I. Statement of Purpose
The Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) is a standing committee of the Board of Directors. The purpose of the Committee is to assist the Board of Directors in matters relating to compensation of the Company’s Directors, executive officers and such other employees as the Committee may determine (together, “management”) and related matters.
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II. Organization
- Charter. At least annually and in conjunction with the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, this charter shall be reviewed and reassessed by the Committee and any proposed changes shall be submitted to the Board of Directors for approval.
- Members. The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors and shall meet the independence requirements of applicable law and the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange, the requirements of an “outside director” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the requirements of a “non-employee director” for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as otherwise established by the Board. The Committee shall be comprised of at least two members. Committee members may be removed by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall also designate a Committee Chairperson.
- Meetings. In order to discharge its responsibilities, the Committee shall establish a schedule of meetings, which shall provide for not less than two meetings per calendar year. Additional meetings may be called by a resolution of the Board of Directors, the Chairperson of the Committee, or by a majority of the members of the Committee. Members of the Committee may participate in Committee meetings by means of telephone conference or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other or by any other means permitted by law.
- Quorum; Action by Committee. A quorum at any Committee meeting shall consist of a majority of the Committee members. All determinations of the Committee shall be made by a majority of its members present at a meeting duly called and held, except as specifically provided herein (or where the Committee consists of only two members, by unanimous vote). Any decision or determination of the Committee reduced to writing and signed by all of the members of the Committee shall be fully as effective as if it had been made at a meeting duly called and held.
- Agenda, Minutes and Reports. The Chairperson of the Committee shall be responsible for establishing the agendas for meetings of the Committee. To the extent appropriate and practicable, an agenda, together with materials relating to the subject matter of each meeting, shall be sent to members of the Committee prior to each meeting. Minutes for all meetings of the Committee shall be prepared and submitted to the Committee for approval. The Committee shall make regular reports to the Board of Directors.
- Performance Evaluation. In conjunction with the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Committee shall evaluate its performance on an annual basis.
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III. Responsibilities
The following shall be the principal responsibilities of the Committee:
- Director Compensation and Perquisites. The Committee shall advise the Board of Directors with respect to proposed changes in Board or Committee compensation, as well as Director retirement policies and programs and material perquisites. In considering Director compensation and material perquisites, the Committee may take into consideration the relative responsibilities of Directors in serving on the Board and its various Committees and in serving in various capacities such as Chairperson or lead director. The Committee may request that management report to the Committee periodically on the status of the Board's compensation and perquisites in relation to comparable companies. Directors who are Company employees shall not be compensated for their services as Directors.
- Goals and Objectives.The Committee shall review and to the extent required, approve, the Company’s goals and objectives relevant to compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and all other “officers” (as that term is defined in Rule 16a-1(f) as promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of the Company (such officers, as designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or the Company are hereinafter referred to as “Executive Officers”), including with respect to short-term compensation and long-term incentives.
- Compensation Levels. The Committee shall recommend to the independent members of the Board the compensation level (including base salary and cash and equity incentive compensation), material benefits and material terms and conditions of any employment offer or agreement of the Chief Executive Officer. The Committee shall determine the compensation level (including base salary and cash and equity incentive compensation), material benefits and material terms and conditions of any employment offer or agreement for all other Executive Officers of the Company. In recommending or determining incentive compensation, the Committee may in its business judgment consider, among other factors it deems appropriate from time to time, the Company’s performance, the Chief Executive Officer's performance as evaluated by the independent members of the Board of Directors, the performance of the other Executive Officers, the incentive compensation goals established for the Chief Executive Officer and other Executive Officers and their and the Company’s performance as measured against such goals, other criteria during such periods as the Committee may deem appropriate, the value of similar incentive awards to persons holding comparable positions at comparable or other relevant companies, the current recruiting or retention needs of the Company and the awards given to Executive Officers in prior years.
- Post-Service Arrangements. The Committee shall evaluate the post-service arrangements (including severance arrangements) and material post-service benefits of the Chief Executive Officer and other Executive Officers. In evaluating such arrangements and benefits the Committee may consider their reasonableness in light of performance and practices at comparable or other relevant companies and any benefits received by the Company in connection with such arrangements.
- Incentive Compensation and Equity Plans. The Committee shall establish, or to the extent required or it deems appropriate, recommend to the Board of Directors, incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans and shall administer such plans, including determining any awards (and the material terms thereof) to be granted to Executive Officers under any such plan implemented by the Company. The Committee shall periodically review, and when appropriate, revise, any stock ownership guidelines applicable to Executive Officers.
- Appointment and Monitoring of Named Fiduciaries. With respect to any funded employee benefit plan established by the Company and covering employees of the Company or its subsidiaries and which is subject to the fiduciary responsibility provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Committee shall have the authority to appoint and terminate the named fiduciary or named fiduciaries of such plan, unless such fiduciaries are specified in the constituent plan documents or such documents delegate responsibility to another body or entity or subsidiary of the Company.
- Evaluation of Compensation Program. The Committee shall review on a periodic basis the overall operation of the Company’s compensation and benefits programs.
- Perquisite Policies. The Committee shall periodically review policies with respect to material Executive Officer perquisites.
- Other Compensation Plans.The Committee shall from time to time review and provide advice with respect to other material compensation or benefit plans of the Company, including retirement and welfare plans.
- Access to Records, Consultants and Others. In discharging its responsibilities, the Committee shall have full access to any relevant records of the Company and may retain, at the Company’s expense, independent legal counsel and outside consultants to advise the Committee. The Committee shall have the sole authority and responsibility to engage or terminate any outside consultant to assist it in determining appropriate compensation levels for the Chief Executive Officer or other Executive Officers of the Company and to approve the terms of any such engagement and the fees of any such consultant. The Committee shall also have the sole authority to engage and terminate independent legal counsel to advise it on issues relating to the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and other Executive Officers of the Company. The Committee may also request that any officer or other employee of the Company, including the Company's senior compensation or human resource executives and the Company’s General Counsel, the Company’s outside counsel or any other person meet with any members of, or consultants to, the Committee, or provide other assistance to the Committee in the discharge of its duties.
- Compensation Discussion and Analysis; Annual Compensation Committee Report. The Committee shall review and discuss with management the Company’s disclosures under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” in the Company’s annual proxy statement and shall recommend to the Board whether such Compensation Discussion and Analysis shall be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement. In connection with the foregoing, the Committee shall also prepare the report required by Securities and Exchange Commission rules to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement.
- Individual Meetings. Not less frequently than annually, the Committee shall meet with the Head of the Human Resource Department (or similar position) without any other member of management being present. In addition, the Committee shall meet in Executive Session at least annually with no one else present other than independent members of the Board of Directors invited by the Committee.
- Delegation. The Committee may delegate any of its responsibilities to a subcommittee comprised of one or more members of the Committee.
- Other Delegated Duties. The Committee shall also carry out such other duties that may be delegated to it by the Board of Directors from time to time.
Revised and Approved December 4, 2007
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