WD-40 Directors’ Compensation Policy and Election Plan
October 9, 2017
The WD-40 Corporate Governance Committee has proposed, and the Board of Directors has adopted, the following Compensation Policy and Election Plan for directors (the “Election Plan”), effective as of October 9, 2017.
RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS
Each new non-employee director joining the Board after the adoption of this Election Plan will receive restricted stock units (“RSUs”) with a fair market value on the date of grant of $70,000 as soon as practicable upon joining the Board. RSUs shall be granted by affirmative action of the full Board under the WD-40 Company 2016 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”). Vesting will be immediate and the units will be settled in Company stock upon termination of the director’s service on the Board for any reason, including upon death, resignation, retirement or removal from office (“Termination”.) The RSUs will carry dividend equivalents payable in cash as and when declared on the Company’s stock in accordance with the Incentive Plan. The Award Agreements issued with respect to the RSUs shall not permit the director to accelerate or otherwise obtain benefits (other than the dividend equivalent payments) with respect to the RSUs until Termination. All RSUs awarded pursuant to this Election Plan shall be subject to Award Agreements having the same terms and conditions for vesting, time of payment, dividend equivalents and acceleration prohibition as provided for hereinabove and all references to RSUs in this Election Plan shall refer to RSUs subject to such Award Agreements.
Each continuing non-employee director will receive annually an award of RSUs with a fair market value of $70,000 on the date of grant. The RSUs will be granted by affirmative action of the full Board under the Incentive Plan at the organizational meeting of the Board immediately following the annual meeting of stockholders in December of each year.
The award of RSUs to directors at the December meeting shall represent, in part, the full measure of compensation earned by each director for services rendered in the month of December from and after such meeting.
ELECTION PLAN FOR PAYMENT OF ANNUAL BASE COMPENSATION IN CASH AND/OR BY AWARD OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS
Annual base compensation for directors for services rendered during the calendar year beginning on January 1st following the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders through the date of the next annual meeting shall be $45,000. Such amount does not include board committee fees, director contribution fund donation or reimbursement for travel expenses. No separate compensation shall be payable for special meetings of the directors.
Compensation for Directors to be Elected at the Annual Meeting
Annual base compensation for each non-employee director will be paid in a combination of cash and/or RSUs. Each director may elect to receive all or a portion of the annual base compensation in cash in increments of $1,000 and shall make this election by the date of the annual meeting. The cash compensation to be paid, if any, shall be paid on March 1 of the following year. RSUs having a fair market value as of the date of grant equal to the amount of annual base compensation not elected to be received in cash will be granted by affirmative action of the full Board under the Incentive Plan immediately following the annual shareholders meeting in December, at which time, the director’s election shall become irrevocable.
Compensation for Directors Appointed During Year
Directors appointed during the year to fill a vacancy on the Board will receive annual base compensation according to the following schedule:
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| Appointment at or prior to the second quarter meeting: |
| $ 45,000 |
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| Appointment at or prior to the third quarter meeting: |
| $ 34,000 |
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| Appointment at or prior to the fourth quarter meeting: |
| $ 22,500 |
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Payment of such compensation shall be made on or about the first day of the second month following appointment to the Board. Prior to the effective date of the new director’s election to the Board, the director may elect to receive all or part of such compensation in cash in increments of $1,000 and RSUs shall be awarded in the manner provided for elections with respect to the receipt of annual base compensation as set forth above. The RSUs are to be granted by the full Board under the Incentive Plan at the next meeting of the Board following receipt of the director’s election in the same manner in which RSUs are awarded to directors pursuant to their annual compensation elections. The new director’s election shall be irrevocable upon the effective date of his or her service as a director.
Compensation for Directors Leaving During Year
If deemed practical by the Corporate Governance Committee, a departing director will be paid for the pro-rata portion of time actually served and may be required to return a pro rata portion of compensation received or to forfeit a pro rata portion of RSUs awarded pursuant to the foregoing election provisions, as such required return of compensation or forfeiture may be determined by the Corporate Governance Committee in its reasonable discretion.
IRC SECTION 409A PLAN
The foregoing provisions relating to the grant of RSUs under the Incentive Plan and a director’s election to receive all or part of the annual base compensation in cash are intended to constitute a binding plan for purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.
BOARD CHAIRMAN COMPENSATION
The Chairman of the Board will receive $22,000 as additional cash compensation annually. This amount will be pro-rated for partial year service as Chairman.
COMMITTEE COMPENSATION
Annual Committee service fees are as stated below:
Audit Committee
$8,000 per member
Chairman $16,000
Compensation Committee
$4,000 per member
Chairman $10,000
Corporate Governance Committee
$4,000 per member
Chairman $8,000
Finance Committee
$4,000 per member
Chairman $8,000
Payment of annual committee service fees shall be made in lump sum on or about March 1 of each year covering committee services provided from the beginning of the calendar year following each annual meeting to the next annual meeting. Amounts will be pro-rated for partial year service.
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
Charitable Donations
Each director is allowed to designate $6,000 annually from WD-40 Company Director Contributions Fund to a qualified (501(c)(3)) charitable organization. Newly elected directors will be eligible to make charitable funding designations for
the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which they are elected. Any continuing director who serves any part of a fiscal year shall be entitled to designate $6,000 for that year.
Continuing Education
Each director will be reimbursed up to a total of $3,000 per year for education expenses, including appropriate travel costs. There will be no “carry-forward” if the amount is not utilized during the year. Reimbursement shall be up to a total of $10,000 in any year if a director engages in international travel to visit company worksites or travel with company personnel. Directors are encouraged to share their learning from educational programs with the Board.
Adopted by the Board of Directors, October 9, 2017
/s/ RICHARD T. CLAMPITT
Richard T. Clampitt
WD-40 Company Corporate Secretary