You are cordially invited to attend the 2017 annual meeting of stockholders of Kronos Worldwide, Inc., which will be held on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, at 10:00 a.m., local time, at our corporate offices at Three Lincoln Centre, 5430 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1700, Dallas, Texas 75240-2697. The matters to be acted upon at the meeting are described in the attached notice of annual meeting of stockholders and proxy statement.
Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please cast your vote as instructed on your proxy card or notice of internet availability of proxy materials as promptly as possible to ensure that your shares are represented and voted in accordance with your wishes. Your vote, whether given by proxy or in person at the meeting, will be held in confidence by the inspector of election as provided in our bylaws.
Robert D. Graham
We are providing this proxy statement in connection with the solicitation of proxies by and on behalf of our board of directors for use at our 2017 annual meeting of stockholders to be held on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, and at any adjournment or postponement of the meeting. We are furnishing our proxy materials to holders of our common stock as of the close of business on March 20, 2017. We began distributing a notice of internet availability of our proxy materials on or about March 29, 2017 to the holders of our common stock
who hold their shares through a brokerage firm or other nominee
(such as a banking institution, custodian, trustee or fiduciary) and not through our transfer agent, Computershare. We will begin mailing our 2017 annual meeting materials to the record holders of our common stock (shares held in the stockholder's name in certificate form or electronically with Computershare, our transfer agent, and not through a brokerage firm or other nominee) on or about April 6, 2017. Our mailed materials include:
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the accompanying notice of the 2017 annual meeting of stockholders;
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our 2016 Annual Report to Stockholders, which includes our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016; and
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the proxy card (or voting instruction form if you hold your shares through a brokerage firm or other nominee and not in your name in certificate form or electronically with our transfer agent, Computershare).
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We are furnishing our 2016 annual report to all of our stockholders entitled to vote at the 2017 annual meeting. We are not incorporating the 2016 annual report into this proxy statement and you should not consider the annual report as proxy solicitation material. The accompanying notice of annual meeting of stockholders sets forth the time, place and purposes of the meeting. Our principal executive offices are located at Three Lincoln Centre, 5430 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1700, Dallas, Texas 75240‑2697.
Please refer to the Glossary of Terms on page ii for the definitions of certain terms used in this proxy statement.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING
Q:
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What is the purpose of the annual meeting?
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A:
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At the annual meeting, stockholders will vote on the following, as described in this proxy statement:
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Proposal 1 – the election of the eight director nominees named in this proxy statement;
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Proposal 2 – the adoption of a nonbinding advisory resolution that approves the named executive officer compensation described in this proxy statement (Say-on-Pay); and
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Proposal 3 – the approval, on a nonbinding advisory basis, of the preferred frequency stockholders will consider approving executive compensation (Say-When-on-Pay).
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In addition, stockholders will vote on any other matter that may properly come before the meeting.
Q:
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How does the board recommend that I vote?
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A:
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The board of directors recommends that you vote FOR:
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the election of each of the nominees for director named in this proxy statement;
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the approval and adoption of proposal 2 (Say-on-Pay); and
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as set forth in proposal 3 (Say-When-on-Pay), the approval of an
annual
Say-on-Pay,
as compared to every other year or every three years.
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Q:
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Who is allowed to vote at the annual meeting?
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A:
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The board of directors has set the close of business on March 20, 2017 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. Only holders of our common stock as of the close of business on the record date are entitled to vote at the meeting. On the record date, 115,894,098 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding. Each share of our common stock entitles its holder to one vote.
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Q:
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If I hold my shares through a brokerage firm or other nominee, w
hy did I receive a notice regarding the internet availability of proxy materials instead of paper copies of the proxy materials?
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A:
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W
e are using the SEC notice and access rules to
furnish proxy materials over the internet
to our stockholders who hold our common stock
through a brokerage firm or other nominee. If you hold your shares through a brokerage firm or other nominee, you can find instructions on how to access and review the proxy materials, and how to vote over the internet, on the notice of internet availability of proxy materials that you received.
The notice also contains instructions on how you can receive a paper copy of this proxy statement, our 2016 Annual Report to Stockholders and a voting instruction form.
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Q:
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If I hold my shares through a brokerage firm or other nominee, how may I
vote in person at the annual meeting?
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A:
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If you wish
to vote in person at the annual meeting, you will need to follow the instructions on your notice of internet availability of proxy materials on how to obtain the appropriate documents to vote in person at the meeting.
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Q:
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How do I vote if I am a stockholder of record?
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A:
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If you hold shares of our common stock in your name in certificate form or electronically with our transfer agent, Computershare, and not through a brokerage firm or other nominee, you are a stockholder of record. As a stockholder of record, you may:
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vote over the internet at
www.investorvote.com/KRO
;
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vote by telephone using the voting procedures set forth on your proxy card;
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instruct the agents named on your proxy card how to vote your shares by completing, signing and mailing the enclosed proxy card in the envelope provided; or
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vote in person at the annual meeting.
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Q:
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What are the consequences if I am a stockholder of record and I execute my proxy card but do not indicate how I would like my shares voted for one or more of the director nominees named in this proxy statement, proposal 2 (Say-on-Pay) or proposal 3 (Say-When-on-Pay)?
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A:
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If you are a stockholder of record (shares held in the stockholder's name in certificate form or electronically with Computershare, our transfer agent, and not through a brokerage firm or other nominee) the agents named on your proxy card will vote your shares on such uninstructed nominee or proposals as recommended by the board of directors in this proxy statement.
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Q:
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If I do not want to vote my shares in person at the annual meeting, how do I vote if my shares are held through a brokerage firm or other nominee?
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A:
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If your shares are held through a brokerage firm or other nominee, you must follow the instructions from your brokerage firm or other nominee on how to vote your shares.
In order to ensure your
brokerage firm or other nominee
votes your shares in the manner you would like, you
must provide voting instructions to your
brokerage firm or other nominee
by the deadline provided in the materials you received from your
brokerage firm or other nominee
.
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Brokerage firms or other nominees
may not vote your shares on the election of a director nomine,
proposal 2 (Say-on-Pay)
or proposal 3 (Say-When-on-Pay) in the absence of your specific instructions as to how to vote.
We encourage you to provide instructions to your
brokerage firm or other nominee
regarding the voting of your shares.
If you do not instruct your brokerage firm or other nominee how to vote with respect to the election of a
director nominee, proposal 2 (Say-on-Pay) or proposal 3 (Say-When-on-Pay)
, your brokerage firm or other nominee may not vote with respect to the election of such director nominee, on proposal 2 (Say-on-Pay) or on proposal 3 (Say-When-on-Pay) and your vote will be counted as a "broker/nominee non-vote."
"Broker/nominee non-votes" are non-votes by a brokerage firm or other nominee for shares held in a client's account for which the brokerage firm or other nominee does not have discretionary authority to vote on a particular matter and has not received instructions from the client. How we treat broker/nominee non-votes is separately described in each of the answers below regarding what constitutes a quorum and the requisite votes necessary to elect a director nominee, approve
proposal 2 (Say-on-Pay) or approve proposal 3 (Say-When-on-Pay)
.
Q:
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Who will count the votes?
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A:
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The board of directors has appointed Computershare, our transfer agent and registrar, to ascertain the number of shares represented, tabulate the vote and serve as inspector of election for the meeting.
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Q:
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Is my vote confidential?
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A:
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Yes. All proxy cards, ballots or voting instructions delivered to Computershare will be kept confidential in accordance with our bylaws.
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Q:
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How do I change or revoke my proxy instructions if I am a stockholder of record?
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A:
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If you are a stockholder of record, you may change or revoke your proxy instructions in any of the following ways:
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delivering to Computershare a written revocation;
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submitting another proxy card bearing a later date;
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changing your vote on
www.investorvote.com/KRO
;
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using the telephone voting procedures set forth on your proxy card; or
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voting in person at the annual meeting.
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Q:
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How do I change or revoke my voting instructions if my shares are held through a brokerage firm or other nominee?
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A:
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If your shares are held through a brokerage firm or other nominee, you must follow the instructions from your brokerage firm or other nominee on how to change or revoke your voting instructions or how to vote in person at the annual meeting.
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Q:
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What constitutes a quorum?
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A:
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A quorum is the presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote at the meeting.
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S
hares that are voted "abstain" or "withheld" are counted as present and entitled to vote and are, therefore, included for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the annual meeting.
As already discussed in the previous answer regarding how to
vote shares held through a brokerage firm or other nominee
, there are no proposals for the 2017 annual meeting that would allow a brokerage firm or nominee to vote uninstructed shares. If a brokerage firm or other nominee receives no instruction for the election of any director nominee,
proposal 2 (Say-on-Pay) and proposal 3 (Say-When-on-Pay)
, such uninstructed shares will be counted as not entitled to vote and are, therefore, not considered for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the annual meeting. If a brokerage firm or other nominee receives instructions on the election of any director nominee,
proposal 2 (Say-on-Pay) or proposal 3 (Say-When-on-Pay)
, such instructed shares will be counted as present and entitled to vote and are, therefore, included for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the annual meeting.
Together, Valhi and NLKW held approximately 80.4% of the outstanding shares of our common stock as of the record date. Valhi and NLKW have each indicated its intention to have its shares of our common stock represented at the meeting. If Valhi alone attends the meeting in person or by proxy, the meeting will have a quorum present.
Q:
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Assuming a quorum is present, what vote is required to elect a director nominee?
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A:
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A plurality of affirmative votes of the holders of our outstanding shares of common stock represented and entitled to vote at the meeting is necessary to elect each director nominee. You may indicate on your proxy card or in your voting instructions that you desire to withhold authority to vote for any of the director nominees. Since director nominees need only receive a plurality of affirmative votes from the holders represented and entitled to vote at the meeting to be elected, a vote withheld or a broker/nominee non-vote regarding a particular nominee will not affect the election of such director nominee.
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Valhi and NLKW have each indicated its intention to have its shares of our common stock represented at the meeting and to vote such shares FOR the election of each of the director nominees named in this proxy statement. If Valhi alone attends the meeting in person or by proxy and votes as indicated, the stockholders will elect all of the nominees named in this proxy statement to the board of directors.
Q:
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Assuming a quorum is present, what vote is required to adopt and approve proposal 2 (Say-on-Pay)?
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A:
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The stockholder resolution contained in this proposal provides that the nonbinding
affirmative vote of the holders of the majority of the outstanding shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter
will be the requisite vote to adopt the resolution and approve the compensation of our named executive officers as such compensation is disclosed in this proxy statement. Abstentions will be counted as represented and entitled to vote and will therefore have the effect of a negative vote.
Broker/nominee non-votes will not be counted as entitled to vote and will have no effect on this proposal.
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Valhi and NLKW have each indicated its intention to have its shares of our common stock represented at the meeting and to vote such shares FOR this nonbinding advisory proposal. If Valhi alone attends the meeting in person or by proxy and votes as indicated, the stockholders will, by a nonbinding advisory vote, approve this proposal.
Q:
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Assuming a quorum is present, what vote is required to adopt and approve an annual frequency for proposal 3 (Say-When-on-Pay)?
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A:
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B
ecause there are multiple choices and this proposal is a nonbinding advisory vote, there is no minimum requisite vote under our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws or Delaware law to approve a certain frequency of future Say-on-Pay proposals.
Accordingly, if
you indicate on the proxy card that you approve one of the options other than abstain, we will deem that you consent that a
plurality of the affirmative votes will determine the preferred frequency of future Say-on-Pay proposals,
subject to
the right of our board of directors to decide that it is in the best interests of us and our stockholders to hold a nonbinding advisory vote more or less frequently than the option our stockholders choose by a plurality of the affirmative votes
. Since this proposal needs only receive the plurality of affirmative votes from the holders represented and entitled to vote at the meeting to approve the preferred frequency of future Say-on-Pay proposals, an abstention or a broker/nominee non-vote on this proposal will have no effect on the outcome of this proposal.
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Valhi and NLKW have each indicated its intention to have its shares of our common stock represented at the meeting and to vote such shares FOR an
annual
nonbinding advisory vote on our named executive officer compensation
. If Valhi alone attends the meeting in person or by proxy and votes as indicated, the stockholders will, by a nonbinding advisory vote, approve an
annual
nonbinding advisory vote on our named executive officer compensation
.
Q:
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Assuming a quorum is present, what vote is required to approve any other matter to come before the meeting?
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A:
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Except as applicable laws may otherwise provide, the approval of any other matter that may properly come before the meeting will require the affirmative votes of the holders of the majority of the outstanding shares represented and entitled to vote at the meeting.
Abstentions will be counted as represented and entitled to vote and will therefore have the effect of a negative vote.
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Q:
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If I am a stockholder of record, how will the agents named on my proxy card vote on any other matter to come before the meeting?
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A:
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If you are a stockholder of record and to the extent allowed by applicable law, the agents named on your proxy card will vote in their discretion on any other matter that may properly come before the meeting.
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Q:
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Who will pay for the cost of soliciting the proxies?
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A:
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We will pay all expenses related to the solicitation, including charges for preparing, printing, assembling and distributing all materials delivered to stockholders. In addition to the solicitation by mail, our directors, officers and regular employees may solicit proxies by telephone or in person for which such persons will receive no additional compensation. Upon request, we will reimburse brokerage firms or other nominees for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in distributing proxy materials and voting instructions to the beneficial owners of our common stock that hold such stock in accounts with such entities.
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Valhi and NLKW are the direct holders of 50.0% and 30.4%, respectively, of the outstanding shares of our common stock as of the record date. Together, Valhi and NLKW own approximately 80.4% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. Valhi is the direct holder of approximately 82.9% of the outstanding shares of NL common stock as of the record date. Each of Valhi and NLKW has indicated its intention to have its shares of our common stock represented at the meeting and to vote such shares FOR the election of each of the director nominees named in this proxy statement, FOR proposal 2 (Say-on-Pay) and, with respect to proposal 3 (Say-When-on-Pay), approve an
annual
Say-On-Pay (Say-When-on-Pay), as compared to every other year or every three years. If Valhi alone attends the meeting in person or by proxy and votes as indicated, the meeting will have a quorum present and the stockholders will elect all of the nominees named in this proxy statement to the board of directors, approve proposal 2 (Say-on-Pay) and approve an
annual
Say-on-Pay.
Ownership of Kronos Worldwide
. The following table and footnotes set forth as of the record date the beneficial ownership, as defined by regulations of the SEC, of our common stock held by each individual, entity or group known to us to own beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, each director, each named executive officer and all of our current directors and executive officers as a group. See footnote 3 below for information concerning the relationships of certain individuals and entities that may be deemed to own indirectly and beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. All information is taken from or based upon ownership filings made by such individuals or entities with the SEC or upon information provided by such individuals or entities.
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Kronos Worldwide Common Stock (1)
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Name of Beneficial Owner
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Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership
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Percent of
Class (2)
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5% Stockholder:
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Harold C. Simmons Family Trust No. 2; Lisa K. Simmons and Serena Simmons Connelly as co-trustees
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93,346,984
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(3)(4)
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80.5%
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Serena Simmons Connelly
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526
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(3)
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*
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Directors and Named Executive Officers:
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Keith R. Coogan
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15,000
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(5)
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*
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Loretta J. Feehan
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5,500
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(5)
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*
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Robert D. Graham.
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-0-
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(5)
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*
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John E. Harper.
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1,500
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(5)
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*
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Cecil H. Moore, Jr.
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16,024
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(5)
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*
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Bobby D. O'Brien
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19,582
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(5)(6)
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*
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Thomas P. Stafford
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21,309
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(5)
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*
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R. Gerald Turner
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17,296
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(5)
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*
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C. Kern Wildenthal
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5,500
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(5)
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*
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James Buch
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1,000
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(5)
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*
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Brian W. Christian
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-0-
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(5)
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*
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Kelly D. Luttmer
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-0-
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(5)
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-0-
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Gregory M. Swalwell
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-0-
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(5)
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-0-
|
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Current directors and executive officers as a group (24 persons)
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92,592
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(5)
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*
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*
Less than 1%.
(1)
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Beneficial ownership as reported in the above table has been determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act, and is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Except as otherwise noted, the listed entities, individuals or group have sole investment power and sole voting power as to all shares set forth opposite their names. The business address for each listed person or entity is Three Lincoln Centre, 5430 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1700, Dallas, Texas 75240-2697.
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(2)
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The percentages set forth above and in the following footnotes are based on 115,894,098 shares of our common stock outstanding as of the record date.
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(3)
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The following is a description of certain related entities or persons that may be deemed to beneficially own outstanding shares of our common stock.
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All of Contran's outstanding voting stock is held by the Family Trust or is held directly by Lisa K. Simmons and Serena Simmons Connelly or entities related to them. As co-trustees of the Family Trust, each of Ms. Simmons and Ms. Connelly has the shared power to vote and direct the disposition of the shares of Contran stock held by the Family Trust, and Ms. Simmons and Ms. Connelly each has the power to vote and direct the disposition of the shares held directly by them and the entities related to them. Ms. Simmons and Ms. Connelly are sisters and also serve as the co-chairs of the board of directors of Contran.
Contran is the sole owner of 100% of the outstanding shares of Valhi non-voting preferred stock. Contran is also the holder of the sole membership interest of Dixie Rice and may be deemed to control Dixie Rice. Dixie Rice is the direct holder of 100% of the outstanding common stock of VHC and may be deemed to control VHC.
Ms. Simmons and Ms. Connelly directly hold, or are related to the following person or entities that directly hold, the following percentages of the outstanding shares of NL common stock:
Valhi
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82.9%
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Kronos Worldwide
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Less than 1%
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Serena Simmons Connelly
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Less than 1%
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Ms. Simmons and Ms. Connelly directly hold, or are related to the following person or entity that directly hold, the following percentages of the outstanding of shares of Valhi common stock (a):
VHC
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92.6%
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Serena Simmons Connelly
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Less than 1%
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(a)
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We and NL (including a wholly owned subsidiary of NL) own 1,724,916 shares and 14,372,970 shares, respectively, of Valhi common stock. Since we and NL are majority owned subsidiaries of Valhi, and pursuant to Delaware law, Valhi treats the shares of Valhi common stock that we and NL own as treasury stock for voting purposes. Pursuant to Section 13(d)(4) of the Securities Exchange Act, such shares are not deemed outstanding for the purposes of calculating the percentage ownership of the outstanding shares of Valhi common stock as of the record date in this proxy statement.
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By virtue of the stock ownership in each of VHC, Dixie Rice and Contran, the role of Ms. Simmons and Ms. Connelly as co-trustees of the Family Trust, Ms. Simmons and Ms. Connelly being beneficiaries of the Family Trust, the direct holdings of Contran voting stock by each of Ms. Simmons and Ms. Connelly and entities related to them, and the positions as co-chairs of the Contran board by each of Ms. Simmons and Ms. Connelly, in each case as
described above:
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Ms. Simmons and Ms. Connelly may be deemed to control the Family Trust;
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Ms. Simmons and Ms. Connelly may be deemed to control each of Contran, Dixie Rice, VHC, Valhi, NL, CompX and us; and
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Ms. Simmons, Ms. Connelly, Contran, Dixie Rice, VHC, Valhi, NL and we may be deemed to possess indirect beneficial ownership of shares of common stock directly held by such entities, including any shares of our common stock.
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Each of Ms. Simmons and Ms. Connelly disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares of our common stock, except to the extent of her pecuniary interest in such shares, if any.
(4)
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The shares attributable to the Family Trust and co-trustees consist of shares held directly by the following entities.
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Kronos Worldwide Common Stock
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Direct Holder
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Shares
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Percent of
Class
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|
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Valhi.
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57,990,042
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50.0%
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NLKW.
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35,219,270
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30.4%
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Contran
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137,672
|
*
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Total
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93,346,984
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80.5%
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*
Less than 1%
(5)
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Each of our directors or executive officers disclaims beneficial ownership of any shares of our common stock,
except to the extent he or she has a pecuniary interest in such shares, if any.
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(6)
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Stock ownership information for Mr. O'Brien is as of January 20, 2017, the last day on which he served as one of our executive officers.
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We understand that Contran and related entities or persons
may consider acquiring or disposing of shares of our common stock through open market or privately negotiated transactions, depending upon future developments, including, but not limited to, the availability and alternative uses of funds, the performance of our common stock in the market, an assessment of our business and prospects, financial and stock market conditions and other factors deemed relevant by such entities. We may similarly consider acquisitions of shares of our common stock and acquisitions or dispositions of securities issued by related entities.
Ownership of Related Companies
. Some of our directors and executive officers own equity securities of certain companies related to us.
Ownership of NL and Valhi.
The following table and footnotes set forth the beneficial ownership, as of the record date, of the shares of NL and Valhi common stock held by each of our current directors, each of the named executive officers (which include one former executive officer) and all of our current directors and executive officers as a group. All information is taken from or based upon ownership filings made by such individuals or entities with the SEC or upon information provided by such individuals or entities.
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NL Common Stock
|
Valhi Common Stock
|
Name of Beneficial Owner
|
Amount and Nature
of Beneficial
Ownership (1)
|
Percent of
Class
(1)(2)
|
Amount and Nature
of Beneficial
Ownership (1)
|
Percent of
Class
(1)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
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Keith R. Coogan
|
2,000
|
(4)
|
*
|
-0-
|
(4)
|
-0-
|
Loretta J. Feehan
|
5,000
|
(4)
|
*
|
5,000
|
(4)
|
*
|
Robert D. Graham.
|
5,000
|
(4)
|
*
|
2,000
|
(4)
|
*
|
John E. Harper.
|
2,000
|
(4)
|
*
|
-0-
|
(4)
|
-0-
|
Cecil H. Moore, Jr.
|
14,500
|
(4)
|
*
|
-0-
|
(4)
|
-0-
|
Bobby D. O'Brien.
|
-0-
|
(4)
|
-0-
|
5,000
|
(4)(5)
|
*
|
Thomas P. Stafford
|
16,500
|
(4)
|
*
|
-0-
|
(4)
|
-0-
|
R. Gerald Turner
|
1,239
|
(4)
|
*
|
6,569
|
(4)
|
*
|
C. Kern Wildenthal
|
-0-
|
(4)
|
-0-
|
1,500
|
(4)
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James Buch
|
-0-
|
(4)
|
-0-
|
-0-
|
(4)
|
-0-
|
Brian W. Christian
|
-0-
|
(4)
|
-0-
|
-0-
|
(4)
|
-0-
|
Kelly D. Luttmer
|
-0-
|
(4)
|
-0-
|
-0-
|
(4)
|
-0-
|
Gregory M. Swalwell
|
-0-
|
(4)
|
-0-
|
3,498
|
(4)
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current directors and executive officers as a group (24 persons)
|
46,239
|
(4)
|
*
|
18,567
|
(4)
|
*
|
*
Less than 1%.
(1)
|
Beneficial ownership as reported in the above table has been determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act, and is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Except as otherwise noted, the listed individuals or group have sole investment power and sole voting power as to all shares set forth opposite their names.
|
(2)
|
The percentages are based on 48,705,884 shares of NL common stock outstanding as of the record date.
|
(3)
|
The percentages are based on 339,158,949 shares of Valhi common stock outstanding as of the record date. We and NL (including a wholly owned subsidiary of NL) own 1,724,916 shares and 14,372,970 shares, respectively, of Valhi common stock. Since we and NL are majority owned subsidiaries of Valhi and pursuant to Delaware law, Valhi treats the shares of Valhi common stock that we and NL own as treasury stock for voting purposes. Pursuant to Section 13(d)(4) of the Securities Exchange Act, such shares are not deemed outstanding for the purposes of calculating the percentage ownership of the outstanding shares of Valhi common stock as of the record date in this proxy statement.
|
(4)
|
Each of our directors or executive officers disclaims beneficial ownership of any shares of NL or Valhi common stock,
except to the extent he or she has a pecuniary interest in such shares, if any.
|
(5)
|
Stock ownership information for Mr. O'Brien is as of January 20, 2017, the last day on which he served as an executive officer of Valhi.
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ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Our bylaws provide that the board of directors shall consist of one or more members as determined by our board of directors or stockholders. The board of directors has currently set the number of directors at eight and recommends the eight director nominees named in this proxy statement for election at our 2017 annual stockholder meeting. The directors elected at the meeting will hold office until our 2018 annual stockholder meeting and until their successors are duly elected and qualified or their earlier removal or resignation.
All of the nominees are currently members of our board of directors whose terms will expire at the 2017 annual meeting. All of the nominees have agreed to serve if elected. If any nominee is not available for election at the meeting, your shares will be voted FOR an alternate nominee to be selected by the board of directors, unless you withhold authority to vote for such unavailable nominee. The board of directors believes that all of its nominees will be available for election at the meeting and will serve if elected.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE
FOR
THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR.
Nominees for Director
. All of our nominees have extensive senior management and policy-making experience or significant accounting experience. Each of the nominees is knowledgeable about our business. Each of our independent directors is financially literate. The board of directors considered each nominee's specific business experiences described in the biographical information provided below in determining whether to nominate him or her for election as a director.
Keith R. Coogan,
age 64, has served on our board of directors since 2004. From 2010 through 2013, Mr. Coogan served as a director of
Softchoice Corporation,
a
Canadian corporation whose common stock at the time was traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange, which is a business-to-business direct marketer in North America of technology products and solutions.
He served on the audit committee and management resources and compensation committee of Softchoice. From 2007 to 2009, Mr. Coogan served as president and chief executive officer of Pomeroy IT Solutions, Inc., an information technology
services and solutions provider
. From 2002 to 2006, Mr. Coogan served as chief executive officer of Software Spectrum, Inc., a global business-to-business software services provider that Level 3 Communications, Inc. sold to Insight Enterprises Inc. in 2006. From 1991 to 2002, Software Spectrum was a publicly held corporation. From 1990 to 2002, he served in various other executive officer positions with Software Spectrum, including vice president of finance and operations and chief operating officer. Mr. Coogan was a director of Software Spectrum from 1998 to 2006, Pomeroy from 2007 to 2009 and CompX from 2002 to 2006. Since 2016, Mr. Coogan has served as a director and on the audit and management development and compensation committees of NL. Mr. Coogan is a member of our audit committee and our management development and compensation committee.
Mr. Coogan has over twelve years of experience on our board of directors and audit committee and eleven years of experience on our management development and compensation committee, and approximately one year of experience on NL's board of directors and audit and management development and compensation committees. He also has senior executive, operating, corporate governance, finance and financial accounting experience from other publicly and privately held entities for which he currently serves or formerly served.
Loretta J. Feehan,
age 61, has served as a director of us, CompX, NL and Valhi since 2014. She is a certified public accountant who consults on financial and tax matters. She served as a tax partner with Deloitte and Touche LLP in the Denver office until 1992 primarily serving corporate clients. She now has her own consulting practice serving a variety of businesses and individual clients. Ms. Feehan also teaches continuing education courses to tax practitioners around the country. Ms. Feehan has been a financial advisor to Serena Simmons Connelly and Lisa K. Simmons since prior to 2012.
Ms. Feehan has three years of experience as a director of us, CompX, NL and Valhi. She has over 38 years of financial and tax accounting and auditing experience, certain years of which were as a partner of one the largest international accounting firms.
Robert D. Graham
age 61, has served on our board of directors since 2016. Mr. Graham has served as our chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer since January 2017. He served as our executive vice president from 2009 to January 2017, our chief administrative officer from 2012 to 2013, our general counsel from 2003 to 2012 and as our vice president from 2003 to 2009. He currently serves as chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of NL and Valhi and chairman of the board of CompX. He also serves as president and chief legal officer of Contran and has served as a director of Contran, Valhi, and CompX since 2016, and as a director of NL since 2014. Mr. Graham has served with various companies related to us and Contran since 2002.
Mr. Graham has extensive experience with our business. He also has senior executive, operating, corporate governance, finance and financial accounting oversight experience with us and from other publicly and privately held entities related to us for which he currently serves or formerly served.
John E. Harper
, age 55, has served on our board of directors since 2016. Mr. Harper is currently a private investor. He previously served as vice president and chief financial officer of Dell Services, a business unit of the global information technology company Dell, Inc., from 2009 to 2014. Prior to the 2009 acquisition of Perot Systems Corporation, a worldwide provider of information technology services and business solutions, by Dell, he worked for 16 years with Perot Systems, most recently as their chief financial officer. Before joining Perot Systems, he worked for nine years in the audit practice of Ernst & Young LLP, serving a number of industries including technology, manufacturing, education and oil and gas. From 2015 to November 2016, Mr. Harper served as a director and chairman of the audit committee and member of the compensation committee of Rackspace Hostings, Inc., a world leader in the managed cloud segment of the business information technology market. Since May 2016, he has served as a director and on the audit committee of NL. He is a member of our audit committee.
Mr. Harper has one year of experience on the boards of directors and audit committees of Kronos Worldwide and NL. He also has senior executive, operating, corporate governance, finance, financial accounting and auditing experience from one of the largest independent international public accounting firms and from other publicly held entities for which he currently serves or formerly served.
Cecil H. Moore, Jr.
, age 77, has served on our board of directors since 2003. Mr. Moore is currently a private investor and retired from KPMG LLP in 2000 after 37 years in which he served in various capacities with the public accounting firm. Among other positions, he served as managing partner of the firm's Dallas, Texas office from 1990 to 1999. Prior to 1990, Mr. Moore was partner-in-charge of the audit and accounting practice of the firm's Dallas, Texas office for 12 years. From 2014 to 2016, Mr. Moore served as a director and chairman of the audit committee of Sizmek Inc., a former publically held on-line advertising business that was spun-off in 2014 by Digital Generation, Inc. From prior to 2012 to 2014, he served as a director and chairman of the audit committee of Digital Generation, Inc., a former publicly held provider of digital technology services to media outlets. From 2003 until 2009, Mr. Moore served as a director and chairman of the audit committee of Perot Systems. He is the chairman of our audit committee. Since prior to 2012, he has served as a director and on the audit committee of NL. Since March 2016, he has served as a director and as the chairman of the audit committee of CompX.
Mr. Moore has over thirteen years of experience on the boards of directors and audit committees of Kronos Worldwide and NL. He also has senior executive, operating, corporate governance, finance, financial accounting and auditing experience from one of the largest independent international public accounting firms and from other publicly held entities for which he currently serves or formerly served.
General Thomas P. Stafford
(retired)
, age 86, has served on our board of directors since 2013. Gen. Stafford was selected as an astronaut in 1962, piloted Gemini VI in 1965 and commanded Gemini IX in 1966. In 1969, Gen. Stafford was named Chief of the Astronaut Office and was the Apollo X commander for the first lunar module flight to the moon. He commanded the Apollo-Soyuz joint mission with the Soviet cosmonauts in 1975. He served as a Lieutenant General as the U.S. Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Research and Development and Acquisition and retired in 1979. After his retirement, he became chairman of Gibraltar Exploration Limited, an oil and gas exploration and production company, and served in that position from 1979 to 1984, when he joined General Technical Services, Inc., a consulting firm. In 1982 Gen. Stafford founded Stafford, Burke and Hecker, Inc., a Washington-based consulting firm and served the firm until 2005. Gen. Stafford has more recently served as an advisor to a number of government agencies including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Air Force Material Command. He is currently chairman of the NASA Advisory Council Task Force on the International Space Station Program, and also served as co-chairman of the Stafford-Covey NASA Space Shuttle Return to Flight Task Group. Gen. Stafford has received many honors and decorations including the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2014. He serves as a member of our management development and compensation committee and our audit committee. He has served as a director of NL since prior to 2012 and is the chairman of each of NL's audit committee and management development and compensation committee.
Gen. Stafford has four years of experience on our board of directors, audit committee and management development and compensation committee. He also has senior executive, operating, corporate governance, finance and financial accounting oversight experience from various government entities and from other publicly and privately held entities for which he currently serves or formerly served.
Dr. R. Gerald Turner
, age 71, has served on our board of directors since 2003. He has served since 1995 as president of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He held previous executive and administrative positions at the University of Mississippi, the University of Oklahoma and Pepperdine University. He has served on the board of directors and compensation committee of J.C. Penney Company, Inc. since 1995 and since 2001 as a trustee of the American Beacon Funds and American Beacon Select Funds, each a registered management investment company. Dr. Turner is a member of our audit committee and chairman of our management development and compensation committee.
Dr. Turner has over thirteen years of experience on our board of directors, audit committee and management development and compensation committee. He also has senior executive, operating, corporate governance, finance and financial accounting oversight experience from a large, non-profit, private educational institution for which he currently serves and from other publicly held entities for which he currently serves or formerly served.
Dr. C. Kern Wildenthal,
age 75, has served on our board of directors since 2012. Dr. Wildenthal currently serves as a consultant for several medical centers and foundations. From 2013 to 2016, Dr. Wildenthal served as president of Children's Medical Center Foundation, a foundation that supports and promotes Children's Medical Center Dallas, and executive vice president of Children's Medical Center Dallas, a pediatric hospital. Previously, he served from 2008 to 2012 as president of the Southwestern Medical Foundation, a foundation that supports and promotes The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. From 1986 to 2008, he served as president of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, a medical school that is part of The University of Texas System. He is a member of our audit committee.
Dr. Wildenthal has five years of experience on our board of directors, audit committee and management development and compensation committee. He also has senior executive, operating, corporate governance, finance and financial accounting oversight experience from large, non-profit, health services institutions for which he currently serves or formerly served.
Set forth below is certain information relating to our executive officers. Each executive officer serves at the pleasure of the board of directors. Biographical information with respect to Robert D. Graham is set forth under the Nominees for Director subsection above.
|
|
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Robert D. Graham
|
61
|
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
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James Buch
|
56
|
Chief Operating Officer
|
Benjamin R. Corona
|
56
|
President, Global Sales Management
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Brian W. Christian
|
38
|
Executive Vice President
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Kelly D. Luttmer.
|
53
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Executive Vice President and Chief Tax Officer
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Andrew B. Nace.
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52
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Executive Vice President
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Gregory M. Swalwell
|
60
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
Clarence B. Brown, III
|
48
|
Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary
|
Steven S. Eaton
|
58
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Vice President and Director of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
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Tim C. Hafer
|
55
|
Vice President and Controller
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Janet G. Keckeisen.
|
61
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Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Investor Relations
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Patricia
A. Kropp.
|
57
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Vice President, Director of Global Human Resources
|
A. Andrew R. Louis.
|
56
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Vice President, Secretary and Associate General Counsel
|
H. Joseph Maas
|
65
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Vice President, Marketing Development and Communication
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Courtney J. Riley.
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51
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Vice President, Environmental Affairs
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John A. St. Wrba.
|
60
|
Vice President and Treasurer
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John A. Sunny.
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54
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Vice President and Chief Information Officer
|
James Buch
, has served as our chief operating officer since December 2015. He served as our chief operating officer — global commercial from 2014 to December 2015.
Previously, he served TIMET as its vice president from 2006 to 2011 and as its executive vice president, commercial from 2011 to 2013
.
Benjamin R. Corona
has served as our president, global sales management since 2012. In 2012, he served as our president, North American and export sales and marketing. He also served as our president, North American sales and marketing from 2008 to 2012 and from 2005 to 2008 as our vice president, marketing. He has served in various marketing positions with us since 2004.
Brian W. Christian
has served as our executive vice president since February 2016. He served as our vice president, strategic business development from 2011 to February 2016, and as our manager of strategic and financial planning from 2009 to 2011. He currently serves as senior vice president of Contran. Mr. Christian has served in strategic and financial planning positions (including officer positions) with companies related to us and Contran since 2006.
Kelly D. Luttmer
has served as our chief tax officer since 2016 and as our executive vice president since 2014. She previously served as our global tax director from 2011 to 2016. She served as our vice president from 2004 to 2014 and our tax director from 2003 to 2011. She currently serves as executive vice president and chief tax officer of NL, CompX, Valhi and Contran. Ms. Luttmer has served in tax accounting positions (including officer positions) with various companies related to us and Contran since 1989.
Andrew B. Nace
has served as our executive vice president since January 2017. He previously served as our vice president from 2013 to January 2017 and as our vice president and general counsel in 2013. He currently serves as executive vice president of NL and Kronos Worldwide, as executive vice president and general counsel of Contran and Valhi, and as vice president of CompX. Mr. Nace has served as legal counsel to companies related to us and Contran since 2003.
Gregory M. Swalwell
has served as our executive vice president and chief financial officer since 2009 and as our vice president, finance and chief financial officer from 2004 to 2009. He currently serves as executive vice president and chief financial officer of NL, executive vice president, chief financial officer and chief accounting officer of Contran and Valhi and executive vice president of CompX. Mr. Swalwell has served in accounting and financial positions (including officer positions) with various companies related to us and Contran since 1988.
Clarence B. Brown III
has served as our vice president and general counsel since May 2015. He served as our vice president from 2013 to 2015. He has served as NL's vice president since 2015. Mr. Brown has served in legal and corporate secretarial positions (including officer positions) with various companies related to us and Contran since 2007.
Steven S. Eaton
has served as our vice president and director of internal control over financial reporting since May 2015. He currently serves as vice president and director of internal control over financial reporting for CompX, NL and Valhi. Mr. Eaton has served in internal audit positions (including officer positions) with various companies related to us and Contran since 2006.
Tim C. Hafer
has served as our vice president and controller since 2006. Mr. Hafer has served in financial accounting positions with various companies related to us and Contran since 1999.
Janet G. Keckeisen
has served as our vice president, corporate strategy and investor relations since 2013. She served as our vice president, investor relations from 2011 to 2013. She currently serves as vice president - corporate strategy and investor relations of Valhi. Ms. Keckeisen has served in accounting and financial positions with various companies related to us and Contran since 2007.
Patricia A. Kropp
has served as our vice president, director of global human resources since May 2015. Previously, she served as our director of global human resources from April 2015 to May 2015. She served as compensation and benefits director for Heartland Automotive Services, Inc. (d.b.a. Jiffy Lube) from 2014 to 2015. Previously she was director, global compensation and benefits of TIMET from 2008 to 2013.
A. Andrew R. Louis
has served as our vice president since 2011 and as our secretary since 2006. He currently serves as vice president and secretary of CompX, NL and Valhi and as secretary of Contran. He has served as legal counsel (including officer positions) of various companies related to us and Contran since 1995.
H. Joseph Maas
has served as our vice president – marketing development and communication since January 2016. He served as our president, commercial strategy from 2014 to January 2016. He served as our president, global sales and marketing from 2012 to 2014. From 2004 to 2012, he served as our president, sales and marketing. He served as our senior vice president, sales and marketing from 2003 to 2004. From 1985 to 2003, Mr. Maas served as our director of marketing and later as our vice president of marketing. From 1978 to 2003, Mr. Maas held several positions in commercial development, marketing and planning for various divisions of NL (Rheox and Spencer Kellogg).
Courtney J. Riley
has served as our vice president, environmental affairs since 2013. She currently serves as executive vice president, environmental affairs and general counsel of NL, as executive vice president, environmental affairs of Valhi and as senior vice president, environmental affairs of Contran. Ms. Riley has served in legal and environmental affairs positions (including officer positions) with various companies related to us and Contran since 2009.
John A. St. Wrba
has served as our vice president since 2004 and as our treasurer since 2003. He currently serves as vice president and treasurer of Contran, NL, Valhi and CompX. Mr. St. Wrba has continuously served in treasurer positions (including officer positions) in various companies related to us and Contran since 2003.
John A. Sunny
has served as our vice president and chief information officer since May 2015. He served as our vice president, information technology from 2013 to May 2015. He currently serves as vice president - information technology of Valhi and Contran. Mr. Sunny has served in information technology positions (including officer positions) with various companies related to us and Contran since 2003.
Controlled Company Status, Director Independence and Committees
. Because of Valhi's direct and indirect ownership of approximately 80.4% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, we are considered a controlled company under the listing standards of the NYSE. Pursuant to the listing standards, a controlled company may choose not to have a majority of independent directors, independent compensation, nominations or corporate governance committees or charters for these committees. While we currently have a majority of independent directors, we have chosen not to have an independent nominations or corporate governance committee or charters for these committees. Our board of directors believes that the full board of directors best represents the interests of all of our stockholders and that it is appropriate for all matters that would otherwise be considered by a nominations, corporate governance or risk oversight committee to be considered and acted upon by the full board of directors. Applying the NYSE director independence standards without any additional categorical standards, our board of directors has determined that Keith R. Coogan, John E. Harper, Cecil H. Moore, Jr., Thomas P. Stafford, R. Gerald Turner and C. Kern Wildenthal are independent and have no material relationship with us other than serving as our directors. While the members of our management development and compensation committee currently satisfy the independence requirements of the NYSE, we have chosen not to satisfy all of the NYSE corporate governance standards for a compensation committee, including not having a charter for our management development and compensation committee.
2016 Meetings and Standing Committees of the Board of Directors
. The board of directors held four meetings and took action by written consent on one occasion in 2016. Each of our directors then in office attended at least 75% of such meetings and the 2016 meetings of the committees on which he or she served at the time. It is expected that each director nominee will attend our annual meeting of stockholders, which is held immediately before the annual meeting of the board of directors. All of our directors who were elected at our 2016 annual stockholder meeting attended such meeting.
The board of directors has established and delegated authority to two standing committees, which are described below. The board of directors is expected to elect the members of the standing committees at the board of directors annual meeting immediately following the annual stockholder meeting. The board of directors from time to time may establish other committees to assist it in the discharge of its responsibilities.
Audit Committee
. Our audit committee assists with the board of directors' oversight responsibilities relating to our financial accounting and reporting processes and auditing processes. The purpose, authority, resources and responsibilities of our audit committee are more specifically set forth in its charter. Applying the requirements of the NYSE corporate governance standards (without additional categorical standards) and SEC regulations, as applicable, the board of directors has determined that:
·
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each member of our audit committee is independent, financially literate and has no material relationship with us other than serving as our director; and
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·
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Mr. Cecil H. Moore, Jr. and Mr. John E. Harper are each an "audit committee financial expert."
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No member of our audit committee serves on more than three public company audit committees. For further information on the role of our audit committee, see the Audit Committee Report in this proxy statement. The current members of our audit committee are Cecil H. Moore, Jr. (chairman), Keith R. Coogan, John E. Harper, Gen. Thomas P. Stafford (retired), R. Gerald Turner and C. Kern Wildenthal. Our audit committee held seven meetings in 2016.
Management Development and Compensation Committee
. The principal responsibilities of our management development and compensation committee are:
·
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to recommend to the board of directors whether or not to approve any proposed charge to us or any of our privately held subsidiaries pursuant to our ISA with Contran;
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·
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to review certain matters regarding our employee benefit plans or programs, including discretionary incentive bonuses and salaries we pay;
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·
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to review, approve, administer and grant awards under our equity compensation plan; and
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·
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to review and administer such other compensation matters as the board of directors may direct from time to time.
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As discussed above, the board of directors has determined that each member of our management development and compensation committee is independent by applying the NYSE director independence standards (without additional categorical standards). The management development and compensation committee may delegate to its members or our officers any or all of its authority as it may choose subject to certain limitations of Delaware law on what duties directors may delegate. The committee has not exercised this right of delegation. With respect to the role of our executive officers in determining or recommending the amount or form of executive compensation, see the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement. With respect to director cash compensation, our executive officers make recommendations on such compensation directly to our board of directors for its consideration without involving the management development and compensation committee. The current members of our management development and compensation committee are R. Gerald Turner (chairman), Keith R. Coogan, Thomas P. Stafford and C. Kern Wildenthal. Our management development and compensation committee held one meeting in 2016.
Risk Oversight
. Our board of directors oversees the actions we take in managing our material risks. Our management is responsible for our day-to-day management of risk. The board's oversight of our material risks is undertaken through, among other things, various reports and assessments that management presents to the board and the related board discussions. The board has delegated some of its primary risk oversight to our audit committee and management development and compensation committee. Our audit committee annually receives management's reports and assessments on, among other things, the risk of fraud, certain material business risks and a ranking of such material business risks and our insurance program. The audit committee also receives reports from our independent registered public accounting firm regarding, among other things, financial risks and the risk of fraud. Our management development and compensation committee receives management's assessments on the likelihood that our compensation policies and practices could have a material adverse effect on us, as more fully described in the Compensation Policies and Practices as They Relate to Risk Management section of this proxy statement. The audit committee and management development and compensation committee report to the board of directors about their meetings. We believe the leadership structure of the board of directors is appropriate for our risk oversight.
Identifying and Evaluating Director Nominees
. Historically, our management has recommended director nominees to the board of directors. As stated in our corporate governance guidelines:
·
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our
board of directors has no specific minimum qualifications for director nominees;
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·
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each nominee should possess the necessary business background, skills and expertise at the policy-making level and a willingness to devote the required time to the duties and responsibilities of membership on the board of directors; and
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·
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the board of directors believes that experience as our director is a valuable asset and that directors who have served on the board for an extended period of time are able to provide important insight into our current and future operations.
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In identifying, evaluating and determining our director nominees, the board of directors follows such corporate governance guidelines. The board also considers the nominee's ability to satisfy the need, if any, for required expertise on the board of directors or one of its committees. While we do not have any policy regarding the diversity of our nominees, the board does consider diversity in the background, skills and expertise at the policy making level of our director nominees, and as a result our board believes our director nominees possess a diverse range of senior management experience that aids the board in fulfilling its responsibilities. The board of directors believes its procedures for identifying and evaluating director nominees are appropriate for a controlled company under the NYSE corporate governance standards.
Leadership Structure of the Board of Directors and Independent Director Meetings
. Robert D. Graham
serves as our chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer. The board of directors believes our current leadership structure is appropriate for a controlled company under the NYSE corporate governance standards. While there is no single organizational structure that is ideal in all circumstances, the board believes that our current leadership structure, in which the same individual serves as our chairman of the board and chief executive officer, reflects the established working relationship between him and our other executive officers regarding our business, and provides an appropriate breadth of experience and perspective that effectively facilitates the formulation of our long-term strategic direction and business plans. In addition, the board of directors believes that since Mr. Graham is an employee of Contran and most of our other executive officers are employees of Contran, their respective service in their capacities is beneficial in providing strategic leadership for us since there is a commonality of interest that is closely aligned in building long-term stockholder value for all of our stockholders. We have in the past, and may in the future, have a leadership structure in which different individuals serve as our chairman of the board and as our chief executive officer. In those instances, both individuals have been, or would be expected to be, employees or representatives of Contran.
Pursuant to our corporate governance guidelines, our independent directors are entitled to meet on a regular basis throughout the year, and will meet at least once annually, without the participation of our other directors who are not independent. We are not required to have a lead independent director under the NYSE corporate governance standards. While we do not have a lead independent director, the chairman of our audit committee presides at all of the meetings of our independent directors. In 2016, we complied with the NYSE requirements for meetings of our independent directors.
Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
. Stockholders may submit proposals on matters appropriate for stockholder action at our annual stockholder meetings, consistent with rules adopted by the SEC. We must receive such proposals not later than November 29, 2017 to be considered for inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy card relating to our annual meeting of stockholders in 2018. Our bylaws require that the proposal must set forth a brief description of the proposal, the name and address of the proposing stockholder as they appear in our records, the number of shares of our common stock the stockholder holds and any material interest the stockholder has in the proposal.
The board of directors will consider the director nominee recommendations of our stockholders in accordance with the process discussed above. Our bylaws require that a nomination set forth the name and address of the nominating stockholder, a representation that the stockholder will be a stockholder of record entitled to vote at the annual stockholder meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the nominee, a description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and the nominee (or other persons pursuant to which the nomination is to be made), such other information regarding the nominee as would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the SEC and the consent of the nominee to serve as a director if elected.
For proposals or director nominations to be brought at the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders but not included in the proxy statement for such meeting, our bylaws require that the proposal or nomination must be delivered or mailed to our principal executive offices in most cases no later than February 12, 2018. Proposals and nominations should be addressed to our corporate secretary at Kronos Worldwide, Inc., Three Lincoln Centre, 5430 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1700, Dallas, Texas 75240‑2697.
Communications with Directors
. Stockholders and other interested parties who wish to communicate with the board of directors or its independent directors may do so through the following procedures. Such communications not involving complaints or concerns regarding accounting, internal accounting controls and auditing matters related to us may be sent to the attention of
our corporate secretary
at Kronos Worldwide, Inc., Three Lincoln Centre, 5430 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1700, Dallas, Texas 75240-2697. Provided that any such communication relates to our business or affairs and is within the function of our board of directors or its committees, and does not relate to insignificant or inappropriate matters, such communication, or a summary of such communication, will be forwarded to the chairman of our audit committee, who also serves as the presiding director of our independent director meetings.
Complaints or concerns regarding accounting, internal accounting controls and auditing matters, which may be made anonymously, should be sent to the attention of our general counsel with a copy to our chief financial officer at the same address as our corporate secretary. These complaints or concerns will be forwarded to the chairman of our audit committee. We will investigate and keep these complaints or concerns confidential and anonymous, to the extent feasible, subject to applicable law. Information contained in such a complaint or concern may be summarized, abstracted and aggregated for purposes of analysis and investigation.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
. As discussed above, for 2016 the man
agement development and
compensation committee was composed of R. Gerald Turner, Keith R. Coogan, Thomas P. Stafford and C. Kern Wildenthal. No member of the committee:
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was an officer or employee of ours during 2016 or any prior year;
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·
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had any related party relationships with us that requires disclosure under applicable SEC rules; or
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·
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had any interlock relationships under applicable SEC rules.
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For 2016, no executive officer of ours had any interlock relationships within the scope of the intent of applicable SEC rules. However, at certain times in 2016 each of Bobby D. O'Brien and Steven L. Watson (formerly executive officers of ours) and Robert D. Graham was an executive officer of ours and on the board of directors of Contran when concurrently also serving as one of our directors.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
. We have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics. The code applies to all of our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and controller. Only the board of directors may amend the code. Only our audit committee or other committee of the board of directors with specifically delegated authority may grant a waiver of this code. We will disclose amendments to or waivers of the code as required by law and the applicable rules of the NYSE.
Corporate Governance Guidelines
. We have adopted corporate governance guidelines to assist the board of directors in exercising its responsibilities. Among other things, the corporate governance guidelines provide for director qualifications, for independence standards and responsibilities, for approval procedures for ISAs and that our audit committee chairman preside at all meetings of the independent directors.
Availability of Corporate Governance Documents
. A copy of each of our audit committee charter, code of business conduct and ethics and corporate governance guidelines is available on our website at
www.kronostio2.com
under the corporate governance section of the investor relations page.
COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
AND OTHER INFORMATION
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
. This compensation discussion and analysis describes the key principles and factors underlying our executive compensation policies for our named executive officers. In each of the last three years, all of our named executive officers were employed by Contran and provided their services to us pursuant to our ISA with Contran.
As defined in the Glossary of Terms at the beginning of this proxy statement, the phrase "named executive officers" refers to the five persons whose compensation is summarized in the 2016 Summary Compensation Table in this proxy statement. Such phrase is not intended to refer, and does not refer, to all of our executive officers. The nature of the duties of each of our executive officers who are employees of Contran is consistent with the duties normally associated with the officer titles and positions such officer holds with us.
Nonbinding Advisory Stockholder Vote on Executive Officer Compensation
. For the 2016 annual meeting of stockholders, we submitted a nonbinding advisory proposal recommending the stockholders adopt a resolution approving the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in the 2016 proxy statement. At the annual meeting, the resolution received the affirmative vote of
90.2%
of the shares of our common stock eligible to vote at the annual meeting. We
considered
the favorable result and determined not to make any material changes to our compensation practices.
Intercorporate Services Agreement with Contran
. We pay Contran a fee for services provided by Contran to us pursuant to our ISA with Contran, which fee was approved by our independent directors after receiving the recommendation of our management development and compensation committee and the concurrence of our chief financial officer. Such services provided under this ISA included the services of our named executive officers, and as a result a portion of the aggregate ISA fee we pay to Contran is paid with respect to the services provided to us by such named executive officers.
The charge under this ISA reimburses Contran for its cost of employing the personnel who provide the services by allocating such cost to us based on the estimated percentage of time such personnel were expected to devote to us over the year. The amount of the fee we paid for each year under this ISA for a person who provided services to us represents, in management's view, the reasonable equivalent of "compensation" for such services. See the Intercorporate Services Agreements part of the Certain Relationships and Transactions section of this proxy statement for the aggregate amount we paid to Contran in 2016 under this ISA. Under the various ISAs among Contran and its subsidiaries and affiliates, we share the cost of the employment of our named executive officers with Contran and certain of its publicly and privately held subsidiaries. For our named executive officers, the portion of the annual charge we paid for each of the last three years to Contran under this ISA attributable to each of their services is set forth in footnote 3 to the 2016 Summary Compensation Table in this proxy statement. As discussed further below, the amount charged under the ISA is based upon Contran's cost of employing or engaging the personnel who provide the services to us (including the services of our named executive officers) by allocating such cost to us based on the estimated percentage of time such personnel were expected to devote to us over the year. The amount charged under the ISA is not dependent upon our financial performance.
We believe the cost of the services received under our ISA with Contran, after considering the quality of the services received, is fair to us and is no less favorable to us than we could otherwise obtain from an unrelated third party for comparable services, based solely on our collective business judgment and experience without performing any independent market research.
In the early part of each year, Contran's management, including our named executive officers, estimates the percentage of time that each Contran employee, including our named executive officers, is expected to devote in the upcoming year to Contran and its subsidiaries and affiliates, including us. Contran's management then allocates Contran's cost of employing each of its employees among Contran and its various subsidiaries and affiliates based on such estimated percentages. Contran's aggregate cost of employing each of its employees comprises:
·
|
the annualized base salary of such employee at the beginning of the year;
|
·
|
an estimate of the bonus Contran will pay or accrue for such employee (other than bonuses for specific matters) for the year, using as a reasonable approximation for such bonus the actual bonus that Contran paid or accrued for such employee in the prior year; and
|
·
|
Contran's portion of the social security and medicare taxes on such base salary and an estimated overhead factor (23% for each of 2016 and 2015 and 25% for 2014) applied to the base salary for the cost of medical and life insurance benefits, unemployment taxes, disability insurance, defined benefit and defined contribution plan benefits, professional education and licensing and costs of providing an office, equipment and supplies related to providing such services.
|
Contran's senior management subsequently made such adjustments to the details of the proposed ISA charge as they deemed necessary for accuracy, overall reasonableness and fairness to us.
In the first quarter of each year, the proposed charge for that year under our ISA with Contran was presented to our management development and compensation committee, and the committee considered whether to recommend that our board of directors approve the ISA charge. Among other things during such presentation, the committee was informed of:
·
|
the quality of the services Contran provides to us, including the quality of the services our executive officers provide to us;
|
·
|
the comparison of the ISA charge and number of full-time equivalent employees reflected in the charge by department for the prior year and proposed for the current year;
|
·
|
the comparison of the prior year and proposed current year charges by department and in total and such amounts as a percentage of Contran's similarly calculated costs for its departments and in total for those years;
|
·
|
the comparison of the prior year and proposed current year average hourly rate; and
|
·
|
the concurrence of our chief financial officer as to the reasonableness of the proposed charge.
|
In determining whether to recommend that the board of directors approve the proposed ISA fee to be charged to us, the management development and compensation committee considers the three elements of Contran's cost of employing the personnel who provide services to us, including the cost of employing our named executive officers, in the aggregate and not individually. After considering the information contained in such presentations, and following further discussion and review, our management development and compensation committee recommended that our board of directors approve the proposed ISA fee after concluding that:
·
|
the cost to employ the additional personnel necessary to provide the quality of the services provided by Contran would exceed the proposed aggregate fee to be charged by Contran to us under our ISA with Contran; and
|
·
|
the cost for such services would be no less favorable than could otherwise be obtained from an unrelated third party for comparable services in the committee's collective business judgment and experience, without performing any independent market research.
|
In reaching its recommendation, our management development and compensation committee did not review:
·
|
any ISA charge from Contran to any other publicly held parent or sister company, although such charge was separately reviewed by the management development and compensation committee of the applicable company; and
|
·
|
the compensation policies of Contran or the amount of time our named executive officers are expected to devote to us because:
|
o
|
each of our named executive officers provides services to many companies related to Contran, including Contran itself;
|
o
|
the fee we pay to Contran under our ISA with Contran each year does not represent all of Contran's cost of employing each of such named executive officers;
|
o
|
Contran and these other companies related to Contran absorb the remaining amount of Contran's cost of employing each of such named executive officers; and
|
o
|
the members of our management development and compensation committee consider the other factors discussed above in determining whether to recommend that the proposed ISA fee for each year be approved by the full board of directors.
|
Based on the recommendation of our management development and compensation committee, as well as the concurrence of our chief financial officer, our independent directors approved the proposed annual ISA charge effective January 1, 2016, with our other directors abstaining.
For financial reporting and income tax purposes, the ISA fee is expensed as incurred on a quarterly basis. Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 generally disallows an income tax deduction to publicly held companies for non-performance based compensation over $1.0 million paid to the company's chief executive officer and four other most highly compensated executive officers. Prior to 2016, the Contran ISA did not exceed $1.0 million for any individual's charge to a publicly held company under the ISA. Accordingly, the deductibility by the company of the charge for income tax purposes was not limited under Section 162(m), if such section were to be deemed applicable as it relates to the ISA. Beginning in 2016, the ISA may include charges in excess of $1.0 million, but Contran will absorb the impact of any such income tax deduction disallowance.
Director Fees, including Equity-Based Compensation.
We paid director fees in the form of cash and stock compensation to certain of our named executive officers who provide their services to us pursuant to our ISA with Contran and who also served on our board of directors. Other than these director fees, we did not pay any compensation directly to such named executive officers. See the Director Compensation section of this proxy statement.
The 2016 Summary Compensation Table sets forth in footnote 3 the cash fees we paid to Mr. O'Brien for his director services. The director fees paid to him are the quarterly director retainer fees and the fees for attending board meetings, as our named executive officer who also served on our board of directors was not a member of any board committee.
The 2016 Summary Compensation Table sets forth in footnote 4 the director stock grants we paid to Mr. O'Brien for his director services. See the 2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards section in this proxy statement for a discussion of these annual grants and the formula by which the stock awards are determined. The stock grants Mr. O'Brien received were pursuant to the same formula used for all directors. The dollar amount of the stock awards appearing in the 2016 Summary Compensation Table represents the value recognized for financial statement reporting purposes of shares of common stock we granted to Mr. O'Brien for his director services.
Prior to 2014, we decided to forego the grant of any equity compensation other than annual awards of stock to our directors, as discussed above. We also do not have any security ownership requirements or guidelines for our management or directors. We do not currently anticipate any equity-based compensation will be granted in 2017, other than the annual grants of stock to our directors.
Deductibility of Compensation
.
It is our general policy to structure the performance-based portion of the compensation of our executive officers employed by us, if any, in a manner that enhances our ability to deduct fully such compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Compensation Committee Report.
The management development and compensation committee has reviewed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section in this proxy statement. Based on the committee's review and a discussion with management, the committee recommended that our compensation discussion and analysis be included in this proxy statement.
The members of our management development and compensation committee submit the foregoing report as of February 22, 2017.
R. Gerald Turner
Chairman of our Management Development and Compensation Committee
|
Keith R. Coogan
Member of our Management Development and Compensation Committee
|
Thomas P. Stafford
Member of our Management Development and Compensation Committee
|
C. Kern Wildenthal
Member of our Management Development and Compensation Committee
|
Summary of Cash and Certain Other Compensation of Executive Officers
. The 2016 Summary Compensation Table below provides information concerning compensation we and our subsidiaries paid or accrued for services rendered during the last three years by our former chief executive officer, chief financial officer and each of the three other most highly compensated individuals who were our executive officers at December 31, 2016. All of our named executive officers were employees of Contran and provided their services to us and our subsidiaries pursuant to our ISA with Contran for each year in which they are included in the 2016 Summary Compensation Table. For a discussion of this ISA, see the Intercorporate Services Agreements part of the Certain Relationships and Transactions section of this proxy statement.
2016 SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
(1)
Name and Principal Position
|
Year
|
Salary
|
Stock Awards
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bobby D. O'Brien (2)
|
2016
|
$958,300
|
(3)
|
$ 8,415
|
(4)
|
$966,715
|
Former Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
|
2015
|
678,600
|
(3)
|
12,560
|
(4)
|
691,160
|
Executive Officer
|
2014
|
625,550
|
(3)
|
14,720
|
(4)
|
640,270
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James Buch (2)
|
2016
|
1,132,300
|
(3)
|
-0-
|
|
1,132,300
|
Chief Operating Officer
|
2015
|
543,000
|
(3)
|
-0-
|
|
543,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gregory M. Swalwell
|
2016
|
512,200
|
(3)
|
-0-
|
|
512,200
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
2015
|
493,800
|
(3)
|
-0-
|
|
493,800
|
|
2014
|
446,600
|
(3)
|
-0-
|
|
446,600
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kelly D. Luttmer
|
2016
|
837,000
|
(3)
|
-0-
|
|
837,000
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Tax Officer
|
2015
|
807,200
|
(3)
|
-0-
|
|
807,200
|
|
2014
|
729,000
|
(3)
|
-0-
|
|
729,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brian W. Christian (2)
|
2016
|
705,800
|
(3)
|
-0-
|
|
705,800
|
Executive Vice President
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Certain non-applicable columns have been omitted from this table.
|
(2)
|
Mr. O'Brien, who served as our chief executive officer for all of 2016, resigned as a director and executive officer of ours on January 20, 2017. 2015 is the first year Mr. Buch is a named executive officer, and 2016 is the first year that Mr. Christian is a named executive officer.
|
(3)
|
The amounts shown in the 2016 Summary Compensation Table as salary for each of these named executive officers include the portion of the fees we paid pursuant to our ISA with Contran with respect to the services such officer rendered to us and our subsidiaries. The ISA charges disclosed for Contran employees who perform executive officer services to us and our subsidiaries are based on various factors described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement. Our management development and compensation committee considers the factors described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement in determining whether to recommend that our board of directors approve the aggregate proposed ISA fee with Contran. As discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement, our management development and compensation committee does not consider any ISA charge from Contran to any other publicly held parent or sister company of ours, although such charge is separately reviewed by the management development and compensation committee of the applicable company. The amounts shown in the table as salary for Mr. O'Brien also include director cash compensation we paid to him for each of the last three years. The components of salary shown in the 2016 Summary Compensation Table for each of these named executive officers are as follows.
|
|
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
|
|
|
|
Bobby D. O'Brien
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contran ISA Fee
|
$602,800
|
|
$647,600
|
|
$929,300
|
|
Director Fees Earned or Paid in Cash
|
22,750
|
(a)
|
31,000
|
|
29,000
|
|
|
$
625,550
|
|
$
678,600
|
|
$
958,300
|
|
James Buch
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contran ISA Fee
|
$ 543,000
|
|
$1,132,300
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gregory M. Swalwell
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contran ISA Fee
|
$446,600
|
|
$ 493,800
|
|
$ 512,200
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kelly D. Luttmer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contran ISA Fee
|
$729,800
|
|
$ 807,200
|
|
$837,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brian W. Christian
|
|
|
|
|
Contran ISA Fee
|
|
|
|
|
$705,800
|
|
(a)
|
Our board of directors first elected Mr. O'Brien to our board of directors in February 2014 and, accordingly, his director compensation reflects that he did not serve as a director for all of 2014.
|
(4)
|
Stock awards to Mr. O'Brien in the last three years consisted of shares of our common stock we granted to him for his director services. See the 2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table below for more details regarding the 2016 grants. The stock awards consisted of the following:
|
Shares of our
Common Stock
|
Date of Grant
|
Closing Price
on Date of
Grant
|
Grant Date Value of
Shares of our
Common Stock
|
|
|
|
|
1,500
|
May 18, 2016
|
$ 5.61
|
$ 8,415
|
1,000
|
May 20, 2015
|
$12.56
|
$12,560
|
1,000
|
May 21, 2014
|
$14.72
|
$14,720
|
These stock awards were valued at the closing price of a share of our common stock on the date of grant, consistent with the requirements of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718.
2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards
. The following table sets forth details of the stock awards we granted to Mr. O'Brien in 2016 for his services as a director. Other than such stock award, and as already discussed, we did not pay any plan-based incentive compensation in 2016. Messrs. Buch, Swalwell and Christian and Ms. Luttmer were not eligible to receive any of our plan-based awards in 2016.
2016 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS
(1)
Name
|
Grant Date
|
|
All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units (#) (2)
|
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards (2)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bobby D. O'Brien
|
05/18/16
|
05/10/12
|
1,500
|
$ 8,415
|
(1)
|
Certain non-applicable columns have been omitted from this table.
|
(2)
|
As preapproved by our management development and compensation committee, on the day of each of our annual stockholder meetings each of our directors elected on that day receives a grant of shares of our common stock under our 2012 Director Stock Plan as determined by the following formula based on the closing price of a share of our common stock on the date of such meeting.
|
Range of Closing Price Per
Share on the Date of Grant
|
Shares of Common
Stock to Be Granted
|
|
|
Under $5.00
|
2,000
|
$5.00 to $9.99
|
1,500
|
$10.00 to $20.00
|
1,000
|
Over $20.00
|
500
|
These shares are fully vested and tradable immediately on their date of grant, other than restrictions under applicable securities laws. For the purposes of this table, we valued this stock award at the $5.61 closing price per share of our common stock on its date of grant, consistent with the requirements of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718.
No Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2016
. We have never granted any stock options to purchase shares of our common stock or shares of our common stock that were subject to vesting restrictions. At December 31, 2016, none of our named executive officers held any stock options exercisable for shares of common stock of our parent or subsidiary corporations or held any equity incentive awards for such shares.
No Option Exercises or Stock Vested
. None of our named executive officers held shares of our stock or of our parent or subsidiary corporations that were subject to vesting restrictions in 2016. During 2016, no named executive officer exercised any stock options issued by us. For stock awards granted in 2016 to Mr. O'Brien that had no vesting restrictions, see the 2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table above.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
. We do not owe any nonqualified deferred compensation to our named executive officers.
Director Compensation
. Our directors are entitled to receive compensation for their services as directors. The table below reflects the annual rates of their retainers for 2016.
|
|
2016 Director
Retainers
|
|
|
|
|
|
Each director
|
|
$
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chairman of our audit committee and any member of our audit committee whom the board identified as an "audit committee financial expert" (provided that if one person served in both capacities only one such retainer was paid)
|
|
$
|
45,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other members of our audit committee
|
|
$
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Members of our other committees
|
|
$
|
5,000
|
|
Additionally, our directors receive a fee of $1,000 per day for attendance at meetings of the board of directors or its committees and an hourly rate (not to exceed $1,000 per day) for other services rendered on behalf of our board of directors or its committees. If a director dies while serving on our board of directors, his designated beneficiary or estate will be entitled to receive a death benefit equal to the annual retainer then in effect. We reimburse our directors for reasonable expenses incurred in attending meetings and in the performance of other services rendered on behalf of our board of directors or its committees.
As discussed in footnote 2 to the 2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table, on the day of each annual stockholder meeting, each of our directors elected on that date receives a grant of shares of our common stock as determined by the closing price of a share of our common stock on the date of such meeting. The following table provides information with respect to compensation certain of our directors earned for their 2016 director services provided to us.
2016 DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
(1)
Name
|
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash (2)
|
Stock Awards (3)
|
All Other
Compensation(5)
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
Keith R. Coogan
|
$62,000
|
$ 8,415
|
|
$ -0-
|
$ 70,415
|
Loretta J. Feehan
|
32,000
|
8,415
|
|
-0-
|
40,415
|
Robert D. Graham (4)
|
14,500
|
-0-
|
|
533,200
|
547,700
|
John. E. Harper
|
37,000
|
8,415
|
|
-0-
|
47,415
|
Cecil H. Moore, Jr.
|
77,000
|
8,415
|
|
-0-
|
85,415
|
Thomas P. Stafford
|
60,000
|
8,415
|
|
-0-
|
68,415
|
R. Gerald Turner
|
61,000
|
8,415
|
|
-0-
|
69,415
|
Steven L. Watson (4)
|
14,500
|
8,415
|
|
473,700
|
496,615
|
C. Kern Wildenthal
|
62,000
|
8,415
|
|
-0-
|
70,415
|
(1)
|
Certain non-applicable columns have been omitted from this table. See footnotes 3 and 4 to the 2016 Summary Compensation Table and 2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table in this proxy statement for compensation we paid Bobby D. O'Brien for director services.
|
(2)
|
Represents cash retainers and meeting fees the director earned for director services he or she provided to us in 2016.
|
(3)
|
Represents the value of 1,500 shares of our common stock we granted to each of these directors on May 18, 2016. For the purposes of this table, we valued these stock awards at the $5.61 closing price per share of such shares on their date of grant, consistent with the requirements of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718.
|
(4)
|
Mr. Watson resigned as a director and executive officer of ours effective May 26, 2016. In addition, our board of directors first elected Mr. Graham to our board of directors effective May 26, 2016. Accordingly, the 2016 amounts for both individuals reflect that they did not serve for the entire year. In addition, Mr. Graham was not granted any shares of our common stock in 2016 because he was not a director on the May 18, 2016 grant date.
|
(5)
|
The amount shown in the table for all other compensation for Messrs. Graham and Watson represents the portion of the 2016 ISA fees we and our subsidiaries paid pursuant to our ISA with Contran with respect to their non-director services. Such fee as it relates to Mr. Watson reflects that he did not serve as an executive officer of ours for the entire year.
|
Compensation Policies and Practices as They Relate to Risk Management
.
We believe that the risks arising from our compensation policies and practices are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on us. In reaching this conclusion, we considered the following:
·
|
other than stock grants to our directors, we do not grant equity awards to our employees, officers or other persons who provide services to us under our ISA with Contran, which mitigates taking excessive or inappropriate risk for short-term gain that might be rewarded by equity compensation;
|
·
|
our executive officers employed by us are eligible to receive incentive bonus payments that are determined on a discretionary basis and do not guarantee the employee a particular level of bonus based on the achievement of a specified performance or financial target, which also mitigates taking excessive or inappropriate risk for short-term gain
;
|
·
|
our other key employees are eligible to receive bonuses determined in part on the achievement of specified performance or financial targets, but the chance of such employees undertaking actions with excessive or inappropriate risk for short-term gain in order to achieve such bonuses is mitigated because:
|
o
|
our executive officers employed by us who are responsible for setting the specified performance or financial targets are not eligible to receive bonuses based on the achievement of the targets, but instead are only eligible for the discretionary-based bonuses described above; and
|
o
|
there exist ceilings for our other key employee bonuses (which are not a significant part of their compensation) regardless of the actual level of our financial performance achieved
;
|
·
|
our officers and other persons who provide services to us under our ISA with Contran do not receive compensation from us directly and are employed by Contran, one of our parent corporations, which aligns such officers and persons with the long-term interests of our stockholders
;
|
·
|
since we are a controlled company, as previously discussed, management has a strong incentive to understand and perform in the long-term interests of our stockholders
; and
|
·
|
our experience is that our
employees
are appropriately motivated by our compensation policies and practices to achieve profits and other business objectives in compliance with our oversight of material short and long-term risks.
|
For a discussion of our compensation policies and practices for our executive officers, please see the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement.
Compensation Consultants
. Neither our
board of directors, management development and compensation committee nor management has engaged any compensation consultants.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act requires our executive officers, directors and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities to file reports of ownership with the SEC, the NYSE and us. Except as reported below and based solely on the review of the copies of such forms and representations by certain reporting persons, we believe that for 2016 our executive officers, directors and 10% shareholders complied with all applicable filing requirements under section 16(a). Gen. Stafford filed a Form 4 in 2017 reporting four transactions in 2016 that were not timely filed and Mr. Harper filed a Form 4 in 2016 reporting one transaction in 2016 that was not timely filed, in each case due to an inadvertence of our staff.