UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
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DRESSER-RAND GROUP INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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Dresser-Rand Group Inc.
West8 Tower, Suite 1000
10205 Westheimer Road
Houston, Texas 77042
Tel:713-973-5356
Fax:713-973-5323
www.dresser-rand.com
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF DRESSER-RAND GROUP INC.
This year’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Dresser-Rand Group Inc. (“DRC”) will be held at 9:30 a.m. (Central), Tuesday, May 11, 2010, at the offices of DRC located at West8 Tower, Suite 1000, 10205 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas, 77042.
In addition to acting on the matters outlined in the enclosed Proxy Statement, there will be a brief presentation on DRC’s business.
We hope that you attend the Annual Meeting personally and we look forward to seeing you. Whether or not you expect to attend in person, your voting as soon as possible would be greatly appreciated and will ensure that your shares will be represented at the Annual Meeting. If you do attend the Annual Meeting, you may revoke your proxy should you wish to vote in person.
On behalf of the Directors and management of Dresser-Rand Group Inc., we would like to thank you for your continued support and confidence in DRC.
Sincerely yours,
William E. Macaulay
Chairman of the Board
DRESSER-RAND GROUP INC.
West8 Tower, Suite 1000
10205 Westheimer Road
Houston, Texas 77042
NOTICE OF 2010 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
AND PROXY STATEMENT
To Be Held
May 11, 2010
To the Stockholders of Dresser-Rand Group Inc.:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Dresser-Rand Group Inc. (“DRC,” the “Company,” “Dresser-Rand,” “we” or “our”) will be held at 9:30 a.m. (Central) on Tuesday, May 11, 2010, at the offices of the Company located at West8 Tower, Suite 1000, 10205 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas, 77042 (the “Annual Meeting”).
At the Annual Meeting, we will ask stockholders to:
1. Elect eight Directors to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified; and
2. Ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as DRC’s Independent Registered Public Accountants; and
3. Consider any other matters that properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
We plan to hold a brief business meeting focused on these items and we will attend to any other proper business that may arise.THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF PROPOSALS 1 and 2.The proposals are further described in the proxy statement.
Only DRC Stockholders of record at the close of business on March 16, 2010, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting. For ten days prior to the Annual Meeting, a list of stockholders entitled to vote will be available for inspection at DRC’s corporate offices located at West8 Tower, Suite 1000, 10205 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas, 77042.
By order of the Board of Directors,
Mark F. Mai
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
WE URGE YOU TO VOTE PROMPTLY EVEN IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING. YOUR PROXY MAY BE REVOKED AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE TIME IT IS VOTED AT THE 2010 ANNUAL MEETING.
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PROXY STATEMENT FOR
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF
DRESSER-RAND GROUP INC. TO BE HELD ON
MAY 11, 2010
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT DRC’S ANNUAL MEETING
Dresser-Rand Group Inc. (“DRC,” “Dresser-Rand,” the “Company,” “we” or “our”) is providing this proxy statement to stockholders entitled to vote at the 2010 Annual Meeting (the “Annual Meeting”) of DRC as part of a solicitation by the Board of Directors for use at the Annual Meeting and at any adjournment or postponement that may take place. The Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 11, 2010, at 9:30 a.m. (Central) at the offices of the Company located at West8 Tower, Suite 1000, 10205 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas 77042.
We are taking advantage of Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules that allow us to deliver proxy materials to our stockholders on the Internet. Under these rules, we are sending our stockholders a one-page notice regarding the Internet availability of proxy materials instead of a full printed set of proxy materials. Our stockholders will not receive printed copies of the proxy materials unless specifically requested. Instead, the one-page notice that our stockholders receive will tell them how to access and review on the Internet all of the important information contained in the proxy materials. This notice also tells our stockholders how to submit their proxy card on the Internet and how to request to receive a printed copy of our proxy materials. We expect to provide notice and electronic delivery of this proxy statement to such stockholders on or about March 30, 2010.
Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?
Anyone who owns of record DRC common stock as of the close of business on March 16, 2010, is entitled to one vote per share owned. We refer to that date as the Record Date. There were 82,515,573 shares outstanding on the Record Date.
Who is soliciting my proxy to vote my shares?
DRC’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) is soliciting your “proxy,” or your authorization for our representatives to vote your shares. Your proxy will be effective for the Annual Meeting on May 11, 2010, and at any adjournment or continuation of that meeting.
Who is paying for and what is the cost of soliciting proxies?
DRC is bearing the entire cost of soliciting proxies. We have not hired a solicitation firm to assist us in the solicitation of proxies, but we reserve the right to do so. Proxies will be solicited both through the mail and Internet, but also may be solicited personally or by telephone, facsimile, email or special letter by DRC’s directors, officers, and employees for no additional compensation. DRC will reimburse banks, brokerage firms, and other custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries for reasonable expenses incurred by them in sending our proxy materials to their customers or principals who are the beneficial owners of shares of DRC common stock.
What constitutes a quorum?
For business to be conducted at the Annual Meeting, a quorum constituting a majority of the shares of DRC common stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote must be in attendance or represented by proxy.
BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
Delaware law and DRC’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws govern the vote on each proposal. The Board’s recommendation is set forth together with the description of each item in this proxy statement. In summary, the Board’s recommendations and approval requirements are:
PROPOSAL 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS.
The first proposal to be voted on is the election of eight Directors to hold office until the 2011 Annual Meeting and until their successors have been elected and qualified. The Board has nominated eight people as Directors, each of whom currently is serving as a Director of DRC.
You may find information about these nominees beginning on Page 5.
You may vote in favor of all the nominees, withhold your votes as to all nominees, or withhold your votes as to specific nominees. Assuming a quorum, each share of common stock is entitled to cast one vote on each of the eight nominees for Director. Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast. Stockholders may not cumulate their votes. Withheld votes or broker non-votes (as described below) will have no effect on the outcome of the vote.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR each Director nominee.
PROPOSAL 2. RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS, PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP, FOR 2010.
The second proposal to be voted on is to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as DRC’s Independent Registered Public Accountants for 2010.
You may find information about this proposal beginning on Page 8.
You may vote in favor of the proposal, vote against the proposal, or abstain from voting. Assuming a quorum, the proposal will pass if approved by a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter. Abstentions will have the same effect as votes against the proposal and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the vote.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our Independent Registered Public Accountants for 2010.
OTHER MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING
The Board is not aware of any other business to be presented for a vote of the stockholders at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters are properly presented for a vote, the people named as proxies will have discretionary authority, to the extent permitted by law, to vote on such matters according to their best judgment.
The chairman of the Annual Meeting may refuse to allow presentation of a proposal or nominee for the Board if the proposal or nominee was not properly submitted. The requirements for submitting proposals and nominations for next year’s meeting are described below under the heading “Stockholder Proposals for the 2011 Annual Meeting.”
VOTING AND PROXY PROCEDURE
Why did I receive a one-page notice in the mail regarding the Internet availability of proxy materials instead of a full printed set of proxy materials?
We are taking advantage of SEC rules that allow us to deliver our proxy materials on the Internet to our stockholders. Accordingly, we are sending a Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials to our stockholders. This notice includes instructions on how to access the proxy materials on the Internet and how to request to receive a printed set of our proxy materials. In addition, our stockholders may request to receive proxy materials in printed form by mail or electronically by email on an ongoing basis.
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How do I obtain electronic access to the proxy materials?
The Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials you received includes instructions on how to:
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| • | View the proxy materials for the Annual Meeting on the Internet; |
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| • | Vote on the Internet or in person; and |
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| • | Request a copy of proxy materials by the Internet, telephone or email. |
In addition to the website referenced in the one-page Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials, our proxy materials are also available on the Internet at www.dresser-rand.com using the Investors link.
What are the voting rights of holders of DRC common stock?
Each outstanding share of DRC common stock on the Record Date will be entitled to one vote on each matter considered at the meeting.
What is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder of record and as a beneficial owner?
Most of our stockholders hold their shares through a broker, bank or other nominee rather than directly in their own name. There are some important distinctions between shares held of record and those owned beneficially.
Stockholder of Record
If your shares are registered in your name with our transfer agent, BNY Mellon Shareowner Services, you are the stockholder of record for those shares. As the stockholder of record, you have the right to grant your voting proxy directly to us or to vote in person at the meeting.
Beneficial Owner
If your shares are held in a brokerage account, by a bank or other nominee (commonly referred to as being held in “street name”), you are the beneficial owner of those shares. Your broker, bank or nominee is the stockholder of record and therefore has forwarded proxy-related materials to you as the beneficial owner. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or other nominee how to vote your shares and also are invited to attend the meeting. If your shares were issued pursuant to the Company’s 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, 2005 Directors Stock Incentive Plan, or 2008 Stock Incentive Plan and remain subject to a risk of forfeiture, you may grant your voting proxy directly to us. However, since beneficial owners are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares in person at the meeting unless you obtain a signed proxy from your broker, bank or nominee giving you the right to vote the shares.
What does it mean if I receive more than one Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials?
It means that you have multiple accounts at the transfer agent or with brokers or other nominees. Follow the instructions on each notice to ensure that all of your shares are voted.
How do I vote?
You may vote by Internet, mail, telephone or in person.
1. BY INTERNET. You can vote on the Internet by following the instructions provided in the one-page Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials. Your vote by Internet must be properly transmitted not later than 11:59 p.m. (Eastern) on May 10, 2010, to be effective.
2. BY MAIL. If you request to receive a printed set of our proxy materials by mail, you can vote by mail. The Board recommends that you vote by proxy even if you plan on attending the meeting. Mark your voting instructions on, and sign and date, the proxy card and then return it in the postage-paid envelope provided with your printed set of materials. If you mail your proxy card, we must receive it in accordance with the instructions that will be included in the proxy materials delivered to you by mail.
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3. BY TELEPHONE. You can vote by telephone using the phone number obtained by accessing the website set forth in the instructions provided in the one-page Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials. Your telephonic vote must be completed not later than 11:59 p.m. (Eastern) on May 10, 2010, to be effective.
4. IN PERSON. If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote in person at the meeting. “Street name” or nominee account stockholders who wish to vote at the meeting will need to obtain a signed proxy form from the institution that holds their shares of record giving such owners the right to vote the shares at the meeting. Any stockholder wishing to attend the meeting will need to present valid photo identification to the building receptionist and to the Company receptionist on the 10th floor.
How do I revoke my proxy or change my voting instructions?
You can change your vote or revoke your proxy at any time before the final vote at the meeting. You can do this by casting a later proxy through any of the available methods described in the question and answer immediately above. If you are a stockholder of record, you also can revoke your proxy by delivering a written notice of your revocation to our Corporate Secretary, Mark F. Mai, at our executive office at West8 Tower, Suite 1000, 10205 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas, 77042. If you are a beneficial owner, you can revoke your proxy by following the instructions sent to you by your broker, bank or other nominee.
How will proxies be voted if I give my authorization?
The Board has selected Vincent R. Volpe Jr., Mark E. Baldwin and Mark F. Mai, and each of them, to act as proxies with full power of substitution. All properly submitted proxies will be voted in accordance with the directions given. If you properly submit a proxy with no further instructions, your shares will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the Board (FOR all Director nominees named in this proxy statement andFORthe ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2010). Management knows of no other matters that may come before the Annual Meeting for consideration by the stockholders. However, if any other matter properly comes before the Annual Meeting, the persons named as proxy holders, or their nominees or substitutes, will vote upon such matters in accordance with the recommendation of the Board, or in the absence of such a recommendation, in accordance with the judgment of the proxy holders, in either case to the extent permitted by law.
What is the voting requirement to approve each of the matters?
Directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast. This means that the nominees with the most votes will be elected.
For the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accountants for 2010, approval requires the affirmative vote of stockholders holding a majority of those shares present (in person or by proxy) and entitled to vote on the matter. If you are a beneficial owner and do not provide the stockholder of record with voting instructions, your shares may constitute broker non-votes for certain matters (as described in the question and answer immediately below). In tabulating the voting result for a proposal, shares that constitute broker non-votes are not considered as being entitled to vote on that proposal.
How will votes be counted?
The inspector of elections for the Annual Meeting will calculate affirmative votes, negative votes, withhold votes, abstentions, and broker non-votes, as applicable. Under Delaware law, shares represented by proxies that reflect abstentions or broker non-votes will be counted as shares that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum.
You as beneficial owner own your shares in “street name” if your broker or other “street” nominee is actually the record owner. Brokers or other “street” nominees have discretionary authority to vote on routine matters, regardless of whether they have received voting instructions from their clients who are the beneficial owners. Director elections are no longer considered a routine matter and brokers or other “street” nominees may not vote for directors in the absence of receiving voting instructions from their clients. Ratifying the appointment of
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independent accountants is still considered a routine matter and thus brokers and “street” nominees have discretionary authority to vote on this matter. A “broker non-vote” results on a matter when a broker or other “street” nominee record holder returns a duly executed proxy but does not vote on non-routine matters solely because it does not have discretionary authority to vote on non-routine matters and has not received voting instructions from its client (the beneficial holder). Accordingly, no broker non-votes occur when voting on routine matters. Broker non-votes count toward a quorum. The approval of a proposal regarding a non-routine matter, other than the election of directors, is determined based on the vote of all shares present in person or represented and entitled to vote on the matter. Abstention on such a proposal has the same effect as a vote “against” such proposal. Broker non- votes have no effect on the vote of such non-routine proposals. Because we have a plurality voting standard for director elections, abstentions and broker non-votes have no effect on the vote electing directors.
Where do I find voting results of the Annual Meeting?
Preliminary voting results will be announced at the Annual Meeting. Final voting results will be published by DRC in a current report onForm 8-K within four business days after the Annual Meeting. The report will be filed with the SEC and you may receive a copy by contacting our Director, Investor Relations, Blaise E. Derrico, at713-973-5497. You also may access a copy on the Internet atwww.dresser-rand.comor through the SEC’s Internet site atwww.sec.gov.
PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The first agenda item to be voted on is the election of eight Directors to hold office until the 2011 Annual Meeting and until their successors have been elected and qualified. The Board has nominated eight Directors, all of whom currently are serving as a Director of DRC. The Board unanimously recommends that you vote FOR such nominees.
The Board of Directors currently consists of eight Directors. Each Director’s term expires at the Annual Meeting. All nominees have indicated their willingness to serve, if elected, but if any of the nominees should be unable or unwilling to serve, the Board may either reduce its size, or designate or not designate a substitute nominee. If the Board designates a substitute nominee, proxies that would have been cast for the original nominee will be cast for the substitute nominee unless instructions are given to the contrary.
The table below sets forth the name, age as of March 16, 2010, and existing positions with DRC of each Director nominee:
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Name | | Age | | Office or Position Held |
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William E. Macaulay | | | 64 | | | Chairman of the Board of Directors |
Vincent R. Volpe Jr. | | | 52 | | | Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer |
Rita V. Foley | | | 56 | | | Director and Member of the Audit and Compensation Committees |
Louis A. Raspino | | | 57 | | | Director and Member of the Audit and Compensation Committees |
Philip R. Roth | | | 59 | | | Director and Member of the Audit and Nominating and Governance Committees |
Stephen A. Snider | | | 62 | | | Director and Member of the Nominating and Governance Committee |
Michael L. Underwood | | | 66 | | | Director and Member of the Audit and Nominating and Governance Committees |
Joseph C. Winkler III | | | 58 | | | Director and Member of the Compensation and Nominating and Governance Committees |
In evaluating director candidates, and considering incumbent directors for re-nomination to the Board, the Board and the Nominating and Governance Committee have considered a variety of factors. These include each
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nominee’s independence, financial literacy, personal and professional accomplishments, and experience in light of the needs of the Company. For incumbent directors, the factors include past performance on the Board. Each director provides a broad range of complementary skills, expertise, knowledge and a diversity of perspective to build a capable, responsive and effective Board. This section presents biographical and other information about our director nominees, each of whom is currently serving as a director. It also presents for each director the specific experiences, qualifications, attributes and skills considered by the Board in re-nominating each director to serve on the Board.
William E. Macaulayhas been the Chairman of our Board of Directors since October 2004. Mr. Macaulay is the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and a Managing Director of FRC Founders Corporation, formerly named First Reserve Corporation (“FRC”), a private equity firm focusing on the energy industry, which he joined in 1983. FRC was an affiliate of our former indirect parent, Dresser-Rand Holdings LLC. Prior to joining First Reserve, Mr. Macaulay was a co-founder of Meridien Capital Company, a private equity buyout firm. From 1972 to 1982, Mr. Macaulay was with Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., where he served as Director of Corporate Finance, with responsibility for investing Oppenheimer’s capital in private equity transactions, as a General Partner and member of the Management Committee of Oppenheimer & Co., as well as President of Oppenheimer Energy Corporation. Mr. Macaulay serves as a director of Weatherford International Ltd., an oilfield service company, and formerly served as a director of Alpha Natural Resources, Inc., Dresser, Inc., Foundation Coal Holdings, Inc., National Oilwell Varco and Pride International, Inc. Mr. Macaulay holds a B.B.A. degree, Magna Cum Laude in Economics from City College of New York and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Macaulay brings to the Company leadership, industry, economics and finance experience resulting from his career spanning more than 35 years in private equity and finance, including over 25 years focusing on the energy industry.
Vincent R. Volpe Jr.is our President and Chief Executive Officer and has served as a member of our Board of Directors since October 2004. Mr. Volpe has been with Dresser-Rand Group Inc., its affiliates and predecessor companies to the business since 1981. He has held positions in Engineering, Marketing and Operations residing and working in various countries, including: Applications Engineer in Caracas, Venezuela; Vice President Dresser-Rand Japan in Tokyo, Japan; Vice President Marketing and Engineering Steam and Turbo Products in Olean, New York; Executive Vice President European Operations in Le Havre, France; and President Dresser-Rand Europe in London, U.K. In January 1997, Mr. Volpe became President of Dresser-Rand Company’s Turbo Product Division, a position he held until September 2000. In April 1999, he assumed the additional role of Chief Operating Officer for Dresser-Rand Company, responsible for worldwide manufacturing, technology and supply chain management, serving in that position until September 2000. Mr. Volpe became President and Chief Executive Officer of Dresser-Rand Company in September 2000. Mr. Volpe serves as a director of FMC Corporation. Mr. Volpe earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a B.A. in German literature, both from Lehigh University.
Mr. Volpe has substantial historical knowledge of the Company and its operations with over 25 years of employment in various capacities with the Company across its international operations. He brings leadership experience and extensive operations and industry experience to the Company.
Rita V. Foleyhas been a member of our Board of Directors since May 2007. Ms. Foley retired in June 2006 as Senior Vice President of MeadWestvaco Corporation, a leading global provider of packaging to the entertainment, healthcare, cosmetics, and consumer products industries, and President of its Consumer Packaging Group. Prior to that, from 2001 to 2002, she was the Chief Operating Officer of MeadWestvaco’s Consumer Packaging Group. Ms. Foley held various senior positions from 1999 to 2001 within Westvaco, the predecessor to MeadWestvaco, including Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer. Ms. Foley has also held various executive global sales, marketing, and general management positions at Harris Lanier, Digital Equipment Corporation, and QAD Inc. Ms. Foley serves on the boards of PetSmart Inc. and Pro Mujer International, and she is a former director of the Council of the Americas. Ms. Foley earned a B.S. degree from Smith College and she is a graduate of Stanford University’s Executive Program.
Ms. Foley brings leadership, operational, marketing, merger and acquisition and financial experience to the Company. She served as the President of a global packaging business utilizing an engineered to order
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manufacturing process similar to that of the Company and has director experience from serving on other public company boards, including membership on compensation, audit and executive committees.
Louis A. Raspinohas been a member of our Board of Directors since December 2005. He has over 30 years of experience in the oil and gas exploration, production and service industry. Mr. Raspino has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Pride International Inc., an international provider of contract drilling and related services to oil and natural gas companies, since June 2005 and has been on its Board of Directors since July 2005. He was the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Pride International Inc. from December 2003 until June 2005. Before joining Pride International in December 2003, he was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Grant Prideco, Inc., a manufacturer of drilling and completion products supplying the energy industry, from July 2001 until December 2003. Previously, he was Vice President of Finance for Halliburton Company, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The Louisiana Land & Exploration Company and began his career with Ernst & Young. Mr. Raspino is a CPA and earned a B.S. from Louisiana State University and an M.B.A. from Loyola University.
Mr. Raspino has over 30 years of experience in the oil and gas exploration, production and service industry, as well as international and capital markets experience, and brings to the Company leadership and finance experience. He is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Pride International, a publicly traded company. He is also a CPA and has served in various executive finance positions throughout his career, including as the Chief Financial Officer of two public companies.
Philip R. Rothhas been a member of our Board of Directors since December 2005. He has over 30 years of accounting and finance experience. Mr. Roth formerly was Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Gardner Denver, Inc., which designs, manufacturers and markets compressor and vacuum products and fluid transfer products, from May 1996 until August 2004. Prior to joining Gardner Denver, Mr. Roth was with Emerson Electric Co. from 1980 until 1996 where he held positions in accounting, treasury and investor relations at the corporate office. He also held positions in strategic planning and acquisitions, and as a Chief Financial Officer at the division level. Mr. Roth is a CPA and began his career with Price Waterhouse. He earned a B.S. in Accounting and Business Administration from the University of Missouri and an M.B.A. from the Olin School of Business at Washington University.
Mr. Roth has over 30 years of accounting and finance experience and brings leadership and industry experience to the Company. He is currently a CPA and has held senior management positions in accounting, treasury, investor relations, and strategic planning and acquisitions, including as a public company Chief Financial Officer.
Stephen A. Sniderhas been a member of our Board of Directors since November 2009. Mr. Snider was Chief Executive Officer and director of Exterran Holdings, Inc., a global natural gas compression services company from August 2007 to June 2009, and was Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the general partner of Exterran Partners, L.P., a domestic natural gas contract compression services business from August 2007 to June 2009. Both companies are publicly traded and headquartered in Houston, Texas. Prior to that, Mr. Snider was President, CEO and Director of Universal Compression Holdings Inc. (“Universal”), a supplier of equipment used to ship natural gas through pipelines, from 1998 until Universal merged with Hanover Compressor Company in 2007 to form Exterran Corporation. Mr. Snider retired from all positions with Exterran on June 30, 2009. Mr. Snider has over 30 years of experience in senior management of operating companies, and also serves as a current director of two publicly traded companies: Energen Corporation and Seahawk Drilling and was formerly a director ofT-3 Energy Services, Inc.
Mr. Snider brings to the Company leadership experience, including as a public company Chief Executive Officer, and nearly 40 years of involvement in rotating equipment, with approximately 25 years dedicated to natural gas compression and processing.
Michael L. Underwoodhas been a member of our Board of Directors since August 2005. Prior to his retirement, from June 2002 to June 2003, Mr. Underwood was employed by Deloitte & Touche LLP as a Director. Prior to that, he had over 35 years of public accounting experience including 25 of those years as an audit partner with Arthur Andersen LLP. Mr. Underwood currently serves on the board of directors of Chicago Bridge & Iron
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Company N.V. He holds a B.A. in Philosophy and Economics and a Masters Degree in Accounting from the University of Illinois.
Mr. Underwood brings to the Company leadership experience and over 35 years of public accounting experience, a significant portion of which was with publicly traded companies in the manufacturing industry.
Joseph C. Winkler IIIhas been a member of our Board of Directors since May 2007. Mr. Winkler has served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Complete Production Services, Inc., a provider of specialized oil and gas services and equipment in North America, since March 2007. Between June 2005 and March 2007, Mr. Winkler served as its President and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to that, from March 2005 until June 2005, Mr. Winkler served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of National Oilwell Varco, Inc., an oilfield capital equipment and services company and from May 2003 until March 2005 as the President and Chief Operating Officer of the company’s predecessor, Varco International, Inc. From April 1996 until May 2003, Mr. Winkler served in various other capacities with Varco and its predecessor, including Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. From 1993 to April 1996, Mr. Winkler served as the Chief Financial Officer of D.O.S., Ltd., a privately held provider of solids control equipment and services and coil tubing equipment to the oil and gas industry, which was acquired by Varco in April 1996. Prior to joining D.O.S., Ltd., he was Chief Financial Officer of Baker Hughes INTEQ, and served in a similar role for various companies owned by Baker Hughes Incorporated including Eastman/Telco and Milpark Drilling Fluids. Mr. Winkler received a B.S. degree in Accounting from Louisiana State University.
Mr. Winkler has many years of operational, financial, international and capital markets experience, a significant portion of which was with publicly traded companies in the oil and gas services, manufacturing and exploration and production industries. He is currently Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of a public company, which is a provider of specialized oil and gas services and equipment.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote FOR each of the Director nominees named above.
PROPOSAL 2
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The second agenda item to be voted on is to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as DRC’s independent registered public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010. The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote FOR this proposal.
The Audit Committee has appointed, with approval of the Board of Directors, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to act as DRC’s independent registered public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010. The Board of Directors has directed that such appointment be submitted to DRC’s stockholders for ratification at the Annual Meeting. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was DRC’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.
Stockholder ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as DRC’s independent registered public accountants is not required. The Board, however, is submitting the appointment to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the stockholders do not ratify the appointment, the Board of Directors will request that the Audit Committee reconsider its appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010, and consider such vote in its review and future appointment of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may direct the appointment of a different accounting firm at any time during the 2010 fiscal year if the Audit Committee determines that such a change would be in the best interests of DRC and its stockholders.
Representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire. They will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote FOR this proposal.
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Audit Committee Report
The Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors consists of Messrs. Underwood, Raspino and Roth and Ms. Foley. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. The committee charter is available on the Company’s web site (www.dresser-rand.com).
The Company’s management is responsible for all financial statements and financial reporting processes of the Company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including the systems of internal accounting control. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing audits of the consolidated financial statements and opining as to whether such statements are fairly presented, in all material respects, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The Audit Committee monitors the financial reporting processes and systems of internal control on behalf of the Board of Directors.
In this context, the Audit Committee has reviewed the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, and has met and held discussions with management and the independent registered public accounting firm regarding such financial statements. Management represented to the Audit Committee that the consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. The Audit Committee discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, (Communications with the Audit Committee) as amended (AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1, AU section 380) and adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T. The Audit Committee, in consultation with management, the independent registered public accounting firm and DRC’s internal auditor has reviewed management’s report on internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, and the independent registered public accounting firm’s attestation report (which are required pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), and has considered the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
In addition, the Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the firm’s independence from the Company and its management. In concluding that the firm is independent, the Audit Committee considered, among other factors, whether the non-audit services provided by the firm were compatible with its independence.
In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board has approved, that the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company be included in the Company’s Annual Report onForm 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, for filing with the SEC.
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
Michael L. Underwood, Chairman
Rita V. Foley
Louis A. Raspino
Philip R. Roth
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Fees of Independent Registered Public Accountants
The Audit Committee has reviewed the audit fees of the independent auditors. For work performed in regard to fiscal years 2008 and 2009, DRC paid PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP the following fees for services, as categorized (dollars in thousands):
| | | | | | | | |
| | Fiscal Year 2008 | | | Fiscal Year 2009 | |
|
Audit Fees(1) | | $ | 4,789 | | | $ | 4,458 | |
Tax Fees(2) | | $ | — | | | $ | 60 | |
All Other Fees(3) | | $ | 3 | | | $ | 3 | |
Total Fees | | $ | 4,792 | | | $ | 4,521 | |
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(1) | | Includes fees for audit services principally relating to the annual audit, quarterly reviews and registration statements. |
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(2) | | Includes fees for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. For example, tax compliance involves preparation of original and amended tax returns. |
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(3) | | Includes fees for all other services not reported under (1) through (2). These amounts reflect license fees for software PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP provided for research of accounting authorities, compliance with reporting obligations, and electronic workpaper documentation. |
Our Board has a policy to assure the independence of its independent registered public accounting firm. Prior to each fiscal year, the Audit Committee receives a written report from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP describing the elements expected to be performed in the course of its audit of the Company’s financial statements for the coming year. All audit related services, tax services and other services were pre-approved for 2008 and 2009 by the Audit Committee, which concluded that the provision of such services by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was compatible with the maintenance of that firm’s independence in the conduct of its auditing functions. As required by its charter, the Audit Committee pre-approves all auditing services, internal control-related services and permitted non-audit services (including the fees and terms thereof), other than prohibited non-auditing services as set forth in Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 201, to be performed for DRC by its independent registered public accounting firm, subject to any de minimus exceptions for non-audit services described in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which are approved by the Audit Committee prior to the completion of the audit. The Audit Committee may form and delegate authority to subcommittees consisting of one or more members when appropriate, including the authority to grant pre-approvals of audit and permitted non-audit services provided that decisions of such subcommittee to grant pre-approvals shall be presented to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
OTHER MATTERS
As of the date of this proxy statement, we know of no business that will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting other than the items referred to above. If any other matter is properly brought before the meeting for action by stockholders, proxies will be voted in accordance with the recommendation of the Board, or in the absence of such a recommendation, in accordance with the judgment of the proxy holder.
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND RELATED MATTERS
Director Independence
In determining director independence, DRC employs the standards set forth in the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) listed company manual. The independence test included in the NYSE listing standard requires that the Board determine that the director have no direct or indirect material relationship with DRC. Additionally, a director is not independent if:
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| • | The director is or has been within the last three years an employee of DRC (or an immediate family member of such director is or was within the last three years an executive officer of DRC); |
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| • | The director or an immediate family member received more than $120,000 during any12-month period within the last three years in compensation from DRC (other than for director and committee fees, pensions or other deferred compensation from prior service); |
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| • | The director or an immediate family member is a current partner of a firm that is DRC’s internal auditor or external auditor, the director is a current employee of such firm, an immediate family member is a current employee of such firm who personally works on DRC’s audit, or the director or immediate family member was in the last three years, but is no longer, a partner or employee of such firm and personally worked on DRC’s audit during that time; |
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| • | The director or an immediate family member is or has been within the last three years employed as an executive officer by any company whose compensation committee includes or included a current executive officer of DRC; or |
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| • | The director is a current employee (or an immediate family member is a current executive officer) of another company that made payments to, or received payments from, DRC for property or services in an amount that, in any of the last three fiscal years, exceeds the greater of $1 million or 2% of such other company’s consolidated gross revenue. |
In addition, members of our Audit Committee must meet the following additional independence requirements under the SEC’s rules:
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| • | No director who is a member of the Audit Committee shall be deemed independent if such director is affiliated with DRC or any of its subsidiaries in any capacity, other than in such director’s capacity as a member of our Board of Directors, the Audit Committee or any other board committee; and |
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| • | No director who is a member of the Audit Committee shall be deemed independent if such director receives, directly or indirectly, any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from DRC or any of its subsidiaries, other than fees received in such director’s capacity as a member of our Board of Directors, the Audit Committee or any other Board committee, and fixed amounts of compensation under a retirement plan (including deferred compensation) for prior service with DRC (provided such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service). |
Applying the NYSE test, the Board has affirmatively determined that Ms. Foley and Messrs. Macaulay, Raspino, Roth, Underwood, Snider and Winkler are independent, and that all members of the Audit Committee meet the heightened requirements for independence set forth above. In addition, the Board affirmatively determined that Mr. Volpe is not independent because he is the President and Chief Executive Officer of DRC.
The Board of Directors and its Committees
The Board of Directors held six meetings in 2009, either in person or by telephone. Each director attended at least 75% of all Board and applicable committee meetings during 2009. Directors are encouraged to attend stockholder meetings. All but one of our then-current directors attended the 2009 Annual Meeting. In connection with each of the quarterly Board meetings, the non-management Directors will meet in executive session without any employee directors or members of management present. If the Board convenes a special meeting, the non-
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management directors may meet in executive session if the circumstances warrant. The independent Chairman of the Board presides at each executive session of the non-management directors.
DRC has standing Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Governance Committees. The committee members are as follows:
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| | | | | | Nominating
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| | | | | | and
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Name | | Audit | | Compensation | | Governance |
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Rita V. Foley | | | X | | | | X | | | | | |
Louis A. Raspino | | | X | | | | X | * | | | | |
Philip R. Roth | | | X | | | | | | | | X | * |
Stephen A. Snider | | | | | | | | | | | X | |
Michael L. Underwood | | | X | * | | | | | | | X | |
Joseph C. Winkler III | | | | | | | X | | | | X | |
The Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Governance Committees held 8, 9,and 8 meetings, respectively, in 2009.
The principal responsibilities and functions of the standing Board committees are summarized below and described in more detail in the written charters adopted by the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee, each of which may be found under the Corporate Governance portion of the Investors link on the Company’s website(www.dresser-rand.com). DRC’s Corporate Governance guidelines also are available on the Corporate Governance portion of the Investors link on the Company’s website. In addition, any stockholder may obtain a print copy of these charters or DRC’s Corporate Governance Guidelines by contacting our Corporate Secretary.
Audit Committee
Our Audit Committee currently consists of Michael L. Underwood, who serves as Chairman, Rita V. Foley, Louis A. Raspino and Philip R. Roth. The Board has determined that Michael L. Underwood is an Audit Committee “financial expert” as such term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) ofRegulation S-K. The Audit Committee’s authorities and responsibilities include: (1) appointing, compensating, retaining, evaluating, overseeing and terminating the independent auditor; (2) pre-approving all auditing services, internal control-related services and permitted non-audit services by the independent auditor; (3) retaining independent legal, accounting and other advisors to the extent it deems necessary; (4) making regular reports to and reviewing with the full Board any issues that arise with respect to the quality or integrity of the Company’s financial statements, compliance with legal or regulatory requirements, performance and independence of the independent auditors, or performance of the internal audit function; (5) reviewing and reassessing the adequacy of the Committee’s charter annually and recommending any proposed changes to the Board; (6) conducting an annual performance self-evaluation; (7) preparing a report as required by the rules of the SEC to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement; and (8) taking such other actions as it deems necessary or appropriate in meeting its responsibilities. The Audit Committee has adopted a written charter, a copy of which may be obtained as described above.
As previously discussed, the Board has concluded that Ms. Foley and Messrs. Underwood, Raspino and Roth are independent for purposes of serving on the Audit Committee.
Nominating and Governance Committee
Our Nominating and Governance Committee currently consists of Philip R. Roth, who serves as Chairman, Stephen A. Snider, Michael L. Underwood and Joseph C. Winkler III. The Nominating and Governance Committee’s authorities and responsibilities include: (1) retaining, compensating and terminating search firms used to identify director candidates and legal and other advisors as the Committee deems necessary; and (2) conducting an annual performance self-evaluation and reviewing and assessing the adequacy of the Committee’s
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charter and recommending changes to the Board. To the extent deemed necessary or appropriate, the Committee will: (i) develop, recommend and review annually the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines; (ii) establish criteria for the selection of new directors to serve on the Board, including any policies regarding the consideration of director candidates recommended by stockholders; (iii) identify, screen and recommend to the Board the nominees to be proposed by the Company at the annual meeting of stockholders, or fill vacancies on the Board, based on an assessment of each nominee’s particular experience, qualifications, attributes or skills and potential to contribute to diversity, and recommend changes in the size of the Board; (iv) assess the independence of the directors, assess the financial literacy of each Audit Committee member, and review the experience of the Audit Committee members in light of the attributes of an “audit committee financial expert”; (v) review the material facts of all interested party transactions that require the Committee’s approval and determine whether to approve such transactions; (vi) review and evaluate the leadership structure of the Board; (vii) review the Board committee structure and composition and recommend to the Board directors to serve as members of each committee; (viii) oversee the annual evaluation of management, the Board, the directors, and Board committees; (ix) establish criteria for and lead the annual performance self-evaluation of the Board and monitor annual committee performance self-evaluations; (x) establish director policies and guidelines for retirement and stock ownership; (xi) oversee director orientation and continuing education; (xii) review whether continued Board or committee participation is appropriate in light of employment changesand/or service on additional boards of other companies; and (xiii) establish the compensation and benefits of directors and Board committee members.
The Nominating and Governance Committee has adopted a written charter, a copy of which may be obtained as described above. As discussed above, the Board has made an affirmative determination that Messrs. Roth, Snider, Underwood and Winkler are independent.
Prospective director nominees are identified through the contacts of the Directors or members of senior management, by stockholders or through reputable search firms. Once a prospective director nominee has been identified, the Nominating and Governance Committee makes an initial determination as to whether to conduct a full evaluation of the candidate based on the information provided to the Committee and the Committee’s own knowledge of the candidate, which may be supplemented by the Committee through its own inquiries. If the Committee determines that additional consideration is warranted, it may request a professional search firm to gather additional information about the candidate. The Committee will evaluate director nominees, including nominees that are submitted to DRC by a stockholder, taking into consideration certain criteria, including the candidate’s industry knowledge and experience, wisdom, integrity, actual or potential conflicts of interest, skills such as understanding of finance and marketing, and educational and professional background. The Committee will also assess the candidate’s qualifications as an independent director under the current independence standards of the NYSE. In addition, the Committee will consider the prospective candidate in light of the current composition of the Board and the collective Board members’ skills, expertise, industry and regulatory knowledge, and diversity of perspectives. The candidate must also have time available to devote to Board activities and the ability to work collegially and to serve the interests of all stockholders. In the case of candidates recommended by stockholders, the Committee will also consider the capability of the candidate to discharge his or her fiduciary obligations to all stockholders. As necessary, DRC may engage the services of a third party for a fee to identify and evaluate prospective nominees. Mr. Snider, who joined the Board during 2009, was identified by a reputable third party search firm to the Company.
In determining whether to recommend a director for re-election, the Nominating and Governance Committee considers the director’s past attendance at meetings and participation in and contribution to the activities of the Board.
DRC’s Nominating and Governance Committee will consider recommendations for candidates for the Board of Directors received from its stockholders. Any stockholder wishing to recommend a candidate for consideration by the Nominating and Governance Committee should submit the recommendation in writing to the Nominating and Governance Committee, care of the Company’s Corporate Secretary and must include: (i) the name of the stockholder making the recommendation; (ii) the recommended candidate’s name and a brief resume setting forth the recommended candidate’s business and educational background and qualifications for service; (iii) a summary of the recommended candidate’s qualifications for membership on the Board; (iv) the number of shares of the Company’s common stock owned beneficially or of record by both the stockholder making the recommendation
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and the recommended candidate; and (v) a notarized consent signed by the recommended candidate stating the recommended candidate’s willingness to be nominated and to serve if elected. The Nominating and Governance Committee may request additional information from the stockholder making the recommendationand/or the recommended candidate. The Nominating and Governance Committee will evaluate candidates recommended by stockholders using the same process and criteria that are used in evaluating candidates through the normal process of the Nominating and Governance Committee, with the additional consideration described above.
In accordance with DRC’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, any stockholder entitled to vote for the election of directors at an Annual Meeting may nominate persons for election as directors. For the 2011 Annual Meeting, a stockholder may nominate persons for election as directors only if the Secretary of DRC receives written notice of any such nominations no earlier than January 11, 2011, and no later than February 10, 2011. Any stockholder notice of intention to nominate a director shall include all of the information required by DRC Bylaws, including:
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| • | the name and address of the stockholder (and the beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, if any); |
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| • | the class and number of shares of DRC that are beneficially owned by the stockholder (and any such beneficial owner), as of the dates and along with the additional related information set forth in the DRC bylaws; |
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| • | the name of the person nominated by the stockholder; |
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| • | all other information regarding such nominee as would be required in a proxy statement filed pursuant to applicable rules promulgated by the SEC or otherwise required by Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act; and |
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| • | the written consent of the nominee to being named in the proxy statement and to serve as a director if elected; and |
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| • | a representation that the stockholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such nomination. |
Compensation Committee
Our Compensation Committee currently consists of Louis A. Raspino, who serves as Chairman, Rita V. Foley and Joseph C. Winkler III. The Compensation Committee is responsible for discharging the responsibilities of the Board with respect to DRC and its subsidiaries’ compensation programs including the compensation of key employees and executives. The Compensation Committee’s authorities and responsibilities include: (1) monitoring governance standards, rule changes, the impact of new legislation and related practices and suggesting changes to the Committee’s charter to the Board; (2) forming and delegating specific responsibilities on a project or issue basis to asub-committee or other authorized individual; (3) conducting an annual performance self-evaluation; (4) selecting, retaining, and terminating an independent compensation consulting firm to assist in the evaluation of CEO or executive officer compensation; (5) periodically establishing and reviewing the overall compensation philosophy of the Company, (6) recommending for approval by the independent directors of the full Board the goals and objectives relevant to CEO compensation, including annual performance objectives, and the CEO’s compensation; (7) for other executive officers, reviewing the goals and objectives relevant to their underlying compensation programs and the relative benchmarks and benchmarking process used to establish the awards and reviewing and approving the CEO’s annual recommendations for compensation; (8) preparing and providing the Compensation Committee report on executive compensation in the annual proxy statement and reviewing and participating in the development of the narratives and tables to be included in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis in the annual proxy statement; (9) reviewing, at least annually, the Company’s compensation policies and practices of compensating its employees, including non-executive officers, as they relate to the Company’s risk management practices and risk-taking initiatives, and determining whether such policies and practices create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company; (10) reviewing, at least annually, management’s recommendations for the Company’s annual incentive plan, its competitiveness and financial implications of funding and payouts, including associated award criteria; (11) reviewing and approving all executive perquisite programs; (12) monitoring the Company’s long-term incentive programs; (13) reviewing and approving all employment and compensation agreements and contracts for executive officers; (14) reviewing and approving
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change-in-control protection offered by the Company to its employees; and (15) providing recommendations to the Board on such programs that are subject to Board approval. The Compensation Committee has adopted a written charter, a copy of which may be obtained as described above.
More information describing the Committee’s processes and procedures for considering and determining executive compensation, including the role of consultants in determining or recommending the amount or form of director and executive compensation is included in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis.
As discussed above, the Board has concluded that Ms. Foley and Messrs. Raspino and Winkler are independent.
Potential Conflicts of Interests of Compensation Consultants
The Compensation Committee retained Mercer, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (“MMC”), to assist the Compensation Committee with its responsibilities related to the Company’s executive and Board of Directors compensation programs. Mercer’s fees for executive compensation consulting to the Compensation Committee in 2009 were $234,920.
Mercer provided analysis/perspectives to the Board or Compensation Committee of the Board on the following items in 2009 related to Dresser-Rand’s executive compensation programs: dilution and overhang levels vs. peers, analysis of stockholder value transfer vs. peers, change in control severance analysis, perspectives and details on performance-based equity programs, typical long-term incentive vehicle prevalence and weighting, peer group evaluation, updates on regulatory environment, analysis of equity-related retirement provisions, incentive plan analysis, review of incentive compensation targets and payouts over the past three years, and review of executive compensation.
During 2009, the Company decided to continue its engagement with Mercer and its MMC affiliates to provide other services unrelated to executive compensation, which have been approved by the Compensation Committee. Mercer and its MMC affiliates had provided these services to the Company prior to the Compensation Committee selecting Mercer as its independent consultant. The aggregate fees paid for these other services were $175,782 (all figures converted to U.S. Dollars as of December 31, 2009). These fees were primarily to purchase a variety of U.S. and international compensation surveys, U.S. insurance premium administration and benefits brokerage services in Norway and Malaysia.
Although the Company retains Mercer and its MMC affiliates for other services, the Compensation Committee is confident that the advice it receives from the individual executive compensation consultant is objective and not influenced by Mercer’s or its affiliates’ relationships with the Company because of the procedures Mercer and the Compensation Committee have in place. These include:
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| • | The consultant receives no incentive or other compensation based on the fees charged to the Company for other services provided by Mercer or any of its affiliates; |
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| • | The consultant is not responsible for selling other Mercer or affiliate services to the Company; |
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| • | Mercer’s professional standards prohibit the individual consultant from considering any other relationships Mercer or any of its affiliates may have with the Company in rendering his or her advice and recommendations; |
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| • | The Compensation Committee has the sole authority to retain and terminate the executive compensation consultant; |
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| • | The consultant has direct access to the Compensation Committee without management intervention; |
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| • | The Compensation Committee evaluates the quality and objectivity of the services provided by the consultant each year and determines whether to continue to retain the consultant; and |
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| • | The protocols for the engagement (described below) limit how the consultant may interact with management. |
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While it is necessary for the consultant to interact with management to gather information, the Compensation Committee has adopted protocols governing if and when the consultant’s advice and recommendations can be shared with management. These protocols are included in the consultant’s engagement letter. This approach protects the Compensation Committee’s ability to receive objective advice from the consultant so that the Compensation Committee may make independent decisions about executive pay at the Company. The Compensation Committee has also directed that the Company is not to engage Mercer for any consulting compensation advice other than that which is provided to the Compensation Committee to facilitate decisions regarding executive compensation.
Diversity
The Company believes that a diverse board has benefits that can enhance the performance of the Company. The Nominating and Governance Committee charter provides that the Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for establishing criteria for the selection of new directors to serve on the Board, including any policies regarding the consideration of director candidates recommended by stockholders. The charter provides that the Committee will identify, screen and recommend nominees to the Board based on an assessment of each nominee’s particular experience, qualifications, attributes or skills and potential to contribute to diversity. As described above, the Committee reviews and assesses its performance and the adequacy of its charter annually. The Corporate Governance Guidelines emphasize that, as noted above, collectively Board members will bring to the Company a broad range of complementary and diverse skills, expertise, industry and regulatory knowledge, and diversity of perspectives in order to build a capable, responsive, and effective Board.
Mandatory Retirement Age
The Board of Directors adopted a policy that no director shall be nominated for election or re-election to the Board after reaching the age of 72.
Board Resignation
The Board of Directors adopted a policy that prior to any change of a director’s employment during his or her tenure as a director, that director shall offer to tender his or her resignation for consideration by the Board of Directors. After proper evaluation, the Board shall advise the director of its decision whether to accept the offer.
Succession Planning
The Board plans for succession to the position of Chief Executive Officer as well as certain other senior management positions. To assist the Board, the Chief Executive Officer annually provides the Board with an assessment of senior managers and of their potential to succeed him. He also provides the Board with an assessment of persons considered potential successors to certain senior management positions. The Board meets annually to evaluate such succession and to oversee the Company’s management development process. Also, during 2009, the Nominating and Governance Committee adopted a procedure to facilitate communication and outline a process in the event our Chief Executive Officer is unable to perform his duties due to unforeseen circumstances.
Risk Management Oversight and Board Leadership Structure
Our full Board oversees our executive officers’ identification and management of risks of the Company, with the Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Governance Committees overseeing risks in accordance with each Committee’s charter. The Board’s oversight is fostered by the leadership structure of the Board, as the Chairman of the Board and each Committee chairperson are independent directors.
The Board sets an appropriate “tone at the top” with a commitment to maximizing stockholder returns while maintaining the highest standards of business ethics, governance and integrity. The Board reviews and provides guidance to our management in developing our long range plans and annual operating plan as well as individual objectives of our executive officers. The Board has promoted the formation of our Enterprise Risk Council, chaired by the Chief Executive Officer and facilitated by the Director of Global Risk Management. The Council’s membership is comprised of senior managers from across all functions of the Company. In concert with the Company’s annual assessment of its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, the long range plan and the
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annual operating plan, the Council identifies and assesses the Company’s risks, including strategic, operational, financial reporting and compliance risks. The Council is responsible for mitigating such risks and monitoring the Company’s progress. Its findings are communicated to the Board quarterly.
Code of Conduct
DRC has a Code of Conduct that applies to all employees, executive officers and Directors of DRC. The Code of Conduct is posted on DRC’s website,www.dresser-rand.com,and is available in print upon written request by any stockholder at no cost. The request should be submitted to DRC,c/o Mark F. Mai, West8 Tower, Suite 1000, 10205 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas, 77042. Any waiver of any provision of the Code of Conduct granted to an executive officer or Director may only be made by the Board or a Committee of the Board authorized to do so and will be promptly disclosed on DRC’s website atwww.dresser-rand.comor in a report onForm 8-K.
Communications with the Board
Stockholders and other parties may communicate with one or more members of the Board, the Chairman of the Board, or the non-management Directors as a group by the following means:
E-Mail: mmai@dresser-rand.com
Mail: Board of Directors
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| Attn: | Corporate Secretary |
West8 Tower, Suite 1000
10205 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77042
Stockholders and other parties should clearly specify in each communication the name of the individual Director or group of Directors to whom the communication is addressed. Stockholder and other party communications will be promptly forwarded by the Secretary of DRC to the specified Director addressee. Communications addressed to the full Board of Directors or the group of non-management directors will be forwarded by the Secretary of DRC to the Chairman of the Board. Concerns relating to accounting, internal controls or auditing matters are immediately brought to the attention of the Chairman of the Audit Committee and handled in accordance with procedures established by the Audit Committee.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth the names and positions of our current executive officers and their age as of March 16, 2010:
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Name | | Age | | Office or Position Held |
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Vincent R. Volpe Jr. | | | 52 | | | President and Chief Executive Officer |
Mark E. Baldwin | | | 56 | | | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Raymond L. Carney Jr. | | | 42 | | | Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer |
James A. Garman | | | 54 | | | Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer |
Nicoletta Giadrossi | | | 43 | | | Vice President and General Manager, Europe, Middle East and Africa |
Mark F. Mai | | | 49 | | | Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
Luciano Mozzato | | | 52 | | | Executive Vice President, Services Worldwide |
Jesus Pacheco | | | 52 | | | Executive Vice President, New Equipment Worldwide |
Christopher Rossi | | | 45 | | | Vice President, Technology and Business Development |
Jerome T. Walker | | | 46 | | | Vice President and General Manager, Americas and Asia Pacific |
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Vincent R. Volpe Jr. is our President and Chief Executive Officer and has served as a member of our Board of Directors since October 2004. Mr. Volpe has been with Dresser-Rand Group Inc., its affiliates and predecessor companies to the business since 1981. He has held positions in Engineering, Marketing and Operations residing and working in various countries, including: Applications Engineer in Caracas, Venezuela; Vice President Dresser-Rand Japan in Tokyo, Japan; Vice President Marketing and Engineering Steam and Turbo Products in Olean, New York; Executive Vice President European Operations in Le Havre, France; and President Dresser-Rand Europe in London, U.K. In January 1997, Mr. Volpe became President of Dresser-Rand Company’s Turbo Product Division, a position he held until September 2000. In April 1999, he assumed the additional role of Chief Operating Officer for Dresser-Rand Company, responsible for worldwide manufacturing, technology and supply chain management, serving in that position until September 2000. Mr. Volpe became President and Chief Executive Officer of Dresser- Rand Company in September 2000. He has served as an independent director of FMC Corporation since 2007. Mr. Volpe earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a B.A. in German literature, both from Lehigh University.
Mark E. Baldwinhas been our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since August 2007. Prior to joining the Company, he served as the Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer of Veritas DGC Inc., a public energy service company from August 2004 until February 2007. From April 2003 to July 2004 he was an Operating Partner at First Reserve Corporation. Mr. Baldwin served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for NexitraOne, LLC, a voice and data products distribution company, from October 2001 to August 2002. Other previous experience includes four years as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Pentacon Inc. and 17 years with Keystone International Inc. in a variety of finance and operations positions, including Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer, and President of the Industrial Valves and Controls Group. On May 23, 2002, thirteen months after Mr. Baldwin’s departure from Pentacon, Pentacon and its subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. In its lastForm 10-Q filed on August 14, 2002, Pentacon cited the downturn in its business, a substantial portion of which involved sales to the aerospace industry, since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington D.C., combined with the decrease in credit availability as reasons for it seeking the protection of the federal bankruptcy laws. Mr. Baldwin has served as an independent director of Seahawk Drilling, Inc. since August 2009. Mr. Baldwin has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University and an MBA from Tulane University.
Raymond L. Carney Jr. joined Dresser-Rand in August 2008 as Corporate Controller and was elected to the position of Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer in November 2008. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Carney worked for Alcoa, Inc., an aluminum producer, between 2002 to 2008, where he was Group Controller from 2006 to 2008 for a $10 billion global division with 27 plants around the world and headquartered in New York City and previously served as Manager of Financial Transactions and Policy. Prior to his time with Alcoa, he spent 13 years with Ernst & Young, a big four public accounting firm, in their Pittsburgh office serving a variety of clients including several that were publicly owned. Mr. Carney is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with a BS from Penn State University.
James A. Garmanwas named Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer for Dresser Rand in June 2009. Prior to joining Dresser-Rand, Mr. Garman was Vice President, Human Resources for the Infrastructure and Architecture sector of Jacobs Engineering, a provider of technical, professional and construction services, from October 2007 to May 2009. He held the position of Chief Human Resources Officer for Carter & Burgess, an architecture, engineering, design and planning firm, from October 2005 until its acquisition by Jacobs Engineering in October 2007. Before joining Carter & Burgess, Mr. Garman worked with W.W. Grainger, Inc. as Senior Vice President, Human Resources in 2004 and prior to that he spent 15 years with the Northrop Grumman Corporation, Inc. (formerly TRW) where he held a variety of progressively responsible roles within the Human Resources function. Mr. Garman earned a B.A. in Communication Arts from California Lutheran University and a M.S. in Human Resources Management and Development from Chapman University.
Nicoletta Giadrossihas been our Vice President and General Manager, Europe, Middle East and Africa since January 2009. In this leadership position, Ms. Giadrossi is responsible for our production operations in France, United Kingdom, Germany and Norway and for all new equipment and aftermarket sales and support operations serving Eastern and Western Europe, Scandinavia, Middle East, Africa, and Russia. Prior to joining the Company, she restructured and managed the divestiture of her family’s textile and real estate businesses in France between
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2006 and 2008. From 2005 until 2006, she served as an operating partner of LBO France, a niche French private equity firm. Before that she held several leadership roles in General Electric between 1995 and 2005, the most recent one being General Manager, Downstream division. Within General Electric, Ms. Giadrossi also oversaw several business units in the GE Equipment Management division, as a Chief Operating Officer for GE European Equipment Management, and as General Manager for GE Fleet Services, Italy. Ms Giadrossi also had experience in strategic management consulting with the Boston Consulting Group early in her career. Ms Giadrossi earned a Bachelor Degree in Mathematics and Economics from Yale University, and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
Mark F. Maihas been our Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since October 2007. Prior to that Mr. Mai held various positions at Cooper Industries, an international manufacturing company, between 1991 and 2000 and 2003 and 2007. As Cooper’s Associate General Counsel, Corporate, from 2003 until 2007, Mr. Mai led a team that handled the legal needs of Cooper’s business operations and its mergers and acquisitions. As Cooper’s Associate General Counsel, Litigation from 1999 to 2000, he managed Cooper’s global litigation issues. From 2000 to 2003, Mr. Mai was a partner at the law firm of Thompson & Knight LLP, heading up the Corporate and Securities practice for its Austin, Texas office. He began his professional career in 1986 as an associate of Baker, Brown, Sharman & Parker, which later merged into Thompson & Knight LLP. Mr. Mai earned a B.B.A. with a concentration in finance from the University of Notre Dame and a J.D. from the University of Texas.
Luciano Mozzatohas been our Executive Vice President, Services Worldwide, responsible for all Product Services including Field Operations since January 2009. Mr. Mozzato has held a variety of leadership positions in sales, operations, and the aftermarket business within United Technology’s Otis Elevator division, the world’s largest company in the manufacture, installation and service of elevators, escalators and moving walkways, including from 2004 until 2008 as Vice President and General Manager of their Latin America business and Vice President and General Manager of their Italian subsidiary. In addition, Mr. Mozzato served as the Vice President of Global Supply Chain and Logistics Worldwide from 2000 until 2004. Prior to that he served in United Technology’s Italian subsidiary as Product Director, Director of Engineering, and Field Service Manager. He started his career as a mechanic and earned a diploma in electronic engineering from the ITI Institute in Italy. Mr. Mozzato also holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Hartford University in the U.S.
Jesus M. Pachecowas appointed Executive Vice President, New Equipment Worldwide in June 2007. He is responsible for all company new equipment sales and client services worldwide. Mr. Pacheco has been with Dresser-Rand Group Inc., its affiliates and predecessor companies to the business since 1990. He has held various leadership positions in Application Engineering, Extended Scope and Marketing for Dresser-Rand Company, including responsibilities as Regional Director for the former Soviet Union, based in London, UK, and Marketing Manager for the European Served Area (Europe, Africa and the Middle East) based at our manufacturing facility in Le Havre, France. From January 1999 to August 2000, Mr. Pacheco served as Vice President, Client Services for the Latin America Region. He assumed Client Services responsibilities for the Americas Region in August 2000, expanding them to include the European Served Area in July 2006. Mr. Pacheco has over 27 years of experience in the global energy industry, including 8 years with a major oil and gas operator in Venezuela, working with compressors, turbines and compression facilities for process, oil and gas applications. Mr. Pacheco earned a BSE in Mechanical Engineering and a BS in Economics from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.
Christopher Rossihas served as our Vice President, Technology and Business Development since January 2009. Mr. Rossi has been with Dresser-Rand Group Inc., its affiliates and predecessor companies to the business since 1987. He has held various leadership positions within Dresser-Rand in the areas of Engineering, Production, Materials Management, and Supply Chain Management. From February 2007 until December 2008, Mr. Rossi was our Executive Vice President, Product Services. In that role, he had worldwide responsibility for sales of our aftermarket parts and services business. Prior to that, he had been our Vice President and General Manager, North American Operations since October 2003, and was responsible for all U.S. plants, and worldwide development engineering. Mr. Rossi served as Vice President and General Manager Painted Post Operation from February 2001 to October 2003 and as Vice President, Supply Chain Management Worldwide from March 1998 to January 2001. Mr. Rossi earned a B.S.M.E. from Virginia Tech and an M.B.A. in Corporate Finance and Operations Management from the University of Rochester’s Simon School of Business.
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Jerome T. Walkerhas been our Vice President and General Manager, Americas and Asia Pacific since January 2009. He served as General Manager, Olean from September until December 2008. Prior to joining Dresser-Rand, Mr. Walker held various senior leadership roles at Honeywell International, a diversified technology and manufacturing company, between 1993 and 2008. His most recent position was Vice President of Global Operations from 2005 to 2008 where he led all aspects of Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Project Operations for Honeywell’s global industrial automation and control business. Prior to that, he led Honeywell’s Europe, Middle East and Africa industrial business unit for three years as Vice President and General Manager, based in Brussels, Belgium. He also served as Vice President of Sales, Vice President of Business Development and Director of Marketing at Honeywell. He started his career in operations at the BP (formerly Amoco) Whiting Refinery outside Chicago and also worked in Product Marketing at Emerson Electric. Mr. Walker has a BS in Chemical Engineering from The University of Notre Dame and an MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management.
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Overview
We believe executive compensation has a direct impact on the Company’s business performance, and therefore on stockholder value. Our goal is to design and implement an executive compensation program that maximizes value to stockholders over the long term. We also believe an effective program should reinforce our corporate objectives in simple and easy to understand ways, yet be flexible enough to remain effective in each of the global employment markets in which we operate. To that end, our Compensation Committee, working with our human resources compensation team and outside advisors, has designed a program to:
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| • | align our leadership’s financial interest with our stockholders; |
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| • | promote consistent and long-term growth; |
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| • | attract and retain talented executive officers; |
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| • | reward individuals for overall Company, functional and business unit results; and |
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| • | recognize individual responsibility, leadership, performance, skills, knowledge and impact. |
In this section, we discuss and analyze our compensation policies and decisions with respect to the material elements of compensation for each of our named executive officers in 2009 in light of the foregoing goals and objectives. For 2009 these named executive officers were as follows:
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| • | Vincent R. Volpe Jr.,President and Chief Executive Officer |
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| • | Mark E. Baldwin, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
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| • | Mark F. Mai,Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
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| • | Nicoletta Giadrossi, Vice President & General Manager, Europe, Middle East and Africa |
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| • | Christopher Rossi, Vice President, Technology and Business Development |
The Roles of the Compensation Committee, Our Executive Officers and Our Compensation Consultants in Named Executive Officer Compensation
With respect to compensation for our named executive officers, the Compensation Committee has three primary roles: (a) selecting and structuring the elements of executive compensation, (b) reviewing and approving the Chief Executive Officer’s recommendations regarding compensation decisions for his direct reports and other executive officers, including all of the other named executive officers, and (c) making recommendations to the independent directors of the full Board regarding our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation.
To help achieve these roles, the Compensation Committee engaged Mercer (U.S.) Inc. as its expert independent compensation consulting firm (its “Advisor”). The Committee instructed its Advisor to work with our human resources compensation team to obtain and review compensation data and trends, and give input prior to finalizing management’s proposals for presentation to the Compensation Committee. In November 2008, consistent with the process it has followed for the past three years, the Compensation Committee requested that its Advisor conduct a competitive review of emerging executive compensation trends and a detailed review of our executive compensation program including base salary, annual incentive compensation targets and program metrics, total cash compensation, and long-term incentives. The data contained within this study provided the foundation for the Compensation Committee’s 2009 compensation decisions. We will discuss the use of this data in the sections that follow. Additionally, throughout its engagement with its Advisor, the Compensation Committee also called upon its Advisor to:
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| • | provide updates regarding regulatory changes affecting program design and disclosure; |
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| • | compile and present market trends, practices and data; |
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| • | assist in the design of program elements; and |
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| • | provide overall guidance and advice about the efficacy of these elements and their fit with our compensation philosophy and program objectives. |
During 2009, the Compensation Committee met nine times. Each meeting concluded with an executive session in which the Committee met privately with its Advisor on various topics including executive compensation matters. The Compensation Committee met four times from November 2008 through January 2009, primarily to discuss and set 2009 executive compensation. During an executive session meeting in January 2009, the Committee and its Advisor analyzed market data and formulated its recommendations to the independent directors of the full Board on all elements of the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation for 2009. The Committee met again in February 2010 to finalize annual incentive payments for 2009.
Our Chief Executive Officer works with our Chief Administrative Officer to develop recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding compensation decisions for his direct reports and other executive officers, including all of the other named executive officers.
Our Program Elements
The material elements of our executive compensation program for 2009 for our named executive officers are listed below, together with the principal program objectives that we believe each element supports.
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Base Salary | | • foundation for a market competitive package to attract and retain key talent |
| • recognizes individual responsibility, leadership, performance, skills, knowledge and impact |
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Annual Cash Incentive Program | | • rewards individuals for Company, business unit and individual performance |
| • reinforces strategic initiatives of the Company |
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Long-Term Equity Incentive Program | | • aligns leadership’s financial interests with stockholders |
| • facilitates achievement of stock ownership guidelines |
| • significantly weighted to promote benefits based on performance |
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Post-Employment (Retirement and Severance) Benefits | | • necessary to attract and retain key talent |
While each of our named executive officers receives healthcare and other benefits available to our employees generally, we do not consider these to be a material part of our annual compensation decisions for these officers.
Base Salary. Base salary is the foundation of our executive compensation program. We believe it is a significant factor in attracting and retaining our key executives.
Annual Cash Incentive Program. Our annual cash incentive program is designed to reward individuals for Company, business unit and individual performance. The targeted level is expressed as a percentage of the executive’s base salary. The target percentage is determined based on market data. Achievement of the targeted level is determined by reference to various financial and individual objectives, which we annually review and revise to ensure that the program continues to align our key management’s financial interests with those of our stockholders, and to reward individual performance towards key initiatives and strategies of the Company. Financial objectives account for 80% of the award potential and are tied to financial results of operations of either the Company as a whole, or specific business unit results. Individual objectives account for 20% of the award potential, are generally tied to four or five items within the control of, or significantly impacted by, the individual and support specific goals that are set by the CEO and reviewed by the Compensation Committee. For 2009, the independent directors of our Board also determined that our CEO’s award would be determined on the same basis as all other executives; and so the Board removed the 10% discretionary component that was unique to the CEO for the 2008 program year. This action increased the overall weighting of financial criteria for our CEO’s incentive payment and decreased the discretionary weight. Accordingly, while the 2008 incentive program determined the CEO’s award based on 70% financial objectives, 20% individual objectives and 10% determined at the discretion of
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the independent directors of the full Board after the conclusion of the performance period, the 2009 program year award was determined based on 80% financial objectives and 20% individual objectives.
Long-term Equity Incentive Program. All equity grants in 2009, including those made to our named executive officers, were awarded under the 2008 Stock Incentive Plan approved by our stockholders. The aggregate value of each grant made to a named executive officer was determined after considering market data.
In 2009, the grants were awarded in the form of stock options and restricted stock. Because the Compensation Committee firmly believes that stock options are a performance-based benefit, stock options (or stock appreciation rights), constituted the majority (60%) of the value of the overall grant to our named executive officers. The remaining 40% of the 2009 award consisted of restricted stock (or restricted stock units).
In January 2009, the Committee approved a methodology of using the average closing price for the 30 calendar days prior to the grant date to determine the number of restricted stock awards granted. This methodology provides for an averaging of the price used to determine the number of shares granted by reducing the impact from fluctuations in stock price on the day of grant. This methodology also serves to minimize any significant increases or decreases in the value of restricted stock grants versus what was approved by the Compensation Committee. However, at the time this methodology was approved there were only twenty days remaining before the 2009 grant date, therefore a 20 day average closing price was used for the February 2009 grants. The number of stock options awarded to employees was determined based on an estimated option value derived from a Black-Scholes calculation using a20-day average stock price. The Black-Scholes value for the February 16, 2009 grants was $11.81, using the closing price ($21.59) on the date of grant. The average closing price for the 30 calendar day period prior to the grant was used for all subsequent grant dates in 2009.
Vesting of equity grants under the 2009 program occurs 25% per year on each anniversary of the grant. Options and stock appreciation rights expire if not exercised within 10 years of grant. We believe our equity incentive program aligns employee financial interests with those of our stockholders due to the multi-year vesting design.
Post-Employment (Severance and Retirement) Benefits. We believe post-employment benefits are an essential, although less prominent, part of a competitive compensation program necessary to attract and retain key talent. The majority of our U.S. executives are eligible to participate in both a qualified retirement savings program and a non-qualified deferred compensation program. In 2009 we entered into agreements with the named executive officers and certain other key executives that define the compensation and benefits they are entitled to upon a termination in certain circumstances, including following a change in control. These agreements require the execution of a release of claims and a non-compete agreement as a condition to receiving any post-employment compensation under the agreements. See “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”
Perquisites
The Compensation Committee has eliminated the use of perquisites for named executive officers based in the United States. Perquisites outside of the United States were limited to providing vehicles where we have found their provision is a prevalent, competitive market practice. The Compensation Committee also regularly reviews potential perquisites to help ensure that they are minimized in all markets. As such, perquisites are not viewed as a significant element of our compensation structure.
How We Generally Make Compensation Decisions
Our compensation goals and objectives drive our decision-making process. To that end, decisions about individual levels of each compensation element begin with a thorough review of relevant market data. The market data provides the broadly defined boundaries within which we make specific awards. We then evaluate numerous factors before arriving at each specific determination. The use of market data coupled with an effort to individualize decisions for each executive reflects our philosophy of providing market competitive compensation, while at the same time rewarding individual responsibility, leadership, performance, skills, knowledge and impact on our Company. In order to ensure objectivity and alignment with the market, a lead consultant from the Compensation Committee’s Advisor attended each Compensation Committee meeting held in 2009 in order to provide input on competitive compensation practices and advice on related matters.
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• First Step — Defining the Range with Market Data
Because we believe market data should play a fundamental role in informing our decisions about program design, compensation and performance targets, and individual awards, the Committee instructs its Advisor to conduct an annual market review of the value of our compensation program to our named executive officer positions and other top leadership positions to assess whether we are providing competitive compensation to our executives. Market data provides the basis for establishing targeted compensation levels for each of our named executive officers’ positions. However, when determining the actual compensation level for each named executive officer, their individual responsibility, leadership, performance, skills, knowledge and impact are considered.
• Selection of Market Data
We use two types of market data:peer group dataand broader basedsurvey data. In 2009, we utilized peer group data as the sole basis for determining compensation levels for our CEO and CFO positions because we felt there was significant comparability in terms of position and responsibility with the corresponding positions at the peer companies. However, for this same period we found the position responsibilities between our remaining named executives and the named executives within the peer companies to be significantly less comparable and therefore we relied upon broad based survey data to come up with a better position and responsibility match for these officers.
Peer Group Data. We collect peer group data from publicly available proxy statements. Based on data collected by its Advisor and our management team, the Compensation Committee determines which group of companies comprises our peer group based upon similarities in:
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| • | annual revenue; |
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| • | business cycles; |
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| • | types of investment risk; |
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| • | product offerings and customer base; and |
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| • | capitalization. |
In the fourth quarter of 2008, the Compensation Committee reviewed the peer group with the objective of better aligning the attributes of the peer group companies with its stated objectives and made changes to the group for 2009. Specifically, two companies (Grant Prideco, Inc. and W-H Energy Services, Inc) were removed due to being acquired; and three companies (Global Industries, RPC, Inc. and TETRA Technologies) were added because of their alignment with our industry category and to position Dresser-Rand near the median revenue size of our newly established peer group. We also believe that this group represents the types of companies we compete with for executive talent. For 2009, the list of 16 peer companies consisted of:
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BJ Services Company | | Global Industries* | | Oil States International, Inc. |
Cameron International Corporation | | Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. | | RPC, Inc.* |
Exterran Holdings, Inc. | | IDEX Corporation | | Superior Energy Services, Inc. |
Flowserve Corporation | | NATCO Group, Inc. | | TETRA Technologies, Inc.* |
FMC Technologies, Inc. | | Oceaneering International, Inc. | | Wilbros Group, Inc. |
Gardner Denver, Inc. | | | | |
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* | | Denotes newly added peer company |
Survey Data. The Advisor has an extensive database of executive compensation data that they regularly collect and analyze. Their surveys incorporate data from a broad range of public and private companies. Together with the Advisor, the human resources compensation team identifies key job responsibilities for each named executive officer and then matches the job responsibilities to comparable job descriptions contained within the Advisor’s executive compensation survey sources for positions other than CEO and CFO.
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• Use of Market Data in Decision-Making for 2009
We use market data to provide a starting point for our evaluation of compensation levels for base salary, total cash compensation (base plus actual annual cash incentives), short-term incentive targets as a percentage of base salary, and long-term incentives. For each of these elements of compensation, we identify position-comparable 25th, 50th (median), and 75th percentiles. These data points help set a general range of compensation levels for our named executive officers and meet our positioning objectives. For each element, the target level of compensation awarded is generally within the 25th to 75th percentile range absent extraordinary circumstances. However, where a particular executive’s level of compensation falls in relation to these end points is a function of several subjective factors, which are discussed below. We used peer group data to determine the values for the CEO and CFO roles. For our other named executive officers, however, we found position responsibilities to be significantly less comparable in the peer group and therefore we relied upon broad based survey data.
At least annually we compare the total compensation packages of our named executive officers to market in order to proactively identify any variations that may be developing and to help ensure that the total compensation mix continues to meet our objectives. For 2009, the results of our CEO and CFO compensation review (conducted using proxy data on our peers) concluded that the mix of total compensation elements (at target) and their relative weights (see Figure 1) remain market competitive.
Figure 1
The following charts depict peer group allocation of the targeted total compensation (“base salary, short-term incentive at target (“STI”) and long-term incentive (“LTI”)) for the CEO and CFO positions. This analysis indicates that the Company’s compensation mix remains in line with current market practice.
• Second Step — Evaluating Individual Circumstances
To determine the appropriate use of the market data, we consider several person-specific factors. Our CEO subjectively evaluates whether the responsibility, leadership, performance, skills, knowledge and impact of each executive justifies targeting a specific element more toward the 25th, 50th or 75th percentile (or potentially outside
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such boundaries), and makes applicable recommendations to the Compensation Committee. Our Compensation Committee considers the same factors with respect to our CEO and makes any applicable recommendations to the independent directors of the full Board.
• Third Step — Finalizing the Decision
The independent directors of our Board evaluate the recommendations of our Compensation Committee with respect to our CEO’s compensation, including the Compensation Committee’s rationale for where particular elements fall within the market data, and for any exercise of discretion in the recommendation, and has the final authority to approve, disapprove or make changes to compensation recommendations for the CEO. For 2009, the independent directors of the full Board unanimously approved all of the Compensation Committee’s recommendations for the CEO.
The Compensation Committee makes a similar judgment about the CEO’s recommendations regarding our other named executives. For 2009, following a discussion with the Company’s management and the Advisor, the Committee, after providing input, approved the CEO’s recommendations.
The results of our final compensation decisions for 2009 reflect the decision process described above. After taking into consideration the effect of individual circumstances for each position, actual 2009 base pay and cash incentive targets established in 2009 for our named executive officers fell between the 50th percentile and 75th percentile of the market compensation data.
Our 2009 Compensation Decisions
The Business Environment as We Began 2009
The Company had an outstanding year in 2008, achieving records in many important categories, including bookings, backlog, sales, operating income as a percent of sales, and net income. We recognized as we began 2009 that the market for new unit orders was changing as the economy continued to slow and end users, for tactical reasons, were choosing to delay purchase decisions on some major projects. However, we believed that Dresser-Rand was well positioned going into 2009 — with strong leadership, a deep backlog of work, and confidence in our historically dependable aftermarket business.
The business environment was factored into all of our 2009 compensation decisions. Also factored into our decisions about the allocation of our program elements were concerns over the challenges of anticipated, continued slower bookings in 2009 and an increased need for working capital.
Our material decisions affecting our named executive officer compensation for 2009 consisted of:
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| • | determining appropriate changes to base salary and target annual incentive payments (as a percentage of base); |
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| • | determining the performance metrics for our Annual Incentive Program; |
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| • | determining long-term incentive grant values; |
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| • | conducting a competitive analysis, and proposing to the independent directors of the full Board all elements of the CEO’s 2009 compensation. |
New Executive Hire
After Walter J. Nye announced his resignation in 2008, Dresser-Rand initiated a search for a candidate to become its new Vice President & General Manager for European, Middle Eastern and African operations. After identifying and interviewing multiple candidates, we determined Ms. Nicoletta Giadrossi was the strongest candidate for the role based on the strength of her experience in managing large, complex organizations. To determine Ms. Giadrossi’s compensation, including base salary, annual incentive target, and long-term incentive grant we relied on market data from our Advisor and, recognizing the importance of this position to Dresser-Rand and Ms. Giadrossi’s individual leadership, skills, knowledge and anticipated impact, we subjectively positioned her cash compensation above the 50th percentile of available market data. The Committee also approved a long-term
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equity award as part of the offer agreement. An offer of employment was made to Ms. Giadrossi in late 2008. She accepted our offer of employment and joined Dresser-Rand in January 2009 in LeHavre, France.
Adjusting Base Salaries
We identified a market based salary for each named executive officer. We then made a subjective assessment of each executive’s individual responsibility, leadership, performance, skills, knowledge and impact, and determined whether the base salary of each of our named executive officers other than our CEO was appropriately placed relative to our market guidelines. Further, we determined that the aggregate base salary increase budget forU.S.-based executives whose base salaries were generally aligned with the desired target market position would not exceed 3.5%. On this basis Messrs. Baldwin and Mai were each awarded a 3.5% increase in base salary. Mr. Rossi received a combined merit and market adjustment of 11.7% to his base pay. This amount was awarded in recognition of his outstanding performance in his expanding role. As Ms. Giadrossi was hired in January 2009, we determined that no adjustment was needed to her base pay.
Based on recommendations from our Compensation Committee, the independent directors of our Board set our CEO’s base salary in the same manner and determined that we should increase his base salary by 2.0% for 2009. The increase was the result of the following considerations:
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| • | our CEO’s leadership in the structuring of the organization to facilitate development of our leaders, successfully enhancing the flexibility of our manufacturing operations through the use of supply chain processes, securing strategic acquisitions that drive growth, expanding our international footprint to better service our customers’ needs, and improving the Company’s flexibility, all with controlled growth in operating expenses; |
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| • | based on our new peer group, our CEO’s existing base pay was above the 50th percentile of market; |
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| • | in the four years since becoming a publicly traded entity, our CEO’s leadership and knowledge of the Company, our industry and markets in which we operate has resulted in a solid trend of increasing performance against the Company’s financial and operational objectives; |
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| • | our CEO’s vigilance, focus and progress in maintaining an appropriate corporate culture in which conducting business safely, ethically and legally is of the highest priority; and |
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| • | our CEO’s compensation package does not contain any perquisite benefits while the majority of our peer group companies continue to provide such benefits to their CEOs. |
In consideration of the foregoing, and in light of our CEO’s overall responsibility, leadership, individual performance, skills, knowledge and impact, we provided an increase sufficient to maintain his base salary at approximately the same level of the market compensation data based on anticipated market-based wage increases. The Compensation Committee believed this position represents an appropriate alignment of his base salary compensation with the market.
Annual Incentive Program
In structuring the awards for 2009, the Compensation Committee reviewed incentive target levels (expressed as a percentage of base salary) for each named executive officer compared to market data. After evaluating the market data for each named executive officer with their Advisor, the Compensation Committee determined that no adjustment to the target incentive levels for the CEO or other named executive officers was warranted.
The Compensation Committee also set the objectives of the Annual Incentive Program (“AIP”) to ensure that the program continues to align our key managements’ financial interests with those of our stockholders, and to reward individual performance towards key initiatives and strategies of our Company. The independent directors of the full Board approved the objectives, compensation and performance targets recommended by the Compensation Committee for our CEO. All of our named executive officers are eligible for a non-equity annual incentive award.
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• Program Design
After reviewing the market data pertaining to maximum payout opportunities for the AIP, we determined that our current maximum total payout opportunity of 200% of target continued to be at the median market practice. The financial performance aspect of the program, which accounted for 80% of the program’s payout potential, was adjusted from 50% operating income and 30% Net Working Capital weighting in 2008 to 60% operating income and 20% Net Working Capital weighting in 2009 in order to place more emphasis on achieving our operating income targets.
Individual objectives account for the remaining 20% of the 2009 program’s payment potential. Our CEO had four individual objectives approved by the Board and all other named executive officers had five individual objectives. Individual objectives are intended to be generally within the control of, or significantly impacted by, the individual and support specific goals that are approved or reviewed by the Board or Compensation Committee, as applicable.
The maximum payout that can be generated for each incentive component (financial and individual) is 250% of target. However, while each component may generate a payout up to 250%, the overall maximum payout that can be earned is capped at 200% of target. This cap is consistent with available market data.
• Program Objectives.
The Compensation Committee reviewed the financial and individual objectives for our other named executive officers based on recommendations from our CEO, and recommended to the independent directors of the full Board the financial and individual objectives for the CEO. For 2009, financial objectives accounted for 80% of the award potential, and were tied to financial results of operations of either the Company as a whole or split between the overall Company and business unit results in the case of Ms. Giadrossi. In reviewing the threshold, target and maximum values of each financial objective, the Committee considered the following:
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| • | the aggregate cost of payments under various performance scenarios (threshold, target, maximum); and |
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| • | the analysis of the level of difficulty in achieving the program financial objectives. |
Individual objectives accounted for 20% of the award potential. The Compensation Committee assesses the performance of the CEO against pre-established objectives at the end of the year and makes payout recommendations to the independent directors of the full Board. The Compensation Committee also reviews the individual objectives Mr. Volpe recommends for his direct reports.
Financial Objectives. For 2009 the Compensation Committee determined that the corporate financial measures would consist of operating income and net working capital (“NWC”) as a percentage of sales. Operating income was weighted at 75% and the NWC at 25% of the financial component. For each of the named executive officers, these corporate financial objectives accounted for between 40% and 80% of the total incentive opportunity. Ms. Giadrossi had specific financial measures related to her business unit in addition to the corporate financial measures: 12.5% of her financial objectives was based on 2009 bookings for her business unit, 25% was based on the 2009 operating income for her business unit and 6.25% was based on 2009 NWC as a percentage of sales for her business unit. The remaining portion of her financial objectives consisted of Company operating income (43.75%) and Company NWC as a percentage of sales (12.5%).
We define “operating income” in the same way that it is presented in our quarterly and annual filings under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”). We measure this objective on ayear-to-date basis each quarter with each cumulative quarterly result carrying equal weight in the calculation of the operating income component.
We define “net working capital” as the net of:
| | |
| • | accounts receivable, less allowances for losses; |
|
| • | inventories, net; |
|
| • | prepaid expenses; |
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| | |
| • | accounts payable and accruals; and |
|
| • | customer advance payments. |
When calculating average net working capital, we summed the NWC at the end of each of the 12 calendar months and divided by 12. This result was then divided by the 2009 annual consolidated sales to determine the net working capital to sales ratio.
The Compensation Committee approved these financial measures because it believes maximizing operating income and minimizing NWC as a percentage of sales are direct contributors to increasing stockholder value, consistent with our strategic initiatives. The financial objectives of Messrs. Volpe, Baldwin, Mai and Rossi were measured on a Company-wide basis, and Ms. Giadrossi’s financial objectives were based on both Company-wide and business unit results.
We determined the percentage by which the actual financial results compared to each financial objective’s target. The executive could earn between 0% and 250% ofhis/her compensation target (i.e. percentage of base salary) for each metric. However, as discussed above, the total cash incentive payment is capped at 200% of the compensation target.
Operating Income. For the operating income metric the threshold for payout begins at 80.1% of the performance target, the maximum being available at 115% of the performance target, and 100% being available for 100% of the performance target.
The operating income financial objective was set as a series of four, cumulative,year-to-date performance targets at the three, six, nine and twelve month periods based on the Company’s Board-approved annual operating plan (budget). Achieving our budgeted operating income was expected to require a significant effort based primarily on the worldwide recession and lagging economy. At the time these goals were set, the Committee believed the threshold performance levels were likely achievable if the Company performed as planned (but at risk if it did not), that the target performance levels were challenging but achievable, and that the maximum performance level represented a “stretch” target and was not reasonably likely to be achieved, but was nevertheless achievable. Our actual achievement with respect to operating income performance for the Company resulted in a payment of 203.3% for the operating income portion of the compensation target. However, the overall maximum payout for any participant is capped at 200% of target.
Figure 2
The following chart depicts the performance result relationship for the operating income financial objective. The line illustrates the higher payout levels associated with higher YTD operating income. For the operating income financial objective, the Committee varied the scale of the eligible payout over the range of potential achievements in a manner that results in larger incremental reductions in payout below the 90% achievement compared to the payout for performance between 90% and 100% achievement; and in larger incremental benefits in payout above 100%.
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The operating income metric is divided into four targets that reflect cumulative,year-to-date performance based on our annual operating plan as explained above. Each period can earn between 0 and 250% of the compensation target. The average of the four payout results is used to determine the operating income component result. This emphasis on cumulative results was implemented to focus our leadership team on achieving our quarterly andyear-to-date earnings targets and to facilitate risk management by not incenting risky business judgments to achieve annual results in the final quarter of the year. The corporate operating income performance targets and payout results for calculation of the 2009 Annual Incentive Program were:
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Cumulative Year to Date (YTD) Operating Income |
| | | | 2nd Qtr
| | 3rd Qtr
| | 4th Qtr
| | |
Operating Income | | 1st Qtr | | YTD | | YTD | | YTD | | Average |
|
Target Performance Level | | $44.0MM | | $134.0MM | | $237.0MM | | $365.0MM | | |
Performance Achieved | | $64.1MM | | $160.3MM | | $265.9MM | | $348.6MM | | |
% Performance Achieved (Actual YTD Operating Income Results Divided by Target) | | 145.8% | | 119.6% | | 112.2% | | 95.5% | | |
% Payout Earned (as % of Target) | | 250.0% | | 250.0% | | 222.0% | | 91.0% | | 203.3% |
NWC. The threshold for payout under the 2009 NWC objective began at three percentage points above target, 100% being available for 100% of the target and the maximum being available if the result is three percentage points below the target (see Figure 3).
The NWC objective was set at a level that we believe is considerably better than that of our peer group. We also believe that the target level of achievement is best in class and aggressive compared to industry norms. The Company performed well in 2009, especially with respect to our efforts to minimize the investment in net working capital. The Company’s strong focus on cash management, including receivables, progress payments, inventories, and payables, resulted in achieving NWC as a percent of sales of 2.7% based on a 12-point average, which generated a maximum payment of 250% of the compensation target. However, as discussed above, the total incentive cash payment is capped at 200% of the incentive award target.
Figure 3
The following chart depicts the performance result relationships for the NWC financial objective. The line illustrates the lower payout levels associated with higher NWC as a percent of sales.
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The corporate Net Working Capital performance target and payout results used for calculation of the 2009 Annual Incentive Program were:
| | |
Net Working Capital | | Calculation Results |
|
AIP Target: | | 6.0% |
| | |
Actual Results: | | |
NWC (12-Point Average) | | $61.8 million |
Annual Consolidated Sales | | $2,289.6 million |
Average NWC as a Percent of Sales | | 2.7% |
% of Target Achieved | | Better than Maximum |
| | |
% Payout Earned (as % of Target) | | 250% |
In the third quarter of 2009, the Compensation Committee requested that its Advisor conduct a study to evaluate our2006-2008 financial performance compared to our peers and to assess whether our actual annual incentive payments have been disproportionate given our relative financial performance, and in relation to the decision to have each annual incentive metric earn up to 250% of target (although total payment is capped at 200%) beginning in 2008. The Committee’s Advisor collected and analyzed data from peer company proxy statements, including both target and actual incentive payment data for CEOs and the next four highest paid named executive officers (including the CFO). The Advisor’s analysis indicated that when comparing actual payout amounts as a percentage of the target incentive, the actual payout amounts for the named executive officers were slightly lower than what would be expected based on our financial performance when compared to our peers over this three-year period.
2009 Individual Objectives. For 2009, the Compensation Committee reviewed five individual objectives for each named executive officer (other than the CEO). The independent directors of the full Board determined that our CEO would have four individual objectives. These objectives:
| | |
| • | were established at the beginning of the performance period, although they may be impacted by changes in circumstances; |
|
| • | may be qualitative or quantitative in nature; and |
|
| • | may be weighted differently depending upon the level of challenge and impact of the objective and other factors associated with achieving each particular objective. |
Consistent with our goal of recognizing individual responsibility, leadership, performance, skills, knowledge and impact, our CEO submitted to the Compensation Committee his recommendations for individual objectives (and their associated weightings) for each of the named executive officers, including himself. These individual objectives reinforced the Company’s strategic objectives. The specific performance criteria were customized for each named executive officer in order to maximize achievement of the Company’s objectives.
In 2009 the individual objectives for our named executive officers included:
| | |
| • | continued growth through acquisition and organic means; |
|
| • | improvements in safety performance; |
|
| • | talent acquisition, management and development; |
|
| • | strategic financial strategies; |
|
| • | research and development initiatives; |
|
| • | operational efficiencies and business unit performance; |
|
| • | administrative process improvements; |
|
| • | enterprise risk management; |
|
| • | continued deployment of a global business information system; and |
|
| • | continued focus on compliance programs. |
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In early 2010, the CEO evaluated the other named executive officers’ performance for these objectives using various qualitative and quantitative criteria for each, with a view to determining an overall achievement rating for the individual objectives. In setting the overall achievement rating, the CEO also considered each executive’s own self assessment of achievement, as well as his assessment of the difficulty the executive faced in achieving their objectives, including unforeseen factors that arose after the objectives were established. The Compensation Committee conducted a similar assessment with respect to the CEO’s performance toward his individual objectives, including reviewing the CEO’s self-assessment.
No single individual objective for a named executive officer was weighted at more than 5% of the total target incentive payout. Guidance for payout percentages for the individual objective component of the annual incentive calculation is based on performance achieved for each individual objective and the difficulty of achieving that objective. The difficulty assessment looks back at the obstacles that each named executive officer faced in meeting his or her individual objectives, which may be different (easier or harder) then what was expected when the objective was set. A rating of “somewhat difficult”, “difficult”, “more difficult”, or “very difficult” was then assigned to each individual objective. This difficulty assessment was then considered based on the performance result of each individual objective, which was rated as either “met some”, “met most”, “met all”, or “substantially exceeded”. The weighted average of each objective’s performance produces the overall individual objective result for each named executive officer.
Final Award Calculation. The award for each named executive is determined by multiplying (a) the achievement rating for each objective, times (b) the weighting for such objective, times (c) the target award level (as a percentage of base salary), times (d) the base salary rate at December 31, 2009. No achievement rating can exceed 250%. We then sum these products for all the objectives to arrive at the final award amount. If the final calculated award exceeds 200% of the executive’s target incentive level, the actual award granted will be reduced to 200% of his or her target incentive level. For 2009 the final annual incentive award values for our CEO and each of our named executive officers averaged 191.1%. The following table summarizes the results of these calculations for 2009 for our named executive officers and giving effect to the 200% compensation target cap:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Target
| | | Financial
| | | | | | Individual
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Annual
| | | as a % of
| | | Objectives
| | | Financial
| | | Objectives
| | | Individual
| | | | | | Total
| |
| | Base
| | | Incentive
| | | Base
| | | Performance
| | | Objectives
| | | Performance
| | | Objectives
| | | Total
| | | Award
| |
| | Salary | | | Target | | | Salary | | | Payout | | | Weight 80% | | | Payout | | | Weight 20% | | | Award | | | % of target | |
|
Vincent R. Volpe Jr. | | $ | 841,500 | | | $ | 841,500 | | | | 100 | % | | | 214.94 | % | | $ | 1,446,963 | | | | 187.5 | % | | $ | 315,563 | | | $ | 1,683,000 | | | | 200.0 | % |
Mark E. Baldwin | | $ | 374,929 | | | $ | 281,197 | | | | 75 | % | | | 214.94 | % | | $ | 483,519 | | | | 154.0 | % | | $ | 86,609 | | | $ | 562,393 | | | | 200.0 | % |
Mark F. Mai | | $ | 346,466 | | | $ | 173,233 | | | | 50 | % | | | 214.94 | % | | $ | 297,875 | | | | 208.6 | % | | $ | 72,273 | | | $ | 346,466 | | | | 200.0 | % |
Nicoletta Giadrossi(1) | | $ | 358,300 | | | $ | 179,150 | | | | 50 | % | | | 150.10 | % | | $ | 215,119 | | | | 177.0 | % | | $ | 63,419 | | | $ | 278,600 | | | | 155.5 | % |
Christopher Rossi | | $ | 303,657 | | | $ | 151,829 | | | | 50 | % | | | 214.94 | % | | $ | 261,070 | | | | 162.0 | % | | $ | 49,192 | | | $ | 303,657 | | | | 200.0 | % |
| | |
(1) | | Base salary non-equity incentive plan compensation and all other compensation were paid to Ms. Giadrossi in Euros. The amounts shown in the table are based on the currency exchange rate of 1.4332 U.S. Dollars for each Euro as in effect on December 31, 2009. |
Long-Term Incentives
In designing the 2009 long-term incentive program, the Compensation Committee determined that the design approved in 2008 would be maintained. This design included:
| | |
| • | stock options or stock appreciation rights, weighted at 60% of total grant value; and |
|
| • | restricted stock or restricted stock units, weighted at 40% of total grant value. |
The Compensation Committee views stock options and stock appreciation rights as performance-based long-term incentive vehicles that drive and reward stockholder value creation (with significant up and downside risk for the recipient), and view restricted stock and restricted stock units as having significant current value (which may increase or decrease based on the performance of the Company). Both types of grants support all of our compensation objectives, and both primarily support our goal of alignment of interest with stockholders. In determining the mix of these two types of equity grants, one of our Compensation Committee’s principal goals was
32
to provide value to the executives for future growth in stockholder value and, thus, stock options and stock appreciation rights were weighted more heavily. The Compensation Committee included the element of restricted stock (and restricted stock units) to encourage retention of our executives and to provide a market competitive long-term incentive portfolio.
The stock option and restricted stock grants attributable to 2009 for each named executive officer vest 25% in each of the first four anniversaries following the grant date. The expiration date of such stock options occurs on the tenth anniversary of the grant date.
In determining long-term incentive awards the Compensation Committee reviewed available market-based long-term incentive compensation data provided by its Advisor. After discussion with management and its Advisor the Compensation Committee applied individual factors, including individual responsibility, leadership, performance, skills, knowledge and impact, for each named executive officer to determine the 2009 grant value. The Compensation Committee approved the long-term incentive grants to our named executive officers (other than the CEO) based on recommendations from our CEO. The independent directors of the full Board approved the long-term incentive grant value of our CEO based on recommendations from our Compensation Committee. Grant values for all named executive officers can be found in the section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards for 2009.”
Long-Term Incentive Program Governance and Administration
In designing the long-term incentive program, the Compensation Committee considered the potential impact of shares granted in 2009 on the total number of our shares outstanding. Specifically, prior to finalizing and implementing the long-term incentive program, the Compensation Committee reviewed the total equity awards outstanding (including estimated shares to be granted in 2009 to the executive leadership team and all other participants) as a percentage of total common shares outstanding. The Committee compared the result of this calculation (the “utilization rate”) to the utilization rates for our peer companies listed on page 24. The Compensation Committee determined that our 2009 utilization rate was below the 25th percentile of the utilization rates for the group of peer companies, which was within what the Compensation Committee believed to be an acceptable range. This calculation and subsequent analysis were performed in order to compare the proposed annual share grants with both best practice guidelines set forth by independent governance organizations as well as with our peer companies.
The Compensation Committee continued its previously adopted practice of establishing fixed dates on which equity grants could occur in 2009. Five successive fixed dates of February 16, May 15, August 17, November 16, and December 29 were established for subsequent new hire or special grants.
Stock Ownership Guidelines for our Executive Leaders
The Compensation Committee elected not to make changes to its existing stock ownership guidelines for 2009. The Compensation Committee continues to believe that maintaining stock ownership guidelines is an important means of encouraging the executive leadership team to acquire and hold a significant ownership stake in our stock. Under these guidelines, members of the executive leadership team, including the named executive officers, are expected to hold common stock having a value derived through applying a targeted multiple to his or her base salary.
The targeted multiples for 2009 varied among the executives depending upon their position and responsibilities. Our stock ownership guidelines recommend a multiple of 10 times base salary for the CEO, a multiple of four times base salary for the CFO and a multiple of three times base salary for the other named executive officers. Each member of the executive leadership team covered by our stock ownership guidelines is expected to retain at least 50 percent of the shares acquired under awards granted under our long-term incentive program until he or she achieves their ownership target (excluding any shares sold or forfeited to satisfy withholding obligations or to “net exercise” any option). For purposes of these guidelines, stock ownership includes shares over which the holder has direct or indirect ownership or control, including restricted stock and restricted stock units, but does not include unexercised stock options. We expect our named executives to meet the guidelines within five years of being appointed to an executive officer position. The Compensation Committee reviews each named executive officer’s progress toward achievement of targeted ownership on an annual basis.
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Risk Assessment of Compensation Programs
On February 12, 2010, the Board approved changes to the Charter of the Compensation Committee directing it to review, at least annually, the Company’s policies and practices of compensating its employees, including non-executive officers, as they relate to the Company’s risk management practices and risk-taking initiatives and to determine whether such policies and practices create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Committee successfully completed this review on March 12, 2010.
Recoupment Provisions
Every participant in the AIP is obligated to reimburse the Company for all or such portion of any non-equity based incentive compensation paid after the April 1, 2009, that would not have been provided but for such participant’s intentional misconduct (including knowingly creating a false document) that caused the material noncompliance of the Company with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws requiring a restatement of the Company’s financial results. The Company conditioned any payment under the AIP to a participant on such participant’s express agreement to honor this obligation and the other terms and conditions of the AIP.
In addition, the long-term incentive program grants provide that if a participant’s employment is terminated for cause:
| | |
| • | All stock options (and stock appreciation rights) whether or not then vested or exercisable, shall be immediately forfeited and cancelled as of the date of such termination; and |
|
| • | All restricted stock (and restricted stock units) held by a grantee for which the restrictions have not lapsed shall be forfeited as of the date of such termination. |
The Committee shall also determine whether a participant’s employment is a termination for cause and shall deem a participant’s termination of employment to be for cause if following the date the participant’s employment terminates, it determines that circumstances exist such that the participant’s employment could have been terminated for cause.
Post-Employment (Retirement and Severance) Benefits
We believe post-employment benefits are an essential, although less prominent, part of a competitive compensation program. Our post-employment benefits consist of qualified and non-qualified retirement plans, as well as severance arrangements for our named executive officers.
• 280(g) Excise Tax Assistance
On April 30, 2009, the Compensation Committee adopted a policy providing that, other than an agreement with the CEO that the Committee authorized in 2008 and an agreement that was at that time being negotiated with Mr. Baldwin, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, the Company will no longer enter into any new or materially amended agreements with executive officers providing for excise taxgross-up provisions with respect to payments contingent upon a change in control. The negotiations with Mr. Baldwin concluded successfully in an agreement that did not include such an excise taxgross-up provision.
• Retirement Benefits
In 2009, the following defined contribution savings programs were sponsored by the Company:
| | |
| • | Dresser-Rand Company Retirement Savings Plan (the “Qualified Retirement Savings Plan”), a tax-qualified, defined contribution plan with 401(k) and Roth features that provides non-matching and Company matching contributions on pre- and post-tax deferrals; and |
|
| • | Dresser-Rand Company Non-Qualified Retirement Plan (the “Non-Qualified Retirement Plan”), a non-tax-qualified defined contribution plan for a select group of management and highly compensated employees |
34
| | |
| | that provides Company-matching contributions on pre-tax deferrals of base salaryand/or annual incentive payments expressed as a percentage of the base salaryand/or incentive payment. |
Mr. Volpe and Mr. Rossi have accrued benefits under a frozen qualified defined benefit pension plan. Mr. Volpe has also accrued benefits under a frozen nonqualified defined benefit plan. These plans are described more fully under the heading “Pension Benefits for 2009.”
• Severance Arrangements
To fulfill commitments made in attracting new leadership and to provide a widespread, market benefit for retention purposes for the other executive officers, with the approval of the Compensation Committee, the Company entered into severance / change in control agreements with each named executive officer and other key executives in 2009. A description of the severance arrangements applicable to our named executive officers can be found below under the heading “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”
Revised Compensation Philosophy and Other Changes for 2010
The Compensation Committee met in late 2009 and adopted a new compensation philosophy for 2010 that added a total direct compensation review step. The new philosophy also involves three steps:
First, targeting the base salary of each executive at the 50th percentile. However, base salary could be set between the 25th and 75th percentile of survey or peer group data (as applicable) based on the executive’s individual responsibility, leadership, performance, skills, knowledge and impact.
Second, targeting annual and long-term incentives between the 50th and 75th percentile based on the Company’s performance and the executive’s individual responsibility, leadership, performance, skills, knowledge and impact.
Finally, upon adding together the base salary, short-term incentive target and long-term incentive target of each executive and comparing that figure to the total direct compensation of the survey or peer group data (as applicable), total direct compensation for each executive is generally targeted between the 50th and 75th percentile of survey or peer group data (as applicable) based on the Company’s performance and the executive’s individual responsibility, leadership, performance, skills, knowledge and impact.
The Compensation Committee also approved implementing a market-competitive performance-based equity component in the 2010 Dresser-Rand long-term incentive program. We believe this is another way to reflect true, direct value to stockholders by focusing executives on relative total stockholder return, the program’s sole performance measure. Key features of the program include:
| | |
| • | 30% of the total equity grant for named executive officers will be in performance-based restricted stock units. The balance will be comprised of 30% stock options (or stock appreciation rights) and 40% restricted stock units. |
|
| • | Performance periods will be structured as follows: |
| | |
| - | One-third of the grant will be earned based on a cumulative one-year performance period. |
|
| - | One-third of the grant will be earned based on a cumulative two-year performance period. |
|
| - | One-third of the grant will be earned based on a cumulative three-year performance period. |
| | |
| • | The performance measure to determine payout will be Dresser-Rand Total Stockholder Return (TSR) compared to the TSR of our compensation peer group. Each peer will be equally weighted for this calculation. |
| | |
| - | The maximum (1.5 times target) payout will be earned by achieving the 75th percentile (or above) of the TSR for our peer group. |
|
| - | The target (1.0 times target) payout will be earned by achieving the 50th percentile of the TSR for our peer group. |
35
| | |
| - | The threshold (0.5 times target) payout will be earned by achieving the 25th percentile of the TSR for our peer group. |
|
| - | Linear interpolation will be used to determine the payout for performance between maximum and target and target and threshold. |
|
| - | No payout will be earned in a performance period if Dresser-Rand achieves less than the 25th percentile of the TSR for our peer group. |
|
| - | The comparator peer group for the performance-based equity program is comprised of 13 companies we believe serve similar end markets or have business models similar to Dresser-Rand: |
| | |
| • | Baker Hughes (BHI) |
|
| • | Cameron International (CAM) |
|
| • | Exterran (EXH) |
|
| • | Flowserve (FLS) |
|
| • | FMC Technologies (FTI) |
|
| • | Gardner Denver (GDI) |
|
| • | Global Industries (GLBL) |
|
| • | Halliburton (HAL) |
|
| • | Idex (IDEX) |
|
| • | National Oilwell Varco (NOV) |
|
| • | Oceaneering International (OII) |
|
| • | Schlumberger (SLB) |
|
| • | Weatherford International (WFT) |
| | |
| • | Performance units earned will be settled as shares in February following the end of each performance period. |
Employment Agreements and Arrangements
Vincent R. Volpe Jr.
On June 11, 2008, the Company entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with Vincent R. Volpe Jr., the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Dresser-Rand Holdings, LLC was a party to Mr. Volpe’s original employment agreement and has signed this agreement solely to acknowledge its consent and to waive any previous rights it had under the original agreement. Mr. Volpe’s term of employment expires on June 10, 2011, but will be automatically extended for one additional year on June 11 of each year unless the Company provides timely written notice to the contrary. The term will expire upon Mr. Volpe’s attainment of age 65 or his earlier termination under the agreement. Mr. Volpe’s annual base salary is to be no less than it was prior to June 11, 2008, and his total compensation will be reviewed by the Company’s Board at least once every 12 months. Annual non-equity incentive compensation will be determined by the Board in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Company’s Annual Incentive Program.
Under the agreement, Mr. Volpe is also entitled to benefits in accordance with the terms and conditions of the benefit plans and programs maintained by us for individuals in positions comparable to Mr. Volpe.
The Company has agreed to indemnify Mr. Volpe to the fullest extent permitted by law against all liabilities resulting from his performance of services for the Company and to advance reasonable expenses incurred by Mr. Volpe in connection with any proceeding to which he is a party because of his service to the Company.
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The employment agreement with Mr. Volpe also contains provisions relating to a covenant not to compete and post-employment compensation, which are described below under the heading “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”
Nicoletta Giadrossi
The Company provided an employment offer letter to Nicoletta Giadrossi, the Company’s Vice President & General Manager, Europe, Middle East and Africa, on December 29, 2008. Pursuant to this letter, Ms. Giadrossi is entitled to an annual base salary of €250,000. In addition, Ms. Giadrossi is eligible to participate in the Company’s AIP with a target payout level of 50% of her base salary and a maximum payout level of 100% of her base salary. She is also eligible to participate in the Company’s long-term incentive program with a grant for 2009 valued at €350,000 and is eligible for a Company car. The offer letter provides that the minimum annual remuneration guaranteed per national Collective Agreement of Cadres employees in Metallurgical Industries is €68,928, which is well below the compensation she is being paid.
Confidentiality, Non-Compete, Severance and Change in Control Agreements
During 2009, the Company entered into Confidentiality, Non-Compete, Severance and Change in Control Agreements with each of the named executive officers other than Mr. Volpe that provide for certain severance payments in the event the executives are terminated in various circumstances. Under the agreements, the executives are subject to customary confidentiality and non-compete and non-solicitation obligations during, and for certain specified periods after, their employment by the Company. These agreements are described in detail below under the heading “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”
Other Considerations — The Corporate Tax Deduction on Compensation in Excess of $1 Million per Year
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, generally limits to $1 million the deductibility of compensation paid by a public company to any employee who on the last day of the year is the CEO or one of the three other most highly compensated officers. A very important exemption from this requirement is provided for compensation qualifying as “performance-based compensation.”
The Compensation Committee considered the impact of this rule when developing and implementing the various elements of Dresser-Rand’s executive compensation program for 2009. We believe that it is important to preserve flexibility in administering compensation programs. Accordingly, Dresser-Rand has not adopted a policy that all compensation must qualify as deductible under Section 162(m), and amounts paid through the various elements of our compensation program may be determined to not qualify.
However, the Compensation Committee, where applicable, tries to maximize deductibility under Section 162(m) to the extent we believe that the action is not in conflict with the best interests of our stockholders. To that end the Committee began reviewing options with management and its Advisor in 2009 that could maximize tax deductibility where possible; without impeding the Committee’s ability to recognize the accomplishments of executives based on their performance. In March 2010, the Compensation Committee approved the establishment of a qualified Section 162(m) funding pool to maximize the tax deductibility to the Company for executives whose Section 162(m) compensation might otherwise exceed $1 million. The pool, which will be established based on 2010 financial results, creates performance conditions to fund the annual incentives accrued in 2010 (but paid in 2011), and the restricted stock grants anticipated for 2011.
Compensation Committee Report
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management. Based upon such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board
37
that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company’s proxy statement issued in connection with the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Louis A. Raspino, Chairman
Rita V. Foley
Joseph C. Winkler III
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Directors Raspino, Vettier and Foley were members of the Compensation Committee at the start of 2009. Mr. Vettier resigned at the conclusion of the Board meeting on August 21, 2009, and Mr. Winkler was appointed to the Compensation Committee at the close of business on May 12, 2009.
In 2009, none of DRC’s executive officers:
| | |
| • | served as a member of the compensation committee (or committee performing a similar function, or in the absence of such committee, the Board) of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on DRC’s Compensation Committee or Board; or |
|
| • | served as a director of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on DRC’s Compensation Committee. |
Summary Compensation Table
The following table summarizes the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and the next three most highly compensated executive officers for 2009, 2008, and 2007. We refer to these individuals as our named executive officers.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Change in
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Pension
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Value and
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Non-Equity
| | | Nonqualified
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Incentive
| | | Deferred
| | | | | | | |
Name and
| | | | | | | | Stock
| | | Option
| | | Plan
| | | Compensation
| | | All Other
| | | | |
Principal Position | | Year | | | Salary | | | Awards(1) | | | Awards(1) | | | Compensation(2) | | | Earnings(3) | | | Compensation(4) | | | Total | |
|
Vincent R. Volpe Jr. | | | 2009 | | | $ | 845,466 | (5) | | $ | 1,301,877 | | | $ | 1,952,099 | | | $ | 1,683,000 | | | $ | 12,329 | | | $ | 172,680 | | | $ | 5,967,451 | |
President and Chief | | | 2008 | | | $ | 793,750 | | | | — | | | | — | | | $ | 1,550,000 | | | $ | 8,380 | | | $ | 192,640 | | | $ | 2,544,770 | |
Executive Officer | | | 2007 | | | $ | 675,000 | | | $ | 2,040,255 | | | $ | 3,157,165 | | | $ | 893,700 | | | $ | (7,061 | ) | | $ | 1,091,287 | | | $ | 7,850,346 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Mark E. Baldwin | | | 2009 | | | $ | 375,364 | (5) | | $ | 330,327 | | | $ | 495,122 | | | $ | 562,393 | | | | — | | | $ | 17,115 | | | $ | 1,780,321 | |
Executive Vice President | | | 2008 | | | $ | 359,187 | | | $ | 322,192 | | | $ | 515,136 | | | $ | 489,700 | | | | — | | | $ | 16,100 | | | $ | 1,702,315 | |
and Chief Financial Officer | | | 2007 | | | $ | 154,340 | | | $ | 239,994 | | | $ | 360,030 | | | $ | 130,300 | | | | — | | | $ | 4,630 | | | $ | 889,294 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Mark F. Mai | | | 2009 | | | $ | 346,869 | (5) | | $ | 217,886 | | | $ | 326,617 | | | $ | 346,466 | | | | — | | | $ | 83,347 | | | $ | 1,321,185 | |
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | | | 2008 | | | $ | 332,313 | | | $ | 247,067 | | | $ | 388,234 | | | $ | 315,100 | | | | — | | | $ | 49,331 | | | $ | 1,332,045 | |
Nicoletta Giadrossi | | | 2009 | | | $ | 358,294 | | | $ | 193,101 | | | $ | 289,581 | | | $ | 278,600 | | | | — | | | | — | | | $ | 1,119,576 | |
Vice President, General Manager Europe, Middle East and Africa(6) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Christopher Rossi | | | 2009 | | | $ | 298,609 | (5) | | $ | 177,038 | | | $ | 265,489 | | | $ | 303,657 | | | $ | 2,175 | | | $ | 71,109 | | | $ | 1,118,077 | |
Vice President, Technology and Business Development | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | |
(1) | | The amount represents the aggregate grant date fair value. The assumptions used to calculate these amounts are the same as those we used for financial statement reporting purposes. Information about the financial accounting assumptions can be found in Note 17 to our financial statements contained in our Annual Report onForm 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. |
38
| | |
| | The independent directors of the full Board and the Compensation Committee awarded a two-year long term incentive grant in 2007 to each of Messrs. Volpe and Rossi, respectively. These grants encompassed both the years 2007 and 2008. |
|
(2) | | Represents payments earned under the Annual Incentive Program in the year shown that were paid to the named executive officers in the following year. Additional information regarding the determination of the payments under the Annual Incentive Program for 2009 is included in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis under the subheading “Our 2009 Compensation Decisions — Annual Incentive Program.” |
|
(3) | | Represents the aggregate increase in actuarial present value for benefits previously earned under the frozen Dresser-Rand Pension Plan and the frozen non-qualified Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan of Dresser-Rand Company (SERP). The discount rate used in calculating the present value of accumulated benefits under the pension plan was 5.8% on December 31, 2009, and 6.1% on December 30, 2008, and November 30, 2007. The SERP was terminated effective October 30, 2009. All obligations were settled through lump sum distributions in January 2010. The present value of Mr. Volpe’s nonqualified accumulated benefit at December 31, 2009 is equal to the lump sum payment he received and is calculated using a 6.25% discount rate and the 2009 PPA Combined Unisex Mortality Table. These are the same rates used for preparation of the Company’s pension plan financial statement disclosure information at those measurement dates. For the purpose of these calculations the participants are assumed to commence pension payments at age 65 (normal retirement date) regardless of their current eligibility for early retirement. A discussion of the assumptions made in determining this increase is included following the table entitled “Pension Benefits for 2009.” Theyear-over-year change in actuarial present value of benefits for 2009 resulted in an increase of $12,329 for Mr. Volpe and of $2,175 for Mr. Rossi. |
|
(4) | | The amounts shown in the “All Other Compensation” column for 2009 include the following: |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Company
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | Qualified
| | | Company
| | | | |
| | | | | Retirement
| | | Non-Qualified
| | | | |
| | | | | Savings
| | | Retirement
| | | | |
| | | | | Plan
| | | Plan
| | | | |
| | | | | Contributions
| | | Contributions
| | | | |
Named Executive Officer | | Year | | | (a) | | | (b) | | | Total | |
|
Vincent R. Volpe Jr. | | | 2009 | | | $ | 22,680 | | | $ | 150,000 | | | $ | 172,680 | |
Mark E. Baldwin | | | 2009 | | | $ | 17,115 | | | | — | | | $ | 17,115 | |
Mark F. Mai | | | 2009 | | | $ | 17,150 | | | $ | 66,197 | | | $ | 83,347 | |
Christopher Rossi | | | 2009 | | | $ | 15,998 | | | $ | 55,111 | | | $ | 71,109 | |
| | |
(a) | | OurU.S.-based named executive officers are eligible to participate in the Qualified Retirement Savings Plan and are eligible for employer contributions on the same basis as all other participating employees. Non-matching Company contributions to the Qualified Retirement Savings Plan are subject to three-year cliff-vesting; all matching contributions are vested immediately. In 2009 we matchedU.S.-based employee contributions up to 4% of eligible compensation and contributed an additional 3% of compensation to the Qualified Retirement Savings Plan for each of the named executive officers except for Ms. Giadrossi as she is not aU.S.-based employee. The values in this column represent the total of all 2009 Company contributions made on behalf of each named executive officer for this Plan. Mr. Volpe is also eligible to receive a pension ‘equalizer’ contribution in the qualified Retirement Savings Plan. This additional non-matching Company contribution was established in 1998 (coincident with the freezing of the qualified pension plan to salaried employees) to compensate participants for an actuarially anticipated shortfall due to the transition of providing both a defined benefit and defined contribution plan to only providing a defined contribution plan. Each contribution was individually calculated for eligible participants. Mr. Volpe’s equalizer contribution is 2.6% of eligible compensation. In 2009, no other named executive officers received an equalizer contribution. |
|
(b) | | OurU.S.-based named executive officers are eligible to participate in the Non-Qualified Retirement Plan. The values in this column represent the total of all 2009 Company contributions made on behalf of each named executive officer under this Plan. Additional details regarding this Plan are shown in the table titled “Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation for 2009.” |
39
| | |
(5) | | The salary values are slightly higher then the annualized base salary due to the conversion of salaried employees from a semi-monthly to a bi-weekly payroll in 2009. |
|
(6) | | Salary, Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation and All Other Compensation amounts were paid to Ms. Giadrossi in Euros. The amounts shown in the table are based on the currency exchange rate of 1.4332 U.S. Dollars for each Euro as in effect on December 31, 2009. |
Grants of Plan-Based Awards for 2009
The following table provides details about the plan-based awards granted to our named executive officers for 2009.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | All
| | | | | | | | | Grant
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Other
| | | | | | | | | Date
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Stock
| | | All Other
| | | | | | Fair
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Awards:
| | | Option
| | | Exercise
| | | Value
| |
| | | | | Board or
| | | | | | | | | | | | Number of
| | | Awards:
| | | or Base
| | | of Stock
| |
| | | | | Compensation
| | | | | | | | | | | | Shares
| | | Number of
| | | Price of
| | | and
| |
| | | | | Committee
| | | Estimated Possible Payouts Under
| | | of
| | | Securities
| | | Option
| | | Option
| |
| | Grant
| | | Approval
| | | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards(1) | | | Stock or
| | | Underlying
| | | Awards
| | | Awards
| |
Name | | Date | | | Date | | | Threshold | | | Target | | | Maximum | | | Units | | | Options | | | ($/sh)(2) | | | (3) | |
|
Vincent R. Volpe Jr. | | | — | | | | — | | | $ | 6,732 | | | $ | 841,500 | | | $ | 1,683,000 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | 2/16/2009 | | | | 2/13/2009 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 60,300 | | | | — | | | | — | | | $ | 1,301,877 | |
| | | 2/16/2009 | | | | 2/13/2009 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 165,292 | | | $ | 21.59 | | | $ | 1,952,099 | |
Mark E. Baldwin | | | — | | | | — | | | $ | 2,250 | | | $ | 281,197 | | | $ | 562,394 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | 2/16/2009 | | | | 01/26/2009 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 15,300 | | | | — | | | | — | | | $ | 330,327 | |
| | | 2/16/2009 | | | | 01/26/2009 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 41,924 | | | $ | 21.59 | | | $ | 495,122 | |
Mark F. Mai | | | — | | | | — | | | $ | 1,386 | | | $ | 173,233 | | | $ | 346,466 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | 2/16/2009 | | | | 01/26/2009 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 10,092 | | | | — | | | | — | | | $ | 217,886 | |
| | | 2/16/2009 | | | | 01/26/2009 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 27,656 | | | $ | 21.59 | | | $ | 326,617 | |
Nicoletta Giadrossi | | | — | | | | — | | | $ | 1,433 | | | $ | 179,150 | | | $ | 358,300 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | 2/16/2009 | | | | 01/26/2009 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 8,944 | | | | — | | | | — | | | $ | 193,101 | |
| | | 2/16/2009 | | | | 01/26/2009 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 24,520 | | | $ | 21.59 | | | $ | 289,581 | |
Christopher Rossi | | | — | | | | — | | | $ | 1,215 | | | $ | 151,829 | | | $ | 303,658 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | 2/16/2009 | | | | 01/26/2009 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 8,200 | | | | — | | | | — | | | $ | 177,038 | |
| | | 2/16/2009 | | | | 01/26/2009 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 22,480 | | | $ | 21.59 | | | $ | 265,489 | |
| | |
(1) | | These columns show the range of payouts targeted for 2009 performance under the Annual Incentive Program. The amount shown in the “target” column represents the incentive payment that would have been earned by each named executive officer if 100% of the performance objectives were achieved. The amount shown in the “maximum” column represents the maximum amount payable of 200% of the target under the Annual Incentive Program. The amount shown in the “threshold” column represents the amount payable under the Annual Incentive Program if only the minimum qualifying level of performance were achieved on the financial performance objectives (namely 80.1%), which is 0.8% of the target amount for the financial objectives, and such 0.8% is applicable to the level of performance for the individual objectives. Additional information regarding the Annual Incentive Program and the criteria applied in determining the amounts payable under the Annual Incentive Program can be found in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis under the subheading “Our 2009 Compensation Decisions — Annual Incentive Program.” The actual amount of incentive earned by each named executive officer in 2009 is reported in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column in the Summary Compensation Table. |
|
(2) | | The exercise price is the closing market price of our common stock on the grant date. |
|
(3) | | See Note 17 to our financial statements contained in our Annual Report onForm 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, for more information about the assumptions used to determine these amounts. |
Holders of restricted stock are entitled to dividends at the same rate as holders of unrestricted shares of our common stock.
40
A description of the employment agreements and arrangements we have entered into with our named executive officers is included in Compensation Discussion and Analysis under the heading “Employment Agreements and Arrangements.”
Outstanding Equity Awards at the End of 2009
The following table provides details about outstanding equity awards held by our named executive officers on December 31, 2009.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Stock Awards | |
| | Option Awards | | | | | | Market
| |
| | Number of
| | | Number of
| | | | | | | | | Number of
| | | Value of
| |
| | Securities
| | | Securities
| | | | | | | | | Shares or
| | | Shares or
| |
| | Underlying
| | | Underlying
| | | | | | | | | Units of
| | | Units of
| |
| | Unexercised
| | | Unexercised
| | | Option
| | | Option
| | | Stock That
| | | Stock That
| |
| | Options
| | | Options
| | | Exercise
| | | Expiration
| | | Have Not
| | | Have Not
| |
Name | | Exercisable | | | Unexercisable | | | Price | | | Date | | | Vested | | | Vested(1) | |
|
Vincent R. Volpe Jr. | | | 77,240 | | | | 77,240 | (2) | | $ | 25.50 | | | | 2/15/2017 | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | 36,415 | | | | 109,245 | (3) | | $ | 25.50 | | | | 2/15/2017 | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | — | | | | 165,292 | (2) | | $ | 21.59 | | | | 2/16/2019 | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 110,503 | | | $ | 3,493,000 | |
Mark E. Baldwin | | | 12,695 | | | | 12,695 | (2) | | $ | 35.34 | | | | 8/15/2017 | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | 9,532 | | | | 28,598 | (2) | | $ | 34.57 | | | | 2/15/2018 | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | — | | | | 41,924 | (2) | | $ | 21.59 | | | | 2/16/2019 | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 25,686 | | | $ | 811,934 | |
Mark F. Mai | | | 11,309 | | | | 11,310 | (2) | | $ | 35.18 | | | | 11/15/2017 | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | 5,387 | | | | 16,163 | (2) | | $ | 34.57 | | | | 2/15/2018 | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | 1,491 | | | | 4,473 | (2) | | $ | 40.25 | | | | 5/15/2018 | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | — | | | | 27,656 | (2) | | $ | 21.59 | | | | 2/16/2019 | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 17,955 | | | $ | 567,558 | |
Nicoletta Giadrossi(4) | | | — | | | | 24,520 | (2) | | $ | 21.59 | | | | 02/16/2019 | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 8,944 | | | $ | 282,720 | |
Christopher Rossi | | | 6,092 | | | | 18,278 | (2) | | $ | 25.50 | | | | 2/15/2017 | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | 13,440 | | | | 13,440 | (3) | | $ | 25.50 | | | | 2/15/2017 | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | — | | | | 22,480 | (2) | | $ | 21.59 | | | | 2/16/2019 | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 16,739 | | | $ | 529,120 | |
| | |
(1) | | Market value is calculated by multiplying the closing market price of our common stock on December 31, 2009 ($31.61) by the number of shares that have not vested. |
|
(2) | | Awards vest 25% each year, beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date. |
|
(3) | | Awards vest 25% each year, beginning on the second anniversary of the grant date. |
|
(4) | | Options and shares shown consist of stock appreciation rights and restricted stock units. |
41
Options Exercised and Stock Vested in 2009
The following table provides details about restricted stock that vested for each named executive officer during 2009. None of the named executive officer exercised any stock option in 2009.
| | | | | | | | |
| | Stock Awards | |
| | Number of
| | | | |
| | Shares Acquired on
| | | Value Realized on
| |
| | Vesting
| | | Vesting
| |
Name | | (1) | | | (2) | |
|
Vincent R. Volpe Jr. | | | 20,002 | | | $ | 431,843 | |
Mark E. Baldwin | | | 4,028 | | | $ | 102,875 | |
Mark F. Mai | | | 7,334 | | | $ | 159,727 | |
Christopher Rossi | | | 3,414 | | | $ | 73,708 | |
| | |
(1) | | Each participant had the opportunity to either have shares withheld to cover the taxes due upon vesting or make full payment for that amount. The number of shares withheld for the executives that elected to have shares withheld is: |
| | |
| • | Mr. Baldwin — 1,121, and |
|
| • | Mr. Mai — 2,132. |
The amount shown in the table does not give effect to the withholding of these shares.
| | |
(2) | | Value is calculated by multiplying (a) the closing market price of our common stock on the vesting date by (b) the number of shares of stock that vested. |
Pension Benefits for 2009
The following table sets forth the present value of accrued pension plan benefits for each of our eligible named executive officers as of the end of 2009. There were no payments made under any of the pension plans to any of the named executive officers during 2009.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Present Value of
| | | | |
| | | | Number of Years
| | | Accumulated
| | | | |
Name | | Plan Name | | Credited Service | | | Benefit(1)(2) | | | | |
|
Vincent R. Volpe Jr. | | Pension Plan for Employees of Dresser-Rand Company | | | 11.92 | | | $ | 98,819 | | | | | |
| | Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan of Dresser-Rand Company | | | 11.92 | | | $ | 48,064 | | | | | |
Christopher Rossi | | Pension Plan for Employees of Dresser-Rand Company | | | 10.75 | | | $ | 17,032 | | | | | |
| | |
(1) | | The calculation of present value of accumulated benefit assumes retirement at age 65, a discount rate of 5.8 percent and the RP2000 mortality for healthy males and females. Dresser-Rand provided the accrued benefit amounts. There is no increase in benefits from 2008 to 2009 as future accruals were eliminated in both the qualified and nonqualified plans in 1998. The change in value is solely due to the updated discount rate and period. |
|
(2) | | The non-qualified Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan of Dresser-Rand Company (“SERP”) was terminated effective October 30, 2009. All obligations were settled through lump sum distributions in January 2010. The present value of Mr. Volpe’s nonqualified accumulated benefit at December 31, 2009 is equal to the lump sum payment he received and is calculated using a 6.25% discount rate and the 2009 PPA Combined Unisex Mortality Table. |
Other than Mr. Volpe and Mr. Rossi, none of the other named executive officers are eligible to participate in any defined benefit pension plans sponsored by the Company. As of December 31, 2009, Dresser Rand Company sponsored the Pension Plan for Employees of Dresser-Rand Company (“Dresser-Rand Pension Plan”) and the
42
SERP. The benefits Messrs. Volpe and Rossi accrued under these plans were based on “final” average pay and service, subject to applicable offsets. Effective March 31, 1998, Dresser-Rand Company amended both plans to cease benefit accruals for non-bargaining unit employees as of that date. That is, for non-bargaining unit employees hired prior to March 31, 1998, their accrued benefits under the Dresser-Rand Pension Plan were frozen and no additional accruals due to service and or pay were granted.
Mr. Volpe has accrued benefits under both of these plans. As of December 31, 2009, Mr. Volpe has an estimated monthly accrued pension benefit of $1,638. Mr. Rossi has accrued benefits only under the Dresser-Rand Pension Plan. As of December 31, 2009, Mr. Rossi’s estimated monthly accrued pension benefit under the Dresser-Rand Pension Plan was $404.84. These benefit amounts are fixed obligations and will not increase with future payand/or service levels. These benefit amounts are payable at age 65 as a single life annuity and represent the benefit payable from both the Dresser-Rand Pension Plan and the SERP. Other actuarial equivalent distribution options are available to the participants under the Dresser-Rand Pension Plan, such as a 100% Joint & Survivor option, 50% Joint & Survivor option and 10 Year Period Certain. The 50% Joint & Survivor option is the only alternative payment available under the SERP.
The normal retirement age is 65 for both the Dresser-Rand Pension Plan and the SERP. The Dresser-Rand Pension Plan permits participants who possess at least 9 years of benefit credit service upon termination of employment to begin receiving pension benefits any time on or after their 55th birthday. Neither Mr. Volpe nor Mr. Rossi are currently eligible for payment under the terms of either of these plans.
Balances and earnings attributable to these plans are disclosed as applicable in the Summary Compensation Table and the Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table.
The retirement reduction factors for both the Dresser-Rand Pension Plan and the SERP are as follows:
| | |
Age when
| | Percent of Age 65 Benefit
|
Benefits
| | that is Payable Upon
|
Commence | | Retirement |
|
65 | | 100.00% |
64 | | 90.69% |
63 | | 82.48% |
62 | | 75.22% |
61 | | 68.77% |
60 | | 63.02% |
59 | | 57.88% |
58 | | 53.27% |
57 | | 49.12% |
56 | | 45.38% |
55 | | 41.99% |
In 2009, the Company completed a review of itsU.S.-based retirement programs and concluded that the SERP was no longer an efficient means of delivering retirement benefits and exercised its right to terminate the SERP effective October 30, 2009. Lump sum payments were issued to all participants in full settlement of the obligations under the SERP. The cash-out process, including a lump sum payment to Mr. Volpe in the amount of $48,064, was completed in January 2010.
43
Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation for 2009
The following table summarizes the compensation provided to our named executive officers under our non-qualified deferred compensation plans for 2009.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Executive
| | | Registrant
| | | Aggregate
| | | Aggregate
| | | | |
| | | | Contributions
| | | Contributions
| | | Earnings
| | | Balance at
| | | | |
Name | | Plan Name | | in Last FY | | | in Last FY(1) | | | in Last FY | | | Last FYE | | | | |
|
Vincent R. Volpe Jr. | | Non-Qualified Retirement Plan | | $ | 239,547 | | | $ | 150,000 | | | $ | 543,208 | | | $ | 2,467,900 | | | | | |
Mark F. Mai | | Non-Qualified Retirement Plan | | $ | 66,197 | | | $ | 66,197 | | | $ | 61,225 | | | $ | 242,712 | | | | | |
Christopher Rossi | | Non-Qualified Retirement Plan | | $ | 55,111 | | | $ | 55,111 | | | $ | 73,243 | | | $ | 307,878 | | | | | |
| | |
(1) | | Amounts shown in this column are included in the Summary Compensation Table in the “All Other Compensation” column. |
Participation in the Non-Qualified Retirement Plan is voluntary and is determined through an annual enrollment process. Other features of the Non-Qualified Retirement Plan include:
| | |
| • | Two different participation and matching levels as follows: |
| | |
| • | Tier 1 is applicable to ourU.S.-based executives, including our U.S. named executive officers, and provides 100% matching of every dollar the participant contributes into the Plan, up to 10% of earningsand/or incentive deferrals to a maximum of $150,000 per year. |
|
| • | Tier 2 is applicable to certain highly compensated employees below the executive staff level and provides 100% matching of every dollar the participant contributes into the Plan, up to 5% of earningsand/or incentive deferrals to a maximum of $15,000 per year. |
| | |
| • | Participants may contribute between 1% and 80% of their annual base salaryand/or 1% to 80% of their annual cash incentive. |
|
| • | Company matching contributions become fully vested after three years of service with the Company. |
|
| • | Participants may choose from a variety of investment funds in which to allocate account balances. The investment choices offered to Non-Qualified Retirement Plan participants are similar to the investment choices offered under the Qualified Retirement Savings Plan. |
|
| • | Upon initial enrollment in the Non-Qualified Retirement Savings Plan each participant selects an irrevocable termination distribution election option of either: |
| | |
| • | An immediate, single lump sum distribution; |
|
| • | a single lump sum distribution during the month of January following their termination of employment; or |
|
| • | five annual declining balance installment payments in January of each year, beginning after their termination of employment. |
However, pursuant to 409(A), named executive officers and other key employees of the Company, are required to wait a minimum of 6 months following the termination of their employment before they can receive their termination distribution election.
Each of our named executive officers except Ms. Giadrossi is eligible to participate in the Qualified Retirement Savings Plan on the same basis as all other plan participants. Specific details regarding Company contributions for each of our named executive officers with respect to both the Qualified Retirement Savings Plan and the Non-Qualified Retirement Plan can be found in the Summary Compensation Table and the Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table details the benefits provided to our named executive officers under the Non-Qualified Retirement Plan.
44
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control
The tables below reflect the amount of compensation payable to each of the named executive officers in the event of termination of employment or change in control. In preparing the tables below, we assumed that the termination occurred on December 31, 2009.
Unless otherwise provided in an employment or severance agreement described below, our named executive officers are not entitled to compensation upon termination or a change in control. The payment of cash severance upon a change in control under each agreement requires both (i) the occurrence of a change in control and (ii) a qualified termination as specified in each agreement.
The Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Volpe in 2008 and entered into confidentiality, non-compete, severance and change in control agreements with all other named executive officers in 2009.
Employment Agreement with Vincent R. Volpe Jr.
The following table shows the potential payments upon termination or a “Change in Control” for Mr. Volpe, our President and Chief Executive Officer. Under the terms of his employment agreement, if Mr. Volpe’s employment is terminated as a result of his death or disability, or by us without “Cause,” or if Mr. Volpe resigns for “Good Reason” and he provides proper notice and time for cure to the Company and such termination by us or resignation by him is not within two years of a Change in Control, Mr. Volpe will receive (i) a severance payment equal to twice his base salary, (ii) any earned but unpaid salary and payment for accrued but unused vacation days through the date of termination, (iii) any bonus previously earned in full but not yet paid for fiscal years prior to the fiscal year of termination, (iv) two times the bonus target in the year in which the date of termination occurs, or if the target has not been established, the target bonus opportunity from the previous year with respect to Mr. Volpe’s base salary for the year in which the date of termination occurs, and (v) continued medical, dental, disability and life insurance coverage for Mr. Volpe and his eligible dependents for two years following the date of termination. Mr. Volpe must execute a release of all claims arising out of his employment or termination as a condition to the receipt of the aforementioned payments.
If Mr. Volpe’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by Mr. Volpe with Good Reason within two years following a Change in Control, subject to the execution of a release of claims, Mr. Volpe shall receive the benefits specified in the previous paragraph, except that the base salary payment will be three times his base salary, the target bonus payment will be three times the greater of his target bonus for the year in which the date of termination occurs or the highest bonus paid (or earned in full but not yet paid) to him in the last three years (not to exceed his maximum bonus opportunity for the year in which the date of termination occurs), and the insurance coverage will be provided for three years.
If Mr. Volpe’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause or by Mr. Volpe without Good Reason, he is solely entitled to receive any earned but unpaid salary and payment for accrued but unused vacation days through the date of termination and any bonus previously earned in full but not yet paid for prior fiscal years.
If Mr. Volpe’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause or by Mr. Volpe without Good Reason, the Company may elect to enforce a covenant not to compete for up to three years following the termination. If the Company elects to enforce the covenant not to compete and Mr. Volpe executes a release of claims, the Company will pay, in addition to the payments described in the preceding paragraph, during the period that the non-compete restrictions remain in effect, (i) salary continuation payments at an annual rate equal to his base salary in effect as of the date of termination, payable monthly, (ii) a monthly amount equal to one-twelfth of Mr. Volpe’s target bonus opportunity as in effect for the year of the termination, or if the target has not been established, the target bonus opportunity for the prior year with respect to his base salary for the year in which the date of termination occurs, and (iii) continued insurance coverage. If Mr. Volpe’s employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or by Mr. Volpe with Good Reason, the non-compete agreement automatically applies for two years following the termination without any obligation to provide additional consideration.
Mr. Volpe’s employment agreement also provides for a reduction in benefits or forgross-up payments under certain circumstances if compensation paid to Mr. Volpe would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999
45
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) or to additional tax under Section 409A of the Code.
Payments under the agreement shall be made to Mr. Volpe within 60 days after the termination date, provided that if any payment under the agreement would be subject to additional taxes and interest under Section 409A of the Code, any such payment shall be accumulated and paid on the date that is six months and one day after the termination date, or such earlier date upon which such amount can be paid without being subject to such additional taxes and interest.
“Cause” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the material failure or refusal by Mr. Volpe to perform his duties in accordance with his employment agreement (including, without limitation, his inability to perform such duties as a result of alcohol or drug abuse, chronic alcoholism or drug addiction) or to devote substantially all of his business time, attention and energies to the performance of his duties in accordance with his employment agreement; (ii) any willful, intentional or grossly negligent act by Mr. Volpe having the effect of materially injuring the interest, business or prospects of the Company, or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, or any divisions Mr. Volpe may manage; (iii) the material violation or material failure by Mr. Volpe to comply with the Company’s material published rules, regulations or policies, as in effect from time to time; (iv) Mr. Volpe’s conviction of a felony offense or conviction of a misdemeanor offense involving moral turpitude, fraud, theft or dishonesty; (v) any willful or intentional misappropriation or embezzlement of the property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (whether or not a misdemeanor or felony); or (vi) a material breach of any one or more of the covenants of his employment agreement; provided, however, that in the event that the Company decides to terminate Mr. Volpe’s employment pursuant to clauses (i), (iii) or (vi) of this definition of Cause, such termination shall only become effective if the Company first gives him written notice of such Cause, identifying in reasonable detail the manner in which the Company believes Cause to exist and indicating the steps required to cure such Cause, if curable, and if Mr. Volpe fails to substantially remedy or correct the same within 30 days of such notice.
“Change in Control” shall mean the first to occur of any of the following events: (i) individuals who, as of the date of the agreement, constitute the members of the Board (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason other than due to death or disability to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board, provided that any director whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the members of the Board who are at the time Incumbent Directors shall be considered an Incumbent Director, other than any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs 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; (ii) the acquisition or ownership by any individual, entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), other than the Company or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries, or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries, of beneficial ownership (within the meaning ofRule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 30% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; (iii) the merger, consolidation or other similar transaction of the Company, as a result of which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or other transaction, do not, immediately thereafter, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the merged, consolidated or other surviving company; or (iv) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to one or more persons or entities that are not, immediately prior to such sale, transfer or other disposition, affiliates of the Company.
“Good Reason” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events without Mr. Volpe’s consent that are not cured by the Company, if curable, within 30 days: (i) a material and adverse change to Mr. Volpe’s title, duties or responsibilities, including his not being re-elected as a member of the Board; provided, however, that Mr. Volpe’s resignation from the Board shall not be deemed such a change; (ii) notice is given to Mr. Volpe by the Company within two years following a Change in Control that the term of his employment agreement will not be extended; (iii) the Company materially reduces the compensation or benefits to which Mr. Volpe is entitled under his employment agreement; (iv) any relocation of Mr. Volpe’s principal place of employment except to a location that is within fifty miles of either (a) Houston, Texas or (b) any location that Mr. Volpe has recommended to the Board as a
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location for the Company’s headquarters; (v) the Company fails to require any successor or assignee to all or substantially all of the businessand/or assets of the Company (whether direct or indirect, by purchase of assets, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to assume and agree to perform the employment agreement on the same terms or Mr. Volpe does not agree to such assignment; (vi) a material breach of any one or more of the covenants of his employment agreement by the Company; or (vii) in the event of a Change in Control in which the Company’s securities cease to be publicly traded, the assignment to Mr. Volpe of any position (including status, offices, title and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities that are not (a) at or with the ultimate parent company of the entity surviving or resulting from such merger, consolidation or other business combination and (b) substantially similar to Mr. Volpe’s position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties and responsibilities during the 90 day period prior to the Change in Control; provided, however, that Mr. Volpe must provide the Company with written notice within 15 days following the first date on which he knows of the occurrence of an event or action constituting Good Reason and the Company shall have 30 days following receipt of such notice to cure such event or action.
Any restricted stock, restricted stock units, or other stock based awards outstanding as of (i) the date of a voluntary termination with Good Reason, (ii) the date of Mr. Volpe’s termination by reason of death or disability, (iii) the date that the Company terminates Mr. Volpe for any reason other than Cause, or (iv) upon a Change in Control shall become fully vested and any stock options outstanding as of such date and not then exercisable shall become fully exercisable as of such date and any restrictions imposed by the Company that are applicable to any shares of common stock granted to Mr. Volpe by the Company shall lapse as of such date. Stock options that become vested in accordance with the previous sentence shall remain exercisable until the first to occur of (a) one year after the date of termination or (b) the original expiration of the option.
To the extent Mr. Volpe is entitled to receive severance, he is subject to a provision in his employment agreement prohibiting him from competing with the Company. If Mr. Volpe’s employment is terminated by the Company for “Cause” or if Mr. Volpe resigns without “Good Reason,” the Company can elect to enforce a provision in his employment agreement prohibiting him from competing with the Company for a period of up to three years following such termination provided that we pay Mr. Volpe the following: (i) salary continuation payments at an annual rate equal to his Base Salary in effect as of the date of termination, payable monthly, (ii) a monthly amount equal to one-twelfth his target bonus opportunity for the year in which the date of termination occurs, or if such target bonus opportunity has not yet been established as of the date of termination, the target bonus percentage opportunity for the prior year with respect to base salary for the year in which the date of termination occurs, and (iii) continued medical, dental, disability and life insurance coverage in the same manner as provided to Mr. Volpe and his eligible dependents immediately prior to such termination. See also the discussion of Mr. Volpe’s Amended and Restated Employment Agreement under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Employment Agreements and Arrangements — Vincent R. Volpe Jr.”.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Change in Control
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | and Termination
| | | | | | Involuntary Without
| | | | |
| | Without Cause or
| | | Change in Control
| | | Cause or Voluntary
| | | Death or
| |
| | With Good Reason | | | (No Termination) | | | with Good Reason | | | Disability | |
|
Cash severance (salary and incentive) | | $ | 7,573,500 | | | | — | | | $ | 3,366,000 | | | $ | 3,366,000 | |
Accelerated vesting of equity | | $ | 6,288,649 | | | $ | 6,288,649 | | | $ | 6,288,649 | | | $ | 6,288,649 | |
Taxgross-up | | $ | 1,461,166 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Health care benefits, disability and life insurance coverage | | $ | 45,894 | | | | — | | | $ | 30,596 | | | $ | 30,596 | |
Total | | $ | 15,369,209 | | | $ | 6,288,649 | | | $ | 9,685,245 | | | $ | 9,685,245 | |
The table above does not reflect the payments due to Mr. Volpe if the Company elects to enforce the non-compete provision described above. In addition, the table above assumes that the amounts of any earned or accrued but unpaid salary, bonus or vacation are zero.
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Confidentiality, Non-Compete, Severance and Change in Control Agreements with other Named Executive Officers
The Company entered into Confidentiality, Non-Compete, Severance and Change in Control Agreements with each of our other named executive officers during 2009.
Under the agreements with the U.S. based named executive officers (Messrs. Baldwin, Mai and Rossi), if the executive is involuntarily terminated by the Company without Cause, the executive is entitled to receive (i) a severance payment specified in the agreement (2.625 times base salary for Mr. Baldwin and 1.5 times base salary for Messrs. Mai and Rossi), (ii) any earned but unpaid salary and payment for accrued but unused vacation days, (iii) any bonus amount under the Company’s Annual Incentive Program previously earned in full but not yet paid for fiscal years prior to the fiscal year in which the executive is terminated, and (iv) continued medical, dental, disability and life insurance coverage for one year.
If a U.S. based named executive officer is terminated by the Company for Cause or due to a Voluntary Termination by the executive with or without Good Reason, the executive is entitled to receive a payment equal to (i) any earned but unpaid salary and any accrued but unused vacation days and (ii) any bonus amount under the Company’s Annual Incentive Program previously earned in full but not yet paid for fiscal years prior to the fiscal year in which the executive is terminated.
If a U.S. based named executive is terminated within two years of a “Change in Control” of the Company by the Company without Cause or due to a Voluntary Termination by the executive with Good Reason, the executive is entitled to receive (i) a severance payment specified in the agreement (2.5 times base salary and annual incentive at target for Messrs. Baldwin and Mai and 2.0 times base salary and annual incentive at target for Mr. Rossi), (ii) any earned but unpaid salary and payment for accrued but unused vacation days, (iii) any bonus amount under the Company’s Annual Incentive Program previously earned in full but not yet paid for fiscal years prior to the fiscal year in which the executive is terminated, and (iv) continued medical, dental, disability and life insurance coverage for two years.
The agreements with the U.S. based named executive officers subject the executives to customary confidentiality obligations during their employment by the Company and at all times following termination, non-compete obligations (i) for one year following termination or (ii) for two years following termination by the Company without Cause or Voluntary Termination by the executive with Good Reason, if either occurs within two years following a Change in Control of the Company, and non-solicitation obligations during their employment and for three years following termination.
Payments under the agreements with the U.S. based named executive officers shall be made within 60 days after the termination date, provided that if any payment under the agreements would be subject to additional taxes and interest under Section 409A of the Code, any such payment shall be accumulated and paid on the date that is six months and one day after the termination date, or such earlier date upon which such amount can be paid without being subject to such additional taxes and interest.
The agreement entered into with Ms. Giadrossi subjects her to customary confidentiality obligations during her employment by the Company and at all times following termination, non-compete obligations for a one-year period following her termination, which the Company may renew once for an additional one-year period if the termination occurs within two years following a Change in Control, and non-solicitation obligations during her employment and for three years following termination.
Under the agreement with Ms. Giadrossi (as defined under applicable French law), if she is terminated by the Company for any reason other than serious or very serious misconduct, and if the Company has not waived the non-compete covenant, she shall be entitled to receive a payment equal to 5/10th of her average monthly salary and contractual premiums received during the last 12 months of employment (or 6/10th if the termination is for cause other than serious or very serious misconduct (as defined under applicable French law), for as long as Ms. Giadrossi shall not have found new employment and for a maximum duration equal to the duration of the non-compete covenant) (the “Non-Compete Payment”) as remuneration of the non-compete covenant. The Non-Compete Payment will be paid monthly for the duration of the non-compete covenant.
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If Ms. Giadrossi is terminated by the Company for any reason other than serious or very serious misconduct (as defined under applicable French law), she shall be entitled to receive a severance payment equal to (a) 1.5 times her base salary minus (b) the sum of (i) the Non-Compete Payment and (ii) the dismissal indemnity set forth by Article 29 of the French National Collective Bargaining Agreement of Engineers and Managers of the Metal Industry (the “CBA”). The severance payment described in this paragraph will be paid on the date of the first anniversary of the start of the non-compete period.
If Ms. Giadrossi is terminated within two years of a Change in Control of the Company by the Company for any reason other than serious or very serious misconduct, she shall be entitled to receive a severance payment equal to (a) 2.0 times her base salary and annual incentive at target minus (b) the sum of (i) the Non-Compete Payment and (ii) the dismissal indemnity set forth by Article 29 of the CBA. The severance payment described in this paragraph will be paid on the date of the second anniversary of the start of the non-compete period.
In the event the Company chooses to waive the non-compete covenant pursuant to the agreement with Ms. Giadrossi, then the Non-Compete Payment described above will be zero.
“Cause” as defined in the agreements for the U.S. based named executive officers means the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the material failure or refusal by the executive to perform his or her duties under the agreement (including, without limitation, his or her inability to perform such duties as a result of alcohol or drug abuse, chronic alcoholism or drug addiction) or to devote substantially all of his or her business time, attention and energies to the performance of his or her duties under the agreement; (ii) any willful, intentional or grossly negligent act by the executive having the effect of materially injuring the interest, business or prospects of the Company, or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates, or divisions; (iii) the material violation or material failure by the executive to comply with the Company’s material published rules, regulations or policies, as in effect from time to time; (iv) the executive’s conviction of a felony offense or conviction of a misdemeanor offense involving moral turpitude, fraud, theft or dishonesty; (v) any willful or intentional misappropriation or embezzlement of the property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (whether or not a misdemeanor or felony); or (vi) a material breach of any one or more of the covenants of the agreement; provided, however, that in the event that the Company decides to terminate the executive’s employment pursuant to clauses (i), (iii) or (vi) of this definition of Cause, such termination shall only become effective if the Company first gives the executive written notice of such Cause, identifying in reasonable detail the manner in which the Company believes Cause to exist and indicating the steps required to cure such Cause, if curable, and if the executive fails to substantially remedy or correct the same within 30 days of such notice.
“Change in Control” is defined in the agreements for the U.S. based named executive officers and Ms. Giadrossi and is the same in all material respects as the definition of that term in Mr. Volpe’s employment agreement, which is set forth above.
“Voluntary Termination with Good Reason” as defined in the agreements for the U.S. based named executive officers means any termination by the executive of his or her employment with the Company within 45 days following the occurrence of any of the following events without his or her consent, which is not cured by the Company, if curable, within 30 days: (i) a material diminution in the executive’s duties and responsibilities; (ii) the Company materially reduces the compensation or benefits to which the executive is entitled as determined immediately prior to the Change in Control; (iii) a material breach of any one or more of the covenants of the agreement by the Company; or (iv) if, as the result of a Change in Control, the Company’s headquarters offices are relocated to a location more than fifty miles away from their location prior to such Change in Control, necessitating the executive’s relocation to such new headquarters location; provided, however, that the executive must provide the Company with written notice within 15 days following the first date on which the executive knows of the occurrence of an event or action constituting Good Reason and the Company fails to cure such event or action within 30 days of such notice.
“Voluntary Termination without Good Reason” as defined in the agreements for the U.S. based named executive officers means any termination by the executive of his or her employment with the Company other than a Voluntary Termination with Good Reason.
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The following tables show the potential payments upon termination or a Change in Control for the other named executive officers under the terms of the agreements described above. The following tables assume that the amounts of earned or accrued but unpaid salary, bonus or vacation are zero.
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Termination by the
| |
| | | | | Company Without Cause or
| |
| | Involuntary
| | | Voluntary Termination by
| |
| | Termination by the
| | | Executive with Good Reason
| |
| | Company Without
| | | Within Two Years of a
| |
Mark E. Baldwin | | Cause | | | Change in Control | |
|
Severance | | $ | 984,189 | | | $ | 1,640,315 | |
Medical, dental, disability and life insurance coverage | | $ | 15,298 | | | $ | 30,596 | |
Total | | $ | 999,487 | | | $ | 1,670,911 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Termination by the
| |
| | | | | Company Without Cause or
| |
| | Involuntary
| | | Voluntary Termination by
| |
| | Termination by the
| | | Executive with Good Reason
| |
| | Company Without
| | | Within Two Years of a
| |
Mark F. Mai | | Cause | | | Change in Control | |
|
Severance | | $ | 519,669 | | | $ | 1,299,248 | |
Medical, dental, disability and life insurance coverage | | $ | 15,298 | | | $ | 30,596 | |
Total | | $ | 534,967 | | | $ | 1,329,844 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Termination by the
| |
| | Involuntary
| | | Company Without Cause
| |
| | Termination
| | | or Voluntary Termination
| |
| | by the Company
| | | by Executive with Good
| |
| | Without
| | | Reason Within Two Years
| |
Christopher Rossi | | Cause | | | of a Change in Control | |
|
Severance | | $ | 455,486 | | | $ | 910,972 | |
Medical, dental, disability and life insurance coverage | | $ | 15,298 | | | $ | 30,596 | |
Total | | $ | 470,783 | | | $ | 941,568 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Termination by the
| | | Termination by
| | | Termination by the
| |
| | | | | Company for
| | | the Company
| | | Company Within Two
| |
| | | | | Cause Other Than
| | | Within Two Years
| | | Years of a Change in
| |
| | Termination by
| | | Serious or Very
| | | of a Change in
| | | Control for Cause Other
| |
| | the Company
| | | Serious
| | | Control Without
| | | than Serious or Very
| |
Nicoletta Giadrossi | | Without Cause | | | Misconduct* | | | Cause | | | Serious Conduct* | |
|
Severance | | $ | 358,294 | | | $ | 322,465 | | | $ | 895,735 | | | $ | 859,906 | |
Non-Compete Payment | | $ | 179,147 | | | $ | 214,976 | | | $ | 179,147 | | | $ | 214,976 | |
Total | | $ | 537,441 | | | $ | 537,441 | | | $ | 1,074,882 | | | $ | 1,074,882 | |
| | |
* | | as defined under applicable French law |
The amounts shown for Ms. Giadrossi above assume that the Company does not choose to waive the non-compete covenant pursuant to her agreement as described above and assume that the dismissal indemnity under CBA is zero.
Director Compensation
In 2009, Mr. Volpe, being the only Director who was employed by the Company, did not receive compensation for service as a Director. Each non-employee Director received an annual cash retainer of $45,000 and $110,001 in restricted stock pursuant to the 2008 Directors Stock Incentive Plan, except (i) Mr. Vettier who elected to defer 50% of his cash retainer and 100% of his restricted stock grant by accepting restricted stock units instead and (ii) Mr. Winkler who elected to defer 100% of his cash retainer and 100% of his restricted stock grant by
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accepting restricted stock units instead. We also paid independent directors a fee for acting as committee chairs ($15,000 for serving as Audit and Compensation Committee chair and $10,000 for serving as Nominating and Governance Committee chair). For each Board or applicable committee meeting our independent directors attended in person or telephonically as a member, Directors earned a fee of $1,500. Our independent Directors may opt to receive shares of our common stock in lieu of cash. At the election of the Director, all fees and equity awards may be deferred, and as a result, the Director is entitled to an interest in the Company’s common stock. The 2009 Director grants vest 100% on the first anniversary of the grant date.
In addition, the Company reimburses Directors for travel expenses incurred in connection with attending Board, committee and stockholder meetings and for other Company business related expenses. The Company will also reimburse Directors for Director education programs and seminars in accordance with Company policy.
The table below summarizes the compensation paid to our non-employee directors during 2009:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fees Earned or
| | | | | | | |
Name | | Paid in Cash | | | Stock Awards(1) | | | Total | |
|
William E. Macaulay, Chairman(2) | | $ | 54,000 | | | $ | 110,001 | | | $ | 164,001 | |
Rita V. Foley(3) | | $ | 73,500 | | | $ | 110,001 | | | $ | 183,501 | |
Louis A. Raspino(4) | | $ | 93,000 | | | $ | 110,001 | | | $ | 203,001 | |
Philip R. Roth(5) | | $ | 85,000 | | | $ | 110,001 | | | $ | 195,001 | |
Stephen A. Snider(6) | | $ | 5,910 | | | $ | 15,418 | | | $ | 21,328 | |
Michael L. Underwood(7) | | $ | 90,000 | | | $ | 110,001 | | | $ | 200,001 | |
Jean-Paul Vettier(8) | | $ | 32,250 | | | $ | 138,540 | | | $ | 170,790 | |
Joseph C. Winkler III(9) | | $ | 11,372 | | | $ | 166,250 | | | $ | 177,762 | |
| | |
(1) | | The amount represents the aggregate grant date fair value. The assumptions used to calculate these amounts are the same as those we used for financial statement reporting purposes. Information about the financial accounting assumptions can be found in Note 17 to our financial statements contained in our Annual Report onForm 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. |
|
(2) | | Mr. Macaulay was granted 5,095 shares of restricted stock on February 13, 2009. As of December 31, 2009, Mr. Macaulay held a total of 7,263 shares of unvested restricted stock. |
|
(3) | | Ms. Foley was granted 5,095 shares of restricted stock on February 13, 2009. As of December 31, 2009, Ms. Foley held a total of 6,824 shares of unvested restricted stock. |
|
(4) | | Mr. Raspino was granted 5,095 shares of restricted stock on February 13, 2009. As of December 31, 2009, Mr. Raspino held a total of 7,263 shares of unvested restricted stock, and also held 4,651 restricted stock units. |
|
(5) | | Mr. Roth was granted 5,095 shares of restricted stock on February 13, 2009. As of December 31, 2009, Mr. Roth held a total of 7,263 shares of unvested restricted stock. |
|
(6) | | Mr. Snider was granted 507 shares of restricted stock on November 11, 2009, which was pro-rated based on his start date as a Director on November 11, 2009. As of December 31, 2009, Mr. Snider held a total of 507 shares of unvested restricted stock. |
|
(7) | | Mr. Underwood was granted 5,095 shares of restricted stock on February 13, 2009. As of December 31, 2009, Mr. Underwood held a total of 5,095 shares of unvested restricted stock. Pursuant to the provisions of the 2005 Directors Stock Incentive Plan, 4,336 shares of restricted stock issued to Mr. Underwood vested automatically upon his reaching age 65. |
|
(8) | | Mr. Vettier elected to defer 50% of his annual cash retainer of $45,000, or $22,500. Thus, he was entitled to a grant of restricted stock units for 1,131 shares of common stock reflecting a fair market value based on the closing price of our common stock on February 13, 2009. Mr. Vettier also deferred 50% of his equity award that would have had a grant date value of $110,001. Thus, Mr. Vettier was also entitled to restricted stock units representing 1,758 shares of common stock and was granted 1,757 shares of restricted stock on February 13, 2009, with a grant date fair value of $55,000, which we calculated using the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant. |
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| | |
| | Mr. Vettier resigned from the Board effective August 21, 2009. Pursuant to the provisions of the 2008 Stock Incentive Plan, the Board exercised its authority to accelerate the vesting of 1,758 shares of restricted stock and 3,057 restricted stock units. As a result of his deferral of 50% of meeting fees earned in 2009, Mr. Vettier had the right to 3,317 restricted stock units which vested upon his separation from service as a Director. All restricted stock units were converted to common stock on August 21, 2009. |
|
(9) | | Mr. Winkler elected to defer 100% of his 2009 annual cash retainer of $45,000. Thus, he was entitled to a grant of restricted stock units for 2,263 shares of common stock reflecting a fair market value based on the closing price of our common stock on February 13, 2009. Mr. Winkler also deferred 100% of his equity award that would have had a grant date value of $110,001. Thus, Mr. Winkler was also entitled to restricted stock units representing 5,095 shares of common stock reflecting a fair market value based on the closing price of our common stock on February 13, 2009. As of December 31, 2009, Mr. Winkler held a total of 1,729 shares of unvested restricted stock, and also held 7,810 restricted stock units. |
Ownership Policy for Non-Employee Directors
To further align the interest of our Directors with our stockholders, the Board adopted a policy that requires each non-employee director of the Board to own a number of shares of stock (including restricted or unrestricted stock and the stock equivalents under any restricted stock unit) at least equivalent to the number of shares of stock and stock equivalents under any restricted stock units granted to such director (or that would have been granted but for the director’s deferral election) for the annual equity grants made within the immediately past three years. The Director has until the fifth anniversary of such director’s election to the Board to satisfy the ownership requirement.
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
Information regarding the securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans is as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (a) | | | (b) | | | (c) | |
| | | | | | | | Number of securities
| |
| | | | | | | | remaining available for
| |
| | Number of securities to be
| | | Weighted-average
| | | future issuance under
| |
| | issued upon exercise of
| | | exercise price of
| | | equity compensation plans
| |
| | outstanding options,
| | | outstanding options,
| | | (excluding securities reflected
| |
Plan Category | | warrants and rights | | | warrants and rights | | | in column(a)) | |
|
Equity Compensation plans approved by security holders | | | 2,213,713 | | | $ | 26.02 | | | | 4,131,018 | |
Equity Compensation plans not approved by security holders | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Total | | | 2,213,713 | | | $ | 26.02 | | | | 4,131,018 | |
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF
CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table and accompanying footnotes show information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of March 16, 2010, by (i) each person who is known by us beneficially to own more than 5% of the outstanding common stock, (ii) each of our Directors (and Director nominees), (iii) each named executive officer and (iv) all directors and executive officers as a group. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each person named
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in the table below isc/o Dresser-Rand Group Inc., West8 Tower, Suite 1000, 10205 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas, 77042.
| | | | | | | | |
| | Shares Beneficially Owned | |
| | | | | Percent of
| |
Name of Beneficial Owner | | Number(1) | | | Common(2) | |
|
Blackrock, Inc.(3) | | | 9,503,956 | | | | 11.52 | |
Iridian Asset Management LLC(4) | | | 8,193,088 | | | | 9.93 | |
Wellington Management Company, LLP(5) | | | 4,258,131 | | | | 5.16 | |
William E. Macaulay(6) | | | 164,756 | | | | * | |
Rita V. Foley(7) | | | 9,803 | | | | * | |
Louis A. Raspino(8) | | | 12,286 | | | | * | |
Philip R. Roth(9) | | | 14,095 | | | | * | |
Stephen A. Snider | | | 365 | | | | * | |
Michael L. Underwood(10) | | | 13,604 | | | | * | |
Vincent R. Volpe Jr.(11) | | | 524,583 | | | | * | |
Joseph C. Winkler III(12) | | | 7,906 | | | | * | |
Mark E. Baldwin(13) | | | 70,233 | | | | * | |
Mark F. Mai(14) | | | 63,305 | | | | * | |
Nicoletta Giadrossi | | | 1,788 | | | | * | |
Christopher Rossi(15) | | | 59,267 | | | | * | |
Directors and executive officers as a group (17 persons)(16) | | | 1,008,768 | | | | 1.22 | |
| | |
* | | Less than 1% of outstanding common stock. |
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(1) | | The number of shares beneficially owned by each entity or individual is determined under SEC rules, and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under these rules, each entity or individual is considered the beneficial owner of any shares as to which they have the sole or shared voting power or investment power. These persons are also deemed under the same rules to beneficially own any shares that they have the right to acquire as of March 16, 2010, or within 60 days from that date, through the exercise of stock options or other similar rights. The amounts shown also include, where applicable, shares of restricted stock. None of our directors or executive officers has pledged as security any of the shares they beneficially own. Unless otherwise indicated, each person has sole investment and voting power (or, under applicable marital property laws, shares these powers with his or her spouse) with respect to the shares shown in the table. |
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(2) | | Ownership percentage is reported based on 82,515,573 shares of common stock outstanding on March 16, 2010, plus, as to the holder thereof only and no other person, the number of shares (if any) that the person has the right to acquire as of March 16, 2010, or within 60 days from that date through the exercise of stock options or other similar rights. |
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(3) | | Reflects beneficial ownership of 9,503,956 shares of our common stock by Blackrock, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Blackrock”). This information was reported on a Schedule 13G filed by Blackrock with the SEC on January 8, 2010. Blackrock reports sole voting and dispositive power with respect to all such shares. Blackrock is the parent holding company of BlackRock Advisors LLC, BlackRock Advisors (UK) Limited, BlackRock Asset Management Australia Limited, BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited, BlackRock Asset Management Japan Limited, BlackRock Fund Advisors, BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A., BlackRock Investment Management, LLC and BlackRock International Ltd. Blackrock reports that BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. holds 5% or greater of the Company’s outstanding common shares. The principal business address of Blackrock is 40 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022. |
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(4) | | Reflects beneficial ownership of 8,193,088 shares of our common stock by Iridian Asset Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Iridian”), David L. Cohen, a U.S. citizen (“Cohen”) and Harold J. Levy, a U.S. citizen (“Levy”) (collectively, the “Reporting Persons”). This information was reported on a |
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| | |
| | Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 28, 2010. Effective June 30, 2009, Cohen and Levy indirectly acquired ownership and control of 100% of the equity interest of Iridian from BIAM (US) Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of The Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland. Thus, on that date, Cohen and Levy may be deemed to have acquired beneficial ownership of all shares of common stock beneficially owned by Iridian. Iridian is majority owned by Arovid Associates LLC, a Delaware limited liability company owned and controlled by the following: 12.5% by Cohen; 12.5% by Levy; 37.5% by LLMD LLC, a Delaware limited liability company owned 1% by Cohen, and 99% by a family trust controlled by Cohen; and 37.5% by ALHERO LLC, a Delaware limited liability company owned 1% by Levy and 99% by a family trust controlled by Levy. Iridian has direct beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock in the accounts for which it serves as the investment adviser under its investment management agreements. Messrs. Cohen and Levy may be deemed to possess beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock beneficially owned by Iridian by virtue of their indirect controlling ownership of Iridian, and by having the power to vote and direct the disposition of shares of common stock as joint Chief Investment Officers of Iridian. Messrs. Cohen and Levy disclaim beneficial ownership of such shares. Iridian has the direct power to vote or direct the vote, and the direct power to dispose or direct the disposition, of 8,193,088 shares of common stock. Cohen and Levy may be deemed to share with Iridian the power to vote or direct the vote and to dispose or direct the disposition of such shares. The principal business address of the Reporting Persons is 276 Post Road West, Westport, CT06880-4704. |
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(5) | | Reflects beneficial ownership of 4,258,131 shares of our common stock by Wellington Management Company, LLP (“Wellington”). This information was reported on aSchedule 13-G filed by Wellington, in its capacity as investment adviser, on February 12, 2010. TheSchedule 13-G indicates that Wellington has shared voting power over 3,965,331shares and shared dispositive power over 4,258,131 shares. The shares of our common stock for which theSchedule 13-G was filed are owned of record by clients of Wellington. Those clients have the right to receive, or the power to direct the receipt of, dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, such shares. The address of Wellington is 75 State Street, Boston, MA 02109. |
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(6) | | Includes beneficial ownership of 4,238 shares of unvested restricted stock. |
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(7) | | Includes beneficial ownership of 4,668 shares of unvested restricted stock. |
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(8) | | Includes beneficial ownership of 4,238 shares of unvested restricted stock. |
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(9) | | Includes beneficial ownership of 4,238 shares of unvested restricted stock. |
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(10) | | Includes beneficial ownership of 3,588 shares of unvested restricted stock. |
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(11) | | Includes beneficial ownership of 75,426 shares of unvested restricted stock and 230,013 shares subject to options that are exercisable as of March 16, 2010 or within 60 days from that date. |
|
(12) | | Includes beneficial ownership of 4,668 shares of unvested restricted stock. |
|
(13) | | Includes beneficial ownership of 19,531 shares of unvested restricted stock and 42,240 shares subject to options that are exercisable as of March 16, 2010 or within 60 days from that date. |
|
(14) | | Includes beneficial ownership of 12,764 shares of unvested restricted stock and 37,634 shares subject to options that are exercisable as of March 16, 2010 or within 60 days from that date. |
|
(15) | | Includes beneficial ownership of 11,274 shares of unvested restricted stock and 37,964 shares subject to options that are exercisable as of March 16, 2010 or within 60 days from that date. |
|
(16) | | Includes beneficial ownership of 174,840 shares of unvested restricted stock and 377,551 shares subject to options that are exercisable as of March 16, 2010 or within 60 days from that date. |
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires DRC’s directors and executive officers, and persons who beneficially own more than ten percent (10%) of a registered class of DRC’s equity securities, to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of DRC’s equity securities. Officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish DRC with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file. Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received by it, or written representations from certain reporting persons that no Forms 5 were required for those persons, DRC believes that all reporting
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requirements under Section 16(a) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, were met in a timely manner by its directors, executive officers, and greater than ten percent (10%) beneficial owners.
CERTAIN RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Review and Approval of Related Party Transactions
The Board has adopted a written policy for approval of transactions between the Company and its directors, director nominees, executive officers, greater-than-5% beneficial owners, and their respective immediate family members (each a “Related Party”), where the amount involved in the transaction exceeds or is expected to exceed $120,000 in any calendar year.
The policy provides that the Nominating and Governance Committee reviews certain transactions subject to the policy and determines whether or not to approve or ratify those transactions. In doing so, the Committee takes into account, among other factors it deems appropriate, whether the transaction is on terms that are 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. In addition, the Board has delegated authority to the Chair of the Committee to pre-approve or ratify transactions where the aggregate amount involved is expected to be less than $250,000. A summary of any new transactions pre-approved by the Chair is provided to the full Committee for its review in connection with each regularly scheduled Committee meeting.
The Committee has considered and adopted standing pre-approvals under the policy for limited transactions with a Related Party. Pre-approved transactions include:
| | |
| • | Employment of executive officers. Any employment by the Company of an executive officer of the Company if the related compensation is required to be reported in the Company’s proxy statement under Item 402 of the SEC’s compensation disclosure requirements (generally applicable to “named executive officers”). |
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| • | Director compensation. Any compensation paid to a director if the compensation is required to be reported in the Company’s proxy statement under Item 402 of the SEC’s compensation disclosure requirements; |
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| • | Certain transactions with other companies. Any transaction with another company at which a Related Party’s only relationship is as an employee (other than an executive officer), director or beneficial owner of less than 10% of that company’s shares, if the aggregate amount involved does not exceed the greater of $120,000, or 2 percent of that company’s total annual revenues. |
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| • | Certain Company charitable contributions. Any charitable contribution, grant or endowment by the Company to a charitable organization, foundation or university at which a Related Party’s only relationship is as an employee (other than an executive officer) or a director, if the aggregate amount involved does not exceed the lesser of $120,000, or 2 percent of the charitable organization’s total annual receipts. |
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| • | Transactions where all stockholders receive proportional benefits.Any transaction where the Related Party’s interest arises solely from the ownership of the Company’s common stock and all holders of the Company’s common stock received the same benefit on apro ratabasis (e.g. dividends). |
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| • | Transactions involving competitive bids. Any transaction involving a Related Party where the rates or charges involved are determined by competitive bids. |
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| • | Regulated transactions. Any transaction with a Related Party involving the rendering of services as a common or contract carrier, or public utility, at rates or charges fixed in conformity with law or governmental authority. |
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| • | Indemnification. Any transaction in which a Related Party is being indemnified by the Company or the Company is advancing expenses pursuant to an Indemnification Agreement, the Company’s By-Laws or Certificate of Incorporation. |
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| | |
| • | Transactions contemplated under Company relocation policies.Any transaction with a Related Party pursuant to Company’s relocation policy and transactions in which the Company’s reimbursement of temporary living expenses incurred by a Related Party associated with a relocation exceeds 60 days, but not in excess of 180 days. |
A summary of new transactions covered by the standing pre-approvals described above is provided to the Committee for its review in connection with each regularly scheduled meeting of the Committee.
Related Party Transactions
In 2009, the Company, through a third-party relocation services firm, agreed to purchase Mr. Volpe’s home in Olean, New York and all personal effects included therein for $267,500, which was their appraised value. The purchase was consummated in March 2010. This purchase was reviewed and approved by the Nominating and Governance Committee pursuant to the Company’s policy described above based, in part, on the costs to the Company being less than the Company would have incurred under its standard relocation policy.
HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXY MATERIALS
In an effort to reduce printing costs and postage fees, we have adopted a practice called “householding.” Under this practice, stockholders who have the same address and last name and do not participate in email delivery of proxy materials will receive only one Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials unless one or more of these people notifies us that he or she wishes to continue to receive individual copies.
If you share an address with another stockholder and receive only one Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials and would like to request a separate copy for this year’s annual meeting or for any future meetings, please: (1) call our Investor Relations department at713-973-5497; (2) send an email message to Blaise Derrico at bderrico@dresser-rand.com; or (3) mail your request to Dresser-Rand Group Inc., West8 Tower, Suite 1000, 10205 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas 77042, Attn: Investor Relations. Additional copies of the notice will be sent promptly after receipt of your request. Similarly, you may also contact us through any of these methods if you receive multiple copies of the notice and would prefer to receive a single copy in the future.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE 2011 ANNUAL MEETING
From time to time, stockholders present proposals that may be proper subjects for inclusion in the proxy statement and for consideration at an annual meeting. To be included in the proxy statement for the 2011 Annual Meeting, DRC must receive proposals no later than November 30, 2010. Proposals for inclusion in the proxy statement must comply with the Exchange Act, includingRule 14a-8, as well as with our bylaws.
Pursuant to DRC’s bylaws, stockholders may present director nominations or other proposals that are proper subjects for consideration at an annual meeting. DRC’s bylaws require all stockholders who intend to make proposals at an annual stockholders meeting to submit their proposals to DRC no later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the previous year’s annual meeting. To be eligible for consideration at the 2011 Annual Meeting, such proposals that have not been submitted by the deadline for inclusion in the proxy statement must be received by DRC between January 11, 2011 and February 10, 2011. In the event the date of the 2011 Annual Meeting is changed by more than 30 days from the date of the 2010 Annual Meeting, stockholder notice must be received not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the 2011 Annual Meeting and no later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the 2011 Annual Meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the 2011 Annual Meeting is first made. However, if the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased and there is no public announcement by DRC naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least 100 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the prior year’s annual meeting of stockholders, then a stockholder proposal only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase must be received by the Secretary of DRC by the close of business on the 10th day following such public announcement. These provisions are intended to allow all stockholders to have an opportunity to consider business expected to be raised at the Annual Meeting.
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ANNUAL REPORT ONFORM 10-K
DRC’s Annual Report onForm 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, will be provided upon written request by any stockholder at no cost. The request should be submitted to DRC,c/o Mark F. Mai, West8 Tower, Suite 1000, 10205 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas 77042. The exhibits to the Annual Report onForm 10-K are available upon payment of charges that approximate our cost of reproduction.
You can also obtain a copy of our Annual Report onForm 10-K, as well as other filings we make with the SEC, on our website at www.dresser-rand.com or on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
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It is important that your shares be represented at the meeting, regardless of the number of shares that you hold. YOU, THEREFORE, ARE URGED TO VOTE PROMPTLY. Stockholders who are present at the meeting may revoke their proxies and vote in person or, if they prefer, may abstain from voting in person and allow their proxies to be voted.
Mark F. Mai
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
March 30, 2010
Houston, Texas
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ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF DRESSER-RAND GROUP INC. Date: May 11, 2010 Time: 9:30 A.M. (Central Time) Place: West 8 Tower, Suite 1000, 10205 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas 77042 . Please make your marks like this: Use dark black pencil or pen only provided The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR proposals 1 and 2. 1: Elect eight Directors to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and envelope until their successors have been duly elected and qualifi ed. 01 William E. Macaulay 04 Louis A. Raspino 07 Michael L. Underwood 02 Vincent R. Volpe Jr. 05 Philip R. Roth 08 Joseph C. Winkler III 03 Rita V. Foley 06 Stephen A. Snider Vote For Withhold Vote *Vote For All Nominees From All Nominees All Except *INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any nominee, mark the “Vote For All Except” box and write the corresponding number(s) of the director(s) for whom you want to withhold your vote in the space provided to the right. Directors Recommend and return just this portion in the For Against Abstain 2: Ratify the appointment of perforation For PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as DRC’s Independent Registered Public Accountants for the fi scal year ending For December 31, 2010. at the If no specifi c instructions are given with regard to the matters to be voted carefully upon, the shares represented by this properly executed proxy card will be voted “FOR” Items 1 and 2. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any separate adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof. To attend the meeting and vote your shares in person, please mark this box. Please Authorized Signatures — This section must be completed for your Instructions to be executed. Please Sign Here Please Date Above Please Sign Here Please Date Above Please sign exactly as your name(s) appears on your stock certifi cate. If held in joint tenancy, all persons should sign. Trustees, administrators, etc. should include title and authority. Corporations should provide full name of corporation and title of authorized offi cer signing the proxy. Annual Meeting of Stockholders of DRESSER-RAND GROUP INC. to be held on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 for Stockholders as of March 16, 2010 This proxy is being solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors VOTED BY: INTERNET TELEPHONE www.proxypush.com/drc 1-866-390-5415 Cast your vote online. Use any touch-tone telephone. View meeting details. OR Have your Proxy Card ready. Follow the simple recorded instructions. MAIL OR Mark, sign and date your Proxy Card. Detach your Proxy Card. Return your Proxy Card in the postage-paid envelope provided. All votes must be received by 11:59 P.M. (Eastern Time) on May 10, 2010. PROXY TABULATOR FOR DRESSER-RAND GROUP INC. P.O. BOX 8016 CARY, NC 27512-9903 EVENT # CLIENT # |

provided envelope ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS MAY 11, 2010 SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF DRESSER-RAND GROUP INC. The stockholder(s) hereby authorize(s) and appoint(s) Vincent R. Volpe Jr., Mark E. Baldwin and Mark F. Mai, and each of them, as the proxies of the stockholder(s), with power of substitution in each, to vote all shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of Dresser-Rand Group Inc. (the “Company”) held of record on March 16, 2010, by the stockholder(s) as designated on the reverse side of this proxy card at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at the offi ces of the and return just this portion in the company at West 8 Tower, Suite 1000, 10205 Westheimer, Houston, perforation Texas 77042, on May 11, 2010, at 9:30 a.m. (Central Time) and at any adjournment thereof on all matters that may properly come before such meeting. at the carefully (CONTINUED AND TO BE MARKED, DATED AND SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE) separate Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials Please for the Annual Meeting: The Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at www.proxydocs.com/drc. |