be held on May 9, 2017,7, 2019, at 1 p.m. Pacific time. The meeting will be held at the executive offices of First American Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (our “Company” or “First American”), located at 1 First American Way, Santa Ana, California 92707. We have included a map and directions to our executive offices on the inside back cover of the proxy statement for your convenience.

We are mailing this proxy statement and the enclosed proxy card, notice of annual meeting, stockholders letter and 20162018 annual report to our stockholders on or about March 31, 2017.29, 2019. In lieu of a proxy card, holders of shares held in street name through a bank, broker or other nominee are receiving a voting instruction form from their bank, broker or other nominee. As used herein, references to “proxy” or “proxy card” also refer to the voting instruction form provided to street name holders.

The remainder of this proxy statement has been divided into fourfive sections. You should read all fourfive sections.

 

I.

Proposals: this section provides information relating to the proposals to be voted on at the stockholders’ meeting.

 

II.

Required Information: this section contains information that is required by law to be included in this proxy statement and which has not been included in the other sections.

 

III.

Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability: this section highlights some of our efforts to reduce our environmental impact and to improve the communities in which we operate.

III.

IV.

Questions and Answers: this section provides answers to a number of frequently asked questions.

 

IV.

V.

Other Information: this section provides other information regarding this proxy, including instructions about how to obtain a copy of our annual report.

Item 2 of the Proposals section and the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section contain certain financial measures that are not presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), including adjusted return on average total equity, adjusted total revenue, adjusted net income per share and adjusted pretax margins for the Company and for the title insurance and services segment. Please see Appendix A for the rationale behind the presentation of these measures and a reconciliation of these amounts to the nearest GAAP financial measures.

 

First American Financial Corporation  2017  2019 Proxy Statement | 1


I.   Proposals

Information Regarding the Nominees for Election

The following list provides information with respect to each personthe three persons nominated and recommended to be elected as a Class IIII director by our Board, to serve for a three-year term expiring on the date of the 20202022 annual meeting of stockholders. Each of the nominees is currently serving as a director of the Company.

 

 

LOGO

Age: 70

Director since: 2010

Committees:

Audit (chair)            

Executive                

 

 

 

Age: 55

Director since: 2017

Committees:

Governance

Independent: Yes

REGINALD H. GILYARD

 

Mr. Gilyard has been a senior advisor with The Boston Consulting Group, a global management consulting company, since 2012. From 2012 to 2017, he was dean of the Argyros School of Business and Economics at Chapman University. From 1996 to 2012, he held various other positions with The Boston Consulting Group, including as a partner and managing director. Mr. Gilyard was appointed to fill a vacancy on our Board in 2017 upon the recommendation of a non-management director. He is a director of CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE: CBRE) and Realty Income Corporation (NYSE: O). He began his career serving in the United States Air Force. With his in-depth understanding of the complexities of large businesses and keen grasp of customer needs across a variety of industry sectors, Mr. Gilyard brings to the Board a unique perspective on how we can make our operations more efficient and serve our customers better.

 

Age: 71

Director since: 2010

Committees:

Compensation

Executive (chair)

Independent: Yes

JAMES L. DOTI

PARKER S. KENNEDY

 

Mr. DotiKennedy has beenserved as chairman of the Board and as a director of the Company since June 2010, when we separated from The First American Corporation.Corporation in 2010. Mr. Kennedy served as executive chairman of the Company from the separation until his retirement as an employee in February 2012. From 2003 until the separation, he served as The First American Corporation’s chairman and chief executive officer. He also served as The First American Corporation’s president from 1993 to 2004. He served as a director of The First American Corporation and its successor entity, CoreLogic, Inc., from 1987 to 2011, and was CoreLogic, Inc.’s executive chairman from the separation to 2011. Mr. Kennedy also served on the First Advantage Corporation board until 2009. He is a director of the Automobile Club of Southern California. We believe that Mr. Kennedy, who has worked with us in various capacities for over 40 years, has unparalleled executive experience in our industry. He also brings to the Company an incomparable understanding of our history and culture.

2 | 2019 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


I. Proposals

Age: 64

Director since: 2013

Committees:

Audit

Compensation

Independent: Yes

MARK C. OMAN

Mr. Oman retired from Wells Fargo & Company in 2011, after serving it or its predecessors since 1979. He held numerous positions at Wells Fargo, including senior executive vice president (home and consumer finance) from 2005 until his retirement and group executive vice president (home and consumer finance) from 2002 to 2005. Mr. Oman also served as a director and the chief executive officer of Wachovia Preferred Funding Corp. from 2009 to 2011 and as a director of American Caresource Holdings, Inc. from 2013 to 2017. He is currently involved with several private ventures and serves on a variety of advisory and private-company boards. Mr. Oman brings to the Board important insights into the mortgage market and working with large mortgage lenders.

Information Regarding the Other Incumbent Directors

The following lists provide information with respect to the individuals currently serving as Class I directors, whose current term expires at the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders, and Class II directors, whose term expires in 2021.

Class I Directors—Term Expiring 2020

JAMES L. DOTI

Mr. Doti is president emeritus and the Donald Bren Distinguished Chairprofessor of Business and Economicseconomics at Chapman University and served as Chapman’sChapman University’s president from 1991 to 2016. He has been a director since we separated from The First American Corporation in 2010, and he served as a director of The First American Corporation from 1993 until the separation. He previously served on the boards of Standard Pacific Corp. until 2012 and Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. until 2009. Given his experience as president of Chapman University and with a doctorate in economics from the University of Chicago, Dr. Doti gives our Company insight into the organizational challenges that large companies face and the impact of the economic environment on the Company.

Age: 72

Director since: 2010

Committees:

Audit (chair)

Executive

Independent: Yes

First American Financial Corporation   2019 Proxy Statement | 3


I. Proposals


LOGO

Age: 71

Director since: 2011
Committees:            

Compensation (chair)


 

MICHAEL D. MCKEE

 

Mr. McKee has beenserved as a directorprincipal of The Contrarian Group, a private equity firm, since March 2011.2018. He servesserved as executive chairmana director of HCP, Inc. (NYSE: HCP), a publicly traded real estate investment trust, for which he has been a director since 1989. Duringfrom 1989 to 2018, as executive chairman of HCP from 2016 to 2018 and, during 2016, he also served as interim chief executive officer and president of HCP. From 2010 to 2016, Mr. McKee was chief executive officer of Bentall Kennedy (U.S.), a registered real estate investment advisor. Mr. McKeeHe also served as the chief executive officer of The Irvine Company, a privately-held real estate development and investment company, from 2007 to 2008, as vice chairman of its board of directors from 1999 to 2008 and as an executive officer of that company since 1994. Prior to that, he was a partner with the law firm of Latham & Watkins LLP from 1986 to 1994. In addition, Mr. McKee is the Chairman of Realty Income Corporation (NYSE: O) and the Tiger Woods Foundation. He previously served as a director of Mandalay Resort Group, Irvine Apartment Communities, Inc. and Oasis Residential Inc. Mr. McKee brings to the Board significant operating and executive management experience. This experience, combined with Mr. McKee’s extensive background in the real estate industry, facilitates the Board’s oversight of the Company’s operations and enhances its ability to assess strategic opportunities.

 

 

LOGO

 

Age:Age: 72 73

Director since: 2011

Committees:

Compensation (chair)

IndependentCommittees:: Yes

Audit 

Executive                 

 

 

Age: 74

Director since: 2011

Committees:

Audit

Executive

Independent: Yes

THOMAS V. MCKERNAN

 

Mr. McKernan has been a director since March 2011. He servesserved as chairmanvice-chair of the board of AAA—Auto Club Enterprises and the Automobile Club of Southern California (the “Auto Club”). since 2018 and from 2012 to 2018 he served as its chairman. Mr. McKernan served as chief executive officer of the Auto Club from 1991 until his retirement in 2012. Mr. McKernan also serves as a director of Payden & Rygel Investment Group and as a trustee of certain funds associated therewith. Other positions held by Mr. McKernan include directorships with various private companies and membership on various advisory councils. In addition, he served as vice chairman of the board of California Physicians Service, Inc., which operates as Blue Shield of California, and its subsidiary, Blue Shield of California Life & Health Insurance Company, until September 2009. Through his operating, information technology and executive management experience, much of it gained in the process of transforming the Auto Club into a leader in the California insurance industry, Mr. McKernan brings to the Company valuable insight into the challenges facing an insurance company that is executing on a strategic growth plan. His extensive experience participating in the management of insurance company investment portfolios also has been of significant value to the Company.

 

 

2 | 2017 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


 

 I. Proposals  

 

 

Information Regarding the Other Incumbent Directors

The following list provides information with respect to the individuals currently serving as Class II directors, whose current term expires at the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders, followed by similar information with respect to the Class III directors, whose term expires in 2019.

Class II Directors—Term Expiring 20182021

 


 

LOGO

Age: 58

Director since: 2010

Committees:

  Executive                    

 


 

 

Age: 60

Director since: 2010

Committees:

Executive

Independent: No

DENNIS J. GILMORE

 

DENNIS J. GILMORE

Mr. Gilmore ishas been our chief executive officer and has been a director since June 2010, when we separated from The First American Corporation.Corporation in 2010. From 2008 until the separation, he served as chief executive officer of The First American Corporation’s financial services group. He also served as chief operating officer of The First American Corporation from 2004 to 2008. As the Company’s chief executive officer, Mr. Gilmore provides our Board of Directorsin-depth insight into the Company’s businesses, challenges and opportunities, as well as significant experience in the real estate settlement services industry.

 

4 | 2019 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


I. Proposals

 

LOGO

Age: 63                    

Director since: 2015

Committees:

  Governance                

 

 

 

Age: 65

Director since: 2015

Committees:

Governance (chair)

Independent: Yes

 

MARGARET M. MCCARTHY

 

Ms. McCarthy has beenis serving as executive vice president of CVS Health Corporation, a director since June 2015.health innovation company (NYSE: CVS), supporting the technology integration following the completion of CVS Health’s acquisition of Aetna, Inc. in 2018. She has served as executive vice president of operations and technology for Aetna, Inc., one of the nation’s leadinga diversified health carehealthcare benefits companies (NYSE: AET), since 2010. She iscompany, from 2010 until 2018, where she was responsible for innovation, technology, data security, data analyticsprocurement, real estate and service operations. Prior to joining Aetna in 2003, she served in information technology-related roles at CIGNA Healthcare and Catholic Health Initiatives, among others. Ms. McCarthy also worked in technology consulting at Accenture and was a consulting partner at Ernst & Young. She is a director of vAmour,Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ GS: BHF), a data centerlife and cloud security company,annuity insurance company; Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR), an operator, franchisor, and licensor of hotel, residential, and timeshare properties worldwide; and she also serves on various advisory boards, councils and councils, including for IBM, Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center, and the MIT Center for Information Systems Research.private-company boards. Given her extensive experience managing large groups of employees, complex processes and enterprise-critical technology, Ms. McCarthy brings to the Board valuable insights into areas of critical import to the operations of the Company.

 

 

LOGO

 

Age: 77

Director since: 2010

Committees:

 Governance (chair)    

 

 

Age:VIRGINIA M. UEBERROTH 61

Director since: 2018

Committees:

Governance

Independent: Yes

MARTHA B. WYRSCH

 

Ms. Ueberroth has beenWyrsch retired in March 2019 as executive vice president and general counsel for Sempra Energy, a director since June 2010, when we separatedleading energy services company, where she oversaw the company’s legal affairs and compliance initiatives. Prior to joining Sempra Energy in 2013, Ms. Wyrsch served as the president of Vestas American Wind Technology from The First2009 to 2012, where she had direct responsibility for all North American Corporation. She is chairman of the Ueberroth Family Foundation, a philanthropic organization. She retired as a director of Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in 2016.sales, construction, service and maintenance. In addition to her executive leadership roles, she has served as a member of the board of directors of Spectra Energy Corporation and SPX Corporation. She currently serves on the board of directors of Spectris plc, a publicly traded company listed on the London Stock Exchange. As an accomplished director of The First American Corporation from 1988 until the separation. Throughfor publicly-traded companies, and with deep experience leading intricate businesses, Ms. Ueberroth’s experience in philanthropic causes, the Company derives an appreciation for its stakeholders in the community.Wyrsch provides valuable insight into how we can enhance our operations and ability to serve our customers.

First American Financial Corporation  2017 Proxy Statement | 3


 

  I. Proposals                                                                                        

 

Class III Directors—Term Expiring 2019


LOGO

Age: 69

 Director since: 2010

Committees:

Executive                 
(chair)                       


PARKER S. KENNEDY

Mr. Kennedy serves as chairman of the Board and has been a director of the Company since June 2010, when we separated from The First American Corporation. Mr. Kennedy served as executive chairman of the Company from the separation until his retirement as an employee in February 2012. From 2003 until the separation, he served as The First American Corporation’s chairman and chief executive officer. Previously he also served as The First American Corporation’s president from 1993 to 2004. He served as a director of The First American Corporation and its successor entity, CoreLogic, Inc., from 1987 to 2011, and was CoreLogic, Inc.’s executive chairman from the separation to May 2011. Mr. Kennedy also served on the First Advantage Corporation board until 2009. We believe that Mr. Kennedy, who has worked with us in various capacities for over 40 years, has unparalleled executive experience in our industry. He also brings to the Company an incomparable understanding of our history and culture.

 

 

LOGO

Age: 62 

Director since: 2013

Committees:

Audit                        

Compensation          

 

 

MARK C. OMAN

 

Mr. Oman has been a director since March 2013. In 2011, he retired from Wells Fargo & Company, after serving it or its predecessors since 1979. At Wells Fargo he held numerous positions, including senior executive vice president (home and consumer finance) from 2005 until his retirement and group executive vice president (home and consumer finance) from 2002 to 2005. Mr. Oman also served as a director and the chief executive officer of Wachovia Preferred Funding Corp. from 2009 to 2011. He is currently involved with several private ventures and is a director of American Caresource Holdings, Inc. Mr. Oman brings to the Board important insights into the mortgage market and working with large mortgage lenders.

 

See the section entitled “Security Ownership of Management,” which begins on page 18,10, for information pertaining to stock ownership of our directors. There are no family relationships among any of the directors or nominees or any of the executive officers of the Company. There are no arrangements or understandings between any director and any other person pursuant to which any director was or is to be selected as a director.

 

4 | 2017 Proxy Statement  

First American Financial Corporation  2019 Proxy Statement | 5


Item 1.    Election of Class IIII Directors

Our certificate of incorporation provides for a classified Board. Each person elected as a Class IIII director at the annual meeting of stockholders will serve for a three-year term expiring on the date of the 20202022 annual meeting and until his or her successor in office is elected and qualified. Our Board has nominated the following individuals for election as Class IIII directors:

Reginald H. Gilyard

James L. Doti
Michael D. McKee
Thomas V. McKernan

Parker S. Kennedy

Mark C. Oman

Unless otherwise specified by you in your proxy card, the proxies solicited by our Board will be voted “FOR” the election of the Class I III director nominees. If any nominee should become unable or unwilling to serve as a director, the proxies will be voted for such substitute nominee(s) as shall be designated by our Board. Our Board presently has no knowledge that any of the nominees will be unable or unwilling to serve.

 

Our Board recommends that you vote “FOR” each of these Class I director nominees.

 

6 | 2019 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation  2017 Proxy Statement | 5


Item 2.    Advisory Vote to ApproveApprove Executive Compensation

Pursuant to Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules, we are seeking the advice of our stockholders on the compensation of our named executive officers as presented in the “Executive Compensation” section of this proxy statement commencing on page 26.19. Specifically, we are seeking stockholder approval of the following resolution:

“RESOLVED, that the stockholders of First American Financial Corporation approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the 2016 Summary Compensation Table and the related compensation tables, notes and narrative in the Proxy Statement for the Company’s 20172019 annual meeting of stockholders.”

We refer to this proposal as a “Say on Pay” proposal. As part of its process in determining executive compensation levels for 2016,2018, the Compensation Committee has reviewed the results of last year’s Say on Pay proposal, in which approximately 96%94% of the Company’s shares present and entitled to vote approved 20152017 executive compensation. The stockholder support for the prior Say on Pay proposal reinforces the Compensation Committee’s belief that it should continue its practice of implementing and overseeing executive compensation programs that provide for a substantial portion of the executive officer’s total compensation to be related to the Company’s consolidated financial performance. It also reinforces the Compensation Committee’s sense that, for executive officers, the mix of compensation should be weighted heavily towardat-risk pay, in particular, the annual incentive bonus (a portion of which consists of equity vesting over four years) and should include a substantial portion of equity. This is consistent with the overall philosophy of maintaining a pay mix that results fundamentally in apay-for-performance orientation and a strong alignment between the interests of executive officers and long-term stockholders.

The Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) believesDespite a slowing purchase market toward the Company’s management team performed well in 2016. The Company’s performance improved over aend of the year, 2018 was another strong 2015, withyear for the Company. On an unadjusted basis, total revenue growing 7.7% to $5.6 billion. Reflecting continued vigilance on expenses, income before income taxes grew 10.4% to $477.6 millionwas down less than 1% at $5.7 billion andpre-tax margin was 8.57%, up 21 basis points over earnings per share of $4.19 represented an increase of 11.4% from the prior year. Return on average total equity improved from 10.8%Pretax margin for the Company was 10.6% and pretax margin in 2015 to 11.9%the title insurance and services segment was the highest in 2016.the Company’s history at 12.4%. During the year, the Company terminatedwas required to implement an accounting change requiring it to mark-to-market the equity securities in its legacy pension plan. Whileinvestment portfolio through net income. Adjusting for net realized investment gains/losses, most of which losses in 2018 were attributable to this change, total revenue was up just under 1%, earnings per share was up 24.8%, 2018 pretax margin for the Company expectswas 11.5% and pretax margin for the termination to result in significant annual savings in the future, it generated a significant loss during the year. In particular, the termination reducedpre-tax net income by $66.3 million,pre-tax margin by 118title insurance and services segment was 13.2%. On an unadjusted basis, points and return on averageequity improved from 13.0% in 2017 to 13.1% in 2018. While total equitystockholder return for the year was -17.8%, annualized three-year total stockholder return was 10.9%, which compares favorably to the annualized three-year return for the S&P 500 of 9.2%. In addition, the Company increased its cash dividend by 130 basis points.10.5% from an annual rate of $1.52 to $1.68 per share.

TheDuring the year the Company continued to make significant strides toward achievingexecute against its long-term strategic goals. Though market share in its US title insurance business decreased slightly, during the yearIn particular, the Company completed a number of strategic acquisitions designed to grow and strengthen the Company’sits core title operations, expand its offerings to its current customer base and settlement business. The Company continuedprovide innovative solutions which promise to invest inreduce risk and increase efficiency for its database of real property records, which is now the most comprehensive database of its kind in the United States.customers. The Company also continuedinvested heavily in the development of innovative solutions aimed at increasing the efficiency of its effortsoperations, reducing risk and enhancing the customer experience. As a complement to leverage these databases to increase operational efficiency, to more effectively manage riskinvestments, the Company also invested heavily in its real property databases, enabling it both to maintain its leadership in title insurance businessdata coverage and to introduce new products to the market. Reflecting its commitment to drive return for its stockholders, during the year the Company increased its cash dividend by 36% from an annual ratefacilitate many of $1.00 to $1.36 per share and achieved a total stockholder return of 5.2%.these innovations.

The full results of the 20162018 executive compensation program are included in the section entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” below commencing on page 26.19. Stockholders are urged to read the Compensation Discussion and Analysis as well as the 2016 Summary Compensation Table and related compensation tables and narrative, appearing on pages 4543 through 57,53, in their entirety.

 

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Item 2. Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation

 

While this vote to approve executive compensation is not binding, the Compensation Committee intends to review the results of the vote in connection with its ongoing analysis of the Company’s compensation programs. The Company expects to include a Say on Pay proposal in its proxy materials on an annual basis and, thus, we expect that the next Say on Pay proposal will occur at the Company’s 20182020 annual meeting.

Our Board recommends that you vote “FOR” the approval,

on an advisory basis, of the Company’s executive compensation.

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Item 3.    Advisory Vote on the Frequency of the Executive Compensation Vote

Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and SEC rules require us to seek the advice of our stockholders as to whether a vote to approve the Company’s executive compensation, like the one described in Item 2, should be held every one, two or three years. Our Board is recommending a vote every year.

There appear to be valid reasons behind selecting any of these options. For example, a less than annual frequency may permit stockholders to focus more on overall design issues rather than details of individual decisions, and might permit stockholders who receive proxy statements from many companies to invest a more appropriate amount of time in analyzing their companies’ executive compensation proposals. We believe, however, that an annual vote gives stockholders the best opportunity to provide prompt feedback to the Company and to react to emerging trends in compensation. In addition, we believe that an annual frequency enhances the Compensation Committee’s ability to ascertain the reasons for any negative feedback received from the stockholders, as well as its ability to respond appropriately and promptly to any such feedback.

You should mark your proxy for one year, two years or three years based on your preference as to the frequency with which you believe an advisory vote on such compensation should be held. You may also abstain. While the vote is advisory and not binding on the Board of Directors, the Board has determined that it intends to implement the frequency that is approved by the stockholders. The Board may, however, in the future decide to conduct advisory votes on a more or less frequent basis and may vary its practice based on factors such as discussions with stockholders and the adoption of material changes to compensation programs.

Our Board recommends that you vote for the Company

to hold an advisory executive compensation vote every “1 YEAR.”

 

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Item 4.    Approval of the Performance Criteria, Establishment of a Director Compensation Limit and Amendment to Individual Annual Share Award Limits Under the Company’s 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan

Overview

The Company’s 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) provides for the grant of incentive stock options,non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance units, performance shares and other stock-based awards tonon-employee directors of the Company and officers and eligible employees of the Company and any subsidiaries and affiliates. The Plan became effective on May 28, 2010 upon its adoption by the Board of Directors and approval by the Company’s sole stockholder at that time, The First American Corporation. In order to allow for awards under the Plan to qualify astax-deductible performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), the Company asked, and the stockholders approved, the material terms of the performance criteria under the Plan at its 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

The Company is once again asking stockholders to approve the material terms of the performance criteria under the Plan for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code. In addition, stockholders are being asked to approve the following amendments to the Plan:

1.Increase the maximum number of shares that can be granted to an individual in a given year in the form of restricted stock and restricted stock units to 200,000, in the form of performance shares and performance units to 200,000, and in the form of other-stock based awards to 200,000 (the “Individual Limit Amendment”); and

2.Impose a limit on the value of awards and other cash compensation that may be granted tonon-employee directors of $500,000 per year (the “Director Compensation Amendment”).

Why You Should Vote to Approve the Individual Limit Amendment and the Director Compensation Amendment

The current individual annual limits under the Plan are 125,000 shares for restricted stock and restricted stock units, 125,000 shares for performance shares and performance units, and 125,000 shares for other-stock based awards. The Board does not believe that these current individual annual limits provide adequate flexibility to continue to attract, motivate and retain qualified employees, and provide them with the incentive to maximize long-term stockholder returns and achieve long-term objectives that will inure to the benefit of our stockholders. The Board believes that the Individual Limit Amendment will provide the necessary flexibility to achieve these goals.

The Board believes it is in the best interests of the stockholders to approve the Director Compensation Amendment to impose an upper limit on the compensation the Company pays to itsnon-employee directors each calendar year, including but not limited to compensation issued under the Plan.

The following factors were taken into consideration with respect to the Individual Limit Amendment and the Director Compensation Amendment:

1.The number of participants in the Plan as of March 16, 2017 is approximately 754, of which only 5 are executive officers and 7 arenon-employee directors.

2.Current Share Reserve: As of March 16, 2017, there were 3,379,681 shares authorized, but unissued under the Plan.The Individual Limit Amendment and the Director Compensation Amendment will not increase the overhang or potential dilution related to the Plan as they do not increase the overall share reserve under the Plan.

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  Item 4. Approval of Performance Criteria and Compensation Plan                       

3.Share Usage: Share usage rate is a metric monitored to ensure that the shares awarded under the Company’s equity compensation plans are not excessively dilutive to the Company’s stockholders. It is defined as the number of shares granted under the equity compensation plans divided by the basic weighted average common shares outstanding for each of the last three fiscal years. Over the past three fiscal years, the Company’s annual share usage rate has averaged 0.77%.

4.Burn Rate: Burn rate is equal to the total number of equity awards the Company granted in a fiscal year (with performance awards shown at target level) divided by the weighted average common stock outstanding during the year. Over the fiscal years 2016, 2015, and 2014, the Company’s burn rate has been 0.94%, 0.74% and 0.69%, respectively.

5.Outstanding Awards: As of March 16, 2017, there were 132,352 options outstanding under all equity compensation plans, with a weighted average exercise price of $27.66 and a weighted average remaining term of 6 years. On such date, the aggregate number of full value awards (i.e., restricted stock units) outstanding and not yet vested and/or distributed under all equity compensation plans was 2,681,638, which number includes restricted stock units that may no longer be subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture (due to retirement vesting provisions), but that remain subject to restrictions and have not yet been distributed. The closing price of a share of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on March 16, 2017 was $38.53.

Why You Should Vote to Approve the Performance Criteria Under the Plan

The Board recommends that the Company’s stockholders approve the performance criteria under the Plan to facilitate the tax deductibility of awards under the plan as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.

Section 162(m) of the Code

The Board believes that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to continue to provide for an equity incentive plan under which compensation awards made to the Company’s executive officers are eligible to qualify for deductibility by the Company for federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, the Plan is designed to permit the grant of awards that are intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” not subject to Section 162(m)’s $1,000,000 deductibility cap; however, there can be no guarantee that amounts payable under the Plan will be treated as qualified “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m). In general, under Section 162(m), in order for the Company to be able to deduct compensation in excess of $1,000,000 paid in any one year to the Company’s chief executive officer and certain other executive officers, such compensation must qualify as “performance-based.” One of the requirements of “performance-based” compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) is that the material terms of the performance criteria under which compensation may be paid be disclosed to and approved by the Company’s stockholders at least once every five years. For purposes of Section 162(m), the material terms include (i) the employees eligible to receive compensation, (ii) a description of the business criteria on which the performance criteria is based and (iii) the maximum amount of compensation that can be paid to an employee under the performance criteria. With respect to the various types of awards under the Plan, each of these aspects is discussed below, and, as noted above, stockholders are being asked under this proposal to approve each of these aspects of the Plan for purposes of the approval requirements of Section 162(m).

Plan Summary

The following summary of the material terms of the Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Plan, which is set forth in Appendix B to this proxy statement.

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                       Item 4. Approval of Performance Criteria and Compensation Plan  

Administration

The Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the administrator is authorized and empowered to do all things that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the administration of the Plan. In addition, the Compensation Committee may delegate any or all aspects of its responsibilities and powers under the Plan to any persons; provided, however, that the Compensation Committee may not delegate its authority to correct defects, omissions or inconsistencies in the Plan.

Participants

Any person who is designated as an employee of the Company or of any subsidiary or affiliate and anynon-employee director of the Company is eligible for selection by the administrator for the grant of awards under the Plan. Options intending to qualify as “incentive stock options” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code may only be granted to employees of the Company or any subsidiary. Approximately 19,267 employees and 7non-employee directors currently qualify to participate in the Plan.

Shares Subject to the Plan and to Awards

The total number of shares of the Company’s common stock that may be delivered pursuant to awards under the Plan is 16,000,000. Such shares may be either authorized and unissued shares or previously issued shares acquired by the Company or any subsidiary. Shares subject to awards that have expired or been terminated, cancelled, forfeited or otherwise not issued under an award and shares subject to awards settled in cash are available for delivery in connection with future awards under the Plan; provided, however, that (i) all shares covered by a stock appreciation right, to the extent that it is exercised, and whether or not shares are actually issued to the participant upon the exercise of the stock appreciation right and (ii) all shares withheld by the Company to pay the exercise price of an option and/or the withholding taxes related to an award reduce the total number of shares available for delivery under the Plan. Any shares delivered under the Plan upon exercise or satisfaction of a substitute award in connection with any acquisition, merger, consolidation or otherwise do not reduce the shares available for delivery under the Plan.

The aggregate number of shares subject to options granted during any calendar year to any one participant may not exceed 500,000. The aggregate number of shares subject to stock appreciation rights during any calendar year to any one participant may not exceed 500,000. Subject to stockholder approval of this proposal, the aggregate number of shares subject to awards of (i) restricted stock or restricted stock units granted during any calendar year to any one participant may not exceed 200,000, (ii) performance shares or performance units during any calendar year to any one participant may not exceed 200,000, and (iii) other stock-based awards during any calendar year to any one participant may not exceed 200,000 shares.

Option Awards

The administrator establishes the exercise price per share under each option, which, other than in the event of options granted in connection with a merger or other acquisition, may not be less than the fair market value of a share on the date the option is granted. The administrator establishes the term of each option, which in no case may exceed a period of ten (10) years from the date of grant. Options granted under the Plan may either be Incentive Stock Options (“ISOs”) or options which are not intended to qualify as ISO’s, called nonqualified stock options (“NQSOs”). ISOs may only be granted to employees. An option granted under the Plan will not be considered an ISO to the extent that it, together with any other ISOs under the Plan and any other incentive stock option plans, are exercisable for the first time by any participant during any calendar year with respect to shares having an aggregate fair market value in excess of $100,000 as of the time the option with respect to such shares is granted. Other than in connection with a change in the Company’s capitalization, at any time when the exercise

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  Item 4. Approval of Performance Criteria and Compensation Plan                       

price of an option is above the fair market value of a share, the Company may not, without stockholder approval, reduce the exercise price of such option and may not exchange such option for cash or a new award with a lower (or no) exercise price.

Stock Appreciation Rights

A stock appreciation right provides the right to the monetary equivalent of the increase in value of a specified number of shares over a specified period of time after the right is granted. Stock appreciation rights may be granted to participants either in tandem with or as a component of other awards granted under the Plan (“tandem SARs”) or not in conjunction with other awards (“freestanding SARs”). All freestanding SARs are to be granted subject to the same terms and conditions applicable to options as set forth above and in the Plan and all tandem SARs are to have the same exercise price, vesting, exercisability, forfeiture and termination provisions as the award to which they relate. Other than in connection with a change in the Company’s capitalization, at any time when the exercise price of a stock appreciation right is above the fair market value of a share, the Company may not, without stockholder approval, reduce the exercise price of such stock appreciation right and may not exchange such stock appreciation right for cash or a new award with a lower (or no) exercise price.

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units

Restricted stock is an award or issuance of shares under which the grant, issuance, retention, vesting and/or transferability is subject during specified periods of time to conditions (including continued employment or performance conditions) and terms as the administrator deems appropriate. Restricted stock units are awards denominated in units of shares under which the issuance of shares is subject to conditions (including continued employment or performance conditions) and terms as the administrator deems appropriate. Participants holding shares of restricted stock granted under the Plan may exercise full voting rights with respect to those shares during the period of restriction. Participants do not have voting rights with respect to shares underlying restricted stock units unless and until such shares are reflected as issued and outstanding shares on the Company’s stock ledger. Participants in whose name restricted stock is granted are entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to those shares, unless determined otherwise by the administrator.

Performance Units and Performance Shares

Performance units and performance shares confer upon the participant the opportunity to receive shares or cash upon the attainment of performance and/or satisfaction of other terms and conditions determined by the administrator. Each performance unit has an initial value that is established by the administrator at the time of grant. Each performance share has an initial value equal to the fair market value of a share on the date of grant. Performance units and/or shares are earned based on the achievement or satisfaction of the corresponding performance criteria and/or other terms and conditions. Earned performance units and performance shares may be paid in the form of cash or shares, or a combination of the two, at the discretion of the administrator. Participants receiving performance units or performance shares only have the rights of a stockholder with respect to shares of common stock, if any, actually received by the participant upon satisfaction or achievement of the terms and conditions of such award and not with respect to shares subject to the award but not actually issued to the participant.

Other Stock-Based Awards

The administrator may grant types of equity-based or equity-related awards not otherwise described by the terms of the Plan in such amounts and subject to the provisions of the Plan and such other terms and conditions as the administrator shall determine.

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                       Item 4. Approval of Performance Criteria and Compensation Plan  

Deferral of Gains

The administrator may, in an award agreement, provide for the deferred delivery of shares or payment of cash, as applicable, upon settlement, vesting or other events with respect to restricted stock or restricted stock units, performance units or performance shares or other stock-based awards.

Qualifying Performance Criteria

The administrator may establish performance criteria and levels of achievement versus such criteria that will determine the number of shares, units or cash to be granted, retained, vested, issued or issuable under or in settlement of an award or the amount payable pursuant to an award, which criteria may be based on “qualifying performance criteria” (as described below) or other standards of financial performance and/or personal performance evaluations. In addition, the administrator may specify that an award or a portion of an award is intended to satisfy the requirements for “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, provided that the performance criteria for such award or portion of such award is a measure based on one or more qualifying performance criteria selected by the administrator and specified at the time the award is granted. The administrator will certify the extent to which any qualifying performance criteria has been satisfied, and the amount payable as a result thereof, prior to payment, settlement or vesting of any award that is intended to satisfy the requirements for “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code. Notwithstanding satisfaction of any performance criteria, the number of shares issued under or the amount paid under an award may be reduced, but not increased, by the administrator on the basis of such further considerations as the administrator in its sole discretion may determine.

For purposes of the Plan, the term “qualifying performance criteria” means any one or more of the following performance criteria, or derivations of such performance criteria, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, applied to either the Company as a whole or to a business unit or subsidiary, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, and measured either annually or cumulatively over a period of years, on an absolute basis or relative to apre-established target, to previous years’ results or to a designated comparison group, in each case as specified by the administrator: (a) earnings per share; (b) net earnings or net income (before or after taxes); (c) net sales or revenue; (d) net operating profit; (e) return measures (including return on assets, capital, invested capital, equity, sales or revenue); (f) cash flow (including operating cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on equity and cash flow return on investment); (g) earnings before or after interest, taxes, depreciation and/or amortization; (h) gross or operating margins; (i) productivity ratios; (j) revenue growth; (k) expenses; (l) margins; (m) operating efficiency; (n) customer satisfaction; (o) working capital; (p) market share; (q) share price (including growth measures, market capitalization, total stockholder return and return relative to market indices); and (r) economic value added or EVA (net operating profit after tax minus capital multiplied by the cost of capital).

To the extent consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code, the administrator may provide in an award intended to qualify as performance-based compensation that any evaluation of performance may include or exclude any of the following events that occurs during a performance period: (a) asset write-downs; (b) litigation or claim judgments or settlements; (c) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or provisions affecting reported results; (d) any reorganization and restructuring programs; (e) extraordinary, unusual and/or nonrecurring items of gain or loss; (f) acquisitions or divestitures; and (g) foreign exchange gains and losses.

Amendment and Termination

The Board may amend, alter, suspend or terminate the Plan and the administrator may, to the extent permitted by the Plan, amend the terms of any award granted under the Plan, including any award agreement, in each case, retroactively or prospectively; provided, however, that no such amendment, alteration, suspension, or termination of the Plan may be made which, without first obtaining stockholder approval as required by law or regulation or otherwise, would, except as provided in the Plan: (a) increase the maximum number of shares

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  Item 4. Approval of Performance Criteria and Compensation Plan                       

which may be sold or awarded under the Plan or increase the maximum limitations as set forth in the Plan; (b) decrease the minimum exercise price of outstanding options; (c) change the class of persons eligible to receive awards under the Plan; (d) change the performance measures specified in the Plan; (e) extend the duration of the Plan or the period during which options or stock appreciation rights may be exercised; or (f) otherwise require stockholder approval to comply with any applicable law, regulation or rule.

No amendment or alteration to the Plan or an award or award agreement may be made which would impair the rights of the holder of an award, without such holder’s consent, provided that no such consent is required if the administrator determines in its sole discretion and prior to the date of any change in control that such amendment or alteration either is required or advisable in order for the Company, the Plan or the award to satisfy any law or regulation or to meet the requirements of or avoid adverse financial accounting consequences under any accounting standard.

Adjustments

The number and kind of shares available for issuance under the Plan (including under any awards then outstanding), and the number and kind of shares subject to the individual limits set forth in the Plan and above, will be equitably adjusted by the administrator as it determines appropriate to reflect any reorganization, reclassification, combination of shares, stock split, reverse stock split,spin-off, dividend or distribution of securities, property or cash (other than regular, quarterly cash dividends), or any other event or transaction that affects the number or kind of outstanding shares of the Company.

In the event there is any other change in the number or kind of outstanding shares, or any stock or other securities into which such shares shall have been changed, or for which it shall have been exchanged, by reason of a change of control, other merger, consolidation or otherwise, then immediately prior to the occurrence of such change of control, unless specified otherwise in an award agreement, any and all options, stock appreciation rights and other stock-based awards which are outstanding will accelerate and become fully exercisable. Immediately prior to any such change in control, unless specified otherwise in an award agreement, any restrictions, performance criteria or other conditions applicable to restricted stock units, shares of restricted stock and other stock-based awards previously awarded to participants will be immediately canceled or deemed achieved, and all such restrictions will lapse. Immediately prior to the change of control, all awards which are outstanding will immediately become fully vested and nonforfeitable. The administrator may, in its discretion, determine that an award can or cannot be exercised after, or will otherwise terminate or not terminate as of, a change in control.

Transferability

Awards generally may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated by a participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, except as determined by the administrator and consistent with the terms of the Plan, and each ISO or stock appreciation right granted in connection with an ISO may be exercisable only by the participant during his or her lifetime. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted by the administrator, the person to whom an award is initially granted may make certain limited transfers to certain family members, family trusts, or family partnerships.

Effective Date and Termination of the Plan

On May 28, 2010, the Plan became effective upon its adoption by the Board and approval by the Company’s sole stockholder, The First American Corporation. The Plan will remain available for the grant of awards, subject to the right of the Board to amend or terminate the Plan, until the earlier of the date that all shares subject to the Plan have been delivered, and any restrictions on such shares have lapsed or the tenth (10th) anniversary of May 28, 2010.

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                       Item 4. Approval of Performance Criteria and Compensation Plan  

Federal Income Tax Treatment

The following discussion of the federal income tax consequences of the Plan is intended to be a summary of applicable federal law as currently in effect. It should not be taken as tax advice by Plan participants, who are urged to consult their individual tax advisors.

Stock Options

ISOs and NQSOs are treated differently for federal income tax purposes. ISOs are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. NQSOs do not comply with such requirements.

An optionee is not taxed on the grant or exercise of an ISO. The difference between the exercise price and the fair market value of the shares on the exercise date will, however, be a preference item for purposes of the alternative minimum tax. If an optionee holds the shares acquired upon exercise of an ISO for at least two years following the option grant date and more than one year following exercise, the optionee’s gain, if any, upon a subsequent disposition of such shares is long term capital gain. The measure of the gain is the difference between the proceeds received on disposition and the optionee’s basis in the shares (which generally equals the exercise price). If an optionee disposes of stock acquired pursuant to exercise of an ISO before satisfying these holding periods, the optionee will recognize both ordinary income and capital gain in the year of disposition. The Company is not entitled to an income tax deduction on the grant or exercise of an ISO or on the optionee’s disposition of the shares after satisfying the holding period requirement described above. If the holding periods are not satisfied, the Company will be entitled to a deduction in the year the optionee disposes of the shares in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the optionee.

In order for an option to qualify for ISO tax treatment, the grant of the option must satisfy various other conditions more fully described in the Code. The Company does not guarantee that any option will qualify for ISO tax treatment even if the option is intended to qualify for such treatment. In the event an option intended to be an ISO fails to so qualify, it will be taxed as an NQSO, as described in the paragraph below.

An optionee is not taxed on the grant of an NQSO. On exercise, the optionee recognizes ordinary income equal to the difference between the exercise price and the fair market value of the shares acquired on the date of exercise. The Company is entitled to an income tax deduction in the year of exercise in the amount recognized by the optionee as ordinary income. The optionee’s gain (or loss) on subsequent disposition of the shares is long term capital gain (or loss) if the shares are held for more than one year following exercise. The Company does not receive a deduction for this gain.

Stock Appreciation Rights

An optionee is not taxed on the grant of a stock appreciation right. On exercise, the optionee recognizes ordinary income equal to the cash or the fair market value of any shares received. The Company is entitled to an income tax deduction in the year of exercise in the amount recognized by the optionee as ordinary income.

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units

Grantees of restricted stock or restricted stock units do not recognize income at the time of the grant. When the award vests or is paid, grantees generally recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the fair market value of the stock or units at such time, and the Company will receive a corresponding deduction. However, no later than 30 days after a participant receives an award of restricted stock, the participant may elect to recognize taxable ordinary income in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares at the time of receipt. Provided that the election is made in a timely manner, when the restrictions on the shares lapse, the participant will not recognize any additional income. If the participant forfeits the shares to the Company (e.g., upon the participant’s termination prior to vesting), the participant may not claim a deduction with respect to the income recognized as a

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  Item 4. Approval of Performance Criteria and Compensation Plan                       

result of the election. Dividends paid with respect to unvested shares of restricted stock generally will be taxable as ordinary income to the participant at the time the dividends are received.

Company Deduction and Section 162(m)

Section 162(m) generally allows the Company to obtain tax deductions without limit for performance-based compensation. The Plan is designed to permit the grant of options and stock appreciation rights, and certain awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance units, performance shares and other stock-based awards that are intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” not subject to Section 162(m)’s $1,000,000 deductibility cap. The rules and regulations promulgated under Section 162(m) are complicated and subject to change from time to time, sometimes with retroactive effect. In addition, a number of requirements must be met in order for particular compensation to so qualify. As such, there can be no assurance that any compensation awarded or paid under the Plan will be fully deductible under all circumstances.

New Plan Benefits

The benefits that will be awarded or paid in the future under the Plan are not currently determinable. Such awards are within the discretion of the Compensation Committee, and the Compensation Committee has not determined future awards or who might receive them. Information about awards granted in fiscal year 2016 under the Plan to the Company’s named executive officers can be found in the table under the heading “2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards” on page 46 of this proxy statement. As of March 16, 2017, the closing price of a share of the Company’s common stock was $38.53.

Our Board recommends that you vote “FOR” the approval of the performance criteria,

establishment of a director compensation limit and amendment to individual annual

share award limits under the Company’s 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan

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Item 5.    Ratification of SelectionSelection of Independent Auditor

The Audit Committee has selected PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017.2019. Representatives of PwC are expected to be present at the annual meeting, and, if they do attend the annual meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement and be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Selection of our independent registered public accounting firm is not required to be submitted for stockholder approval, but the Audit Committee is seeking ratification of its selection of PwC from our stockholders as a matter of good corporate governance. If the stockholders do not ratify this selection, the Audit Committee will reconsider its selection of PwC and will either continue to retain this firm or appoint a new independent registered public accounting firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee may, in its discretion, appoint a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in our Company’s best interests and those of its stockholders.

Our Board recommends that you vote “FOR” the foregoing proposal to ratify

the selection of PwC as our Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

First American Financial Corporation  2017  2019 Proxy Statement | 179


II.   Required Information

Security Ownership of Management

The following table sets forth the total number of our shares of common stock beneficially owned and the percentage of the outstanding shares so owned as of the record date by:

each director (and each nominee for director);

·each director (and each nominee for director);

each executive officer named in the “Summary Compensation Table” on page 43 (each, a “named executive officer”); and

·each executive officer named in the “2016 Summary Compensation Table” on page 45 (each, a “named executive officer”); and

all directors and executive officers as a group.

·all directors and executive officers as a group.

Unless otherwise indicated in the notes following the table, the stockholders listed in the table are the beneficial owners of the listed shares with sole voting and investment power (or, in the case of individual stockholders, shared power with such individual’s spouse) over the shares listed. Shares subject to rights exercisable within 60 days after the record date are treated as outstanding when determining the amount and percentage beneficially owned by a personowned. None of the directors or entity.officers included in the table below, other than Mr. DeGiorgio, have the right to acquire any shares within 60 days of the record date.

 

Stockholders  Number of  
Common shares  
   Percent
if greater than 1%
 

Number of

Common Shares

Percent

if greater than 1%

Directors 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James L. Doti

   

 

43,933      

 

 

   

 

 

 

55,210

 

 

 

Dennis J. Gilmore

   

 

346,970      

 

 

   

 

 

 

339,826

 

 

 

Reginald H. Gilyard

 

3,292

 

 

 

Parker S. Kennedy(1)

   

 

2,645,313      

 

 

   

2.4%

 

 

 

2,652,536

 

 

2.4%

 

Margaret M. McCarthy

   

 

6,956      

 

 

   

 

 

 

13,927

 

 

 

Michael D. McKee

   

 

26,361      

 

 

   

 

 

 

33,584

 

 

 

Thomas V. McKernan

   

 

36,361      

 

 

   

 

 

 

43,584

 

 

 

Mark C. Oman

   

 

22,402      

 

 

   

 

 

 

29,625

 

 

 

Virginia M. Ueberroth(2)

   

 

140,037      

 

 

   

 

 

Martha B. Wyrsch

 

 

 

 

Named executive officers who are not directors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kenneth D. DeGiorgio

  

 

 

 

 

7,465      

 

 

 

    

 

31,513

(2)

 

 

Christopher M. Leavell

  

 

 

 

123,730      

 

    

 

66,417

 

 

 

Mark E. Seaton

  

 

 

 

31,935      

 

    

 

48,319

 

 

 

Matthew F. Wajner

  

 

 

 

7,118      

 

    

 

8,050

 

 

 

All directors, named executive officers and other
executive officers as a group (12 persons)

   

 

3,438,581      

 

 

   

3.1%

 

 

All directors, named executive officers and other executive officers as a group (13 persons)

 

3,325,883

 

 

3.0%

 

 

(1)

Includes 2,466,686 shares held by Kennedy Enterprises, L.P., a California limited partnership of which Mr. Kennedy is the sole general partner. The limited partnership agreement pursuant to which the partnership was formed provides that the general partner has all powers of a general partner as provided in the California Uniform Limited Partnership Act, including the power to vote securities held by the partnership, provided that the general partner is not permitted to cause the partnership to sell, exchange or hypothecate any of its shares of stock of the Company without the prior written consent of all of the limited partners. Of the shares held by the partnership, 460,850 are allocated to the capital accounts of Mr. Kennedy. The balance of the shares held by the partnership is allocated to the capital accounts of the other limited partners, who are relatives of Mr. Kennedy. Except to the extent of his voting power over the shares allocated to the capital accounts of the limited partners, Mr. Kennedy disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares held by the partnership other than those allocated to his own and his wife’s capital accounts. Also included are 27,087 shares over which Mr. Kennedy has investment power pursuant to a power of attorney for Mr. Kennedy’s mother, who does not share his household. She holds these shares in a personal account and Mr. Kennedy disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities.

(2)

Includes 5,000 shares held by6,614 deferred restricted stock units that Mr. DeGiorgio has a nonprofit corporation of which Ms. Ueberroth is an officer and whosefive-member board of directors is chaired by Ms. Ueberroth and also composed of her husband and children. In her capacity as an officer of that corporation, Ms. Ueberroth has the power, as do certain other officers,right to direct the voting and dispositionreceive within 60 days of the shares. Ms. Ueberroth disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.record date.

 

1810 | 20172019 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


II. Required Information

 

The shares set forth in the table above include shares that the following individuals have the right to acquire within 60 days of the record date in the amounts set forth below:

   Individuals

Shares

   James L. Doti

1,135

   Dennis J. Gilmore

   Parker S. Kennedy

1,135

   Margaret M. McCarthy

   Michael D. McKee

1,135

   Thomas V. McKernan

1,135

   Mark C. Oman

1,135

   Virginia M. Ueberroth

1,135

   Kenneth D. DeGiorgio

   Christopher M. Leavell

   Mark E. Seaton

   Matthew F. Wajner

230

Board and CommitteeCommittee Meetings

Our Board held five meetings during 2016.2018. No incumbent director attended less than 75% of the aggregate of all meetings of the Board and the committees (if any) on which the director served. From time to time, our Board may act by unanimous written consent as permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware. Our Board’s standing committees include an audit, nominating and corporate governance, and compensation committee. Our Board also has an executive committee. The following table reflects the composition of each of these committees as of the date of this proxy statement.

 

Audit

Committee

Compensation  

Committee

Nominating and

Corporate

Governance

Committee

Executive

Committee

  

Audit
Committee  

 

   

Compensation  
Committee

 

   

 

Nominating and  
Corporate
Governance
Committee

 

   

Executive  
Committee  

 

 
    

Number of Meetings in 2016

  7   6   3   1 

Number of Meetings in 2018

 

6

 

 

6

 

 

4

 

 

0

 

Independent Directors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Dr. James L. Doti LOGO

  LOGO

 

         LOGO

 

 

o

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Reginald H. Gilyard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parker S. Kennedy

           LOGO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Margaret M. McCarthy

        LOGO

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Michael D. McKee

     LOGO

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Thomas V. McKernanLOGO

  LOGO

 

         LOGO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Mark Oman LOGO

  LOGO

 

   LOGO

 

       
    

Virginia M. Ueberroth

      LOGO

 

   

Mark C. Oman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Martha B. Wyrsch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inside Directors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Dennis J. Gilmore

        LOGO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chairperson Member Financial Expert

Chairperson Member Financial Expert

 

 

 

LOGO

Chairperson

LOGO

Member

LOGO

Financial Expert

First American Financial Corporation  2017 Proxy Statement | 19


  II. Required Information                                                               

Audit Committee

The members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Doti (chair), McKernan and Oman. The functions performed by thisthe Audit Committee include:

reviewing internal auditing procedures and results;

selecting our independent registered public accounting firm;

serving as the Board’s designated risk oversight committee include:(see the Risk Oversight section beginning on page 14 for additional details);

engaging with our compliance and risk management executives to review the state of enterprise risk management and compliance programs with a view to understanding the steps management has taken to monitor and control the Company’s major risk exposures;

reviewing with internal counsel the state of litigation, claims and regulatory matters;

discussing with management, internal audit and external advisors the state of internal controls and management tone;

directing and supervising investigations into matters within the scope of its duties;

reviewing with the independent registered public accounting firm the plan and results of its audit and determining the nature of other services to be performed by, and fees to be paid to, such firm;

reviewing the Company’s information technology and cybersecurity functions; and

supervising the oversight of the Company’s investment portfolios.

 

First American Financial Corporation   2019 Proxy Statement | 11


·reviewing internal auditing procedures and results;

II. Required Information

 

·selecting our independent registered public accounting firm;

·engaging with our compliance and risk management executives to review the state of enterprise risk management and compliance programs with a view to understanding the steps management has taken to monitor and control the Company’s major risk exposures;

·reviewing with internal counsel the state of litigation, claims and regulatory matters;

·discussing with management, internal audit and external advisors the state of internal controls and management tone;

·directing and supervising investigations into matters within the scope of its duties;

·reviewing with the independent registered public accounting firm the plan and results of its audit and determining the nature of other services to be performed by, and fees to be paid to, such firm; and

·supervising the oversight of the Company’s investment portfolios.

This committee’sThe Audit Committee’s charter is posted in the corporate governance section of our Web site atwww.firstam.com. Our Board of Directors has determined that Messrs. Doti, McKernan and Oman are audit committee financial experts within the meaning of the SEC’s rules and regulations and that each member of the Audit Committee meets the requirement of independence established in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the New York Stock Exchange listing standards.regulations.

Compensation Committee

The members of the Compensation Committee are Messrs. McKee (chair) and Oman. This committee establishes compensation rates and procedures with respect to our executive officers, including annual bonus awards, monitors our equity compensation plans, assesses risk with respect to our compensation programs and makes recommendations to the Board regarding director compensation. This committee’sThe Compensation Committee’s charter is posted in the corporate governance section of our Web site atwww.firstam.com.

Additional information concerning the Compensation Committee’s processes and procedures surroundingnon-employee director compensation is included in the section entitled “2016 Director“Director Compensation,” which begins on page 58.54. Additional information concerning the executive compensation policies and objectives established by the Compensation Committee, the Compensation Committee’s processes and procedures for consideration and determination of executive compensation, and the role of executive officers and the Compensation Committee’s compensation consultant in determining executive compensation is included in the section entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” which begins on page 26,19, under the subsection entitled “Role of the Compensation Committee”“Compensation Decision Process,” which begins on pages 27 to 28.page 27.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are Mses. McCarthy and Ueberroth (chair). This committee is responsible for identifying individuals qualified to become directors of our Company; recommending thatto the Board select the nominees identified by this committee for all directorships to be filled by the Board or by the stockholders; and developing, recommending to the Board and periodically reviewing the corporate governance principles applicable to our Company. This committee’s charter is posted in the corporate governance section of our Web site atwww.firstam.com. The committee has adopted procedures by which certain stockholders of the Company may recommend director nominees to the Board. In particular, the

20 | 2017 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


                                                               II.  Required Information  

committee has established a policy whereby it will accept and consider, in its discretion, director recommendations from any stockholder holding in excess of five percent of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock. Such recommendations must include the name and credentials of the recommended nominee and should be submitted to the secretary of the Company at our address indicated on the first page of this proxy statement. The committee will evaluate director candidates recommended by stockholders for election to our Board in the same manner and using the same criteria as used for any other director candidate (as described below). If the committee determines that a stockholder-recommended candidate is suitable for membership on our Board, it will include the candidate in the pool of candidates to be considered for nomination upon the occurrence of the next vacancy on our Board or in connection with the next annual meeting of stockholders.

In 2016, the Board also adopted a proxy-access Bylaw, which is described in the section “Stockholder Proposals and Proxy Access” on page 58.

As stated in its charter, while the committee has no specific minimum qualifications in evaluating a director candidate, thisthe committee takes into account all factors it considers appropriate in identifying and evaluating candidates for membership on ourthe Board, including some or all of the following: strength of character, an inquiring and independent mind, practical wisdom, mature judgment, career specialization, relevant technical skills, reputation in the community, diversity and the extent to which the candidate would fill a present need on the Board. This committee makes recommendations to the full Board as to whether or not incumbent directors should stand forre-election. However, if ourthe Company is legally required by contract or otherwise to provide third parties with the ability to nominate directors, the selection and nomination of such

12 | 2019 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


II. Required Information

directors generally is not subject to the committee process for identifying and evaluating nominees for director. The committee conducts all necessary and appropriate inquiries into the background and qualifications of possible candidates and may engage a search firm to assist in identifying and evaluating potential candidates for nomination. A search firm was used in 2018 for such purposes in connection with the appointment of Ms. Wyrsch.

The Company does not have a formal policy for the consideration of diversity in identifying nominees for director. However, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee recognizes the benefits associated with a diverse board and, as indicated above, considers diversity as a factor when identifying and evaluating candidates for membership on ourthe Board. The committee utilizes a broad conception of diversity, including professional and educational background, prior experience on other boards of directors (both public and private), political and social perspectives, as well as race, gender and national origin. Utilizing these factors, and the factors described above, the committee makes recommendations, as it deems appropriate, regarding the composition and size of the Board. The priorities and emphasis of thisthe committee and of the Board may change from time to time to take into account changes in business and other trends and the portfolio of skills and experience of current and prospective Board members. Recent revisions to the California corporations code require publicly held corporations having their principal executive offices in California to have at least one female director by the end of 2019 and, for corporations that have six or more directors, to have three or more female directors by the end of 2021. We currently have, and intend to have, the minimum number of female directors necessary to comply with any applicable California laws.

Our corporate governance guidelines also contain a mandatory retirement policy, which provides that no person is eligible for election as a director if on January 1 of the year of the election he or she is age 77 or older.

Independence of Directors

The Board has affirmatively determined that each member of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, as well as each other member of the Board, except Dennis J. Gilmore, (who is not independent), is “independent” as that term is defined in the corporate governance rules of the New York Stock Exchange for listed companies and thatin accordance with the Company’s corporate governance guidelines. Virginia M. Ueberroth, who retired at our 2018 annual meeting of stockholders, was similarly determined to be independent. In addition, each member of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee is independent under the additional standards applicable to the respective committee. Anthony K. Anderson, who retired fromcommittee under in the Board effective August 15, 2016, was also determined to be independent.Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the New York Stock Exchange listing standards. In making these determinations, the Board considered the following relationships between directors and the Company: Mr.Messrs. Gilyard and McKee and Ms. McCarthy are affiliated with, and Mr. Oman wasand Ms. Wyrsch were previously affiliated with, entities that do business with, or that represent clients that do business with, the Company in the ordinary course from time to time; each of Messrs. Doti, Gilyard, Kennedy and McKernan and Ms. UeberrothWyrsch is or recently was affiliated with one or more nonprofit organizations to which the Company and/or its management has made donations from time to time; and Mr. Kennedy receives standard board fees for his service as a director of the Company’s trust subsidiary, as further described in the section entitled “2016 Director“Director Compensation,” which begins on page 58.54. Each of the relationships above, while considered by the Board, falls within the Company’s categorical independence standards contained in the Board’s corporate governance guidelines, which are

First American Financial Corporation  2017 Proxy Statement | 21


  II. Required Information                                                               

available on the corporate governance section of the Company’s Web site atwww.firstam.com. The Board also considered the following relationships between Mr. Kennedy and the Company: he was employed by the Company as its executive chairman until his retirement in February 2012; for serving as chairman of the Board, he receives Company providedCompany-provided office space and secretarial assistance as set forth in the section entitled “2016 Director“Director Compensation,” which begins on page 58;54; he may from time to time attend certain

First American Financial Corporation   2019 Proxy Statement | 13


II. Required Information

subsidiary board meetings as well as certain meetings with management; and his son is employed by a subsidiary of the Company as further described in the section entitled “Transactions with Management and Others” on page 24.16.

Board Leadership Structure; Meetings of Independent Directors

Our Board believes it is important to select the Company’s chairman and the Company’s chief executive officer in the manner it considers in the best interests of the Company at any given point in time. Accordingly, the chairman and chief executive officer positions may be filled by one individual or by two different individuals. Our Board has determined at this time that it is appropriate to separate the roles of chairman and chief executive officer and these positions are currently held by different individuals, Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Gilmore, respectively.

In addition to a chairman, we also have a lead independent director, currently Mr. Doti. The lead director is responsible for chairing and coordinating the agenda for the executive sessions of independent directors or, as applicable, thenon-management directors, which are those directors who are not employees of the Company. In 20162018, the independent directors met five times in executive session. In addition, the lead director is tomay provide advice to the chairman with respect to the following: (i) establishing an appropriate schedule for Board meetings; (ii) preparing agendas for the meetings of the Board and its committees; (iii) the retention of consultants who report directly to the Board; (iv) the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s oversight and implementation of the Company’s corporate governance policies; and (v) the Compensation Committee’s oversight of the implementation of and compliance with the Company’s policies and procedures for evaluating and undertaking executive and incentive-based compensation.

Our Board believes this to be the most effective leadership structure for the Company at this time because it effectively allocates authority, responsibility, and oversight between management, the chairman of the Board and the lead director and capitalizes on the experience and strengths of our current management team. It does this by giving primary responsibility for the operational leadership and strategic direction of the Company to our chief executive officer, enabling the lead director to facilitate our Board’s independent oversight of management and consideration of key governance matters, and allowing our chairman to promote communication between management and our Board. The Board believes that its programs for overseeing risk, as described under the Risk Oversight section below, would be effective under a variety of leadership frameworks. Accordingly, the Board’s risk oversight function did not significantly impact its selection of the current leadership structure.

Annual Performance Evaluation

The Board and each of its committees conduct an annual self-evaluation to determine whether the Board and its committees are functioning effectively. In connection with this annual evaluation, directors are given an opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of each other and to evaluate their own personal effectiveness. The results of the evaluation are reported to the Board and each committee.

Risk Oversight

The Board’s responsibilities in overseeing the Company’s management and business to maximize long-term stockholder value include oversight of the Company’s key risks and management’s processes and controls to manage those risks appropriately. Management, in turn, is responsible for theday-to-day management of risk and implementation of appropriate risk management controls and procedures.

14 | 2019 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


II. Required Information

Although risk oversight permeates many elements of the work of the full Board and the committees, the Audit Committee has the most direct and systematic responsibility for overseeing risk management, and has been designated by the Board as its risk oversight committee. To that end, the Audit Committee charter provides for a variety of regular and recurring responsibilities relating to risk, including:

·having responsibility for the internal audit function, with that function reporting directly to the committee;

·overseeing the independent registered public accounting firm;

·receiving reports from management and the independent auditor regarding the adequacy and effectiveness of various internal controls;

22 | 2017 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


having responsibility for the internal audit function, with that function reporting directly to the committee;

overseeing the independent registered public accounting firm;

                                                               II.  Required Information  

receiving reports from management and the independent auditor regarding the adequacy and effectiveness of various internal controls;

reviewing regularly with management legal and regulatory matters that could have a significant impact on the Company;

·reviewing regularly with management legal and regulatory matters that could have a significant impact on the Company;

supervising the oversight of the Company’s investment portfolios;

·supervising the oversight of the Company’s investment portfolios;

overseeing the Company’s compliance program with respect to legal and regulatory requirements and risks; and

·overseeing the Company’s compliance program with respect to legal and regulatory requirements and risks; and

discussing with management and the independent auditor the Company’s guidelines and policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management, including the Company’s major risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures.

·discussing with management and the independent auditor the Company’s guidelines and policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management, including the Company’s major risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures.

In performing these functions, the committee regularly receives reports from management, including the Company’s enterprise risk management committee on which senior officers of the Company sit, and internal and external auditors regarding the Company’s Company’s:

information security and cybersecurity programs,

business continuity programs,

enterprise risk management program,

compliance program,

investment portfolios, information security and business continuity programs,

extraordinary claims and losses, and

noteworthy litigation.

Separately, the Compensation Committee oversees the Company’s compensation policies and practices and has assessed whether the Company’s compensation policies encourage excessive risk taking. The Compensation Committee has concluded that these policies and practices do not create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. In arriving at that conclusion, the Compensation Committee considered, among other factors, the Company’s review and approval processes surrounding certain compensatory arrangements; the metrics used to determine variable compensation, including the performance measures selected by the Compensation Committee and performance ranges associated with the metrics; the Compensation Committee’s oversight of inclusion or exclusion of extraordinary items in the financial results upon which certain compensatory arrangements are based; the inclusion of overall Company performance in the determination of divisional leader compensation; the portion of variable compensation paid in restricted stock units, which generally vest over three to four years; the extent to which qualitative judgments are involved in the compensatory arrangements; the amount of compensation paid as sales commissions, the number of people to whom such compensation is paid and the localized nature of the commission payments; controls, such as

First American Financial Corporation   2019 Proxy Statement | 15


II. Required Information

actuarial studies on claims, underwriting controls and quality checks that the Company employs; and the extent to which compensatory arrangements can be changed if circumstances evidence increased risk associated with such arrangements.

Director Attendance at Annual Meetings

Our directors are expected to attend the annual meetings of our stockholders. At last year’s annual meeting, each of the Company’s directors attended in person.

Stockholder and Interested Party Communications with Directors

Stockholders and other interested parties may communicate directly with members of the Board, including the chairman, lead director or any of the othernon-management directors of the Company (individually or as a group) by writing to such director(s) at the business addresses provided under each director’s name in the corporate governance section of our Web site atwww.firstam.com. Directors receiving such communications will respond as such directors deem appropriate, including the possibility of referring the matter to management of the Company, to the Company’s internal audit department, to the full Board or to an appropriate committee of the Board.

The Audit Committee has established procedures to receive, retain and address complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, and for the submission by our employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. Our24-hour, toll-free hotline is available for the submission of such concerns or complaints at1-800-589-3259. To the extent required by applicable law, individuals wishing to remain anonymous or to otherwise express their concerns or complaints confidentially are permitted to do so.

First American Financial Corporation  2017 Proxy Statement | 23


  II. Required Information                                                               

Transactions with Management and Others

The Board of Directors has adopted a written policy regarding related party transactions, which generally prohibitsrequires the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s review, approval or ratification of transactions involving amounts in excess of $120,000 between the Company and/or its affiliates, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, any of the Company’s directors, director-nominees, executive officers, (or officers of affiliates), stockholders holdingbeneficially owning in excess of 5% of the Company’s common stock or any of their immediate family members onthat have a direct or indirect material interest in the other hand, without prior approval. The approving body may be either the Board or the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, or, iftransaction. If the proposed transaction involves $1,000,000 or less, and it is impractical to seek the approval of the Board or that committee, then the chairmanchair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may reviewpre-approve or ratify the transaction.

Certain transactions, including compensatory arrangements reported in this proxy statement for executive officers andpre-approve the transaction (or the chairman directors of the Audit Committee if the chairman ofCompany, are deemed to be pre-approved by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is a party tounder the transaction). The policy prohibits directorsterms of the Company from entering into any transaction with the Company or any of its affiliates outside of the ordinary course of business, except for transactions previously approved and in effect on the date the policy took effect.

Certain transactions are excluded from the application of the policy and are, therefore, permitted without prior approval. For example, compensatory arrangements (including the arrangement noted in the next paragraph) for service as an officer or director of the Company are excluded from the policy, as are transactions between the Company and its affiliates (other than directors and officers).policy. In cases where the potential transaction would involve the executive officer, director, large stockholder or any of their immediate family members only in an indirect fashion, the policy does not apply where such indirect interest results solely from ownership of less than 10% of, or being a director of, the entity entering into the transaction with the Company. In addition, arms-length ordinary course transactions involving annual payments of $100,000 or less are permitted without prior approval.

Mr. Kennedy’s son is employed by a subsidiary of the Company as a vice president. His combined annual base salary and incentive compensationin 2018 was $200,000, his cash bonus for 20162018 (paid in 2019) was $239,052 and the dollar value of restricted stock units granted to him in 2019 (in connection with 2018 performance) was approximately $450,000.$128,720. He received standard employee benefits and he participated in the standard, performance-based incentive compensation program available to similarly-situated employees of his level and experience. Some of Mr. Kennedy’s son’s 2017 compensation was received in 2018 and disclosed in last year’s proxy statement.

16 | 2019 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


II. Required Information

For information on transactions involving the Company and persons or groups of stockholders who are known to us to be the beneficial owners of more than 5% of our common stock, see the footnotes to the table in the section “Who are the largest principal stockholders outside of management?” on page 68.

Executive Officers

The following provides information regarding the Company’s current executive officers:

 

Name

Position(s) Held

Age

   Name

Position(s) Held

Age

Dennis J. Gilmore

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

60

58

 

Kenneth D. DeGiorgio

 

Executive Vice President

 

47

45

 

Christopher M. Leavell

 

Chief Operating Officer, First American Title Insurance Company

 

56

54

 

Mark E. Seaton

 

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

 

41

39

 

Matthew F. Wajner

 

Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer

 

43

41

 

All officers of the Company are appointed annually by the Board on the day of its election.

Dennis J. Gilmore has served as our chief executive officer since June 2010, when we separated from The First American Corporation. From April 2008 until the separation, he served as chief executive officer of The First American Corporation’s financial services group. Mr. Gilmore served as The First American Corporation’s chief operating officer from 2004 to 2008. He started with The First American Corporation in 1993 and served in various managerial roles, including as executive vice president of The First American Corporation from 2003 to 2004 and as president of the property information business segment from 1998 to 2005.

Kenneth D. DeGiorgio has served as executive vice president since June 2010, when we separated from The First American Corporation. He was senior vice president and general counsel of The First American Corporation from 2004 until the separation. From 2006 to 2012, he also served as secretary of the Company or The First American Corporation, as applicable. Mr. DeGiorgio was vice president and associate general counsel of The First American Corporation from 2001 to 2004, and served as regulatory and acquisition counsel from 1999 to 2001.

Christopher M. Leavell has served as chief operating officer of the Company’s subsidiary, First American Title Insurance Company, since December 2011. He was its executive vice president and division president with responsibility for the lender-focused title business and national production services from 2008 to 2011. Mr. Leavell began his career with The First American Corporation in 1997 and has served as general manager or president of various First American subsidiaries and divisions. Prior to joining First American, Mr. Leavell held various managerial and finance positions at mortgage companies.

Mark E. Seaton has served as executive vice president, chief financial officer since March 2013. From 2010 until 2013, he served as our senior vice president, finance, in which capacity he oversaw the Company’s investment management, investor relations, treasury and financial planning activities. Mr. Seaton started with The First American Corporation in 2006 and served as director of investor relations of The First American Corporation from 2007 to 2010. Prior to joining The First American Corporation, Mr. Seaton worked in the private equity and investment banking industries.

 

·Dennis J. Gilmore has served as our chief executive officer since June 2010, when we separated from The First American Corporation. From April 2008 until the separation, he served as chief executive officer of The First American Corporation’s financial services group. Previously, Mr. Gilmore served as The First American Corporation’s chief operating officer from 2004 to 2008. He served as an executive vice president of The First American Corporation from 2003 to 2004 and served as president of the property information business segment from 1998 to 2005. From 1988 to 1998, he served in various managerial roles with The First American Corporation’s subsidiaries.

·

Kenneth D. DeGiorgio has served as executive vice president since June 2010, when we separated from The First American Corporation. He was senior vice president and general counsel of The First

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                                                               II.  Required Information  

American Corporation from 2004 until the separation. From 2006 to 2012, he also served as secretary of the Company or The First American Corporation, as applicable. Mr. DeGiorgio was vice president and associate general counsel of The First American Corporation from 2001 to 2004, and served as regulatory and acquisition counsel from 1999 to 2001.

·Christopher M. Leavell has served as chief operating officer of the Company’s subsidiary, First American Title Insurance Company, since December 2011. He was its executive vice president and division president with responsibility for the lender-focused title business and national production services from 2008 to 2011. Mr. Leavell began his career with First American in 1997 and has served as general manager or president of various First American subsidiaries and divisions. Prior to joining First American, Mr. Leavell held various managerial and finance positions at mortgage companies.

·Mark E. Seaton has served as executive vice president, chief financial officer since March 2013. From 2010 until 2013, he served as our senior vice president, finance, in which capacity he oversaw the Company’s investment management, investor relations, treasury and financial planning activities. Mr. Seaton has been employed with First American since 2006, including service as director of investor relations of The First American Corporation from 2007 to 2010. Prior to joining The First American Corporation, Mr. Seaton worked in the private equity and investment banking industries.

·Matthew F. Wajner has served as vice president, chief accounting officer since March 2013. From 2010 until 2013, he served as ourthe Company’s controller and prior to that as our director of SEC reporting. From 2009 until the separation in June 2010, he served as The First American Corporation’s director of SEC reporting. From 2006 to 2009, Mr. Wajner was a divisional controller

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II. Required Information

for various operations of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and entities acquired by it. Mr. Wajner was also an auditor with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and Arthur Andersen LLP.

 

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Executive Compensation

Executive Compensation

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Introduction

In this section, we describe our executive compensation program for our named executive officers (“NEOs”). The company’s NEOs for 2018 were:

Name

Principal Position

Tenure with

Company

(years)

Dennis J. Gilmore

Chief Executive Officer

26

Kenneth D. DeGiorgio

Executive Vice President

20

Christopher M. Leavell

Chief Operating Officer, First American Title Insurance Company

22

Mark E. Seaton

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

13

Matthew F. Wajner

Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer

10

Executive Summary

The Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) believes the Company’s management team performed well in 2016. The2018, as measured by the Company’s financial results, execution on strategic objectives and effective risk management. Furthermore, the Committee believes that the Company paid compensation to management commensurate with its performance improved over a strong 2015,and consistent with revenue growing 7.7%the Company’s pay-for-performance philosophy.

2018 Performance Results

Despite a slowing purchase market toward the end of the year, 2018 was another strong year for the Company. On an unadjusted basis, total revenue was down less than 1% at $5.7 billion and earnings per share of $4.19 represented an increase of 11.4% from the prior year. Pretax margin for the Company was 10.6% and pretax margin in the title insurance and services segment was the highest in the Company’s history at 12.4%. During the year, the Company was required to implement an accounting change requiring it to mark-to-market the equity securities in its investment portfolio through net income. Adjusting for net realized investment gains/losses, most of which losses in 2018 were attributable to this change, total revenue was up just under 1%, earnings per share was up 24.8%, 2018 pretax margin for the Company was 11.5% and pretax margin for the title insurance and services segment was 13.2%. On an unadjusted basis, return on equity improved

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Compensation Discussion and Analysis

from 13.0% in 2017 to $5.6 billion. Reflecting continued vigilance on expenses, income before income taxes grew 10.4% to $477.6 million andpre-tax margin was 8.57%, up 21 basis points over the prior year. Return on average13.1% in 2018. While total equity improved from 10.8% in 2015 to 11.9% in 2016. Duringstockholder return for the year the Company terminated its legacy pension plan. While the Company expects the termination to result in significant annual savings in the future, it generated a significant loss during the year. In particular, the termination reducedpre-tax net income by $66.3 million,pre-tax margin by 118 basis points andwas -17.8%, annualized three-year total stockholder return on average total equity by 130 basis points.

The Company continued to make significant strides toward achieving its long-term strategic goals. Though market share in its US title insurance business decreased slightly, during the year the Company completed a number of strategic acquisitions to grow and strengthen the Company’s core title and settlement business. The Company continued to invest in its database of real property records,was 10.9%, which is now the most comprehensive database of its kind in the United States. The Company also continued its efforts to leverage these databases to increase operational efficiency, to more effectively manage risk in its title insurance business and to introduce new productscompares favorably to the market. Reflecting its commitment to driveannualized three-year return for its stockholders, during the yearS&P 500 of 9.2%. In addition, the Company increased its cash dividend by 36%10.5% from an annual rate of $1.00$1.52 to $1.36$1.68 per share.

Note: The charts above reflect Company results under GAAP. The Committee makes certain non-GAAP adjustments in connection with its compensation programs, which are further described below. In addition, the 2018 performance results noted in the paragraph above the chart include certain non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted earnings per share, adjusted total revenue, and achievedadjusted pretax margins for the Company and for the title insurance and services segment, in each case adjusted to excluded net realized investment gains/losses. Please see Appendix A for the rationale behind the presentation of these measures and a total stockholder returnreconciliation of 5.2%.these amounts to the nearest GAAP financial measures.

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Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Execution on Company Strategy

During the year the Company continued to execute against its long-term strategic goals. In particular, the Company completed a number of strategic acquisitions designed to grow its core title operations, expand its offerings to its current customer base and provide innovative solutions which promise to reduce risk and increase efficiency for its customers. The Company also invested heavily in the development of innovative solutions aimed at increasing the efficiency of its operations, reducing risk and enhancing the customer experience. As a complement to these investments, the Company also invested heavily in its real property databases, enabling it both to maintain its leadership in title data coverage and to facilitate many of these innovations.

2018 Performance Metric Results

The named executive officers’NEO annual cash bonuses and annual equity bonuses were paid out at 126%117% of target, reflecting the results of the two financial metrics utilized by the Committee: return on equity and pretax margin. Despite the substantial improvement in pretax margin and return on equity in 2018 versus 2017, this payout reflected a 29 percentage point decrease to the percentage of target paid out from the prior year. This reflects the substantial increase in the targets set by the Committee. In particular, for 2018 the Committee set targets for both metrics at levels above the actual results for 2017. Target and actual results of these metrics for 2018 are set forth below.

Metric

Target

Actual

2018

Results

Pretax Margin

 

11.2%

 

 

11.5%

 

Return on Equity

 

13.0%

 

 

13.8%

 

Note: The Committee’s definition of pretax margin and return on equity is described on page 30 below. Actual results set forth above have been adjusted (i) to exclude net realized losses associated with the pension plan termination, and (ii) to include estimated losses associated with title plant asset write-offs pertaining to prior years as if they had been incurred in 2016. Because the decision to terminate the Company’s pension plan was made during the course of 2016, its impact was not included in the 2016investment portfolio and return on equity also excludes accumulated other comprehensive loss and noncontrolling interests. These are non-GAAP financial plan, which was the basis for determining the 2016 financial metrics. The Committee determined that management should not be penalizedmeasures. Please see Appendix A for the terminationrationale behind the presentation of these measures and a reconciliation of these amounts to the plan during 2016—which management and the Board believed to be optimal—rather than waiting until 2017 when the impact of the termination could have been fully reflected in thenearest GAAP financial metrics. The Committee also determined that management bonuses should be lowered to account for title plant asset write-offs identified during 2016 even though they pertained to prior years and, accordingly, were not reflected in the Company’s 2016 financial results.measures.

The annual incentive plan gives the Committee the discretion to further adjust the payout by up to 30 percentage points to account for factors that may impact the Company’s return on equity or pretax margin but were unanticipated or were the result of investments intended to create long-term stockholder value. For 2016, the Committee determined that no such discretionary adjustment was warranted. The Committee also retains the ultimate ability to pay ultimately a lower amount, including the discretion not to pay a bonus. For 2018, the Committee did not make any discretionary adjustment.

The Committee believes that the results of the 2018 executive compensation program, as disclosed and discussed herein, reflect its pay-for-performance philosophy.

Pay Philosophy & Objectives

The Company’s executive officer compensation program, which is administered by the Committee, is designed to enhance stockholder value by providing that a substantial portion of the executive officer’s total compensation be related to the Company’s consolidated financial performance and a lesser portion to the Committee’s qualitative analysis of the contribution of each individual executive officer. The Committee also believes that there is value in consistency in the Company’s executive officer compensation program. As a

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Compensation Discussion and Analysis

result, while target performance levels change from year to year, the general structure of the program largely remains unchanged.

The Company’s approach is designed to develop and administer programs that will achieve the following objectives:

OUR KEY COMPENSATION OBJECTIVES

Attract and retain executives critical to the Company’s long-term strategy and success.

Provide compensation levels that are competitive with other companies in the title insurance and settlement services industry and the Company’s peer group.

Motivate executive officers to enhance long-term stockholder value without taking excessive risk to achieve short-term goals.

Encourage the identification and implementation of best business practices.

Compensation Mix

The Committee utilizes the particular elements of compensation described below because it believes that they represent a well-proportioned mix of stock-based compensation, retention value and at-risk compensation which produces short-term and long-term performance incentives and rewards. By following this portfolio approach, the Committee endeavors to provide the NEOs with a measure of security with respect to their minimum level of compensation, while motivating each NEO to focus on the business metrics that will produce a high level of performance for the Company with corresponding increases in stockholder value and long-term financial benefits for the NEO, as well as reducing the risk of loss of top executive talent to competitors.

For NEOs, the mix of compensation is weighted heavily toward at-risk pay and, in particular, the annual incentive bonus. This is consistent with the overall philosophy of maintaining a pay mix that results fundamentally in a pay-for-performance orientation.

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Compensation Discussion and Analysis

The chart below shows the percentage of our NEOs’ 2018 target compensation that was fixed versus performance-based, as well as the percentage that was paid in cash versus Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”).

Note: The chart includes 2018 actual base salary, 2018 target annual cash bonus, 2018 target annual equity bonus and long-term equity incentive granted in 2019 in connection with 2018 performance (for which no target existed).

Say on Pay Results

As part of its process in determining executive compensation levels for 2016,2018, the Committee has reviewed the results of last year’s Say on Pay proposal, in which approximately 96%94% of the Company’s shares present and entitled to vote approved 20152017 executive compensation. The stockholder support for the prior Say on Pay proposal reinforces the Committee’s belief that it should continue its practice of implementing and overseeing executive compensation programs that provide for a substantial portion of the executive officers’ total compensation to be related to the Company’s consolidated financial performance. It also reinforces the Committee’s sense that, for executive officers, the mix of compensation should be weighted heavily towardat-risk pay, in particular, the annual incentive bonus, and should include a substantial portion of equity. This is consistent with the overall philosophy of maintaining a pay mix that results fundamentally in apay-for-performance orientation and a strong alignment between the interests of executive officers and long-term stockholders.

 

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Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

Summary of Executive Compensation Practices

The Committee believes that the resultstable below highlights certain of the 2016our executive compensation program,practices, including practices we have implemented that drive performance as disclosed and discussed herein, reflect itspay-for-performance philosophy. The results of the 2016 executive compensation program are also believed towell as those we have met the Company’s objective to develop and administer compensation programs that will continue to attract and retain executives critical to the Company’s long-term strategy and success, provide compensation levels that are competitive with title industry competitors and other peer group companies, motivate executives to enhance long-term stockholder value without taking excessive risk to achieve short term gains, and encourage the identification and implementation of best business practices.prohibited because we do not believe they serve our stockholders’ interests.

Named Executive Officers

This discussion addresses the compensation programs applicable to the Company’s named executive officers, who currently hold (and held as of December 31, 2016) the following positions:

   Dennis J. Gilmore

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

   Kenneth D. DeGiorgio

 WHAT WE DO

Executive Vice President

 

 

   Christopher M. Leavell•     Pay-for-performance. Tie pay to performance by ensuring that a substantial portion of executive officer compensation is at-risk and related to the Company’s consolidated financial performance.

•     Equity-based compensation. A substantial portion of compensation is paid in the form of RSUs to encourage alignment between executives and long-term stockholders and to discourage excessive risk taking.

•     Stock ownership guidelines. We have stock ownership guidelines of 5 times base salary for the CEO and 3 times base salary for our other NEOs with base salaries equal to or greater than $500,000.

•     Clawback and forfeiture of previously awarded compensation. Compensation may be adjusted or recovered if the Company’s reported financial results are restated due to material noncompliance with applicable financial reporting requirements or under certain circumstances if the executive officer’s misconduct results in loss or damage to the Company or its reputation.

•     Peer group benchmarking. Peer group performance and compensation data is regularly reviewed by the Committee to inform compensation decisions.

•     No pledging of shares or trading on margin. Our trading policies generally prohibit our NEOs from holding Company securities in a margin account or pledging Company securities as collateral.

•     No hedging. Hedging ownership of Company securities by engaging in short sales or trading in option contracts involving Company securities is prohibited.

•     Independent compensation consultant. The Committee uses an independent compensation consultant that provides no other services to the Company.

 

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Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Executive Compensation Program in Detail

Key Pay Elements

The following chart summarizes the key pay elements for our NEOs. Each element is described in detail beginning on page 28 in the Section “Pay Elements.”

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Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Benchmarking Compensation and Peer Group Development

Overall compensation levels for NEOs are determined based on a number of factors, including each individual’s roles and responsibilities within the Company, each individual’s experience and expertise, compensation levels for peers within the Company, compensation levels in the marketplace for similar positions and performance of the individual and the Company as a whole. In determining these compensation levels, the Committee considers all forms of compensation and benefits.

 

Chief Operating Officer, FirstGeneral

In order to determine competitive compensation practices, the Committee primarily relies upon data compiled from public filings of selected companies (“comparator companies”) that it considers appropriate comparators for the purpose of developing executive compensation benchmarks. The comparator companies for 2018 (meaning the companies used in connection with determinations of 2018 salaries, target cash bonuses for 2018, target Performance RSUs for the annual equity bonus and Long-Term Incentive RSUs issued in 2018 as long-term equity incentive in connection with 2017 performance) are identified below. In addition, the Committee periodically considers nationally recognized survey data published by various consulting firms. Proxy data was used exclusively to develop benchmarks for the executive officers except for Mr. Wajner, for whom proxy data was lacking. For Mr. Wajner, the Committee reviewed survey data from the US Mercer Benchmark Database, using regression analysis to reflect the Company’s total revenue size at the end of 2017.

The comparator companies for 2018 were:

     American TitleFinancial Group, Inc.

     Assurant, Inc.

     The Hanover Insurance CompanyGroup, Inc.

     Kemper Corporation

     Mercury General Corporation

     Cincinnati Financial Corporation

     Fidelity National Financial, Inc.

     Old Republic International Corporation

     W.R. Berkeley Corporation

     White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd.

These companies are the same as those utilized by the Committee with respect to 2017 executive compensation decisions. For 2019, the Committee decided to remove White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd., which had recently divested a large business unit, and add three new peer companies: Axis Capital Holdings Limited; Everest Re Group, Ltd.; and Genworth Financial, Inc. The peer companies represent the Committee’s continuing efforts to identify a significant number of comparable companies notwithstanding the fact that there is only one other company in the Company’s primary industry with financial and operational characteristics similar to the Company’s.

Use of Comparator Companies and Market Compensation Studies

After consideration of the data collected on competitive compensation levels and relative compensation within the executive officer group, the Committee determines each individual executive officer’s target total compensation or total compensation opportunities based on Company and individual performance and the need to attract, incentivize and retain an experienced and effective management team. The Committee examines the relationship of each executive officer’s base salary, target annual incentive bonus opportunity and potential long-term incentive awards (if such an amount has been determined) to market data at the

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Compensation Discussion and Analysis

25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles. The Committee does not believe, however, that compensation or compensation opportunities should be structured toward a uniform relationship to any specific percentile of the market data, especially in light of the different financial characteristics of the Company’s business units (such as the relationship of revenues to net income). Accordingly, total compensation for specific individuals will vary based on a number of factors in addition to Company and individual performance, including scope of duties, tenure, institutional knowledge and/or difficulty in recruiting a replacement executive officer.

Compensation Decision Process

 

 

   Mark E. Seaton

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

Composed entirely of
independent directors

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

 

 

   Matthew F. WajnerGENERAL

The Committee is comprised of independent members of the Board of Directors. The Committee reviews and approves the base salaries of the executive officers of the Company, their annual incentive bonus programs, their long-term incentive compensation and other incentive and executive benefit plans. It also reviews and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding director compensation. The Committee, in consultation with the independent compensation consultants that it retains, analyzes the reasonableness of the compensation paid to the executive officers. In discharging its functions, as described in more detail above, the Committee reviews compensation data from comparable companies and from relevant surveys, which it utilizes to assess the reasonableness of compensation for the Company’s executive officers.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE CHARTER

Vice President, Chief Accounting OfficerThe Committee’s function is more fully described in its charter, which is regularly reviewed and has been approved by the Company’s Board of Directors. The charter is available in the corporate governance section of the Company’s Web site at www.firstam.com.

 

 

I.

INDEPENDENT COMPENSATION CONSULTANT

Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc.

In making its determinations with respect to executive officer compensation, the Committee engages the services of Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. to assist with its review of the compensation package of the chief executive officer and other executive officers. In addition, the compensation consultant has assisted the Committee with related projects, such as evaluating non-employee director pay levels, advice with respect to the design of executive compensation programs, review of annual management incentive bonus plans, preparation or review of certain of the Company’s compensation-related disclosures and related tasks.

The Committee retains the compensation consultant directly, although in carrying out assignments, the compensation consultant also interacts with Company management to the extent necessary and appropriate. The compensation consultant performs no services for management, though, at the direction of the Committee it does assist in the preparation or review of certain of the Company’s compensation-related disclosures, including this Compensation Disclosure and Analysis, and related projects. The Committee has assessed the independence of the consultant and has concluded that no conflict of interest exists that would prevent the consultant from serving as an independent consultant to the Committee.

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Compensation Discussion and Analysis

MANAGEMENT

The Company’s Compensation Philosophy & Objectives

The Company’schief executive officer compensation program, which is administered by the Committee, is designed to enhance stockholder value by providing that a substantial portion of the executive officer’s total compensation be related to the Company’s consolidated financial performance and a lesser portion to the Committee’s qualitative analysis of the contribution of each individual executive officer to the Company. The Company’s policy is designed to develop and administer programs that will:

·attract and, retain executives criticalas appropriate, certain other executive officers may attend the portion of the Committee’s meetings where individual executive officer performance is discussed. Directors other than Committee members also may attend Committee meetings, including the portion where executive officer performance is discussed. While the Committee may meet with the Company’s chief executive officer to discuss the chief executive officer’s own compensation package and the chief executive officer’s recommendations with respect to the Company’s long-term strategy and success;

·provideother executive officers, all ultimate decisions regarding executive compensation levels that are competitive with other companies in the title insurance and settlement services industry and the other companies in the Company’s peer group, as that peer group is identifiedmade solely by the Committee, with input from time to time;its compensation consultant.

·motivate executive officers to successfully execute on the Company’s strategy and, ultimately, to enhance long-term stockholder value; and

·encourage the identification and implementation of best business practices.

II.Role of the Compensation Committee

A.General

The Committee is comprised of independent members of the Board of Directors. The Committee reviews and approves the base salaries of the executive officers of the Company, their annual incentive bonus programs, their long-term incentive compensation and other incentive and executive benefit plans. It also reviews and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding director compensation. The Committee, in consultation with the independent compensation consultants that it retains, analyzes the reasonableness of the compensation paid to the executive officers. In discharging its functions, as described in more detail below, the Committee reviews compensation data from comparable companies and from relevant surveys, which it utilizes to assess the reasonableness of compensation for the Company’s executive officers.

 

First American Financial Corporation  2017 Proxy Statement | 27Pay Elements


  Compensation Discussion and Analysis                                                                

The Committee’s function is more fully described in its charter which is regularly reviewed, and has been approved, byAs noted above, the Company’s Board of Directors. The charter is available in the corporate governance section of the Company’s Web site at www.firstam.com.

The Company’s chief executive officer and, as appropriate, certain other executive officers may attend the portion of the Committee’s meetings where individual executive officer performance is discussed. Directors other than Committee members also may attend Committee meetings, including the portion where executive officer performance is discussed. While the Committee may meet with the Company’s chief executive officer to discuss his own compensation package and his recommendations with respect to the other executive officers, all ultimate decisions regarding executive compensation are made solely by the Committee, with input from its compensation consultant.

B.Interaction with Compensation Consultants

In making its determinations with respect to executive officer compensation, the Committee engages the services of Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. to assist with its review of the compensation package of the chief executive officer and other executive officers. In addition, the compensation consultant has assisted the Committee with related projects, such as evaluatingnon-employee director pay levels, advice with respect to the design of executive compensation programs, review of annual management incentive bonus plans, preparation or review of certain of the Company’s compensation-related disclosures and related tasks.

The Committee retains the compensation consultant directly, although in carrying out assignments, the compensation consultant also interacts with Company management to the extent necessary and appropriate. The compensation consultant performs no services for management, though at the direction of the Committee it does assist in the preparation or review of certain of the Company’s compensation-related disclosures, including this Compensation Disclosure and Analysis, and related projects. The Committee has assessed the independence of the consultant and has concluded that no conflict of interest exists that would prevent the consultant from serving as an independent consultant to the Committee.

III.Compensation Structure

A.Pay Elements—Overview

The Company utilizes four main components of compensation:

·Base Salary: fixed pay that takes into account an individual’s role and responsibilities, experience, expertise and individual performance;

·Annual Cash Bonus: variable cash bonus that is designed to reward executive officers based on Company performance;

·Annual Equity Bonus: stock-based awards, which currently take the form of restricted stock units (“RSUs”), that are designed to reward executive officers based on Company performance; and

·Long-Term Equity Incentives: stock-based awards, which currently take the form of RSUs, that the Committee awards to further align management’s incentives with the interests of long-term stockholders.

B.Pay Elements

(1) Base Salary, (2) Annual Cash Bonus, (3) Annual Equity Bonus, and (4) Long-Term Equity Incentive. Each of the pay elements is described in detail below.

Base Salary

The Committee sets base salaries for executive officers based on the individual’s position within the Company and histhe individual’s current and sustained performance results. The Committee reviews executive officer base salaries each year and makes any adjustments it deems necessary based on, among other factors, the overall performance of the Company, new roles and/or responsibilities assumed by the executive officer, the general performance of the business units or departments over which the executive officer has responsibility, the significance of the executive

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                                                                Compensation Discussion and Analysis  

officer’s impact on the achievement of the Company’s strategic goals, the executive officer’s length of service with the Company and the executive officer’s base salary relative to the base salaries of similar individuals in peer companies. The Committee gives no specific weighting to any one factor in setting the level of base salary and the process ultimately relies on the subjective exercise of the Committee’s judgment. Based on the Company’s peer group and relevant compensation survey data, (discussed further below), the Committee also takes into account the factors described above, as well as the executive officer’s potential as a key contributor and amounts that may be required to recruit new executive officers.

Other than in the case of new hires or promotions, the Committee generally determines base salaries for executive officers around the beginning of each calendar year. As described below under VII.A. “Employment Agreements,” Messrs. Gilmore, DeGiorgio, Leavell and Seaton have employment agreements with the Company that specify their respective minimum base salaries. These minimum base salaries are indicated in the column entitled “Minimum Base Salary” in the table below. These amounts may be increased at the discretion of the Committee.

In January and February of 2016,2018, the Committee reviewed executive officer compensation, including their base salaries. The Committeesalaries and determined that, based on its assessment of relevant peer company and/or market data, particularly in light of the strong performance of both the executives and the Company, the base salaries should be adjusted. As a result, the Committee increased Mr. Gilmore’s base salary from $950,000 to $950,000;$1,000,000; Mr. DeGiorgio’s from $750,000 to $750,000;$775,000; Mr. Leavell’s from $700,000 to $700,000;$725,000; Mr. Seaton’s from $600,000 to $575,000;$650,000; and Mr. Wajner’s from $290,000 to $275,000.$300,000.

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Compensation Discussion and Analysis

In summary, the base salaries of the named executive officersNEOs as of December 31, 20152017 and as of December 31, 2016,2018, and the minimum base salary as required by their respective employment agreements are as follows:

 

Named Executive Officer

   

 

December 31, 2015 

Base Salary 

 

   

 

December 31, 2016 

Base Salary 

 

   

 

Minimum Base 

Salary 

 

 

December 31, 2017

Base Salary

December 31, 2018

Base Salary

Minimum Base

Salary

Gilmore, D.

   $900,000 

 

   $950,000 

 

   $950,000 

 

 

 

$

950,000

 

 

 

$

1,000,000

 

 

 

$

1,000,000

 

 

DeGiorgio, K.

   $725,000 

 

   $750,000 

 

   $750,000 

 

 

 

$

750,000

 

 

 

$

775,000

 

 

 

$

775,000

 

 

Leavell, C.

   $675,000 

 

   $700,000 

 

   $700,000 

 

 

 

$

700,000

 

 

 

$

725,000

 

 

 

$

725,000

 

 

Seaton, M.

   $525,000 

 

   $575,000 

 

   $575,000 

 

 

 

$

600,000

 

 

 

$

650,000

 

 

 

$

650,000

 

 

Wajner, M.

   $260,000 

 

   $275,000 

 

   None 

 

 

 

$

290,000

 

 

 

$

300,000

 

 

 

None

 

 

In January and February of 2017,2019, the Committee reviewed executive officer compensation, including base salaries andsalaries. The Committee determined that, based on its assessment of relevant peer company and/or market data and after taking into account the performancein light of the executivesCompany’s ongoing expense management efforts, the current base salaries were appropriate and the Company, the base salary of each of Mr. Seaton and Mr. Wajner warranted an adjustment. Consequently, the Committee increased Mr. Seaton’s base salary from $575,000 to $600,000 and Mr. Wajner’s from $275,000 to $290,000. The Committee determined that market conditions did not warrant an adjustment to the salaries of the other executive officers.adjustment.

(2) Annual Cash Bonus

The Committee considers the annual cash bonus to be a critical component of the executive officer compensation program. The annual cash bonus is tied to the annual performance of the Company. In recent years the annual cash bonus, together with the Performance RSUsannual equity bonus described below, havehas accounted for a substantial portion, if not the majority of the compensation paid to the named executive officers.NEOs. This emphasis on annual incentive compensation, as opposed to fixed base salary and long-term equity incentive compensation, reflects the view that key components of the Company’s business operations are cyclical in nature. Accordingly, the CompanyCommittee believes that an incentive structure tied to annual performance is a more effective means ofin motivating and rewarding executive officers to enhance long-term stockholder value.

First American Financial Corporation  2017 Proxy Statement | 29


  Compensation Discussion and Analysis                                                                

As was the case in recent years, the Committee structured payouts under the 20162018 cash bonus program to be based on measurable performance against specific financial targets which the Committee believes to be key drivers of stockholder value. Like 2015,2017, financial targets collectively accounted for 100% of the cash bonus payout for 2016,2018, with the resulting amount being subject to adjustment of up to 30 percentage points in the discretion of the Committee (the “Discretionary Adjustment”). The Discretionary Adjustment gives the Committee the ability to adjust the cash bonus payout for unanticipated external factors—such as regulatory changes or meaningful changes in interest rates—or success against strategic initiatives designed to create long-term stockholder value—such as technology projects, risk management efforts, employee engagement or market share gains/losses in key markets. The Committee also retains the ultimate ability to pay ultimately a lower amount, including the discretion not to pay a bonus.

As part of its review in early 2016,2018, the Committee increasedset target cash bonus amounts as follows:

Mr. Gilmore. Mr. Gilmore’s target cash bonus increased from $1,620,000 to $1,710,000;

·Mr. Gilmore. Mr. Gilmore’s target cash bonus increased from $1,323,000 to $1,395,000;

Mr. DeGiorgio. Mr. DeGiorgio’s target cash bonus increased from $700,000 to $800,000;

·Mr. DeGiorgio. Mr. DeGiorgio’s target cash bonus increased from $650,000 to $700,000;

Mr. Leavell. Mr. Leavell’s target cash bonus increased from $650,000 to $750,000;

·Mr. Leavell. Mr. Leavell’s target cash bonus increased from $600,000 to $650,000;

Mr. Seaton. Mr. Seaton’s target cash bonus increased from $575,000 to $650,000; and

·Mr. Seaton. Mr. Seaton’s target cash bonus increased from $450,000 to $500,000; and

Mr. Wajner. Mr. Wajner’s target cash bonus increased from $131,250 to $140,000.

·Mr. Wajner. Mr. Wajner’s target cash bonus increased from $117,000(1) to $124,000.

(1)For 2015, Mr. Wajner’s target cash bonus and target annual equity bonus (described below) were subject to adjustment to reflect an increasing percentage of equity in the event that his aggregate salary, cash bonus and equity bonus exceeded certain levels. His original target cash bonus of $117,000 was ultimately adjusted to $109,200.

The increase in the target cash bonus amounts reflected the Committee’s evaluation of peer group compensation data and/or relevant market data. As with base salaries,data after taking into account the Committee determined that the target cash bonus amounts should be adjusted, particularly in light of the strong performance of both the executives and the Company.

First American Financial Corporation   2019 Proxy Statement | 29


Compensation Discussion and Analysis

The 20162018 annual cash bonus payable to each executive officer was determined by adjusting the applicable portion of the target cash bonus amount (listed in the table below under the column entitled “Percentage of Target”) based on objective financial criteria in two areas (each listed in the table below under the column entitled “Metric”), with the result being subject to any Discretionary Adjustment as described above. Each financial metric had associated with it a threshold 50% payout level, a 100% payout level and a 175% payout level (listed in the table below under the columns entitled “Threshold”, “Target” and “Maximum”, respectively). With respect to both financial metrics (and subject to the Discretionary Adjustment), results below the threshold 50% payout level would not result in any payment and results above the maximum would not result in any additional payment. The percentage payout for results between the threshold and maximum were to be determined on a linear sliding scale basis between the two metric points on either side of the actual result (i.e., between the threshold and the target, or the target and the maximum, as applicable).

As in 2015, for 2016For 2018 the two financial metrics utilized by the Committee were:

Pretax Margin: the pretax income of the Company divided by the gross revenue of the Company, excluding net realized gains/losses in the investment portfolio and, in the discretion of the Committee, excluding the effects of non-operating items, such as asset impairments and legal settlements; and

·Pretax Margin:the pretax income of the Company divided by the gross revenue of the Company, excluding, in the discretion of the Committee, the effects of net realized investment gains/losses andnon-operating items, such as asset impairments and legal settlements; and

Return on Equity: net income attributable to the Company divided by average invested stockholders’ equity (total equity excluding accumulated other comprehensive income and noncontrolling interests), subject to the same adjustment for net realized gains/losses in the investment portfolio and potential other adjustments as apply to the pretax margin metric.

·Return on Equity:net income attributable to the Company divided by average invested stockholders’ equity (total equity excluding accumulated other comprehensive income and noncontrolling interests), subject to the same potential adjustments as apply to the pretax margin metric.

In determining the definitions of pretax margin and return on equity for 2018, the Committee considered the accounting guidance under which, starting in 2018, changes in the fair values of equity securities in the Company’s investment portfolio would be recognized as net realized investment gains/losses on the Company’s consolidated statements of income, even in the absence of a disposition of those securities. The Committee also considered the incentives created as a result of gains and losses in other parts of the Company’s investment portfolio being reflected in the determination of pretax margin and return on equity. Given the volatility that would result in measuring achievement against these metrics as a result of the accounting change and the Committee’s desire to incentivize management to manage the entire investment portfolio with a long-term perspective, the Committee determined to exclude net realized gains/losses in the investment portfolio from the calculations of pretax margin and return on equity.

The Committee set the target financial metric payout levels at the pretax margin and return on equity set forth in the Company’s financial plan, which was unanimously approved by the Company’s Board of Directors. The

30 | 2017 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


                                                                Compensation Discussion and Analysis  

Committee believes these metrics, and the related performance levels, are indicators as to whether the Company, given the environment in which it is operating, has generated value for stockholders. The Committee also believes these metrics are utilized by stockholders, potential stockholders and their advisors in determining the value of the Company.

The target performance levels and actual performance for 20162018 with respect to the financial metrics were as follows:

 

Metric

  

Percentage 

of Target 

 

   

Threshold 

 

   

Target 

 

   

Maximum 

 

   

 

Actual 

2016 

Results(1) 

 

   

Metric 

Payout 

Percentage 

 

 

Percentage

of Target

Threshold

Target

Maximum

Actual

2018

Results(1)

Metric

Payout

Percentage

Pretax Margin

  

50%

 

   6.4%

 

   9.2%

 

   12.0%

 

   9.5%

 

   108%

 

 

Return on Equity(2)

  

 

    50%    

   

 

7.1%

 

   

 

10.2%

 

   

 

13.3%

 

   

 

12.0%

 

   

 

    144%    

 

Pretax Margin(2)

 

50%

 

 

7.8%

 

 

11.2%

 

 

13.4%

 

 

11.5%

 

 

110%

 

Return on Equity(3)

 

50%

 

 

9.1%

 

 

13.0%

 

 

15.6%

 

 

13.8%

 

 

123%

 

Total

  

100%

 

   —  

 

   —  

 

   —  

 

   —  

 

   126%

 

 

 

100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

117%

 

 

30 | 2019 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


1)

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

(1)

Adjusted to exclude pension termination losses and include estimated title plant asset write-offs identified in 2016 but pertaining to prior years as if such estimated write-offs had been reflected in the 2016 financial results. These arenon-GAAP financial measures. Please see Appendix A for the rationale behind the presentation of these measures and a reconciliation of these amounts to the nearest GAAP financial measures. In addition, forFor purposes of determining performance level achievement, the Compensation Committee uses preliminary results and only considers an adjustment to the annual cash bonus amount if final results would result in a greater than 5% change in the amount. As a result of this practice and the non-GAAP adjustments discussed in the following footnotes, the number in the “Actual 20162018 Results” column may differ from the results reported in the Company’s financial statements.

(2)

For

The Committee purposes, return on equity is defineddefines pretax margin as the netpretax income attributable toof the Company divided by average invested stockholders’ equity (total equitythe gross revenue of the Company, excluding accumulated other comprehensive income and noncontrolling interests).net realized gains/losses in the investment portfolio. This is anon-GAAP financial measure. Please see Appendix A for the rationale behind the presentation of this measure and a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP financial measure.

In determining the actual results for the financial metrics, the Committee exercised its discretion to exclude losses incurred during the year related to the termination of its legacy pension plan and to include certain estimated title plant asset write-offs from prior periods, as described below.

In May 2016, the Company terminated its pension plan effective as of July 31, 2016. At that time the Company expected to realize losses totaling approximately $212 million in connection with the termination, $197 million of which were already reflected as accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Company’s financial statements as of December 31, 2015. A loss of approximately $81 million was originally anticipated to be realized in 2016, with the remainder expected to be realized in 2017 upon completion of the termination process. The Company ultimately realized a loss of $66.3 million in 2016 (the “2016 Pension Termination Loss”). Once the termination process is complete, the Company estimates an annual reduction of approximately $22 million in personnel expenses related to the pension plan.

Because the 2016 Pension Termination Loss wasnon-operational in nature; was not anticipated at the time the Board approved the Company’s 2016 financial plan, which was the basis for the corresponding target financial metrics for the year; would result in a meaningful future benefit at the expense of short-term results; and was the result of capital allocation decisions made as a result of circumstances—such as uncertainty in future interest rates and investment returns—that are largely outside of management’s control, the Committee excluded this loss in determining the level of performance under the Company’s annual incentive plan. In the Committee’s view, management should not be penalized for the termination of the plan during 2016—which management and the Board believed to be optimal—rather than waiting until 2017 when the impact of the termination could have been fully reflected in the financial metrics.

In addition, the Committee elected to adjust the metric results to include $16.3 million in estimated title plant asset write-offs from prior periods that were identified during 2016. While the actual write-offs were less than the originally-estimated write-offs and were not reflected in the Company’s 2016 financial results, the Committee

First American Financial Corporation  2017 Proxy Statement | 31


  Compensation Discussion and Analysis                                                               

(3)

The Committee defines return on equity as the net income attributable to the Company (adjusted for net realized gains/losses in the investment portfolio) divided by average invested stockholders’ equity (total equity excluding accumulated other comprehensive income and noncontrolling interests). This is a non-GAAP financial measure. Please see Appendix A for the rationale behind the presentation of this measure and a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP financial measure.

determined that it was appropriate to reduce the pretax margin and return on equity results as if the estimated write-offs had been reflected in the 2016 financial results.

In considering whether a Discretionary Adjustment should be made to the cash bonus, the Committee took into account notable achievements, as well as challenges, towards creating long-term value for long-term stockholders, including expense management as reflected by better-than-targeted achievement against efficiency metrics; strongrecord pretax margin results in the Company’s title insurance and services segment; execution againstsegment despite challenging economic conditions in the refinance business and a declining purchase business toward the end of the year; further increases in commercial direct revenue; effective management of the Company’s investment portfolio and the title operation’s escrow deposits leading to a 42% increase in investment income; the Company’s commitment to drive return forcapital to its stockholders, as reflected in the Company’s notable total stockholder return relative to industry peers (though recognizing underperformance relative to the broader market in 2016) and 31%10.5% increase in the Company’s cash dividend;dividend and repurchases of the Company’s stock; the slight decrease in the Company’s United States title businessinsurance market share; the assemblyCompany’s one-year total stockholder return of -17.8%, which was comparable to the Company’s largest competitor; substantial losses in the Company’s property and casualty business primarily due to catastrophic losses and higher frequency of core losses; effective expense management; continued investment in the Company’s real property database, which maintained its position as market leader in title data coverage and which facilitated many of the United States;Company’s innovative initiatives; the effectiveness of the Company’s risk management efforts; completion of a number of acquisitions that supportfacilitate the Company’s strategy of growth strategy; investments in its core title and settlement business; leveragingtechnology aimed at increasing the efficiency of the Company’s data assets to increase operational efficiency, to more effectively manageoperations, reducing risk in its title insurance business and to introduce new products toenhancing the market;customer experience; and successful employee engagement efforts, as reflected in the Company’s inclusion on theFortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for the third consecutive year. For list. 2018, the Committee determined not to make a Discretionary Adjustment.

Each named executive officer’sNEO’s cash bonus for 20162018 was determined by adjusting the target cash bonus amount based on the level of achievement of the financial metrics. The following table summarizes the computation of the 20162018 annual cash bonuses for each named executive officer.NEO. It also provides the cash bonus amount for 20152017 for comparison purposes. The amounts in the table below are reflected in the 2016 Summary Compensation Table under the column entitled“Non-Equity “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation.”

 

Named Executive Officer

  

 

2016

Target
Annual
Cash
Bonus

 

   

  2016
  Metric
  Result

 

   

 2016

 Actual
 Cash
 Bonus
 Amount

 

   

 2015
 Actual
 Cash
 Bonus
 Amount

 

 

2018

Target

Annual

Cash

Bonus

2018

Metric

Result

2018

Actual

Cash

Bonus

2017

Actual

Cash

Bonus

Gilmore, D.

  $

 

1,395,000

 

 

 

   

 

  126%

 

 

 

   $

 

1,757,700

 

 

 

   $

 

2,262,330

 

 

 

 

$

1,710,000

 

 

 

 

117

%

 

 

$

2,000,700

 

 

 

$

2,365,200

 

 

DeGiorgio, K.

  $

 

700,000

 

 

 

   

 

  126%

 

 

 

   $

 

882,000

 

 

 

   $

 

1,111,500

 

 

 

 

$

800,000

 

 

 

 

117

%

 

 

$

936,000

 

 

 

$

1,022,000

 

 

Leavell, C.

  $

 

650,000

 

 

 

   

 

  126%

 

 

 

   $

 

819,000

 

 

 

   $

 

1,026,000

 

 

 

 

$

750,000

 

 

 

 

117

%

 

 

$

877,500

 

 

 

$

949,000

 

 

Seaton, M.

  $

 

500,000

 

 

 

   

 

  126%

 

 

 

   $

 

630,000

 

 

 

   $

 

769,500

 

 

 

 

$

650,000

 

 

 

 

117

%

 

 

$

760,500

 

 

 

$

839,500

 

 

Wajner, M.

  $

 

124,000

 

 

 

   

 

  126%

 

 

 

   $

 

156,240

 

 

 

   $

 

186,732

 

 

 

 

$

140,000

 

 

 

 

117

%

 

 

$

163,800

 

 

 

$

191,625

 

 

For 20162018 cash bonuses, the Committee continued its practice of utilizing a performance unit arrangement for named executive officersNEOs which was originally intended to enable the Company to deduct for tax purposes under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code the entire amount of the cash bonus awarded for 2016 performance.tax purposes under a provision of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. Though this provision was eliminated beginning in 2018, an analogue under California state law continues to exist, so the Committee continued the practice. The arrangement involves the granting of performance units under

First American Financial Corporation   2019 Proxy Statement | 31


Compensation Discussion and Analysis

the Company’s incentive compensation plan in an amount approximating the maximum amount of the cash bonus, followed by a reduction of the amount of performance units to eliminate the excess units when the actual cash bonus has been determined. The remaining units are then converted into dollars and paid in cash in the bonus amount determined by the Committee. These performance units would not be payable unless the 20162018 net income of the Company was at least $25 million. For purposes of this calculation, net income excludes (a) asset write-downs, (b) litigation or claim judgments or settlements, (c) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or provisions affecting reported results, (d) any reorganization and restructuring programs, (e) extraordinary, unusual and/or nonrecurring items of gain or loss and (f) foreign exchange gains and losses (“Extraordinary Items”). The Committee determined that this target was met for 2016,2018, with the result that the named executive officersNEOs ultimately received performance units for 2016,2018, which the Committee subsequently converted into cash in the amount shown in the preceding table in the column labeled “2016“2018 Actual Cash Bonus Amount.Bonus.

In February 2017,2019, the Committee determined target cash bonus amounts for 2017.2019. The Committee determined that, Mr. Gilmore’s target cash bonus amount would increase from $1,395,000 to $1,620,000; Mr. DeGiorgio’s

32 | 2017 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


                                                                Compensation Discussion and Analysis  

target cash bonus amount would remain at $700,000; Mr. Leavell’s target cash bonus amount would remain at $650,000; Mr. Seaton’s target cash bonus amount would increase from $500,000 to $575,000; and Mr. Wajner’s target cash bonus amount would increase from $124,000 to $131,250. The increases reflected the Committee’s determination, based on its assessment of relevant peer company and/or market data and after taking into account the performancein light of the executives andCompany’s ongoing expense management efforts, the Company, that thecurrent target cash bonus amounts of Mr. Gilmore, Mr. Seatonwere appropriate and Mr. Wajner warranted andid not warrant adjustment.

Subject to the Committee’s ability to award a lower amount, including the ability to not award any bonus, for 20172019 the cash bonuses of the executive officers will again be determined based on the Company’s return on equity (weighted 50%) and pretax margin (weighted 50%). As was the case in 2016,2018, actual performance could result in payouts ranging from 50% to 175% of target, or 0% if performance is below threshold levels.

For 2017,2019, as was the case with respect to 2016,2018, non-metric factors can result in a Discretionary Adjustment that can modify the cash bonus payout by up to +/- 30 percentage points.

The target cash bonus amount will be adjusted in the same manner as in 2016,2018, in that results below the threshold 50% payout level do not result in any payment and results above the maximum do not result in any additional payment. The percentage payout for results between the threshold and maximum are determined on a linear sliding scale basis between the two metric points on either side of the actual result (i.e., between the threshold and the target, or the target and the maximum, as applicable).

The Committee believes that retaining the two primary financial metrics utilized in the past, coupled with evaluation of a potential Discretionary Adjustment based on internal or external factors as described above, advances the objective of the Company’s annual cash bonus program and properly balances the importance of (i) compensating based on objective short-term financial results that are important to investors, and (ii) retaining the ability to take into account the Committee’s subjective determination with respect to long-term value creation and overall performance.

For 2017,2019, the Committee again established a performance unit arrangement for the named executive officers.NEOs. Although doing so no longer qualifies the cash bonus as performance-based compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, it continues to provide potential state tax benefits. The Committee granted to the named executive officersNEOs performance units with a maximum cash value approximately equal to the maximum potential amount of the 20172019 annual cash bonus using the metrics described above (including the potential Discretionary Adjustment of up to 30 percentage points). This resulted in performance unit awards of $3,321,000, $1,435,000,$3,505,500, $1,640,000, $1,537,500, $1,332,500 $1,178,750 and $269,063,$287,000, respectively, to Messrs. Gilmore, DeGiorgio, Leavell, Seaton and Wajner. These performance units, which were issued under the Company’s 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan, provide that they will not be payable unless the net income of the Company for 20172019 is at least $25 million, excluding Extraordinary Items. As in 2016,2018, the award agreements give the Committee complete discretion to reduce the actual amount of bonus payable to any lesser

32 | 2019 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


Compensation Discussion and Analysis

amount. It is expected that such a reduction will be made when the Committee determines the actual 20172019 cash bonuses and that the performance units will be utilized to pay such amounts.

(3) Annual Equity Bonus

As with the annual cash bonus, the Committee considers the annual equity bonus, which is paid in the form of RSUs tied to the annual performance of the Company (“Performance RSUs”), to be a critical component of the executive officer compensation program. The annual equity bonuses, together with the annual cash bonuses, have accounted for a substantial portion, if not the majority of the compensation paid to the named executive officers. Similar to the annual cash bonus, the Company’s practice of granting Performance RSUs reflects the view that key components of the Company’s business operations are cyclical in nature. However, because these Performance RSUs vest over a four-year period, this practice also discourages executive officers from taking excessive risks for short-term gains. Taken together, the CompanyCommittee believes that this incentive structure tied to annual performance is an effective means ofin motivating and rewarding executive officers to enhance long-term stockholder value.

First American Financial Corporation  2017 Proxy Statement | 33


  Compensation Discussion and Analysis                                                               

As in prior years, the Committee structured payouts of 20162018 Performance RSUs to be based on measurable performance against specific financial targets which the Committee believes to be key drivers of stockholder value. Performance RSUs granted for 20162018 performance were based on the same financial targets as the 20162018 annual cash bonus and subject to a Discretionary Adjustment.

For 2016,2018, the Committee increasedset the target Performance RSU amounts as follows:

Mr. Gilmore. Mr. Gilmore’s target Performance RSU amount increased from $1,980,000 to $2,090,000;

·Mr. Gilmore. Mr. Gilmore’s target Performance RSU amount increased from $1,617,000 to $1,705,000;

Mr. DeGiorgio. Mr. DeGiorgio’s target Performance RSU amount increased from $700,000 to $800,000;

·Mr. DeGiorgio. Mr. DeGiorgio’s target Performance RSU amount increased from $650,000 to $700,000;

Mr. Leavell. Mr. Leavell’s target Performance RSU amount increased from $650,000 to $750,000;

·Mr. Leavell. Mr. Leavell’s target Performance RSU amount increased from $600,000 to $650,000;

Mr. Seaton. Mr. Seaton’s target Performance RSU amount increased from $575,000 to $650,000; and

·Mr. Seaton. Mr. Seaton’s target Performance RSU amount increased from $450,000 to $500,000; and

Mr. Wajner. Mr. Wajner’s target Performance RSU amount increased from $43,750 to $60,000.

·Mr. Wajner. Mr. Wajner’s target Performance RSU amount increased from $39,000(1) to $41,000.

(1)For 2015, Mr. Wajner’s target cash bonus and target Performance RSU amount were subject to adjustment to reflect an increasing percentage of equity in the event that his aggregate salary, cash bonus and equity bonus exceeded certain levels. His original target Performance RSU amount of $39,000 was ultimately adjusted to $46,800.

The increase in the target Performance RSU amounts reflected the Committee’s evaluation of peer group compensation data and/or relevant market data. As withdata after taking into account the base salaries and target cash bonuses, the Committee determined that the target Performance RSU amounts should be adjusted, particularly in light of the strong performance of both thesuch executives and the Company.

Like

First American Financial Corporation   2019 Proxy Statement | 33


Compensation Discussion and Analysis

For 2018 Performance RSUs, the 2016 annualCommittee utilized the same two financial metrics utilized for the 2018 cash bonuses,bonus program (i.e., pretax margin and return on equity), with the same threshold, target and maximum payout levels of 50%, 100% and 175%. As a result, the amount of 20162018 Performance RSUs awarded to each executive officer was determined by adjusting the applicable portion of the target Performance RSU amount (listed in the table below under the column entitled “Percentage of Target”) based on objective financial criteria in two areas (each listed in the table below under the column entitled “Metric”), with the result being subject to a Discretionary Adjustment. Each financial metric had associated with it a threshold 50% payout level, a 100% payout level and a 175% payout level (listed in the table below under the columns entitled “Threshold”, “Target” and “Maximum”, respectively). With respect to both financial metrics (and subject to the Discretionary Adjustment), results below the threshold 50% payout level would not result in any payment and results above the maximum would not result in any additional payment. The percentage payout for results between the threshold and maximum were to be determined on a linear sliding scale basis between the two metric points on either side of the actual result (i.e., between the threshold and the target, or the target and the maximum, as applicable).

For 2016 Performance RSUs, the Committee utilizedby the same two financial metrics utilized for the 2016 cash bonus program (i.e., pretax margin and return on equity) and the same threshold payout levels of 50%, 100% and 175% (listed in the table below under the columns entitled “Threshold”, “Target” and “Maximum”, respectively), with target financial metric payout levels set atpercentage as the pretax margin and return on equity set forth in the Company’s budget.

The target performance levels and actual performance for 2016 with respect to the financial metrics were as follows:

   Metric

 

   

Percentage  

of Target   

 

     

Threshold  

 

     

Target  

 

     

Maximum  

 

     

 

Actual    

2016    

Results(1)   

 

     

Metric  

Payout  

Percentage  

 

  

 

   Pretax Margin

 

  

    50%      

 

   

6.4% 

 

   

  9.2%    

 

   

12.0%  

 

   

9.5%  

 

   

  108%    

 

 

 

   Return on Equity(2)

 

  

    50%      

 

   

7.1% 

 

   

10.2%  

 

   

13.3%  

 

   

12.0%  

 

   

  144%    

 

 

 

   Total

 

   

  100%    

 

     

   —      

 

     

   —      

 

     

   —      

 

     

   —      

 

     

  126%    

 

  

34 | 2017 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


                                                                Compensation Discussion and Analysis  

(1)Adjusted to exclude pension termination losses and include estimated title plant asset write-offs identified in 2016 but pertaining to prior years as if such estimated write-offs had been reflected in the 2016 financial results. These arenon-GAAP financial measures. Please see Appendix A for the rationale behind the presentation of these measures and a reconciliation of these amounts to the nearest GAAP financial measures. In addition, for purposes of determining performance level achievement, the Compensation Committee uses preliminary results and only considers an adjustment to the Performance RSU amount if final results would result in a greater than 5% change in the amount. As a result, the number in the “Actual 2016 Results” column may differ from the results reported in the Company’s financial statements.
(2)For Committee purposes, return on equity is defined as the net income attributable to the Company divided by average invested stockholders’ equity (total equity excluding accumulated other comprehensive income and noncontrolling interests). This is anon-GAAP financial measure. Please see Appendix A for the rationale behind the presentation of this measure and a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP financial measure.

The amount of 2016 Performance RSUs awarded to each executive officer was determined by adjusting the target Performance RSU amount based on the level of achievement of the financial metrics,2018 cash bonuses, or 126%117% of target. As with the annual cash bonus, the Committee determined that no Discretionary Adjustment was warranted. The following table summarizes the computation of the 20162018 Performance RSU amount for each named executive officer.NEO. It also provides the Performance RSU amount for 20152017 for comparison purposes.

 

Named Executive Officer

  

2016 Target   

    Performance       

RSU Amount   

 

   


2016

Metric

    Result    

 

   

 

2016   

Actual   

    Performance      

RSU   

Amount  

 

   

2015   
    Performance      

RSU   

Amount   

 

 

2018 Target

Performance

RSU Amount

2018

Metric

Result(1)

2018

Actual

Performance

RSU

Amount

2017

Performance

RSU Amount

Gilmore, D.

  $1,705,000   

 

     126% 

 

    $2,148,300 

 

   $2,765,070 

 

 

 

$

2,090,000

 

 

 

 

117

%

 

 

$

2,445,300

 

 

 

$

2,890,800

 

 

DeGiorgio, K.

  $   700,000   

 

     126% 

 

    $   882,000 

 

   $1,111,500 

 

 

 

$

800,000

 

 

 

 

117

%

 

 

$

936,000

 

 

 

$

1,022,000

 

 

Leavell, C.

  $   650,000   

 

     126% 

 

    $   819,000 

 

   $1,026,000 

 

 

 

$

750,000

 

 

 

 

117

%

 

 

$

877,500

 

 

 

$

949,000

 

 

Seaton, M.

  $   500,000   

 

     126% 

 

    $   630,000 

 

   $   769,500 

 

 

 

$

650,000

 

 

 

 

117

%

 

 

$

760,500

 

 

 

$

839,500

 

 

Wajner, M.

  $     41,000   

 

     126% 

 

   $     51,660 

 

   $     80,028 

 

 

 

$

60,000

 

 

 

 

117

%

 

 

$

70,200

 

 

 

$

63,875

 

 

RSUs are denominated in units of

(1)

The target performance levels and actual performance with respect to the financial metrics are set forth in the Metric summary table on page 30.

Additional details regarding the Company’s common stock. In accordance with Company policy, the number of units granted to a named executive officer in 2017 for 2016 performance was determined by dividing the dollar amountterms of the Performance RSUs that the Committee determined to be granted by the closing price of the Company’s stock on February 22, 2017, the second day on which the New York Stock Exchange was open for trading following the filing of the Company’s Annual Report on Form10-K. These shares are not actually issued to the recipient on the grant date. Instead, when an RSU vests, the recipient is entitled to receive the shares. Dividends paid on the Company’s common stock are treated as if they were paid at the same time with respect to the RSUs and immediately reinvested in additional RSUs having the same vesting requirements as the RSUs initially granted.

The Performance RSUs awarded to named executive officers vest at a rate of 25% on each anniversary of the date of grant. Vesting accelerates in certain circumstances, including upon the death or disability of the recipient and upon theone-year anniversary of the early retirement or normal retirement of the recipient or the date on which the recipient is terminated by the Company without cause. Early retirement means the termination of the recipient’s employment, other than for cause, after having reached age 55 and 10 years of service. Normal retirement means the termination of the recipient’s employment, other than for cause, after having reached age 62, irrespective of the number of years of service. It is a condition of early vestingset forth in the event of disability, termination by the Company without cause or retirement that the recipient sign a separation agreement in a form satisfactory to the Company. A holder of RSUs has none of the rights of a stockholder unless and until shares are actually delivered to the holder.

The Performance RSUs issued in 2016 and 2017 to the Company’s named executive officers, based“Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)” section below on the level of achievement in 2015 and 2016, respectively, provided that, except in the case of death, disability or certainchange-in-control scenarios, none of the Performance RSUs would vest unless certain performance criteria were met. In particular, as with the annual cash bonuses, Performance RSUs would not vest unless the net income of

First American Financial Corporation  2017 Proxy Statement | 35


  Compensation Discussion and Analysis                                                                

the Company in the year of grant was at least $25 million, excluding Extraordinary Items. This condition on vesting is intended to qualify the Performance RSUs as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, although there can be no guarantee that the Performance RSUs will so qualify.

page 36. It should be noted that as required by applicable rules, the 2016 Summary Compensation, 2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards and Outstanding Equity Awards at 2016 Fiscal Year End tables in this proxy statement reflect Performance RSUs issued to the named executive officersNEOs in 20162018 for performance in 2015.2017. Similarly, the Performance RSUs issued in 20172019 for performance in 20162018 are not reflected in those tables contained in this proxy statement. Applicable rules require that these tables only reflect equity awards issuedgranted to the named executive officersNEOs in 2016.2018.

In February 2017,2019, the Committee determined target Performance RSU amounts for 2017.2019. The Committee determined that, Mr. Gilmore’s target Performance RSU amount would increase from $1,705,000 to $1,980,000; Mr. DeGiorgio’s target Performance RSU amount would remain at $700,000; Mr. Leavell’s target Performance RSU amount would remain at $650,000; Mr. Seaton’s target Performance RSU amount would increase from $500,000 to $575,000; and Mr. Wajner’s target Performance RSU amount would increase from $41,000 to $43,750. As with the target cash bonuses, the increases reflected the Committee’s determination, based on its assessment of relevant peer company and/or market data and after taking into account the performancein light of the executives andCompany’s ongoing expense management efforts, the Company, that thecurrent target Performance RSU amounts of Mr. Gilmore, Mr. Seatonwere appropriate and Mr. Wajner warranted andid not warrant adjustment.

Subject to the Committee’s ability to award a lower amount, including the ability to not award any Performance RSUs, for 20172019 the Performance RSU amounts for the executive officers are again expected to be determined based on the Company’s return on equity (weighted 50%) and pretax margin (weighted 50%). As was the case for 2016,2018, actual performance could result in payouts ranging from 50% to 175% of target, or 0% if performance is below threshold levels. For 2017,2019, as was the case with respect to 2016,2018, non-metric factors can result in a Discretionary Adjustment that can modify the amount by up to +/- 30 percentage points.

The target Performance RSU amount willis expected to be adjusted in the same manner as in 2016,2018, in that results below the threshold 50% payout level do not result in any payment and results above the maximum do not result in any additional payment. The percentage payout for results between the threshold and maximum are determined on a linear sliding scale basis between the two metric points on either side of the actual result (i.e., between the threshold and the target, or the target and the maximum, as applicable).

34 | 2019 Proxy Statement  (4) First American Financial Corporation


Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Long-Term Equity Incentive

The Committee has continued its practice of providing long-term incentives to its executive officers through the issuance of RSUs. For 2017, the Committee again evaluated alternative forms of long-term incentive compensation. The Committee continues to believe that RSUs effectively align the interests of executive officers with those of its long-term stockholders. The Committee believes that long-term incentive awards in the form of RSUs, particularly when coupled with the Performance RSUs, incentivizesincentivize executive officers to have a long-term perspective on the Company’s performance and, at the same time, discouragesdiscourage them from taking excessive risk to achieve short term gains. RSUs issued as part of the Company’s long-term incentive program will sometimes be referred to as “Long-Term Incentive RSUs,” to distinguish them from the previously described Performance RSUs awarded to the named executive officersNEOs primarily on the basis of the annual performance of the Company.

In determining the amount of Long-Term Incentive RSUs to grant to executive officers, the Committee reviews the performance of the Company and the executive officers following the completion of the year and the results of the other pay elements, together with market compensation data,levels at peer companies, among other factors, and awards the amount of Long-Term Incentive RSUs that it deems appropriate.

36 | 2017 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


                                                                Compensation Discussion and Analysis  

In connection with 20162018 performance, the Committee awarded $2,200,000, $1,050,000, $1,000,000, $750,000,$2,675,000, $1,450,000, $1,450,000, $970,000, and $125,000$165,000 of Long-Term Incentive RSUs to Messrs. Gilmore, DeGiorgio, Leavell, Seaton and Wajner, respectively. The Committee’s determination of the amount to be awarded to Mr. Gilmore reflected its conclusion that he, as chief executive officer, is ultimately responsible for the steps that have been taken to improve the Company’s operational efficiency and to advance its strategic goals, including the identification of and execution on opportunities to innovate, effective management of enterprise risk, expense control, identifying and executing on strategic acquisition opportunities, expanding and leveraging data, and developing the Company’s employees. All of these steps, it believes, continue to significantly enhance the current earnings and the earnings potential of the Company, as well as the Company’s total stockholder return. With respect to the other named executive officers,NEOs, the Committee’s determination took into account the recommendations of Mr. Gilmore, peer group and market data and a review of the accomplishments in various aspects of the Company’s operations that occurred during the year.

The terms and conditions of Long-Term Incentive RSUs are identical to the Performance RSUs issued to the named executive officers except that vesting does not accelerate upon early retirement or termination by the Company without cause.

The approximate dollar values of the Long-Term Incentive RSUs issuedgranted to each of the named executive officerNEO recipients of such awards for 20162018 performance are provided in the following table, together with the comparable amount for 20152017 performance:

 

Named Executive Officer

  

 

Long-Term  

Incentive RSUs  

Granted in   

2017 in connection  

with 2016  

Performance(1)  

 

   

 

Long-Term  

Incentive RSUs  

Granted in   

2016 in connection  

with 2015  

Performance(1)   

 

 

Long-Term

Incentive RSUs

Granted in

2019 in Connection

with 2018

Performance(1)

Long-Term

Incentive RSUs

Granted in

2018 in Connection

with 2017

Performance(1)

Gilmore, D.

  $2,200,000  

 

   $2,000,000  

 

 

 

$

2,675,000

 

 

 

$

2,500,000

 

 

DeGiorgio, K.

  $1,050,000  

 

   $   960,000  

 

 

 

$

1,450,000

 

 

 

$

1,350,000

 

 

Leavell, C.

  $1,000,000  

 

   $   900,000  

 

 

 

$

1,450,000

 

 

 

$

1,350,000

 

 

Seaton, M.

  $   750,000  

 

   $   610,000  

 

 

 

$

970,000

 

 

 

$

900,000

 

 

Wajner, M.

  $   125,000  

 

   $   120,000  

 

 

 

$

165,000

 

 

 

$

150,000

 

 

 

(1)

The actual dollar value of the RSUs may differ slightly from these dollar amounts in the table due to rounding. The Long-Term Incentive RSUs granted in 20172019 for 20162018 performance were issuedgranted on February 22, 2017,2019, and the Long-Term Incentive RSUs issuedgranted in 20162018 in connection with 20152017 performance were issuedgranted on February 23, 2016,21, 2018, in both cases pursuant to the Company’s policy of issuinggranting RSUs to executive officers on the second day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading following the filing of the Annual Report on Form10-K.

Additional details regarding the terms of the Long-Term Incentive RSUs are set forth in the “Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)” section below on page 36. As indicated above with respect to Performance RSUs, it

First American Financial Corporation   2019 Proxy Statement | 35


Compensation Discussion and Analysis

should be noted that, as required by applicable rules, Long-Term Incentive RSUs granted in 20172019 in connection with 20162018 performance are not reflected in the 2016 Summary Compensation table, the 2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards table or the Outstanding Equity Awards at 2016 Fiscal Year End table contained herein. Those tables reflect Long-Term Incentive RSUs granted in 20162018 in connection with 20152017 performance.

First American Financial Corporation  2017 Proxy Statement | 37


  Compensation Discussion and Analysis                                                                

Summary of Base Salary, Cash Bonus, and Equity Incentive Compensation Paid for 2016. 2018

The following table summarizes for each named executive officerNEO the amount paid for 20162018 in the form of total base salary, cash bonus (paid in 20172019 for 20162018 performance), Performance RSUs (granted in 20172019 for 20162018 performance) and Long-Term Incentive RSUs (granted in 20172019 in connection with 20162018 performance). This table is not a substitute for the compensation tables required by the Securities and Exchange Commission and included under the heading “Executive Compensation Tables” herein, but it provides a more accurate picture of how the Committee viewed its compensation actions for the named executive officersNEOs based on performance for 2016:2018:

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Named Executive Officer

 

Base Salary

  Paid in 2016  

 

 

2016 Actual

Cash Bonus

  (Paid in 2017)  

 

 

 

Performance

RSUs

  Issued in 2017  

in connection

with 2016

Performance

 

 

 

Long-Term

  Incentive RSUs  

Issued in 2017

in connection

with 2016

Performance

 

 

Total for  

2016  

 

 

Total for  

2015  

 

Base Salary

Paid in 2018

2018 Actual

Cash Bonus

(Paid in 2019)

Performance

RSUs

Issued in 2019

in Connection

with 2018

Performance

Long-Term

Incentive RSUs

Issued in 2019

in Connection

with 2018

Performance

Total for

2018

Total for

2017

Gilmore, D.

 $950,000   

 

 $1,757,700   

 

 $2,148,300  

 

 $2,200,000  

 

 $7,056,000  

 

 $7,927,400  

 

 

$

1,000,000

 

 

 

$

2,000,700

 

 

 

$

2,445,300

 

 

 

$

2,675,000

 

 

 

$

8,121,000

 

 

 

$

8,706,000

 

 

DeGiorgio, K.

 $750,000   

 

 $   882,000   

 

 $   882,000  

 

 $1,050,000  

 

 $3,564,000  

 

 $3,908,000  

 

 

$

775,000

 

 

 

$

936,000

 

 

 

$

936,000

 

 

 

$

1,450,000

 

 

 

$

4,097,000

 

 

 

$

4,144,000

 

 

Leavell, C.

 $700,000   

 

 $   819,000   

 

 $   819,000  

 

 $1,000,000  

 

 $3,338,000  

 

 $3,627,000  

 

 

$

725,000

 

 

 

$

877,500

 

 

 

$

877,500

 

 

 

$

1,450,000

 

 

 

$

3,930,000

 

 

 

$

3,948,000

 

 

Seaton, M.

 $575,000   

 

 $   630,000   

 

 $   630,000  

 

 $   750,000  

 

 $2,585,000  

 

 $2,674,000  

 

 

$

650,000

 

 

 

$

760,500

 

 

 

$

760,500

 

 

 

$

970,000

 

 

 

$

3,141,000

 

 

 

$

3,179,000

 

 

Wajner, M.

 $275,000   

 

 $   156,240   

 

 $     51,660  

 

 $   125,000  

 

 $   607,900  

 

 $   646,760  

 

 

$

300,000

 

 

 

$

163,800

 

 

 

$

70,200

 

 

 

$

165,000

 

 

 

$

699,000

 

 

 

$

695,500

 

 

(5) Other Executive Officer BenefitsRestricted Stock Units (RSUs)

Executive officersRSUs are entitled to employee benefits generally available to all full-time employeesdenominated in units of the Company’s common stock. In accordance with Company (subjectpolicy, the number of units granted to fulfillinga NEO in 2019 for 2018 performance was determined by dividing the dollar amount of the RSUs that the Committee determined to be granted by the closing price of the Company’s stock on February 22, 2019, the second day on which the New York Stock Exchange was open for trading following the filing of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. These underlying shares, plus any minimum service requirement),dividend equivalent shares accrued during the vesting period are generally distributed to the executive upon vesting.

The RSUs awarded to NEOs vest at a rate of 25% on each anniversary of the date of grant. Vesting accelerates in certain circumstances, including elements such asdeath, disability and normal retirement. In addition, vesting of the healthPerformance RSUs (but not the Long-Term Incentive RSUs) accelerates in connection with early retirement and welfare benefits. The executive officers also receive an incremental disability insurance benefit that is not available to all employees. In designing these elementstermination by the Company seekswithout cause. Early retirement means the termination of the recipient’s employment, other than for cause, after having reached age 55 and 10 years of service. Normal retirement means the termination of the recipient’s employment, other than for cause, after having reached age 62, irrespective of the number of years of service. In the case of death or disability, delivery of the underlying shares is made as soon as administratively practicable. In the case of normal retirement or, for Performance RSUs, early retirement or termination by the Company without cause, delivery of the underlying shares is made one year after the termination date. A holder of RSUs has none of the rights of a stockholder unless and until shares are actually delivered to provide an overall level of benefits that is competitive withthe holder.

The RSUs issued in 2018 and 2019 to the Company’s NEOs, based on the level of benefits offered by similar companiesachievement in 2017 and 2018, respectively, provided that, except in the markets in which it operates.

Named executive officers may participate in several benefit plans that provide benefits upon retirement. Such retirement benefits include: the First American Financial Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan, the First American Financial Corporation Pension Plan (pending completioncase of its termination) (the “Pension Plan”), the Executive Supplemental Benefit Plan (the “SERP”) and the First American Financial Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan. The first two plans are generally available to employees (except that the Pension Plan is limited to individuals who became participants before 2002), while the remaining two plans are limited to a select group of management. The First American Financial Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan is atax-qualified profit-sharing plan, which authorizes company matching contributions based on the amount of employee pretax contributions and a schedule that ties the amount of matching contributions to the Company’s profitability. For 2016, for each $1.00 employees contributed to the plan up to 3%death, disability or certain change-in-control scenarios, none of the employee’s eligible compensation, the Company provided a match of $1.25. Further explanation of the other three plans can be found in connection with the 2016 Pension Benefits and 2016 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation tables in the “Executive Compensation Tables” section. The Company believes that these plans provide a valuable recruiting and retention mechanism for its executive officers and enable it to compete more successfully for qualified executive talent.

C.Pay Mix

The Committee utilizes theRSUs would vest unless certain performance criteria were met. In particular, elements of compensation described above because it believes that they represent a well-proportioned mix of stock-based compensation, retention value andat-risk compensation which produces short-term and long-term performance incentives and rewards. By following this portfolio approach, the Committee endeavors to provide each named executive officer with a measure of security with respect to the minimum level of compensation he is entitled to receive, while motivating each named executive officer to focus on the business metrics that will produce a high level of performance for the Company with corresponding increases in stockholder value and long-term wealth creation for the named executive officer, as well as reducing the risk of loss of top executive talent to competitors.RSUs

 

3836 | 20172019 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

For named executive officers,would not vest unless the mixnet income of compensation is weighted heavily towardat-risk pay and, in particular, the annual incentive bonus. This is consistent with the overall philosophy of maintaining a pay mix that results fundamentally in apay-for-performance orientation for the Company’s executive officers.

D.Pay Levels and Benchmarking

Overall compensation levels for named executive officers are determined based on a number of factors, including each individual’s roles and responsibilities within the Company each individual’s experience and expertise, the compensation levels for peers within the Company, compensation levels in the marketplace for similar positions and performanceyear of grant was at least $25 million, excluding Extraordinary Items. In prior years, this condition on vesting was intended to qualify the RSUs as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the individual and the Company as a whole. In determining these compensation levels,Internal Revenue Code. For 2018, the Committee considers all formsdetermined to retain the performance criteria to achieve state tax benefits.

Timing of compensation and benefits.Equity Grants

In order to determine competitive compensation practices, the Committee primarily relies upon data compiled from public filings of selected companies (“comparator companies”) that it considers appropriate comparators for the purpose of developing executive compensation benchmarks. The comparator companies for 2016 (meaning the companies used in connection with determinations of 2016 salaries, target cash bonuses for 2016, target Performance RSUs for the annual equity bonus and Long-Term Incentive RSUs issued as long-term equity incentive in connection with 2016 performance) are identified below. In addition, the Committee periodically considers nationally recognized survey data published by various consulting firms. Proxy data was used exclusively to develop benchmarks for the executive officers except for Mr. Wajner, for whom proxy data was lacking. For Mr. Wajner, the Committee utilized survey data from the US Mercer Benchmark Database for companies with revenue between $2.5 billion and $10 billion.

To assist it in determining the amount and mix of 2016 compensation commensurate with each named executive officer’s role, the Committee examined a group of companies with characteristics similar to the Company, including, in some cases, the business lines in which they operate as well as financial measures and other metrics such as market capitalization, revenues and employee counts.

The comparator companies for 2016 were:

·     American Financial Group, Inc.

·     Cincinnati Financial Corporation

·     Assurant, Inc.

·     Fidelity National Financial, Inc.

·     The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.

·     Old Republic International Corporation

·     Kemper Corporation (f/k/a Unitrin, Inc.)

·     W.R. Berkeley Corporation

·     Mercury General Corporation

·     White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd.

These companies are the same as those utilized by the Committee with respect to 2015 and 2016 executive compensation decisions and the same group of companies was used for the purposes of 2017 executive compensation decisions. The peer companies represent the Committee’s continuing efforts to identify a significant number of comparable companies notwithstanding the fact that there is only one other company in the Company’s primary industry with financial and operational characteristics similar to the Company’s.

After consideration of the data collected on competitive compensation levels and relative compensation within the executive officer group, the Committee determines each individual executive officer’s target total compensation or total compensation opportunities based on Company and individual performance and the need to attract, incentivize and retain an experienced and effective management team. The Committee examines the relationship of each executive officer’s base salary, target annual incentive bonus opportunity and potential long-term incentive awards (if such an amount has been determined) to market data at the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles. The Committee does not believe, however, that compensation or compensation opportunities should be structured toward a uniform relationship to any specific percentile of the market data, especially in light of the

First American Financial Corporation  2017 Proxy Statement | 39


  Compensation Discussion and Analysis                                                                

different financial characteristics of the Company’s business units (such as the relationship of revenues to net income). Accordingly, total compensation for specific individuals will vary based on a number of factors in addition to Company and individual performance, including scope of duties, tenure, institutional knowledge and/or difficulty in recruiting a replacement executive officer.

E.Conclusion

The final level and mix of compensation determined by the Committee is considered within the context of both the objective data from a competitive assessment of compensation and performance, as well as discussion of the subjective factors as outlined above. The Committee believes that each of the compensation packages for the named executive officers is within the competitive range of practices when compared to the objective comparative data even where qualitative factors have influenced the compensation decisions.

IV.Timing of Equity Grants

The Company’s general policy with respect to equity awards to executive officers is, after Committee approval, to issue the awards on the second day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading following the filing of the Company’s Annual Report on Form10-K. In the case of RSUs denominated in dollars and stock options, pricing (that is, the number of shares or units issued for each dollar denominated RSU award or the strike price with respect to stock options) is determined as of that date. The price of Company common stock used for these purposes is the last sale price reported for a share of the Company’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on that date.

Consideration of Prior Amounts Realized

V.

The Company’s philosophy is to incentivize and reward executive officers for future performance. Accordingly, prior stock compensation gains (option gains or restricted stock awarded in prior years) generally are not considered in setting future compensation levels.

Stock Ownership Guidelines, Clawback Policy and Anti-Hedging Policy

The Company has adopted guidelines requiring its chief executive officer to hold Company stock with a value equal to at least five times the chief executive officer’s base salary and each of the other NEOs to hold stock with a value equal to at least three times their respective base salaries, or one-time their respective base salaries if that base salary is below $500,000.

What Counts Toward the Guideline:

shares owned personally or by a spouse

shares issued or held through a Company-sponsored plan such as the First American Financial Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan or the First American Financial Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan

unvested restricted stock units

shares held in trust for the benefit of the NEO or a spouse

What Does Not Count Toward the Guideline:

stock options

The Committee annually reviews compliance with the ownership guidelines. All of the NEOs meet or exceed our ownership guidelines.

Clawback and Anti-Hedging Policy

Adjustment or Recovery of Awards

The Company has adopted a clawback policy applicable to all executive officers. The policy generally provides for the return by the responsible executive officer(s) of compensation including equity awards, received during the three full fiscal years prior to the announcement of a restatement of financial information due to material noncompliance with reporting requirements under securities laws to the extent such compensation would

First American Financial Corporation   2019 Proxy Statement | 37


Compensation Discussion and Analysis

not have been received under the restated results. In addition, under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, if the Company is required to restate its financial statements due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirements as a result of misconduct, the chief executive officer and chief financial officer may be required to reimburse the Company for any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation received during the 12 months following the first public issuance of thenon-complying document and any profits realized from the sale of securities of the Company during that twelve-month period.

VI.Consideration of Prior Amounts Realized

In addition, the Company’s 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan and employee form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement provide for the forfeiture or recoupment of previously awarded compensation under certain circumstances if an executive officer’s misconduct causes loss or damage to the Company or its reputation. In February 2019, the Company also added provisions to its executive employment agreements and its employee form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement which provide that the compensation paid or RSUs granted under such agreements shall be subject to any Company clawback, forfeiture, or similar plan, policy or document reasonably adopted from time to time. The Company’s philosophy is to incentivize and rewardCompany has also adopted policies generally prohibiting executive officers for future performance. Accordingly, prior stock compensation gains (option gainsand certain other employees from holding Company securities in a margin account, pledging Company securities as collateral and hedging ownership of Company securities by engaging in short sales or restricted stock awardedtrading in prior years)option contracts involving Company securities.

Benefits and Perquisites

Executive officers are entitled to employee benefits generally available to all full-time employees of the Company (subject to fulfilling any minimum service requirement), such as health and welfare benefits. The executive officers are also eligible to receive an incremental long-term disability insurance benefit that is not consideredavailable to all employees. In designing these elements the Company seeks to provide an overall level of benefits that is competitive with the level of benefits offered by similar companies in setting future compensation levels.the markets in which it operates.

Employment Agreements

VII.Employment Agreements and Post-Termination Payments

A.Employment Agreements

Messrs. Gilmore, DeGiorgio, Leavell and Seaton are parties to employment agreements with the Company. Messrs. Gilmore and DeGiorgio originally entered into their employment agreements in 2008 and Messrs. Leavell and Seaton originally entered into their employment agreements in 2014. Each of the agreements were most recently renewed in 20162019 and the term of each of the agreements now expires on December 31, 2019.2021. The decision to renew the agreements reflected the Committee’s favorable evaluation of the performance of these executives, its view that the contracts provide an important retention incentive and the potential benefit to the Company from thenon-competition,non-solicitation and other covenants in the contracts. The agreements

40 | 2017 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


                                                                Compensation Discussion and Analysis  

specify minimum base salaries equal to the base salaries paid to such individuals at the time of execution thereof, namely $950,000, $750,000, $700,000$1,000,000, $775,000, $725,000 and $575,000$650,000 for Messrs. Gilmore, DeGiorgio, Leavell and Seaton, respectively. Determinations regarding bonus amounts, long term incentive awards and any increases in base salary remain at the discretion of the Committee.

The agreements provide that if the Company terminates the executive’s employment without cause, the executive is entitled to an amount representing twice the sum of the executive’s base salary and the second largest of the prior three years’ bonuses. Half of this sum would be paid over the first year following termination in twelve equal monthly installments, and the other half would be paid at the end of thisone-year period. The executive’s receipt of these amounts would be contingent on the Company’s receipt of a release from the executive as well as the executive’s compliance with certainnon-solicitation and confidentiality provisions contained within the agreement. In addition, if the executive’s employment is terminated without cause and the executive would otherwise, during the term of the agreement, have reached histhe executive’s “early retirement date” under the SERP,Executive Supplemental Benefit Plan (the “SERP”), which is discussed in further detail below, then the executive’s benefit will be deemed vested on his

38 | 2019 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


Compensation Discussion and Analysis

the early retirement date notwithstanding the termination. No additional benefits are payable in the event that the executive voluntarily terminates or termination is on account of death or disability or is for cause.

Under the agreements, cause is defined to include (1) the executive officer’s physicalembezzlement, theft or mental inability to perform the essential functionsmisappropriation of his job,Company property, (2) willful breach of any fiduciary duties owed to the Company, (3) willful failure or refusal to comply with applicable rules and regulations, (4) gross incompetence in the performance of job duties, (5) commission of crimesa felony or of any crime involving moral turpitude, fraud, or misrepresentation, (6) the failure to perform duties consistent with a commercially reasonable standard of care, (7)(5), refusal to perform job duties or reasonable directives from histhe executive’s superior or the Board of Directors and (8)(6) any gross negligence or willful misconduct resulting in loss or damage to the reputation of the Company.

The agreements are attached as an exhibit to the Form10-K filed by the Company on February 17, 2017.20, 2019.

Change-in-Control and Post-Termination Arrangements

B.Change-in-Control Arrangements

The Company’s 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan generally provides for the accelerated vesting of awards in the event of achange-in-control of the Company, except as otherwise provided in an award agreement. Award agreements evidencing all outstanding RSUsawards provide that vesting will not accelerate as a result of achange-in-control that has been approved by the Company’s incumbent Board of Directors. There are no outstanding awards that accelerate upon achange-in-control that is approved by the incumbent Board of Directors.

Prior to January 1, 2011, the SERP generally provided for the accelerated vesting of benefits in the event of achange-in-control of the Company that was not approved by the Company’s incumbent directors and, upon the subsequent termination of the participant’s employment for any reason, the commencement of benefits as though the participant had attained normal retirement age. The Company amended the SERP, effective as of January 1, 2011, to, among other changes, require as a condition to the commencement of benefits the involuntary termination of the participant within 36 months of thechange-in-control. In that event the amendments also provided for an actuarial reduction in the benefit payable to participants who had not yet reached age 55. Participants age 55 and older would receive the benefit they would otherwise have been entitled to at termination absent a change in control.

The document evidencing the SERP is attached as an exhibit to the Form10-K filed by the Company on March 1, 2011 and Amendment No. 1 thereto is attached as an exhibit to the Form10-K filed on February 23, 2015.

Change-in-Control Agreements.

As part of the Company’s efforts to retain key employees, it has entered into agreements with each of the named executive officersNEOs to provide for certain benefits in the event the executive officer is terminated following achange-in-control. In October 2010, the Company amended these agreements to

First American Financial Corporation  2017 Proxy Statement | 41


  Compensation Discussion and Analysis                                                                

eliminate the excise taxgross-up for benefits payable under the agreements, to eliminate the obligation of the Company to pay benefits if the executive voluntarily terminates employment within 30 days of the one yearone-year anniversary of achange-in-control (commonly referred to as a “single trigger” provision) and to reduce the multiple of base and bonus payable from three to two. In the opinion of the Committee, these changes reflected current best practices with respect to such agreements.

Under the agreement a“change-in-control” “change-in-control” means any one of the following with respect to the Company:

a merger or consolidation of the Company in which the Company’s stockholders end up owning less than 50% of the voting securities of the surviving entity;

the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or the complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company;

 

First American Financial Corporation   2019 Proxy Statement | 39


·a merger or consolidation of the Company in which the Company’s stockholders end up owning less than 50% of the voting securities of the surviving entity;

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

·the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or the complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company;

 

·

a change in the composition of the Company’s Board of Directors over atwo-year period as a result of which fewer than a majority of the directors are incumbent directors, as defined in the agreement; or

the acquisition or accumulation by any person or group, subject to certain limited exceptions, of at least 25% of the Company’s voting securities.

·the acquisition or accumulation by any person or group, subject to certain limited exceptions, of at least 25% of the Company’s voting securities.

If the termination of the executive officer’s employment occurs without cause or if the executive officer terminates hissuch employment for good reason within 36 months following thechange-in-control, the Company is required to pay the following benefits in one lump sum within ten business days:

the executive officer’s base salary through and including the date of termination and any accrued but unpaid annual incentive bonus;

·the executive officer’s base salary through and including the date of termination and any accrued but unpaid annual incentive bonus;

an annual incentive bonus for the year in which the termination occurs in an amount equal to the target bonus for the year of termination (or if there is no target annual incentive bonus or under certain other specified circumstances, the average of the annual incentive bonuses paid for the three prior years), prorated through the date of termination;

·an annual incentive bonus for the year in which the termination occurs in an amount equal to the target bonus for the year of termination (or if there is no target annual incentive bonus or under certain other specified circumstances, the average of the annual incentive bonuses paid for the three prior years), prorated through the date of termination;

accrued and unpaid vacation pay;

·accrued and unpaid vacation pay;

unreimbursed business expenses;

·unreimbursed business expenses;

two times the executive officer’s annual base salary in effect immediately prior to the termination; and

·two times the executive officer’s annual base salary in effect immediately prior to the termination; and

two times the executive’s target bonus (or if there is no target annual incentive bonus or under certain other specified circumstances, two times the average of the annual incentive bonuses paid for the three prior years).

·two times the executive’s target bonus (or if there is no target annual incentive bonus or under certain other specified circumstances, two times the average of the annual incentive bonuses paid for the three prior years).

In addition, for a period of 24 months following the date on which the executive officer’s employment terminates, the Company will provide the same level of benefits and perquisites that the executive officer received at the time of termination or, if more favorable to the executive officer, at the time at which thechange-in-control occurred. These benefits includetax-qualified and nonqualified savings plan benefits (excluding, however, any supplemental benefit plans), medical insurance, disability income protection, life insurance coverage and death benefits. To the extent that the executive officer cannot participate in the plans previously available, the Company will provide such benefits (or a cash equivalent) on the sameafter-tax basis as if they had been available. These obligations are reduced by any welfare benefits made available to the executive officer from subsequent employers.

If the amount payable under the agreements, together with other payments and benefits, would constitute an “excess parachute payment” under the Internal Revenue Code and, consequently, be subject to excise tax, thechange-in-control agreements provide for a reduction in the amount payable to that amount that would result in the elimination of the excise tax, provided that the reduced amount exceeds the amount the executive officer would receive if the excise tax had been applied.

42 | 2017 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


                                                                Compensation Discussion and Analysis  

Thechange-in-control agreements would initially have expired on December 31, 2012; however, they automatically extend for additionalone-year periods unless either party notifies the other not later than the preceding January 1 that it does not wish to extend the term.

The formchange-in-control agreement is attached as an exhibit to the Form10-Q filed by the Company on November 1, 2010.

 

40 | 2019 Proxy Statement  C.

Retirement Programs

As noted above, the Company maintains four programs that provide retirement benefits to the named executive officers: the First American Financial Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan, the Pension Plan (pending completion of its termination), the SERP


Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Payments due Upon Termination and/or a Change-in-Control.

Calculations and the First American Financial Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan. The First American Financial Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan is described above under “III.B.5—Other Executive Officer Benefits.” Explanationfurther explanation of the other three plans can bepayments due the NEOs upon termination of employment and/or a change-in-control are found in connection withunder the 2016 Pension Benefits and 2016 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan tables inportion of the “Executive Compensation Tables” section.section of this document entitled “2018 Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-in-Control.”

As partRetirement Benefits

NEOs may participate in several benefit plans that provide benefits upon retirement. Such retirement benefits include:

Benefit

Background

First American Financial Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan

The First American Financial Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan is a tax-qualified profit-sharing plan generally available to all employees, which authorizes company matching contributions based on the amount of employee pretax contributions and a schedule that ties the amount of matching contributions to the Company’s profitability. For 2018, for each $1.00 employees contributed to the plan up to 4% of the employee’s eligible compensation, the Company provided a match of $1.25.

Executive Supplemental Benefit Plan*

The Executive Supplemental Benefit Plan is limited to a select group of management and is closed to new participants.

First American Financial Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan*

The Deferred Compensation Plan is limited to a select group of management.

*

Further explanation of these plans can be found in the Pension Benefits and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation sections in the “Executive Compensation Tables” section.

The Company believes that these plans provide a valuable recruiting and retention mechanism for its effortsexecutive officers and enable it to curtail the Company’s expenses, in 2010 management recommended certain changes to the benefits payable under the SERP. In response to this recommendation and based on its own analysis of practices at comparable companies with respect to similar plans, effectivecompete more successfully for qualified executive talent.

Effective January 1, 2011, the Committee closed the SERP to new participants and, as part of the amendments described above, fixed as of December 31, 2010 the compensation used to determine benefits payable under the SERP. The amendments also capped the annual benefit to a maximum of $500,000 for the Company’s chief executive officer and $350,000 for other participants.

Conclusion

D.Payments due Upon Termination and/or aChange-in-Control

CalculationsThe final level and further explanationmix of compensation determined by the Committee is considered within the context of both the objective data from a competitive assessment of compensation and performance, as well as discussion of the payments due the named executive officers upon termination of employment and/or achange-in-control are found under the portion of the “Executive Compensation Tables” section of this document entitled “2016 Potential Payments Upon Termination orChange-in-Control.”

VIII.Stock Ownership Guidelines, Clawback Policy and Anti-Hedging Policy

subjective factors as outlined above. The Company has adopted guidelines requiring its chief executive officer to hold Company stock with a value equal to at least five times his base salary andCommittee believes that each of the other named executive officers to hold stock with a value equal to at least three times their respective base salaries. In addition, as noted above under “V.—Adjustment or Recovery of Awards,” the Company has adopted a clawback policy applicable to all executive officers. The policy generally providescompensation packages for the return byNEOs is within the responsible executive officer(s)competitive range of compensation received during the three full fiscal years priorpractices when compared to the announcementobjective comparative data even where qualitative factors have influenced the compensation decisions.

Impact of a restatement of financial information to the extent such compensation would not have been received under the restated results. In addition, in January 2016, the Company added a provision to its employee form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement whereby the recipient agrees to repay incentive-based compensation erroneously paid to him or her due to material errors in the financial statements of the Company to the extent any policy adopted by the New York Stock Exchange (or any other exchange on which securities of the Company are listed) pursuant to Section 10D of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company to recover such compensation. The Company also has adopted policies generally prohibiting executive officersTax and certain other employees from holding Company securities in a margin account, pledging Company securities as collateral and hedging ownership of Company securities by engaging in short sales or trading in option contracts involving Company securities.Accounting

IX.Impact of Tax and Accounting

As a general matter, the Committee takes into account the various tax and accounting implications of compensation vehicles employed by the Company.

 

First American Financial Corporation  2017  2019 Proxy Statement | 4341


Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

When determining amounts of long-term incentive grants to executive officers and employees, the Committee examines the accounting cost associated with the grants. Under accounting guidance, grants of stock options and RSUs result in an accounting charge for the Company. The accounting charge is equal to the fair value of the instruments being issued. For RSUs, the cost is generally equal to the fair value of the stock on the date of grant times the number of shares granted. Generally, this expense is amortized over the requisite service period. With respect to stock options, the Company calculates the fair value of the option and amortizes that amount into expense over the vesting period.

The Committee intends to designhad previously designed components of the Company’s compensation programs to conform to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code and related regulations so that total compensation paid to its named executive officers willNEOs would not exceed $1,000,000 in any one year, except for compensation payments that qualifyqualified as “performance-based.” However,Although the “performance-based” exception under Section 162(m) was eliminated beginning in 2018, the Company may pay compensation which is not deductible in certain circumstances.has retained these components for state tax purposes.

Compensation Committee ReportCOMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the foregoing Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management. Based on its review and discussion with management, the Compensation Committee on March 7, 20175, 2019 recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement and incorporated by reference in the Company’s Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.2018.

Compensation Committee

Michael D. McKee, Chairman

Compensation Committee

Michael D. McKee, Chair

Parker S. Kennedy

Mark C. Oman

 

44

42 | 20172019 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


Executive Compensation Tables

Executive Compensation TablesTh

Thee following tables set forth compensation information for the Company’s “named executive officers” pursuant to the specific requirements of applicable regulations. The Company believes that the 2016 Summary Compensation Table below does not completely reflect its perspective on compensation for its named executive officers. Rather, the Company believes that its perspective is more completely reflected in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section above.

The following 2016 Summary Compensation Table sets forth compensation awarded to or earned by our named executive officers for the years indicated.

2016 Summary Compensation Table

 

Name and

Principal Position

Year

Salary

($)

Bonus(1)

($)

Stock Awards(2)

($)

Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation(1)

($)

Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings(3)

($)

All Other Compensation

($)

Total

($)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name and

Principal Position

 

Year       

 

 

Salary       

($)       

 

 

Bonus(1)       

($)       

 

 

Stock       

Awards(2)       

($)       

 

 

Non-Equity       

Incentive       

Plan       

Compensation(1)       

($)       

 

 

 

Change in       

Pension Value    

and       

Nonqualified       

Deferred       

Compensation       

Earnings(3)       

($)       

 

 

All Other       

Compensation       
($)        

 

 

Total       

($)       

 

Dennis J. Gilmore 2016        $949,231        $0        $4,765,014          $1,757,700          $562,048          $14,471(4)        $8,048,464       

 

2018

 

 

$

998,850

 

 

 

$0

 

 

$

5,390,730

 

 

 

$

2,000,700

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

12,677

 

(4)

 

$

8,402,957

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

 2015        $900,000        $0        $2,556,355          $2,262,330          $0          $8,003  $5,726,688       

 

2017

 

 

$

950,000

 

 

 

$0

 

 

$

4,348,262

 

 

 

$

2,365,200

 

 

 

$

654,480

 

 

 

$

12,402

 

 

 

$

8,330,344

 

 

2014       

 

 $900,000       

 

 $0      

 

  $

 

2,095,882       

 

 

 

  $

 

1,156,400       

 

 

 

  $

 

1,438,048       

 

 

 

  $

 

5,917

 

 

  $

 

5,596,247       

 

 

 

2016

 

 

$

949,231

 

 

 

$0

 

 

$

4,765,014

 

 

 

$

1,757,700

 

 

 

$

562,048

 

 

 

$

14,471

 

 

 

$

8,048,464

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kenneth D. DeGiorgio

 2016        $749,615        $0        $2,071,440          $882,000          $225,947          $15,056(5)  $3,944,058       

 

2018

 

 

$

774,519

 

 

 

$0

 

 

$

2,371,981

 

 

 

$

936,000

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

12,400

 

(5)

 

$

4,094,901

 

 

Executive Vice President

 2015        $725,000        $0        $1,281,959          $1,111,500          $0          $8,532  $3,126,991       

 

2017

 

 

$

750,000

 

 

 

$0

 

 

$

1,931,951

 

 

 

$

1,022,000

 

 

 

$

331,105

 

 

 

$

13,049

 

 

 

$

4,048,105

 

 

2014       

 

 $725,000        $0        $1,000,183          $472,000          $451,531          $6,413  $2,655,127       

 

2016

 

 

$

749,615

 

 

 

$0

 

 

$

2,071,440

 

 

 

$

882,000

 

 

 

$

225,947

 

 

 

$

15,056

 

 

 

$

3,944,058

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christopher M. Leavell

 2016        $699,615        $0        $1,925,959          $819,000          $501,495          $16,340(6)  $3,962,409       

 

2018

 

 

$

724,519

 

 

 

$0

 

 

$

2,298,968

 

 

 

$

877,500

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

15,088

 

(6)

 

$

3,916,075

 

 

COO of principal subsidiary

 2015        $675,000        $0        $1,221,942          $1,026,000          $47,976          $9,661  $2,980,579       

 

2017

 

 

$

700,000

 

 

 

$0

 

 

$

1,818,945

 

 

 

$

949,000

 

 

 

$

570,469

 

 

 

$

14,526

 

 

 

$

4,052,940

 

 

2014       

 

 $675,000        $0        $950,179          $472,000          $931,920          $7,392  $3,036,491       

 

2016

 

 

$

699,615

 

 

 

$0

 

 

$

1,925,959

 

 

 

$

819,000

 

 

 

$

501,495

 

 

 

$

16,340

 

 

 

$

3,962,409

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark E. Seaton

 2016        $574,231        $0        $1,379,431          $630,000          $0          $13,825(7)  $2,597,487       

 

2018

 

 

$

649,038

 

 

 

$0

 

 

$

1,739,437

 

 

 

$

760,500

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

11,865

 

(7)

 

$

3,160,840

 

 

EVP, Chief Financial Officer

 2015        $525,000        $0        $813,960          $769,500          $0          $7,425  $2,115,885       

 

2017

 

 

$

599,519

 

 

 

$0

 

 

$

1,379,971

 

 

 

$

839,500

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

11,678

 

 

 

$

2,830,668

 

 

2014       

 

 $520,192        $0        $534,934          $354,000          $0          $5,400  $1,414,526       

 

2016

 

 

$

574,231

 

 

 

$0

 

 

$

1,379,431

 

 

 

$

630,000

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

13,825

 

 

 

$

2,597,487

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matthew F. Wajner

 2016        $274,769        $0        $200,005          $156,240          $0          $13,259(8)  $644,273       

 

2018

 

 

$

299,808

 

 

 

$0

 

 

$

213,837

 

 

 

$

163,800

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

11,865

 

(8)

 

$

689,310

 

 

VP, Chief Accounting Officer

 2015        td60,000        $0        $130,659          $186,732          $0          $6,984  $584,375       

 

2017

 

 

$

289,712

 

 

 

$0

 

 

$

176,646

 

 

 

$

191,625

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

11,678

 

 

 

$

669,661

 

 

2014       

 

 td60,000        $0        $90,809          $92,040          $0          $5,400  $448,249       

 

2016

 

 

$

274,769

 

 

 

$0

 

 

$

200,005

 

 

 

$

156,240

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

13,259

 

 

 

$

644,273

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

As required by applicable rules, annual cash portions of the annual incentive bonus amountsbonuses that were paid through performance units, or were otherwise based upon the achievement ofpre-determined performance metrics, are included under the column entitled“Non-Equity “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation”, as opposed to the column entitled “Bonus”.

(2)

The amounts shown are the grant date fair value of stock awards granted in the year indicated as computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 using the closing price of our common stock on the grant date. The values set forth under this column for each year reflect the grants made in that year based on performance metrics from the prior year (e.g., amounts reported for 20162018 are based on performance metrics from 2015)2017). For information on the valuation of the awards, refer to Note 15 to our consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.2018.

(3)

Reflects

For 2018, reflects the change in the present value of the benefit from the end of the year preceding the applicable fiscal year to the end of the applicable fiscal year for both the qualified andnon-qualified pension plans (which are entitled the First American Financial Corporation Pension Plan and the First American Financial Corporation Executive Supplemental Benefit Plan).Plan (“SERP”), which is a non-qualified pension plan. Change in pension value for 2018 is ($401,849) for Mr. Gilmore, ($154,236) for Mr. DeGiorgio and ($341,232) for Mr. Leavell, but is disclosed as $0 in the Summary Compensation Table pursuant to disclosure rules. For 2017 and 2016, the change in pension value also includes benefits under the First American Financial Corporation Pension Plan, which was terminated as of July 31, 2016. Messrs. Seaton and Wajner are not participants in either of these plans. See 20162018 Pension Benefits table for assumptions.assumptions relating to the SERP. Amounts in the column do not include earnings under the Company’s deferred compensation plan as such earnings are neither above market nor preferential. The Company’s deferred compensation plan provides a return based on a number of investment crediting options. In May 2016 the Company’s board of directors terminated the Pension Plan effective as of July 31, 2016. See 2016 Pension Benefits below for discussion.

First American Financial Corporation   2019 Proxy Statement | 43


Executive Compensation Tables

(4)

This amount consists of (a) Company contributions of $11,925$10,125 to his account in the Company’s tax qualified 401(k) savings plan, (b) life insurance premiums of $646$812 and (c) Company paid executive long-term disability insurance premium of $1,900.$1,740.

(5)

This amount consists of (a) Company contributions of $11,925$10,125 to his account in the Company’s tax qualified 401(k) savings plan, (b) life insurance premiums of $1,231$1,535 and (c) Company paid executive long-term disability insurance premium of $1,900.$1,740.

(6)

This amount consists of (a) Company contributions of $11,925$10,125 to his account in the Company’s tax qualified 401(k) savings plan, (b) life insurance premiums of $2,515$3,223 and (c) Company paid executive long-term disability insurance premium of $1,900.$1,740.

(7)

This amount consists of Company contributions of $11,925$10,125 to his account in the Company’s tax qualified 401(k) savings plan and (b) Company paid executive long-term disability insurance premium of $1,900.

$1,740.

First American Financial Corporation 2017 Proxy Statement | 45


  Executive Compensation Tables                                               

(8)

(8)This amount consists of Company contributions of $11,925$10,125 to his account in the Company’s tax qualified 401(k) savings plan and (b) Company paid executive long-term disability insurance premium of $1,334.$1,740.

2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards

The following table contains information concerning awards of RSUs and performance units made by the Company to each of our named executive officers during fiscal year 2016.2018.

 

       

Estimated Future Payouts
UnderNon-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards

  

Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive
Plan Awards

  

Grant
Date Fair
Value of
Stock
Awards
($)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Estimated Future Payouts

Under Non-Equity Incentive

Plan Awards

Estimated Future Payouts

Under Equity Incentive

Plan Awards

Grant Date Fair Value of Stock

Name

 

      Grant          

Date   

 

 

 Approval           

Date          

 

  

  Threshold        

($)      

 

 

  Target         

($)       

 

 

  Maximum        

($)      

 

  

  Threshold        

(#)      

 

  

  Target        

(#)      

 

  

  Maximum      

(#)    

 

  

Grant Date

Approval Date

Threshold

($)

Target

($)

Maximum

($)

Threshold

(#)

Target

(#)

Maximum

(#)

Awards

($)

Dennis J. Gilmore

   2/23/2016(1)       2/5/16               —       —         $2,900,000             

 

2/21/2018(1)

 

 

2/2/18

 

 

$

855,000

 

 

 

$

1,710,000

 

 

 

$

3,505,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   2/23/2016(2)     2/5/16                     —         74,751         —         $2,765,039 

 

2/21/2018(2)

 

 

2/2/18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

50,600

 

 

 

 

 

$

2,890,778

 

 

   2/23/2016(3)     

 

  

 

2/5/16             

 

 

 

       

 

—      

 

 

 

  

 

54,068      

 

 

 

  

 

—      

 

 

 

  

 

$1,999,975

 

 

 

 

2/21/2018(3)

 

 

2/2/18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

43,759

 

 

 

 

 

$

2,499,952

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kenneth D. DeGiorgio

   2/23/2016(1)       2/5/16               —       —         $1,435,000             

 

2/21/2018(1)

 

 

2/2/18

 

 

$

400,000

 

 

 

$

800,000

 

 

 

$

1,640,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2/21/2018(2)

 

 

2/2/18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17,889

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,021,999

 

 

   2/23/2016(2)       2/5/16                     —         30,048         —         $1,111,476 

 

2/21/2018(3)

 

 

2/2/18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23,630

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,349,982

 

 

   2/23/2016(3)     

 

  

 

2/5/16             

 

 

 

       

 

—      

 

 

 

  

 

25,952      

 

 

 

  

 

—      

 

 

 

  

 

$   959,964

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christopher M. Leavell

   2/23/2016(1)       2/5/16               —       —         $1,332,500         

 

2/21/2018(1)

 

 

2/2/18

 

 

$

375,000

 

 

 

$

750,000

 

 

 

$

1,537,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   2/23/2016(2)       2/5/16                     —         27,737         —         $1,025,992 

 

2/21/2018(2)

 

 

2/2/18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,611

 

 

 

 

 

$

948,986

 

 

   2/23/2016(3)     

 

  

 

2/5/16             

 

 

 

       

 

—      

 

 

 

  

 

24,330      

 

 

 

  

 

—      

 

 

 

  

 

$   899,967

 

 

 

 

2/21/2018(3)

 

 

2/2/18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23,630

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,349,982

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark E. Seaton

   2/23/2016(1)       2/5/16               —       —         $1,025,000             

 

2/21/2018(1)

 

 

2/2/18

 

 

$

325,000

 

 

 

$

650,000

 

 

 

$

1,332,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2/21/2018(2)

 

 

2/2/18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14,694

 

 

 

 

 

$

839,468

 

 

   2/23/2016(2)       2/5/16                     —         20,802         —         $   769,466 

 

2/21/2018(3)

 

 

2/2/18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,753

 

 

 

 

 

$

899,969

 

 

   2/23/2016(3)     

 

  

 

2/5/16             

 

 

 

       

 

—      

 

 

 

  

 

16,490      

 

 

 

  

 

—      

 

 

 

  

 

$   609,965

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matthew F. Wajner

   2/23/2016(1)       2/5/16               —       —         $   254,200             

 

2/21/2018(1)

 

 

2/2/18

 

 

$

70,000

 

 

 

$

140,000

 

 

 

$

287,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   2/23/2016(2)       2/5/16                     —           2,163         —         $     80,009 

 

2/21/2018(2)

 

 

2/2/18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,118

 

 

 

 

 

$

63,871

 

 

   2/23/2016(3)     

 

 

 

 

2/5/16             

 

 

 

         

 

—      

 

 

 

  

 

  3,244      

 

 

 

  

 

—      

 

 

 

  

 

$   119,996

 

 

 

 

2/21/2018(3)

 

 

2/2/18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,625

 

 

 

 

 

$

149,966

 

 

 

(1)

Awards

Amounts represent the threshold, target and maximum amountamounts payable with respect to performance units awarded under the Company’s incentive compensation plan for 2016.2018. None of the awards were payable unless, as was the case, the net income of the Company for 20162018 was at least $25 million, excluding (a) asset write-downs, (b) litigation or claim judgments or settlements, (c) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or provisions affecting reported results, (d) any reorganization and restructuring programs, (e) extraordinary, unusual and/or nonrecurring items of gain or loss and (f) foreign exchange gains and losses (“Extraordinary Items”). TheUnder the plan, the Compensation Committee has the discretion to reducedecrease or increase the final payout by 30 percentage points. The Committee also retains the ability to award ultimately a lower amount, including the discretion not to award any amount. The maximum amount disclosed reflects the actual number of performance units awarded near the beginning of 2018 and reflects the potential 30-percentage point increase (205% of the performance units.target amount). See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—III. Compensation Structure—B. Pay Elements—(2) Annual Cash Bonus.” The amount of units was reduced in connection with the actual payment of cash bonus amounts. The amounts identified in theNon-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column of the 2016 Summary Compensation Table are the actual amounts paid under the plan.

(2)

Grants represent the Performance RSUs issued in 20162018 for 20152017 performance. Vesting of Performance RSUs occurs at a rate of 25% per year on each anniversary of the grant date, and would not occur unless, as was the case, the net income of the Company for 20162018 was at least $25 million, excluding Extraordinary Items.

(3)

Grants represent Long-Term Incentive RSUs which were issued to the named executive officers in 20162018 for 20152017 performance. Vesting of Long-Term Incentive RSUs occurs at a rate of 25% per year on each anniversary of the grant date, and would not occur unless, as was the case, the net income of the Company for 20162018 was at least $25 million, excluding Extraordinary Items.

 

4644 | 20172019 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


Executive Compensation Tables

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2016 FiscalYear-End

The following table shows outstanding equity awards of the Company held by the named executive officers as of December 31, 2016.2018.

 

      Stock Awards       

 

 

 

Stock Awards (1)

Name

  

Grant Date(1)    

 

   

Number of    

Shares or Units    

of Stock That    

Have Not    

Vested(2)    

(#)    

 

   

   Market Value of    

   Shares or Units    

   of Stock That    

   Have Not    

   Vested(3)    

   ($)    

 

 

Grant Date

Number of Shares or Units of Stock That  Have Not Vested(2)

(#)

Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested(3)

($)

Dennis J. Gilmore

    3/4/2013         33,186            $1,215,603     

 

2/25/2015

 

 

 

20,522

 

 

 

$

916,102

 

 

  2/27/2014         42,784            $1,567,178     

 

2/23/2016

 

 

 

70,713

 

 

 

$

3,156,628

 

 

  2/25/2015         57,803            $2,117,324     

 

2/22/2017

 

 

 

87,989

 

 

 

$

3,927,829

 

 

  2/23/2016       132,920            $4,868,860     

 

2/21/2018

 

 

 

97,324

 

 

 

$

4,344,543

 

 

Kenneth D. DeGiorgio

    3/4/2013         15,676            $   574,212     

 

2/25/2015

 

 

 

10,330

 

 

 

$

461,131

 

 

  2/27/2014         20,436            $   748,571     

 

2/23/2016

 

 

 

30,744

 

 

 

$

1,372,412

 

 

  2/25/2015         28,990            $1,061,904     

 

2/22/2017

 

 

 

39,092

 

 

 

$

1,745,067

 

 

  2/23/2016         57,781            $2,116,518     

 

2/21/2018

 

 

 

42,822

 

 

 

$

1,911,574

 

 

Christopher M. Leavell

    3/4/2013         15,082            $   552,454     

 

2/25/2015

 

 

 

9,820

 

 

 

$

438,365

 

 

  2/27/2014         19,402            $   710,695     

 

2/23/2016

 

 

 

28,579

 

 

 

$

1,275,767

 

 

  2/25/2015         27,628            $1,012,014     

 

2/22/2017

 

 

 

36,807

 

 

 

$

1,643,064

 

 

  2/23/2016         53,721            $1,967,800     

 

2/21/2018

 

 

 

41,503

 

 

 

$

1,852,694

 

 

Mark E. Seaton

    3/4/2013           4,759            $   174,322     

 

2/25/2015

 

 

 

6,548

 

 

 

$

292,303

 

 

  2/27/2014         10,925            $   400,183     

 

2/23/2016

 

 

 

20,472

 

 

 

$

913,870

 

 

  2/25/2015         18,404            $   674,139     

 

2/22/2017

 

 

 

27,923

 

 

 

$

1,246,483

 

 

  2/23/2016         38,476            $1,409,376     

 

2/21/2018

 

 

 

31,401

 

 

 

$

1,401,741

 

 

Matthew F. Wajner

  3/20/2013              228            $       8,352     

 

2/25/2015

 

 

 

1,072

 

 

 

$

47,854

 

 

  2/27/2014            1,861            $     68,168     

 

2/23/2016

 

 

 

2,974

 

 

 

$

132,759

 

 

  2/25/2015           2,953            $   108,168     

 

2/22/2017

 

 

 

3,573

 

 

 

$

159,499

 

 

  2/23/2016           5,575            $   204,212     

 

2/21/2018

 

 

 

3,857

 

 

 

$

172,176

 

 

 

(1)

Awards

Stock awards vest 25% on each anniversary of the grant date and will be fully vested on the fourth anniversary of the grant date. Dividend equivalent units accumulate during the vesting period.

(2)

These amounts include restricted stock unitsRSUs that may no longer be subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture (due to retirement vesting provisions), but that remain subject to restrictions and have not yet been distributed.

(3)

The market value was calculated by multiplying the number of unvested units shown in the table by $36.63,$44.64, which was the closing market price on December 30, 2016,31, 2018, the last trading day of our fiscal year.

First American Financial Corporation   2019 Proxy Statement | 45


Executive Compensation Tables

2016 Option ExercisesExercises and Stock Vested

The following table sets forth information concerning value realized by each of the named executive officers upon exercise of stock options and vesting of stock during 2016.2018.

 

    Option Awards         Stock Awards          

Option Awards

Stock Awards

Name

  

Number of    

Shares Acquired    

on Exercise    

(#)    

 

   

Value Realized

Upon

Exercise

($)

 

      

Number of    

Shares Acquired    

on Vesting    

(#)    

 

     

     Value Realized

     on Vesting

     ($)

 

 

Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise

(#)

Value Realized Upon Exercise

($)

Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting

(#)

Value Realized on Vesting

($)

Dennis J. Gilmore

  

0    

 

   $0

 

    

 

100,886        

 

 

 

   $

 

3,768,589

 

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

$0

 

 

104,621

 

 

 

$

6,059,971

 

 

Kenneth D. DeGiorgio

  

0    

 

   $0

 

    

 

47,436        

 

 

 

   $

 

1,772,458

 

(1) 

 

 

 

0

 

 

$0

 

 

 

48,047

 

 

 

$

2,783,819

 

(1)

Christopher M. Leavell

  

0    

 

   $0

 

    

 

40,713        

 

 

 

   $

 

1,522,845

 

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

$0

 

 

 

45,238

 

 

 

$

2,621,118

 

 

Mark E. Seaton

  

0    

 

   $0

 

    

 

17,587        

 

 

 

   $

 

   658,566

 

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

$0

 

 

 

30,892

 

 

 

$

1,788,048

 

 

Matthew F. Wajner

  

0    

 

   $0

 

    

 

3,086        

 

 

 

   $

 

   115,900

 

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

$0

 

 

 

4,554

 

 

 

$

263,896

 

 

 

(1)

All

20,532 shares with a value of the shares vested in 2016$1.2 million realized on vesting will be distributed at a later date pursuant to a deferred compensation arrangement.

First American Financial Corporation  2017 Proxy Statement | 47


  Executive Compensation Tables                                               

2016 Pension Benefits

The following table shows the actuarial present value of the accumulated retirement benefits payable upon normal retirement age to each of the named executive officers, computed as of December 31, 2016.2018. The amounts are based upon benefits provided to the named executive officers under thetax-qualified First American Financial Corporation Pension Plan (“Pension Plan”) and First American Financial Corporation Executive Supplemental Benefit Plan (“SERP”). Messrs. Seaton and Wajner are notwere never participants in either of these plans.the SERP.

 

Name

   

      Plan Name      

 

     

 

  Number of Years      

Credited    

Service(1)    

(#)    

 

     

  Present Value of      

Accumulated    

Benefits(2)    

($)    

 

     

  Payments During      

Last Fiscal Year    

($)    

 

  

Plan Name

Number of Years Credited Service(1)

(#)

Present Value of Accumulated Benefits

($)

Payments During Last Fiscal Year

($)

Dennis J. Gilmore(3)

  Pension Plan    

 

   23.6    

 

 

   $   237,153    

 

 

   $         0    

 

 

 
  

 

SERP

 

 

   23.6    

 

 

   $6,861,646    

 

 

   $         0    

 

 

 

Dennis J. Gilmore(2)

 

SERP(3)

 

 

25.6

 

 

$

7,136,498

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

Kenneth D. DeGiorgio

  Pension Plan

 

 

   17.8    

 

 

   $              0    

 

 

   $32,585    

 

 

 

 

SERP(3)

 

 

19.8

 

 

$

1,682,865

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

  

 

SERP

 

 

   17.8    

 

 

   $1,505,996    

 

 

   $         0    

 

 

 

Christopher M. Leavell

  Pension Plan

 

 

   19.5    

 

 

   $     62,102    

 

 

   $40,925    

 

 

 
   

 

SERP

 

 

 

     19.5    

 

 

 

     $3,710,309    

 

 

 

     $         0    

 

 

 

  

Christopher M. Leavell(2)

 

SERP(3)

 

 

21.5

 

 

$

3,944,835

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

(1)

Credited years of service for benefit calculation purposes under the Pension Plan is the time between the participant’s commencement of participation in the plan and the date that benefit accruals were frozen, April 30, 2008, subject to the accrual rules. The credited years of service shown in the table is the time between the participant’s commencement of participation in the plan and December 31, 2016. Credited2018. Participants in the SERP must have completed 10 years of credited service in order to be eligible to receive SERP benefits. Years of credited service beyond the minimum 10 year requirement do not result in any additional benefits under the SERP.

(2)

Messrs. Gilmore and Leavell are eligible for early retirement under the SERP is generally equaldue to credited years oftheir age and meeting applicable service under the Pension Plan without regard to the Pension Plan’s freezing of credited years of service as of April 30, 2008, and does not affect the benefit to the executive after minimum service requirements are met.requirements.

(2)

(3)

Pension Plan benefits are based on credited service as of April 30, 2008, and final average pay as of December 31, 2001. Although the benefit was frozen as of April 30, 2008, participants are still eligible to accrue service for vesting and early retirement eligibility purposes. The following assumptions were used for calculating present values: interest rate of 3.5%, post-retirement mortality perRP-2014 Table for Healthy Annuitants with mortality projection starting in 2006 using the Fully Generational ScaleMP-2016, payment form election of 70% single life annuity and 30% lump sum, lump sum conversion interest rate of 3.85%, lump sum conversion mortality ofP-2014 Table for Healthy Annuitants with mortality projection starting in 2006 using the Fully Generational ScaleMP-2016, and the addition of annuity carrier adjustment of 18%.

SERP eligibility requires 10 years of service and 5 years of participation in the plan with the benefit dependent on age at retirement between 55 and 62, rather than credited years of service. The following assumptions were used for calculating present values: interest rate of 4.03%4.32%, post-retirement mortality per theRP-2014 Table for Healthy Annuitants (without collar or amount adjustments using 2006 base rates) RP-2006 “Health Annuitants” table with Fully Generationalgenerational projection based on the MP-2018 Order 2 Graduation Alternative Projection Scale,MP-2016, benefit is payable as a 50% joint and survivor annuity and spouse is assumed to be one year younger than the participant.

(3)Mr. Gilmore is eligible for early retirement under the Pension Plan and the SERP due to his age and meeting certain service requirements, as described further below.

(1) Pension Plan

At the separation from The First American Corporation (“TFAC”), the Company assumed TFAC’s pension plan. In May 2016 the Company’s board of directors terminated the Pension Plan effective as of July 31, 2016, as further described at the end of the following description of the plan and its history.

Subject to certain conditions of age and tenure, all regular employees of TFAC and participating subsidiaries were eligible to join the Pension Plan until December 31, 2001. No employees have been eligible to join the Pension Plan after that date. In order to participate, during plan years ending on or prior to December 31, 1994, an employee was required to contribute 1.5% of pay (i.e., base salary plus cash bonuses, commissions and other pay) to the plan. As a result of amendments that were adopted in 1994, during plan years commencing after December 31, 1994, an employee was not required to contribute to the plan in order to participate.

Normal retirement age is defined under the Pension Plan as the later of the employee’s attainment of age 65 or three years of service. Upon retirement at normal retirement age, an employee receives full monthly benefits which are equal, when calculated as a life annuity: (i) for years of credited service as of December 31, 1994, to

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                                               Executive Compensation Tables  

1% of the first $1,000 and 1.25% of remaining final average pay (i.e., the average of the monthly “pay,” as defined above, during the five highest paid consecutive calendar years out of the last 10 years priorThe SERP, which was closed to retirement) times the number of years of credited service as of December 31, 1994; and (ii) for years of credited service after December 31, 1994, to 0.75% of the first $1,000 and 1% of the remaining final average pay times the number of years of credited service subsequent to December 31, 1994.

Effective December 31, 2000, the Pension Plan was amended to exclude from the calculation of benefits (i) any pay earned after December 31, 2001, and (ii) any service earned after December 31, 2005. Effective December 31, 2002, the Pension Plan was amended to reduce the rate at which future benefits accrue fornew participants who had not yet attained age 50 by spreading the accrual of the benefit that would have accrued during 2003 to 2005 over extended periods ranging from 5 to 20 years, depending on the participant’s age as of December 31, 2002. The Pension Plan was amended in February 2008 to eliminate benefit accruals for service after April 30, 2008.

A participant with at least three years of service may elect to retire after attaining age 55, but prior to age 65, and receive reduced benefits. A participant with at least three years of service who has not yet attained age 55 may elect to terminate from service and commence an actuarially reduced benefit. Benefits are reduced 1/180th for each of the first 60 months and by 1/360th for each of any additional months by which the benefit commencement date precedes the participant’s normal retirement date. Benefit payment options include various annuity options, a form of benefit that is reduced prior to the commencement of the participant’s Social Security benefits and a lump sum. Prior to July 1, 2015, a lump sum optional form of benefit was available only if an employee terminated prior to age 55. Effective for terminations of employment after June 30, 2015, employees may elect to take their benefit in a single lump sum regardless of age when they separate from the Company.

Federal tax law limits the maximum amount of pay that may be considered in determining benefits under the Pension Plan. The limit on pay that could be recognized bytax-qualified retirement plans was $200,000 in 1989. This amount was adjusted for inflation for each year through 1993, when the limit was $235,840. In 1993, this limit was decreased to $150,000 for plan years beginning in 1994. The $150,000 limit has been adjusted for inflation and was increased to $160,000 as of January 1, 1997, and to $170,000 as of January 1, 2000. The highest final average pay that could be considered in determining benefits accruing under the Pension Plan before 1994 is $219,224, and since the plan does not consider pay earned after December 31, 2001, the highest final average pay that can be considered in determining benefits accruing after 1993 is $164,000.

In May 2016, the Company’s board of directors terminated the Pension Plan effective as of July 31, 2016. Upon completion of this termination, the Company will have no remaining funded defined benefit pension plan obligations. The Pension Plan offers participants annuity payments based on a number of factors and, for certain participants, an alternative lump sum distribution option. During 2016, the Company received certain regulatory approvals needed to terminate the Pension Plan and offered lump sum distributions to certain participants, which were settled by the Pension Plan in the fourth quarter. The Company made additional cash contributions in 2016 above scheduled amounts of $84.8 million to sufficiently fund the Pension Plan. The Company will provide that sufficient funds are available to purchase group annuity contracts from one or more highly rated insurance companies to pay and administer future benefit payments, and complete other transactions required to terminate the Pension Plan in a manner that meets its obligations to participants.

(2) SERP

The SERP2011, provides retirement benefits for, andpre-retirement death benefits with respect to, certain key management personnel. The plan was originally adopted by TFAC in 1985 and has been amended a number of times. It was assumed by the Company on June 1, 2010, for its share of then current and retired plan participants, in connection with the separation from TFAC. Under the plan, as originally adopted, upon retirement at normal retirement date (the laterlatest of age 65 or completion of62, the date on which the participant completes 10 years of service)service and the date on which the participant receivedwas covered, in combination, by the plan for five years) the participant generally receives a joint

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  Executive Compensation Tables                                               

life and 50% survivor annuity benefit equal to 35%30% of “final average compensation.” “Final average compensation” was determinedis generally equal to the participant’s average one year covered compensation for those three calendar years outthe five-year period ending on December 31, 2010, irrespective of the last 10 years of employment precedingparticipant’s actual retirement in which final average compensation is the highest.date. Final average compensation includedgenerally includes base salary and commissions, cash bonuses and stock bonuses that are granted to compensate for past services (such as

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Executive Compensation Tables

Performance RSUs, as described below). The maximum annual benefit under the SERP is capped at $500,000 for the Company’s chief executive officer and at $350,000 for all other participants.

Under the original plan, the benefit was reduced by 5% for each year prior to normal retirement date in which retirement occurs and, until age 70, increased by 5% (compounded in order to approximate the annuitized value of the benefit had retirement occurred at age 65) for each year after such date in which retirement occurs. With respect to such postponed retirement, the plan took into account covered compensation received until age 70, so that the retirement benefit of an executive who retired after normal retirement date was determined as the greater of the annuitized benefit or the benefit calculated using final average compensation until age 70.

To be eligible to receive benefits under the plan, a participant must be at least age 55, have been an employee of the Company or one of its subsidiaries for at least 10 years and covered by the plan for at least five years. In the event of early retirement, benefits under the SERP are generally reduced by 5.952% for each year prior to age 62 in which retirement actually occurs. The originalpre-retirement death benefit consistedunder the SERP generally consists of 10 annual payments, each of which equals to 50%15% of final average compensation. Subject to applicable legal rules, the Board of Directors can, in its discretion, pay the participant or beneficiary in an actuarial equivalent lump sum or other form of benefit. Also under the original plan, inIn the event of a“change-in-control” “change-in-control” (as defined in the plan) of the Company, a participant who retired after thechange-in-control would receive the same benefits as if he were retiring upon the attainment of his normal retirement date.

The SERP was amended in September 2005 to provide that participants who thereafter engage in competition with the Company, either during their employment with or following their departure from the Company, forfeit their right to receive any vested benefits under the plan. Competition is defined to include involvement with a competing business, the misappropriation, sale, use or disclosure of the Company’s trade secrets, confidential or proprietary informationSERP become 100% vested, and, solicitation of Company employees or customers.

To reduce the costs of the plan, the plan was further amended in October 2007. Among other changes, this amendment (i) reduced the normal retirement date to the latest of age 62, the date on which the participant completes 10 years of service and the date on which the participant was covered, in combination, by the plan or the Management Supplemental Benefit Plan for five years; (ii) changed the period over which “final average compensation” was determined to the five full calendar years preceding retirement; (iii) reduced the maximum benefit payable to a joint life and 50% survivor annuity benefit equal to 30% of “final average compensation”; (iv) eliminated any increased benefit for postponed retirement beyond the normal retirement date; and (v) provided for accelerated vesting only upon achange-in-control that is not approved by the Company’s incumbent Board of Directors. The benefit is reduced by 5.952% for each year prior to age 62 in which retirement actually occurs. Participants who were vested as of the effective date of the amendment, November 1, 2007, are entitled to receive the higher of the benefit as calculated under the amended plan and the benefit to which the participant would have been entitled had he or she retired on October 31, 2007.

The plan was further amended effective January 1, 2011 to (i) close the plan to new participants; (ii) fix the period over which the “final average compensation” is calculated as the five-year period ending on December 31, 2010, irrespective of the participant’s actual retirement date; (iii) cap the maximum annual benefit at $500,000 for the Company’s chief executive officer and at $350,000 for all other participants; (iv) reduce thepre-retirement death benefit to 10 annual payments of 15% of “final average compensation” (which final average compensation is limited to the cap described above); and (v) provide 100% vesting in connection with a change in control and provide that, if within 36 months following the change in control the participant’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by the participant for good reason, the participant will be entitled to benefits equal to the benefits provided by the plan (subject to reductions for early retirement) or, if the participant is not yet eligible for early retirement, subject to an actuarial reduction.

Participants who engage in competition with the Company, either during their employment with or following their departure from the Company, forfeit their right to receive any vested benefits under the plan. Competition is defined to include involvement with a competing business; the misappropriation, sale, use or disclosure of the Company’s trade secrets, confidential or proprietary information; and solicitation of Company employees or customers.

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                                               Executive Compensation Tables  

Finally, the plan was amended effective January 21, 2015 to update the definition of Spouse to reflect the United States Supreme Court decision inU.S. v. Windsor.

2016 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

As reflected in the following table, certain of the named executive officers have elected to participate in the First American Financial Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Deferred Compensation Plan”) and/or elected to defer receipt of shares from RSUs granted under the First American Financial Corporation 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan. Messrs. Seaton and Wajner did not have any deferred compensation.

 

Name

   

Executive    

Deferrals    

in Last FY(1)    

($)    

 

     

Registrant  

Contributions  

in Last FY  

($)  

 

     

 Aggregate    

 Earnings    

 in Last FY(2)    

 ($)    

 

     

Aggregate   

Withdrawals/    

Distributions    

($)    

 

     

 

 Aggregate  

 Amount of  

 Deferred  

 Compensation  

 at Last  

 FYE(3)  

 ($)  

 

  

Executive Deferrals in Last FY(1)

($)

Registrant Contributions in Last FY

($)

Aggregate Earnings in Last FY(2)

($)

Aggregate Withdrawals/ Distributions

($)

Aggregate Amount of Deferred Compensation at Last FYE(3)

($)

Dennis J. Gilmore

   $   200,000      

 

 

   $0  

 

 

   $  72,959    

 

 

   $0    

 

 

   $  2,624,230  

 

 

 

 

$

200,000

 

 

 

$0

 

 

$

(27,196

)

 

 

$0

 

 

$

3,235,530

 

 

Kenneth D. DeGiorgio

   $2,367,587      

 

 

   $0  

 

 

   $160,877    

 

 

 

   $0    

 

 

   $11,688,834  

 

 

 

 

$

1,199,914

 

 

 

$0

 

 

$

(3,441,897

)

 

 

$0

 

 

$

17,532,607

 

 

Christopher M. Leavell

  $     34,981      

 

 

     $0  

 

 

     $  15,400    

 

 

 

     $0    

 

 

     $     218,256  

 

 

 

 

$

170,924

 

 

 

$0

 

 

$

(19,750

)

 

 

$0

 

 

$

574,287

 

 

 

(1)

Represents the amount contributed during the year to the Deferred Compensation Plan plus the value of any RSUs vested during the year but subject to deferred distribution.

(2)

Represents earnings or losses on participant-selected investment options in the Deferred Compensation Plan and/or the increase or decrease in the fair market value of the deferred RSUs, including dividend equivalents thereon. These amounts are not reflected in the 2016 Summary Compensation Table.

(3)

These amounts are as of December 31, 2016.2018. The following amounts are included in the fiscalyear-end balance and previously were reported as compensation to the listed officers in the Summary Compensation Table for 2010 through 2015 (except for2017; Mr. Gilmore, $1,250,000, Mr. DeGiorgio, $6,633,532 and Mr. Leavell who was not a named executive officer in 2010); Mr. Gilmore, $850,000 and Mr. DeGiorgio, $5,150,276.$170,431. Additional amounts were contributed by the executives prior to the Company’s separation from its former parent company.

The Deferred Compensation Plan offers a select group of management and highly compensated employees the opportunity to elect to defer portionsup to 100% of their base salary, commissions and certain eligible cash bonuses. A committee appointed by the Board of Directors is responsible for administering the plan. The plan is unfunded and unsecured. However, the Company informally funds the plan through variable universal life insurance and absorbs all insurance charges. The Company maintains a deferral account for each participating employee on a fully vested basis for all deferrals. Participants can choose to

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Executive Compensation Tables

have their cash benefits paid in one lump sum or in quarterly payments upon termination of employment or death. Subject to the terms and conditions of the plan, participants also may elect scheduled and nonscheduledin-service withdrawals of compensation deferred prior to January 1, 2005, and the earnings and losses attributable thereto. Withdrawals of compensation deferred after December 31, 2004, and the earnings and losses attributable thereto, must be scheduled by the participant at the time the participant elects to defer such compensation.

Participants allocate their deferrals among a variety of investment crediting options offered under the plan. The investment crediting rates are based upon the rates of return available under certain retail mutual funds.

For all participants who joined the Deferred Compensation Plan prior to December 31, 2001, the plan provides apre-retirement death benefit equal to the lesser of 15 times the amount deferred in the participant’s first year of participation or $2 million. The death benefit is reduced beginning at age 61 by 20% per year. Participants who join the plan after December 31, 2001 are not eligible for this death benefit. The Company maintains term life insurance policies to fund this enhancedpre-retirement death benefit.

The First American Financial Corporation 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan offers a select group of management and highly compensated employees the opportunity to defer the paymentdistribution of their RSUs to a future

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  Executive Compensation Tables                                               

date beyond the scheduled vesting date. Participants may elect to defer the paymentdistribution of a particular vesting tranche of an award to a future date while employed with the Company, or upon termination of employment or in annual installments over two to fifteen years post termination of employment.

With respect to deferrals to a future date while employed, participants must specify the year in which they wish to receive the paymentdistribution of the RSUs, provided that such year exceedsis later than the year of the scheduled vesting date. The resulting deferred distribution date will be the anniversary of the grant date in the year selected. If the participant terminates employment prior to the scheduled vesting date, the deferral election will not apply and the payment of such RSUs will be handled pursuant to the terms of the RSU Award Agreement. If the participant terminates employment after a scheduled vesting date but prior to the deferred distribution date, the participant will receive the paymentdistribution of the deferred RSUs upon termination. If the initial deferred election is made after the grant date, the deferred RSUs will be paiddistributed following the later of the termination date or five years from the scheduled vesting date.

2016 Potential Payments upon Termination orChange-in-Control

The following tables describe payments and other benefits that would be provided to the named executive officers under the specified circumstances upon achange-in-control of the Company or their termination on December 31, 2016.2018. For further discussion, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—VII. Employment Agreements“Change-in-Control and Post-Termination Payments.”Arrangements” on page 39.

 

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Executive Compensation Tables

 

Dennis J. Gilmore

 

    

 

Involuntary Termination    

 

 

 

Change-in-Control    

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

Involuntary Termination

Change-in-Control

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Payments and

Benefits Upon Termination

 

     Voluntary       

     Termination(1)       

 

  

     For Cause       

 

 

     Without       

     Cause/By       
      Employee for       
     Good       

     Reason       

 

 

     Without       

     Termination       

 

  

     With       

     Termination       

     Without       

     Cause/By       

     Employee for       

     Good Reason       

 

 

     Death       

 

 

     Disability       

 

 

Voluntary Termination(1)

For Cause

Without Cause/By Employee for Good Reason

Without Termination

With

Termination Without Cause/By Employee for Good Reason

Death

Disability

Amounts due to Triggering Event

             

Amounts Due to Triggering Event

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Severance

 $

 

 

0

 

 

    

 

 

 $

 

 

0

 

 

     

 

 

 $

 

 

6,525,600

 

 

(2) 

 

 

 $

 

 

0

 

 

     

 

 

 $

 

 

8,100,000

 

 

(3) 

 

 

 $

 

 

0

 

 

    

 

 

 $

 

 

0

 

 

     

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

12,054,800

 

(2)

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

9,600,000

 

(3)

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

Bonus

 $

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

3,100,000

 

 

(4) 

 

 

 $

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

3,800,000

 

(4)

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

Accelerated Vesting of RSUs(5)

 $

 

 

5,324,537

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

5,324,537

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

9,768,965

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

9,768,965

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

9,768,965

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

9,768,965

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

6,516,413

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

6,516,413

 

 

 

$

12,345,103

 

 

 

$

12,345,103

 

 

 

$

12,345,103

 

 

 

$

12,345,103

 

 

Benefit Continuation

 $

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

180,143

 

 

(6) 

 

 

 $

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

133,851

 

(6)

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

Incremental SeveranceSub-Total

 $

 

 

5,324,537

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

11,850,137

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

9,768,965

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

21,149,108

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

9,768,965

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

9,768,965

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

6,516,413

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

18,571,213

 

 

 

$

12,345,103

 

 

 

$

25,895,935

 

 

 

$

12,345,103

 

 

 

$

12,345,103

 

 

Previously Earned/Vested Amounts

             

Previously Earned/ Vested Amounts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred Compensation Plan

 $

 

 

2,624,230

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

2,624,230

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

2,624,230

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

2,624,230

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

2,624,230

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

2,699,230

 

 

(7) 

 

 

 $

 

 

2,624,230

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

3,235,530

 

 

 

$

3,235,530

 

 

 

$

3,235,530

 

 

 

$

3,235,530

 

 

 

$

3,235,530

 

 

 

$

3,295,530

 

(7)

 

$

3,235,530

 

 

Vested 401(k) Savings Plan Balance

 $

 

 

967,688

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

967,688

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

967,688

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

967,688

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

967,688

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

967,688

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

967,688

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,161,226

 

 

 

$

1,161,226

 

 

 

$

1,161,226

 

 

 

$

1,161,226

 

 

 

$

1,161,226

 

 

 

$

1,161,226

 

 

 

$

1,161,226

 

 

Vested Pension Plan(8)

 $

 

 

216,916

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

216,916

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

216,916

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

216,916

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

109,054

 

 

(9)  

 

 

 $

 

 

216,916

 

 

 

 

 

Vested SERP

 $

 

 

8,593,207

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

8,593,207

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

8,593,207

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

4,123,063

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

8,593,207

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

8,039,247

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

8,039,247

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

8,039,247

 

 

 

$

3,931,087

 

 

 

$

8,039,247

 

 

Total “Walk-Away” Value

 $

 

 

17,726,578

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

3,808,834

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

24,252,178

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

13,360,883

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

33,551,149

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

17,668,000

 

 

 

 

 

 $

 

 

22,171,006

 

 

 

 

 

Total Value

 

$

18,952,416

 

 

 

$

4,396,756

 

 

 

$

31,007,216

 

 

 

$

16,741,859

 

 

 

$

38,330,938

 

 

 

$

20,732,946

 

 

 

$

24,781,106

 

 

 

(1)

Voluntary termination would qualify as early retirement under the SERP and the Company’s Performance RSU grant agreements.

(2)

Represents two times the executive’s base salary in effect immediately prior to the date of termination and two times the median of the executive’s last three annual incentive bonuses.

(3)

Represents two times the executive’s base salary in effect immediately prior to the date of termination and two times the executive’s target annual incentive bonus for the current fiscal year, or if there is no such target, the average annual discretionary incentive bonus earned by the executive during the last three completed fiscal years.

(4)

Represents the pro rata portion of the executive’s target annual bonus for the year of termination. Also assumes that, while any outstanding performance units would vest in the event of achange-in-control of the Company, the Compensation Committee would exercise its discretion to reduce any performance units awarded to the amount of the target annual incentive bonus.

(5)

The Company’s 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan and related agreements provide for acceleration of all unvested RSUs in the event of achange-in-control of the Company that is not approved by the Board of Directors and in the event of death or disability. In the event of termination after meeting early retirement (age 55 with 10 years of service) or, normal retirement (age 62), or involuntary termination without cause (absent achange-in-control), all unvested Performance RSUs vest one year after termination. Unvested Long-Term Incentive RSUs vest one year after termination provided the normal retirement criterion is met at the time of termination.

(6)

Represents cash payments to the executive to cover the cost of purchasing the benefits on anafter-tax basis. basis for 24 months post termination.

(7)

Represents the sum of (a) the vested balance on December 31, 2016,2018, of $2,624,230$3,235,530 and (b) a $75,000$60,000 pre-retirement death benefit equal to 15 times the amount deferred in the participant’s first year of participation.

(8)Mr. Gilmore is eligible for early retirement, defined as retirement at age 55 or older with satisfaction of vesting requirements. The benefits of those eligible for early retirement are valued as immediately payable, with payment form election of 70% single life annuity and 30% lump sum, and appropriate reduction factors for the single life annuity payment form.
(9)Represents the lump sum present value equal toone-half of the accrued benefit, converted to a qualified joint and survivor form and payable to female spouse three years younger than the participant at the latter of the participant’s current age or age 55.

 

First American Financial Corporation 2017  2019 Proxy Statement | 5349


Executive Compensation Tables

 

Kenneth D. DeGiorgio

 

    

 

Involuntary Termination      

 

  

 

Change-in-Control       

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

Involuntary Termination

Change-in-Control

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Payments and

Benefits Upon Termination

 

     Voluntary       

     Termination       

 

  

     For Cause       

 

  

     Without       

     Cause/By       
      Employee for       

     Good       

     Reason       

 

 

     Without       

     Termination       

 

  

    With      

    Termination      

    Without      

    Cause/By      
     Employee for      
    Good Reason      

 

 

     Death       

 

 

     Disability       

 

 

Voluntary Termination

For Cause

Without Cause/By Employee for Good Reason

Without Termination

With Termination Without Cause/By Employee for Good Reason

Death

Disability

Amounts due to Triggering Event

       

Amounts Due to Triggering Event

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Severance

 

 

$

 

0

 

      

 

 

$

 

0

 

      

 

 

$

 

3,388,000

 

(1) 

 

 

$

 

0

 

      

 

 

$

 

4,300,000

 

(2) 

 

 

$

 

0

 

     

 

 

$

 

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

5,638,000

 

(1)

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

4,750,000

 

(2)

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

Bonus

 

 

$

 

0

 

 

 

 

$

 

0

 

 

 

 

$

 

0

 

 

 

 

$

 

0

 

 

 

 

$

 

1,400,000

 

(3) 

 

 

$

 

0

 

 

 

 

$

 

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

1,600,000

 

(3)

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

Accelerated Vesting of RSUs(4)

 

 

$

 

0

 

 

 

 

$

 

0

 

 

 

 

$

 

2,082,049

 

 

 

 

$

 

4,501,204

 

 

 

 

$

 

4,501,204

 

 

 

 

$

 

4,501,204

 

 

 

 

$

 

4,501,204

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

2,526,624

 

 

 

$

5,490,184

 

 

 

$

5,490,184

 

 

 

$

5,490,184

 

 

 

$

5,490,184

 

 

Benefit Continuation

 

 

$

 

0

 

 

 

 

$

 

0

 

 

 

 

$

 

0

 

 

 

 

$

 

0

 

 

 

 

$

 

160,675

 

(5) 

 

 

$

 

0

 

 

 

 

$

 

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

178,481

 

(5)

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

Enhanced SERP(6)

 

 

$

 

0

 

 

 

 

$

 

0

 

 

 

 

$

 

0

 

 

 

 

$

 

0

 

 

 

 

$

 

1,486,316

 

(7) 

 

 

$

 

1,104,176

 

(8) 

 

 

$

 

1,955,191

 

(9)   

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

1,627,202

 

(7)

 

$

1,091,453

 

(8)

 

$

1,994,349

 

(9)

Incremental SeveranceSub-Total

 

 

$

 

0

 

 

 

 

$

 

0

 

 

 

 

$

 

5,470,049

 

 

 

 

$

 

4,501,204

 

 

 

 

$

 

11,848,195

 

 

 

 

$

 

5,605,380

 

 

 

 

$

 

6,456,395

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

8,164,624

 

 

 

$

5,490,184

 

 

 

$

13,645,867

 

 

 

$

6,581,637

 

 

 

$

7,484,533

 

 

Previously Earned/Vested Amounts

       

Previously Earned/ Vested Amounts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred RSUs(10)

 

 

$

 

9,726,840

 

 

 

 

$

 

9,726,840

 

 

 

 

$

 

9,726,840

 

 

 

 

$

 

9,726,840

 

 

 

 

$

 

9,726,840

 

 

 

 

$

 

9,726,840

 

 

 

 

$

 

9,726,840

 

 

 

$

15,238,221

 

 

 

$

15,238,221

 

 

 

$

15,238,221

 

 

 

$

15,238,221

 

 

 

$

15,238,221

 

 

 

$

15,238,221

 

 

 

$

15,238,221

 

 

Deferred Compensation Plan

 

 

$

 

1,961,994

 

 

 

 

$

 

1,961,994

 

 

 

 

$

 

1,961,994

 

 

 

 

$

 

1,961,994

 

 

 

 

$

 

1,961,994

 

 

 

 

$

 

2,574,369

 

(11)  

 

 

$

 

1,961,994

 

 

 

$

2,294,386

 

 

 

$

2,294,386

 

 

 

$

2,294,386

 

 

 

$

2,294,386

 

 

 

$

2,294,386

 

 

 

$

2,906,761

 

(11)

 

$

2,294,386

 

 

Vested 401(k) Savings Plan Balance

 

 

$

 

833,021

 

 

 

 

$

 

833,021

 

 

 

 

$

 

833,021

 

 

 

 

$

 

833,021

 

 

 

 

$

 

833,021

 

 

 

 

$

 

833,021

 

 

 

 

$

 

833,021

 

 

 

$

1,053,133

 

 

 

$

1,053,133

 

 

 

$

1,053,133

 

 

 

$

1,053,133

 

 

 

$

1,053,133

 

 

 

$

1,053,133

 

 

 

$

1,053,133

 

 

Total “Walk-Away” Value

 

 

$

 

12,521,855

 

 

 

 

$

 

12,521,855

 

 

 

 

$

 

17,991,904

 

 

 

 

$

 

17,023,059

 

 

 

 

$

 

24,370,050

 

 

 

 

$

 

18,739,610

 

 

 

 

$

 

18,978,250

 

 

Total Value

 

$

18,585,740

 

 

 

$

18,585,740

 

 

 

$

26,750,364

 

 

 

$

24,075,924

 

 

 

$

32,231,607

 

 

 

$

25,779,752

 

 

 

$

26,070,273

 

 

 

(1)

Represents two times the executive’s base salary in effect immediately prior to the date of termination and two times the median of the executive’s last three annual incentive bonuses.

(2)

Represents two times the executive’s base salary in effect immediately prior to the date of termination and two times the executive’s target annual incentive bonus for the current fiscal year, or if there is no such target, the average annual discretionary incentive bonus earned by the executive during the last three completed fiscal years.

(3)

Represents the pro rata portion of the executive’s target annual bonus for the year of termination. Also assumes that, while any outstanding performance units would vest in the event of achange-in-control of the Company, the Compensation Committee would exercise its discretion to reduce any performance units awarded to the amount of the target annual incentive bonus.

(4)

The Company’s 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan and related agreements provide for acceleration of all unvested RSUs in the event of achange-in-control of the Company that is not approved by the Board of Directors and in the event of death or disability. In the event of termination after meeting early retirement (age 55 with 10 years of service) or, normal retirement (age 62), or involuntary termination without cause (absent achange-in-control), all unvested Performance RSUs vest one year after termination. Unvested Long-Term Incentive RSUs vest one year after termination provided the normal retirement criterion is met at the time of termination.

(5)

Represents cash payments to the executive to cover the cost of purchasing the benefits on anafter-tax basis. basis for 24 months post termination.

(6)

“Enhanced SERP” refers to any payments which accrue to the executive, who is not yet vested, under the various scenarios for the SERP.

(7)

If a qualifying termination occurs within 36 months after achange-in-control of the Company, the executive becomes 100% vested in the benefit in the amount the executive would have been entitled to receive had he attained his early retirement date, with an actuarial reduction if the executive had not reached early retirement age. Represents the enhanced present value of the benefit calculated using the following assumptions:RP-2014 RP-2006 Table for Healthy Annuitants (without collar or amount adjustmentsadjustments) projected generationally using 2006 base rates) with Fully Generational ScaleMP-2016 MP-2018 Order 2 Graduation Alternative (post-retirement only), and a discount rate of 4.03%4.32%.

(8)

Represents the present value of 10 annual payments equal to 15% of the participant’s final average compensation, calculated using a 4.03%4.32% discount rate.

(9)

Represents the present value of the benefit calculated using the following assumptions:RP-2014 RP-2006 Table for Healthy Annuitants (without collar or amount adjustmentsadjustments) projected generationally using 2006 base rates) with Fully Generational ScaleMP-2016, MP-2018 Order 2 Graduation Alternative (post-retirement only), a discount rate of 4.03%4.32% and participant remains disabled until earliest retirement date at age 55.

(10)

Represents shares from vested RSUs that would have otherwise been distributed in years 2010 to 20162018 had they not been deferred pursuant to a deferred compensation arrangement.

(11)

Represents the sum of (a) the vested balance on December 31, 20162018 of $1,961,994$2,294,386 and (b) a $612,375pre-retirement death benefit equal to 15 times the amount deferred in the participant’s first year of participation.

 

5450 | 20172019 Proxy StatementFirst American Financial Corporation


Executive Compensation Tables

 

Christopher M. Leavell

 

     

 

Involuntary Termination     

 

  

 

Change-in-Control     

 

       

   Executive Payments and

   Benefits Upon Termination

 

 

     Voluntary

     Termination

 

  

     For Cause

 

  

     Without

     Cause/By

     Employee for
     Good

     Reason

 

  

     Without

     Termination

 

  

     With      

     Termination      

     Without      

     Cause/By      

     Employee for      

     Good Reason      

 

         Death     

 

  

     Disability

 

 

 

Amounts due to Triggering Event

 

       

 

Severance

 

 $

 

0

 

      

 

 $

 

0

 

      

 

 $

 

3,288,000

 

(1)  

 

 $

 

0

 

      

 

 $

 

4,000,000

 

(2)  

 

 $

 

0

 

      

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 

Bonus

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

1,300,000

 

(3) 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 

Accelerated Vesting of RSUs(4)

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

1,993,954

 

 

 

 $

 

4,242,963

 

 

 

 $

 

4,242,963

 

 

 

 $

 

4,242,963

 

 

 

 $

 

4,242,963

 

 

 

 

Benefit Continuation

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

153,589

 

(5) 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 

Enhanced SERP (6)

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

3,178,296

 

(7) 

 

 $

 

1,369,018

 

(8) 

 

 $

 

3,281,282

 

(9) 

 

 

Incremental Severance Sub-Total

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

5,281,954

 

 

 

 $

 

4,242,963

 

 

 

 $

 

12,874,848

 

 

 

 $

 

5,611,981

 

 

 

 $

 

7,524,245

 

 

 

 

Previously Earned/Vested Amounts

 

       

 

Deferred Compensation Plan

 

 $

 

218,256

 

 

 

 $

 

218,256

 

 

 

 $

 

218,256

 

 

 

 $

 

218,256

 

 

 

 $

 

218,256

 

 

 

 $

 

685,506

 

(10) 

 

 $

 

218,256

 

 

 

 

Vested 401(k) Savings Plan Balance

 

 $

 

572,981

 

 

 

 $

 

572,981

 

 

 

 $

 

572,981

 

 

 

 $

 

572,981

 

 

 

 $

 

572,981

 

 

 

 $

 

572,981

 

 

 

 $

 

572,981

 

 

 

 

Vested Pension Plan

 

 $

 

62,102

 

 

 

 $

 

62,102

 

 

 

 $

 

62,102

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

62,102

 

 

 

 $

 

27,919

 

(11) 

 

 $

 

62,102

 

 

 

 

Total “Walk-Away” Value

 

 $

 

853,339

 

 

 

 $

 

853,339

 

 

 

 $

 

6,135,293

 

 

 

 $

 

5,034,200

 

 

 

 $

 

13,728,187

 

 

 

 $

 

6,898,387

 

 

 

 $

 

8,377,584

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Involuntary Termination

Change-in-Control

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Payments and Benefits Upon Termination

Voluntary Termination(1)

For Cause

Without Cause/By Employee for Good Reason

Without Termination

With Termination Without Cause/By Employee for Good Reason

Death

Disability

Amounts Due to Triggering Event

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Severance

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

5,246,000

 

(2)

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

4,450,000

 

(3)

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

Bonus

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

1,500,000

 

(4)

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

Accelerated Vesting of RSUs(5)

 

$

2,353,599

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

2,353,599

 

 

 

$

5,209,890

 

 

 

$

5,209,890

 

 

 

$

5,209,890

 

 

 

$

5,209,890

 

 

Benefit Continuation

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

133,735

 

(6)

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

Incremental Severance Sub-Total

 

$

2,353,599

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

7,599,599

 

 

 

$

5,209,890

 

 

 

$

11,293,625

 

 

 

$

5,209,890

 

 

 

$

5,209,890

 

 

Previously Earned/ Vested Amounts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred Compensation Plan

 

$

574,287

 

 

 

$

574,287

 

 

 

$

574,287

 

 

 

$

574,287

 

 

 

$

574,287

 

 

 

$

1,041,537

 

(7)

 

$

574,287

 

 

Vested 401(k) Savings Plan Balance

 

$

750,867

 

 

 

$

750,867

 

 

 

$

750,867

 

 

 

$

750,867

 

 

 

$

750,867

 

 

 

$

750,867

 

 

 

$

750,867

 

 

Vested SERP

 

$

3,578,382

 

 

 

$

-

 

 

 

$

3,578,382

 

 

 

$

-

 

 

 

$

3,578,382

 

 

 

$

1,755,312

 

 

 

$

3,578,382

 

 

Total Value

 

$

7,257,135

 

 

 

$

1,325,154

 

 

 

$

12,503,135

 

 

 

$

6,535,044

 

 

 

$

16,197,161

 

 

 

$

8,757,606

 

 

 

$

10,113,426

 

 

 

(1)

Voluntary termination would qualify as early retirement under the SERP and the Company’s Performance RSU grant agreements.

(2)

Represents two times the executive’s base salary in effect immediately prior to the date of termination and two times the median of the executive’s last three annual incentive bonuses.

(2)

(3)

Represents two times the executive’s base salary in effect immediately prior to the date of termination and two times the executive’s target annual incentive bonus for the current fiscal year, or if there is no such target, the average annual discretionary incentive bonus earned by the executive during the last three completed fiscal years.

(3)

(4)

Represents the pro rata portion of the executive’s target annual bonus for the year of termination. Also assumes that, while any outstanding performance units would vest in the event of achange-in-control of the Company, the Compensation Committee would exercise its discretion to reduce any performance units awarded to the amount of the target annual incentive bonus.

(4)

(5)

The Company’s 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan and related agreements provide for acceleration of all unvested RSUs in the event of achange-in-control of the Company that is not approved by the Board of Directors and in the event of death or disability. In the event of termination after meeting early retirement (age 55 with 10 years of service) or, normal retirement (age 62), or involuntary termination without cause (absent achange-in-control), all unvested Performance RSUs vest one year after termination. Unvested Long-Term Incentive RSUs vest one year after termination provided the normal retirement criterion is met at the time of termination.

(5)

(6)

Represents cash payments to the executive to cover the cost of purchasing the benefits on anafter-tax basis. basis for 24 months post termination.

(6)

(7)

“Enhanced SERP” refers to any payments which accrue to the executive, who is not yet vested, under the various scenarios for the SERP.
(7)If a qualifying termination occurs within 36 months after achange-in-control of the Company, the executive becomes 100% vested in the benefit in the amount the executive would have been entitled to receive had he attained his early retirement date, with an actuarial reduction if the executive had not reached early retirement age. Represents the enhanced present value of the benefit calculated using the following assumptions:RP-2014 Table for Healthy Annuitants (without collar or amount adjustments using 2006 base rates) with Fully Generational ScaleMP-2016 and a discount rate of 4.03%.
(8)Represents the present value of 10 annual payments equal to 15% of the participant’s final average compensation, calculated using a 4.03% discount rate.
(9)Represents the present value of the benefit calculated using the following assumptions:RP-2014 Table for Healthy Annuitants (without collar or amount adjustments using 2006 base rates) with Fully Generational ScaleMP-2016, a discount rate of 4.03% and participant remains disabled until earliest retirement date at age 55.
(10)

Represents the sum of (a) the vested balance on December 31, 20152018 of $218,256$574,287 and (b) a $467,250pre-retirement death benefit equal to 15 times the amount deferred in the participant’s first year of participation.

(11)Represents the lump sum present value equal toone-half of the accrued benefit, converted to a qualified joint and survivor form and payable to female spouse three years younger than the participant at the latter of the participant’s current age or age 55.

 

First American Financial Corporation 2017  2019 Proxy Statement | 5551


Executive Compensation Tables

 

Mark E. Seaton

 

    

 

Involuntary Termination     

 

  

 

Change-in-Control     

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

Involuntary Termination

Change-in-Control

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Payments and
Benefits Upon Termination

 

     Voluntary       

     Termination       

 

  

     For Cause       

 

  

     Without       

     Cause/By       
      Employee for       

     Good       

     Reason       

 

  

     Without       

     Termination       

 

  

     With       

     Termination       

     Without       

     Cause/By       

     Employee for       
      Good Reason       

 

 

       Death         

 

  

     Disability       

 

 

Voluntary Termination

For Cause

Without Cause/By Employee for Good Reason

Without Termination

With Termination Without Cause/By Employee for Good Reason

Death

Disability

Amounts due to Triggering Event

       

Amounts Due to Triggering Event

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Severance

 $

 

0

 

      

 

 $

 

0

 

      

 

 $

 

2,566,000

 

(1)   

 

 $

 

0

 

      

 

 $

 

3,150,000

 

(2)   

 

 $

 

0

 

      

 

 $

 

0

 

      

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

4,378,000

 

(1)

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

3,900,000

 

(2)

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

Bonus

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

1,000,000

 

(3) 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

1,300,000

 

(3)

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

Accelerated Vesting of RSUs(4)

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

1,307,947

 

 

 

 $

 

2,658,019

 

 

 

 $

 

2,658,019

 

 

 

 $

 

2,658,019

 

 

 

 $

 

2,658,019

 

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

1,882,424

 

 

 

$

3,854,396

 

 

 

$

3,854,396

 

 

 

$

3,854,396

 

 

 

$

3,854,396

 

 

Benefit Continuation

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

120,022

 

(5) 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

172,359

 

(5)

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

Incremental SeveranceSub-Total

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

3,873,947

 

 

 

 $

 

 2,658,019

 

 

 

 $

 

6,928,041

 

 

 

 $

 

2,658,019

 

 

 

 $

 

2,658,019

 

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

6,260,424

 

 

 

$

3,854,396

 

 

 

$

9,226,755

 

 

 

$

3,854,396

 

 

 

$

3,854,396

 

 

Previously Earned/Vested Amounts

       

Previously Earned/ Vested Amounts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vested 401(k) Savings Plan Balance

 $

 

290,547

 

 

 

 $

 

290,547

 

 

 

 $

 

290,547

 

 

 

 $

 

290,547

 

 

 

 $

 

290,547

 

 

 

 $

 

290,547

 

 

 

 $

 

290,547

 

 

 

 

$

373,136

 

 

 

$

373,136

 

 

 

$

373,136

 

 

 

$

373,136

 

 

 

$

373,136

 

 

 

$

373,136

 

 

 

$

373,136

 

 

Total “Walk-Away” Value

 $

 

290,547

 

 

 

 $

 

290,547

 

 

 

 $

 

4,164,494

 

 

 

 $

 

 2,948,566

 

 

 

 $

 

7,218,588

 

 

 

 $

 

2,948,566

 

 

 

 $

 

2,948,566

 

 

 

Total Value

 

$

373,136

 

 

 

$

373,136

 

 

 

$

6,633,560

 

 

 

$

4,227,532

 

 

 

$

9,599,891

 

 

 

$

4,227,532

 

 

 

$

4,227,532

 

 

 

(1)

Represents two times the executive’s base salary in effect immediately prior to the date of termination and two times the median of the executive’s last three annual incentive bonuses.

(2)

Represents two times the executive’s base salary in effect immediately prior to the date of termination and two times the executive’s target annual incentive bonus for the current fiscal year, or if there is no such target, the average annual discretionary incentive bonus earned by the executive during the last three completed fiscal years.

(3)

Represents the pro rata portion of the executive’s target annual bonus for the year of termination. Also assumes that, while any outstanding performance units would vest in the event of achange-in-control of the Company, the Compensation Committee would exercise its discretion to reduce any performance units awarded to the amount of the target annual incentive bonus.

(4)

The Company’s 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan and related agreements provide for acceleration of all unvested RSUs in the event of achange-in-control of the Company that is not approved by the Board of Directors and in the event of death or disability. In the event of termination after meeting early retirement (age 55 with 10 years of service) or, normal retirement (age 62), or involuntary termination without cause (absent achange-in-control), all unvested Performance RSUs vest one year after termination. Unvested Long-Term Incentive RSUs vest one year after termination provided the normal retirement criterion is met at the time of termination.

(5)

Represents cash payments to the executive to cover the cost of purchasing the benefits on anafter-tax basis. basis for 24 months post termination.

 

56

52 | 20172019 Proxy StatementFirst American Financial Corporation


Executive Compensation Tables

 

Matthew F.F. Wajner

 

    

 

Involuntary Termination

 

  

 

Change-in-Control

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

Involuntary Termination

Change-in-Control

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Payments and
Benefits Upon Termination

 

     Voluntary      

     Termination      

 

  

     For Cause      

 

  

     Without     

     Cause/By     

     Employee for     

     Good     

     Reason     

 

  

     Without     

     Termination     

 

  

 

     With     

     Termination     

     Without     

     Cause/By     

     Employee for     

     Good Reason     

 

 

       Death        

 

  

      Disability      

 

 

Voluntary Termination

For Cause

Without Cause/By Employee for Good Reason

Without Termination

With

Termination Without Cause/By Employee for Good Reason

Death

Disability

Amounts due to Triggering Event

       

Amounts Due to Triggering Event

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Severance

 $

 

0

 

      

 

 $

 

0

 

      

 

 $

 

0

 

      

 

 $

 

0

 

      

 

 $

 

880,000

 

(1)   

 

 $

 

0

 

     

 

 $

 

0

 

      

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

1,000,000

 

(1)

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

Bonus

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

165,000

 

(2) 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

200,000

 

(2)

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

Accelerated Vesting of RSUs(3)

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

127,363

 

 

 

 $

 

388,901

 

 

 

 $

 

388,901

 

 

 

 $

 

388,901

 

 

 

 $

 

388,901

 

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

162,534

 

 

 

$

512,289

 

 

 

$

512,289

 

 

 

$

512,289

 

 

 

$

512,289

 

 

Benefit Continuation

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

95,499

 

(4) 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

77,034

 

(4)

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

Incremental SeveranceSub-Total

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

0

 

 

 

 $

 

127,363

 

 

 

 $

 

388,901

 

 

 

 $

 

1,529,400

 

 

 

 $

 

388,901

 

 

 

 $

 

388,901

 

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

162,534

 

 

 

$

512,289

 

 

 

$

1,789,323

 

 

 

$

512,289

 

 

 

$

512,289

 

 

Previously Earned/Vested Amounts

       

Previously Earned/ Vested Amounts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vested 401(k) Savings Plan Balance

 $

 

125,145

 

 

 

 $

 

125,145

 

 

 

 $

 

125,145

 

 

 

 $

 

125,145

 

 

 

 $

 

125,145

 

 

 

 $

 

125,145

 

 

 

 $

 

125,145

 

 

 

 

$

196,623

 

 

 

$

196,623

 

 

 

$

196,623

 

 

 

$

196,623

 

 

 

$

196,623

 

 

 

$

196,623

 

 

 

$

196,623

 

 

Total “Walk-Away” Value

 $

 

125,145

 

 

 

 $

 

125,145

 

 

 

 $

 

252,508

 

 

 

 $

 

514,046

 

 

 

 $

 

1,654,545

 

 

 

 $

 

514,046

 

 

 

 $

 

514,046

 

 

 

Total Value

 

$

196,623

 

 

 

$

196,623

 

 

 

$

359,157

 

 

 

$

708,912

 

 

 

$

1,985,946

 

 

 

$

708,912

 

 

 

$

708,912

 

 

 

(1)

Represents two times the executive’s base salary in effect immediately prior to the date of termination and two times the executive’s target annual incentive bonus for the current fiscal year, or if there is no such target, the average annual discretionary incentive bonus earned by the executive during the last three completed fiscal years.

(2)

Represents the pro rata portion of the executive’s target annual bonus for the year of termination. Also assumes that, while any outstanding performance units would vest in the event of achange-in-control of the Company, the Compensation Committee would exercise its discretion to reduce any performance units awarded to the amount of the target annual incentive bonus.

(3)

The Company’s 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan and related agreements provide for acceleration of all unvested RSUs in the event of achange-in-control of the Company that is not approved by the Board of Directors and in the event of death or disability. In the event of termination after meeting early retirement (age 55 with 10 years of service) or, normal retirement (age 62), or involuntary termination without cause (absent achange-in-control), all unvested Performance RSUs vest one year after termination. Unvested Long-Term Incentive RSUs vest one year after termination provided the normal retirement criterion is met at the time of termination.

(4)

Represents cash payments to the executive to cover the cost of purchasing the benefits on anafter-tax basis. basis for 24 months post termination.

Pay Ratio

For purposes of identifying the Company’s median employee from a total annual compensation perspective the Company applied the following methodology: the Company utilized a measurement date of December 31, 2018; annual total compensation included base salary, overtime, annual bonus, other incentive pay, Company match on retirement programs or profit sharing contributions, the grant date fair value of RSUs and other perquisites; the Company did not apply a cost-of-living adjustment to compensation for employees located outside of the U.S.

As of December 31, 2018, the Company had 18,251 total (U.S. and non-U.S.) employees. The median employee’s annual total compensation was $54,378. The resulting principal executive officer to median employee pay ratio was 155 to 1 given the Company’s principal executive officer’s total compensation of $8,403,146, as more fully described in the Summary Compensation Table.

 

First American Financial Corporation 2017  2019 Proxy Statement | 5753


Director Compensation

  II. Required Information                                               

 

2016 Director Compensation

The following table sets forth the cash and other compensation earned bynon-employee directors of the BoardCompany during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.2018.

 

Name

  

Fees Earned or

      Paid in Cash ($)      

 

   

Stock

      Awards(1)      

($)

 

   

 

All Other

      Compensation      

($)

 

   

      Total      

($)

 

 

Fees Earned or Paid in Cash

($)

Stock

Awards(1)

($)

All Other

Compensation

($)

Total

($)

Anthony K. Anderson(2)

    53,607

 

   

93,992

 

   

0

 

   

147,599

 

 

James L. Doti

  144,000

 

   

93,992

 

   

0

 

   

237,992

 

 

 

 

164,000

 

(2)

 

 

99,978

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

263,978

 

 

Parker S. Kennedy(3)

  236,000

 

   

93,992

 

   

17,600

 

   

329,992

 

 

Reginald H. Gilyard

 

 

98,000

 

 

 

 

99,978

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

197,978

 

 

Parker S. Kennedy

 

 

250,000

 

 

 

 

99,978

 

 

 

 

20,000

 

(3)

 

 

369,978

 

 

Margaret M. McCarthy

    82,000

 

   

93,992

 

   

0

 

   

175,992

 

 

 

 

104,521

 

 

 

 

99,978

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

204,499

 

 

Michael D. McKee

  105,000

 

   

93,992

 

   

0

 

   

198,992

 

 

 

 

125,000

 

(4)

 

 

99,978

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

224,978

 

 

Thomas V. McKernan

    94,000

 

   

93,992

 

   

0

 

   

187,992

 

 

 

 

102,000

 

(5)

 

 

99,978

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

201,978

 

 

Mark C. Oman

  102,000

 

   

93,992

 

   

0

 

   

195,992

 

 

 

 

112,000

 

 

 

 

99,978

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

211,978

 

 

Virginia M. Ueberroth

    96,000

 

   

93,992

 

   

0

 

   

189,992

 

 

 

 

45,874

 

(6)

 

 

99,978

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

145,852

 

 

Martha B. Wyrsch

 

 

61,753

 

(7)

 

 

65,192

 

(7)

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

126,945

 

 

 

(1)

The amounts shown are the grant date fair value of stock awards granted in the year as computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 using the closing price of our common stock on the grant date. For information on the valuation of the awards, refer to Note 15 to our consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.2018.

(2)

Includes the grant date fair value of $89,999 for an RSU grant given in lieu of Dr. Doti’s annual cash retainer for board service and a $12,000 committee retainer earned in 2017, but paid in 2018.

(3)

Mr. Anderson retired from the Board effective August 15, 2016. His retainer was prorated accordingly.
(3)Mr. Kennedy received $17,600

Includes $20,000 for service on the board of directors of First American Trust, FSB, a subsidiary of the Company. In addition, the Company maintains an office for Mr. Kennedy and provides administrative support.

The aggregate number of unvested RSUs held by eachnon-employee director as of December 31, 2016 was as set forth in the table below. Mr. Anderson is not included in the table as he did not have any outstanding unvested equity awards as of December 31, 2016 due to his retirement from the Board in August 2016.

   Name

(4)

Restricted  
Stock Units  
Includes the grant date fair value of $114,957 for an RSU grant given in lieu of Mr. McKee’s annual cash retainers for board, committee and committee chair service and a $10,000 committee retainer earned in 2017, but paid in 2018.

(#)  

   James L. Doti

(5)

8,809  Includes $90,000 of deferred retainer fees earned for Board service pursuant to the Company’s deferred compensation plan.

   Parker S. Kennedy

(6)

5,635  Includes an $8,000 committee retainer earned in 2017, but paid in 2018. Ms. Ueberroth retired from the Board effective May 8, 2018. Her 2018 retainers were prorated accordingly.

   Margaret M. McCarthy

(7)

3,323  Ms. Wyrsch was appointed to the Board effective May 8, 2018. Her retainers and stock award were prorated accordingly.

   Michael D. McKee

5,635  

   Thomas V. McKernan

5,635  

   Mark C. Oman

5,635  

   Virginia M. Ueberroth

5,635  

Compensation ofnon-employee directors consists of several components. The 20162018 annual cash retainer was $70,000.$90,000. The chairman of the Board received an additional retainer of $150,000. The lead independent director of the Company received an additional retainer of $25,000. The chairs of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee received an additional retainer equal to $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000, respectively. The fee paid for attending each BoardMembers of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, and committee meeting was $2,000 for in person meetingsthe Nominating and generally $1,000 for telephonic meetings.Corporate Governance Committee received an additional retainer equal to $12,000, $10,000 and $8,000, respectively. On February 23, 2016,21, 2018, the Company granted to eachnon-employee director RSUs with a grant date fair value of $93,992.$99,978. Director RSUs vest over three years,one year, subject to continued service on the Board. All outstanding awards vest upon retirement irrespective of length of service prior to such retirement. Directors may also receive additional compensation for serving on the board of directors of certain of the Company’s subsidiaries (payments are described in footnote three to the table above). In January of 2019, the Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee and its independent compensation consultant and after an assessment of relevant peer company and market data, increased the annual cash retainer for directors to $95,000 and the fair market value of the annual director RSU grant to $125,000.

 

5854 | 20172019 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


Director Compensation

The aggregate number of unvested RSUs held by each non-employee director as of December 31, 2018 was as set forth in the table below.

Name

Restricted

Stock Units

(#)

James L. Doti

 

5,936

Reginald H. Gilyard

 II. Required Information  

1,802

Parker S. Kennedy

 

2,737

Margaret M. McCarthy

2,737

Michael D. McKee

5,367

Thomas V. McKernan

2,737

Mark C. Oman

2,737

Martha B. Wyrsch

1,316

The Board of Directors has established stock ownership guidelines fornon-employee directors whereby such directors are expected to own at least five times their cash annual retainer in Company common stock. RSUs issued to directors are included for purposes of meeting the guidelines. Directors have five years following commencement of service to satisfy the guidelines.

First American Financial Corporation   2019 Proxy Statement | 55


II. Required Information

Code of Ethics

The Board of Directors has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, and persons performing similar functions. A copy of this code of ethics is posted in the corporate governance section of the Company’s Web site atwww.firstam.com. To the extent the Company waives or amends any provisions of this code of ethics, it will disclose such waivers or amendments on the above Web site. The Board also has adopted a broader code of ethics and conduct, applying to all employees, officers and directors, which also has been posted to the Web site at the address stated above. Each of these codes is available in print to any stockholder who requests it. Such request should be sent to the secretary at our address indicated on the first page of this proxy statement.

Corporate Governance Guidelines

The Board has adopted corporate governance guidelines, which have been posted in the corporate governance section of the Web site atwww.firstam.comand are available in print to any stockholder who requests them. Such request should be sent to the secretary at our address indicated on the first page of this proxy statement. In addition to stating the standards that the Board applies in determining whether or not its members are independent, these guidelines state the qualifications and responsibilities of our directors and describe fundamental aspects of our Board and certain of its committees.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

During 20162018, our Compensation Committee consisted of Messrs. Kennedy, McKee and Oman. In addition, Parker S. Kennedy was a member from May 12, 2015 to February 26, 2016. Each member is not currently and has not formerly been an employee or officer of the Company, other than Mr. Kennedy, who was employed by the Company as its executive chairman until his retirement in February 2012, and there were and are no compensation committee interlocks involving any of the members of the Compensation Committee. See also the section entitled “Transactions with Management and Others” on page 24,16, regarding Mr. Kennedy’s son’s employment by a subsidiary of the Company.

Report of the Audit Committee

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors reviews the Company’s accounting policies and financial reporting and disclosure practices, system of internal controls, audit process and the process for monitoring compliance with laws, regulations and corporate policies. The Board adopted a revised written charter for the Audit Committee on January 18, 2017. The Audit Committee has reviewed the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and discussed them with management.

The Audit Committee has discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, the matters required to be discussed under applicable rules adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers its independence.

 

56 | 2019 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation  2017 Proxy Statement | 59


II. Required Information

 

Based on the review and discussions noted above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016,2018, and be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Audit Committee

Audit Committee

James L. Doti, Chairman

Thomas V. McKernan

Mark C. Oman

James L. Doti, Chairman

Thomas V. McKernan

Mark C. Oman

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

The following table sets forth details regarding equity securities of the Company that were authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans of the Company as of December 31, 2016.2018.

 

 

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

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(2) 

(b) 

 

 

 

  Number of securities   

remaining available 

for future issuance 

under equity 

compensation plans 

(excluding securities 

reflected in 

column (a)) 

(c) 

 

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(1)

(b)

Number of securities

remaining available

for future issuance

under equity

compensation plans

(excluding securities

reflected in

column (a))

(c)

 (in thousands, except weighted-average exercise price)

(in thousands, except weighted-average exercise price)

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

 

 

2,549(1)

 

 

 

$27.66

 

 

 

6,942(3)

 

 

 

2,315

 

(2)

 

$

27.66

 

 

 

 

4,515

 

(3)

Equity compensation not approved by security holders

 

 

 

 

 

$     —

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,549   

 

 

 

$27.66

 

 

 

6,942   

 

 

 

2,315

 

 

 

$

27.66

 

 

 

 

4,515

 

 

 

(1)

Calculated solely with respect to outstanding unexercised stock options.

(2)

Consists of unexercised outstanding stock options and unvested or undistributed restricted stock units under the First American Financial Corporation 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan. See Note 15 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements in the Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 20162018 for additional information.

(2)

(3)

Calculated solely with respect to outstanding unexercised stock options.
(3)

Consists of the sum of the shares remaining under the First American Financial Corporation 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan and the shares remaining under the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Rules adopted by the SEC require our officers and directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of our issued and outstanding common stock, to file reports of their ownership, and changes in ownership, of our shares with the SEC on prescribed forms. Officers, directors andgreater-than-ten-percent stockholders are required by the SEC’s rules to furnish us with copies of all such forms they file with the SEC.

Based solely on the review of the copies of the forms received by us, or written representations from reporting persons that they were not required to file a Form 5 to report previously unreported ownership or changes in ownership, we believe that, since the filing of last year’s proxy statement, our officers, directors andgreater-than-ten-percent beneficial owners timely complied with all such filing requirements.

First American Financial Corporation   2019 Proxy Statement | 57


II. Required Information

Relationship with Independent RegisteredRegistered Public Accounting Firm

PwCPricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) was selected by our Audit Committee as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit our consolidated financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2016.2019. This firm has served as our independent accountants since our June 1, 2010 separation from The First American Corporation.2009.

60 | 2017 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


                                               II. Required Information  

A representative of PwC is expected to be present at the meeting. The representative will have the opportunity to make any desired statement and to answer any appropriate questions by the stockholders.

Principal AccountingAccountant Fees and Services

The aggregate fees for 20162018 and 20152017 in the four categories of service set forth in the table below are as follows:

 

  

Aggregate fees billed in year(1)

  

2016

 

   

2015

 

 

2018

2017

Audit Fees

  

 

$5,690,618

 

   

 

$5,736,796

 

 

 

$

5,976,301

 

 

 

$

5,716,018

 

 

Audit-Related Fees(2)

  

 

$   540,178

 

   

 

$   754,306

 

 

 

$

820,541

 

 

 

$

765,564

 

 

Tax Fees(3)

  

 

$   575,699

 

   

 

$   183,273

 

 

 

$

129,807

 

 

 

$

219,014

 

 

All Other Fees(4)

   

 

$   131,608

 

     

 

$     31,689

 

  

 

$

31,335

 

 

 

$

466,224

 

 

 

(1)

All amounts include fees,out-of-pocket expenses, local sales and other taxes where applicable, and other disbursements.

(2)

These fees were incurred primarily for procedures performed for internal control reports, and consultations concerning compliance with certain government regulations and financial accounting and reporting standards.reports.

(3)

These fees were incurred primarily for tax advice, compliance, and planning.

(4)

These fees were incurred primarily for services related to an information security assessment,assessments (in 2017 only), software licensing, and human resources benchmarking.

Policy on Audit CommitteePre-approval of Audit and Permissible Nonaudit Services of Independent Auditor

The Audit Committee’s policy is topre-approve all engagements of the Company’s independent principal registered public accounting firm for audit and nonaudit services. All of these engagements must bepre-approved by the Audit Committee or a designated member of that committee on an individual basis. The Audit Committee or its designee haspre-approved all engagements included in the “audit,” “audit-related,” “tax” and “other” categories in the table above.

Stockholder Proposals and Proxy Access

In order for a proposal by you or your fellow stockholders to be included in the proxy statement and form of proxy solicited by our Board for our next annual meeting of stockholders, the proposal must be received at our address indicated on the first page of this proxy statement no later than the close of business6:00 p.m., Pacific time, on December 1, 2017November 30, 2019 and must comply with all other requirements of SEC Rule14a-8.

If you wish to submit a proposal for consideration at next year’s annual meeting without including the same in the proxy statement and form of proxy solicited by our Board, you should inform our secretary no later than the close of business6:00 p.m., Pacific time, on February 8, 2018,7, 2020, of your intention to do so. If you wait longer, the holders of the proxies solicited by our Board may vote on your proposal at their discretion.

A stockholder, or group of up to 20 stockholders, owning at least 3% of the Company’s issued and outstanding stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors continuously for at least three years, may nominate and include in our proxy materials for our next annual meeting of stockholders, director nominees constituting up to 20% of the Board, provided that the stockholder(s) and the director nominee(s) satisfy the requirements specified in our Bylaws, including delivering a complete submission in writing to our secretary by no later than 6:00 p.m., Pacific time, on November 30, 2019.

58 | 2019 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


II. Required Information

Proposals and nominations also must be submitted in accordance with the other applicable provisions of the Company’s bylaws, including the notice provisions.

These deadlines assume that the date of our next annual meeting will not be advanced or delayed by more than 30 calendar days from the one yearone-year anniversary of the date of the current annual meeting. If such an event occurs, we will provide you with notice in our earliest possible quarterly report on Form10-Q or on Form8-K of the respective dates by which such proposals must be received.

Appraisal Rights

You are not entitled to appraisal rights in connection with the approval of the proposals to be voted upon at the meeting.

 

First American Financial Corporation   2019 Proxy Statement | 59


III.   Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability

We recognize our responsibility towards the environment and to the communities in which we operate. Our commitment to socially responsible and sustainable practices is an integral part of how we do business. We believe that this is not only the right way to do business, but also that it will benefit our employees, clients, vendors, stockholders, communities and environment. We fulfill this responsibility in many ways, a few of which are highlighted below. More information can be found in the Sustainability, Caring For Our Community and Supplier Information sections of our Web site at www.firstam.com.

Environmental—The Company measures greenhouse gas emissions, water and energy consumption and solid waste generation in an ongoing commitment to reduce our environmental impact while making our operations more efficient. A few highlights include:

Some of Our Recent Success Stories

Our data center

reduced

electricity consumption

by 9% through the

optimization of cooling control systems

38 U.S. facilities

saved enough energy to reduce their annual combined

greenhouse gas

emissions by 19%, enough to power 2,652 homes’ electricity for one month

o

A “Green Team” that oversees and directs improvements in energy efficiency, water reduction, waste elimination and carbon management. Since its start, the Green Team has implemented improvement projects such as green cleaning, lighting retrofits, an energy demand response program, restroom fixture upgrades and a recycling program. The Green Team directs the activities of the Company’s Planet First council, which works to reduce our carbon footprint and improve communications about our sustainability initiatives and corporate stewardship.

New energy-saving

HVAC equipment in our corporate campus

cafeteria annually saves enough energy to power156 homes

for one month

We have been tracking environmental data, such as electricity, natural gas, waste, and water since2015

o

Environmental impact audits conducted by third parties we engage for that purpose provide feedback about the areas in which we excel and the opportunities for improvement.

o

Renewable energy, electric vehicle charging stations, rideshare, recycling, locally-sourced food programs and water reduction fixtures and technologies help us to collectively reduce our environmental impact.

Social—The Company strives to be socially responsible by supporting the professional development and well-being of our employees and contributing to the communities in which we operate. We are proud to support our employees as they give back to the communities in which they live and work. Our employees contribute their passion, time and money to dozens of food banks, charity walks, children's causes, veterans support and more every year. Our employees make a difference in our core causes through a variety of activities nationally and locally, including:

o

Community Development—We give to organizations that work to create and sustain affordable housing, revitalize low- to moderate-income neighborhoods and support community services and economic development, including, for example:

60 | 2019 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation  2017


III. Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability

For many years, we have sponsored Habitat for Humanity® “Team Build” events that support the communities in which our employees live and work. Employees take a paid volunteer day to pick up hammers, saws and paintbrushes and join a collaborative effort to build a home for a family in need.

o

Women’s Advocacy—We support organizations and initiatives that address women’s health, family and welfare issues.

Our employees across the country have participated for many years in breast cancer walks and more recently in Ragnar® relays—raising money and awareness for charity. We have supported these efforts with donations, along with t-shirts and banners.

o

Our Women in Leadership Institute promotes growth opportunities for women across our organization.

We support the American Heart Association® Go Red for Women® campaign to raise awareness for heart disease and stroke in women. In 2018, employees wore red on National Wear Red Day® and participated in organized team heart walks. We donated $1 for every employee who posted photos of themselves and their teams wearing red to support the cause.

o

Human Services—We support organizations that provide access to services, education, benefits and opportunities for the disadvantaged, including programs that promote direct access to health services for patients and their families, such as:

Our corporate campus cafeteria donates prepared food items to the Southwest Community Center in Santa Ana for service and distribution to the homeless and other economically disadvantaged individuals and families.

Through our Change for Charity program, we collected spare change from employees across five offices to benefit designated local charities. In addition, we donated $1,000 to each local charity selected for each month.

Our volunteers can also be nominated for the Company’s Caring Eagle Awards where winners receive Giving Cards to donate to their favorite local charity.

Supporting our own in times of need is another important part of our culture. In 2018, the Company provided $180,000 in financial support for employees who were permanently or temporarily displaced due to hurricanes or wildfires, plus over $56,000 was raised through employee donations.

First American Financial Corporation   2019 Proxy Statement | 61


III. Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability

We are proud that these and other efforts have been recognized through our inclusion on the Fortune 100 Best Places to Work For® list for four consecutive years, as well as being recognized with numerous other national and regional awards, such as:

62 | 2019 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


IV.   Questions and Answers

III.    Questions and Answers

Why have I been sent these proxy materials?

 

Our Board has sent you this proxy statement and the accompanying proxy card to ask for your vote, as a stockholder of our Company, on certain matters that will be voted on at the annual meeting.

What matters will be voted on at the meeting?

 

The matters scheduled to be voted on at the meeting are:

the election of three persons to serve on the Board as Class III directors until the next annual meeting at which Class III directors are elected or as soon as their successors are duly elected and qualified;

·the election of three persons to serve on the Board as Class I directors until the next annual meeting at which Class I directors are elected or as soon as their successors are duly elected and qualified;

an advisory vote to approve executive compensation, which we refer to as a “Say on Pay” vote;

·an advisory vote to approve executive compensation, which we refer to as a “Say on Pay” vote;

the ratification of the Company’s selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as its independent registered public accounting firm for the 2019 fiscal year; and

·an advisory vote on the frequency of holding the Say on Pay vote, which we refer to as a “Say on Frequency” vote;

any other business properly raised at the meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof.

·the approval of the performance criteria, establishment of a director compensation limit and amendment to individual annual share award limits under the Company’s 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan;

·the ratification of the Company’s selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as its independent registered public accounting firm for the 2017 fiscal year; and

·any other business properly raised at the meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof.

At the time this proxy statement was mailed, our Board was not aware of any other matters to be voted on at the annual meeting.

Does our Board have any recommendations with respect to the listed proposals?

 

Our Board recommends you vote“FOR”: (1) all of its nominees for director; (2) the Say on Pay proposal; (3) including a Say on Pay proposal every year, rather than every two or three years; (4) the approval of the performance criteria, establishment of a director compensation limit and amendment to individual annual share award limits under the Company’s 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan; and (5)(3) the ratification of PwC as our Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 20172019 fiscal year.

Who may attend the annual meeting?

 

All stockholders of the Company.

Who is entitled to vote?

 

Stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 16, 2017,18, 2019, the record date, or those with a valid proxy from a bank, brokerage firm or similar organization that held our shares on the record date are entitled to vote on the matters to be considered at the annual meeting.

Who is a stockholder of record?

 

A stockholder of record is a person or entity whose name appears as an owner of one or more shares of our common stock on the records of our transfer agent as of its close of business on the record date.

How many shares are entitled to vote at the meeting?

 

As of the record date, 110,279,609111,948,016 shares of our common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, were issued, outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting.

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                                               III. Questions and Answers  

How many votes do I have?

 

Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote on each proposal.

First American Financial Corporation   2019 Proxy Statement | 63


III. Questions and Answers

How many votes are needed to elect each director?

 

Those candidates receiving the highest number of affirmative votes, up to the number of Class IIII directors to be elected, will be elected as Class IIII directors. However, under our bylaws provide that in uncontested elections, such as the election of Class IIII directors at this year’s annual meeting, any nominee who does not receive a majority of votes cast “for” his or her election (meaning more votes “for” than “withheld”) would be required to tender his or her resignation promptly following the failure to receive the required vote. Within 90 days of the certification of the stockholder vote, our Board would then be required to decide whether to accept the resignation. If the Board accepts the resignation offer, it will thereafter determine whether to fill the resulting vacancy or reduce the size of the Board.

Who are the director nominees?

 

The three nominees for Class IIII directors are:

James L. Doti        Michael D. McKee        Thomas V. McKernanReginald H. Gilyard

Parker S. Kennedy

Mark C. Oman

See biographical information regarding the nominees beginning on page 2.

How many votes are needed to approve, on an advisory basis, the Company’s executive compensation?

 

The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present and entitled to vote at the annual meeting are needed to approve, on an advisory basis, the Company’s executive compensation presented herein.

How many votes are needed to approve, on an advisory basis, the frequency of the Say on Pay vote?

The frequency of the Say on Pay vote (every one, two or three years) receiving the vote of a majority of the shares present and entitled to vote at the annual meeting will be, on an advisory basis, the recommendation of the stockholders. However, the Board of Directors has determined that, regardless of whether a frequency receives a majority vote, it will implement the frequency of the Say on Pay vote that receives the highest number of votes from stockholders.

Is the Board of Directors bound by the Say on Pay and Say on Frequency votes?vote?

 

No. The Say on Pay and Say on Frequency votes arevote is advisory andnon-binding. However, the Board of Directors has determined that it will implement the frequency of the Say on Pay vote (every one, two or three years) that is approved by the stockholders.

What is the 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan?

The Company’s 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan provides for the grant of certain incentive awards tonon-employee directors of the Company and to eligible employees, including officers, of the Company and any subsidiaries and affiliates. Providing such awards allows us to attract and retain competent and dedicated individuals whose efforts will result in the long-term growth and profitability of the Company and to further align the interests of such individuals with the interests of our stockholders.

How many votes are needed to approve the performance criteria, establishment of a director compensation limit and amendment to individual annual share award limits underratify PwC as the Company’s 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan?independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019?

 

The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present and entitled to vote at the annual meeting are needed to approve the performance criteria, establishment of a director compensation limit and amendment to individual

First American Financial Corporation  2017 Proxy Statement | 63


  III. Questions and Answers                                               

annual share award limits under the Company’s 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan. This affirmative vote approving the performance criteria under the 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan allows for awards under that plan to continue to qualify astax-deductible performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

How many votes areis needed to ratify PwC as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm?firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019.

The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present and entitled to vote at the annual meeting are needed to ratify PwC as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

What happens if the Company’s choice of PwC as its independent registered public accounting firm is not ratified by the stockholders?

 

If the stockholders do not ratify PwC as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 20172019 fiscal year, the audit committee of the Board (the “Audit Committee”)Audit Committee will reconsider its choice of PwC as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and may retain a different independent registered public accounting firm; however, the Audit Committee may nonetheless determine that it is in the Company’s, and its stockholders’, best interests to retain PwC as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. Additionally, even if stockholders ratify the Audit Committee’s selection of PwC as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee may at any time determine that it is in the Company’s, and its stockholders’, best interests to retain a different firm.

64 | 2019 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


III. Questions and Answers

How dodo I vote?

 

You can vote on matters that properly come before the meeting in one of four ways:

You may vote by mail.

You do this by signing and dating the proxy card and mailing it in the enclosed, prepaid and addressed envelope within the required time. If you mark your voting instructions on the proxy card, your shares will be voted as you instruct.

You may vote by telephone.

You do this by following the instructions accompanying the proxy card. If you submit your proxy by telephone, your shares will be voted as you instruct. You do not have to separately mail in your proxy card. Some stockholders may not be able to submit their proxy by telephone.

You may vote on the Internet.

You do this by following the instructions accompanying the proxy card. If you submit your proxy on the Internet, your shares will be voted as you instruct. You do not have to separately mail in your proxy card. Some stockholders may not be able to submit their proxy on the Internet.

You may vote in person at the meeting.

You can vote in person at the meeting. However, if you hold your shares in street name (in the name of a bank, broker or other nominee), you must request and receive, prior to the meeting, a legal proxy from your bank, broker or other nominee giving you the right to vote your shares at the meeting and you must present the legal proxy at the meeting in order to vote your shares.

64 | 2017 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


                                               III. Questions and Answers  

What happens if I sign and return my proxy card, but don’t mark my votes?

 

Dennis J. Gilmore, chief executive officer, or Kenneth D. DeGiorgio, executive vice president, will vote your shares as proxies in accordance with the recommendations of the Board reflected herein or in their discretion on any other matters that may properly come before the annual meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

Can I revoke my proxy?

 

You have the power to change or revoke your proxy at any time before the polls close at the meeting. You may do this by:

signing and returning another proxy card with a later date;

if you are a stockholder of record, submitting written notice of your revocation to our secretary at our mailing address on the cover page of this proxy statement;

submitting your proxy by telephone or on the Internet (only your latest proxy is counted); or

voting in person at the meeting, provided that if your shares are held in street name (in the name of a bank, broker or other nominee), you have obtained a legal proxy from your bank, broker or nominee giving you the right to vote your shares at the meeting. Attendance at the meeting will not by itself constitute revocation of a proxy.

 

First American Financial Corporation   2019 Proxy Statement | 65


·signing

III. Questions and returning another proxy card with a later date;Answers

 

·if you are a stockholder of record, submitting written notice of your revocation to our secretary at our mailing address on the cover page of this proxy statement;

·submitting your proxy by telephone or on the Internet (only your latest proxy is counted); or

·voting in person at the meeting, provided that if your shares are held in street name (in the name of a bank, broker or other nominee), you have obtained a legal proxy from your bank, broker or nominee giving you the right to vote your shares at the meeting. Attendance at the meeting will not by itself constitute revocation of a proxy.

Please note that any change to your proxy that is provided by telephone or the Internet must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Central time on May 8, 2017.6, 2019.

What happens if my shares are held under the name of a brokerage firm?

 

If your shares are held in street name, your brokerage firm, under certain circumstances, may vote your shares. Brokerage firms have authority under NYSE rules to vote customers’ unvoted shares on certain “routine” matters. We believe that the proposal to ratify the selection of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is a routine matter under NYSE rules. If you do not submit your proxy, your brokerage firm has discretion to either:either vote your shares on routine matters or leave your shares unvoted.

·vote your shares on routine matters; or

·leave your shares unvoted.

Please note that the election to the Board of the three nominees named in this proxy statement is considered anon-routine matter under NYSE Rule 452. Accordingly, if you are a street name holder and do not submit your proxy to your broker, your broker will not have discretion to vote your shares with respect to that proposal, resulting in “brokernon-votes” (as described below). The Say on Pay Say on Frequency and 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan proposals areproposal is similarly considerednon-routine under NYSE Rule 452.

We encourage you to provide instructions to your brokerage firm by submitting your proxy. This ensures that your shares will be voted at the meeting. You may have granted to your stockbroker discretionary voting authority over your account. Your stockbroker may be able to vote your shares depending on the terms of the agreement you have with your stockbroker.

Who will count the votes?

 

An employee of the Company’s transfer agent will serve as the inspector of elections and count the votes.

What does it mean if I get more than one proxy card?

 

It means that you have multiple accounts at the transfer agent and/or with stockbrokers. Please sign and return all proxy cards to ensure that all your shares are voted.

First American Financial Corporation  2017 Proxy Statement | 65


  III. Questions and Answers                                               

What is “householding” and do we do it?

 

Although we do not “household” for our registered stockholders, some brokers, banks or similar entities holding our common stock for their customers may deliver only one copy of our proxy materials to a household with multiple stockholders sharing the same address, unless contrary instructions have been received from the affected stockholders. This procedure, referred to as “householding,” reduces the volume of duplicate materials stockholders receive and reduces mailing expenses. Stockholders sharing an address whose shares of our common stock are held by such an entity should contact such entity if they now receive (1) multiple copies of our proxy materials and wish to receive only one copy of these materials per household in the future, or (2) a single copy of our proxy materials and wish to receive separate copies of these materials in the future. Alternatively, if you wish to receive a separate set of proxy materials for this year’s annual meeting, we will deliver them promptly upon request to our secretary at our address indicated on the first page of this proxy statement or at(714) 250-3000.

What constitutes a “quorum?”

 

A “quorum” refers to the number of shares that must be represented at a meeting in order to lawfully conduct business. A majority of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote at the annual meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, will constitute a quorum at the meeting. Without a quorum, no

66 | 2019 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


III. Questions and Answers

business may be transacted at the annual meeting. However, whether or not a quorum exists, a majority of the shares represented at the annual meeting, either in person or by proxy, may adjourn the annual meeting to another date, time and place. Abstentions and brokernon-votes (defined below) will be counted for the purpose of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for the transaction of business.

What is a “brokernon-vote” and how is it treated?

 

A “brokernon-vote” occurs with respect to a proposal if the proposal is considerednon-routine under NYSE Rule 452 (as described above) and the broker has not received voting instructions from a beneficial owner and, therefore, does not have the discretionary authority to vote shares held by the beneficial owner with respect to such proposal. Brokernon-votes are treated as present for purposes of establishing the presence or absence of a quorum. A brokernon-vote will not affect the outcome of the election of directors and Say on Frequency proposals.directors. The election of directors and Say on Frequency proposals areis determined by a plurality of the votes cast, and no absolute number of affirmative votes is required. The determination of whether a director is required to resign after failing to receive more “for” votes than “withheld” votes in an uncontested election will not be affected by brokernon-votes because brokernon-votes will not count as votes cast “for” or “withheld” from a director nominee. Similarly, brokernon-votes will not count as votes cast “for” or “against” the Say on Pay or the 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan proposalsproposal and will have no effect on the results of those proposals.that proposal. We do not anticipate brokernon-votes occurring with respect to the auditor ratification proposal because that matter is considered “routine” under NYSE Rule 452.

How are abstentions treated?

 

Abstentions are treated as present and entitled to vote but not as votes “cast” under Delaware law. Because the election of directors and Say on Frequency proposals areis determined by a plurality of the votes cast, abstentions have no effect on the outcome of those proposals.director elections. The determination of whether a director is required to resign after failing to receive more “for” votes than “withheld” votes in an uncontested election will not be affected by abstentions. However, since the proposal to ratify the selection of the Company’s independent public registered accounting firm the 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan proposal, and the Say on Pay proposal require the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present and entitled to vote, abstentions will have the same effect as a vote “against” those proposals.

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                                               III. Questions and Answers  

What percentage of stock do the directors and executive officers own?

 

Together, they owned approximately 3.1%3.0% of our common stock as of the record date. See pages 18 through 19“Security Ownership of Management” beginning on page 10 for more details.

When are stockholder proposals for our next annual meeting due in order to be included in the proxy statement?

 

We will consider proposals submitted by stockholders for inclusion in the proxy statement for the annual meeting to be held in 20182020 if they are received no later than the close of business6:00 p.m., Pacific time, on December 1, 2017November 30, 2019 and comply with all other requirements of SECSecurities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) Rule14a-8. This date assumes that the date of our next annual meeting will not be advanced or delayed by more than 30 calendar days from theone-year anniversary of the date of the current annual meeting. See page 6158 for more details.

Who is paying the cost of preparing, assembling and mailing the notice of the annual meeting of stockholders, proxy statement and form of proxy, and the solicitation of the proxies?

 

The Company. We will also pay brokers and other nominees for the reasonable expenses of forwarding solicitation materials to their customers who own our common stock.

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III. Questions and Answers

Who may solicit proxies?

 

In addition to this proxy statement, our directors, officers and other regular administrative employees may solicit proxies. None of them will receive any additional compensation for such solicitation. MacKenzie Partners, Inc., 105 Madison Avenue,1407 Broadway, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10016,10018, has been engaged by the Company to solicit proxies at an estimated cost of $12,500$14,000 plus reimbursement of reasonable expenses.

How will solicitors contact me?

 

People soliciting proxies may contact you in person, by mail, by telephone, bye-mail or by facsimile.

Who are the largest principal stockholders outside of management?

 

The following table lists as of the record date the persons or groups of stockholders who are known to us to be the beneficial owners of more than 5% of our common stock. The information regarding beneficial owners of more than 5% of our common stock was gathered by us from the filings made by such owners with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)SEC or from informal sources. Shares that may be acquired within 60 days are treated as outstanding for purposes of determining the amount and percentage beneficially owned. This table does not include shares beneficially owned by our directors and officers and entities controlled by them. See the tables under the heading “Security Ownership of Management” beginning on pages 18 through 19page 10 for that information.

 

   Name of Beneficial Owner

 

   

 

Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership

 

     

Percent of Class

 

  

 

   BlackRock, Inc.(1)

 

  

 

9,718,057

 

   

 

8.8%

 

 

 

   The Vanguard Group(2)

 

  

 

9,390,041

 

   

 

8.5%

 

 

 

   FMR LLC(3)

 

  

 

8,955,764

 

   

 

8.1%

 

 

 

   Ariel Investments, LLC(4)

 

   

 

5,511,941

 

     

 

5.0%

 

  

Name of Beneficial Owner

Amount and Nature of

Beneficial Ownership

Percent of Class

The Vanguard Group(1)

 

11,497,444

 

 

10.3%

BlackRock, Inc.(2)

 

10,610,094

 

 

9.5%

FMR LLC(3)

 

9,135,857

 

 

8.2%

 

(1)

According to a Schedule 13G/A filed on January 24, 2017,February 11, 2019, as of December 31, 2016, BlackRock, Inc.2018, The Vanguard Group beneficially owned 9,718,05711,479,444 shares of our common stock and had sole voting power over 8,825,32752,608 shares, shared voting power over 12,966 shares, sole dispositive power over 11,424,428 shares and shared dispositive power over 55,016 shares. The address for The Vanguard Group is 100 Vanguard Blvd., Malvern, PA 19355.

Vanguard provides investment management services to the Company’s 401(k) Savings Plan, which plan offers Vanguard investments in its investment choices. Fees paid for investment management of these funds are incorporated into the fund net asset value (NAV) on a daily basis and fully disclosed as an expense ratio for the funds. As a result, these fees are paid by participants in the Company’s 401(k) Savings Plan and are not paid by the Company. The total amount of the fees will fluctuate based on the plan participant allocation decisions. The fees paid are reviewed by the fiduciaries of the 401(k) Savings Plan and are determined to be reasonable for the services provided.

The Company and our affiliates engage in ordinary course trading; arrangements relating to the placement of investment funds of the Company, its affiliates or their clients; or other transactions or arrangements with The Vanguard Group and its affiliates and related entities. From time to time, The Vanguard Group, its affiliates or their related entities may purchase products or services from the Company or its affiliates. These transactions occur on arm’s-length bases and contain customary terms and conditions.

(2)

According to a Schedule 13G/A filed on February 4, 2019, as of December 31, 2018, BlackRock, Inc. beneficially owned 10,610,094 shares of our common stock and had sole voting power over 9,862,186 shares and sole dispositive power over 9,718,05710,610,094 shares. The address for BlackRock is 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055.

BlackRock provides investment management services to the Company’s 401(k) Savings Plan, which plan offers a BlackRock investment in its investment choices. Fees paid for investment management of these funds are incorporated into the fund NAV on a daily basis and fully disclosed as an expense ratio for the funds. As a result, these fees are paid by participants in the Company’s 401(k) Savings Plan and are not paid by the Company. The total amount of the fees will fluctuate based on the plan participant allocation decisions. The fees paid are reviewed by the fiduciaries of the 401(k) Savings Plan and are determined to be reasonable for the services provided.

The Company and our affiliates engage in ordinary course trading; arrangements relating to the placement of investment funds of the Company, its affiliates or their clients; or other transactions or arrangements with BlackRock, Inc. and its affiliates and related entities. From time to time, Blackrock, Inc., its affiliates or their related entities may purchase products or services from the Company or its affiliates. These transactions occur on arm’s-length bases and contain customary terms and conditions.

 

68 | 2019 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation  2017 Proxy Statement | 67


III. Questions and Answers

 

(3)

(2)

According to a Schedule 13G/A filed on February 10, 2017,13, 2019, as of December 31, 2016, The Vanguard Group beneficially owned 9,390,041 shares of our common stock and had sole voting power over 64,648 shares, shared voting power over 12,166 shares, sole dispositive power over 9,318,732 shares and shared dispositive power over 71,309 shares. The address for The Vanguard Group is 100 Vanguard Blvd., Malvern, PA 19355.

(3)According to a Schedule 13G/A filed on February 14, 2017, as of December 31, 2016,2018, FMR LLC, through its subsidiaries, affiliates and other companies, including FMR Co., Inc. (an investment advisor that had beneficial ownership of 5% or more of our common stock) and Abigail P. Johnson, through her family members’ direct and indirect control of FMR and its affiliates, beneficially owned 8,955,7649,135,857 shares of our common stock and had sole dispositive power over all 8,955,7649,135,857 shares. Directly or indirectly, FMR had sole voting power over 436,164561,743 shares of our common stock. According to the Schedule 13G/A, neither FMR LLC nor Abigail P. Johnson

has the sole power to vote or direct the voting of the shares owned directly by the various investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act (“Fidelity Funds”) advised by Fidelity Management & Research Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of FMR LLC, which power resides with the Fidelity Funds’ Boards of Trustees. The address of FMR and Ms. Johnson is 245 Summer Street, Boston, MassachusettsMA 02210.

Affiliates of FMR also provide administrative, brokerage, and/or recordkeeping services for our 401(k) Savings Plan, incentive compensation plan, deferred compensation plan, employee stock purchase plan and health savings accounts. Annual fees payable for these services are approximately $1.3 million. Fidelity provides investment management services to the Company’s 401(k) Savings Plan, which plan offers Fidelity investments in its investment choices. Fees paid for investment management of these funds are incorporated into the fund NAV on a daily basis and fully disclosed as an expense ratio for the funds. As a result, these fees are paid by participants in the Company’s 401(k) Savings Plan and are not paid by the Company. The total amount of the fees will fluctuate based on the plan participant allocation decisions. The fees paid to FMR and its affiliates relating to these plans and the health savings account are reviewed by the Company’s administrative benefits plan committee and are determined to be reasonable for the services provided.

The Company and our affiliates engage in ordinary course trading; arrangements relating to the placement of investment funds of the Company, its affiliates or their clients; or other transactions or arrangements with FMR and its affiliates and related entities. From time to time, FMR, LLC, its affiliates or their related entities may purchase products or services from the Company or its affiliates. These transactions occur on arm’s-length bases and contain customary terms and conditions.

(4)According to a Schedule 13G/A filed on February 14, 2017, as of December 31, 2016, Ariel Investments, LLC beneficially owned 5,511,941 shares of our common stock and had sole voting power over 5,228,663 shares and sole dispositive power over all 5,511,941 shares. The address for Ariel Investments is 200 E. Randolph Drive, Suite 2900, Chicago, IL 60601.

 

68 | 2017 Proxy Statement  

First American Financial Corporation  2019 Proxy Statement | 69


V.   Other Information

IV.    Other Information

Our Annual Report on Form10-K is available at www.firstam.com/proxymaterials, together with the Company’s notice of annual meeting, proxy statement, and other proxy materials. We will, upon the written request of any stockholder on the record date for the annual meeting, furnish without charge a copy of our Annual Report on Form10-K filed with the SEC for the year 20162018 and will furnish, at a charge of $10, a copy of the exhibits thereto. If applicable, such request should contain a representation that the person requesting this material was a beneficial owner of our shares on the record date. Such request should be sent to the secretary at our address indicated on the first page of this proxy statement.

The Board is not aware of any matters to come before the meeting other than those set forth on the notice accompanying this proxy statement. If any other matters come before the meeting, the holders of the proxies will vote thereon in their discretion.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

Jeffrey S. Robinson

Vice President and Secretary

Santa Ana, California

March 31, 2017

29, 2019

 

70 | 2019 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation  2017 Proxy Statement | 69


Appendix A

Non-GAAP FinancialFinancial Measures

This proxy statement contains adjusted return on average equity and adjustedpre-tax margincertain financial measures that are not presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). , including adjusted return on average total equity, adjusted total revenue, adjusted net income per share and adjusted pretax margins for the Company and for the title insurance and services segment. The Company does not intend for these non-GAAP financial measures to be a substitute for any GAAP financial information. Below, these non-GAAP financial measures are presented with, and reconciled to, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Investors should use these non-GAAP financial measures only in conjunction with the comparable GAAP financial measures.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures Used by the Compensation Committee

The Company is presenting thesenon-GAAP financial measuresadjusted return on average total equity and adjusted pretax margin because the Company’s Compensation Committee uses these measures as a factor in assessing performance for the purpose of making compensation decisions. The Company does not intend for thesenon-GAAP financial measures to be a substitute for any GAAP financial information. Below, thesenon-GAAP financial measures are presented with, and reconciled to, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Investors should use thesenon-GAAP financial measures only in conjunction with the comparable GAAP financial measures.

Adjusted return on average total equity is anon-GAAP financial measure because it excludes from total equity accumulated other comprehensive loss and noncontrolling interests. Theinterests from total equity (in both 2017 and 2018). Starting in 2018, the Compensation Committee changed the adjusted return on average total equity and adjusted pretax margin calculations to also exclude net realized gains/losses in the investment portfolio. For 2017, the Compensation Committee additionally exercised its discretion to also exclude pension termination losses for 2016 from and include estimated title plant asset write-offs in, return on equity andpre-tax margin. The reconciliations of adjusted return on average total equity and adjustedpre-taxpretax margin, toas well as the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are set forth below:impact of tax reform from return on average total equity.

 

Year Ended December 31,

($ in thousands)

 

 

 

    Year Ended December 31,    

($ in thousands)  

 

 

 

            2016             

 

 

            2015             

 

Adjusted Return on Average Total Equity

2018

2017

Net income attributable to the Company   $   342,993   $   288,086

 

$

474,496

 

 

 

$

423,049

 

 

Total equity   $3,014,349   $2,753,123

 

$

3,745,388

 

 

 

$

3,483,025

 

 

GAAP return on average total equity   11.9%   10.8%

 

 

13.1

%

 

 

 

13.0

%

 

Non-GAAP Adjustments:    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to the Company

 

$

474,496

 

 

 

$

423,049

 

 

Net realized losses in the investment portfolio, net of tax

 

 

42,650

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension termination losses, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

100,576

 

 

Impact of tax reform

 

 

 

 

 

 

(114,142

)

 

Adjusted net income attributable to the Company

 

$

517,146

 

 

 

$

409,483

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total equity   $3,014,349   $2,753,123

 

$

3,745,388

 

 

 

$

3,483,025

 

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss   $   230,400   $   239,003

 

 

160,575

 

 

 

 

67,509

 

 

Noncontrolling interests   ($       6,170)   ($       3,163)

 

 

(3,507

)

 

 

 

(3,070

)

 

Net realized losses in the investment portfolio, net of tax

 

 

42,650

 

 

 

 

 

 

Impact of tax reform

 

 

 

 

 

 

(114,142

)

 

Adjusted total equity   $3,238,579   $2,988,963

 

$

3,945,106

 

 

 

$

3,433,322

 

 

Adjusted return on average total equity   11.0%   10.0%(1)  

 

 

14.0

%

(1)

 

 

12.3

%

(1)

Non-GAAP Discretionary Adjustments:    
Net income attributable to the Company   $   342,993   N/A
Pension termination losses, net of tax   $     43,100   N/A
Estimated title plant asset write-offs, net of tax   ($     10,600)   N/A
Adjusted net income attributable to the Company after discretionary Compensation Committee adjustments   $   375,493   N/A

Adjusted return on average total equity after discretionary Compensation Committee adjustments

   

 

12.1

 

%(1)   

 

   

 

N/A

 

 

 

(1)

Preliminary calculations of adjusted return on average total equity (12.0%(13.8% for 20162018 and 9.8%12.4% for 2015)2017) were utilized by the Compensation Committee for purposes of determining compensation metric results for the annual incentive plan. The plan provides for no adjustment to the resulting payout if the final calculation of the metric would result in a bonus amount that differs by five percent or less from the amount determined by the preliminary calculation.

 

First American Financial Corporation  2017  2019 Proxy Statement | A-1


Appendix A.  Non-GAAP Financial Measures

  

 

    Year Ended December 31,    

($ in thousands)    

 

  

            2016                 

 

 

            2015                

 

   Pretax income   $   477,581   $   432,765
   Total revenue   $5,575,846   $5,175,456
   GAAP pretax margin   8.6%         8.4%      
   Non-GAAP Discretionary Adjustments:    
   Pretax income   $   477,581   N/A
   Pension termination losses   $     66,300   N/A
   Estimated title plant asset write-offs   ($     16,300)   N/A
   Adjusted pretax income after discretionary Compensation Committee adjustments   $   527,581   N/A
   Total revenue   $5,575,846   N/A
   Estimated title plant asset write-offs   ($     16,300)   N/A
   Adjusted total revenue after discretionary Compensation Committee adjustments   $5,559,546   N/A

   Adjusted pretax margin after discretionary Compensation Committee adjustments

 

   

 

9.5

 

%

 

   

 

N/A

 

 

A-2 | 2017 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


Appendix B


FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION


2010 Incentive Compensation Plan


Amended and Restated

Effective as of [Date Approved by Stockholders]

First American Financial Corporation  2017 Proxy Statement | B-1


  Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan                            

Table of Contents

Page 

  ARTICLE I.ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSES; AND DURATION

  7
  1.1.      Establishment of the Plan.  7
  1.2.      Purposes of the Plan.  7
  1.3.      Duration of the Plan.  7
  ARTICLE II.DEFINITIONS  8
  2.1.      “Affiliate  8
  2.2.      “Award  8
  2.3.      “Award Agreement  8
  2.4.      “Beneficial Ownership  8
  2.5.      “Board” or “Board of Directors  8
  2.6.      “Cause  8
  2.7.      “Change of Control  9
  2.8.      “Code10
  2.9.      “Committee10
  2.10.    “Company Incumbent Board10
  2.11.    “Company Proxy Contest10
  2.12.    “Company Surviving Corporation11
  2.13.    “Covered Employee11
  2.14.    “Director11
  2.15.    “Disability11
  2.16.    “Dividend Equivalents11
  2.17.    “Effective Date11
  2.18.    “Employee11
  2.19.    “Exchange Act11
  2.20.    “Fair Market Value11
  2.21.    “Fiscal Year12
  2.22.    “Freestanding SAR12
  2.23.    “Grant Price12
  2.24.    “Incentive Stock Option12
  2.25.    “Insider12
  2.26.    “Non-Control Acquisition12
  2.27.    “Non-Control Transaction12
  2.28.    “Non-Employee Director12
  2.29.    “Nonqualified Stock Option12
  2.30.    “Notice12
  2.31.    “Option12
  2.32.    “Option Price12
  2.33.    “Other Stock-Based Award

12

B-2 | 2017 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


                             Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan  

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

($ in thousands)

Adjusted Pretax Margin

2018

2017

Pretax income

 

$

609,538

 

 

 

$

445,331

 

 

Total revenue

 

$

5,747,844

 

 

 

$

5,772,363

 

 

GAAP pretax margin

 

 

10.6

%

 

 

 

7.7

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretax income

 

$

609,538

 

 

 

$

445,331

 

 

Net realized losses in the investment portfolio

 

 

56,119

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension termination losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

152,388

 

 

Adjusted pretax income

 

$

665,657

 

 

 

$

597,719

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenue

 

$

5,747,844

 

 

 

$

5,772,363

 

 

Net realized losses in the investment portfolio

 

 

56,119

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted total revenue

 

$

5,803,963

 

 

 

$

5,772,363

 

 

Adjusted pretax margin

 

 

11.5

%

 

 

 

10.4

%

 

Other Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company is also presenting adjusted total revenue, adjusted net income per share and adjusted pretax margins for the Company and for the title insurance and services segment because they provide the Company’s management and readers of this Proxy Statement with additional insight into the operational performance of the Company. Adjusted total revenue, adjusted net income per share and adjusted pretax margins for the Company and for the title insurance and services segment are non-GAAP financial measures because they exclude net realized investment losses (gains).

 

Year Ended December 31,

($ in thousands)

Adjusted Total Revenue

2018

2017

GAAP Total Revenue

 

$

5,747,844

 

 

 

$

5,772,363

 

 

Net realized investment losses (gains)

 

 

56,487

 

 

 

 

(11,234

)

 

Adjusted total revenue

 

$

5,804,331

 

 

 

$

5,761,129

 

 

Page 

  2.34.    “Participant12
  2.35.    “Performance-Based Compensation12
  2.36.    “Performance Measure13
  2.37.    “Performance Period13
  2.38.    “Performance Share13
  2.39.    “Performance Unit13
  2.40.    “Period of Restriction13
  2.41.    “Person13
  2.42.    “Qualified Change of Control13
  2.43.    “Related Entity13
  2.44.    “Restricted Stock13
  2.45.    “Restricted Stock Unit13
  2.46.    “Retirement13
  2.47.    “Rule16b-313
  2.48.    “Securities Act13
  2.49.    “Share13
  2.50.    “Stock Appreciation Right13
  2.51.    “Subject Person14
  2.52.    “Subsidiary14
  2.53.    “Substitute Awards14
  2.54.    “Tandem SAR14
  2.55.    “Termination14
  2.56.    “Voting Securities14
  ARTICLE III.ADMINISTRATION14
  3.1.      General.14
  3.2.      Committee.14
  3.3.      Authority of the Committee.15
  3.4.      Award Agreements.16
  3.5.      Discretionary Authority; Decisions Binding.16
  3.6.      Attorneys; Consultants.17
  3.7.      Delegation of Administration.17
  ARTICLE IV.SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN AND ANNUAL AWARD LIMITS17
  4.1.      Number of Shares Available for Grants.17
  4.2.      Annual Award Limits.18
  4.3.      Adjustments in Authorized Shares.18
  4.4.      No Limitation on Corporate Actions.19
  ARTICLE V.ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION19
  5.1.      Eligibility.19
  5.2.      Actual Participation.

19

 

First American Financial Corporation  2017A-2 | 2019 Proxy Statement  | B-3


  Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan                            

Page 

  ARTICLE VI.STOCK OPTIONS19
  6.1.      Grant of Options.19
  6.2.      Award Agreement.20
  6.3.      Option Price.20
  6.4.      Duration of Options.20
  6.5.      Exercise of Options.20
  6.6.      Payment.20
  6.7.      Rights as a Shareholder.21
  6.8.      Termination of Employment or Service.21
  6.9.      Limitations on Incentive Stock Options.22
  6.10.    No Repricing.22
  ARTICLE VII.STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS22
  7.1.      Grant of SARs.22
  7.2.      Grant Price.22
  7.3.      Exercise of Tandem SARs.23
  7.4.      Exercise of Freestanding SARs.23
  7.5.      Award Agreement.23
  7.6.      Term of SARs.23
  7.7.      Payment of SAR Amount.23
  7.8.      Rights as a Shareholder.24
  7.9.      Termination of Employment or Service.24
  7.10.    No Repricing.24

  ARTICLE VIII.RESTRICTED STOCK AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

24
  8.1.      Awards of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.24
  8.2.      Award Agreement.24
  8.3.      Nontransferability of Restricted Stock.24
  8.4.      Period of Restriction and Other Restrictions.25
  8.5.      Delivery of Shares, Payment of Restricted Stock Units.25
  8.6.      Forms of Restricted Stock Awards.25
  8.7.      Voting Rights.25
  8.8.      Dividends and Other Distributions.26
  8.9.      Termination of Employment or Service.26
  8.10.    Compliance With Code Section 409A.26
  ARTICLE IX.PERFORMANCE UNITS AND PERFORMANCE SHARES26
  9.1.      Grant of Performance Units and Performance Shares.26
  9.2.      Value of Performance Units and Performance Shares.26
  9.3.      Earning of Performance Units and Performance Shares.27
  9.4.      Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Units and Performance Shares.27
  9.5.      Rights as a Shareholder.27
  9.6.      Termination of Employment or Service.27
  9.7.      Compliance With Code Section 409A.

27

B-4 | 2017 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


                             Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan  

Page 

  ARTICLE X.OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS

28
  10.1.    Other Stock-Based Awards.28
  10.2.    Value of Other Stock-Based Awards.28
  10.3.    Payment of Other Stock-Based Awards.28
  10.4.    Termination of Employment or Service.28
  10.5.    Compliance With Code Section 409A.28
  ARTICLE XI.PERFORMANCE MEASURES28
  11.1.    Performance Measures.28
  11.2.    Evaluation of Performance.29
  11.3.    Adjustment of Performance-Based Compensation.30
  11.4.    Committee Discretion.30
  ARTICLE XII.DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS30
  12.1.    Dividend Equivalents.30
  ARTICLE XIII.TRANSFERABILITY OF AWARDS; BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION30
  13.1.    Transferability of Incentive Stock Options.30
  13.2.    All Other Awards.31
  13.3.    Beneficiary Designation.31
  ARTICLE XIV.RIGHTS OF PARTICIPANTS31
  14.1.    Rights or Claims.31
  14.2.    Adoption of the Plan.32
  14.3.    Vesting.32
  14.4.    No Effects on Benefits.32
  14.5.    One or More Types of Awards.32
  ARTICLE XV.CHANGE OF CONTROL32
  15.1.    Treatment of Outstanding Awards.32
  15.2.    No Implied Rights; Other Limitations.34
  15.3.    Termination, Amendment, and Modifications of Change of Control Provisions.34
  15.4.    Compliance with Code Section 409A.34
  ARTICLE XVI. AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION35
  16.1.    Amendment, Modification, and Termination.35
  16.2.    Adjustment of Awards Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring Events.35
  ARTICLE XVII.TAX WITHHOLDING AND OTHER TAX MATTERS36
  17.1.    Tax Withholding.36
  17.2.    Withholding or Tendering Shares.36
  17.3.    Restrictions.36
  17.4.    Special ISO Obligations.36
  17.5.    Section 83(b) Election.37
  17.6.    No Guarantee of Favorable Tax Treatment.

37

First American Financial Corporation  2017 Proxy Statement | B-5


  Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan                            

Page 

  ARTICLE XVIII.LIMITS OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION37
  18.1.        Limits of Liability.37
  18.2.        Indemnification.37
  ARTICLE XIX.SUCCESSORS38
  19.1.        General.38
  ARTICLE XX.MISCELLANEOUS38
  20.1.        Drafting Context.38
  20.2.        Forfeiture Events.38
  20.3.        Severability.39
  20.4.        Transfer, Leave of Absence.39
  20.5.        Exercise and Payment of Awards.39
  20.6.        Deferrals.39
  20.7.        Loans.40
  20.8.        No Effect on Other Plans.40
  20.9.        Section 16 of Exchange Act and Code Section 162(m).40
  20.10.      Requirements of Law; Limitations on Awards.40
  20.11.      Participants Deemed to Accept Plan.41
  20.12.      Governing Law.41
  20.13.      Plan Unfunded.41
  20.14.      Administration Costs.42
  20.15.      Uncertificated Shares.42
  20.16.      No Fractional Shares.42
  20.17.      Deferred Compensation.42
  20.18.      Employees Based Outside of the United States.

42

B-6 | 2017 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


                            Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan  

First American Financial Corporation


Appendix A.  Non-GAAP Financial Measures

2010 Incentive Compensation Plan

 

Year Ended December 31,

($ in thousands)

Adjusted Net Income Per Share

2018

2017

Net income attributable to the Company

 

$

474,496

 

 

 

$

423,049

 

 

Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding

 

 

113,279

 

 

 

 

112,435

 

 

GAAP Diluted net income per share attributable to the Company's stockholders

 

$

4.19

 

 

 

$

3.76

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to the Company

 

$

474,496

 

 

 

$

423,049

 

 

Net realized investment losses (gains), net of tax

 

 

44,116

 

 

 

 

(10,639

)

 

Adjusted net income attributable to the Company

 

$

518,612

 

 

 

$

412,410

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding

 

 

113,279

 

 

 

 

112,435

 

 

Adjusted diluted net income per share attributable to the Company's stockholders

 

$

4.58

 

 

 

$

3.67

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

($ in thousands)

Adjusted Pretax Margin

2018

Pretax income

 

$

609,538

 

 

Total revenue

 

$

5,747,844

 

 

GAAP pretax margin

 

 

10.6

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

Pretax income

 

$

609,538

 

 

Net realized investment losses

 

 

56,487

 

 

Adjusted pretax income

 

$

666,025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenue

 

$

5,747,844

 

 

Net realized investment losses

 

 

56,487

 

 

Adjusted total revenue

 

$

5,804,331

 

 

Adjusted pretax margin

 

 

11.5

%

 

Amended and Restated

Effective as of [Date Approved by Stockholders]

First American Financial Corporation a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), has adopted First American Financial Corporation 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) for the benefit ofnon-employee directors of the Company and officers and eligible employees of the Company and any Subsidiaries and Affiliates (as each term defined below), as follows:

ARTICLE I.

ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSES; AND DURATION

1.1.Establishment of the Plan.

The Company hereby establishes this incentive compensation plan to be known as “First American Financial Corporation 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan”, as set forth in this document. The Plan permits the grant of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Units, Performance Shares and Other Stock-Based Awards. The Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors (as defined below) on May 28, 2010 and approved by The First American Corporation, as the Company’s sole shareholder, on May 28, 2010. For purposes of Section 422 of the Code and otherwise, the Plan became effective on May 28, 2010 (the “Effective Date”). The Plan shall remain in effect as provided in Section 1.3.

1.2.Purposes of the Plan.

The purposes of the Plan are to provide additional incentives tonon-employee directors of the Company and to those officers and employees of the Company, Subsidiaries and Affiliates whose substantial contributions are essential to the continued growth and success of the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries and Affiliates, in order to strengthen their commitment to the Company and the Subsidiaries and Affiliates, and to attract and retain competent and dedicated individuals whose efforts will result in the long-term growth and profitability of the Company and to further align the interests of suchnon-employee directors, officers and employees with the interests of the shareholders of the Company. To accomplish such purposes, the Plan provides that the Company may grant Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Units, Performance Shares and Other Stock-Based Awards.

1.3.Duration of the Plan.

The Plan shall commence on the Effective Date, as described in Section 1.1, and shall remain in effect, subject to the right of the Board of Directors to amend or terminate the Plan at any time pursuant to Article XVII, until all Shares subject to it shall have been delivered, and any restrictions on such Shares have lapsed, pursuant to the Plan’s provisions. However, in no event may an Award be granted under the Plan on or after ten years from the Effective Date.

First American Financial Corporation  2017  2019 Proxy Statement | B-7A-3


Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan                            A.  Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

Year Ended December 31,

($ in thousands)

Adjusted Pretax Margin - Title Insurance and Services Segment

2018

Pretax income

 

$

655,003

 

 

Total revenue

 

$

5,282,781

 

 

GAAP pretax margin

 

 

12.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

Pretax income

 

$

655,003

 

 

Net realized investment losses

 

 

49,119

 

 

Adjusted pretax income

 

$

704,122

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenue

 

$

5,282,781

 

 

Net realized investment losses

 

 

49,119

 

 

Adjusted total revenue

 

$

5,331,900

 

 

Adjusted pretax margin

 

 

13.2

%

 

 

ARTICLE II.

DEFINITIONS

Whenever used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below, and when the meaning is intended, the initial letter of the word shall be capitalized:

2.1.Affiliate” means any entity other than the Company and any Subsidiary that is affiliated with the Company through stock or equity ownership or otherwise and is designated as an Affiliate for purposes of the Plan by the Committee;provided,however, that, notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan to the contrary, for purposes of NQSOs and SARs, if an individual who otherwise qualifies as an Employee orNon-Employee Director provides services to such an entity and not to the Company or a Subsidiary, such entity may only be designated an Affiliate if the Company qualifies as a “service recipient,” within the meaning of Code Section 409A, with respect to such individual;providedfurther that such definition of “service recipient” shall be determined by (a) applying Code Section 1563(a)(1), (2) and (3), for purposes of determining a controlled group of corporations under Code Section 414(b), using the language “at least 50 percent” instead of “at least 80 percent” each place it appears in Code Section 1563(a)(1), (2) and (3), and by applying Treasury Regulations Section1.414(c)-2, for purposes of determining trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) that are under common control for purposes of Code Section 414(c), using the language “at least 50 percent” instead of “at least 80 percent” each place it appears in Treasury Regulations Section1.414(c)-2, and (b) where the use of Shares with respect to the grant of an Option or SAR to such an individual is based upon legitimate business criteria, by applying Code Section 1563(a)(1), (2) and (3), for purposes of determining a controlled group of corporations under Code Section 414(b), using the language “at least 20 percent” instead of “at least 80 percent” at each place it appears in Code Section 1563(a)(1), (2) and (3), and by applying Treasury Regulations Section1.414(c)-2, for purposes of determining trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) that are under common control for purposes of Code Section 414(c), using the language “at least 20 percent” instead of “at least 80 percent” at each place it appears in Treasury Regulations Section1.414(c)-2.

2.2.Award” means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units, and Other Stock-Based Awards.

2.3.Award Agreement” means either: (a) a written agreement setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to an Award granted under the Plan, or (b) a written or electronic instrument issued by the Company to a Participant describing the terms and provisions of such Award, including any amendment or modification thereof. An Award Agreement may be in the form of an agreement to be executed by both the Participant and the Company (or an authorized representative of the Company) or certificates, notices or similar instruments as approved by the Committee. The Committee may provide for the use of electronic, internet or othernon-paper Award Agreements, and the use of electronic, internet or othernon-paper means for the acknowledgement thereof, agreement thereto and actions thereunder by a Participant.

2.4.Beneficial Ownership” (including correlative terms) shall have the meaning given such term in Rule13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

2.5.Board” or “Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.6.Cause” shall have the definition given such term in a Participant’s Award Agreement, or in the absence of any such definition, as determined in good faith by the Committee.

B-8A-4 | 20172019 Proxy StatementFirst American Financial Corporation


                            Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan  

2.7.Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:

(a) an acquisition in one transaction or a series of related transactions (other than directly from the Company or pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan or compensatory options or other similar awards granted by the Company) by any Person of any Voting Securities of the Company, immediately after which such Person has Beneficial Ownership of fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding Voting Securities;provided,however, that in determining whether a Change of Control has occurred pursuant to this Section 2.7(a), Voting Securities of the Company which are acquired in aNon-Control Acquisition shall not constitute an acquisition that would cause a Change of Control; or

(b) any Person acquires in one transaction or a series of related transactions (or has acquired during the twelve (12)-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such Person) Beneficial Ownership of Voting Securities of the Company possessing thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding Voting Securities;provided,however, that in determining whether a Change of Control has occurred pursuant to this Section 2.7(b), Voting Securities of the Company which are acquired in aNon-Control Acquisition shall not constitute an acquisition that would cause a Change of Control; or

(c) the individuals who, immediately prior to the Effective Date, are members of the Board (the “Company Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;provided,however, that if the election, or nomination for election of any new director was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Company Incumbent Board, such new director shall, for purposes of the Plan, be considered as a member of the Company Incumbent Board;providedfurther,however, that no individual shall be considered a member of the Company Incumbent Board if such individual initially assumed office as a result of either an actual or threatened “Election Contest” (as described in Rule14a-11 promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board (a “Company Proxy Contest”) including by reason of any agreement intended to avoid or settle any Election Contest or Company Proxy Contest; or

(d) the consummation of any merger, consolidation, recapitalization or reorganization involving the Company unless:

(i) the shareholders of the Company, immediately before such merger, consolidation, recapitalization or reorganization, own, directly or indirectly, immediately following such merger, consolidation, recapitalization or reorganization, more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the outstanding Voting Securities of the corporation resulting from such merger or consolidation or reorganization (the “Company Surviving Corporation”) in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Voting Securities of the Company immediately before such merger, consolidation, recapitalization or reorganization; and

(ii) the individuals who were members of the Company Incumbent Board immediately prior to the execution of the agreement providing for such merger, consolidation, recapitalization or reorganization constitute at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Company Surviving Corporation, or a corporation Beneficially Owning, directly or indirectly, a majority of the voting securities of the Company Surviving Corporation, and

(iii) no Person,otherthan (A) the Company, (B) any Related Entity, (C) any employee benefit plan (or any trust forming a part thereof) that, immediately prior to such merger, consolidation, recapitalization or reorganization, was maintained by the Company, the Company Surviving Corporation, or any Related Entity or (D) any Person who, together with its Affiliates, immediately prior to such merger, consolidation, recapitalization or reorganization had Beneficial Ownership of fifty percent (50%) or more of the then outstanding Voting Securities of the Company, owns,

 

First American Financial Corporation  2017 Proxy Statement | B-9


  Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan                            

together with its Affiliates, Beneficial Ownership of fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company Surviving Corporation’s then outstanding Voting Securities

(a transaction described in clauses (d)(i) through (d)(iii) above is referred to herein as a “Non-Control Transaction”); or

(e) any approval of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

(f) any sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets or business of the Company to any Person (other than (A) a transfer or distribution to a Related Entity, or (B) a transfer or distribution to the Company’s shareholders of the stock of a Related Entity or any other assets).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change of Control shall not be deemed to occur solely because any Person (the “Subject Person”) acquired Beneficial Ownership of fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding Voting Securities of the Company as a result of the acquisition of Voting Securities of the Company by the Company which, by reducing the number of Voting Securities of the Company then outstanding, increases the proportional number of shares Beneficially Owned by the Subject Persons,provided that if a Change of Control would occur (but for the operation of this sentence) as a result of the acquisition of Voting Securities by the Company and (1) before such share acquisition by the Company the Subject Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of any new or additional Voting Securities of the Company in a related transaction or (2) after such share acquisition by the Company the Subject Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of any new or additional Voting Securities of the Company which in either case increases the percentage of the then outstanding Voting Securities of the Company Beneficially Owned by the Subject Person, then a Change of Control shall be deemed to occur.

Solely for purposes of this Section 2.7, (1) “Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person, and (2) “control” (including with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as applied to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of that Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by contract or otherwise. Any Relative (for this purpose, “Relative” means a spouse, child, parent, parent of spouse, sibling or grandchild) of an individual shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of such individual for this purpose. None of the Company or any Person controlled by the Company shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any holder of Shares.

For the avoidance of doubt, the formation of the Company as a wholly-owned subsidiary of The First American Corporation, the consummation of any or all of the transactions contemplated by the Separation and Distribution Agreement between the Company and The First American Corporation, dated as of June 1, 2010 (the “Separation Agreement”) and any changes to the capital structure of the Company or the ownership of the Voting Securities of the Company made prior to the time of the consummation of the distribution of the Company’s securities to the shareholders of The First American Corporation pursuant to the terms of the Separation Agreement, will not be considered a Change of Control for purposes of this Plan.

2.8.Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as it may be amended from time to time, including rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and successor provisions and rules and regulations thereto.

2.9.Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors or a subcommittee thereof, or such other committee designated by the Board to administer the Plan.

2.10.Company Incumbent Board” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.7(c).

2.11.Company Proxy Contest” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.7(c).

B-10 | 2017 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


                            Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan  

2.12.Company Surviving Corporation” has the meaning provided in Section 2.7(d)(i).

2.13.Covered Employee” means any Employee who is or may become a “covered employee,” as defined in Code Section 162(m), and who is designated, either as an individual Employee or a member of a class of Employees, by the Committee within the shorter of (i) ninety (90) days after the beginning of the Performance Period, or (ii) the first twenty-five percent (25%) of the Performance Period, as a “Covered Employee” under the Plan for such applicable Performance Period.

2.14.Director” means any individual who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.15.Disability” means the inability to engage in any substantial gainful occupation to which the relevant individual is suited by education, training or experience, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment, which condition can be expected to result in death or continues for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months;provided,however, that, for purposes of ISOs, “Disability” shall mean “permanent and total disability” as set forth in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

2.16.Dividend Equivalents” means the equivalent value (in cash or Shares) of dividends that would otherwise be paid on the Shares subject to an Award but that have not been issued or delivered, as described in Article XII.

2.17.Effective Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1.1.

2.18.Employee” means any person designated as an employee of the Company, a Subsidiary and/or an Affiliate on the payroll records thereof. An Employee shall not include any individual during any period he or she is classified or treated by the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate as an independent contractor, a consultant, or any employee of an employment, consulting, or temporary agency or any other entity other than the Company, a Subsidiary and/or an Affiliate without regard to whether such individual is subsequently determined to have been, or is subsequently retroactively reclassified as acommon-law employee of the Company, a Subsidiary and/or an Affiliate during such period. As further provided in Section 20.4, for purposes of the Plan, upon approval by the Committee, the term Employee may also include Employees whose employment with the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate has been terminated subsequent to being granted an Award under the Plan. For the avoidance of doubt, a Director who would otherwise be an “Employee” within the meaning of this Section 2.18 shall be considered an Employee for purposes of the Plan.

2.19.Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time, including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and successor provisions and rules and regulations thereto.

2.20.Fair Market Value” means the fair market value of the Shares as determined by the Committee by the reasonable application of such reasonable valuation method, consistently applied, as the Committee deems appropriate;provided,however, that, with respect to ISOs, for purposes of Section 6.3 and 6.9(c), such fair market value shall be determined subject to Section 422(c)(7) of the Code;providedfurther,however, that (a) if the Shares are readily tradable on an established securities market, Fair Market Value on any date shall be the last sale price reported for the Shares on such market on such date or, if no sale is reported on such date, on the last date preceding such date on which a sale was reported, or (b) if the Shares are admitted for listing on the New York Stock Exchange or other comparable market, Fair Market Value on any date shall be the last sale price reported for the Shares on such market on such date or, if no sale is reported on such date, on the last day preceding such date on which a sale was reported. In each case, the Committee shall determine Fair Market Value in a manner that satisfies the applicable requirements of Code Section 409A.

First American Financial Corporation  2017 Proxy Statement | B-11


  Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan                            

2.21.Fiscal Year” means the calendar year, or such other consecutive twelve-month period as the Committee may select.

2.22.Freestanding SAR” means a SAR that is granted independently of any Options, as described in Article VII.

2.23.Grant Price” means the price established at the time of grant of a SAR pursuant to Article VII, used to determine whether there is any payment due upon exercise of the SAR.

2.24.Incentive Stock Option” or “ISO” means a right to purchase Shares under the Plan in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in Article VI and which is designated as an Incentive Stock Option and which is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

2.25.Insider” means an individual who is, on the relevant date, an officer, director or ten percent (10%) Beneficial Owner of any class of the Company’s equity securities that is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, as determined by the Committee in accordance with Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

2.26.Non-Control Acquisition” means an acquisition (whether by merger, stock purchase, asset purchase or otherwise) by (a) an employee benefit plan (or a trust forming a part thereof) maintained by (i) the Company or (ii) any corporation or other Person of which fifty percent (50%) or more of its total value or total voting power of its Voting Securities or equity interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company (a “Related Entity”); (b) the Company or any Related Entity; (c) any Person in connection with aNon-Control Transaction; or (d) any Person that owns, together with its Affiliates, Beneficial Ownership of fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding Voting Securities of the Company on the Effective Date.

2.27.Non-Control Transaction” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.7(d).

2.28.Non-Employee Director” means a Director who is not an Employee.

2.29.Nonqualified Stock Option” or “NQSO” means a right to purchase Shares under the Plan in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in Article VI and which is not intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or otherwise does not meet such requirements.

2.30.Notice” means notice provided by a Participant to the Company in a manner prescribed by the Committee.

2.31.Option” or “Stock Option”means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option, as described in Article VI.

2.32.Option Price” means the price at which a Share may be purchased by a Participant pursuant to an Option.

2.33.Other Stock-Based Award” means an equity-based or equity-related Award described in Section 10.1, granted in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in Article X.

2.34.Participant” means any eligible individual as set forth in Article V who holds one or more outstanding Awards.

2.35.Performance-Based Compensation” means compensation under an Award that is intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 162(m) for certain performance-based compensation paid to Covered Employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in the Plan shall be construed to mean that an Award which does not satisfy the requirements for performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m) does not constitute performance-based compensation for other purposes, including Code Section 409A.

B-12 | 2017 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


                            Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan  

2.36.Performance Measure” means performance criteria or measures as described in Section 11.1 on which the performance goals described in Article XI are based and which are approved by the Company’s shareholders pursuant to the Plan in order to qualify certain Awards as Performance-Based Compensation in accordance with Article XI.

2.37.Performance Period” means the period of time during which the performance goals must be met in order to determine the degree of payout and/or vesting with respect to, or the amount or entitlement to, an Award.

2.38.Performance Share” means an Award of a performance share granted to a Participant, as described in Article IX.

2.39.Performance Unit” means an Award of a performance unit granted to a Participant, as described in Article IX.

2.40.Period of Restriction” means the period during which Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, and, in the case of Restricted Stock, the transfer of Shares of Restricted Stock is limited in some way, as provided in Article VIII.

2.41.Person” means “person” as such term is used for purposes of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act, including any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity or any group of persons.

2.42.Qualified Change of Control” means a Change of Control that qualifies as a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company, or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company, within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) of the Code.

2.43.Related Entity” has the meaning provided in Section 2.26.

2.44.Restricted Stock” means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Article VIII.

2.45.Restricted Stock Unit” means an Award, whose value is equal to a Share, granted to a Participant pursuant to Article VIII.

2.46.Retirement” means Termination of a Participant due to either (a) retirement in accordance with any employee pension benefit plan maintained by the Company that is intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 401(a) of the Code entitling such Participant to a full pension under such plan or (b) retirement with the consent of the Committee.

2.47.Rule16b-3” means Rule16b-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor rule, as the same may be amended from time to time.

2.48.Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as it may be amended from time to time, including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and successor provisions and rules and regulations thereto.

2.49.Share” means a share of common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of the Company (including any new, additional or different stock or securities resulting from any change in corporate capitalization as listed in Section 4.3).

2.50.Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means an Award, granted alone (a “Freestanding SAR”) or in connection with a related Option (a “Tandem SAR”), designated as a SAR, pursuant to the terms of Article VII.

First American Financial Corporation  2017 Proxy Statement | B-13


  Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan                            

2.51.Subject Person” has the meaning provided in Section 2.7.

2.52.Subsidiary” means any present or future corporation which is or would be a “subsidiary corporation” of the Company as the term is defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

2.53.Substitute Awards” means Awards granted or Shares issued by the Company in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, options or other awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to grant future options or other awards, by a company acquired by the Company, a Subsidiary and/or an Affiliate or with which the Company, a Subsidiary and/or an Affiliate combines, or otherwise in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, or reorganization involving the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate, including a transaction described in Code Section 424(a).

2.54.Tandem SAR” means a SAR that is granted in connection with a related Option pursuant to Article VII.

2.55.Termination” means the time when a Participant ceases the performance of services for the Company, any Affiliate or Subsidiary, as applicable, for any reason, with or without Cause, including a Termination by resignation, discharge, death, Disability or Retirement, but excluding (a) a Termination where there is a simultaneous reemployment or continuing employment of a Participant by the Company, Affiliate or any Subsidiary, (b) at the discretion of the Committee, a Termination that results in a temporary severance, and (c) at the discretion of the Committee, a Termination of an Employee that is immediately followed by the Participant’s service as aNon-Employee Director. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, a Termination shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision the Plan or any Award Agreement providing for payment or distribution with respect to an Award constituting deferred compensation subject to Code Section 409A upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination is also a “separation from service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A.

2.56.Voting Securities” shall mean, with respect to any Person that is a corporation, all outstanding voting securities of such Person entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such Person.

ARTICLE III.

ADMINISTRATION

3.1.General.

The Committee shall have exclusive authority to operate, manage and administer the Plan in accordance with its terms and conditions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in its absolute discretion, the Board may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all rights, duties and responsibilities of the Committee under the Plan, including establishing procedures to be followed by the Committee, but excluding matters which under any applicable law, regulation or rule, including any exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including Rule16b-3) or Section 162(m) of the Code, are required to be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee. If and to the extent that the Committee does not exist or cannot function, the Board may take any action under the Plan that would otherwise be the responsibility of the Committee, subject to the

limitations set forth in the immediately preceding sentence. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, any action or determination specifically affecting or relating to an Award granted to aNon-Employee Director shall be taken or approved, by the Board or the Committee.

3.2.Committee.

The members of the Committee shall be appointed from time to time by, and shall serve at the discretion of, the Board of Directors. The Committee shall consist of not less than three(3) non-employee members of the

B-14 | 2017 Proxy Statement  First American Financial Corporation


                            Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan  

Board, each of whom satisfies such criteria of independence as the Board may establish and such additional regulatory or listing requirements as the Board may determine to be applicable or appropriate. Appointment of Committee members shall be effective upon their acceptance of such appointment. Committee members may be removed by the Board at any time either with or without cause, and such members may resign at any time by delivering notice thereof to the Board. Any vacancy on the Committee, whether due to action of the Board or any other reason, shall be filled by the Board. The Committee shall keep minutes of its meetings. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum and a majority of a quorum may authorize any action.

3.3.Authority of the Committee.

The Committee shall have full discretionary authority to grant, pursuant to the terms of the Plan, Awards to those individuals who are eligible to receive Awards under the Plan. Except as limited by law or by the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, and subject to the provisions herein, the Committee shall have full power, in accordance with the other terms and provisions of the Plan, to:

(a) select Employees andNon-Employee Directors who may receive Awards under the Plan and become Participants;

(b) determine eligibility for participation in the Plan and decide all questions concerning eligibility for, and the amount of, Awards under the Plan;

(c) determine the sizes and types of Awards;

(d) determine the terms and conditions of Awards, including the Option Prices of Options and the Grant Prices of SARs;

(e) grant Awards as an alternative to, or as the form of payment for grants or rights earned or payable under, other bonus or compensation plans, arrangements or policies of the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate;

(f) grant Substitute Awards on such terms and conditions as the Committee may prescribe, subject to compliance with the ISO rules under Code Section 422 and the nonqualified deferred compensation rules under Code Section 409A, where applicable;

(g) make all determinations under the Plan concerning Termination of any Participant’s employment or service with the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate, including whether such Termination occurs by reason of Cause, Disability or Retirement or in connection with a Change of Control and whether a leave constitutes a Termination;

(h) construe and interpret the Plan and any agreement or instrument entered into under the Plan, including any Award Agreement;

(i) establish and administer any terms, conditions, restrictions, limitations, forfeiture, vesting or exercise schedule, and other provisions of or relating to any Award;

(j) establish and administer any performance goals in connection with any Awards, including related Performance Measures or performance criteria and applicable Performance Periods, determine the extent to which any performance goals and/or other terms and conditions of an Award are attained or are not attained, and certify whether, and to what extent, any such performance goals and other material terms applicable to Awards intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation were in fact satisfied;

(k) construe any ambiguous provisions, correct any defects, supply any omissions and reconcile any inconsistencies in the Plan and/or any Award Agreement or any other instrument relating to any Awards;

(l) establish, adopt, amend, waive and/or rescind rules, regulations, procedures, guidelines, forms and/or instruments for the Plan’s operation or administration;

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  Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan                            

(m) make all valuation determinations relating to Awards and the payment or settlement thereof;

(n) grant waivers of terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations under the Plan or applicable to any Award, or accelerate the vesting or exercisability of any Award;

(o) subject to the provisions of Article XVI, amend or adjust the terms and conditions of any outstanding Award and/or adjust the number and/or class of shares of stock subject to any outstanding Award;

(p) at any time and from time to time after the granting of an Award, specify such additional terms, conditions and restrictions with respect to such Award as may be deemed necessary or appropriate to ensure compliance with any and all applicable laws or rules, including terms, restrictions and conditions for compliance with applicable securities laws or listing rules, methods of withholding or providing for the payment of required taxes and restrictions regarding a Participant’s ability to exercise Options through a cashless (broker-assisted) exercise;

(q) offer to buy out an Award previously granted, based on such terms and conditions as the Committee shall establish with and communicate to the Participant at the time such offer is made;

(r) determine whether, and to what extent and under what circumstances Awards may be settled in cash, Shares or other property or canceled or suspended; and

(s) exercise all such other authorities, take all such other actions and make all such other determinations as it deems necessary or advisable for the proper operation and/or administration of the Plan.

3.4.Award Agreements.

The Committee shall, subject to applicable laws and rules, determine the date an Award is granted. Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement;however, two or more Awards granted to a single Participant may be combined in a single Award Agreement. An Award Agreement shall not be a precondition to the granting of an Award;provided,however, that (a) the Committee may, but need not, require as a condition to any Award Agreement’s effectiveness, that such Award Agreement be executed on behalf of the Company and/or by the Participant to whom the Award evidenced thereby shall have been granted (including by electronic signature or other electronic indication of acceptance), and such executed Award Agreement be delivered to the Company, and (b) no person shall have any rights under any Award unless and until the Participant to whom such Award shall have been granted has complied with the applicable terms and conditions of the Award. The Committee shall prescribe the form of all Award Agreements, and, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, shall determine the content of all Award Agreements. Any Award Agreement may be supplemented or amended in writing from time to time as approved by the Committee;provided that the terms and conditions of any such Award Agreement as supplemented or amended are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan. In the event of any dispute or discrepancy concerning the terms of an Award, the records of the Committee or its designee shall be determinative.

3.5.Discretionary Authority; Decisions Binding.

The Committee shall have full discretionary authority in all matters related to the discharge of its responsibilities and the exercise of its authority under the Plan. All determinations, decisions, actions and interpretations by the Committee with respect to the Plan and any Award Agreement, and all related orders and resolutions of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all Participants, the Company and its shareholders, any Subsidiary or Affiliate and all persons having or claiming to have any right or interest in or under the Plan and/or any Award Agreement. The Committee shall consider such factors as it deems relevant to making or taking such decisions, determinations, actions and interpretations, including the recommendations or advice of any Director or officer or employee of the Company, any director, officer or employee of a Subsidiary or Affiliate and such attorneys, consultants and accountants as the Committee may select. A Participant or other holder of an Award may contest a decision or action by the Committee

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                            Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan  

with respect to such person or Award only on the grounds that such decision or action was arbitrary or capricious or was unlawful, and any review of such decision or action shall be limited to determining whether the Committee’s decision or action was arbitrary or capricious or was unlawful.

3.6.Attorneys; Consultants.

The Committee may consult with counsel who may be counsel to the Company. The Committee may, with the approval of the Board, employ such other attorneys and/or consultants, accountants, appraisers, brokers, agents and other persons, any of whom may be an Employee, as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate. The Committee, the Company and its officers and Directors shall be entitled to rely upon the advice, opinions or valuations of any such persons. The Committee shall not incur any liability for any action taken in good faith in reliance upon the advice of such counsel or other persons.

3.7.Delegation of Administration.

Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law, including any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including Rule16b-3) or Section 162(m) of the Code, or the applicable rules of a stock exchange, the Committee may, in its discretion, allocate all or any portion of its responsibilities and powers under this Article III to any one or more of its members and/or delegate all or any part of its responsibilities and powers under this Article III to any person or persons selected by it;provided,however, that the Committee may not delegate its authority to correct defects, omissions or inconsistencies in the Plan. Any such authority delegated or allocated by the Committee under this Section 3.7 shall be exercised in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan and any rules, regulations or administrative guidelines that may from time to time be established by the Committee, and any such allocation or delegation may be revoked by the Committee at any time.

ARTICLE IV.

SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN AND ANNUAL AWARD LIMITS

4.1.Number of Shares Available for Grants.

The shares of stock subject to Awards granted under the Plan shall be Shares. Such Shares subject to the Plan may be either authorized and unissued shares (which will not be subject to preemptive rights) or previously issued shares acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3, the total number of Shares that may be delivered pursuant to Awards under the Plan shall be sixteen million (16,000,000) Shares. If (a) any Shares are subject to an Option, SAR, or other Award which for any reason expires or is terminated or canceled without having been fully exercised, or are subject to any Restricted Stock Award (including any Shares subject to a Participant’s Restricted Stock Award that are repurchased by the Company at the Participant’s cost), Restricted Stock Unit Award or other Award granted under the Plan which are forfeited, or (b) any Award based on Shares is settled for cash, expires or otherwise terminates without the issuance of such Shares, the Shares subject to any such Award shall, to the extent of any such expiration, termination, cancellation, forfeiture or cash settlement, be available for delivery in connection with future Awards under the Plan;provided,however, that (i) all Shares covered by a SAR, to the extent that it is exercised, and whether or not Shares are actually issued to the Participant upon exercise of the SAR and (ii) all Shares withheld by the Company to pay the exercise price of an Option and/or the withholding taxes related an Award shall reduce the total number of Shares available for delivery under the Plan. Any Shares delivered under the Plan upon exercise or satisfaction of Substitute Awards shall not reduce the Shares available for delivery under the Plan;provided, however, that the total number of Shares that may be delivered pursuant to Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan shall be the number of Shares set forth in the first sentence of this Section 4.1, as adjusted pursuant to this Section 4.1, but without application of the foregoing provisions of this sentence.

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  Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan                            

4.2.Annual Award Limits.

The following limits shall apply to grants of all Awards under the Plan:

(a)Options: The maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be subject to Options granted in any one Fiscal Year to any one Participant shall be five hundred thousand (500,000) Shares.

(b)SARs: The maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be subject to Stock Appreciation Rights granted in any one Fiscal Year to any one Participant shall be five hundred thousand (500,000) Shares. Any Shares covered by Options which include Tandem SARs granted to one Participant in any Fiscal Year shall reduce this limit on the number of Shares subject to SARs that can be granted to such Participant in such Fiscal Year.

(c)Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units: The maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be subject to Awards of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units granted in any one Fiscal Year to any one Participant shall be two hundred thousand (200,000) Shares.

(d)Performance Shares or Performance Units: The maximum aggregate grant with respect to Awards of Performance Shares or Performance Units granted in any one Fiscal Year to any one Participant shall be two hundred thousand (200,000) Shares.

(e)Other Stock-Based Awards: The maximum aggregate grant with respect to Other Stock-Based Awards made in any one Fiscal Year to any one Participant shall be two hundred thousand (200,000) Shares (or cash amounts based on the value of such number of Shares).

(f)Director Awards: The maximum aggregate dollar value of equity-based (based on the grant date fair value of equity-based) Awards and cash compensation granted under this Plan or otherwise during any one Fiscal Year to any one Participant who is aNon-Employee Director shall not exceed $500,000.

To the extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code, Shares subject to Options or SARs which are canceled shall continue to be counted against the limits set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) immediately preceding.

4.3.Adjustments in Authorized Shares.

In the event of any corporate event or transaction (including a change in the Shares or the capitalization of the Company), such as a reclassification, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, reorganization (whether or not such reorganization comes within the definition of such term in Section 368 of the Code), issuance of warrants or rights, dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, stock or other property), stock split or reverse stock split,spin-off,split-up, combination or exchange of shares, repurchase of shares, or other like change in corporate structure, partial or complete liquidation of the Company or distribution (other than ordinary cash dividends) to shareholders of the Company, or any similar corporate event or transaction, the Committee, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of Participants’ rights under the Plan, shall substitute or adjust, as applicable, the number, class and kind of securities which may be delivered under Section 4.1; the number, class and kind, and/or price (such as the Option Price of Options or the Grant Price of SARs) of securities subject to outstanding Awards; the Award limits set forth in Section 4.2; and other value determinations applicable to outstanding Awards;provided,however, that the number of Shares subject to any Award shall always be a whole number. The Committee shall also make appropriate adjustments and modifications in the terms of any outstanding Awards to reflect or related to any such events, adjustments, substitutions or changes, including modifications of performance goals and changes in the length of Performance Periods, subject to the requirements of Article XI in the case of Awards intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation. Any adjustment, substitution or change pursuant to this Section 4.3 made with respect to an Award intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall be made only to the extent consistent with such intent, unless the Committee determines otherwise, and any such adjustment that is made with respect to an Award that provides for Performance-Based Compensation shall be made consistent with the intent that such Award qualify for the performance-based compensation exception under

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                            Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan  

Section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee shall not make any adjustment pursuant to this Section 4.3 that would cause an Award that is otherwise exempt from Code Section 409A to become subject to Code Section 409A, or that would cause an Award that is subject to Code Section 409A to fail to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 409A. All determinations of the Committee as to adjustments or changes, if any, under this Section 4.3 shall be conclusive and binding on the Participants.

4.4.No Limitation on Corporate Actions.

The existence of the Plan and any Awards granted hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in its capital structure or business structure, any merger or consolidation, any issuance of debt, preferred or prior preference stock ahead of or affecting the Shares, additional shares of capital stock or other securities or subscription rights thereto, any dissolution or liquidation, any sale or transfer of all or part of its assets or business or any other corporate act or proceeding. Further, except as expressly provided herein or by the Committee, (i) the issuance by the Company of Shares or any class of securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, for cash, property, labor or services, upon direct sale, upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor, or upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or other securities, (ii) the payment of an ordinary dividend in cash or property other than Shares, or (iii) the occurrence of any similar transaction, and in any case whether or not for fair value, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of Shares subject to Awards theretofore granted or the Option Price, Grant Price or purchase price per share applicable to any Award, unless the Committee shall determine, in its discretion, that an adjustment is necessary or appropriate.

ARTICLE V.

ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

5.1.Eligibility.

Employees andNon-Employee Directors shall be eligible to become Participants and receive Awards in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan, subject to the limitations on the granting of ISOs set forth in Section 6.9(a), the granting of SARs set forth in Section 7.1 and the granting of Performance Units and Performance Shares set forth in Section 9.1.

5.2.Actual Participation.

Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, select Participants from all eligible Employees andNon-Employee Directors and shall determine the nature and amount of each Award.

ARTICLE VI.

STOCK OPTIONS

6.1.Grant of Options.

Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, Options may be granted to Participants in such number, and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee. The Committee may grant an Option or provide for the grant of an Option, either from time to time in the discretion of the Committee or automatically upon the occurrence of specified events, including the achievement of performance goals, the satisfaction of an event or condition within the control of the recipient of the Option or within the control of others. The granting of an Option shall take place when the Committee by resolution, written consent or other appropriate action determines to grant such Option for a particular number of Shares to a particular Participant at a particular Option Price.

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  Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan                            

6.2.Award Agreement.

Each Option grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Option Price, the maximum duration of the Option, the number of Shares to which the Option pertains, the conditions upon which the Option shall become exercisable and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine, which are not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan;provided that if an Award Agreement does not contain exercisability criteria, the Option governed by such Award Agreement shall become exercisable in equal parts on each of the first five (5) anniversaries of the date on which the Option was granted, subject to the other terms and conditions of the Award Agreement and the Plan. The Award Agreement also shall specify whether the Option is intended to be an ISO or an NQSO. To the extent that any Option does not qualify as an ISO (whether because of its provisions or the time or manner of its exercise or otherwise), such Option, or the portion thereof which does not so qualify, shall constitute a separate NQSO.

6.3.Option Price.

The Option Price for each Option shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement;provided that, subject to Section 6.9(c), the Option Price of an Option shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted;providedfurther, that Substitute Awards or Awards granted in connection with an adjustment provided for in Section 4.3, in the form of stock options, shall have an Option Price per Share that is intended to maintain the economic value of the Award that was replaced or adjusted, as determined by the Committee.

6.4.Duration of Options.

Each Option granted to a Participant shall expire at such time as the Committee shall determine at the time of grant and set forth in the Award Agreement;provided,however, that no Option shall be exercisable later than the tenth (10th) anniversary of its date of grant, subject to the respective last sentences of Sections 6.5 and 6.9(c).

6.5.Exercise of Options.

Options shall be exercisable at such times and be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall in each instance determine and set forth in the Award Agreement, which need not be the same for each grant or for each Option or Participant. An Agreement may provide that the period of time over which an Option other than an ISO may be exercised shall be automatically extended if on the scheduled expiration date of such Option the Optionee’s exercise of such Option would violate applicable securities laws;provided,however, that during such extended exercise period the Option may only be exercised to the extent the Option was exercisable in accordance with its terms immediately prior to such scheduled expiration date;providedfurther,however, that such extended exercise period shall end not later than thirty (30) days after the exercise of such Option first would no longer violate such laws.

6.6.Payment.

Options shall be exercised by the delivery of a written notice of exercise to the Company, in a form specified or accepted by the Committee, or by complying with any alternative exercise procedures that may be authorized by the Committee, setting forth the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised, accompanied by full payment for such Shares, which shall include applicable taxes, if any, in accordance with Article XVII. The Option Price upon exercise of any Option shall be payable to the Company in full either: (a) in cash or its equivalent; (b) subject to such terms, conditions and limitations as the Committee may prescribe, by tendering (either by actual delivery or attestation) unencumbered Shares previously acquired by the Participant exercising such Option having an aggregate Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to the total Option Price, (c) by a combination of (a) and (b); or (d) by any other method approved or accepted by the Committee in its sole discretion, including, if the Committee so determines, a cashless (broker-assisted) exercise that complies with all applicable laws and/or by the

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                            Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan  

Company withholding of Shares otherwise deliverable upon exercise of such Option. Subject to any governing rules or regulations, as soon as practicable after receipt of a written notification of exercise and full payment in accordance with the preceding provisions of this Section 6.6, the Company shall deliver to the Participant exercising an Option, in the Participant’s name, evidence of book entry Shares, or, upon the Participant’s request, Share certificates, in an appropriate amount based upon the number of Shares purchased under the Option, subject to Section 20.10. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, all payments under all of the methods described above shall be paid in United States dollars.

6.7.Rights as a Shareholder.

No Participant or other person shall become the beneficial owner of any Shares subject to an Option, nor have any rights to dividends or other rights of a shareholder with respect to any such Shares, until the Participant has actually received such Shares following exercise of his or her Option in accordance with the provisions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

6.8.Termination of Employment or Service.

Except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, an Option may be exercised only to the extent that it is then exercisable, and if at all times during the period beginning with the date of granting of such Option and ending on the date of exercise of such Option the Participant is an Employee orNon-Employee Director, and shall terminate immediately upon a Termination of the Participant.

Notwithstanding the immediately foregoing paragraph, an Option may only be exercised following Termination as provided below in this Section 6.8, unless otherwise provided by the Committee or in the Award Agreement:

(a) In the event a Participant ceases to be an Employee because of Retirement or ceases to be aNon-Employee Director because of voluntary resignation, the Participant shall have the right to exercise his or her Option, to the extent exercisable as of the date of such Retirement or voluntary resignation, respectively, at any time within one (1) year after Retirement or voluntary resignation, respectively.

(b) In the event a Participant ceases to be an Employee orNon-Employee Director due to Disability, the Option held by the Participant may be exercised, to the extent exercisable as of the date of such Termination, at any time within one (1) year after such Termination.

(c) In the event a Participant’s employment with the Company or any Affiliate or Subsidiary or a Participant’s rendering of services as aNon-Employee Director to the Company ceases for reasons other than those described in subsections (a) or (b) immediately above and not due to Termination for Cause, his or her Option, to the extent exercisable as of the date of such Termination, may be exercised at any time prior to the first (1st) anniversary of the date of such Termination.

(d) In the event a Participant dies either while an Employee orNon-Employee Director or after Termination under circumstances described in subsections (a), (b) or (c) immediately above within the applicable time period described therein, any Options held by such Participant, to the extent such Options would have been exercisable in accordance with the applicable subsection of this Section 6.8 as of the date of the Participant’s death, may be exercised at any time within one (1) year after the Participant’s death by the Participant’s beneficiary or the executors or administrators of the Participant’s estate or by any person or persons who shall have acquired the Option directly from the Participant by bequest or inheritance, in accordance herewith.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.8 to the contrary, the Committee may determine in its discretion that an Option may be exercised following any such Termination, whether or not exercisable at the time of such Termination. Subsections (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this Section 6.8, and the immediately preceding sentence, shall be subject to the condition that, except as otherwise provided by the Committee, no Option may be exercised after a Participant’s Termination for Cause or after the expiration date of such Option specified in the applicable Award Agreement.

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  Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan                            

6.9.Limitations on Incentive Stock Options.

(a)General. No ISO shall be granted to any individual otherwise eligible to participate in the Plan who is not an Employee of the Company or a Subsidiary on the date of granting of such Option. Any ISO granted under the Plan shall contain such terms and conditions, consistent with the Plan, as the Committee may determine to be necessary to qualify such Option as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code. Any ISO granted under the Plan may be modified by the Committee to disqualify such Option from treatment as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code.

(b)$100,000 Per Year Limitation. Notwithstanding any intent to grant ISOs, an Option granted under the Plan will not be considered an ISO to the extent that it, together with any other “incentive stock options” (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, but without regard to subsection (d) of such Section) under the Plan and any other “incentive stock option” plans of the Company, any Subsidiary and any “parent corporation” of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(e) of the Code, are exercisable for the first time by any Participant during any calendar year with respect to Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value in excess of $100,000 (or such other limit as may be required by the Code) as of the time the Option with respect to such Shares is granted. The rule set forth in the preceding sentence shall be applied by taking Options into account in the order in which they were granted.

(c)Options Granted to Certain Shareholders. No ISO shall be granted to an individual otherwise eligible to participate in the Plan who owns (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code), at the time the Option is granted, more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or a Subsidiary or any “parent corporation” of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(e) of the Code. This restriction does not apply if at the time such ISO is granted the Option Price of the ISO is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date such ISO is granted, and the ISO by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from such date of grant.

6.10.No Repricing.

Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, no Option may be repriced, regranted through cancellation, or otherwise amended to reduce the Option Price applicable thereto (other than with respect to adjustments described in Section 4.3) without the approval of the Company’s shareholders to the extent required by the listing requirements of any national securities exchange on which the Company’s securities are then actively traded.

ARTICLE VII.

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

7.1.Grant of SARs.

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, SARs may be granted to Participants other thanNon-Employee Directors at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee. The Committee may grant a SAR (a) in connection and simultaneously with the grant of an Option (a Tandem SAR) or (b) independent of, and unrelated to, an Option (a Freestanding SAR). The Committee shall have complete discretion in determining the number of Shares to which a SAR pertains (subject to Article IV) and, consistent with the provisions of the Plan, in determining the terms and conditions pertaining to any SAR. The terms and conditions of SARs shall be consistent with the Plan and set forth in the Award Agreement and need not be uniform among all SARs or all Participants receiving such SARs.

7.2.Grant Price.

The Grant Price for each SAR shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement, subject to the limitations of this Section 7.2. The Grant Price for each Freestanding SAR shall be not less

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                            Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan  

than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date such Freestanding SAR is granted, except in the case of Substitute Awards or Awards granted in connection with an adjustment provided for in Section 4.3. The Grant Price of a Tandem SAR shall be equal to the Option Price of the related Option.

7.3.Exercise of Tandem SARs.

Tandem SARs may be exercised for all or part of the Shares subject to the related Option upon the surrender of the right to exercise the equivalent portion of the related Option. A Tandem SAR shall be exercisable only when and to the extent the related Option is exercisable and may be exercised only with respect to the Shares for which the related Option is then exercisable. A Tandem SAR shall entitle a Participant to elect, in the manner set forth in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, in lieu of exercising his or her unexercised related Option for all or a portion of the Shares for which such Option is then exercisable pursuant to its terms, to surrender such Option to the Company with respect to any or all of such Shares and to receive from the Company in exchange therefor a payment described in Section 7.7. An Option with respect to which a Participant has elected to exercise a Tandem SAR shall, to the extent of the Shares covered by such exercise, be canceled automatically and surrendered to the Company. Such Option shall thereafter remain exercisable according to its terms only with respect to the number of Shares as to which it would otherwise be exercisable, less the number of Shares with respect to which such Tandem SAR has been so exercised. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, with respect to a Tandem SAR granted in connection with an ISO: (a) the Tandem SAR will expire no later than the expiration of the related ISO; (b) the value of the payment with respect to the Tandem SAR may not exceed the difference between the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the related ISO at the time the Tandem SAR is exercised and the Option Price of the related ISO; and (c) the Tandem SAR may be exercised only when the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the ISO exceeds the Option Price of the ISO.

7.4.Exercise of Freestanding SARs.

Freestanding SARs may be exercised upon whatever terms and conditions the Committee, in its sole discretion, in accordance with the Plan, determines and sets forth in the Award Agreement.

7.5.Award Agreement.

Each SAR grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the number of Shares to which the SAR pertains, the Grant Price, the term of the SAR, and such other terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine in accordance with the Plan.

7.6.Term of SARs.

The term of a SAR granted under the Plan shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion;provided,however, that the term of any Tandem SAR shall be the same as the related Option and no SAR shall be exercisable more than ten (10) years after it is granted, subject to the last sentence of Section 6.5 in the case of a Tandem SAR.

7.7.Payment of SAR Amount.

An election to exercise SARs shall be deemed to have been made on the date of Notice of such election to the Company. Upon exercise of a SAR, a Participant shall be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying:

(a) The excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the Grant Price of the SAR; by

(b) The number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised.

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  Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan                            

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.7 to the contrary, the Committee may establish and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement a maximum amount per Share that will be payable upon the exercise of a SAR. At the discretion of the Committee, such payment upon exercise of a SAR shall be in cash, in Shares of equivalent Fair Market Value, or in some combination thereof.

7.8.Rights as a Shareholder.

A Participant receiving a SAR shall have the rights of a Shareholder only as to Shares, if any, actually issued to such Participant upon satisfaction or achievement of the terms and conditions of the Award, and in accordance with the provisions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, and not with respect to Shares to which such Award relates but which are not actually issued to such Participant.

7.9.Termination of Employment or Service.

Each SAR Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to exercise the SAR following such Participant’s Termination, subject to Section 6.8, as applicable to any Tandem SAR. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, need not be uniform among all SARs issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for Termination.

7.10.No Repricing.

Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, no SAR may be repriced, regranted through cancellation, or otherwise amended to reduce the Grant Price applicable thereto (other than with respect to adjustments described in Section 4.3) without the approval of the Company’s shareholders to the extent required by the listing requirements of any national securities exchange on which the Company’s securities are then actively traded.

ARTICLE VIII.

RESTRICTED STOCK AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

8.1.Awards of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.

Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units to Participants in such amounts as the Committee shall determine. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Article VIII and the Award Agreement, upon delivery of Shares of Restricted Stock to a Participant, or creation of a book entry evidencing a Participant’s ownership of Shares of Restricted Stock, pursuant to Section 8.6, the Participant shall have all of the rights of a shareholder with respect to such Shares, subject to the terms and restrictions set forth in this Article VIII or the applicable Award Agreement or as determined by the Committee. Restricted Stock Units shall be similar to Restricted Stock, except no Shares are actually awarded to a Participant who is granted Restricted Stock Units on the date of grant, and such Participant shall have no rights of a shareholder with respect to such Restricted Stock Units.

8.2.Award Agreement.

Each Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Unit Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Period of Restriction, the number of Shares of Restricted Stock or the number of Restricted Stock Units granted, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine in accordance with the Plan.

8.3.Nontransferability of Restricted Stock.

Except as provided in this Article VIII, Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, encumbered, alienated, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of until the end of the applicable Period of Restriction established by the Committee and specified in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement.

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                            Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan  

8.4.Period of Restriction and Other Restrictions.

The Period of Restriction shall lapse based on continuing service as aNon-Employee Director or continuing employment with the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate, the achievement of performance goals, the satisfaction of other conditions or restrictions or upon the occurrence of other events, in each case, as determined by the Committee, at its discretion, and stated in the Award Agreement.

8.5.Delivery of Shares, Payment of Restricted Stock Units.

Subject to Section 20.10, after the last day of the Period of Restriction applicable to a Participant’s Shares of Restricted Stock, and after all conditions and restrictions applicable to such Shares of Restricted Stock have been satisfied or lapse (including satisfaction of any applicable withholding tax obligations), pursuant to the applicable Award Agreement, such Shares of Restricted Stock shall become freely transferable by such Participant. After the last day of the Period of Restriction applicable to a Participant’s Restricted Stock Units, and after all conditions and restrictions applicable to Restricted Stock Units have been satisfied or lapse (including satisfaction of any applicable withholding tax obligations), pursuant to the applicable Award Agreement, such Restricted Stock Units shall be settled by delivery of Shares, a cash payment determined by reference to the then-current Fair Market Value of Shares or a combination of Shares and such cash payment as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine, either by the terms of the Award Agreement or otherwise.

8.6.Forms of Restricted Stock Awards.

Each Participant who receives an Award of Shares of Restricted Stock shall be issued a stock certificate or certificates evidencing the Shares covered by such Award registered in the name of such Participant, which certificate or certificates may contain an appropriate legend. The Committee may require a Participant who receives a certificate or certificates evidencing a Restricted Stock Award to immediately deposit such certificate or certificates, together with a stock power or other appropriate instrument of transfer, endorsed in blank by the Participant, with signatures guaranteed in accordance with the Exchange Act if required by the Committee, with the Secretary of the Company or an escrow holder as provided in the immediately following sentence. The Secretary of the Company or such escrow holder as the Committee may appoint shall retain physical custody of each certificate representing a Restricted Stock Award until the Period of Restriction and any other restrictions imposed by the Committee or under the Award Agreement with respect to the Shares evidenced by such certificate expire or shall have been removed. The foregoing to the contrary notwithstanding, the Committee may, in its discretion, provide that a Participant’s ownership of Shares of Restricted Stock prior to the lapse of the Period of Restriction or any other applicable restrictions shall, in lieu of such certificates, be evidenced by a “book entry” (i.e., a computerized or manual entry) in the records of the Company or its designated agent in the name of the Participant who has received such Award. Such records of the Company or such agent shall, absent manifest error, be binding on all Participants who receive Restricted Stock Awards evidenced in such manner. The holding of Shares of Restricted Stock by the Company or such an escrow holder, or the use of book entries to evidence the ownership of Shares of Restricted Stock, in accordance with this Section 8.6, shall not affect the rights of Participants as owners of the Shares of Restricted Stock awarded to them, nor affect the restrictions applicable to such shares under the Award Agreement or the Plan, including the Period of Restriction.

8.7.Voting Rights.

Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and set forth in a Participant’s Award Agreement, to the extent permitted or required by law, as determined by the Committee, Participants holding Shares of Restricted Stock may be granted the right to exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares during the Period of Restriction. A Participant shall have no voting rights with respect to any Restricted Stock Units.

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  Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan                            

8.8.Dividends and Other Distributions.

During the Period of Restriction, Participants holding Shares of Restricted Stock shall be credited with any cash dividends paid with respect to such Shares while they are so held, unless determined otherwise by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement. The Committee may apply any restrictions to such dividends that the Committee deems appropriate. Except as set forth in the Award Agreement, in the event of (a) any adjustment as provided in Section 4.3, or (b) any shares or securities are received as a dividend, or an extraordinary dividend is paid in cash, on Shares of Restricted Stock, any new or additional Shares or securities or any extraordinary dividends paid in cash received by a recipient of Restricted Stock shall be subject to the same terms and conditions, including the Period of Restriction, as relate to the original Shares of Restricted Stock.

8.9.Termination of Employment or Service.

Except as otherwise provided in this Section 8.9, during the Period of Restriction, any Restricted Stock Units and/or Shares of Restricted Stock held by a Participant shall be forfeited and revert to the Company (or, if Shares of Restricted Sock were sold to the Participant, the Participant shall be required to resell such Shares to the Company at cost) upon the Participant’s Termination or the failure to meet or satisfy any applicable performance goals or other terms, conditions and restrictions to the extent set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Each applicable Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which, if any, the Participant shall have the right to retain Restricted Stock Units and/or Shares of Restricted Stock following such Participant’s Termination. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the applicable Award Agreement, need not be uniform among all such Awards issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for, or circumstances of, such Termination.

8.10.Compliance With Code Section 409A.

Unless the Committee provides otherwise in an Award Agreement, each Restricted Stock Unit shall be paid in full to the Participant no later than the fifteenth day of the third month after the end of the first calendar year in which the Restricted Stock Unit is no longer subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” within the meaning of Code Section 409A. If the Committee provides in an Award Agreement that a Restricted Stock Unit is intended to be subject to Code Section 409A, the Award Agreement shall include terms that are intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 409A.

ARTICLE IX.

PERFORMANCE UNITS AND PERFORMANCE SHARES

9.1.Grant of Performance Units and Performance Shares.

Subject to the terms of the Plan, Performance Units and/or Performance Shares may be granted to Participants other thanNon-Employee Directors in such amounts and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time, as shall be determined by the Committee, in accordance with the Plan. A Performance Unit or Performance Share entitles the Participant who receives such Award to receive Shares or cash upon the attainment of performance goals and/or satisfaction of other terms and conditions determined by the Committee when the Award is granted and set forth in the Award Agreement. Such entitlements of a Participant with respect to his or her outstanding Performance Unit or Performance Share shall be reflected by a bookkeeping entry in the records of the Company, unless otherwise provided by the Award Agreement. The terms and conditions of such Awards shall be consistent with the Plan and set forth in the Award Agreement and need not be uniform among all such Awards or all Participants receiving such Awards.

9.2.Value of Performance Units and Performance Shares.

Each Performance Unit shall have an initial value that is established by the Committee at the time of grant. Each Performance Share shall have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of

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                            Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan  

grant. The Committee shall set performance goals in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the number and/or value of Performance Units and Performance Shares that will be paid out to the Participant.

9.3.Earning of Performance Units and Performance Shares.

Subject to the terms of the Plan, after the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Units or Performance Shares shall be entitled to receive payment on the number and value of Performance Units or Performance Shares earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding performance goals and/or other terms and conditions have been achieved or satisfied. The Committee shall determine the extent to which any suchpre-established performance goals and/or other terms and conditions of a Performance Unit or Performance Share are attained or not attained following conclusion of the applicable Performance Period. The Committee may, in its discretion, waive any such performance goals and/or other terms and conditions relating to any such Award not intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation.

9.4.Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Units and Performance Shares.

Payment of earned Performance Units and Performance Shares shall be as determined by the Committee and as set forth in the Award Agreement. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Units and Performance Shares in the form of cash or in Shares (or in a combination thereof) which have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the value of the earned Performance Units or Performance Shares as soon as practicable after the end of the Performance Period and following the Committee’s determination of actual performance against the performance goals and/or other terms and conditions established by the Committee. Such Shares may be granted subject to any restrictions imposed by the Committee, including pursuant to Section 20.10. The determination of the Committee with respect to the form of payment of such Awards shall be set forth in the Award Agreement pertaining to the grant of the Award.

9.5.Rights as a Shareholder.

A Participant receiving a Performance Unit or Performance Share shall have the rights of a shareholder only as to Shares, if any, actually received by the Participant upon satisfaction or achievement of the terms and conditions of such Award and not with respect to Shares subject to the Award but not actually issued to such Participant.

9.6.Termination of Employment or Service.

Each Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to retain Performance Units and/or Performance Shares following such Participant’s Termination. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the applicable Award Agreement, need not be uniform among all such Awards issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for Termination.

9.7.Compliance With Code Section 409A.

Unless the Committee provides otherwise in an Award Agreement, each Performance Unit and/or Performance Share that is considered deferred compensation subject to the requirements of Code Section 409A shall be paid in full to the Participant no later than the fifteenth day of the third month after the end of the first calendar year in which such Award is no longer subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” within the meaning of Code Section 409A. If the Committee provides in an Award Agreement that a Performance Share or Performance Unit is intended to be subject to Code Section 409A, the Award Agreement shall include terms that are intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 409A.

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  Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan                            

ARTICLE X.

OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS

10.1.Other Stock-Based Awards.

The Committee may grant types of equity-based or equity-related Awards not otherwise described by the terms of the Plan (including the grant or offer for sale of unrestricted Shares), in such amounts (subject to Article IV) and subject to such terms and conditions, as the Committee shall determine. Such Other Stock-Based Awards may involve the transfer of actual Shares to Participants, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of Shares and may include Awards designed to comply with or take advantage of the applicable local laws of jurisdictions other than the United States. The terms and conditions of such Awards shall be consistent with the Plan and set forth in the Award Agreement and need not be uniform among all such Awards or all Participants receiving such Awards.

10.2.Value of Other Stock-Based Awards.

Each Other Stock-Based Award shall be expressed in terms of Shares or units based on Shares, as determined by the Committee. The Committee may establish performance goals in its discretion, and any such performance goals shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. If the Committee exercises its discretion to establish performance goals, the number and/or value of Other Stock-Based Awards that will be paid out to the Participant will depend on the extent to which such performance goals are met.

10.3.Payment of Other Stock-Based Awards.

Payment, if any, with respect to an Other Stock-Based Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Award, as set forth in the Award Agreement, in cash or Shares as the Committee determines.

10.4.Termination of Employment or Service.

The Committee shall determine the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to receive Other Stock-Based Awards following the Participant’s Termination. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, such provisions may be included in the applicable Award Agreement, but need not be uniform among all Other Stock-Based Awards issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for Termination.

10.5.Compliance With Code Section 409A.

Unless the Committee provides otherwise in an Award Agreement, each Other Stock-Based Award that is considered deferred compensation subject to the requirements of Code Section 409A shall be paid in full to the Participant no later than the fifteenth day of the third month after the end of the first calendar year in which the Other Stock-Based Award is no longer subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” within the meaning of Code Section 409A. If the Committee provides in an Award Agreement that an Other Stock-Based Award is intended to be subject to Code Section 409A, the Award Agreement shall include terms that are intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 409A.

ARTICLE XI.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

11.1.Performance Measures.

The objective performance goals upon which the granting, payment and/or vesting of Awards to Covered Employees that are intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation may occur shall be based on any one or more of the following Performance Measures selected by the Committee:

(a) Earnings per share;

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                            Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan  

(b) Net earnings or net income (before or after taxes);

(c) Net sales or revenue;

(d) Net operating profit;

(e) Return measures (including return on assets, capital, invested capital, equity, sales or revenue);

(f) Cash flow (including operating cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on equity and cash flow return on investment);

(g) Earnings before or after interest, taxes, depreciation and/or amortization;

(h) Gross or operating margins;

(i) Productivity ratios;

(j) Revenue growth;

(k) Expenses;

(l) Margins;

(m) Operating efficiency;

(n) Customer satisfaction;

(o) Working capital;

(p) Market share;

(q) Share price (including growth measures, market capitalization, total shareholder return and return relative to market indices); and

(r) Economic value added or EVA (net operating profit after tax minus capital multiplied by the cost of capital).

Such performance goals shall be established by the Committee within the time period prescribed by, and shall otherwise comply with the requirements of, Code Section 162(m)(4)(C), or any successor provision thereto, and the regulations thereunder, for performance-based compensation, and may be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Any Performance Measures may be used to measure the performance of the Company, its Affiliates, and/or Subsidiaries as a whole or any business unit of the Company, its Affiliates, and/or Subsidiaries or any combination thereof, as the Committee may deem appropriate, or any of the above Performance Measures as compared to the performance of a group of comparator companies, or published or special index that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, or the Company may select Performance Measure (g) above as compared to various stock market indices.

11.2.Evaluation of Performance.

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, payment or vesting of any such Award that is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall not be made until the Committee certifies in writing that the applicable performance goals and any other material terms of such Award were in fact satisfied, except as otherwise provided in Section 11.3. The Committee may provide in any such Award that any evaluation of performance may include or exclude any of the following events that occurs during a Performance Period: (a) asset write-downs, (b) litigation or claim judgments or settlements, (c) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or provisions affecting reported results, (d) any reorganization and restructuring programs, (e) extraordinary, unusual and/or nonrecurring items of gain or loss, (f) acquisitions or divestitures, and (g) foreign exchange gains and losses. To the extent such inclusions or exclusions affect Awards to Covered Employees, they shall be prescribed in a form that meets the requirements of Code Section 162(m) for deductibility.

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  Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan                            

11.3.Adjustment of Performance-Based Compensation.

Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, with respect to any Award that is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, (a) the Committee may adjust downwards, but not upwards, any amount payable, or other benefits granted, issued, retained and/or vested pursuant to such an Award on account of satisfaction of the applicable performance goals on the basis of such further considerations as the Committee in its discretion shall determine, and (b) the Committee may not waive the achievement of the applicable performance goals, except in the case of the Participant’s death or Disability, or a Change of Control.

11.4.Committee Discretion.

In the event that applicable tax and/or securities laws change to permit Committee discretion to alter the governing Performance Measures without obtaining shareholder approval of such changes, the Committee shall have sole discretion to make such changes without obtaining shareholder approval. In addition, in the event that the Committee determines that it is advisable to grant Awards that shall not qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, the Committee may make such grants without satisfying the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and base vesting of such Awards on performance measures other than those set forth in Section 11.1 and establish terms and conditions that do not satisfy all of the specific requirements set forth in this Article XI.

ARTICLE XII.

DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS

12.1.Dividend Equivalents.

Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, no adjustment shall be made in the Shares issuable or taken into account under Awards on account of cash dividends that may be paid or other rights that may be issued to the holders of Shares prior to issuance of such Shares under such Award. The Committee may grant Dividend Equivalents based on the dividends declared on Shares that are subject to any Award, including any Award the payment or settlement of which is deferred pursuant to Section 20.6. Dividend Equivalents may be credited as of the dividend payment dates, during the period between the date the Award is granted and the date the Award becomes payable or terminates or expires. Dividend Equivalents may be subject to any limitations and/or restrictions determined by the Committee. Dividend Equivalents shall be converted to cash or additional Shares by such formula and at such time, and shall be paid at such times, as may be determined by the Committee. Unless the Award Agreement provides otherwise, Dividend Equivalents that are considered deferred compensation subject to the requirements of Code Section 409A shall be paid to the Participant at least annually, not later than the fifteenth day of the third month following the end of the calendar year in which the Dividend Equivalents are credited (or, if later, the fifteenth day of the third month following the end of the calendar year in which the Dividend Equivalents are no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture within the meaning of Code Section 409A). Any Dividend Equivalents that are accumulated and paid after the date specified in the preceding sentence shall be explicitly set forth in a separate arrangement that provides for the payment of the dividend equivalents at a time and in a manner that satisfies the requirements of Code Section 409A. No Dividend Equivalents shall relate to Shares underlying an Option or SAR unless such Dividend Equivalent rights are explicitly set forth as a separate arrangement and do not cause any such Option or SAR to be subject to Code Section 409A.

ARTICLE XIII.

TRANSFERABILITY OF AWARDS; BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION

13.1.Transferability of Incentive Stock Options.

No ISO or Tandem SAR granted in connection with an ISO may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or in

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                            Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan  

accordance with Section 13.3. Further, all ISOs and Tandem SARs granted in connection with ISOs granted to a Participant shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant.

13.2.All Other Awards.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 8.5 or Section 13.3 or a Participant’s Award Agreement or otherwise determined at any time by the Committee, no Award granted under the Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution;provided that the Committee may permit further transferability, on a general or a specific basis, and may impose conditions and limitations on any permitted transferability, subject to Section 13.1 and any applicable Period of Restriction. Further, except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Award Agreement or otherwise determined at any time by the Committee, or unless the Committee decides to permit further transferability, subject to Section 13.1 and any applicable Period of Restriction, all Awards granted to a Participant under the Plan, and all rights with respect to such Awards, shall be exercisable or available during his or her lifetime only by or to such Participant. With respect to those Awards, if any, that are permitted to be transferred to another individual, references in the Plan to exercise or payment related to such Awards by or to the Participant shall be deemed to include, as determined by the Committee, the Participant’s permitted transferee. In the event any Award is exercised by or otherwise paid to the executors, administrators, heirs or distributees of the estate of a deceased Participant, or such a Participant’s beneficiary, or the transferee of an Award, in any such case, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Plan and the applicable Agreement and in accordance with such terms and conditions as may be specified from time to time by the Committee, the Company shall be under no obligation to issue Shares thereunder unless and until the Company is satisfied, as determined in the discretion of the Committee, that the person or persons exercising such Award, or to receive such payment, are the duly appointed legal representative of the deceased Participant’s estate or the proper legatees or distributees thereof or the named beneficiary of such Participant, or the valid transferee of such Award, as applicable. Any purported assignment, transfer or encumbrance of an Award that does not comply with this Section 13.2 shall be void and unenforceable against the Company.

13.3.Beneficiary Designation.

Each Participant may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or beneficiaries who shall be permitted to exercise his or her Option or SAR or to whom any benefit under the Plan is to be paid in case of the Participant’s death before he or she fully exercises his or her Option or SAR or receives any or all of such benefit. Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Company, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime. In the absence of any such beneficiary designation, a Participant’s unexercised Option or SAR, or amounts due but remaining unpaid to such Participant, at the Participant’s death, shall be exercised or paid as designated by the Participant by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

ARTICLE XIV.

RIGHTS OF PARTICIPANTS

14.1.Rights or Claims.

No individual shall have any rights or claims under the Plan except in accordance with the provisions of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement. The grant of an Award under the Plan shall not confer any rights upon the Participant holding such Award other than such terms, and subject to such conditions, as are specified in the Plan as being applicable to such type of Award, or to all Awards, or as are expressly set

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  Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan                            

forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing contained in the Plan or in any Award Agreement shall be deemed to:

(a) Give any Employee orNon-Employee Director the right to be retained in the service of the Company, an Affiliate and/or a Subsidiary, whether in any particular position, at any particular rate of compensation, for any particular period of time or otherwise;

(b) Restrict in any way the right of the Company, an Affiliate and/or a Subsidiary to terminate, change or modify any Employee’s employment or anyNon-Employee Director’s service as a Director at any time with or without Cause;

(c) Give any Employee orNon-Employee Director the right to receive any bonus, whether payable in cash or in Shares, or in any combination thereof, from the Company, an Affiliate and/or a Subsidiary, nor be construed as limiting in any way the right of the Company, an Affiliate and/or a Subsidiary to determine, in its sole discretion, whether or not it shall pay any Employee orNon-Employee Director bonuses, and, if so paid, the amount thereof and the manner of such payment; or

(d) Give any Participant any rights whatsoever with respect to an Award except as specifically provided in the Plan and the Award Agreement.

14.2.Adoption of the Plan.

The adoption of the Plan shall not be deemed to give any Employee orNon-Employee Director or any other individual any right to be selected as a Participant or to be granted an Award, or, having been so selected, to be selected to receive a future Award.

14.3.Vesting.

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, a Participant’s right or entitlement to exercise or otherwise vest in any Award not exercisable or vested at the time of grant shall only result from continued services as aNon-Employee Director or continued employment with the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, or satisfaction of any other performance goals or other conditions or restrictions applicable, by its terms, to such Award

14.4.No Effects on Benefits.

Payments and other compensation received by a Participant under an Award are not part of such Participant’s normal or expected compensation or salary for any purpose, including calculating termination, indemnity, severance, resignation, redundancy, end of service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement benefits or similar payments under any laws, plans, contracts, arrangements or otherwise. No claim or entitlement to compensation or damages arises from the termination of the Plan or diminution in value of any Award or Shares purchased or otherwise received under the Plan.

14.5.One or More Types of Awards.

A particular type of Award may be granted to a Participant either alone or in addition to other Awards under the Plan.

ARTICLE XV.

CHANGE OF CONTROL

15.1.Treatment of Outstanding Awards.

In the event of a Change of Control, unless otherwise specifically prohibited by any applicable laws, rules or regulations or otherwise provided in any applicable Award Agreement, as in effect prior to the occurrence of the Change of Control, specifically with respect to a Change of Control:

(a) Immediately prior to the occurrence of such Change of Control, any and all Options, SARs and Other Stock-Based Awards (if applicable) which are outstanding shall immediately become fully

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                            Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan  

exercisable as to all Shares covered thereby, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or the Award Agreement, and, in the event of a Participant’s Termination (including termination of employment or services with any successor of the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate) under any circumstances during the one year period following the Change of Control, all Options, SARs and Other Stock-Based Awards (if applicable) held by such Participant (or such Participant’s beneficiary or transferee) shall remain exercisable at least until the first anniversary of such Termination or the expiration of the term of such Option, SAR or Other Stock-Based Award, if earlier.

(b) Immediately prior to the occurrence of such Change of Control, any restrictions, performance goals or other conditions applicable to Restricted Stock Units, Shares of Restricted Stock and Other Stock-Based Awards previously awarded to Participants shall be immediately canceled or deemed achieved, the Period of Restriction applicable thereto shall immediately terminate, and all restrictions on transfer, sale, assignment, pledge or other disposition applicable to any such Shares of Restricted Stock shall immediately lapse, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or the Award Agreement.

(c) Immediately prior to the occurrence of such Change of Control, all Awards which are outstanding shall immediately become fully vested and nonforfeitable.

(d) The target payment opportunities attainable under any outstanding Awards of Performance Units, Performance Shares and other Awards shall be deemed to have been fully earned for the entire Performance Period(s) immediately prior to the effective date of the Change of Control, unless actual performance exceeds the target, in which case actual performance shall be used. There shall be paid out to each Participant holding such an Award denominated in Shares, not later than five (5) days prior to the effective date of the Change of Control, apro rata number of Shares (or the equivalent Fair Market Value thereof, as determined by the Committee, in cash) based upon an assumed achievement of all relevant targeted performance goals, unless actual performance exceeds the target, in which case actual performance shall be used, and upon the length of time within the Performance Period which has elapsed prior to the Change of Control. Awards denominated in cash shall be paidpro rata to applicable Participants in cash within thirty (30) days following the effective date of the Change of Control, with thepro-ration determined as a function of the length of time within the Performance Period which has elapsed prior to the Change of Control, and based on an assumed achievement of all relevant targeted performance goals, unless actual performance exceeds the target, in which case actual performance shall be used.

(e) Subject to Section 15.4, any Award the payment or settlement of which was deferred under Section 20.6 or otherwise shall be paid or distributed immediately prior to the Change of Control, except as otherwise provided by the Committee in accordance with Section 15.1(f).

(f) In its discretion, and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, the Committee may provide, either by the terms of the Award Agreement applicable to any Award or by resolution adopted prior to the occurrence of the Change of Control, that any outstanding Award shall be adjusted by substituting for each Share subject to such Award immediately prior to the transaction resulting in the Change of Control the consideration (whether stock or other securities of the surviving corporation or any successor corporation to the Company, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or that may be issuable by another corporation that is a party to the transaction resulting in the Change of Control) received in such transaction by holders of Shares for each Share held on the closing or effective date of such transaction, in which event the aggregate Option Price or Grant Price, as applicable, of the Award shall remain the same;provided,however, that if such consideration received in such transaction is not solely stock of a successor, surviving or other corporation, the Committee may provide for the consideration to be received upon exercise or payment of an Award, for each Share subject to such Award, to be solely stock or other securities of the successor, surviving or other corporation, as applicable, equal in fair market value, as determined by the Committee, to theper-Share consideration received by holders of Shares in such transaction.

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  Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan                            

(g) In its discretion, and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, the Committee may provide, either by the terms of the Award Agreement applicable to any Award or by resolution adopted prior to the occurrence of the Change of Control, that any outstanding Award (or portion thereof) shall be converted into a right to receive cash, on or as soon as practicable following the closing date or expiration date of the transaction resulting in the Change of Control in an amount equal to the highest value of the consideration to be received in connection with such transaction for one Share, or, if higher, the highest Fair Market Value of a Share during the thirty (30) consecutive business days immediately prior to the closing date or expiration date of such transaction, less theper-Share Option Price, Grant Price or outstanding unpaid purchase price, as applicable to the Award, multiplied by the number of Shares subject to such Award, or the applicable portion thereof.

(h) The Committee may, in its discretion, provide that an Award can or cannot be exercised after, or will otherwise terminate or not terminate as of, a Change of Control.

15.2.No Implied Rights; Other Limitations.

No Participant shall have any right to prevent the consummation of any of the acts described in Section 4.3 or 15.1 affecting the number of Shares available to, or other entitlement of, such Participant under the Plan or such Participant’s Award. Any actions or determinations of the Committee under this Article XV need not be uniform as to all outstanding Awards, nor treat all Participants identically. Notwithstanding the adjustments described in Section 15.1, in no event may any Option or SAR be exercised after ten (10) years from the date it was originally granted, and any changes to ISOs pursuant to this Article XV shall, unless the Committee determines otherwise, only be effective to the extent such adjustments or changes do not cause a “modification” (within the meaning of Section 424(h)(3) of the Code) of such ISOs or adversely affect the tax status of such ISOs.

15.3.Termination, Amendment, and Modifications of Change of Control Provisions.

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan (but subject to the limitations of Section 15.1(g), the last sentence of Section 16.1 and Section 16.2) or any Award Agreement provision, the provisions of this Article XV may not be terminated, amended, or modified on or after the date of a Change of Control to materially impair any Participant’s Award theretofore granted and then outstanding under the Plan without the prior written consent of such Participant.

15.4.Compliance with Code Section 409A.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, if a Change of Control that is not a Qualified Change of Control occurs, and payment or distribution of an Award constituting deferred compensation subject to Code Section 409A would otherwise be made or commence on the date of such Change of Control (pursuant to the Plan, the Award Agreement or otherwise), (a) the vesting of such Award shall accelerate in accordance with the Plan and the Award Agreement, (b) such payment or distribution shall not be made or commence prior to the earliest date on which Code Section 409A permits such payment or distribution to be made or commence without additional taxes or penalties under Code Section 409A, and (c) in the event any such payment or distribution is deferred in accordance with the immediately preceding clause (b), such payment or distribution that would have been made prior to the deferred payment or commencement date, but for Code Section 409A, shall be paid or distributed on such earliest payment or commencement date, together, if determined by the Committee, with interest at the rate established by the Committee. The Committee shall not extend the period to exercise an Option or Stock Appreciation Right to the extent that such extension would cause the Option or Stock Appreciation Right to become subject to Code Section 409A. Additionally, the Committee shall not take any action pursuant to this Article XV that would cause an Award that is otherwise exempt from Code Section 409A to become subject to Code Section 409A, or that would cause an Award that is subject to Code Section 409A to fail to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 409A.

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                            Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan  

ARTICLE XVI.

AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION

16.1.Amendment, Modification, and Termination.

The Board may, at any time and with or without prior notice, amend, alter, suspend, or terminate the Plan, and the Committee may, to the extent permitted by the Plan, amend the terms of any Award theretofore granted, including any Award Agreement, in each case, retroactively or prospectively;provided,however, that no such amendment, alteration, suspension, or termination of the Plan shall be made which, without first obtaining approval of the shareholders of the Company (where such approval is necessary to satisfy (i) the then-applicable requirements of Rule16b-3, (ii) any requirements under the Code relating to ISOs or for exemption from Section 162(m) of the Code, or (iii) any applicable law, regulation or rule (including the applicable regulations and rules of the SEC and any national securities exchange)), would:

(a) except as is provided in Section 4.3, increase the maximum number of Shares which may be sold or awarded under the Plan or increase the maximum limitations set forth in Section 4.2;

(b) except as is provided in Section 4.3, decrease the minimum Option Price or Grant Price requirements of Sections 6.3 and 7.2, respectively;

(c) change the class of persons eligible to receive Awards under the Plan;

(d) change the Performance Measures set forth in Section 11.1;

(e) extend the duration of the Plan or the period during which Options or SARs may be exercised under Section 6.4 or 7.6, as applicable; or

(f) otherwise require shareholder approval to comply with any applicable law, regulation or rule (including the applicable regulations and rules of the SEC and any national securities exchange).

In addition, (A) no such amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of the Plan or any Award theretofore granted, including any Award Agreement, shall be made which would materially impair the previously accrued rights of a Participant under any outstanding Award without the written consent of such Participant,provided,however, that the Board may amend or alter the Plan and the Committee may amend or alter any Award, including any Agreement, either retroactively or prospectively, without the consent of the applicable Participant, (x) so as to preserve or come within any exemptions from liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, pursuant to the rules and releases promulgated by the SEC (includingRule 16b-3), and/or so that any Award that is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall qualify for the performance-based compensation exception under Code Section 162(m) (or any successor provision), or (y) if the Board or the Committee determines in its discretion that such amendment or alteration either (I) is required or advisable for the Company, the Plan or the Award to satisfy, comply with or meet the requirements of any law, regulation, rule or accounting standard or (II) is not reasonably likely to significantly diminish the benefits provided under such Award, or that such diminishment has been or will be adequately compensated, and (B) except as is provided in Section 4.3, but notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, neither the Board nor the Committee may take any action (1) to amend the terms of an outstanding Option or SAR to reduce the Option Price or Grant Price thereof, cancel an Option or SAR and replace it with a new Option or SAR with a lower Option Price or Grant Price, or that has an economic effect that is the same as any such reduction or cancellation; or (2) to cancel an outstanding Option or SAR having an Option Price or Grant Price above the then-current Fair Market Value of the Shares in exchange for the grant of another type of Award, without, in each such case, first obtaining approval of the shareholders of the Company of such action.

16.2.Adjustment of Awards Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring Events.

The Board or the Committee may make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including the events described in

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  Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan                            

Section 4.3) affecting the Company or the financial statements of the Company or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles, whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent unintended dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan. Any such adjustment with respect to an Award intended to be an ISO shall be made only to the extent consistent with such intent, unless the Board or the Committee determines otherwise, and any such adjustment that is made with respect to an Award that is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall be made consistent with the intent that such Award qualify for the performance-based compensation exception under Code Section 162(m) (or any successor provision). Additionally, neither the Board nor the Committee shall not make any adjustment pursuant to this Article XVI that would cause an Award that is otherwise exempt from Code Section 409A to become subject to Code Section 409A, or that would cause an Award that is subject to Code Section 409A to fail to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 409A. The determination of the Committee as to the foregoing adjustments, if any, shall be conclusive and binding on Participants under the Plan.

ARTICLE XVII.

TAX WITHHOLDING AND OTHER TAX MATTERS

17.1.Tax Withholding.

The Company and/or any Subsidiary or Affiliate are authorized to withhold from any Award granted or payment due under the Plan the amount of all Federal, state, local andnon-United States taxes due in respect of such Award or payment and take any such other action as may be necessary or appropriate, as determined by the Committee, to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes. The recipient of any payment or distribution under the Plan shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Company, as determined in the Committee’s discretion, for the satisfaction of any tax obligations that arise by reason of any such payment or distribution. The Company shall not be required to make any payment or distribution under or relating to the Plan or any Award until such obligations are satisfied or such arrangements are made, as determined by the Committee in its discretion.

17.2.Withholding or Tendering Shares.

Without limiting the generality of Section 17.1, the Committee may in its discretion permit a Participant to satisfy or arrange to satisfy, in whole or in part, the tax obligations incident to an Award by: (a) electing to have the Company withhold Shares or other property otherwise deliverable to such Participant pursuant to his or her Award and/or (b) tendering to the Company Shares owned by such Participant (or by such Participant and his or her spouse jointly) and purchased or held for the requisite period of time as may be required to avoid the Company’s or the Affiliates’ or Subsidiaries’ incurring an adverse accounting charge, based, in each case, on the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the payment date as determined by the Committee. All such elections shall be irrevocable, made in writing, signed by the Participant, and shall be subject to any restrictions or limitations that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. For avoidance of doubt, the amount of any Shares so withheld under (a) may exceed the amount necessary to satisfy the minimum required Federal, state, local andnon-United States withholding obligations.

17.3.Restrictions.

The satisfaction of tax obligations pursuant to this Article XVII shall be subject to such restrictions as the Committee may impose, including any restrictions required by applicable law or the rules and regulations of the SEC, and shall be construed consistent with an intent to comply with any such applicable laws, rule and regulations.

17.4.Special ISO Obligations.

The Committee may require a Participant to give prompt written notice to the Company concerning any disposition of Shares received upon the exercise of an ISO within: (i) two (2) years from the date of granting

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                            Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan  

such ISO to such Participant or (ii) one (1) year from the transfer of such Shares to such Participant or (iii) such other period as the Committee may from time to time determine. The Committee may direct that a Participant with respect to an ISO undertake in the applicable Award Agreement to give such written notice described in the preceding sentence, at such time and containing such information as the Committee may prescribe, and/or that the certificates evidencing Shares acquired by exercise of an ISO refer to such requirement to give such notice.

17.5.Section 83(b) Election.

If a Participant makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Code to be taxed with respect to an Award as of the date of transfer of Shares rather than as of the date or dates upon which the Participant would otherwise be taxable under Section 83(a) of the Code, such Participant shall deliver a copy of such election to the Company immediately after filing such election with the Internal Revenue Service. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary or Affiliate shall have any liability or responsibility relating to or arising out of the filing or not filing of any such election or any defects in its construction.

17.6.No Guarantee of Favorable Tax Treatment.

Although the Company intends to administer the Plan so that Awards will be exempt from, or will comply with, the requirements of Code Section 409A, the Company does not warrant that any Award under the Plan will qualify for favorable tax treatment under Code Section 409A or any other provision of federal, state, local, ornon-United States law. The Company shall not be liable to any Participant for any tax, interest, or penalties the Participant might owe as a result of the grant, holding, vesting, exercise, or payment of any Award under the Plan.

ARTICLE XVIII.

LIMITS OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION

18.1.Limits of Liability.

(a) Any liability of the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate to any Participant with respect to any Award shall be based solely upon contractual obligations created by the Plan and the Award Agreement.

(b) None of the Company, any Subsidiary, any Affiliate, any member of the Board or the Committee or any other person participating in any determination of any question under the Plan, or in the interpretation, administration or application of the Plan, shall have any liability, in the absence of bad faith, to any party for any action taken or not taken in connection with the Plan, except as may expressly be provided by statute.

(c) Each member of the Committee, while serving as such, shall be considered to be acting in his or her capacity as a director of the Company. Members of the Board of Directors and members of the Committee acting under the Plan shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the advice of counsel and shall incur no liability except for gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of their duties.

(d) The Company shall not be liable to a Participant or any other person as to: (i) thenon-issuance of Shares as to which the Company has been unable to obtain from any regulatory body having relevant jurisdiction the authority deemed by the Committee or the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, and (ii) any tax consequence expected, but not realized, by any Participant or other person due to the receipt, exercise or settlement of any Option or other Award.

18.2.Indemnification.

Subject to the requirements of Delaware law, each individual who is or shall have been a member of the Committee or of the Board, or an officer of the Company to whom authority was delegated in accordance

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  Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan                            

with Article III, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her,provided he or she shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf, unless such loss, cost, liability, or expense is a result of the individual’s own willful misconduct or except as provided by statute. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such individual may be entitled under the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify or hold harmless such individual.

ARTICLE XIX.

SUCCESSORS

19.1.General.

All obligations of the Company under the Plan with respect to Awards granted hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

ARTICLE XX.

MISCELLANEOUS

20.1.Drafting Context.

Except where otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine; the plural shall include the singular and the singular shall include the plural. The words “Article,” “Section,” and “paragraph” herein shall refer to provisions of the Plan, unless expressly indicated otherwise. The words “include,” “includes,” and “including” herein shall be deemed to be followed by “without limitation” whether or not they are in fact followed by such words or words of similar import, unless the context otherwise requires.

20.2.Forfeiture Events.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee shall have the authority to determine (and may so provide in any Agreement) that a Participant’s (including his or her estate’s, beneficiary’s or transferee’s) rights (including the right to exercise any Option or SAR), payments and benefits with respect to any Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment in the event of the Participant’s Termination for Cause or due to voluntary resignation; serious misconduct; violation of the Company’s or a Subsidiary’s or Affiliate’s policies; breach of fiduciary duty; unauthorized disclosure of any trade secret or confidential information of the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate; breach of applicable noncompetition, nonsolicitation, confidentiality or other restrictive covenants; or other conduct or activity that is in competition with the business of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, or otherwise detrimental to the business, reputation or interests of the Company and/or any Subsidiary or Affiliate; or upon the occurrence of certain events specified in the applicable Award Agreement (in any such case, whether or not the Participant is then an Employee orNon-Employee Director). The determination of whether a Participant’s conduct, activities or circumstances are described in the immediately preceding sentence shall be made by the Committee in its good faith

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                            Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan  

discretion, and pending any such determination, the Committee shall have the authority to suspend the exercise, payment, delivery or settlement of all or any portion of such Participant’s outstanding Awards pending an investigation of the matter.

(b) If the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company, as a result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, if the Participant knowingly or grossly negligently engaged in the misconduct, or knowingly or grossly negligently failed to prevent the misconduct, or if the Participant is one of the individuals subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Participant shall reimburse the Company the amount of any payment in settlement of an Award earned or accrued during the twelve-(12-) month period following the first public issuance or filing with the SEC (whichever just occurred) of the financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement.

20.3.Severability.

In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

20.4.Transfer, Leave of Absence.

For purposes of the Plan, a transfer of an Employee from the Company to an Affiliate or Subsidiary (or, for purposes of any ISO granted under the Plan, only a Subsidiary), or vice versa, or from one Affiliate or Subsidiary to another (or in the case of an ISO, only from one Subsidiary to another), and a leave of absence, duly authorized in writing by the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate, shall not be deemed a Termination of the Employee for purposes of the Plan or with respect to any Award (in the case of ISOs, to the extent permitted by the Code). The Committee shall have the discretion to determine the effects upon any Award, upon an individual’s status as an Employee orNon-Employee Director for purposes of the Plan (including whether a Participant shall be deemed to have experienced a Termination or other change in status) and upon the exercisability, vesting, termination or expiration of any Award in the case of: (a) any Participant who is employed by an entity that ceases to be an Affiliate or Subsidiary (whether due to aspin-off or otherwise), (b) any transfer of a Participant between locations of employment with the Company, an Affiliate, and/or Subsidiary or between the Company, an Affiliate or Subsidiary or between Affiliates or Subsidiaries, (c) any leave of absence of a Participant, (d) any change in a Participant’s status from an Employee to aNon-Employee Director, or vice versa; and (e) upon approval by the Committee, any Employee who experiences a Termination but becomes employed by a partnership, joint venture, corporation or other entity not meeting the requirements of an Affiliate or Subsidiary, subject, in each case, to the requirements of Code Section 422 applicable to any ISOs and Code Section 409A applicable to any Options and SARs.

20.5.Exercise and Payment of Awards.

An Award shall be deemed exercised or claimed when the Secretary of the Company or any other Company official or other person designated by the Committee for such purpose receives appropriate written notice from a Participant, in form acceptable to the Committee, together with payment of the applicable Option Price, Grant Price or other purchase price, if any, and compliance with Article XVII, in accordance with the Plan and such Participant’s Award Agreement.

20.6.Deferrals.

To the extent provided in the Award Agreement, the Committee may permit or require a Participant to defer such Participant’s receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that would otherwise be due to such Participant by virtue of the lapse or waiver of the Period of Restriction or other restrictions with respect to Restricted Stock or the payment or satisfaction of Restricted Stock Units, Performance Units,

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  Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan                            

Performance Shares, or Other Stock-Based Awards. If any such deferral election is required or permitted, (a) such deferral shall represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company and shall not confer the rights of a shareholder unless and until Shares are issued thereunder; (b) the number of Shares subject to such deferral shall, until settlement thereof, be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 4.3; and (c) the Committee shall establish rules and procedures for such deferrals and payment or settlement thereof, which may be in cash, Shares or any combination thereof, and such deferrals may be governed by the terms and conditions of any deferred compensation plan of the Company or Affiliate specified by the Committee for such purpose. Notwithstanding any provisions of the Plan to the contrary, in no event shall any deferral under this Section 20.6 be permitted if the Committee determines that such deferral would result in the imposition of additional tax under Code Section 409A.

20.7.Loans.

The Company may, in the discretion of the Committee, extend one or more loans to Participants in connection with the exercise or receipt of an Award granted to any such Participant;provided,however, that the Company shall not extend loans to any Participant if prohibited by law or the rules of any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Company’s securities are listed. The terms and conditions of any such loan shall be established by the Committee.

20.8.No Effect on Other Plans.

Neither the adoption of the Plan nor anything contained herein shall affect any other compensation or incentive plans or arrangements of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, or prevent or limit the right of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate to establish any other forms of incentives or compensation for their directors, officers or eligible employees or grant or assume options or other rights otherwise than under the Plan.

20.9.Section 16 of Exchange Act and Code Section 162(m).

Unless otherwise stated in the Award Agreement, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, any Award granted to an Insider shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including Rule16b-3) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule, and the Plan and the Award Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such limitations. Furthermore, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement, any Award to a Covered Employee that is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall be subject to any applicable limitations set forth in Code Section 162(m) or any regulations or rulings issued thereunder (including any amendment to the foregoing) that are requirements for qualification as “other performance-based compensation” as described in Code Section 162(m)(4)(C), and the Plan and the Award Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements and no action of the Committee that would cause such Award not to so qualify shall be effective.

20.10.Requirements of Law; Limitations on Awards.

(a) The granting of Awards and the issuance of Shares under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required.

(b) If at any time the Committee shall determine, in its discretion, that the listing, registration and/or qualification of Shares upon any securities exchange or under any state, Federal ornon-United States law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the sale or purchase of Shares hereunder, the Company shall have no obligation to allow the grant, exercise or payment of any Award, or to issue or deliver evidence of title for Shares issued under the Plan, in whole or in part, unless and until such listing, registration,

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                            Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan  

qualification, consent and/or approval shall have been effected or obtained, or otherwise provided for, free of any conditions not acceptable to the Committee.

(c) If at any time counsel to the Company shall be of the opinion that any sale or delivery of Shares pursuant to an Award is or may be in the circumstances unlawful or result in the imposition of excise taxes on the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate under the statutes, rules or regulations of any applicable jurisdiction, the Company shall have no obligation to make such sale or delivery, or to make any application or to effect or to maintain any qualification or registration under the Securities Act, or otherwise with respect to Shares or Awards and the right to exercise or payment of any Option or Award shall be suspended until, in the opinion of such counsel, such sale or delivery shall be lawful or will not result in the imposition of excise taxes on the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate.

(d) Upon termination of any period of suspension under this Section 20.10, any Award affected by such suspension which shall not then have expired or terminated shall be reinstated as to all Shares available before such suspension and as to the Shares which would otherwise have become available during the period of such suspension, but no suspension shall extend the term of any Award.

(e) The Committee may require each person receiving Shares in connection with any Award under the Plan to represent and agree with the Company in writing that such person is acquiring such Shares for investment without a view to the distribution thereof, and/or provide such other representations and agreements as the Committee may prescribe. The Committee, in its absolute discretion, may impose such restrictions on the ownership and transferability of the Shares purchasable or otherwise receivable by any person under any Award as it deems appropriate. Any such restrictions shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, and the certificates evidencing such shares may include any legend that the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any such restrictions.

(f) An Award and any Shares received upon the exercise or payment of an Award shall be subject to such other transfer and/or ownership restrictions and/or legending requirements as the Committee may establish in its discretion and may be referred to on the certificates evidencing such Shares, including restrictions under applicable Federal securities laws, under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such Shares are then listed and/or traded, and under any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to such Shares.

20.11.Participants Deemed to Accept Plan.

By accepting any benefit under the Plan, each Participant and each person claiming under or through any such Participant shall be conclusively deemed to have indicated their acceptance and ratification of, and consent to, all of the terms and conditions of the Plan and any action taken under the Plan by the Board, the Committee or the Company, in any case in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan.

20.12.Governing Law.

The Plan and all Award Agreements and other agreements hereunder shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the state of Delaware, without giving effect to the choice of law principles thereof, except to the extent superseded by applicable United States federal law. Unless otherwise provided in the Agreement, Participants are deemed to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the federal or state courts of Delaware, to resolve any and all issues that may arise out of or relate to the Plan or any related Award Agreement.

20.13.Plan Unfunded.

The Plan shall be unfunded. The Company shall not be required to establish any special or separate fund or to make any other segregation of assets to assure the issuance of Shares or the payment of cash upon exercise or payment of any Award. Proceeds from the sale of Shares pursuant to Options or other Awards granted under the Plan shall constitute general funds of the Company.

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  Appendix B. 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan                            

20.14.Administration Costs.

The Company shall bear all costs and expenses incurred in administering the Plan, including expenses of issuing Shares pursuant to any Options or other Awards granted hereunder.

20.15.Uncertificated Shares.

To the extent that the Plan provides for issuance of certificates to reflect the transfer of Shares, the transfer of such Shares may nevertheless be effected on a noncertificated basis, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange.

20.16.No Fractional Shares.

An Option or other Award shall not be exercisable with respect to a fractional Share or the lesser of fifty (50) shares or the full number of Shares then subject to the Option or other Award. No fractional Shares shall be issued upon the exercise or payment of an Option or other Award.

20.17.Deferred Compensation.

If any Award would be considered deferred compensation as defined under Code Section 409A and would fail to meet the requirements of Code Section 409A, then such Award shall be null and void;provided,however, that the Committee may permit deferrals of compensation pursuant to the terms of a Participant’s Award Agreement, a separate plan, or a subplan which (in each case) meets the requirements of Code Section 409A. Additionally, to the extent any Award is subject to Code Section 409A, notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Plan does not permit the acceleration of the time or schedule of any distribution related to such Award, except as permitted by Code Section 409A.

20.18.Employees Based Outside of the United States.

Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in order to comply with the laws or practices of countries other than the United States in which the Company, any Affiliate, and/or any Subsidiary operates or has Employees orNon-Employee Directors, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to:

(a) Determine which Affiliates and Subsidiaries shall be covered by the Plan;

(b) Determine which Employees and/orNon-Employee Directors outside the United States are eligible to participate in the Plan;

(c) Grant Awards (including substitutes for Awards), and modify the terms and conditions of any Awards, on such terms and conditions as the Committee determines necessary or appropriate to permit participation in the Plan by individuals otherwise eligible to so participate who arenon-United States nationals or employed outside the United States, or otherwise to comply with applicablenon-United States laws or conform to applicable requirements or practices of jurisdictions outside the United States;

(d) Establish subplans and adopt or modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent such actions may be necessary or advisable. Any subplans and modifications to Plan terms and procedures established under this Section 20.18 by the Committee shall be attached to the Plan as appendices; and

(e) Take any action, before or after an Award is made, that the Committee, in its discretion, deems advisable to obtain approval or comply with any necessary local government regulatory exemptions or approvals.

Notwithstanding the above, the Committee may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate any applicable law.

*                     *                    *

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1 First American Way, Santa Ana, CA 92707

800.854.3643800.854.3643LOGOwww.firstam.comLOGONYSE:FAFwww.firstam.com▼NYSE: FAF

 

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1 First American Way, Santa Ana, CA 92707

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ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

Tuesday, May 9, 20177, 2019

1:00 p.m. Pacific Time

At the home office of

First American Financial Corporation

1 First American Way, Santa Ana, California 92707

Your Vote Is Important to the Company!

 

First American Financial Corporation

proxy

1 First American Way

Santa Ana, California 92707

proxy

 

This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors for use at the Annual Meeting on May 9, 2017.7, 2019.

The undersigned stockholder of First American Financial Corporation hereby revokes all previously granted proxies and appoints Dennis J. Gilmore and Kenneth D. DeGiorgio, and each of them, with power to each of substitution, to attend the annual meeting of the stockholders of said corporation to be held May 9, 2017,7, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time at the home office of First American Financial Corporation, 1 First American Way, Santa Ana, California, and any adjournments or postponements thereof; and to vote the shares of the undersigned at such meeting as indicated on the reverse side hereof, with all powers that the undersigned would have if acting in person; and with discretionary authority to act on such other matters as may properly come before said meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY SHALL BE VOTED SPECIFICALLY ON THE PROPOSALS LISTED ON THE REVERSE SIDE HEREOF AS THERE SPECIFIED.WHERE NO SPECIFICATION IS MADE, SAID SHARES SHALL BE VOTEDFORITEMS 1, 2, 4, AND 5 AND1 YEAR FOR ITEM 3.

See reverse for voting instructions.


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Shareowner Services

P.O. Box 64945

St. Paul, MN 55164-0945

COMPANY #

 

Vote by Internet, Telephone or Mail

24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week

Your phone or Internet vote authorizes the named

proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you

marked, signed and returned your proxy card.

LOGO

INTERNET/MOBILE –www.proxypush.com/faf

Use the Internet to vote your proxy until 11:59 p.m.

(CT) on May 8, 2017.6, 2019.

LOGO

PHONE – 1-866-883-3382 – 1-866-883-3382

Use a touch-tone telephone to vote your proxy until 11:59 p.m. (CT) on May 8, 2017.6, 2019.

LOGO

MAIL– Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided.

If you vote your proxy by Internet or by Telephone, you do NOT need to mail back your Proxy Card.

TO VOTE BY MAIL AS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS ON ALL ITEMS BELOW,

SIMPLY SIGN, DATE, AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD.

òPlease detach hereò

 

⇩    

Please detach here

    ⇩

The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR Items 1, 2 4 and 5 and 1 YEAR for Item 3.

1.

Election of

Class IIII directors:

01 James L. DotiReginald H. Gilyard

02 Michael D. McKeeParker S. Kennedy

03 Thomas V. McKernanMark C. Oman

Vote FOR all  nominees

(except as marked)

Vote WITHHELD

from all nominees

 

(Instructions: To withhold authority to vote for any indicated nominee, write the number(s) of the nominee(s) in the box provided to the right.)

 

2.

2.

Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation.

For

☐  For

Against

☐  Against

Abstain

☐  Abstain

3.Advisory Vote on the Frequency of the Executive Compensation Vote.☐  1 year

☐  2 years3.

☐  3 years

☐  Abstain

4.Approval of the Performance Criteria, Establishment of a Director Compensation Limit and Amendment to Individual Annual Share Award Limits under the Company’s 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan.☐  For☐  Against☐  Abstain
5.To ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017.2019.

☐  

For

☐  

Against

☐  

Abstain

THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, WILL BE VOTEDFOR ITEMS 1, 2 4 AND 5 AND1 YEAR FOR ITEM 3.

 

Address Change? Mark box, sign, and indicate changes below:    

Date

                            Date

 

 

Signature(s) in Box

Please sign exactly as your name(s) appears on this Proxy. 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.