UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
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XERIUM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) 
 
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)
 
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14101 Capital Boulevard
Youngsville, NC 27596

July 23, 2015

 
Dear Stockholder:
 
You are cordially invited to attend our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The meeting will be held on September 11, 2015 at 9:00 A.M., Eastern Time, at our offices located at 14101 Capital Boulevard, Youngsville, NC 27596.
 
The matters to be acted upon at the meeting are described in the accompanying Notice of 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement.
 
Your vote is very important. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please carefully review the enclosed proxy statement and then cast your vote, regardless of the number of shares you hold. Your shares can be represented at the meeting by promptly completing, signing, dating, and mailing the accompanying proxy card or voting instruction form. You may also vote by proxy over the Internet or by telephone.
 
We hope that you will join us on September 11, 2015. Your continuing interest is very much appreciated.
 
Sincerely,
 


Harold C. Bevis
President and Chief Executive Officer




NOTICE OF 2015 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Time
9:00 A.M., Eastern Time
 
 
 
Date
September 11, 2015
 
 
 
Place
Offices of Xerium Technologies, Inc. located at 14101 Capital Boulevard, Youngsville, NC 27596.
 
 
 
Purpose
1.
To elect six directors.
 
 
 
 
2.
To ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as Xerium Technologies, Inc.'s independent registered public accounting firm.
 
 
 
 
3.
To re-approve the material terms of the performance goals included in the 2010 Executive Incentive Plan.
 
 
 
 
4.
To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournment or postponement of the meeting.
 
 
 
Record Date
The directors have fixed the close of business on July 17, 2015 as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting.
 
 
 
Meeting Admission
All stockholders as of the record date, or their duly appointed proxies, may attend the meeting. If you attend, you will be asked to present valid picture identification such as a driver’s license or passport. If your company stock is held in a brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee and your name does not appear on our list of stockholders, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in street name. In this case, this proxy statement is being forwarded to you by your broker or nominee. If your stock is held in street name, in addition to picture identification, you should bring with you a letter or account statement showing that you were the beneficial owner of the stock on the record date in order to be admitted to the meeting.
 
 
 
Voting by Proxy
Please submit a proxy card or, for shares held in street name, voting instruction form, as soon as possible so your shares can be voted at the meeting. You may submit your proxy card or voting instruction form by mail. You may also vote by proxy over the Internet or by telephone. If your shares are held in street name, you may also have the choice of instructing the record holder as to the voting of your shares over the Internet or by telephone. Follow the instructions on the voting instruction form you received from your broker or nominee.
 
 
 
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders to Be Held on September 11, 2015: the Proxy Statement, Form of Proxy and Annual Report to Stockholders are available in the Investor Relations section of our website at www.xerium.com.
 
 
 
 
By order of the Board of Directors,
 
July 23, 2015
Harold C. Bevis
 
President and Chief Executive Officer



TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 



XERIUM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
14101 Capital Boulevard
Youngsville, NC 27596
 
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR THE 2015 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2015

GENERAL INFORMATION
 
The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Xerium Technologies, Inc. (“Xerium”) is soliciting proxies for our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). You are receiving a proxy statement because you own shares of Xerium common stock that entitle you to vote at the Annual Meeting. By use of a proxy, you can vote regardless of whether or not you attend the Annual Meeting. The proxy statement describes the matters on which we would like you to vote and provides information on those matters so that you can make an informed decision. We will mail the notice of Annual Meeting, proxy statement, and proxy card to stockholders beginning on or about July 29, 2015.
 
What is the purpose of the Annual Meeting?
 
The purpose of the Annual Meeting is for stockholders of Xerium to address all business that may come before the meeting and to vote on the following matters:
 
the election of six directors;
the ratification of the appointment of Ernst &Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm; and
the re-approval of the materials terms of the performance goals included in Xerium's 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2010 Equity Incentive Plan").

The Board recommends a vote FOR the election of the six directors, FOR the ratification of the appointment of Ernst &Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm and FOR the re-approval of the material terms of the performance goals included in the 2010 Executive Incentive Plan.
 
What is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder of record and as a beneficial owner?
 
Many Xerium stockholders hold their shares through a broker, bank or other nominee rather than directly in their own name as the stockholder of record. As discussed below, there are some distinctions between shares held of record and those owned beneficially.
 
Stockholder of Record. If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Wells Fargo, N.A. (“Wells Fargo”), you are considered, with respect to those shares, the stockholder of record, and these proxy materials are being sent directly to you by Wells Fargo on behalf of Xerium. As the stockholder of record, you have the right to grant your voting proxy directly to Xerium or to vote in person at the Annual Meeting. We have enclosed a proxy card for you to use. You may also vote by proxy over the Internet or by telephone.
 
Beneficial Owner. If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in street name and the proxy materials are being sent to you by your broker or nominee who is considered, with respect to those shares, the stockholder of record. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker or nominee on how to vote and are also invited to attend the meeting. However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote these shares in person at the meeting unless you receive a proxy from your broker or nominee. Your broker or nominee has enclosed a voting instruction card for you to use. If you wish to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person, please mark the box on the voting instruction card received from your broker or nominee and return it to them so that you can receive a legal proxy to present at the Annual Meeting.

How can I attend the Annual Meeting?
 
If you are listed as a stockholder of record as of September 11, 2015 you may attend the Annual Meeting if you bring proof of identification. If you are the beneficial owner of shares held in street name, you will need to bring proof of identification and provide proof of ownership by bringing either a copy of a brokerage statement or a letter from the record holder indicating that you owned the shares as of July 17, 2015.
 
How can I vote my shares in person at the Annual Meeting?
 

1


If you are the stockholder of record you may vote your shares in person at the Annual Meeting. If you choose to do so, please bring the enclosed proxy card and proof of identification. If you are the beneficial owner of shares held in street name you may vote your shares in person at the Annual Meeting if, in addition to proof of identification, you bring both a brokerage statement or a letter from the record holder indicating that you owned the shares as of July 17, 2015 and a legal proxy from the record holder issued in your name, which you will need to obtain in advance. Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we recommend that you also submit your proxy or voting instructions as described below so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the Annual Meeting.
 
How can I vote my shares without attending the Annual Meeting?
 
Whether you hold shares directly as the stockholder of record or beneficially in street name, you may direct your vote without attending the Annual Meeting. For shares you hold directly as the stockholder of record, you may vote by granting a proxy or, for shares you hold beneficially in street name, you may vote by submitting voting instructions to your broker or nominee. You may submit your proxy or voting instruction card by marking, dating and signing it and mailing it in the enclosed, self-addressed, postage prepaid envelope. No postage is required if mailed in the United States. For shares you hold directly as the stockholder of record, please refer to the more detailed instructions included on your proxy card. For shares you hold beneficially in street name, please refer to the more detailed instructions included on the voting instruction card included by your broker or nominee.
 
If you are a stockholder of record, you may also vote by proxy over the Internet by going to the website of our tabulator, Wells Fargo, at www.proxypush.com/XRM and following the instructions you will find there or by touch-tone telephone by dialing 1-866-883-3382 and following the instructions given. You must specify how you want your shares voted or your Internet or telephone vote cannot be completed. Your shares will be voted according to your instructions.
 
Can I change my vote?
 
You may revoke your signed proxy to management at any time before it is voted by notifying the Secretary in writing, by returning a signed proxy with a later date, by submitting new voting instructions over the Internet or by telephone, or by attending the meeting and voting in person. If your stock is held in street name, you must contact your broker or nominee for instructions as to how to change your vote.
 
When is the record date for the Annual Meeting?
 
The Board has fixed the record date for the Annual Meeting as of the close of business on July 17, 2015.
 
How many votes can be cast by all stockholders?
 
There were 15,597,953 shares of our common stock outstanding on the record date and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote on each matter.

What is a quorum?
 
A quorum is the minimum number of shares required to hold a meeting. Under our By-Laws, a majority of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, or 7,798,977 shares, must be represented in person or by proxy for a quorum.
 
What vote is required to approve each item?
 
For the election of the directors, the six directors who receive the greatest number of votes cast in favor in person or by proxy will be elected directors.

The proposal to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm requires approval by a majority of the votes cast in person or by proxy. Although ratification is not required by our By-Laws or otherwise, the Board is submitting the selection of Ernst & Young LLP to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the stockholders do not ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether or not to retain Ernst & Young LLP, but still may retain them. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee may change the appointment at any time during the year if it determines that such change would be in our best interest and the best interests of our stockholders.

The proposal to re-approve the material terms of the performance goals included in the 2010 Executive Incentive Plan requires approval by a majority of the votes cast in person or by proxy.

2



If there are insufficient votes to approve the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm or the proposal to re-approve the material terms of the performance goals included in the 2010 Executive Incentive Plan, your proxy may be voted by the persons named in the proxy to adjourn the Annual Meeting in order to solicit additional proxies in favor of the approval of such proposals. If the Annual Meeting is adjourned or postponed for any purpose, at any subsequent reconvening of the Annual Meeting your proxy will be voted in the same manner as it would have been voted at the original convening of the Annual Meeting unless you withdraw or revoke your proxy. Your proxy may be voted in this manner even though it may have been voted on the same or any other matter at a previous session of the Annual Meeting.
 
How is the vote counted?
 
Votes cast by proxy or in person at the Annual Meeting will be counted by persons appointed by us to act as tellers for the meeting. The tellers will count shares represented by proxies that withhold authority to vote for a nominee for election as a director only as shares that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum. None of the withheld votes will be counted as votes “for” a director. Shares properly voted to “abstain” and broker non-votes on a particular matter are considered as shares that are entitled to vote for the purpose of determining a quorum but are generally not treated as votes cast for the matter. A broker non-vote occurs when a broker holding shares for a customer does not vote on a particular proposal because the broker has not received voting instructions on the matter from its customer and is barred by stock exchange rules from exercising discretionary authority to vote on the matter.
 
What happens if the meeting is postponed or adjourned?
 
Your proxy to management may be voted at the postponed or adjourned meeting. You will still be able to change your proxy until it is voted.
 
What does it mean if I receive more than one proxy card or voting instruction form?
 
It means that you have multiple accounts at the transfer agent or with brokers. Please complete and return all proxy cards or voting instruction forms to ensure that all of your shares are voted.

Who can help answer my questions about the Annual Meeting or how to submit or revoke my proxy?
 
If you are the stockholder of record, please contact:
 
Investor Relations
Xerium Technologies, Inc.
14101 Capital Boulevard
Youngsville, NC 27596
Telephone: 919-526-1444
 
If your shares are held in street name, please call the telephone number provided on your voting instruction form or contact your broker directly.


3


PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
 
Information with Respect to Nominees for Directors
 
Six directors will be elected at the Annual Meeting. The Board has recommended as nominees for election as directors the persons named in the table below. All of the nominees are currently directors of Xerium. All directors elected at the Annual Meeting will serve until the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier death, resignation, or removal. For a discussion of the arrangements pursuant to which certain directors were, and may be in the future, selected, see the section “Chapter 11 Filing, Emergence and Plan of Reorganization” below. In April 2011, the Board increased the number of directors on the Board from seven to eight. Mr. David A. Bloss, Sr., a current director, has announced his retirement effective as of the date of the Annual Meeting and has decided to not stand for reeclection. Accordingly, his term will expire at the Annual Meeting. Due to the expiration of Mr. Bloss' term at the Annual Meeting, and the resignation of Mr. Marc Saiontz concurrent with the 2012 Annual Meeting, there will be two vacancies on the Board following the Annual Meeting. Our By-Laws provide that only the Board may fill vacancies.
 
It is intended that, unless you give contrary instructions, shares represented by proxies solicited by the Board will be voted for the election as directors of the six nominees listed below. We have no reason to believe that any nominee will be unavailable for election at the Annual Meeting. In the event that one or more nominees is unexpectedly not available to serve, proxies may be voted for another person nominated as a substitute by the Board, or the Board may reduce the number of directors to be elected at the Annual Meeting.
 
The following table sets forth as to each nominee for election at the Annual Meeting: (i) the nominee’s positions with Xerium and principal occupation during the past five years; (ii) the nominee’s other directorships, including any directorships held during the past five years, with publicly held companies or investment companies; (iii) the nominee’s age as of September 11, 2015; and (iv) the nominee’s period of service as a director of Xerium.
 
Name
 
Positions with Xerium and Principal Occupation and Other Directorships
 
Age
 
Director Since
Roger A. Bailey
 
Mr. Bailey has served as a director since July 11, 2012. Mr. Bailey currently serves as President of the Power Products Division, North America for ABB Inc., a global leader in power and automation technologies. He has been with ABB for more than 30 years, having served more recently as President - Process Automation North America from 2004-2011; Group Vice President - Pulp and Paper Business Unit from 2005-2011; and Senior Vice President - Paper and Minerals from 2002-2004, among other positions. Mr. Bailey brings to the Board experience at growing ABB's sales to customers in the paper industry during a time of declining paper volume, in restructuring ABB's footprint towards growth-oriented markets and knowledge of international markets, including Asia and, in particular, China.
 

 
57
 
July 2012
Harold C. Bevis
 
Mr. Bevis has served as a director and as President and Chief Executive Officer of Xerium since August 15, 2012. Mr. Bevis most recently served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Prolamina Corporation, a flexible packaging company serving the food, medical and consumer markets, from August 2010 until April 2012. Prior to that from October 2003 until December 2009 he served as Chief Executive Officer, President and director of Pliant Corporation, a film and flexible packaging products producer for personal care, medical, food, industrial and agricultural markets. In 2006 and 2009, Pliant Corporation filed for Chapter 11 protection under the Bankruptcy Code while Mr. Bevis was serving as its President and Chief Executive Officer. He has also served as President, Chief Executive Officer and director of Jordan Telecommunication Products and has held executive positions with Emerson Electric and General Cable Corporation. Since June 2014, he has served on the Board of Directors of Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc. He is a 1983 graduate of Iowa State University receiving an Industrial Engineering degree and earned a Masters of Business Administration degree from Columbia University in 1988. Mr. Bevis' leadership skills and management experience, including serving as Chief Executive Officer or in executive positions for multiple companies operating internationally, qualify him to serve on the Board. As our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bevis brings to the Board a critical understanding of our business operations and management and the implementation of Board strategy.

 
55
 
August 2012

4


Name
 
Positions with Xerium and Principal Occupation and Other Directorships
 
Age
 
Director Since
Ambassador April H. Foley
 
Ambassador Foley has served as a director since May 25, 2010. Ambassador Foley served as the United States Ambassador to Hungary from 2006 to 2009. Prior to serving as U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, she held several positions at the Export-Import Bank of the United States. After first serving as a Director of the Bank, she was appointed to be First Vice President and Vice Chairman in 2003. Ambassador Foley also previously held various positions with PepsiCo, Inc. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Alliant Techsystems Inc., an aerospace and defense company. Ambassador Foley’s financial background and international experience, including an MBA from Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration and her public service for the federal government of the United States, qualify her to serve on the Board. Ambassador Foley’s extensive knowledge of international affairs, including the international financial system, enables her to offer valuable insight, judgment and perspectives in support of the Board’s oversight role and its other functions.

 
68
 
May 2010
Jay J. Gurandiano
 
Mr. Gurandiano has served as a director since December 1, 2008. From September 2012 until December 2013, Mr. Gurandiano served as the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of SP Fiber Technologies LLC, a newsprint and packaging manufacturer. Additionally, he has been the Managing Director of Stone House Investment Holdings Inc., an investment holdings company, since October 2000. He has served as a director of Eacom Timber Company since 2011 and he also served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ainsworth Lumber Co. Ltd., a lumber and wood products company, from 2008 until May 2010. Mr. Gurandiano brings to the Board significant management experience, particularly with respect to the paper industry, which gives him a valuable perspective in his role as a director. His qualifications to serve as a director also include his legal background and his private equity investment experience.

 
69
 
December 2008
John F. McGovern
 
Mr. McGovern has served as a director since May 25, 2010. Mr. McGovern is the founder, and since 1999 a partner, of Aurora Capital LLC, a private investment and consulting firm based in Atlanta, GA. Prior to founding Aurora Capital, Mr. McGovern served in a number of positions of increasing responsibility at Georgia-Pacific Corporation from 1981 to 1999, including Executive Vice President/Chief Financial Officer from 1994 to 1999. Mr. McGovern has served as a director of Neenah Paper, Inc. since 2006 and as a director of NewPage Holdings Inc. since 2012. Mr. McGovern previously served as a director of GenTek, Inc. from 2003 to 2009. He also previously served as a director of Collective Brands, Inc. from 2003 until October 2012. Mr. McGovern also serves on the boards of The Newark Group (since 2010), a recycled paperboard company, and Hoffmaster Inc. (since 2011), a producer of speciality disposable tabletop products. Mr. McGovern brings to the Board significant executive leadership and financial experience in the paper industry, including his experience as Chief Financial Officer of Georgia-Pacific Corporation. In addition, Mr. McGovern brings to the Board the experience of serving on the boards of multiple public and private companies and the views and judgment of a leader who is highly respected for his business expertise and acumen.
 
69
 
May 2010
James F. Wilson
 
Mr. Wilson has served as a director since May 25, 2010 and Chairman of the Board since August 2012. He has been a principal of Carl Marks Management Company, LLC since 2001, which manages investment partnerships focused on distressed securities. Mr. Wilson previously served as a director of Seneca Foods Corporation from 2008 to 2009. Mr. Wilson earned a BA in Economics from Dartmouth College, and an MBA from Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration. Mr. Wilson’s investment management and business experience qualify him to serve on the Board. In addition, we believe that given Mr. Wilson’s affiliation with Carl Marks, a significant former lender and stockholder of Xerium, he can serve as a valuable resource to the Board in understanding and interfacing with our stakeholders.

 
58
 
May 2010
 
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE SIX NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR NAMED ABOVE.
 




5


Chapter 11 Filing, Emergence and Plan of Reorganization
 
On March 30, 2010, we and certain of our subsidiaries (the “Debtor Subsidiaries”) filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. §§ 101-1532 (as amended, the “Bankruptcy Code”), in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the “Bankruptcy Court”). On May 12, 2010, the Bankruptcy Court held a hearing to consider confirmation of our amended joint prepackaged plan of reorganization (the “Plan of Reorganization”) and entered an order confirming the Plan of Reorganization. On May 25, 2010 (the “Effective Date”), the Plan of Reorganization became effective and we and the Debtor Subsidiaries emerged from Chapter 11.
 
The Plan of Reorganization provided that the Board of Directors was to be reconstituted to consist of seven directors, including the Chief Executive Officer, one director nominated by our then-current Board, and five directors nominated by certain of our then-lenders. Pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization, on the Effective Date, the Board was reconstituted and became comprised of Stephen R. Light (since retired), Ambassador April H. Foley, Jay J. Gurandiano, John G. McGovern, Edward F. Paquette (since retired), Marc L. Saiontz (since resigned at the expiration of his term in 2012), and James F. Wilson. In addition, we entered into (i) a Director Nomination Agreement with AS Investors, LLC (together with its affiliates, “American Securities”), and (ii) a Director Nomination Agreement with Carl Marks Strategic Investments, L.P. and Carl Marks Strategic Opportunities Fund, L.P. (together with their affiliates, “Carl Marks”). These agreements enable American Securities and Carl Marks to designate one director each for nomination to the Board. Currently, only Mr. Wilson has been nominated to the Board by Carl Marks pursuant to the Director Nomination Agreements. American Securities maintains, but is not currently exercising, the right to appoint a director pursuant to the Director Nomination Agreements.

6


CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
 
Director Independence
 
The Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines that include standards for the independence of directors in accordance with the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE"). The standards for the independence of directors are included in the Corporate Governance Guidelines available on our website at www.xerium.com. Using the standards set forth in the Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Board has determined that each of Ambassador Foley and Messrs. Bailey, Bloss, Gurandiano, McGovern, and Wilson is independent, although Mr. Bloss has announced his retirement effective as of the date of the Annual Meeting and has decided to not stand for reelection.
 
Board Meetings and Director Attendance at the Annual Meeting
 
The Board held ten meetings during 2014. Each of the directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate of (i) the total number of meetings of the Board, and (ii) the total number of meetings held by all committees of the Board on which that director served during 2014 (in each case, which were held during the period for which he or she served as a director and/or a member of the applicable committee). We encourage our directors to attend Annual Meetings of Stockholders and believe that attendance at Annual Meetings of Stockholders is just as important as attendance at meetings of the Board and its committees. Six of our seven directors in office at the time attended the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Board Leadership Structure
 
In 2012, the Board elected to separate the roles of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. In connection with the separation of roles, the Board appointed Mr. Wilson as the Chairman of the Board and eliminated the former role of lead independent director held by him, though Mr. Wilson remains an independent director.

The Board concluded that having a separate Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer is currently the most appropriate and effective leadership structure. In reaching this conclusion, the Board considered that separating the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer would most effectively facilitate communication between management and non-employee directors between meetings of the Board. In addition, because the Chairman is primarily responsible for setting meeting agendas in consultation with Mr. Bevis, the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Wilson is well positioned to ensure that the concerns of non-employee directors are addressed and that Board meetings make effective use of everyone's time. Mr. Bevis, in turn, is able to provide more attention to management of the Company's business.

While the Board believes the current leadership structure is appropriate and in the best long-term interest of the Company and our stockholders at this time, it reserves the right to consider alternative Board leadership structures, including those that combine the offices of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, in the future if it determines those alternatives are appropriate for the Company under different circumstances.

Board Oversight and Risk Management
 
We operate in a complex environment and are subject to a number of significant risks. The Board works with our management to manage the various risks we face. The role of the Board is one of oversight of our risk management processes and procedures; the role of management is to develop and implement those processes and procedures on a strategic and daily basis and to identify, manage, and mitigate the risks that we face. As part of its oversight role, the Board regularly discusses, both with and without management present, our risk profile and how our business strategy effectively manages and leverages the risks that we face.
 
To facilitate its oversight of Xerium, the Board has delegated certain functions (including the oversight of risks related to these functions) to committees of the Board. The Audit Committee oversees, reviews and discusses with management our policies relating to risk assessment and management, including steps that management has taken or should have taken to minimize risk to us and the Compensation Committee evaluates the risks presented by our compensation programs and analyzes these risks when designing compensation plans. The roles of our committees are discussed in more detail below.
 
Although the Board has delegated certain functions to various committees, each of these committees regularly reports to and solicits input from the full Board regarding its activities.
 
Board Committees
 
The Board has standing Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Governance Committees, as described more fully below. The Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Governance Committees are each comprised of independent directors.

7


 
Audit Committee. John F. McGovern is the Chair and Ambassador April H. Foley and Jay J. Gurandiano are the other current members of our Audit Committee. The Audit Committee met five times during 2014. The Board has determined that each member of our Audit Committee is independent within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the NYSE. Furthermore, as required by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), no member of the Audit Committee receives, directly or indirectly, any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fees from us other than Board and committee fees. The Board has determined that John F. McGovern is an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the SEC. The Audit Committee operates pursuant to a written charter that is available free of charge on our website at www.xerium.com or by requesting a copy from Investor Relations, Xerium Technologies, Inc., 14101 Capital Boulevard, Youngsville, NC 27596.
 
The principal duties and responsibilities of the Audit Committee are as follows: (a) to monitor our financial reporting process and internal control systems, including our policies and programs relating to financial risk assessment and management; (b) to appoint and replace our independent registered public accounting firm, determine its compensation and other terms of engagement, and oversee its work; (c) to oversee the performance of our internal audit function; and (d) to oversee overall risk management and assessment and our compliance with legal, ethical, and regulatory matters. The Audit Committee and the Board have established procedures for the receipt, retention, and treatment of complaints received by us regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters and for confidential, anonymous submission by our employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or other matters, as described under “Policies on Communicating with Non-Management Directors and Reporting Concerns Regarding Accounting and Other Matters.” The Audit Committee also has the authority to hire independent counsel and other advisors to carry out the Audit Committee’s duties, and we are required to provide appropriate funding, as the Audit Committee determines, to compensate any advisors retained by the Audit Committee.
 
The report of the Audit Committee is included in this Proxy Statement under “Audit Committee Report.”

Compensation Committee. David A. Bloss, Sr. is the Chair and Roger A. Bailey and James F. Wilson are the other current members of our Compensation Committee. Mr. Bloss has announced his retirement effective as of the date of the Annual Meeting and has decided to not stand for reelection. Following the Annual Meeting, the Compensation Committee will have two members until such time as the Board appoints a third member. The Compensation Committee met seven times during 2014. The Board has determined that each member of the Compensation Committee is independent within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the NYSE. The Compensation Committee operates pursuant to a written charter that is available free of charge on our website at www.xerium.com or by requesting a copy from Investor Relations, Xerium Technologies, Inc., 14101 Capital Boulevard, Youngsville, NC 27596.
 
The principal duties and responsibilities of the Compensation Committee are as follows: (a) to provide oversight on the development and implementation of our compensation policies, strategies, plans, and programs for our key employees and disclosure relating to these matters; (b) to review and approve the compensation of our chief executive officer and the other executive officers of Xerium and its subsidiaries; and (c) to provide oversight concerning the selection of officers, management succession planning, performance of individual executives, and related matters.
 
The report of the Compensation Committee is included in this Proxy Statement under “Compensation Committee Report.”
 
Nominating and Governance Committee. Ambassador April H. Foley is the Chair and David A. Bloss, Sr. and James F. Wilson are the other current members of our Nominating and Governance Committee. Mr. Bloss has announced his retirement effective as of the date of the Annual Meeting and has decided to not stand for reelection. Following the Annual Meeting, the Nominating and Governance Committee will have two members until such time as the Board appoints a third member. The Nominating and Governance Committee met four times during 2014. The Board has determined that each member of the Nominating and Governance Committee is independent within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the NYSE. The Nominating and Governance Committee operates pursuant to a written charter that is available free of charge on our website at www.xerium.com or by requesting a copy from Investor Relations, Xerium Technologies, Inc., 14101 Capital Boulevard, Youngsville, NC 27596.
 
The principal duties and responsibilities of the Nominating and Governance Committee are as follows: (a) to establish criteria for Board and committee membership and recommend to the Board proposed nominees for election to the Board and for membership on committees of the Board; (b) to make recommendations regarding proposals submitted by our stockholders; (c) to make recommendations to the Board regarding corporate governance matters and practices, including compensation for outside directors; and (d) to oversee the management continuity planning process and evaluate succession plans for the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officer positions.

8


 
In identifying and recommending nominees for positions on the Board, the Nominating and Governance Committee takes into account each candidate’s ability, judgment, and experience and the overall diversity and composition of the Board. A candidate’s skills and experience must also support our strategy. The Nominating and Governance Committee places primary emphasis on the criteria set forth under “Board Membership Criteria” in our Corporate Governance Guidelines, namely, and not to imply priority: (1) broad-based business skills and experiences; (2) prominence and reputation in their profession; (3) global business perspective; (4) concern for the long-term interests of the stockholders; and (5) personal integrity and judgment. The Nominating and Governance Committee does not set specific, minimum qualifications that nominees must meet in order to be recommended to the Board, but rather the Board believes that each nominee should be evaluated based on his or her individual merits, taking into account our needs and the composition of the Board. Members of the Nominating and Governance Committee discuss and evaluate possible candidates in detail and suggest individuals to explore in more depth. Once a candidate is identified whom the Nominating and Governance Committee wants to seriously consider and move toward nomination, the Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee enters into a discussion with that candidate.
 
The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider candidates recommended by stockholders. It is the policy of the Nominating and Governance Committee that candidates recommended by stockholders will be given appropriate consideration in the same manner as other candidates. The procedure for submitting candidates for consideration by the Nominating and Governance Committee for election at our 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is described under “Stockholder Proposals.”

In addition, we have entered into Director Nomination Agreements with each of American Securities and Carl Marks, which enable them to designate one director each for nomination to the Board.
 
Independent Director Meetings
 
In addition to the meetings of the committees of the Board described above, our independent directors met four times in executive session during 2014. These executive sessions were either held in connection with Board meetings or were separately called by Mr. Wilson, our Chairman during 2014. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that these executive sessions be chaired by our independent Chairman, unless our Chairman is not independent at that time. The independent directors are currently Ambassador Foley and Messrs. Bailey, Bloss, Gurandiano, McGovern, and Wilson. The Board has established a procedure whereby interested parties may make their concerns known to the independent directors, which is described under “Policies on Communicating with Non-Management Directors and Reporting of Concerns Regarding Accounting and Other Matters.”
 
Processes and Procedures for Executive and Director Compensation
 
For a discussion concerning the processes and procedures for determining executive and director compensation and the role of executive officers and compensation consultants in determining or recommending the amount or form of compensation, see “Compensation Discussion & Analysis” and “Compensation of Directors.”
 
 
Corporate Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, Corporate Governance Guidelines and Director Share Ownership Guidelines
 
We have adopted a Corporate Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for our directors, officers, and employees, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer. A copy of our Corporate Code of Business Conduct and Ethics may be accessed free of charge by visiting our website at www.xerium.com or by requesting a copy from Investor Relations, Xerium Technologies, Inc., 14101 Capital Boulevard, Youngsville, NC 27596. We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirement regarding any amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of the Corporate Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to our chief executive officer or chief financial officer by posting the amendment or waiver to our website.
 
A copy of our Corporate Governance Guidelines and Director Share Ownership Guidelines may also be accessed free of charge by visiting our website at www.xerium.com or by requesting a copy from Investor Relations, Xerium Technologies, Inc., 14101 Capital Boulevard, Youngsville, NC 27596.

 
Policies on Communicating with Independent Directors and Reporting of Concerns Regarding Accounting and Other Matters
 
The Board and the Audit Committee have adopted policies on communicating with the independent directors and reporting concerns regarding accounting and other matters. Any stockholder or other interested party who wishes to

9


communicate with the Chairman of the Board may do so by writing to: Chairman of the Board, Xerium Technologies, Inc., 14101 Capital Boulevard, Youngsville, NC 27596. Stockholders or other interested parties who wish to communicate with the independent directors may do so by writing to: Independent Directors, c/o Chairman of the Board, Xerium Technologies, Inc., 14101 Capital Boulevard, Youngsville, NC 27596. These communications will be handled by the Chairman and forwarded to the independent directors at or prior to the next meeting of the independent directors. Stockholders or other interested parties who wish to communicate with the Board may do so by writing to: Board of Directors, c/o Chairman of the Board, Xerium Technologies, Inc., 14101 Capital Boulevard, Youngsville, NC 27596. These communications will be handled by the Chairman and forwarded to directors at or prior to the next meeting of the directors. Any person, whether or not an employee, who has a concern about our conduct, or any of our people, including with respect to accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters, may, in a confidential or anonymous manner, communicate that concern by writing to: Xerium Technologies, Inc., 14101 Capital Boulevard, Youngsville, NC 27596, attention: Compliance Officer, through the Internet at www.ethicspoint.com or by calling 866-293-2399.


AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
 
The Audit Committee has reviewed our audited financial statements for 2014, and has discussed these statements with management. The Audit Committee has also discussed with Ernst & Young LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm during 2014, the matters required to be discussed by Statement of Auditing Standard No. 16 (Communications with Audit Committees).
 
The Audit Committee also received from Ernst & Young LLP the written disclosures and the letter required by Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Ethics and Independence Rule 3526 (Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence) and discussed with them their independence.
 
Based on the review and discussions noted above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the 2014 audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2014, for filing with the SEC.
 
With respect to the above matters, the Audit Committee submits this report.
 
Mr. John F. McGovern, Chair
Ambassador April H. Foley
Mr. Jay J. Gurandiano


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MANAGEMENT AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
Executive Officers
 
The following table sets forth information regarding our executive officers as of September 11, 2015. On the date that our Chapter 11 petitions were filed, Messrs. Pretty and Fracasso were serving as executive officers of Xerium and, in some cases, executive officers of the Debtor Subsidiaries.

Name
 
Age
 
Position
Harold C. Bevis
 
55
 
President, Chief Executive Officer and Board Member
Clifford E. Pietrafitta
 
53
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
David Pretty
 
52
 
President – Xerium North America and Europe
Eduardo Fracasso
 
55
 
President – Xerium South America
Wern-Lirn "Paul" Wang
 
56
 
President – Xerium Asia
Kevin McDougall
 
57
 
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Michael Bly
 
49
 
Executive Vice President of Global Human Resources
William Butterfield
 
61
 
EVP and Chief Technology Officer
  
Harold C. Bevis has served as a director and as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since August 15, 2012. Mr. Bevis most recently served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Prolamina Corporation, a flexible packaging company serving the food, medical and consumer markets, from August 2010 until April 2012. Prior to that from October 2003 until December 2009 he served as Chief Executive Officer, President and director of Pliant Corporation, a film and flexible packaging products producer for personal care, medical, food, industrial and agricultural markets. In 2006 and 2009, Pliant Corporation filed for Chapter 11 protection under the Bankruptcy Code while Mr. Bevis was serving as its President and Chief Executive Officer. He has also served as President, Chief Executive Officer and director of Jordan Telecommunication Products and has held executive positions with Emerson Electric and General Cable Corporation. Since June 2014, he has served on the Board of Directors of Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc. He is a 1983 graduate of Iowa State University receiving an Industrial Engineering degree and earned a Masters of Business Administration degree from Columbia University in 1988.

Clifford E. Pietrafitta has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since March 14, 2011. Mr. Pietrafitta served as the Chief Financial Officer of CSS Industries, Inc., a consumer products company, from January 1999 to March 2010. Prior to that he served as the Vice President—Finance of CSS Industries from November 1995 to January 1999, and as Treasurer from 1991 to November 1995.
 
David Pretty has served as President—Xerium North America since February 2008 and President—Xerium Europe since April 2013. Prior to his appointment as President—Xerium Europe, he served as President—Europe PMC from February 2010. He served as President—Weavexx, our North American clothing operation, from December 2005 until February 2008. From November 2004 to December 2005 he was the Senior Vice President—Sales, Marketing, Technology and Operations for Weavexx. From August 2003 to November 2004 he was the Senior Vice President—Sales, Marketing and Technology for Weavexx. From August 2000 until August 2003 he was the Vice President—Sales and Marketing for Weavexx.

Eduardo Fracasso has served as President—Xerium South America since January 2008. From April 2007 to December 2007 he served as President—Xerium Brazil. Prior to that, he held various operational positions within our Brazilian subsidiaries over a period of approximately 18 years, most recently as Operational Director.
 
Wern-Lirn "Paul" Wang has served as President - Xerium Asia since March 2014. From March 2011 until just prior to joining Xerium he served as the Chief Executive Officer of Asia Timber Products, where he led the medium density fiberboard and laminating flooring manufacturer in China. Mr. Wang also served as the Managing Director for China of Owens-Illinois from July 2009 until March 2011. Prior to that, he held leadership positions at International Paper, PPG Industries and Owens-Corning Fiberglass.

Kevin McDougall has served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel since April 2010 and Secretary since November 2012. From September 2007 to April 2010, he served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of HVM, LLC, the management company for Extended Stay Hotels, a hotel chain. From 2003 to 2007, Mr. McDougall was employed at BI-LO LLC and Bruno’s Supermarkets, Inc., a supermarket chain, most recently serving as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. In February 2009 and March 2009, respectively, Bruno’s and BI-LO each filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. From 1998 to 2002, he was the Vice President and General

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Counsel-Worldwide at Bell & Howell/Bell & Howell Mail and Messaging Technologies Company, a developer of production mail equipment and software technologies. He also served as Corporate Counsel (from 1986 to 1991) and Vice President and Senior Counsel (from 1991 to 1998) at GE Capital/GE Capital Mortgage Corporation.

Michael Bly has served as Executive Vice President of Global Human Resources since April 15, 2013. From December 2009 to April 2013, he served as Vice President of Human Resources of Berry Plastics, a flexible packaging company. From August 2007 to December 2009, he served as Vice President of Human Resources at Pliant Corporation, a film and flexible packaging products producer for personal care, medical, food, industrial and agricultural markets.

William Butterfield has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer since April 19, 2013. Prior to that he served as Vice President for Global Rolls Technology from 2006 until his promotion in April 2013. Mr. Butterfield has been with our rolls business since 1988 and has served in several capacities.

Compensation Discussion & Analysis
 
This Compensation Discussion & Analysis section presents an analysis, summary and overview of our compensation philosophy and objectives; our process for determining compensation levels and programs; the elements of our compensation programs; and the material decisions made in setting compensation for 2014 for our “Named Executive Officers” listed below. Following this section, we have included certain tables where you will find detailed 2014 compensation information for the Named Executive Officers.

Executive Summary
 
During 2014, Xerium’s primary objective was to improve the company’s Adjusted EBITDA (as defined in our credit facility) and to continue the multi-year repositioning plan we initiated in 2013 to improve our sales and share price after several years of decline.  These initiatives have been effective in improving our sales and share price and we are pleased with the actions to date and the confidence restored in Xerium both internally and externally.  To achieve the desired improvement, the Xerium management team has 32 sales growth and 16 primary cost programs underway to increase sales, cut costs and increase operational efficiencies.  The results of these actions contributed to the increase in Xerium’s Adjusted EBITDA for 2014 as compared to 2013, and for 2013 as compared to 2012 and prior years, as shown in the chart below.

Historical Adjusted EBITDA Performance(1) 
(1) Adjusted EBITDA levels in millions before currency adjustments made under terms of short-term incentive plans.


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To provide management the appropriate incentives to achieve the desired improvements, Xerium continued the use of an executive compensation program substantially similar to the 2013 program with certain limited design changes in 2014. Overall, the changes to the executive compensation programs introduced in 2014 were intended to enhance the level of alignment between our executives and shareholders and to bring our programs into closer alignment with competitive practices.

2014 Short-Term Incentive Compensation. For our annual short-term management incentive compensation program (referred to as the “2014 MIC”), Xerium continued to use Adjusted EBITDA as the performance measure and cash as the form of pay-out. Under the 2014 MIC, we made payouts of 83.71% of target for our Named Executive Officers.

2014-2016 Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan. Our awards under our 2014 long-term incentive award plan (referred to as the “2014 LTIP”), consist of a substantially equal mix of time-based, performance-based and market-based restricted stock units. Time-based awards made up 35% of the total award. These time-based awards will cliff vest on May 8, 2017, and will be converted to common stock, net of applicable tax withholdings.

We use a three-year cumulative Adjusted EBITDA as the performance measure for grants of performance shares under the 2014 LTIP. The targeted Adjusted EBITDA performance portion of the award measures our performance against a three-year cumulative Adjusted EBITDA metric, adjusted for currency fluctuations during the term of the 2014 - 2016 Executive LTIP. These awards will convert into shares of our common stock and be paid after the close of a three-year performance period of January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2016. The amount of the payment will range from 0% to 100% of the employee's total Adjusted EBITDA performance shares. Upon attainment of cumulative Adjusted EBITDA equal to 80% or less of the target, none of the Adjusted EBITDA performance shares will vest. Upon attainment of more than 80% of the target, the adjusted EBITDA performance shares will begin vesting on a straight-line basis from 0% at 80% of the target to 100% at 100% of the target, up to a maximum payout of 100% of the Adjusted EBITDA performance shares. Performance-based awards made up 32.5% of the total award.

Market-based awards will vest, based on the performance of our stock price against the performance of listed companies on the S&P Global Small Cap Index, on the third anniversary of the grant date, or May 8, 2017. These awards will convert into shares of the Company’s common stock and be paid after the close of the three-year performance period of May 8, 2014 through May 8, 2017. The shares that may vest will be up to 100%, with a lower threshold of a a 50% payout for 35th percentile performance and full payout at 100% for 55th percentile performance. Performance between the 35th and 55th percentile performance will result in an interpolated payout percentage between 50% and 100%. Market-based awards made up 32.5% of the total award.

A discussion of the 2014 LTIP and the awards granted to each Named Executive Officer appears below under “2014 Executive Compensation Components - Long-Term Compensation.”

Clawbacks. Each of our incentive plans, including the 2014 MIC and 2014 LTIP, included incentive clawback provisions. As explained more fully below under “Incentive Clawback Policies”, these provisions require participants to refund all or a portion of an award if the award was paid based on financial statements that are subsequently restated.

Named Executive Officers

Our Named Executive Officers for 2014 were:
 
Harold C. Bevis, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Clifford E. Pietrafitta, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

David Pretty, President-Xerium North America and Europe

Eduardo Fracasso, President-Xerium South America

Wern-Lirn "Paul" Wang, President-Xerium Asia

Thomas C. Johnson, Former President - Xerium Asia

On January 1, 2014, Mr. Johnson left the Company. Due to SEC rules, he is considered a Named Executive Officer in 2014.


Compensation Philosophy and Objectives


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We believe in aligning executive compensation with performance, and the Compensation Committee has designed our compensation programs with the following objectives in mind:

reward executives for achievement of long-term goals with the objective of improving stockholder value;

motivate executives to excel with specific annual performance goals; and

enhance our ability to retain and, as necessary, attract superior employees to key positions.

This philosophy has generally led to a significant portion of each executive's compensation being “at risk” annually and over multi-year performance periods. With respect to 2014, the Compensation Committee designed executive compensation packages for executives, including the Named Executive Officers, which included both cash and stock-based compensation. While we had no specific policy or rigid formula regarding the proportion of total compensation that constitutes cash compensation or stock-based compensation, the Compensation Committee balanced these compensation elements to meet our stated compensation objectives. In determining the appropriate balance of cash and stock-based compensation, the Compensation Committee considered, among other things, the total amount of our equity that the executive officer held, the motivational value of various components of compensation to the executive officer, the compensation practices of other similarly situated companies, the cost to us of each compensation element, and the overall balance and reasonableness of the executive officer's total compensation package. The Compensation Committee also assessed the potential share dilution resulting from “at plan” award levels of equity compensation. Finally, in setting compensation levels, the Compensation Committee aims to set fixed compensation, such as base salary, and variable incentive compensation close to the 50th percentile level of comparable companies for similar executive positions.
 
The primary components of our executive compensation include:

Component
 
Purpose
 
Characteristics
Base Salary
 
To attract and retain talented executives and to reward their scope of responsibilities, experience and industry knowledge.
 
Fixed cash compensation. Generally and over time, targeted at the 50th percentile for similar executive positions at comparable companies.
 
 
 
 
 
Short-Term Incentive Compensation
 
To motivate and reward executives to achieve or exceed annual goals, generally a corporate financial performance metric. In 2014, this was an Adjusted EBITDA metric.
 
Annual performance-based compensation comprised of cash. Amount earned will vary depending on actual results achieved relative to targeted performance goals, which may be adjusted at our discretion to account for individual performance and contributions.
 
 
 
 
 
Long-Term Compensation
 
To align economic interests of executives with the interests of long-term stockholders and to encourage executive retention.
 
Consists of a mix of time-based, performance-based and market-based equity awards. Compensation realized depends on continued service with the company and company performance and company stock price over three-year periods.

 
 
 
 
 
Other (including benefits)
 
To attract and retain executives.
 
Employee benefits such as life insurance, retirement benefits, car allowances, country club dues and relocation expenses.

2014 “At Risk” and Realized Compensation. Approximately 75% of our Chief Executive Officer’s 2014 total targeted direct compensation (consisting of base salary, short-term and long-term incentive awards) and approximately 42% of the average 2014 targeted total direct compensation for our other Named Executive Officer who served as an executive officer throughout 2014 was “at risk”, meaning that the receipt of such compensation was not guaranteed, but was contingent upon future events when granted.

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For purposes of this graph, average NEO total targeted direct compensation includes the following elements of compensation of our Named Executive Officers, excluding our Chief Executive Officer, who served as an executive officer throughout 2014: salary, targeted long-term incentive compensation and targeted short-term incentive compensation.

Compensation Determination Process

The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board and discharges the responsibilities of the Board relating to the compensation of our executive officers. In discharging its responsibilities, the Compensation Committee reviews and approves the goals and objectives of our executive compensation programs, evaluates performance against those goals and objectives, and approves the compensation of our executive officers.

Role of Say-on-Pay Vote. At our 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, we held a stockholder advisory vote to approve our 2013 executive compensation program, and 76.4% of the shares represented at the meeting voted to approve the program. Because our 2014 programs had a similar mix of compensation elements to that of 2013, the Compensation Committee felt that their structures were appropriate and should not be reconsidered. Due to the support received and the similarities from year-to-year in our executive compensation structures, the 2014 advisory vote has had no measurable impact on our deliberations approving our 2014 or 2015 executive compensation programs.

Role of Executive Officers in Compensation Decisions. The Chief Executive Officer makes recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding compensation, including salary adjustments, structure of annual awards, annual award amounts, and specified performance thresholds at which incentives would be earned for both himself and the other executive officers. The Chief Executive Officer discusses with the Compensation Committee our performance and the individual performance of himself and the other executive officers at least annually. While the Compensation Committee considers the recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee ultimately decides salary adjustments, the structure of annual and long-term awards, and annual and long-term award amounts for all executive officers.

Compensation Consultant. The Compensation Committee has engaged Towers Watson & Co. (“Towers Watson”), an independent executive compensation consultant, to analyze our executive compensation structure and plan designs, and to assess whether the compensation programs are competitive and support the Committee’s goal to align shareholders’ interests with those of the Named Executive Officers. Towers Watson also directly provides the Compensation Committee with market data, which the Compensation Committee references when determining compensation for named executive officers.

Benchmarking and Comparative Analysis. To assist in evaluating and setting compensation in 2014, Towers Watsons conducted an annual review of our cash and equity compensation programs for the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers. Towers Watson provided the Compensation Committee with relevant market data to consider in the context of analyzing the compensation of the executive officers.

Towers Watson provided to the Compensation Committee comparative compensation data for our top executive positions at the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile levels based on a general industry published survey analysis. The Compensation Committee used this general industry survey as its primary reference in making 2014 compensation decisions. The compensation components considered in the benchmarking analysis were base salary, target bonus as a percentage of base salary, target total cash compensation, grant value of long-term incentives, and target total direct compensation.

In addition to the general industry survey data, Towers Watson also conducted a benchmarking analysis with respect to our Named Executive Officers based on a peer-group study of the publicly disclosed cash and equity compensation practices of 21 publicly held companies in the manufacturing industry. The companies included in the study were the following:

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Actuant Corporation
Kadant Inc.
 
 
Albany International Corp.
LS Starrett Co.
 
 
Altra Industrial Motion Corp.
Lydall Inc.
 
 
Ampco-Pittsburgh Corp.
Neenah Paper, Inc.
 
 
Barnes Group Inc.
NN Inc.
 
 
Blount International Inc.
RBC Bearings Inc.
 
 
CIRCOR International, Inc.
Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.
 
 
CLARCOR Inc.
Standex International Corp.
 
 
Columbus McKinnon Corporation
Tennant Company
 
 
EnPro Industries, Inc.
Wausau Paper Corp.
 
 
Hardinge Inc.
 
 
The Committee reviewed and updated this peer group in 2014, with input from Towers Watson, to more closely represent Xerium’s market for executive talent. These companies were chosen based on certain business characteristics similar to ours, including: annual revenues, employee headcount, geographic scope of business, and type of business.
 
The Compensation Committee has also historically taken into account input from other sources, including input from other independent members of the Board, publicly available data relating to the compensation practices and policies of other companies within and outside of our industry, and targeted publications of independent associations of corporate directors.

Representatives of Towers Watson have periodically attended meetings of the Compensation Committee. In utilizing Towers Watson, no conflicts of interest were raised between them and the Company and Towers Watson did not provide any additional consulting or other services to the Company in an amount exceeding $120,000. The Compensation Committee has in the past and may in the future retain the services of third-party executive compensation specialists, as the Committee sees fit, in connection with the establishment of cash and equity compensation and related policies. Additionally, in accordance with its charter, the Compensation Committee formally assessed the independence of Towers Watson in 2014 using the criteria promulgated by the New York Stock Exchange and determined the consultant to be independent.

2014 Executive Compensation Components

For 2014, the principal components of compensation for our Named Executive Officers were base salary, short-term incentive compensation, and long-term equity based awards (other than with respect to Mr. Johnson). Executive officers also received a variety of benefits. These include benefits that are available generally to all salaried employees in the geographical location where the executive officer is based, as well as benefits available only to executive officers generally or a particular executive officer.

In general, for 2014 we did not have a formal or informal policy or target for allocating compensation between long-term and short-term compensation, between cash and non-cash compensation, or among the different forms of non-cash compensation. Instead, the Compensation Committee, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer and Towers Watson, determined what it believed to be the appropriate level and mix of the various compensation components. While the particular compensation objectives that each element of executive compensation served are set forth below, the Compensation Committee believed that each element of compensation, to a greater or lesser extent, served each of the objectives of our executive compensation program. Our policy was to provide our executive officers with compensation opportunities that were based upon our performance and their contribution to our performance.

Base Salary. The Compensation Committee annually reviews and approves the base salary of the Chief Executive Officer and our other executive officers.
 
Base salary is an essential element of executive compensation because it provides our executives with a base level of monthly income to defray ordinary living expenses. In making salary determinations, the Compensation Committee considers various factors such as our performance, the executive's performance, his responsibilities and leadership, years of experience, competitive salaries within the marketplace, and the executive's total compensation package. Based on these factors, the Compensation Committee approved an increase to Mr. Pietrafitta's 2014 base salary, and no base salary merit increases were approved for our other named executive officers in 2014.


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The following table sets forth annual base salary rates in effect at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 for each of the Named Executive Officers, as well as percentage increases from 2013 to 2014:

Name
 
2014 Salary
 
2013 Salary
 
Percent Increase(1)
Harold C. Bevis
 
$
665,000

 
$
665,000

 
0%

 
Clifford E. Pietrafitta
 
$
355,000

 
$
340,000

 
4.4
%
 
David Pretty
 
$
405,000

 
$
405,000

 
0%

 
Eduardo Fracasso(2)
 
$
385,961

 
$
380,717

 
N/A

(2) 
Wern-Lirn "Paul" Wang (3)
 
$
300,000

 
$
N/A

 
N/A

 
Thomas C. Johnson (4)
 
$
325,000

 
$
325,000

 
0%

 
 
(1)
Percent increases are based on the executive’s salary in the local applicable currency.
(2)
Mr. Fracasso's 2014 salary was 906,012 Brazilian Real and is converted from Real at an assumed exchange rate of $0.426 per Real, which represents the average exchange rate for 2014, and his 2013 salary was 827,646 Brazilian Real and is converted from Real at an assumed exchange rate of $0.460 per Real, which represents the average exchange rate for 2013. After subtracting a cost of living adjustment and reimbursements for vacation mandated by local law, Mr. Fracasso's salary in Brazilian Real was essentially flat year-over-year.
(3)
Mr. Wang's 2014 salary was 1,845,000 Chinese Reminbi and is converted from Reminbi at an assumed exchange rate of $0.161 per Reminbi, which represents the average exchange rate for 2014.
(4)
On January 1, 2014, Mr. Johnson was terminated from the position of President - Xerium Asia.


In maintaining these salary levels, the Compensation Committee also felt the decision supported our compensation philosophy by allowing us to be competitive in attracting and retaining the talent we feel will help achieve our long-term goals as well as the Committee's goal to set executive officer salaries close to the median (50th percentile) of comparable companies for similar executive positions.
 
 
Short-Term Incentive Compensation. The Compensation Committee believes that a substantial portion of the potential annual compensation of each executive officer should be in the form of annual performance-based incentives. Awards are based on achievement of performance goals established in the beginning of the year and are targeted for each participant as a percentage of base salary with targets ranging from 50% to 100% for the Named Executive Officers. These target ranges have been set based on the market surveys previously discussed and based on the executives expected contribution to performance. In 2014, potential payments ranged from 0-150% of the target award depending on whether results fell short of a threshold performance level or exceeded the targeted performance goal and, for 2014 individual awards could be further adjusted up or down based on individual contributions, provided that individual adjustments netted to zero so the total pool of awards did not exceed 150% of the target pool. This range of potential award payments underscores the Committee’s belief that no payments should be earned if performance fails to meet minimum expectations and that the top of the range should reward exceptional performance.

Our short-term incentive compensation awards support our compensation philosophy by motivating our executives to achieve performance goals that contribute to the Company’s short-term and long-term objectives and acts as a financial incentive to attract and retain executive talent.

2014 Management Incentive Compensation Program. In March 2014, we adopted the 2014 MIC. Each award under the 2014 MIC was entirely performance-based and vested only if (i) the participant remained continuously employed with us through December 31, 2014 and (ii) the performance criteria, detailed below, were met. The Compensation Committee selected each of our executive officers, as well as certain other key employees, as participants in the 2014 MIC after consultation with the Chief Executive Officer. Under the 2014 MIC, each participant was assigned a specific target award equal to a percentage of his or her then-current base cash compensation (pro-rated for any partial year of service during 2014) and the specified target award percentages for the Named Executive Officers were as follows:
 
 
Name
 
Specified Target Award as Percentage of Salary
Harold C. Bevis
 
100
%
Clifford E. Pietrafitta
 
50
%
David Pretty
 
50
%
Eduardo Fracasso
 
50
%
Wern-Lirn "Paul" Wang

 
50
%
Thomas C. Johnson
 
N/A
 
 
We paid awards earned under the 2014 MIC in cash. We determined payouts under the 2014 MIC based on our performance against an Adjusted EBITDA metric (as defined in our credit facility), on a sliding scale adjusted at the end of the year to reflect currency fluctuations relative to the U.S. Dollar in all markets. The Compensation Committee set the target Adjusted EBITDA metric at $120.0 million. As shown below, the sliding scale provided for payouts ranging from 0% of the potential target award under the target metric if Adjusted EBITDA was achieved at or less than a

17


minimum threshold level, which was $110.0 million for 2014. The payouts increased on a straight line basis for achievement of Adjusted EBITDA above the minimum threshold level, up to the target threshold and then would increase on different straight line basis for achievement of Adjusted EBITDA up to 150% of the potential target award if we achieved Adjusted EBITDA at a maximum level, which was $130.0 million for 2014. Additionally, the Committee could adjust individual awards up or down by 20% based on an individual’s particular contributions during the year. Individual adjustments, however, could only be made on a zero-sum basis so that the total award pool would not exceed 150% of the target pool. The Compensation Committee accepted the Chief Executive Officer's recommendations on each individual participants' awards under the 2014 MIC, with the exception of the award to the Chief Executive Officer, which the Compensation Committee determined on an independent basis.

In setting the Adjusted EBITDA performance target, our Compensation Committee believed the target was a reasonable proxy for our likely performance for 2014, based on our internal business segment and geographic region forecasts available at the time the 2014 MIC was adopted. The Compensation Committee also believed that the Adjusted EBITDA target was reasonably attainable, but not assured, as achievement would require, among other things, high levels of operational performance and effective responses to short-term market changes and challenges. In 2014, after adjusting actual results by the currency exchange rates in effect and other permitted adjustments when the targets were established, we achieved Adjusted EBITDA of $118.4 million, which was slightly below the target of $120.0 million. After assessing individual performances, the Compensation Committee and the Chief Executive Officer determined not to adjust individual awards up or down.

The performance goals and results for the 2014 MIC were as follows:
Adjusted EBITDA in millions


18


2014 MIC awards earned were as follows:

Named Executive Officer
 
2014 MIC Target
 
2014 MIC Payout
Harold C. Bevis
 
$
665,000

 
$
556,671

Clifford E. Pietrafitta
 
$
177,500

 
$
148,585

David J. Pretty
 
$
202,500

 
$
169,512

Eduardo Fracasso(1)
 
$
192,981

 
$
140,687

Wern-Lirn "Paul" Wang(2)

 
$
115,455

 
$
96,647

Thomas C. Johnson
 
N/A

 
N/A

_____________________
(1)
Mr. Fracasso’s target and award payments are converted from Brazilian Real at an assumed exchange rate of $0.371 per Real, which represents the exchange rate close in time to when the awards were paid.
(2)
Mr. Wang's target and award payments are converted from Chinese Renminbi at an assumed exchange rate of $0.161 per Renminbi, which represents the exchange rate close in time to when the awards were paid.

Long-Term Compensation. As part of our executive compensation philosophy, we seek to create long-term performance incentives for our executive officers by aligning their economic interests with the interests of stockholders through time- and performance-based awards that vest over a three-year period provided the executive remains with the company and the pre-established performance thresholds are met. Also, in keeping with our compensation philosophy of targeting median incentive pay packages, and taking into consideration dilution and the burn rate on the 2010 Plan, the Compensation Committee chose to commit to awarding Mr. Bevis annual long-term compensation awards equal to the greater of 200% of his then-current base salary or $1,400,000. For the other Named Executive Officers, the Compensation Committee chooses the size and mix of time- and performance-based awards based on the executive’s role and positioning relative to the competitive market, as discussed above.

Besides aligning our executives’ financial interests with the interests of stockholders, our long-term equity awards support our stock ownership guidelines (discussed below) and provide an incentive for our executives to remain with Xerium over the performance periods.

2014 - 2016 Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan. In 2014, the Compensation Committee adopted the 2014 LTIP applicable to a 2014 - 2016 performance period. Awards granted in 2014 under the 2014 LTIP were made under the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2010 Plan”). The 2010 Plan provides for the grant of awards consisting of any or a combination of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, unrestricted stock or stock unit awards to key employees, directors and consultants. The Compensation Committee administers the 2010 Plan and has the power to select participants, determine award terms and conditions and adopt, alter and repeal administrative rules, guidelines and practices applicable to the 2010 Plan. For the 2014 LTIP, our President and Chief Executive Officer made recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding the participants to be selected and the award terms.
 
2014 LTIP awards consists of time-based, performance-based and market-based components. The Compensation Committee set a specific total target award, expressed as a dollar amount, for each participant in the 2014 LTIP. Based on this target award amount, the number of time- and performance-based restricted stock units (“RSUs”) to be awarded to each Named Executive Officer was determined by dividing the value of the target award by the stock price on the grant date. For the 2014 LTIP, the resulting number of RSUs were split substantially equally among time-based, performance-based and merit based RSU at 35%, 32.5%, and 32.5% of the total award, respectively. Awards for the three-year performance period (2014-2016) are intended to qualify for the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

The time-based RSUs will vest in one installment on May 8, 2017, and will be converted into shares of common stock when they vest. The time-based RSUs typically will only vest if the participant continues to be employed by us on the vesting date, but are subject to earlier vesting in certain circumstances. In particular, in the event the participant's employment terminates as a result of a “Change of Control” (as defined in the applicable RSU agreement), the entire unvested portion of the award shall become vested on the termination date. If the participant ceases to be employed by us prior to a vesting date as a result of resignation, dismissal or any other reason, then the unvested portion of the award will be forfeited automatically. In the event of termination of the participant's employment by us without “Cause” or termination for “Good Reason” (each as defined in the applicable RSU agreement), a pro rata percentage of the unvested portion of the award will become vested on the date of termination.
 
The performance-based RSUs typically will vest only if (i) the participant remains continuously employed with us through May 8, 2017, subject to the earlier vesting conditions described above and (ii) certain performance criteria, described below, are met. Vested RSUs will be converted into shares of our common stock (“Performance Shares”) after the close of the three-year performance period. The number of performance shares paid out will be determined by our performance against a stock price performance metric for the three-year performance period, as set by the Compensation Committee.

We use a three-year cumulative Adjusted EBITDA as the performance measure for grants of performance shares under the 2014 LTIP. The targeted Adjusted EBITDA performance portion of the award measures our performance against a three-year cumulative Adjusted EBITDA metric,

19


adjusted for currency fluctuations during the term of the 2014 - 2016 Executive LTIP. These awards will convert into shares of our common stock and be paid after the close of a three-year performance period of January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2016. The amount of the payment will range from 0% to 100% of the employee's total Adjusted EBITDA performance shares. Upon attainment of cumulative Adjusted EBITDA equal to 80% or less of the target, none of the Adjusted EBITDA performance shares will vest. Upon attainment of more than 80% of the target, the adjusted EBITDA performance shares will begin vesting on a straight-line basis from 0% at 80% of the target to 100% at 100% of the target, up to a maximum payout of 100% of the Adjusted EBITDA performance shares.

Market-based awards will vest only if (i) the participant remains continuously employed with us through May 8, 2017, subject to the earlier vesting conditions described above and (ii) certain stock price-based criteria, described below, are met. The number of shares paid out from market-based awards will be determined based on the performance of our stock price against the performance of listed companies on the S&P Global Small Cap Index, on May 8, 2017. These awards will convert into shares of the Company’s common stock and be paid after the close of the three-year performance period of May 8, 2014 through May 8, 2017. The shares that may vest will be up to 100%, with a lower threshold of a 50% payout for 35th percentile performance and full payout at 100% for 55th percentile performance. Performance between the 35th and 55th percentile performance will result in an interpolated payout percentage between 50% and 100%.

As compared to our previous long-term incentive plans, the Compensation Committee chose to diversify the performance criteria. Rather than using Adjusted EBITDA as the sole performance measure, as was the case in the 2012 long-term incentive plan, and using stock price performance, as was the case in the 2013 long-term incentive plan, the Compensation Committee determined that awards under the 2014 LTIP should be based both on the our Adjusted EBITDA performance and our stock price against the performance of listed companies on the S&P Global Small Cap Index. We believe that the three different components of our 2014 LTIP promotes three of the most important elements of our compensation philosophy - employee loyalty and retention, financial growth, and shareholder value.

The following table sets forth the number of time-based restricted stock units, performance-based stock units and market-based stock units awarded to our Named Executive Officers in 2014.
  
Name
 
Time-Based
RSUs(1)
 
Performance-Based
RSUs(2)
 
                               Market-Based RSUs (3)

Harold C. Bevis(4)
 
40,833

 
 
37,916

 
 
37,916

Clifford E. Pietrafitta
 
2,187

 
 
2,031

 
 
2,031

David J. Pretty
 
2,916

 
 
2,708

 
 
2,708

Eduardo Fracasso
 
1,458

 
 
1,354

 
 
1,354

Wern-Lirn "Paul" Wang
 
4,375

 
 
4,062

 
 
4,062

Thomas C. Johnson
 
N/A

 
 
N/A

 
 
N/A

    
(1)    Time-based awards under the 2014 LTIP represent restricted stock units that vest in one installment on May 8, 2017.
(2)    Performance-based awards under the 2014 LTIP represent stock units that vest if the participant remains continuously employed through December 31, 2016 and if certain performance criteria are met. As described above, depending on the level of performance achieved, the participant may receive Performance Shares up to 100% of the number of stock units listed in this column after the conclusion of the three-year performance period.
(3)    Market-based awards under the 2014 LTIP represent stock units that vest if the participant remains continuously employed through May 8, 2017 and if certain stock price criteria are met. As described above, depending on the level of stock price achieved, the participant may receive shares underlying market-based RSUs in an amount up 100% of the number of stock units listed in this column after the conclusion of the three-year performance period.
(4)    Mr. Bevis is eligible to receive awards under all long term incentive plans at a value at the time of grant equal to the greater of 200% of his then-current salary or $1,400,000.


Incentive Clawback Policies. Our MICs and LTIPs provide that if a participant receives an award under the applicable plan based on financial statements that are subsequently restated in a way that would decrease the amount of the award to which the participant was entitled, the participant will refund to us the difference between what the participant received and what the participant should have received. Participants will not be required to refund compensation paid more than three years prior to the applicable restatement.
 
401(k) Plans. Our Named Executive Officers resident in the United States participate in a tax-qualified defined contribution plan for non-union employees with a cash or deferred arrangement intended to qualify under Section 401(k) of the Code. The Named Executive Officers became eligible to participate in the plan after completing two months of employment with us. Each participant in the plan may elect to defer, in the form of contributions to the plan, up to the statutorily prescribed annual limit of compensation that would otherwise be paid to the participant in the applicable year. In 2014, under the plan in which our Named Executive Officers participate, we made a matching contribution of 100% of the first three percent of such participant's compensation and 50% of the next two percent of such participants compensation.
 
Retirement Benefits. We maintain a pension plan for U.S. salaried employees, including certain of our executive officers (the “non-union U.S. pension plan”). The non-union U.S. pension plan is a funded, tax-qualified, noncontributory defined-benefit pension plan and is described in more detail below under the heading “Pension Benefits.” On September 24, 2008, we announced that we were freezing pension benefit accruals under the

20


non-union U.S. pension plan effective December 31, 2008, so that future service beyond December 31, 2008 would no longer be credited under the non-union U.S. pension plan. Employees who were vested as of December 31, 2008 were entitled to their benefit earned as of December 31, 2008. Mr. Pretty was vested as of December 31, 2008. No other Named Executive Officers were participants.

 
Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits. We provide the Named Executive Officers with perquisites and other personal benefits that the Compensation Committee believes are reasonable and consistent with our overall compensation program to better enable us to attract and retain superior executive employees for key positions. These benefits include premiums paid for term life insurance policies, car allowances or an automobile for personal use, country club dues, housing and relocation expenses and annual physical exams. Attributed costs of the personal benefits described above for the Named Executive Officers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, are included in the next to last column of the Summary Compensation Table below.
 
Employment Agreements. We have entered into Employment Agreements with certain key employees, including the Named Executive Officers, although Mr. Johnson's employment agreement terminated on January 1, 2014. The employment agreements for the Named Executive Officers are described below under the heading “Employment Agreements and Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.” These agreements include severance arrangements and, in some cases, the level of severance is dependent upon the proximity of termination to a Change in Control (as defined in the applicable agreement). We believe that these arrangements support our ability to attract and retain superior executive employees and, if a change in control were to occur, would enhance our value by keeping our management team intact and focused on the best interests of the stockholders, rather than their own job security.
Management Stock Ownership Guidelines

Effective January 1, 2015, the Compensation Committee established stock ownership guidelines for executive officers to encourage them to have a long-term equity stake in Xerium Technologies and align their interests with shareholders. The guidelines provide that each officer should hold a multiple of the officer's annual salary, net of taxes, in shares (both held and issued), as follows:

 
Position
  
Ownership Requirement
    (multiple  of net value)    
Chief Executive Officer
  
5x
All other officers
  
1.5x

For purposes of the stock ownership guidelines, an "officer" means any member of our management that is eligible for awards under our LTIP.

Each officer has five years to achieve the minimum ownership requirement. Ownership is measured at the end of each fiscal year. In computing the ownership amount, shares and share equivalents are valued at the greater of (i) Company’s closing stock price on the last trading day of the fiscal year or (ii) $14.00 per share or share equivalent.

In addition to shares held outright, the number of vested and non-vested RSUs (net of taxes) counts towards the ownership requirement. In addition, 33% of shares underlying stock options or warrants counts towards the ownership requirement.


 Tax and Accounting Implications
 
Deductibility of Executive Compensation. In establishing compensation, the Compensation Committee takes into account the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code, which exempts some performance-based compensation from the $1 million deduction limit. The Compensation Committee may, however, approve compensation that does not qualify for the exemption to attract and retain executives or for other reasons. For example, the Compensation Committee approved the 2012 LTIP and 2011 LTIP, which do not qualify for the Section 162(m) exemption, however the 2014 MIC and 2014 LTIP were intended to qualify for the Section 162(m) exemption. In determining whether to structure incentive awards to qualify as performance-based compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the Compensation Committee balances the benefits of the awards qualifying as performance-based compensation, within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, and the overall goal of structuring awards designed both to incentivize the executives and to increase stockholder value. For a discussion of the 2014 MIC and 2014 LTIP, see the section Short-Term Incentive Compensation" and “Long-Term Compensation” earlier in this Compensation Discussion & Analysis.
 
Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. We account for stock-based awards, including our restricted stock unit awards, in accordance with the requirements of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Options (formerly Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment (Revised 2004)”).

21



Narrative Disclosure of Our Compensation Policies and Practices As They Relate to Our Risk Management
 
During 2014, we conducted a risk assessment of our compensation policies and practices to ensure that they do not foster risk taking above the level of risk associated with our business model. We believe that risks arising from our compensation policies and practices for our employees are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on us. For additional information with respect to our risk management process, please see the section “Board Oversight and Risk Management” above.


22




Summary Compensation Table
 
The following table sets forth information with respect to the compensation during 2014, 2013, and 2012 for our Named Executive Officers—our Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Financial Officer, and each of our three other most highly compensated executive officers (based on 2014 compensation) who were serving as executive officers at the end of 2014, and one officer who would have been among those three had he been serving as an executive officer at the end of 2014. This table includes information regarding Mr. Thomas C. Johnson, our Former President - Xerium Asia. Mr. Johnson served as an executive officer throughout 2013, but was no longer serving as an executive officer of the Company as of January 1, 2014.
 
Please see the section “Compensation Philosophy and Objectives” in Compensation Discussion & Analysis for additional information with respect to the proportionate elements of total compensation.
Name and Principal Position
 
Year
 
Salary
($)
  
Bonus
($)
 
Stock
Awards(1)
($)
  
Option
Awards
($)
 
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation (2)
($)
 
Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings(3)
($)
 
All Other
Compensation
($)
  
Total
($)
Harold C. Bevis
 
2014
 
$
665,000

 
$

 
$
1,400,000

 
$

 
$
556,671

 
 
 
$
40,412

(4) 
$
2,662,083

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
 
2013
 
$
665,000

 
$

 
$
1,400,000

 
$

 
$
965,713

 
$

 
$
83,333

 
$
3,114,046

 
2012
 
$
251,933

 
$

 
$
825,000

 
$
1,672,840

 
$

 
$

 
$
72,087

 
$
2,821,860

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Clifford E. Pietrafitta
 
2014
 
$
355,000

 
$

 
$
75,000

 
$

 
$
148,585

 
$

 
$
28,039

(5) 
$
606,624

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
2013
 
$
340,000

 
$

 
$
75,000

 
$

 
$
246,874

 
$

 
$
29,681

 
$
691,555

 
2012
 
$
340,000

 
 
 
$
122,100

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
40,154

 
$
502,254

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
David Pretty
 
2014
 
$
405,000

   
$

 
$
100,000

 
$

 
$
169,512

 
$
52,531

 
$
26,507

(6) 
$
753,550

President – Xerium North America and Europe
 
2013
 
$
405,000

 
$

 
$
75,000

 
$

 
$
294,071

 
$

 
$
29,307

 
$
803,378

 
2012
 
$
405,000

   
$

  
$
89,540

 
$

 
$

  
$
17,621

 
$
29,720

   
$
541,881

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Paul Wang
 
2014
 
$
300,000

(7) 
$

 
$
150,000

 
$

 
$
96,647

 
$

 
$
148,683

(8) 
$
695,330

President - Xerium Asia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eduardo Fracasso
 
2014
 
$
385,961

(9) 
$

 
$
50,000

 
$

 
$
140,687

 
$

 
$
126,065

(10) 
$
702,713

President – Xerium South America
 
2013
 
$
380,717

 
$

 
$
75,000

 
$

 
$
251,860

 
$

 
$
147,001

 
$
854,578

 
2012
 
$
392,298

 
$

  
$
30,525

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
134,849

 
$
557,672

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thomas C. Johnson
 
2014
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
849,361

(11) 
$
849,361

Former President - Xerium Asia
 
2013
 
$
325,000

 
$

 
$
75,000

 
$

 
$
235,983

 
$

 
$
29,189

 
$
665,172


(1)
The amounts in this column reflect the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation” (“ASC Topic 718”) of the stock awards granted to our Named Executive Officers during 2012, 2013, and 2014, excluding the impact of estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note 10 to our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014. The amounts set forth may be more or less than the value ultimately realized by the Named Executive Officer based upon, among other things, the value of our common stock at the time of vesting of restricted stock unit awards, whether we achieve certain performance goals and whether such awards actually vest. For the performance-based portion of awards under the 2012 LTIP, the 2013 LTIP or the 2014 LTIP, the amount reported is the grant date fair value based

23


upon the probable outcome of such conditions at the time of grant in 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively. For awards granted under the 2014 LTIP, 35% of the awards were granted in the form of time-based restricted stock units and 65% were granted in the form of performance-based and market-based restricted stock units.
(2)
Represents the cash award earned by each executive pursuant to the terms of our Management Incentive Compensation Plan. In 2014, each Named Executive Officer received awards equal to 83.71% of their targeted awards. For Mr. Fracasso, the amount represents the actual amount paid to him at the currency rate in effect on or about the time the payment due was calculated, which was $0.371 per Brazilian Real. For Mr. Wang, the amount represents the actual amount paid to him at the currency rate in effect on or about the time the payment due was calculated, which was $0.161 per Chinese Renminbi.
(3)
The amounts in this column represent changes in pension value from the prior year. None of our Named Executive Officers received any preferential earnings on nonqualified deferred compensation in 2014.
(4)
Includes $23,000 in respect of employer contributions to Mr. Bevis' 401(k) account and $1,752 in respect of premiums for group term life insurance policies for the benefit of Mr. Bevis. In addition, reflects perquisites and other personal benefits in the aggregate amount of $15,660, which includes (i) $9,602 associated with an automobile allowance; and (ii) $6,058 associated with country club dues.
(5)
Includes $13,588 in respect of employer contributions to Mr. Pietrafitta’s 401(k) account and $1,193 in respect of premiums for group term life insurance policies for the benefit of Mr. Pietrafitta. In addition, reflects perquisites and other personal benefits in the aggregate amount of $13,258, which includes (i) $6,058 associated with country club dues, and (ii) $7,200 of an automobile allowance.
(6)
Includes $12,056 in respect of employer contributions to Mr. Pretty’s 401(k) account and $1,193 in respect of premiums for group term life insurance policies for the benefit of Mr. Pretty. In addition, reflects perquisites and other personal benefits in the aggregate amount of $13,258, which includes (i) $6,058 associated with country club dues and (ii) $7,200 associated with an automobile allowance.
(7)
2014 salary for Mr. Wang is converted from Chinese Renminbi at an assumed exchange rate of $0.161 per Chinese Renminbi, which represents the average exchange rate for 2014.
(8)
Includes $80,487 of a housing allowance from April 2014 to December 2014 for Mr. Wang and $68,195 representing an education allowance for Mr. Wang's children, converted from Renminbi at an assumed exchange rate of $0.161 per Renminbi, which represents the average exchange rate for 2014.
(9)
2014 salary for Mr. Fracasso is converted from Brazilian Real at an assume exchange rate of $0.426 per Real, which represents the average exchange rate for 2014. 2013 salary for Mr. Fracasso is converted from Brazilian Real at an assumed exchange rate of $0.46 per Real, which represents the average exchange rate for 2013. 2012 salary for Mr. Fracasso is converted from Brazilian Real at an assumed exchange rate of $0.51 per Real, which represents the average exchange rate for 2012.
(10)
Includes $17,156 in vacation pay, $3,751 representing the depreciation of the value of Mr. Fracasso’s personal use of an automobile that we own, $13,299 in automobile expense reimbursements, $40,094 related to medical and life insurance premiums paid by us, $917 in life insurance premiums and $50,845 in contributions to Mr. Fracasso’s private retirement savings plan.
(11)
Mr. Johnson served as President - Xerium Asia from September 2008 until January 1, 2014. Under a Separation Agreement entered into between us and Mr. Johnson, dated December 31, 2013, Mr. Johnson was entitled to receive his annual base salary of $325,000 over a 12 month period following his termination, a lump sum payment of $325,000, issuance of common stock equal to a pro rata portion of his time-based awards (1,000) under the 2012 LTIP, a pro rata portion of his time-based awards (2,749), and 100% of his performance-based awards under the 2013 LTIP (6,996). Based on the last closing price of $16.49 on December 31, 2013, which is the day immediately prior to his termination, the value of such time-based awards and performance-based awards under the would have been $177,185. Mr. Johnson was also entitled to health insurance benefits for 18 months, which has a value of $22,176. Excludes a payment under our 2013 Management Incentive Compensation plan of $235,983 that was paid in 2014, but earned in 2013.
.

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Grant of Plan-Based Awards
 
The following table sets forth information with respect to plan-based awards granted to Named Executive Officers in 2014.
Name
Grant
Date
 
Estimated Possible Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive Plan
Awards(1)
 
Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive Plan
Awards(2)
 
All
Other
Stock
Awards:
Number
of
Shares
of Stock
or Units
(#)
 
All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options (#)
 
Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards
($/Sh)
 
Grant
Date Fair
Value of
Stock and
Option
Awards(3)
 
Threshold
($)
 
Target
($)
 
Maximum
($)
 
Threshold
(#)
 
Target
(#)
 
Maximum
(#)
 
Harold C. Bevis
3/3/14
 
$

 
$
665,000

 
$
997,500

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5/8/14
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
49,291

 
75,833

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
910,000

 
5/8/14
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
40,834

(4) 
 
 
 
 
$
490,000

Clifford E. Pietrafitta
3/3/14
 
$

 
$
177,500

 
$
266,250

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5/8/14
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2,641

 
4,063

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
48,750

 
5/8/14
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2,187

(5) 
 
 
 
 
$
26,250

David Pretty
3/3/14
 
$

  
$
202,500

 
$
303,750

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5/8/14
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3,521

 
5,417

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
65,000

 
5/8/14
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2,916

(6) 
 
 
 
 
$
35,000

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eduardo Fracasso
3/3/14
 
$

  
$
192,981

 
$
289,472

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5/8/14
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1,760

 
2,708

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
32,500

 
5/8/14
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1,459

(7) 
 
 
 
 
$
17,500

Thomas C. Johnson (8)
 
 
$

 
$

 
$

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
.

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  
 
 
 
 
$

Paul Wang
3/3/14
 
$

 
$
115,455

 
$
173,183

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5/8/14
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5,281

 
8,125

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
97,500

 
5/8/14
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4,375

(9) 
 
 
 
 
$
52,500

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
These columns show the range of payouts targeted under the 2014 MIC as described under the section entitled “Short-Term Incentive Compensation” in Compensation Discussion & Analysis. The Compensation Committee set the target Adjusted EBITDA metric at $120.0 million. As show on the graph on page 14, the sliding scale provided for payouts ranging from 0% of the potential target award under the target metric if Adjusted EBITA was achieved at or less than a minimum threshold level, which was $110.0 million for 2014. The payouts increased on a straight line basis for the achievement of Adjusted EBITDA above the minimum threshold, up to the target threshold and then would increase on a different straight line basis for achievement of Adjusted EBITDA up to 150% of the potential target award if we achieved Adjusted EBITDA at a maximum level, which was $130.0 million for 2014.
(2)
These columns show the range of payouts of performance-based restricted stock units under the 2014 LTIP as described under the section entitled “Long-Term Compensation” in Compensation Discussion & Analysis. Payouts of performance-based and market-based awards under the 2014 LTIP are based on the performance of the Company's stock price against the performance of listed companies on the S&P Global Small Cap Index and whether we achieve certain performance goals. The awards are not payable until the end of the performance period, May 8, 2017. The time-based portion of the 2014 LTIP award is listed separately under the “All Other Stock Awards” column.
(3)
The amounts in this column reflect the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718 of the stock and option awards granted to our Named Executive Officers during 2014, excluding the impact of estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note 10 to our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014. The amounts set forth may be more or less than the value ultimately realized by the Named Executive Officer based upon, among other things, the performance of the Company's stock against the performance of listed companies on the S&P Global Small Cap Index, whether we achieve certain performance goals and whether such awards actually vest. For awards subject to performance conditions, such as performance-based awards under the 2014 LTIP, the amount reported is the grant date fair value based upon the probable outcome of such conditions.
(4)
Grant of time-based restricted stock units under the 2014 LTIP. The time-based restricted stock units vest in one installment on May 8, 2017.
(5)
Grant of time-based restricted stock units under the 2014 LTIP. The time-based restricted stock units vest in one installment on May 8, 2017.
(6)
Grant of time-based restricted stock units under the 2014 LTIP. The time-based restricted stock units vest in one installment on May 8, 2017.
(7)
Grant of time-based restricted stock units under the 2014 LTIP. The time-based restricted stock units vest in one installment on May 8, 2017.
(8)
Thomas Johnson left the company on January 1, 2014. He was not a participant in the 2014 MIC or the 2014 LTIP .
(9)
Grant of time-based restricted stock units under the 2014 LTIP. The time-based restricted stock units vest in one installment on May 8, 2017.

 

25


Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table
 
The following table sets forth information for the Named Executive Officers regarding outstanding equity awards held as of December 31, 2014.
 
 
Option Awards
 
Stock Awards
Name
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Exercisable
 
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Unexercisable
 
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options
(#)
 
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(1) ($)
 
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(1)
($)
Harold C. Bevis

 
521,161

 

 
$
4.00

 
8/15/2022

 
 
 
 
 

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
136,146

(2) 
$
2,148,384

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
130,597

(3) 
$
2,060,821

 
130,597

(3) 
$
2,060,821

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
40,833

(4) 
$
644,345

 
75,834

(4) 
$
1,196,661

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Clifford E. Pietrafitta

 

 

 

 

 
5,000

(5) 
$
78,900

 

  
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6,996

(6) 
$
110,397

 
6,997

(6) 
$
110,413

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2,188

(7) 
$
34,527

 
4,063

(7) 
$
64,114

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
David Pretty

 

 

 

 

 
3,667

(8) 
$
57,865

 

  
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6,996

(9) 
$
110,397

 
6,997

(9) 
$
110,413

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2,917

(10) 
$
46,030

 
5,416

(10) 
$
85,464

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eduardo Fracasso

 

 

 

 

 
1,250

(11) 
$
19,725

 

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6,996

(12) 
$
110,397

 
6,997

(12) 
$
110,413

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1,458

(13) 
$
23,007

 
2,709

(13) 
$
42,748

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thomas C. Johnson

 

 

 

 

 

(14) 
$

 

(14) 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Paul Wang

 

 

 

 

 
4,375

(15) 
$
69,038

 
8,125

(15) 
$
128,213

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
Market values in this table are determined using a price per share of our common stock of $15.78, the closing price on the NYSE on the last trading day in 2014.
(2)
Reflects 136,146 unvested restricted stock unit awards granted on August 15, 2012. The remainder of the award granted on August 15, 2012 vests annually in equal installments on August 15, 2015 and August 15, 2016.
(3)
Reflects 19,403 unvested time-based restricted stock units, 130,597 unvested market-based restricted stock units with a grant date of March 11, 2013 and a vesting date of March 11, 2016 and 111,194 unvested time-based restricted stock units with a grant date of January 29, 2015.
(4)
Reflects 40,833 unvested time-based restricted stock units and 75,834 unvested performance and market-based restricted stock units with a grant date of May 8, 2014 and a vesting date of May 8, 2017.
(5)
Reflects 5,000 unvested time-based restricted stock units granted on May 11, 2012, vesting on March 31, 2015.
(6)
Reflects 6,996 unvested time-based restricted stock units and 6,997 unvested market-based restricted stock units with a grant date of March 11, 2013 and a vesting date of March 11, 2016.
(7)
Reflects 2,188 unvested time-based restricted stock units and 4,063 unvested performance and market-based restricted stock units with a grant date of May 8, 2014 and a vesting date of May 8, 2017.
(8)
Reflects 3,667 unvested time-based restricted stock units granted on May 11. 2012, vesting on March 31, 2015.
(9)
Reflects 6,996 unvested time-based restricted stock units and 6,997 unvested market-based restricted stock units with a grant date of March 11, 2013 and a vesting date of March 11, 2016.
(10)
Reflects 2,917 unvested time-based restricted stock units and 5,416 unvested performance and market-based restricted stock units with a grant date of May 8, 2014 and a vesting date of May 8, 2017.
(11)
Reflects 1,250 unvested time-based restricted stock units granted on May 11, 2012, vesting on March 31, 2015.
(12)
Reflects 6,996 unvested time-based restricted stock units and 6,997 unvested market-based restricted stock units with a grant date of March 11, 2013 and a vesting date of March 11, 2016.
(13)
Reflects 1,458 unvested time-based restricted stock units and 2,709 unvested performance and market-based restricted stock units with a grant date of May 8, 2014 and a vesting date of May 8, 2017
(14)
Thomas Johnson left the company on January 1, 2104, and has no outstanding equity awards at December 31, 2014.

26


(15)
Reflects 4,375 unvested time-based restricted stock units and 8,125 unvested performance and market-based restricted stock units with a grant date of May 8, 2014 and a vesting date of May 8, 2017.



Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table
 
The following table sets forth information for the Named Executive Officers regarding the value realized during 2014 by such executives pursuant to shares acquired upon exercise of stock options and vesting of stock awards.
 
 
 
Option Awards
 
Stock Awards
 
 
Name
 
Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Exercise
(#)
 
Value
Realized on
Exercise
($)
 
Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Vesting
(#)
 
 
 
Value
Realized on
Vesting
($)
 
 
Harold C. Bevis
 
260,540

(1) 
$
2,798,200

(1) 
68,062

 
(2) 
 
$
1,003,234

 
(2) 
Clifford E. Pietrafitta
 

 
$

 
6,166

 
(3) 
 
$
94,278

 
(3) 
David Pretty
 

 
$

 
3,666

 
(4) 
 
$
56,053

 
(4) 
Eduardo Fracasso
 

 
$

 
1,250

 
(5) 
 
$
19,113

 
(5) 
Thomas C. Johnson
 

 
$

 
10,745

 
(6) 
 
$
177,185

 
(6) 
Paul Wang
 

 
$

 

 
(7) 
 
$

 
(7) 
 
(1)
Includes 260,540 of options that vested on August 15, 2014. Of the shares that were acquired, 90,648 shares were withheld by us in respect of tax obligations and as a result of a cashless exercise.
(2)
Includes 68,062 time-based restricted stock units that vested on August 15, 2014. Of these shares, 32,500 shares were withheld by us in respect of tax obligations. Market value for vestings under this footnote and footnote 1 was determined using a price per share of our common stock of $14.74, the closing price on the NYSE on August 28, 2014, the date Mr. Bevis exercised the option.
(3)
Includes 6,166 time-based restricted stock units that vested on March 31, 2014. Of these shares, 2,045 shares were withheld by us in respect of tax obligations. Market value is determined using a price per share of our common stock of $15.29, the closing prices on the NYSE on March 31, 2014.
(4)
Includes 3,666 time-based and performance-based restricted stock units that vested on March 31, 2014. Of these shares, 1,190 shares were withheld by us in respect of tax obligations. Market value is determined using a price per share of our common stock of $15.29, the closing prices on the NYSE on March 31, 2014.
(5)
Includes 1,250 time-based and performance-based restricted stock units that vested on March 31, 2014. Of these shares, 344 shares were withheld by us in respect of tax obligations. Market value is determined using a price per share of our common stock of $15.29, the closing prices on the NYSE on March 31, 2014.
(6)
Tom Johnson left the company on January 1, 2014, and 10,745 time-based and performance-based restricted stock units vested upon his termination.
(7)
Paul Wang had no vestings in 2014.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to Xerium's equity compensation plans at December 31, 2014.

Equity Compensation Plan Information
Plan Category
 
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (a)
 
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights (b)
 
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (c)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
 
645,108

 
na

 
597,791

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
 
657,306

 
$
4.00

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
1,302,414

 
na

 
597,791




27


Please see the discussion below under "Employment Agreements and Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control" for a discussion of the equity compensation plans not approved by security holders, which were granted in connection with the appointment of Mr. Bevis.

Pension Benefits
 
Pension Plan. Xerium’s non-union U.S. pension plan for U.S. salaried employees, including its executive officers, and U.S. non-union hourly employees is a funded, tax-qualified, noncontributory defined-benefit pension plan. Benefits under the non-union U.S. pension plan are based upon an employee’s years of service and the average of the employee’s highest five calendar years of compensation in the last ten calendar years of service with us and our subsidiaries, the “final average earnings,” and are payable after retirement. Covered employees become vested in the non-union U.S. pension plan after the completion of five years of vesting service. Earnings covered by the non-union U.S. pension plan are total cash compensation, including salary and bonuses, less taxable fringe benefits, as defined in the plan. Benefits under the non-union U.S. pension plan are calculated as an annuity equal to 0.9% to 1.4% of the participant’s final average earnings multiplied by years of service. Credited years of service cannot exceed 30 years. For purposes of the annual pension benefit calculation, final average earnings as of December 31, 2014 could not exceed $245,000. Contributions to the non-union U.S. pension plan were made entirely by us and were paid into a trust fund from which the benefits of participants will be paid. The benefits listed in the table below are not subject to any deduction for Social Security, but are subject to offset by accrued benefits under specified predecessor plans.
 
On September 24, 2008, we announced that we were freezing benefit pension accruals under the non-union U.S. pension plan effective December 31, 2008 so that future service beyond December 31, 2008 is not to be credited under the non-union U.S. pension plan. Employees who were vested as of December 31, 2008 were entitled to their benefit earned as of December 31, 2008. Current employees who were not vested as of December 31, 2008 will be entitled to their benefit earned as of December 31, 2008 upon five years of continuous employment from date of hire. Mr. Pretty is the only Named Executive Officer participating in the non-union U.S. pension plan.

The following table sets forth information on the present value of accumulated benefits payable to each of the Named Executive Officers, including the number of years of service credited to each such Named Executive Officer, under the non-union U.S. pension plan (to the extent that such Named Executive Officer participates in the non-union U.S. pension plan) determined using interest rate and mortality rate assumptions consistent with those used in our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.
 
Name
 
Plan Name
 
Number of
Years
Credited
Service(1)
(#)
 
Present Value
of Accumulated
Benefit
($)
 
Payments During
Last Fiscal Year
($)
Harold C. Bevis
 
 

 

 

Clifford E. Pietrafitta
 
 

 

 

David Pretty
 
non-union U.S. pension plan
 
10.917

 
$
195,247

 

Eduardo Fracasso
 
 

 

 

Thomas C. Johnson
 
 

 

 

 
(1) As of December 31, 2014. Covered employees become vested in the non-union U.S. pension plan after the completion of five years of vesting service.


Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
 
None of the Named Executive Officers received any nonqualified deferred compensation in 2014.


Employment Agreements and Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control
 
We have entered into an employment agreement with each of Harold C. Bevis, Clifford E. Pietrafitta, David Pretty, Paul Wang, Eduardo Fracasso and Thomas C. Johnson. The employment period under the agreements will continue until terminated by us or the Named Executive Officer. The employment agreements for these executives provide, or in the case of Mr. Johnson, provided, the specific terms set forth below.
 

28


For additional information with respect to the employment agreements between us and our Named Executive Officers, please see the section “Employment Agreements” in Compensation Discussion & Analysis.

Also set forth below, after the description of the applicable employment agreement, are tables that show the potential amounts payable to each of the Named Executive Officers in accordance with their respective employment agreements and other agreements with us in the event of termination of such executive’s employment in the circumstances described in the category headings of the tables, assuming that such termination was effective as of December 31, 2014, except for Mr. Johnson, for whom we show the benefits actually received under the terms of his respective employment agreement governing his termination as an executive officer on January 1, 2014. With the exception of Mr. Johnson, the amounts in the tables are estimates of the amounts which would be paid out to the executives in accordance with their respective employment agreements upon their termination. The actual amounts to be paid out can only be determined at the time of such executive’s separation from us. Regardless of the manner in which a Named Executive Officer’s employment terminates, he may be entitled to receive amounts earned during his term of employment. Such amounts include earned and unpaid base salary, vacation pay, and regular pension benefits (see “Pension Benefits” above). Each of Named Executive Officer was also a participant in the 2014 MIC, which provided that participants were entitled to receive their award if certain performance targets were met and if they were employed with us on December 31, 2014. For additional information with respect to the 2014 MIC, please see the section “Short-Term Incentive Compensation” in Compensation Discussion & Analysis.
 
Harold C. Bevis. Mr. Bevis serves as a Director and as our President and Chief Executive Officer. As of December 31, 2014, Mr. Bevis receives a base salary of $665,000, which may be increased at the discretion of the Board. His employment agreement provides that Mr. Bevis is eligible to participate in our annual bonus plan at a minimum target participation level of 100% of his base salary. If Mr. Bevis terminates his employment other than for “good reason” (as defined in his employment agreement), he is entitled to his unpaid salary and benefits through his date of termination. If his employment terminates because of his death or disability, then he is entitled to his earned and unpaid salary through his date of termination and the payout he would have earned under our annual bonus plan for the year in which the termination occurs, prorated to reflect the number of days that he worked in the year. In addition, if his employment terminates because of his disability, he is entitled to participate in medical/dental benefit plans for 18 months (or such longer period as may be provided in our benefit plans). If we terminate his employment for any other reason other than “cause” (as defined in his employment agreement), or if he terminates his employment for “good reason,” then he is entitled to (i) receive his base salary for 18 months, (ii) receive the payout he would have earned under our annual bonus plan for the year in which the termination occurs, prorated to reflect the number of days that he worked in the year, and (iii) participate in medical/dental benefit plans for 18 months years (or such longer period as may be provided in our benefit plans), provided that the timing of certain payments may be delayed under Section 409A of the Code. If any such termination occurs within three months prior to or two years following certain specified change of control transactions, then the period of base salary and medical/dental benefit continuation shall be two years instead of 18 months. If we terminate his employment for “cause,” he is entitled only to payment of his earned and unpaid base salary for the period prior to termination.
 
As a sign-on award, on August 15, 2012 we granted Mr. Bevis 204,208 time-based restricted stock units pursuant to a restricted stock unit agreement and an option to purchase 781,701 shares of our common stock pursuant to an option agreement. Under the restricted stock unit award, we will issue one share of common stock in respect of each fully vested time-based restricted stock unit. The time-based restricted stock unit award vests in three equal installments on the second, third and fourth anniversaries of August 15, 2012. Under the option agreement, one third of the total number of options vests and becomes exercisable on each of the second, third and fourth anniversaries of August 15, 2012. The exercise price under the option agreement is $4.00 per share and the term of the options is 10 years.

Under the restricted stock unit agreement, the option agreement and our 2014 LTIP, had we terminated his employment for any other reason other than “cause”, or if he terminated his employment for “good reason,” each as of December 31, 2014, then he would have been entitled to a pro rata portion of his time-based awards and options, and 100% of his performance-based awards under the 2014 LTIP. Mr. Bevis is also entitled to payment of 130,597 vested performance-based awards under the 2013 LTIP. Based on a closing price of $15.78 on December 31, 2014, the value of his time-based and performance-based awards under the restricted stock unit agreement and the LTIP (258,635) would have been $4,081,260 and the options (86,856) would have had a net value of $1,023,160.

Under the restricted stock unit agreement and the option agreement, had a change in control occurred on December 31, 2014, all of his time-based awards that had not previously vested (136,145) and all of his options (521,160) would have become vested. Based on a closing price of $15.78 on December 31, 2014, the value of such time-based awards would have been $2,148,368 and such options would have had a net value of $6,139,265. Additionally, under our 2014 and 2013 LTIP, had a change in control occurred on December 31, 2014, then 171,430 unvested time-based awards with a value of $2,705,165 and 75,832 unvested performance-based awards and 130,597 vested performance-based awards with a combined value of $3,257,450 would have become payable.

29



 
The employment agreement also provides, with certain exceptions, that Mr. Bevis may not participate in any entity or engage in any activity that competes with us or any of our subsidiaries during his employment and for a period of 18 months after his employment terminates. In addition, the employment agreement imposes certain non-solicitation obligations on him during the same period of time.
 
If it is determined that any payment or benefit provided to Mr. Bevis by us or any of our subsidiaries will be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, the employment agreement provides that we will reduce such payment or benefit to the extent necessary so that no portion of the remaining payments and/or benefits will be subject to an excise tax under Section 4999.

Potential Payments to Mr. Bevis upon Termination at December 31, 2014:
Reason for Termination
 
Cash
Severance
Payment
(2)
 
Equity
Awards
 
Continuation
of Medical/
Dental
Benefits
 
Excise
Tax
Gross-up
 
Benefits
under Life
Insurance
Policies the
Premiums
for which
are Paid
for By
Xerium
 
Total
Termination
Benefits
Death
 
$
556,672

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,000,000

 
$
1,556,672

Disability(1)
 
$
556,672

 
$

 
$
22,176

 
$

 
$

 
$
578,848

By Xerium for Cause(1)
 
$
556,672

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
556,672

By Xerium without Cause(1) and not within 3 months before or 24 months after a Change of Control(1)
 
$
1,554,172

 
$
5,104,414

 
$
22,176

 
$

 
$

 
$
6,680,762

By Xerium without Cause(1) and within 3 months before or 24 months after a Change of Control(1)
 
$
1,886,672

 
$
14,248,731

 
$
34,788

 
$

 
$

 
$
16,170,191

By the Executive for Good Reason(1) and not within 3 months before or 24 months after a Change of Control(1)
 
$
1,554,172

 
$
5,104,414

 
$
22,176

 
$

 
$

 
$
6,680,762

By the Executive for Good Reason(1) and within 3 months before or 24 months after a Change of Control(1)
 
$
1,886,672

 
$
14,248,731

 
$
34,788

 
$

 
$

 
$
16,170,191

By the Executive without Good Reason(1)
 
$
556,672

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
556,672

(1)
As defined in Mr. Bevis’ employment agreement.
(2)
The amounts set forth under cash severance payments are payable over time as continuation of the payment of base salary or in a lump sum as described in the description of Mr. Bevis’ employment agreement above. In addition, this column includes cash payments under our 2014 MIC that were payable as a result of Mr. Bevis being employed by us on December 31, 2014.


Clifford E. Pietrafitta. Mr. Pietrafitta serves as our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. As of December 31, 2014, Mr. Pietrafitta receives a base salary of $355,000, which may be increased for subsequent years at the discretion of the Board. Under the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Pietrafitta is eligible to participate in our annual bonus plan at a minimum target participation level of 50% of his base salary.
 
If Mr. Pietrafitta terminates his employment other than for “good reason” (as defined in his employment agreement), he is entitled to his unpaid salary and benefits through his date of termination. If his employment terminates because of his death or disability, then he is entitled to his earned and unpaid salary through his date of termination and any payout he would have earned under our annual bonus plans for the year in which the termination occurs, prorated to reflect the number of days that he worked in the year. In addition, if his employment terminates because of disability, he is entitled to participate in medical/dental benefit plans for 18 months (or such longer period as may be provided in our benefit plans). If we terminated his employment for any other reason (other than “cause” as defined in the employment agreement), or if he terminate his employment for “good reason,” then he is entitled to receive his base salary for one year and to participate in medical/dental benefit plans for one year (or such longer period as may be provided in our benefit plans). If any such termination were to occur within three months prior to or two years following certain specified change of control transactions, then the period of base salary and medical/dental benefit continuation would be 18 months instead of one year. If we terminate his employment for “cause,” he is entitled only to payment of his earned and unpaid base salary for the period prior to termination.


30


 
The employment agreement also imposes non-competition and employee non-solicitation obligations on Mr. Pietrafitta.
 
If it is determined that any payment or benefit provided to Mr. Pietrafitta by us or any of our subsidiaries would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code pursuant to the employment agreement we would make an additional lump-sum payment to Mr. Pietrafitta sufficient, after giving effect to all federal, state, and other taxes and charges with respect to such payment, to make Mr. Pietrafitta whole for all taxes imposed under or as a result of Section 4999.
 
Under our long-term incentive programs, had we terminated his employment for any other reason other than “cause”, or if he terminated his employment for “good reason,” each as of December 31, 2014, then he would have been entitled to a pro rata portion of his time-based awards (6,503), a pro rata portion of his performance-based awards under the 2014 LTIP (1,016) and 100% of his performance-based awards that vested under the 2013 LTIP (6,996). Based on a closing price of $15.78 on December 31, 2014, the value of such time-based awards and performance-based awards would have been $229,047.

Under our long-term incentive programs, had a change in control occurred on December 31, 2014, then unless the Compensation Committee provided for the continuation, assumption or substitution of the performance-based portion of the awards by the surviving entity or acquirer, 11,058 unvested performance-based awards (including 4,062 performance-based awards under the 2014 LTIP) with a value of $174,495 would have become vested, 9,183 unvested time-based awards with a value of $144,908 would have become vested and 6,996 vested time-based awards under the 2013 LTIP with a value of $110,397 would have become payable.

Potential Payments to Mr. Pietrafitta upon Termination at December 31, 2014:
 
Reason for Termination
 
Cash
Severance
Payment
(2)
 
Equity
Awards
 
Continuation
of Medical/
Dental
Benefits
 
Excise
Tax
Gross-up
 
Benefits
under Life
Insurance
Policies the
Premiums
for which
are Paid
for By
Xerium
 
Total
Termination
Benefits
Death
 
$
148,585

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
681,000

 
$
829,585

Disability(1)
 
$
148,585

 
$

 
$
21,903

 
$

 
$

 
$
170,488

By Xerium for Cause(1)
 
$
148,585

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
148,585

By Xerium without Cause(1) and not within 3 months before or 24 months after a Change of Control(1)
 
$
503,585

 
$
229,035

 
$
14,602

 
$

 
$

 
$
747,222

By Xerium without Cause(1) and within 3 months before or 24 months after a Change of Control(1)
 
$
681,085

 
$
419,669

 
$
21,903

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,122,657

By the Executive for Good Reason(1) and not within 3 months before or 24 months after a Change of Control(1)
 
$
503,585

 
$
229,035

 
$
14,602

 
$

 
$

 
$
747,222

By the Executive for Good Reason(1) and within 3 months before or 24 months after a Change of Control(1)
 
$
681,085

 
$
419,669

 
$
21,903

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,122,657

By the Executive without Good Reason(1)
 
$
148,585

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
148,585


 
(1)
As defined in Mr. Pietrafitta’s employment agreement.
(2)
The amounts set forth under cash severance payments are payable over time as continuation of the payment of base salary or in a lump sum as described in the description of Mr. Pietrafitta’s employment agreement above. In addition, this column includes cash payments under our 2014 MIC that were payable as a result of Mr. Pietrafitta being employed by us on December 31, 2014.


David Pretty. Mr. Pretty serves as President—Xerium North America and Europe. As of December 31, 2014, Mr. Pretty receives a base salary of $405,000, which may be increased at the discretion of the Board. Under the terms of his employment agreement, if his employment terminates because of his death or disability, then he is entitled to his earned and unpaid salary through his date of termination. In addition, if his employment terminates because of disability, he is entitled to participate in medical/dental plans for 18 months (or such longer period as may be provided in our benefit plans). If we terminate his

31


employment for any other reason (other than “cause” (as defined in the employment agreement)), or if he terminates his employment for “good reason” (as defined in the employment agreement), then he is entitled to receive his base salary for one year and participate in medical/dental benefit plans for one year (or such longer period as may be provided in our benefit plans), provided that the timing of certain payments may be delayed under Section 409A of the Code. If any such termination occurs within three months prior to or two years following certain specified change of control transactions, then the period of base salary and medical/dental benefit continuation shall be 18 months instead of one year. If we terminate his employment for “cause,” he is entitled only to payment of his earned and unpaid base salary for the period prior to termination. If Mr. Pretty remains employed with us as of August 15, 2015, we will pay him a retention bonus equal to $225,000. Unless previously paid, this retention bonus will be accelerated in the event that we terminate his employment without "cause" or if he terminates his employment for "good reason," within three months prior to or two years following certain specified change of control transactions.

The employment agreement also provides, with certain exceptions, that Mr. Pretty may not participate in any entity or engage in any activity that competes with us or any of our subsidiaries during his employment and for a period of one year after his employment terminates. In addition, the employment agreement imposes certain non-solicitation obligations on him during the same period of time.
 
If it is determined that any payment or benefit provided to Mr. Pretty by us or any of our subsidiaries will be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, the employment agreement provides that we will reduce such payments and benefits to the extent necessary so that no portion of the remaining payments and benefits will be subject to the excise tax.
 
Mr. Pretty also participated in our non-union U.S. pension plan. For a description of the non-union U.S. pension plan, and the amounts payable to Mr. Pretty thereunder, see “Pension Benefits” above.
  
Under our long-term incentive programs, had we terminated his employment for any other reason other than “cause”, or if he terminated his employment for “good reason,” each as of December 31, 2014, then he would have been entitled to a pro rata portion of his time-based awards (6,185), a pro rata portion of his performance-based awards under the 2014 LTIP (1,354) and 100% of his performance-based awards under the 2013 LTIP (6,996). Based on a closing price of $15.78 on December 31, 2014, the value of such time-based awards and performance-based awards would have been $229,362.

Under our long-term incentive programs, had a change in control occurred on December 31, 2014, then (i) unless the Compensation Committee provided for the continuation, assumption or substitution of the performance-based portion of the awards by the surviving entity or acquirer, 5,416 unvested performance-based awards with a value of $85,464 would have become vested, and (ii) 9,912 unvested time-based awards with a value of $156,411 would have become vested. Additionally, under the 2013 LTIP, 6,996 vested performance-based awards with a value of $110,397 would become payable.

Potential Payments to Mr. Pretty upon Termination at December 31, 2014:

32


 
Reason for Termination
 
Cash
Severance
Payment
(2)
 
Equity
Awards
 
Continuation
of Medical/
Dental
Benefits
 
Excise
Tax
Gross-up
 
Benefits
under Life
Insurance
Policies the
Premiums
for which
are Paid
for By
Xerium
 
Total
Termination
Benefits
Death
 
$
169,513

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
810,000

 
$
979,513

Disability(1)
 
$
169,513

 
$

 
$
22,176

 
$

 
$

 
$
191,689

By Xerium for Cause(1)
 
$
169,513

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
169,513

By Xerium without Cause(1) and not within 3 months before or 24 months after a Change of Control(1)
 
$
574,513

 
$
229,362

 
$
14,784

 
$

 
$

 
$
818,659

By Xerium without Cause(1) and within 3 months before or 24 months after a Change of Control(1)
 
$
1,002,013

 
$
410,133

 
$
22,176

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,434,322

By the Executive for Good Reason(1) and not within 3 months before or 24 months after a Change of Control(1)
 
$
574,513

 
$
229,362

 
$
14,784

 
$

 
$

 
$
818,659

By the Executive for Good Reason(1) and within 3 months before or 24 months after a Change of Control(1)
 
$
1,002,013

 
$
410,133

 
$
22,176

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,434,322

By the Executive without Good Reason(1)
 
$
169,513

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
169,513


(1)
As defined in Mr. Pretty’s employment agreement.
(2)
The amounts set forth under cash severance payments are payable over time as continuation of the payment of base salary or in a lump sum as described in the description of Mr. Pretty’s employment agreement above. In addition, this column includes cash payments under our 2014 MIC that were payable as a result of Mr. Pretty being employed by us on December 31, 2014. For a termination of Mr. Pretty "without cause" or by Mr. Pretty "for good reason" close in time to a change in control, includes the acceleration of the $225,000 retention bonus.


Thomas C. Johnson. Mr. Johnson served as President - Xerium Asian from September 2008 until January 1, 2014. Under a Separation Agreement entered into between us and Mr. Johnson, dated December 31, 2013, Mr. Johnson was entitled to receive his annual base salary of $325,000 over a 12 month period following his termination, a lump sum payment of $325,000, issuance of common stock equal to a pro rata portion of his time-based awards (1,000) under the 2012 LTIP , a pro rata portion of his time-based awards (2,749), and 100% of his performance-based awards under the 2013 LTIP (6,996). Based on the last closing price of $16.49 on December 31, 2013, which is the day immediately prior to his termination, the value of such time-based awards and performance-based awards under the would have been $177,185. Mr. Johnson was also entitled to health insurance benefits for 18 months, which has a value of $22,176. Excludes a payment under our 2013 Management Incentive Compensation plan of $235,983 that was paid in 2014 but was earned in 2013.
 
Actual Payments paid to Mr. Johnson in connection with his termination were:
 
 
 
Cash
Severance
Payment (1)
 
Equity
Awards
 
Incremental
Pension
Benefits
 
Continuation
of Medical/
Dental
Benefits
 
Excise
Tax
Gross-up
 
Benefits
under Life
Insurance
Policies the
Premiums
for which
are Paid
for By
Xerium
 
Total
Termination
Benefits
Actual amounts paid to Mr. Johnson pursuant to Separation Agreement
 
$
650,000

 
$
177,185

 
$

 
$
22,176

 
$

 
$

 
$
849,361

 
(1)
The amount set forth under cash severance payment was paid, in part, over time as continuation of the payment of base salary as described in the description of Mr. Johnson’s separation agreement above and, in part, as a lump sum. In addition, this column includes cash payments under our 2013 MIC.


33



Eduardo Fracasso. Mr. Fracasso has served as President—Xerium South America since January 2008. As of December 31, 2014, Mr. Fracasso received a base salary of $906,012 Brazilian Real ($385,961 at an exchange rate of $0.426 per Real, the average exchange rate for 2014). His employment agreement provides that Mr. Fracasso is eligible to participate in our annual incentive bonus plan at a minimum target participation level of 50% of his base salary for the applicable year.
 
If Mr. Fracasso terminates his employment other than for “good reason” (as defined in his employment agreement), he is entitled to his earned and unpaid salary through his date of termination. If Mr. Fracasso’s employment terminates because of his death, then he is entitled to his earned and unpaid salary through his date of termination. If we terminate his employment for any other reason (other than “cause” (as defined in the employment agreement)), or if he terminates his employment for “good reason” (as defined in the employment agreement), then he is entitled to receive his base salary for one year and to participate in medical/dental benefit plans for one year (or such longer period as may be provided in our benefit plans). If any such termination occurs within three months prior to or two years following certain specified change of control transactions, then the period of base salary and medical/dental benefit continuation shall be 18 months. If we terminate his employment for “cause,” he is entitled only to payment of his earned and unpaid base salary for the period prior to termination.
 
The employment agreement also imposes certain non-competition and non-solicitation obligations on Mr. Fracasso during his employment and for a period of one year after his employment terminates.
 
Under our long-term incentive programs, had we terminated his employment for any other reason other than “cause”, or if he terminated his employment for “good reason,” each as of December 31, 2014, then he would have been entitled to a pro rata portion of his time-based awards (4,446), a pro rata portion of his performance-based awards (677) under the 2014 LTIP and 100% of his performance-based awards under the 2013 LTIP (6,996). Based on a closing price of $15.78 on December 31, 2014, the value of his time-based awards and performance-based awards under the 2013 and 2014 LTIP would have been $191,238.

Under our long-term incentive programs, had a change in control occurred on December 31, 2014, then (i) unless the Compensation Committee provided for the continuation, assumption or substitution of the performance-based portion of the awards by the surviving entity or acquirer, 2,708 unvested performance-based awards with a value of $42,732 would have become vested, and (ii) 8,454 unvested time-based awards with a value of $133,404 would have become vested. Additionally, under the 2013 LTIP, 6,996 vested performance-based awards with a value of $110,397 would become payable.


Potential Payments to Mr. Fracasso upon Termination at December 31, 2014:
 
Reason for Termination
 
Cash
Severance
Payment
(2)
 
Equity
Awards
 
Continuation
of Medical/
Dental
Benefits
 
Excise
Tax
Gross-up
 
Benefits
under Life
Insurance
Policies the
Premiums
for which
are Paid
for By
Xerium
 
Total
Termination
Benefits
Death
 
$
140,687

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
202,000

 
$
342,687

Disability(1)
 
$
140,687

 
$

 
$
60,141

 
$

 
$

 
$
200,828

By Xerium for Cause(1)
 
$
140,687

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
140,687

By Xerium without Cause(1) and not within 3 months before or 24 months after a Change of Control(1)
 
$
526,648

 
$
198,627

 
$
40,094

 
$

 
$

 
$
765,369

By Xerium without Cause(1) and within 3 months before or 24 months after a Change of Control(1)
 
$
719,629

 
$
306,258

 
$
60,141

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,086,028

By the Executive for Good Reason(1) and not within 3 months before or 24 months after a Change of Control(1)
 
$
526,648

 
$
198,627

 
$
40,094

 
$

 
$

 
$
765,369

By the Executive for Good Reason(1) and within 3 months before or 24 months after a Change of Control(1)
 
$
719,629

 
$
306,258

 
$
60,141

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,086,028

By the Executive without Good Reason(1)
 
$
140,687

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
140,687



34


(1)
As defined in Mr. Fracasso’s Employment Agreement.
(2)
The amounts set forth under cash severance payments are payable over time as continuation of the payment of base salary or in a lump sum as described in the description of Mr. Fracasso’s employment agreement above. In addition, this column includes cash payments under our 2013 MIC that were payable as a result of Mr. Fracasso being employed by us on December 31, 2013.


Paul Wang. Mr. Wang serves as President - Xerium Asia and Xerium China since March 2014. As of December 31, 2014, Mr. Wang's base salary is $300,000. His employment agreement provided that Mr. Wang was eligible to participate in our annual incentive bonus plan and long term incentive programs at a minimum target participation level of 50% of his base salary for the applicable year.

Under the terms of his employment agreement, had his employment terminated under any circumstances in which Chinese law requires statutory severance compensation, we would pay Mr. Wang severance in the amount equal to 12 months of his base salary, including any statutory severance compensation that would be required under Chinese law, if any.

The employment agreement also provides, with certain exceptions, that Mr. Wang may not participate in any entity or engage in any activity that competes with us or any of our subsidiaries during his employment and for a period of two years after his employment terminates. In addition, the employment agreement imposes certain non-solicitation obligations on him during the same period of time.
 
Under our long-term incentive programs, had we terminated his employment for any other reason other than “cause”, or if he terminated his employment for “good reason,” each as of December 31, 2014, then he would have been entitled to a pro rata portion of his time-based awards (1,093) and a pro rata portion of his performance-based awards (2,031). Based on a closing price of $15.78 on December 31, 2014, the value of such time-based awards and performance-based awards would have been $49,296.

Under our long-term incentive programs, had a change in control occurred on December 31, 2014, then (i) unless the Compensation Committee provided for the continuation, assumption or substitution of the performance-based portion of the awards by the surviving entity or acquirer, 8,124 unvested performance-based awards with a value of $128,197 would have become vested, and (ii) 4,375 unvested time-based awards with a value of $69,038 would have become vested.

Potential Payments to Mr. Wang upon Termination at December 31, 2014:


Reason for Termination
 
Cash
Severance
Payment
 
Equity
Awards
 
Continuation
of Medical/
Dental
Benefits
 
Excise
Tax
Gross-up
 
Benefits
under Life
Insurance
Policies the
Premiums
for which
are Paid
for By
Xerium
 
Total
Termination
Benefits
Any termination which requires severance under PRC law
 
$
300,000

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
300,000

Any termination which requires severance under PRC law and not within 3 months before or 24 months after a Change of Control
 
$
300,000

 
$
49,296

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
349,296

Any termination which requires severance under PRC law and not within 3 months before or 24 months after a Change of Control

 
$
300,000

 
$
197,235

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
497,235





COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
 
Employee directors do not receive additional compensation for service on the Board or its committees. The Nominating and Governance Committee reviews and makes recommendations to the Board regarding the compensation of directors. The Board approves the compensation of directors. In 2013, we did not engage a compensation consulting firm to conduct a review of our 2013 cash and equity compensation program for non-employee directors. However, previously in 2010, we had engaged Towers Watson at the request of Nominating and Governance Committee to conduct a review of our cash and equity

35


compensation program for non-employee directors in order to assist the Board in establishing non-employee director compensation for 2010 and subsequent years.
 
 
Non-Management Director Compensation Policy at December 31, 2014

Non-management directors receive an annual retainer of $112,000, which is paid pursuant to the Xerium Technologies, Inc. Directors' Deferred Stock Unit Plan. Under the plan, 50% of the retainer is paid in the form of a grant of deferred stock units. Non-management directors are given the opportunity to elect to receive the remainder of such retainer in deferred stock units or in cash.

Under the plan, cash payments and director stock unit crediting are made quarterly. The number of deferred stock units credited to a director’s account is determined by dividing the portion of the annual retainer for that period by the fair market value of our common stock (the closing price on the last trading day of each quarter) on the particular credit date. Deferred stock units are fully vested upon being credited to a director’s account. Non-management directors may elect whether the units will convert into shares of common stock (i) immediately at the end of each quarter, or (ii) six months after the termination of the director’s service on the Board.

Each of the Chairs of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee also receives additional cash compensation at an annual rate of $10,000 per year, and the Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee, and the Lead Independent Director, if there is one, each receive additional cash compensation at an annual rate of $5,000 per year. If the Chairman of the Board is a non-management director, then he or she receives additional cash compensation at an annual rate of $55,000 per year. Directors are also reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses for attending board and committee meetings.

Non-Management Director Compensation Policy at December 31, 2013

The Non-Management Director Compensation Policy at December 31, 2013 was substantially similar to the policy at December 31, 2014.
 
Director Compensation
 
The following table sets forth information for the compensation earned by the individuals who served as non-employee directors of Xerium for service on the Board or committees of the Board during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.
 
 
Name
Fees
Earned or
Paid in
Cash
 
Stock
Awards(1)
 
Option
Awards
 
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
 
Change in
Pension
Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
 
All Other
Compensation
 
Total
Roger A. Bailey
$
56,000

 
$
56,000

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
112,000

David A. Bloss, Sr.
$
66,000

 
$
56,000

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
122,000

Ambassador April H. Foley
$
61,000

 
$
56,000

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
117,000

Jay J. Gurandiano
$
56,000

 
$
56,000

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
112,000

John F. McGovern
$
66,000

 
$
56,000

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
122,000

James F. Wilson
$
111,000

 
$
56,000

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
167,000

 
(1)
The amounts in these columns reflect the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718 of the stock awards granted to non-employee directors during 2014. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note 10 to our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014. Each stock unit corresponds to one share of our common stock. If a director’s service on the Board is terminated, such director will, as appropriate, (i) receive as of the end of the quarter in which his or her service ends the number of shares of common stock that equals the number of pro rata deferred stock units the director has earned during that quarter, and (ii) six months after such termination, receive the number of shares of common stock that equals the number of deferred stock units the director has earned if such director either elected to defer conversion of the deferred stock units or held deferred stock units under the director compensation plan in effect prior to March 15, 2011. Dividends are paid on these deferred stock units at the same rate as dividends on our common stock (if any), but only in the form of additional deferred stock units, as applicable.


COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
 

36


The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis contained in this Proxy Statement with management, and based upon such review of and discussions with management with respect to the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Compensation Committee has recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement for filing with the SEC.
 
The foregoing report is provided by the following directors, who constitute the Compensation Committee:
 
Mr. David A. Bloss, Chair
Mr. Roger A. Bailey
Mr. James F. Wilson



CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
 
We review all relationships and transactions in which we and our directors and executive officers or their immediate family members are participants to determine whether such persons have a direct or indirect material interest. We obtain information from the directors and executive officers with respect to related person transactions in order to determine, based on the facts and circumstances, whether we or a related party has a direct or indirect material interest in the transaction. If the determination is made that a related party has a material interest in any transaction of ours, these transactions are disclosed in our proxy statement as required under the rules and regulations of the SEC. In addition, in March 2007, the Board of Directors adopted a written policy that calls for the Audit Committee to review and approve related party transactions occurring after the date of adoption of that policy other than:
 
a transaction involving the compensation of directors (which are subject to the procedures for review and approval established in the charter of the Nominating and Governance Committee);
a transaction involving compensation of an executive officer or involving an employment agreement, severance arrangement, change in control provision or supplemental benefit of an executive officer (which are subject to the procedures for review and approval established in the charter of the Compensation Committee);
a transaction available to all employees generally or to all salaried employees generally;
a transaction with a related party involving less than $120,000; and
a transaction in which the interest of the related party arises solely from the ownership of a class of our equity securities and all holders of that class receive the same benefit on a pro rata basis.

The policy calls for the Audit Committee to consider:
 
the nature of the related party’s interest in the transaction;
the material terms of the transaction, including, without limitation, the amount and type of transaction;
the significance of the transaction to the related party;
the significance of the transaction to us;
whether the transaction would impair the judgment of a director or executive officer to act in our best interest;
whether the transaction is fair to us; and
any other matters the Audit Committee deems appropriate.

In accordance with the policy, any member of the Audit Committee who is a related person with respect to a transaction under review may not participate in the deliberations or vote respecting approval of the transaction, provided, however, that such director may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Audit Committee that considers the transaction.
 

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
 
During 2014, none of our executive officers served as: (i) a member of the Compensation Committee (or other Board committee performing equivalent functions or, in the absence of any such committee, the entire Board of Directors) of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on the Compensation Committee; (ii) a director of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on the Compensation Committee; or (iii) a member of the Compensation Committee (or other Board committee performing equivalent functions or, in the absence of any such committee, the entire Board of Directors) of another entity, one of whose executive officers served as a director of Xerium. No current or former officers or employees of Xerium serve on the Compensation Committee.


37


SECURITIES OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
 
The following table sets forth the amount of our common stock beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, as of July 17, 2015, by (i) based on information filed with the SEC, each person known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our common stock; (ii) each current member of the Board; (iii) each of our Named Executive Officers as of July 17, 2015, (the data below is based upon information available to us); and (iv) all members of the Board and all of our current executive officers as a group, and the percentage of the common stock outstanding represented by each such amount. As of July 17, 2015, the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding was 15,597,953. Except as indicated in the footnotes to the table, each person has sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares indicated as beneficially owned by such person. Except as indicated in the footnotes to this table, the address for each person listed below is c/o Xerium Technologies, Inc., 14101 Capital Boulevard, Youngsville, NC 27596.

 
 
 
 
Common Stock,
par value
$0.001 per share
Name of Beneficial Owner
 
Number
 
Percent
AS Investors, LLC (1)
 
2,177,267

 
14.0
%
Carl Marks Management Company, LLC(2)
 
2,064,452

 
13.2
%
Tocqueville Asset Management L.P.(3)
 
1,596,308

 
10.2
%
Credit Suisse AG(4)
 
961,709

 
6.2
%
Archer Capital Management, L.P.(5)
 
844,704

 
5.4
%
Harold Bevis(6)
 
463,355

 
2.9
%
Clifford E. Pietrafitta(7)
 
24,237

 
*

David Pretty(8)
 
37,026

 
*

Eduardo Fracasso(9)
 
33,622

 
*

Paul Wang
 

 
*

Roger A. Bailey
 
20,003

 
*

David A. Bloss, Sr.(10)
 
19,726

 
*

Ambassador April H. Foley(11)
 
25,620

 
*

Jay J. Gurandiano(12)
 
38,152

 
*

John F. McGovern(13)
 
8,000

 
*

James F. Wilson(14)
 
2,096,078

 
13.4
%
All directors and executive officers as a group (14 people)(15)
 
2,791,476

 
17.5
%
 
(*)
Less than 1%.
(1)
AS Investors, LLC’s address is c/o American Securities LLC, 299 Park Avenue, 34th Floor, New York, NY 10171. American Securities Partners V, L.P., American Securities Partners V(B), L.P., American Securities Partners V(C), L.P., (collectively, the “Sponsors”) are owners of membership interests in AS Investors, LLC. American Securities Associates V, LLC is the general partner of each Sponsor. American Securities LLC provides investment advisory services to each Sponsor and to American Securities Associates V, LLC.
(2)
Carl Marks Management Company, LLC’s address is 900 Third Avenue, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10022. Represents 626,544 shares held by Carl Marks Strategic Investments, L.P. (“CMSI”), and 1,437,908 held by Carl Marks Strategic Opportunities Fund, L.P. (“CMSO”). Carl Marks Management Company, LLC is the registered investment adviser of CMSI and CMSO. CMSI GP, LLC is the general partner of CMSI, and Carl Marks GP, LLC is the general partner of CMSO. Messrs. Andrew M. Boas, Robert C. Ruocco, and James Forbes Wilson are the managing members of Carl Marks Management Company, LLC, CMSI GP, LLC and Carl Marks GP, LLC.
(3)
Tocqueville Asset Management L.P.’s address is 40 West 57th Street, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10019.
(4)
Credit Suisse AG's address is Uetlibergstrasse 231, P.O. Box 900, CH 8070, Zurich, Switzerland.
(5)
Archer Capital Management, L.P.’s address is 570 Lexington Avenue, 40th Floor, New York, New York 10022. Represents 844,704 shares held by certain private investment funds (the “Funds”) for which Archer Capital Management L.P. (“Archer”), a Delaware limited partnership, serves as the investment manager. Canton Holdings, L.L.C. (“Canton”), a Delaware limited liability company, is the general partner of Archer and Joshua A. Lobel, and Eric J. Edidin, each individuals, are principals of Canton.
(6)
Includes 68,063 shares of common stock underlying time-based restricted stock units and 260,541 shares of common stock underlying options, each granted upon joining Xerium, that will vest within 60 days of July 17, 2015. Excludes 130,597 performance-based restricted stock units that are vested, but unissued and are not convertible into shares of common stock within 60 days of July 17, 2015 unless certain conditions, including conditions outside the control of Mr. Bevis, exist.
(7)
Excludes 6,996 performance-based restricted stock units that are vested, but unissued and are not convertible into shares of common stock within 60 days of July 17, 2015 unless certain conditions, including conditions outside the control of Mr. Pietrafitta, exist.
(8)
Excludes 6,996 performance-based restricted stock units that are vested, but unissued and are not convertible into shares of common stock within 60 days of July 17, 2015 unless certain conditions, including conditions outside the control of Mr. Pretty, exist.
(9)
Excludes 6,996 performance-based restricted stock units that are vested, but unissued and are not convertible into shares of common stock within 60 days of July 17, 2015 unless certain conditions, including conditions outside the control of Mr. Fracasso, exist.
(10)
Excludes 21,145 shares of common stock underlying director deferred stock units held by the non-management director. Such deferred stock units will be settled in shares of common stock six months after the director’s departure from the Board, and thus are not convertible into shares of common stock within 60 days of July 17, 2015.

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(11)
Excludes 8,234 shares of common stock underlying director deferred stock units held by the non-management director. Such deferred stock units will be settled in shares of common stock six months after the director’s departure from the Board, and thus are not convertible into shares of common stock within 60 days of July 17, 2015.
(12)
Includes 3,556 shares of common stock (not including shares in respect of future dividend payments on our common stock) that will be paid to the non-management director upon the termination of his service on the Board in respect of outstanding restricted stock units earned as part of the director’s compensation for service on the Board. Excludes 2,228 shares of common stock underlying director deferred stock units held by the non-management director. Such deferred stock units will be settled in shares of common stock six months after the director’s departure from the Board, and thus are not convertible into shares of common stock within 60 days of July 17, 2015.
(13)
Excludes 33,854 shares of common stock underlying director deferred stock units held by the non-management director. Such deferred stock units will be settled in shares of common stock six months after the director’s departure from the Board, and thus are not convertible into shares of common stock within 60 days of July 17, 2015.
(14)
Mr. Wilson’s business address is c/o Carl Marks Management Company, L.P., 900 Third Avenue, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10022. Represents 2,064,452 shares of common stock described in note (2) above and 31,626 shares of common stock owned directly by Mr. Wilson. Mr. Wilson is a managing member of Carl Marks Management Company, LLC, CMSI GP, LLC and Carl Marks GP, LLC. Carl Marks Management Company, LLC is the registered investment adviser of CMSI and CMSO. CMSI GP, LLC is the general partner of CMSI, and Carl Marks GP, LLC is the general partner of CMSO. Mr. Wilson’s beneficial ownership is limited to (i) his direct ownership of 31,626 shares of common stock and (ii) his indirect interest (if any) in the shares of common stock held by CMSI and CMSO, limited to his pecuniary interest in CMSI and CMSO (if any). Excludes 2,228 shares of common stock underlying director deferred stock units held by the non-management director. Such deferred stock units will be settled in shares of common stock six months after the director’s departure from the Board of Directors, and thus are not convertible into shares of common stock within 60 days of July 17, 2015.
(15)
Includes 68,063 shares of common stock underlying time-based restricted stock units and 260,541 shares of common stock underlying options, each granted to Mr. Bevis upon joining Xerium, that will vest within 60 days of July 17, 2015. Also includes an aggregate of 3,556 shares of common stock (not including shares in respect of future dividend payments on our common stock) that will be paid to Mr. Gurandiano upon the termination of his service on the Board in respect of outstanding restricted stock units earned as part of the director’s compensation for service on the Board. Excludes 172,573 performance-based restricted stock units that are vested, but unissued and are not convertible into shares of common stock within 60 days of July 17, 2015 unless certain conditions exist, including conditions outside the control of the executive officers holding such awards.

SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
 
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our directors, certain of our officers and persons who own more than 10% of our common stock to file reports of ownership of, and transactions in, our common stock with the SEC. Based on our review of the reports required under Section 16(a) we have received, we believe that all of our directors, officers, and persons owning more than 10% of our common stock complied with all reporting requirements applicable to them with respect to transactions in 2014.


PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
The Audit Committee has selected Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2015. Ernst & Young LLP served as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2014. A representative of Ernst & Young LLP is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting with the opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires and to respond to appropriate questions.
 
Our organizational documents do not require that the stockholders ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm. We request such ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the stockholders do not ratify the selection, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether to retain Ernst & Young LLP, but still may retain them. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may change the appointment at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in our best interest and the best interests of our stockholders.
 
The following table summarizes the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered to us by Ernst & Young LLP in 2014 and 2013. A description of those fees and services follows the table.
 
 
2014
 
2013
Audit fees(a)
 
$
2,317,600

 
$
2,632,800

Audit-related fees(b)
 
2,000

 
145,000

Tax fees(c)
 
23,000

 

All other fees
 

 

Total fees
 
$
2,342,600

 
$
2,777,800


(a)
Audit fees were for professional services rendered for the audits of our consolidated financial statements (including services in connection with rendering an opinion under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), foreign statutory audit fees, attest services, reviews of quarterly results, consents, and assistance with and review of documents filed with the SEC and related out-of-pocket expenses.

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(b)
Audit-related fees were for technical, financial reporting, and compliance services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and that are not included under the heading “Audit fees.”
(c)
Tax fees include tax compliance, tax planning, and tax advice.

The Audit Committee is responsible for pre-approving all audit and non-audit services rendered by Ernst & Young LLP. The Audit Committee has adopted a policy which sets forth procedures and conditions pursuant to which services proposed to be performed by the independent registered public accounting firm may be pre-approved. Under the policy, unless the Audit Committee states a different term, the term of any pre-approval extends from the date of the pre-approval until the next meeting of the Audit Committee at which it reviews all outstanding pre-approvals and renews, modifies and/or discontinues each such pre-approval. The Audit Committee has delegated certain pre-approval responsibilities to its Chair, currently Mr. McGovern. Any services pre-approved by the Chair are to be reported to the Audit Committee at its next general meeting. Any proposed services exceeding pre-approved cost levels or with scope greater than that which is pre-approved requires specific approval by the Audit Committee in advance of the provision of the service. The Audit Committee pre-approved all audit and non-audit services rendered by Ernst & Young LLP for the years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013.
 
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM.



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PROPOSAL 3: RE-APPROVAL OF THE THE MATERIAL TERMS OF THE
PERFORMANCE GOALS INCLUDED IN THE 2010 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

The 2010 Stock Incentive Plan is intended to comply with Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. Section 162(m) places a limit of $1,000,000 on the amount that the Company may deduct in any one taxable year for compensation paid to each of its “covered employees.” The Company’s covered employees include its Chief Executive Officer and each of its other three most highly-paid executive officers, other than the Chief Financial Officer. There is, however, an exception to this limit for compensation paid pursuant to certain performance-based awards. A performance-based award made under the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan is eligible for this exception provided certain Section 162(m) requirements are met. One of these requirements relates to shareholder approval of the material terms of the business criteria upon which the performance goals underlying the performance-based award will be based. The Company adopted the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan in 2010. Section 162(m) requires shareholders to re-approve the business criteria upon which the performance goals under the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan will be determined after five years if the Compensation Committee has retained discretion to vary the targets under the performance goals from year to year. The Compensation Committee has retained discretion to vary the targets under the performance goals from year to year. Accordingly, the Company is seeking re-approval of the material terms of the performance goals included in the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan in order to preserve the Company’s ability to deduct compensation earned by certain executives pursuant to any performance-based award that may be made in the future under the plan.
The following discussion summarizes the material terms of the performance goals under the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan, including a description of (i) the individuals eligible for performance awards under the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan, (ii) the business criteria on which the underlying performance goals are based, and (iii) the applicable award limits. The full text of the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan is attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendix A.

Eligibility. All key employees, all directors and all consultants of the Company or of any affiliate whom the Compensation Committee considers to be capable of contributing to the successful performance of the Company are eligible to be participants in the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan. Awards under the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan may include the grant of awards consisting of any or a combination of stock options, SARs, restricted stock, unrestricted stock or stock unit awards, or cash awards. Eligibility for any particular award is determined by the Compensation Committee and, in the case of certain awards such as incentive stock options, may be limited by the Internal Revenue Code.

Business Criteria Underlying Performance Goals. In order to be considered performance-based compensation, an award must be subject to the attainment of one or more preestablished, objective performance goals established by the Compensation Committee not later than 90 days after the beginning of the applicable performance period to which the performance goals relate. These performance goals established by the Compensation Committee may be based on one or more of the following business criteria (measured either absolutely or by reference to an index or indices and determined either on a consolidated basis or, as the context permits, on a divisional, subsidiary, line of business, project or geographical basis or in combinations thereof): sales; revenues; assets; expenses; earnings before or after deduction for all or any portion of interest, taxes, depreciation, or amortization, whether or not on a continuing operations or an aggregate or per share basis, including, without limitation, EBITDA or adjusted EBITDA as determined for purposes of any credit agreement or other agreement to which the Company is a party; return on equity, investment, capital or assets; one or more operating ratios; borrowing levels, leverage ratios or credit rating; market share; capital expenditures; cash flow; net cash from operations plus or minus such expenditures, expenses, cash proceeds from dispositions (whether or not of operating assets) and other objectively determinable adjustments, if any, as the Compensation Committee may determine; stock price; shareholder return; sales of particular products or services; customer acquisition or retention; acquisitions and divestitures (in whole or in part); joint ventures and strategic alliances; spin-offs, split-ups and the like; reorganizations; or recapitalizations, restructurings, financings (issuance of debt or equity) or re-financings. A performance goal and any targets with respect thereto determined by the Compensation Committee need not be based upon an increase, a positive or improved result or avoidance of loss. The Compensation Committee may provide that any or any combination, or all, of the performance goals applicable to an award will be adjusted in an objectively determinable manner to reflect events (for example, but without limitation, acquisitions or dispositions) occurring during the performance period that affect the applicable performance goals or goal, to the extent consistent with the requirements for satisfying the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m).
Award Limits. Awards under the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan are subject to the following limits:
Plan Limits. The Company has reserved 1,663,525 Common Shares for issuance under the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan.

Individual Limits. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to stock awards that may be granted to any participant in the aggregate in any calendar year shall not exceed, in each case, 500,000, subject in each case to adjustment under



Section 5(b) of the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan. The maximum cash award that may be granted to any participant in a calendar year is $2,000,000.

It is not possible to determine the actual amount of compensation that will be earned under the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan in Fiscal Year 2015 or in future years because the value of the awards under the plan will depend on value of the Company's Common Shares in the future, as well as future performance as measured against the applicable performance goals established by the Compensation Committee. The Company expects that future awards under the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan will be granted in a manner substantially consistent with the historical grant of awards under the plan. For information regarding past grants made in 2014, outstanding equity awards and the number of shares available for issuance under the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan, see the disclosure in this Proxy Statement in “Management and Executive Compensation ¯ Grants of Plan-Based Awards,” “Management and Executive Compensation ¯ Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End” and “Management and Executive Compensation ¯ Equity Compensation Plan Information.” This Proposal 3 will not impact any outstanding equity awards or amend the terms of the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan.

Vote Required

The affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast by the Company’s shareholders at the Annual Meeting is required for approval of this Proposal 3.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE RE-APPROVAL OF THE MATERIAL TERMS OF THE PERFORMANCE GOALS INCLUDED IN THE 2010 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN.






STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
 
Stockholders who wish to present proposals of business and nominations for directors for inclusion in our proxy materials for the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders may do so by following the procedures prescribed in Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and our By-laws. To be eligible, the stockholder proposals must be received by the Secretary of Xerium on or before March 29, 2016. However, if the date of the 2016 Annual Meeting is changed by more than thirty (30) days from the date of the first anniversary of the 2015 Annual Meeting, then the deadline is a reasonable time before we begin to print and mail our Proxy Statement for the 2016 Annual Meeting.
 
Under our By-laws, proposals of business and nominations for directors other than those to be included in our proxy materials following the procedures described in Rule 14a-8 may be made by stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting if notice in writing that contains the information required by the By-laws is timely delivered to the Secretary, Xerium Technologies, Inc., 14101 Capital Boulevard, Youngsville, NC 27596. To be timely, a notice with respect to the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received by the Secretary not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the anniversary date of the 2015 Annual Meeting, or, if the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is not held within thirty (30) days before or after such anniversary date or in the case of a special meeting, not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the date on which the notice of the meeting is mailed or public disclosure is made, whichever occurs first.
 

FORM 10-K
 
A copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2014, as filed with the SEC, has been mailed with this Proxy Statement (without exhibits) and is also available without charge by writing to Investor Relations, Xerium Technologies, Inc., 14101 Capital Boulevard, Youngsville, NC 27596. It can also be accessed free of charge by visiting our website at www.xerium.com.
 

DIRECTIONS TO OUR ANNUAL MEETING
 
From the Raleigh-Durham International Airport, please take I-540 East for approximately 13.6 miles to Exit 16 (U.S. 1 N/Capital Blvd). Merge onto U.S. 1 North / Capital Boulevard and head north for approximately 11.6 miles to 14101 Capital Boulevard, Youngsville, NC.
 
“HOUSEHOLDING” OF PROXY MATERIALS
 
The SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries such as brokers to satisfy delivery requirements for proxy statements with respect to two or more stockholders sharing the same address by delivering a single proxy statement addressed to those stockholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as “householding,” potentially provides extra convenience for stockholders and cost savings for companies. We do not household proxy materials, although some brokers may do so, delivering a single proxy statement to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have been received from the affected stockholders. Once you have received notice from your broker that they will be householding materials to your address, householding will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. You should notify your broker if, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in householding and would prefer to receive a separate proxy statement. Stockholders who currently receive multiple copies of the proxy statement at their address and would like to request householding of their communications should contact their broker. In addition, we will promptly deliver a separate copy of the annual report and proxy statement to you if you call 919-526-1444 or write to Investor Relations, Xerium Technologies, Inc., 14101 Capital Boulevard, Youngsville, NC 27596.


COSTS
 
We will pay the cost for the solicitation of proxies by the Board. The solicitation of proxies will be made primarily by mail. Proxies may also be solicited personally, by telephone, fax, or e-mail by directors, officers, and other employees of Xerium and our transfer agent, Wells Fargo. Upon request, we will reimburse brokers, banks, custodians, other nominees, and fiduciaries for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in distributing proxy materials and voting instructions to the beneficial owners of our common stock that such entities hold of record.






OTHER BUSINESS
 
The Board knows of no business to be brought before the Annual Meeting which is not referred to in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting. Should any such matters be presented, the persons named in the proxy shall have the authority to take such action in regard to such matters as in their judgment seems advisable.

Our Annual Report to Stockholders, including financial statements for 2014, is being mailed to you together with this Proxy Statement.



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APPENDIX A
XERIUM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
2010 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
1.
Purpose; Term.

This Xerium Technologies, Inc. 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) provides for the grant of incentive awards consisting of or based on the Common Stock of the Company. The purpose of the Plan is to attract and retain key employees, directors and consultants of the Company and its Affiliates, to provide an incentive for them to achieve performance goals, and to enable them to participate in the growth of the Company by granting Awards with respect to the Company’s Common Stock. No Awards may be granted under the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, but Awards granted prior to that date may continue in accordance with their terms. Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in Section 3 below.
2.
Administration.

The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. Except to the extent action by the Committee is required under Section 162(m) of the Code in the case of Awards intended to qualify for exemption thereunder, the Board may in any instance perform any of the functions of the Committee hereunder. The Committee shall select the Participants to receive Awards and shall determine the terms and conditions of the Awards. The Committee shall have authority to adopt, alter and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing the operation of the Plan as it shall from time to time consider advisable, and to interpret the provisions of the Plan. The Committee’s decisions shall be final and binding. The Committee may delegate (i) to one or more of its members such of its duties, powers and responsibilities as it may determine; (ii) to one or more officers of the Company the power to grant rights or options to the extent permitted by Section 157(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law; (iii) to one or more officers of the Company the authority to allocate other Awards among such persons (other than officers of the Company) eligible to receive Awards under the Plan as such delegated officer or officers determine consistent with such delegation; provided, that with respect to any delegation described in this clause (iii) the Committee (or a properly delegated member or members of such Committee) shall have authorized the issuance of a specified number of shares of Stock under such Awards and shall have specified the consideration, if any, to be paid therefor; and (iv) to such employees or other persons as it determines such ministerial tasks as it deems appropriate. In the event of any delegation described in the preceding sentence, references herein to the Committee shall include the person or persons so delegated to the extent of such delegation.
3.
Certain Definitions.

“Affiliate” means any business entity in which the Company owns directly or indirectly 50% or more of the total voting power or has a significant financial interest as determined by the Committee.
“Award” means any Option, SAR, Restricted Stock, Unrestricted Stock or Stock Unit Award granted under the Plan.
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor law.
“Committee” means one or more committees each comprised of not less than two members of the Board appointed by the Board to administer the Plan or a specified portion thereof. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, if a Committee is authorized to grant Awards to a Reporting Person or a Covered Employee, each member shall be a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act or an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, respectively.
“Common Stock” or “Stock” means the Common Stock, $0.001 par value, of the Company.
“Company” means Xerium Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
“Covered Employee” means a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.
“Designated Beneficiary” means the beneficiary designated by a Participant, in a manner determined by the Committee, to receive amounts due or exercise rights of the Participant in the event of the Participant’s death. In the absence of an effective designation by a Participant, “Designated Beneficiary” means the Participant’s estate.

45


“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor law.
“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to Common Stock or any other property, the fair market value of such property as determined by the Committee in good faith or in the manner established by the Committee from time to time.
“Participant” means a person selected by the Committee to receive an Award under the Plan.
“Reporting Person” means a person subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
“Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code and the Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulation or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date.
4.
Eligibility.

All key employees, all directors and all consultants of the Company or of any Affiliate whom the Committee considers to be capable of contributing to the successful performance of the Company are eligible to be Participants in the Plan. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company or of any parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as those terms are used in Section 424 of the Code.
5.
Stock Available for Awards.

a.Amount. Subject to adjustment under subsection (b), no more than 1,663,525 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate may be delivered under or in satisfaction of Awards, comprising 463,525 shares of Common Stock originally authorized under the Plan, 450,000 additional shares authorized by Amendment No. 1 to the Plan, and 750,000 additional shares authorized by Amendment No. 2 to the Plan; provided, however, that to the extent that equity incentive awards granted prior to the Effective Date pursuant to the Company’s 2005 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, do not vest on or after the Effective Date in accordance with their terms, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such unvested awards shall be added to the number of shares that may be delivered hereunder. The number of shares of Common Stock delivered under or in satisfaction of Awards shall, for purposes of the immediately preceding sentence, be determined net of shares of Common Stock withheld by the Company in satisfaction of tax withholding requirements with respect to the Award. For the avoidance of doubt, the termination, cancellation or expiration of an Award or any portion thereof without the delivery of shares of Common Stock, or the satisfaction of an Award or any portion thereof by the delivery of cash or other property other than shares of Common Stock, shall not be treated as the delivery of shares of Common Stock for purposes of this subsection (a). Common Stock issued under awards granted by another company (“other company awards”) and assumed by the Company in connection with a merger, consolidation, stock purchase or similar transaction, or issued by the Company under awards substituted for other company awards in connection with a merger, consolidation, stock purchase or similar transaction, shall not reduce the shares available for Awards under the Plan; provided, that the maximum number of shares that may be issued pursuant to ISOs (as defined below) shall be determined in a manner consistent with Section 422 of the Code and the rules thereunder. Shares issued under the Plan may consist of authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares.
b.Adjustment. In the event that the Committee determines that any stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, exchange of shares or other transaction affects the Common Stock such that an adjustment is required or appropriate to preserve the benefits intended to be provided by the Plan, then the Committee (subject in the case of ISOs, or in the case of Awards intended to qualify for exemption under Section 162(m) of the Code, to any limitation required under the Code) shall make such adjustment as it determines to be equitable to any or all of (i) the number and kind of shares in respect of which Awards may be made under the Plan, (ii) the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding Awards and (iii) the exercise price with respect to any of the foregoing; provided, that the number of shares subject to any Award shall always be a whole number.
c.Limit on Individual Grants. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to Options and Stock Appreciation Rights that may be granted to any Participant in the aggregate in any calendar year shall not exceed, in each case, 500,000, and the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be granted as Stock Awards pursuant to Section 8 to any Participant in the aggregate in any calendar year shall not exceed 500,000, subject in each case to adjustment under subsection (b). The maximum cash award that may be granted to any participant in a calendar year is $2,000,000. In the case of an award with a multi-year performance period, the foregoing 500,000 share and $2,000,000 limits will apply to each calendar year (or pro rata portion thereof) in the performance period.

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6.
Stock Options.

a.Grant of Options. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may grant both (i) options (“Options”) to purchase shares of Common Stock that are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code and the rules thereunder (“ISOs”) and (ii) Options that are not intended to comply with such requirements (“NSOs”). The Committee shall determine the number of shares subject to each Option and the exercise price therefor, which shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant.

b.Terms and Conditions. Each Option shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may specify in the applicable grant or thereafter. The Committee may impose such conditions with respect to the exercise of Options, including conditions relating to applicable federal or state securities laws, as it considers necessary or advisable.

c.Payment. No shares shall be delivered pursuant to any exercise of an Option until payment in full of the exercise price therefor is received by the Company. Such payment may be made in whole or in part in cash or, to the extent legally permissible and permitted by the Committee at or after the grant of the Option, by delivery of a note or other commitment satisfactory to the Committee; shares of Common Stock that have been owned by the optionee for at least six months (or such other period as the Committee may determine), valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of delivery; such other lawful consideration, including a payment commitment of a financial or brokerage institution, as the Committee may determine; or any combination of the foregoing permitted forms of payment.

7.
Stock Appreciation Rights.

a.Grant of SARs. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may grant rights to receive any excess in value of shares of Common Stock over the exercise price (“Stock Appreciation Rights” or “SARs”). The Committee shall determine at the time of grant or thereafter whether SARs are settled in cash, Common Stock or other securities of the Company, Awards or other property, and may define the manner of determining the excess in value of the shares of Common Stock.

b.Exercise Price. The Committee shall fix the exercise price of each SAR, which shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the date of grant.

8.
Stock Awards.

a.Restricted or Unrestricted Stock Awards. The Committee may grant shares of Common Stock subject to forfeiture (“Restricted Stock”) and determine the duration of the period (the “Restricted Period”) during which, and the conditions under which, the shares may be forfeited to the Company and the other terms and conditions of such Awards. Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered, except as permitted by the Committee, during the Restricted Period. Shares of Restricted Stock shall be evidenced in such manner as the Committee may determine. Any certificates issued in respect of shares of Restricted Stock shall be registered in the name of the Participant and unless otherwise determined by the Committee, deposited by the Participant, together with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company. At the expiration of the Restricted Period, the Company shall deliver such certificates to the Participant or if the Participant has died, to the Participant’s Designated Beneficiary. The Committee also may make Awards of shares of Common Stock that are not subject to restrictions or forfeiture, on such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine from time to time (“Unrestricted Stock”). Shares of Restricted Stock or Unrestricted Stock may be issued for such consideration, if any, as the Committee may determine consistent with applicable law.

b.Stock Unit Awards. The Committee may grant Awards (“Stock Unit Awards”) consisting of units representing shares of Common Stock. Each Stock Unit Award shall represent the unfunded and unsecured commitment of the Company to deliver to the Participant at a specified future date or dates one or more shares of Common Stock (including, if so provided with respect to the Award, shares of Restricted Stock), subject to the satisfaction of any vesting or other terms and conditions established with respect to the Award as the Committee may determine. No Participant or Designated Beneficiary holding a Stock Unit Award shall be treated as a stockholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to the Award unless and until such shares are actually delivered under the Award. Stock Unit Awards may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered except as permitted by the Committee.


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c.Performance Goals. The Committee may establish performance goals on which the granting of Restricted Stock, Unrestricted Stock, or Stock Unit Awards, or the vesting of Restricted Stock or Stock Unit Awards, will be subject. Such performance goals may be based on such corporate or other business criteria as the Committee may determine. The Committee shall determine whether any performance goals so established have been achieved, and if so to what extent, and its determination shall be binding on all persons. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the performance criteria terms set forth on Appendix A hereto shall apply to any Award for which performance goals are established pursuant to this Section 8(c) that is intended to satisfy the exception for qualified performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.

9.
General Provisions Applicable to Awards.

a.Documentation. Each Award shall be evidenced by a writing delivered to the Participant or agreement executed by the Participant specifying the terms and conditions thereof and containing such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as the Committee considers necessary or advisable to achieve the purposes of the Plan or to comply with applicable tax and regulatory laws and accounting principles.

b.Application of Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, it is intended that any grant of an Award shall satisfy the requirements for compliance with or exemption from Section 409A of the Code, to the extent applicable. The Plan and any Award shall be interpreted in a manner that is consistent with compliance with or exemption from Section 409A. In the event that any Award is subject to Section 409A and is otherwise payable upon a Change of Control, no such payment shall be made unless such Change of Control constitutes a “Change in Control Event” as defined in Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(i) of the Treasury Regulations, and as set forth in Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(v) through (vii). In the event that any Award is subject to Section 409A and is payable upon termination of employment or service, such Award shall not be payable upon a termination of employment or service unless such termination of employment or service constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations.

c.Committee Discretion. Awards may be made alone or in combination with other Awards, including Awards of other types. The terms of Awards of the same type need not be identical, and the Committee need not treat Participants uniformly (subject to the requirements of applicable law). Except as otherwise provided by the Plan or a particular Award, any determination with respect to an Award may be made by the Committee at the time of grant or at any time thereafter.

d.Dividends and Cash Awards. In the discretion of the Committee, any Award under the Plan may provide the Participant with (i) dividends or dividend equivalents payable (in cash or in the form of Awards under the Plan) currently or deferred with or without interest and (ii) cash payments in lieu of or in addition to an Award.

e.Termination of Service. Unless the Committee expressly provides otherwise, the following rules shall apply in connection with the cessation of a Participant’s employment or other service relationship with the Company and its Affiliates. Immediately upon the cessation of the Participant’s employment or other service relationship with the Company and its Affiliates an Award requiring exercise will cease to be exercisable and all Awards to the extent not already fully vested will be forfeited, except that:

(i)All Stock Options and SARs held by a Participant immediately prior to his or her death, to the extent then exercisable, will remain exercisable by such Participant’s executor or administrator or the person or persons to whom the Stock Option or SAR is transferred by will or the applicable laws of descent and distribution, in each case for the lesser of (i) the one year period ending with the first anniversary of the Participant’s death or (ii) the period ending on the latest date on which such Stock Option or SAR could have been exercised without regard to this subsection (e), and shall thereupon terminate; and

(ii)all Stock Options and SARs held by the Participant immediately prior to the cessation of the Participant’s employment or other service relationship for reasons other than death and except as provided in (iii) below, to the extent then exercisable, will remain exercisable for the lesser of (1) a period of three months or (2) the period ending on the latest date on which such Stock Option or SAR could have been exercised without regard to this subsection (e), and shall thereupon terminate.

(iii)Unless the Committee expressly provides otherwise, a Participant’s “employment or other service relationship with the Company and its Affiliates” will be deemed to have ceased, in the case of an employee Participant, upon termination of the Participant’s employment with the Company and its Affiliates (whether or not the

48


Participant continues in the service of the Company or its Affiliates in some capacity other than that of an employee of the Company or its Affiliates), and in the case of any other Participant, when the service relationship in respect of which the Award was granted terminates (whether or not the Participant continues in the service of the Company or its Affiliates in some other capacity).

f.Change in Control. If (i) any Person or “group,” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, other than the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or one of its subsidiaries, becomes a beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, in one or a series of transactions, of securities representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total number of votes that may be cast for the election of directors of the Company, (ii) the Company merges into or combines with any other entity and, immediately following such merger or combination, any Person or group of Persons acting in concert holds 50% or more of the voting power of the entity surviving such merger or combination (other than any Person or group of Persons which held 50% or more of the Company’s voting power immediately prior to such merger or combination or any Affiliated Person of any such Person or member of such group), (iii) the Company sells all or substantially all of its assets or business for cash or for securities of another Person or group of Persons (other than to any Person or group of Persons which held 50% or more of the Company’s total voting power immediately prior to such sale or to any Affiliated Person of any such Person or any member of such group), or (iv) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company (any of (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) being herein referred to as a “Covered Transaction”), then, without further action by the Committee, (A) all outstanding Options and SARs shall immediately become fully vested and exercisable, and (B) all outstanding Restricted Stock Awards and Stock Unit Awards shall immediately become fully earned and vested and, in the case of Restricted Stock, the Restricted Period with respect thereto shall immediately lapse; provided, however, that: (1) any such Restricted Stock Awards and Stock Unit Awards that are conditioned upon the attainment of specified price targets with respect to the Common Stock shall only become earned and vested to the extent that the transaction price per share in the Covered Transaction or, if not discernable due to the nature of the Covered Transaction, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock, in each case as determined by the Committee, exceeds the applicable price targets under such Awards, and (2) any such Restricted Stock Awards and Stock Unit Awards that are conditioned upon the attainment of performance-based conditions (other than performance-based Awards covered by subsection (1) above) shall only become earned and vested in respect of that portion of the Award that would become earned and vested upon target-level achievement of the performance goals applicable thereto, as determined by the Committee. Without limiting the foregoing (but solely after giving full effect to the provisions of the preceding sentence), in the event of a Covered Transaction, the Committee in its discretion may, with respect to any Award, at the time the Award is made or at any time thereafter, take one or more of the following actions: (A) provide for the acceleration of any time period relating to the exercise or payment of the Award (provided that the payment of any Award that constitutes a deferral of compensation subject to Section 409A may not be accelerated except to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code), (B) provide for the cancellation of the Award (without the consent of the Participant) in exchange for the payment to the Participant of cash or other property with a Fair Market Value equal to the amount that would have been received (net of any exercise price) upon the exercise or payment of the Award had the Award been exercised or paid immediately prior to the Covered Transaction, (C) adjust the terms of the Award in a manner determined by the Committee to reflect the covered transaction, (D) cause the Award to be assumed, or new rights substituted therefor, by another entity, or (E) make such other provision as the Committee may consider equitable to Participants and in the best interests of the Company.

g.Transferability. No Award may be transferred other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution and may be exercised, during the life of the Participant, only by the Participant, except that, as to Awards other than ISOs, the Committee may permit certain transfers to the Participant’s family members or to certain entities controlled by the Participant or his or her family members.

h.Withholding Taxes. The Participant shall pay to the Company, or make provision satisfactory to the Committee for payment of, any taxes or social insurance contributions required by law to be withheld in respect of Awards under the Plan no later than the date of the event creating the tax liability. The Company and its Affiliates may, to the extent permitted by law, deduct any such tax (or social insurance) obligations from any payment of any kind due to the Participant hereunder or otherwise. In the Committee’s discretion, the minimum tax (or social insurance) obligations required by law to be withheld in respect of Awards may be paid in whole or in part in shares of Common Stock, including shares retained from the Award creating the obligation, valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of retention or delivery.

i.Amendment of Award. The Committee may amend, modify, or terminate any outstanding Award, including substituting therefor another Award of the same or a different type, changing the date of exercise or realization and converting an Incentive Stock Option to a Nonstatutory Stock Option. Any such action shall require the Participant’s consent unless the Committee determines that the action, taking into account any related action, would not materially and adversely affect the Participant.

49


j.Foreign Nationals. The Committee may take any action consistent with the terms of the Plan, either before or after an Award has been granted, which the Committee deems necessary or advisable to comply with government laws or regulatory requirements of any foreign jurisdiction, including but not limited to modifying or amending the terms and conditions governing any Awards, establishing sub-plans under the Plan, or adopting such procedures as the Committee may determine to be appropriate in response to differences in laws, rules, regulations or customs of such foreign jurisdictions with respect to tax, securities, currency, employment, accounting or other matters.

10.
Miscellaneous.

a.No Right To Employment. No person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award. Neither the adoption, maintenance, nor operation of the Plan nor any Award hereunder shall constitute a contract of employment or confer upon any employee, director or consultant of the Company or of any Affiliate any right with respect to the continuance of his/her employment by or other service with the Company or any such Affiliate nor shall it or they be construed as affecting the rights of the Company (or Affiliate) to terminate the service of any person at any time or otherwise change the terms of such service, including, without limitation, the right to promote, demote or otherwise re-assign any employee or other service provider from one position to another within the Company or any Affiliate.

b.No Rights As Stockholder. Subject to the provisions of the applicable Award, no Participant or Designated Beneficiary shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock to be issued under the Plan until he or she becomes the holder thereof. A Participant to whom Restricted Stock or Unrestricted Stock is awarded shall be considered a stockholder of the Company at the time of the Award except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award.

c.Effective Date. The date on which the Joint Prepackaged Plan of Reorganization Plan of the Company (and the other Debtors listed therein) becomes effective.

d.Amendment of Plan. The Board may amend, suspend, or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time, subject to such stockholder approval as the Board determines to be necessary or advisable. Further, under all circumstances, the Committee may make non-substantive administrative changes to the Plan as to conform with or take advantage of governmental requirements, statutes or regulations.

e.Repricing. Without the approval of stockholders, the Committee will not amend or replace previously granted Options or SARs in a transaction that constitutes a “repricing,” which for this purpose means any of the following or any other action that has the same effect: (i) lowering the exercise price of an Option or SAR after it is granted; (ii) any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles; or (iii) canceling an Option or SAR at a time when its exercise price exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Common Stock, in exchange for another Option or SAR or other equity, cash or other property; provided, however, that the foregoing transactions shall not be deemed a repricing if pursuant to an adjustment authorized under Section 5(b).

f.Governing Law. The provisions of the Plan shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
    

50


APPENDIX A-1
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA TERMS
A Performance Criterion must be an objectively determinable measure of performance relating to any or any combination of the following (measured either absolutely or by reference to an index or indices and determined either on a consolidated basis or, as the context permits, on a divisional, subsidiary, line of business, project or geographical basis or in combinations thereof): sales; revenues; assets; expenses; earnings before or after deduction for all or any portion of interest, taxes, depreciation, or amortization, whether or not on a continuing operations or an aggregate or per share basis, including, without limitation, EBITDA or adjusted EBITDA as determined for purposes of any credit agreement or other agreement to which the Company is a party; return on equity, investment, capital or assets; one or more operating ratios; borrowing levels, leverage ratios or credit rating; market share; capital expenditures; cash flow; net cash from operations plus or minus such expenditures, expenses, cash proceeds from dispositions (whether or not of operating assets) and other objectively determinable adjustments, if any, as the Committee may determine; stock price; stockholder return; sales of particular products or services; customer acquisition or retention; acquisitions and divestitures (in whole or in part); joint ventures and strategic alliances; spin-offs, split-ups and the like; reorganizations; or recapitalizations, restructurings, financings (issuance of debt or equity) or re-financings. A Performance Criterion and any targets with respect thereto determined by the Committee need not be based upon an increase, a positive or improved result or avoidance of loss. The Committee may provide that any or any combination, or all, of the Performance Criteria applicable to an award will be adjusted in an objectively determinable manner to reflect events (for example, but without limitation, acquisitions or dispositions) occurring during the performance period that affect the applicable Performance Criterion or Criteria, to the extent consistent with the requirements for satisfying the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m) of the Code.


51


Xerium
Technologies, Inc.
  
Shareowner Services
P.O. Box 64945
St. Paul, MN 55164-0945
  
 
 

Vote by Internet, Telephone or Mail 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week
Your phone or Internet vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy card.

:
INTERNET/MOBILE - www.proxypush.com/xrm
Use the Internet to vote your proxy until
5:00 p.m. (CT) on September 10, 2015.
 
 
(
PHONE - 1-866-883-3382 Use a touch-tone telephone to vote your proxy
until 5:00 p.m. (CT) on September 10, 2015.
 
 
*
MAIL - Mark, sign and date your proxy
card and return it in the postage-paid
envelope provided.
 
 
If you vote your proxy by Internet or by Telephone, you do NOT need to mail back your Proxy Card.

TO VOTE BY MAIL AS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS ON ALL ITEMS BELOW,
SIMPLY SIGN, DATE, AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD.
 
--- Please detach here ---
  
The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote "FOR" all nominees under Item 1 and "FOR" Item 2 and Item 3.
1.    Election of
       Directors:
  
01    Roger A. Bailey
02    Harold C. Bevis
03 Ambassador April H. Foley
  
04     Jay J. Gurandiano
05     John F. McGovern
06     James F. Wilson
  
¨    Vote FOR
       all nominees
       (except as marked)
  
¨    Vote WITHHELD
       from all nominees
(Instructions: To withhold authority to vote for any indicated nominee,
write the number(s) of the nominee(s) in the box provided to the right.)
 
 
2.      Ratification of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm.
¨
For            
  
¨
Against            
  
¨
Abstain        

3.      Re-approval of the material terms of the performance goals included in the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan.
¨
For            
  
¨

Against            
  
¨

Abstain        
 
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, WILL BE VOTED AS THE BOARD RECOMMENDS.

Address Change? Mark box, sign, and indicate changes below: ¨
Date ___________________________________________
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
Signature(s) in Box
Please sign exactly as your name(s) appears on Proxy. If held in joint tenancy, all persons should sign. Trustees, administrators, etc., should include title and authority. Corporations should provide full name of corporation and title of authorized officer signing the Proxy.





 
 
 
XERIUM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
 
Friday, September 11, 2015
9:00 A.M.
 
Xerium Technologies, Inc.
14101 Capital Boulevard
Youngsville, NC 27596
 
 
















Xerium Technologies, Inc.
14101 Capital Boulevard
Youngsville, NC 27596
 
proxy
 
This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors for use at the Annual Meeting on September 11, 2015.
 
The shares of stock you hold in your account will be voted as you specify on the reverse side.
 
If no choice is specified, the proxy will be voted “FOR” all nominees under Item 1 and “FOR” Item 2 and Item 3.
 
By signing the proxy, you revoke all prior proxies and appoint Clifford E. Pietrafitta and Kevin McDougall, and each of them with full power of substitution, to vote your shares on the matters shown on the reverse side and any other matters which may come before the Annual Meeting and all adjournments. If, at or before the time of the Annual Meeting, any of the nominees listed under Item 1 for any reason have become unavailable for election or are unable to serve as directors, the proxies have the discretion to vote for a substitute nominee or nominees.
 
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:
 
The Proxy Statement, Proxy Card and Annual Report to Stockholders are available in the Investor Relations section of our website at www.xerium.com.

See reverse for voting instructions.


 





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