SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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☐ | Definitive Additional Materials | |
☐ | Soliciting Material Under Rule 14a-12 |
LSI Industries Inc. |
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) |
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant) |
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Notice of
2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
and Proxy Statement
October 2, 2015September 28, 2018
Dear Shareholder:
We invite you to attend our Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Thursday, November 19, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. at the Company’s headquarters located at 10000 Alliance Road, Cincinnati, Ohio. At the meeting, you will hear a report on our operations and have a chance to meet your Company’s Directors and executives.
This booklet includes the formal Notice of the Meeting and the Proxy Statement. The Proxy Statement tells you more about the agenda and procedures for the meeting. It also describes how the Board operates and provides information about our Director candidates.Shareholders:
We are pleased to continueinvite you to take advantageattend our 2018 Annual Meeting of U.S. SecuritiesShareholders. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. at the Company’s headquarters, which is located at 10000 Alliance Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242. Shareholders of record on September 18, 2018 may vote at the meeting. The approximate mailing date of the Proxy Statement and Exchange Commission rules that allow companiesthe accompanying proxy card is September 28, 2018.
The enclosed Notice of the Meeting and Proxy Statement provide detailed information about the items of business to furnish their proxy materials overbe conducted at the Internet. As a result, weAnnual Meeting and voting procedures for the Meeting. The Proxy Statement also provides information about our Board candidates, the Board and the Board Committees.
We are includingsending a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) with this Proxy Statement.to you on or about September 24, 2018. The Notice contains instructions onthat explain how to access and review the proxy materials and our Annual Report on Form 10-K overon the Internet.internet. The Company believes that this process allows us to provide our shareholders with the information they need in a morean efficient and timely manner.
Even if you own only a few shares, we want your shares to be represented at the meeting. I urge you to complete, sign, date and promptly return your proxy card in the enclosed envelope.
Sincerely yours,
/s/ Dennis W. WellsRonald D. Brown
Dennis W. WellsRonald D. Brown
Interim Chief Executive Officer and President; Director
NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE
ANNUAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 19, 20156, 2018
The Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement as well asand the Company’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K are available at www.edocumentview.com/LYTS
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF
LSI INDUSTRIES INC.
Time:
10:9:00 a.m., Eastern Standard Time
Date:
Thursday,Tuesday, November 19, 20156, 2018
Place:
LSI Industries Corporate Headquarters
10000 Alliance Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45242
Purpose:
| Elect as members of the Board of Directors the seven nominees named in the |
| Ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal |
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Only shareholders of record on September 21, 201518, 2018 may vote at the meeting. The approximate mailing date of the Proxy Statement and accompanying proxy card is October 2, 2015.September 28, 2018.
Your vote is important. Please complete, sign, date, and promptly return your proxy card in the enclosed envelope.
/s/ Dennis W. WellsHoward E. Japlon
Dennis W. WellsHoward E Japlon
Chief Executive OfficerVice President, Human Resources and President; DirectorGeneral Counsel; Secretary
October 2, 2015September 28, 2018
Table of Contents
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| INTRODUCTION | 1 |
| VOTING AT ANNUAL MEETING | 1 |
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General Information | 1 |
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| Proposal 1. Election of Directors |
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Proposal 2. Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
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Proposal 3. |
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| Other Matters | 4 |
| NOMINEES FOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 4 |
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| EXECUTIVE OFFICERS | 6 |
| SECURITY OWNERSHIP | 8 |
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance |
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
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Compensation Discussion and Analysis |
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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT |
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EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION |
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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION | 28 |
| COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD |
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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION |
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RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS |
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OTHER MATTERS |
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QUESTIONS |
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The Company makes available, free of charge on its website, all of its filings that are made electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K and any amendments thereto. To access these filings, go to the Company’s website (www.lsi-industries.com) and click on the “SEC Filings” tab in the left margin on the “Investor Relations” page. Copies of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015,2018, including financial statements and schedules thereto, filed with the SEC are also available without charge to shareholders upon written request addressed to:
LSI Industries Inc.
Ronald S. StowellHoward E. Japlon
Vice President, Chief Financial OfficerEVP, Human Resources and General Counsel, Secretary
& Treasurer
10000 Alliance Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45242
LSI INDUSTRIES INC.
10000 Alliance Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45242
Telephone (513) 793-3200
P R O X Y S T A T E M E N T
Annual Meeting of Shareholders
November 19, 20156, 2018
INTRODUCTION
The Board of Directors of LSI Industries Inc. is requesting your proxy for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders on November 19, 2015,6, 2018, and at any postponement or adjournment of such meeting. This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy card were first mailed on October 2, 2015or about September 28, 2018 to shareholders of record as of September 21, 2015.18, 2018.
VOTING AT ANNUAL MEETING
General Information
In order to carry on the business of the meeting, we must have a quorum. This means at least a majority of the outstanding shares eligible to vote must be represented at the meeting either by proxy or in person. Shareholders may vote in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting. Proxies given may be revoked at any time by filing with the Company (to the attention of Ronald S. Stowell)Office of the Secretary) either a written revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, or by appearing at the Annual Meeting and voting in person. If you hold shares through someone else, such as a stockbroker or bank, you may get material from them asking how you want to vote. Specifically, if your shares are held in the name of your stockbroker or bank and you wish to vote in person at the meeting, you should request your stockbroker or bank to issue you a proxy covering your shares. If you have instructed a broker to vote your shares, you must follow directions received from your broker to change your vote. The Company will bear the entire cost of soliciting proxies from our shareholders.
All shares will be voted as specified on each properly executed proxy card. If no choice is specified, the shares will be voted as recommended by the Board of Directors, namely “FOR”Directors: FOR Proposal 1 to elect the seven persons nominated as Directors by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committeemembers of the Board of Directors “FOR”the seven nominees named in this Proxy Statement; FOR Proposal 2 (Ratificationto ratify the appointment of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm), “FOR”Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2019; and FOR Proposal 3 (Amendment of the Company’s Amended and Restated 2012 Stock Incentive Plan and re-approval of the material terms of its performance measures for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code) and “FOR” Proposal 4 (Approval,to approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of the Executive Compensation Package). Company’s named executive officers.
If any other matters come before the meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof, each proxy will be voted in the discretion of the individuals named as proxies on the proxy card. With respect to Proposal 1, the seven nominees receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected. Proposal 2 for the ratification of appointment of the Company’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and Proposal 3 for the amendment of the Company’s Amended and Restated 2012 Stock Incentive Plan and re-approval of its performance measures will be adopted only if they receiveit receives approval by a majority of the Common Shares voting at the Annual Meeting. Since Proposal 43 on executive compensation is an advisory vote, the Board of Directors will give due consideration to the outcomeresult of the vote; however, the result of the vote shallwill not be binding on the Company.
Banks or brokers holding shares for beneficial owners must vote those shares as instructed. If the bank or broker has not received instructions from you, as the beneficial owner, the bank or broker generally has discretionary voting power only with respect to the ratification of appointment of the independent registered public accountants. A bank or broker does not have discretion to cast votes with respect to the election of Directors unless it has received voting instructions from you as the beneficial owner of the shares.It is therefore important that you provide instructions to your bank or broker if your shares are held by such a bank or broker so that your vote with respect to Directors is counted.
As of September 21, 2015,18, 2018, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting, LSIthe Company had 24,558,46125,998,403 Common Shares outstanding. Each share is entitled to one vote. Only shareholders of record at the close of business on September 21, 2015,18, 2018, will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and shares otherwise not voted for any reason, including brokernon-votes,broker non-votes, will have no effect on the outcome of any vote taken at the Annual Meeting, except as otherwise described herein. Broker non-votes occur when a broker returns a proxy card but does not have authority to vote on a particular proposal.
Principal Shareholders
As of September 15, 2015, the following are the only shareholders known by the Company to own beneficially 5% or more of its outstanding Common Shares:
Name of Beneficial Owner | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership | Percent Of Class |
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Royce & Associates LLC 1414 Avenue of the Americas, 9th Floor New York, NY 10019-2578 | 2,249,019 | 8.88% |
Columbia Management Group Inc. 100 Federal Street, 19th Floor Boston, MA 02110 | 1,897,426 | 7.49% |
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Blackrock Fund Advisors 400 Howard Street San Francisco, CA 94105 | 1,325,180 | 5.23% |
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP Palisades West, Building One 6300 Bee Cave Road Austin, TX 78746 | 1,293,222 | 5.11% |
Shareholder Proposals
Shareholders who desire to have proposals included in the Notice for the 20162019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must submit their proposals to the Company at its offices on or before June 6, 2016.May 27, 2019.
The form of proxy for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders grants authority to the persons designated therein as proxies to vote in their discretion on any matters that come before the meeting, or any adjournment or postponement thereof, except those set forth in the Company’s Proxy Statement and except for matters as to which adequate notice is received. In order for a notice to be deemed adequate for the 20162019 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting, it must be received prior to August 19, 2016.9, 2019. If there is a change in the anticipated date of next year’s annual meeting or if these deadlines change by more than 30thirty days, wethe Company will notify youshareholders of this change through our Form 10-Qits SEC filings.
2018 ANNUAL MEETING PROPOSALS
Proposal 1. Election of Directors
In accordance with the Company's Regulations, the number of LSI Directors has been set at seven, and each Director is elected for a one-year term. The terms of the Company’s Directors expire at the 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board has nominated for reelectionre-election six current members of the seven current Directors, namely,Board of Directors: Robert P. Beech, Gary P. Kreider, Dennis B. Meyer,John K. Morgan, Wilfred T. O'Gara, Mark A. Serrianne, James P. Sferra, and Dennis W. Wells.Robert A. Steele. It has also nominated for election one new candidate, Ronald D. Brown. Proxies solicited by the Board will be voted for the election of these seven nominees. Please see the “Nominees for Board of Directors” section of this Proxy Statement for additional information about each nominee.
All Directorsindividuals elected at the 2018 Annual Meeting will be elected to hold office for a one year term expiring at the 2019 Annual Meeting and until their successors are elected and qualified. In voting to elect Directors, shareholdersqualified or until their earlier resignation, retirement or removal. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each share held of record. Shareholders are not entitled to cumulate their votes in the election of members of the Board of Directors.
Should If any of the nominees become unable to serve, proxies will be voted for any substitute nominee designated by the Board. The seven nominees receiving the greatest number of votes cast will be elected.
Recommendation of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR each of the seven Directorsindividuals nominated in this Proxy Statement. The seven nominees receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected.
Proposal 2. Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has appointed Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2015.2019. Grant Thornton LLP has been the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company since September 8, 2009, and had also previously served the Company in this capacity from April 2002 to December 2005. Although not required by law, the Board is seeking shareholder ratification of its selection.appointment of Grant Thornton. If ratification of the appointment is not obtained, the Audit Committee intends to continue the employment of Grant Thornton LLP at least through fiscal 2016.2019.
Representatives of Grant Thornton LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Shareholders' Meeting and will be given an opportunity to make a statement, if they so desire, and to respond to appropriate questions that may be asked by shareholders.
Audit Fees
Aggregateappropriate. The aggregate fees billed to the Company by Grant Thornton LLP for the fiscal years ended June 30, 20142017 and 20152018 were as follows:
2014 | 2015 | |||||||
Audit fees | $ | 559,210 | $ | 549,500 | ||||
Audit-related fees | 29,200 | 95,750 | ||||||
Tax fees | 85,661 | 84,153 | ||||||
All other fees | 4,900 | 4,900 | ||||||
Total fees | $ | 678,971 | $ | 734,303 | ||||
| Fee Category | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||
Audit Fees | $ | 879,500 | $ | 798,000 | ||||
Audit-related Fees | 101,225 | 29,300 | ||||||
Tax Fees | 61,050 | 140,953 | ||||||
All Other Fees | 4,900 | 4,900 | ||||||
Total Fees | $ | 1,046,675 | $ | 973,153 | ||||
Audit fees represent fees and out-of-pocket expenses related to the audit of the Company’s financial statements; review, documentation and testing of the Company's system of internal controls; filing of the Form 10-K; services related to review of the Company’s quarterly financial statements and Form 10-Q’s; and attendance at the Company’s quarterly Audit Committee meetings. Audit-related fees represent fees for consultation related to accounting and regulatory filing matters, acquisition due diligence services, and to audits of the Company’s qualified retirement plan. Tax fees relate to represent fees for services and out-of-pocket expenses related to tax compliance (or filing of the Company’s various income and franchise tax returns), tax planning, and tax advice. All other fees represent fees related to services and consultation related toon various planning matters.
RecommendationPlease see the “Committees of the BoardBoard” section of Directorsthis Proxy Statement for additional information about the Audit Committee.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Proposal 2. this proposal. The affirmative vote of a majority of Common Shares voting at the Annual Meeting is required to approve this proposal.
Proposal 3. Amendment of the Company’s Amended and Restated 2012 Stock Incentive Plan and Re-Approval of Performance Measures
Based on the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, the Board voted to approve and recommend to shareholders that they approve amendments to the Amended and Restated 2012 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2012 Stock Incentive Plan” or “2012 Plan”). The amendments include an increase in the number of Common Shares available for issuance under the 2012 Plan from 1,600,000 to 2,800,000 (which includes an increase in the total number of Common Shares available for issuance with respect to incentive stock options from 1,600,000 to 2,800,000 in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code), and an increase in the number of stock options or stock appreciation rights that may be granted to an individual in a calendar year from 175,000 to 250,000. Shareholders are being asked at the Annual Meeting to approve these amendments and to re-approve the material terms of the performance measures set forth in the 2012 Plan, as described below. The 2012 Plan, however, includes other technical amendments that do not require shareholder approval which were effective upon the Board’s approval on August 19, 2015. The 2012 Plan document attached as Annex A is marked to show all of these amendments.
Set forth below are: (i) a summary of the principal features of the 2012 Plan as it is proposed to be amended; and (ii) a description of the U.S. federal income tax consequences under the 2012 Plan.
1. Summaryof theAmended and Restated 2012 Stock Incentive Plan
The summary below does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 2012 Plan document attached as Annex A. In the event and to the extent that this summary is inconsistent with the 2012 Plan document, the 2012 Plan document shall govern.
Objectives of the 2012 Plan
The Board believes that stock-based awards are an important element of the Company’s compensation programs. The 2012 Plan promotes the Company’s compensation philosophy and objectives by: (i) providing long-term incentives to those persons with significant responsibility for the success and growth of the Company, (ii) motivating participants to achieve the long-term success and growth of the Company, (iii) providing a vehicle to tie a significant portion of compensation to the long-term performance of the Company’s shares, (iv) enabling the Company to attract and retain skilled and qualified officers, other employees, directors, and consultants who are expected to contribute to the Company’s success in a competitive market for such individuals, (v) facilitating ownership of the Company’s shares, and (vi) aligning the personal interests of officers, employees, and others in the Company’s long-term growth and profitability with the interests of the Company’s shareholders. As of September 15, 2015, approximately 363,873 shares remained available for grant under the 2012 Plan. Subject to shareholder approval at the Annual Meeting, the amendment to the 2012 Plan will be effective as of November 19, 2015. The per share closing price of LSI’s Common Shares on September 15, 2015 was $9.17. Information on the total number of shares available under the Company’s existing equity compensation plans and subject to outstanding options and rights is presented in the Equity Compensation Plan Information table on page 29.
The 2012 Plan allows the Company the flexibility to grant a variety of stock and stock-based awards, including stock options and stock appreciation rights, granted separately or in tandem with each other, and restricted shares and restricted share units, both time vested or conditioned on the attainment of performance goals. The 2012 Plan is also designed to allow compliance with Section 162(m). It is intended that awards under the 2012 Plan with a performance component (which does not include time-vested share awards) generally will satisfy the requirements for performance based compensation under Section 162(m) while granting the Compensation Committee the authority to grant nonperformance-based awards where it deems appropriate. Section 162(m) generally places a $1,000,000 limit on the tax deduction allowable for compensation paid (or accrued for tax purposes) with respect to the Chief Executive Officer and the three other highest-paid executives (other than the CEO and CFO) during a tax year, unless the compensation meets certain requirements. All stock incentive awards to the Company’s most highly compensated executives that may be made over the next few years are expected to be granted under the 2012 Plan.
Shares Subject to the 2012 Plan
The aggregate number of Common Shares that may be issued under the 2012 Plan after giving effect to the amendment is 2,800,000 plus shares subject to outstanding awards under the Company’s prior plan which are forfeited, settled in cash or cancelled or expire. The 2012 Plan provides for appropriate adjustments in the number of shares subject to the 2012 Plan (and other share limitations contained therein and described below) and to grants previously made if there is a share split, dividend, reorganization, or other relevant change affecting the Company’s corporate structure or its shares. If shares under an award are not issued prior to the expiration, termination, cancellation or forfeiture of the award, then those shares would again be available for inclusion in future grants.
Other Share Limitations
The maximum number of shares subject to incentive stock options (“ISOs”) that may be granted under the 2012 Plan after giving effect to the amendment is 2,800,000. The maximum number of shares subject to restricted shares or restricted share units that may be granted to an individual in a calendar year is 50,000 shares. The maximum number of shares subject to stock options or stock appreciation rights that may be granted to an individual in a calendar year under the 2012 Plan after giving effect to the amendment is 250,000 shares.
Eligible Participants
Officers and key employees of the Company, any consultant to the Company, and the Company’s non-employee directors are eligible to receive awards under the 2012 Plan. Awards are granted to those persons with significant responsibility for the Company’s success and growth.
Administration
The 2012 Plan is administered by a committee (the “Committee”) consisting of at least three directors appointed by the Board, all of whom meet the definitions of the terms “outside director” set forth in the regulations under Section 162(m), “independent director” set forth in The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. rules, and “non-employee director” set forth in Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. Unless determined otherwise by the Board, the Compensation Committee will administer the 2012 Plan and has the authority under the 2012 Plan to: (i) select the employees, consultants, and Directors to whom awards are granted; (ii) determine the type and timing of awards and the appropriate award agreement evidencing each award; (iii) determine the number of shares covered by each award and all other terms and conditions of awards, not inconsistent with the terms of the 2012 Plan; (iv) determine whether an award is, or is intended to be, performance based compensation within the meaning of 162(m); (v) determine whether terms, conditions, and objectives have been met or, including, without limitation, making certifications related thereto, if permissible, should be modified or waived, not inconsistent with the terms of the 2012 Plan; (vi) cancel or suspend an award, or determine whether an amount or payment of an award should be reduced or eliminated; (vii) determine administrative rules, guidelines, and practices governing the 2012 Plan; and (viii) interpret the provisions of and otherwise supervise the administration of the 2012 Plan.
Stock Options
Stock options granted under the 2012 Plan must be in the form of either incentive stock options (“ISOs”), which meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code, or nonqualified stock options (“NQSOs”), which do not meet those requirements. The term of a stock option is fixed by the Committee, but may not exceed ten years, and stock options are exercisable at such time or times as determined by the Committee. The exercise price of a stock option cannot be less than the fair market value of the shares on the date of grant, which generally means the last closing price of a share as reported on The Nasdaq Stock Market on the date of the grant. The grantee may pay the stock option exercise price either in cash or such other manner authorized in the 2012 Plan or the applicable award agreement, including the tender of shares. Shares tendered by participants as full or partial payment of the exercise price will not become available for issuance under the 2012 Plan. The 2012 Plan prohibits stock option re-pricing.
Code Limitations onISOs
The Code currently places certain limitations on ISO awards. In addition to the other limitations described in the 2012 Plan, an ISO may only be granted to full or part-time employees (including officers and Directors who are also employees) of the Company. The total fair market value of shares subject to ISOs which are exercisable for the first time by any participant in any given calendar year cannot exceed $100,000 (valued as of the date of grant). No ISO may be exercisable more than three months following termination of employment for any reason other than death or disability, nor more than one year with respect to disability terminations, or such stock option will no longer qualify as an ISO and shall be treated as an NQSO. ISOs will also be non-transferable in accordance with the provisions of the Code. Additional restrictions apply to the grant of ISOs to holders of in excess of 10% of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock.
Stock Appreciation Rights
The Committee may grant stock appreciation rights (“SAR”) separately or in connection with a stock option granted under the 2012 Plan. If a grantee exercises a SAR, the grantee will receive an amount equal to the excess of the then-fair market value of the shares with respect to which the SAR is being exercised over the stock option exercise price of the shares, in the case of a SAR in connection with a stock option, or the exercise price of the SAR, in the case of an independent SAR. The SAR exercise price must be at least 100% of the fair market value of the underlying shares on the date of grant, and the term of such SAR may not exceed ten years. Payment may be made in cash, in shares, or in a combination of cash and shares, as the Committee determines. If a SAR granted in connection with a stock option is exercised in whole or in part, the right under the related stock option to purchase shares with respect to which the SAR has been exercised will terminate to the same extent. If a stock option is exercised, any SAR related to the shares purchased upon exercise of the stock option will terminate. To the extent that the number of shares reserved for issuance upon the grant of a SAR exceeds the number actually issued upon exercise of a SAR, such shares will not become available for issuance under the 2012 Plan. The 2012 Plan prohibits SAR repricing.
Restricted Shares and RSUs
The Committee may grant restricted share awards which consist of shares issued by the Company to a participant for no consideration, or for a purchase price which may be below their fair market value, and are subject to forfeiture in the event of termination of the participant’s employment prior to vesting and subject to restrictions on sale or other transfer by the participant. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, participants who hold restricted shares have voting rights with respect to the shares and have the right to receive dividend distributions, in cash or shares, payable to the extent the restrictions on the applicable restricted shares lapse. The Committee may also grant restricted share unit awards which are substantially similar to restricted share awards but which generally do not give the participant-holder the rights of a shareholder prior to lapse of the restrictions and, upon such lapse, may be settled in cash, shares, or a combination of both. The Committee may provide for the payment in cash or shares equal to the amount of dividends paid from time to time on the number of shares that would become payable upon vesting of the restricted share unit award. The Committee may provide that restrictions lapse after the passage of time (time-vested), upon certain events (such as death, disability, or retirement) or upon the attainment of specified performance objectives (performance-vested). The Committee may waive any restrictions or accelerate the date or dates on which restrictions lapse except no waiver may apply to a term that is not within the Committee’s discretion to waive under the 2012 Plan.
Performance Based Exception
The Committee may grant awards in a manner that is intended to qualify for the performance based exception to the deductibility limitations of Section 162(m) and conditioned upon the achievement of performance goals as the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion. The performance goals shall be based on one or more performance measures, and the Committee shall specify the time period or periods during which the performance goals must be met. The performance measure(s) may be described in terms of objectives that are related to the individual participant, the Company, or a subsidiary, division, department, region, function, or business unit of the Company, and shall consist of one or more or any combination of the following criteria: cash flow, profit, revenue, stock price, market share, sales, net income, operating income, return ratios, earnings per share, earnings (which may include an add back for taxes, interest, and/or depreciation and amortization), operating earnings, profit margins, earnings per Common Share, favorable comparison to established budgets, return on shareholders’ equity, return on assets, attainment of strategic and operational initiatives, comparisons with various stock market indices, reduction in costs or a combination of such factors, personal performance measures, working capital, total assets, net assets, return on sales, return on invested capital, gross margin, costs, shareholders’ equity, shareholder return and/or productivity or productivity improvement. Performance goals may be expressed in absolute terms or relative to the performance of other entities or the prior performance of LSI. The Committee may adjust or modify the performance objectives or periods, provided that any such modifications meet the requirements of Section 162(m), to the extent applicable unless the Committee determines that such requirements should not be satisfied. Awards intended to qualify for the performance based exception shall not vest or be paid until the Committee certifies that the performance goals have been achieved.
In accordance with Code Section 162(m) and the regulations under that Section, we are requesting shareholders to reapprove the material terms of the performance measures set forth in the 2012 Plan. Specifically, we are seeking approval of the material terms of the performance measures under the 2012 Plan because under Section 162(m) of the Code, where the Committee has the authority to establish performance goals, shareholder approval of the performance measures is required once every five years. The Board believes that re-approval of the 2012 Plan’s performance measures is desirable and necessary to meet the Company’s objectives of attracting, motivating and retaining employees, directors and consultants. The performance measures were approved by our shareholders when the Plan was originally adopted in 2012 and have not been changed since then.
Unrestricted Share Awards
The Committee may grant unrestricted shares on a bonus or other basis for no cash consideration.
Transferability of Awards
No award is transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, except the Committee may, in its discretion, provide that an award (other than an ISO) is transferable without consideration to a participant’s family member (as defined in the 2012 Plan), subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may impose. All awards shall be exercisable, during the participant’s lifetime, only by the participant or a permitted transferee.
Termination of Employment
Generally, awards are forfeited upon a participant’s termination of employment; however, the 2012 Plan provides that the Committee: (i) may allow a participant to exercise vested stock options or SARs for a period of time after termination, if not terminated for cause; and (ii) has discretion to provide the extent to which, if any, the vesting of any award is accelerated or forfeited due to a participant’s, death, disability, or retirement, provided that, for awards intended to be performance-based compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m), no vesting may occur or no distribution may be made prior to the attainment of the performance goals, unless otherwise provided by Section 162(m).
Change in Control
Except as otherwise provided in an award agreement, upon a “change in control” as defined in the 2012 Plan: (i) all outstanding stock options and SARs automatically become fully exercisable; and (ii) all restricted share and restricted share unit awards automatically become fully vested.
Recoupment Policy
Awards are subject to forfeiture or repayment pursuant to the terms of any applicable compensation recoupment or recovery policy adopted by the Company, Committee, or Board, including any policy adopted to comply with the rules of any stock exchange on which the shares are traded or the SEC.
Amendment of 2012 Plan
The Board may amend, alter, or discontinue the 2012 Plan at any time, provided that any such amendment, alteration, or discontinuance has been approved by the Company’s shareholders, if shareholder approval is required under applicable laws, regulations, or exchange requirements (including for the purpose of qualification under Section 162(m) as “performance-based compensation”), and does not materially and adversely impair the rights of any grantee, without his or her consent, under any award previously granted. The 2012 Plan could be amended without shareholder approval in certain nonmaterial ways that could result in an increased cost to the Company. No Awards shall be made under the 2012 Plan after the tenth anniversary of the effective date.
Plan Benefits
The following table discloses the benefits received by the following persons or groups in fiscal 2015. These awards are not necessarily representative of future awards that may be made under the 2012 Plan.
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2. Certain Federal Tax Consequences with Respect to Awards
The following information is not intended to be a complete discussion of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of participation in the 2012 Plan and is qualified in its entirety by references to the Code and the regulations adopted under the Code. The provisions of the Code described in this section include current tax law only and do not reflect any proposals to revise current tax law. The federal income tax consequences applicable to officers, directors, and other persons who are subject to potential liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act may be different than the federal income tax consequences applicable to persons who are not subject to Section 16(b). The federal income tax consequences applicable to all persons, whether or not subject to Section 16(b), are described below.
Incentive Stock Options
Generally, under the Code, an optionee will not realize taxable income by reason of the grant or exercise of an ISO granted pursuant to the 2012 Plan (see, however, discussion of alternative minimum tax below). If an optionee exercises an ISO and does not dispose of the shares until the later of (i) two years from the date the option was granted and (ii) one year from the date of exercise, the entire gain, if any, realized upon disposition of such shares will be taxable to the optionee as long-term capital gain, and LSI will not be entitled to any deduction. If an optionee disposes of the shares within the period of two years from the date of grant or one year from the date of exercise (a “disqualifying disposition”), the optionee generally will realize ordinary income in the year of disposition and LSI will receive a corresponding deduction in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the lesser of (a) the amount, if any, realized on the disposition and (b) the fair market value of the shares on the date the option was exercised over (ii) the option price. Any additional gain realized on the disposition will be short-term or long-term capital gain and any loss will be long-term or short-term capital loss. The optionee will be considered to have disposed of a share if he or she sells, exchanges, makes a gift of or transfers legal title to the share (except transfers, among others, by pledge, on death or to a spouse). If the disposition is by sale or exchange, the optionee’s tax basis will equal the amount paid for the shares plus any ordinary income realized as a result of the disqualifying disposition.
The exercise of an ISO may subject the optionee to the so-called “alternative minimum tax” (“AMT”). The amount by which the fair market value of the shares purchased at the time of the exercise exceeds the option exercise price is an adjustment for purposes of computing the AMT. In the event of a disqualifying disposition of the shares in the same taxable year as exercise of the ISO, no adjustment is then required for purposes of the AMT, but regular income tax, as described above, may result from such disqualifying disposition.
An optionee who surrenders shares as payment of the exercise price of his or her ISO generally will not recognize gain or loss on his or her surrender of such shares. The surrender of shares previously acquired upon exercise of an ISO in payment of the exercise price of another Incentive Stock Option, is, however, a “disposition” of such stock. If the ISO holding period requirements described above have not been satisfied with respect to such stock, such disposition will be a disqualifying disposition that may cause the optionee to recognize ordinary income as discussed above.
Under the Code, all of the shares received by an optionee upon exercise of an ISO by surrendering shares will be subject to the Incentive Stock Option holding period requirements. Of those shares, a number of shares (the “Exchange Shares”) equal to the number of shares surrendered by the optionee will have the same tax basis for capital gains purposes (increased by any ordinary income recognized as a result of a disqualifying disposition of the surrendered shares if they were ISO shares) and the same capital gains holding period as the shares surrendered. For purposes of determining ordinary income upon a subsequent disqualifying disposition of the Exchange Shares, the amount paid for such shares will be deemed to be the fair market value of the shares surrendered. The balance of the shares received by the optionee will have a tax basis (and a deemed purchase price) of zero and a capital gains holding period beginning on the date of exercise. The ISO holding period for all shares will be the same as if the option had been exercised for cash.
Non-Qualified Stock Options
Generally, there will be no federal income tax consequences to either the optionee or LSI on the grant of NQSO pursuant to the 2012 Plan. On the exercise of a NQSO, the optionee has taxable ordinary income equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares acquired on the exercise date over the option price of the shares. LSI will be entitled to a federal income tax deduction (subject to the limitations contained in Section 162(m)) in an amount equal to such excess, provided that LSI complies with applicable reporting rules.
Upon the sale of stock acquired by exercise of a NQSO, optionees will realize long-term or short-term capital gain or loss depending upon their holding period for such stock. For individuals, capital losses are deductible only to the extent of capital gains for the year plus $3,000. An optionee who surrenders shares in payment of the exercise price of a NQSO will not recognize gain or loss with respect to the shares so delivered unless such shares were acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option and the delivery of such shares is a disqualifying disposition. See “Incentive Stock Options” above. The optionee will recognize ordinary income on the exercise of the NQSO as described above. Of the shares received in such an exchange, that number of shares equal to the number of shares surrendered have the same tax basis and capital gains holding period as the shares surrendered. The balance of shares received will have a tax basis equal to their fair market value on the date of exercise and the capital gains holding period will begin on the date of exercise.
Stock Appreciation Rights
A participant who is awarded a SAR will not have taxable income upon the grant of such SAR and LSI will not be entitled to a tax deduction by reason of such grant. Upon the exercise of a SAR, a participant will recognize taxable ordinary income equal to the amount of cash and the fair market value of any shares of common stock received. LSI may generally claim a deduction at that time equal to the amount recognized as ordinary income by the participant.
Restricted Sharesand RSUs
The taxability of a restricted share and restricted share unit awards to a participant is dependent upon the extent to which the award is restricted on the date of grant. If the award is either transferable or not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, a participant will recognize taxable ordinary income on the date of grant. If the award is both non-transferable and subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture on the date of grant, then unless an election is made as described below, a participant will not recognize taxable ordinary income on the date of grant, but will at such time or times as an award becomes either transferable or not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture in an amount equal to the fair market value of such shares at that time. Within thirty days of receipt of an award that is not transferable and subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, a participant may file an election with the Internal Revenue Service to include as taxable ordinary income in the year of receipt an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares subject to the award at the time of receipt. In such event, any subsequent appreciation in the value of such shares will not be taxable as compensation to a participant upon the vesting of shares subject to the award. However, if shares subject to the award are forfeited subsequent to such election, a participant will not be entitled to a tax deduction. For purposes of determining the amount of taxable gain or loss upon a subsequent disposition of shares issued pursuant to such an award, the amount of ordinary income to a participant will be treated as the cost basis for such shares. Shares which are held for more than one year after vesting (or in the event of an election as described above, the date of receipt) generally will qualify for long-term capital gain treatment. LSI will be entitled to a deduction in such amount and at such time as ordinary income becomes taxable to the participant.
Application of Section 409A to Deferred Compensation Arrangements
The 2012 Plan provides that the Committee may permit recipients of Awards to defer the distribution of all or part of any Award in accordance with such terms and conditions as the Committee shall establish. To the extent that a participant makes such a deferral election, Section 409A of the Code, which was enacted as part of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, subjects the deferral arrangement to certain substantive requirements including (among other items) deferral election and payment timing requirements. In the event that a deferral arrangement fails to comply with Code Section 409A in form or operation, a participant may become subject to: (i) the imposition of Federal income tax on all amounts deferred in the tax year in which the amounts are deferred (or, if later, in the tax year when the receipt of the benefits are no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture); (ii) a penalty tax of 20 percent of the includable amount (in addition to the regular income tax at ordinary income rates); and (iii) interest at the underpayment rate plus 1 percent from the time the amount was first deferred (or, if later, the tax year when the benefits are no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture) until the time the amount is included in income.
Withholding of Tax; Company Deduction
Generally, whenever a participant realizes ordinary income under the 2012 Plan, a corresponding deduction is available to LSI provided LSI complies with certain reporting requirements. Under Section 162(m), however, LSI will be denied a deduction for certain compensation exceeding $1,000,000 paid to its “covered employees,” who generally are the Chief Executive Officer and the three other highest-paid executives (excluding the CEO and CFO), excluding (among other things) certain performance-based compensation.
LSI is entitled to withhold, or secure payment from a participant in lieu of withholding, the amount of any tax required by law to be withheld or paid by LSI with respect to any amount payable or shares issuable under a participant’s award.
Conclusion
The foregoing summarizes the U.S. federal income tax consequences, and does not include a discussion of state and local income tax or foreign tax consequences of participation in the 2012 Plan. Participants are encouraged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the federal, state and local tax consequences in their particular circumstances and with respect to their particular awards.
Recommendation of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” Proposal 3. The affirmative vote of a majority of Common Shares voting at the Annual Meeting is required for approval of this proposal.
Proposal 4. Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, (the “Dodd Act”), enacted in July 2010, provides LSI Industries’the Company’s shareholders the opportunity at the Annual Meeting to vote on an advisory resolution on our executive compensation package, commonly known as “Say-on-Pay,” to approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers,officers. This advisory vote is commonly known as described in“Say-on-Pay”. Please see the “Executive Compensation” section beginning on page 14. Because yourof this Proxy Statement for additional information regarding the Compensation Committee and fiscal 2018 executive compensation. Since the vote is advisory, it will not be binding uponon the Compensation Committee or the Board of Directors; however, the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors will take the outcomeresults of the vote into account when considering futurereviewing the Company’s executive compensation arrangements.plan and programs.
OurThe Compensation Committee is committed to creating anmaintaining executive compensation programplans and programs that enables usenable the Company to attract and retain a superior management team that haswith incentives targeted incentives to build long-term value for our shareholders.shareholder value. The Company’s compensation package utilizesplans and programs utilize a mixturemix of base salary, short-term annual cash incentive awards and equitylong-term equity-based incentive awards to align executive compensation with ourthe Company’s annual and long-term performance. These plans and programs reflect the Committee’s philosophy that executive compensation should provide greater rewards for superior performance, as well as accountability for underperformance. At the same time, we believe ourthe Committee believes the Company’s executive compensation plans and programs do not encourage excessive risk-taking by management. The Board of Directors believes that ourthis philosophy and practicespractice have resulted in executive compensation decisions that are appropriate and that have benefited the Company over time.
For these reasons, the Board of Directors requests ourthat shareholders approve the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as described in this Proxy Statement pursuant to SEC disclosure rules, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the executive compensation tables and the related footnotes and narrativenarratives accompanying the tables.
Recommendation of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Proposal 4. this proposal. The Board of Directors will give due consideration to the outcomeresult of this non-binding advisory vote.
Other Matters
ApprovalThe affirmative vote of a majority of Common Shares entitled to vote at the meeting is required to approve any other matters considered at the Annual Meeting, including postponement or adjournment, will require the affirmative vote of a majority of Common Shares voting at the meeting.
MANAGEMENTadjournment.
Directors and Executive OfficersNOMINEES FOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The following individuals have been nominated for election by the Board of Directors as recommended by the Nominating and executive officersCorporate Governance Committee. Each nominee is currently a member of LSI Industries are:
Common Shares Beneficially Owned | |||||||||||
Name and Age | Position | Amount | Percentage | ||||||||
Dennis W. Wells (54) | Chief Executive Officer and President;Director | 52,396 | (e) | * | |||||||
Ronald S. Stowell (65) | Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | 291,012 | (e) |
| 1.15 | % | |||||
Shawn M. Toney (47) | President of the LSI Lighting Segment | 56,101 | (e) |
| * | ||||||
David W. McCauley (66) | President of the LSI Graphics Segment and President of Grady McCauley Inc. | 194,739 | (e) |
| * | ||||||
Andrew J. Foerster (56) | Executive Vice President andChief Technology Officer | 1,676 | * | ||||||||
Paul T. Foster (63) | Executive Vice President - LSI Business System; Secretary | 7,801 | * | ||||||||
James P. Sferra (76) (a) | Director | 578,383 | (e) |
| 2.28 | % | |||||
Gary P. Kreider (77) (a) | Chairman | 53,481 | (e) |
| * | ||||||
Wilfred T. O’Gara (58) (a)(b)(c)(d) | Director | 51,300 | (e) |
| * | ||||||
Mark A. Serrianne (68) (b)(c)(d) | Director | 49,773 | (e) |
| * | ||||||
Dennis B. Meyer (81) (b)(c)(d) | Director | 49,362 | (e) |
| * | ||||||
Robert P. Beech (62) (b)(c)(d) | Director | 13,945 | * | ||||||||
All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (Twelve Persons) | 1,399,969 | (e) | 5.53 | % | |||||||
Informationthe Board of Directors, other than Mr. Brown, who joined the Company as of September 15, 2015
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Dennis W. Wells isits Interim Chief Executive Officer and President. Heon April 23, 2018.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR each of the seven nominees. The seven nominees receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected.
Robert P. Beech(age 65) has been a Director since July 2013. Mr. Beech is currently the Executive Chairman of Eccrine Systems, Inc., a privately held, Cincinnati-based biotechnology company that he co-founded in 2013. Mr. Beech has been engaged as Entrepreneur-in-Residence for biosciences at CincyTechUSA since 2013. From 2004 through 2012 he was appointed Chief Operating Officer on October 1, 2014 and promoted to CEO on October 22, 2014. Hea senior executive at Intrexon Corporation, when it was appointed President on October 29, 2014.a privately held biotechnology company based in Maryland. Prior to his service with LSI,2003, he was Chief Executive Officer of Digineer, Inc., an international healthcare IT software and services company he founded in 1986 and led until 2002. The Board believes that Mr. WellsBeech’s substantial experience leading high-technology ventures as a CEO or senior corporate executive qualify him to serve on the Board. He serves as Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance and as a member of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee.
Ronald D. Brown (age 65) has served as Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company since April 23, 2018. Prior thereto, Mr. Brown served from March 2017 to April 2018 as Vice Chairman of The Armor Group, Inc. which he joined in 2013 as chief operating officer. The Armor Group, Inc. is a certified woman-owned corporation that manufactures equipment and products and provides related services to a variety of industrial markets. From 2009 until 2014, Mr. Brown was managing director of Taft Business Consulting, LLC, a consulting group affiliated with the law firm of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, which provides advisory services on a range of business issues. Prior to that, Mr. Brown was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Milacron Inc. (NYSE) from 2001 to 2008 and President and Chief Operating Officer of Glantz Dynamic Solutions,Milacron Inc. from 1999 through 2001. Milacron is a privately-owned supplier of digital signage suppliesplastic processing and metalworking fluid technologies. Mr. Brown has served as a director of A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE) since 2001 and is the chairperson of its Personnel and Compensation Committee and a divisionmember of N. Glantz & Son LLC, since 2013. Prior toits Nominating and Governance Committee. A. O. Smith manufactures and markets comprehensive lines of water heaters and water treatment products. Mr. Brown also served as a director of Zep Inc. (NYSE), where he was chairman of the Compensation Committee and a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, until it was acquired by New Mountain Capital in 2015. He also joined the James Advantage Funds Trust in 2014 as an independent trustee and serves on its Audit Committee. The Board believes that Mr. WellsBrown’s experience as the chief executive officer and chairman of a publicly held company provides valuable insight as to the issues and opportunities facing the Company. Further, he has international and manufacturing experience with The Armor Group and in his previous position at Milacron. In addition, Mr. Brown has experience as a chief financial officer and a corporate attorney. The Board also believes that his legal background makes him well-suited to address legal and governance requirements of the SEC and NASDAQ.
Gary P. Kreider (age 80) has been a Director since April 2002 and served as the Company’s Chairman from November 2014 to August 2018. Mr. Kreider was a senior partner in the Cincinnati law firm of Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL, the Company’s outside counsel. He joined Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL in 1963 and is now retired from the firm. His primary practice areas were securities law, mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate law. Effective October 2005 Mr. Kreider no longer had a vote or partnership interest in the firm’s earnings although his affiliation with the firm continues. Mr. Kreider’s present activities consist of personal investing, serving as trustee of various trusts and as a director of the Company. He has also served as an adjunct professor of law in securities regulations at the University of Cincinnati, College of Law and is a past chairman of the Ohio State Bar Association Corporation Law Committee. The Board believes that Mr. Kreider’s legal experience as a prominent corporate and securities practitioner and his corporate and public-company board experience make him well qualified to serve on the Board, which must deal with the myriad issues presented by virtue of the Company being publicly-traded.
John K. Morgan (age 64) has been a Director of the Company since April 2016. Mr. Morgan was the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Zep Inc. (NYSE), a specialty chemicals company, from October 2007 until his retirement in June 2015. From July 2007 to October 2007, he served as Executive Vice President of Acuity Brands and President and Chief Executive Officer of Acuity Specialty Products, just prior to its spin-off from Acuity Brands, Inc. From 2005 to July 2007, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Acuity Brands Lighting. He also served Acuity Brands as President and Chief Development Officer from 2004 to 2005, as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from 2002 to 2004, and as Executive Vice President from 2001 to 2002. Mr. Morgan has served as a director of Wesco International, Inc. (NYSE), a provider of electrical, industrial, and communications MRO and OEM products, construction materials, and advanced supply chain management and logistics services, since 2008 and is currently the chairman of Wesco's Compensation Committee. The Board believes that Mr. Morgan’s insight and experience with corporate governance, executive compensation, business and operating management issues, gained through experience at various levels of corporate management and on boards, and his status as an independent director, qualify him to serve on the Board, as well as the Chairman of the Compensation Committee.
Wilfred T. O'Gara (age 61) has been a Director since January 1999 and was appointed Chairman in August 2018. Mr. O’Gara is the Managing Director of Buffalo Fork Holdings, LLC, an investment company. He previously served as Chief OperatingExecutive Officer of Fulham, Inc., a privately-owned global manufacturerIsoclima SpA from July 2017 to August 2018. Isoclima SpA produces transparent armor and supplier of lighting solutions, from 2010 to 2013.other specialized glass and polycarbonate products for military and civilian armored vehicles. Prior to joining Isoclima, Mr. O'Gara served as Vice Chairman of The O’Gara Group, a security and defense related firm, from 2016 until July 2017 and he was the President and Chief Executive Officer from 2003 to 2017. Mr. O’Gara has been identified as an “audit committee financial expert” under SEC guidelines given his understanding of accounting and financial reporting, disclosures and controls. The Board believes that Mr. Wells servedO’Gara’s independence from management, experience as a Vice Presidentsuccessful principal executive and General Manager at Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc.his designation as an audit committee financial expert make his service integral to the Board. He serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee and as a member of the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
James P. Sferra(age 79) shared in the formation of the Company and has been a Director since 1976. Mr. Sferra has served as Corporate Vice President of Manufacturing from November 1989 to November 1992, and as Executive Vice President-Manufacturing from November 1992 to March 2015. Prior to that, he served as Vice President-Manufacturing of LSI Lighting Systems, a division of the Company. In 1996 he was appointed Secretary of the Company and served in that capacity until March 2015. The Board believes that Mr. Sferra is uniquely qualified to sitserve on the Board given his long-standing tenure with the Company and his familiarity with the integral manufacturing component of its operations.
Robert A. Steele (age 63) has been a Director since July 2016. Mr. Steele retired from Procter & Gamble in 2011 as its Vice Chairman Health Care. During his 35-year tenure with Procter & Gamble, he served in a variety of executive leadership positions, including Vice Chairman Global Health and Well-being, Group President Global Household Care, and Group President of North American Operations. Mr. Steele has served on the board of Berry Global Inc. (NYSE) since 2014 and as a member of its Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee. He has served on the board of BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. (NYSE) since 2016 and is a member of its Audit Committee and its Compensation Committee. Mr. Steele also joined the board of Newell Brands Inc. (NYSE) in April 2018 and serves as a member of its Finance Committee. Mr. Steele was previously a member of the Board of Directors of Beam Inc., Keurig Green Mountain and Kellogg Company. The Board believes that Mr. Steele’s insight and experience with corporate governance, leadership and operating experience in a public company, and his status as an independent director qualify him to serve on the Board of Directors. He serves as a member of the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
Board Qualifications and Succession Planning
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee periodically reviews the skills, experience and characteristics required of Board members in the context of the current make-up of the Board and screens and recommends nominees for director to the full Board. Its assessment includes the skills of Board candidates, such as an understanding of technologies pertinent to the Company’s businesses, manufacturing, marketing, finance, regulation and public policy, experience, age, diversity and ability to provide strategic insight and direction on the Company’s key strategic initiatives. In addition to skills and experience, Board candidates are considered based upon various criteria, such as their personal integrity and judgment, business and social perspective, and concern for the long-term interests of the Company’s shareholders. After receiving recommendations for nominations from the Committee, the Board nominates candidates for Director. The Committee, or other members of the Board of Directors, may identify a need to add new members to the Board of Directors with specific skills or to fill a vacancy on the Board. At that time, the Committee would initiate a search, seeking input from Board members and senior management and, to the extent it deems appropriate, engaging a search firm. An initial qualified candidate or a slate of qualified candidates would be identified and presented to the Committee for its evaluation and approval. The Committee would then seek full Board approval of the selected candidate.
DIRECTOR WITH EXPIRING TERM
Dennis W. Wells served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer from October 2014 until April 23, 2018. Effective April 23, 2018, the Board of Directors notified Mr. Wells of the termination of his employment. The Board appointed Ronald S. StowellD. Brown as Interim Chief Executive Officer at that time to replace Mr. Wells. Mr. Wells has remained a member of the Company’s Board of Directors following such date. He was not nominated by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for re-election at the 2018 Annual Meeting. His term as a member of the Board will expire at the 2018 Annual Meeting.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Ronald D. Brown (age 65) has served as Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company since April 23, 2018. Mr. Brown has been nominated for election to the Company’s Board of Directors at the 2018 Annual Meeting. Please see the “Nominees for Board of Directors” section for a more complete summary of his career and experience.
Jeff A. Croskey (age 46) has served as Chief FinancialCommercial Officer of the Company since December 1992, and was appointed Treasurer in November 1993 and Vice President in November 1997. From 1985 to November 1992, Mr. Stowell served as Corporate Controller of Essef Corporation (a NASDAQ listed company), headquartered in Chardon, Ohio, a manufacturer of high performance composite and engineered plastics products.
Shawn M. Toney has servedAugust 15, 2018. He joined the Company as President of the LSI Lighting Segment since August 2014 and as Senior Vice President of LSI Lighting Sales since joining LSIGraphics segment in June 2009.October 2015. Prior to that, some of the positions held by Mr. Toney werethereto he served as Vice President and General Manager of Sales at Cooper LightingCreative Sign Designs from 2006February 2010 to 2009, Business Unit Manager at Siemens from 2001 to 2006 and as Market Development Manager at General Electric Lighting from 1998 to 2001. Mr. Toney is the nephewOctober 2015. His previous executive leadership roles include Chief Operating Officer of Ronald S. Stowell.
David W. McCauley, who notified the Company of his retirement effective in October 2015, has served as President of the LSI Graphics Segment since April 2003 and as either President orImagine International Inc., Vice President of Operations for McNichols Company, and numerous roles for Crestline Homes and The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Mr. Croskey received a Bachelor of Grady McCauley Inc. (a subsidiaryScience degree in Aeronautical / Astronautical Engineering from The Ohio State University and an MBA from Wake Forest University’s Babcock Graduate School of Management.
Andrew J. Foerster (age 59) joined the Company involved in graphics) since June 1997. Prior to the June 1997 acquisition date, Mr. McCauley was a founder and Vice President of Grady McCauley Inc.
Andrew J. Foerster is the Company’s Chief Technology Officer. He was appointedas its Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer effectivein March 2, 2015. From 2010 to 2015, Mr. Foerster served as Residential and Wiring Devices Division Engineering Director at Eaton Corporation. Before his service withPrior to joining Eaton, Mr. Foerster held various positions with Creative Energy Control LLC,was President of Technology Innovations at Masco, Technical Innovations,and President and CEO of Piller Inc., Prior to Piller, Mr. Foerster led the Lighting Controls business at Schneider Electric (Square D Company) and held various marketing and engineering positions with Schneider Electric and General Electric. Mr. Foerster began his career as a nuclear submarine officer in the U.S. Navy. He is a graduate (BSEE) of the US Naval Academy, and received an MBA from Marymount University and an MSEE from George Mason University. Mr. Foerster is a licensed Professional Engineer.
Paul T. Foster
James E. Galeese (age 61) joined LSI on February 9, 2015the Company as its Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in June 2017. Mr. Galeese, from 2014 to June 2017, served as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and as a Director of LSIprivately held Universal Trailer Holding Corporation (manufacturer of trailers for the hauling requirements of businesses and individuals). He was with Philips Electronics NV from 1998 to 2014 as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for its North American Lighting business and its Electronics business. Prior to that Mr. Galeese served in the financial Controllership organization of Square D Company / Schneider Electric. He graduated from Miami University with a degree in Business SystemAdministration and obtained an MBA from Xavier University.
Howard E. Japlon (age 66) joined the Company as its Executive Vice President, Human Resources and General Counsel in March 2017 and was appointed Secretary of LSI Industriesthe Company in March 2015. Mr. Foster is responsible for the Lean Integration and Human Resources Department.April 2017. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. FosterJaplon served as Vice President, Product Development andGeneral Counsel & Secretary of ACE Hardware Corporation from May 2013 to March 2017. Prior thereto he served as Vice President Supply Chain for Fulham Company, Inc.and General Counsel of RG Steel, LLC from 2010-2015. Prior2011 to Fulham, Mr. Foster held the position ofJanuary 2013 and as Sr. Vice President Sourcing for Acuity Brands Lightingand General Counsel of Schneider Electric Americas from 1998-2008.
Robert P. Beech has been2003 to 2011. Mr. Japlon received a Director since July 2013. Mr. Beech has been engaged as Entrepreneur-in-Residence for biosciences at CincyTechUSA since 2013. From 2004 through 2012 he wasBachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Fordham University and a senior executive at Intrexon Corporation, when it was a privately held biotechnology company based in Maryland. Prior to 2003, he was CEO of Digineer, Inc., an international healthcare IT software and services company he founded in 1986 and led until 2002. The Board believes that Mr. Beech’s substantial experience leading high-technology ventures as a CEO or senior corporate executive qualify him to serve on the Board, as well as the Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees.
Gary P. Kreider has been a Director since April 2002 and was elected Chairman in November 2014. For over five years Mr. Kreider has been a senior partner in the Cincinnati law firm of Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL, the Company’s outside counsel. His primary practice areas are securities law, mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate law, and he has been with Keating Muething & Klekamp since 1963. Effective October 1, 2005 Mr. Kreider no longer has a vote or partnership interest in the firm’s earnings although his affiliation with the firm continues. Mr. Kreider has been an Adjunct Professor of Law in securities regulation atJ.D. from the University of CincinnatiIllinois College of Law since 1977Law.
Crawford C. Lipsey (age 62) has served as Interim President and is a past Chairman of the Ohio State Bar Association Corporation Law Committee. The Board believes that Mr. Kreider’s legal experience as a prominent corporate and securities practitioner and his corporate and public-company board experience make him well qualified to sit on the Board, which must deal with the myriad issues presented by virtueChief Operating Officer of the Company being publicly-traded.
Dennis B. Meyer has beensince April 23, 2018. Mr. Lipsey currently serves as a Director sincenon-paid staff member and representative of “Dignity Revolution”, a physical and cyber bullying prevention program serving middle school and high school youth. He also serves on several non-profit boards, including as chairman for the Licking County Family YMCA in Ohio. Prior to his non-profit work, Mr. Lipsey served from August 2001.2013 to June 2015 as EVP Corporate Marketing for Revolution Lighting Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ). He served as president and chief executive officer of Relume Lighting Technologies, a pioneer in LED lighting and controls technology, from May 2011 until its sale in August 2013 to Revolution Lighting. Prior thereto from 2009 to 2011 Mr. Meyer retiredLipsey invested in and served as Chief Commercial Officer for Inspired Solar Technologies (IST), a manufacturer of advanced solar tracking systems. Immediately prior thereto, Mr. Lipsey served from the Board and Executive Committee of Midmark Corporation in January 2005. Mr. Meyer wasFebruary 1999 to December 2009 as Executive Vice President of Midmark Corporation from 1985Acuity Brands Lighting, the largest lighting company in North America with responsibility for several domestic and international business units with total revenues in excess of $500M. Lipsey also served as President and Vice Chairman of the board of Acuity Brands Technology Services. As a thirty-year veteran of the lighting industry, Mr. Lipsey has contributed significantly to 2001, and heldthe growth of several other executive and managerial positions during his 36 years with that company. The Board believes that Mr. Meyer’s breadth of knowledge and experiencethe most prominent brands in the areaslighting industry. He holds a CPIM certification and has managed product development, sales, marketing, brand management and channel development teams. Mr. Lipsey has worked with both venture capital and private equity and has held executive management positions in both public and private companies ranging from entrepreneurial start-ups to large, publicly traded conglomerates. He received a history degree from Presbyterian College and is a graduate of business development and corporate strategy, as well as his status as an independent director, make his service on the Board, as well as the Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees, extremely beneficial to the Company.Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP
Wilfred T. O'Gara has been a Director since January 1999. Mr. O'Gara has beenThe following table sets forth the President and Chief Executive Officer of The O'Gara Group, Inc., a security and defense related firm, since 2003. Mr. O’Gara has been identified as an “audit committee financial expert” under SEC guidelines given his understanding of accounting and financial reporting, disclosures and controls. The Board believes that Mr. O’Gara’s independence from management, experience as a successful principal executive and his designation as an audit committee financial expert make his service integral to the Board as well as to the Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees given the frequency with which these bodies must deal with complex matters.
Mark A. Serrianne has been a Director since August 2004. Mr. Serrianne retired as Chairman of Northlich, Inc. September 30, 2008 and was principal owner and Chief Executive Officer of Northlich from 1998 to January, 2008. Northlich is a privately held brand strategy, marketing communication and public relations company with headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. Serrianne has held a number of positions with Northlich from 1974 through 1996 when he became President. The Board believes that Mr. Serrianne’s insight into the high-level corporate governance, executive compensation and business management issues, gained through experience at various levels of corporate management, and his status as an independent director, qualify him to serve on the Board, as well as the Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees. Mr. Serrianne is also the Lead Directorbeneficial ownership of the Company’s BoardCommon Shares as of Directors.September 18, 2018 by each person or group known by the Company to beneficially own more than five percent of the outstanding Common Shares, each Director, each Named Executive Officer, and all Directors and Named Executive Officers as a group. Unless otherwise indicated, the holders of all shares shown in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to such shares. In determining the number and percentage of shares beneficially owned by each person, shares that may be acquired by such person pursuant to stock options within sixty days of September 18, 2018 are deemed outstanding for purposes of determining the number of outstanding shares for such person and are not deemed outstanding for such purpose for any other shareholder. Unless otherwise indicated below, the address of each beneficial owner is c/o LSI Industries Inc., 10000 Alliance Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242.
| Name of Beneficial Owner | Common Shares Beneficially Owned (1) | Percent Beneficially Owned (2) |
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP |
|
|
Palisades West Building One | 1,906,564 | 7.19% |
6300 Bee Cave Road | ||
Austin, TX 78746 | ||
Royce & Associates LLC |
|
|
141 Avenue of the Americas, 9th floor | 1,697,183 | 6.40% |
New York, NY 10019-2578 |
|
|
Chartwell Investment Partners, LLC |
| |
1235 Westlakes Drive - 400 | 1,369,042 | 5.16% |
Berwyn, PA 19312 | ||
| ||
Directors |
|
|
Robert P. Beech | 36,678 | * |
Gary P. Kreider | 38,555 | * |
John K. Morgan | 18,467 | * |
Wilfred T. O'Gara | 49,793 | * |
James P. Sferra | 319,943 | 1.21% |
Robert A. Steele | 26,657 | * |
Dennis W. Wells | 123,229 | * |
| ||
Named Executive Officers |
|
|
Ronald D. Brown | 10,000 | * |
Jeff A. Croskey | 16,340 | * |
Andrew J. Foerster | 35,830 | * |
James E. Galeese | 58,907 | * |
Howard E. Japlon | 23,500 | * |
| ||
12 Directors and NEOs as a Group | 757,899 | 2.86% |
*Less than 1%
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company’s officers, Directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of the Company’s Common Shares to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such persons are required by SEC regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file within two days of a transaction in shares of the Company. Based solely upon its review of copies of such forms received by it, and upon written representations from certain reporting persons that no FormsForm 5 werewas required for those persons, the Company believes that during fiscal 20142018 all filing requirements were metexcept as follows: Shawn Toneymet, except that Mr. Sferra filed a Form 4 report on September 2, 2014August 31, 2017 for one transactionan August 17, 2017 distribution from the Company’s Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan, and except that occurred on August 22, 2014 and one transaction that occurred on August 25, 2014 and Robert ReadyMr. Lipsey filed a Form 4 report on February 13, 2015June 15, 2018 for one transaction that occurred on February 4, 2015.a May 30, 2018 purchase of shares.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis section discussesreviews the Company’s compensation philosophy and analyzes theexecutive compensation awarded to, earned by, or paidand arrangements for fiscal 2018 that apply to the executive officers set forthCompany’s Named Executive Officers (“NEOs”): Dennis W. Wells, Ronald D. Brown, James E. Galeese, Jeff A. Croskey, Howard E. Japlon and Andrew J. Foerster. It should be read in conjunction with the Summary Compensation Table, the other compensation related tables, and their accompanying narratives and footnotes. As noted throughout this section of the Proxy Statement, Mr. Wells’ employment with the Company ended on page 21 (collectively, the “named executive officers” or “NEOs”). It also discusses the principles underlying our policies and decisions.April 23, 2018.
WhoBusiness Transformation
In April 2018, the Board of Directors commenced the search for a new Chief Executive Officer to drive an increased strategic emphasis on product innovation and revenue growth. Effective April 23, 2018, the Board of Directors notified Dennis W. Wells of the termination of his employment. The Board appointed Ronald D. Brown as Interim Chief Executive Officer at that time to replace Mr. Wells. Mr. Wells served as CEO of the Company from October 2014 until April 23, 2018. The Board also appointed Crawford Lipsey as Interim President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Brown and Mr. Lipsey served in their interim roles for slightly more than two months during fiscal 2018. Mr. Brown and Mr. Lipsey have over thirty years of combined C-level experience (CEO, COO and CFO) for publicly held and lighting industry companies.
The Company has a rich history of success in several of the key markets that it serves, such as petroleum, automotive and quick serve restaurants. Over time the Company became organized around core products, rather than its customers. The Company recently announced a new organizational structure that will focus on serving key customer markets with the Company’s full package of capabilities in lighting, graphics, digital signage, control and IoT technologies. This new organization eliminated the need for the LSI Lighting President, the Atlas Lighting President and LSI Graphics President positions.
The Company has appointed Mr. Jeff A. Croskey to the newly-created position of Chief Commercial Officer. Mr. Croskey is now responsible for leading all of the Company’s sales and customer service organizations and market channels for all solutions, products, technologies and services. The new organization structure also includes a Chief Marketing Officer, who will be responsible for development of marketing strategies, as well as product development and management, across all served markets based upon customer needs. The primary objective of this more focused organization is to accelerate growth through innovation solutions and customer driven product development. The Company has commenced a search for the CMO position.
Fiscal 2018 Financial Performance Summary
In fiscal 2018, the Company’s net sales increased 3% to $342 million. The Company incurred a net loss of $19.5 million for the year, primarily due to a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $28 million and a $3.1 million charge related to the exit of Mr. Wells. After adjusting for one time charges, adjusted operating income for fiscal 2018 was $ 9.6 million, an increase of 33% from fiscal 2017 adjusted operating income.
Executive Compensation Philosophy and Design
The Company’s executive compensation program is designed to drive a pay-for-performance culture. The program rewards corporate performance with executive pay, delivering competitive total compensation upon the achievement of the Company’s performance objectives. The achievement of those objectives in turn will create long-term shareholder value. The executive compensation program is also designed to attract, retain and motivate leaders who will focus on the creation of long-term shareholder value. The Company’s pay-for-performance executive compensation program employs a mix of compensation elements - base salary, short-term incentives and long-term incentives - to link executive compensation to Company performance and to clearly align executive interests with shareholder interests.
Compensation Committee Oversight of Executive Compensation Program
The Compensation Committee oversees the Company’s executive compensation program?
Ourphilosophy and the design and implementation of its executive compensation program. The Committee reviews and approves, or recommends that the Board of Directors has appointed a Compensation Committee comprised of independent Directors to oversee our compensation policies and programs. The Committee’s functions and members are described beginning on page 33. One important purposeapprove, all elements of the Company’s executive compensation program. Any new executive compensation plan or program must be approved by the Board based on the recommendation of the Compensation Committee. The Committee is to reviewreviews and approverecommends the compensation of our NEOs.the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), and the independent Directors, acting as a group, approve the amounts to be awarded to the CEO.
The CEO annually reviews the performance of the other NEOs. After considering the CEO’s assessment and recommendation, the Compensation Committee determines and approves the compensation of the other NEOs. The Compensation Committee has absolute discretion to approve the recommendations of the CEO or to make adjustments as the Committee deems appropriate. The CEO and other executive officers from time to time work with the Committee to gather and compile data needed for benchmarking purposes or for other analysis conducted by the Compensation Committee’s independent compensation consulting firm, Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. (“FW Cook”).
Our CEO provides recommendationsThe Compensation Committee retained FW Cook in March 2017 to provide advice on executive compensation matters, including the types and levels of executive compensation and the competitiveness of the Company’s executive compensation program relative to competitors for executive talent. FW Cook reports directly to the Committee and interacts with respectmanagement at the Committee’s direction. The Committee and its chairperson have regular opportunities to various componentsmeet with FW Cook in executive session without management present. The Committee considered the independence of compensation forFW Cook in light of current SEC rules and NASDAQ listing standards and concluded that no conflict of interest exists that would prevent FW Cook from independently advising the named executive officers. After careful review, our CEO provided to the Compensation Committee a recommendation to increase the base salaries of the NEOs, depending on the particular NEO, in the range of 0% to 6%. Our CEO did not provide any recommendation to the Committee with respect to his salary level.Committee.
Our CEO also makes recommendations to the Committee with respect to the bonus payments to be made pursuant to the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan. A descriptionResults of this Incentive Plan and a discussion of the Committee’s process for determining payments pursuant to the Incentive Plan are discussed below. Our CEO also makes recommendations for all NEOs, including himself, to the Committee with respect to the amount of stock option awards to be made. Our CEO makes these recommendations based on his consideration of the compensation expense to the Company, the fair value of the equity awards and the performance of LSI and individual NEO contributions toward such performance. Our CEO also makes recommendations on bonus amounts for all NEOs and himself based on the specific base guidelines set forth in the Incentive Plan.
The Committee seriously considers the input of our CEO in connection with its compensation processes and decisions. Although the Committee is not obligated to follow all of the CEO’s recommendations, the Committee views the input of the CEO as meaningful, particularly with respect to the compensation to be paid to other NEOs as such other NEOs report directly to the CEO. The Committee believes that the CEO is in the best position to provide input relating to the performance and compensation issues it considers with respect to NEO compensation. NEOs other than our CEO do not provide recommendations to the Committee with respect to compensation matters.
What are the objectives of the Company’s compensation program?
In setting our compensation program, the Committee strives to enhance the Company’s overall fundamental objective of providing long-term value for our shareholders and employees. The Committee also places major emphasis on retaining current management and incentivizing key managers to align their interests to make them consistent with the Company’s growth. The Committee believes that the interests of management and shareholders can be more closely aligned by providing executives with competitive levels of compensation that will enable us to attract and retain key executives by rewarding exceptional individual performance, and by tying executive pay to overall corporate performance.2017 Say-on-Pay Vote
At our 2014the 2017 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting, LSI heldthe Company conducted an advisory vote on the compensation of its NEOs, commonly referred to as a say-on-pay vote. OurThe Company’s shareholders overwhelmingly approvedsupported the compensation of our named executive officers,the NEOs, with over 95%88% of votes cast in favor of our 20142017 say-on-pay resolution. Based onThe Compensation Committee considered this high level of shareholder support when reviewing compensation for fiscal 2018, and did not make any significant structural or design changes to the results of the 2014 say-on-pay vote, the Compensationexecutive compensation program, except as otherwise set forth herein. The Committee concluded that the Company’s executive compensation paidprogram should continue to emphasize the retention, pay-for-performance and long-term shareholder alignment objectives of the Company.
Compensation Committee Evaluation of Executive Compensation Philosophy and Design
The Compensation Committee evaluates and monitors the Company’s executive compensation philosophy and the design of its executive compensation program to assure the Company’s continued ability to attract, retain and motivate leaders who will focus on the creation of long-term shareholder value. The Committee believes that a competitive pay-for-performance executive compensation program employing a mix of compensation elements – base salary, short-term incentives and long-term incentives – links executive compensation to Company performance and clearly aligns executive interests with shareholder interests.
The Compensation Committee reviews competitive market data for comparable executive level positions as a point of reference in its executive compensation decisions. The Committee also reviews the Company’s financial performance, individual NEO performance, and the Company’s competitive environment. The Committee also considers compensation information disclosed by a peer group of companies and industry reference companies with which the Company competes for business and executive talent. The Committee also considers information derived from published survey data that compares the elements of each NEO’s target total direct compensation to the namedmarket information for executives with similar roles. FW Cook compiles this information for the Committee and adjusts the published survey data to reflect the Company’s revenue size in relation to the survey participants to more accurately reflect the scope of responsibility for each NEO.
The Compensation Committee, with input from FW Cook, selected a new peer group for fiscal 2018. The peer companies were selected primarily based upon the following criteria: (i) similar business operations/industry/competitors for investor capital, (ii) sales and market capitalization between approximately 1/3 and 3 to 4 times the Company’s sales and market capitalization, and (iii) competitors for executive officerstalent. For fiscal 2018 compensation purposes, our peer group consisted of 18 companies. No changes were made to the peer group for fiscal 2019, except that during fiscal 2018 Handy & Harman Ltd. was acquired and LSI’s overall pay practices received strong shareholder support and do not require substantial revisionis no longer a publicly-held company.
FY18 Peer Group | ||
AAON Inc. | CTS Corporation | Key Tronic Corporation |
Ameresco, Inc. | Daktronics, Inc. | Napco Security Technologies, Inc. |
Broadwind Energy Inc. | Eastern Company | PGT Innovations, Inc. |
CECO Environmental Corp. | Encore Wire Corporation | Powell Industries, Inc. |
Continental Materials Corp. | Gorman-Rupp Company | Revolution Lighting Technologies, Inc. |
CPI Aerostructures, Inc. | Trex Company Inc. | |
Practices Implemented to address shareholder concerns.serve Shareholder Long-term Interests
What isThe following tables summarize certain executive compensation governance practices that the Committee believes will drive financial performance and serve long-term shareholder interests.
Practices the Company Follows | |
Pays for performance. | A significant portion of executive compensation is at-risk and tied to the achievement of various performance objectives that are disclosed to shareholders |
Sets NEO salary guidelines on an annual basis | The Company generally considers NEO salaries as part of its annual performance review process in an effort to be responsive to industry trends |
Balances short-term and long-term incentives | The Company’s incentive programs provide an appropriate balance of annual and longer-term incentives, with long term incentive compensation comprising a significant percentage of target total compensation. |
Uses multiple performance metrics | The Company mitigates the risk of the undue influence of a single performance metric by utilizing multiple performance metrics for annual cash incentive awards and multi-year vesting for long-term equity awards. |
Caps award payouts | Cash incentive payouts under the short-term incentive plan are capped at 200% of target. |
Uses market-based approach for determining NEO target pay. | Target compensation for NEOs is set after consideration of market data at peer group companies, industry reference companies and other market data. |
Maintains stock ownership and retention guidelines for all NEOs | The Company’s equity grants are subject to a one year holding period upon exercise. The Company also maintains stock ownership guidelines for its directors and NEOs. |
Conducts a risk assessment | The Compensation Committee annually conducts a compensation risk assessment to determine whether the compensation program, or elements thereof, create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. |
Acts through an independent Compensation Committee | The Compensation Committee is comprised entirely of independent directors and has retained an independent compensation consulting firm. |
Practices the Company Prohibits | |
No excise tax gross-up payments | The Company does not enter into any new contractual agreements that include excise tax gross-up payments. |
No re-priced options. | The Company has never re-priced or otherwise reduced the per-share exercise price of any outstanding stock options. Re-pricing of stock options is not permitted under the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan without first obtaining approval from the stockholders of the Company. The Company and the Committee will not re-price underwater options without the consent of the Company’s stockholders. |
No pledging or hedging of shares | The Company’s insider trading policy restricts Board members and executive officers from entering into hedging transactions with respect to the Company’s securities and from holding the Company’s securities in margin accounts or otherwise pledging such securities as collateral for loans. Pledging or hedging transactions are permitted only in very limited circumstances. No Board member or executive officer implemented any pledges or hedging transaction. |
No special perquisites to executives | The Company does not provide executives with benefit programs or perquisites that are not generally made available to all Company employees, except in limited circumstances. |
Elements of Executive Compensation
As more fully described below, the Company’s executive compensation program designedconsists of four elements: a competitive base salary benchmarked against a peer group of companies as well as industry reference companies and other relevant market data; a short-term cash incentive plan tied to reward?
Ourthe Company’s annual financial performance results and the NEO’s individual performance; a long-term incentive plan utilizing equity in various forms; and customary benefits. The Company’s executive compensation program is designed to reward both Company and individualexecutives with above-market pay for results which exceed the Company’s target performance measured by overall Company results and the attainment of individual’s goals and productivity. Each year our Compensation Committee decides whether or not to grant annual cash incentives to our corporate officers, including the NEOs. While the Committee retains significant discretion with respect to awarding annual cash incentives, these annual cash incentives are designed to reward the attainment throughout the year of certain personal goals, as well as the Company’s overall profitability which can be based on results achieved by the business as a whole and/or the extent to which performance targets are achieved for each of the Company’s business locations and segments. Factors evaluated when analyzing the attainment of personal goals include the officer’s attitude, performance, and contribution to the Company’s profitability and success. With respect to the Company’s overall profitability, the primary measures considered by the Committee for fiscal 2015 performance included the results of the Company’s business as a whole, especially the further reduction in costs and expenses, including its business locations and segments.
What are the elements of compensation?
objectives. The following table below summarizes the elements of ourthe NEO compensation program for our named executive officers.program.
Element | Form of Compensation | Purpose |
|
Base | Cash |
|
|
| Cash | Provides a direct financial incentive to achieve |
|
Long-Term Incentive Plan | |||
|
| Encourages the executive |
|
Health, Retirement and Other Benefits | Eligibility to participate in benefit plans generally available to our employees, including | Benefit plans are part of a broad-based employee benefits program; the nonqualified deferred compensation plan and perquisites provide competitive benefits to our executive officers |
|
Each of these elements of pay is described below in further detail.
The Compensation Committee has reviewedreviews the risk profile of the pay elements of the Company’s executive compensation program, including the performance driversmetrics and objectives used in connection with incentive awards, and has consideredawards. The Committee considers the risks an NEO might be incentivized to take with respect to such elements.elements, metrics and objectives. When establishing the mix among these elements, the Committee is careful notcarefully calibrates the elements to encourageavoid encouraging excessive risk taking. Specifically, the performance drivers contained in theThe Company’s executive compensation programs have beenprogram is balanced between annual and long-term incentive compensation to ensure that both components are alignedalignment with short-term objectives and consistent with ourthe Company’s long-term business plan and shareholder interests. The Committee also determines that ourthe overall mix of equity-based awards has been allocated to promote an appropriate combination of retention and incentive and retention objectives.objectives
The Committee believes that the Company’s executive compensation program does not incentivizeencourage the NEOs to engage in business activities or other behavior that wouldmight threaten the value of the Company or the investments of its shareholders.
shareholder interests. The Committee continues to monitorregularly monitors and evaluate on an on-going basisevaluates the mix of compensation, especially equity compensation, awarded to the named executive officers,NEOs, and the extent to which such compensation aligns theNEO interests of the NEOs with those of our shareholders.shareholder interests. In connection with this practice, the Committee has, from time to time, reconsidered the structure of the Company’s executive compensation program and the relative weighting of various elements of pay. Please refer to ourthe discussion under “Payin the “Compensation Mix” beginning on page 20.section.
Role of the Compensation Consultant
Under its charter, the Compensation Committee is authorized to engage outside advisors at the Company’s expense. In fiscal 2015, the Compensation Committee engaged the compensation consulting firm of Pay Governance LLC (“Pay Governance”) to act as the Committee’s independent compensation consultant to assist the Committee with ensuring that the designs of the Company’s executive compensation programs are strongly aligned with Company performance. The Committee assessed the independence of Pay Governance and concluded that no conflict of interest existed that would prevent Pay Governance from providing independent advice to the Committee regarding executive compensation matters. Pay Governance delivered to the Committee and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company advisory reports that benchmarked the annual base salaries and other elements of total compensation of the Company’s NEOs. Additionally, Pay Governance provided advice to the Committee and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company as to the structure, content and performance goals of both the fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2016 STIP (short term incentive plan – cash bonus) and the fiscal 2016 LTIP (long-term incentive plan – stock compensation) for the Company’s NEOs.
Base SalariesSalary
The Compensation Committee annually reviews each NEO’s base salary, the base salariesscope of our named executive officers and each such officer’sNEO’s level of responsibility and potential, as well as base salary levels offered by competitors and the overall marketplace competition. Each executive’s particular divisionmarketplace. Base salary is reviewed,set at a level that is market competitive in order to attract and retain highly qualified leaders. Base salary reflects the NEO’s scope of responsibility, breadth of experience, ability to contribute to and impact corporate performance, and a demonstrated track record of individual performance. The Committee has engaged FW Cook to assist in benchmarking each NEO’s base salary and total direct compensation opportunity and each element of executive compensation. The assessment also factors in peer group and industry reference company data and other relevant market data.
In general, the Company seeks to provide target compensation opportunities that are competitive with its contributionpeer group companies and other compensation data sources, as provided by FW Cook. There may be instances which indicate the need to the overall results ofpay above target level compensation and the Company is assessed.
prepared to do so within reasonable limits. The Committee applies a collective, subjective evaluation of the above factors to determine the annual base compensationsalary level of its named executive officerseach NEO in light of the Company’s performance and in certain cases, the performance of various divisions.such NEO’s individual performance. The Committee does not utilize a particular objective formula as a means of establishing annual base salary levels.
After considering industry-wideThe Compensation Committee did not increase the NEO base salaries for fiscal 2018, electing to maintain the NEO base salaries at the levels that were in effect during fiscal 2017 in light of fiscal 2017 results. Effective September 1, 2018 for fiscal 2019, the base salary of Mr. Galeese was increased to $345,000 from an annualized rate of $320,000; the base salary of Mr. Croskey was increased to $335,000 from an annualized rate of $289,000 in consideration of his increased responsibilities; the base salary of Mr. Japlon was increased to $329,600 from an annualized rate of $320,000; and company-specific economic conditions, the Committee attempts to assess whether recommendations with respect tobase salary levels for NEOs are subjectively fair and in amounts high enough to retain such NEOs.of Mr. Foerster remained at $296,000.
At its meeting onShort-Term Incentive Plan
The Company’s annual incentive plan (the “STIP”) provides for the payment of an annual cash incentive and motivates the NEOs to achieve and exceed the Company’s annual operating plan objectives. The Company’s STIP has used net sales and operating income as the Company financial performance metrics for the past several years. The achievement of the Company’s net sales and operating income performance objectives are directly relevant and correlated to growth in shareholder value. These metrics are straightforward and relatively easy to understand, which is critical given that the vast majority of the Company’s employees at all levels of the organization participate in the STIP.
In August 19, 2015,2017, the Compensation Committee increased the annual base salaries of the NEOs in a range of 0% to 7%, effective September 1, 2015, which is in line with the wage and salary increases approved for substantially all LSI employees effective September 7, 2014.
Annual Cash Incentives
The Compensation Committee strongly believes that annual cash incentives provide a direct financial incentive to achieve corporate and individual operating goals.
At a meeting on December 5, 2014 the Compensation Committee approvedadopted the Fiscal 2015Year 2018 Short Term Incentive Compensation Plan for Named Executive OfficersNEOs (the “2015 Incentive Plan”“FY18 STIP”). The 2015 Incentive PlanFY18 STIP provides for a cash bonus awardsincentive award to the Company’s named executive officers that are driven byNEOs based on the achievement of defined keythe Company’s fiscal 2018 performance indicators which reflect LSI’sobjectives. The performance metrics for fiscal year 2018 are net sales and operating results. A graduated scale of bonus potentialincome, each weighted at 50%. The incentive award opportunity stated as a percentage of base salary is identified in the following table at indicated levels of achievement of keythe fiscal 2018 performance indicators. objectives.
Executive | Threshold Achievement | Target Achievement | Maximum Achievement | |||||||||
CEO | 50% | 100% | 200% | |||||||||
Other NEOs | 20% | 40% | 80% | |||||||||
The primaryincentive award opportunity for fiscal 2018 reflects an increase for the CEO in the incentive payout percentage to 50% for threshold plan achievement and to 100% for target plan achievement (the prior fiscal year 2017 plan payout was 25% for threshold performance indicator isand 90% for target plan achievement). The maximum incentive payouts remain unchanged from fiscal 2017 at 200% of target for all NEOs. Based on the Company’s operating income. Ten percentfinancial performance of the bonus potential for a named executive officer is discretionary and to be determined by subjective measures. The 2015 Incentive Plan does not apply to Dennis W. Wells, LSI’s Chief Executive Officer and President.
At its meeting on August 19, 2015Company, the Compensation Committee awardedapproved FY18 STIP cash bonusesincentive awards to the NEOs for fiscal year 20152018 of 15.76% of base salary as set forth in the Bonus column in the Summary Compensation Table based on page 21. The bonuses to all NEOs other than Mr. Wells were madethe achievement of the Company’s fiscal 2018 performance objectives as reflected in accordance with Mr. Wells’ recommendations under the 2015 Incentive Plan. Mr. Wells’ bonus for fiscal year 2015 was granted in accordance with the terms of his employment agreement.following table.
Metric | FY18 Plan | FY18 Actual | % Plan (1) | Target Bonus | % Bonus (2) | Metric Weight | % Payout | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net Sales | $382,595 | $342,023 | 89.40% | 40.00% | 31.52% | 50.00% | 15.76% | |||||||||||||||||||||
Operating Income | $17,973 | $9,612 | 53.46% | 40.00% | 0% | 50.00% | 0% | |||||||||||||||||||||
FY18 STIP Payout % | 15.76% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Effective July 1, 2015,
(1) | 75% Threshold. |
(2) | Interpolated between 20 – 40%. |
In August 2018, the Compensation Committee adopted the Fiscal 2016Year 2019 Short Term Incentive Plan for NEOs (the “2016“FY19 STIP”). The 2016FY19 STIP providescontinues the use of net sales and operating income as the performance metrics and continues the 50% weighting for cash bonus awardseach metric. A notable change in the FY19 STIP is that payment of any FY19 STIP award will be subject to the Company’s named executive officersCompany achieving a threshold level of operating income that are keyedis equal to the attainmentamount of the Company’s 2016 Businessfiscal 2018 operating income. In addition, the incentive award opportunity for each of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Commercial Officer has been increased as reflected in the following table.
Executive | Threshold Achievement | Target Achievement | Maximum Achievement |
CEO | 50% | 100% | 200% |
CFO & CCO | 25% | 50% | 100% |
Other NEOs | 20% | 40% | 80% |
Long-Term Incentive Plan goals for sales and operating income.(LTIP)
ForThe Company’s long-term incentive plan (the “LTIP”) provides for the NEOs, the bonus consistsaward of two performance indicators for fiscal year 2016. The first, weighted at 30%, is based on attainment of a company-wide sales target. The second, weighted at 70%, is based on attainment of a company-wide operating income target.
A graduated scale of bonus potential stated as a percentage of base salary is identified below at indicated levels of achievement of key performance indicators:
90% Target Achievement- 17%
100% Target Achievement- 25%
110% Target Achievement- 35%
120% Target Achievement- 45%
150% Target Achievement- 65%
Long-Term Equity Incentives
Long-term equity incentive compensation is comprised of nonqualified stock options, performance share units, restricted stock, restricted stock units and stock appreciation rights. These awards are madeother forms of equity under the terms of the Company’s 2012 Stock Incentive Plan. The purposeLTIP rewards executives for achieving the company’s long-term performance goals which in turn will create long-term shareholder value. The grant of such awards is to encourage executive officers to buildequity based compensation provides a strong longer-term alignment of NEO interests with shareholder interests. The Company has adopted stock ownership and maintain a long-term equity ownership position in the Company so that their interests are aligned with those of our shareholders.
The 2012 Stock Incentive Plan was adopted by our shareholdersretention guidelines for the purpose of allowing LSIexecutive team to compete successfully in retaining and attracting key employees and Directors of outstanding ability, to stimulate the efforts ofreinforce such persons toward the Company's objectives and to encourage the identification of their interests with those of the Company's shareholders. Under the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan, the Committee has authority in its discretion to determine, after considering the recommendations or advice of any officer or employee of the Company or attorneys, consultants, accountants or other advisors as it may select, to whom, and the time or times at which, awards may be granted, the number of shares, units or other rights subject to each award, the exercise, base or purchase price of an award (if any), the time or times at which an award will become vested, exercisable or payable, the performance goals and other conditions of an award, the duration of the award, and all other terms of the award. In other words, the Committee has the discretion to determine the recipients and terms and conditions of all awards granted under the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan. This broad amount of discretion that the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan provides to the Committee allows the Committee to consider the Company's results and the role of management in enabling the Company to achieve such results. We incorporate this flexibility into our compensation programs and in the assessment process to respond to and adjust for the evolving business environment.alignment.
In connection with the stock optionsLTIP equity awards granted to the NEOs, the Compensation Committee exercised itsgenerally exercises broad discretion after it reviewed information relating to historical grants of stock options by the Company. In recognition of the Company’s performance under the leadership of the NEOs as described above, theachieve an appropriate balance between retention and incentive objectives. The Committee soughtattempts to reward the NEOs by awarding them stock optionswith LTIP equity awards in an amount that would be significant in relation to the other annual compensation paid to these individuals,the NEOs, and in the Committee’s judgment, reasonable and appropriate after considering the NEO’s total compensation in relation to that of the most senior executives of companies in similar industries identified in reports prepared for the Committee. Although the Committee considers the compensation of such peer group companies' senior executives, they do not benchmark a particular percentile for the total compensation of our NEOs or for any component thereof. The size of the award wasis not determined by application of any formula, but rather reflectedreflects the Committee’s desire to encourage and reward high levels of performance.
The Compensation Committee is responsible for administration of the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan, both with respect to executive officers, including the NEOs, the DirectorsBoard members and all other employees. To that end, based on the CEO’s recommendation, theThe Committee determines which employees and Directorsthe individuals who will receive options,equity awards, the timedate of grant, the vesting and/or performance conditions of the grant, and the number of shares subject to the option.or units awarded. All stock option exercise prices are set at the last closing sale price for the Company’s Common Shares on the effective date of the grant. The Committee bases its individual stock optionsequity awards upon LSICompany performance, the past contributions of the particular employee and the capability of the employee to impact positively ourthe Company’s future success and profitability. Although LSIthe Company does not have a written policy regarding the timing of or practices related to granting equity awards, neither LSIthe Company nor the Committee engages in re-pricing, spring-loading, back-dating or bullet-dodging practices.
Effective July 1, 2015,
In August 2017, the Compensation Committee adopted the Fiscal 20162018 Long Term Incentive Plan for Named Executive OfficersNEOs (the “2016“FY18 LTIP”). The 2016FY18 LTIP provides for the issuance of share basedequity awards to named executive officers of the Company pursuant tounder the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan. PursuantThe following table shows the Committee’s FY18 LTIP awards to the 2016 LTIP effective July 1, 2015 the Committee awarded to executive officers service-based stock options, service-based restricted stock units and performance-based stock options as follows:NEOs.
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Executive | Service-Based Stock Options | Restricted Stock Units | Performance-Based Stock Options |
Dennis W. Wells | 60,477 | 25,490 | 123,560 |
James E. Galeese | 38,000 | 8,500 | 45,000 |
Howard E. Japlon | 38,000 | 8,500 | 45,000 |
Jeffrey A. Croskey | 30,000 | 5,500 | 34,000 |
Andrew J. Foerster | 30,000 | 6,500 | 34,000 |
The FY18 LTIP awards of service-based stock options and RSUs vest ratably over a fourthree year time period. The performance-based stock options vest based upon the attainment of the Company’s adjusted operating income goals established for the 2016 fiscal year in 33.33% increments. Assuming the Company’s adjusted operating income goal for that year is achieved, the first 33.33% will vest after the end of the 2016 fiscal year; the second 33.33% will vest after the end of the 2017 fiscal year; and the third 33.33% will vest after the end of the 2018 fiscal year. The service-based stock options and performance-based stock options eachoption awards have a ten year exercise term. The FY18 performance-based stock option awards are subject to the achievement of a fiscal 2018 operating margin performance objective. The fiscal 2018 operating margin performance objective was not achieved. Consequently, the FY18 LTIP performance-based stock option awards shown in the table above were forfeited.
In August 2018, the Compensation Committee adopted the Fiscal 2019 Long Term Incentive Plan for NEOs (the “FY19 LTIP”). The FY19 LTIP represents a significant step toward a longer-term performance weighted orientation for the Company’s LTIP. The FY19 LTIP contemplates the use of service-based stock option grants as a retention tool and the use of three-year performance stock unit (PSU) awards to focus on long-term performance. The FY19 LTIP service-based stock option awards represent approximately 40% of the value of the NEO grants vesting ratably over a three-year period, while the FY19 LTIP PSU awards represent approximately 60% of the value of the NEO grants. The PSU awards are subject to a three-year performance period. The Committee believes that these changes make the overall grant value more heavily performance-oriented over a longer period of time, with three years representing an appropriate performance cycle.
The vesting of the PSU awards are subject to the achievement of three-year Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“EBITDA”) and Return on Net Assets (“RONA”) performance objectives. EBITDA serves as a proxy for cash flow and the amount of profit that can be made from the Company’s current assets and operations. RONA measures the effectiveness with which the Company uses its assets and working capital to sustain growth. These are common metrics used by the investment and analyst community. The Committee believes that improvements in EBITDA and RONA will result in growth in shareholder value.
In recognition of the transition from the FY18 LTIP one-year performance period to the FY19 LTIP three-year performance period, the FY19 LTIP includes a feature permitting the vesting and release of one-third of the PSU award if specific one-year EBITDA and RONA performance objectives are met. If such one-year objectives are not met, the entire PSU award would remain eligible to be earned over the course of the three-year performance period.
PSU Grant 1 yr | Payout % | FY19 RONA % | FY19 EBITDA |
Threshold | 50% | 5.35% | $20,826 |
Target | 100% | 5.61% | $21,919 |
Maximum | 150% | 7.50% | $23,015 |
PSU Grant 3 yr | Payout | RONA 3 yr avg | EBITDA Cumulative $ |
Threshold | 50% | 7.00% | $65,653 |
Target | 100% | 8.00% | $72,216 |
Maximum | 150% | 9.00% | $75,656 |
The following table shows the Committee’s FY19 LTIP awards to the NEOs.
Executive | Service-Based Stock Options | Performance Stock Units |
James E. Galeese | 63,800 | 27,350 |
Howard E. Japlon | 56,700 | 24,300 |
Jeff A. Croskey | 56,700 | 24,300 |
Andrew J. Foerster | 34,000 | 14,600 |
Holding Requirements
Beginning with the fiscal 2017 LTIP, all equity awards made by the Compensation Committee are subject to a one year holding period upon exercise or release.
Clawbacks: Recovery of Prior Equity Awards
Except as provided by applicableIn the event the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the federal securities laws, and regulations, we do not have a policy with respect to adjustment or recovery of awards or payments if relevant company performance measures upon which previous awards were based are restated or otherwise adjusted in a manner that would reduce the size of such award or payment. Under those circumstances, we expect that the Compensation Committee shall require reimbursement to the Company (i.e., a clawback) of any equity award granted under the LTIP where: (i) the payment was predicated upon achieving certain financial results that were subsequently the subject of a substantial restatement of the Company’s financial statements filed with the SEC; (ii) the Compensation Committee determines the officer engaged in intentional misconduct that caused or substantially caused the need for the accounting restatement; and the Board(iii) a lower payment would evaluate whether compensation adjustments were appropriatehave been made to such officer based upon the facts and circumstances surroundingrestated financial results. In each such instance, the applicable restatement or adjustment.Company will, to the extent practicable, seek to recover from the officer the amount by which any performance-based awards paid to such officer for the relevant period exceeded the lower payment that would have been made based on the restated financial results. This compensation recovery policy applies to financial statements for periods ending after June 30, 2016.
Health, Retirement and Other Benefits
The Company’s benefits program includes retirement plansa 401(K) savings plan and group life, short-term disability and long-term disability insurance plans. The objective of our group insurance plans is to provide our executive officers with reasonable and competitive levels of protection which could interrupt the officer’s employment and/or income received as an active employee.
The objective of the retirement plans401 (K) savings plan is to provide a competitive level of retirement savings and income to executive officers and to reward them for continued service with the Company. The retirement plans offered to named executive officers includemay also participate in the Company’s Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan andPlan. Please see the Retirement Plan. The Retirement Plan is a designated money purchase pension plan with a 401(k) component and a profit sharing component, and is generally available to all“Nonqualified Deferred Compensation” section of our non-union employees with at least six consecutive months of employment. The Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan is discussed in more detail on page 25.this Proxy Statement for additional information.
Executive perquisites are kept by the Committee to a minimal level and do not play a significant role in executive compensation. These benefits, and their incremental cost to the Company, are described in the All Other Compensation Table and its footnotes. The Committee believes these perquisites to be reasonable, comparable with peer companies, and consistent with the Company’s overall compensation practices.
On January 25, 2005, the Company entered into amended agreements with the Company founders, Robert J. Ready and James P. Sferra. These agreements govern the respective executive’s transition from full-time employment at such time as the executive notifies the Company that the transition shall commence. Mr. Ready’s 18 month transition began October 22, 2014 and was in effect until his death in March 2015. Mr. Sferra’s 36 month transition began March 2, 2015. The agreements provide, among other things, that as compensation for their continued employment during an 18 to 36 month transitional period, those executives shall be paid for their respective services in each year at annual rates of 60%, 50% and 40%, respectively, of the average of their respective last five full fiscal years’ compensation. Mr. Sferra’s agreement is described further on page 28.
PayCompensation Mix
We believe that each element of our compensation program plays a substantial role in maximizing long-term value for our shareholders and employees because of the significant emphasis on pay-for-performance principles. As a result, a portion of an NEO’s total 2015 compensation was dependent upon achieving business and financial goals, and realizing other performance objectives identified in the Incentive Plan. As such, through this mix of pay, non-performance has a significant affect on the amount of compensation realized by executive officers.
While we did not engage in any such analysis in fiscal 2015, from time to time we have considered competitive market compensation paid by other companies, such as greater-Cincinnati based companies and companies that we consider to be peers or competitors, but we doThe Compensation Committee does not attempt to maintain a certain target percentile within these groups or otherwise rely on those data to determine executive compensation. Rather, we review benchmark studies from time to time and incorporate flexibility into our compensation programs and in the assessment process to respond to and adjust for the evolving business environment. We strive to achievemix. The Committee seeks an appropriate mix between equity incentive awards and cash paymentpayments in order to meet our objective.the Company’s various objectives around pay-for-performance, retention, and motivation of executive talent. Other than as set forth in our Incentive Compensation Plan,various compensation plans, any apportionment goal is not applied rigidly and does not control ourthe Committee’s compensation decisions. We useThe Committee uses it as another tool to assess an executive’s total paycompensation opportunities and whether we have provided the appropriate incentives have been provided to accomplish ourthe Company’s compensation objectives. OurThe mix of compensation elements is designed to reward recentshort-term results and motivate long-term performance through a combination of cash and equity incentive awards. We also seek to balance compensation elements that are based on financial, operational and strategic metrics with others that are based on the performance of LSI shares. We believeThe Committee believes the most important indicator of whether ourthat compensation objectives are being met is ourthe ability to motivate our named executive officersthe NEOs to deliver superior performance and to retain themthe NEOs to continue their careers with LSIthe Company on a cost-effective basis.
Termination oron Change-in-Control Agreements
Effective October 3, 2011, ourthe Board of Directors approved and adopted the LSI Industries Inc. Change in Control Policy (the “CIC Policy”), applicable to all of the NEOs, and theNEOs. The purpose of whichthe CIC Policy is to help diminish any potential distraction and encourage the NEOs to act in the best interests of LSI’sthe Company’s shareholders in the event of a change in control transaction. LSI also has an agreement with Mr. Sferra. For a further discussion on this topic, please seeSee the section titled “Potential Payments Uponon Termination or Change in Control” beginning on page 26.section of this Proxy Statement for additional information.
Internal Pay EquityTax Treatment
AlthoughU.S. federal income tax law prohibits the Committee does not review tally sheets, it does consider information prepared internally with respectCompany from taking a tax deduction for certain compensation paid in excess of $1 million to an analysis of internal pay equity for the salariesChief Executive Officer or any of the namedthree other most highly compensated executive officers, with respect to each other.other than the Chief Financial Officer (for taxable years beginning before December 31, 2017), who are employed as of the end of the fiscal year. Historically, compensation that qualifies as "performance-based compensation" under Code Section 162(m) could be excluded from this $1 million limit, but this exception has now generally been repealed, effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, unless transition relief for certain compensation arrangements in place as of November 2, 2017 is available. The Compensation Committee generally structured its historical compensation programs so that annual incentives and performance shares could potentially qualify as "performance- based compensation" for purposes of Code Section 162(m) and therefore could be deductible for income tax purposes. Based on the repeal described above and the operation of Code Section 162(m), compensation granted by the Compensation Committee may not qualify as "performance- based compensation" under certain circumstances.
Tax Treatments
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code places a limit of $1,000,000 on the amount of compensation we may deduct in any one year with respect to certain executive officers. There is an exception to the $1,000,000 limitation for performance-based compensation meeting certain requirements. The Committee believes that all compensation paid to such executive officers is properly deductible under Section 162(m), but no assurance can be made in this regard.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management. Based on these reviews and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company’s Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A.
Respectfully submitted by the members of the Compensation Committee.
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Robert P. Beech | |
Wilfred T. O’Gara | |
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The following tables settable sets forth information regarding annual, long-term, and other compensation paid byto the Company to itsNEOs for fiscal 2018.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
| Name and Principal Position | Fiscal Year | Salary (1) | Bonus (2) | Stock Option Awards (3) | Restricted Stock Awards (4) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation | Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($) | All Other Compensation (5) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dennis W. Wells | 2018 | $ | 491,076 | -- | $ | 115,511 | $ | 152,940 | -- | $ | (101,502 | ) | $ | 21,880 | $ | 679,905 | |||||||||||||||||
Chief Executive Officer | 2017 | $ | 557,748 | $ | 121,968 | $ | 479,765 | $ | 379,404 | -- | $ | (25,920 | ) | $ | 94,010 | $ | 1,606,975 | ||||||||||||||||
2016 | $ | 541,468 | $ | 516,395 | $ | 492,530 | $ | 93,900 | -- | $ | 8,877 | $ | 100,410 | $ | 1,753,580 | ||||||||||||||||||
Ronald D. Brown | 2018 | $ | 167,500 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | $ | 167,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Executive Officer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
James E. Galeese | 2018 | $ | 320,000 | $ | 50,432 | $ | 72,580 | $ | 50,320 | -- | $ | (9,624 | ) | $ | 7,385 | $ | 491,093 | ||||||||||||||||
EVP Chief Financial Officer | 2017 | $ | 12,308 | $ | 20,000 | $ | 180,738 | -- | -- | -- | -- | $ | 213,046 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Howard E. Japlon | 2018 | $ | 320,000 | $ | 50,432 | $ | 72,580 | $ | 50,320 | -- | -- | $ | 6,231 | $ | 499,563 | ||||||||||||||||||
EVP, HR & General Counsel | 2017 | $ | 92,308 | $ | 30,000 | $ | 193,150 | -- | -- | -- | $ | 671 | $ | 316,129 | |||||||||||||||||||
Jeff A. Croskey | 2018 | $ | 287,615 | $ | 45,493 | $ | 57,300 | $ | 32,560 | -- | $ | (9,481 | ) | $ | 6,269 | $ | 419,756 | ||||||||||||||||
EVP, Chief Commercial Officer | 2017 | $ | 287,615 | $ | 21,546 | $ | 114,975 | $ | 66,360 | -- | $ | (1,509 | ) | $ | 23,289 | $ | 512,276 | ||||||||||||||||
2016 | $ | 201,365 | $ | 47,004 | $ | 328,353 | -- | -- | -- | $ | 3,453 | $ | 580,175 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Andrew J. Foerster | 2018 | $ | 294,033 | $ | 38,171 | $ | 57,300 | $ | 38,480 | -- | $ | (40,471 | ) | $ | 8,578 | $ | 396,091 | ||||||||||||||||
EVP Chief Technology Officer | 2017 | $ | 294,033 | $ | 22,065 | $ | 114,975 | $ | 60,830 | -- | $ | (11,264 | ) | $ | 32,791 | $ | 513,430 | ||||||||||||||||
2016 | $ | 287,012 | $ | 71,506 | $ | 291,870 | $ | 46,950 | -- | $ | 2,548 | $ | 12,081 | $ | 711,967 | ||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Wells served as the Company’s CEO during fiscal 2018 until April 23, 2018. Effective April 23, 2018, the Board of Directors notified Mr. Wells of the termination of his employment. The Board appointed Ronald D. Brown as Interim Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officerat that time to replace Mr. Wells. The Company recorded a $1,772,000 severance liability in fiscal 2018 representing the severance and eachwelfare benefits Mr. Wells is entitled to receive under his employment agreement over a period of 36 months. This amount is not reflected in the other four named executive officers at June 30, 2015 for services rendered to the Company and its subsidiaries.
Compensation Tables and Other Information
The following table provides information regarding the compensation earned by our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and our three other most highly compensated executive officers during fiscal years 2013 to 2015.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Name and Principal Position | Fiscal Year | Salary ($) (1) (5) | Bonus ($) (2) | Stock Awards ($) | Option Awards ($) (3) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) | Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($) | All Other Compensation ($) (4) | Total ($) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dennis W. Wells | 2015 | $ | 362,500 | $ | 552,500 | $ | -- | $ | 607,063 | $ | -- | $ | -- | $ | 13,355 | $ | 1,535,418 | ||||||||||||||||
Chief Executive Officer and | 2014 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
President | 2013 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ronald S. Stowell | 2015 | $ | 352,000 | $ | 77,581 | $ | -- | $ | 137,928 | $ | -- | $ | -- | $ | 79,742 | $ | 647,251 | ||||||||||||||||
Vice President, Chief Financial | 2014 | 349,408 | -- | -- | 131,970 | -- | -- | 54,973 | 536,351 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Officer and Treasurer | 2013 | 334,944 | -- | 262 | 84,528 | -- | -- | 86,154 | 505,888 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shawn M. Toney | 2015 | $ | 301,871 | $ | 67,524 | $ | -- | $ | 103,446 | $ | -- | $ | -- | $ | 48,269 | $ | 521,110 | ||||||||||||||||
President of LSI Lighting | 2014 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Segment | 2013 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
David W. McCauley | 2015 | $ | 283,310 | $ | 62,442 | $ | -- | $ | 103,446 | $ | -- | $ | -- | $ | 43,174 | $ | 492,372 | ||||||||||||||||
President of LSI Graphics | 2014 | 280,359 | -- | -- | 65,985 | -- | -- | 57,636 | 403,980 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Segment | 2013 | 265,467 | -- | -- | 31,698 | -- | -- | 53,092 | 350,257 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Andrew J. Foerster | 2015 | $ | 89,904 | $ | 33,000 | $ | -- | $ | 174,730 | $ | -- | $ | -- | $ | 6,010 | $ | 303,644 | ||||||||||||||||
Executive Vice President and | 2014 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Technology Officer | 2013 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Robert J. Ready | 2015 | $ | 520,038 | $ | -- | $ | -- | $ | -- | $ | -- | $ | -- | $ | 42,962 | $ | 563,000 | ||||||||||||||||
Chairman and Chief | 2014 | 692,160 | -- | -- | 139,888 | -- | -- | 96,351 | 928,399 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Executive Officer | 2013 | 688,671 | -- | -- | 95,094 | -- | -- | 124,667 | 908,432 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
above.
| Salary compensation represents the base salary paid during the fiscal year. Fiscal 2018 salary represents a partial year for Mr. Wells who left the employment of the Company in April 2018. Mr. Brown joined the Company in April 2018 under a consulting arrangement which provides for compensation of $75,000 per month. Fiscal 2017 salary represents a partial year for Mr. Galeese who joined the Company in June 2017 and for Mr. Japlon who joined the Company in March 2017. Fiscal 2016 salary represents a partial year for Mr. Croskey who joined the Company in October 2015. |
| Bonus compensation represents the |
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ALL OTHER COMPENSATION
Name | Fiscal Year | Automobile Allowance and Operating Expenses (1) | Professional Fee Allowance (7) | Life Insurance (2) | Long-term Disability Insurance (3) | Qualified Retirement Plan Contributions (4) | Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan Contributions (5) | Pay in Lieu of Time Off (6) | Total ($) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dennis W. Wells | 2015 | $ | 8,917 | $ | -- | $ | 1,312 | $ | -- | $ | -- | $ | 3,126 | $ | -- | $ | 13,355 | ||||||||||||||||
2014 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ronald S. Stowell | 2015 | $ | 25,034 | $ | 5,000 | $ | 5,327 | $ | -- | $ | 16,120 | $ | 28,261 | $ | -- | $ | 79,742 | ||||||||||||||||
2014 | 22,925 | 5,000 | 3,643 | -- | 15,852 | 7,553 | -- | 54,973 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 25,363 | 5,000 | 3,643 | -- | 15,596 | 22,293 | 14,259 | 86,154 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shawn M. Toney | 2015 | $ | 12,012 | $ | -- | $ | 855 | $ | -- | $ | 16,120 | $ | 19,282 | $ | -- | $ | 48,269 | ||||||||||||||||
2014 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
David W. McCauley | 2015 | $ | 17,950 | $ | -- | $ | 7,239 | $ | -- | $ | 16,120 | $ | 1,865 | $ | -- | $ | 43,174 | ||||||||||||||||
2014 | 17,033 | -- | 5,501 | -- | 15,852 | 3,304 | 15,946 | 57,636 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 18,076 | -- | 3,762 | -- | 15,596 | 2,306 | 13,352 | 53,092 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Andrew J. Foerster | 2015 | $ | 3,927 | $ | -- | $ | 458 | $ | -- | $ | -- | $ | 1,625 | $ | -- | $ | 6,010 | ||||||||||||||||
2014 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Robert J. Ready | 2015 | $ | 13,330 | $ | 10,000 | $ | 5,077 | $ | 2,623 | $ | 11,932 | $ | -- | $ | -- | $ | 42,962 | ||||||||||||||||
2014 | 32,076 | -- | 7,045 | 6,405 | 15,852 | 34,973 | -- | 96,351 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 33,330 | 10,000 | 7,045 | 6,351 | 15,596 | 36,372 | 15,973 | 124,667 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
The following table describes each element of the All Other Compensation column for 2018 in the Summary Compensation Table.
Name | Fiscal Year | Life Insurance (1) | Qualified Retirement Plan or 401K Plan Contributions (2) | Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan Contributions (3) | Total | ||||||||||||
Dennis W. Wells | 2018 | $ | 2,018 | $ | 12,705 | $ | 7,158 | $ | 21,881 | ||||||||
2017 | $ | 3,715 | $ | 16,460 | $ | 73,835 | $ | 94,010 | |||||||||
2016 | $ | 2,413 | $ | 16,460 | $ | 81,537 | $ | 100,410 | |||||||||
Ronald D. Brown | 2018 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
James E. Galeese | 2018 | $ | 1,712 | $ | 5,673 | -- | $ | 7,385 | |||||||||
2017 | -- | -- | -- | -- | |||||||||||||
Howard E. Japlon | 2018 | $ | 2,250 | $ | 3,981 | -- | $ | 6,231 | |||||||||
2017 | -- | -- | -- | -- | |||||||||||||
Jeff A. Croskey | 2018 | $ | 1,256 | $ | 5,673 | -- | $ | 6,929 | |||||||||
2017 | $ | 1,260 | $ | 16,460 | $ | 5,567 | $ | 23,287 | |||||||||
2016 | $ | 405 | $ | 3,048 | -- | $ | 3,453 | ||||||||||
Andrew J. Foerster | 2018 | $ | 887 | $ | 4,966 | $ | 3,582 | $ | 9,435 | ||||||||
2017 | $ | 3,689 | $ | 16,460 | $ | 12,642 | $ | 32,791 | |||||||||
2016 | $ | 2,400 | $ | 16,460 | $ | 12,081 | $ | 30,941 | |||||||||
The Company does not provide automobile, personal expense or professional fee allowances.
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GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS
ThisThe following table sets forth certain information regarding all grants of plan-based awards made to the named executive officersNEOs during fiscal 2015.2018.
Name | Grant Date | Date of Committee Action | All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options (#) | Exercise or Base Price of Option Awards ($/share) | Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards |
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Dennis W. Wells | 10/1/14 | 10/1/14 | 100,000 | $5.96 | $2.19 |
11/20/14 | 11/20/14 | 75,000 | $6.81 | $3.45 | |
1/2/15 | 1/2/15 | 39,923 | $6.55 | $3.25 | |
Ronald S. Stowell | 11/20/14 | 11/20/14 | 40,000 | $6.81 | $3.45 |
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Shawn M. Toney | 11/20/14 | 11/20/14 | 30,000 | $6.81 | $3.45 |
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David W. McCauley | 11/20/14 | 11/20/14 | 30,000 | $6.81 | $3.45 |
Andrew J. Foerster | 3/2/15 | 3/2/15 | 50,000 | $7.88 | $3.49 |
Robert J. Ready | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Executive | Grant Date | Date of Committee Action | Service-Based Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options (A) | Performance Stock Unit Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options (B) | Exercise or Base Price of Option and RSU Awards ($/share) | Grant Date Fair Value of Stock Option and Performance Stock Unit Awards | ||||||||||||||||||
Dennis W. Wells | 8/17/2017 | 8/17/2017 | 60,477 | $ | 5.92 | $ | 1.70 | |||||||||||||||||
8/17/2017 | 8/17/2017 | 123,560 | $ | 5.92 | $ | 5.92 | ||||||||||||||||||
8/17/2017 | 8/17/2017 | 25,490 | $ | 5.92 | $ | 1.70 | ||||||||||||||||||
James E. Galeese | 8/17/2017 | 8/17/2017 | 38,000 | $ | 5.92 | $ | 1.70 | |||||||||||||||||
8/17/2017 | 8/17/2017 | 45,000 | $ | 5.92 | $ | 5.92 | ||||||||||||||||||
8/17/2017 | 8/17/2017 | 8,500 | $ | 5.92 | $ | 1.70 | ||||||||||||||||||
Howard E. Japlon | 8/17/2017 | 8/17/2017 | 38,000 | $ | 5.92 | $ | 1.70 | |||||||||||||||||
8/17/2017 | 8/17/2017 | 45,000 | $ | 5.92 | $ | 5.92 | ||||||||||||||||||
8/17/2017 | 8/17/2017 | 8,500 | $ | 5.92 | $ | 1.70 | ||||||||||||||||||
Jeff A. Croskey | 8/17/2017 | 8/17/2017 | 30,000 | $ | 5.92 | $ | 1.70 | |||||||||||||||||
8/17/2017 | 8/17/2017 | 34,000 | $ | 5.92 | $ | 5.92 | ||||||||||||||||||
8/17/2017 | 8/17/2017 | 5,500 | $ | 5.92 | $ | 1.70 | ||||||||||||||||||
Andrew J. Foerster | 8/17/2017 | 8/17/2017 | 30,000 | $ | 5.92 | $ | 1.70 | |||||||||||||||||
8/17/2017 | 8/17/2017 | 34,000 | $ | 5.92 | $ | 5.92 | ||||||||||||||||||
8/17/2017 | 8/17/2017 | 6,500 | $ | 5.92 | $ | 1.70 | ||||||||||||||||||
(A) | Service-based stock option awards and restricted stock unit awards vest ratably in three equal annual installments, beginning on the first anniversary of the award date, subject to continued employment of the Named Executive Officer. |
(B) | The performance objective for the performance-based stock option awards was the achievement of 4.7% operating margin. The Compensation Committee determined that the operating income performance objective was not achieved, resulting in the forfeiture of the fiscal 2018 performance-based stock option awards. |
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
The following table provides information regarding unexercised stock options and unvested stock awards held by our named executive officers as of June 30, 2015.2018.
| Option Awards(1) | Stock Awards | |||||||||
Name | GrantDate | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Exercisable (#) | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Unexercisable (#) | EquityIncentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options (#) | OptionExercisePrice ($) | Option ExpirationDate | Number of Sharesor Unitsof StockThat HaveNot Vested (#) | Market Value of Shares or Units ofStock That Have Not Vested ($) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other RightsThat Have Not Vested (#) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other RightsThatHave Not Vested ($) | |
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Dennis W. Wells | 10/1/14 11/20/14 1/2/15 | -- -- -- | 100,000 75,000 39,923 | -- -- -- | $ | 5.96 6.81 6.55 | 10/1/24 11/20/24 1/2/25 | -- -- -- | -- -- -- | -- -- -- | -- -- -- |
Ronald S. Stowell | 8/24/06 8/24/07 8/22/08 8/21/09 8/19/10 8/16/12 8/23/13 11/20/14 | 20,000 25,000 30,000 45,000 22,000 20,000 12,500 -- | -- -- -- -- -- 20,000 37,500 40,000 | -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- | $ | 17.60 19.76 8.98 8.40 5.21 6.58 7.20 6.81 | 8/24/16 8/24/17 8/22/18 8/21/19 8/19/20 8/16/22 8/23/23 11/20/24 | -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- | -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- | -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- | -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- |
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Shawn M. Toney | 8/19/10 8/16/12 8/23/13 1120/14 | 8,189 10,000 6,250 -- | -- 10,000 18,750 30,000 | -- | $ | 5.21 6.58 7.20 6.81 | 8/19/20 8/16/22 8/23/23 11/20/24 | -- -- -- -- | -- -- -- -- | -- -- -- -- | -- -- -- -- |
David W. McCauley | 8/24/06 8/24/07 8/22/08 8/21/09 8/19/10 8/16/12 8/23/13 11/20/14 | 20,000 25,000 30,000 30,000 15,000 7,500 6,250 -- | -- -- -- -- -- 7,500 18,750 30,000 | -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- | $ | 17.60 19.76 8.98 8.40 5.21 6.58 7.20 6.81 | 8/24/16 8/24/17 8/22/18 8/21/19 8/19/20 8/16/22 8/23/23 11/20/24 | -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- | -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- | -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- | -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- |
Andrew J. Foerster | 3/2/15 | -- | 50,000 | -- | $ | 7.88 | 3/2/25 | ||||
Robert J. Ready (2) | 8/24/06 8/24/07 8/22/08 8/21/09 8/19/10 8/16/12 8/23/13 | 25,000 20,000 20,000 29,899 23,000 45,000 53,000 | -- -- -- -- -- -- -- | -- -- -- -- -- -- -- | $ | 17.60 19.76 8.98 8.40 5.21 6.58 7.20 | 8/24/16 8/24/17 8/22/18 8/21/19 8/19/20 8/16/22 8/23/23 | -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- | -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- | -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- | -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- |
Name | Grant Date | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Exercisable (#) | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Unexercisable (#) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options (#) | Option Exercise Price | Option Expiration Date | Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) | Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dennis W. Wells (5) | 10/1/14 | 100,000 | -- | -- | $ | 5.96 | 4/23/19 | -- | -- | -- | -- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/20/14 | 75,000 | -- | -- | $ | 6.81 | 4/23/19 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1/2/15 | 39,923 | -- | -- | $ | 6.55 | 4/23/19 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7/1/15 | 45,000 | -- | -- | $ | 9.39 | 4/23/19 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7/1/15 | 90,000 | -- | -- | $ | 9.39 | 4/23/19 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7/1/16 | 60,000 | -- | -- | $ | 11.06 | 4/23/19 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/24/17 | 65,963 | -- | -- | $ | 10.20 | 4/23/19 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8/17/17 | 60,477 | -- | -- | $ | 5.92 | 4/23/19 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
James E. Galeese | (1) 6/12/17 | 15,000 | 45,000 | -- | $ | 9.15 | 6/12/27 | -- | -- | -- | -- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(4) 8/17/17 | -- | 38,000 | -- | $ | 5.92 | 8/17/27 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(3) 8/17/17 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 8,500 | $ | 45,390 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Howard E. Japlon | (1) 3/13/17 | 15,000 | 45,000 | -- | $ | 9.48 | 3/13/27 | -- | -- | -- | -- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(4) 8/17/17 | -- | 38,000 | -- | $ | 5.92 | 8/17/27 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(3) 8/17/17 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 8,500 | $ | 45,390 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jeff A. Croskey | (1) 10/12/15 | 10,000 | 10,000 | -- | $ | 9.05 | 10/12/25 | -- | -- | -- | -- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(2) 10/12/15 | 37,500 | -- | -- | $ | 9.05 | 10/12/25 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) 7/1/16 | 7,500 | 22,500 | -- | $ | 11.06 | 7/1/26 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(3) 7/1/16 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 4,500 | $ | 24,030 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(4) 8/17/17 | -- | 30,000 | -- | $ | 5.92 | 8/17/27 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(3) 8/17/17 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 5,500 | $ | 29,370 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Andrew J. Foerster | (1) 3/2/15 | 37,500 | 12,500 | -- | $ | 7.88 | 3/2/25 | -- | -- | -- | -- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) 7/1/15 | 22,500 | 7,500 | -- | $ | 9.39 | 7/1/25 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(2) 7/1/15 | 50,000 | -- | -- | $ | 9.39 | 7/1/25 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(3) 7/1/15 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2,500 | $ | 13,350 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) 7/1/16 | 15,000 | 15,000 | -- | $ | 11.06 | 7/1/26 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(2) 7/1/16 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 4,125 | $ | 22,028 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(4) 8/17/17 | -- | 30,000 | -- | $ | 5.92 | 8/17/27 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(3) 8/17/17 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 6,500 | $ | 34,710 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) |
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(2) | These performance-based stock option awards were earned, have a ten year term and vest ratably over a three-year period beginning with the first anniversary of the date of grant. |
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(4) | These stock options have a ten year term and vest ratably over a three-year period beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant. |
(5) | Pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Wells has a one-year period following his separation from the Company’s employment on April 23, 2018 within which to exercise all of his outstanding stock options. |
OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED
The following table provides information for each of the named executive officersNEOs on stock option exercises and restricted stock unit award releases during fiscal 2015,2018, including the number of shares acquired upon exercise and the value realized.
| Option Awards | Stock Awards | ||
Name | Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) | Value Realized on Exercise (1) ($) | Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) | Value Realized on Vesting ($) |
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Dennis W. Wells | None | N/A | None | N/A |
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Ronald S. Stowell | None | N/A | None | N/A |
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Shawn M. Toney | None | N/A | None | N/A |
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David W. McCauley | None | N/A | None | N/A |
Andrew J. Foerster | None | N/A | None | N/A |
Robert J. Ready | 35,101 | $35,105 | None | N/A |
Executive | Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) | Value Realized on Exercise (1) | Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) | Value Realized on Vesting | ||||||||||||
Dennis W. Wells | None | N/A | 11,553 | $ | 96,355 | |||||||||||
Ronald D. Brown | None | N/A | None | N/A | ||||||||||||
James E. Galeese | None | N/A | None | N/A | ||||||||||||
Howard E. Japlon | None | N/A | None | N/A | ||||||||||||
Jeff. A. Croskey | None | N/A | 1,500 | $ | 16,590 | |||||||||||
Andrew J. Foerster | None | N/A | 2,625 | $ | 13,680 | |||||||||||
(1) |
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NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION
The Company has a Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan that allows for both employee contributions and company contributions. This is a funded plan so that when contributions are made into the plan they are 100% invested in Common Stock of the Company. A group of employees of the Company having an annual base salary above a certain limit are invited to defer a portion of their salary and/or bonus into this plan. A Company matching contribution may be made on up to 40% of an executive’s salary and bonus compensation at a matching percentage that is either 20%, 25% or 30% for the named executive officers, depending upon the actual return on average shareholders’ equity (“ROE”) achieved as compared to the plan for the fiscal year. An executive’s deferral into the plan in the current fiscal year can be matched for the current fiscal year as well as the two subsequent fiscal years if the ROE targets are achieved in any of those years. A Company make-up contribution will also be made into the plan on behalf of the named executives at the same percentage as in the Company’s qualified retirement plan for any salary and bonus compensation not receiving a benefit in the qualified retirement plan due to ERISA imposed limits on covered compensation or because the executive elected to defer salary and/or bonus into the deferred compensation plan. Additionally, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors may award employees a discretionary Company contribution to be funded into the Plan.
The following table provides information relating to the activity in the Deferred Compensation Plan accounts of the named executive officersNEOs during fiscal 20152018 and the aggregate balance of the accounts as of June 30, 2015.2018.
Name | Executive Contributions in Fiscal 2015 ($) (1) | Registrant Contributions in Fiscal 2015 ($) (2) | Aggregate Earnings in Fiscal 2015 ($) (3) | Aggregate Withdrawals/ Distributions in Fiscal 2015 ($) | Aggregate Balance at June 30, 2015 ($) | |||||||||||||||
Dennis W. Wells | $ | 10,350 | -- | $ | 1,931 | -- | $ | 12,281 | ||||||||||||
Ronald S. Stowell | $ | 21,420 | $ | 7,553 | $ | 89,717 | -- | $ | 599,360 | |||||||||||
Shawn M. Toney | $ | 18,112 | $ | 3,458 | $ | 14,506 | -- | $ | 88,820 | |||||||||||
David W. McCauley | -- | $ | 3,304 | $ | 34,422 | -- | $ | 233,021 | ||||||||||||
Andrew J. Foerster | $ | 6,346 | -- | $ | 33 | -- | $ | 6,379 | ||||||||||||
Robert J. Ready (5) | -- | $ | 34,973 | $ | 84,821 | $ | (806,367 | ) | -- | |||||||||||
Executive | Executive Contributions in Fiscal 2018 | LSI Contributions in Fiscal 2018 | Aggregate Earnings in Fiscal 2018 | Aggregate Withdrawals / Distributions in Fiscal 2018 | Aggregate Balance at June 30, 2018 | |||||||||||||||
Dennis W. Wells | $ | 45,052 | $ | 73,835 | $ | (101,502 | ) | -- | $ | 221,845 | ||||||||||
Ronald D. Brown | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |||||||||||||||
James E. Galeese | $ | 44,400 | -- | $ | (9,624 | ) | -- | $ | 34,776 | |||||||||||
Howard E. Japlon | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |||||||||||||||
Jeff. A. Croskey | $ | 10,794 | $ | 5,567 | $ | (9,481 | ) | -- | $ | 23,403 | ||||||||||
Andrew J. Foerster | $ | 31,761 | $ | 12,642 | $ | (40,471 | ) | -- | $ | 83,863 | ||||||||||
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(3) | Aggregate earnings are included as part of |
(4) |
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POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPONON TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL
Except as described elsewhere in this Proxy Statement, the named executive officersNEOs do not have employment or severance agreements with the Company. In addition, any agreements, plans or arrangements that provide for payments to a named executive officeran NEO at, following, or in connection with any termination of employment (including retirement) of such named executive officer,NEO, do not discriminate in scope, terms or operation in favor of the named executive officer,NEO, and are available generally to all salaried employees. The Company’s Change in Control (“CIC”) Policy was approved and adopted by the Board of Directors effective October 3, 2011.
The CIC Policy is applicable to all of the NEOs, and the purpose of which is to help diminish any potential distraction and encourage the NEOs to act in the best interests of LSI’sCompany’s shareholders in the event of a change in control transaction.
CIC Policy. Generally, under the CIC Policy, subject to certain conditions surrounding post-change in control employment, in the event of a qualifying change in control, each named executive officer will be entitled to receive:
● | Base salary, accrued bonus and certain other benefits through the termination of employment; |
● | Lump sum payment equal to two times the sum of the base salary in effect immediately preceding the change |
● | Continued participation in and coverage under medical and dental plans for a twenty-four month period. |
Equity Award Acceleration. Acceleration
The terms of stock options granted under the shareholder approved 2012 Stock Incentive Plan and the 2003 Equity Compensation Plan generally provide for the acceleration of vesting upon a change in control or upon the executive officer’s death, disability or retirement.
Equity Acceleration Uponon Change in Control. No
An NEO is not entitled to any equity payment or accelerated equity benefit in connection with a change in control of the Company, except for accelerated vesting and exercisability of stock options granted under the 2012 and 2003 plans. Generally speaking,In general, a change in control occurs if (i) someonea person or entity acquires 25% or more of the Company’s Common Shares or (ii) a majority of the Board is replaced in any one year period other than by new directors approved by two-thirds of the existing directors.
Equity Acceleration Uponon Death, Disability or Retirement.
If an NEO’s employment with the Company is terminated by reason of death, disability or retirement, all stock options granted under the 2012 and 2003 Planplans will vest in full and become immediately exercisable. Under the 2012 and 2003these plans, retirement means termination other than for cause, death or disability by an NEO who is at least 65 years old or 55 years old with at least ten years of employment with the Company or one of its subsidiaries.
As of June 30, 2015, the end of the Company’s fiscal year,2018 the NEOs ownedheld the following amounts of unvested stock options:options and restricted stock units: Mr. Wells, 214,923;Galeese, 73,000 stock options and 8,500 restricted stock units; Mr. Stowell, 97,500;Croskey, 62,500 stock options and 10,000 restricted stock units; Mr. Toney, 58,750; Mr. McCauley, 56,250;Japlon, 73,000 stock options and 8,500 restricted stock units and Mr. Foerster, 50,000.65,000 stock options and 13,125 restricted stock units. The exercise prices of someall of the stock options held by the NEOs were abovegreater than the June 30, 2018 closing market price of the Company’s Common Shares ($9.345.34 per share) as of June 30, 2015.. Therefore, such unexercised stock options (whether vested or unvested) are treated as having no value for purposes of reporting the amount of compensation the NEOs would receive as of June 30, 20152018 from these stock options in the event of a change in control or upon retirement pursuant to a plan approved by the Company. The valuesAny value reported in the table below relaterelates only to those unexercised stock options (whether vested or unvested) having an exercise price belowless than the June 30, 20152018 closing market price of $9.34$5.34 per share or to the unvested restricted stock units valued at $5.34 per share.
The following table below shows the potential payments, other than those generally available to all salaried employees, that would be payable to each NEO assuming a qualifying change in control or other triggering event had occurred on June 30, 2015.2018.
Name | Payments Under Change In Control Policy ($) | Aggregate Value of Vested Equity Awards ($) | Aggregate Value of Unvested Equity Awards ($) | Deferred Compensation Plan Account Balances ($) | ||||||||||||
Dennis W. Wells | $ | 1,576,524 | -- | $ | 639,135 | $ | 12,281 | |||||||||
Ronald S. Stowell | $ | 841,335 | $ | 225,910 | $ | 236,650 | $ | 599,360 | ||||||||
Shawn M. Toney | $ | 705,228 | $ | 74,796 | $ | 143,625 | $ | 88,820 | ||||||||
David W. McCauley | $ | 640,148 | $ | 135,025 | $ | 136,725 | $ | 233,021 | ||||||||
Andrew J. Foerster | $ | 607,024 | -- | $ | 73,000 | $ | 6,379 | |||||||||
Robert J. Ready (Nancy C. Ready,Beneficiary) | -- | $ | 400,910 | -- | -- | |||||||||||
Name | Payments Under Change in Control Policy | Aggregate Value of Vested Equity Awards | Aggregate Value of Unvested Equity Awards | Deferred Compensation Plan Account Balances | ||||||||||||
James E. Galeese | $ | 690,432 | -- | $ | 45,390 | $ | 34,776 | |||||||||
Howard E. Japlon | $ | 720,432 | -- | $ | 45,390 | -- | ||||||||||
Jeff A. Croskey | $ | 644,359 | -- | $ | 53,400 | $ | 23,403 | |||||||||
Andrew J.Foerster | $ | 659,899 | -- | $ | 70,088 | $ | 83,863 | |||||||||
Under a separate agreement, Mr. Sferra will receive disability payments for up to 50 months at 60% of his average salary and bonus received in the last five fiscal years, reduced by any Social Security payments, if he becomes disabled while employed by LSI. Health insurance will be maintained for Mr. Sferra, his spouse and dependent children for ten years after termination or death. If Mr. Sferra dies while employed by LSI or while receiving disability payments, the Company shall pay his heirs one million dollars less any payments made as disability compensation or from any policies of life insurance maintained by LSI. In order to provide clear continuity of management influence, LSI has also agreed to employ Mr. Sferra in a consulting role for a transition period of three years commencing March 2, 2015 when he began a 36 month transition from full time employment. Compensation will be at annual rates of 100% for the first six months, 60% for the second six months, 50% for the next twelve months, and 40% for the final twelve months of the average of the last five full fiscal year compensation levels. The establishment of provisions for consulting services by Mr. Sferra is intended to facilitate a smooth transition as part of any future management succession plan.
The table below shows the potential maximum payments that would be payable to Mr. Sferra under these separate agreements assuming a triggering event had occurred on June 30, 2015.
Name | Transition from Fulltime Employment ($) | Death ($) | Disability ($) | |||||||||
James P. Sferra | $ | 839,376 | $ | 1,000,000 | $ | 1,363,609 | ||||||
Pursuant to LSI’s agreement with Mr. Ready, during Fiscal 2015 LSI paid a $1,000,000 death benefit to Nancy Ready, Mr. Ready’s spouse.
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The following table presents information about the Company’s equity compensation plans (2003 Equity Compensation Plan and 2012 Stock Incentive Plan) as of June 30, 2015.2018.
(c) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of securities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(a) | remaining available | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of securities to | (b) | for future issuance | ||||||||||||||||||||||
be issued upon | Weighted average | under equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||
exercise of outstanding | exercise price of | compensation plans | ||||||||||||||||||||||
options, warrants and | outstanding options, | (excluding securities | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Plan category | rights | warrants and rights | reflected in column (a)) | Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights | Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights | Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) | ||||||||||||||||||
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders | 2,677,464 | $ | 9.57 | 686,831 | 3,668,074 | $ | 8.17 | 1,436,303 | ||||||||||||||||
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | — | — | — | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||
Total | 2,677,464 | $ | 9.57 | 686,831 | 3,668,074 | $ | 8.17 | 1,436,303 | ||||||||||||||||
CORPORATE GOVERNANCECEO PAY RATIO DISCLOSURE
LSI Industries Inc.The Company is providing disclosure of the ratio of the annual total compensation of its principal executive officer (“PEO”) to its median employee’s annual total compensation as required by Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K. For purposes of the disclosure required by Item 402(u), the company is referencing the compensation of Dennis W. Wells who served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President during fiscal 2018 until his departure on April 23, 2018. Mr. Wells’ annual total compensation for fiscal 2018, as noted in the Summary Compensation Table, was $679,905. The median employee’s (excluding the PEO) annual total compensation for fiscal 2018 was $38,400. Therefore, the Company reasonably estimates that the fiscal 2018 ratio of the PEO’s annual total compensation to the annual total compensation of our median employee was 17.7 to 1.
Under the SEC’s rules and guidance, there are numerous ways to determine the compensation of a company’s median employee, including the employee population sampled, the elements of pay and benefits used, any assumptions made and the use of statistical sampling. In addition, no two companies have identical employee populations or compensation programs, and pay, benefits and retirement plans may differ by country even within the same company. As such, the Company’s pay ratio may not be comparable to the pay ratio reported by other companies.
As of June 30, 2018, the Company’s employee population consisted of 1,223 individuals. The Company did not exclude any employees from our determination of the median employee. The Company determined the compensation of its median employee for this purpose by: (i) calculating the annual total compensation based on the W-2 Box 1 amount for each of its employees; (ii) wages and salaries were annualized for those employees who were not employed for the full fiscal year based on their applicable work schedules; (iii) ranking the annual total compensation of all employees (excluding the PEO) from highest to lowest. The median amount was selected from the annualized list.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The Company is an Ohio corporation and therefore,is governed by the corporate laws of the State of Ohio. Since itsThe Company’s Common Shares are publicly traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market and itthe Company files reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission, theCommission. The Company is also subject to NASDAQ rules as well as various provisions of federal securities laws, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the Dodd-Frank Act. In accordance with NASDAQ rules, ourthe Board of Directors affirmatively determines the independence of each Director and nominee for election as a Director in accordance with the elements of independence set forth in the NASDAQ listing standards and Exchange Act rules. LSI'sThe Company’s Director Independence Standards are available at ourthe Company’s website, www.lsi-industries.com. Based on these standards, the Board determined that each of the following members of the Board isare independent: Messrs. Beech, Brown, Kreider, Meyer,Morgan, O’Gara, and Serrianne.Steele.
Board of Directors
GovernanceThe Board of Directors elects or appoints the corporation is placed in the hands of the Directors who, in turn, electCompany’s executive officers to manage the Company’s business operations. The Boardoperations and oversees the management of LSI Industriesthe Company on your behalf.behalf of its shareholders. It reviews the Company's long-term strategic plans and exercises direct decision making authority in all major corporate decisions, such as significant acquisitions or divestitures, the declaration of dividends, major capital expenditures and the establishment of critical corporate policies.
During fiscal 2015,The Executive Committee is responsible, during the intervals between meetings of the Board of Directors, metfor exercising all the powers of the Board of Directors in the management and control and the business of the Company to the extent permitted by law.
The Board of Directors and the Executive Committee held six meetings combined during fiscal 2018 either in person or telephonically on seven occasions.telephonically. In addition to all of the committeeBoard meetings and Committee meetings disclosed in this report, the independent Directors met on five occasionsheld two meetings during fiscal 2014 and2018. The independent Directors also discussed matters by themselvesin executive session at the end of certain Board meetings, Executive Committee meetings and committeeother Committee meetings, in each instance without the presence of the Company's senior management or executives. Mark A. Serrianne presided over each session as Lead Director.
The Company expects allEach member of the Board of Directors is expected to attend shareholders’ meetings. All Directors attended the 2013 Annual Meeting. Each ofBoard member attended the DirectorsCompany’s 2017 Annual Meeting. Each Board member attended over 93%at least 80% of the aggregate of all meetings of the Board, and committeesBoard Committees of which they werehe was a member.member and independent Director meetings.
Shareholders may communicate with the full Board or any individual Directorsmember of the Board on matters of concern by mail or through ourthe Company’s website, in each case to the attention of the Secretary of LSI Industries Inc.the Company.
Board Leadership Structure
The Board of Directors currently hasMr. O’Gara, a non-employee whodirector, serves as Chairman of the Board.Board of Directors. The Board believes that this structure is currently an appropriate leadership model for the Company’s size and the history and nature of its business operations. The Chairman,Mr. O’Gara has served on the Board since 1999 and as a lawyer who has a long historyfinancial expert serves as Chairman of providing legal services to the Company,Audit Committee. He is intimately familiar with the Company’s business and in a good position to identify and evaluate strategic issues facing the Company.
As describednoted above, the Board of Directors is currently comprised of only seven Directors,members, a majority of whom are non-employee Directorsdirectors who meet the NASDAQ Guidelines for independence and who meet periodically in executive session, factors which help ensure independent oversight of the Company. The Board has designated Mark A. Serrianne as “Lead Director.” Gary P. Kreider serves as Chairman of the Board. The Board of Directors recognizes that no single leadership model is right for all companies at all times, and for this reason, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, working closely with the fullentire Board, periodically considers the Company’s current leadership structure, as well as alternative structures, in its review of overall Board composition and succession planning. The Board has determined that the Company’s leadership structure is appropriate given the scope of its business, the nature and allocation of the responsibilities of ourthe CEO and ourthe other NEOs and the views of the Company’s shareholders as evidenced by the voting results of recent DirectorBoard elections.
Risk Oversight
The Company believes the role of management, including the NEOs, is to identify and manage risks confronting the Company. OurThe Board of Directors also plays an integral part in overseeing the processes used by management to identify and report these risks, if any, and in monitoring corporate actions so as to confine risk to appropriate levels. BothThe Board of Directors and each Board committee frequently engages in the full Board and the various committees frequently engage in discussionsdiscussion of risks facing the Company at their regularly scheduled meetings.
The Company’s leadership structure and overall corporate governance model is designed to aid the Board in its oversight of risk management. For example: the Audit Committee serves a key risk oversight function in carrying out its review of the Company’s financial reporting and internal reporting processes, as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; the Compensation Committee helps oversee risks relating to the Company’s executive compensation program;plan; and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee contributes to the overall risk oversight process by periodically reviewing the Company’s Board committee charters and evaluating potential Director nominees.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
The compensation program for the Company’s non-employee Directors in fiscal 20152018 was approved by the Board of Directors effective JulyApril 1, 2013.2016. Non-employee Directors of the Company receive annually $73,000 to be$100,000 paid in quarterly installments ($38,000 of(of which will be$52,000 is in the form of the Company’s Common Shares of the Company valued at the closing price of the Company’sa Common SharesShare at the end of the first business day of that quarter), plus $2,000 for each Board meeting in excess of seven in a fiscal year, and $2,000 for each Committee meeting in excess of five meetings of any one Committee in a fiscal year. Additionally,In addition, Committee ChairmenChairs receive the following amounts annually: Audit Committee Chairman $12,000;Chair $17,500; Compensation Committee Chairman $6,000;Chair $15,500; Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chairman $6,000; Executive Search Committee chairman $3,000 per quarter while active; Strategic Studies Chairman $3,000 per quarter while active; and Special Studies Co-Chairman $6,000 each in fiscal 2015. Mr. Kreider, asChair $13,500. The Chairman of the Board (effective November 20, 2014) receives a $20,000$50,000 annual retainer. The BoardEffective July 1, 2018, the non-employee Director annual compensation has been increased to $120,000, of Directors has selected onewhich $60,000 will be in the form of the non-employee Directors, Mark A. Serrianne, to beCompany’s Common Shares valued at the Lead Director, for whichclosing price of a Common Share at the compensation is $6,000 annually. Mr. Kreider also serves as Board Secretary, but receives no fees for this service exceptend of the first business day of that he receives committee meeting fees for serving as Board secretary at meetings of committees of which he is not a member.quarter. Directors who are employees of the Company do not receive any compensation for serving as a Director. Priormember of the Board of Directors. The Company has agreed to fiscal 2014, non-employee Directors received, atmaintain health insurance for Mr. Sferra, his spouse and dependent children for a period of ten years following his January 2017 retirement pursuant to the timeterms of their election as Directors, an annual grant of an option to purchase 1,500 Common Shares at the market price at the time of grant. Beginning in fiscal 2014, the Company’s non-employee Directors did not receive any stock options.his pre-retirement consulting agreement.
The following table sets forth information regarding compensation paid by the Company to its non-employee Directors during fiscal 2015.2018.
Name (1) | Fees Earned Or Paid in Cash ($) | Stock Awards ($) (2) | Option Awards $ (3) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) | Change in Pension Value And Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings | All Other Compensation ($) | Total ($) | Fees Earned Or Paid In Cash | Stock Awards | Option Awards | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation | Change in Pension Value And Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings | All Other Compensation | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Robert P. Beech | $ | 66,000 | $ | 37,995 | $ | -- | N/A | N/A | N/A | $ | 103,995 | $ | 61,500 | $ | 51,998 | -- | -- | -- | -- | $ | 113,498 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gary P. Kreider | $ | 59,283 | $ | 37,995 | $ | -- | N/A | N/A | N/A | $ | 97,278 | $ | 98,000 | $ | 51,998 | -- | -- | -- | -- | $ | 149,998 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dennis B. Meyer | $ | 53,000 | $ | 37,995 | $ | -- | N/A | N/A | N/A | $ | 90,995 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wilfred T. O’Gara | $ | 59,000 | $ | 37,995 | $ | -- | N/A | N/A | N/A | $ | 96,995 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark A. Serrianne | $ | 57,000 | $ | 37,995 | $ | -- | N/A | N/A | N/A | $ | 94,995 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
John K. Morgan | $ | 63,500 | $ | 51,998 | -- | -- | -- | -- | $ | 115,498 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wilfred T. O'Gara | $ | 65,500 | $ | 51,998 | -- | -- | -- | -- | $ | 117,498 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
James P. Sferra | $ | 48,000 | $ | 51,998 | -- | -- | -- | -- | $ | 99,998 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Robert A. Steele | $ | 48,000 | $ | 51,998 | -- | -- | -- | -- | $ | 99,998 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) | The table |
(2) | Stock awards are made to each |
(3) | Option awards compensation represents the grant date fair value which will be expensed for financial statement reporting purposes in accordance with ASC 718. There can be no assurance that the value realized from the exercise of stock options, if any, will equal the amount of ASC 718 compensation expense recorded. See discussion related to all assumptions made in the valuation of stock options in accordance with ASC 718 in Notes 1 and 9 to the Company’s financial statements included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, |
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
The Board of Directors have organized themselves intohas designated the committees described below to help carry out Board responsibilities. In particular, each Board committees workCommittee works on key issues in greater detail than would be possible at fulla meeting of the entire Board meetings.of Directors. Each committeeCommittee reviews the results of its meetings with the full Board. Otherentire Board of Directors. Each Committee, other than the Executive Committee, each Committee has a charter.charter approved by the Board of Directors.
The LSI Board of Directors reviewed, approved and adopted the LSI Industries Inc. Code of Ethics in 2004. There have been no amendments to the Code of Ethics nor any waivers granted to employees,executive officers, managers or executive officers.employees. The Company's Code of Ethics is available as Exhibit 14 to the Form 10-K filed for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004 and on the Company’s website, www.lsi-industries.com. The Company intends to post on its website within four business days any amendments or waivers to the Code of Ethics.
Each of the following committees,Committees, except for the Executive Committee, is composed of non-employee Directors each of whom meets the relevant independence requirements established by NASDAQ and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act that apply to their particular assignments.
The following table identifies membershipthe Chairman and the Chairmanmembers of each of the current standingcommittees Committees of the Board as of June 30, 2018, as well as the number of times each committee met during the fiscal year.
Director | Audit Committee | Compensation Committee | Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee |
Robert P. Beech | Member | Member | Chair |
Dennis B. Meyer | Member | Chair | Member |
Wilfred T. O’Gara | Chair | Member | Member |
Mark A. Serrianne | Member | Member | Member |
Meetings in 2015 | 5 | 9 | 1 |
The Executive Committee
The Executive Committee
The Executive Committee was composed of Messrs. Kreider (Chairman), O’Gara and Wells during fiscal 2018 until April 23, 2018, when Mr. Wells’ employment with the Company ended. From such date through June 30, 2018, the end of the Company’s 2018 fiscal year, the Executive Committee was comprised of Messrs. Kreider (Chairman), Beech, Morgan, O’Gara, Sferra and Steele. Since August 15, 2018, Mr. O’Gara has served as Chairman of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is responsible, during the intervals between meetings of the Board of Directors, for exercising all the powers of the Board of Directors in the management and control and the business of the Company to the extent permitted by law. The Executive Committee met one timeonce during fiscal 2015.2018.
The Audit Committee
The Audit Committee is governed by an Audit Committee Charter adopted by the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee was composed induring fiscal 20152018 of Messrs. O’Gara (Chairman), Beech, Meyer, and Serrianne. Wilfred T.Steele. Mr. O'Gara, an independent Directordirector under NASDAQ independence standards, has been designated as the Audit Committee financial expert by the Board of Directors, and meets all requirements as a financial expert as established by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Audit Committee met fivefour times in fiscal 2015.2018.
The Audit Committee is solely responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, our auditors.Grant Thornton LLP. The Audit Committee also evaluates information received from both the outside auditorGrant Thornton and management to determine whether the auditor is independent of management. The independent registered public accounting firm reports directly to the Audit Committee. A copy of the Committee’sAudit Committee Charter is available on LSI'sthe Company's website, www.lsi-industries.com.
The primary function of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities by reviewing the following:
| The financial reports and other financial information provided by the Company to any governmental body or the |
| The Company’s systems of internal control regarding finance, accounting, legal compliance and ethics that management and the Board have |
| The Company’s auditing, accounting and financial reporting processes generally. |
The Audit Committee has established procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints concerning accounting, internal controls or auditing matters and has established procedures for the confidential and anonymous submission by employees of any concerns they may have regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
The Audit Committee approves all audit and non-audit services performed for the Company by its independent registered public accounting firm prior to the time that those services are commenced. The Chairman also has the authority to approve these services between regularly scheduled meetings. In this event, the Chairman reports approvals made by him to the full Committee at each of its meetings. For these purposes, the Committee, or its Chairman, is provided with information as to the nature, extent and purpose of each proposed service, as well as the approximate timeframe and proposed cost arrangements for that service.
The Company adheres to a policy that limits the scope of consulting services that may be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm that performs the annual audit. This policy draws a distinction between audit, audit-related and non-audit services, and prohibits the independent registered public accounting firm from performing certain non-audit services. The Company will not use its independent registered public accounting firm to perform certain non audit-relatednon-audit-related services such as non-financial or management consulting services, business strategy consulting, information technology consulting, internal audit, price allocation appraisals and fairness opinions. Audit-related and tax consulting services that will be permitted include: retirement401(k) plan and 401(k) audits,audit, securities registration and reporting, tax compliance and planning, advice on the application of accounting policies, guidance on acquisition accounting and assistance with due diligence audits.
The Audit Committee approves Engagement Lettersengagement letters from the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the major components of their services rendered, such as the year end audit, audit of the Company's Retirement Plan,401(k) plan, tax compliance work, etc.and other related audit work. All other services are approved in advance on a project-by-project basis by the Audit Committee, acting through its Chairman, and are subsequently additionally approved by the Audit Committee itself following its quarterly detailed review and discussion of fees from the Company's independent registered public accounting firm.
The Audit Committee has advised the Company it has determined that the non-audit services rendered by Grant Thornton LLP in fiscal 20152018 were compatible with maintaining its independence during fiscal year 2015.2018.
Report of the Audit Committee
The Audit Committee engaged Grant Thornton LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, to conduct fiscal 20152018 audits for the purpose of expressing an audit opinion on the conformity of the audited year-end financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, as well as an audit opinion on the Company’s system of internal control over financial reporting. The Committee also discussed with Grant Thornton LLP the overall scope and plan for their audit. Following these audits, the Audit Committee reviewed with Grant Thornton LLP theirthe firm’s judgments as to the quality not just theand acceptability of the Company’s accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the Committee under auditing standards generally accepted in the United States and the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard No. 16, “Communications with Audit Committees” issued by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB).
The Committee also reviewed with Grant Thornton LLP their assessment of the Company’s system of internal control over financial reporting.
Grant Thornton LLP also provided to the Audit Committee a letter to the Committee containing the written disclosures required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB with respect to Grant Thornton LLP's communications with the Audit Committee concerning Grant Thornton LLP’s independence. This letter from Grant Thornton LLP confirms that, in its professional judgment, it is independent of the Company within the meaning of the federal securities laws and the requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. The Audit Committee discussed with Grant Thornton LLP that firm's independence and has advised Company management that it has determined that the services rendered by Grant Thornton LLP during fiscal year 20152018 were compatible with maintaining its independence as the Company’s auditors.
The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with management the Company’s audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2015.2018. In reliance on the reviews and discussions described above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Company’s audited financial statements be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 20152018 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Respectfully submitted by the members of the Audit CommitteeCommittee.
Wilfred T. O’Gara, Chairman
Robert P. Beech
Dennis B. Meyer
Mark Robert A. SerrianneSteele
The Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee was composed during fiscal 2018 of Messrs. Morgan (Chairman), Beech, and O’Gara is governed by a written charter adopted by the Board. In discharging the responsibilities of the Board of Directors relating to compensation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and other senior executive officers, the purposes of the Compensation Committee are, among others, (i) to review and approve the compensation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and other senior executive officers and (ii) to oversee the Company’s compensation plan, policies and programs, including its incentive plans and benefit plans and programs. The Compensation Committee approve, adopts and administers the Company’s short-term incentive compensation plan, its long-term incentive compensation plan, the Amended and Restated 2012 Stock Incentive Plan and all awards granted thereunder, including amendments to the plans or such awards. The Committee also performs such duties and responsibilities under the terms required by any executive compensation plan, incentive compensation plan or equity-based plan. The Compensation Committee has the authority to delegate any of its responsibilities to subcommittees as the Compensation Committee may deem appropriate in its sole discretion. The Committee has from time to time considered the advice of independent compensation advisors and consultants to assist in the evaluation of the Company’s executive compensation plan and practices. The Committee retained FW Cook in such capacity in March 2017 and since such date FW Cook provided assistance to the Committee related to compensation for the Company’s NEOs, including the Chief Executive Officer. At this time, the Committee believes that it has the necessary resources available to survey the compensation practices of the Company’s peer group and industry reference companies and other relevant market and industry data and developments.
The Company’s executive compensation plan is designed to support the corporate objective of maximizing the long-term value of the Company for its shareholders. To achieve this objective, the Compensation Committee believes it is important to provide competitive levels of compensation to attract and retain the most qualified employees, to recognize individuals who exceed expectations and to closely link executive compensation with corporate performance and shareholder interests. The methods by which the Committee believes the Company's long-term objectives can be achieved are through an appropriate mix of base salary, an annual cash incentive compensation plan and a long-term equity-based incentive compensation plan.
The Compensation Committee processes and procedures for the consideration and determination of executive compensation are discussed in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section of this Proxy Statement. The Compensation Committee met three times in fiscal 2018. A copy of the Compensation Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website, www.lsi-industries.com.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee was composed induring fiscal 20152018 of Messrs. Beech (Chairman), Meyer, O’Gara and Serrianne,Steele. The Committee is responsible for nominating personsindividuals for election as members of the Board of Directors at each Company annual shareholders’shareholder meeting and to fill any Board vacancies that may arise between annual shareholder meetings. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider nominees recommended by security holders in written correspondence directed to the Secretary of the Company. The Committee takes into account, among other factors which it may deem appropriate, the judgments, skill, diversity, business experience, and the needs of the Board of Directors as its function relates to the business of the Company. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met one timefour times during fiscal year 2015 and2018. The Committee also has met once during fiscal year 20162019 in order to nominate the slate of Directorsdirector candidates for election at the 2014 and 2015Company’s 2018 Annual Shareholders’ Meetings, respectively,Shareholder Meeting as set forth in this Proxy Statement and to discuss other corporate governance matters.
The Nominating and Governance Committee did not seek the recommendation of any of the Directordirector candidates named in this proxy statement,Proxy Statement, nor did it receive a recommendation from any shareholder, non-management Director,director, executive officer or third-party search firm in connection with its own approval of such candidates. The Company has not paid any fee to a third party to assist it in identifying or evaluating nominees. The Committee is also responsible for advising the Board of Directors on changes in Board compensation. The CEO provides input and recommendations to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee with respect to the compensation to be paid to the non-employee members of the Board. A copy of the Committee’s Charter is available on LSI's website, www.lsi-industries.com.
The Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee, composed in fiscal 2015 of Messrs. Meyer (Chairman), Beech, O’Gara,Nominating and Serrianne, is governed by a written charter adopted by the Board. A copy of the CompensationCorporate Governance Committee Charter is available on ourthe Company’s website,www.lsi-industries.com. In discharging the responsibilities of the Board of Directors relating to compensation of LSI’s Chief Executive Officer and other senior executive officers, the purposes of the Compensation Committee are, among others, (i) to review and approve the compensation of LSI's Chief Executive Officer and other senior executive officers and (ii) to oversee the compensation policies and programs of LSI, including stock and benefit plans. The Compensation Committee’s specific functions include adopting, administering and approving LSI's incentive compensation and stock plans and awards, including amendments to the plans or awards and performing such duties and responsibilities under the terms of any executive compensation plan, incentive-compensation plan or equity-based plan. The Compensation Committee has the authority to delegate any of its responsibilities to subcommittees as the Compensation Committee may deem appropriate in its sole discretion. The Committee has from time to time considered the use of outside consultants to assist in the evaluation of the Company’s executive compensation programs and practices. It did engage such a consultant, Pay Governance, during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015 to gather benchmark data in preparation for consideration of fiscal 2016 compensation for the Company’s Named Executive Officers, including the Chief Executive Officer. At this time, the Committee believes that it has the necessary resources available to survey the compensation practices of the Company’s peer group and keep abreast of compensation developments in the marketplace.
LSI's executive compensation policies are designed to support the corporate objective of maximizing the long-term value of LSI for its shareholders. To achieve this objective, the Committee believes it is important to provide competitive levels of compensation to attract and retain the most qualified employees, to recognize individuals who exceed expectations and to closely link executive compensation with corporate performance. The methods by which the Committee believes LSI's long-term objectives can be achieved are through incentive compensation plans and equity compensation plans.
The Compensation Committee processes and procedures for the consideration and determination of executive and Director compensation are discussed in the section entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 14. The Compensation Committee met nine times in fiscal 2015.
Additional Committees of the Board
The Directors have also formed an Executive Search Committee, a Strategic Studies Committee, and a Special Studies Committee, each made up of members of the Board. Each of these committees were dissolved in fiscal year 2015. The Executive Search Committee ws composed of Messrs. Beech (Chairman), Serrianne and O’Gara. The Committee met one time in fiscal 2015. The Strategic Studies Committee was composed of Messrs. Serrianne (Chairman), Beech, and O’Gara and met one time in fiscal 2015. The Special Studies Committee was composed of Messrs. Beech (Co-Chairman), Serrianne (Co-Chairman), Meyer, O’Gara, and Kreider and met three times in fiscal 2015. In connection with their service on these committees, independent directors (other than the Lead Director and Chairman of the Executive Search Committee) receive $2,000 per meeting. Each of the Lead Director and the Chairman of the Executive Search Committee receives $3,000 per quarter during the time these committees are actively performing their functions. The Co-Chairman of the Special Studies Committee each received $6,000 in fiscal 2015.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
None of the membersNo member of the Compensation Committee is or has ever been an officer or employee of LSI. None of the membersCompany. No member of the Compensation Committee is or was a participant in any related person transaction in fiscal 2015 (see2018. See the section titled Related“Related Person TransactionsTransactions” in this Proxy Statement for a description of ourthe Company’s policy on related person transactions). Lastly, none of the memberstransactions. No member of the Compensation Committee is an executive officer of another entity, at which one of our executive officers serves on the Board of Directors. No named executive officer of LSINamed Executive Officer serves as a Directorboard member or as a committee member of a committee of any company of which any of LSI'sthe Company’s non-employee DirectorsBoard members are executive officers.
RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS
J. Scott Sferra, age 51,54, is Senior Vice President of Operations ofMaterials for the Lighting Segment of LSI Industriesthe Company and is the son of James P. Sferra, Director,a member of LSI Industries. In fiscal year 2015,the Board of Directors of the Company. Mr. J. Scott Sferra's fiscal 2018 total compensation was $221,988.$210,139.
During fiscal 2015, the Company paid approximately $300,000 to American Engineering and Metal Working, a company owned and operated by Kurt McCauley, David McCauley's son, for fabricated metal products. David McCauley is President of the LSI Graphics Segment. The Company believes that the rates charged by American Engineering for these products are comparable to those that the Company would have paid if it had purchased such products from other suppliers in transactions negotiated at arm’s length.
LSI engages Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL, a Cincinnati, Ohio-based law firm, with which Mr. Kreider is designated as a senior partner, for a variety of legal services. Kenneth P. Kreider is a partner in the firm and is the son of Mr. Gary Kreider, a member of the Board of Directors of the Company. Mr. Gary Kreider has no vote or partnership interest in the law firm's earnings. Mr. Kreider'sKreider and his son is a partner at KMK. Neither receivesdo not receive any direct compensation from fees paid by LSIthe Company to the law firm.
NASDAQ rules require the Company to conduct an appropriate review of all related party transactions (those required to be disclosed by the Company pursuant to SEC Regulation S-K Item 404) for potential conflict of interest situations on an ongoing basis and that all such transactions must be approved by the Audit Committee or another committee comprised of independent Directors. As a result, the Audit Committee annually reviews all such related party transactions and approves each related party transaction if it determines that it is in the best interests of the Company. In considering the transaction, the Committee may consider all relevant factors, including as applicable (i) the Company’s business rationale for entering into the transaction; (ii) the alternatives to entering into a related person transaction; (iii) whether the transaction is on terms comparable to those available to third parties, or in the case of employment relationships, to employees generally; (iv) the potential for the transaction to lead to an actual or apparent conflict of interest and any safeguards imposed to prevent such actual or apparent conflicts; and (vi) the overall fairness of the transaction to the Company. The Company adheres to its written policy described above for potential related person transactions and approval of such related person transactions are also evidenced by internal Company resolutions where applicable and/or our practice of approving transactions in this manner.
OTHER MATTERS
LSI IndustriesThe Company is not aware of any other matters to be presented at the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders other than those specified in the Notice.
QUESTIONS
If you have anyAny questions or need morerequests for additional information about the 2018 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting write to or contact:may be directed to:
LSI Industries Inc.
Ronald S. Stowell,c / o Mr. Howard E. Japlon,
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & TreasurerHuman Resources and General Counsel, Secretary
10000 Alliance Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45242
(513) 793-3200
For more information about your share ownership, callplease contact Computershare Investor Services, LLC at (866) 243-7347.
We also invite you to visit the LSI Industries The Company website on the Internet atis www.lsi-industries.com.www.lsi-industries.com Internet site; website materials are for your general information only and are not part of this proxy solicitation.
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Dated: September 28, 2018 | /s/ Howard E. Japlon | ||
Howard E. Japlon |
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ANNEX A
LSI INDUSTRIES INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED
2012 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
AS OF NOVEMBER2019, 20142015
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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LSI INDUSTRIES INC.AMENDED AND RESTATED
2012 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
AS OF NOVEMBER2019, 2014 2015
1. Purposes
The purposes of the Plan are to provide long-term incentives to those persons with significant responsibility for the success and growth of the Company, to align the interests of such persons with those of the Company’s shareholders, to assist the Company in recruiting, retaining and motivating employees, directors and consultants on a competitive basis and to link compensation to performance.
2. Definitions
For purposes of the Plan, the following capitalized terms shall have the meanings specified below:
(a) “Affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act.
(b) “Award” means a grant of Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Shares or,Restricted Share Units or unrestricted Common Shares, or any or all of them, to a Participant.
(c) “Award Agreement” means an agreement, either in written or electronic format, between the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms and conditions of an Award granted to the Participant.
(d) “Beneficial Owner” has the meaning given in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.
(e) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(f) “Cause” means with respect to any Participant, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, (i) the Participant’s conviction or misappropriation of money or other property or conviction of a felony, or a guilty plea or plea of nolo contendere by Participant with respect to a felony, (ii) conduct by the Participant that is in competition with the Company, conduct by a Participant that breaches the Participant’s duty of loyalty to the Company or a Participant’s willful misconduct, any of which materially injures the Company, (iii) a willful and material breach by the Participant of his or her obligations under any agreement entered into between the Participant and the Company that materially injures the Company, or (iv) the Participant’s failure to substantially perform his or her duties with the Company (other than by reason of the Participant’s Disability). For Participants subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the determination of whether any conduct, action or failure to act constitutes “Cause” shall be made by the Committee in its sole discretion.
(g) “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) Any Person (including a “group” as defined in Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 25% of the combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding securities; provided, however, that no Change of Control shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of a change in ownership percentage resulting solely from an acquisition of securities by the Company;
(ii) During any one year period, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board and any new director whose election to the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders was approved by a vote of at least two−thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board;
(iii) A reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company in each case, unless, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the Beneficial Owners of the Company’s outstanding voting securities immediately prior thereto beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 75% of the combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation of the outstanding voting securities of the Company; or
(iv) A liquidation, dissolution, sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (other than in a transaction in which all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the Beneficial Owners of the Company’s outstanding voting securities immediately prior to such sale or other disposition beneficially own, directly or indirectly, substantially all of the combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the acquiror of such assets (either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such sale or other disposition).
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, and only to the extent that an Award is subject to Code Section 409A and payment of the Award pursuant to the application of the definition of “Change in Control” above would cause such Award not to otherwise comply with Code Section 409A, payment of an Award may occur upon a Change in Control only to the extent that the event constitutes a “change in the ownership or effective control” of the Company or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of the Company under Code Section 409A.
(h) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any rules, regulations or guidance promulgated thereunder. Any reference to the Code or a section thereof shall also refer to any successor Code or section.
(i) “Committee” means a committee appointed by the Board consisting of at least three members of the Board, all meeting the definitions of “outside director” set forth in Code Section 162(m), “independent director” set forth in The Nasdaq Stock Market rules, and “non-employee director” set forth in Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, or any successor definitions adopted for a similar purpose by the Internal Revenue Service, any national securities exchange on which the Common Shares are listed or the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(j) “Common Share” or “Common Shares” means one or more of the common shares, without par value, of the Company.
(k) “Company” means LSI Industries Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Ohio, its subsidiaries, divisions and affiliated businesses.
(l) “Date of Grant” means the date on which the Committee authorizes the grant of an Award or such later date as may be specified by the Committee in such authorization.
(m) “Disability” means a Participant’s physical or mental incapacity resulting from personal injury, disease, illness or other condition which (i) prevents him or her from performing his or her duties for the Company, as determined by the Committee or its designee, and (ii) results in his or her termination of employment or service with the Company. The Committee may substitute a different definition for the term “Disability” in its discretion as it deems appropriate.
(n) “Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(a).
(o) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, schedules or guidance promulgated thereunder. Any reference to the Exchange Act or a section thereof shall also refer to any successor Exchange Act or section.
(p) “Exercise Price” means the purchase price of a Common Share covered by a Stock Option or SAR, as applicable.
(q) “Fair Market Value” on any date means the closing price of the Common Shares as reported on The Nasdaq Stock Market or, if applicable, any other national securities exchange on which the Common Shares are principally traded, or, if there were no sales of Common Shares on such date, then on the immediately preceding date on which there were any sales of Common Shares. If the Common Shares cease to be traded on a national securities exchange, the Fair Market Value shall be determined pursuant to a reasonable valuation method prescribed by the Committee. In the case of an ISO (or Tandem SAR), Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Committee in accordance with Code Section 422. For Awards intended to be exempt from Code Section 409A, Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Committee in accordance with Code Section 409A.
(r) “Full-Value Award” means Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units or unrestricted Common Shares.
(s) “ISO” means an Incentive Stock Option satisfying the requirements of Code Section 422 and designated as an ISO by the Committee.
(t) “Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company.
(u) “NQSO” means a non-qualified Stock Option that does not satisfy the requirements of Code Section 422 or that is not designated as an ISO by the Committee.
(v) “Participant” means a person eligible to receive an Award under the Plan, as set forth in Section4, and designated by the Committee to receive an Award subject to the conditions set forth in the Plan and any Award Agreement.
(w) “Performance-Based Exception” means the performance-based exception to the deductibility limitations of Code Section 162(m), as set forth in Code Section 162(m)(4)(C)and applicable Treasury Department regulations thereunder.
(x) “Performance Goals” means the goals established by the Committee, as described in Section 6(d)(ii).
(y) “Performance Measures” means the criteria set out in Section 6(d)(iii) that may be used by the Committee as the basis for a Performance Goal.
(z) “Performance Period” means the period established by the Committee during which the achievement of Performance Goals is assessed in order to determine whether and to what extent an Award that is conditioned on attaining Performance Goals has been earned.
(aa) “Person” shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, except that such term shall not include (i) the Company or any of its Affiliates, (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities or (iv) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of Company securities.
(bb) “Plan” means the LSI Industries Inc. Amended and Restated 2012 Stock Incentive Plan as of November2019, 2014 2015, as amended and restated from time to time.
(cc) “Prior Plan” means the LSI Industries Inc. 2003 Equity Compensation Plan, as amended and restated.
(dd) “Restricted Shares” means Common Shares that are subject to restrictions, as described in Section 6(c).
(ee) “Restricted Share Units” means a right, as described in Section 6(c), denominated in Common Shares to receive an amount, payable in either cash, Common Shares, Restricted Shares, or a combination thereof, equal to the value of a specified number of Common Shares.
(ff) “Restriction Period” means, with respect to any Full-Value Award, the period during which any risk of forfeiture or other restrictions set by the Committee, including performance restrictions, remain in effect until such time as they have lapsed under the terms and conditions of the Full-Value Award or as otherwise determined by the Committee, including the Performance Period for Full-Value Awards intended to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception.
(gg) “Retirement” means retirement with the Company at or after age 65 or at or after the later of age 55 and ten years of service.
(hh) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules, regulations, schedules or guidance promulgated thereunder. Any reference to the Securities Act or a section thereof shall also refer to any successor Securities Act or section.
(ii) “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means the right, as described in Section 6(b), to receive a payment equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Common Share on the date the SAR is exercised over the Exercise Price established for that SAR at the time of grant, multiplied by the number of Common Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised.
(jj) “Stock Option” means the right, as described in Section 6(a), to purchase Common Shares at a specified price for a specified period of time. Stock Options include ISOs and NQSOs.
(kk) “Tandem SAR” means a SAR granted in tandem with a Stock Option.
3. Administration of the Plan
(a) Authority of Committee.The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Compensation Committee of the Board shall serve as the Committee. The Committee shall have all the powers vested in it by the terms of the Plan, such powers to include the sole and exclusive authority to (within the limitations described in the Plan):
(i) select Participants to be granted Awards under the Plan and grant Awards pursuant to the terms of the Plan;
(ii) determine the type, size and terms of the Awards to be granted to each Participant;
(iii) determine the time when Awards are to be granted and any conditions that must be satisfied before an Award is granted;
(iv) establish objectives and conditions for earning an Award;
(v) determine all other terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan and any operative employment or other agreement, of any Award granted under the Plan, and determine the appropriate Award Agreement evidencing the Award;
(vi) determine whether the terms, conditions, and objectives for earning an Award have been met, including, without limitation, any such determination or certification, as the case may be, required for compliance with Code Section 162(m);
(vii) modify or waive the terms and conditions of Awards granted under the Plan, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan and any operative employment or other agreement, accelerate the vesting, exercise or payment of an Award or cancel or suspend an Award;
(viii) determine whether the amount or payment of an Award should be reduced or eliminated, and determine if, when and under what conditions payment of all or any part of any Award may be deferred;
(ix) determine the guidelines and/or procedures for the payment or exercise of Awards;
(x) determinewhether an Award should qualify, regardless of its amount, as deductible in its entirety for federal income tax purposes, includingwhether any Awards granted to an employee should qualify for the Performance-Based Exception;
(xi) adopt, alter and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan;
(xii) construe, interpret, administer and implement the Plan, any Award Agreements or related documents and correct any defect, supply an omission or reconcile any inconsistency in or between the Plan, any Award Agreement or related documents; and
(xiii) make factual determinations with respect to the Plan and any Awards and otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan.
(b) Binding Authority.The Committee’s interpretations of the Plan, and all actions taken and determinations made by the Committee pursuant to the powers vested in it under the Plan, shall be conclusive and binding on all parties, including the Company, its shareholders and all Participants.
(c) Delegation of Authority.To the extent not prohibited by law or the rules of the national securities exchange on which the Company’s Common Shares are listed, the Committee may allocate its authority hereunder to one or more of its members or delegate its authority hereunder to one or more Non-Employee Directors, except that no such allocation or delegation shall be permitted with respect to Awards intended to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception, and may grant authority to employees of the Company to execute documents on behalf of the Committee or to otherwise assist in the administration and operation of the Plan. When the Committee delegates its authority hereunder to one or more officers of the Company, it shall specify the total number of Awards that the officer or officers may award and the terms on which any Awards may be issued, offered or sold. In no event shall the Committee authorize any officer to designate such officer as a recipient of any Awards.
4. Eligibility
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Committee may select, from all eligible persons, Participants to whom Awards shall be granted under the Plan and shall determine the nature and amount of each Award. Eligible persons include any of the following individuals: (i) any officer or key employee of the Company, (ii) any consultant (as defined in the General Instructions to the Form S-8 registration statement under the Securities Act) to the Company, and (iii) any Non-Employee Director. All Awards shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, and Awards may be conditioned upon the Participant’s execution of an Award Agreement.
5. Common Shares Subject to the Plan
(a) Authorized Number of Common Shares.Unless otherwise authorized by the Company’s shareholders and subject to this Section5 and Section8, the maximum aggregate number of Common Shares available for issuance under the Plan is1,600,0002,800,000, plus (i) the number of Common Shares that, on the Effective Date, are available to be granted under the Prior Plan but which are not then subject to outstanding awards under the Prior Plan, and (ii) the number of Common Shares subject to outstanding awards under the Prior Plan as of the Effective Date which thereafter are forfeited, settled in cash or cancelled or expire. Upon the Effective Date, the Prior Plan will terminate; provided that all outstanding awards under the Prior Plan as of the Effective Date shall remain outstanding and shall be administered and settled in accordance with the provisions of the Prior Plan, as applicable.The maximum number of Common Shares available for issuance with respect to ISOs is 2,800,000.
(i) The maximum number of Common Shares available for grant with respect to Full-Value Awards is 600,000.
(ii)The maximum number of Common Shares available for issuance with respect to ISOs is 1,600,000.
(b) Share Counting.The following rules shall apply in determining the number of Common Shares available for grant under the Plan:
(i) Common Shares subject to any Award shall be counted against the maximum share limitation as one Common Share for every Common Share subject thereto.
(ii) To the extent that any Award is forfeited, cancelled, settled in cash, returned to the Company for failure to satisfy vesting requirements or other conditions of the Award or otherwise terminates without an issuance of Common Shares being made, the maximum share limitation shall be credited with one Common Share for each Common Share subject to such Award, and such number of credited Common Shares may again be made subject to Awards under the Plan.
(iii) Any Common Shares tendered by a Participant or withheld as full or partial payment of withholding or other taxes or as payment for the exercise or conversion price of an Award or repurchased by the Company with Stock Option proceeds shall not be added back to the number of Common Shares available for issuance under the Plan. Upon exercise of a SAR, the number of Common Shares subject to the Award that are being exercised shall be counted against the maximum aggregate number of Common Shares that may be issued under the Plan on the basis of one Common Share for every Common Share subject thereto, regardless of the actual number of Common Shares used to settle the SAR upon exercise.
(iv) Any Common Shares underlying Awards granted through the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted to individuals who become employees of the Company as a result of a merger, consolidation, acquisition or other corporate transaction shall not, unless required by law or regulation, count against the reserve of available Common Shares under the Plan.
(c) Award Limitations.Subject to the adjustment provisions of Section8, the following limits shall apply with respect to Awards intended to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception:
(i) The maximum aggregate number of Common Shares that may be subject to Stock Options or SARs granted in any calendar year to any one Participant shall be175,000250,000 Common Shares.
(ii) The maximum aggregate number of Common Shares that may be subject to Full-Value Awards granted in any calendar year to any one Participant shall be 50,000 Common Shares.
(d) Shares to be Delivered.Common Shares to be delivered by the Company under the Plan may consist in whole or in part of authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares.
6. Awards to Participants
(a) Stock Options.
(i) Grants. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, Stock Options may be granted to Participants, in such number and upon such terms and conditions as the Committee determines, and may consist of ISOs or NQSOs. Stock options may be granted alone or with Tandem SARs. With respect to Stock Options granted with Tandem SARs, the exercise of either such Stock Options or Tandem SARs will result in the simultaneous cancellation of the same number of Stock Options or Tandem SARs, as the case may be.
(ii) Exercise Price. The Exercise Price shall be equal to or, at the Committee’s discretion, greater than the Fair Market Value on the date the Stock Option is granted, unless the Stock Option was granted through the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted to individuals who became employees of the Company as a result of a merger, consolidation, acquisition or other corporate transaction, in which case the assumption or substitution shall be accomplished in a manner that permits the Stock Option to be exempt from Code Section 409A.
(iii) Term. The term of Stock Options shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, but in no event shall the term exceed ten years from the Date of Grant.
(iv) ISO Limits. ISOs may be granted only to Participants who are employees of the Company (or of any parent or subsidiary corporation within the meaning of Code Section 424) on the Date of Grant, and may only be granted to an employee who, at the time the Stock Option is granted, does not own more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company (or of any parent or subsidiary corporation within the meaning of Code Section 424), unless (A) the Exercise Price is at least 110% percent of the Fair Market Value on the Date of Grant, and (B) the ISO is not exercisable after five years from the Date of Grant. The aggregate Fair Market Value of all Common Shares, determined at the time the ISOs are granted, with respect to which ISOs are exercisable by a Participant for the first time during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company) shall not exceed $100,000 or such other amount as may subsequently be specified by the Code. If such Fair Market Value exceeds the $100,000 limit, the ISOs exceeding the limit shall be treated as NQSOs, taking the Stock Options in the order each was granted. The terms of all ISOs shall be consistent with and contain or be deemed to contain all provisions required to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Code Section 422.
(v) No Repricing. Subject to the adjustment provisions of Section8, without the approval of the Company’s shareholders, (A) the Exercise Price for any outstanding Stock Option may not be decreased after the Date of Grant, (B) no outstanding Stock Option may be surrendered to the Company as consideration for the grant of a new Stock Option with a lower Exercise Price, and (C) no other modifications to any outstanding Stock Option may be made that would be treated as a “repricing” under the then applicable rules, regulations or listing requirements adopted by the national securities exchange on which the Common Shares are listed.
(vi) Form of Payment. Vested Stock Options may be exercised in whole or in part, and the Exercise Price shall be paid to the Company at the time of exercise, subject to any applicable rules or regulations adopted by the Committee:
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(vii) No Dividends or Shareholder Rights. No dividends or dividend equivalents may be paid on Stock Options. Except as otherwise provided herein, a Participant shall have no rights as a holder of Common Shares covered by a Stock Option unless and until such Common Shares have been registered to the Participant as the owner.
(viii) Other Restrictions. Stock Options may be granted subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee determines, including, without limitation: forfeiture conditions, transfer restrictions, restrictions based upon the achievement of specific Performance Goals (Company-wide, divisional and/or individual) which may be based on one or more Performance Measures, time-based restrictions on vesting and/or restrictions under applicable federal or state securities laws.
(b) Stock Appreciation Rights.
(i) Grants. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, SARs may be granted to Participants, in such number and upon such terms and conditions as the Committee determines, and may be granted alone or as Tandem SARs. With respect to Tandem SARs, the exercise of either such Stock Options or SARs will result in the simultaneous cancellation of the same number of Tandem SARs or Stock Options, as the case may be.
(ii) Exercise Price.The Exercise Price shall be equal to or, at the Committee’s discretion, greater than Fair Market Value on the date the SAR is granted, unless the SAR was granted through the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted to individuals who became employees of the Company as a result of a merger, consolidation, acquisition or other corporate transaction involving the Company, in which case the assumption or substitution shall be accomplished in a manner that permits the SAR to be exempt from Code Section 409A.
(iii) Term.The term of a SAR shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, but in no event shall the term exceed ten years from the Date of Grant; provided that, each SAR granted in tandem with a Stock Option shall terminate upon the termination or exercise of the related Stock Option.
(iv) No Repricing. Subject to the adjustment provisions of Section8, without the approval of the Company’s shareholders, (A) the Exercise Price for any outstanding SAR may not be decreased after the Date of Grant, (B) no outstanding SAR may be surrendered to the Company as consideration for the grant of a new SAR with a lower Exercise Price, and (C) no other modifications to any outstanding SAR may be made that would be treated as a “repricing” under the then applicable rules, regulations or listing requirements adopted by the national securities exchange on which the Common Shares are listed.
(v) Form of Payment. Vested SARs may be exercised in whole or in part, and the Committee may authorize payment of a SAR in the form of cash, Common Shares valued at its Fair Market Value on the date of the exercise or a combination thereof, or by any other method as the Committee may determine.
(vi) Tandem SARs.Tandem SARs may be exercised for all or part of the Common Shares subject to the related Stock Option upon the surrender of the right to exercise the equivalent portion of the related Stock Option. A Tandem SAR may be exercised only with respect to the Common Shares for which its related Stock Option is then exercisable. 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 underlying ISO; (B) the value of the payout with respect to the Tandem SAR may be for no more than 100% of the excess of the Fair Market Value of the Common Shares subject to the underlying ISO at the time the Tandem SAR is exercised over the Exercise Price of the underlying ISO; and (C) the Tandem SAR may be exercised only when the Fair Market Value of the Common Shares subject to the ISO exceeds the Exercise Price of the ISO.
(vii) No Dividends or Shareholder Rights. No dividends or dividend equivalents may be paid on SARs. Except as otherwise provided herein, a Participant shall have no rights as a holder of Common Shares covered by a SAR unless and until such Common Shares have been registered to the Participant as the owner.
(viii) Other Restrictions. SARs may be granted subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee determines, including, without limitation: forfeiture conditions, transfer restrictions, restrictions based upon the achievement of specific Performance Goals (Company-wide, divisional and/or individual) which may be based on one or more Performance Measures, time-based restrictions on vesting and/or restrictions under applicable federal or state securities laws.
(c) Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units.
(i) Grants. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units may be granted to Participants in such number and upon such terms and conditions as the Committee determines. Restricted Shares will be registered in the name of the Participant and deposited with the Company or its agent in certificated or book-entry form.
(ii) Restrictions.Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units may be granted at no cost or at a purchase price determined by the Committee, which may be less than the Fair Market Value, but subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee determines, including, without limitation: forfeiture conditions, transfer restrictions, restrictions based upon the achievement of specific Performance Goals (Company-wide, divisional and/or individual) which may be based on one or more Performance Measures, time-based restrictions on vesting and/or restrictions under applicable federal or state securities laws. Subject to Sections9 and 10, for Awards to employees, no Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units conditioned upon the achievement of performance shall be based on a Restriction Period of less than one year, and, except as may be determined by the Committee, any Restriction Period based solely on continued employment or service (time-based) shall be for a minimum of three years, subject to (A) pro rata or graded vesting prior to the expiration of such time-based Restriction Period, and (B) acceleration due to the Participant’s death, Disability or Retirement, in each case as specified in the applicable Award Agreement; provided that the Restriction Period applicable to the first vesting date of an Award subject to pro rata or graded vesting (as referenced in (A) above) may be for less than one year, provided the first vesting date is no earlier than the fiscal year-end date of the fiscal year during which the Award was granted. To the extent the Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units are intended to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception, except as may be determined by the Committee, the applicable restrictions shall be based on the achievement of Performance Goals over a Performance Period, as described in Section 6(d).
(iii) Transfer Restrictions.During the Restriction Period, Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units may not be sold, assigned, transferred or otherwise disposed of, or mortgaged, pledged or otherwise encumbered. In order to enforce the limitations imposed upon the Restricted Shares, the Committee may (A) cause a legend or legends to be placed on any certificates evidencing such Restricted Shares, and/or (B) cause “stop transfer” instructions to be issued, as it deems necessary or appropriate.
(iv) Dividends and Voting Rights. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, during the Restriction Period, Participants who hold Restricted Shares shall have the right to receive dividends in cash or other property or other distribution or rights in respect of the Restricted Shares and shall have the right to vote the Restricted Shares as the record owners; provided that, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, any dividends or other property payable to a Participant during the Restriction Period shall be distributed to the Participant only if and when the restrictions imposed on the applicable Restricted Shares lapse. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, during the Restriction Period, Participants who hold Restricted Share Units shall be credited with dividend equivalents in respect of such Restricted Share Units; provided that, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, such dividend equivalents shall be distributed (without interest) to the Participant only if and when the restrictions imposed on the applicable Restricted Share Units lapse. Participants shall have no other rights as a shareholder with respect to Restricted Share Units unless otherwise determined by the Committee. Notwithstanding the forgoing, no Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units intended to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception shall provide the Participant with dividend or shareholder rights unless otherwise determined by the Committee; provided, however, that if dividend rights are provided, any dividends or other property otherwise payable to the Participant during the Restriction Period with respect to such Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units shall accumulate and be payable only if and when the specific Performance Goals are attained.
(v) Payment of Restricted Share Units. Restricted Share Units that become payable in accordance with their terms and conditions shall be settled in cash, Common Shares, Restricted Shares, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee.
(vi) Ownership. Restricted Shares shall be registered in the name of the Participant on the books and records of the Company or its designee (or by one or more physical certificates if physical certificates are issued) subject to the applicable restrictions imposed by the Plan. At the end of the Restriction Period that applies to Restricted Shares, the number of shares to which the Participant is entitled shall be delivered to the Participant free and clear of the restrictions, either in certificated or book-entry form. No Common Shares shall be registered in the name of the Participant with respect to Restricted Share Units, and Participants shall have no ownership interest in the Common Shares to which the Restricted Share Units relate, unless and until payment is made in Common Shares.
(vii) Forfeiture.If a Participant who holds Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units fails to satisfy the restrictions, terms or conditions applicable to the Award, except as otherwise determined by the Committee, the Participant shall forfeit the Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units. The Committee may at any time waive such restrictions or accelerate the date or dates on which the restrictions will lapse; however, to the extent the Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units are intended to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception, the provisions of Section 6(d)(iv) will apply.
(d) Performance-Based Exception.
(i) Grants. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, Full-Value Awards granted in a manner that is intended to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception shall be conditioned upon the achievement of Performance Goals as the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion.
(ii) Performance Goals. Performance Goals shall be based on one or more Performance Measures, over a Performance Period, as to be determined by the Committee.Performance Goals shall be objective (as that term is described in Treasury Regulations under Code Section 162(m)) and shall be established in writing by the Committee not later than 90 days after the beginning of the Performance Period (but in no event after 25% of the Performance Period has elapsed), and while the outcome as to the Performance Goal is substantially uncertain.
(iii) Performance Measures. The Performance Measure(s) may be described in terms of objectives that are related to the individual Participant or objectives that are Company-wide or related to a subsidiary, division, department, region, function or business unit of the Company, and shall consist of one or more or any combination of the following criteria: cash flow, profit, revenue, stock price, market share, sales, net income, operating income, return ratios, earnings per share, earnings (which may include an add back for taxes, interest, and/or depreciation and amortization), operating earnings, profit margins, earnings per Common Share, favorable comparison to established budgets, return on shareholders’ equity, return on assets, attainment of strategic and operational initiatives, comparisons with various stock market indices, reduction in costs or a combination of such factors, personal performance measures, working capital, total assets, net assets, return on sales, return on invested capital, gross margin, costs, shareholders’ equity, shareholder return and/or productivity or productivity improvement. The Performance Goals based on these Performance Measures may be expressed in absolute terms or relative to the performance of other entities.
(iv) Treatment of Awards. With respect to any Full-Value Award that is intended to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception: (A) the Committee shall interpret the Plan and this Section 6(d) in light of Code Section 162(m), (B) the Committee shall not amend the Full-Value Award in any way that would adversely affect the treatment of the Full-Value Award under Code Section 162(m), and (C) such Full-Value Award and any dividends or other property otherwise payable with respect to such Full-Value Award shall not vest or be paid until the Committee shall first have certifiedin writingthat the Performance Goals have been achieved.
(e) Unrestricted Share Awards.
Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee may grant awards of unrestricted Common Shares to Participants in such number and upon such terms and conditions as the Committee determines in recognition of outstanding achievements or contributions by such Participants or otherwise. Unrestricted Common Shares issued on a bonus basis may be issued for no cash consideration.
7. Deferred Payment
Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee may determine that all or a portion of any Award to a Participant, whether it is to be paid in cash, Common Shares or a combination thereof, shall be deferred or may, in its sole discretion, approve deferral elections made by Participants. Deferrals shall be for such periods and upon such terms as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion, which terms shall comply with Code Section 409A.
8. Dilution and Other Adjustments
In the event of any merger, reorganization, consolidation, liquidation, recapitalization, reclassification, redesignation, stock dividend, other distribution (whether in the form of cash, shares or otherwise), stock split,reverse stock split, spin off, combination, repurchase or exchange of shares or issuance of warrants or rights topurchase shares or other securities, or other change in corporate structure affecting the Common Shares, the Committee shall make such adjustments in the aggregate number and type of Common Shares which may be delivered and the individual award maximums as set forth in Section5, the number and type of Common Shares subject to outstanding Awards and the Exercise Price or other price of Common Shares subject to outstanding Awards (provided the number of Common Shares subject to any Award shall always be a whole number), as may be and to the extent determined to be appropriate and equitable by the Committee to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan. Such adjustment shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes of the Plan. Any such adjustment of an ISO or SAR shall be made in compliance with Code Sections 422 and 424, and no such adjustment shall be made that would cause any Award which isexempt from Code Section 409A or which isor becomes subject to Code Section 409A to fail to comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A or is exempt from Code Section 409A to become subject to Code Section 409A.
9. Change in Control
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, immediately upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, the following provisions of this Section9 shall apply except to the extent an Award Agreement provides for a different treatment (in which case the Award Agreement shall govern):
(a) all outstanding Stock Options and SARs vest and become fully exercisable; and
(b) all Full-Value Awards become fully vested.
10. Termination
(a) Termination by Death, Disability, or Retirement.If a Participant’s employment by the Company terminates by reason of death, Disability or Retirement, or in the case of an advisory relationship if such business relationship terminates by reason of death or Disability, any Award held by such Participant, unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant or otherwise interpreted pursuant to Section 12(l) hereof, shall be fully vested and may thereafter be exercised by the Participant or by the Participant’s beneficiary or legal representative, for a period of one year following termination of employment, in the case of death or Disability, and 90 days in the case of Retirement, or such longer period as the Committee may specify at or after grant in all cases other than ISOs, or until the expiration of the stated term of such Award, whichever period is shorter; provided that, for Full-Value Awards intended to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception, no vesting may occur or no distribution may be madein the case of Retirementprior to the attainment of the Performance Goals.
(b) Termination for Cause.If a Participant’s employment or service terminates for Cause, (i) all Stock Options and SARs (or portions thereof) which have not been exercised, whether vested or not, and (ii) allunvestedFull-Value Awards, shall immediately be forfeited upon termination, including such Awards that are subject to performance conditions (or unearned portions thereof).
(c) Other Terminations.If a Participant’s employment or service terminates, voluntarily or involuntarily, for any reason other than death, Disability, Retirement or Cause, (i) any vested portion of Stock Options or SARs held by the Participant at the time of termination may be exercised for a period of three months (or such other period as the Committee may specify at or after the time of grant) from the termination date, or until the expiration of the original term of the Stock Option or SAR, whichever period is shorter, (ii) no unvested portion of any Stock Option or SAR shall become vested, including such Awards that are subject to performance conditions (or unearned portions thereof), and (iii) allunvestedFull-Value Awards, including such Awards that are subject to performance conditions (or unearned portions thereof), shall immediately be forfeited upon termination.
(d) Limitation for ISOs.No ISO may be exercised more than three months following termination of employment for any reason (including Retirement) other than death or Disability, nor more than one year following termination of employment for the reason of death or Disability (as defined in Code Section 422), or such Award will no longer qualify as an ISO and shall thereafter be, and receive the tax treatment applicable to, a NQSO. For this purpose, a termination of employment is cessation of employment, under the rules applicable to ISOs, such that no employment relationship exists between the Participant and the Company.
(e) Transfers and Leaves of Absence.The transfer of a Participant within the Company shall not be deemed a termination of employment except as required by Code Sections 422 and 409A, and other applicable laws. The following leaves of absences are not deemed to be a termination of employment:
(i) if approved in writing by the Company, for military service, sickness or any other purpose approved by the Company, and the period of absence does not exceed 90 days;
(ii) if in excess of 90 days, if approved in writing by the Company, but only if the Participant’s right to reemployment is guaranteed by statute or contract and provided that the Participant returns to work within 30 days after the end of such absence; and
(iii) subject to the restrictions of Code Section 409A and to the extent that such discretion is permitted by law, if the Committee determines in its discretion that the absence is not a termination of employment.
11. Recoupment or Recovery Policy
Any Award shall be subject to forfeiture or repayment pursuant to the terms of any applicable compensation recoupment or recovery policy adopted by the Company, Committee or Board, as thereafter amended, including any policy adopted to comply with the rules of any stock exchange on which the Common Shares are traded or the Securities and Exchange Commission.
12. Miscellaneous Provisions
(a) Rights as a Shareholder. Except as otherwise provided herein, a Participant shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to Awards hereunder, unless and until the Common Shares have been registered to the Participant as the owner.
(b) No Loans.No loans from the Company to Participants shall be permitted in connection with the Plan.
(c) Assignment or Transfer. Except as otherwise provided under the Plan, no Award or any rights or interests therein shall be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. The Committee may, in its discretion, provide that an Award (other than an ISO) is transferable without the payment of any consideration to a Participant’s family member, subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may impose. For this purpose, “family member” has the meaning given to such term in the General Instructions to the Form S-8 registration statement under the Securities Act. All Awards shall be exercisable, during the Participant’s lifetime, only by the Participant or a person who is a permitted transferee pursuant to this Section 12(c). Once awarded, the Common Shares (other than Restricted Shares) received by Participants may be freely transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise subjected to lien, subject to the restrictions imposed by the Securities Act, Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the Company’s Insider Trading Policy, each as amended.
(d) Withholding Taxes.The Company shall have the right to deduct from all Awards paid in cash to a Participant any taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such Awards. All statutory minimum applicable withholding taxes arising with respect to Awards paid in Common Shares to a Participant shall be satisfied by the Company retaining Common Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date the tax is to be determined that is equal to the amount of such statutory minimum applicable withholding tax (rounded, if necessary, to the next lowest whole number of Common Shares); provided, however, that, subject to any restrictions or limitations that the Company deems appropriate, a Participant may elect to satisfy such statutory minimum applicable withholding tax through cash or cash proceeds.
(e) No Rights to Awards. Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any person any right to be retained in the employ or service of the Company, and the Plan shall not interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company to terminate any person’s employment or service at any time. Except as set forth herein, no employee or other person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award under the Plan. By accepting an Award, the Participant acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Award will be exclusively governed by the Plan, including the right of the Company to amend or cancel the Plan at any time without the Company incurring liability to the Participant (except, to the extent the terms of the Award so provide, for Awards already granted under the Plan), (ii) the Participant is not entitled to future award grants under the Plan or any other plan, and (iii) the value of any Awards received shall be excluded from the calculation of termination or other severance payments or benefits.
(f) Beneficiary Designation. To the extent allowed by the Committee, each Participant under the Plan may name any beneficiary or beneficiaries to whom any benefit under the Plan is to be paid in case of his or her death before he or she receives all of such benefit. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Committee and shall be effective only when received in writing by the Company during the Participant’s lifetime. In the absence of any such designation, benefits remaining unpaid at the Participant’s death shall be paid to the Participant’s estate.
(g) Fractional Shares. Fractional Common Shares shall not be issued or transferred under an Award, but the Committee may direct that cash be paid in lieu of fractional shares or may round off fractional shares, in its discretion.
(h) Unfunded Plan. The Plan shall be unfunded and any benefits under the Plan shall represent an unsecured promise to pay by the Company. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall give the Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company.
(i) Severability.If any provision of the Plan is deemed illegal or invalid, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.
(j) Limitation of Liability. Members of the Board and the Committee and officers and employees of the Company who are their designees 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 or willful misconduct in the performance of their duties hereunder.
(k) Successors. All obligations of the Company with respect to Awards granted under the Plan shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether as a 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.
(l) Code Section 409A Compliance. Each Award granted under the Plan is intended to be either exempt from or in compliance with the requirements of Code Section 409A and any regulations or guidance that may be adopted thereunder, including any transition relief available under applicable guidance. The Plan may be amended or interpreted by the Committee as it determines appropriate in accordance with Code Section 409Aand to avoid a plan failure underin order for the Plan and Awards to comply withCode Section 409A(a)(1). If a Participant is a “specified employee” as defined in Code Section 409A at the time of the Participant’s separation from service with the Company, then solely to the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of any additional tax under Code Section 409A, the commencement of any payments or benefits under an Award shall be deferred until the date that is six months following the Participant’s separation from service (or such other period as required to comply with Code Section 409A).Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company does not guarantee that Awards under the Plan will comply with Code Section 409A and the Committee is under no obligation to make any changes to Awards to cause such compliance.
13. Effective Date, Amendments, Governing Law and Plan Termination
(a) Effective Date. The Effective Date of the Plan is the date on which the Company’s shareholders approve the Plan at a duly held shareholder meeting.
(b) Amendments.
(i) Amendment of the Plan.The Committee or the Board may at any time terminate or amend the Plan in whole or in part, but no such action shall materially and adversely affect any rights or obligations with respect to any Awards granted prior to the date of such termination or amendment without the consent of the affected Participant, except to the extent that the Committee reasonably determines that such termination or amendment is necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable law or the rules and regulations of any stock exchange on which the Common Shares are traded or to preserve any intended favorable, or avoid any unintended unfavorable, tax effects for the Company, Plan or Participants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless the Company’s shareholders shall have first approved the amendment, no amendment of the Plan shall be effective if the amendment would: (A) increase the maximum number of Common Shares that may be delivered under the Plan or to any one individual (except to the extent made pursuant to Section8 hereof), (B) extend the maximum period during which Awards may be granted under the Plan, (C) add to the types of awards that can be made under the Plan, (D) modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation in the Plan, (E) permit a repricing or decrease the Exercise Price to less than the Fair Market Value on the Date of Grant of any Stock Option or SAR, except for adjustments made pursuant to Section8, (F) materially increase benefits to Participants, or (G) otherwise require shareholder approval pursuant to the Plan or applicable law or the rules of the principal securities exchange on which Common Shares are traded.
(ii) Amendment of Awards.The Committee may amend, prospectively or retroactively, the terms of an Award, provided that no such amendment is inconsistent with the terms of the Plan or would materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant without his or her written consent.
(c) Governing Law. To the extent not preempted by Federal law, the Plan and all Award Agreements are construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Ohio. The Plan is not intended to be governed by the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and shall be so construed and administered.
(d) Plan Termination. No Awards shall be made under the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date.
6210193.3
Approved by Board on August 19, 2015
Submitted to Shareholders for Approval on November 19, 2015
LSI INDUSTRIES INC.
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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE FOLLOWING PROPOSALS:
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Robert P. Beech, Gary P. Kreider, Dennis B. Meyer, Wilfred T. O'Gara, Mark A. Serrianne, James P. Sferra and Dennis W. Wells
WRITE THE NAME OF ANY NOMINEE(S) FOR
WHOM AUTHORITY TO VOTE IS WITHHELD
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THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNLESS A CONTRARY CHOICE IS SPECIFIED.
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THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS