Compensation and Risk Management
The Compensation Committee evaluates the relationship between our executive and company-wide compensation programs and policies and risk management on an annual basis. As discussed in this CD&A, we design our compensation program to incorporate a range of components that we believe help to mitigate potential risks while rewarding employees for pursuing our strategic and financial objectives through appropriate risk taking, risk management and prudent tactical and strategic decision making. Senior executives representing our risk, legal and compliance, human resources, finance and audit functions, are each involved in the review process, which is conducted under the oversight of the Compensation Committee. Based on this review, we do not believe that there are any risks arising from our compensation policies and practices for our employees that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on us.
For additional information regarding our risk management practices, see “Board Role over Risk Oversight.”
Guidance from Independent Compensation Consultant
FW Cook provides executive compensation consulting services to the Compensation Committee. In 2019, FW Cook provided:
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services related to the review of 2019 peer group compensation data,
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awards under our long-term incentive program,
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the setting of performance goals in our variable incentive plans including the payout leverage for results above and below the target performance levels,
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an analysis of the relationship between the Company’s pay and performance relative to peers, trends and tax and regulatory developments with respect to executive compensation,
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our compensation peer group,
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the compensation adjustments made in connection with the retention awards discussed above, and our non-employee director compensation program,
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preparation for and attendance at selected Compensation Committee meetings, and
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assistance with this CD&A.
FW Cook was retained by and reports to the Compensation Committee and, at the request of the Compensation Committee, participates in committee meetings. FW Cook did not provide any other services to the Company with respect to 2019. The Compensation Committee reviewed the independence of FW Cook under Nasdaq and SEC rules and concluded that the work of FW Cook has not raised any conflict of interest.
Comparison to Peer Group
To obtain a broad view of competitive practices among industry peers and competitors for executive talent, the Compensation Committee reviews market data for peer group companies. In selecting companies for our peer group, the Compensation Committee considers companies that meet one or more of the following peer group selection criteria established by the Compensation Committee:
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approximate to Sirius Group’s scope of business and that of its subsidiaries, including revenue and market capitalization,
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similar to Sirius Group in the importance to their business of capital allocation, investments and risk management,
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compete with Sirius Group for a comparable pool of talent, and
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reflect Sirius Group’s global presence.
During 2019, the Compensation Committee engaged FW Cook to perform a competitive analysis of Sirius Group’s compensation program. The 2019 study found that our compensation program for our