Base Salary
We provide our named executive officers and other employees with base salary to compensate them for services rendered during the fiscal year. Base salary ranges for named executive officers are determined individually for each executive.
During its review of base salaries for named executive officers, the Committee primarily considers:
| • | | individual performance of the executive; |
| • | | our overall past operating and financial performance and future expectations; |
| • | | internal review of the executive’s compensation, both individually and relative to other executive officers; and |
| • | | market data regarding peer companies. |
The Committee does not give a specific weighting among these various factors but rather considers the factors collectively in setting base salary. Salary levels are typically considered on an annual basis as part of the performance review process, as well as upon a promotion or other change in job responsibility. We try to provide an allocation between base and performance-based incentive compensation that reflects market conditions and appropriately ensures alignment of individual performance with our objectives.
In fiscal 2021, Mr. Pons received a total value of $197,576 comprised of external director fees paid in cash and equity awards as described in Director Compensation Fiscal 2021 on page 16. Mr. Pons did not receive any additional compensation for being the Company’s Executive Chairman in fiscal 2021. Mr. Prinn’s annual base salary was $300,000. Mr. Aloni’s annual base salary was $430,000. Mr. Kielczewski’s annual base salary was increased from $250,000 to $320,000, effective February 1, 2020, to be more aligned with current market rates. Mr. Hassler’s annual base salary was $300,000.
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, for the period from March 23, 2020 through January 31, 2021, Messrs. Prinn, Aloni, Kielczewski and Hassler each elected to forego twenty-five percent (25%) of their respective base salaries in exchange for a stock option award equal to the value of their respective reduction in base compensation divided by the Black-Scholes value of the stock option award at the time of grant (the “COVID-19 Equity Grants”). Stock option grants were made to Messrs. Prinn, Aloni, Kielczewski and Hassler on June 30, 2020 for the period from March 23, 2020 through June 30, 2020 valued at $20,315, $31,359, $21,668 and $20,315, respectively. In lieu of receiving further stock option grants in exchange for the salary reduction, the Company paid cash to Messrs. Prinn, Aloni, Kielczewski and Hassler in the amounts of $25,001, $35,835, $26,667 and $25,001, respectively, for the period from July 1, 2020 through October 31, 2020. The Committee discontinued the COVID-19 Equity Grants effective November 1, 2020.
Mr. Prinn’s annual base salary was restored to the pre-COVID-19 level of $300,000 effective February 1, 2021. Messrs. Aloni, Kielczewski and Hassler’s base salaries were not restored to pre-COVID-19 rates prior to their termination of employment with the Company.
Performance-Based Incentive Compensation
After considering the overall cash-equity mix of the aggregate compensation paid to our named executive officers, the Committee has historically structured awards pursuant to the fiscal performance-based compensation plans to be a mixture of cash, stock options, RSUs and PSUs. The Committee believes that including both cash and stock options, RSUs and PSUs as an element of the performance-based compensation is important as it further aligns the interests of our executive officers with those of our stockholders, increases executive ownership of our stock, discourages excessive levels of risk taking, and enhances executive retention in a challenging business environment and competitive labor market, while at the same time providing competitive current compensation and accounting for the liquidity limitations created by the Company’s stock ownership guidelines.
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