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Performant Financial Corporation
333 North Canyons Parkway
Livermore, California 94551
April 30, 202129, 2022
Dear Stockholder:
You are cordially invited to attend Performant Financial Corporation’s 20212022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on Wednesday,Tuesday, June 9, 202121, 2022 (the "Annual Meeting"). The Annual Meeting will begin promptly at 10:00 AM, P.D.T., at the Courtyard by Marriott located at 2929 Constitution Drive, Livermore, California, 94551.
The formal Notice of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the Proxy Statement have been provided as part of this invitation.
Securities and Exchange Commission rules allow companies to furnish proxy materials to their stockholders over the internet. As a result, most of our stockholders will receive in the mail a notice regarding availability of the proxy materials for the annual meetingAnnual Meeting on the internet instead of paper copies of those materials. The notice contains instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the Internetinternet and instructions on how stockholders can receive paper copies of the proxy materials, including a proxy or voting instruction form. This process expedites stockholders’ receipt of proxy materials and lowers the cost of our annual meeting.
It is important that your shares be represented and voted at the meeting, regardless of the size of your holdings. Accordingly, please vote your shares in accordance with the enclosed proxy materials. Your shares cannot be voted unless you sign, date and return the enclosed proxy, submit your proxy by telephone or the internet, or attend the Annual Meeting in person.
I look forward to seeing you on June 9, 2021.21, 2022.
Sincerely,
/s/ Lisa C. Im
Lisa C. Im
Chief Executive Officer
PERFORMANT FINANCIAL CORPORATION
333 North Canyons Parkway
Livermore, California 94551
Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders
to be held June 9, 202121, 2022
To the Stockholders of Performant Financial Corporation:
The 20212022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Performant Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott located at 2929 Constitution Drive, Livermore, California, 94551, on Wednesday,Tuesday, June 9, 2021,21, 2022, at 10:00 AM, P.D.T. We are holding the Annual Meeting to:
1.Elect twoone Class III directorsI director to serve until the 20242025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their successors arehis successor is elected and qualified; and
2.Ratify the appointment of Baker Tilly US, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2021; and
3.Approve our Third Amended and Restated 2012 Stock Incentive Plan.
2022.
We also will transact any other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or at any adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting.
We have selected April 15, 2021,25, 2022, as the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the Annual Meeting and to vote at the Annual Meeting and at any adjournments or postponements thereof.
By Order of the Board of Directors
/s/ Lisa C. Im
Lisa C. Im
Chief Executive Officer and Secretary
April 30, 202129, 2022
YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT
Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, we urge you to vote and submit your proxy. If you do not attend the Annual Meeting in person you may vote your shares by proxy over the internet, by telephone or by mail. Please review the instructions under the section entitled “How do I vote my shares?” of the attached proxy statement regarding each of these voting options.
Table of Contents
PERFORMANT FINANCIAL CORPORATION
333 North Canyons Parkway
Livermore, California 94551
PROXY STATEMENT
Annual Meeting of Stockholders
June 9, 202121, 2022
This proxy statement is being furnished to stockholders of Performant Financial Corporation in connection with the solicitation of proxies by our board of directors for use at our 20212022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which is described below.
References to the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” throughout this proxy statement mean Performant Financial Corporation.
This proxy statement and accompanying form of proxy are made available to stockholders on or about April 30, 2021.29, 2022.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING
When and where will the Annual Meeting be held?
The 20212022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held on Wednesday,Tuesday, June 9, 2021,21, 2022, at 10:00 AM, P.D.T., at the Courtyard by Marriott located at 2929 Constitution Drive, Livermore, California, 94551.
What items will be voted on at the Annual Meeting?
The purpose of the Annual Meeting is to:
1.Elect twoone Class III directorsI director to serve until the 20242025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their successors arehis successor is elected and qualified; and
2.Ratify the appointment of Baker Tilly US, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2021; and
3.Approve our Third Amended and Restated 2012 Stock Incentive Plan.2022.
We will also transact any other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or at any adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting.
How does the board of directors recommend that I vote?
Our board of directors unanimously recommends that you vote:
1."FOR" the election of each of the nomineesnominee for director; and
2."FOR" the ratification of the appointment of Baker Tilly US, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2021; and
3."FOR" the approval of our Third Amended and Restated 2012 Stock Incentive Plan.2022.
Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?
Stockholders at the close of business on April 15, 2021,25, 2022, the record date for the Annual Meeting, may vote at the Annual Meeting. Each stockholder is entitled to one vote per share held as of the record date for each of the director nomineesnominee to be elected and one vote per share held as of the record date on ratification of the appointment of our auditor and any other matter presented.
Who will engage in a solicitation of proxies? Who will bear the cost of that solicitation?
Certain of our directors, officers and employees may solicit proxies on our behalf by mail, phone, fax, e-mail, or in person. We will bear the cost of the solicitation of proxies. No additional compensation will be paid to our directors, officers or employees who may be involved in the solicitation of proxies.
How do I vote my shares?
You may vote your shares in one of several ways, depending upon how you own your shares.
Shares registered directly in your name with Performant Financial Corporation (through our transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC):
• Via Internet: Stockholders of record with internet access may submit proxies by following the internet voting instructions on their proxy cards.
• By Telephone: Stockholders of record may submit proxies by following the telephone voting instructions on each proxy card.
• In Writing: Stockholders of record may submit proxies by completing, signing and dating each proxy card received and returning it in the prepaid envelope. Sign your name exactly as it appears on the proxy. If you return your proxy card but do not specify how you want your shares voted on any particular matter, they will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the board of directors.
• In Person at the Annual Meeting: Stockholders of record may vote by attending the Annual Meeting on Wednesday,Tuesday, June 9, 2021,21, 2022, at 10:00 AM, P.D.T., at the Courtyard by Marriott located at 2929 Constitution Drive, Livermore, California, 94551. Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we recommend that you also submit your proxy or vote by telephone or the internet so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the Annual Meeting.
Shares of common stock held in “street” or “nominee” name (through a bank, broker or other nominee):
• You may receive a separate voting instruction form from your bank, broker or other nominee holding your shares. You should follow the voting instructions provided by your bank, broker or other nominee in order to instruct your bank, broker or other nominee on how to vote your shares. The availability of telephone or internet voting will depend on the voting process of the bank, broker or nominee. To vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you must obtain a proxy, executed in your favor, from the holder of record.
• If you own shares in “street name” through a bank, broker, or other nominee and do not instruct your bank, broker, or other nominee how to vote, your bank, broker, or other nominee may not vote your shares on proposals determined to be “non-routine.” Of the proposals included in this proxy statement, only the proposal to ratify the appointment of Baker Tilly US, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 20212022 is considered to be “routine.” The election of the director nominees and the approval of amendments to our Amended and Restated 2012 Stock Incentive Plan are bothnominee is considered to be a “non-routine” matters.matter. Therefore, if you do not provide your bank, broker or other nominee holding your shares in “street name” with voting instructions, those shares will count for quorum purposes, but will not be voted on the election of the director nominees or the approval of the amendment to our Third Amended and Restated 2012 Stock Incentive Plan.nominee. Therefore, it is important that you provide voting instructions to your bank, broker or other nominee.
If you vote via the internet, by telephone or return a proxy card by mail, but do not select a voting preference, the persons who are authorized on the proxy card and through the internet and telephone voting facilities to vote your shares, will vote your shares in accordance with the recommendations of the board of directors.
How do I change or revoke my proxy?
You may change your vote or revoke your proxy at any time prior to the vote at the Annual Meeting. If you submitted your proxy by mail, you must file with the Secretary of the Company a written notice of revocation or deliver, prior to the vote at the Annual Meeting, a valid, later-dated proxy. If you submitted your proxy by telephone or the internet, you may change your vote or revoke your proxy with a later telephone or internet proxy, as the case may be. Attendance at the Annual Meeting, by itself, will not revoke a proxy. You may revoke your proxy by telephone by calling the number located on your proxy card and following the instructions or via the internet by going to the internet address on your proxy card and following the instructions.
If you are a stockholder in “street” or “nominee” name, you may revoke your voting instructions by informing the bank, broker or other nominee in accordance with that entity’s procedures for revoking your voting instructions.
What constitutes a quorum for purposes of the Annual Meeting?
On April 15, 2021,25, 2022, the record date, we had 54,830,80573,143,833 shares of Common Stock outstanding. Voting can only take place at the Annual Meeting if the holders of a majority of the total number of shares of the Common Stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote on the record date are present either in person or by proxy. Both abstentions and broker non-votes will be treated as present for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum.
What vote is required to approve each matter and how are votes counted?
Proposal 1 - Election of Class III DirectorsI Director
You may vote “FOR” all of the nomineesnominee or your vote may be “WITHHELD” with respect to one or more of the nominees.WITHHELD.”
Stockholders may not cumulate votes in the election of directors, which means that each stockholder may vote no more than the number of shares he or she owns for a single director candidate.
A nominee will be elected as a director at the Annual Meeting if the nominee receives a plurality of the votes cast "FOR" the applicable seat on the board of directors. An abstention or a broker non-vote will not have any effect on the election of nominees.
Proposal 2 - Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
You may vote “FOR”, “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN”. The affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the Common Stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required to ratify the appointment of Baker Tilly US, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2021. Abstentions will have the same effect as "AGAINST" votes. Broker non-votes will not be counted in determining the number of shares entitled to vote.
Proposal 3 - Approval of our Third Amended and Restated 2012 Stock Incentive Plan
You may vote “FOR”, “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN”. The affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the Common Stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required to approve our Third Amended and Restated 2012 Stock Incentive Plan.2022. Abstentions will have the same effect as "AGAINST" votes. Broker non-votes will not be counted in determining the number of shares entitled to vote.
Who will count the vote?
The votes will be counted, tabulated and certified by an Inspector of Elections appointed by the board of directors.
Can I attend the Annual Meeting in person?
We cordially invite all our stockholders to attend the Annual Meeting. Persons who are not stockholders may attend only if invited by us. Evidence of share ownership may be in the form of a valid stock certificate or an account statement from our transfer agent or from a bank, broker or other nominee that evidences ownership as of the record date. Note that in order to vote at the meeting, beneficial owners who own shares in “street name” must present a legal proxy from the record holder of the shares. Stockholders of record must possess a copy of the proxy card in order to be admitted to the Annual Meeting. You should also be prepared to present photo identification for admittance.
Will any other matters be presented at the Annual Meeting?
We do not expect any matters, other than those included in this proxy statement, to be presented at the Annual Meeting because the deadline set forth in our bylaws for nominations for election as a director or to propose other business has already passed. Nonetheless, if you execute and deliver a proxy in the form provided and other matters are presented, the individuals named as proxies will have discretionary authority to vote your shares on any other matters that come before the annual meeting.Annual Meeting.
PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORSDIRECTOR
Our board of directors is divided into three classes serving staggered three-year terms. The nomineesnominee listed below havehas been nominated by our board of directors at the recommendation of our nominating and governance committee in accordance with its charter, our Amended and Restated Bylaws and Corporate Governance Guidelines. All of the nominees areThe nominee is currently membersa member of the board of directors. We have no reason to believe that these nomineesthe nominee will be unable to serve as directors.a director. If any of the nominees becomenominee becomes unable to serve as a director before the meeting (or decidedecides not to serve), the individuals named as proxies may vote for a substitute nominee proposed by the board of directors or we may reduce the number of members of the board of directors. We recommend a vote FOR the nomineesnominee listed below.
NomineesNominee for Election at This Meeting for a Term Expiring in 20242025 (Class III)I)
Lisa C. Im has served as our Chief Executive Officer since April 2004 and as a member of our board of directors since January 2004. Ms. Im was elected by our board of directors to serve as the Chair of the board of directors in August 2014. From 2002 to 2004, she was Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer of our predecessor before it was acquired by Parthenon Capital Partners. From 1996 to 2002, Ms. Im was with Bestfood Baking Co., a food products manufacturer, where she gained broad experience including in general management as well as executive financial positions for various regions of Bestfood Baking Co. Ms. Im received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Loma Linda University and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from California State University, East Bay. Ms. Im’s experiences and perspectives as our Chief Executive Officer led to the conclusion that she should serve as a member of our board of directors.
Bradley M. FluegelJames LaCamp has served as a member of our board of directors since February 2014. November 2019.Mr. FluegelLaCamp currently serves as VP Finance at Coupa Software (Nasdaq: COUP). Before joining Coupa, Mr. LaCamp served in various roles at Deloitte & Touche LLP, most recently as a Senior Vice President for Walgreen CompanyPartner from October 2012 to January2016 through 2018. From April 2011 to September 2012, Mr. Fluegel served as executive in residence at Health Evolution Partners, a healthcare private equity firm. Mr. Fluegel served as executive vice president and chief strategy and external affairs officer of WellPoint, Inc. from September 2007 to December 2010. Prior to that, Mr. Fluegel served as senior vice president of national accounts and vice president, enterprise strategy at Aetna. Inc. Mr. FluegelLaCamp received a Master’shis bachelor’s degree in Public PolicyAccounting from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of GovernmentSanta Clara University. Mr. LaCamp’s experience in growing technology companies as well as his financial and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Washington. He also serves as a lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. Mr. Fluegel’s extensive experience with leading companies in the healthcare marketaccounting expertise provides valuable insight for the members of our board of directors.the Board.
Our Bylaws provide that a plurality of the votes cast at the meeting is required to elect directors. This means that the nominees for director receiving the highest number of votes cast will be elected. An abstention or a broker non-vote will not have any effect on the election of directors.
Unless authority is withheld, the persons named as proxies in the accompanying proxy will vote for the election of the nomineesnominee named above.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NAMED NOMINEES.NOMINEE.
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Our executive officers and directors, and their ages and positions as of April 15, 2021,25, 2022, are as set forth below:
| | | | | | | | |
| Name | Age | Position |
| Lisa C. Im | 5657 | Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair |
| Harold T. Leach, Jr. | 6364 | Chief Compliance Officer |
| Ian A. Johnston | 6667 | Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer |
| Simeon M. Kohl | 5455 | Vice President of Healthcare |
James LaCamp (1)(2)(3) | 3738 | Director |
William D. Hansen (1)(2)(3) | 6162 | Director |
Bradley M. Fluegel (1)(2)(3) | 5960 | Director |
Eric Yanagi (3) | 3940 | Director |
(1) Member of the audit committee.
(2) Member of the compensation committee.
(3) Member of the nominating and governance committee.
Board of Directors
Below is additional biographical information about our directors, other than directors nominated for re-election at the Annual Meeting:
Directors Continuing in Office until 2022 (Class I)
James LaCamp has served as a member of our board of directors since November 2019.Mr. LaCamp currently serves as VP Finance at Coupa Software (Nasdaq: COUP). Before joining Coupa, Mr. LaCamp served in various roles at Deloitte & Touche LLP, most recently as a Partner from 2016 through 2018. Mr. LaCamp received his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Santa Clara University. Mr. LaCamp’s experience in growing technology companies as well as his financial and accounting expertise provides valuable insight for the members of the Board.
Directors Continuing in Office until 2023 (Class II)
William D. Hansen has served as a member of our board of directors since December 2011. From July 2013 to March 2021, Mr. Hansen served as chief executive officer and president of Strada Education Network, formerly called USA Funds, a non-profit organization focused on higher education and workforce challenges. From July 2011 through July 2013, Mr. Hansen served as the chief executive officer of Madison Education Group, LLC, an education-related consulting firm. From July 2009 to December 2010, he served as the president of Scantron Corporation, a provider of assessment and survey solutions. Mr. Hansen also served as the chairman of Scantron Corporation from September 2010 to July 2011. Mr. Hansen held various leadership positions at Chartwell Education Group, LLC, an education-related consulting firm, from July 2005 to July 2009, including chief executive officer and senior managing director. Mr. Hansen served as the Deputy Secretary at the United States Department of Education from May 2001 to July 2003. He served as a director of the First Marblehead Corporation from 2003 until that company was acquired in 2016. Mr. Hansen received a Bachelor’sbachelor’s degree in Economics from George Mason University. Mr. Hansen’s extensive experience in the student loan market provides valuable insight for the members of our board of directors.
Eric Yanagi was appointed to serve as a member of our board of directors on May 5, 2020. Mr. Yanagi is a Managing Director of Mill Road Capital Management LLC and has been with Mill Road since 2008. From 2006 to 2008, Mr. Yanagi was an investment professional at Nautic Partners, a middle-market private equity firm focused on business services, healthcare, manufacturing and media & communications. Prior to Nautic Partners, Mr. Yanagi was an investment banker in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group at Credit Suisse from 2004 to 2006. Mr. Yanagi received a Bachelor’sbachelor’s degree in Economics from Princeton University and a Master of Business Administration from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. Mr. Yanagi’s financial and accounting expertise and experience in business services provides valuable insight for the members of our board of directors.
Directors Continuing in Office until 2024 (Class III)
Lisa C. Im has served as our Chief Executive Officer since April 2004 and as a member of our board of directors since January 2004. Ms. Im was elected by our board of directors to serve as the Chair of the board of directors in August 2014. From 2002 to 2004, she was Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer of our predecessor before it was acquired by Parthenon Capital Partners. From 1996 to 2002, Ms. Im was with Bestfood Baking Co., a food products manufacturer, where she gained broad experience including in general management as well as executive financial positions for various regions of Bestfood Baking Co. Ms. Im received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Loma Linda University and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from California State University, East Bay. Ms. Im’s experiences and perspectives as our Chief Executive Officer led to the conclusion that she should serve as a member of our board of directors.
Bradley M. Fluegel has served as a member of our board of directors since February 2014. Mr. Fluegel served as a Senior Vice President for Walgreen Company from October 2012 to January 2018. From April 2011 to September 2012, Mr. Fluegel served as executive in residence at Health Evolution Partners, a healthcare private equity firm. Mr. Fluegel served as executive vice president and chief strategy and external affairs officer of WellPoint, Inc. from September 2007 to December 2010. Prior to that, Mr. Fluegel served as senior vice president of national accounts and vice president, enterprise strategy at Aetna. Inc. Mr. Fluegel received a master’s degree in Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Washington. He also serves as a lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. Mr. Fluegel’s extensive experience with leading companies in the healthcare market provides valuable insight for the members of our board of directors.
Director Compensation
Our non-employee, independent directors receive an annual retainer of $30,000, prorated for partial service in any year and paid in cash. The non-employee, independent members of our audit committee, compensation committee and nominating and governance committee, other than the chairpersons of those committees, receive an additional annual retainer of $10,000, $6,000 and $5,000, respectively. The chairpersons of our audit committee, compensation committee and nominating and governance committee each receive an additional annual retainer of $20,000, $12,000 and $10,000, respectively.
Our non-employee, independent directors also receive an annual grant of restricted stock units valued at $75,000, vesting in full on the date of the following annual meeting of stockholders or upon a change of control.
New directors are granted restricted stock units valued at $100,000 upon election to the board, vesting ratably over four years or upon a change of control. Our directors do not receive additional fees for attendance at a meeting of our board of directors or a committee of the board.
The table below summarizes the compensation paid by the Company to our non-employee, independent directors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.2021. Cash compensation for Eric Yanagi was paid to Mill Road Capital Management, LLC at Mr. Yanagi’s direction.
| | Name | Name | Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash($) | Stock Awards($)(1) | Option Awards | Total($) | Name | Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash($) | Stock Awards($)(1) | Option Awards | Total($) |
| William D. Hansen (2) | William D. Hansen (2) | 46,474 | 75,000 | — | 121,474 | William D. Hansen (2) | 61,000 | 75,000 | — | 136,000 |
Bradley M. Fluegel (2) | Bradley M. Fluegel (2) | 42,748 | 75,000 | — | 117,748 | Bradley M. Fluegel (2) | 57,000 | 75,000 | — | 132,000 |
| James LaCamp (2) | James LaCamp (2) | 45,748 | 75,000 | — | 120,748 | James LaCamp (2) | 61,000 | 75,000 | — | 136,000 |
Eric Yanagi (3)(4) | 19,301 | 175,000 | — | 194,301 | |
Jeffrey S. Stein (5) | — | — | |
Eric Yanagi (2) | | Eric Yanagi (2) | 40,000 | 75,000 | — | 115,000 |
(1)The value of each stock award is based on the fair value of the award as of the grant date calculated in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 718, Stock Compensation (ASC 718) for financial reporting purposes. See Note 8(b) of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20202021 for a discussion of our assumptions in determining the ASC 718 values of our stock awards.
(2)These non-employee, independent directors were awarded restricted stock units valued at $75,000 on July 30, 2020September 1, 2021 (which equated to 117,20616,741 stock units), which will vest in full (assuming continuous service) on June 9, 2021,21, 2022, the date of the annual meeting of stockholders.Annual Meeting.
(3)Eric Yanagi was awarded restricted stock units valued at $75,000 on May 5,2020 (which equated to 98,749 stock units), which will vest in full (assuming continuous service) on June 9, 2021, the date of the annual meeting of stockholders.
(4)Restricted stock unit award valued at $100,000 was granted May 5, 2020 (which equated to 131,666 stock units). The stock units will vest at a rate of 25% annually on the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of May 5, 2020, provided that the Reporting Person remains in continuous service through each vest date
(5)Jeffrey Stein resigned from the Board of Directors on March 29,2020.
Corporate Governance Guidelines; Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
We have established a corporate governance program to help guide our Company and our employees, officers and directors in carrying out their responsibilities and duties, as well as to set standards for their professional conduct. Our board of directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines, or Governance Guidelines, which provide standards and practices of corporate governance that we have designed to help contribute to our success and to assure public confidence in our Company. In addition, all standing committees of our board of directors operate under charters that describe the responsibilities and practices of each committee. The charters of our standing committees are available on the Investor Relations page of our corporate website at investors.performantcorp.com under the Corporate Governance tab.
We have adopted a Conflict of Interest and Ethics Policy, or Ethics Policy, which provides ethical standards and corporate policies that apply to all of our officers and employees. Our Ethics Policy requires, among other things, that our officers and employees act with integrity and the highest ethical standards, comply with laws and other legal requirements, avoid conflicts of interest, and otherwise act in our best interests. We have also adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers and Directors that applies to senior management and directors and provides for accurate, full, fair and timely financial reporting and the reporting of information related to significant deficiencies in internal controls, fraud and legal compliance.
CompositionPerformant Financial Corporation
333 North Canyons Parkway
Livermore, California 94551
April 29, 2022
Dear Stockholder:
You are cordially invited to attend Performant Financial Corporation’s 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 (the "Annual Meeting"). The Annual Meeting will begin promptly at 10:00 AM, P.D.T., at the Courtyard by Marriott located at 2929 Constitution Drive, Livermore, California, 94551.
The formal Notice of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the Proxy Statement have been provided as part of this invitation.
Securities and Exchange Commission rules allow companies to furnish proxy materials to their stockholders over the internet. As a result, most of our stockholders will receive in the mail a notice regarding availability of the proxy materials for the Annual Meeting on the internet instead of paper copies of those materials. The notice contains instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the internet and instructions on how stockholders can receive paper copies of the proxy materials, including a proxy or voting instruction form. This process expedites stockholders’ receipt of proxy materials and lowers the cost of our annual meeting.
It is important that your shares be represented and voted at the meeting, regardless of the size of your holdings. Accordingly, please vote your shares in accordance with the enclosed proxy materials. Your shares cannot be voted unless you sign, date and return the enclosed proxy, submit your proxy by telephone or the internet, or attend the Annual Meeting in person.
I look forward to seeing you on June 21, 2022.
Sincerely,
/s/ Lisa C. Im
Lisa C. Im
Chief Executive Officer
PERFORMANT FINANCIAL CORPORATION
333 North Canyons Parkway
Livermore, California 94551
Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders
to be held June 21, 2022
To the Stockholders of Performant Financial Corporation:
The 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Performant Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott located at 2929 Constitution Drive, Livermore, California, 94551, on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at 10:00 AM, P.D.T. We are holding the Annual Meeting to:
1.Elect one Class I director to serve until the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until his successor is elected and qualified; and
2.Ratify the appointment of Baker Tilly US, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2022.
We also will transact any other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or at any adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting.
We have selected April 25, 2022, as the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the Annual Meeting and to vote at the Annual Meeting and at any adjournments or postponements thereof.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Our Second Amended/s/ Lisa C. Im
Lisa C. Im
Chief Executive Officer and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that our board shall consist ofSecretary
April 29, 2022
YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT
Whether or not fewer than five and not more than fifteen directors as the board of directors may from timeyou plan to time determine. Our board of directors currently consists of five directors. The authorized number of directors may be changed by resolution of our board of directors. Vacancies on our board of directors can only be filled by resolution of our board of directors. Our board of directors is currently divided into three classes, each serving staggered, three-year terms:
•Our Class I director is James LaCamp and his term will expire atattend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, we urge you to vote and submit your proxy. If you do not attend the Annual Meeting in 2022;person you may vote your shares by proxy over the internet, by telephone or by mail. Please review the instructions under the section entitled “How do I vote my shares?” of the attached proxy statement regarding each of these voting options.
Table of Contents
•
Our Class II
PERFORMANT FINANCIAL CORPORATION
333 North Canyons Parkway
Livermore, California 94551
PROXY STATEMENT
Annual Meeting of Stockholders
June 21, 2022
This proxy statement is being furnished to stockholders of Performant Financial Corporation in connection with the solicitation of proxies by our board of directors are William D. Hansen and Eric Yanagi and their terms will expirefor use at theour 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, in 2023;which is described below.
References to the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” throughout this proxy statement mean Performant Financial Corporation.
This proxy statement and accompanying form of proxy are made available to stockholders on or about April 29, 2022.
•Our Class III directors are Lisa C. Im
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING
When and Bradley M. Fluegel and their termswhere will expire at thisthe Annual Meeting.Meeting be held?
As a result, only one class of directors will be elected at eachThe 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders withwill be held on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at 10:00 AM, P.D.T., at the Courtyard by Marriott located at 2929 Constitution Drive, Livermore, California, 94551.
What items will be voted on at the Annual Meeting?
The purpose of the Annual Meeting is to:
1.Elect one Class I director to serve until the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until his successor is elected and qualified; and
2.Ratify the appointment of Baker Tilly US, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2022.
We will also transact any other classes continuing forbusiness that may properly come before the remainderAnnual Meeting or at any adjournments or postponements of their respective terms.the Annual Meeting.
How does the board of directors recommend that I vote?
Our board of directors has determinedunanimously recommends that Messrs. Hansen, LaCamp, Yanagi and Fluegel are “independent directors” as defined underyou vote:
1."FOR" the rules of NASDAQ.
In July 2012, we entered into a Director Nomination Agreement with an affiliate of Parthenon Capital Partners, that provides Parthenon Capital Partners the right to designate nominees for election to our board of directors for so long as Parthenon Capital Partners owns 10% or more of the total number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding. The material provisionsnominee for director; and
2."FOR" the ratification of the Director Nomination Agreement are described below under the heading “Directors and Officers—Director Nomination Policy”. Parthenon Capital Partners has not designated a nomineeappointment of Baker Tilly US, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for election to our board of directors following Mr. Stein’s resignation on March 29, 2020.
Our board of directors met a total of six times in 2020. During 2020, all of our directors attended at least 75% of the meetings of our board of directors held during their tenure and 75% of the meetings, if any, of the committees of the board of directors upon which they served. Our board of directors does not have a policy requiring director attendance at annual meetings of our stockholders. One of our directors attended our 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.2022.
Board DiversityWho is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?
We believe we haveStockholders at the close of business on April 25, 2022, the record date for the Annual Meeting, may vote at the Annual Meeting. Each stockholder is entitled to one vote per share held as of the record date for the director nominee to be elected and one vote per share held as of the record date on ratification of the appointment of our auditor and any other matter presented.
Who will engage in a diverse boardsolicitation of proxies? Who will bear the cost of that provides a robust set of knowledge, skills, experiences and attributes relevant to our business or industry. In addition to diversity of skills and experience, the below provides an overview regarding other metrics of diversity on our board.solicitation?
•Gender Diversity - OneCertain of our directors, is female.
•Racialofficers and Ethnic Diversity - Twoemployees may solicit proxies on our behalf by mail, phone, fax, e-mail, or in person. We will bear the cost of the solicitation of proxies. No additional compensation will be paid to our directors, identifyofficers or employees who may be involved in the solicitation of proxies.
How do I vote my shares?
You may vote your shares in one of several ways, depending upon how you own your shares.
Shares registered directly in your name with Performant Financial Corporation (through our transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC):
• Via Internet: Stockholders of record with internet access may submit proxies by following the internet voting instructions on their proxy cards.
• By Telephone: Stockholders of record may submit proxies by following the telephone voting instructions on each proxy card.
• In Writing: Stockholders of record may submit proxies by completing, signing and dating each proxy card received and returning it in the prepaid envelope. Sign your name exactly as it appears on the proxy. If you return your proxy card but do not specify how you want your shares voted on any particular matter, they will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the board of directors.
• In Person at the Annual Meeting: Stockholders of record may vote by attending the Annual Meeting on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at 10:00 AM, P.D.T., at the Courtyard by Marriott located at 2929 Constitution Drive, Livermore, California, 94551. Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we recommend that you also submit your proxy or vote by telephone or the internet so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the Annual Meeting.
Shares of common stock held in “street” or “nominee” name (through a bank, broker or other nominee):
• You may receive a separate voting instruction form from your bank, broker or other nominee holding your shares. You should follow the voting instructions provided by your bank, broker or other nominee in order to instruct your bank, broker or other nominee on how to vote your shares. The availability of telephone or internet voting will depend on the voting process of the bank, broker or nominee. To vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you must obtain a proxy, executed in your favor, from the holder of record.
• If you own shares in “street name” through a bank, broker, or other nominee and do not instruct your bank, broker, or other nominee how to vote, your bank, broker, or other nominee may not vote your shares on proposals determined to be “non-routine.” Of the proposals included in this proxy statement, only the proposal to ratify the appointment of Baker Tilly US, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2022 is considered to be “routine.” The election of the director nominee is considered to be a “non-routine” matter. Therefore, if you do not provide your bank, broker or other nominee holding your shares in “street name” with voting instructions, those shares will count for quorum purposes, but will not be voted on the election of the director nominee. Therefore, it is important that you provide voting instructions to your bank, broker or other nominee.
If you vote via the internet, by telephone or return a proxy card by mail, but do not select a voting preference, the persons who are authorized on the proxy card and through the internet and telephone voting facilities to vote your shares, will vote your shares in accordance with the recommendations of the board of directors.
How do I change or revoke my proxy?
You may change your vote or revoke your proxy at any time prior to the vote at the Annual Meeting. If you submitted your proxy by mail, you must file with the Secretary of the Company a written notice of revocation or deliver, prior to the vote at the Annual Meeting, a valid, later-dated proxy. If you submitted your proxy by telephone or the internet, you may change your vote or revoke your proxy with a later telephone or internet proxy, as the case may be. Attendance at the Annual Meeting, by itself, will not revoke a proxy. You may revoke your proxy by telephone by calling the number located on your proxy card and following the instructions or via the internet by going to the internet address on your proxy card and following the instructions.
If you are a stockholder in “street” or “nominee” name, you may revoke your voting instructions by informing the bank, broker or other nominee in accordance with that entity’s procedures for revoking your voting instructions.
What constitutes a quorum for purposes of the Annual Meeting?
On April 25, 2022, the record date, we had 73,143,833 shares of Common Stock outstanding. Voting can only take place at the Annual Meeting if the holders of a majority of the total number of shares of the Common Stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote on the record date are present either in person or by proxy. Both abstentions and broker non-votes will be treated as present for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum.
What vote is required to approve each matter and how are votes counted?
Proposal 1 - Election of Class I Director
You may vote “FOR” the nominee or your vote may be “WITHHELD.”
Stockholders may not cumulate votes in the election of directors, which means that each stockholder may vote no more than the number of shares he or she owns for a single director candidate.
A nominee will be elected as a racialdirector at the Annual Meeting if the nominee receives a plurality of the votes cast "FOR" the applicable seat on the board of directors. An abstention or ethnic minority.a broker non-vote will not have any effect on the election of nominees.
Proposal 2 - Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
•You may vote Director Independence - “FOR”All, “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN”. The affirmative vote of our directors, except for Ms. Im, who also servesa majority of the voting power of the Common Stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required to ratify the appointment of Baker Tilly US, LLP as our chief executive officer,independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2022. Abstentions will have the same effect as "AGAINST" votes. Broker non-votes will not be counted in determining the number of shares entitled to vote.
Who will count the vote?
The votes will be counted, tabulated and certified by an Inspector of Elections appointed by the board of directors.
Can I attend the Annual Meeting in person?
We cordially invite all our stockholders to attend the Annual Meeting. Persons who are independent withinnot stockholders may attend only if invited by us. Evidence of share ownership may be in the meaningform of a valid stock certificate or an account statement from our transfer agent or from a bank, broker or other nominee that evidences ownership as of the listing standards and our Director Independence Policy.
•Director Tenure - Our directors serve an average of 7 years, which reflectsrecord date. Note that in order to vote at the meeting, beneficial owners who own shares in “street name” must present a balance of experience and new perspectives.
Leadership Structurelegal proxy from the record holder of the Boardshares. Stockholders of Directorsrecord must possess a copy of the proxy card in order to be admitted to the Annual Meeting. You should also be prepared to present photo identification for admittance.
Will any other matters be presented at the Annual Meeting?
We do not expect any matters, other than those included in this proxy statement, to be presented at the Annual Meeting because the deadline set forth in our bylaws for nominations for election as a director or to propose other business has already passed. Nonetheless, if you execute and deliver a proxy in the form provided and other matters are presented, the individuals named as proxies will have discretionary authority to vote your shares on any other matters that come before the Annual Meeting.
PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTOR
Our board of directors selectsis divided into three classes serving staggered three-year terms. The nominee listed below has been nominated by our board of directors at the recommendation of our nominating and governance committee in accordance with its charter, our Amended and Restated Bylaws and Corporate Governance Guidelines. The nominee is currently a member of the board of directors. We have no reason to believe that the nominee will be unable to serve as a director. If the nominee becomes unable to serve as a director before the meeting (or decides not to serve), the individuals named as proxies may vote for a substitute nominee proposed by the board of directors or we may reduce the number of members of the board of directors. We recommend a vote FOR the nominee listed below.
Nominee for Election at This Meeting for a Term Expiring in 2025 (Class I)
James LaCamp has served as a member of our board of directors since November 2019.Mr. LaCamp currently serves as VP Finance at Coupa Software (Nasdaq: COUP). Before joining Coupa, Mr. LaCamp served in various roles at Deloitte & Touche LLP, most recently as a Partner from 2016 through 2018. Mr. LaCamp received his bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Santa Clara University. Mr. LaCamp’s experience in growing technology companies as well as his financial and accounting expertise provides valuable insight for the members of the Board.
Our Bylaws provide that a plurality of the votes cast at the meeting is required to elect directors. This means that the nominees for director receiving the highest number of votes cast will be elected. An abstention or a broker non-vote will not have any effect on the election of directors.
Unless authority is withheld, the persons named as proxies in the accompanying proxy will vote for the election of the nominee named above.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTEFORTHE ELECTION OF THE NAMED NOMINEE.
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Our executive officers and directors, and their ages and positions as of April 25, 2022, are as set forth below:
| | | | | | | | |
| Name | Age | Position |
| Lisa C. Im | 57 | Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair |
| Harold T. Leach, Jr. | 64 | Chief Compliance Officer |
| Ian A. Johnston | 67 | Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer |
| Simeon M. Kohl | 55 | President |
James LaCamp (1)(2)(3) | 38 | Director |
William D. Hansen (1)(2) | 62 | Director |
Bradley M. Fluegel (1)(2)(3) | 60 | Director |
Eric Yanagi (3) | 40 | Director |
(1)Member of the audit committee.
(2)Member of the compensation committee.
(3)Member of the nominating and governance committee.
Board of Directors
Below is additional biographical information about our directors, other than directors nominated for re-election at the Annual Meeting:
Directors Continuing in Office until 2023 (Class II)
William D. Hansen has served as a member of our board of directors since December 2011. From July 2013 to March 2021, Mr. Hansen served as chief executive officer and president of Strada Education Network, formerly called USA Funds, a non-profit organization focused on higher education and workforce challenges. From July 2011 through July 2013, Mr. Hansen served as the chief executive officer of Madison Education Group, LLC, an education-related consulting firm. From July 2009 to December 2010, he served as the president of Scantron Corporation, a provider of assessment and survey solutions. Mr. Hansen also served as the chairman of Scantron Corporation from September 2010 to July 2011. Mr. Hansen held various leadership positions at Chartwell Education Group, LLC, an education-related consulting firm, from July 2005 to July 2009, including chief executive officer and senior managing director. Mr. Hansen served as the Deputy Secretary at the United States Department of Education from May 2001 to July 2003. He served as a director of the First Marblehead Corporation from 2003 until that company was acquired in 2016. Mr. Hansen received a bachelor’s degree in Economics from George Mason University. Mr. Hansen’s extensive experience in the student loan market provides valuable insight for the members of our board of directors.
Eric Yanagi was appointed to serve as a member of our board of directors on May 5, 2020. Mr. Yanagi is a Managing Director of Mill Road Capital Management LLC and has been with Mill Road since 2008. From 2006 to 2008, Mr. Yanagi was an investment professional at Nautic Partners, a middle-market private equity firm focused on business services, healthcare, manufacturing and media & communications. Prior to Nautic Partners, Mr. Yanagi was an investment banker in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group at Credit Suisse from 2004 to 2006. Mr. Yanagi received a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Princeton University and a Master of Business Administration from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. Mr. Yanagi’s financial and accounting expertise and experience in business services provides valuable insight for the members of our board of directors.
Directors Continuing in Office until 2024 (Class III)
Lisa C. Im has served as our Chief Executive Officer since April 2004 and as a member of our board of directors since January 2004. Ms. Im was elected by our board of directors to serve as the Chair of the board of directors in the manner and upon the criteria that it deems best for the Company at the time of selection. The board of directors does not have a prescribed policy on whether the roles of the ChairAugust 2014. From 2002 to 2004, she was Managing Director and Chief ExecutiveFinancial Officer should be separate or combined. The board of directors will periodically evaluate whether this leadership structure isour predecessor before it was acquired by Parthenon Capital Partners. From 1996 to 2002, Ms. Im was with Bestfood Baking Co., a food products manufacturer, where she gained broad experience including in the best interestsgeneral management as well as executive financial positions for various regions of the stockholders.
Lisa C.Bestfood Baking Co. Ms. Im isreceived a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Loma Linda University and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from California State University, East Bay. Ms. Im’s experiences and perspectives as our Chief Executive Officer andled to the Chairconclusion that she should serve as a member of the Company’sour board of directors. As Chair
Bradley M. Fluegel has served as a member of theour board of directors Ms. Im presides over each meetingsince February 2014. Mr. Fluegel served as a Senior Vice President for Walgreen Company from October 2012 to January 2018. From April 2011 to September 2012, Mr. Fluegel served as executive in residence at Health Evolution Partners, a healthcare private equity firm. Mr. Fluegel served as executive vice president and chief strategy and external affairs officer of WellPoint, Inc. from September 2007 to December 2010. Prior to that, Mr. Fluegel served as senior vice president of national accounts and vice president, enterprise strategy at Aetna. Inc. Mr. Fluegel received a master’s degree in Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Washington. He also serves as a lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. Mr. Fluegel’s extensive experience with leading companies in the healthcare market provides valuable insight for the members of our board of directors, approves meeting agendas and schedules and notifies other members of the board of directors regarding any significant concerns of stockholders or interested parties of which she becomes aware. The Chair of the board of directors also presides over stockholders’ meetings. We believe that our current board leadership structure is appropriate for the Company because it allows for common, strong leadership, with one individual having primary responsibility for both board-level and operational matters.
In February 2014, our board appointed Mr. Hansen as the board's lead independent director with the primary responsibility to call and preside at executive sessions of our independent directors and to consult with the Chair regarding meeting agendas.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Audit committee. Our audit committee consists of Messrs. Hansen, Fluegel, and LaCamp. Mr. LaCamp serves as the chairperson of this committee. The audit committee met four times in 2020. Our board of directors has determined that Mr. LaCamp is an audit committee financial expert, as defined by the rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. Our audit committee is composed entirely of independent directors.
In accordance with its charter, our audit committee provides assistance to the board of directors in fulfilling its legal and fiduciary obligations in matters involving our accounting, auditing, financial reporting, internal control and legal compliance functions. It engages our independent registered public accounting firm, approves the services performed by our independent registered public accounting firm and reviews their reports regarding our accounting practices. The audit committee also oversees the audit efforts of our independent registered public accounting firm and takes those actions as it deems necessary to satisfy itself that the independent registered public accounting firm is independent of management. Lastly, our audit committee reviews with management cybersecurity risks, including the results of independent third-party data security audits and management’s actions designed to mitigate potential breaches of data security.
Director Compensation
Our non-employee, independent directors receive an annual retainer of $30,000, prorated for partial service in any year and paid in cash. The non-employee, independent members of our audit committee,. Our compensation committee consistsand nominating and governance committee, other than the chairpersons of Messrs. Hansen, Fluegel,those committees, receive an additional annual retainer of $10,000, $6,000 and LaCamp. Mr. Fluegel serves as chairperson$5,000, respectively. The chairpersons of this committee. Ourour audit committee, compensation committee metand nominating and governance committee each receive an additional annual retainer of $20,000, $12,000 and $10,000, respectively.
Our non-employee, independent directors also receive an annual grant of restricted stock units valued at $75,000, vesting in full on the date of the following annual meeting of stockholders or upon a change of control.
New directors are granted restricted stock units valued at $100,000 upon election to the board, vesting ratably over four times in 2020.years or upon a change of control. Our compensation committee reviews and makes recommendationsdirectors do not receive additional fees for approval by the independent membersattendance at a meeting of our board of directors regarding our general compensation policies andor a committee of the board.
The table below summarizes the compensation providedpaid by the Company to our non-employee, independent directors and executive officers. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. Cash compensation for Eric Yanagi was paid to Mill Road Capital Management, LLC at Mr. Yanagi’s direction.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Name | Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash($) | Stock Awards($)(1) | Option Awards | Total($) |
William D. Hansen (2) | 61,000 | 75,000 | — | 136,000 |
Bradley M. Fluegel (2) | 57,000 | 75,000 | — | 132,000 |
James LaCamp (2) | 61,000 | 75,000 | — | 136,000 |
Eric Yanagi (2) | 40,000 | 75,000 | — | 115,000 |
(1)The compensation committee also reviews and makes recommendationsvalue of each stock award is based on the fair value of the award as of the grant date calculated in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 718, Stock Compensation (ASC 718) for approval byfinancial reporting purposes. See Note 8(b) of the independent membersNotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 for a discussion of our boardassumptions in determining the ASC 718 values of our stock awards.
(2)These non-employee, independent directors regarding bonuses forwere awarded restricted stock units valued at $75,000 on September 1, 2021 (which equated to 16,741 stock units), which will vest in full (assuming continuous service) on June 21, 2022, the date of the Annual Meeting.
Corporate Governance Guidelines; Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
We have established a corporate governance program to help guide our Company and our employees, officers and other employees. In addition, the compensation committee reviewsdirectors in carrying out their responsibilities and makes recommendationsduties, as well as to set standards for approval by the independent members of our board of directors regarding equity-based compensation for our directors and executive officers, approves equity based compensation for other employees and administers our stock option plans and employee stock purchase plan. Our compensation committee is composed entirely of independent directors.
Nominating and governance committee. Our nominating and governance committee consists of Messrs. LaCamp, Fluegel, and Yanagi. Mr. Yanagi serves as chairperson of this committee. The nominating and governance committee met four times in 2020. The nominating and governance committee is responsible for making recommendations to the board of directors regarding candidates for directorships and the size and composition of the board. In addition, the nominating and governance committee is responsible for overseeing our corporate governance guidelines and reporting and making recommendations to the board of directors concerning corporate governance matters. Our nominating and governance committee is composed entirely of independent directors.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
No interlocking relationship exists between our board of directors or compensation committee and the board of directors or compensation committee of any other entity, nor has any interlocking relationship existed in the past.
Role of Our Board of Directors in Risk Oversight
One of the key functions of our board of directors is informed oversight of our risk management process.their professional conduct. Our board of directors administers this oversight function directly throughhas adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines, or Governance Guidelines, which provide standards and practices of corporate governance that we have designed to help contribute to our board of directors as a whole, as well as through varioussuccess and to assure public confidence in our Company. In addition, all standing committees of our board of directors operate under charters that address risks inherent in their respective areasdescribe the responsibilities and practices of oversight. In particular, our board of directors is responsible for oversighteach committee. The charters of our risk management process. The nominating and governance committee periodically evaluates our risk management process and system in light ofstanding committees are available on the nature of the material risks we face. Our compensation committee assesses and monitors whether anyInvestor Relations page of our compensationcorporate website at investors.performantcorp.com under the Corporate Governance tab.
We have adopted a Conflict of Interest and Ethics Policy, or Ethics Policy, which provides ethical standards and corporate policies that apply to all of our officers and programs are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on us.employees. Our audit committee periodically assesses any major financial risk exposuresEthics Policy requires, among other things, that our officers and employees act with integrity and the stepshighest ethical standards, comply with laws and other legal requirements, avoid conflicts of interest, and otherwise act in our best interests. We have also adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers and Directors that applies to senior management has takenand directors and provides for accurate, full, fair and timely financial reporting and the reporting of information related to monitorsignificant deficiencies in internal controls, fraud and control such exposures. The audit committee also has the responsibility to oversee management’s assessment of major legal and regulatory risk exposures and management’s implementation of policies and procedures to address these risks. In this regard, and because we handle sensitive personal information as part of our business, the audit committee regularly reviews with management cybersecurity risks, including the results of independent third-party data security audits and management’s actions designed to mitigate potential breaches of data security.
Director Nomination Policy
Our nominating and governance committee is responsible for identifying, evaluating, recruiting and recommending qualified candidates to our board of directors for nomination or election. Our board of directors nominates directors for election at each annual meeting of stockholders, and elects new directors to fill vacancies if they occur.
Our board of directors strives to find directors who are experienced and dedicated individuals with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and skills. Our governance guidelines contain membership criteria that call for candidates to be selected for their character, judgment, diversity of experience, business acumen and ability to act on behalf of all stockholders. In addition, we expect each director to be committed to enhancing stockholder value and to have sufficient time to effectively carry out his or her duties as a director.compliance.
Prior to our annual meeting of stockholders, our nominating and governance committee identifies director nominees first by evaluating the current directors whose terms will expire at the annual meeting and who are willing to continue in service. Subject to the Director Nomination Agreement described below, these candidates are evaluated based on the criteria described above, the candidate’s prior service as a director, and the needs of the board of directors for any particular talents and experience. If a director no longer wishes to continue in service, if the nominating and governance committee decides not to re-nominate a director, or if a vacancy is created on the board of directors because of a resignation or an increase in the size of the board of directors or other event, then the committee considers whether to recommend the nomination of a new director or to recommend a decrease in the size of the board of directors. If the decision is to nominate a new director, then the nominating and governance committee considers various candidates for membership on the board of directors, including those suggested by committee members, other members of the board of directors, a director search firm engaged by the committee, or our stockholders. Prospective nominees are evaluated by the nominating and governance committee based on the membership criteria described above and set forth in our Governance Guidelines.
We are party to a Director Nomination Agreement with Parthenon Capital Partners that provides Parthenon Capital Partners the right to designate nominees for election to our board of directors for so long as Parthenon Capital Partners owns 10% or more of the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding. The number of nominees that Parthenon Capital Partners is entitled to designate under this agreement bears the same proportion to the total number of members of our board of directors as the number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned by Parthenon Capital Partners bears to the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding, rounded up to the nearest whole number. In addition, Parthenon Capital Partners is entitled to designate the replacement for any of its board designees whose board service terminates prior to the end of the director’s term regardless of Parthenon Capital Partners’ beneficial ownership at such time. Parthenon Capital Partners also has the right to have its designees participate on committees of our board of directors proportionate to its stock ownership, subject to compliance with applicable law and stock exchange rules. The Director Nomination Agreement will terminate at such time as Parthenon Capital Partners owns less than 10% of our outstanding common stock.
A stockholder who wishes to recommend a prospective nominee to the board of directors for consideration by the nominating and governance committee should notify our Secretary in writing at our principal office. Such notice must be delivered to our offices by the deadline relating to stockholder proposals to be considered for inclusion in our proxy materials, as described under “General Information — Stockholder Proposals for the 2022 Annual Meeting” in this proxy statement.
Each notice delivered by a stockholder who wishes to recommend a nominee to the board of directors for consideration by the nominating and governance committee generally must include the following information about the proposed nominee:
• the name, age, business address and residence address of the proposed nominee;
• the principal occupation of the proposed nominee;
• the number of shares of our capital stock beneficially owned by the proposed nominee;
• a description of all compensation and other relationships during the past three years between the stockholder and the proposed nominee;
• any other information relating to the proposed nominee required to be disclosed pursuant to Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Exchange Act; and
• the proposed nominee’s written consent to serve as a director if elected.
The nominating and governance committee may require any proposed nominee recommended by a stockholder to furnish such other information as the nominating and governance committee may reasonably require, including, among other things, information to determine the eligibility of such person to serve as an independent director or that could be material to a stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such person.
In addition, a stockholder may nominate an individual for election at an annual meeting, without the approval of our nominating and governance committee, by following the procedures set forth in Article 3 of our Amended and Restated Bylaws and summarized below under “General Information - Stockholder Proposals for the 2022 Annual Meeting”.
Communications with Directors
Stockholders and interested parties may contact our directors to provide comments, to report concerns, or to ask a question, by mail at the following address:
Chair of the Board
Performant Financial Corporation
333 North Canyons Parkway
Livermore, California 94551
April 29, 2022
Dear Stockholder:
You are cordially invited to attend Performant Financial Corporation’s 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 (the "Annual Meeting"). The Annual Meeting will begin promptly at 10:00 AM, P.D.T., at the Courtyard by Marriott located at 2929 Constitution Drive, Livermore, California, 94551.
The formal Notice of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the Proxy Statement have been provided as part of this invitation.
Securities and Exchange Commission rules allow companies to furnish proxy materials to their stockholders over the internet. As a result, most of our stockholders will receive in the mail a notice regarding availability of the proxy materials for the Annual Meeting on the internet instead of paper copies of those materials. The notice contains instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the internet and instructions on how stockholders can receive paper copies of the proxy materials, including a proxy or voting instruction form. This process expedites stockholders’ receipt of proxy materials and lowers the cost of our annual meeting.
It is important that your shares be represented and voted at the meeting, regardless of the size of your holdings. Accordingly, please vote your shares in accordance with the enclosed proxy materials. Your shares cannot be voted unless you sign, date and return the enclosed proxy, submit your proxy by telephone or the internet, or attend the Annual Meeting in person.
I look forward to seeing you on June 21, 2022.
Sincerely,
/s/ Lisa C. Im
Lisa C. Im
Chief Executive Officer
PERFORMANT FINANCIAL CORPORATION
333 North Canyons Parkway
Livermore, California 94551
Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders
to be held June 21, 2022
To the Stockholders of Performant Financial Corporation:
The 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Performant Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott located at 2929 Constitution Drive, Livermore, California, 94551, on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at 10:00 AM, P.D.T. We are holding the Annual Meeting to:
1.Elect one Class I director to serve until the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until his successor is elected and qualified; and
2.Ratify the appointment of Baker Tilly US, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2022.
We also will transact any other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or at any adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting.
We have selected April 25, 2022, as the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the Annual Meeting and to vote at the Annual Meeting and at any adjournments or postponements thereof.
By Order of the Board of Directors
/s/ Lisa C. Im
Lisa C. Im
Chief Executive Officer and Secretary
April 29, 2022
YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT
Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, we urge you to vote and submit your proxy. If you do not attend the Annual Meeting in person you may vote your shares by proxy over the internet, by telephone or by mail. Please review the instructions under the section entitled “How do I vote my shares?” of the attached proxy statement regarding each of these voting options.
Table of Contents
PERFORMANT FINANCIAL CORPORATION
333 North Canyons Parkway
Livermore, California 94551
PROXY STATEMENT
Annual Meeting of Stockholders
June 21, 2022
This proxy statement is being furnished to stockholders of Performant Financial Corporation in connection with the solicitation of proxies by our board of directors for use at our 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which is described below.
References to the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” throughout this proxy statement mean Performant Financial Corporation.
This proxy statement and accompanying form of proxy are made available to stockholders on or about April 29, 2022.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING
When and where will the Annual Meeting be held?
The 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at 10:00 AM, P.D.T., at the Courtyard by Marriott located at 2929 Constitution Drive, Livermore, California, 94551.
What items will be voted on at the Annual Meeting?
The purpose of the Annual Meeting is to:
1.Elect one Class I director to serve until the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until his successor is elected and qualified; and
2.Ratify the appointment of Baker Tilly US, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2022.
We will also transact any other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or at any adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting.
How does the board of directors recommend that I vote?
Our board of directors unanimously recommends that you vote:
1."FOR" the election of the nominee for director; and
2."FOR" the ratification of the appointment of Baker Tilly US, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2022.
Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?
Stockholders at the close of business on April 25, 2022, the record date for the Annual Meeting, may vote at the Annual Meeting. Each stockholder is entitled to one vote per share held as of the record date for the director nominee to be elected and one vote per share held as of the record date on ratification of the appointment of our auditor and any other matter presented.
Who will engage in a solicitation of proxies? Who will bear the cost of that solicitation?
Certain of our directors, officers and employees may solicit proxies on our behalf by mail, phone, fax, e-mail, or in person. We will bear the cost of the solicitation of proxies. No additional compensation will be paid to our directors, officers or employees who may be involved in the solicitation of proxies.
How do I vote my shares?
You may vote your shares in one of several ways, depending upon how you own your shares.
Shares registered directly in your name with Performant Financial Corporation (through our transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC):
• Via Internet: Stockholders of record with internet access may submit proxies by following the internet voting instructions on their proxy cards.
• By Telephone: Stockholders of record may submit proxies by following the telephone voting instructions on each proxy card.
• In Writing: Stockholders of record may submit proxies by completing, signing and dating each proxy card received and returning it in the prepaid envelope. Sign your name exactly as it appears on the proxy. If you return your proxy card but do not specify how you want your shares voted on any particular matter, they will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the board of directors.
• In Person at the Annual Meeting: Stockholders of record may vote by attending the Annual Meeting on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at 10:00 AM, P.D.T., at the Courtyard by Marriott located at 2929 Constitution Drive, Livermore, California, 94551. Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we recommend that you also submit your proxy or vote by telephone or the internet so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the Annual Meeting.
Shares of common stock held in “street” or “nominee” name (through a bank, broker or other nominee):
• You may receive a separate voting instruction form from your bank, broker or other nominee holding your shares. You should follow the voting instructions provided by your bank, broker or other nominee in order to instruct your bank, broker or other nominee on how to vote your shares. The availability of telephone or internet voting will depend on the voting process of the bank, broker or nominee. To vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you must obtain a proxy, executed in your favor, from the holder of record.
• If you own shares in “street name” through a bank, broker, or other nominee and do not instruct your bank, broker, or other nominee how to vote, your bank, broker, or other nominee may not vote your shares on proposals determined to be “non-routine.” Of the proposals included in this proxy statement, only the proposal to ratify the appointment of Baker Tilly US, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2022 is considered to be “routine.” The election of the director nominee is considered to be a “non-routine” matter. Therefore, if you do not provide your bank, broker or other nominee holding your shares in “street name” with voting instructions, those shares will count for quorum purposes, but will not be voted on the election of the director nominee. Therefore, it is important that you provide voting instructions to your bank, broker or other nominee.
If you vote via the internet, by telephone or return a proxy card by mail, but do not select a voting preference, the persons who are authorized on the proxy card and through the internet and telephone voting facilities to vote your shares, will vote your shares in accordance with the recommendations of the board of directors.
How do I change or revoke my proxy?
You may change your vote or revoke your proxy at any time prior to the vote at the Annual Meeting. If you submitted your proxy by mail, you must file with the Secretary of the Company a written notice of revocation or deliver, prior to the vote at the Annual Meeting, a valid, later-dated proxy. If you submitted your proxy by telephone or the internet, you may change your vote or revoke your proxy with a later telephone or internet proxy, as the case may be. Attendance at the Annual Meeting, by itself, will not revoke a proxy. You may revoke your proxy by telephone by calling the number located on your proxy card and following the instructions or via the internet by going to the internet address on your proxy card and following the instructions.
If you are a stockholder in “street” or “nominee” name, you may revoke your voting instructions by informing the bank, broker or other nominee in accordance with that entity’s procedures for revoking your voting instructions.
What constitutes a quorum for purposes of the Annual Meeting?
On April 25, 2022, the record date, we had 73,143,833 shares of Common Stock outstanding. Voting can only take place at the Annual Meeting if the holders of a majority of the total number of shares of the Common Stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote on the record date are present either in person or by proxy. Both abstentions and broker non-votes will be treated as present for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum.
What vote is required to approve each matter and how are votes counted?
Proposal 1 - Election of Class I Director
You may vote “FOR” the nominee or your vote may be “WITHHELD.”
Stockholders may not cumulate votes in the election of directors, which means that each stockholder may vote no more than the number of shares he or she owns for a single director candidate.
A nominee will be elected as a director at the Annual Meeting if the nominee receives a plurality of the votes cast "FOR" the applicable seat on the board of directors. An abstention or a broker non-vote will not have any effect on the election of nominees.
Proposal 2 - Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
You may vote “FOR”, “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN”. The affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the Common Stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required to ratify the appointment of Baker Tilly US, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2022. Abstentions will have the same effect as "AGAINST" votes. Broker non-votes will not be counted in determining the number of shares entitled to vote.
Who will count the vote?
The votes will be counted, tabulated and certified by an Inspector of Elections appointed by the board of directors.
Can I attend the Annual Meeting in person?
We cordially invite all our stockholders to attend the Annual Meeting. Persons who are not stockholders may attend only if invited by us. Evidence of share ownership may be in the form of a valid stock certificate or an account statement from our transfer agent or from a bank, broker or other nominee that evidences ownership as of the record date. Note that in order to vote at the meeting, beneficial owners who own shares in “street name” must present a legal proxy from the record holder of the shares. Stockholders of record must possess a copy of the proxy card in order to be admitted to the Annual Meeting. You should also be prepared to present photo identification for admittance.
Will any other matters be presented at the Annual Meeting?
We do not expect any matters, other than those included in this proxy statement, to be presented at the Annual Meeting because the deadline set forth in our bylaws for nominations for election as a director or to propose other business has already passed. Nonetheless, if you execute and deliver a proxy in the form provided and other matters are presented, the individuals named as proxies will have discretionary authority to vote your shares on any other matters that come before the Annual Meeting.
PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTOR
Our board of directors is divided into three classes serving staggered three-year terms. The nominee listed below has been nominated by our board of directors at the recommendation of our nominating and governance committee in accordance with its charter, our Amended and Restated Bylaws and Corporate Governance Guidelines. The nominee is currently a member of the board of directors. We have no reason to believe that the nominee will be unable to serve as a director. If the nominee becomes unable to serve as a director before the meeting (or decides not to serve), the individuals named as proxies may vote for a substitute nominee proposed by the board of directors or we may reduce the number of members of the board of directors. We recommend a vote FOR the nominee listed below.
Nominee for Election at This Meeting for a Term Expiring in 2025 (Class I)
James LaCamp has served as a member of our board of directors since November 2019.Mr. LaCamp currently serves as VP Finance at Coupa Software (Nasdaq: COUP). Before joining Coupa, Mr. LaCamp served in various roles at Deloitte & Touche LLP, most recently as a Partner from 2016 through 2018. Mr. LaCamp received his bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Santa Clara University. Mr. LaCamp’s experience in growing technology companies as well as his financial and accounting expertise provides valuable insight for the members of the Board.
Our Bylaws provide that a plurality of the votes cast at the meeting is required to elect directors. This means that the nominees for director receiving the highest number of votes cast will be elected. An abstention or a broker non-vote will not have any effect on the election of directors.
Unless authority is withheld, the persons named as proxies in the accompanying proxy will vote for the election of the nominee named above.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTEFORTHE ELECTION OF THE NAMED NOMINEE.
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Our executive officers and directors, and their ages and positions as of April 25, 2022, are as set forth below:
| | | | | | | | |
| Name | Age | Position |
| Lisa C. Im | 57 | Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair |
| Harold T. Leach, Jr. | 64 | Chief Compliance Officer |
| Ian A. Johnston | 67 | Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer |
| Simeon M. Kohl | 55 | President |
James LaCamp (1)(2)(3) | 38 | Director |
William D. Hansen (1)(2) | 62 | Director |
Bradley M. Fluegel (1)(2)(3) | 60 | Director |
Eric Yanagi (3) | 40 | Director |
(1)Member of the audit committee.
(2)Member of the compensation committee.
(3)Member of the nominating and governance committee.
Board of Directors
Below is additional biographical information about our directors, other than directors nominated for re-election at the Annual Meeting:
Directors Continuing in Office until 2023 (Class II)
William D. Hansen has served as a member of our board of directors since December 2011. From July 2013 to March 2021, Mr. Hansen served as chief executive officer and president of Strada Education Network, formerly called USA Funds, a non-profit organization focused on higher education and workforce challenges. From July 2011 through July 2013, Mr. Hansen served as the chief executive officer of Madison Education Group, LLC, an education-related consulting firm. From July 2009 to December 2010, he served as the president of Scantron Corporation, a provider of assessment and survey solutions. Mr. Hansen also served as the chairman of Scantron Corporation from September 2010 to July 2011. Mr. Hansen held various leadership positions at Chartwell Education Group, LLC, an education-related consulting firm, from July 2005 to July 2009, including chief executive officer and senior managing director. Mr. Hansen served as the Deputy Secretary at the United States Department of Education from May 2001 to July 2003. He served as a director of the First Marblehead Corporation from 2003 until that company was acquired in 2016. Mr. Hansen received a bachelor’s degree in Economics from George Mason University. Mr. Hansen’s extensive experience in the student loan market provides valuable insight for the members of our board of directors.
Eric Yanagi was appointed to serve as a member of our board of directors on May 5, 2020. Mr. Yanagi is a Managing Director of Mill Road Capital Management LLC and has been with Mill Road since 2008. From 2006 to 2008, Mr. Yanagi was an investment professional at Nautic Partners, a middle-market private equity firm focused on business services, healthcare, manufacturing and media & communications. Prior to Nautic Partners, Mr. Yanagi was an investment banker in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group at Credit Suisse from 2004 to 2006. Mr. Yanagi received a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Princeton University and a Master of Business Administration from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. Mr. Yanagi’s financial and accounting expertise and experience in business services provides valuable insight for the members of our board of directors.
Directors Continuing in Office until 2024 (Class III)
Lisa C. Im has served as our Chief Executive Officer since April 2004 and as a member of our board of directors since January 2004. Ms. Im was elected by our board of directors to serve as the Chair of the board of directors in August 2014. From 2002 to 2004, she was Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer of our predecessor before it was acquired by Parthenon Capital Partners. From 1996 to 2002, Ms. Im was with Bestfood Baking Co., a food products manufacturer, where she gained broad experience including in general management as well as executive financial positions for various regions of Bestfood Baking Co. Ms. Im received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Loma Linda University and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from California State University, East Bay. Ms. Im’s experiences and perspectives as our Chief Executive Officer led to the conclusion that she should serve as a member of our board of directors.
Bradley M. Fluegel has served as a member of our board of directors since February 2014. Mr. Fluegel served as a Senior Vice President for Walgreen Company from October 2012 to January 2018. From April 2011 to September 2012, Mr. Fluegel served as executive in residence at Health Evolution Partners, a healthcare private equity firm. Mr. Fluegel served as executive vice president and chief strategy and external affairs officer of WellPoint, Inc. from September 2007 to December 2010. Prior to that, Mr. Fluegel served as senior vice president of national accounts and vice president, enterprise strategy at Aetna. Inc. Mr. Fluegel received a master’s degree in Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Washington. He also serves as a lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. Mr. Fluegel’s extensive experience with leading companies in the healthcare market provides valuable insight for the members of our board of directors.
Director Compensation
Our non-employee, independent directors receive an annual retainer of $30,000, prorated for partial service in any year and paid in cash. The non-employee, independent members of our audit committee, compensation committee and nominating and governance committee, other than the chairpersons of those committees, receive an additional annual retainer of $10,000, $6,000 and $5,000, respectively. The chairpersons of our audit committee, compensation committee and nominating and governance committee each receive an additional annual retainer of $20,000, $12,000 and $10,000, respectively.
Our non-employee, independent directors also receive an annual grant of restricted stock units valued at $75,000, vesting in full on the date of the following annual meeting of stockholders or upon a change of control.
New directors are granted restricted stock units valued at $100,000 upon election to the board, vesting ratably over four years or upon a change of control. Our directors do not receive additional fees for attendance at a meeting of our board of directors or a committee of the board.
The table below summarizes the compensation paid by the Company to our non-employee, independent directors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. Cash compensation for Eric Yanagi was paid to Mill Road Capital Management, LLC at Mr. Yanagi’s direction.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Name | Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash($) | Stock Awards($)(1) | Option Awards | Total($) |
William D. Hansen (2) | 61,000 | 75,000 | — | 136,000 |
Bradley M. Fluegel (2) | 57,000 | 75,000 | — | 132,000 |
James LaCamp (2) | 61,000 | 75,000 | — | 136,000 |
Eric Yanagi (2) | 40,000 | 75,000 | — | 115,000 |
(1)The value of each stock award is based on the fair value of the award as of the grant date calculated in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 718, Stock Compensation (ASC 718) for financial reporting purposes. See Note 8(b) of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 for a discussion of our assumptions in determining the ASC 718 values of our stock awards.
(2)These non-employee, independent directors were awarded restricted stock units valued at $75,000 on September 1, 2021 (which equated to 16,741 stock units), which will vest in full (assuming continuous service) on June 21, 2022, the date of the Annual Meeting.
Corporate Governance Guidelines; Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
We have established a corporate governance program to help guide our Company and our employees, officers and directors in carrying out their responsibilities and duties, as well as to set standards for their professional conduct. Our board of directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines, or Governance Guidelines, which provide standards and practices of corporate governance that we have designed to help contribute to our success and to assure public confidence in our Company. In addition, all standing committees of our board of directors operate under charters that describe the responsibilities and practices of each committee. The charters of our standing committees are available on the Investor Relations page of our corporate website at investors.performantcorp.com under the Corporate Governance tab.
We have adopted a Conflict of Interest and Ethics Policy, or Ethics Policy, which provides ethical standards and corporate policies that apply to all of our officers and employees. Our Ethics Policy requires, among other things, that our officers and employees act with integrity and the highest ethical standards, comply with laws and other legal requirements, avoid conflicts of interest, and otherwise act in our best interests. We have also adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers and Directors that applies to senior management and directors and provides for accurate, full, fair and timely financial reporting and the reporting of information related to significant deficiencies in internal controls, fraud and legal compliance.
Composition of the Board of Directors
Our Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that our board shall consist of not fewer than five and not more than fifteen directors as the board of directors may from time to time determine. Our board of directors currently consists of five directors. The authorized number of directors may be changed by resolution of our board of directors. Vacancies on our board of directors can only be filled by resolution of our board of directors. Our board of directors is currently divided into three classes, each serving staggered, three-year terms:
•Our Class I director is James LaCamp and his term will expire at this Annual Meeting;
•Our Class II directors are William D. Hansen and Eric Yanagi and their terms will expire at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2023; and
•Our Class III directors are Lisa C. Im and Bradley M. Fluegel and their terms will expire at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2024.
As a result, only one class of directors will be elected at each Annual Meeting of Stockholders, with the other classes continuing for the remainder of their respective terms.
Our board of directors has determined that Messrs. Hansen, LaCamp, Yanagi and Fluegel are “independent directors” as defined under the rules of NASDAQ.
In July 2012, we entered into a Director Nomination Agreement with an affiliate of Parthenon Capital Partners, that provides Parthenon Capital Partners the right to designate nominees for election to our board of directors for so long as Parthenon Capital Partners owns 10% or more of the total number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding. The material provisions of the Director Nomination Agreement are described below under the heading “Directors and Officers—Director Nomination Policy”. Parthenon Capital Partners has not designated a nominee for election to our board of directors following Mr. Stein’s resignation on March 29, 2020.
Our board of directors met a total of four times in 2021. During 2021, all of our directors attended at least 75% of the meetings of our board of directors held during their tenure and 75% of the meetings, if any, of the committees of the board of directors upon which they served. Our board of directors does not have a policy requiring director attendance at annual meetings of our stockholders. One of our directors attended our 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Board Diversity
We believe we have a diverse board that provides a robust set of knowledge, skills, experiences and attributes relevant to our business or industry. In addition to diversity of skills and experience, the below provides an overview regarding other metrics of diversity on our board.
•Gender Diversity - One of our directors is female.
•Racial and Ethnic Diversity - Two of our directors identify as a racial or ethnic minority.
•Director Independence - All of our directors, except for Ms. Im, who also serves as our chief executive officer, are independent within the meaning of the listing standards and our Director Independence Policy.
•Director Tenure - Our directors serve an average of 8 years, which reflects a balance of experience and new perspectives.
Leadership Structure of the Board of Directors
Our board of directors selects the Chair of the board of directors in the manner and upon the criteria that it deems best for the Company at the time of selection. The board of directors does not have a prescribed policy on whether the roles of the Chair and Chief Executive Officer should be separate or combined. The board of directors will periodically evaluate whether this leadership structure is in the best interests of the stockholders.
Lisa C. Im is our Chief Executive Officer and the Chair of the Company’s board of directors. As Chair of the board of directors, Ms. Im presides over each meeting of the board of directors, approves meeting agendas and schedules and notifies other members of the board of directors regarding any significant concerns of stockholders or interested parties of which she becomes aware. The Chair of the board of directors also presides over stockholders’ meetings. We believe that our current board leadership structure is appropriate for the Company because it allows for common, strong leadership, with one individual having primary responsibility for both board-level and operational matters.
In February 2014, our board appointed Mr. Hansen as the board's lead independent director with the primary responsibility to call and preside at executive sessions of our independent directors and to consult with the Chair regarding meeting agendas.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Audit committee. Our audit committee consists of Messrs. Hansen, Fluegel, and LaCamp. Mr. LaCamp serves as the chairperson of this committee. The audit committee met four times in 2021. Our board of directors has determined that Mr. LaCamp is an audit committee financial expert, as defined by the rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. Our audit committee is composed entirely of independent directors.
In accordance with its charter, our audit committee provides assistance to the board of directors in fulfilling its legal and fiduciary obligations in matters involving our accounting, auditing, financial reporting, internal control and legal compliance functions. It engages our independent registered public accounting firm, approves the services performed by our independent registered public accounting firm and reviews their reports regarding our accounting practices. The audit committee also oversees the audit efforts of our independent registered public accounting firm and takes those actions as it deems necessary to satisfy itself that the independent registered public accounting firm is independent of management. Lastly, our audit committee reviews with management cybersecurity risks, including the results of independent third-party data security audits and management’s actions designed to mitigate potential breaches of data security.
Compensation committee. Our compensation committee consists of Messrs. Hansen, Fluegel, and LaCamp. Mr. Fluegel serves as chairperson of this committee. Our compensation committee met four times in 2021. Our compensation committee reviews and makes recommendations for approval by the independent members of our board of directors regarding our general compensation policies and the compensation provided to our directors and executive officers. The compensation committee also reviews and makes recommendations for approval by the independent members of our board of directors regarding bonuses for our officers and other employees. In addition, the compensation committee reviews and makes recommendations for approval by the independent members of our board of directors regarding equity-based compensation for our directors and executive officers, approves equity-based compensation for other employees and administers our stock option plans and employee stock purchase plan. Our compensation committee is composed entirely of independent directors.
Nominating and governance committee. Our nominating and governance committee consists of Messrs. LaCamp, Fluegel, and Yanagi. Mr. Yanagi serves as chairperson of this committee. The nominating and governance committee met four times in 2021. The nominating and governance committee is responsible for making recommendations to the board of directors regarding candidates for directorships and the size and composition of the board. In addition, the nominating and governance committee is responsible for overseeing our corporate governance guidelines and reporting and making recommendations to the board of directors concerning corporate governance matters. Our nominating and governance committee is composed entirely of independent directors.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
No interlocking relationship exists between our board of directors or compensation committee and the board of directors or compensation committee of any other entity, nor has any interlocking relationship existed in the past.
Role of Our Board of Directors in Risk Oversight
One of the key functions of our board of directors is informed oversight of our risk management process. Our board of directors administers this oversight function directly through our board of directors as a whole, as well as through various standing committees of our board of directors that address risks inherent in their respective areas of oversight. In particular, our board of directors is responsible for oversight of our risk management process. The nominating and governance committee periodically evaluates our risk management process and system in light of the nature of the material risks we face. Our compensation committee assesses and monitors whether any of our compensation policies and programs are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on us. Our audit committee periodically assesses any major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures. The audit committee also has the responsibility to oversee management’s assessment of major legal and regulatory risk exposures and management’s implementation of policies and procedures to address these risks. In this regard, and because we handle sensitive personal information as part of our business, the audit committee regularly reviews with management cybersecurity risks, including the results of independent third-party data security audits and management’s actions designed to mitigate potential breaches of data security.
Director Nomination Policy
Our nominating and governance committee is responsible for identifying, evaluating, recruiting and recommending qualified candidates to our board of directors for nomination or election. Our board of directors nominates directors for election at each annual meeting of stockholders, and elects new directors to fill vacancies if they occur.
Our board of directors strives to find directors who are experienced and dedicated individuals with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and skills. Our governance guidelines contain membership criteria that call for candidates to be selected for their character, judgment, diversity of experience, business acumen and ability to act on behalf of all stockholders. In addition, we expect each director to be committed to enhancing stockholder value and to have sufficient time to effectively carry out his or her duties as a director.
Prior to our annual meeting of stockholders, our nominating and governance committee identifies director nominees first by evaluating the current directors whose terms will expire at the annual meeting and who are willing to continue in service. Subject to the Director Nomination Agreement described below, these candidates are evaluated based on the criteria described above, the candidate’s prior service as a director, and the needs of the board of directors for any particular talents and experience. If a director no longer wishes to continue in service, if the nominating and governance committee decides not to re-nominate a director, or if a vacancy is created on the board of directors because of a resignation or an increase in the size of the board of directors or other event, then the committee considers whether to recommend the nomination of a new director or to recommend a decrease in the size of the board of directors. If the decision is to nominate a new director, then the nominating and governance committee considers various candidates for membership on the board of directors, including those suggested by committee members, other members of the board of directors, a director search firm engaged by the committee, or our stockholders. Prospective nominees are evaluated by the nominating and governance committee based on the membership criteria described above and set forth in our Governance Guidelines.
We are party to a Director Nomination Agreement with Parthenon Capital Partners that provides Parthenon Capital Partners the right to designate nominees for election to our board of directors for so long as Parthenon Capital Partners owns 10% or more of the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding. The number of nominees that Parthenon Capital Partners is entitled to designate under this agreement bears the same proportion to the total number of members of our board of directors as the number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned by Parthenon Capital Partners bears to the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding, rounded up to the nearest whole number. In addition, Parthenon Capital Partners is entitled to designate the replacement for any of its board designees whose board service terminates prior to the end of the director’s term regardless of Parthenon Capital Partners’ beneficial ownership at such time. Parthenon Capital Partners also has the right to have its designees participate on committees of our board of directors proportionate to its stock ownership, subject to compliance with applicable law and stock exchange rules. The Director Nomination Agreement will terminate at such time as Parthenon Capital Partners owns less than 10% of our outstanding common stock.
A stockholder who wishes to recommend a prospective nominee to the board of directors for consideration by the nominating and governance committee should notify our Secretary in writing at our principal office. Such notice must be delivered to our offices by the deadline relating to stockholder proposals to be considered for inclusion in our proxy materials, as described under “General Information — Stockholder Proposals for the 2023 Annual Meeting” in this proxy statement.
Each notice delivered by a stockholder who wishes to recommend a nominee to the board of directors for consideration by the nominating and governance committee generally must include the following information about the proposed nominee:
• the name, age, business address and residence address of the proposed nominee;
• the principal occupation of the proposed nominee;
• the number of shares of our capital stock beneficially owned by the proposed nominee;
• a description of all compensation and other relationships during the past three years between the stockholder and the proposed nominee;
• any other information relating to the proposed nominee required to be disclosed pursuant to Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the "Exchange Act"; and
• the proposed nominee’s written consent to serve as a director if elected.
The nominating and governance committee may require any proposed nominee recommended by a stockholder to furnish such other information as the nominating and governance committee may reasonably require, including, among other things, information to determine the eligibility of such person to serve as an independent director or that could be material to a stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such person.
In addition, a stockholder may nominate an individual for election at an annual meeting, without the approval of our nominating and governance committee, by following the procedures set forth in Article 3 of our Amended and Restated Bylaws and summarized below under “General Information - Stockholder Proposals for the 2023 Annual Meeting”.
Communications with Directors
Stockholders and interested parties may contact our directors to provide comments, to report concerns, or to ask a question, by mail at the following address:
Chair of the Board
Performant Financial Corporation
333 North Canyons Parkway
Livermore, California 94551
Executive Officers
Below is additional biographical information about our executive officers, other than our Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Im, who also serves as a director:
Harold T. Leach, Jr. has served as our Chief Compliance Officer of the Company since April 2016. Prior to his role as Chief Compliance Officer, Mr. Leach served as Chief Operating Officer of the Company and our predecessor since May 1982. In these roles, Mr. Leach has been a key participant in the development of our recovery processes and compliance program. During his tenure, Mr. Leach has led the development of our proprietary technology platform and has served as subject matter expert on key Congressional initiatives related to improving the efficacy of government debt management. Mr. Leach also led the development and implementation of our audit and recovery technology operations.
Ian A. Johnston has served as our Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer since April 2017. Prior to appointment as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, Mr. Johnston served as the Company’s Corporate Controller since 2005. Mr. Johnston has 30 years of experience in a variety of industries, including service as Vice President and Corporate Controller of InVision Technologies, Inc., a manufacturer of airport security screening devices, and Corporate Controller of CardioGenesis Corporation, a medical device company. He received his Certified Public Accountant accreditation in California, and received a Bachelor’sbachelor’s degree in Economics and an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley.
Simeon M. Kohl hasbecame our President effective March 10, 2022.Prior to appointment as President, Mr. Kohl served as our Vice President of Healthcare since April 2017. Prior to appointment as Vice President of Healthcare, Mr. Kohl served2017, and as the Company’s Vice President of Sales and Account Management since February 2012. Mr. Kohl has more than 20 years of executive management experience and an extensive background in Healthcarehealthcare cost containment and related services. As the Company’s Vice President of Sales and Account Management, Mr. Kohl led Performant’s Commercial Healthcare growth initiatives and client facing programs. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Kohl served as CEO for HOPS International, Inc., a leading provider of Integrity based analytic solutions for the healthcare and financial industries. Prior to joining HOPS, Mr. Kohl held various senior sales and business development positions with Apple ComputerInc. and other privately held technology companies.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Related Party Transaction Policy
We have a formal written policy that our executive officers, directors, holders of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities, and any member of the immediate family of and any entity affiliated with any of the foregoing persons, are not permitted to enter into a related party transaction with us without the prior consent of our audit committee, or other independent members of our board of directors in the event it is inappropriate for our audit committee to review such transaction due to a conflict of interest. Any request for us to enter into a transaction with an executive officer, director, principal stockholder, or any of their immediate family members or affiliates, in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000 must first be presented to our audit committee for review, consideration and approval. In approving or rejecting any such proposal, our audit committee is required to conduct a review of all relevant facts reasonably available to our audit committee, including, but not limited to, whether the transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third-party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the related party’s interest in the transaction.
Registration Agreement
On January 8, 2004, in connection with the consummation of our acquisition by investment funds controlled by Parthenon Capital Partners and certain other stockholders, or the Acquisition,"Acquisition", we entered into a registration agreement with Parthenon Capital Partners and certain other stockholders. This agreement was amended, effective upon the closing of our initial public offering in August 2012. The registration agreement, as amended, (the "Registration Agreement"), provides the stockholders party thereto with certain demand registration rights in respect of the shares of our common stock held by them. In addition, if we register additional shares of common stock for sale to the public, we are required to give notice of such registration to the stockholders who are party to the registration agreementRegistration Agreement of our intention to effect such a registration, and, subject to certain limitations, such holders will have piggyback registration rights providing them with the right to require us to include shares of common stock held by them in such registration. We will be required to bear the registration expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, associated with any registration of shares by the stockholders described above. The registration rights agreementRegistration Agreement includes lock up obligations that restrict the sale of securities during the initial 180 day period, or in certain circumstances 90 day period, following the effective date of any demand registration or piggyback registration effected pursuant to the terms of the registration agreement.Registration Agreement. We are also restricted from engaging in any public sale of equity securities during the initial 180 day period, or in certain circumstances 90 day period, following the effective date of any demand registration or piggyback registration effected pursuant to the terms of the registration agreement.Registration Agreement. The registration agreement includes customary indemnification provisions in favor of the stockholders who are parties thereto and any person who is or might be deemed a controlling person of the stockholders within the meaning of the Securities Act and related parties against liabilities under the Securities Act incurred in connection with the registration of any of our securities. These provisions provide indemnification against certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act and certain liabilities resulting from violations of other applicable laws in connection with any filing or other disclosure made by us under the securities laws relating to any such registrations. We have agreed to reimburse such persons for any legal or other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such liability, action or proceeding, except that we will not be required to indemnify any such person or reimburse related legal or other expenses if such loss or expense arises out of or is based on any untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information provided by such person.
Director Nomination Agreement
In July 2012, we entered into a Director Nomination Agreement with Parthenon Capital Partners that provides Parthenon Capital Partners the right to designate nominees for election to our board of directors for so long as Parthenon Capital Partners owns 10% or more of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding. The material provisions of the Director Nomination Agreement are described above under the heading “Directors and Officers—Director Nomination Policy”.Policy.”
Indemnification Agreements
We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. The indemnification agreements and our Amended and Restated Bylaws require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, subject to certain exceptions.
Credit Agreement with ECMC Group, Inc.
On August 7, 2017, we, through our wholly-owned subsidiary Performant Business Services, Inc. (the "Borrower"), entered into a credit agreement with ECMC Group, Inc. ("ECMC") (as amended, the “Credit“ECMC Credit Agreement”). Before the amendments described below, the Credit Agreement provided for a term loan facility in the initial amount of $44 million (the “Initial Term Loan”) and for up to $15 million of additional term loans (“Additional Term Loans”; and together with the Initial Term Loan, the “Loans”) which original Additional Term Loans were initially able to be drawn until the second anniversary of the funding of the Initial Term Loans, subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions. On August 31, 2018,December 17, 2021, we entered into Amendment No. 2a new credit agreement, among the Company, as borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto and MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (the “MUFG Credit Agreement”). The proceeds from the term loan under the MUFG Credit Agreement to among other things (i) extend the maturity date of the Initial Term Loan and any Additional Term Loans by one year to August 2021, (ii) expand the Additional Term Loans commitment from $15 million to $25 million, (iii) extend the period during which the Additional Term Loans can be borrowed by one year to August 2020, and (iv) relieve the Borrower from its obligation to comply with the financial covenants in the Credit Agreement during the six fiscal quarters following the Premiere acquisition.
On March 21, 2019, we entered into Amendment No. 3 to the Credit Agreement to among other things relieve the Borrower from its obligation to comply with the financial covenants in the Credit Agreement until the quarter ending June 30, 2020.
As of September 30, 2019, the Company has borrowed all of the $25 million available as Additional Term Loans.
As of April 15, 2021, $60.0 million was outstanding under the Credit Agreement.
We have the option to extend the maturity of the Loans for two additional one-year periods, subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions. The Loans bear interest at the one-month LIBOR rate (subject to a 1% per annum floor) plus a margin which may vary from 5.5% per annum to 10.0% per annum based on our total debt to EBITDA ratio. Our annual interest rate at December 31, 2020, was 6.5%, and at December 31, 2019 was 11.8%. We are required to pay 5% of the original principal balance of the Loans annually in quarterly installments and to make mandatory prepayments of the Loans with a percentage of our excess cash flow which may vary between 75% and 0% depending on our total debt to EBITDA ratio and from the net cash proceeds of certain asset dispositions and debt not otherwise permitted under the Credit Agreement, in each case, subject to the lender's right to decline to receive such payments.
The Credit Agreement contains certain restrictive financial covenants which were not effective until the quarter ending June 30, 2020, at which point, we were required to (1) achieve a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.0 through December 31, 2020, 1.25 to 1.0 through June 30, 2021, and 1.25 to 1.0 through June 30, 2022 if the maturity date of the Loans is extended until the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date and (2) maintain a maximum total debt to EBITDA ratio of 6.00 to 1.00. The Credit Agreement also contains covenants that restrict the Company and its subsidiaries’ ability to incur certain types or amounts of indebtedness, incur liens on certain assets, make material changes in corporate structure or the nature of its business, dispose of material assets, engage in a change in control transaction, make certain foreign investments, enter into certain restrictive agreements, or engage in certain transactions with affiliates. The Credit Agreement also contains various customary events of default, including with respect to change of control of the Company or its ownership of the Borrower.
The obligations under the Credit Agreement are secured by substantially all of our United States domestic subsidiaries’ assets and are guaranteedused by the Company, and its United States domestic subsidiaries, other thantogether with cash on hand, to refinance the Borrower.
In consideration for, and concurrently with, the extension of the Initial Term Loan in accordance with the terms of theECMC Credit Agreement, we issued a warrant to the lender to purchase up to an aggregate of 3,863,326 shares of the Company’s common stock (representing approximately up to 7.5% of our diluted common stock as calculated using the “treasury stock” method as defined under U.S. GAAP for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2017, with an exercise price of $1.92 per share (the "Exercise Price").
Upon borrowing of the Additional Term Loans, we were required to issue additional warrants at the same Exercise Price to purchase up to an aggregate of 77,267 additional shares of common stock (which represents approximately 0.15% of our diluted common stock calculated using the “treasury stock” method as defined under U.S. GAAP for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2017) for each $1.0 million of such Additional Term Loans. Similarly, upon our election to extend the maturity of the Loans for additional one year periods, we will be required to issue additional warrants at the same Exercise Price to purchase up to an aggregate of 515,110 additional shares of common stock for the first year’s extension, and to purchase up to an aggregate of 772,665 additional shares of common stock for the second year’s extension (which represent approximately 1.0% and 1.5% of our diluted common stock for the first and second years, respectively, calculated using the “treasury stock” method as defined under U.S. GAAP for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2017).
On March 23, 2021, we, through our Borrower and Premiere Credit of North America, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Borrower, entered into Amendment No. 5 to the Credit Agreement (the “Fifth Amendment”).
Upon the effectiveness of the Fifth Amendment, Borrower and ECMC have agreed as follows:
1.ECMC will release its security interests and liens on certain assets to be sold in exchange for a mandatory prepayment of $6,000,000 which will lower Borrower’s quarterly principal payments to $787,500.
2.The maturity of the loans under the Credit Agreement will be extended for one additional one-year period through August 2022. In connection with such extension, the Company will be required to issue to ECMC additional warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 515,110 additional shares of common stock of the Company at an exercise price of $0.96 per share.
3.The “Exercise Price” for a portion of the existing warrants issued to ECMC to purchase 1,931,663 shares of common stock of the Company will be reduced from $1.92 to $0.96 per share.
4.The expiration date for all outstanding warrants to purchase 5,794,990 shares of common stock of the Company held by ECMC or an affiliate thereof will be extended to August 11, 2023 unless the currently applicable expiration date is a later date.
5.The financial covenants in the Credit Agreement will be modified as follows:
•As of June 30, 2020, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.0 to 1.0 through December 31, 2020, .75 to 1.0 through December 31, 2021, 1.0 to 1.0 through June 30, 2022, and 1.25 to 1.0 through August 2022; and
•As of June 30, 2020, a maximum total debt to EBITDA ratio of 6.00 to 1.00 through December 31, 2020, 8.00 to 1.00 through June 30, 2021, 7.00 to 1.00 through September 30, 2021, and 6.00 to 1.00 through August 2022.
Agreement.
Acquisition of Premiere Credit of North America, LLC
On August 9, 2018, we and ECMC Holdings Corporation (“ECMC Holdings”), an affiliate of ECMC entered into an Agreement for Purchase of LLC Membership Interests (the “Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which we agreed to acquire from ECMC Holdings all of the outstanding membership interests in Premiere Credit of North America, LLC (“Premiere”), a provider of asset recovery services to clients in the student loan, government, healthcare and commercial markets. ECMC is also the lender under our existing credit agreement. The closing of this transaction took place on August 31, 2018. At the closing, we and ECMC also entered into a long-term agreement for us to be ECMC’s primary student loan recovery vendor. As consideration for the purchase, at closing we issued to ECMC Holdings 1,000,000 shares of our common stock and have issued 185,406an additional 485,406 shares to ECMC through December 31, 2020. We are obligated to issue to ECMC Holdings additional shares of common stock over the five year period following the closing (not to exceed 2,591,824 shares in the aggregate) based on revenues associated with the Premiere business in each year.2021.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Executive Compensation
Compensation Philosophy and Objectives
Our compensation philosophy is to align executive compensation with the interests of our stockholders and therefore to establish financial objectives that our board of directors believes are primary determinants of long-term stockholder value. The primary goal of our executive compensation program is to ensure that we hire and retain talented and experienced executives who are motivated to achieve or exceed our short-term and long-term corporate goals. Our executive compensation programs are designed to reinforce a strong pay-for-performance orientation and to serve the following purposes:
• to reward our named executive officers for sustained financial and operating performance and leadership excellence;
• to align their interests with those of our stockholders; and
• to encourage our named executive officers to remain with us for the long-term.
Compensation Determination Process
All compensation decisions for our executive officers are made by the independent members of our board of directors, generally following the recommendation of our compensation committee. Typically, our Chief Executive Officer makes recommendations to our compensation committee regarding compensation for our executive officers, provided, however, that our Chief Executive Officer makes no recommendations as to her own compensation. Our compensation committee’s recommendations are based on its assessment of the performance of our Company and each individual executive officer, as well as other factors, such as prevailing industry trends. In making recommendations on salaries, annual incentives and equity compensation in 2020,2021, our compensation committee retained the services of compensation consultant Compensia, Inc.Pay Governance to assist in designing our executive compensation program and in identifying market benchmarks for purposes of evaluating the reasonableness and competitiveness of such program.
Elements of Compensation
The primary componentsFor fiscal 2021, our executive compensation program consisted of the following elements, each established as part of our program in order to achieve the compensation objective specified below: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
| Compensation Element | Compensation Objectives Designed to be Achieved and Key Features |
| Base Salary | Base salary attracts and retains talented executives, recognizes individual roles and responsibilities and provides stable income. |
| Cash-Based Incentive Compensation | Directly ties pay to key financial metrics, which we believe will lead to sustained value for all stakeholders over the long term. |
| Equity-Based Compensation | Equity-based compensation, provided primarily in the form of performance stock units and restricted stock units, reinforces the importance of a long-term, ownership orientation, creates alignment with our stockholders, and promotes retention. Equity-based compensation is a critical component of compensation for our executives. |
| Severance and Other Benefits Potentially Payable upon Termination of Employment or Change in Control | Provides certain of our executives additional incentives to focus on executing our growth strategies and incentives in connection with a potential change of control transaction. |
| Health and Welfare Benefits | Rounds out a competitive compensation package and aids in retaining our executives. |
We do not currently have, and we do not expect to have, formal policies relating to the allocation of total compensation among the various elements of our compensation program.
Base Salaries
The base salaries of our named executive officers are an important part of their total compensation package, and are intended to reflect their respective positions, duties and responsibilities. Base salary is a visible and stable fixed component of our compensation program. Base salaries for our named executive officers were initially established through arms-length negotiation at the time an executive was hired. Our compensation committee reviews the annual base salaries of each of our named executive officers periodically when adjusting annual base salaries, referring to the 25th percentile of similar positions within comparable companies based on general market surveys.(The 25th percentile is relative to the size of the company’s revenue and market capitalization value.In the future, this may change to the 50th percentile if our revenue and market capitalization value warrant a mid-range comparison).
The following table sets forth the base salaries of our named executive officers for fiscal 2021:
Named Executive OfficerFiscal 2021 Base Salary
Lisa Im……..............................................................$400,000
Simeon Kohl.............................................................$290,000
Harold Leach…........................................................$242,000
Ian Johnston……......................................................$240,000
Cash-Based Incentive Compensation
We consider annual cash incentive bonuses to be an important component of our total compensation program which provides incentives to retain and motivate our named executive officers. Each named executive officer is eligible to receive an annual performance-based cash bonus based on a specified target annual bonus award amount, expressed as a percentage of the named executive officer’s base salary. In fiscal 2021, our named executive officers participated in our annual cash incentive bonus program at the following percentages of their respective base salary:
Named Executive Officer Fiscal 2021 Cash-Based Incentive Compensation Percentage
Lisa Im………..........................................................17.75%
Simeon Kohl….........................................................21.48%
Harold Leach……....................................................24.00%
Ian Johnston……......................................................17.02%
Based on actual results to internal management plan, our named executive officers were eligible to achieve up to 37.1% of their individual target bonus percentages, which differ by individual. Each named executive officer has a target percentage which is based on input from Pay Governance’s analysis of publicly available information from comparable companies. Additionally, our Chief Executive Officer can voluntarily distribute some portion of her bonus to other officers or managers within the organization as she views appropriate; these allocations are also reviewed and our three other executive officers in fiscal year 2020, whom we refer to as the named executive officers, were base salary, annual incentive compensation and equity-based compensation.
Base Salary
We pay our named executive officers a base salary based on the experience, skills, knowledge and responsibilities required of each officer, as well as base salaries of executive officers at companies we view as competitors. We believe base salaries are an important element in our overall compensation program because base salaries provide a fixed element of compensation that reflects job responsibilities and value to us.
Annual Incentive Plan
To date,approved by our board of directors has not adopted a formal plan or set of formal guidelines with respect to annual incentive or bonus payments, and has rather relied on an annual assessment of the performance of our executives during the preceding year to make annual incentive and bonus determinations.compensation committee.
Long-Term Equity CompensationFor 2021, our annual cash incentive bonus program provided named executive officers the opportunity to earn their full target bonus opportunity based on the achievement of annual revenue, measured at 65% of eligible target bonus, and EBITDA, measured at 35% of eligible target bonus. Actual revenue of $124.4 million in fiscal 2021 allowed named executive officers the opportunity to earn 37.1% of their individual target bonus percentages. The formula for determining the amount of an executive’s target bonus opportunity earned was as follows:
We provide[(Actual 2021 Revenue – Plan 2021 Revenue) / Plan 2021 Revenue] x 65% x Target Percentage
Plus
[(Actual 2021 EBITDA – Plan 2021 EBITDA) / Plan 2021 EBITDA] x 35% x Target Percentage
No bonus would be payable to our named executive officers with long-term equityin the event actual revenue and EBITDA were less than 90% of internal Plan. Each component (revenue and EBITDA) eligibility is calculated separately. Illustratively, if 90% of EBITDA target is not achieved, then 35% of bonus eligibility is not awarded. Each bonus component (revenue and EBITDA) is capped at 150% of each named executive officer’s target bonus opportunity and the cap can only be achieved if the actual results are 110% of internal plan. If results are 90% of internal plan, the bonus opportunity drops to 50% of component eligibility.
In early 2022, our compensation throughcommittee determined that our Amended and Restated 2012 Stock Incentive Plan. We believe that providingactual revenue for fiscal 2021 was $124.4 million, or 91.2% of target, which allowed for 56% of the revenue component to be eligible for payout (56% x 65% x individual target bonus percentage). Actual EBITDA did not meet the 90% threshold so none of the 35% component was eligible for payout.
For 2022, we have adopted a similar annual performance-based cash bonus program for named executive officers.
In addition to our formal cash incentive programs, our compensation committee may approve discretionary bonuses to be paid to our named executive officers withfrom time to time, when it determines it to be appropriate to reward performance or incentivize future results.
Equity-Based Compensation
We view equity-based compensation as a critical component of our balanced total compensation program. Equity-based compensation creates an equityownership culture among our employees that provides an incentive to contribute to the continued growth and development of our business and aligns interest brings their interests in lineof executives with those of our stockholders and that including a vesting componentstockholders. Our formal policy for determining the number of equity-based awards to those equity interests encouragesgrant to named executive officers to remain with us for the long-term. Long-term incentive awards are made under our Amended and Restated 2012 Stock Incentive Plan, under which we are authorized to issue stock options, restricted stock or other equity-based awards denominated in sharesis based on analysis of our common stock. The plan is administered by thegeneral market surveys. Our compensation committee does reference the 50th percentile of similar positions within comparable companies when approving annual equity awards.
During 2021, our board or directors and theour compensation committee recommends grantsoffered, but ultimately did not make an equity grant to Ms. Im, who (has historically and again) declined new equity considering her existing personal stock ownership of over 1.4 million shares.
Welfare Benefits
We maintain a 401(k) retirement savings plan for our employees, including our named executive officers, for approval by the independent members of our board of directors, and is authorized to make awards or delegate the authority to make awards to employees other than the executive officers. The committee also sets the standard terms for awards under the plan each year.
At her insistence and based in part upon her being one of our significant stockholders, Ms. Im did not receive any form of equity compensation during 2019 and 2020.
Other Supplemental Benefits
who satisfy certain eligibility requirements. Our named executive officers are eligible forto participate in the following benefits401(k) plan on a similar basisthe same terms as other full-time employees. We do not match a participant’s annual eligible employees:contribution to the 401(k) plan. We believe that providing a vehicle for tax-deferred retirement savings though our 401(k) plan adds to the overall desirability of our executive compensation package and further incentivizes our employees, including our named executive officers, in accordance with our compensation policies; therefore, we may consider a match program in the future.
•All of our full-time employees, including our named executive officers, are eligible to participate in our health and welfare plans. These health and welfare plans include medical, dental and vision insurance;
• vacation, personal holidaysbenefits; short-term and sick days;
• life insurancelong-term disability insurance; and supplemental life insurance;
• short-term and long-term disability; and
• 401(k) plan.
Leadership Incentive Plan
Performance under our 2020 Leadership Incentive Plan or “LIP” was based on achievement of target levels of revenue and Adjusted EBITDA, as outlined below:
| | | | | |
Metric | Weighting |
Revenue | 65% |
Adjusted EBITDA | 35% |
While our 2020 revenue of $155.9 million fell short of the target that was established at the beginning of the year, it represented an increase of 4% relative to 2019 revenue of $150.4 million. Our 2020 Adjusted EBITDA performance of $20.5 million compares to an Adjusted EBITDA loss in 2019 of $3.2 million. This performance was above our Adjusted EBITDA target for the year.
In light of the impact of the pandemic, we revised our annual operating plan and associated LIP targets during the year. While Management exceeded the revised plan, the Compensation Committee used negative discretion to lower the target payouts based on proportionate reductions of a COVID-19 plan versus the original plan. In addition, the Committee measured the LIP payout for our CEO relative to the original internal plan irrespective of COVID-19.
In approving the LIP payouts shown in the summary compensation table, the Committee recognized the significant efforts of the management team to deliver Adjusted EBITDA of $20.5 million coming off an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $3.2 million for 2019. In addition, it considered that prior to the onset of the pandemic, the Company recorded Q1 revenue of $45.9 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $7.1 million which significantly exceeded the internal plan and the board’s expectations. Furthermore, despite the work pauses and other challenges related to the pandemic, healthcare revenues increased 58.2% year over year, from $43.3 million in 2019 to $68.5 million in 2020.AD&D insurance.
Role of Executive Officers in Determining Executive Compensation
Our chief executive officer made recommendations to our board of directors and to our compensation committee to assist in determining fiscal 2021 compensation levels, other than with respect to her own compensation. While our board of directors and our compensation committee utilized this information, the ultimate decisions regarding fiscal 2021 executive compensation were made by our board of directors and our compensation committee, as applicable.
Share Ownership Guidelines
In April 2021, our board of directors adopted share ownership guidelines for our executive officers. We believe these
guidelines help align the interests of our executives with those of our stockholders and may act as a risk mitigation device.
The share ownership guidelines are based on a multiple of base salary. Under the guidelines, our chief executive officer is
required to own shares of our common stock with a value equal to at least four times the executive’s annual base salary. Each
of our other executive officers is required to own shares of our common stock with a value equal to at least two times the
executive’s annual base salary. The executive officers subject to the guidelines must attain the applicable stock ownership
targets by the later of five years after the date the guidelines were adopted and five years after the date the individual became
an executive officer.
Employment and Change in Control Agreements
The section below describes the employment agreements that we have entered into with our Chief Executive Officer and Chair of our board of directors, as well as the form of employment agreement that each of our other executive officers entered into.
Chief Executive Officer
We previously entered into an employment agreement with Lisa Im. The original agreement is dated April 15, 2002, modified by a Second Amendment dated February 22, 2008, and automatically renews each year unless terminated by either the company or Ms. Im. This agreement sets forth the terms and conditions of employment of Ms. Im, including initial base salary, target bonus opportunity (if any), and initial equity grants and employee benefits eligibility. The agreement also provides for severance or other payments in connection with a termination of employment or change in control of the Company.
In the event Ms. Im’s employment with us is terminated by us without cause or she resigns for good reason in each case within the twelve-month period immediately following the closing of a change of control, subject to the execution of a general release of claims, Ms. Im is entitled to a severance payment equal to the sum of: (i) twelve months of her then current annual base salary; (ii) highest cash bonus paid within the past five years; and (iii) an amount equal to eighteen months of health insurance premiums, payable in a lump sum. As of March 10, 2021, the aggregate change of control payment would be equal to $603,182 for Ms. Im.
For purposes of Ms. Im’s change of control agreement:
•A Change in control occurs (i) if any person or group becomes the beneficial owner of 50% of the Company’s voting securities, (ii) if certain changes of the individuals who constitute the board of directors occur during any period of two consecutive years, (iii) upon consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation unless certain conditions are met, or (iv) upon stockholder approval of a complete liquidation of the Company.
•Triggering termination is defined as Ms. Im’s termination for any reason other than (i) her death, (ii) her disability that entitles her to receive long-term disability benefits from the Company, (iii) her retirement on or after the age of 65, (iv) her termination for cause, or (v) her resignation of employment for good reason.
•Cause is defined as (i) the criminal conviction for embezzlement from the Company, (ii) the violation of a felony committed in connection with employment, (iii) the willful refusal to perform the reasonable duties of her position with the Company, (iv) the willful violation of the policies of the Company which is determined in good faith by the board of directors to be materially injurious to the employees, directors, property, or financial condition of the Company, or (v) the willful violation of the provisions of a confidentiality or non-competition agreement with the Company.
•Good reason is defined as (i) a reduction in Ms. Im’s salary that was in effect immediately prior to a change of control, (ii) the relocation of the Company’s office that would add 35 miles or more to Ms. Im’s commute, or (iii) if the Company reduces certain benefits or vacation days that Ms. Im received prior to the change of control.
Other Named Executive Officers
Each of our named executive officers, other than Ms. Im, has entered into our standard employment agreement. Our standard employment agreement provides for the named executive officer’s initial salary at the time of the agreement and grants the named executive officer the right to participate in our standard benefit plans. This agreement also contains confidential information and invention assignment provisions and does not provide for severance.
Tax Considerations
As a general matter, our compensation committee reviews and considers the various tax and accounting implications of compensation programs we utilize.
Compensation Recoupment (“Clawback”) Policy
In April 2021, our board of directors adopted a compensation recoupment policy. The policy enables our compensation
committee, if it determines appropriate and subject to applicable laws, to recover from our executive officers and other
employees subject to the policy any incentive compensation, including any cash or equity compensation, granted, awarded,
earned or vested based in whole or in part on the attainment of a financial reporting measure or non-financial measure in the
event of misconduct or miscalculation of performance measure results. We are monitoring the proposed SEC rules on
recoupment and plan to modify our recoupment policy in accordance with any applicable final SEC or other rules.
Summary Compensation Table
The following table presents information concerning the total compensation of our named executive officers for services rendered to us in all capacities for the fiscal years ended December 31, 20202021 and December 31, 2019:2020:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary($) | Bonus($) | Stock Awards($)(1) | All other Compensation($) | Total($) |
| Lisa C. Im | 2020 | 403,082 | 200,100 | | 22,223 | | (2) | 625,405 |
| Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board of Directors | 2019 | 400,005 | — | — | 22,097 | | (3) | 422,102 |
| | | | | | | | |
| Harold T. Leach, Jr. | 2020 | 244,800 | 153,500 | | 24,193 | | (4) | 422,493 |
| Chief Compliance Officer | 2019 | 242,939 | — | 284,814 | 24,067 | | (5) | 551,820 |
| | | | | | | | |
| Ian A. Johnston | 2020 | 240,000 | 82,200 | 60,233 | 4,538 | | (6) | 386,971 |
| Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer | 2019 | 240,924 | — | 133,350 | 3,628 | | (6) | 377,902 |
| | | | | | | | |
| Simeon M. Kohl | 2020 | 292,893 | 85,100 | 58,472 | 903 | | (6) | 437,368 |
| Vice President of Healthcare | 2019 | 260,970 | — | 133,350 | 777 | | (6) | 395,097 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary($) | Bonus($) | Stock Awards($)(1) | All other Compensation($) | Total($) |
| Lisa C. Im | 2021 | 399,195 | 71,000 | | 22,223 | | (2) | 492,418 |
| Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board of Directors | 2020 | 403,082 | 200,100 | | 22,223 | | (2) | 625,405 |
| | | | | | | | |
| Harold T. Leach, Jr. | 2021 | 242,008 | 58,200 | 229,000 | 24,193 | | (3) | 553,401 |
| Chief Compliance Officer | 2020 | 244,800 | 153,500 | | 24,193 | | (3) | 422,493 |
| | | | | | | | |
| Ian A. Johnston | 2021 | 240,000 | 41,200 | 229,000 | 4,341 | | (4) | 514,541 |
| Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer | 2020 | 240,000 | 82,200 | 60,233 | 4,538 | | (4) | 386,971 |
| | | | | | | | |
| Simeon M. Kohl | 2021 | 290,008 | 62,300 | 370,980 | 1,385 | | (4) | 724,673 |
| Vice President of Healthcare | 2020 | 292,893 | 85,100 | 58,472 | 903 | | (4) | 437,368 |
(1) The value of the equity awards is based on the fair value of the award as of the grant date calculated in accordance with ASC 718, excluding any estimate of future forfeitures. Our assumptions with respect to the calculation of these values are set forth in Note 8 “Stock-based Compensation” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal years ended December 31, 20202021 and 2019.2020. Regardless of the value on the grant date, the actual value that may be recognized by the executive officers will depend on the market value of our common stock on a date in the future when a stock award vests or a stock option is exercised.
(2) Includes payments for vehicle allowance ($18,000) and life insurance benefits ($4,223).
(3) Includes payments for vehicle allowance ($18,000) and life insurance benefits ($4,097).
(4) Includes payments for vehicle allowance ($20,400) and life insurance benefits ($3,793).
(5) Includes payments for vehicle allowance ($20,400) and life insurance benefits ($3,667).
(6)(4) Payments for life insurance benefits.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table presents information on all outstanding equity awards held by our named executive officers as of December 31, 2020:2021:
| | | Option Awards | | Stock Awards | | Option Awards | | Stock Awards |
| Name | Name | Number of Securities Underlying
Unexercised Options(#) | Option
Exercise Price ($/share) | Expiration Date of Options | | Number of Shares or Units of Stock that have not Vested(#) | | Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock that have not Vested($)(1) | Name | Number of Securities Underlying
Unexercised Options(#) | Option
Exercise Price ($/share) | Expiration Date of Options | | Number of Shares or Units of Stock that have not Vested(#) | | Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock that have not Vested($)(1) |
| Exercisable | | Unexercisable | Exercisable | | Unexercisable |
| Lisa C. Im | Lisa C. Im | 824,687 | | — | 10.60 | 8/10/2022 | | — | | — | Lisa C. Im | 824,687 | | — | 10.60 | 8/10/2022 | | — | | — |
| | 60,000 | | — | 13.55 | 3/7/2023 | | — | | — | | 60,000 | | — | 13.55 | 3/7/2023 | | — | | — |
| Harold T. Leach, Jr. | Harold T. Leach, Jr. | 274,896 | | — | 10.60 | 8/10/2022 | | 40,000 | (3) | 35,240 | Harold T. Leach, Jr. | 274,896 | | — | 10.60 | 8/10/2022 | | 11,250 | (2) | 27,113 |
| | 30,000 | | — | 13.55 | 3/7/2023 | | 15,000 | (2) | 13,215 | | 30,000 | | — | 13.55 | 3/7/2023 | | 60,000 | (3) | 144,600 |
| | 22,500 | (4) | 19,823 | | 50,000 | (7) | 120,500 |
| | 60,000 | (5) | 52,860 | |
| Ian A. Johnston | Ian A. Johnston | 54,979 | | — | 10.60 | 8/10/2022 | | 15,000 | (2) | 13,215 | Ian A. Johnston | 54,979 | | — | 10.60 | 8/10/2022 | | 11,875 | (2) | 28,619 |
| | 23,750 | (4) | 20,924 | | 22,500 | (4) | 54,225 |
| | 33,750 | (6) | 29,734 | | 30,000 | (5) | 72,300 |
| | 30,000 | (7) | 26,430 | | 62,752 | (6) | 151,232 |
| | 94,129 | (8) | 82,928 | | 50,000 | (7) | 12,500 |
| Simeon M. Kohl | Simeon M. Kohl | 27,490 | | — | 10.60 | 8/10/2022 | | 18,750 | (2) | 16,519 | Simeon M. Kohl | 27,490 | | — | 10.60 | 8/10/2022 | | 14,375 | (2) | 34,644 |
| | 10,000 | | — | 11.00 | 9/19/2023 | | 28,750 | (4) | 25,329 | | 10,000 | | — | 11.00 | 9/19/2023 | | 22,500 | (4) | 54,225 |
| | 33,750 | (6) | 29,734 | | 30,000 | (5) | 72,300 |
| | 30,000 | (7) | 26,430 | | 60,916 | (6) | 146,808 |
| | 91,377 | (8) | 80,503 | | 81,000 | (7) | 195,210 |
(1)The market value is based on $0.88$2.41 per share, which was the market price of our common stock on December 31, 2020.2021.
(2)As of December 31, 2021,75% of the covered shares for this Restricted Stock Unit Award are vested, and the remaining 25% of the covered shareswill vest on May 11, 2018, an additional 25% on May 11, 2019, an additional 25% on May 13, 2020 and will vest 25% of the covered shares on the third anniversary of the initial vest date,1, 2022, provided that the holder remains in continuous service through each vestsuch vesting date.
(3)Restricted Stock Unit Award was granted on April 6, 2017 and vests over a three or four year period based upon the trading price of our Common Stock during the relevant vesting period. Specifically, and subject to the vesting limitations described in the following sentence, the trading price for our shares of Common Stock will need to be sustained for 60 consecutive trading days for one of the following vesting thresholds to have been met: (1) $2.75 stock price for 60 consecutive trading days triggers 33% vesting; (2) $3.00 stock price for 60 consecutive trading days triggers 67% vesting; and (3) $3.25 stock price for 60 consecutive trading days triggers 100% vesting (the “Share Price Thresholds”). Upon each of the first, second, third and fourth year anniversaries of the grant date if the Share Price Thresholds have been achieved during the preceding year and assuming the holder's continued service (1) up to a maximum of 33% of the Restricted Stock Units will vest upon the Year 1 anniversary date; (2) up to 67% of the Restricted Stock Units will vest upon the Year 2 anniversary date; and (3) up to 100% of the Restricted Stock Units will vest upon the Year 3 or Year 4 anniversary date. Restricted Stock Units that would vest solely on the basis of the share price thresholds but exceed the maximum vesting limitations for Year 1 or Year 2, will not vest until the subsequent anniversary date or dates (e.g., if the $3.25 trading price threshold is attained within the Year 1, the Restricted Stock Units will vest 33% after Year 1, 67% after Year 2 and 100% after Year 3). Linear interpolation will be applied between milestones for determining vesting on the Year 3 and Year 4 anniversary dates.
(4)Restricted Stock Unit Award vested 25% of the covered shares on May 10, 2019, 25% of the covered shares on May 18, 2020, and will vest 25% of the covered shares on each of the second and third anniversaries of the initial vest date, provided that the holder remains in continuous service through each vest date.
(5)Restricted Stock Unit award was granted on May 1, 2018. The number of Restricted Stock Units reported represents the maximum of 200% of the target level for this Restricted Stock Unit award. These Restricted Stock Units shall vest over a nearly four year period based upon continuing service and the trading price of our Common Stock during the relevant vesting period. Specifically, and subject to the vesting limitations described in the following sentence, the trading price for our shares of Common Stock will need to be sustained for 60 consecutive trading days for one of the following vesting thresholds to have been met: (1) $3.50 per share stock price for 60 consecutive trading days triggers 12.5% vesting; (2) $3.75 per share stock price for 60 consecutive trading days triggers 25% vesting; (3) $4.00 per share stock price for 60 consecutive trading days triggers 37.5% vesting; (4) $4.25 per share stock price for 60 consecutive trading days triggers 50% vesting; (5) $4.50 per share stock price for 60 consecutive trading days triggers 66.5% vesting; (6) $4.75 per share stock price for 60 consecutive trading days triggers 83% vesting; and (7) $5.00 per share stock price for 60 consecutive trading days triggers 100% vesting (the "Share Price Thresholds"). On March 29 in each of 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 (each a "vesting date"), if the Share Price Thresholds have been achieved during the preceding year and assuming the holder's continued service through each vest date (1) up to a maximum of 25% of the Restricted Stock Units will vest upon the first vesting date; (2) up to a maximum of 50% of the Restricted Stock Units will vest upon the second vesting date; (3) up to a maximum of 75% of the Restricted Stock Units will vest upon the third vesting date; and (4) up to 100% of the Restricted Stock Units will vest upon the fourth vesting date. That portion of the Restricted Stock Units that would vest solely on the basis of the share price thresholds that exceeds the maximum vesting limitations for the first, second and third vesting dates will not vest until the subsequent vesting date or dates (e.g., if the $4.25 per share trading price threshold is attained prior to the first vesting date which would otherwise trigger 50% vesting, then 25% of Restricted Stock Units will vest as of the first vesting date, with the remaining 25% of the Restricted Stock Units to vest as of the second vesting date, subject to the vesting limitations as of such vesting date and continued service as of such vesting date). Linear interpolation will be applied between milestones for determining vesting on the third and fourth vesting dates.
(6)(4)TheAs of December 31, 2021, 50% of this restricted stock unit award is vested, 25% of the covered shares on April 29, 2020, and will vest 25% of the remaining covered shares on each of the second, third and fourth anniversaries of April 29, 2019, provided that the Reporting Person remains in continuous service through each vest date.
(7)(5)Restricted Stock Unit award was granted on May 2, 2019. The number of Restricted Stock Units reported represents the maximum of 200% of the target level for this Restricted Stock Unit award. These Restricted Stock Units shall vest over a nearly four year period based upon continuing service and the trading price of PFMT's Common Stock during the relevant vesting period. Specifically, and subject to the vesting limitations described in the following sentence, the trading price for PFMT's shares will need to be sustained for 60 consecutive trading days for one of the following vesting thresholds to have been met: (1) $2.75 per share stock price for 60 consecutive trading days triggers 12.5% vesting; (2) $3.00 per share stock price for 60 consecutive trading days triggers 25% vesting; (3) $3.25 per share stock price for 60 consecutive trading days triggers 37.5% vesting; (4) $3.50 per share stock price for 60 consecutive trading days triggers 50% vesting; (5) $3.75 per share stock price for 60 consecutive trading days triggers 66.5% vesting; (6) $4.00 per share stock price for 60 consecutive trading days triggers 83% vesting; and (7) $4.25 per share stock price for 60 consecutive trading days triggers 100% vesting (the "Share Price Thresholds"). On April 29 in each of 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 (each a "vesting date"), if the Share Price Thresholds have been achieved during the preceding year and assuming the Reporting Person's continued service to PFMTthrough each vest date (1) up to a maximum of 25% of the Restricted Stock Units will vest upon the first vesting date; (2) up to a maximum of 50% of the Restricted Stock Units will vest upon the second vesting date; (3) up to a maximum of 75% of the Restricted Stock Units will vest upon the third vesting date; and (4) up to 100% of the Restricted Stock Units will vest upon the fourth vesting date. 4) That portion of the Restricted Stock Units that would vest solely on the basis of the share price thresholds that exceeds the maximum vesting limitations for the first, second and third vesting dates will not vest until the subsequent vesting date or dates (e.g., if the $3.50 per share trading price threshold is attained prior to the first vesting date which would otherwise trigger 50% vesting, then 25% of Restricted Stock Units will vest as of the first vesting date, with the remaining 25% of the Restricted Stock Units to vest as of the second vesting date, subject to the vesting limitations as of such vesting date and continued service as of such vesting date). Linear interpolation will be applied between milestones for determining vesting on the third and fourth vesting dates.
(8)(6)The restricted stock unit award vests at a rate of 33% annually on the first, second and third anniversaries of July 30, 2020, provided that the Reporting Person remains in continuous service through each vest date.
(7)
EmploymentThe restricted stock unit award vests at a rate of 25% annually on the first, second, third and Changefourth anniversaries of August 14, 2021, provided that the Reporting Person remains in Control Agreements
The section below describes the employment agreements that we have entered into with our Chief Executive Officer and Chair of our board of directors, as well as the form of employment agreement thatcontinuous service through each of our other executive officers entered into.
Chief Executive Officer
We entered into an employment agreement with Lisa C. Im, our Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the board of directors, on April 2, 2002, and this agreement has been subsequently amended. As amended, the agreement grants Ms. Im a salary of $33,334 per month, an automobile allowance of $1,500 per month and a Company-paid life insurance policy with a $1 million death benefit. This agreement also contains confidential information and invention assignment provisions.
Other Named Executive Officers
Each of our named executive officers, other than Ms. Im, has entered into our standard employment agreement. Our standard employment agreement provides for the named executive officer’s initial salary at the time of the agreement and grants the named executive officer the right to participate in our standard benefit plans. This agreement also contains confidential information and invention assignment provisions and does not provide for severance.vest date.
Potential Payments Upon Change of Control
We have also entered into a change of control agreement with Ms. Im. This agreement, as amended, provides that upon a triggering termination which follows a change in control by no more than two years, Ms. Im is entitled to receive a payment equal to her highest annual salary in effect during any period of 12 consecutive months within the 60 months immediately preceding the date of the triggering termination plus her highest annual bonus awarded in any of the three calendar years immediately preceding the year of the triggering termination. As of March 10, 2021, the aggregate change of control payment would be equal to $603,182 for Ms. Im.
For purposes of Ms. Im’s change of control agreement:
•A Change in control occurs (i) if any person or group becomes the beneficial owner of 50% of the Company’s voting securities, (ii) if certain changes of the individuals who constitute the board of directors occur during any period of two consecutive years, (iii) upon consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation unless certain conditions are met, or (iv) upon stockholder approval of a complete liquidation of the Company.
•Triggering termination is defined as Ms. Im’s termination for any reason other than (i) her death, (ii) her disability that entitles her to receive long-term disability benefits from the Company, (iii) her retirement on or after the age of 65, (iv) her termination for cause, or (v) her resignation of employment for good reason.
•Cause is defined as (i) the criminal conviction for embezzlement from the Company, (ii) the violation of a felony committed in connection with employment, (iii) the willful refusal to perform the reasonable duties of her position with the Company, (iv) the willful violation of the policies of the Company which is determined in good faith by the board of directors to be materially injurious to the employees, directors, property, or financial condition of the Company, or (v) the willful violation of the provisions of a confidentiality or non-competition agreement with the Company.
•Good reason is defined as (i) a reduction in Ms. Im’s salary that was in effect immediately prior to a change of control, (ii) the relocation of the Company’s office that would add 35 miles or more to Ms. Im’s commute, or (iii) if the Company reduces certain benefits or vacation days that Ms. Im received prior to the change of control.
Retirement Plans
Except as described below, we currently have no plans that provide for the payment of retirement benefits, or benefits that will be paid primarily following retirement, including but not limited to tax-qualified defined benefit plans, supplemental executive retirement plans, tax-qualified defined contribution plans and nonqualified defined contribution plans.
We do maintain a 401(k) plan that is tax-qualified for our employees, including executive officers. We do not offer employer matching or other employer contributions to the 401(k) plan.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth information as of April 15, 202125, 2022 about the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by:
• each person or group of persons known to us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our Common Stock;
• each of our current executive officers named under “Executive Compensation—Summary Compensation Table”;
• each of our directors; and
• all of our directors and executive officers as a group.
Unless otherwise noted below, the address of each beneficial owner listed in the table is: c/o Performant Financial Corporation, 333 North Canyons Parkway, Livermore, California 94551.
We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC. Except as indicated by the footnotes below, we believe, based on the information furnished to us, that the persons and entities named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock that they beneficially own, subject to applicable community property laws.
The percentage of Common Stock beneficially owned is based on 54,830,80573,143,833 shares issued and outstanding as of April 15, 2021.25, 2022. For purposes of calculating each person’s or group’s percentage ownership, shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the terms of stock options or restricted stock units exercisable or vesting within 60 days after April 15, 202125, 2022 are included as outstanding and beneficially owned for that person or group, but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person or group. Beneficial ownership representing less than 1% is denoted with an asterisk (*).
| | | | | | | | |
| Name of Beneficial Owner | Shares Beneficially Owned |
Number (1) | Percentage |
| 5% Stockholders: | | |
Parthenon DCS Holdings, LLC (2) | 13,500,878 | 24.6% |
| | |
Prescott Group Capital Management, LLC (3) | 12,545,261 | 22.9% |
ECMC Group, Inc. (4) | 6,980,396 | 11.5% |
Mill Road Capital Management, LLC (5) | 3,611,282 | 6.4% |
| Executive Officers and Directors: | | |
Lisa C. Im (6) | 2,301,121 | 4.1% |
Harold T. Leach, Jr. (7) | 804,135 | 1.5% |
Ian A. Johnston (8) | 223,032 | * |
Simeon M. Kohl (9) | 182,776 | * |
Bradley M. Fluegel (10) | 361,806 | * |
William D. Hansen (11) | 348,311 | * |
James LaCamp (12) | 222,471 | * |
Eric Yanagi(5) | 3,611,282 | 6.6% |
All Executive Officers and Directors as a group (8 persons) (13) | 8,054,934 | | 14.2% |
| | | | | | | | |
| Name of Beneficial Owner | Shares Beneficially Owned |
Number (1) | Percentage |
| 5% Stockholders: | | |
| | |
| | |
Prescott Group Capital Management, LLC (2) | 15,454,704 | 21.1% |
Parthenon DCS Holdings, LLC (3) | 5,730,974 | 7.8% |
ECMC Group, Inc. (4) | 5,764,443 | 7.6% |
First Light Asset Management, LLC (5) | 49,222,444 | 6.7% |
Mill Road Capital Management, LLC (6) | 3,442,999 | 4.7% |
| Executive Officers and Directors: | | |
Lisa C. Im (7) | 2,301,121 | 3.1% |
Harold T. Leach, Jr. (8) | 822,800 | 1.1% |
Ian A. Johnston (9) | 273,487 | * |
Simeon M. Kohl (10) | 240,634 | * |
Bradley M. Fluegel (11) | 378,547 | * |
William D. Hansen (12) | 365,052 | * |
James LaCamp (13) | 265,527 | * |
Eric Yanagi (14) | 3,442,999 | 4.7% |
All Executive Officers and Directors as a group (8 persons) (13) | 8,090,167 | | 10.8% |
(1)Unless otherwise indicated, includes shares owned by a spouse, minor children and relatives sharing the same home, as well as entities owned or controlled by the named person. Unless otherwise noted, shares are owned of record and beneficially by the named person.
(2)Based on a Form 4 filed with the SEC on March 28, 2022, by Prescott Group Capital Management, L.L.C. (“PGC”), and certain entities affiliated or associated with PGC, including Prescott Group Aggressive Small Cap, L.P., Prescott Group Aggressive Small Cap II, L.P. (collectively, the “Small Cap Funds”), and Phil Frohlich, the principal of PGC, reflecting shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 15,454,704 shares of common stock of the Company purchased by the Small Cap Funds through the account of Prescott Group Aggressive Small Cap Master Fund, G.P., (“Prescott Master Fund”), of which the Small Cap Funds are general partners. PGC serves as the general partner of the Small Cap Funds. The principal business address of PGC is 1924 South Utica Suite 1120, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74104.
(3)Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 12, 20167, 2022 by Parthenon DCS Holdings, LLC (“DCS Holdings”). The reported shares are owned of record by DCS Holdings. Parthenon Investors II, L.P., as the manager of DCS Holdings; PCAP Partners II, LLC, as the general partner of Parthenon Investors II, L.P.; PCAP II, LLC, as the managing member of PCAP Partners II, LLC; PCP Managers, LLC, as the managing member of PCAP II, LLC; and Mr. Golson, William Kessinger and David Ament, as managing members of PCP Managers, LLC, may be deemed to beneficially own the securities owned of record by DCS Holdings. Mr. Golson is a Managing Director of Parthenon Capital Partners, an affiliate of PCAP Partners II, LLC. Each of the foregoing persons disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein. The address for the foregoing persons is c/o Parthenon Capital Partners, Four Embarcadero Center, Suite 3610, San Francisco, California 94111.
(3)(4)Based on information in a Schedule 13/DForm 4 filed with the SEC on March 26, 2020,18, 2022, and further information regarding beneficial ownership as amended by Amendment No.1 filed October 15, 2020,by Prescott Group Capital Management, L.L.C. (“PGC”),provided and certain entities affiliated or associated with PGC, including Prescott Group Aggressive Small Cap, L.P., Prescott Group Aggressive Small Cap II, L.P. (collectively, the “Small Cap Funds”), and Phil Frohlich, the principal of PGC, reflecting shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 12,545,261 shares of common stock of the Company purchased by the Small Cap Funds through the account of Prescott Group Aggressive Small Cap Master Fund, G.P., (“Prescott Master Fund”), of which the Small Cap Funds are general partners. PGC serves as the general partner of the Small Cap Funds. The principal business address of PGC is 1924 South Utica Suite 1120, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74104.
(4)Based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 13, 2020confirmed by ECMC Group, Inc. (“ECMC”), a Delaware non-profit corporation,corporation. ECMC is the record owner of 1,185,4063,317,669 shares of Common Stock and warrants to purchase up to 5,794,9902,446,774 additional shares of Common Stock, all of which are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of such filling. ECMC has sole voting and dispositive power over all shares beneficially owned by it. The principal business address of ECMC is 111 South Washington Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401.
(5)Based on a Schedule 13D/A13G filed with the SEC on May 12, 2020February 22, 2022, jointly by Thomas E. Lynch,First Light Asset Management, LLC (the “Manager”) and Mathew P. Arens. The Manager may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of shares of common stock of the Company. The Manager acts as an investment adviser to certain persons holding separately managed accounts with the Manager, each of whom has the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, those shares. The Manager may also be deemed to be the beneficial owner of these shares because it acts as an investment adviser to certain private funds. Mr. Arens may also be deemed to be the beneficial owner of these shares because he controls the Manager in his position as managing member and majority owner of the Manager.The principal business address of the filers is 3300 Edinborough Way, Suite 201, Edina, MN 55435.
(6)Based on a Form 4 filed with the SEC on June 8, 2021 by Eric Yanagi, 3,261,675 of the shares reported are directly held by Mill Road Capital II, L.P. (the "Fund"). Mr. Yanagi is a management committee director of Mill Road Capital II GP LLC a Delaware limited liability company (the “GP”"GP"), and Mill Road Capital II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Fund”). Each of the foregoing is referred to as a “Reporting Person” and, collectively, as the “Reporting Persons.” Messrs. Lynch and Yanagi and Justin C. Jacobs are the management committee directors of the GP and, in this capacity, are referred to as the “Managers.” The GPwhich is the sole general partner of the Fund. Mr. LynchFund and has sharedsole authority to vote (or direct the vote of), and to dispose (or direct the disposal) of, 3,479,615these shares on behalf of the Fund. Mr. Yanagi (referred to as the “Reporting Person”) disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, if any. In addition, the shares reported include 131,667 shares of common stock.stock from RSU awards to Mr. Yanagi that vested in May and June 2021 and 49,657 shares underlying RSUs scheduled to vest within 60 days of April 25, 2022, all of which Mr. Yanagi has directed to be delivered to Mill Road Capital Management, LLC.. Pursuant to a pre-existing contractual obligation, Mill Road Capital Management, LLC, an affiliate of the Reporting Person that does not have Section 13(d) beneficial ownership of any securities of the issuer, has the right to receive the economic benefit of the reported shares and, accordingly, Mr. Yanagi has no direct pecuniary interest in such shares. The principal business address of Mill Road Capital II, L.P. is 382 Greenwich Ave, Suite One, Greenwich, Connecticut, 06830. In addition, the total includes 131,667 shares underlying restricted stock units (RSUs) scheduled to vest within 60 days of April 15,2021 that Mr. Yanagi has directed be delivered to Mill Road Capital Management, LLC.
(6)(7)Includes 884,687 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of April 15, 2021.25, 2022.
(7)(8)Includes 304,896 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of April 15, 2021,25, 2022, and 26,250 shares underlying RSUs scheduled to vest within 60 days of April 15, 2021.25, 2022.
(8)(9)Includes 54,979 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of April 15, 2021,25, 2022, and 38,12543,075 shares underlying RSUs scheduled to vest within 60 days of April 15, 2021.25, 2022.
(9)(10)Includes 37,490 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of April 15, 2021,25, 2022, and 44,37545,575 shares underlying RSUs scheduled to vest within 60 days of April 15, 2021.25, 2022.
(10)(11)Includes 117,20616,741 shares underlying RSUs scheduled to vest within 60 days of April 15, 2021.25, 2022.
(12)Includes 117,20616,741 shares underlying RSUs scheduled to vest within 60 days of April 15, 2021.25, 2022.
(12)(13)Includes 117,20616,741 shares underlying RSUs scheduled to vest within 60 days of April 15, 2021.25, 2022.
(13)(14)Includes 1,282,052 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of April 15, 202125, 2022 and 592,035214,780 underlying RSUs scheduled to vest within 60 days of April 15, 2021.25, 2022.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
As part of fulfilling its responsibilities, the audit committee reviewed and discussed the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20202021 with management and Baker Tilly US, LLP, or Baker Tilly,"Baker Tilly", and discussed with Baker Tilly those matters required by Auditing Standard No. 1301 as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or the PCAOB. The audit committee received the written disclosures and the letter from Baker Tilly required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding Baker Tilly’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence and has discussed with Baker Tilly its independence.
Based on these reviews and discussions with management and Baker Tilly, the audit committee recommended to the board of directors that the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20202021 be included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC.
The Audit Committee Members
James LaCamp (Chair)
William D. Hansen
Bradley M. Fluegel
Fees Paid to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The audit committee’s policy is to evaluate and determine that the services provided by the Company’s auditors in each year are compatible with the respective auditor’s independence. The following table shows fees billed for each of 20202021 and 20192020 for professional services rendered by Baker Tilly for the audit of our financial statements and other services.
| | Year | Year | Audit Fees(1) | Audit-Related Fees(2) | Tax Fees | All Other Fees(3) | Year | Audit Fees(1) | Audit-Related Fees(2) | Tax Fees | All Other Fees(3) |
| 2021 | | 2021 | 1,169,440 | — | 11,500 |
| 2020 | 2020 | 825,000 | 50,000 | — | 43,774 | 2020 | 825,000 | 50,000 | — | 43,774 |
| 2019 | 930,000 | 54,000 | — | 290,000 | |
|
(1) Audit fees are fees for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements. Audit fees also include fees for the review of financial statements included in the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, for services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements, and in connection with public equity offerings and registration statements.
(2) Audit-Related Fees are fees billed for the assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported under “Audit Fees.”
(3) All other fees are fees for products and services other than the services described above.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Procedures
With respect to independent auditor services and fees, it is our practice to provide pre-approval of audit, audit-related, tax and other specified services on an annual basis. Unless a type of service to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm has received general pre-approval, we seek specific pre-approval by the audit committee. Other specified services provided by the Company's auditors are generally reapproved only when the fees charged for the provision of such services is expected to be different than the prior year or normal fees. Proposed services anticipated to exceed pre-approved cost levels are discussed with the audit committee. It is our practice that the audit committee Chair has pre-approval authority with respect to permitted services. The Chair of the audit committee reports any pre-approval decisions to our audit committee at its next scheduled meeting.
PROPOSAL 2 — RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF OUR INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR 20212022
Based upon its review of Baker Tilly US, LLP (“Baker Tilly”) qualifications, independence and performance, the audit committee of our board of directors has appointed Baker Tilly to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021.2022. Representatives of Baker Tilly are expected to attend the Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.
The appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm is not required to be submitted for ratification by the stockholders. However, as a matter of proper corporate governance, the audit committee is submitting its appointment of Baker Tilly as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 20212022 for ratification by our stockholders.
If our stockholders fail to ratify the appointment of Baker Tilly, the audit committee may reconsider whether to retain Baker Tilly, and may continue to retain that firm or appoint another firm without resubmitting the matter to our stockholders. Even if our stockholders ratify the appointment of Baker Tilly, the audit committee may, in its discretion, appoint a different independent registered public accounting firm for us if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter at the Annual Meeting is required to ratify the appointment of Baker Tilly as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2021.2022.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF BAKER TILLY AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR 2021.2022.
PROPOSAL 3 — APPROVAL OF OUR THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED 2012 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
In April 2021, our board of directors approved amendments to our Amended and Restated 2012 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2012 Plan”), attached hereto as Appendix A, subject to the approval of our stockholders at the Annual Meeting. We are asking our stockholders to approve the amendments to the 2012 Plan as approved by our board of directors. If approved, two plan amendments will take effect as set forth in the 2012 Plan. The two plan amendments are (1) to increase the number of shares available for issuance under the 2012 Plan (2) to clarify that stock options and stock appreciation rights granted under the 2012 Plan that have an exercise price in excess of the then-current fair market value per share may not be cancelled or substituted in exchange for cash without stockholder approval. In addition, upon stockholder approval, the term of the 2012 Plan will be extended until April 26, 2031.
Description of Amendments
Increase in Available Shares. The amendment to the 2012 Plan approved by our board of directors and submitted for stockholder approval is an increase in the number of shares available for issuance thereunder by 4,000,000 shares, from 10,550,000 shares to 14,550,000 shares. As of December 31, 2020, under our 2012 Plan, we had issued 3,242,614 shares pursuant to vested stock unit awards and exercised option awards under the 2012 Plan, 4,592,644 shares were subject to outstanding restricted stock unit awards and 1,815,561 shares were subject to outstanding option awards. Accordingly, as of that date, the total number of shares that could potentially be issued as a result of outstanding awards under the 2012 Plan was 10,550,000, leaving 899,181 shares reserved and available for issuance pursuant to future awards granted under the 2012 Plan.
Our board of directors believes that the current number of shares that may be issued under the 2012 Plan is not sufficient in light of our compensation structure and strategy and our business plan. Our board of directors has concluded that our ability to attract, retain and motivate top quality employees, non-employee directors, consultants and advisors is important to our success and would be enhanced by our continued ability to make grants under the 2012 Plan and that our ability to use equity awards to compensate our personnel is particularly important at this time when we are intently focused on preserving our cash resources. Our board of directors believes that our interests and the interests of our stockholders will be advanced if we can continue to offer our employees, non-employee directors and consultants and advisors the opportunity to acquire or increase their proprietary interests in our company. Our board of directors believes that the increase in the maximum number of shares that may be issued under the 2012 Plan from 10,550,000 to 14,550,000 shares will ensure that we continue to have a sufficient number of shares with which to achieve our business and compensation strategies.
We do not believe the proposed 4,000,000 share increase will be unduly dilutive to stockholders:
•The amount of equity compensation granted to our executive officers has been limited. Our chief executive officer and our chief compliance officer did not receive any form of equity compensation in 2019 and 2020. Our other two named executive officers received restricted stock unit awards and performance-based restricted stock unit awards in 2019, and restricted stock unit awards in 2020.
•After forecasting our anticipated growth rate for the next few years, we believe that the total of 4,000,000 new shares will be sufficient for at least three years’ worth of equity grants under our current compensation program. We do not anticipate requiring stockholder approval for additional shares until the 2024 Annual Meeting, although we may elect to do so sooner if our growth plan accelerates or other conditions merit requesting more shares. We believe equity incentive compensation is a critical component to our compensation practices and allows us to incentivize our employees and more closely align their efforts with the creation of long-term stockholder value, while also helping to preserve our cash resources as our business goes through a transitional period. In order to continue with our equity compensation practices, we feel it is important for stockholders to approve the proposed amendments to the 2012 Plan.
Terminating Underwater Options for Cash. The second amendment to the 2012 Plan approved by our board of directors prohibits the cancellation of outstanding options and stock appreciation rights with an exercise price above the current fair market value of shares in exchange for cash without stockholder approval. Prior to this amendment the 2012 Plan provided that such options and stock appreciation rights could not be terminated in exchange for another option, stock appreciation right or other award. The amended 2012 Plan clarifies that these types of underwater options cannot be cancelled in exchange for a cash payment unless approved by the stockholders to align our equity incentive award practices with the interests of our stockholders.
If this proposal is not approved by our stockholders, the current share limit under, and other current terms and conditions of, the 2012 Plan will continue in effect.
Summary of the 2012 Plan
The 2012 Plan became effective immediately prior to our initial public offering in July 2012 and was subsequently amended by our board of directors and approved by our stockholders at our 2015 annual meeting and amended by our board of directors and approved by our stockholders at our 2017 annual meeting. The 2012 Plan authorizes the issuance of restricted shares, stock units, options (which may constitute incentive stock options or nonstatutory stock options), performance shares or stock appreciation rights. The following summary of the principal features of the 2012 Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 2012 Plan itself. For a more complete description of the terms of the 2012 Plan, including the proposed amendments, you should read a copy of the proposed amended 2012 Plan, which is set forth in Appendix A to this proxy statement.
Integrated Best Practices. The 2012 Plan also includes a number of responsible corporate governance provisions. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
•No Evergreen Feature - the 2012 Plan does not include an “evergreen” feature that would cause the number of authorized shares to automatically increase in future years.
•No Discounted Options - stock options and stock appreciation rights may not be granted under the 2012 Plan with exercise prices lower than the fair market value of the underlying shares on the grant date.
•No “Underwater” Option Repricings or Buyouts - stock options and stock appreciation rights outstanding under the 2012 Plan may not be amended to reduce the exercise price thereof and stock options and stock appreciation rights outstanding under the 2012 Plan that have an exercise price in excess of the then-current fair market value per share may not be cancelled or substituted in exchange for cash or a new award without stockholder approval.
•Minimum Vesting Period - the 2012 Plan provides that all future awards will not vest sooner than one year following the date of grant, subject to exceptions in the case of a participant who terminates employment due to his or her retirement, death, disability or a change in control of the Company. To address special circumstances that may arise, there is an exception for up to 5% of the available shares under the 2012 Plan, which will not be subject to the one-year minimum vesting requirement, as determined by the board (or a committee thereof) either at the time an award is granted or at a later date.
•No Dividends on Unearned Awards - the 2012 Plan provides that no dividends or other distributions may be paid with respect to an award unless and until the corresponding service and performance-vesting criteria have been satisfied, although dividends or other distributions may accrue on such unvested awards and become payable later upon vesting.
Administration - The compensation committee of our board of directors, or the board of directors acting as the compensation committee may administer the 2012 Plan, including the determination of the recipient of an award, the number of shares subject to each award, whether an option is to be classified as an incentive stock option or nonstatutory option, and the terms and conditions of each award, including the exercise and purchase prices and the vesting or duration of the award. Our board of directors may appoint committees comprised of one or more members of our board of directors or, subject to applicable law and board of director oversight, committees comprised of one or more officers to administer our 2012 Plan with respect to employees who are not subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. The 2012 Plan is currently administered by the board of directors, without delegation to any committees.
Eligibility. Our officers and employees and those of our subsidiaries and affiliates are eligible to participate in the 2012 Plan. Our directors and other persons that provide consulting services to us and our subsidiaries and affiliates are also eligible to participate in the 2012 Plan. The term subsidiary is used in this summary to refer to any corporation, if we or one or more other subsidiaries own not less than 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of outstanding stock of such corporation. The term affiliate is used in this summary to refer to any entity other than a subsidiary, if we or one or more subsidiaries own not less than 50% of such entity. As of December 31, 2020, 1,269 officers and employees and five non-employee directors were eligible to be considered for the grant of awards under the 2012 Plan.
Authorized Shares. We are requesting 4,000,000 additional shares be approved for issuance under the proposed amendment to the 2012 Plan. Prior to the proposed amendments to the 2012 Plan, 10,550,000 shares of our common stock have been authorized for issuance. No more than such aggregate 14,550,000 shares reserved for issuance under the proposed amendment to the 2012 Plan may be delivered upon the exercise of incentive stock options granted under the 2012 Plan plus, to the extent allowable under the incentive stock option rules, any shares that again become available for issuance under the 2012 Plan under the following provision.
Shares subject to awards granted under the 2012 Plan that are forfeited or terminated before being exercised or settled, or are not delivered to the participant because such award is settled in cash will again become available for issuance under the 2012 Plan. Shares withheld to satisfy the grant, exercise price or tax withholding obligation related to an award will again become available for issuance under the 2012 Plan. However, shares that have actually been issued shall not again become available unless forfeited.
Types of Awards.
•Stock options - A stock option is the right to purchase a certain number of shares of stock, at a certain exercise price, in the future. Under our 2012 Plan, incentive stock options and nonstatutory options must be granted with an exercise price of at least 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. Incentive stock options granted to any holder of more than 10% of the voting shares of our company must have an exercise price of at least 110% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. On December 31, 2020, the fair market value of our common stock was $0.88 per share based on the closing sales price reported on the NASDAQ Global Market. No incentive stock option can be granted to an employee if as a result of the grant, the employee would have the right in any calendar year to exercise for the first time one or more incentive stock options for shares having an aggregate fair market value in excess of $100,000. The stock option agreement specifies the date when all or any installment of the option is to become exercisable. We expect that 1/4th of the total number of shares subject to any options granted under the 2012 Plan will vest and become exercisable 12 months after the vesting commencement date for options granted, and the remaining options will vest and become exercisable at a rate of 1/48th of the total number of shares subject to the options each month thereafter. Each stock option agreement sets forth the term of the options, which is prohibited from exceeding ten years (five years in the case of an incentive stock option granted to any holder of more than 10% of our voting shares), and the extent to which the optionee will have the right to exercise the option following termination of the optionee’s service with the company. Payment of the exercise price may be made in cash or cash equivalents or, if provided for in the stock option agreement evidencing the award, (i) by surrendering, or attesting to the ownership of, shares which have already been owned by the optionee, (ii) by delivery of an irrevocable direction to a securities broker to sell shares and to deliver all or part of the sale proceeds to us in payment of the aggregate exercise price, (iii) by delivery of an irrevocable direction to a securities broker or lender to pledge shares and to deliver all or part of the loan proceeds to us in payment of the aggregate exercise price, (iv) by a “net exercise” arrangement, (v) by delivering a full-recourse promissory note or (vi) by any other form that is consistent with applicable laws, regulations and rules.
•Restricted stock - Restricted stock is a share award that may be subject to vesting conditioned upon continued service, the achievement of performance objectives or the satisfaction of any other condition as specified in a restricted stock agreement. Participants who are granted restricted stock awards generally have all of the rights of a stockholder with respect to such stock, other than the right to transfer such stock prior to vesting. However, a grant may require that any or all dividends or other distributions paid prior to vesting of the stock be automatically deferred and/or reinvested in additional shares of restricted stock (which may be subject to the same restrictions as the initial, underlying award of restricted stock) or be paid in cash on a deferred basis contingent on achievement of vesting. Subject to the terms of the 2012 Plan, our board or compensation committee will determine the terms and conditions of any restricted stock award, including any vesting arrangement, which will be set forth in a restricted
stock agreement to be entered into between us and each recipient. Restricted stock may be awarded for such consideration as our board or compensation committee may determine, including without limitation cash, cash equivalents, full-recourse promissory notes, future services or services rendered prior to the award, without cash payment by the recipient.
•Stock units - Stock units give recipients the right to acquire a specified number of shares of stock at a future date upon the satisfaction of certain conditions, including any vesting arrangement established by our board or compensation committee and as set forth in a stock unit agreement. Unlike restricted stock, the stock underlying stock units will not be issued until the stock units have vested and are settled, and recipients of stock units generally will have no voting or dividend rights prior to the time the vesting conditions are satisfied and the award is settled. Our board or compensation committee may elect to settle vested stock units in cash or in common stock or in a combination of cash and common stock. Subject to the terms of the 2012 Plan, our board or compensation committee will determine the terms and conditions of any stock unit award, which will be set forth in a stock unit agreement to be entered into between us and each recipient.
•Stock appreciation rights - Stock appreciation rights typically will provide for payments to the recipient based upon increases in the price of our common stock over the exercise price of the stock appreciation right. The exercise price of a stock appreciation right will be determined by our board or compensation committee, which shall not be less than the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. Our board or compensation committee may elect to pay stock appreciation rights in cash or in common stock or in a combination of cash and common stock.
•Cash-based awards - Cash-based awards may be granted in such number or amount and upon such terms, and subject to such conditions, as our board or compensation committee shall determine at the time of grant. Payment, if any, with respect to a cash-based award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the award agreement and may be made in cash or in shares, as our board or compensation committee determines.
Transferability of Awards. Each award granted under the 2012 Plan is nontransferable by the recipient other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution and will be exercisable during the recipient’s lifetime only by the recipient or by his or her guardian or legal representative, except as otherwise specifically provided for in the award agreement. More particularly, an award may not be assigned, transferred (except as provided in the preceding sentence), pledged or hypothecated (whether by operation of law or otherwise), and will not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process, except as otherwise specifically provided for in the award agreement.
Change in Capitalization; Change in Control. If our outstanding shares of common stock are changed into or exchanged for cash or a different number or kind of shares or securities of the Company or of another corporation through reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock split-up, reverse stock split, stock dividend, stock consolidation, stock combination, stock reclassification or similar transaction, an appropriate adjustment will be made by the board or compensation committee in the number and kind of shares as to which awards may be granted, as well as in the price per share of the common stock covered by each outstanding award.
If we merge with or into another corporation, our board or compensation committee has the discretion to provide for immediate vesting, exercisability and settlement of outstanding awards under the 2012 Plan or settlement of the intrinsic value of such awards (whether or not then vested or exercisable) in cash or cash equivalents or equity followed by cancellation of such awards, unless the awards are assumed, continued or substituted with similar awards by the surviving entity in the merger or a parent or subsidiary of the surviving entity. If we are involved in an asset acquisition, stock acquisition, merger or similar transaction with another entity, our board or compensation committee may make awards under the 2012 Plan by the assumption, substitution or replacement of awards granted by another entity. The terms of such assumed, substituted or replaced awards will be determined by our board or compensation committee in its discretion. Any acceleration of payment of an amount that is subject to Section 409A of the Code will be delayed if necessary until such payments would be permissible under Section 409A.
Amendment and Termination. The proposed amendments to the 2012 Plan provide that the 2012 Plan will terminate automatically on April 26, 2031, unless terminated earlier by the board of directors. Our board of directors may amend or terminate the plan at any time, subject to stockholder approval where required by applicable law. Any amendment or termination may not materially impair the rights of holders of outstanding awards without their consent.
Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences to Recipients of Awards
The following is a summary of certain United States federal income tax consequences to recipients of awards under the 2012 Plan and is for general information purposes only. This summary is based on the United States federal income tax laws now in effect, and as currently interpreted, and does not take into account possible changes in such laws or interpretations. Furthermore, this summary is not intended to be exhaustive and, among other considerations, does not describe state, local or foreign tax consequences. This summary does not consider the United States federal income tax consequences to recipients in light of their individual circumstances or to recipients subject to special treatment under the federal income tax laws. This summary is not intended as tax advice to any person and recipients of awards should consult their own tax advisors for any federal, state, local and foreign tax effects on their individual circumstances.
Recipients who receive incentive stock options will be subject to taxation only upon the sale of the common stock acquired upon exercise of the incentive stock option, unless the recipient is subject to the alternative minimum tax at the time of exercise. Upon such a sale, the entire difference between the amount realized upon the sale and the exercise price of the option will be taxable to the optionee. Subject to certain holding period requirements, such difference will be taxed as a capital gain rather than as ordinary income.
Recipients who receive nonstatutory stock options or stock appreciation rights will be subject to taxation upon exercise of such options or stock appreciation rights on the spread between the fair market value of the common stock on the date of exercise and the exercise price of such options or stock appreciation right. This spread is treated as ordinary income to the recipient, and the Company is permitted to deduct as a compensation expense a corresponding amount. Nonstatutory stock options and stock appreciation rights do not give rise to a tax preference item subject to the alternative minimum tax.
Recipients who receive restricted stock subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture will be subject to taxation on income equal to the excess of the fair market value over the price paid (if any) only at the time the restrictions lapse (unless the recipient elects to accelerate recognition as of the date of grant). Recipients who receive restricted stock units or cash-based awards are generally subject to tax at the time of settlement or payment, as applicable. In each of the foregoing cases, the Company will generally have a corresponding deduction at the time the participant recognizes income.
Awards under the 2012 Plan are generally intended to be exempt from Section 409A of the Code. However, any awards that do provide for a deferral of compensation and are not exempt from Section 409A of the Code, will be subject to certain requirements with respect to deferral and distribution elections and events. If an award is subject to and fails to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code , the recipient of that award will be subject to an additional 20% federal income tax and additional state taxes as applicable and will recognize ordinary income on the vested, deferred amounts under the award, even if the award is not yet paid.
If an award is accelerated under the 2012 Plan in connection with a “change in control” (as this term is used under the Code), the Company may not be permitted to deduct the portion of the compensation attributable to the acceleration if it exceeds certain threshold limits under the Code (and certain related excise taxes may be triggered). Furthermore, the aggregate compensation in excess of $1,000,000 attributable to awards to “covered employees” within the meaning of Section 162(m) shall not be permitted to be deducted by the Company in most circumstances.
THE FOREGOING IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF THE EFFECT OF FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION UPON PARTICIPANTS AND THE COMPANY WITH RESPECT TO THE GRANT AND EXERCISE OF AWARDS UNDER THE 2012 PLAN. IT DOES NOT PURPORT TO BE COMPLETE, AND DOES NOT DISCUSS THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF A SERVICE PROVIDER’S DEATH OR THE PROVISIONS OF THE INCOME TAX LAWS OF ANY MUNICIPALITY, STATE OR FOREIGN COUNTRY IN WHICH THE SERVICE PROVIDER MAY RESIDE.
Specific Plan Benefits Under the 2012 Plan
Past Plan Benefits under the 2012 Plan. The following table shows information through December 31, 2020 regarding the previous grants of shares under this 2012 Plan (including shares subject to awards that expired or terminated without have been exercised or paid and thus became available for new award grants under the 2012 Plan) among the persons and groups identified below.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Name and Position | Option Awards (#) | Restricted Stock Units (#) | Total |
| | | |
| Lisa C. Im, Chief Executive Officer | 884,687 | — | 884,687 |
| Harold T. Leach, Jr., Chief Compliance Officer | 304,896 | 453,000 | 757,896 |
| Ian A. Johnston | 54,979 | 417,129 | 472,108 |
| Simeon M. Kohl | 37,490 | 379,377 | 416,867 |
| All executive officers, as a group (4 persons) | 1,282,052 | 1,249,506 | 2,531,558 |
| | | |
| All directors who are not executive officers, as a group (4 persons) | — | 1,241,948 | 1,241,948 |
| All employees, including officers who are not executive officers, as a group | 2,144,157 | 8,733,285 | 10,877,442 |
New Plan Benefits under the 2012 Plan. The grant of additional awards under the 2012 Plan in the future and the nature of any such awards are subject to the discretion of the compensation committee (or, in the case of awards to executive officers or directors, the board of directors). Accordingly, it is not possible to determine the number, amount and type of future awards to be received by or allocated to eligible named executive officers, non-employee directors and other employees as a result of the proposed amendment and restatement.
Overview of Equity Compensation Plans
For more information on all of our equity compensation plans, including the 2012 Plan, please see the section titled “ Equity Compensation Plan Information” below.
Vote Required
The affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter at the Annual Meeting is required for approval of this Proposal.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED 2012 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN.
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The following table summarizes the number of outstanding options granted to our employees, consultants and directors, as well as the number of shares of common stock remaining available for future issuance under our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2020.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Number of Securities to be Issued upon Exercise of Outstanding Options and Rights (a) | Weighted Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options and Rights(1) (b) | 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) | 6,408,205 | $10.31 | 899,181 |
(1) The calculation of the weighted average exercise price includes only stock options and does not include the outstanding restricted stock unit awards which do not have an exercise price.
(2) Represents shares under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2012 Stock Incentive Plan.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Stockholder Proposals for the 20222023 Annual Meeting
Stockholder proposals for inclusion in the proxy materials for the 20222023 annual meeting must be received at our principal executive offices not more than 120 days, or December 16, 2021,January 5, 2023, nor less than 90 days, or January 15, 2022,February 4, 2023, prior to the first anniversary date of the mailing date of the enclosed proxy materials. These proposals must also comply with the proxy submission rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission under Rule 14a-8.
In addition, our bylaws provide stockholders who wish to present proposals for action, or to nominate directors, at our next annual meeting of stockholders (that is, the next annual meeting following the annual meeting to which this proxy statement relates) must give written notice thereof to our Secretary at the address set forth on the cover page of this proxy statement in accordance with the provisions of our bylaws, which require that such notice be given not more than 120 days nor less than 90 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the preceding annual meeting of stockholders. In the event the date of the 20222023 annual meeting is more than 30 days before or 60 days after the anniversary date of the 20212022 Annual Meeting, in order for a notice to be timely, it must be delivered not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the 20222023 annual meeting or the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which we first publicly announce the date of the 20222023 annual meeting.
Annual Report and Financial Statements
A copy of our 20202021 Annual Report to Stockholders, which includes our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020,2021, is enclosed or provided with this proxy statement and other voting materials.
Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports
Under U.S. securities laws, directors, certain executive officers and any person holding more than 10% of our common stock must report their initial ownership of the common stock and any changes in that ownership to the SEC. The SEC has designated specific due dates for these reports and we must identify in this proxy statement those persons who did not file these reports when due. Based solely on our review of copies of the reports filed with the SEC and written representations of our directors and executive officers, we believe all persons subject to reporting filed the required reports on time in 2020.2021.
Stockholders Sharing the Same Last Name and Address
To reduce the expense of delivering duplicate proxy materials to stockholders who may have more than one account holding our stock but who share the same address, we have adopted a procedure approved by the SEC called “householding.” Under this procedure, certain stockholders of record who have the same address and last name will receive only one copy of our proxy materials until such time as one or more of these stockholders notifies us that they want to receive separate copies. This procedure reduces duplicate mailings and saves printing costs and postage fees, as well as natural resources. Stockholders who participate in householding will continue to have access to and utilize separate proxy voting instructions.
If you receive a single set of proxy materials as a result of householding, and you would like to have separate copies of our annual report or proxy statement mailed to you, please submit a request to our Secretary or call (925) 960-4800, and we will promptly send you what you have requested. You can also contact our Secretary at the phone number above if you received multiple copies of the annual meeting materials and would prefer to receive a single copy in the future, or if you would like to opt out of householding for future mailings.
Copies of Corporate Governance Materials Available
Our board of directors has adopted various corporate governance guidelines setting forth our governance principals and governance practices. These documents are available for downloading or printing on our web site at www.performantcorp.com, by selecting “Investors” and then “Governance.”
• Audit Committee Charter
• Compensation Committee Charter
• Nominating and Governance Committee Charter
• Conflict of Interest and Ethics Policy
• Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers and Directors
Appendix A
Amended and Restated 2012 Stock Incentive Plan
PERFORMANT FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AMENDED AND RESTATED 2012 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
(Adopted by the Board of Directors on April 27, 2021)
Performant Financial Corporation
Amended and Restated 2012 Stock Incentive Plan
Table of Contents
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PERFORMANT FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AMENDED AND RESTATED 2012 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
SECTION 1.ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE.
The Plan was originally adopted by the Board of Directors on July 20, 2012, and amended and restated by the Board of Directors on April 16, 2015, May 11, 2015, April 6, 2017 and April 27, 2021. The purpose of the Plan is to promote the long-term success of the Company and the creation of stockholder value by (a) encouraging Employees, Outside Directors and Consultants to focus on critical long-range objectives, (b) encouraging the attraction and retention of Employees, Outside Directors and Consultants with exceptional qualifications and (c) linking Employees, Outside Directors and Consultants directly to stockholder interests through increased stock ownership. The Plan seeks to achieve this purpose by providing for Awards in the form of restricted shares, stock units, options (which may constitute incentive stock options or nonstatutory stock options) or stock appreciation rights.
SECTION 2.DEFINITIONS.
(a)“Affiliate”
shall mean any entity other than a Subsidiary, if the Company and/or one or more Subsidiaries own not less than 50% of such entity.
(b)“Award”
shall mean any award of an Option, a SAR, a Restricted Share or a Stock Unit or a Cash-Based Award under the Plan.
(c)“Board of Directors”
shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted from time to time.
(d)“Cash-Based Award”
shall mean an Award that entitles the Participant to receive a cash-denominated payment.
(e)“Change in Control”
shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i)A change in the composition of the Board of Directors occurs, as a result of which fewer than one-half of the incumbent directors are directors who either:
(1)Had been directors of the Company on the “look-back date” (as defined below) (the “original directors”); or
(2)Were elected, or nominated for election, to the Board of Directors with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the aggregate of the original directors who were still in office at the time of the election or nomination and the directors whose election or nomination was previously so approved (the “continuing directors”);
provided, however, that for this purpose, the “original directors” and “continuing directors” shall not include any individual whose initial assumption of office occurred as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents, by or on behalf of a person other than the Board of Directors; or
(ii)Any “person” (as defined below) who by the acquisition or aggregation of securities, is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities ordinarily (and apart from rights accruing under special circumstances) having the right to vote at elections of directors (the “Base Capital Stock”); except that any change in the relative beneficial ownership of the Company’s securities by any person resulting solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of Base Capital Stock, and any decrease thereafter in such person’s ownership of securities, shall be disregarded until such person increases in any manner, directly or indirectly, such person’s beneficial ownership of any securities of the Company; or
(iii)The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company with or into another entity or any other corporate reorganization, if persons who were not stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or other reorganization own immediately after such merger, consolidation or other reorganization 50% or more of the voting power of the outstanding securities of each of (A) the Company (or its successor) and (B) any direct or indirect parent corporation of the Company (or its successor); or
(iv)The sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets.
For purposes of subsection (e)(i) above, the term “look-back” date shall mean the later of (1) the Effective Date or (2) the date 24 months prior to the date of the event that may constitute a Change in Control.
For purposes of subsection (e)(ii)) above, the term “person” shall have the same meaning as when used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act but shall exclude (1) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary and (2) a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Stock.
Any other provision of this Section 2(e) notwithstanding, a transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control if its sole purpose is to change the state of the Company’s incorporation or to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transaction, and a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur if the Company files a registration statement with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission for the initial or secondary public offering of securities or debt of the Company to the public.
(f)“Code”
shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(g)“Committee”
shall mean the Compensation Committee as designated by the Board of Directors, which is authorized to administer the Plan, as described in Section 3 hereof.
(h)“Company”
shall mean Performant Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
(i)“Consultant”
shall mean a consultant or advisor who provides bona fide services to the Company, a Parent, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate as an independent contractor (not including service as a member of the Board of Directors) or a member of the board of directors of a Parent or a Subsidiary, in each case who is not an Employee.
(j)“Employee”
shall mean any individual who is a common-law employee of the Company, a Parent, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate.
(k)“Exchange Act”
shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(l)“Exercise Price”
shall mean, in the case of an Option, the amount for which one Share may be purchased upon exercise of such Option, as specified in the applicable Stock Option Agreement. “Exercise Price,” in the case of a SAR, shall mean an amount, as specified in the applicable SAR Agreement, which is subtracted from the Fair Market Value of one Share in determining the amount payable upon exercise of such SAR.
(m)“Fair Market Value”
with respect to a Share, shall mean the market price of one Share, determined by the Committee as follows:
(i)If the Stock was traded over-the-counter on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be equal to the last transaction price quoted for such date by the OTC Bulletin Board or, if not so quoted, shall be equal to the mean between the last reported representative bid and asked prices quoted for such date by the principal automated inter-dealer quotation system on which the Stock is quoted or, if the Stock is not quoted on any such system, by the Pink Quote system;
(ii)If the Stock was traded on any established stock exchange (such as the New York Stock Exchange, The Nasdaq Global Market or The Nasdaq Global Select Market) or national market system on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be equal to the closing price reported for such date by the applicable exchange or system; and
(iii)If none of the foregoing provisions is applicable, then the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Committee in good faith on such basis as it deems appropriate.
In all cases, the determination of Fair Market Value by the Committee shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.
(n)“ISO”
shall mean an employee incentive stock option described in Section 422 of the Code.
(o)“Nonstatutory Option”
or “NSO” shall mean an employee stock option that is not an ISO.
(p)“Offeree”
shall mean a person to whom the Committee has offered the right to acquire Shares under the Plan (other than upon exercise of an Option).
(q)“Option”
shall mean an ISO or Nonstatutory Option granted under the Plan and entitling the holder to purchase Shares.
(r)“Optionee”
shall mean a person who holds an Option or SAR.
(s)“Outside Director”
shall mean a member of the Board of Directors who is not a common-law employee of, or paid consultant to, the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary.
(t)“Parent”
shall mean any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company, if each of the corporations other than the Company owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain. A corporation that attains the status of a Parent on a date after the adoption of the Plan shall be a Parent commencing as of such date.
(u)“Participant”
shall mean a person who holds an Award.
(v)“Performance Based Award”
shall mean any Restricted Share Award, Stock Unit Award or Cash-Based Award granted to a Participant that is intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.
(w)“Plan”
shall mean this 2012 Stock Incentive Plan of Performant Financial Corporation, as amended from time to time.
(x)“Purchase Price”
shall mean the consideration for which one Share may be acquired under the Plan (other than upon exercise of an Option), as specified by the Committee.
(y)“Restricted Share”
shall mean a Share awarded under the Plan.
(z)“Restricted Share Agreement”
shall mean the agreement between the Company and the recipient of a Restricted Share which contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to such Restricted Shares.
(aa)“SAR”
shall mean a stock appreciation right granted under the Plan.
(ab)“SAR Agreement”
shall mean the agreement between the Company and an Optionee which contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to his or her SAR.
(ac)“Service”
shall mean service as an Employee, Consultant or Outside Director, subject to such further limitations as may be set forth in the Plan or the applicable Award agreement. Service does not terminate when an Employee goes on a bona fide leave of absence, that was approved by the Company in writing, if the terms of the leave provide for continued Service crediting, or when continued Service crediting is required by applicable law. However, for purposes of determining whether an Option is entitled to ISO status, an Employee’s employment will be treated as terminating three months after such Employee went on leave, unless such Employee’s right to return to active work is guaranteed by law or by a contract. Service terminates in any event when the approved leave ends, unless such Employee immediately returns to active work. The Company determines which leaves of absence count toward Service, and when Service terminates for all purposes under the Plan.
(ad)“Share”
shall mean one share of Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 12 (if applicable).
(ae)“Stock”
shall mean the Common Stock of the Company.
(af)“Stock Option Agreement”
shall mean the agreement between the Company and an Optionee that contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to such Option.
(ag)“Stock Unit”
shall mean a bookkeeping entry representing the Company’s obligation to deliver one Share (or distribute cash) on a future date in accordance with the provisions of a Stock Unit Agreement.
(ah)“Stock Unit Agreement”
shall mean the agreement between the Company and the recipient of a Stock Unit which contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to such Stock Unit.
(ai)“Subsidiary”
shall mean any corporation, if the Company and/or one or more other Subsidiaries own not less than 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of outstanding stock of such corporation. A corporation that attains the status of a Subsidiary on a date after the adoption of the Plan shall be considered a Subsidiary commencing as of such date.
(aj)“Total and Permanent Disability”
shall mean any permanent and total disability as defined by Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
SECTION 3.ADMINISTRATION.
(a)Committee Composition
The Plan shall be administered by a Committee appointed by the Board of Directors or by the Board of Directors acting as the Committee. The Committee shall consist of two or more directors of the Company. In addition, to the extent required by the Board of Directors, the composition of the Committee shall satisfy (i) such requirements as the Securities and Exchange Commission may establish for administrators acting under plans intended to qualify for exemption under Rule 16b-3 (or its successor) under the Exchange Act; and (ii) such requirements as the Internal Revenue Service may establish for outside directors acting under plans intended to qualify for exemption under Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code.
(b)Committee for Non-Officer Grants
The Board of Directors may also appoint one or more separate committees of the Board of Directors, each composed of one or more directors of the Company who need not satisfy the requirements of Section 3(a), who may administer the Plan with respect to Employees who are not considered officers or directors of the Company under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, may grant Awards under the Plan to such Employees and may determine all terms of such grants. Within the limitations of the preceding sentence, any reference in the Plan to the Committee shall include such committee or committees appointed pursuant to the preceding sentence. To the extent permitted by applicable laws, the Board of Directors may also authorize one or more officers of the Company to designate Employees, other than officers under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, to receive Awards and/or to determine the number of such Awards to be received by such persons; provided, however, that the Board of Directors shall specify the total number of Awards that such officers may so award.
(c)Committee Procedures
The Board of Directors shall designate one of the members of the Committee as chairman. The Committee may hold meetings at such times and places as it shall determine. The acts of a majority of the Committee members present at meetings at which a quorum exists, or acts reduced to or approved in writing (including via email) by all Committee members, shall be valid acts of the Committee.
(d)Committee Responsibilities
Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have full authority and discretion to take the following actions:
(i)To interpret the Plan and to apply its provisions;
(ii)To adopt, amend or rescind rules, procedures and forms relating to the Plan;
(iii)To adopt, amend or terminate sub-plans established for the purpose of satisfying applicable foreign laws including qualifying for preferred tax treatment under applicable foreign tax laws;
(iv)To authorize any person to execute, on behalf of the Company, any instrument required to carry out the purposes of the Plan;
(v)To determine when Awards are to be granted under the Plan;
(vi)To select the Offerees and Optionees;
(vii)To determine the type of Award and the number of Shares or amount of cash to be made subject to each Award;
(viii)To prescribe the terms and conditions of each Award, including (without limitation) the Exercise Price and Purchase Price, and the vesting or duration of the Award (including accelerating the vesting of Awards, either at the time of the Award or thereafter, without the consent of the Participant), to determine whether an Option is to be classified as an ISO or as a Nonstatutory Option, and to specify the provisions of the agreement relating to such Award;
(ix)To amend any outstanding Award agreement, subject to applicable legal restrictions and to the consent of the Participant if the Participant’s rights or obligations would be materially impaired;
(x)To prescribe the consideration for the grant of each Award or other right under the Plan and to determine the sufficiency of such consideration;
(xi)To determine the disposition of each Award or other right under the Plan in the event of a Participant’s divorce or dissolution of marriage;
(xii)To determine whether Awards under the Plan will be granted in replacement of other grants under an incentive or other compensation plan of an acquired business;
(xiii)To correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award agreement;
(xiv)To establish or verify the extent of satisfaction of any performance goals or other conditions applicable to the grant, issuance, exercisability, vesting and/or ability to retain any Award; and
(xv)To take any other actions deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.
Subject to the requirements of applicable law, the Committee may designate persons other than members of the Committee to carry out its responsibilities and may prescribe such conditions and limitations as it may deem appropriate, except that the Committee may not delegate its authority with regard to the selection for participation of or the granting of Awards under the Plan to persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. All decisions, interpretations and other actions of the Committee shall be final and binding on all Participants and all persons deriving their rights from a Participant. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action that he has taken or has failed to take in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award under the Plan.
(e)Amendment or Cancellation and Re-grant of Stock Awards
Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Plan, neither the Board of Directors nor any Committee, nor their designees, shall have the authority to: (i) amend the terms of outstanding Options or SARs to reduce the Exercise Price thereof, or (ii) cancel outstanding Options or SARs with an Exercise Price above the current Fair Market Value per Share in exchange for cash or another Option, SAR or other Award, unless the stockholders of the Company have previously approved such an action or such action relates to an adjustment pursuant to Section 12.
SECTION 4.ELIGIBILITY.
(a)General Rule
Only common-law employees of the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary shall be eligible for the grant of ISOs. Only Employees, Consultants and Outside Directors shall be eligible for the grant of Restricted Shares, Stock Units, Nonstatutory Options, SARs or Cash-Based Awards.
(b)Ten-Percent Stockholders
An Employee who owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of outstanding stock of the Company, a Parent or Subsidiary shall not be eligible for the grant of an ISO unless such grant satisfies the requirements of Section 422(c)(5) of the Code.
(c)Attribution Rules
For purposes of Section 4(b) above, in determining stock ownership, an Employee shall be deemed to own the stock owned, directly or indirectly, by or for such Employee’s brothers, sisters, spouse, ancestors and lineal descendants. Stock owned, directly or indirectly, by or for a corporation, partnership, estate or trust shall be deemed to be owned proportionately by or for its stockholders, partners or beneficiaries.
(d)Outstanding Stock
For purposes of Section 4(b) above, “outstanding stock” shall include all stock actually issued and outstanding immediately after the grant. “Outstanding stock” shall not include shares authorized for issuance under outstanding options held by the Employee or by any other person.
SECTION 5.STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN.
(a)Basic Limitation
Shares offered under the Plan shall be authorized but unissued Shares or treasury Shares. The aggregate number of Shares authorized for issuance as Awards under the Plan shall not exceed 14,550,000 (the “Absolute Share Limit”). The number of Shares that may be delivered in the aggregate pursuant to the exercise of ISOs granted under the Plan shall not exceed the Absolute Share Limit plus, to the extent allowable under Section 422 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, any Shares that become available for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Section 5(c). The limitations of this Section 5(a) shall be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 12. The number of Shares that are subject to Options or other Awards outstanding at any time under the Plan shall not exceed the number of Shares which then remain available for issuance under the Plan. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available sufficient Shares to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.
(b)Section 162(m) Award Limitation
Notwithstanding any contrary provisions of the Plan, and subject to the provisions of Section 12, with respect to any Option or SAR that is intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, no Participant may receive Options or SARs under the Plan in any calendar year that relate to an aggregate of more than 2,000,000 Shares. To the extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code or the regulations thereunder, in applying the foregoing limitation with respect to a Participant, if any Option or SAR is canceled, the canceled Option or SAR shall continue to count against the maximum number of Shares with respect to which Options and SARs may be granted to the Participant. For this purpose, the repricing of an Option or SAR shall be treated as the cancellation of the existing Option or SAR and the grant of a new Option or SAR.
(c)Additional Shares
If Restricted Shares or Shares issued upon the exercise of Options are forfeited, then such Shares shall again become available for Awards under the Plan. If Stock Units, Options or SARs are forfeited or terminate for any reason before being exercised or settled, or an Award is settled in cash without the delivery of Shares to the holder, then any Shares subject to the Award shall again become available for Awards under the Plan. Only the number of Shares (if any) actually issued in settlement of Awards (and not forfeited) shall reduce the number available in Section 5(a) and the balance shall again become available for Awards under the Plan. Any Shares withheld to satisfy the grant or exercise price or tax withholding obligation pursuant to any Award shall again become available for Awards under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5(c), Shares that have actually been issued shall not again become available for Awards under the Plan, except for Shares that are forfeited and do not become vested.
SECTION 6.RESTRICTED SHARES.
(a)Restricted Stock Agreement
Each grant of Restricted Shares under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Restricted Stock Agreement between the recipient and the Company. Such Restricted Shares shall be subject to all applicable terms of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms that are not inconsistent with the Plan. The provisions of the various Restricted Stock Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.
(b)Payment for Awards
Restricted Shares may be sold or awarded under the Plan for such consideration as the Committee may determine, including (without limitation) cash, cash equivalents, full-recourse promissory notes, past services and future services.
(c)Vesting; Minimum Vesting Period and Exceptions
Each Award of Restricted Shares shall vest, in full or in installments, upon satisfaction of the conditions specified in the Restricted Stock Agreement, which shall be consistent with the requirements of this Section 6(c). Awards of Restricted Shares granted under the Plan shall vest no earlier than the one (1) year anniversary of the Award’s date of grant; provided, however, that the Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide for an Award to vest earlier by reason of the Participant’s death, Total and Permanent Disability or retirement, or upon a major capital change of the Company (including without limitation upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, merger of the Company with or into another corporation or entity, or similar transaction); provided, further, that, notwithstanding the foregoing in this sentence Restricted Shares related to conversions under Sections 15 or 18(b) are not subject to such minimum vesting provisions; and provided, further, that, notwithstanding the foregoing in this sentence, Restricted Shares may be granted or outstanding Restricted Shares modified without regard to such minimum vesting provisions as long as such Restricted Shares (when combined with all other Awards not subject to one (1)-year minimum vesting or one of the preceding exceptions) result in issuance of an aggregate of no more than 5% of the Shares reserved for issuance under Section 5(a)-(c). For purposes of Awards to Outside Directors, a vesting period will be deemed to be one (1)-year from the date of grant if it runs from the date of one annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders to the next annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders.
(d)Voting and Dividend Rights. The holders of Restricted Shares awarded under the Plan shall have the same voting, dividend and other rights as the Company’s other stockholders. However, dividends payable in respect of Restricted Shares shall at all times be subject to restrictions and risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the underlying Restricted Share and shall not be paid unless and until the underlying Restricted Share vests.
(e)Restrictions on Transfer of Shares. Restricted Shares shall be subject to such rights of repurchase, rights of first refusal or other restrictions as the Committee may determine. Such restrictions shall be set forth in the applicable Restricted Stock Agreement and shall apply in addition to any general restrictions that may apply to all holders of Shares.
SECTION 7.TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.
(a)Stock Option Agreement. Each grant of an Option under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Stock Option Agreement between the Optionee and the Company. Such Option shall be subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms and conditions which are not inconsistent with the Plan and which the Committee deems appropriate for inclusion in a Stock Option Agreement. The Stock Option Agreement shall specify whether the Option is an ISO or an NSO. The provisions of the various Stock Option Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.
(b)Number of Shares. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the number of Shares that are subject to the Option and shall provide for the adjustment of such number in accordance with Section 12.
(c)Exercise Price. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of an ISO shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant, except as otherwise provided in 4(c), and the Exercise Price of an NSO shall not be less 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Options may be granted with an Exercise Price of less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant pursuant to a transaction described in, and in a manner consistent with, Section 424(a) of the Code. Subject to the foregoing in this Section 7(c), the Exercise Price under any Option shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. The Exercise Price shall be payable in one of the forms described in Section 8.
(d)Withholding Taxes. As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Optionee shall make such arrangements as the Committee may require for the satisfaction of any federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with such exercise. The Optionee shall also make such arrangements as the Committee may require for the satisfaction of any federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with the disposition of Shares acquired by exercising an Option.
(e)Vesting and Exercisability; Minimum Vesting Period and Exceptions; Maximum Term. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the date when all or any installment of the Option is to become exercisable, which terms shall be consistent with the requirements of this Section 7(e). Awards of Options granted under the Plan shall vest and become exercisable no earlier than the one (1) year anniversary of the Award’s date of grant; provided, however, that the Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide for an Award to vest and become exercisable earlier by reason of the Participant’s death, Total and Permanent Disability or retirement, or upon a major capital change of the Company (including without limitation upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, merger of the Company with or into another corporation or entity, or similar transaction); provided, further, that, notwithstanding the foregoing in this sentence Options related to conversions under Sections 15 or 18(b) are not subject to such minimum vesting provisions; and provided, further, that, notwithstanding the foregoing in this sentence, Options may be granted or outstanding Options modified without regard to such minimum vesting and exercisability provisions as long as such Options (when combined with all other Awards not subject to one (1)-year minimum vesting or one of the preceding exceptions) result in issuance of an aggregate of no more than 5% of the Shares reserved for issuance under Section 5(a)-(c). For purposes of Awards to Outside Directors, a vesting period will be deemed to be one (1)-year from the date of grant if it runs from the date of one annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders to the next annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders. The Stock Option Agreement shall also specify the term of the Option; provided that the term of an ISO shall in no event exceed 10 years from the date of grant (five years for ISOs granted to Employees described in Section 4(b)). Options may be awarded in combination with SARs, and such an Award may provide that the Options will not be exercisable unless the related SARs are forfeited.
(f)Exercise of Options. Each Stock Option Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Optionee shall have the right to exercise the Option following termination of the Optionee’s Service with the Company and its Subsidiaries, and the right to exercise the Option of any executors or administrators of the Optionee’s estate or any person who has acquired such Option(s) directly from the Optionee by bequest or inheritance. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, need not be uniform among all Options issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination of Service.
(g)Effect of Change in Control. The Committee may determine, at the time of granting an Option or thereafter, that such Option shall become exercisable as to all or part of the Shares subject to such Option in the event that a Change in Control occurs with respect to the Company.
(h)No Rights as a Stockholder. An Optionee, or a transferee of an Optionee, shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares covered by his Option (including dividend rights) until the date of the issuance of a stock certificate for such Shares. No adjustments shall be made, except as provided in Section 12. No dividend equivalents shall be payable with respect to Options.
(i)Modification, Extension and Renewal of Options. Within the limitations of the Plan, the Committee may modify, extend or renew outstanding options or may accept the cancellation of outstanding options (to the extent not previously exercised), whether or not granted hereunder, in return for the grant of new Options for the same or a different number of Shares and at the same or a different Exercise Price, or in return for the grant of a different Award for the same or a different number of Shares. The foregoing notwithstanding, no modification of an Option shall, without the consent of the Optionee, materially impair his or her rights or obligations under such Option.
(j)Restrictions on Transfer of Shares. Any Shares issued upon exercise of an Option shall be subject to such special forfeiture conditions, rights of repurchase, rights of first refusal and other transfer restrictions as the Committee may determine. Such restrictions shall be set forth in the applicable Stock Option Agreement and shall apply in addition to any general restrictions that may apply to all holders of Shares.
SECTION 8.PAYMENT FOR SHARES.
(a)General Rule. The entire Exercise Price or Purchase Price of Shares issued under the Plan shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America at the time when such Shares are purchased, except as provided in Section 8(b) through Section 8(g) below.
(b)Surrender of Stock. To the extent that a Stock Option Agreement so provides, payment may be made all or in part by surrendering, or attesting to the ownership of, Shares which have already been owned by the Optionee or his representative. Such Shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date when the new Shares are purchased under the Plan. The Optionee shall not surrender, or attest to the ownership of, Shares in payment of the Exercise Price if such action would cause the Company to recognize compensation expense (or additional compensation expense) with respect to the Option for financial reporting purposes.
(c)Services Rendered. At the discretion of the Committee, Shares may be awarded under the Plan in consideration of services rendered to the Company or a Subsidiary. If Shares are awarded without the payment of a Purchase Price in cash, the Committee shall make a determination (at the time of the Award) of the value of the services rendered by the Offeree and the sufficiency of the consideration to meet the requirements of Section 6(b).
(d)Cashless Exercise. To the extent that a Stock Option Agreement so provides, payment may be made all or in part by delivery (on a form prescribed by the Committee) of an irrevocable direction to a securities broker to sell Shares and to deliver all or part of the sale proceeds to the Company in payment of the aggregate Exercise Price.
(e)Exercise/Pledge. To the extent that a Stock Option Agreement so provides, payment may be made all or in part by delivery (on a form prescribed by the Committee) of an irrevocable direction to a securities broker or lender to pledge Shares, as security for a loan, and to deliver all or part of the loan proceeds to the Company in payment of the aggregate Exercise Price.
(f)Net Exercise. To the extent that a Stock Option Agreement so provides, by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the number of Shares issuable upon exercise of the Option shall be reduced by the largest whole number of Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price (plus tax withholdings, if applicable) and any remaining balance of the aggregate exercise price (and/or applicable tax withholdings) not satisfied by such reduction in the number of whole Shares to be issued shall be paid by the Optionee in cash other form of payment permitted under the Stock Option Agreement.
(g)Promissory Note. To the extent that a Stock Option Agreement or Restricted Stock Agreement so provides, payment may be made all or in part by delivering (on a form prescribed by the Company) a full-recourse promissory note.
(h)Other Forms of Payment. To the extent that a Stock Option Agreement or Restricted Stock Agreement so provides, payment may be made in any other form that is consistent with applicable laws, regulations and rules.
(i)Limitations under Applicable Law. Notwithstanding anything herein or in a Stock Option Agreement or Restricted Stock Agreement to the contrary, payment may not be made in any form that is unlawful, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
SECTION 9.STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.
(a)SAR Agreement. Each grant of a SAR under the Plan shall be evidenced by a SAR Agreement between the Optionee and the Company. Such SAR shall be subject to all applicable terms of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms that are not inconsistent with the Plan. The provisions of the various SAR Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.
(b)Number of Shares. Each SAR Agreement shall specify the number of Shares to which the SAR pertains and shall provide for the adjustment of such number in accordance with Section 12.
(c)Exercise Price. Each SAR Agreement shall specify the Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of a SAR shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, SARs may be granted with an Exercise Price of less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant pursuant to a transaction described in, and in a manner consistent with, Section 424(a) of the Code. Subject to the foregoing in this Section 9(c), the Exercise Price under any SAR shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
(d)Vesting and Exercisability; Minimum Vesting Period and Exceptions; Maximum Term. Each SAR Agreement shall specify the date when all or any installment of the SAR is to become exercisable, which terms shall be consistent with the requirements of this Section 9(d). Awards of SARs granted under the Plan shall vest and become exercisable no earlier than the one (1) year anniversary of the Award’s date of grant; provided, however, that the Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide for an Award to vest and become exercisable earlier by reason of the Participant’s death, Total and Permanent Disability or retirement, or upon a major capital change of the Company (including without limitation upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, merger of the Company with or into another corporation or entity, or similar transaction); provided, further, that, notwithstanding the foregoing in this sentence SARs related to conversions under Sections 15 or 18(b) are not subject to such minimum vesting provisions; and provided, further, that, notwithstanding the foregoing in this sentence, SARs may be granted or outstanding SARs modified without regard to such minimum vesting and exercisability provisions as long as such SARs (when combined with all other Awards not subject to one (1)-year minimum vesting or one of the preceding exceptions) result in issuance of an aggregate of no more than 5% of the Shares reserved for issuance under Section 5(a)-(c). For purposes of Awards to Outside Directors, a vesting period will be deemed to be one (1)-year from the date of grant if it runs from the date of one annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders to the next annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders. The SAR Agreement shall also specify the term of the SAR. SARs may be awarded in combination with Options, and such an Award may provide that the SARs will not be exercisable unless the related Options are forfeited. A SAR may be included in an ISO only at the time of grant but may be included in an NSO at the time of grant or thereafter.
(e)Effect of Change in Control. The Committee may determine, at the time of granting a SAR or thereafter, that such SAR shall become fully exercisable as to all Common Shares subject to such SAR in the event that a Change in Control occurs with respect to the Company.
(f)Exercise of SARs. Upon exercise of a SAR, the Optionee (or any person having the right to exercise the SAR after his or her death) shall receive from the Company (a) Shares, (b) cash or (c) a combination of Shares and cash, as the Committee shall determine. The amount of cash and/or the Fair Market Value of Shares received upon exercise of SARs shall, in the aggregate, be equal to the amount by which the Fair Market Value (on the date of surrender) of the Shares subject to the SARs exceeds the Exercise Price.
(g)Modification or Assumption of SARs. Within the limitations of the Plan, the Committee may modify, extend or assume outstanding SARs or may accept the cancellation of outstanding SARs (whether granted by the Company or by another issuer) in return for the grant of new SARs for the same or a different number of shares and at the same or a different exercise price, or in return for the grant of a different Award for the same or a different number of Shares. The foregoing notwithstanding, no modification of a SAR shall, without the consent of the holder, materially impair his or her rights or obligations under such SAR.
(h)No Rights as a Stockholder. An Optionee, or a transferee of an Optionee, shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares covered by his SAR (including dividend rights) unless and until the date of the issuance of a stock certificate (if any) for such SAR. No adjustments shall be made, except as provided in Section 12. No dividend equivalents shall be payable with respect to SARs.
SECTION 10.STOCK UNITS.
(a)Stock Unit Agreement. Each grant of Stock Units under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Stock Unit Agreement between the recipient and the Company. Such Stock Units shall be subject to all applicable terms of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms that are not inconsistent with the Plan. The provisions of the various Stock Unit Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.
(b)Payment for Awards. Stock Units may be awarded under the Plan for such consideration as the Committee may determine. Cash payment need not be required.
(c)Vesting; Minimum Vesting Period and Exceptions. Each Award of Stock Units shall vest, in full or in installments, upon satisfaction of the conditions specified in the Stock Unit Agreement, which shall be consistent with the requirements of this Section 10(c). Awards of Stock Unit granted under the Plan shall vest no earlier than the one (1) year anniversary of the Award’s date of grant; provided, however, that the Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide for an Award to vest earlier by reason of the Participant’s death, Total and Permanent Disability or retirement, or upon a major capital change of the Company (including without limitation upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, merger of the Company with or into another corporation or entity, or similar transaction), provided, further, that, notwithstanding the foregoing in this sentence Stock Units related to deferrals under Section 13 or conversions under Sections 15 or 18(b) are not subject to such minimum vesting provisions; and provided, further, that, notwithstanding the foregoing in this sentence, Stock Units may be granted or outstanding Stock Units modified without regard to such minimum vesting provisions as long as such Stock Units (when combined with all other Awards not subject to one (1)-year minimum vesting or one of the preceding exceptions) result in issuance of an aggregate of no more than 5% of the Shares reserved for issuance under Section 5(a)-(c). For purposes of Awards to Outside Directors, a vesting period will be deemed to be one (1)-year from the date of grant if it runs from the date of one annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders to the next annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders.
(d)Voting and Dividend Rights. The holders of Stock Units shall have no voting rights. Prior to settlement or forfeiture, any Stock Unit awarded under the Plan may, at the Committee’s discretion, carry with it a right to dividend equivalents. Such right entitles the holder to be credited with an amount equal to all cash dividends paid on one Share while the Stock Unit is outstanding. Dividend equivalents may be converted into additional Stock Units. Settlement of dividend equivalents may be made in the form of cash, in the form of Shares, or in a combination of both. Dividends equivalents shall at all times be subject to restrictions and risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the underlying Stock Unit and shall not be paid unless and until the underlying Stock Unit vests.
(e)Form and Time of Settlement of Stock Units. Settlement of vested Stock Units may be made in the form of (a) cash, (b) Shares or (c) any combination of both, as determined by the Committee. The actual number of Stock Units eligible for settlement may be larger or smaller than the number included in the original Award, based on predetermined performance factors. Methods of converting Stock Units into cash may include (without limitation) a method based on the average Fair Market Value of Shares over a series of trading days. A Stock Unit Agreement may provide that vested Stock Units may be settled in a lump sum or in installments. A Stock Unit Agreement may provide that the distribution may occur or commence when all vesting conditions applicable to the Stock Units have been satisfied or have lapsed, or it may be deferred to any later date, subject to compliance with Section 409A. The amount of a deferred distribution may be increased by an interest factor or by dividend equivalents. Until an Award of Stock Units is settled, the number of such Stock Units shall be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 12.
(f)Death of Recipient. Any Stock Units Award that becomes payable after the recipient’s death shall be distributed to the recipient’s beneficiary or beneficiaries. Each recipient of a Stock Units Award under the Plan shall designate one or more beneficiaries for this purpose by filing the prescribed form with the Company. A beneficiary designation may be changed by filing the prescribed form with the Company at any time before the Award recipient’s death. If no beneficiary was designated or if no designated beneficiary survives the Award recipient, then any Stock Units Award that becomes payable after the recipient’s death shall be distributed to the recipient’s estate.
(g)Creditors’ Rights. A holder of Stock Units shall have no rights other than those of a general creditor of the Company. Stock Units represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Stock Unit Agreement.
SECTION 11.CASH-BASED AWARDS
The Committee may, in its sole discretion, grant Cash-Based Awards to any Participant in such number or amount and upon such terms, and subject to such conditions, as the Committee shall determine at the time of grant and specify in an applicable Award agreement. The Committee shall determine the maximum duration of the Cash-Based Award, the amount of cash which may be payable pursuant to the Cash-Based Award, the conditions upon which the Cash-Based Award shall become vested or payable, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine. Each Cash-Based Award shall specify a cash-denominated payment amount, formula or payment ranges as determined by the Committee. Payment, if any, with respect to a Cash-Based Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Award and may be made in cash or in shares of Stock, as the Committee determines. No Cash-Based Award granted under the Plan shall be settled in shares of Stock unless it vests no earlier than the one (1) year anniversary of the Award’s date of grant; provided, however, that the Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide for an Award to vest earlier by reason of the Participant’s death, Total and Permanent Disability or retirement, or upon a major capital change of the Company (including without limitation upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, merger of the Company with or into another corporation or entity, or similar transaction); provided, further, that, notwithstanding the foregoing in this sentence Cash-Based Award related to conversions under Sections 15 or 18(b) are not subject to such minimum vesting provisions.
SECTION 12.ADJUSTMENT OF SHARES.
(a)Adjustments. In the event of a subdivision of the outstanding Stock, a declaration of a dividend payable in Shares, a declaration of a dividend payable in a form other than Shares in an amount that has a material effect on the price of Shares, a combination or consolidation of the outstanding Stock (by reclassification or otherwise) into a lesser number of Shares, a recapitalization, a spin-off or a similar occurrence, the Committee shall make appropriate and equitable adjustments in:
(i)The number of Shares available for future Awards under Section 5;
(ii)The limitations set forth in Sections 5(a) and (b) and Section 18;
(iii)The number of Shares covered by each outstanding Award; and
(iv)The Exercise Price under each outstanding Award.
(b)Dissolution or Liquidation. To the extent not previously exercised or settled, Options, SARs and Stock Units shall terminate immediately prior to the dissolution or liquidation of the Company.
(c)Reorganizations. In the event that the Company is a party to a merger or other reorganization, outstanding Awards shall be subject to the agreement of merger or reorganization. Subject to compliance with Section 409A of the Code, such agreement shall provide for:
(i)The continuation of the outstanding Awards by the Company, if the Company is a surviving corporation;
(ii)The assumption of the outstanding Awards by the surviving corporation or its parent or subsidiary;
(iii)The substitution by the surviving corporation or its parent or subsidiary of its own awards for the outstanding Awards;
(iv)Immediate vesting, exercisability and settlement of outstanding Awards followed by the cancellation of such Awards upon or immediately prior to the effectiveness of such transaction; or
(v)Settlement of the intrinsic value of the outstanding Awards (whether or not then vested or exercisable) in cash or cash equivalents or equity (including cash or equity subject to deferred vesting and delivery consistent with the vesting restrictions applicable to such Awards or the underlying Shares) followed by the cancellation of such Awards (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction the Committee determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights, then such Award may be terminated by the Company without payment); in each case without the Participant’s consent. Any acceleration of payment of an amount that is subject to section 409A of the Code will be delayed, if necessary, until the earliest time that such payment would be permissible under Section 409A without triggering any additional taxes applicable under Section 409A.
The Company will have no obligation to treat all Awards, all Awards held by a Participant, or all Awards of the same type, similarly.
(d)Reservation of Rights. Except as provided in this Section 12, a Participant shall have no rights by reason of any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class, the payment of any dividend or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class. Any issue by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or Exercise Price of Shares subject to an Award. The grant of an Award pursuant to the Plan shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of its capital or business structure, to merge or consolidate or to dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets. In the event of any change affecting the Shares or the Exercise Price of Shares subject to an Award, including a merger or other reorganization, for reasons of administrative convenience, the Company in its sole discretion may refuse to permit the exercise of any Award during a period of up to thirty (30) days prior to the occurrence of such event.
SECTION 13.DEFERRAL OF AWARDS.
(a)Committee Powers. Subject to compliance with Section 409A of the Code, the Committee (in its sole discretion) may permit or require a Participant to:
(i)Have cash that otherwise would be paid to such Participant as a result of the exercise of a SAR or the settlement of Stock Units credited to a deferred compensation account established for such Participant by the Committee as an entry on the Company’s books;
(ii)Have Shares that otherwise would be delivered to such Participant as a result of the exercise of an Option or SAR converted into an equal number of Stock Units; or
(iii)Have Shares that otherwise would be delivered to such Participant as a result of the exercise of an Option or SAR or the settlement of Stock Units converted into amounts credited to a deferred compensation account established for such Participant by the Committee as an entry on the Company’s books. Such amounts shall be determined by reference to the Fair Market Value of such Shares as of the date when they otherwise would have been delivered to such Participant.
(b)General Rules. A deferred compensation account established under this Section 13 may be credited with interest or other forms of investment return, as determined by the Committee. A Participant for whom such an account is established shall have no rights other than those of a general creditor of the Company. Such an account shall represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company and shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable agreement between such Participant and the Company. If the deferral or conversion of Awards is permitted or required, the Committee (in its sole discretion) may establish rules, procedures and forms pertaining to such Awards, including (without limitation) the settlement of deferred compensation accounts established under this Section 13.
SECTION 14.AWARDS UNDER OTHER PLANS.
The Company may grant awards under other plans or programs. Such awards may be settled in the form of Shares issued under this Plan. Such Shares shall be treated for all purposes under the Plan like Shares issued in settlement of Stock Units (including, for avoidance of doubt in respect of the requirements and limitations of Sections 10(c) and 10(d)) and shall, when issued, reduce the number of Shares available under Section 5.
SECTION 15.PAYMENT OF DIRECTOR’S FEES IN SECURITIES.
(a)Effective Date. No provision of this Section 15 shall be effective unless and until the Board of Directors has determined to implement such provision.
(b)Elections to Receive NSOs, SARs, Restricted Shares or Stock Units. To the extent permitted by the Board of Directors, an Outside Director may elect to receive his or her annual retainer payments and/or meeting fees from the Company in the form of cash, NSOs, SARs, Restricted Shares or Stock Units, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Board of Directors. Alternatively, the Board of Directors may mandate payment in any of such alternative forms. Such NSOs, SARs, Restricted Shares and Stock Units shall be issued under the Plan. An election under this Section 15 shall be filed with the Company on the prescribed form.
(c)Number and Terms of NSOs, SARs, Restricted Shares or Stock Units. If permitted or mandated by the Board of Directors, the number of NSOs, SARs, Restricted Shares or Stock Units to be granted to Outside Directors in lieu of annual retainers and meeting fees that would otherwise be paid in cash shall be calculated in a manner determined by the Board of Directors. The terms of such NSOs, SARs, Restricted Shares or Stock Units shall also be determined by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 16.LEGAL AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS.
Shares shall not be issued under the Plan unless the issuance and delivery of such Shares complies with (or is exempt from) all applicable requirements of law, including (without limitation) the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, state securities laws and regulations and the regulations of any stock exchange on which the Company’s securities may then be listed, and the Company has obtained the approval or favorable ruling from any governmental agency which the Company determines is necessary or advisable. The Company shall not be liable to a Participant or other persons as to: (a) the non-issuance or sale of Shares as to which the Company has not obtained from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares under the Plan; and (b) any tax consequences expected, but not realized, by any Participant or other person due to the receipt, exercise or settlement of any Award granted under the Plan.
SECTION 17.TAXES.
(a) General. To the extent required by applicable federal, state, local or foreign law, a Participant or his or her successor shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the satisfaction of any withholding tax obligations that arise in connection with the Plan. The Company shall not be required to issue any Shares or make any cash payment under the Plan until such obligations are satisfied.
(b)Share Withholding. The Committee may permit a Participant to satisfy all or part of his or her withholding or income tax obligations by having the Company withhold all or a portion of any Shares that otherwise would be issued to him or her or by surrendering all or a portion of any Shares that he or she previously acquired. Such Shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date when taxes otherwise would be withheld in cash. In no event may a Participant have Shares withheld that would otherwise be issued to him or her in excess of the number necessary to satisfy the minimum legally required tax withholding.
(c)Section 409A.
Each Award that provides for “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code shall be subject to such additional rules and requirements as specified by the Committee from time to time in order to comply with Section 409A. If any amount under such an Award is payable upon a “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A) to a Participant who is then considered a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A), then no such payment shall be made prior to the date that is the earlier of (i) six months and one day after the Participant’s separation from service, or (ii) the Participant’s death, but only to the extent such delay is necessary to prevent such payment from being subject to interest, penalties and/or additional tax imposed pursuant to Section 409A. In addition, the settlement of any such Award may not be accelerated except to the extent permitted by Section 409A.
SECTION 18.OTHER PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS.
(a)Transferability. Unless the agreement evidencing an Award (or an amendment thereto authorized by the Committee) expressly provides otherwise, no Award granted under this Plan, nor any interest in such Award, may be sold, assigned, conveyed, gifted, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise transferred in any manner (prior to the vesting and lapse of any and all restrictions applicable to Shares issued under such Award), other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution; provided, however, that an ISO may be transferred or assigned only to the extent consistent with Section 422 of the Code. Any purported assignment, transfer or encumbrance in violation of this Section 18(a) shall be void and unenforceable against the Company.
(b)Substitution and Assumption of Awards. The Committee may make Awards under the Plan by assumption, substitution or replacement of stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock units or similar awards granted by another entity (including a Parent or Subsidiary), if such assumption, substitution or replacement is in connection with an asset acquisition, stock acquisition, merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving the Company (and/or its Parent or Subsidiary) and such other entity (and/or its affiliate). Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan (other than the maximum number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan), the terms of such assumed, substituted or replaced Awards shall be as the Committee, in its discretion, determines is appropriate.
(c)Qualifying Performance Criteria. The number of Shares or other benefits granted, issued, retainable and/or vested under an Award may be made subject to the attainment of performance goals. The Committee may utilize any performance criteria selected by it in its sole discretion to establish performance goals; provided, however, that in the case of any Performance Based Award, the following conditions shall apply:
(i)The amount potentially available under an Award shall be subject to the attainment of pre-established, objective performance goals relating to a specified period of service based on one or more of the following performance criteria: (a) cash flow, (b) earnings per share, (c) earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation and amortization, and such additional adjustments, if any, as may be approved by the Board of Directors or the Committee, (d) return on equity, (e) total stockholder return, (f) share price performance, (g) return on capital, (h) return on assets or net assets, (i) revenue, (j) income or net income, (k) operating income or net operating income, (l) operating profit or net operating profit, (m) operating margin or profit margin, (n) return on operating revenue, (o) return on invested capital, (p) market segment shares, (q) costs, (r) expenses, (s) regulatory body approval for commercialization of a product, or (t) implementation or completion of critical projects (“Qualifying Performance Criteria”), any of which may be measured either individually, alternatively or in any combination, applied to either the Company as a whole or to a business unit or Subsidiary, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, and measured either annually or cumulatively over a period of years, on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target, to previous years’ results or to a designated comparison group or index, in each case as specified by the Committee in the Award;
(ii)Unless specified otherwise by the Committee at the time the performance goals are established or otherwise within the time prescribed by Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall appropriately adjust the method of evaluating performance under a Qualifying Performance Criteria for a performance period as follows: (i) to exclude asset write-downs, (ii) to exclude litigation or claim judgments or settlements, (iii) to exclude the effect of changes in tax law, accounting principles or other such laws or provisions affecting reported results, (iv) to exclude accruals for reorganization and restructuring programs, (v) to exclude any extraordinary nonrecurring items as determined under generally accepted accounting principles and/or described in managements’ discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s annual report to stockholders for the applicable year, (vi) to exclude the dilutive effects of acquisitions or joint ventures, (vii) to assume that any business divested by the Company achieved performance objectives at targeted levels during the balance of a performance period following such divestiture, (viii) to exclude the effect of any change in the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company by reason of any stock dividend or split, stock repurchase, reorganization, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares or other similar corporate change, or any distributions to common stockholders other than regular cash dividends, (ix) to exclude the effects of stock based compensation and the award of bonuses under the Company’s bonus plans; and (x) to exclude costs incurred in connection with potential acquisitions or divestitures that are required to be expensed under generally accepted accounting principles, in each case in compliance with Section 162(m);
(iii)The Committee shall establish the applicable performance goals in writing and an objective method for determining the Award earned by a Participant if the goals are attained, while the outcome is substantially uncertain and not later than the 90th day of the performance period (but in no event after 25% of the period of service with respect to which the performance goals relate has elapsed), and shall determine and certify in writing, for each Participant, the extent to which the performance goals have been met prior to payment or vesting of the Award;
(iv)The Committee may not in any event increase the amount of compensation payable under the Plan upon the attainment of the pre-established performance goals to a Participant who is a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code; and
(v)The maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be subject to Performance Based Awards granted to a Participant in any calendar year is 2,000,000 Shares (subject to adjustment under Section 12), and the maximum aggregate amount of cash that may be payable to a Participant under Performance Based Awards granted to a Participant in any calendar year that are Cash-Based Awards is $10,000,000.
SECTION 19.NO EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS.
No provision of the Plan, nor any Award granted under the Plan, shall be construed to give any person any right to become, to be treated as, or to remain an Employee or Consultant. The Company and its Subsidiaries reserve the right to terminate any person’s Service at any time and for any reason, with or without notice.
SECTION 20.DURATION AND AMENDMENTS.
(a)Term of the Plan. The Plan, as set forth herein, shall terminate automatically on April 26, 2031, and may be terminated on any earlier date pursuant to subsection (b) below.
(b)Right to Amend or Terminate the Plan. The Board of Directors may amend or terminate the Plan at any time and from time to time. Rights and obligations under any Award granted before amendment of the Plan shall not be materially impaired by such amendment, except with consent of the Participant. An amendment of the Plan shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders only to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations or rules.
(c)Effect of Termination. No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the termination thereof. The termination of the Plan shall not affect Awards previously granted under the Plan.
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1.EXECUTION.
To record the adoption of the Plan by the Board of Directors, the Company has caused its authorized officer to execute the same.
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Performant Financial Corporation |
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By | /s/ Lisa C. Im |
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Name | Lisa C. Im |
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Title | Chief Executive Officer |
Performant Financial Corporation
Amended and Restated 2012 Stock Incentive Plan
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