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Preliminary Proxy Statement
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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Definitive Proxy Statement
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Definitive Additional Materials
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to § 240.14a-12
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No fee required.
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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(1)
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Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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(2)
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3)
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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(4)
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(5)
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Total fee paid:
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or
Schedule and the date of its filing.
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(1) Amount Previously Paid:
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(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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(3) Filing Party:
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(4) Date Filed:
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(i) |
To elect eight directors to serve until the 2022 annual meeting of shareholders;
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(ii) |
To hold an advisory vote on executive compensation;
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(iii) |
To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accountants for fiscal 2021; and
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To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or at any adjournment or postponement thereof.
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Anne H. Chow, 54
Independent Director
Director Since: March 2016
Committees: Member of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, Organization and Compensation Committee, and Growth and Innovations Committee
Other Directorships: None
Ms. Chow is currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AT&T Business at AT&T. As CEO of AT&T Business, Anne is responsible for the company’s operating unit which serves nearly 3 million business customers in more than
200 countries and territories around the world, including nearly all of the world’s Fortune 1000 companies. Ms. Chow’s responsibilities include all of AT&T’s business services across wireless, networking, cybersecurity, and advanced
solutions, covering more than $35 billion in revenues. Since 2000, Ms. Chow has held a variety of leadership positions at AT&T, including Senior Vice President – Global Solutions and Sales Operations and Senior Vice President – Premier
Client Group. With decades of experience in the industry, Ms. Chow has led many global organizations through major transformations, developing and executing innovative growth strategies while building role model relationships. Anne is
passionate about education, diversity and inclusion, advancing women in technology, and cultivating next generation leaders.
A long standing, active member of the community, Anne has previously served on the boards of the AT&T Foundation, Hunterdon Healthcare System, New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, Asian and Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund,
Asian American Justice Center, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, and the Girl Scouts of the USA. Ms. Chow currently serves as co-chair of the Georgia Tech Parents Board, and is a member of the Georgia Tech President’s
Advisory Board.
Ms. Chow holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration with Distinction from The Johnson School at Cornell University, as well as a Bachelor of Science Degree and Masters of Engineering Degree in Electrical Engineering from Cornell
University. Anne is also a graduate of the Pre-College Division of the Juilliard School of Music.
Director Qualifications: The Company believes that Ms. Chow’s strong sales and enterprise relationship background as well as her extensive distribution and global leadership
experience provide valuable insight and skills to our Board of Directors. Ms. Chow’s significant involvement with various other entities throughout her career provides her with wide-ranging perspective and experience in the areas of
management, operations, finance, and marketing.
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Michael Fung, 70
Independent Director
Director Since: July 2012
Committees: Chair of the Audit Committee and a member of all other standing committees
Other Directorships: 99 Cents Only Stores LLC, and Floor and Décor Holdings, Inc.
Mr. Fung served as the interim Chief Financial Officer for JC Penney Co. from October 2018 through April 2019 and as the interim Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer for the Neiman Marcus Group from November 2016 through
June 2017. Prior to these appointments, Michael retired from Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. in 2012, after 11 years of service. Mr. Fung was the Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of Wal-Mart U.S., a position he held from 2006
through his retirement in February 2012. From 2001 to 2003, Mr. Fung served as Vice President of Finance and Administration for Global Procurement and was promoted in 2003 to Senior Vice President and Chief Audit Executive. In his
previous roles with Wal-Mart, Michael was responsible for U.S. finance operations, including strategy, merchandising, logistics, real estate, operations, professional services, and financial planning and analysis. Prior to his experience
at Wal-Mart, Mr. Fung held financial leadership positions at Universal Foods Corporation, Vanstar Corporation, Bass Pro Shops, Inc., and Beatrice Company. Michael received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Illinois
and an MBA from the University of Chicago. Mr. Fung is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) in the state of Illinois, a member of The Committee of 100, and the University of Illinois Foundation. Michael is on the advisory board of
AArete, LLC, and a Board Leadership Fellow with the National Association of Corporate Directors.
Director Qualifications: Mr. Fung’s extensive financial background and expertise, as well as international leadership experience, provides him with
wide-ranging knowledge and experience. His professional involvement in various capacities during his career enabled Mr. Fung to gain experience in many areas including auditing, internal control, financial planning, organizational
development, strategic planning, and corporate governance. Michael’s substantial financial knowledge and leadership experience qualify him to be an audit committee financial expert and enable him to make valuable contributions to our Board
of Directors and on the Audit Committee.
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Dennis G. Heiner, 77
Lead Independent Director
Director Since: January 1997
Committees: Chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and member of all other standing committees
Other Directorships: None
Mr. Heiner was appointed as a director of the Company in January 1997 and has served on various committees during his tenure on our Board of Directors. Mr. Heiner served from 1999 to 2004 as President and Chief Executive Officer of
Werner Holding Co., a leading manufacturer of climbing products and aluminum extrusions. Prior to joining Werner, he was employed by Black & Decker Corporation from 1985 to 1999 where he served for 6 years as Senior Vice President and
President Worldwide Small Electric Appliances, and later as Executive Vice President and President of the Hardware and Home Improvement Group, a world leader in residential door hardware and plumbing fixtures. From 1979 to 1985, Mr. Heiner
was employed by Beatrice Foods where he served as a Division President. From 1972 to 1979, Dennis was employed by Conroy Inc., a manufacturer of recreational vehicles, where he held the positions of Director of Marketing and Vice President
of Finance and International Marketing. Mr. Heiner has also served on several other boards including Rayteck, Shell Oil’s AERA Board, and Werner Holdings. Mr. Heiner received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Weber State University and his
MBA degree from Brigham Young University. He also completed executive programs at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and the Harvard Business School.
Director Qualifications: Mr. Heiner brings to the Board of Directors chief executive leadership and business management experience, as well as strong operational knowledge and
expertise. Mr. Heiner’s broad industry experience, including previous roles in leadership, finance, and marketing, provides the Board of Directors with valuable contributions in the areas of management, strategy, leadership, governance,
growth, and long-term planning. Mr. Heiner’s executive leadership experience and strong business background enable him to provide independent leadership on the Board of Directors in his role as Lead Independent Director. Dennis also makes
important contributions to our Company in the areas of board and business leadership development and succession planning.
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Donald J. McNamara, 67
Independent Director
Director Since: June 1999
Committees: None
Other Directorships: Crow Holdings and A&O Hotels & Hostels
Mr. McNamara is the founder of The Hampstead Group LLC, a private equity investor based in Dallas, Texas, and has served as its Chairman since its inception in 1989. He has over 35 years of successful investment experience, including
Bass Brothers Enterprises, Marriott Corporation, and JMB Realty. Mr. McNamara currently serves as a Senior Advisor to TPG’s real estate platform, which includes $8 billion of assets collectively in its equity and debt platforms. Mr.
McNamara received an undergraduate degree in architecture from Virginia Tech in 1976 and an MBA from Harvard University in 1978.
Director Qualifications: Mr. McNamara’s experience in private equity provides him with considerable expertise in financial and strategic matters. This expertise enables him to
make valuable contributions to the Company in the areas of raising capital, capital deployment, acquisitions and dispositions, and other major financial decisions. Don’s involvement with other entities throughout his career provides him
with wide-ranging perspective and experience in the areas of management, operations, and strategy. In addition, Mr. McNamara has a meaningful understanding of our operations having served on our Board of Directors for over 20 years,
enabling him to make contributions to our strategy, innovation, and long-range plans.
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Joel C. Peterson, 73
Director
Director Since: May 1997
Committees: None
Other Directorships: Packsize
Mr. Peterson has been on the faculty of the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University since 1992, teaching courses in real estate investment, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Joel is the former Chairman of the Board of
Overseers at the Hoover Institution at Stanford, former Chairman of the Board of JetBlue Airways, and is the Founding Partner and Chairman of Peterson Partners, a Salt Lake City-based investment management firm which has invested in over
200 companies through 13 funds in four primary asset classes: growth-oriented private equity, venture capital, real estate, and search funds. Prior to Stanford Business School and founding Peterson Partners, Mr. Peterson was Chief
Executive Officer of Trammell Crow Company, then the world’s largest private commercial real estate development firm. Mr. Peterson earned an MBA from Harvard University and received his bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University.
Director Qualifications: Mr. Peterson brings chief executive leadership, extensive financial experience, and strong academic skills to our Board of
Directors. Mr. Peterson’s roles in executive leadership, financial management, and private equity enable him to make key contributions in the areas of leadership, raising capital, capital deployment, strategy, operations, and growth. His
experience with Peterson Partners and teaching courses on entrepreneurship adds valuable knowledge in growth and long-term strategic planning as well as accessing and deploying capital. Joel also has a deep understanding of the Company’s
operations and background with over 20 years of experience on our Board of Directors. Further, prior to the FranklinCovey merger, Mr. Peterson served as a director of Covey Leadership Center from 1993 to 1997.
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Nancy Phillips, 53
Independent Director
Director Since: May 2020
Committees: Member of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and Organization and Compensation Committee
Other Directorships: None
Ms. Nancy Phillips was appointed to our Board of Directors on May 19, 2020. Since December 2019, Ms. Phillips has served as Executive Vice President, Chief People Officer, at ViacomCBS, overseeing the combined company’s global human
resources organization. Nancy is responsible for driving ViacomCBS’s human resources strategy and delivering global programs to create a positive employee experience and a culture of high performance. Ms. Phillips also oversees the
company’s Human Resource (HR) business partners, talent acquisition, organizational effectiveness, learning and development, total rewards, people analytics, HR operations, and global security.
Ms. Phillips previously served as the Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer at Nielsen from January 2017 to December 2019, as well as on the Nielsen Foundation’s Board of Directors. Under her leadership, Nielsen was
ranked No. 2 on Forbes’ “Employers for Diversity” list and received multiple “Great Place to Work” awards globally.
Prior to joining Nielsen, Nancy was Chief Human Resources Officer of Broadcom during 2015 and 2016 prior to its sale to Avago Technologies, the largest technology deal in history at that time. Before joining Broadcom, from 2010 to 2014,
she led the HR organization for Hewlett Packard’s Imaging and Printing Group, as well as the HP’s Enterprise Services business group, a global organization with more than 120,000 employees. Prior to her experience at HP, Ms. Phillips
served as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for Fifth Third Bancorp, a diversified financial services company with $133 billion in assets from 2008 to 2010. Nancy also spent 11 years with the General Electric
Company serving in a variety of HR leadership roles.
Nancy is active in a range of professional associations, and in 2006 received a YWCA TWIN (Tribute to Women) award in Silicon Valley for her commitment to diversity and inclusion. A member of the Florida Bar, she began her professional
career as an attorney. Ms. Phillips earned a B.A. in English from the University of Delaware and a J.D. from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. During fiscal 2020, the Company engaged an independent placement firm to identify
potential candidates for our Board. Ms. Phillips was recommended by the independent placement firm.
Director Qualifications: Ms. Phillips’ extensive experience in human resource management provides our Board with expertise in human capital
management and compensation, which provides her with the knowledge to serve effectively on our Organization and Compensation and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees. Nancy’s legal background provides additional insight and
expertise to regulatory and other potentially complex human resource matters.
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Derek C.M. van Bever, 63
Independent Director
Director Since: September 2019
Committees: Chair of the Growth and Innovations Committee and member of the Audit Committee
Other Directorships: None
Mr. van Bever is a Senior Lecturer of Business Administration in the General Management Unit at the Harvard Business School and is a director of the Forum for Growth and Innovation. Derek teaches courses in the Harvard MBA program,
including Building and Sustaining a Successful Enterprise, and Leadership and Corporate Accountability. Mr. van Bever is co-chair of Harvard’s Executive
Education course in Disruptive Innovation and is co-director of the Harvard Macy Institute’s Leading Innovation in Health Care and Education course.
In 1983, Derek co-founded The Advisory Board Company, a global research, consulting, and technology firm serving hospital and university executives, and was chief research officer of The Corporate Executive Board, the world’s largest
executive advisory network. Mr. van Bever’s research interests include the challenges facing leading companies seeking discontinuous renewal through market-creating innovation, as well as the new models for uniting faith, leadership, and
corporate mission that are emerging in the economy. With his colleague Matthew S. Olsen, Derek is co-author of the book, Stall Points (Yale University Press, 2008), a quantitative and qualitative
analysis of the growth experience of companies in the Fortune 100 across the past half-century. A 2008 Harvard Business Review article authored by Mr. van Bever on the book entitled When Growth Stalls won the McKinsey Award for that year.
Derek received his Masters of Business Administration from the Harvard Business School in 1988, and is a 2011 graduate of Harvard Divinity School (HDS). Mr. van Bever is a member of the HDS Dean’s Council and recently received the 2019
Dean’s Leadership Award for his leadership in the school’s strategic planning efforts around its 2016 bicentennial.
Director Qualifications: Mr. van Bever brings experience in thought leadership and expertise in business growth, innovation, subscription businesses, and strategy to our Board
of Directors. In his role as chief research officer for The Corporate Executive Board, Derek directed teams studying best practices in strategy, innovation, talent management, finance, and governance in the large-corporate sector
worldwide. The Company believes Mr. van Bever’s experience, thought leadership, and research abilities make him a valuable addition to its Board of Directors.
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Robert A. Whitman, 67
Chair of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer
Director Since: May 1997
Committees: None
Other Directorships: Greystar Real Estate
Mr. Whitman has served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors since June 1999 and as our Chief Executive Officer since January 2000. Mr. Whitman previously served as a director of the Covey Leadership Center from 1994 to 1997. Prior
to joining us, Mr. Whitman served as President and Co‑Chief Executive Officer of The Hampstead Group LLC from 1992 to 2000 and is a founding partner at Whitman Peterson. Bob received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Finance from the
University of Utah and his MBA from the Harvard Business School.
Director Qualifications: Mr. Whitman’s leadership experience as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and his in-depth knowledge of our strategic priorities and operations
enable him to provide valuable contributions and facilitate effective communication between management and the Board of Directors. Mr. Whitman’s role as Chief Executive Officer also enables him to provide important contributions to
strengthening our leadership, operations, strategy, growth and long-range plans. Mr. Whitman’s extensive experience in finance, private-equity investing, and leadership also provides him with the knowledge to make valuable contributions to
the Board of Directors in the areas of finance, raising capital, and capital deployment.
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•
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An appropriate balance between annual cash compensation and equity compensation that may be earned over several years.
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•
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Metrics that are weighted between the achievement of overall financial goals and individual objectives.
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•
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Stock ownership guidelines that encourage executive officers to accumulate meaningful levels of equity ownership, which align the interests of executives with those of long-term shareholders.
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Director
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Audit
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Nominating
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Compensation
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Anne H. Chow
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-
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Michael Fung
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Dennis G. Heiner
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Donald J. McNamara
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-
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-
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-
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Joel C. Peterson
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-
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-
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-
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Nancy Phillips
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-
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E. Kay Stepp
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Derek van Bever
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-
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-
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Robert A. Whitman
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-
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-
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-
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•
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assist our Board in its oversight of our financial statements, legal and regulatory compliance, independent auditors’ qualification, independence, internal audit function performance, and internal controls over financial reporting;
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•
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decide whether to appoint, retain, or terminate our independent auditors;
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•
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pre-approve all audit, audit-related, tax, and other services, if any, to be provided by the independent auditors; and
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•
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prepare the Audit Committee Report.
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•
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recommend individuals for nomination, election, or appointment as members of our Board and its committees;
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•
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oversee the evaluation of the performance of our Board, its committees, and our management;
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•
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ensure that our committees are comprised of qualified and experienced independent directors;
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•
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review and concur in the succession plans for our CEO and other members of senior management; and
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•
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take a leadership role in shaping our corporate governance, including developing, recommending to the Board, and reviewing on an ongoing basis the corporate governance principles and practices that apply to our Company.
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•
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determine and approve the compensation of our CEO and other executive officers;
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•
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review and make recommendations to the Board for any incentive compensation and equity-based plans that are subject to Board approval;
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•
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assist our Board in its oversight of the development, implementation, and effectiveness of our policies and strategies relating to our human capital management, including recruiting, retention, career development and progression,
diversity, and employment practices;
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•
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review management development plans and succession plans to ensure business continuity (other than that within the purview of the Nominating Committee);
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•
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provide risk oversight of all Company compensation plans;
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•
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review periodically the form and amount of non-employee director compensation and make recommendations to our Board with respect thereto; and
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•
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prepare the Compensation Committee Report.
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Meetings
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Board
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4
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Audit
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8
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Nominating
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4
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Compensation
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6
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Compensation Element
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Amount
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Annual restricted stock award
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$
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100,000
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Annual cash retainer
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40,000
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Committee retainer, paid for service on each committee
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10,000
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Lead independent director annual retainer
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30,000
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Audit committee chair annual retainer
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15,000
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Compensation committee chair annual retainer
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10,000
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Nominating committee chair annual retainer
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5,000
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A
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B |
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C |
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D |
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E |
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F |
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G |
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H |
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Name
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Fees earned or paid in cash
($)
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Stock awards
($)
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Option Awards
($)
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Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation
($)
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Change in pension value and nonqualified deferred compensation earnings
($)
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All other Comp
($)
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Total
($)
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Anne H. Chow
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73,750
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100,000
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-
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-
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-
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-
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173,750
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Clayton M. Christensen(1)
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20,000
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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20,000
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|||||||||||||||||||||
Michael Fung
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85,000
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100,000
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-
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-
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-
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-
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185,000
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|||||||||||||||||||||
Dennis G. Heiner
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105,000
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100,000
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-
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-
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-
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-
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205,000
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|||||||||||||||||||||
Donald J. McNamara
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40,000
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100,000
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-
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-
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-
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-
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140,000
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|||||||||||||||||||||
Joel C. Peterson
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40,000
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100,000
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-
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-
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-
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-
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140,000
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Nancy Phillips(2)
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17,500
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-
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- |
- |
- |
- |
17,500
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|||||||||||||||||||||
E. Kay Stepp
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80,000
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100,000
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-
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-
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-
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-
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180,000
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Derek C.M. van Bever
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61,250
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100,000
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- |
- |
- |
- |
161,250
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(1)
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Dr. Clayton Christensen passed away in January 2020 and therefore only served for part of the fiscal year on our Board of Directors.
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(2)
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Ms. Nancy Phillips was appointed to our Board of Directors on May 19, 2020.
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As of November 30, 2020
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Number of Common Shares
|
Percentage of Class
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||||||
Blackrock, Inc.(1)
55 East 52nd Street
New York, NY 10055
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1,272,206
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9.1
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%
|
|||||
Robert A. Whitman(2)
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714,990
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5.0
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%
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|||||
Donald J. McNamara(3)(4)
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435,969
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3.1
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%
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|||||
Joel C. Peterson(3)
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227,369
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1.6
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%
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|||||
M. Sean Covey
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200,634
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1.4
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%
|
|||||
Stephen D. Young
|
190,789
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1.3
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%
|
|||||
Dennis G. Heiner(3)
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69,872
|
*
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%
|
|||||
Michael Fung(3)
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37,293
|
*
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%
|
|||||
Colleen Dom
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29,113
|
*
|
%
|
|||||
C. Todd Davis
|
23,318
|
*
|
%
|
|||||
Paul S. Walker
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22,467
|
*
|
%
|
|||||
Scott J. Miller
|
18,157
|
*
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%
|
|||||
E. Kay Stepp(3)
|
13,480
|
*
|
%
|
|||||
Anne H. Chow(3)
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11,671
|
*
|
%
|
|||||
Derek C.M. van Bever(3)
|
-
|
*
|
%
|
|||||
Nancy Phillips
|
-
|
*
|
%
|
|||||
All directors and executive officers as a group (15 persons)(2)(3)
|
1,995,122
|
14.0
|
%
|
(1) |
Information for Blackrock Inc. is provided as of September 30, 2020, the filing of their last 13F Report.
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(2) |
The share amount indicated includes shares subject to options currently exercisable held by the following person in the following amount: Robert A. Whitman 218,750 shares; and all
executive officers and directors as a group, 218,750 shares.
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(3) |
The share amounts indicated exclude restricted stock awards currently held by the following persons in the following amounts: Anne H. Chow, 3,060 shares; Michael Fung, 3,060 shares;
Dennis G. Heiner, 3,060 shares; Donald J. McNamara, 3,060 shares; Joel C. Peterson, 3,060 shares; E. Kay Stepp, 3,060 shares; Derek C.M. van Bever, 3,060 shares; and all directors as a group, 21,420 shares. These restricted stock awards do
not have voting power or dividend rights until the shares actually vest to members of the Board of Directors.
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(4) |
The share amount includes those held for Donald J. McNamara by the Donald J. and Joan P. McNamara Foundation with respect to 23,000 shares. Mr. McNamara is the trustee of his
foundation, having sole voting and dispositive control of all shares held by the foundation, and may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of such shares.
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•
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Robert A. Whitman – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO);
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•
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Stephen D. Young – Chief Financial Officer (CFO);
|
•
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Paul S. Walker – President and Chief Operating Officer (COO);
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•
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M. Sean Covey – President of Education Division; and
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•
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Scott J. Miller – Executive Vice President, Thought Leadership.
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•
|
The shareholder-minded compensation practices we employ;
|
•
|
The guiding principles, philosophy and objectives of our executive compensation program;
|
•
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Our fiscal 2020 executive compensation program; and
|
•
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Actual compensation earned by or provided to our NEOs for fiscal 2020 and prior periods as required by SEC rules.
|
•
|
Our consolidated revenue increased 8% year-over-year to $112.4 million, as increases in subscription-related revenues were partially offset by business interruptions in Asia due to the early onset of COVID-19 in that region.
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•
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Our Adjusted EBITDA increased 118% year-over-year to $9.0 million.
|
•
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Not to reset STIP metrics, but to measure performance for all STIP participants (not just the NEOs) based on our first half fiscal 2020 actual results and second half results from the prior fiscal year. This resulted in a payout to
all STIP participants, including our NEOs, at approximately 83% of target.
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•
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To extend the measurement periods for performance-based LTIP awards by two years and increase prospective qualified Adjusted EBITDA performance tranche metrics by $2 million.
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•
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Our people’s inability to achieve the STIP metrics for the second half of fiscal 2020 was in no way due to performance failures or our people’s inability to execute against plan. The original STIP performance metrics were set long
before COVID-19 surfaced and were not realistic as they would not be satisfied due to events outside the control of our people.
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•
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COVID-19, in essence, delayed by up to two years the substantially improved performance we expect from the conversion of our business model to a subscription basis and away from engagement-by-engagement selling. We therefore added
two years to the performance measurement periods but, as noted, stiffened the qualified Adjusted EBITDA performance tranche metrics by $2 million.
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•
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Clawback Policy – The Board has authority to require reimbursement of any annual or long-term incentive payment made to an executive officer where: (1) the payment was based on achieving
financial results that were subsequently the subject of a substantial restatement of Company financial statements filed with the SEC; (2) the Board determines the executive engaged in misconduct that caused the need for the substantial
restatement; and (3) a lower payment would have been made to the executive based on the restated financial results. In such an instance, the Company expects that it will seek to recover from the individual executive the amount by which
the individual executive’s incentive payments for the relevant period exceeded the lower payment that would have been made based on the restated financial results.
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•
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Hedging Policy – Our directors and executive officers are prohibited from buying or selling publicly traded options, puts, calls or other derivative instruments related to Company stock. All
other employees are discouraged from engaging in hedging transactions related to Company stock.
|
•
|
No Option Repricing Without Shareholder Approval – Our equity plans expressly prohibit option repricing without shareholder approval.
|
•
|
No Excise Tax Gross-ups – Excise tax gross-ups for our NEOs are prohibited.
|
•
|
Stock Ownership Guidelines – Our stock ownership guidelines require an ownership threshold of five times base salary for our CEO, three times base salary for our CFO and two times base salary
for our other NEOs. Each NEO is targeted to reach the applicable threshold within five years of the policy becoming applicable to the NEO and from the date the NEO first has shares awarded as part of his or her annual compensation.
Unvested share awards are included in calculating whether the required threshold has been achieved. NEOs are prohibited from selling any shares until after these established guidelines are met. The Compensation Committee annually
reviews executives’ progress toward meeting these guidelines. Currently, the stock ownership of each of our CEO, our CFO, Mr. Walker, and Mr. Covey meets or exceeds the applicable threshold. Subsequent to August 31, 2020, Mr. Miller
transitioned from an employee of Franklin Covey to a contractor relationship and is no longer subject to the ownership guidelines.
|
•
|
No Significant Perquisites – No significant “corporate perquisites” such as country club memberships or automobile allowances are provided to our NEOs.
|
•
|
No Employment Agreements for NEOs and Limited Change-in-Control Benefits – The Company does not enter into employment agreements with its NEOs, and has a change-in-control policy for its NEOs
that provides for a specific potential change-in-control severance benefit of only one times total targeted annual cash compensation without any excise tax gross-ups. Our NEOs are subject to the same general (non-change-in-control)
severance policies as all Company employees.
|
•
|
Pay for Performance Awards – The fiscal 2020 LTIP performance-based equity awards were designed to incentivize even greater achievement levels in our
results of operations and pay out only if these operating improvements are achieved.
|
•
|
Reflect Performance: We establish multi-year objectives for the Company relating to both growth and the achievement of key strategic objectives in order to align
compensation with performance over both the short and long term. Annual performance targets are established in the context of these multi-year objectives, and for fiscal 2020 consisted primarily of goals for growth in revenue, Adjusted
EBITDA and deferred revenue. NEO performance pay levels for the year are generally determined by assessing the Company’s level of achievement compared to these objectives. Since our NEOs are responsible for overall Company performance
against these objectives, their compensation can vary (and has varied) significantly from year to year.
|
•
|
Encourage Long-Term Company-Wide Focus: We believe that compensation should encourage and reward both the achievement of annual objectives and longer-term, Company-wide performance
improvement. We use a service-based and performance-based RSU program to focus NEO efforts on long-term growth in shareholder value. We believe that paying a significant portion of variable compensation to our NEOs in the form of
equity-based compensation that vests over a period of time, based on performance, also encourages a long-term, Company-wide focus. Value is realized through delivering results today, but in a way that builds the foundation for
delivering even stronger results in the future. We believe that this practice will lead to our NEOs having a considerable investment in our shares over time. This investment in turn advances both a culture of teamwork and partnership,
and encourages a stewardship mentality for the Company among our key leaders.
|
•
|
Attract and Retain Talent: We understand the importance of hiring and retaining the best people. Retention of talented employees is critical to successfully executing our business strategy.
We seek to be what we refer to internally as “the workplace of choice for achievers with heart.” Successful execution of our business strategy requires that our management team be in place, engaged and focusing their best energy and
talents on achieving our business goals and strategies. For us, compensation is not just an overhead expense; it is a key component of the investments we make and costs we incur to generate our revenues. In determining the
compensation of our NEOs and in reviewing the effectiveness of our compensation program for attracting and retaining talent, the Compensation Committee generally considers the competitive market for talent. We believe that our
compensation programs should enable us to attract and retain talented people and incentivize them to contribute their finest talents to achieving our objectives. We are pleased that our executive officers have an average tenure of over
24 years with our Company (ranging from 20 to 35 years).
|
•
|
Controls on the allocation and overall management of risk-taking;
|
•
|
Comprehensive profit and loss and other management information, that provides ongoing performance feedback;
|
•
|
Rigorous, multi-party performance assessments and compensation decisions; and
|
•
|
A Company-wide compensation structure that strives to meet industry best practice standards, including a business model that is based on compensating our associates in direct proportion to the revenue and profit contribution they
generate.
|
•
|
Revenue;
|
•
|
Adjusted EBITDA and operating income;
|
•
|
Multi-year changes in operating income, Adjusted EBITDA, and specific revenue targets;
|
•
|
Achieving high rates of revenue retention for subscription-based revenue; and
|
•
|
Overall performance prior to, and after, the coronavirus pandemic.
|
•
|
CRA International, Inc.
|
•
|
Exponent, Inc.
|
•
|
Forrester Research, Inc.
|
•
|
GP Strategies Corporation
|
•
|
The Hackett Group, Inc.
|
•
|
HealthStream, Inc.
|
•
|
Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
|
•
|
Huron Consulting Group, Inc.
|
•
|
Information Services Group, Inc.
|
•
|
RCM Technologies, Inc.
|
•
|
Resources Connection, Inc.
|
•
|
Rosetta Stone, Inc.
|
Potential payouts for fiscal 2020 STIP Qualified Adjusted EBITDA objectives (70%)
|
||||||||||||
Qualified Adjusted EBITDA less than $22.0 million
and not meeting performance objectives
|
If Qualified Adjusted EBITDA as calculated
was > $22.0 million and
< $28.0 million and meeting performance objectives
|
Targeted Qualified Adjusted EBITDA of $28.0 million and meeting performance objectives
|
If Qualified Adjusted EBITDA (including STIP expense) was > $28.0 million and
< $32.0 million in and meeting
performance objectives
|
Qualified Adjusted EBITDA (including STIP expense) equal to or greater than $32 million
and meeting performance objectives
|
||||||||
0%
|
|
Pro-rata calculation
|
100%
|
|
Pro-rata calculation
|
200%
|
|
(1)
|
25% of the fiscal 2020 RSU award is time-vested and is expected to vest on August 31, 2022;
|
(2)
|
70% of the remaining 75% of the fiscal 2020 RSU award is based on Qualified Adjusted EBITDA performance, as defined earlier. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA is one of the most important measures of our financial results and is
important in both the short term and in the long term. Therefore, this measure is used in both our STIP and LTIP awards. The Compensation Committee sets the metrics at levels which normally are only achieved in the final year.
Qualified Adjusted EBITDA for purposes of fiscal 2020 LTIP is based on the highest Qualified Adjusted EBITDA achieved for any rolling four-quarter period during the measurement period ending August 31, 2024; and
|
(3)
|
30% of the remaining 75% of the fiscal 2020 RSU award is based on the highest subscription sales results achieved for any rolling four-quarter period during the measurement period ending August 31, 2024.
|
•
|
$40.0 million (50% of target – minimum threshold);
|
•
|
$47.0 million (100% of target); and
|
•
|
$52.0 million (200% of target – maximum threshold).
|
•
|
$165.0 million (50% of target – minimum threshold);
|
•
|
$185.0 million (100% of target); and
|
•
|
$205.0 million (200% of target – maximum threshold).
|
•
|
Term Life Insurance: Franklin Covey provides a portable 20-year term life policy for the CEO and CFO. The coverage amount is about 2.5 times each NEO’s target annual cash compensation (base
salary plus target performance-based cash variable pay).
|
•
|
Supplemental Disability Insurance: We provide our CEO with long-term disability insurance which, combined with our current group policy, provides, in the aggregate, monthly long-term
disability benefits equal to about 75% of his fiscal 2020 target cash compensation. Our other NEOs may purchase voluntary supplemental disability insurance at their own expense.
|
•
|
Our high deductible health plans and health savings accounts administered under Sections 125 and 223 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, (the Code).
|
•
|
Our employee stock purchase plan implemented and administered under Section 423 of the Code.
|
Name and Principal Position
|
Year
|
Salary
($)
|
Bonus
($)
|
Stock Awards
($)
|
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation
($)
|
All Other Compensation
($)
|
Total
($)
|
||||||||||||||||||
Robert A. Whitman
|
2020
|
575,000
|
-
|
1,150,000
|
478,975
|
73,681
|
2,277,656
|
||||||||||||||||||
Chairman and CEO
|
2019
|
575,000
|
-
|
1,369,289
|
914,250
|
73,863
|
2,932,402
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
2018
|
566,442
|
367,500
|
1,150,000
|
575,000
|
70,666
|
2,729,608
|
||||||||||||||||||
Stephen D. Young
|
2020
|
350,000
|
-
|
350,000
|
195,755
|
20,011
|
915,766
|
||||||||||||||||||
CFO
|
2019
|
350,000
|
-
|
404,822
|
373,650
|
16,697
|
1,145,169
|
||||||||||||||||||
2018
|
351,347
|
164,500
|
350,000
|
235,000
|
16,407
|
1,117,254
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Paul S. Walker
|
2020
|
419,231
|
-
|
425,000
|
237,196
|
15,457
|
1,096,884
|
||||||||||||||||||
President & COO
|
2019
|
400,000
|
-
|
300,000
|
315,600
|
12,259
|
1,027,859
|
||||||||||||||||||
2018
|
379,546
|
140,000
|
300,000
|
200,000
|
13,160
|
1,032,706
|
|||||||||||||||||||
M. Sean Covey
|
2020
|
300,000
|
-
|
200,000
|
166,600
|
115,306
|
781,906
|
||||||||||||||||||
President Education Division
|
2019
|
300,000
|
-
|
200,000
|
324,600
|
135,523
|
960,123
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
2018
|
301,153
|
140,000
|
200,000
|
200,000
|
213,103
|
1,054,256
|
||||||||||||||||||
Scott Miller
|
2020
|
300,000
|
-
|
150,000
|
166,600
|
7,072
|
623,672
|
||||||||||||||||||
EVP Global Business
|
2019
|
300,000
|
-
|
200,000
|
318,000
|
4,261
|
822,261
|
||||||||||||||||||
Development & Marketing
|
2018
|
301,154
|
140,000
|
150,000
|
200,000
|
2,889
|
794,043
|
Name
|
Year
|
Company Contributions to 401(k) Plan (a)
($)
|
Executive Life Insurance Premiums (b)
($)
|
Executive Disability Premiums (c)
($)
|
Other
($)
|
Total
($)
|
|||||||||||||||
Mr. Whitman
|
2020
|
8,534
|
7,899
|
51,855
|
5,393
|
73,681
|
|||||||||||||||
Mr. Young
|
2020
|
8,400
|
4,539
|
-
|
7,072
|
20,011
|
|||||||||||||||
Mr. Walker
|
2020
|
8,385
|
-
|
-
|
7,072
|
15,457
|
|||||||||||||||
Mr. Covey
|
2020
|
8,550
|
-
|
-
|
106,756
|
(d)
|
115,306
|
||||||||||||||
Mr. Miller
|
2020
|
- |
-
|
-
|
7,072
|
7,072
|
(a) |
We match dollar-for-dollar the first 1% of salary contributed to the 401(k) plan and 50 cents on the dollar of the next 4% of salary contributed. Our match for executives is the same
match received by all associates who participate in the 401(k) plan.
|
(b) |
For the CEO and CFO, we maintain an executive life insurance policy with a face value of 2.5 their target annual cash compensation. These amounts show the annual premiums paid for each
20-year term executive life insurance policy.
|
(c) |
We provide Mr. Whitman with long-term disability insurance which, combined with our current group policy, provides, in the aggregate, monthly long-term disability benefits equal to 75%
of his fiscal 2020 target cash compensation. The amount shows the premiums paid for Mr. Whitman’s supplemental long-term disability coverage.
|
(d) |
For Mr. Covey, this amount includes $99,684 of royalties earned during fiscal 2020 from books he authored that are used in our training and education businesses.
|
Estimated Possible Payouts Under Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Awards
|
Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name
|
Grant Date
|
Threshold
($)
|
Target
($)
|
Maximum
($)
|
Threshold
(#)
|
Target
(#)
|
Maximum
(#)
|
All Other Stock Awards:
Number of Shares of Stock or Units
(#)
|
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards (d) ($)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Whitman
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
STIP (a)
|
—
|
—
|
575,000
|
1,150,000
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LTIP RSUs (b)
|
10/18/2019
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
12,074
|
24,147
|
48,293
|
—
|
862,500
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LTIP RSUs (c)
|
10/18/2019
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
8,049
|
287,500
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Young
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
STIP (a)
|
—
|
—
|
235,000
|
470,000
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LTIP RSUs (b)
|
10/18/2019
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
3,676
|
7,350
|
14,699
|
—
|
262,500
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LTIP RSUs (c)
|
10/18/2019
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2,450
|
87,500
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Walker
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
STIP (a)
|
—
|
—
|
284,750
|
569,500
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LTIP RSUs (b)
|
10/18/2019
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
4,463
|
8,925
|
17,849
|
—
|
318,750
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LTIP RSUs (c)
|
10/18/2019
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2,975
|
106,250
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Covey
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
STIP (a)
|
—
|
—
|
200,000
|
400,000
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LTIP RSUs (b)
|
10/18/2019
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2,100
|
4,200
|
8,400
|
—
|
150,000
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LTIP RSUs (c)
|
10/18/2019
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1,400
|
50,000
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Miller
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
STIP (a)
|
—
|
—
|
200,000
|
400,000
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LTIP RSUs (b)
|
10/18/2019
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1,576
|
3,150
|
6,300
|
—
|
112,500
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LTIP RSUs (c)
|
10/18/2019
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1,050
|
37,500
|
(a) |
These amounts relate to the STIP for the annual performance period ending August 31, 2020. The actual payouts made to the NEOs for this program are reflected in the “Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation” column of the “Fiscal 2020 Summary Compensation Table” above.
|
(b) |
These amounts relate to the LTIP awards granted to the NEOs in the form of performance-based RSUs, which vest based on the highest rolling four-quarter levels of Qualified Adjusted
EBITDA and subscription sales during the measurement period. Due to impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and uncertainties related to the recovery from the pandemic on our equity-based awards, subsequent to August 31, 2020, the measurement
(service) period for these awards was extended by two years to August 31, 2024 and Qualified Adjusted EBITDA targets were increased by $2.0 million. Subscription sales thresholds were unchanged by this modification.
|
(c) |
These amounts relate to the LTIP awards granted to the NEOs in the form of service-based RSUs, which vest on August 31, 2022. The service period for these award tranches was not
changed by the modifications described in note (b) above.
|
(d) |
The amounts reported in the “Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards” column for fiscal 2020 represent the aggregate grant date fair values (computed in accordance with ASC
Topic 718), based on the probable outcome of any applicable performance conditions, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures, for the RSUs granted to NEOs as LTIP awards. For the performance-based RSUs, the fair value on the grant
date was based on the probable outcome that the target award would vest to participants.
|
Option Awards
|
Stock Awards
|
||||||||
Name
|
Grant Date
|
Number of Securities
Underlying Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable(a)
|
Option Exercise Price
($)
|
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 ($)(i)
|
Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of Un-earned
Shares, Units or
Other Rights That
Have Not Vested (#)
|
Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Market or Payout Value
of Un-earned Shares,
Units or Other Rights
That Have Not Vested
($)(i)
|
|
Mr. Whitman
|
10/18/19
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
48,293(b)
|
953,304
|
|
10/18/19
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
8,049(c)
|
158,887
|
—
|
—
|
||
1/25/19
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
8,936(d)
|
176,397
|
—
|
—
|
||
10/01/18
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
73,688(e)
|
1,454,601
|
||
10/01/18
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
12,282(f)
|
242,447
|
—
|
—
|
||
10/18/16
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
27,146(g)
|
535,862
|
||
11/12/15
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
33,980(h)
|
670,765
|
||
01/28/11
|
31,250
|
9.00
|
1/28/2021
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
||
01/28/11
|
62,500
|
10.00
|
1/28/2021
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
||
01/28/11
|
62,500
|
12.00
|
1/28/2021
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
||
01/28/11
|
62,500
|
14.00
|
1/28/2021
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
||
Mr. Young
|
10/18/19
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
14,699(b)
|
290,158
|
|
10/18/19
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2,450(c)
|
48,363
|
—
|
—
|
||
01/25/19
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2,234(d)
|
44,099
|
—
|
—
|
||
10/01/18
|
— | — | — |
—
|
—
|
22,428(e)
|
442,729
|
||
10/01/18
|
— | — | — |
3,738(f)
|
73,788
|
—
|
—
|
||
10/18/16
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
9,048(g)
|
178,608
|
||
11/12/15
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
11,326(h)
|
223,575
|
||
Mr. Walker
|
10/18/19
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
17,849(b)
|
352,339
|
|
10/18/19
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2,975(c)
|
58,727
|
—
|
—
|
||
10/01/18
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
19,223(e)
|
379,462
|
||
10/01/18
|
— | — | — |
3,204(f)
|
63,247
|
—
|
—
|
||
10/18/16
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
5,170(g)
|
102,056
|
||
11/12/15
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
6,472(h)
|
127,757
|
||
Mr. Covey
|
10/18/19
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
8,400(b)
|
165,816
|
|
10/18/19
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1,400(c)
|
27,636
|
—
|
—
|
||
10/01/18
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
12,816(e)
|
252,988
|
||
10/01/18
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2,136(f)
|
42,165
|
—
|
—
|
||
10/18/16
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
5,170(g)
|
102,056
|
||
11/12/15
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
6,472(h)
|
127,757
|
||
Mr. Miller
|
10/18/19
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
6,300(b)
|
124,362
|
|
10/18/19
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1,050(c)
|
20,727
|
—
|
—
|
||
10/01/18
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
9,612(e)
|
189,741
|
||
10/01/18
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1,602(f)
|
31,623
|
—
|
—
|
||
10/18/16
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
3,878(g)
|
76,552
|
||
11/12/15
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
4,854(h)
|
95,818
|
(a)
|
These options had a market vesting condition related to the resolution of a management stock loan program when the share price reached the
breakeven amount for participants. In 2013, the stock price exceeded the required threshold and the management stock loan program was extinguished, resulting in these options vesting for the CEO.
|
(b)
|
These awards are LTIP awards granted in the form of performance-based RSUs in fiscal 2020 (October 18, 2019). The vesting requirements of this
award are described in the preceding Compensation Discussion and Analysis.
|
(c) |
These awards are LTIP awards granted in the form of service-based RSUs in fiscal 2020 (October 18, 2019) which are expected to vest on August 31,
2022. The vesting conditions for this award are described in the preceding Compensation Discussion and Analysis.
|
(d)
|
On January 25, 2019, Mr. Whitman and Mr. Young each received a supplemental service-based LTIP award, which vests two years from the grant date,
or January 25, 2021.
|
(e)
|
These awards are LTIP awards granted in the form of performance-based RSUs in fiscal 2019 (October 1, 2018). These shares vest based on the
achievement of specified levels of Qualified Adjusted EBITDA and Subscription and Related Sales. The original minimum threshold, target, and maximum award levels for the Qualified Adjusted EBITDA tranche are achieved at $28.0 million,
$35.0 million, and $40.0 million, respectively. The minimum threshold, target, and maximum award levels for the Subscription and Related Sales tranche are achieved at $145.0 million, $165.0 million, and $185.0 million. Due to the impact
of the COVID-19 pandemic and uncertainties related to the economic recovery from the pandemic, subsequent to August 31, 2020, the Compensation Committee lengthened the service period for the performance-based tranches of the fiscal 2019
LTIP award by two years. The measurement period was extended from August 31, 2021 to August 31, 2023, and the Qualified Adjusted EBITDA thresholds were each increased by $2.0 million from the amounts described above. There were no
changes to the Subscription and Related Sales tranches.
|
(f)
|
These awards are LTIP awards granted in the form of service-based RSUs in fiscal 2019 (October 1, 2018) that are expected to vest on August 31,
2021. The terms of this tranche were not changed by the modifications described in note (e) above.
|
(g)
|
These awards are LTIP awards granted in fiscal 2017 (October 18, 2016). The number of shares that may be awarded under the RSUs to the
participants is based on six individual vesting conditions that are divided into two performance measures: (1) trailing four-quarter LTIP Adjusted EBITDA, which equals Adjusted EBITDA plus the change in deferred revenue (less certain
costs), and excludes the impact of foreign exchange and (2) increased All Access Pass sales. Multi-year LTIP Adjusted EBITDA targets for this award (excluding the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and STIP) are
$36.7 million, $41.8 million and $47.7 million (70% of the award shares), and the targets related to All Access Pass sales are $30.1 million, $35.4 million and 40.8 million (30% of the award shares). As of August 31, 2020, participants
had vested in all three tranches of 18,338 shares related to All Access Pass sales and the first tranche of 42,789 shares related to LTIP Adjusted EBITDA. All other tranches of this award remain unvested. Due to the impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic and uncertainties related to the economic recovery from the pandemic, subsequent to August 31, 2020, the Compensation Committee lengthened the service period of the fiscal 2017 LTIP award by two years from August 31,
2022 to August 31, 2024. The remaining unvested Adjusted EBITDA tranche targets were each increased by $2.0 million to $43.8 million and $49.7 million.
|
(h)
|
These awards are LTIP awards granted in fiscal 2016 (November 12, 2015). The number of shares that may be awarded under the RSUs to the
participants is based on six individual vesting conditions that are divided into two performance measures: (1) trailing four-quarter LTIP Adjusted EBITDA, which equals Adjusted EBITDA plus the change in deferred revenue (less certain
costs), and excludes the impact of foreign exchange and (2) increased sales of the Organization Development Suite (OD Suite) of offerings. The OD Suite is defined as Leadership, Productivity and Trust offerings. Multi-year LTIP Adjusted
EBITDA targets for this award (excluding the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and STIP) are $36.0 million, $40.0 million and $44.0 million (70% of the award shares), and the targets related to increased sales of
the OD Suite are $107.0 million, $116.0 million and $125.0 million (30% of the award shares). As of August 31, 2020, participants had vested in all three tranches of 23,128 shares related to increased OD Suite sales and the first tranche
of 53,964 shares related to LTIP Adjusted EBITDA. All other tranches of this award remain unvested. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and uncertainties related to the economic recovery from the pandemic, subsequent to August
31, 2020, the Compensation Committee lengthened the service period of the fiscal 2017 LTIP award by two years from August 31, 2021 to August 31, 2023. The remaining unvested Adjusted EBITDA tranche targets were each increased by $2.0
million to $42.0 million and $46.0 million.
|
(i)
|
Values were determined by multiplying the target number of RSUs or other performance awards, or the number of service-based RSUs, by the closing
price per share of the Company’s common stock on the NYSE on August 31, 2020 of $19.74.
|
Option Awards
|
Stock Awards
|
|||||||||||||||
Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#)
|
Value Realized on Exercise ($)(b)
|
Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#)(c)
|
Value Realized on Vesting ($)(d)
|
|||||||||||||
Mr. Whitman
|
218,750(a
|
)
|
7,595,000
|
76,731
|
1,514,670
|
|||||||||||
Mr. Young
|
131,250(a
|
)
|
4,557,000
|
23,355
|
461,028
|
|||||||||||
Mr. Walker
|
—
|
—
|
18,675
|
368,645
|
||||||||||||
Mr. Covey
|
—
|
—
|
13,347
|
263,470
|
||||||||||||
Mr. Miller
|
—
|
—
|
10,011
|
197,617
|
(a) |
These options were exercised on a “net share” basis, meaning no cash was exchanged, on the exercise date. Based on this method of exercise, the participants received the following
gross (before income taxes) number of shares: Mr. Whitman, 145,845 shares, and Mr. Young, 85,887 shares. As allowed by our stock-based incentive plans, participants may choose to have shares withheld to cover income taxes. Both Mr.
Whitman and Mr. Young elected to have shares withheld to cover statutory income taxes on the exercise of these options.
|
(b) |
The value realized on exercise was determined by multiplying the number of shares acquired on exercise by $34.72, which was the closing share price of the Company’s common stock on the
option exercise date. Both Mr. Whitman and Mr. Young exercised their stock options on the same date.
|
(c) |
The fiscal 2018 LTIP award vested on August 31, 2020. Participants were awarded shares based on the highest level of rolling four quarter Qualified Adjusted EBITDA and Subscription and
Related Sales during the three-year period ended August 31, 2020 as well as a time-based tranche that vested at the completion of three years of service.
|
(d) |
The value realized on vesting was determined by multiplying the number of shares acquired upon vesting by $19.74, which was the closing share price of the Company’s common stock on
August 31, 2020.
|
Target Total Severance Payment
|
Base Salary
|
Target Annual STIP
|
Target Annual Cash Compensation
|
Target Severance Compensation (Excluding COBRA)
|
Target COBRA Premiums
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Name
|
Year
|
($)
|
($)
|
($)
|
($)
|
($)
|
($)
|
||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Whitman
|
2020
|
2,577,920
|
575,000
|
575,000
|
1,150,000
|
2,543,269
|
34,651
|
||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Young
|
2020
|
675,903
|
350,000
|
235,000
|
585,000
|
658,125
|
17,777
|
||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Walker
|
2020
|
1,000,028
|
425,000
|
284,750
|
709,750
|
968,740
|
31,288
|
||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Covey
|
2020
|
502,803
|
300,000
|
200,000
|
500,000
|
480,769
|
22,034
|
||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Miller
|
2020
|
502,803
|
300,000
|
200,000
|
500,000
|
480,769
|
22,034
|
Target Total Severance Payment
|
Base Salary
|
Target Annual STIP
|
Target Annual Cash Compensation
|
Target COBRA Premiums for 12 Months
|
|||||||||||||||||
Name
|
Year
|
($)
|
($)
|
($)
|
($)
|
($)
|
|||||||||||||||
Mr. Whitman
|
2020
|
1,165,668
|
575,000
|
575,000
|
1,150,000
|
15,668
|
|||||||||||||||
Mr. Young
|
2020
|
600,668
|
350,000
|
235,000
|
585,000
|
15,668
|
|||||||||||||||
Mr. Walker
|
2020
|
732,665
|
425,000
|
284,750
|
709,750
|
22,915
|
|||||||||||||||
Mr. Covey
|
2020
|
522,915
|
300,000
|
200,000
|
500,000
|
22,915
|
|||||||||||||||
Mr. Miller
|
2020
|
522,915
|
300,000
|
200,000
|
500,000
|
22,915
|
•
|
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) requires the Company to disclose the ratio of the CEO’s annual total compensation (under the Summary Compensation Table definition) to that of the Company’s
median employee (excluding the CEO) using the same methodology.
|
•
|
Our CEO’s compensation for fiscal 2020, as disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table, is $2,277,656. The annual total compensation for our median employee is $81,650. The ratio between the CEO’s and median employee’s annual total
compensation as of August 31, 2020 is 28:1.
|
•
|
To determine the median employee, we prepared a list of our employee population as of June 30, 2020. We included the global employee population (948 employees), whether employed on a full-time, part-time, temporary or seasonal basis.
|
•
|
We established a consistently applied compensation measure inclusive of total cash paid from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. We annualized compensation for employees hired during that time. Non-US employee compensation was
converted to US dollars based on applicable exchange rates as of June 30, 2020.
|
•
|
We believe that the ratio is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with Item 402(u) of SEC Regulation S-K. Given the rule’s flexibility, the method the Company used to determine the median employee may be different
from its peers, so the ratios may not be comparable.
|
•
|
Deloitte’s knowledge of the Company’s business allows it to design and enhance its audit plan by focusing on known and emerging risks, which creates efficiency and controls cost through iteration.
|
•
|
Deloitte has a global footprint and the expertise and capabilities necessary to handle the breadth and complexity of our international business, accounting practices, and internal controls.
|
•
|
Deloitte generally attends each Audit Committee meeting and meets regularly in closed door sessions with our Audit Committee so they can provide timely and candid feedback to the Committee regarding accounting and control issues which
may impact the Company.
|
•
|
Deloitte is an independent public accounting firm and is subject to oversight and inspection by the United States Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), Big 4 peer reviews, and SEC regulations. The results of these reviews
are communicated to the Audit Committee.
|
•
|
Deloitte has significant policies and procedures in place to maintain its continued independence, including mandatory lead audit partner rotation to balance fresh perspectives with the benefits of having a tenured auditor with
institutional knowledge.
|
Fiscal 2020
|
Fiscal 2019
|
|||||||
Audit Fees(1)
|
$
|
658,393
|
$
|
648,414
|
||||
Audit-Related Fees(2)
|
86,992
|
13,500
|
||||||
Tax Fees(3)
|
48,107
|
48,694
|
||||||
All Other Fees(4)
|
-
|
-
|
||||||
$
|
793,492
|
$
|
710,608
|
(1) |
Audit fees represent fees and expenses for professional services provided in connection with the audit of our consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting found in the Annual
Report on Form 10-K and reviews of our financial statements contained in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, accounting consultations on actual transactions, and audit services provided in connection with other statutory filings.
|
(2) |
Audit-Related Fees consist of fees for services related to registration statements and other transactions.
|
(3) |
Tax Fees consisted primarily of fees and expenses for services related to tax compliance, tax planning, and tax consulting.
|
(4) |
Deloitte did not provide any “other services” during the periods presented.
|
Directions to FranklinCovey from Provo/South
♦ Take I-15 North to the 21st South Freeway; merge onto the 21st South
Freeway Westbound
♦ Take the Redwood Road exit
♦ Turn left (South) onto Redwood Road.
♦ Turn right at Parkway Blvd. (2495 South), this intersection has a traffic light, gas station on
corner
♦ You will pass UPS on your right
♦ FranklinCovey will be the block after UPS on your right
♦ 2200 West Parkway Blvd., Salt Lake City, UT 84119
♦ Park at the Washington Building, this building has 3 big flagpoles at the front door
♦ Receptionist in the Washington building will be able to help you
|
Directions to Franklin Covey from Downtown/North
♦ If entering I-15 from 600 South on-ramp southbound
♦ Take the 21st South Freeway
♦ Take the first exit off 21st South Freeway which is Redwood
Road
♦ Turn left (South) onto Redwood Road.
♦ Turn right at Parkway Blvd. (2495 South), this intersection has a traffic light, gas station on
corner
♦ You will pass UPS on your right
♦ FranklinCovey will be the block after UPS on your right
♦ 2200 West Parkway Blvd., Salt Lake City, UT 84119
♦ Park at the Washington Building, this building has 3 big flagpoles at the front door
♦ Receptionist in the Washington building will be able to help you
|
Fiscal Year Ended August 31,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020
|
2019
|
2018
|
2017
|
2016
|
2015
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss)
|
$
|
(9,435
|
)
|
$
|
(1,023
|
)
|
$
|
(5,887
|
)
|
$
|
(7,172
|
)
|
$
|
7,016
|
$
|
11,116
|
||||||||
Adjustments:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense, net
|
2,262
|
2,063
|
2,154
|
2,029
|
1,938
|
1,754
|
||||||||||||||||||
Discount on related party receivable
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
363
|
||||||||||||||||||
Income tax provision (benefit)
|
10,231
|
1,615
|
367
|
(3,737
|
)
|
4,895
|
6,296
|
|||||||||||||||||
Amortization
|
4,606
|
4,976
|
5,368
|
3,538
|
3,263
|
3,727
|
||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation
|
6,664
|
6,364
|
5,161
|
3,879
|
3,677
|
4,142
|
||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation
|
(573
|
)
|
4,789
|
2,846
|
3,658
|
3,121
|
2,536
|
|||||||||||||||||
Increase (decrease) to the fair value of contingent earn-out liabilities
|
(49
|
)
|
1,334
|
1,014
|
(1,936
|
)
|
1,538
|
35
|
||||||||||||||||
Gain from insurance settlement
|
(933
|
)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||||
Government COVID-19 assistance
|
(514
|
)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||||
Knowledge Capital wind-down costs
|
389
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||||||
Impairment of assets
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1,302
|
||||||||||||||||||
Costs to exit Japan publishing business
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2,107
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||||||
Restructuring costs
|
1,636
|
-
|
-
|
1,482
|
776
|
587
|
||||||||||||||||||
ERP system implementation costs
|
-
|
-
|
855
|
1,404
|
448
|
-
|
||||||||||||||||||
Business acquisition costs
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
442
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||||||
Contract termination costs
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1,500
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||||||
Licensee transition costs
|
- |
488
|
-
|
505
|
222
|
-
|
||||||||||||||||||
$
|
14,284
|
$
|
20,676
|
$
|
11,878
|
$
|
7,699
|
$
|
26,894
|
$
|
31,858
|