Exhibit 99.1
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
The following discussion and analysis of compensation programs should be read with the compensation tables and related disclosures that follow. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that are based on our current plans and expectations regarding future compensation programs. Actual compensation programs that we adopt may differ materially from the programs summarized in this discussion. The following discussion may also contain statements regarding corporate performance targets and goals. These targets and goals are disclosed in the limited context of our compensation programs and should not be understood to be statements of management’s expectations or estimates of results or other guidance. We specifically caution investors not to apply these statements to other contexts.
In this compensation discussion and analysis, we provide an overview of our approach to compensating our named executive officers in 2016, including the objectives of our compensation programs and the principles upon which our compensation programs and decisions are based. Our named executive officers, and their titles, in 2016 were:
· Raymond R. Quirk, our Chief Executive Officer;
· Michael J. Nolan, our President;
· Brent B. Bickett, our Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy;
· Roger Jewkes, our Chief Operating Officer;
· Anthony J. Park, our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer;
· William P. Foley, II, our Chairman of the Board (Executive Chairman through January 8, 2016).
Effective January 8, 2016, Mr. Foley transitioned from Executive Chairman of the Board to Chairman of the Board, a non-executive position. Although Mr. Foley only served as an executive officer of FNF for eight days during 2016, Securities and Exchange Commission rules require that we discuss and disclose his compensation for fiscal 2016 in this section of the proxy, rather than in the director compensation section, since he served as an executive officer at some point during fiscal 2016.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Financial Highlights
FNF has performed well for our shareholders over the past several years. In 2016, we generated approximately $9.6 billion in total revenue (a 5% increase from 2015), and approximately $1.1 billion in pre-tax earnings from continuing operations (a 24% increase from 2015). As reflected in the charts below, from 2014 through 2016, we have delivered strong growth in total revenue and pre-tax earnings from continuing operations, as well as title revenue.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/S-4/0001047469-17-003357/g125382mm01i001.jpg)
During this three year period from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2016, we delivered a total return to our shareholders of 31.9%, compared to S&P 500 total return of 28.1% during the same period. This includes a return of approximately $240 million to our shareholders in the form of cash dividends and approximately $206 million and $62 million, respectively, to our shareholders in the form of FNF Group and FNFV Group share repurchases in 2016. Total shareholder return is based on stock price changes (including FNFV group common stock since it began trading in July 2014), the Remy and J. Alexander’s spin-offs (assuming that the underlying shares were sold on their closing dates on December 31, 2014 and September 28, 2015, respectively) and cash dividends paid.
Pay for Performance
The primary goal of our executive compensation programs in 2016 was to drive continued growth and successful execution of our strategic business objectives. We believe our programs achieve this goal by:
· tying material portions of our named executive officers’ compensation to the performance of our core title operations and the FNFV companies and investments;
· structuring our performance-based programs to focus our named executive officers on attaining pre-established, objectively-determinable key performance goals that are aligned with and support our key strategic business objectives in our various operations, which, in turn, are aimed at growing long-term shareholder value for both our FNF Group and FNFV Group shareholders;
· recognizing our executives’ leadership abilities, scope of responsibilities, experience, effectiveness, and individual performance achievements; and
· attracting, motivating, and retaining a highly qualified and effective management team that can deliver superior performance and build shareholder value over the long term.
As in past years, in 2016, there was a direct correlation between our named executive officers’ pay and our performance. Here are a few highlights:
· In our title segment at FNF, we far exceeded both our adjusted title revenue and adjusted title pre-tax profit margin goals as set by our compensation committee under our annual incentive plan. We refer to these measures as adjusted title revenue and adjusted pre-tax title margin. Consistent with this strong performance, our named executive officers other than Mr. Foley earned an annual incentive equal to 192.4% of their respective target annual incentive opportunities. As non-executive Chairman of FNF, Mr. Foley was not eligible to earn an annual incentive from FNF in 2016. See the “FNF Annual Incentive Performance Measures and Results” section below.
· We have created individual bonus performance criteria tied to each of the core FNF and FNFV businesses and incented (and paid) our executives based on their estimated time in each such FNF and FNFV business; thereby creating a direct and objective link between pay and performance.
* Note that the financial measures used as performance targets for our named executive officers described in this discussion are non-GAAP measures and differ from the comparable GAAP measures reported in our financial statements. The measures are adjusted to exclude the impact of certain non-recurring and other items. We explain how we calculate these measures in the “Analysis of Compensation Components” section below.
Changes to our Chairman’s Duties and Compensation in 2016
On January 8, 2016, Mr. Foley transitioned from Executive Chairman to Chairman, a non-executive position, of the Boards of FNF and our majority-owned subsidiary ServiceLink Holdings, LLC, or ServiceLink. In connection with these changes, Mr. Foley’s employment agreement with FNF was replaced with a non-executive director services agreement, and his employment agreement with ServiceLink was terminated. Mr. Foley remains the Executive Chairman of Black Knight Financial Services, Inc.’s, or Black Knight’s, a majority-owned subsidiary
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of FNF, Board of Directors. The compensation paid by Black Knight to Mr. Foley for his service as Executive Chairman of Black Knight is included in these discussions and the tables that follow because FNF owns a majority of Black Knight’s outstanding stock. However, as previously announced, our board has approved a tax-free plan whereby it intends to distribute all shares of Black Knight’s stock currently owned by FNF to our shareholders in 2017.
As shown in the tables below, which reflect the compensation earned by Mr. Foley as Executive Chairman (during the first eight days of 2016) and non-executive Chairman of FNF (for the remainder of 2016), and as Executive Chairman of Black Knight, only approximately 19% of Mr. Foley’s compensation disclosed in the discussion and tables that follow was earned as Executive Chairman and non-executive Chairman of FNF. The remainder was earned for his services as Executive Chairman of Black Knight and was paid by Black Knight. Details relating to the compensation Mr. Foley earned as Executive Chairman of Black Knight can be found in Black Knight’s Annual Proxy Statement for its 2017 annual meeting of shareholders.
Summary of Compensation Earned at FNF |
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Name and Principal Position | | Fiscal Year | | Salary ($)(1) | | Bonus ($) | | Stock Awards ($)(2) | | Option Awards ($) | | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)(3) | | All Other Compensation ($)(4) | | Total ($) | |
William P. Foley, II | | 2016 | | 31,470 | | — | | 599,998 | | — | | 1,014,000 | | 1,156,986 | | 2,802,454 | |
Non-executive Chairman of the Board | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) Reflects Mr. Foley’s salary for service as Executive Chairman through January 8, 2016. Mr. Foley did not receive a salary from FNF for the remainder of 2016. In addition Mr. Foley did not participate in FNF’s annual incentive plan in 2016, and Mr. Foley no longer receives cash compensation or benefits for his services as Chairman of ServiceLink.
(2) Reflects the equity award Mr. Foley received for service as a director and non-executive Chairman of FNF, which consisted of 17,351 restricted shares of FNF Group stock. The grant date fair value of this equity incentive award was less than one-half of the grant date fair value of our other named executive officers’ 2016 equity incentive awards and 92% lower than the grant date fair value of Mr. Foley’s 2015 FNF equity incentive awards.
(3) Reflects the amount earned by Mr. Foley pursuant to the Investment Success Incentive Program, a cash incentive award relating to the FNFV companies and investments granted in 2014.
(4) Includes, among other things, an annual board retainer of $780,000 for Mr. Foley’s board duties relating to FNF and FNFV, and meeting fees consistent with those paid to our other non-executive directors. See the footnotes to the “All Other Compensation” column in the “Summary Compensation Table” for details.
Summary of Compensation Earned at Black Knight |
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Name and Principal Position | | Fiscal Year | | Salary ($)(1) | | Bonus ($) | | Stock Awards ($)(2) | | Option Awards ($) | | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)(3) | | All Other Compensation ($)(4) | | Total ($) | |
William P. Foley, II | | 2016 | | 592,568 | | — | | 6,999,993 | | — | | 3,861,000 | | 185,036 | | 11,638,597 | |
Executive Chairman of the Board | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) Reflects salary paid by Black Knight for service as Executive Chairman of the Black Knight Board of Directors.
(2) Reflects the grant date fair value of a Black Knight restricted stock award.
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(3) Reflects the amount earned under Black Knight’s annual incentive plan.
(4) See the footnotes to the “All Other Compensation” column in the “Summary Compensation Table” for details.
2016 SHAREHOLDER VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
At our 2016 annual meeting of shareholders, we held a non-binding advisory vote, also called a “say on pay” vote, on the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in the 2016 proxy statement. A majority of our shareholders approved our “say on pay” proposal, with 54% of the votes cast in favor of the proposal and 46% of the votes cast against the proposal.
SHAREHOLDER OUTREACH AND CHANGES TO OUR COMPENSATION PROGRAMS IN 2016
Our compensation committee is committed to listening and responding to the views of our shareholders in creating and tailoring our executive compensation programs. Following the 2016 annual meeting of shareholders and the 2015 “say on pay” shareholder vote, our President, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer met with our investors in break-out sessions at investor conferences, as well as in independent one-on-one investor meetings, to discuss our business and stock price performance, as well as discuss and receive feedback on our compensation programs. In this regard, we met with investors at more than 20 investor conferences and numerous one-on-one meetings. The investors with whom we met in 2016 represented 12 of our top 15 FNF Group shareholders and seven of our top ten FNFV Group shareholders, who collectively owned more than 40% of our shares (including both FNF Group and FNFV Group shares) as of December 31, 2016.
Overall, we believe that we have been highly responsive to our shareholders’ concerns, and have created and continued compensation programs that achieved our strategic corporate objectives, focused our executives on achieving superior operating results and shareholder returns, balanced short-term and long-term incentives, and maintained a strong correlation between pay and performance.
IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR COMPENSATION PROGRAMS
Our compensation committee is committed to listening and responding to the views of our shareholders in creating and tailoring our executive compensation programs. As in prior years, following our 2016 annual meeting of shareholders and the “say on pay” shareholder vote, we reached out to our shareholders to discuss our business and stock price performance, as well as discuss and receive feedback on our compensation programs. We also considered the analysis of our compensation programs by proxy advisory firms.
We have made a number of improvements to our compensation programs over the last three years to address concerns raised by our shareholders and proxy advisory firms. Following are highlights of the key changes, demonstrating the responsiveness of our compensation committee:
Areas of Improvement | | Improvements |
Mr. Foley’s Pay Continues to Decline and is Now Largely Allocable to BKFS Service | | Following a significant reduction in Mr. Foley’s total compensation in 2015, his compensation was further reduced in 2016. As disclosed in the “Summary Compensation Table,” Mr. Foley’s total compensation in 2016 was $14.4 million, 8% lower than his 2015 total compensation of $15.7 million, and 82% lower than his 2014 total compensation of $80.3 million. Moreover, Mr. Foley’s total compensation for 2016 paid by FNF for his services as non-executive Chairman of FNF and FNFV was $2.7 million, 36% of our CEO’s total compensation for 2016. |
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Areas of Improvement | | Improvements |
Pay Programs Have Been Simplified | | We also simplified our compensation programs. In 2016, our named executive officers earned base salary, an annual performance-based cash incentive, restricted stock awards and standard employee benefits. For Mr. Foley, his compensation by FNF is connected with his service as our non-executive Chairman and included a Chairman retainer, meeting fees and a restricted stock award, as well as a payment under the Investment Success Plan relating to a release from escrow of amounts relating to the 2014 purchase of Comdata by Fleetcor. Further, in 2016, our named executive officers’ long-term equity awards consisted only of restricted stock awards, rather than a combination of options, restricted stock and profits interests, and, except for one-time time-based grants made to Messrs. Jewkes and Nolan in connection with their execution of new employment agreements relating to their new roles and agreement to a non-compete, all of the restricted stock awards had performance-based vesting conditions. |
2017 Actions that will Further Simplify Our Pay Programs | | When we distribute the shares of Black Knight common stock that we currently own to our shareholders and redeem outstanding FNFV tracking shares, as announced on December 7, 2016, FNF, FNFV and Black Knight will each be independent, publicly-traded companies, with FNF and FNFV no longer being tracking stocks. The separation of these businesses and the elimination of our tracking stock will further simplify our compensation programs (and the discussion of our named executive officers’ compensation) going forward, as we will be able to focus solely on the compensation we provide to our named executive officers and we will no longer have to distinguish between our core and non-core businesses and we will be able to eliminate the discussion of Black Knight’s executive compensation programs. |
Eliminated Discretion Inherent in Incentive Program | | Based on feedback we received in our shareholder outreach program, we terminated our prior Long Term Incentive Program at the end of 2014. The plan measured annual increases in the value of certain of our FNFV companies. Some constituents felt the plan provided us with too much discretion regarding payout amounts and that it should not provide for annual payout opportunities. To address these concerns, we replaced that plan with our Investment Success Incentive Program, a plan that only pays out based on liquidity, monetization and similar events relating to the FNFV companies where the returns can be objectively determined. |
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Areas of Improvement | | Improvements |
Annual Incentive Plan Performance Goals are Rigorously Set, Despite Volatile and Unpredictable Economic Environment | | The adjusted title revenue and adjusted pre-tax title margin performance targets under our 2016 annual incentive plan were approximately 6% and 12% higher than the targets under our 2015 plan, respectively. Our annual incentive plan targets correlate with our annual strategic financial plans, which are based on our forecasted originations for the year and the relative mix of purchase versus refinance originations. These expectations are based on forecasts provided by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, anticipated changes in interest rates and recent and expected industry and company trends. We prepare a base plan as well as upside and downside scenarios, which, taken together, form the strategic financial plan and the basis of the performance targets. |
GOVERNANCE AND COMPENSATION BEST PRACTICES
We periodically review our compensation programs and make adjustments that are believed to be in the best interests of our company and our shareholders. As part of this process, we review compensation trends and consider current best practices, and make changes in our compensation programs when we deem it appropriate, all with the goal of continually improving our approach to executive compensation.
Some of the improvements made and actions taken in recent years by our compensation committee or full board of directors include the following:
· amending our Certificate of Incorporation to permit shareholder action by written consent;
· amending our Certificate of Incorporation to eliminate all supermajority voting provisions;
· amending our bylaws to permit “proxy access”;
· amending our bylaws to implement majority voting in uncontested director elections beginning with the 2017 annual meeting of shareholders;
· decreasing the number and amount of perquisites provided to our named executive officers;
· setting a high ratio of performance-based compensation to total compensation, and a low ratio for fixed benefits/perquisites (non-performance-based compensation);
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· eliminating modified single-trigger severance provisions that provide for payments upon a voluntary termination of employment following a change in control in each of our named executive officers’ employment agreements;
· eliminating excise tax gross ups;
· adopting a policy to clawback any overpayments of incentive-based or share-based compensation attributable to restated financial results;
· adding a performance-based vesting provision in restricted stock grants to our officers, including our named executive officers;
· providing enhanced transparency in our executive compensation disclosure;
· using a thorough methodology for comparing our executive compensation to market practices;
· requiring that any dividends or dividend equivalents on FNF Group restricted stock and other awards that are subject to performance based vesting conditions be subject to the same underlying vesting requirements applicable to the awards—that is, no payment of dividends or dividend equivalents are made unless and until the award vests;
· adopting a policy that annual grants of restricted stock (including FNFV Group restricted stock) will utilize a vesting schedule of not less than three years;
· separating the positions of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman and transitioning our Chairman to a non-executive Chairman role;
· appointing an independent lead director to help manage the affairs of our board of directors;
· using an independent compensation consultant who reports solely to our compensation committee, and who does not provide our compensation committee services other than executive compensation consulting;
· implementing stock ownership guidelines that require significant ownership in our company, for example, the multiple for our Chairman is ten times his annual retainer and the multiple for our Chief Executive Officer is five times base salary;
· prohibiting the repricing or cash buy-out of stock options and SARs under our equity incentive plan; and
· adopting a policy prohibiting hedging and pledging transactions involving FNF Group and FNFV Group securities.
As part of our compensation governance program, we also observe the following practices:
· employment agreements with our named executive officers do not contain multi-year guarantees for salary increases, non-performance based bonuses or guaranteed equity compensation;
· we do not provide income tax reimbursements on executive perquisites or other payments;
· all of our cash and equity incentive plans are capped;
· we use non-discretionary, pre-established, objectively determinable performance goals in our incentive plans; and
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· the change in control provisions in our compensation programs trigger upon consummation of mergers, consolidations and other corporate transactions, not upon shareholder approval or other pre-consummation events.
COMPONENTS OF TOTAL COMPENSATION AND PAY MIX
We compensate our executive officers primarily through a mix of base salary, annual cash incentives and long-term equity-based incentives tied to each of our tracking stocks, as well as through investment or business-specific incentives such as the Investment Success Incentive Program. We also provide our executive officers with the same retirement and employee benefit plans that are offered to our other employees, as well as limited other benefits, although these items are not significant components of our compensation programs. The following table provides information regarding the elements of compensation provided to our named executive officers in 2016:
Category of Compensation | | Type of Compensation | | Purpose of the Compensation |
Cash Compensation: | | Salary* | | Salary provides a level of assured, regularly-paid, cash compensation that is competitive and helps attract and retain key employees. |
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Short-term Performance-based Cash Incentives: | | Annual Cash Incentive Relating to Our Core Operations** | | Cash incentives under the FNF annual incentive plan are designed to motivate our employees to work towards achieving our key annual adjusted title revenue and adjusted pre-tax title margin goals. |
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Long-term Equity Incentives: | | Performance-Based FNF Group Restricted Stock | | These are awards of our FNF Group common stock. Performance-based restricted stock helps to tie our named executive officers’ long-term financial interests to our adjusted pre-tax title margin and to the long-term financial interests of FNF Group shareholders, as well as to retain key executives through a three-year vesting period and maintain a market competitive position for total compensation. |
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Investment/Business Specific Incentives: | | Investment Success Incentive Program | | Our Investment Success Incentive Program is designed to help us maximize our return on investment in the FNFV companies and investments by aligning a significant portion of the executive’s long-term incentive compensation with our return related to the investments. The purpose of the programs is to retain and incentivize executives to identify and execute on monetization and liquidity opportunities that will maximize returns. |
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Benefits & Other: | | ESPP, 401(k) Plan, health insurance and other benefits | | Our named executive officers’ benefits generally mirror our company-wide employee benefit programs. For security reasons and to make travel more efficient and productive for our named executive officers, they are eligible to travel on our corporate aircraft. We require that Mr. Foley travel on our corporate aircraft. |
* Mr. Foley received an annual retainer and board meeting fees consistent with those paid to our other non-executive directors, not a salary, for his service as non-executive Chairman of the FNF Board of Directors in 2016. He received a salary from Black Knight for his services as Executive Chairman of the Black Knight Board of Directors in 2016.
** In 2016, Mr. Foley participated in Black Knight’s annual cash incentive plan, but he did not participate in FNF’s annual cash incentive plan.
Allocation of Total Compensation for 2016
The following chart and table show the allocation of 2016 Total Compensation reported in the Summary Compensation Table except for Mr. Foley who only served as an executive officer of FNF for eight days, among the components of our compensation programs:
Named Executive Officers’
2016 Compensation Mix
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/S-4/0001047469-17-003357/g125382mm01i002.jpg)
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2016 Compensation Mix
| | Salary | | Annual Cash Incentives (FNF) | | Performance- Based Restricted Stock (FNF) | | Time-Based Restricted (FNF) | | FNFV Companies and Investments Incentive Programs (FNFV) | | Benefits and Other | | Total Compensation | | Performance Based Compensation | |
Raymond R. Quirk | | 10.8 | % | 31.0 | % | 55.2 | % | 0.0 | % | 0.0 | % | 3.0 | % | 100 | % | 86.2 | % |
Anthony J. Park | | 18.0 | % | 35.5 | % | 40.9 | % | 0.0 | % | 1.2 | % | 4.4 | % | 100 | % | 77.6 | % |
Michael J. Nolan | | 14.7 | % | 36.1 | % | 44.8 | % | 2.8 | % | 0.0 | % | 1.6 | % | 100 | % | 80.9 | % |
Brent B. Bickett | | 13.7 | % | 39.0 | % | 37.8 | % | 0.0 | % | 3.9 | % | 5.6 | % | 100 | % | 80.7 | % |
Roger Jewkes | | 15.6 | % | 37.6 | % | 37.3 | % | 2.6 | % | 0.0 | % | 6.9 | % | 100 | % | 74.9 | % |
As illustrated above, a significant portion of each named executive officer’s total compensation is based on performance-based cash and equity incentives that are tied to our financial performance, stock and equity price and, in the cases of Messrs. Bickett and Park, the performance of the FNFV companies and investments. Combined, performance-based forms of compensation comprised between 74.9% and 86.2% of our named executive officers’ total compensation in 2016.
Our compensation committee believes this emphasis on performance-based incentive compensation is an effective way to use compensation to help us achieve our business objectives while directly aligning our executive officers’ interests with the interests of our shareholders.
Analysis of Compensation Components
Base Salary/Board Retainer and Meeting Fees
Our compensation committee typically reviews salary levels annually as part of our performance review process, as well as in the event of promotions or other changes in our named executive officers’ positions or responsibilities. When establishing base salary levels, our compensation committee considers the peer compensation data provided by its external independent compensation consultant, Strategic Compensation Group, LLC, or SCG, and, beginning on August 1, 2016, Mercer, as well as a number of qualitative factors, including each named executive officer’s experience, knowledge, skills, level of responsibility and performance. Mr. Quirk, Mr. Nolan, and Mr. Park received increases in their base salaries in 2016 to reflect their excellent performance and added responsibilities, which include Mr. Foley transitioning to non-executive Chairman and Mr. Quirk becoming our highest ranking officer.
In connection with the change from Executive Chairman to Chairman of FNF’s Board, Mr. Foley’s base salary was eliminated and he received an annual retainer of $780,000 and board meeting fees consistent with those paid to our other non-executive directors from FNF for his services as Chairman of the FNF Board of Directors. The retainer is allocated evenly between FNF and FNFV, reflecting the relative allocation of his responsibilities among FNF and FNFV. We believe the retainer is appropriate given Mr. Foley’s knowledge of, and history and experience in, our industry and our organization, the key role he plays in developing and implementing our business strategies and the importance of retaining his services and continued focus and dedication. While this retainer exceeds the compensation provided to our other non-executive directors, we believe that the cost is outweighed by the immediate and long-term benefits we and our shareholders stand to gain by having Mr. Foley dedicated, focused and materially aligned financially with our success. Mr. Foley’s ServiceLink base salary was eliminated and his Black Knight base salary was increased from $212,500 to $600,000. These changes to Mr. Foley’s base pay reflect the reallocation of his responsibilities among FNF and FNFV, ServiceLink and Black Knight.
Annual Performance-Based Cash Incentives
We award annual cash incentives based upon the achievement of pre-defined business and financial objectives relating to our core operations, which are specified in the first quarter of the year. Annual incentives play an important role in our approach to total compensation, as they motivate participants to achieve key fiscal year objectives by conditioning the payment of incentives on the achievement of defined, objectively determinable financial performance goals.
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In the first quarter of 2016, our compensation committee approved the fiscal year FNF business performance objectives and a target incentive opportunity for each participant, as well as the potential incentive opportunity range for maximum and threshold performance. No annual incentive payments are payable to a named executive officer if the pre-established, minimum performance levels are not met, and payments are capped at a maximum performance payout level. The financial performance results are derived from our annual financial statements (and reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC), which are subject to an audit by our independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP. However, as discussed below, we use financial measures as performance targets for our named executive officers that differ from the comparable GAAP measures reported in our financial statements. The incentive award target opportunities are expressed as a percentage of the individual’s base salary. Our named executive officers’ 2016 target percentages were the same as their 2015 target percentages, except that Mr. Jewkes’ and Mr. Nolan’s target percentages were increased from 100% to 125% to reflect their added responsibilities and excellent performance.
The amount of the annual incentives actually paid depends on the level of achievement of the pre-established goals as follows:
· If threshold performance is not achieved, no incentive will be paid.
· If threshold performance is achieved, the incentive payout will equal 50% of the executive’s target incentive opportunity.
· If target performance is achieved, the incentive payout will equal 100% of the executive’s target incentive opportunity.
· If maximum performance is achieved, the incentive payout will equal 200% of the executive’s target incentive opportunity.
· Between these levels, the payout is prorated.
An important tenet of our pay for performance philosophy is to utilize our compensation programs to motivate our executives to achieve performance levels that reach beyond what is expected of us as a company. The performance targets for the FNF incentive plan are approved by our compensation committee and are based on discussions between management and our compensation committee. Target performance levels are intended to be difficult to achieve, but not unrealistic. Maximum performance levels are established to limit short-term incentive awards so as to avoid excessive compensation while encouraging executives to reach for performance beyond the target levels.
In setting 2016 performance targets under our annual incentive plans, our compensation committee considered the following factors, which are discussed in more detail below:
· the Mortgage Bankers Association’s projection that mortgage originations would decline;
· our 2016 business plan;
· 2016 performance targets as compared to 2015 performance targets and 2015 actual performance;
· alignment of the 2016 performance targets with the investment community’s published projections for us and our publicly-traded title company competitors; and
· the effect that reaching performance targets would have on our growth and margins.
FNF Annual Incentive Performance Measures and Results. The 2016 performance goals under the FNF incentive plan were based on adjusted title revenue and adjusted pre-tax title margin relating to our title segment. We believe that these performance measures are among the most important measures of the financial performance of our core business, and they can have a significant impact on long-term stock price and the investing community’s
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expectations. When combined with the strong focus on long-term shareholder return created by our equity-based incentives and our named executive officers’ significant stock ownership, and the focus on maximizing return for our FNFV companies and investments created by our Investment Success Incentive Program, these two annual performance measures provide a degree of checks and balances, requiring our named executive officers to consider both short-term and long-term performance of our businesses and investments. The annual incentive performance targets are synchronized with shareholder expectations, desired increase in our stock price, our annual budget, our long-term financial plan, and our board of directors’ expectations. Further, both measures are measures that executives can directly affect.
In the following table, we explain how we calculate the performance measures and why we use them.
Performance Measure | | How Calculated | | Reason for Use |
Adjusted Title Revenue | | Adjusted title revenue is based on GAAP revenue from our title segment as reported in our annual financial statements, excluding realized gains and losses. | | Adjusted title revenue is an important measure of our growth, our ability to satisfy our clients and gain new clients and the effectiveness of our services and solutions. Adjusted title revenue is widely followed by investors. |
Adjusted Pre-Tax Title Margin | | Adjusted pre-tax title margin is determined by dividing the earnings before income taxes and non-controlling interests from our title segment, excluding realized gains and losses, purchase accounting amortization and other unusual items, by total revenues of the title segment excluding realized gains and losses. | | We selected adjusted pre-tax title margin as a measure for the short-term incentives because it is a financial measure that is significantly influenced by the performance of our executives, and it aligns the executives’ short-term incentive opportunity with one of our key corporate growth objectives and is commonly used within the title industry. |
The title insurance business is directly impacted by managements’ effectiveness in executing on our business strategy, and macro-economic factors such as mortgage interest rates, credit availability, job markets, economic growth, and changing demographics. Due to the year-to-year changes in these key economic factors, we do not think comparisons of financial and business goals and performance from one year to another are meaningful indicators of the rigor of our performance goals or managements’ performance in a given year. Instead, we think our performance goals and managements’ performance relative to those goals should be assessed in light of the economic environment within which the goals were established and management operated. In setting the threshold, target and maximum goals relating to the performance measures under the FNF incentive plan, the committee considered management’s expectations for 2016 with respect to forecasted originations and the relative mix of purchase versus refinance originations. These expectations are based on forecasts available in March 2016 provided by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, anticipated changes in interest rates and recent and expected industry and company trends as reflected in our 2016 strategic financial plan. We prepare a base plan as well as upside and downside scenarios, which, taken together, form the strategic financial plan and the basis of the performance measure targets. To establish threshold and maximum goals, percentage adjustments were applied to the target goals. The pre-tax title margin threshold and maximum goals were set at 2.5% below and 2.5% above the target, respectively, and title revenue threshold and maximum goals were set at 7.5% below and 7.5% above the target, respectively. Target performance levels are intended to be difficult to achieve, but not unrealistic. Maximum performance levels are established to limit short-term incentive awards so as to avoid excessive compensation while encouraging executives to reach for performance beyond the target levels. All of the goals are subject to review and approval by our compensation committee.
Our 2016 results exceeded target thresholds due to strong performance by our executive officers and numerous factors, including a 15% increase in agency title insurance premiums driven by our active management of our agent portfolio to maximize profitability and minimize claims risk, and enhancements to our underwriting
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processes which have resulted in lower policy year loss ratios compared to older years that, in turn, allowed us to reduce our provision for claim losses in the fourth quarter of 2016. Our results in 2016 also reflect a stronger than projected origination market, largely driven by a stronger than expected refinance market.
Set forth below are the 2016 weightings of the threshold, target and maximum performance levels (which include ServiceLink and exclude Black Knight), and 2016 performance results under the FNF incentive plan. Dollar amounts are in millions.
Performance Metric | | Weight | | Threshold | | Target | | Maximum | | Results | |
Adjusted Title Revenue (Title Segment) | | 25 | % | $ | 5,790.5 | | $ | 6,260.0 | | $ | 6,729.5 | | $ | 6,978.3 | |
Adjusted Pre-Tax Title Margin (Title Segment) | | 75 | % | 10.0 | % | 12.5 | % | 15.0 | % | 14.75 | % |
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The table below shows each named executive officer’s target percentage under our annual incentive plan, the calculation of their 2016 incentive awards based on the 2016 performance multiplier from the results shown in the tables above, and the amounts earned under the annual incentive plans.
Name | | 2016 Base Salary | | 2016 Annual Incentive Target (%) | | 2016 Annual Incentive Target ($) | | 2016 Performance Multiplier | | 2016 Total Incentive Earned | |
Raymond R. Quirk | | $ | 850,000 | | 150 | % | $ | 1,275,000 | | 192.4 | % | $ | 2,452,977 | |
Anthony J. Park | | $ | 500,000 | | 100 | % | $ | 500,000 | | 192.4 | % | $ | 961,952 | |
Michael J. Nolan | | $ | 575,000 | | 125 | % | $ | 718,750 | | 192.4 | % | $ | 1,382,806 | |
Roger Jewkes | | $ | 630,000 | | 125 | % | $ | 787,500 | | 192.4 | % | $ | 1,515,074 | |
Brent B. Bickett | | $ | 550,500 | | 150 | % | $ | 825,750 | | 192.4 | % | $ | 1,588,663 | |
Black Knight Annual Incentive Plan. In 2016, Mr. Foley received an annual incentive under Black Knight’s annual incentive plan. He did not participate in FNF’s annual incentive plan. The Black Knight plan was approved by its compensation committee, and the plan’s structure is similar to the FNF annual incentive plan. The Black Knight plan ties the payment of incentives to the achievement of adjusted revenue (weighted 40%) and adjusted EBITDA (weighted 60%) goals at Black Knight. Mr. Foley’s target percentage opportunity (expressed as a percentage of his annual base salary at Black Knight) was increased in accordance with his amended and restated employment agreement from 225% to 250%, reflecting his increased focus on Black Knight’s business. Black Knight achieved, on a combined basis, 178.7% of their targeted goals, and Mr. Foley earned a $3,861,000 annual incentive from Black Knight. Further details of Black Knight’s annual incentive plan can be found in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis section of Black Knight’s Annual Proxy Statement for its 2017 annual meeting of shareholders. All amounts under the FNF and Black Knight annual incentive plans are subject to our clawback policy.
Long-Term Equity Incentives
In December 2016, we granted performance-based FNF Group restricted stock to each of our named executive officers, and time-based FNF Group restricted stock to Messrs. Jewkes and Nolan in connection with their execution of new employment agreements, which relate to their new roles with us and include non-competition and other restrictive covenants.
We do not attempt to time the granting of awards to any internal or external events. Our general practice has been for our compensation committee to grant our FNF equity awards during the fourth quarter of each year following the release of our financial results for the third quarter. We also may grant awards in connection with significant new hires, promotions or changes in duties. We granted performance-based FNF Group restricted stock to our named executive officers in December 2016.
Our compensation committee’s determinations are not formulaic; rather, our compensation committee determines the share amounts on a subjective basis in its discretion and may differ among individual executive officers in any given year. Following is a brief discussion regarding the awards made in 2016.
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Performance-Based FNF Group Restricted Stock. In 2016, we increased from 70% to 100% the proportion of the FNF equity awards consisting of performance-based FNF Group restricted stock and did not grant FNF Group stock options to our executive officers because our high levels of existing employee stock ownership were leading to higher dilution attributable to our low Black-Scholes option value.
The FNF Group restricted stock awards vest over three years, provided we achieve pre-tax title margin in our title segment of 8% in at least two of the six quarters beginning January 1, 2017. We considered various alternative measures but selected adjusted pre-tax title margin because it is one of the most important and impactful measures in evaluating the performance of our core operations, as well as the performance of our executives as it is a measure that executives can directly affect. Adjusted pre-tax title margin measures our achievements in operating efficiency, profitability and capital management. It is also a key measure used by investors and has a significant impact on long-term stock price. We reduced the adjusted pre-tax margin performance metric from 8.5% to 8% in 2016 because of anticipated increases in interest rates and recent and expected industry and company trends, including MBA’s forecast of decreased residential mortgage originations in 2017 and the Urban Land Institute’s forecast of a softer commercial real estate market in 2017. We increased the performance period to six quarters from five given the seasonality inherent in the title business, with the first quarter typically much weaker than the remaining quarters due to weather conditions and holidays impacting opened order activity in November and December resulting in fewer closings in the first quarter.
Adjusted pre-tax title margin is determined by dividing the earnings before income taxes and non-controlling interests from our title segment, excluding realized gains and losses, purchase accounting amortization and other unusual items, by total revenues of the title segment excluding realized gains and losses.
Time-Based FNF Group Restricted Stock. Mr. Jewkes and Mr. Nolan each received a one-time FNF Group restricted stock grant in March 2016 in connection with signing a new employment agreement including a non-compete, which they have not previously been subject to, following their assumption of their new roles and duties within the Company. These restricted stock awards vest in equal installments over a period of three years on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant.
Black Knight Performance-Based Restricted Stock. Reflecting the reallocation of Mr. Foley’s responsibilities and his increased focus on Black Knight, on February 3, 2016, Black Knight granted Mr. Foley a performance-based restricted stock award with a grant date value of approximately $7,000,000, which represented the bulk of Mr. Foley’s total equity-based long-term incentives in 2016. The performance-based restricted stock awards granted by Black Knight to Mr. Foley vest over three years based on continued employment, subject to Black Knight’s achievement of a performance target of Adjusted EBITDA of $413 million for the period of January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016, which they achieved in 2016. The Adjusted EBITDA goal of $413 million was consistent with Black Knight’s 2015 actual Adjusted EBITDA. Further details relating to this award can be found in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis section of Black Knight’s Annual Proxy Statement for its 2017 annual meeting of shareholders.
With respect to all restricted stock awards, credit is provided for dividends paid on unvested shares, but payment of those dividends is subject to the same vesting requirements as the underlying shares—in other words, if the underlying shares do not vest, the dividends are forfeited.
Business/Investment Specific Incentives
The FNFV Companies and the Investment Success Incentive Program. FNF has diversified its business operations over the past several years, and its businesses are now organized into two discreet and separate groups: our core operations and our FNFV group, which includes the FNFV companies and investments. The businesses comprising our FNFV group, which had a book value of approximately $916 million as of December 31, 2016, have made a substantial contribution to the overall success of FNF and our shareholder returns. In connection with the split off of FNFV and redemption of FNFV tracking shares, FNFV will assume the Investment Success Incentive Program and we will no longer have any obligations under the program.
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The Investment Success Incentive Program is a performance-based cash incentive program that our compensation committee established in 2014 to help us maximize the returns on our investments in ABRH, Ceridian, Comdata and Digital Insurance. Under the program, amounts are earned upon liquidity events that result in a positive return on our investment. For this purpose, return is determined relative to the value of our investment in the respective FNFV company or investment as of July 1, 2014, which were as follows: ABRH $314,300,000; Ceridian $329,800,000; Comdata $160,200,000; and Digital Insurance: $70,800,000. Upon a liquidity event, 10% of any incremental value is contributed to an incentive pool and payments are made to participants based on their allocated percentages of the pool, which are as follows: Mr. Park 2%; Mr. Bickett 10%; and Mr. Foley 65%. Since Messrs. Quirk, Jewkes and Nolan focus on our core title business and not our FNFV businesses, they do not participate in this program.
No liquidity events occurred in 2016. The only amounts earned under the Investment Success Incentive Program in 2016 related to a release of escrowed funds from a transaction that occurred in 2014, which is described below.
Release of Escrowed Comdata Sale Proceeds. In the sale by Ceridian of Comdata to FleetCor in 2014, the sale consideration was paid in shares of FleetCor common stock, with approximately 25% held in escrow to cover any potential indemnity claims, and any remaining escrowed funds payable to Ceridian in annual 1/3 installments over three years. As a result of the sale, we indirectly acquired (through our approximately 32% ownership interest in Ceridian) approximately 2.39 million shares of FleetCor common stock, with 25% of those shares held back in the indemnity escrow. The sale resulted in payments being made under the Investment Success Incentive Program in 2014; however, our compensation committee exercised discretion reserved under the Investment Success Incentive Program and reduced the incentives payable in 2014 by 25%, which we refer to as the Holdback Amount. In accordance with the Investment Success Incentive Program terms, our compensation committee reserved the right to decide whether the Holdback Amount (or a portion of it) would be forfeited or whether it would be paid to the participants at a future date. This authority under the program to hold back proceeds attributable to contingent sale proceeds, coupled with the compensation committee’s general authority to reduce or eliminate incentives otherwise payable under the program’s incentive formula provides the compensation committee with a mechanism to “wait and see” whether contingent sale proceeds are received before paying the related incentive amounts. This discretionary authority also enhances the retention component of the program as the right to any such held-back incentives is conditioned on the participants remaining employed through the payment date. In November 2016, approximately 50% of the remaining escrow holdback was released from escrow and we distributed approximately 50% of the Holdback Amount remaining after the November 2016 release in 2017. As noted above, any remaining obligations under the program, including any remaining portion of the Holdback Amount that becomes payable, will be the responsibility of FNFV following the FNFV split off.
The following table shows the payments made to our named executive officers in connection with the release of the Holdback Amount.
Name | | Percentage of Incentive Pool | | Total Incentive Paid | |
William P. Foley, II | | 65% | | $ | 1,014,000 | |
Brent B. Bickett | | 10% | | $ | 156,000 | |
Anthony J. Park | | 2% | | $ | 31,000 | |
All amounts payable under the Investment Success Incentive Program are subject to our clawback policy, which is described below. Additionally, the Investment Success Incentive Plan gives our compensation committee discretion to reduce or eliminate amounts that otherwise would be earned under the program’s incentive formula.
Benefit Plans
We provide retirement and other benefits to our U.S. employees under a number of compensation programs. Our named executive officers generally participate in the same compensation programs as our other executives and employees. All employees in the United States, including our named executive officers, are eligible to participate in our 401(k) plan and our employee stock purchase plan, or ESPP. In addition, our named executive officers are eligible to participate in broad-based health and welfare plans. We do not offer pensions or supplemental executive retirement plans for our named executive officers.
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401(k) Plan. We sponsor a defined contribution savings plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. The plan contains a cash or deferred arrangement under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Participating employees may contribute up to 40% of their eligible compensation, but not more than statutory limits, which were generally $18,000 in 2016. Vesting in matching contributions, if any, occurs proportionally each year over three years based on continued employment with us.
Deferred Compensation Plan. We provide our named executive officers, as well as other key employees, with the opportunity to defer receipt of their compensation under a nonqualified deferred compensation plan. None of our named executive officers, elected to defer 2016 compensation into the plan. A description of the plan and information regarding our named executive officers’ interests under the plan can be found in the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table and accompanying narrative.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan. We maintain an ESPP through which our executives and employees can purchase shares of our FNF Group common stock through payroll deductions and through matching employer contributions. At the end of each calendar quarter, we make a matching contribution to the account of each participant who has been continuously employed by us or a participating subsidiary for the last four calendar quarters. For officers, including our named executive officers, matching contributions are equal to 1/2 of the amount contributed during the quarter that is one year earlier than the quarter in which the matching contribution was made. The matching contributions, together with the employee deferrals, are used to purchase shares of our common stock on the open market. For information regarding the matching contributions made to our named executive officers in 2016 see “—Summary Compensation Table.”
Health and Welfare Benefits. We sponsor various broad-based health and welfare benefit plans for our employees. Certain executives, including our named executive officers, are provided with additional life insurance. The taxable portion of the premiums on this additional life insurance is reflected in the “Summary Compensation Table” under the column “All Other Compensation” and related footnote.
Other Benefits. We continue to provide a few additional benefits to our executives. In general, the additional benefits provided are intended to help our named executive officers be more productive and efficient and to protect us and our executives from certain business risks and potential threats. For example, in 2016, certain of our named executive officers received personal use of the corporate aircraft. For security reasons, our board requires that Mr. Foley travel on our corporate aircraft. Our compensation committee regularly reviews the additional benefits provided to our executive officers and believes they are minimal. Further detail regarding other benefits in 2016 can be found in the “Summary Compensation Table” under the column “All Other Compensation” and related footnote.
Employment Agreements and Post-Termination Compensation and Benefits
We have entered into employment agreements with each of our named executive officers. These agreements provide us and the executives with certain rights and obligations following a termination of employment, and in some instances, following a change in control. We believe these agreements are necessary to protect our legitimate business interests, as well as to protect the executives in the event of certain termination events. For a discussion of the material terms of the agreements, see the narrative following “—Grants of Plan-Based Awards” and “—Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control,” below.
ROLE OF COMPENSATION COMMITTEE, COMPENSATION CONSULTANT AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Our compensation committee is responsible for reviewing, approving and monitoring all compensation programs for our named executive officers. Our compensation committee is also responsible for administering the Fidelity National Financial, Inc. Annual Incentive Plan, or our annual incentive plan, the Fidelity National Financial, Inc. Amended and Restated 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan, or our omnibus incentive plan, administering programs that are implemented under the omnibus incentive plan, including the FNFV Investment Success Incentive Program described above, and approving individual grants and awards under those plans for our executive officers. Black Knight’s compensation committee is responsible for reviewing, approving and monitoring all compensation programs for Mr. Foley with respect to his compensation as an executive of Black Knight and Richard N. Massey is the chair of both FNF’s and Black Knight’s compensation committee.
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During the first portion of 2016, our compensation committee engaged SCG, an independent compensation consultant, to conduct an annual review of our compensation programs for our named executive officers and other key executives and our board of directors. Beginning on August 1, 2016, Mercer replaced SCG as our independent compensation consultant. The compensation committee determined to engage Mercer in order to get a fresh perspective on our compensation programs. Both SCG and Mercer (together, the compensation consultants) were selected, and their fees and terms of engagement were approved, by our compensation committee. Both SCG and Mercer reported directly to the compensation committee, received compensation only for services related to executive compensation issues, and neither it nor any affiliated company provided any other services to us. In March 2017, the compensation committee reviewed the independence of Mercer in accordance with the rules of the New York Stock Exchange regarding the independence of consultants to the compensation committee, and affirmed the consultant’s independence and that no conflicts of interest existed.
The compensation consultants provided our compensation committee with relevant market data on compensation, including annual salary, annual incentives, long-term incentives, other benefits, total compensation and pay mix, and alternatives to consider when making compensation decisions. Mercer also assists our compensation committee in its annual review of a compensation risk assessment.
Our Chairman, Mr. Foley, participated in the 2016 executive compensation process by making recommendations with respect to the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Quirk, and his direct reports. Our Chief Executive Officer made recommendations with respect to the compensation of his direct reports, as discussed further below. In addition, Mr. Gravelle, our Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, coordinated with our compensation committee members, the compensation consultants in preparing the committee’s meeting agendas and, at the direction of the compensation committee, assisted the compensation consultants in gathering financial information about FNF and stock ownership information for our executives for inclusion in the consultant’s reports to our compensation committee. Our executive officers do not make recommendations to our compensation committee with respect to their own compensation.
While our compensation committee carefully considers the information provided by, and the recommendations of, Mercer and the individuals who participate in the compensation process, our compensation committee retains complete discretion to accept, reject or modify any recommended compensation decisions.
Establishing Executive Compensation Levels
Our compensation committee considers a number of important qualitative and quantitative factors when determining the overall compensation of our named executive officers in 2016, including:
· the executive officer’s experience, knowledge, skills, level of responsibility and potential to influence our company’s performance;
· the executive officer’s prior salary levels, annual incentive awards, annual incentive award targets and long-term equity incentive awards;
· the business environment and our business objectives and strategy;
· our financial performance in the prior year;
· the need to retain and motivate executives (even in the current business cycle, it is critical that we not lose key people and long term incentives help to retain key people);
· corporate governance and regulatory factors related to executive compensation;
· marketplace compensation levels and practices;
· our focus on the performance of the FNFV companies and investments; and
· compensation provided by our affiliates and various business units, including FNFV.
In evaluating the compensation of our named executive officers (other than Mr. Foley), our compensation committee also considers the recommendations of our Chairman. Our compensation committee also considers our Chief Executive Officer’s recommendations with respect to the compensation of his direct reports. In making their recommendations, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer review the performance of the other named executive officers, job responsibilities, importance to our overall business strategy, and our compensation philosophy. Neither our Chairman nor our Chief Executive Officer make a recommendation to our compensation committee regarding
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his own compensation. The compensation decisions are not formulaic, and the members of our compensation committee did not assign precise weights to the factors listed above. Our compensation committee utilized their individual and collective business judgment to review, assess, and approve compensation for our named executive officers.
To assist our compensation committee, the compensation consultants conducted marketplace reviews of the compensation we pay to our executive officers. They gathered marketplace compensation data on total compensation, which consists of annual salary, annual incentives, long-term incentives, executive benefits, executive ownership levels, overhang and dilution from our omnibus incentive plan, compensation levels as a percent of revenue, pay mix and other key statistics. This data is collected and analyzed twice during the year, once in the first quarter and again in the fourth quarter. The marketplace compensation data provides a point of reference for our compensation committee, but our compensation committee ultimately makes subjective compensation decisions based on all of the factors described above.
For 2016, SCG used two marketplace data sources: (1) a general executive compensation survey of over 3,000 companies with a specific focus on companies with revenues of between $6 billion and $12 billion, and (2) compensation information for a group of 19 companies, or the FNF peer group. The FNF peer group was based on a revenue range of 1/2 to 2 times the projected 2016 revenue for FNF (which at the time was estimated to be $9 billion), industry focus (generally the insurance industry based on Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) Code), nature and complexity of operations, and because they compete with us for business and/or executive talent. The 2016 peer group was consistent with the peer group used by the compensation committee in 2015, except that Chubb Corporation was deleted because it exceeded the revenue range requirement, PartnerRe Ltd. was deleted because it was acquired, Leucadia was deleted because of industry focus, and Alleghany Corporation and Reinsurance Group of American Inc. were added. When defining the peer group, our compensation committee, working with the compensation consultants, attempted to apply the standards used by ISS for identifying peer groups for public companies. The 2016 peer group consisted of:
· Alleghany Corporation | · Genworth Financial, Inc. |
· American Financial Group | · W.R. Berkley Corporation |
· Aon plc | · Lincoln National Corp. |
· Assurant Inc. | · Loews Corporation |
· Automatic Data Processing, Inc. | · Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. |
· CNA Financial Corporation | · Principal Financial Group |
· Computer Sciences Corporation | · Reinsurance Group of American Inc. |
· Discover Financial Services | · Unum Group |
· Everest Re Group Ltd. | · XL Group Ltd |
· First American Financial Corporation | |
The revenue range of these companies at that time was between $5.3 billion and $13.6 billion, with median revenue of approximately $10 billion. This compares to the FNF 2016 revenue estimate at that time of approximately $9 billion.
In addition to the compensation surveys, the compensation consultants gathered compensation program data from independent sources such as ISS and Glass Lewis. That data is helpful to the compensation committee when reviewing the executive compensation programs used by FNF.
The compensation committee primarily focused on the 50th percentile of the data when considering our named executive officers’ 2016 base salaries, annual performance-based cash incentives and long-term equity incentives.
While the compensation decisions of our compensation committee ultimately were subjective judgments, our compensation committee also considered the following factors in making compensation decisions for our named executive officers. In determining the total compensation for Mr. Foley, our compensation committee considered his ongoing role as non-executive Chairman for developing and implementing FNF’s long-term strategy with respect to both our title operations and our FNFV companies and investments, particularly in light of his substantial knowledge of our operations as our founder and a long-time executive. In determining the total compensation for Mr. Quirk, our compensation committee considered his 32 years of experience with FNF working in the title business and his
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importance to the continued successful operation of FNF’s title business. In determining the total compensation for Mr. Park, our compensation committee considered his role and responsibility for accounting and financial reporting matters, as well as his 26 years of experience with FNF. In determining the total compensation for Mr. Bickett, our compensation committee considered his contribution to corporate finance matters, corporate development and mergers and acquisitions, as well as his 18 years of experience with FNF. In determining the total compensation for Mr. Jewkes, our compensation committee considered his role and responsibility for oversight of our day-to-day title operations, as well as his 30 years of experience with FNF and its predecessor companies. In determining the total compensation for Mr. Nolan, our compensation committee considered his role and responsibility for oversight of our title operations, his involvement in our investor relations, as well as his 34 years of experience with FNF. For Messrs. Park and Bickett, the committee also considered their respective contributions to the success of the FNFV companies and investments.
The marketplace compensation information in this discussion is not deemed filed or a part of this compensation discussion and analysis for certification purposes.
OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS HAVE SIGNIFICANT OWNERSHIP STAKES
Our named executive officers and our board of directors maintain significant long-term investments in our company. Collectively, as reported in the table “Security Ownership of Management and Directors,” they beneficially own an aggregate of 14,833,603 shares of our FNF Group and FNFV Group common stock and options to acquire an additional 3,683,337 shares of our FNF Group common stock, which in total is equal to 5.5% of FNF’s shares (including FNF Group and FNFV Group shares) entitled to vote. The fact that our executives and directors hold such a large investment in our shares is part of our company culture and our compensation philosophy. Management’s sizable investment in our shares aligns their economic interests directly with the interests of our shareholders, and their wealth will rise and fall as our share price rises and falls. This promotes teamwork among our management team and strengthens the team’s focus on achieving long term results and increasing shareholder return.
We have formal stock ownership guidelines for all corporate officers, including our named executive officers, and members of our board of directors. The guidelines were established to encourage such individuals to hold a multiple of their base salary (or annual retainer) in our common stock and, thereby, align a significant portion of their own economic interests with those of our shareholders.
The guidelines call for the executive to reach the ownership multiple within four years. Shares of restricted stock and gain on stock options count toward meeting the guidelines. The guidelines, including those applicable to members of our board of directors, are as follows:
Position | | Minimum Aggregate Value |
Chairman of the Board | | 10 × annual cash retainer |
Chief Executive Officer | | 5 × base salary |
Other Officers | | 2 × base salary |
Members of the Board | | 5 × annual cash retainer |
Each of our named executive officers and non-employee directors met these stock ownership guidelines as of December 31, 2016. Further, the award agreements for our 2016 FNF Group restricted stock awards provide that our executives who do not hold shares of FNF Group stock with a value sufficient to satisfy the applicable stock ownership guidelines must retain 50% of the shares acquired as a result of the lapse of vesting restrictions until the executive satisfies the applicable stock ownership guideline. The ownership levels are shown in the “Security Ownership of Management and Directors” table above.
HEDGING AND PLEDGING POLICY
In order to more closely align the interests of our directors and executive officers with those of our shareholders and to protect against inappropriate risk taking, we maintain a hedging and pledging policy, which prohibits our executive officers and directors from engaging in hedging or monetization transactions with respect to our securities, engaging in short-term or speculative transactions in our securities that could create heightened legal risk and/or the appearance of improper or inappropriate conduct or holding FNF securities in margin accounts or pledging them as collateral for loans without our approval.
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CLAWBACK POLICY
In December 2010, our compensation committee adopted a policy to recover any incentive-based compensation from our executive officers if we are required to prepare an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance with financial reporting requirements, and the incentive-based compensation paid during the preceding three-year period would have been lower had the compensation been based on the restated financial results.
TAX AND ACCOUNTING CONSIDERATIONS
Our compensation committee considers the impact of tax and accounting treatment when determining executive compensation.
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code places a limit of $1,000,000 on the amount that can be deducted in any one year for compensation paid to certain executive officers. There is, however, an exception for certain performance-based compensation. Our compensation committee takes the deduction limitation under Section 162(m) into account when structuring and approving awards under our annual incentive plan and our omnibus plan. However, our compensation committee may approve compensation that will not meet these requirements. There are also uncertainties as to the application of Section 162(m). Consequently, it is possible that a deduction relating to amounts intended to qualify as performance-based compensation may be challenged or disallowed.
Our compensation committee also considers the accounting impact when structuring and approving awards. We account for share-based payments, including stock option grants, in accordance with ASC Topic 718, which governs the appropriate accounting treatment of share-based payments under generally accepted accounting principles.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The compensation committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management, and the compensation committee recommended to the board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement.
THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Richard N. Massey
Daniel D. (Ron) Lane
Cary H. Thompson
Executive Compensation
The following table contains information concerning the cash and non-cash compensation awarded to or earned by our named executive officers for the years indicated.
Summary Compensation Table
Name and Principal Position | | Fiscal Year | | Salary ($)(1) | | Bonus ($) | | Stock Awards ($)(2) | | Option Awards ($) | | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)(3) | | All Other Compensation ($)(4) | | Total ($) | |
Raymond R. Quirk | | 2016 | | 831,692 | | — | | 4,249,986 | | — | | 2,382,977 | | 233,402 | | 7,698,057 | |
Chief Executive Officer | | 2015 | | 780,000 | | — | | 2,613,000 | | 1,150,600 | | 2,298,016 | | 258,161 | | 7,099,777 | |
| | 2014 | | 769,133 | | — | | 3,870,015 | | 821,559 | | 3,308,148 | | 292,465 | | 9,061,320 | |
Anthony J. Park | | 2016 | | 483,000 | | — | | 1,099,990 | | — | | 984,952 | | 122,161 | | 2,690,103 | |
Executive Vice President and | | 2015 | | 435,000 | | — | | 731,640 | | 261,500 | | 913,666 | | 146,139 | | 2,487,945 | |
Chief Financial Officer | | 2014 | | 435,069 | | — | | 1,546,195 | | 102,695 | | 3,005,351 | | 146,569 | | 5,235,879 | |
Michael J. Nolan | | 2016 | | 557,308 | | — | | 1,805,263 | | — | | 1,369,806 | | 64,726 | | 3,797,103 | |
President | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Roger Jewkes | | 2016 | | 630,000 | | — | | 1,604,167 | | — | | 1,515,074 | | 278,616 | | 4,027,857 | |
Chief Operating Officer | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Brent B. Bickett | | 2016 | | 550,500 | | — | | 1,515,538 | | — | | 1,719,663 | | 220,727 | | 4,006,428 | |
Executive Vice President, | | 2015 | | 550,500 | | — | | 1,045,200 | | 470,700 | | 1,918,046 | | 349,363 | | 4,333,809 | |
Corporate Strategy | | 2014 | | 550,558 | | — | | 3,498,680 | | 235,402 | | 5,100,491 | | 223,533 | | 9,608,664 | |
William P. Foley, II | | 2016 | | 624,038 | | — | | 7,599,991 | | — | | 4,875,000 | | 1,342,022 | | 14,441,051 | |
Chairman of the Board(5) | | 2015 | | 850,000 | | — | | 5,226,000 | | 2,301,200 | | 6,446,075 | | 844,838 | | 15,668,113 | |
| | 2014 | | 850,030 | | — | | 35,151,870 | | 866,581 | | 42,665,398 | | 791,434 | | 80,325,313 | |
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(1) Amounts shown are not reduced to reflect the named executive officers’ elections, if any, to defer receipt of salary into our 401(k) plan, ESPP, or deferred compensation plans. The amount for Mr. Foley for 2016 includes salary of $31,470 for his services as Chairman of the FNF Board of Directors and $592,568 in salary paid by Black Knight for his service as Executive Chairman of the Black Knight Board of Directors.
(2) Represents the grant date fair value of FNF Group restricted stock awards granted in 2016 computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718, excluding forfeiture assumptions. See the Grants of Plan-Based Awards table for details regarding each award. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note O to our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2017. The FNF Group restricted stock awards are performance-based except that Mr. Jewkes and Mr. Nolan also received a time-based restricted stock grant on March 4, 2016 and March 3, 2016 respectively. For Mr. Foley, the amount shown also reflects the grant date fair value of Black Knight restricted stock awards granted in 2016 computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718, excluding forfeiture assumptions. See the Grants of Plan-Based Awards table for details regarding each award. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note O to Black Knight’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 included in their Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 24, 2017. The grant date fair value of Mr. Foley’s 2016 FNF Group restricted stock award was $599,998, and the grant date fair value of Mr. Foley’s 2016 Black Knight restricted stock award was $6,999,993.
(3) Represents performance-based compensation earned in 2016 under the FNF annual incentive plan by each executive other than Mr. Foley, and the Investment Success Incentive Program by Messrs. Park, Bickett and Foley. For Mr. Foley, the amount reflects the amount earned under Black Knight’s annual incentive plan.
(4) Amounts shown for 2016 include matching contributions to our ESPP; dividends paid on restricted stock that vested in 2016; life insurance premiums paid by us; health insurance fees paid by us under the executive medical plan; personal use of a company airplane; automobile allowance; matching contributions to our 401(k) plan; and, for Mr. Foley, FNF director meeting fees consistent with those paid to our other non-executive directors, a board retainer fee for services to both the FNF and FNFV businesses, and matching contributions under the Black Knight ESPP.
| | Quirk ($) | | Park ($) | | Nolan ($) | | Bickett ($) | | Jewkes ($) | | Foley ($) | |
ESPP Matching Contributions—FNF | | 40,500 | | 33,880 | | 12,981 | | 42,875 | | 49,067 | | 63,137 | |
ESPP Matching Contributions—Black Knight | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 3,065 | |
Restricted Stock Dividends* | | 143,093 | | 28,513 | | 45,395 | | 58,157 | | 55,870 | | — | |
Life Insurance Premiums | | 1,854 | | 207 | | 387 | | 207 | | 387 | | 321 | |
Personal Airplane Use—FNF | | 4,475 | | — | | — | | 59,927 | | 107,731 | | 294,679 | |
Personal Airplane Use—Black Knight | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 147,340 | |
Executive Medical | | 37,517 | | 53,598 | | — | | 53,598 | | 53,598 | | 37,517 | |
Company match—401(k) | | 5,963 | | 5,963 | | 5,963 | | 5,963 | | 5,963 | | 5,963 | |
Automobile Allowance | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 6,000 | | — | |
FNF Board Meeting Fees | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 10,000 | |
FNF and FNFV Board Retainer | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 780,000 | |
* Dividends are subject to the same underlying performance-based vesting requirements applicable to the restricted stock awards.
(5) See the tables in the discussion under the heading “Changes to our Chairman’s Duties and Compensation in 2016” in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis section of this proxy for details regarding the amount of Mr. Foley’s 2016 compensation provided by FNF and Black Knight.
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The following tables set forth information concerning awards granted to the named executive officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.
Grants of Plan-Based Awards
| | | | | | Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards(1) | | Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards(2) | | (j) All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of | | (k) Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and | |
(a) Name | | (b) Grant Date | | (c) Award Type | | (d) Threshold ($) | | (e) Target ($) | | (f) Maximum ($) | | (g) Threshold (#) | | (h) Target (#) | | (i) Maximum (#) | | Stock or Units (#)(3) | | Option Awards ($)(4) | |
Raymond R. Quirk | | 12/21/2016 | | FNF Group Performance-Based Restricted Stock | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 122,903 | | — | | — | | 4,249,986 | |
| | | | FNF Annual Incentive Plan | | 637,500 | | 1,275,000 | | 2,550,000 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | |
Anthony J. Park | | 12/21/2016 | | FNF Group Performance-Based Restricted Stock | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 31,810 | | — | | — | | 1,099,990 | |
| | | | FNF Annual Incentive Plan | | 250,000 | | 500,000 | | 1,000,000 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | |
Brent B. Bickett | | 12/21/2016 | | FNF Group Performance-Based Restricted Stock | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 43,827 | | — | | — | | 1,515,538 | |
| | | | FNF Annual Incentive Plan | | 412,875 | | 825,750 | | 1,651,500 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | |
Roger Jewkes | | 03/04/16 | | FNF Time-Based Restricted Stock | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 3,067 | | 100,015 | |
| | 12/21/2016 | | FNF Group Performance-Based Restricted Stock | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 43,378 | | — | | — | | 1,500,011 | |
| | | | FNF Annual Incentive Plan | | 393,750 | | 787,500 | | 1,575,000 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | |
Michael J. Nolan | | 03/03/16 | | FNF Group Time-Based Restricted Stock | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3,100 | | 100,006 | |
| | 12/21/2016 | | FNF Group Performance-Based Restricted Stock | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 49,161 | | — | | — | | 1,699,987 | |
| | | | FNF Annual Incentive Plan | | 359,375 | | 718,750 | | 1,437,500 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | |
William P. Foley, II | | 12/21/2016 | | FNF Group Performance-Based Restricted Stock | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 17,351 | | — | | — | | 599,998 | |
| | | | Black Knight Annual Incentive Plan | | 750,000 | | 1,500,000 | | 4,500,000 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | |
| | 2/3/2016 | | Black Knight Performance-Based Restricted Stock | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 247,437 | | — | | — | | 6,999,993 | |
(1) With respect to the FNF and Black Knight annual incentive plans, the amount shown in column (d) is 50% of the target amount shown in column (e), and the amount in column (f) is 200% and 300% of the target amount shown in column (e) for FNF and Black Knight, respectively.
(2) The amounts shown in column (h) reflect the number of shares of FNF Group performance-based restricted stock granted to each named executive officer under our omnibus plan. The amount shown in column (h) for Mr. Foley also reflects the number of shares of Black Knight performance-based restricted stock granted under Black Knight’s omnibus incentive plan.
(3) The amounts shown in column (j) reflect the number of shares of FNF Group time-based restricted stock granted to Messrs. Jewkes and Nolan under our omnibus plan.
(4) The amounts shown in column (k) represent the grant date fair value of each award based upon the following per share grant date fair values: FNF Group Performance-Based Restricted Stock ($34.58), Black Knight Performance-Based Restricted Stock ($28.29) and the FNF Group Time-Based Restricted Stock ($32.26 for Michael J. Nolan’s award and $32.61 for Roger Jewkes’ award).
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Outstanding FNF Group Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
| | | | Option Awards(1) | | Stock Awards(2) | |
Name | | Grant Date | | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable | | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable | | Option Exercise Price ($) | | Option Expiration Date | | Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) | | Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock that Have Not Vested ($) | | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) | | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($) | |
Raymond R. Quirk | | 11/8/2012 | | 88,344 | | — | | 19.62 | | 11/8/2019 | | — | | — | | — | | — | |
| | 11/21/2013 | | 480,762 | | — | | 24.24 | | 11/21/2020 | | — | | — | | — | | — | |
| | 11/3/2014 | | 113,632 | | 56,816 | | 29.80 | | 11/3/2021 | | 35,795 | | 1,215,598 | | — | | — | |
| | 10/29/2015 | | 73,333 | | 146,667 | | 34.84 | | 10/29/2022 | | 50,000 | | 1,698,000 | | — | | — | |
| | 12/21/2016 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 122,903 | | 4,173,786 | |
Anthony J. Park | | 11/8/2012 | | 23,558 | | — | | 19.62 | | 11/8/2019 | | — | | — | | — | | — | |
| | 11/21/2013 | | 115,383 | | — | | 24.24 | | 11/21/2020 | | — | | — | | — | | — | |
| | 11/3/2014 | | 14,204 | | 7,102 | | 29.80 | | 11/3/2021 | | 4,475 | | 151,971 | | — | | — | |
| | 10/29/2015 | | 16,666 | | 33,334 | | 34.84 | | 10/29/2022 | | 14,000 | | 475,440 | | — | | — | |
| | 12/21/2016 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 31,810 | | 1,080,268 | |
Michael J. Nolan | | 11/8/2012 | | 10,748 | | — | | 19.62 | | 11/8/2019 | | — | | — | | — | | — | |
| | 11/21/2013 | | 125,598 | | — | | 24.24 | | 11/21/2020 | | — | | — | | — | | — | |
| | 11/3/2014 | | 36,930 | | 18,466 | | 29.80 | | 11/3/2021 | | 11,633 | | 395,057 | | — | | — | |
| | 10/29/2015 | | 28,333 | | 56,667 | | 34.84 | | 10/29/2015 | | 23,334 | | 792,423 | | — | | — | |
| | 3/3/2016 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 3,100 | | 105,276 | |
| | 12/21/2016 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 49,161 | | 1,669,508 | |
Brent B. Bickett | | 11/8/2012 | | 58,896 | | — | | 19.62 | | 11/8/2019 | | — | | — | | — | | — | |
| | 11/21/2013 | | 264,419 | | — | | 24.24 | | 11/21/2020 | | — | | — | | — | | — | |
| | 11/3/2014 | | 28,408 | | 14,204 | | 29.80 | | 11/3/2021 | | 8,949 | | 303,908 | | — | | — | |
| | 10/29/2015 | | 30,000 | | 60,000 | | 34.84 | | 10/29/2022 | | 20,000 | | 679,200 | | — | | — | |
| | 12/21/2016 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 43,827 | | 1,488,365 | |
Roger Jewkes | | 11/21/2013 | | 187,496 | | — | | 24.24 | | 11/21/2020 | | — | | — | | — | | — | |
| | 11/3/2014 | | 44,032 | | 22,017 | | 29.80 | | 11/3/2021 | | 13,871 | | 471,059 | | — | | — | |
| | 10/29/2015 | | 25,000 | | 50,000 | | 34.84 | | 10/29/2022 | | 20,000 | | 679,200 | | — | | — | |
| | 3/4/2016 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 3,067 | | 104,155 | |
| | 12/21/2016 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 43,378 | | 1,473,117 | |
William P. Foley, II | | 11/8/2012 | | 209,082 | | — | | 19.62 | | 11/8/2019 | | — | | — | | — | | — | |
| | 11/21/2013 | | 1,021,619 | | — | | 24.24 | | 11/21/2020 | | — | | — | | — | | — | |
| | 11/3/2014 | | 113,632 | | 56,816 | | 29.80 | | 11/3/2021 | | 35,795 | | 1,215,598 | | — | | — | |
| | 10/29/2015 | | 146,666 | | 293,334 | | 34.84 | | 10/29/2022 | | 100,000 | | 3,396,000 | | — | | — | |
| | 12/21/2016 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 17,351 | | 589,240 | |
(1) Option grants made in 2015, 2014, 2013, and 2012 were granted under the omnibus incentive plan as part of our 2015, 2014, 2013, and 2012 long-term incentive compensation and vest in equal installments over a period of three years on each anniversary of the date of grant.
(2) We made the November 2014, October��2015, March 2016 and December 2016 stock awards under the omnibus incentive plan. The November 2014 and October 2015 grants vest in equal installments over a period of three years on each anniversary of the date of grant given that we achieved pre-tax margin of 8.5% in our title segment in at least two of the five quarters beginning October 1, 2015. The March 2016 grants vest in equal installments over a period of three years on each anniversary of the grant date. The December 2016 grants vest in equal installments over a period of three years on each anniversary of the grant date provided we achieve title operating margin of 8% in our title segment in at least two of the six quarters beginning January 1, 2017. Market values are based on the December 30, 2016 closing price of $33.96 per share.
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Outstanding FNFV Group Restricted Stock Awards at Fiscal Year End
Name | | Grant Date | | Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#)(1) | | Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock that Have Not Vested ($)(2) | |
Anthony J. Park | | 9/22/2014 | | 15,873 | | 217,460 | |
William P. Foley, II | | 9/22/2014 | | 215,873 | | 2,957,460 | |
Brent B. Bickett | | 9/22/2014 | | 44,445 | | 608,897 | |
(1) Restricted stock awards of our FNFV Group common stock. The awards vest 33% annually over three years, subject to continued employment.
(2) Market values are based on the December 30, 2016 closing price for our FNFV Group common stock of $13.70 per share.
Outstanding Black Knight Restricted Stock Awards at Fiscal Year End
Name | | Grant Date | | Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) | | Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock that Have Not Vested ($) | |
Raymond R. Quirk | | 1/9/14 | | 63,188 | | 2,388,506 | |
Anthony J. Park | | 1/9/14 | | 42,125 | | 1,592,325 | |
Brent B. Bickett | | 1/9/14 | | 63,188 | | 2,388,506 | |
William P. Foley, II | | 2/3/16 | | 247,437 | | 9,353,119 | |
Outstanding Ceridian HCM Holdings, Inc. Option Awards at Fiscal Year End
Name | | Grant Date | | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Unexercisable (#)(1) | | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Exercisable (#) | | Option Exercise Price ($) | | Option Expiration Date | |
William P. Foley, II | | 12/7/2010 | | 111,468 | | 111,468 | | 6.73 | | 12/7/2020 | |
(1) 50% of the options vest annually over three years from the date of grant, and vest immediately upon a change in control. The remaining 50% vest upon the earliest to occur of (i) a change in control of Ceridian or (ii) following an Initial Public Offering if the equity value of the common stock equals at least $13.46 and the optionee’s service with Ceridian has not terminated.
Outstanding ServiceLink Profits Interest Awards at Fiscal Year End
Name | | Grant Date | | Number of Units That Have Not Vested (#)(1) | | Market Value of Units That Have Not Vested ($)(2) | |
Raymond R. Quirk | | 1/9/2014 | | 83,334 | | — | |
Anthony J. Park | | 1/9/2014 | | 55,556 | | — | |
Brent B. Bickett | | 1/9/2014 | | 83,334 | | — | |
William P. Foley, II | | 1/9/2014 | | 2,777,778 | | — | |
(1) The awards vest 50% on the second anniversary of the grant date and 50% on the third anniversary of the grant date.
(2) Market value is based on a value as of December 31, 2016 of $0.00 per unit.
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The following table sets forth information concerning each exercise of stock options, stock appreciation rights and similar instruments, and each vesting of stock, including restricted stock, restricted stock units and similar instruments, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 for each of the named executive officers on an aggregated basis:
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
| | Option Awards | | Stock Awards(1) | |
Name | | Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) | | Value Realized on Exercise ($) | | Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) | | Value Realized on Vesting ($) | |
Raymond R. Quirk | | 439,461 | | 11,656,877 | | 152,429 | | 4,959,685 | |
Anthony J. Park | | 34,542 | | 809,664 | | 81,782 | | 2,158,109 | |
Brent B. Bickett | | 34,542 | | 792,856 | | 157,579 | | 3,807,581 | |
Roger Jewkes | | 38,282 | | 597,791 | | 34,964 | | 1,194,141 | |
Michael J. Nolan | | — | | — | | 30,732 | | 1,056,005 | |
William P. Foley, II | | — | | — | | 436,688 | | 8,478,866 | |
(1) For each named executive officer, except Mr. Foley, Mr. Jewkes and Mr. Nolan, includes restricted stock awards of Black Knight common stock issued in exchange for a profits interest award originally issued by Black Knight Financial Services, LLC in connection with the IPO, which vested on January 9, 2016, the second anniversary of the date of grant of the profits interest awards. For Mr. Foley, Mr. Park and Mr. Bickett, also includes amounts associated with restricted shares of common stock of J. Alexander’s, Inc. which Messrs. Park, Foley, and Bickett received on the FNFV restricted stock awards in connection with our spin-off of J. Alexander’s, Inc. on September 28, 2015. We accelerated vesting of the restricted shares of J. Alexander’s on February 17, 2016.
Employment Agreements
We have entered into employment agreements with all of our named executive officers. Additional information regarding post-termination benefits provided under these employment agreements can be found in the “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control” section.
William P. Foley, II
We replaced Mr. Foley’s executive employment agreement with a non-executive director services agreement on January 8, 2016. The agreement provides that Mr. Foley will receive an annual retainer of $780,000. The agreement provides that Mr. Foley and his eligible dependents are entitled to medical and other insurance coverage we provide to our other top executives as a group and that Mr. Foley is entitled to continued use of our aircraft. Mr. Foley is also entitled to receive equity grants under our equity incentive plans, as determined by our compensation committee, with the grant date fair value of the combined FNF and FNFV annual grants being at least $600,000.
Mr. Foley’s agreement provides that if any payments or benefits to be paid to Mr. Foley pursuant to the terms of the agreement would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, then Mr. Foley may elect for such payments to be reduced to one dollar less than the amount that would constitute a “parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code. If Mr. Foley does not elect to have such payments so reduced, he was responsible for payment of any excise tax resulting from such payments and would not be entitled to a gross-up payment under the employment agreement.
Concurrently with entering into the non-executive director services agreement with us, Mr. Foley also entered into a new employment agreement with Black Knight and a letter agreement with ServiceLink. The Black Knight agreement provides that Mr. Foley would serve as chairman for three years, with a provision for automatic annual extensions beginning on the first anniversary of the effective date and continuing thereafter unless either party provided timely notice that the term should not be extended. Under the Black Knight agreements, Mr. Foley is entitled to receive a minimum annual base salary of $600,00, his annual cash incentive target was 250% of his
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annual base salary, with amounts payable depending on performance relative to targeted results and the grant date fair value of each annual equity grant shall be at least $7,000,000. The letter agreement with ServiceLink reflects his non-executive position, that he will not receive cash compensation or benefits for his services, the termination of his ServiceLink employment agreement, and that the changes to his arrangement with ServiceLink will not affect or constitute good reason under his other compensation arrangements.
Raymond R. Quirk
We entered into a three-year amended and restated employment agreement with Mr. Quirk, effective October 10, 2008 with a provision for automatic annual extensions beginning on the first anniversary of the effective date and continuing thereafter unless either party provides timely notice that the term should not be extended. Under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Quirk’s minimum annual base salary is $740,000, with an annual cash incentive target of 150% of his annual base salary, with amounts payable depending on performance relative to targeted results. Mr. Quirk is entitled to supplemental disability insurance sufficient to provide at least 2/3 of his pre-disability base salary, and Mr. Quirk and his eligible dependents are entitled to medical and other insurance coverage we provide to our other top executives as a group. Mr. Quirk is also entitled to, but does not receive, the payment of initiation and membership dues in any social or recreational clubs that we deem appropriate to maintain our business relationships, and he is eligible to receive equity grants under our equity incentive plans, as determined by our compensation committee.
Effective as of February 4, 2010, FNF and Mr. Quirk entered into an amendment to Mr. Quirk’s employment agreement. The amendment provides that, if any payments or benefits to be paid to Mr. Quirk pursuant to the terms of the employment agreement would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, then Mr. Quirk may elect for such payments to be reduced to one dollar less than the amount that would constitute a “parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code. If Mr. Quirk does not elect to have such payments so reduced, Mr. Quirk is responsible for payment of any excise tax resulting from such payments and shall not be entitled to a gross-up payment under the employment agreement.
Mr. Quirk’s employment agreement contains provisions related to the payment of benefits upon certain termination events. The details of these provisions are set forth in the “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control” section.
Anthony J. Park
We entered into a three-year amended and restated employment agreement with Mr. Park, effective October 10, 2008 with a provision for automatic annual extensions beginning on the first anniversary of the effective date and continuing thereafter unless either party provides timely notice that the term should not be extended. Under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Park’s minimum annual base salary is $375,000, with an annual cash incentive target equal to at least 100% of his annual base salary, with amounts payable depending on performance relative to targeted results. Mr. Park is entitled to supplemental disability insurance sufficient to provide at least 2/3 of his pre-disability base salary, and Mr. Park and his eligible dependents are entitled to medical and other insurance coverage we provide to our other top executives as a group. Mr. Park is also entitled to, but does not receive, the payment of initiation and membership dues in any social or recreational clubs that we deem appropriate to maintain our business relationships, and he is eligible to receive equity grants under our equity incentive plans, as determined by our compensation committee.
Effective as of February 4, 2010, FNF and Mr. Park entered into an amendment to Mr. Park’s employment agreement. The amendment provides that, if any payments or benefits to be paid to Mr. Park pursuant to the terms of the employment agreement would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, then Mr. Park may elect for such payments to be reduced to one dollar less than the amount that would constitute a “parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code. If Mr. Park does not elect to have such payments so reduced, Mr. Park is responsible for payment of any excise tax resulting from such payments and shall not be entitled to a gross-up payment under the employment agreement.
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Mr. Park’s employment agreement contains provisions related to the payment of benefits upon certain termination events. The details of these provisions are set forth in the “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control” section.
Michael J. Nolan
We entered into a three-year amended and restated employment agreement with Mr. Nolan, effective March 2, 2016 with a provision for automatic annual extensions beginning on the second anniversary of the effective date and continuing thereafter unless either party provides timely notice that the term should not be extended. Mr. Nolan is entitled to a minimum annual base salary of $575,000 and an annual cash bonus target of 100% of his annual base salary, with amounts payable depending on performance relative to targeted results. Mr. Nolan and his eligible dependents are entitled to medical and other insurance coverage we provide to our other top executives as a group. Mr. Nolan is also eligible to receive equity grants under our equity incentive plans, as determined by our compensation committee.
If any payments or benefits to be paid to Mr. Nolan pursuant to the terms of the employment agreement would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, then Mr. Nolan may elect for such payments to be reduced to one dollar less than the amount that would constitute a “parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code. If Mr. Nolan does not elect to have such payments so reduced, Mr. Nolan is responsible for payment of any excise tax resulting from such payments and shall not be entitled to a gross-up payment under the employment agreement.
Mr. Nolan’s employment agreement contains provisions related to the payment of benefits upon certain termination events. The details of these provisions are set forth in the “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control” section.
Brent B. Bickett
We entered into a three-year amended and restated employment agreement with Mr. Bickett, effective July 2, 2008 with a provision for automatic annual extensions beginning on the first anniversary of the effective date and continuing thereafter unless either party provides timely notice that the term should not be extended. Effective as of January 1, 2012, we entered into an amendment to the employment agreement with Mr. Bickett pursuant to which Mr. Bickett was entitled to a minimum annual base salary of $276,500 and an annual cash bonus target of 150% of his annual base salary, with amounts payable depending on performance relative to targeted results. Effective as of July 1, 2012, we entered into an additional amendment to the employment agreement with Mr. Bickett in connection with his increased role and full-time status with FNF. Under the terms of the agreement, as amended, Mr. Bickett’s minimum annual base salary is $550,500, with an annual cash bonus target of 150% of his annual base salary, with amounts payable depending on performance relative to targeted results. Mr. Bickett is entitled to purchase supplemental disability insurance sufficient to provide at least 60% of his pre-disability base salary, and Mr. Bickett and his eligible dependents are entitled to medical and other insurance coverage we provide to our other top executives as a group. Mr. Bickett is also eligible to receive equity grants under our equity incentive plans, as determined by our compensation committee.
Effective as of February 4, 2010, FNF and Mr. Bickett entered into an amendment to Mr. Bickett’s employment agreement. The amendment provides that, if any payments or benefits to be paid to Mr. Bickett pursuant to the terms of the employment agreement would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, then Mr. Bickett may elect for such payments to be reduced to one dollar less than the amount that would constitute a “parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code. If Mr. Bickett does not elect to have such payments so reduced, Mr. Bickett is responsible for payment of any excise tax resulting from such payments and shall not be entitled to a gross-up payment under the employment agreement.
Mr. Bickett’s employment agreement contains provisions related to the payment of benefits upon certain termination events. The details of these provisions are set forth in the “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control” section.
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Roger Jewkes
We entered into a three-year amended and restated employment agreement with Mr. Jewkes, effective March 3, 2016 with a provision for automatic annual extensions beginning on the second anniversary of the effective date and continuing thereafter unless either party provides timely notice that the term should not be extended. Mr. Jewkes is entitled to a minimum annual base salary of $630,000 and an annual cash bonus target of 100% of his annual base salary, with amounts payable depending on performance relative to targeted results. Mr. Jewkes and his eligible dependents are entitled to medical and other insurance coverage we provide to our other top executives as a group. Mr. Jewkes is also eligible to receive equity grants under our equity incentive plans, as determined by our compensation committee.
If any payments or benefits to be paid to Mr. Jewkes pursuant to the terms of the employment agreement would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, then Mr. Jewkes may elect for such payments to be reduced to one dollar less than the amount that would constitute a “parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code. If Mr. Jewkes does not elect to have such payments so reduced, Mr. Jewkes is responsible for payment of any excise tax resulting from such payments and shall not be entitled to a gross-up payment under the employment agreement.
Mr. Jewkes’ employment agreement contains provisions related to the payment of benefits upon certain termination events. The details of these provisions are set forth in the “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control” section.
Annual Incentive Awards
In 2016, our compensation committee approved performance-based cash incentive award opportunities for our named executive officers other than Mr. Foley. The performance-based cash incentive award opportunities are calculated by multiplying base salary by the named executive officer’s applicable percentage approved by our compensation committee based on the level of performance that we achieved. More information about the annual incentive awards, including the targets and criteria for determining the amounts payable to our named executive officers, can be found in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section.
Long Term Equity Incentive Awards
In December 2016, our compensation committee approved grants of performance-based restricted stock to all our named executive officers. The performance element applicable to the performance-based FNF Group restricted stock is based upon achievement of pre-tax margin in our title segment of 8% in at least two of the six quarters beginning January 1, 2017. The restricted stock also vests proportionately each year over three years based on continued employment with us. Additionally, Mr. Jewkes and Mr. Nolan each received a one-time FNF Group restricted stock grant in March 2016 in exchange for signing a new employment agreement. These restricted stock awards vest in equal installments over a period of three years on each anniversary of the date of grant.
More information about the long term equity incentive awards can be found in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
Under our nonqualified deferred compensation plan, which was amended and restated effective January 1, 2009, participants, including our named executive officers, can defer up to 75% of their base salary and 100% of their monthly, quarterly and annual incentives, subject to a minimum deferral of $16,500. Deferral elections are made during specified enrollment periods. Deferrals and related earnings are not subject to vesting conditions.
Participants’ accounts are bookkeeping entries only and participants’ benefits are unsecured. Participants’ accounts are credited or debited daily based on the performance of hypothetical investments selected by the participant, and may be changed on any business day.
Upon retirement, which generally means separation of employment after attaining age sixty, an individual may elect either a lump-sum withdrawal or installment payments over 5, 10 or 15 years. Similar payment elections
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are available for pre-retirement survivor benefits. In the event of a termination prior to retirement, distributions are paid over a 5-year period. Account balances less than the applicable Internal Revenue Code Section 402(g) limit will be distributed in a lump-sum. Participants can elect to receive in-service distributions in a plan year designated by the participant and these amounts will be paid within two and one-half months from the close of the plan year in which they were elected to be paid. The participant may also petition us to suspend elected deferrals, and to receive partial or full payout under the plan, in the event of an unforeseeable financial emergency, provided that the participant does not have other resources to meet the hardship.
Plan participation continues until termination of employment. Participants will receive their account balance in a lump-sum distribution if employment is terminated within two years after a change in control.
In 2004, Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code was passed. Section 409A changed the tax laws applicable to nonqualified deferred compensation plans, generally placing more restrictions on the timing of deferrals and distributions. The deferred compensation plan contains amounts deferred before and after the passage of Section 409A.
For amounts subject to Section 409A, which in general terms includes amounts deferred after December 31, 2004, a modification to a participant’s payment elections may be made upon the following events:
· Retirement: Participants may modify the distribution schedule for a retirement distribution from a lump-sum to annual installments or vice versa, however, a modification to the form of payment requires that the payment(s) commence at least five years after the participant’s retirement, and this election must be filed with the administrator at least 12 months prior to retirement.
· In-service Distributions: Participants may modify each in-service distribution date by extending it by at least five years; however, participants may not accelerate the in-service distribution date and this election must be filed with the administrator at least 12 months prior to the scheduled in-service distribution date.
Deferral amounts that were vested on or before December 31, 2004 are generally not subject to Section 409A and are governed by more liberal distribution provisions that were in effect prior to the passage of Section 409A. For example, a participant may withdraw these grandfathered amounts at any time, subject to a withdrawal penalty of ten percent, or may change the payment elections for these grandfathered amounts if notice is timely provided.
The table below describes the contributions and distributions made with respect to the named executive officers’ accounts under our nonqualified deferred compensation plan. None of the named executive officers deferred 2016 compensation under the plan. Messrs. Quirk, Jewkes and Nolan do not have balances in the nonqualified deferred compensation plan.
Name | | Executive Contributions in Last FY ($) | | Registrant Contributions in Last FY ($) | | Aggregate Earnings in Last FY ($) | | Aggregate Withdrawals/ Distributions ($) | | Aggregate Balance at Last FYE ($) | |
Anthony J. Park | | — | | — | | 28,046 | | — | | 314,244 | |
Brent B. Bickett | | — | | — | | 56,924 | | — | | 556,113 | |
William P. Foley, II | | — | | — | | 256,484 | | — | | 2,449,532 | |
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
In this section, we discuss the nature and estimated value of payments and benefits we would provide to our named executive officers in the event of termination of employment or a change in control. The amounts described in this section reflect amounts that would have been payable under (i) our plans, and (ii) where applicable, their employment agreements if their employment had terminated on December 31, 2016.
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The types of termination situations include a voluntary termination by the executive, with or without good reason, a termination by us either for cause or not for cause and termination in the event of disability or death. We also describe the estimated payments and benefits that would be provided upon a change in control without a termination of employment. The actual payments and benefits that would be provided upon a termination of employment would be based on the named executive officers’ compensation and benefit levels at the time of the termination of employment and the value of accelerated vesting of share-based awards would be dependent on the value of the underlying stock.
For each type of employment termination, the named executive officers would be entitled to benefits that are available generally to our domestic salaried employees, such as distributions under our 401(k) savings plan, certain disability benefits and accrued vacation. We have not described or provided an estimate of the value of any payments or benefits under plans or arrangements that do not discriminate in scope, terms or operation in favor of a named executive officer and that are generally available to all salaried employees. In addition to these generally available plans and arrangements, the named executive officers would be entitled to benefits under our nonqualified deferred compensation plan, as described above in the “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation” table and accompanying narrative.
Potential Payments under Employment Agreements
As discussed above, we have entered into employment or service agreements with our named executive officers. The agreements contain provisions for the payment of severance benefits following certain termination events. Below is a summary of the payments and benefits that the named executive officers would receive in connection with various employment or service termination scenarios.
Under the terms of each agreement (other than Mr. Foley’s director service agreement), if the executive’s employment is terminated by us for any reason other than for cause and not due to death or disability, or by the executive for good reason then the executive is entitled to receive:
· any accrued obligations,
· a prorated annual incentive based on the actual incentive the named executive officer would have earned for the year of termination,
· in the case of Messrs. Quirk, Park and Bickett, a lump-sum payment equal to 200% of the sum of the executive’s (a) annual base salary and (b) the highest annual bonus paid to the executive within the 3 years preceding his termination or, if higher, the target bonus opportunity in the year in which the termination of employment occurs, in the case of Messrs. Jewkes and Nolan, a lump-sum payment equal to 100% of the sum of the executive’s (a) annual base salary and (b) the target bonus opportunity in the year in which the termination of employment occurs,
· immediate vesting and/or payment of all our equity awards (except performance-based awards, which vest pursuant to the terms of the awards),
· the right to convert any life insurance provided by us into an individual policy, plus a lump sum cash payment equal to thirty-six months (eighteen months in the case of Messrs. Jewkes and Nolan) of premiums, and
· other COBRA coverage (so long as the executive pays the premiums) for a period of three years (eighteen months in the case of Messrs. Jewkes and Nolan) or, if earlier, until eligible for comparable benefits from another employer, plus a lump sum cash payment equal to the sum of thirty-six (eighteen in the case of Messrs. Jewkes and Nolan) monthly COBRA premium payments.
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Under the terms of Mr. Foley’s director service agreement, if his service is terminated by us for any reason other than for cause and not due to death or disability, by him for good reason or is not nominated to run for re-election as chairman of the board, is nominated, but does not receive enough votes to be re-elected to the board, or is removed from as chairman of the board for reasons other than cause, then he is entitled to receive:
· any accrued obligations, and
· immediate vesting and/or payment of all our equity awards (except performance-based awards, which vest pursuant to the terms of the awards),
Effective as of May 3, 2016, FNF and each executive entered into an amendment to each executive’s agreement. The amendment provides that, if the executive’s employment or service terminates due to death or disability, we will pay him, or his estate:
· any accrued obligations,
· a prorated annual bonus based on (a) the target annual bonus opportunity in the year in which the termination occurs or the prior year if no target annual bonus opportunity has yet been determined and (b) the fraction of the year the executive was employed, and
· immediate vesting and/or payment of all FNF Group, FNFV Group and Black Knight equity awards.
In addition, Messrs. Quirk’s and Park’s employment agreements provide for supplemental disability insurance sufficient to provide at least 2/3 of the executive’s pre-disability base salary. In the case of Mr. Bickett, he is entitled to purchase supplemental disability insurance sufficient to provide 60% of his pre-disability base salary. For purposes of the agreements, an executive will be deemed to have a “disability” if he is entitled to receive long-term disability benefits under our long-term disability plan.
If the executive’s employment or service is terminated by FNF for cause or by the executive without good reason our only obligation is the payment of any accrued obligations.
For purposes of each agreement, “cause” means the executive’s:
· persistent failure to perform duties consistent with a commercially reasonable standard of care,
· willful neglect of duties,
· conviction of, or pleading nolo contendere to, criminal or other illegal activities involving dishonesty,
· material breach of the employment or service agreement, or
· impeding or failing to materially cooperate with an investigation authorized by our board.
For purposes of Messrs. Quirk’s, Park’s and Bickett’s agreements, “good reason” includes:
· a material diminution in the executive’s position or title or the assignment of duties to the executive that are materially inconsistent with the executive’s position or title,
· a material diminution of the executive’s base salary or annual bonus opportunity,
· within six months immediately preceding or within two years immediately following a change in control, (1) a material adverse change in the executive’s status, authority or responsibility, (2) a material adverse change in the position to whom the executive reports or to the executive’s service relationship as a result of such reporting structure change, or a material diminution in the authority, duties or responsibilities of the position to whom the executive reports, (3) a material diminution in the
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budget over which the executive has managing authority, or (4) a material change in the geographic location of the executive’s place of employment, or
· our material breach of any of our obligations under the employment agreement.
For purposes of Mr. Foley’s agreements, “good reason” includes:
· a material diminution in his position or title or the assignment of duties to him that are materially inconsistent with his position or title,
· a material diminution of his annual retainer,
· within six months immediately preceding or within two years immediately following a change in control, (1) a material adverse change in this status, authority or responsibility, (2) a material adverse change in the position to whom he reports or to his service relationship as a result of such reporting structure change, or a material diminution in the authority, duties or responsibilities of the position to whom he reports,
· our material breach of any of our obligations under the employment agreement, or
· election of a new director to the board of directors who he did not consent to or vote for.
For purposes of Messrs. Quirk’s, Park’s, Bickett’s and Foley’s agreements, a “change in control” means:
· an acquisition by an individual, entity or group of more than 50% of our voting power,
· a merger in which we are not the surviving entity, unless our shareholders immediately prior to the merger hold more than 50% of the combined voting power of the resulting corporation after the merger,
· a reverse merger in which we are the surviving entity but in which more than 50% of the combined voting power is transferred to persons different from those holding the securities immediately prior to such merger,
· during any period of two consecutive years during the employment term, a change in the majority of our board, unless the changes are approved by 2/3 of the directors then in office,
· a sale, transfer or other disposition of our assets that have a total fair market value equal to or more than 1/3 of the total fair market value of all of our assets immediately before the sale, transfer or disposition, other than a sale, transfer or disposition to an entity (1) which immediately after the sale, transfer or disposition owns 50% of our voting stock or (2) 50% of the voting stock of which is owned by us after the sale, transfer or disposition, or
· our shareholders approve a plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of our company.
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For purposes of Messrs. Jewkes’ and Nolan’s agreements, “good reason” includes:
· a material diminution of the executive’s title, annual base salary or annual bonus opportunity, or
· our material breach of any of our obligations under the employment agreement.
As discussed above, concurrently with entering into his new agreement with us, Mr. Foley also entered into an employment agreement with Black Knight. These agreements contain cross-termination provisions under which a termination for any reason under one of the agreements will constitute termination under the other for the same reason.
Potential Payments under FNF Omnibus Incentive Plan
In addition to the post-termination rights and obligations set forth in the employment agreements of our named executive officers, the FNF omnibus incentive plan provides for the potential acceleration of vesting and/or payment of equity awards in connection with a change in control. Under the FNF omnibus incentive plan, except as otherwise provided in a participant’s award agreement, upon the occurrence of a change in control any and all outstanding options and stock appreciation rights will become immediately exercisable, any restriction imposed on restricted stock, restricted stock units and other awards will lapse, and any and all performance shares, performance units and other awards with performance conditions will be deemed earned at the target level, or, if no target level is specified, the maximum level.
For purposes of the FNF omnibus plan, the term “change in control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:
· an acquisition by an individual, entity or group of 25% or more of our voting power (except for acquisitions by us or any of our employee benefit plans),
· during any period of 2 consecutive years, a change in the majority of our board, unless the change is approved by 2/3 of the directors then in office,
· a reorganization, merger, share exchange, consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets; excluding, however, a transaction pursuant to which we retain specified levels of stock ownership and board seats, or
· our shareholders approve a plan or proposal for our liquidation or dissolution.
Estimated Cash Payments upon Termination of Employment
Our estimate of the cash severance amounts that would be provided to the named executive officers assumes that their employment terminated on December 31, 2016. The severance amounts do not include a prorated 2016 annual incentive since the named executive officers would have been paid based on their service through the end of the year and therefore would have received the amount whether or not the termination occurred. For Mr. Foley, the amount below reflects the aggregate cash severance payment he would have received under his FNF and Black Knight agreements if his employment had terminated on December 31, 2016.
For a termination of employment by us for any reason other than cause, a termination by the executive for good reason or, in the case of Mr. Foley if he is not nominated to run for re-election as chairman of the board, is nominated, but does not receive enough votes to be re-elected to the board, or is removed from as chairman of the board for reasons other than cause, the following payments would have been made under the agreements: Mr. Quirk $6,754,309; Mr. Park $3,106,681; Mr. Nolan $2,100,204; Mr. Bickett $4,527,475; Mr. Jewkes $2,345,496; and Mr. Foley $13,527,840.
For a termination of employment due to death or disability, none of the named executive officers would be entitled to severance or enhanced payments or benefits.
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Estimated Equity Payments upon Termination of Employment or Change in Control
As disclosed in the Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End tables, each named executive officer had outstanding unvested FNF Group stock options and FNF Group restricted stock awards on December 31, 2016. In addition, Messrs. Park, Bickett and Foley each held unvested FNFV Group restricted shares. Under the terms of the FNF omnibus plan and award agreements, these stock options and restricted stock awards would vest upon a change in control and would vest as to a pro-rated portion upon termination for death or disability. In addition, under the named executive officers’ employment agreements, these stock options and restricted stock awards would vest upon a termination due to death or disability, and the portion of these stock options and restricted stock awards that vest based solely on the passage of time would vest upon any termination of employment by us not for cause or a termination by the executive for good reason. In any other termination event, all unvested stock options and restricted stock awards would expire at the employment termination date.
The following estimates are based on an FNF Group common stock price of $33.96 per share and an FNFV Group common stock price of $13.70 per share which were the closing prices of our common stock on December 30, 2016. The stock option amounts reflect the excess of this share price over the exercise price of the unvested stock options that would vest. The restricted stock amounts were determined by multiplying the number of shares that would vest by the applicable closing price or prices. Our estimate of the value of equity that would vest assumes that a change in control and, as applicable, a termination of employment occurred on December 31, 2016.
The estimated value of the FNF Group stock options held by the named executive officers that would vest upon a change in control or upon a termination of the named executive officers’ employment by us not for cause, including a termination due to death or disability, a termination by the executives for good reason or, in the case of Mr. Foley if he is not nominated to run for re-election as chairman of the board, is nominated, but does not receive enough votes to be re-elected to the board, or is removed from as chairman of the board for reasons other than cause would be as follows: Mr. Quirk $236,355; Mr. Park $29,544; Mr. Nolan $76,819; Mr. Bickett $59,089; Mr. Jewkes $91,591; and Mr. Foley $236,355.
The estimated value of FNF Group restricted stock awards (including accumulated dividends) held by the named executive officers that would vest upon a change in control would be as follows: Mr. Quirk $7,208,821; Mr. Park $1,731,307; Mr. Nolan $3,012,179; Mr. Bickett $2,510,008; Mr. Jewkes $2,777,969; and Mr. Foley $5,376,775. The estimated value of FNF Group restricted stock awards (including accumulated dividends) held by the named executive officers that would vest upon a termination of the named executive officers’ employment by us not for cause, a termination by the executives for good reason or, in the case of Mr. Foley if he is not nominated to run for re-election as chairman of the board, is nominated, but does not receive enough votes to be re-elected to the board, or is removed from as chairman of the board for reasons other than cause would be as follows: Mr. Quirk $3,035,035; Mr. Park $651,039; Mr. Nolan $1,342,671; Mr. Bickett $1,021,643; Mr. Jewkes $1,304,852; and Mr. Foley $4,787,535. The estimated value of the FNF Group restricted stock awards (including accumulated dividends) held by the named executive officers that would vest upon a termination of the named executive officers’ employment due to death or disability would be as follows: Mr. Quirk $7,208,821; Mr. Park $1,731,307; Mr. Nolan $3,012,179; Mr. Bickett $2,510,008; Mr. Jewkes $2,777,969; and Mr. Foley $5,376,775.
The estimated value of FNFV Group restricted stock awards held by the named executive officers (other than Messrs. Quirk, Nolan, and Jewkes who did not receive an award of FNFV Group restricted shares) that would vest upon a change in control or termination of employment by us not for cause, a termination by the executives for good reason or, in the case of Mr. Foley if he is not nominated to run for re-election as chairman of the board, is nominated, but does not receive enough votes to be re-elected to the board, or is removed from as chairman of the board for reasons other than cause would be as follows: Mr. Park $217,460; Mr. Bickett $608,897; and Mr. Foley $2,957,460. The estimated value of the FNFV Group restricted stock awards held by the named executive officers (other than Messrs. Quirk, Nolan, and Jewkes, who did not receive an award of FNFV Group restricted shares) that would vest upon a termination of the named executive officers’ employment due to death or disability would be as follows: Mr. Park $217,460; Mr. Bickett $608,897; and Mr. Foley $2,957,460.
In connection with certain change in control transactions, our named executive officers may require ServiceLink to purchase their vested and unvested ServiceLink profits interest awards for an amount equal to the fair market value of the interests. For this purpose, a change in control would include an acquisition of more than 50% of the combined voting power of the stock of Black Knight or a sale of all or substantially all of Black Knight’s or our
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assets. Additionally, pursuant to Mr. Foley’s employment agreement, his unvested ServiceLink profits interest award would vest upon termination of his employment by us not for cause or a termination by Mr. Foley for good reason. Our other named executive officers’ unvested ServiceLink profits interest awards would be forfeited upon termination of employment.
The estimated value of the unvested ServiceLink profits interest awards that would vest upon a change in control, on December 31, 2016 would be as follows: Mr. Quirk $0; Mr. Park $0; Mr. Bickett $0; and Mr. Foley $0.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
The compensation committee is currently composed of Richard N. Massey (Chair), Cary H. Thompson, and Daniel D. (Ron) Lane. During fiscal year 2016, no member of the compensation committee was a former or current officer or employee of FNF or any of its subsidiaries. In addition, during fiscal year 2016, none of our executive officers served (i) as a member of the compensation committee or board of directors of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on our compensation committee, or (ii) as a member of the compensation committee of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on our board.
Discussion of Our Compensation Policies and Practices as They Relate to Risk Management
We reviewed our compensation policies and programs for all employees, including our named executive officers, and determined that our compensation programs are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our company. In conducting the analysis, we reviewed the structure of our executive, non-officer and sales commission incentive programs and the internal controls and risk abatement processes that are in place for each program. We also reviewed data compiled across our direct title operations, agency title operations, Black Knight, ServiceLink, ABRH and corporate operations relative to total revenue, total profits, total compensation expenses and incentive program expenses (including as a percentage of both revenue and total compensation expenses).
We believe that several design features of our executive compensation programs mitigate risk. We set base salaries at levels that provide our employees with assured cash compensation that is appropriate to their job duties and level of responsibility and that, when taken together with incentive awards, motivate them to perform at a high level without encouraging inappropriate risk taking to achieve a reasonable level of secure compensation.
With respect to our executives’ incentive opportunities, we believe that our use of measurable corporate financial performance goals, multiple performance levels and minimum, target and maximum achievable payouts, together with the compensation committee’s discretion to reduce awards, serve to mitigate excessive risk-taking. The risk of overstatement of financial figures to which incentives are tied is mitigated by the compensation committee’s review and approval of the awards and payments under the awards, our ability to recover any incentive-based compensation pursuant to our clawback policy and the internal and external review of our financials. We also believe that our balance of stock options and restricted stock and use of multi-year vesting schedules in our long-term incentive awards encourages recipients to deliver incremental value to our shareholders and aligns their interests with our sustainable long-term performance, thereby mitigating risk. In addition, in 2009 we increased required stock ownership multiples for some executives and included stock retention requirements in our restricted stock awards, both of which help to align our executives’ interests with our long-term performance and mitigate risk.
With respect to our non-officer incentive program, we believe that our use of clearly communicated performance goals and close monitoring by our corporate accounting group, corporate underwriting group and senior management serve to mitigate excessive risk-taking. Our sales commission incentive program is based on revenue generation, which is critical to our performance. We have controls in place that mitigate the risk that transactions might be recommended or executed to earn short-term, commission-based incentive compensation, including operational management oversight and approval, management reporting, and detailed underwriting guidelines and approval escalation.
Director Compensation
Directors who are our salaried employees receive no additional compensation for services as a director or as a member of a committee of our board. In 2016, all non-employee directors other than Mr. Foley, whose
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compensation is described above, received an annual retainer of $80,000, payable quarterly, plus $2,500 for each board meeting attended in 2016. The chairman and each member of the audit committee received an additional annual fee (payable in quarterly installments) of $40,000 and $15,000, respectively, for their service on the audit committee, plus a fee of $3,000 for each audit committee meeting attended in 2016. The chairman and each member of the compensation committee and the corporate governance and nominating committee received an additional annual fee (payable in quarterly installments) of $10,000 and $6,000, respectively, for their service on such committees, plus a fee of $1,500 for each committee meeting attended in 2016. Mr. Ammerman deferred the fees he earned in 2016 for his services as a director and the chairman of the audit committee. In addition, in 2016 each non-employee director other than Mr. Foley received a long-term incentive award of 7,953 restricted shares. The restricted shares were granted under the FNF omnibus plan and vest proportionately each year over three years from the date of grant based upon continued service on our board, subject to the achievement of performance-based criteria. Ms. Kerr also received a new director award of 4,650 restricted shares of FNF Group stock in connection with joining our board. The restricted shares vest proportionately each year over three years from the date of grant based upon continued service on our board. We also reimburse each non-employee director for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attendance at board and committee meetings and director education programs. Finally, each non-employee member of our board is eligible to participate in our deferred compensation plan to the extent he elects to defer any board or committee fees.
In addition, Messrs. Hagerty, Massey and Rood serve as non-employee directors of Black Knight and, in 2016, received an annual retainer of $60,000, payable quarterly, plus $2,000 for each board meeting attended in 2016. Mr. Rood received an additional annual fee (payable in quarterly installments) of $25,000 for his service on the audit committee and $15,000 for his service on the risk committee, plus a fee of $1,500 for each audit committee and risk committee meeting attended in 2016. Messrs. Massey and Hagerty received an additional annual fee (payable in quarterly installments) of $15,000 and $10,000, respectively, for their service on the Black Knight compensation committee, plus a fee of $1,500 for each compensation committee meeting attended in 2016. Mr. Hagerty also received an annual fee of $10,000 for his service on the Black Knight nominating and corporate governance committee plus a fee of $1,500 for each nominating and corporate governance committee meeting attended. Mr. Rood also received an additional retainer of $10,000 for his services on the ServiceLink audit and risk committees.
The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation of our non-employee directors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016:
Name | | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)(1) | | Stock Awards ($)(2) | | Option Awards ($)(3) | | All Other Compensation ($)(4) | | Total ($) | |
Douglas K. Ammerman | | 167,250 | | 275,015 | | — | | 10,231 | | 452,496 | |
Willie D. Davis | | 140,500 | | 275,015 | | — | | 10,231 | | 425,746 | |
Thomas M. Hagerty | | 184,500 | | 400,029 | | — | | 10,996 | | 595,525 | |
Janet E. Kerr | | 57,527 | | 425,024 | | — | | — | | 482,551 | |
Daniel D. (Ron) Lane | | 108,500 | | 275,015 | | — | | 10,231 | | 393,746 | |
Richard N. Massey | | 231,843 | | 400,029 | | — | | 10,379 | | 642,251 | |
Peter O. Shea, Jr. | | 103,000 | | 275,015 | | — | | 10,231 | | 388,246 | |
Cary H. Thompson | | 107,500 | | 275,015 | | — | | 10,231 | | 392,746 | |
Frank P. Willey | | 92,500 | | 275,015 | | — | | 10,231 | | 377,746 | |
John D. Rood | | 291,500 | | 400,029 | | — | | 13,378 | | 704,907 | |
(1) Represents the cash portion of annual board and committee retainers and meeting fees earned for services as a FNF director in 2016 for Messrs. Ammerman, Davis, Lane, Shea, Thompson and Willey and Ms. Kerr, as a FNF and Black Knight director for Messrs. Hagerty and Massey, and as a FNF, Black Knight and ServiceLink director for Mr. Rood.
(2) Amounts shown for all directors represent the grant date fair value of restricted stock awards granted in 2016, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For all directors, these amounts include a grant date fair value of $275,015 with respect to awards of FNF Group performance-based restricted shares granted in December 2016, and for Ms. Kerr, $150,009 with respect to time-based restricted shares granted in March 2016, each of which vest over a period of three years from the grant date. Assumptions used in the calculation of the amounts of the FNF Awards are included in Note O to our audited financial
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statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 27, 2017. FNF Group restricted stock awards granted for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 for each director were as follows: Mr. Ammerman 7,953; Mr. Davis 7,953; Mr. Hagerty 7,953; Ms. Kerr 12,603; Mr. Lane 7,953; Mr. Massey 7,953; Mr. Rood 7,953; Mr. Shea, Jr. 7,953; Mr. Thompson 7,953; and Mr. Willey 7,953. The fair value of the awards as shown above is based on a per share fair value of $34.58 and, with respect to Ms. Kerr’s new director restricted stock award, a per share fair value of $32.26. As of December 31, 2016, FNF Group restricted stock awards outstanding for each director were as follows: Mr. Ammerman 14,151; Mr. Davis 14,151; Mr. Hagerty 14,374; Ms. Kerr 12,603; Mr. Lane 14,151; Mr. Massey 14,504; Mr. Rood 14,151; Mr. Shea, Jr. 14,151; Mr. Thompson 14,151; and Mr. Willey 14,151. None of our non-management directors hold FNFV Group restricted stock awards. For Messrs. Hagerty, Massey and Rood, the amount shown also reflects the grant date fair value of $125,014 with respect to Black Knight restricted stock awards granted in February 2016 computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718, excluding forfeiture assumptions. The Black Knight restricted stock awards vest over a period of three years from the date of grant. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note O to Black Knight’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 included in their Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 24, 2017.
(3) There were no FNF Group option awards granted for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016. As of December 31, 2016, FNF Group option awards outstanding for each director were as follows: Mr. Ammerman 67,976; Mr. Davis 67,976; Mr. Hagerty 72,637; Ms. Kerr 0; Mr. Lane 35,205; Mr. Massey 69,286; Mr. Rood 62,087; Mr. Shea, Jr. 67,976; Mr. Thompson 67,976; and Mr. Willey 67,976. None of our directors hold FNFV Group stock option awards.
(4) Amounts shown for all directors reflect dividends paid on shares of FNF Group restricted stock in 2016.
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