DEF 14A

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

(RULE 14A-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

 

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

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DUCOMMUN INCORPORATED

 

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

 

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LOGO

DUCOMMUN INCORPORATED

23301 Wilmington Ave.

Carson, California 90745-6209

(310) 513-7200

 

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

May 1, 2013

 

 

To the Shareholders of

Ducommun Incorporated:

Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Ducommun Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), will be held at the Long Beach Hilton, 701 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, California, on Wednesday, May 1, 2013, at the hour of 9:00 o’clock A.M. for the following purposes:

1. To elect five directors: one director to serve for a one-year term ending in 2014, one director to serve for a two-year term ending in 2015, and three directors to serve for three-year terms ending in 2016.

2. To provide an advisory vote to approve named executive officer compensation.

3. To consider and act upon a proposal to adopt the 2013 Stock Incentive Plan for 240,000 shares of Common Stock available thereunder.

4. To ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Corporation’s independent accountants for the Corporation’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2013.

5. To transact any other business that may properly be brought before the meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

March 11, 2013 has been established as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. All shareholders are cordially invited to attend the meeting in person.

To insure your representation at the meeting, please complete and mail your Proxy Card in the return envelope provided, as soon as possible. This will not prevent you from voting in person by completing a ballot at the meeting should you so desire, but will help to secure a quorum and will avoid added solicitation costs. Directions to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders may be obtained by calling the telephone number listed above.

By Order of the Board of Directors

James S. Heiser

Secretary

Carson, California

March 27, 2013


LOGO

DUCOMMUN INCORPORATED

23301 Wilmington Ave.

Carson, California 90745-6209

(310) 513-7200

 

 

PROXY STATEMENT

 

 

This Proxy Statement and the 2012 Annual Report to Shareholders are being mailed on or about March 27, 2013 to shareholders of Ducommun Incorporated (the “Corporation”) who are such of record on March 11, 2013, in connection with the solicitation of proxies for use at the Corporation’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 9:00 o’clock A.M. on May 1, 2013, or at any adjournments or postponements thereof (the “Annual Meeting”), for the purposes set forth herein and in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting. The accompanying proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Corporation. Solicitation will be made by mail, interview, telephone, facsimile and internet. D. F. King & Co., Inc. has been retained to assist in the solicitation of proxies for which it will be paid a fee of $6,500 plus reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses. Brokers, nominees, banks and other custodians will be reimbursed for their costs incurred in forwarding solicitation material to beneficial owners. All expenses incident to the proxy solicitation will be paid by the Corporation.

Proxies in the accompanying form will be voted in accordance with the instructions given therein. If the proxy is completed and submitted (and not revoked) prior to the Annual Meeting, but no instructions are given, the proxies will be voted for the election as directors of the Corporation nominees, for approval of the advisory resolution on executive compensation, for approval of the 2013 Stock Incentive Plan, for ratification of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Corporation’s independent accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013, and in their discretion on such other business as may properly come before the meeting. Any shareholder may revoke his proxy at any time prior to its use by filing with the Secretary of the Corporation a written notice of revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date or by voting in person at the Annual Meeting.

The close of business on March 11, 2013 has been fixed as the record date (the “Record Date”) for the determination of holders of shares of Common Stock entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. At the close of business on the Record Date, the Corporation had outstanding 10,603,650 shares (excluding treasury shares) of Common Stock, $.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”). In the election of directors, holders of Common Stock have cumulative voting rights. Cumulative voting rights entitle a shareholder to a number of votes equal to the number of directors to be elected multiplied by the number of shares held. The votes so determined may be cast for one candidate or distributed among one or more candidates. Votes may not be cast, however, for a greater number of candidates than the number of nominees named herein. On all other matters to come before the Annual Meeting, each holder of Common Stock will be entitled to one vote for each share owned.

A majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock will constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum has been obtained. In the election of directors, abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted. On all other matters, abstentions will be counted, but broker non-votes will not be counted, for purposes of determining whether a proposal has been approved.

In the election of directors, the candidates receiving the highest number of votes will be elected to fill the vacancies on the Board of Directors. The approval of the 2013 Stock Incentive Plan and the ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Corporation’s independent accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013 requires approval by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the

Shareholder Meeting to be Held on May 1, 2013

This Proxy Statement and the 2012 Annual Report to Shareholders are available at

www.envisionreports.com/dco.

 

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ITEM 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Five directors (out of a total of nine) are to be elected at the forthcoming Annual Meeting: one director to serve for a one-year term expiring at the Annual Meeting in 2014 and thereafter until his successor is elected and qualified, one director to serve for a two-year term ending at the Annual Meeting in 2015 and thereafter until his successor is elected and qualified and three directors to serve for three-year terms ending at the Annual Meeting in 2016 and thereafter until their successors are elected and qualified. The nominees for such positions are Richard A. Baldridge, Gregory S. Churchill, Robert C. Ducommun, Dean M. Flatt and Jay L. Haberland. In the absence of a contrary direction, proxies in the accompanying form will be voted for the election of the foregoing nominees. Management does not contemplate that any of the nominees will be unable to serve as a director, but if that should occur the person designated in the proxies will cast votes for other persons in accordance with their best judgment. In the event that any person other than the nominees named herein should be nominated for election as a director, the proxy holders may vote for less than all of the nominees and in their discretion may cumulate votes. Should any of the directors whose terms continue past the 2013 Annual Meeting cease to serve as directors prior to the Annual Meeting, the authorized number of directors will be reduced accordingly. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR MESSRS. BALDRIDGE, CHURCHILL, DUCOMMUN, FLATT AND HABERLAND.

Directors’ Qualifications

The Board of Directors believes that the Board of Directors, as a whole, should possess a combination of skills, professional experience, and backgrounds necessary to oversee the Corporation’s business. In addition, the Board of Directors believes that there are certain attributes that every director should possess, as reflected in the Board’s membership criteria. Accordingly, the Board of Directors and its Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee consider the qualifications of directors and director candidates individually and in the broader context of the Board of Directors’ overall composition and the Corporation’s current and future needs.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for developing and recommending Board of Director membership criteria to the Board for approval. The criteria, which are set forth in the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, include independent and sound judgment, integrity, the ability to commit sufficient time and attention to Board of Director activities, and the absence of potential conflicts with the Corporation’s interests. In addition, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee periodically evaluates the composition of the Board of Directors to assess the skills and experience that are currently represented on the Board of Directors as well as the skills and experience that the Board of Directors will find valuable in the future, given the Corporation’s current situation and strategic plans. While the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee does not have an explicit policy with respect to diversity, it carefully considers the Board’s diversity of qualifications in terms of industry experience, functional skills, age, governance service on other boards, prior work experience, educational background, and other important considerations. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee believes that it is important that Board of Director members represent diverse viewpoints and perspectives in their application of judgment to company matters.

In evaluating director candidates, and considering incumbent directors for renomination to the Board of Directors, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee has considered a variety of factors. These include each nominee’s independence, financial literacy, personal and professional accomplishments and experience.

The following information is furnished as of March 11, 2013, with respect to the persons who are nominees for election to the Board of Directors, as well as for the other four directors of the Corporation whose terms of office will continue after the 2013 Annual Meeting.

 

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Anthony J. Reardon

       Age 62           Director Since 2010           Term Expires 2015   

Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

  

Mr. Reardon has been Chairman of the Board since 2012, Chief Executive Officer since 2010 and President since 2008. Mr. Reardon was President of Ducommun AeroStructures, Inc. from 2002 to 2007, and Senior Vice President Business Management of Ducommun AeroStructures, Inc. from 2001 to 2002. As the current Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, Mr. Reardon provides management’s perspective in Board discussions about the business and strategic direction of the Corporation, and has detailed knowledge of all aspects of the Corporation’s current operations and business.

 

Richard A. Baldridge

       Age 54           Director Since 2013           Term Expires 2014   

President and Chief Operating Officer, ViaSat, Inc.

  

    

Mr. Baldridge is the President and Chief Operating Officer of ViaSat, Inc. Mr. Baldridge was previously the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of ViaSat, Inc. and a senior executive of Hughes Information Systems. As the President and Chief Operating Officer of a leading provider of satellite communications systems and services and secure networking systems, Mr. Baldridge contributes to the Board broad operational and financial experience and an understanding of the defense markets served by the Corporation’s business.

 

Joseph C. Berenato

       Age 66           Director Since 1997           Term Expires 2014   

Retired Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

  

Mr. Berenato was Chairman of the Board from 1999 to 2012, Chief Executive Officer from 1997 to 2009, President from 1997 to 2007, and Chief Financial Officer from 1991 to 1996. Mr. Berenato presently is a Director or Trustee of six mutual funds in the American Funds Family managed by Capital Research & Management Company. As the former Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, Mr. Berenato provides the Board with a thorough understanding of the strategic direction of the Corporation and has experience in all aspects of the Corporation’s business.

 

Gregory S. Churchill

       Age 55           Director Since 2013           Term Expires 2015   

Retired Executive Vice President, International and Service Solutions, Rockwell Collins, Inc.

  

Mr. Churchill is the retired Executive Vice President, International and Service Solutions, of Rockwell Collins, Inc. Mr. Churchill was previously the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Government Systems, and the Vice President and General Manager, Business and Regional Systems, of Rockwell Collins, Inc. As a senior executive of one of the premier communications and aviation electronics suppliers for commercial and military customers worldwide, Mr. Churchill brings to the Corporation a thorough understanding of key customers, as well as major defense and commercial aerospace electronics markets served by the Corporation’s business.

 

Ralph D. Crosby, Jr.

       Age 65           Director Since 2000           Term Expires 2015   

Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, EADS North America, Inc.

  

Mr. Crosby is the retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of EADS North America, Inc. Mr. Crosby was previously Corporate Vice President and President, Integrated Systems Sector of Northrop Grumman Corporation. Mr. Crosby is a Director of American Electronic Power Company, Inc. and Serco Group plc. As a former senior executive in two of the world’s largest aerospace companies, Mr. Crosby provides the Board with a global perspective and significant operational experience, including in particular with respect to the aerostructures segment of the Corporation’s business.

Board Committees: Compensation (Chairman)

 

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Robert C. Ducommun

       Age 61           Director Since 1985           Term Expires 2016   

Business Advisor

              

Mr. Ducommun is a Business Advisor. Mr. Ducommun was previously the Chief Financial Officer for several private companies and a management consultant with McKinsey & Company. As a former management consultant and Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Ducommun brings to the Board substantial financial acumen and leadership in setting the strategic direction for the Corporation.

Board Committees: Corporate Governance and Nominating (Chairman) and Audit

 

Dean M. Flatt

       Age 62           Director Since 2009           Term Expires 2016   

Retired President, Defense & Space, Honeywell International, Inc.

  

    

Mr. Flatt is the retired President, Defense & Space of Honeywell International, Inc. Mr. Flatt was previously President, Aerospace Electronic Systems and President, Performance Materials of Honeywell International, Inc. Mr. Flatt is a Director of Curtiss-Wright Corporation. As the former President of several divisions of one of the world’s largest avionics manufacturers, Mr. Flatt contributes to the Board diverse operational experience and understanding of technologies relevant to the Corporation’s business.

Board Committees: Audit and Compensation

 

Jay L. Haberland

       Age 62           Director Since 2009           Term Expires 2016   

Retired Vice President, United Technologies Corporation

  

    

Mr. Haberland is the retired Vice President, Business Controls of United Technologies Corporation. Mr. Haberland was previously the Chief Financial Officer of Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation, and Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer of United Technologies Corporation. Mr. Haberland is a Director of Wesco Aircraft Holdings, Inc. As the former Chief Financial Officer of one of the world’s largest helicopter manufacturers and the Chief Accounting Officer of a world-wide diversified manufacturer, Mr. Haberland is a certified public accountant and provides the Board with significant expertise in financial and accounting matters, as well as substantial international experience.

Board Committees: Audit (Chairman)

 

Robert D. Paulson

       Age 67           Director Since 2003           Term Expires 2014   

Chief Executive Officer, Aerostar Capital LLC

  

    

Mr. Paulson is the Chief Executive Officer of Aerostar Capital LLC, a private equity firm. Mr. Paulson has been a management consultant for the aerospace industry for over 30 years, and was previously a senior partner with McKinsey & Company. Mr. Paulson is a Director of Wesco Aircraft Holdings, Inc. As a long-time consultant and investor in the aerospace industry, Mr. Paulson contributes to the Board substantial experience in developing and executing business strategies, as well as experience in the acquisition of businesses.

Board Committees: Compensation and Corporate Governance and Nominating

Lead Director

Eugene P. Conese, Jr., was in 2012 and currently is a member of the Board of Directors and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Mr. Conese is expected to retire at the 2013 Annual Meeting, and the Board of Directors expects to select a replacement for Mr. Conese on the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee at that time.

The Board of Directors met five times in 2012. All incumbent directors attended seventy-five percent or more of the meetings of the Board of Directors and Committees of the Board which were held while they were a director during 2012. The Corporation strongly encourages all directors to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and all of the directors attended the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Corporation has instituted a policy of holding regularly scheduled executive sessions of non-management directors to follow each regularly scheduled meeting of the full Board of Directors. Additional executive sessions of non-management directors may be held from time to time as required. The director serving as the presiding director during executive sessions currently is Mr. Paulson, the lead director of the Board of Directors.

 

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Each of the persons named above was elected by the shareholders at a prior annual meeting except for Messrs. Baldridge and Churchill. The Board of Directors has determined that Messrs. Baldridge, Churchill, Crosby, Ducommun, Flatt, Haberland and Paulson do not have any relationship with the Corporation other than in connection with their service as directors and meet the independence standards of the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards.

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

Description of Director Compensation

Directors who are not employees of the Corporation or a subsidiary were paid in 2012 and will be paid in 2013 an annual retainer and a fee for each meeting of a committee of the Board of Directors they attend as follows:

 

     Board Retainer      Committee Chairman Retainer      Lead  Director
Retainer
     Committee
Meeting  Fee
 
     Cash      RSUs(1)      Audit      Compensation      Corp. Gov.        

2012

   $ 45,000       $ 50,000       $ 7,500       $ 7,500       $ 7,500       $ 15,000       $ 1,000   

2013

   $ 50,000       $ 60,000       $ 12,500       $ 10,000       $ 7,500       $ 20,000       $ 1,750   

 

(1) Restricted stock units for a number of shares (rounded to the nearest 100 shares) equal to the stated dollar amount divided by the average closing price of the Corporation’s Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the five trading days immediately preceding the date of grant.

Under the Directors Deferred Income and Retirement Plan, a director may elect to defer payment of all or part of his fees for service as a director until he retires from service on the Board of Directors. Deferred directors’ fees may be placed, at the election of the director, in a fixed interest account or a phantom stock account which tracks the Common Stock of the Corporation with dividends (if any), and will be paid with earnings thereon following the retirement of the director. Upon retirement, Mr. Ducommun will receive the annual retainer fee of $25,000, which was in effect in 2009, for life or for a period of years equal to his service as a director prior to 1997 (when the accrual of additional years of service was terminated), whichever is shorter, provided that he retires after the age of 65, and is not an employee of the Corporation when he retires.

2012 Director Compensation Table

The following table presents the compensation earned or paid by the Corporation to the non-employee directors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012.

 

    Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash ($)
    Stock Awards  ($)(1)(2)(3)     Change in Pension
Value and Nonqualified
Deferred Compensation
Earnings ($)
    All Other
Compensation ($)
    Total ($)  

Joseph C. Berenato(4)

    19,301        33,286        0        440,630        493,217   

Richard A. Baldridge(5)

    0        0        0        0        0   

Gregory S. Churchill(5)

    0        0        0        0        0   

Eugene P. Conese, Jr.

    47,000        49,852        0        0        96,852   

Ralph D. Crosby(6)

    55,500        49,852        0        0        105,352   

Robert C. Ducommun

    59,500        49,852        9,313        0        118,665   

Dean M. Flatt

    52,000        49,852        0        0        101,852   

Jay L. Haberland

    57,500        49,852        0        0        107,352   

Robert D. Paulson

    65,000        49,852        0        0        114,852   

 

(1) At December 31, 2012, restricted stock units were outstanding as follows: (a) 3,400 for Mr. Berenato and (b) 4,400 for Messrs. Conese, Crosby, Ducommun, Flatt, Haberland and Paulson. As of December 31, 2012, stock options were outstanding as follows: (a) 95,000 for Mr. Berenato (which were awarded when he was an officer of the Corporation), (b) 6,000 shares for each of Messrs. Conese, Crosby, Ducommun, and Paulson, and (c) 3,000 shares for Mr. Haberland.

 

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(2) These amounts represent the aggregate grant date fair value of stock awards granted in 2012 as calculated pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718. The methodology and assumptions used in the valuation of stock awards are contained in footnote 9 to the Corporation’s financial statements included in Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
(3) In 2012, Mr. Berenato was granted restricted stock units for 3,400 shares of Common Stock and each other director was granted restricted stock units for 4,400 shares of Common Stock.
(4) All other compensation represents compensation earned by or paid to Mr. Berenato while he was employed by the Corporation as executive chairman from January 1, 2012 to July 27, 2012 consisting of: (i) $259,619 in salary, (ii) $165,000 in bonus under the 2012 Bonus Plan, and (iii) $16,015 in the aggregate for auto allowance, life insurance premiums and 401(k) matching contributions.
(5) Messrs. Baldridge and Churchill were elected to the Board of Directors on March 19, 2013.
(6) Mr. Crosby’s director’s fees were deferred into an account to which 4,469.72 shares of phantom stock were credited, in lieu of cash, in 2012.

Director Stock Ownership Policy

In early 2011, the Board of Directors adopted a stock ownership policy covering all non-employee directors. Under the policy, non-employee directors must acquire and hold shares of the Corporation’s common stock equal in value to at least three times the annual cash and stock retainer paid to all non-employee directors. Non-employee directors have five years from the later of the adoption of the policy or their initial election to meet this stock ownership guideline. All directors are in compliance or have additional time in which to comply with the stock ownership guideline.

BOARD LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE

The Corporation’s Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer is Anthony J. Reardon. Since July 27, 2012, the roles of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer have been combined following the retirement of Joseph C. Berenato as Executive Chairman.

The Board of Directors believes that strong, independent leadership and oversight of management is an important component of an effective Board of Directors. In this regard, the Board has elected Robert D. Paulson as the independent lead director with leadership authority and responsibilities. Mr. Paulson, together with the other members of the Board of Directors, review the agenda for all Board meetings, and Mr. Paulson sets the agenda for and leads all executive sessions of the independent directors and provides consolidated feedback from those meetings to the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer. The Board of Directors regularly meets in executive session without management present following each Board meeting and outside of regularly scheduled Board meetings on key issues as required. The lead director’s responsibilities and authority include:

 

   

coordinating the activities of the independent directors;

 

   

presiding at meetings of the Board of Directors at which the Chairman and the CEO are not present, including executive sessions of the independent directors;

 

   

setting the agenda for and leading non-management and independent director sessions held by the Board regularly, and briefing the Chairman and the CEO on any issues arising from those sessions;

 

   

having the authority to call executive sessions of the independent directors;

 

   

serving as a liaison between the Chairman and the CEO and the independent directors;

 

   

advising on the flow of information sent to the Board of Directors, and reviewing the agenda, materials and schedule for Board meetings; and

 

   

being available for consultation and communication with major shareholders as appropriate.

The independent members of the Board of Directors have determined that having the same person serve as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer provides a more efficient leadership structure for the Corporation when combined with an active lead director to assure the quality of the Corporation’s governance. In the future,

 

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however, the roles of Chairman and CEO may be filled by the same or different individuals. This flexibility allows the Board of Directors to determine the best governance structure for the Corporation based upon the Corporation’s needs and the Board of Directors’ assessment of the Corporation’s leadership from time to time. The Board of Directors periodically reviews the structure of Board and Corporation leadership as part of the succession planning process.

THE BOARD’S ROLE IN RISK OVERSIGHT

The Board of Directors oversees risk management as a whole and through its Committees. The Board regularly reviews information regarding, and risks associated with, the Corporation’s operations and liquidity.

While the full Board of Directors has the ultimate oversight responsibility for the risk management process, various Board Committees also have responsibilities for risk management in certain areas. In particular, the Audit Committee reviews risks related to financial reporting and internal controls. The Audit Committee also, at least annually, reviews and assesses enterprise-wide risks and risk mitigation plans implemented by management. Management regularly reports on each such risk to the Audit Committee or the full Board of Directors, as appropriate, and additional review or reporting on enterprise risks is conducted as needed or as requested by the Board of Directors or the Audit Committee. The Compensation Committee reviews the Corporation’s overall compensation programs and their effectiveness aligning executive pay with performance in the interests of shareholders. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee reviews and makes recommendations to the Board concerning the Corporation’s leadership structure and director independence.

The Compensation Committee reviews the risks associated with the Corporation’s compensation policies and practices for executive officers and employees generally. The Compensation Committee did not identify any risks arising from these policies and practices which are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Corporation. In the course of its review, the Compensation Committee considered various features of the compensation policies and practices that discourage excessive risk taking, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

   

An appropriate compensation philosophy based on peer group and other market compensation data,

 

   

An effective balance between cash and equity-based compensation,

 

   

An appropriate mix of short and longer-term performance measures, and

 

   

Financial and non-financial performance measurements, together with Compensation Committee and management discretion to adjust compensation appropriately.

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Corporation has standing Audit, Compensation, and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees. The members of each of the Committees are listed above under “Directors’ Qualifications.”

The Audit Committee, which met formally five times during 2012, oversees the integrity of the Corporation’s financial statements, the Corporation’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the independent auditor’s qualifications and independence, and the performance of the Corporation’s internal audit function and the Corporation’s independent auditor. The Audit Committee is governed by a charter which was adopted by the Board of Directors, and which is attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendix A. The Corporation’s securities are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are governed by its listing standards. All of the members of the Audit Committee meet the independence standards of the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards. The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Haberland, the chairman of the Audit Committee, is an audit committee financial expert as such term is defined under the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

 

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The Compensation Committee, which met formally two times during 2012, reviews and approves compensation for executive officers, grants stock options and other stock-based awards, administers stock option and stock-based award programs, reviews and recommends retirement plans, reviews and approves employment agreements and severance arrangements for executive officers, and oversees the evaluation of management of the Corporation. All of the members of the Compensation Committee meet the independence standards of the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, which met formally two times during 2012, reviews and recommends to the Board of Directors the nominees for election as directors of the Corporation and oversees the corporate governance of the Corporation. All of the members of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee meet the independence standards of the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards.

The charters of each of the committees of the Board of Directors and the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines are available on the Corporation’s website at www.ducommun.com and are available in writing upon the written request of any shareholder of the Corporation. Such requests should be addressed to Ducommun Incorporated, 23301 Wilmington Ave., Carson, CA 90745-6209, Attn: James S. Heiser, Secretary.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

During 2012, no member of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors was or had been an officer or employee of the Corporation, or had any relationship requiring disclosure hereunder. During 2012, no executive officer of the Corporation served as a member of the Compensation Committee or as a director of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors or as a director of the Corporation.

NOMINATING PROCESS

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider director candidates recommended by security holders of the Corporation, provided that any security holder recommending a director candidate must have beneficially owned more than five percent (5%) of the Corporation’s voting common stock continuously for at least one (1) year as of the date the recommendation is made and any such security holder may submit the name of only one person each year for consideration as a director candidate. All such security holders’ recommendations of director candidates must be submitted to the Secretary of the Corporation in writing no later than October 31 of the year preceding the annual meeting of shareholders, and must include (i) the full name, address and Social Security number of the director candidate recommended, (ii) the full name, address and taxpayer identification number of each of the security holders, and (iii) an affidavit of each of the security holders that they satisfy the minimum beneficial ownership of common stock requirements set forth above. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee considers and evaluates candidates recommended by security holders in the same manner that it considers and evaluates other director candidates.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee believes that all Committee-recommended nominees for election as a director of the Corporation must, at a minimum, have (i) diverse expertise, business experience, sound judgment and a record of accomplishment in areas relevant to the Corporation’s business activities, (ii) unquestionable integrity, (iii) commitment to representing the interests of the Corporation’s shareholders, (iv) willingness to devote sufficient time, energy and attention to carrying out their duties and responsibilities effectively, and (v) willingness to serve on the Board for an extended period of time. In identifying candidates to serve on the Board of Directors, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee first determines the evolving needs of the Board of Directors, taking into account such factors as it deems appropriate, including the current composition of the Board of Directors, the range of talents, experiences and

 

8


skills that would best complement those already represented on the Board of Directors, the balance of management and independent directors and the need for financial or other specialized expertise, as discussed in greater detail above under “Directors’ Qualifications.”

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee also believes that at least a majority, and preferably two-thirds, of the Corporation’s directors must be independent under the NYSE rules, and that at least one member of the Board of Directors must be an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by SEC rules. All persons to be considered for nomination as a director of the Corporation by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee must complete a questionnaire, provide such additional information as the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee may request, and meet in person with directors of the Corporation.

SECURITY HOLDERS AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES

COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Security holders and other interested parties may communicate with the Corporation’s Board of Directors in writing by mail, addressed to Board of Directors, Ducommun Incorporated, 23301 Wilmington Ave., Carson, CA 90745-6209. Persons wishing to communicate with the Board of Directors should include their full name and address. Security holders and other interested parties wishing to communicate with the Board of Directors should also include the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned, and the name of the record holder of the common stock if different from themselves (e.g., the name of any broker or bank holding the stock). The Corporation intends to forward all communications from security holders and other interested parties in the manner described above to the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee members, who will then determine whether the communications should be distributed to the entire Board of Directors of the Corporation. If the Board of Directors of the Corporation receives a substantial number of communications from security holders and other interested parties, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee may delegate to the general counsel of the Corporation the screening of these communications to remove solicitations and communications unrelated to the Corporation’s business. Should shareholders or other interested parties desire to communicate with the Corporation’s presiding director or non-management directors as a group, such communications should be addressed to either the presiding director or the non-management directors at the address set forth above.

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), requires the Corporation’s officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of the Corporation’s equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC and to furnish copies of such forms to the Corporation. Based solely on a review of the copies of such forms furnished to the Corporation, and on written representations that no Forms 5 were required, the Corporation believes that during its past fiscal year all of its officers, directors and greater than 10% owners complied with the filing requirements of Section 16(a).

CODE OF ETHICS

The Corporation has adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers and a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, the text of each of which is posted on the Corporation’s website at www.ducommun.com and is available in writing upon the written request of any shareholder of the Corporation. Such requests should be addressed to Ducommun Incorporated, 23301 Wilmington Ave., Carson, CA 90745-6209, Attn: James S. Heiser, Secretary.

 

9


EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

Anthony J. Reardon

       Age 62        

Mr. Reardon has served as Chairman of the Board since 2012, Chief Executive Officer since 2010 and President since 2008. For additional information on Mr. Reardon, see ITEM 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS, “Directors’ Qualifications” on page 2.

 

Joel H. Benkie

       Age 56        

Mr. Benkie has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since 2012. Mr. Benkie was previously Group Vice President of Operations of Parker Aerospace, a unit of Parker Hannifin Corporation.

 

Joseph P. Bellino

       Age 62        

Mr. Bellino has served as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since 2008. Mr. Bellino was previously Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Kaiser Aluminum Corporation.

 

James S. Heiser

       Age 56        

Mr. Heiser has served as Vice President since 1990, General Counsel since 1988 and Secretary since 1987.

 

Samuel D. Williams

       Age 64        

Mr. Williams has served as Vice President since 1991 and Controller since 1988.

 

Kathryn M. Andrus

       Age 44        

Ms. Andrus has served as Vice President, Internal Audit since 2008. Ms. Andrus was previously Director of Internal Audit.

 

Douglas L. Groves

       Age 51        

Mr. Groves has served as Vice President, Accounting since 2013. Mr. Groves was previously Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Beckman Coulter, Inc., and prior to that was Vice President of Finance for the North American operations of Beckman Coulter, Inc.

 

Michael G. Pollack

       Age 53        

Mr. Pollack has served as Vice President, Sales and Marketing since 2010. Mr. Pollack was previously Vice President, Sales and Marketing of Ducommun AeroStructures, Inc. and Ducommun Technologies, Inc.

 

Rose F. Rogers

       Age 51        

Ms. Rogers has served as Vice President, Human Resources since 2008. Ms. Rogers was previously Vice President, Human Resources of Ducommun AeroStructures, Inc.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The tables below show the name and address of the beneficial owners, amount and nature of beneficial ownership and percentage ownership of persons or groups known by the Corporation to be the beneficial owners of 5% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock as of December 31, 2012 except for Mr. Ducommun who is shown as of March 11, 2013. The tables below also show the name, amount and nature of beneficial ownership and percentage ownership of each director and nominee for director, each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table contained in this Proxy Statement, and all directors and executive officers as a group as of March 11, 2013. Unless otherwise indicated, such shareholders have sole voting and investment power (or share such power with their spouse) with respect to the shares set forth in the tables. The Corporation knows of no contractual arrangements which may at a subsequent date result in a change in control of the Corporation.

 

10


For the purposes of the tables, beneficial ownership of shares has been determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 of the SEC, under which a person is deemed to be the beneficial owner of securities if he or she has or shares voting or investment power with respect to such securities or has the right to acquire ownership thereof within 60 days. Accordingly, the amounts shown in the tables do not purport to represent beneficial ownership for any purpose other than compliance with SEC reporting requirements.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

 

Name and Address of Shareholders

   Number of Shares     Percentage of Class  

Robert C. Ducommun

     588,388 (1)      5.5

1155 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10128

    

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

     846,323 (2)      8.0

Building One

6300 Bee Cave Road

Austin, TX 78746

    

FMR LLC

     816,573 (3)      7.7

82 Devonshire Street

Boston, MA 02109

    

The Vanguard Group

     560,454 (4)      5.3

100 Vanguard Blvd.

Malvern, PA 19355

    

 

(1) The number of shares includes (i) 50,000 shares held by a foundation of which Mr. Ducommun is an officer, as to which he disclaims any beneficial interest, (ii)103,438 shares as to which Mr. Ducommun has been granted a proxy to exercise voting power by his sister, Electra D. de Peyster, (iii) a total of 5,050 shares owned by Mr. Ducommun’s wife, daughter and step-daughters and 3,000 shares owned by his nephews, as to which he disclaims any beneficial interest, (iv) 5,000 shares held in an IRA for the benefit of himself, and (v) 6,000 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options. Mr. Ducommun has sole voting and sole investment power as to 426,900 shares, shared voting power as to 103,438 shares and shared investment power as to 58,050 shares.
(2) The information is based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC dated February 8, 2013. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP has sole voting power as to 834,329 shares and sole investment power as to 846,323 shares.
(3) The information is based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC dated February 13, 2013. FMR LLC has sole voting power as to 1,714 shares and sole investment power as to 816,573 shares.
(4) The information is based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC dated February 7, 2013. The Vanguard Group has sole voting power as to 7,058 shares, sole investment power as to 553,396 shares, and shared investment power as to 7,058 shares.

 

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Security Ownership of Directors and Management

 

Name

   Number of
Shares(1)(2)
     Percentage
of Class
 

Joseph C. Berenato

     169,006         1.6

Richard A. Baldridge

     0         *   

Gregory S. Churchill

     0         *   

Eugene P. Conese, Jr.  

     17,344         *   

Ralph D. Crosby, Jr.  

     17,374         *   

Robert C. Ducommun

     588,388         5.5

Dean M. Flatt

     4,400         *   

Jay L. Haberland

     7,400         *   

Robert D. Paulson

     34,167         *   

Anthony J. Reardon

     125,607         1.2

Joseph P. Bellino

     41,534         *   

Joel H. Benkie

     0         *   

James S. Heiser

     47,649         *   

Samuel D. Williams

     24,914         *   

All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (18 persons)

     1,131,965         10.3

 

* Less than one percent.
(1) The number of shares includes the following shares that may be purchased within 60 days after March 11, 2013 by exercise of outstanding stock options: 82,500 by Mr. Berenato, 6,000 by each of Messrs. Conese, Crosby, Ducommun and Paulson, 3,000 by Mr. Haberland, 77,500 by Mr. Reardon, 40,000 by Mr. Bellino, 43,625 by Mr. Heiser, 22,250 by Mr. Williams and 345,000 by all directors and executive officers as a group. The number of shares for Mr. Berenato includes 24,750 held in an IRA for the benefit of himself, 6,950 held in trust for the benefit of his children, and 425 held in an IRA for the benefit of his wife.
(2) See the information set forth in Note 1 to the table under “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners.”

ITEM 2: ADVISORY RESOLUTION TO APPROVE NAMED EXECUTIVE

COMPENSATION

We are asking shareholders to approve an advisory resolution on the Corporation’s named executive compensation as reported in this proxy statement. As described below in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section of this proxy statement, the Compensation Committee has structured our executive compensation program to achieve the following key objectives:

 

   

Provide competitive levels of compensation that relate pay to the achievement of the Corporation’s financial goals;

 

   

Recognize individual initiative and performance;

 

   

Assist the Corporation in attracting and retaining qualified executives; and

 

   

Create a pay-for-performance compensation approach to align executive interests with shareholder interests.

Our pay-for-performance compensation approach consists of a mix of shorter-term and longer-term incentive compensation, including annual cash bonuses, stock options vesting in annual increments over four years, and performance stock units vesting at the end of three-year performance periods. As a result of the emphasis on pay-for-performance, as reflected in the Summary Compensation Table in 2012:

 

   

61% of total compensation for the chief executive officer was based on performance; and

 

   

40-48% of the total compensation of the other named executive officers, depending on position, was based on performance.

 

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We urge shareholders to read the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” below, which describes in more detail how our executive compensation policies and procedures operate and are designed to achieve our compensation objectives, as well as the Summary Compensation Table and related compensation tables and narrative, appearing on pages 13 through 29, which provide detailed information on the compensation of our named executive officers. The Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors believe that the policies and procedures articulated in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” are effective in achieving our goals and that the compensation of our executive officers reported in this proxy statement has supported and contributed to the Corporation’s success.

In accordance with Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and as a matter of good corporate governance, we are asking shareholders to approve the following advisory resolution at the 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders:

RESOLVED, that the shareholders of Ducommun Incorporated (the “Corporation”) approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Summary Compensation Table and the related compensation tables, notes and narrative in the Proxy Statement for the Company’s 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

This advisory resolution, commonly referred to as a “say-on-pay” resolution, is non-binding on the Board of Directors. Although non-binding, the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee will carefully review and consider the voting results when evaluating our executive compensation program.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF ITEM 2.

COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

2013 Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Overview

Decisions relating to compensation of the Corporation’s executive officers generally are made by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Each member of the Compensation Committee is an independent director of the Corporation.

Compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to the Corporation’s executive officers during 2012, who are listed in the tables below (the “named executive officers”), consists principally of the following:

 

   

Salary paid on a bi-weekly basis,

 

   

Annual cash bonus paid in the first quarter of the following year,

 

   

Nonqualified stock options which are granted each year and vest over the subsequent four years,

 

   

Performance stock units which are granted each year and vest based on the Corporation’s performance over the subsequent three-year performance period, and

 

   

Restricted stock units which are granted each year and vest over the subsequent three years.

The Corporation’s financial performance and non-financial performance were significant factors affecting compensation of the named executive officers in 2012 as follows:

 

   

Annual cash bonuses were awarded under the 2012 Bonus Plan in recognition of: (i) net sales exceeding the minimum (although less than target) in the 2012 Bonus Plan, (ii) net income, as adjusted, exceeding the minimum (although less than the target) in the 2012 Bonus Plan, (iii) cash flow from

 

13


 

operations exceeding the target in the 2012 Bonus Plan, and (iv) the individual performance of the named executive officers in successfully integrating the June 2011 acquisition of LaBarge, Inc. (“LaBarge”), as well as improving asset management which allowed the Corporation to voluntarily prepay $25 million of the term loan used to finance the LaBarge acquisition. Actual and target net sales, net income and cash flow from operations, were as follows for purposes of the 2012 Bonus Plan:

 

     (in $ millions)
2012 Bonus Plan
 
     Target      Actual  

Net Sales

     785         747   

Net Income (as adjusted)(1)

     20.3         18.4   

Cash Flow from Operations

     31.6         47.5   

 

(1)

Actual 2012 net income was adjusted to include 2012 federal research and development tax credits (“2012 R & D Tax Credits”), the benefit of which will be realized on our 2012 federal income tax return, but which will be recognized under generally accepted accounting principles in the first quarter of 2013. The 2012 R & D Tax Credits will not be included in the calculation of net income under the 2013 Bonus Plan.

 

   

No performance stock units vested with respect to the three-year performance period from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2012 because the Corporation did not achieve the minimum threshold for either the cumulative diluted earnings per share or the relative total shareholder return performance metrics during the three-year period.

The Corporation provided shareholders a “say-on-pay” advisory vote to approve its executive compensation in 2012 under Section 14A of the Exchange Act. At the 2012 Annual Meeting, shareholders expressed substantial support for the compensation of the Corporation’s named executive officers, with almost 96% of the votes cast for approval of the “say-on-pay” advisory vote. The Compensation Committee carefully evaluated the results of the 2012 advisory vote in connection with its evaluation of the Company’s executive compensation programs more generally. Taking into account the results of the “say-on-pay” vote, the Compensation Committee did not make any material changes to the Company’s executive compensation program and policies as a result of the 2012 “say-on-pay” vote.

The Corporation has entered into key executive severance agreements with each of the named executive officers (except for Mr. Benkie who joined the Corporation in June 2012), and all of the executive officers are covered by the Corporation’s severance practices. Other compensation paid to executive officers is not material. The Corporation generally does not provide any pension, profit sharing or other similar retirement benefits, or many of the executive perquisites typically provided by other companies to their senior executives.

Each element of compensation of the chief executive officer is set by the Compensation Committee. Each element of compensation of the other named executive officers is recommended by the chief executive officer and approved by the Compensation Committee.

Compensation Objectives

The Corporation’s compensation programs are designed to provide competitive levels of compensation that relate pay to the achievement of the Corporation’s financial goals, recognize individual initiative and performance, and assist the Corporation in attracting and retaining qualified executives. The Corporation intends for overall compensation of the named executive officers to be at levels that are broadly competitive with other companies of similar size.

 

14


The Corporation’s philosophy in the compensation of its named executive officers is oriented towards a pay-for-performance approach. In 2012, as reported in the Summary Compensation Table below, performance-based compensation represented a significant percentage of the total compensation of each of the named executive officers:

 

     Performance-Based Compensation
As % of Total Compensation
 

Chief Executive Officer

     61

Other Named Executive Officers

     40-48

Significant elements of total compensation of the named executive officers that are performance based are as follows:

 

   

Annual cash bonuses are designed to reward the achievement of annual financial goals. In particular, annual cash bonuses are based on the Corporation’s actual financial performance compared to targets for net sales, net income and cash flow from operations, and on the individual performance of the named executive officers.

 

   

Nonqualified stock options are designed to reward the achievement of long-term growth in the Corporation’s stock price. Nonqualified stock options are granted at 100% of the closing price of the Corporation’s stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of grant, and vest in annual increments over a period of four (4) years. Stock options will have value to the named executive officers only to the extent of any increase in the Corporation’s stock price over the price on the date of grant.

 

   

Performance stock units are designed to reward the achievement of long-term growth in the Corporation’s diluted earnings per share and long-term reduction in the Corporation’s leverage. Performance stock units generally vest at the end of the three-year performance period depending on the Corporation’s performance relative to the performance metrics.

The Corporation does not target any specific mix of cash versus non-cash compensation or immediate payout versus long-term compensation for its named executive officers. Instead, each element of compensation (salary, annual cash bonus and stock-based compensation) is paid or awarded in amounts which are each intended to be market competitive and consistent with the principles described above and internal pay equity within the Corporation.

Compensation Consultant and Benchmarking

The Compensation Committee retained Aon Hewitt (“Aon”), a division of Aon Corporation, as an independent compensation consultant directly reporting to the Compensation Committee. Aon has not provided any other services to the Corporation in 2012 other than those provided to the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee has reviewed an assessment of any potential conflicts of interest raised by Aon’s work for the Compensation Committee by considering the following six factors: (i) the provision of other services to the Corporation by Aon; (ii) the amount of fees received from the Corporation by Aon, as a percentage of the total revenue of Aon; (iii) the policies and procedures of Aon that are designed to prevent conflicts of interest; (iv) any business or personal relationship of the Aon consultant with a member of the Compensation Committee; (v) any Corporation stock owned by the Aon consultants; and (vi) any business or personal relationship of the Aon consultant or Aon with any of the Corporation’s executive officers, and concluded that there are no such conflicts of interest. Using the same six factors, the Compensation Committee has also assessed the independence of Aon and has concluded that Aon is independent as confirmed by Aon.

The Compensation Committee retained Aon to assess the Corporation’s executive compensation compared to a peer group and published compensation survey data in view of the June 2011 acquisition of LaBarge, Inc., which almost doubled the sales and employees of the Corporation, and to make recommendations as appropriate for changes in the Corporation’s executive compensation. Aon’s assessment of executive compensation was used

 

15


by the Compensation Committee in establishing compensation in 2012 for the named executive officers to the extent described below. The peer group consisted of fourteen (14) aerospace and defense companies selected by Aon and the Compensation Committee. The peer group companies had median annual sales of $1.3 billion in the most recent fiscal year as of the date of Aon’s compensation survey. The Corporation’s sales were $747 million in 2012. The peer group consisted specifically of the following:

 

•   AAR Corporation

  

•   Hexcel Corporation

•   Ceradyne, Inc.

  

•   Kaman Corporation

•   Cubic Corporation

  

•   Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.

•   Curtiss-Wright Corporation

  

•   Moog Inc.

•   Esterline Technologies Corporation

  

•   Teledyne Technologies, Inc.

•   Gencorp Corporation

  

•   Transdigm Group, Inc.

•   Heico Corporation

  

•   Triumph Group, Inc.

In addition, Aon compared the Corporation’s executive compensation to compensation survey data for general industry and manufacturing industry with annual revenues between $500 million and $1 billion, based on the advice of Aon that such compensation survey data would provide a reasonable basis for benchmarking the Corporation’s executive compensation. The Corporation’s sales were $747 million in 2012. The compensation survey data consisted of reports and data bases supplied by Hewitt Associates, Towers Watson and Mercer Human Resource Consulting.

With respect to the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer and the general counsel, the Compensation Committee reviewed both the peer group data and the compensation survey data. With respect to the other executive officers, the number of positions in the peer group data was considered insufficient and the Compensation Committee relied to a greater extent on the compensation survey data. In reviewing the peer group data and the compensation survey data, the Compensation Committee evaluated the relative percentile ranking of the chief executive officer and the other executive officers with respect to salary, total cash compensation, and total compensation. In connection with this evaluation, the Compensation Committee determined the appropriate levels of salary, total cash compensation and total compensation with reference to the 25th percentile of the peer group data (which had annual revenues of approximately $835 million) and the 50th percentile for the compensation survey data (which had annual revenues of approximately $750 million). The Compensation Committee also considered each named executive officer’s scope of responsibility, years of experience, demonstrated performance and marketability, and impact level within the Corporation relative to other executives.

Salaries

The Corporation pays salaries to its named executive officers in consideration of the performance of specific roles and responsibilities and competitive market practices. In establishing the salaries for the named executive officers in 2012 (except for the chief operating officer who joined the Corporation in June 2012), the Compensation Committee considered Aon’s compensation assessment of base salary which indicated that the base salary was below the 25th percentile of the peer group data for the chief executive officer, chief financial officer and general counsel and the 50th percentile of the compensation survey data for the chief executive officer (with the chief financial officer and general counsel slightly above the 50th percentile). In view of these findings, the Compensation Committee determined that, effective in March 2012, the base salary of the chief executive officer would be increased 11% to $600,000 per year, and the base salary of the other named executive officers would be increased by 4-7%. The base salary of the chief operating officer was established when he was recruited to join the Corporation in June 2012 in the amount of $400,000 per year, which the Compensation Committee determined was necessary to attract him to the position and consistent with internal pay equity within the Corporation.

 

16


Annual Cash Bonuses

Annual cash bonuses are awarded based on the Corporation’s actual financial performance compared to targets (weighted 10% for net sales, 45% for net income and 45% for cash flow from operations), and on the individual performance of named executive officers. The Compensation Committee chose net sales, net income and cash flow from operations as the performance targets because it believes that growth in net sales, net income and cash flow from operations are essential to the Corporation’s objective to provide superior long-term total shareholder return. The Compensation Committee approves at the beginning of the year the thresholds, targets and maximums for the financial performance measures and the formula for funding the bonus pool. In 2012, the Compensation Committee adjusted the calculation of net income to include the benefit of the 2012 federal research and development tax credits (“2012 R & D Tax Credits”) since the Corporation will realize the benefit of these tax credits in its 2012 federal income tax return even though the 2012 R & D Tax Credits will not be recognized in the Corporation’s income statement until the first quarter of 2013.

The thresholds, targets and maximums for 2012 for net sales, net income and cash flow from operations of the Corporation for purposes of funding the 2012 bonus pool were as follows:

 

     Threshold      ($ millions)
Target
     Maximum  

Net Sales

     746         785         825   

Net Income

     16.3         20.3         24.4   

Cash Flow from Operations

     25.3         31.6         55.3   

Annual cash bonuses were targeted at 70% of salary for the chief executive officer, 50% of salary for the chief operating officer, 45% of salary for the chief financial officer and general counsel and 40% of salary for the other named executive officers. In establishing the annual cash bonus target amounts, the Compensation Committee considered the results of Aon’s compensation assessment which indicated that total cash compensation (salary and annual cash bonus at target) for the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer and the general counsel was below the 25th percentile of the peer group data and the 50th percentile of the compensation survey data. In view of these findings, in order to provide competitive compensation levels and financial incentives to the named executive officers tied directly to the financial performance of the Corporation, the Compensation Committee increased the target annual bonuses as a percent of salary in 2012 compared to 2011 to 70% from 60% for the chief executive officer and to 45% from 40% for the chief financial officer and general counsel. The annual cash bonus for the chief operating officer was set at 50% of salary when he was recruited to join the Corporation based on competitive market practices, and was prorated for the part of the year he was employed by the Corporation.

Annual cash bonuses can range from zero to an upper limit of three times the targeted percentage of salary for each named executive officer. Although the annual cash bonus plan is formula-based, the Compensation Committee has the discretion to award bonuses which differ from the formula-based amounts, including awarding bonuses in excess of the maximum amounts based upon the subjective overall qualitative assessment of an individual’s performance and contributions during the year, the importance of the individual’s position within the Corporation, internal pay equity and retention considerations.

In 2012, the Corporation’s net sales, net income (including the benefit of the 2012 R & D Tax Credits) and cash flow from operations were as follows:

 

     (in $ millions)
Actual
 

Net Sales

     747   

Net Income (as adjusted)(1)

     18.4   

Cash Flow from Operations

     47.5   

 

(1) Adjusted to include $2.0 million for 2012 R & D Tax Credits.

 

17


As a result, in 2012, the Corporation’s net sales and adjusted net income were more than the minimum but less than the target, and the cash flow from operations exceeded the target but was less than the maximum. Annual cash bonuses were awarded to the named executive officers for 2012 based on the Corporation’s net sales, adjusted net income and cash flow from operations relative to the targets under the 2012 Bonus Plan, as well as the individual performance of the named executive officers in successfully integrating the acquisition of LaBarge and improving asset management which allowed the Corporation to voluntarily prepay $25 million of the term loan used to finance the LaBarge acquisition.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation awards are granted periodically to the named executive officers to attract, motivate and retain these employees. Stock options are performance-based since the stock options will have value to the named executive officers only to the extent of any increase in the Corporation’s stock price. Performance stock units are performance-based since the performance stock units vest only if the Corporation achieves the specified performance metrics. Restricted stock units are used to provide a direct ownership interest in the Corporation and a long-term incentive for the named executive officers to remain in the employment of the Corporation.

The Compensation Committee intends for the preponderance of stock-based compensation to be tied to the long-term financial performance of the Corporation and its stock. Although individual stock-based compensation awards may vary, under current conditions as a general guideline the Compensation Committee makes awards so that the percentage of the total value of stock-based compensation is approximately as follows:

 

     Percent of Total Value of
Stock Based Compensation
 
     Stock
Options
    Performance
Stock Units
    Restricted
Stock  Units
 

Chief Executive Officer

     30     50     20

Other Named Executive Officers

     40     40     20

In determining the amount of stock-based compensation awards, the Compensation Committee considered the results of Aon’s compensation assessment which indicated that the long-term incentive compensation was below the 25th percentile of the peer group data (excluding two companies that did not award any stock-based compensation) for the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer and the general counsel, and was below the 50th percentile of the compensation survey data for the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer (with the general counsel approximately at the 50th percentile). In view of these findings, in order to provide competitive compensation levels and long-term financial incentives to the named executive officers tied to the long-term financial performance of the Corporation and its stock, the Compensation Committee adjusted the stock-based compensation based on the results of Aon’s compensation assessment. The stock-based compensation for the chief operating officer was determined when he was recruited to join the Corporation based on competitive market practices and generally consistent with the stock-based compensation awarded to the chief financial officer.

Stock Options

Stock options have been granted in late June or July of each year, but stock options may be granted at other times in the event of the new hire of an executive officer or the special award of a stock option to recognize individual performance. The Compensation Committee establishes the meeting dates and grant dates for stock options and does not determine these dates based on knowledge of material nonpublic information or in response to the Corporation’s stock price. The Corporation granted stock options to the named executive officers in 2012 to encourage the named executive officers to work with a long-term view in the interest of shareholders and to reward the achievement of long-term growth in the Corporation’s stock price.

 

18


2012 Performance Stock Units

In 2012, performance stock units were awarded which will be earned and become vested based upon the achievement of specific annual performance targets over a three-year performance period (from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2014). The performance stock units generally will vest at the end of the three-year performance period in amounts from 0% to 200% of the target units depending on the Corporation’s performance relative to two performance metrics during the performance period. However, performance stock units become fully vested immediately at the target number of shares (subject to the discretion of the Compensation Committee to increase, but not decrease, the number of shares) in the event of a change in control of the Corporation, as defined in the performance stock unit agreements. The annual performance metrics, which are equally weighted, that are used in the performance stock units are: (i) the adjusted diluted earnings per share of the Corporation during each year of the performance period, and (ii) the leverage ratio of the Corporation at the end of each year of the performance period. The number of performance stock units that vest based on the Corporation’s performance over the three-year performance period is equal to the sum of (i) the vesting percentage determined by reference to the table below with respect to the Corporation’s adjusted diluted earnings per share in each year of the performance period multiplied by the number of target performance stock units, plus (ii) the vesting percentage determined by reference to the table below with respect to the leverage ratio at the end of each year of the performance period multiplied by the target number of performance stock units. The leverage ratio is based on the Corporation’s net debt divided by adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) as defined in the performance stock unit agreements. The performance metrics for performance stock units awarded in 2012 are as follows:

 

Adjusted

Diluted Earnings

Per Share

     Vesting
Percentage
of Target
Units for
Each Year
         Leverage
Ratio
     Vesting
Percentage of
Target Units for
Each Year
 

  2012  

   2013      2014                 2012      2013      2014         

$1.79

   $ 1.79       $ 1.79         5        4.25         3.75         3.50         5

$1.90

   $ 2.02       $ 2.14         16.666        3.50         3.25         3.00         16.666

$2.06

   $ 2.37       $ 2.73         33.333        3.25         2.90         2.60         33.333

In the event that the Corporation’s performance relative to the performance metrics falls between two of the data points listed in the table above, the percentage of target performance stock units that vest will be determined by linear interpolation between the two data points. The adjusted diluted earnings per share is calculated, as determined by the Compensation Committee, by adjusting diluted earnings per share for changes in accounting, discontinued operations, and to exclude gain or loss on the sale of any business or product line, any asset impairment write-offs or charges (whether of goodwill, intangible or tangible assets), acquisition-related transaction expenses (including those arising under statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141R), and debt refinancing and restructuring expenses. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated, as determined by the Compensation Committee, by adding to net income depreciation and amortization, other non-cash charges (including goodwill impairment), interest expenses, income taxes, stock-based compensation, acquisition-related change in control and compensation expenses, and restructuring and non-recurring expenses.

The performance stock units were awarded to encourage the named executive officers to work with a long-term view in the interest of shareholders and to reward the achieved of long-term growth in the Corporation’s stock price. The Compensation Committee chose diluted earnings per share as one of the performance metrics in order to tie executive compensation directly to the long-term growth in the earnings of the Corporation. The Compensation Committee chose the leverage ratio as the other performance metric in order to tie executive compensation directly to a reduction in the Corporation’s indebtedness and financial leverage.

2010 Performance Stock Units

The three-year performance period for performance stock units awarded in 2010 ended on December 31, 2012. The performance metrics, which were equally weighted, that were used in the performance stock units

 

19


awarded in 2010 are: (i) the adjusted cumulative diluted earnings per share of the Corporation during the performance period, and (ii) the relative total shareholder return of the Corporation’s Common Stock compared to the SPADE Defense Index during the performance period. None of these performance stock units vested since the Corporation did not achieve the threshold for either of the performance metrics over the performance period. The performance metrics for performance stock units awarded in 2010 were as follows:

 

Adjusted
Cumulative
Diluted Earnings
Per Share

   Vesting
Percentage
of Target
Units
         Relative Total
Annual
Shareholder
Return
    Vesting
Percentage
of Target
Units
 
$6.82      15        -5.0     15
$7.22      33        -2.5     33
$7.63      50        0     50
$8.07      67        2.5     67
$8.52      83        5.0     83
$8.98      100        7.5     100

For the three-year performance period ended December 31, 2012, the Corporation’s cumulative diluted earnings per share (as adjusted pursuant to the terms of the performance stock unit agreements) was $3.95, and the Corporation’s relative total annual shareholder return was -13.8%. The Corporation’s cumulative diluted earnings per share for the three-year performance period ended December 31, 2012, as reported above, reflects adjustments pursuant to the terms of the performance stock unit agreements to exclude goodwill impairment expenses, but does not include any adjustments for transaction-related expenses arising from the LaBarge acquisition.

Restricted Stock Units

The Corporation awarded restricted stock units to the named executive officers in 2012 to provide a direct ownership interest in the Corporation and to reward the achievement of long-term growth in the Corporation’s stock. Restricted stock units also are intended to provide a long-term incentive for the named executive officers to remain in the employment of the Corporation.

Severance and Change in Control Agreements and Practices

As described above, stock-based compensation vests immediately in the event of a change in control of the Corporation. All of the Corporation’s stock-based compensation programs have provided, for many years, for immediate vesting of stock-based awards in the event of a change in control as a matter of fairness to the employees.

Messrs. Bellino, Heiser, Reardon and Williams each are parties to key executive severance agreements entered with the Corporation. The Corporation also has a severance practice, which applies in the event of the termination without cause of an executive officer. Benefits under the severance practice are in addition to benefits under the key executive severance agreements.

Key executive severance agreements are considered to be a necessary part of the process in the recruitment and retention of qualified executives. The Corporation’s severance practice for the named executive officers is a part of the Corporation’s broader severance practices which apply to all employees (except union employees), although the amount of severance eligibility will vary from employee to employee depending on position, length of service, the business reasons for the termination and other factors. The Corporation does not provide gross-ups for taxes under the key executive severance agreements or the severance practice. The key executive severance agreements and severance practice are used by the Corporation to allow its executives to focus on shareholder interests in considering strategic alternatives and to provide income protection for executives in the event of an involuntary termination of employment.

 

20


Clawback Policy

The Corporation does not currently have a policy requiring a specific course of action with respect to compensation adjustments following later restatements of financial results. The Corporation expects to adopt such a policy once the SEC has finalized regulations concerning compensation “clawbacks.”

Other Compensation

Other compensation and personal benefits paid or made available to the named executive officers is not material. The Corporation provides an automobile allowance to the named executive officers, which partially compensates them for the termination of the company car program a number of years ago. Medical, dental, life and other insurance benefits, and 401(k) matching contributions are provided to the named executive officers on a non-discriminatory basis with other employees of the Corporation.

Executive Officer Stock Ownership Policy

The Board of Directors has adopted a stock ownership policy covering certain executive officers of the Corporation. Under the policy, certain executive officers must acquire and hold shares of the Corporation’s stock equal in value to a multiple of their annual salary as follows:

 

     Multiple of Salary  

Chairman of the Board (if an employee)

     3X   

President and Chief Executive Officer

     3X   

Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel

     1.5X   

Senior Officer at Each Key Business Unit

     1X   

Executive officers have five years from the later of the adoption of the policy or their initial election to meet this stock ownership guideline. All officers are in compliance or have additional time in which to comply with the stock ownership guideline.

Tax Deductibility and Gross-Ups

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code places a limit of $1 million on the amount of compensation that a publicly held corporation may deduct in any one year with respect to its chief executive officer and each of the next three most highly compensated executive officers (other than its chief financial officer). In general, certain performance-based compensation approved by stockholders is not subject to this deduction limit. The Compensation Committee generally seeks to qualify certain compensation paid to our named executive officers for an exemption from the deductibility limitations of Section 162(m). However, the Compensation Committee may authorize compensation payments from time to time that do not comply with the exemptions in Section 162(m).

In addition, the change in control provisions described in the section entitled “Severance and Change in Control Agreements and Practices” could subject an executive to an excise tax on an “excess parachute payment” under Internal Revenue Code Section 4999. The Corporation does not provide any gross-up to its executives for any excise tax due under this section of the Internal Revenue Code.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” set forth above with management. Based on these reviews and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors of the Corporation that the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” be included in this Proxy Statement and incorporated by reference into the Corporation’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Submitted by the Compensation Committee,

Ralph D. Crosby, Jr.—Chairman

Dean M. Flatt

Robert D. Paulson

 

21


2012 Summary Compensation Table

The Summary Compensation Table and the other tables which follow disclose (in accordance with SEC rules) the compensation for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 awarded to, earned by or paid to all individuals serving as the Corporation’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer during 2012, and the other three most highly paid executive officers of the Corporation during 2012 (collectively, the “named executive officers”). Columns have been omitted from the tables when there has been no compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to any of the named executive officers required to be reported in that column in any fiscal year covered by the table.

 

Name and Principal Position

  Year     Salary
($)
    Stock
Awards
($)(1)(2)
    Option
Awards
($)(1)
    Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation

($)(3)
    All Other
Compensation
($)(4)
    Total
($)
 

Anthony J. Reardon

    2012        581,538        643,480        247,530        550,000        24,148        2,046,696   

Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

    2011        516,179        334,650        265,335        335,000        24,052        1,475,216   
    2010        500,000        175,600        141,460        490,000        24,248        1,331,308   

Joel H. Benkie(5)

    2012        215,385        78,480        99,012        140,000        10,709        543,586   

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

             

Joseph P. Bellino

    2012        365,385        166,680        99,012        215,000        23,722        869,799   

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

    2011        347,717        133,860        159,201        145,000        23,462        809,240   
    2010        335,500        87,800        102,880        225,000        23,408        774,488   

James S. Heiser

    2012        325,154        166,680        74,259        195,000        22,566        783,659   

Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

    2011        308,683        133,860        110,556        125,000        22,122        700,221   
    2010        298,077        87,800        70,730        195,000        20,940        672,547   

Samuel D. Williams

    2012        252,462        94,537        7,426        140,000        23,365        517,790   

Vice President and Controller

    2011        242,472        100,395        61,912        100,000        23,055        527,834   
    2010        232,269        87,800        38,580        155,000        22,108        535,757   

 

(1) These columns show the grant date fair value of awards computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718. The methodology and assumptions used in the valuation of stock option awards, performance stock units (“PSUs”) and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) are contained in footnote 9 to the Corporation’s financial statements included in Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
(2) Stock awards to the named executive officers consist of PSUs in each year and RSUs in 2011 and 2012. The value of PSUs, which are subject to performance conditions, are shown in the table above based on the probable outcome of the performance conditions as of the grant date for the award. The following table shows the maximum values for the PSUs as of the grant date of the award:

 

Name

   Year of Award      Maximum Performance Stock
Unit Grant Date Fair Value  ($)
 

Anthony J. Reardon

     2012         912,800   
     2011         446,200   
     2010         351,200   

Joel H. Benkie

     2012         N/A   

Joseph P. Bellino

     2012         208,640   
     2011         178,480   
     2010         175,600   

James S. Heiser

     2012         208,640   
     2011         178,480   
     2010         175,600   

Samuel D. Williams

     2012         117,360   
     2011         133,860   
     2010         175,600   

 

(3) Non-equity incentive plan compensation was earned for each of the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 and paid in the first quarter of the following year.

 

22


(4) The following table discloses each item included in the “All Other Compensation” column for 2012:

 

Name

   Automobile
Allowance ($)
     Life Insurance
Premiums ($)
     Company
Contributions to
401(k) Plan ($)
     Total ($)  

Anthony J. Reardon

     15,216         1,582         7,350         24,148   

Joel H. Benkie

     7,608         521         2,580         10,709   

Joseph P. Bellino

     15,216         1,156         7,350         23,722   

James S. Heiser

     15,216         0         7,350         22,566   

Samuel D. Williams

     15,216         799         7,350         23,365   

 

(5) Mr. Benkie joined the Corporation on June 18, 2012.

2012 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table

The following table provides information on the 2012 Bonus Plan, the grant of nonqualified stock options and the award of performance stock units and restricted stock units to the named executive officers during 2012.

 

          Estimated Future Payouts
Under Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Awards
    Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
    All  Other
Stock

Awards:
Number of
Shares of

Stock or
Units (#)
    All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options (#)
    Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards
($/Sh)
    Grant
Date Fair
Value of
Stock
and
Option
Awards
($)(3)
 

Name

  Grant
Date
    Threshold
($)
    Target
($)(1)
    Maximum
($)(1)(2)
    Threshold
(#)
    Target
(#)
    Maximum
(#)
         

Anthony J. Reardon

                     

2012 Bonus Plan

      0        420,000        1,260,000                 

Non-Qualified Stock Option

    7/1/12                      50,000        9.81        247,530   

Performance Stock Units

    3/23/12              0        35,000        70,000              456,400   

Restricted Stock Units

    2/8/12                    12,000            187,080   

Joel H. Benkie

                     

2012 Bonus Plan

      0        107,000        321,000                 

Non-Qualified Stock Option

    7/1/12                      20,000        9.81        99,012   

Restricted Stock Units

    7/1/12                    8,000            78,480   

Joseph P. Bellino

                     

2012 Bonus Plan

      0        166,500        499,500                 

Non-Qualified Stock Option

    7/1/12                      20,000        9.81        99,012   

Performance Stock Units

    3/23/12              0        8,000        16,000              104,320   

Restricted Stock Units

    2/8/12                    4,000            62,360   

James S. Heiser

                     

2012 Bonus Plan

      0        148,500        445,500                 

Non-Qualified Stock Option

    7/1/12                      15,000        9.81        74,259   

Performance Stock Units

    3/23/12              0        8,000        16,000              104,320   

Restricted Stock Units

    2/8/12                    4,000            63,360   

Samuel D. Williams

                     

2012 Bonus Plan

      0        102,000        306,000                 

Non-Qualified Stock Option

    7/1/12                      1,500        9.81        7,426   

Performance Stock Units

    3/23/12              0        4,500        9,000              58,680   

Restricted Stock Units

    2/8/12                    2,300            35,957   

 

(1) The target and maximum amounts of awards are based on the salary of each of the named executive officers at December 31, 2012. Mr. Benkie’s target and maximum amounts of awards are prorated for the portion of the year he was employed by the Corporation.
(2) The Compensation Committee, in its discretion, has the authority to approve payments under the 2012 Bonus Plan in excess of the maximum amounts.
(3) The value of the performance stock units are shown based on the probable outcome of the performance conditions as of the date of grant for the awards.

 

23


Narrative Disclosure to the Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table

The 2012 Bonus Plan. The 2012 Bonus Plan provides for annual cash bonus awards to be determined by the Compensation Committee with consideration given to the Corporation achieving pre-established levels of net sales, net income and cash flow from operations, and on the individual performance of executive officers during the year ended December 31, 2012. The level of net income under the 2012 Bonus Plan was adjusted to include the benefit of 2012 federal research and development tax credits. Annual cash bonuses are targeted at 70% of salary for the chief executive officer and president, 50% of salary for the chief operating officer, 45% of salary for the chief financial officer and the general counsel, and 40% of salary for the other named executive officers. The 2012 bonus for the chief operating officer was prorated for the portion of 2012 that he worked for the Corporation. Annual cash bonuses can range from zero to an upper limit of annual bonus eligibility of three times the targeted percentage of salary for each named executive officer. Although the annual cash bonus plan is formula-based, the Compensation Committee has the discretion to award bonuses which differ from the formula-based amounts, including awarding bonuses in excess of the maximum amounts. A named executive officer must be employed by the Corporation or a subsidiary at the time of payment in order to be eligible to receive a bonus under the 2012 Bonus Plan. Bonuses under the 2012 Bonus Plan were paid in the first quarter of 2013.

Nonqualified Stock Options. Nonqualified stock options were granted to the named executive officers in 2012 at an exercise price equal to 100% of the closing price of the Corporation’s common stock on the date of grant. The stock options become exercisable in increments of 25% of the number of shares granted on the anniversary date of the date of grant so that the options are fully exercisable on and after July 1, 2016. However, the stock options become fully exercisable immediately in the event of a change in control of the Corporation. The exercise price for the stock options may be paid by withholding of shares issuable under the option or delivery of already owned shares.

Performance Stock Units. Performance stock units were awarded to the named executive officers (except for the chief operating officer who joined the Corporation on June 18, 2012) in 2012. The performance stock units generally vest at the end of the three-year performance period from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2014 (the “Performance Period”) in amounts from 0% to 200% of the target units depending on the Corporation’s performance relative to two performance metrics during the Performance Period. The performance metrics, which are equally weighted, are: (i) the annual diluted earnings per share of the Corporation during each of the years in the Performance Period; and (ii) the leverage ratio at the end of each of the years in the Performance Period. Upon vesting, one share of Common Stock of the Corporation will be issued for each vested performance stock unit. In the event of a change in control of the Corporation, the target performance stock units will be deemed to have become fully vested immediately, provided, however, that the Compensation Committee may, in its discretion, increase (but not decrease) the number of performance stock units that are deemed to vest in the event of a change in control up to a maximum of 200% of the target performance stock units.

Restricted Stock Units. Restricted stock units were awarded to the named executive officers in 2012. The restricted stock units generally vest in increments of one-third of the number of shares awarded on the anniversary date of the date of the award so that the restricted units are fully vested three years after the date of award. Upon vesting, one share of Common Stock of the Corporation will be issued for each vested restricted stock unit. In the event of a change in control of the Corporation, the restricted stock units will be deemed to have become fully vested immediately.

 

24


2012 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table

The following table provides information on unexercised stock options and unvested performance stock units and restricted stock units granted to the named executive officers that were outstanding on December 31, 2012.

 

    Option Awards     Stock Awards  

Name

  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable(1)
    Option
Exercise
Price
($)
    Option
Expiration
Date
    Number
of
Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested
(#)(2)
    Market
Value

of
Shares
or

Units
of
Stock
That
Have

Not
Vested
($)
    Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number
of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That
Have Not
Vested
(#)(3)
    Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market
or Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That
Have Not
Vested
($)
 

Anthony J. Reardon

               

Stock option granted 6/26/06

    12,000        0        19.05        6/25/13           

Stock option granted 6/26/07

    12,000        0        25.82        6/25/14           

Stock option granted 6/18/08

    20,000        0        24.34        6/17/15           

Stock option granted 6/29/09

    15,000        5,000        18.23        6/28/16           

Stock option granted 6/23/10

    11,000        11,000        18.04        6/22/17           

Stock option granted 7/27/11

    7,500        22,500        21.61        7/26/18           

Stock option granted 7/1/12

    0        50,000        9.81        6/30/19           

Performance stock units granted 2/25/10

                1,500        19,125   

Performance stock units granted 2/9/11

                1,500        19,125   

Performance stock units granted 3/23/12

                5,250        84,893   

Restricted stock units granted 2/9/11

            3,334        53,911       

Restricted stock units granted 2/8/12

            12,000        194,040       

Joel H. Benkie

               

Stock option granted 7/1/12

    0        20,000        9.81        6/30/19           

Restricted stock units granted 7/1/12

            8,000        129,360       
Joseph P. Bellino                

Stock option granted 10/29/08

    20,000        0        19.59        10/28/15           

Stock option granted 6/29/09

    7,500        2,500        18.23        6/28/16           

Stock option granted 6/23/10

    8,000        8,000        18.04        6/22/17           

Stock option granted 7/27/11

    4,500        13,500        21.61        7/26/18           

Stock option granted 7/1/12

    0        20,000        9.81        6/30/19           

Performance stock units granted 2/25/10

                750        9,563   

Performance stock units granted 2/9/11

                600        7,650   

Performance stock units granted 3/23/12

                1,200        19,404   

Restricted stock units granted 2/9/11

            1,333        21,555       

Restricted stock units granted 2/8/12

            4,000        64,680       

James S. Heiser

               

Stock option granted 6/26/06

    7,500        0        19.05        6/25/13           

Stock option granted 6/26/07

    10,000        0        25.82        6/25/14           

Stock option granted 6/18/08

    10,000        0        24.34        6/17/15           

Stock option granted 6/29/09

    7,500        2,500        18.23        6/28/16           

Stock option granted 6/23/10

    5,500        5,500        18.04        6/22/17           

Stock option granted 7/27/11

    3,125        9,375        21.61        7/26/18           

Stock option granted 7/1/12

    0        15,000        9.81        6/30/19           

Performance stock units granted 2/25/10

                750        9,563   

Performance stock units granted 2/9/11

                600        7,650   

Performance stock units granted 3/23/12

                1,200        19,404   

Restricted stock units granted 2/9/11

            1,333        21,555       

Restricted stock units granted 2/8/12

            4,000        64,680       

Samuel D. Williams

               

Stock option granted 6/26/06

    3,750        0        19.05        6/25/13           

Stock option granted 6/26/07

    5,000        0        25.82        6/25/14           

Stock option granted 6/18/08

    5,000        0        24.34        6/17/15           

Stock option granted 6/29/09

    3,750        1,250        18.23        6/28/16           

Stock option granted 6/23/10

    3,000        3,000        18.04        6/22/17           

Stock option granted 7/27/11

    1,750        5,250        21.61        7/26/18           

Stock option granted 2/8/12

    0        1,500        9.81        6/30/19           

Performance stock units granted 2/25/10

                750        9,563   

Performance stock units granted 2/9/11

                450        5,738   

Performance stock units granted 3/23/12

                675        10,915   

Restricted stock units granted 2/9/11

            1,000        16,170       

Restricted stock units granted 2/8/12

            2,300        37,191       

 

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(1) The unexercisable stock options become exercisable in increments on the anniversary date of the date of grant as follows: (i) for stock options granted in 2009, all become exercisable in 2013, (ii) for stock options granted in 2010 one-half become exercisable in each of 2013 and 2014, (iii) for stock options granted in 2011 one-third become exercisable in each of 2013, 2014 and 2015, and (iv) for stock options granted in 2012 one-fourth become exercisable in each of 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, in each case, on the anniversary of the grant date thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all of the stock options will become immediately exercisable in the event of a change in control of the Corporation.
(2) The unvested restricted stock units vest as follows: (i) with respect to the grant on February 9, 2011 to Messrs. Reardon, Bellino, Heiser and Williams one-half of the shares vest on February 9, 2013 and February 9, 2014, (ii) with respect to the grant on February 8, 2012 to Messrs. Reardon, Bellino, Heiser and Williams one-third of the shares vest on February 8, 2013, February 8, 2014 and February 8, 2015, and (iii) with respect to the grant on July 1, 2012 to Mr. Benkie one-third of the shares vest on July 1, 2013, July 1, 2014 and July 1, 2015.
(3) Performance stock units are shown at the threshold number of shares (which is 15% of the target number of shares) and will vest if the performance conditions are met as follows: (i) grants in 2010 vest in the first quarter of 2013, (ii) grants in 2011 vest in the first quarter of 2014, and (iii) grants in 2012 vest in the first quarter of 2015.

2012 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table

The following table provides information on the exercise of stock options and vesting of stock for the named executive officers during 2012.

 

     Option Awards     Stock Awards  

Name

  Number of Shares
Acquired on Exercise (#)
    Value Realized
on Exercise ($)
    Number of Shares
Acquired on Vesting (#)
    Value Realized
on Vesting ($)
 

Anthony J. Reardon

    —          —          36,666        428,290   

Joel H. Benkie

    —          —          —          —     

Joseph P. Bellino

    —          —          666        10,450   

James S. Heiser

    —          —          666        10,450   

Samuel D. Williams

    —          —          500        7,845   

2012 Pension Benefits Table

The Corporation does not provide pension benefits to any of its named executive officers.

2012 Nonqualified Defined Contribution and Other Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans

The Corporation does not provide any nonqualified defined contribution or other nonqualified deferred compensation plans to any of its named executive officers.

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

Payments and compensation may be made to the named executive officers upon termination of employment or following a change in control of the Corporation under stock option agreements, performance stock unit agreements, restricted stock unit agreements, key executive severance agreements and the severance practice of the Corporation. As used herein, a change in control of the Corporation means a change in control of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such a change in control is deemed conclusively to have occurred in the event of certain tender offers, mergers or consolidations, the sale, exchange or transfer of substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, the acquisition by a person or group of certain percentages of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation, the approval by the shareholders of a plan of liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation, or certain changes in the members of the Board of Directors of the Company. The precise definition of a change in control is set forth in each of the stock option agreements, performance stock unit agreements, restricted stock unit agreements, and key executive severance agreements which are included as exhibits to the Corporation’s 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

In the event of a change in control of the Corporation (i) stock options become fully exercisable immediately, (ii) performance stock units become vested immediately at the target number of shares (although

 

26


the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has discretion to increase, but not decrease, the number of performance stock units that vest on a change in control), and (iii) restricted stock units vest immediately. The amounts in the table below in the column “Change in Control” reflect the value of unexercisable stock options, unvested performance stock units at target, and unvested restricted stock units as of December 31, 2012 (except for PSUs granted in 2010 for which the Compensation Committee has determined that no shares vested), the vesting of which would be accelerated upon a change in control of the Corporation.

Messrs. Bellino, Heiser, Reardon and Williams each are parties to key executive severance agreements entered with the Corporation. The key executive severance agreements provide that if a change in control of the Corporation shall have occurred while an executive officer is an employee of the Corporation or its subsidiaries, the executive officer shall be entitled to receive payment in a single lump sum of an amount equal to two times the annual base salary of the executive officer immediately prior to the change in control and two times the target annual bonus of the executive officer under the Corporation’s bonus plan in effect during the year prior to the change in control.

Further, the key executive severance agreements provide that if the employment of an executive officer is terminated without cause (as defined in the agreements), except in the event of disability, retirement or within ninety (90) days following a change in control of the Corporation, the executive officer shall be entitled to receive payment of his full salary for a period of one year, payment of the amount of any bonus for a past fiscal year which has not yet been awarded or paid and continuation of benefits for a period of one year. Termination for cause is defined in the key executive severance agreements as termination of an executive’s employment by the Corporation upon (i) the willful and continued failure by the executive to substantially perform his duties with the Corporation other than any such failure resulting from his incapacity due to physical or mental illness, after a demand for substantial performance is delivered to the executive by the chief executive officer or the Compensation Committee which specifically identifies the manner in which the executive has not substantially performed his duties, or (ii) the willful engaging by the executive in misconduct which is materially injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise, and that constitutes on the part of the executive common law fraud or a felony. For purposes of this definition, no act or failure to act, on the executive’s part, is considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by the executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the action or omission was in the best interest of the Corporation.

In the event of a change in the executive’s position or duties, a reduction in the executive’s salary as increased from time to time, a removal from eligibility to participate in the Corporation’s bonus plan and other events as described in the key executive severance agreements, then the executive shall have the right to treat such event as a termination of his employment by the Corporation without cause and to receive the payments and benefits described above. The events described in the preceding sentence are referred to as a “Termination by the Executive for Good Reason” in the table below.

The Corporation also has a severance practice which applies in the event of the termination without cause of an executive officer. The severance practice provides for salary continuation, certain benefits continuation and continuation of stock option vesting and exercisability for a period from three (3) to twelve (12) months following termination depending on the length of service of the executive officer and the business reasons for the termination. Under the severance practice, an executive officer must agree to release the Corporation from liability and to certain limitations on solicitation of employees and customers during the period of salary continuation. Benefits under the severance practice are in addition to benefits under the key executive severance agreements described above.

The amounts in the table below in the columns under “Termination of Employment” represent the aggregate amounts payable to each of the named executive officers following termination of employment pursuant to the key executive severance agreements and the severance practice combined. For purposes of the table, it has been assumed that twelve (12) months of salary and benefits continuation would be provided to each of the named executive officers under the Corporation’s severance practice.

 

27


If a change in control of the Corporation were to occur and subsequently a named executive officer’s employment were to be terminated by the Corporation (other than within 90 days following the change in control), the named executive officer would receive both (i) the amounts in the table below in the column “Change in Control” and (ii) the amounts in the table below in the columns “Termination of Employment” depending on whether the termination of employment was by the Company without cause or by the named executive officer for good reason.

 

                 Termination of Employment  

Name

  

Benefit

   Change in
Control ($)
     By Corporation
w/o Cause ($)(5)
     By Executive
for Good Reason ($)
 

Anthony J. Reardon

   Salary(1)      1,200,000         1,200,000         600,000   
   Bonus      840,000         0         0   
   Benefits      0         7,741         7,741   
   Stock Options(2)      318,000         0         0   
   Performance Stock Units(3)      727,650         0         0   
   Restricted Stock Units(4)      247,951         0         0   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
       Total      3,333,601         1,207,741         607,741   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Joel H. Benkie

   Salary(1)      0         400,000         0   
   Bonus      0         0         0   
   Benefits      0         8,590         0   
   Stock Options(2)      127,200         0         0   
   Restricted Stock Units(4)      129,360         0         0   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
       Total      256,560         408,590         0   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Joseph P. Bellino

   Salary(1)      740,000         740,000         370,000   
   Bonus      333,000         0         0   
   Benefits      0         8,590         8,590   
   Stock Options(2)      127,200         0         0   
   Performance Stock Units(3)      194,040         0         0   
   Restricted Stock Units(4)      86,251         0         0   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
       Total      1,480,491         748,590         378,590   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

James S. Heiser

   Salary(1)      660,000         660,000         330,000   
   Bonus      297,000         0         0   
   Benefits      0         7,617         7,617   
   Stock Options(2)      95,400         0         0   
   Performance Stock Units(3)      194,040         0         0   
   Restricted Stock Units(4)      86,251         0         0   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
       Total      1,332,691         667,617         337,617   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Samuel D. Williams

   Salary(1)      510,000         510,000         255,000   
   Bonus      204,000         0         0   
   Benefits      0         156         156   
   Stock Options(2)      9,540         0         0   
   Performance Stock Units(3)      121,275         0         0   
   Restricted Stock Units(4)      53,361         0         0   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
       Total      898,176         510,156         255,156   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) The amounts of salary continuation are based on the salary of each of the named executives at December 31, 2012.
(2) The amounts for stock options are calculated based on the positive difference, if any, between the exercise prices of the unexercisable stock options held by the named executive officers on December 31, 2012 and the closing price of the Corporation’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the last trading day of 2012 ($16.17).

 

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(3) The amounts for performance stock units are based on the target number of performance stock units (except for PSUs granted in 2010 for which the Compensation Committee has determined that no shares vested) and the closing price of the Corporation’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the last trading day of 2012 ($16.17).
(4) The amounts for restricted stock units are based on the closing price of the Corporation’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the last trading day of 2012 ($16.17).
(5) Based on the maximum under the Corporation’s severance practice.

ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF 2013 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

Introduction

On March 20, 2013, the Board of Directors unanimously adopted and approved the 2013 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2013 Stock Plan”), and is submitting the 2013 Stock Plan to shareholders for their adoption and approval at the 2013 Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors believes our interests are best advanced by providing equity-based incentives to certain individuals responsible for our long-term success by encouraging such persons to remain in the service of the Corporation and to align the financial objectives of such individuals with those of our shareholders.

The Corporation currently administers its equity-based compensation programs under the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan and the 2001 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Prior Plans”). As of the Record Date, 89,100 shares remained available for issuance under the Prior Plans. Because the Corporation anticipates that its equity-based compensation needs will soon exceed the remaining shares available under the Prior Plans, the Board of Directors of the Corporation adopted the 2013 Stock Plan.

The 2013 Stock Plan, if approved, will provide for the issuance of 240,000 shares, which represents 2.3% of the Corporation’s outstanding common equity. The 2013 Stock Plan, if approved, and the Prior Plans in the aggregate will provide for the issuance of less than 15% of the Corporation’s outstanding common equity. We expect the 2013 Stock Plan, together with the Prior Plans, to be sufficient to support the Corporation’s equity-based compensation programs for approximately the next two years.

Why You Should Vote for the 2013 Stock Plan

The Board of Directors recommends that our shareholders approve the 2013 Stock Plan because it believes appropriate equity incentives are important to attract and retain the highest caliber of employees, to link incentive reward to Corporation performance, to encourage employee and director ownership in our Corporation, and to align the interests of participants to those of our shareholders. The approval of the 2013 Stock Plan will enable us to continue to provide such incentives.

Promotion of Good Corporate Governance Practices

The Board of Directors believes the use of share-based incentive awards promotes best practices in corporate governance by aligning participants’ interests with maximizing shareholder value. Specific features of the 2013 Stock Plan that are consistent with good corporate governance practices include, but are not limited to:

1. options and stock appreciation rights may not be granted with exercise prices lower than the fair market value of the underlying shares on the grant date;

2. there can be no repricing of options or stock appreciation rights without shareholder approval, either by canceling the award in exchange for cash or a replacement award at a lower price or by reducing the exercise price of the award, other than in connection with a change in our capitalization; and

3. awards under the plan, including any shares subject to an award, may be subject to any recovery, recoupment, clawback and/or other forfeiture policy maintained by the Corporation in the future.

 

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Section 162(m) of the Code

The Board of Directors believes that it is in our best interests and the best interests of our shareholders to continue to provide for an equity incentive plan under which compensation awards made to our executive officers can qualify for deductibility by us for federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, the 2013 Stock Plan has been structured in a manner such that awards granted under it can satisfy the requirements for “performance-based” compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. In general, under Section 162(m), in order for us to be able to deduct compensation in excess of $1,000,000 paid in any one year to our chief executive officer or any of our three other most highly compensated executive officers (other than our chief financial officer), such compensation must qualify as “performance-based.” One of the requirements of “performance-based” compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) is that the material terms of the performance goals under which compensation may be paid be disclosed to and approved by our shareholders. For purposes of Section 162(m), the material terms include (i) the employees eligible to receive compensation, (ii) a description of the business criteria on which the performance goal is based and (iii) the maximum amount of compensation that can be paid to an employee under the performance goal. With respect to the various types of awards under the 2013 Stock Plan, each of these aspects is discussed below, and shareholder approval of the 2013 Stock Plan will be deemed to constitute approval of each of these aspects of the 2013 Stock Plan for purposes of the approval requirements of Section 162(m).

2013 Stock Plan Summary

The following is a description of the material features of the 2013 Stock Plan. The complete text of the 2013 Stock Plan is attached hereto as Appendix C to this Proxy Statement. The following discussion is qualified in all respects by reference to Appendix C. The term “employees” in the following discussion is used to refer to officers and directors and other employees of the Corporation and its subsidiaries.

Purpose and Eligibility

The purpose of the 2013 Stock Plan is to enable the Corporation and its subsidiaries to attract, retain and motivate employees by providing for or increasing their proprietary interests in the Corporation. Employees of the Corporation and its subsidiaries will be eligible to be considered for the grant of awards under the 2013 Stock Plan. As of the Record Date, approximately seven nonemployee directors, nine executive officers and 50 other employees of the Corporation and its subsidiaries were so eligible.

Shares Subject to the 2013 Stock Plan and to Awards

The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to awards granted under the 2013 Stock Plan is 240,000, subject to adjustments to prevent dilution. Under the 2013 Stock Plan, no single participant may be granted awards covering more than 240,000 shares of Common Stock in any fiscal year.

Shares of Common Stock issued under the 2013 Stock Plan may be either authorized and unissued shares or previously issued shares acquired by the Corporation. On forfeiture, termination or expiration of an unexercised award under the plan, in whole or in part, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such award again become available for grant under the 2013 Stock Plan. The 2013 Stock Plan provides that shares retained by or delivered to the Corporation to pay the exercise price or withholding taxes in connection with the exercise of an outstanding stock option, unissued shares resulting from the settlement of stock appreciation rights in stock, and shares purchased by the Corporation in the open market do not become available for issuance as future awards under the plan.

The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of incentive stock options granted under the 2013 Stock Plan shall not exceed 240,000. The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock subject to awards granted under the 2013 Stock Plan during any calendar year to any one participant may not exceed 240,000.

 

30


Administration

The 2013 Stock Plan will be administered by the Compensation Committee, which will be a committee of two or more independent directors appointed by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Committee”), or by the Board of Directors as a whole for issuances of awards to directors. The Committee has full and final authority to select the employees to receive awards and to grant such awards. Subject to the provisions of the 2013 Stock Plan, the Committee has a wide degree of flexibility in determining the terms and conditions of awards and the number of shares to be issued pursuant thereto, including conditioning the receipt or vesting of awards upon achievement by the Corporation of specified performance criteria. The expenses of administering the 2013 Stock Plan will be borne by the Corporation.

In addition, the Committee has the authority to delegate to one or more officers of the Corporation the authority to perform any or all things that the Committee is authorized and empowered to do or perform under the 2013 Stock Plan; provided, however, that the resolution or policy so authorizing such officer or officers must specify the total number of awards (if any) such officer or officers may award pursuant to such delegated authority, and that any such award shall be subject to the form of award agreement approved by the Committee. All decisions and actions of the Committee are final. Subject to certain limitations, the Committee has the authority to delegate the administration of the plan, and the plan permits the Corporation’s Board of Directors to exercise the Committee’s powers, other than with respect to matters required by law to be determined by the Committee. The Committee does not have the authority to reduce the exercise price for any stock option or stock appreciation right by repricing or replacing such stock option or stock appreciation right unless the Corporation has obtained the prior consent of its shareholders.

Awards

The 2013 Stock Plan authorizes the Committee to enter into any type of arrangement with an eligible participant that, by its terms, involves or might involve the issuance of Common Stock or any other security or benefit with an exercise or conversion privilege at a price related to Common Stock or with a value derived from the value of Common Stock. Awards are not restricted to any specified form or structure and may include, without limitation, sales or bonuses of stock, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock options, stock purchase warrants, other rights to acquire stock, securities convertible into or redeemable for stock, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, dividend equivalents, performance units or performance shares. Any stock option granted to an employee may be a tax-benefited incentive stock option (an “Incentive Stock Option”) or a nonqualified stock option that is not tax-benefited (a “Nonqualified Option”). An award to an employee may consist of one such security or benefit or two or more of them in tandem or in the alternative. Common Stock may be issued pursuant to awards under the 2013 Stock Plan for any lawful consideration as determined by the Committee, including, without limitation, services rendered by a recipient of an award under the 2013 Stock Plan.

The exercise or base price for any stock option or stock appreciation right granted may not be less than the fair market value of the Common Stock subject to that award on the grant date. There is one exception to this requirement. This exception allows the exercise or base price per share with respect to an award that is granted in connection with a merger or other acquisition as a substitute or replacement award for awards held by employees or directors of the acquired entity to be less than 100% of the fair market value on the grant date if such exercise or base price is based on an adjustment method or formula set forth in the terms of the awards held by such individuals or in the terms of the agreement providing for such merger or other acquisition. The term of all stock options and stock appreciation rights granted under the 2013 Stock Plan may not exceed 10 years.

An award to an employee may permit the employee to pay all or part of the purchase price of the shares or other property issuable pursuant thereto, and/or to pay all or part of such employee’s tax withholding obligation with respect to such issuance, by (i) delivering previously owned shares of capital stock of the Corporation or other property, (ii) reducing the amount of shares or other property otherwise issuable pursuant to the award or (iii) delivering a promissory note, the terms and conditions of which will be determined by the Committee.

 

31


Vesting

The vesting of restricted stock, restricted stock unit, performance share, performance unit and other similar awards granted under the Plan will occur when and in such installments and/or pursuant to the achievement of such performance criteria, in each case, as the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine. The performance criteria for any such awards (or portions thereof) that is intended to satisfy the requirements for “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code will be a measure based on one or more “Qualifying Performance Criteria” selected by the Committee and specified when such award is granted.

Qualifying Performance Criteria

Under the 2013 Stock Plan, “Qualifying Performance Criteria” means the specific objectives that may be established by the Committee, from time to time, with respect to a grant, which objectives may be based on the attainment of specified levels of one or more of the following measures, applied to either the Corporation as a whole or to a business unit or subsidiary, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, and measured either annually or cumulatively over a period of years, on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target, to previous years’ results or to a designated comparison group, as applicable: earnings per share (diluted and/or basic), revenue, net profit after tax, gross profit, operating profit, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), cash flow, asset quality, stock price performance, unit volume, return on equity, change in working capital, change in indebtedness or financial leverage, return on capital or shareholder return. To the extent consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee (A) shall appropriately adjust any evaluation of performance under a Qualifying Performance Criteria to eliminate the effects of charges for restructurings, discontinued operations, extraordinary items and all items of gain, loss or expense determined to be extraordinary or unusual in nature or related to the disposal of a segment of a business or related to a change in accounting principle all as determined in accordance with standards established by opinion No. 30 of the Accounting Principles Board (APA Opinion No. 30) or other applicable or successor accounting provisions, as well as the cumulative effect of accounting changes, in each case as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or identified in the Corporation’s financial statements, notes to the financial statements and/or in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Corporation’s annual report to shareholders for the applicable year, and (B) may appropriately adjust any evaluation of performance under a Qualifying Performance Criteria to exclude any of the following events that occurs during a performance period: (i) asset write-downs, (ii) litigation, claims, judgments or settlements, (iii) the effect of changes in tax law or other such laws or provisions affecting reported results, (iv) accruals for reorganization and restructuring programs and (v) accruals of any amounts for payment under the 2013 Stock Plan or any other compensation arrangement maintained by the Corporation.

Acceleration

An award granted under the 2013 Stock Plan may include a provision accelerating the receipt of benefits upon the occurrence of specified events, such as a change of control of the Corporation or a dissolution, liquidation, merger, reclassification, sale of substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation or other significant corporate transaction.

Duration of the 2013 Stock Plan

Awards may not be granted under the 2013 Stock Plan after the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the 2013 Stock Plan. Although any award that was duly granted on or prior to such date may thereafter be exercised or settled in accordance with its terms, no shares of Common Stock may be issued pursuant to any award after the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the 2013 Stock Plan.

 

32


Amendment and Termination

Subject to limitations imposed by law, the Board of Directors of the Corporation may amend or terminate the 2013 Stock Plan at any time and in any manner. However, no such amendment or termination may deprive the recipient of an award previously granted under the 2013 Stock Plan of any rights thereunder without his or her consent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such amendment shall, without the approval of the shareholders of the Corporation:

 

  (a) increase the maximum number of Common Stock for which awards may be granted under the 2013 Stock Plan;

 

  (b) reduce the price at which options may be granted below the price provided for in the 2013 Stock Plan;

 

  (c) reprice outstanding options or stock appreciation rights;

 

  (d) extend the term of the 2013 Stock Plan;

 

  (e) change the class of persons eligible to be participants;

 

  (f) increase the individual maximum limits set forth in the 2013 Stock Plan; or

 

  (g) otherwise amend the 2013 Stock Plan in any manner requiring shareholder approval by law or the rules of any stock exchange or market or quotation system on which the Common Stock is traded, listed or quoted.

Compensation Recoupment Policy

Subject to the terms and conditions of the 2013 Stock Plan, the administrator may provide at the time an award is granted that any participant and/or any award, including any shares subject to an award, will be subject to any recovery, recoupment, clawback and/or other forfeiture policy maintained by the Corporation from time to time.

New Plan Benefits

As of the date of this Proxy Statement, no awards have been made pursuant to the 2013 Stock Plan. The benefits that will be awarded or paid pursuant to the 2013 Stock Plan are not currently determinable. On the Record Date, the closing sales price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $16.98. Information about awards granted to our named executive officers during 2012 under our Prior Plans can be found under the heading “2012 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table” on page 23 of this Proxy Statement.

Federal Income Tax Treatment

The following is a brief description of the anticipated federal income tax treatment that generally will apply to awards granted under the 2013 Stock Plan, based on federal income tax laws in effect on the date of this Proxy Statement. The exact federal income tax treatment of awards will depend on the specific circumstances of the grantee. No information is provided herein with respect to estate, inheritance, gift, state, or local tax laws, although there may be certain tax consequences upon the receipt or exercise of an award or the disposition of any acquired shares under those laws. Grantees are advised to consult their personal tax advisors with regard to all consequences arising from the grant or exercise of awards, and the disposition of any acquired shares.

Incentive Stock Options

Pursuant to the 2013 Stock Plan, employees may be granted options which are intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options under the provisions of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Generally, the optionee is not taxed and the Corporation is not entitled to a deduction on the grant or the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option. If the optionee sells the shares acquired upon the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option (“Incentive Stock Option Shares”) at any time after the later of (a) one year after the date

 

33


of transfer of shares to the optionee pursuant to the exercise of such Incentive Stock Option and (b) two years after the date of grant of such Incentive Stock Option (the “Incentive Stock Option holding period”), then the optionee will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the sales price and the exercise price paid for the Incentive Stock Option Shares, and the Corporation will not be entitled to any deduction. However, if the optionee disposes of the Incentive Stock Option Shares at any time during the Incentive Stock Option holding period, then (1) the optionee will recognize capital gain in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the sales price over the fair market value of the Incentive Stock Option Shares on the date of exercise, (2) the optionee will recognize ordinary income equal to the excess, if any, of the lesser of the sales price or the fair market value of the Incentive Stock Option Shares on the date of exercise, over the exercise price paid for the Incentive Stock Option Shares, (3) the optionee will recognize capital loss equal to the excess, if any, of the exercise price paid for the Incentive Stock Option Shares over the sales price of the Incentive Stock Option Shares, and (4) the Corporation will generally be entitled to a deduction in an amount equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the optionee.

Nonqualified Options

The grant of a Nonqualified Option is generally not a taxable event for the optionee. Upon exercise of the option, the optionee will generally recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the stock acquired upon exercise of the Nonqualified Option (“Nonqualified Option Shares”) over the exercise price of such option, and the Corporation will be entitled to a deduction equal to such amount. A subsequent sale of the Nonqualified Option Shares generally will give rise to capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the sales price and the sum of the exercise price paid for such shares plus the ordinary income recognized with respect to such shares.

Stock Appreciation Rights

A grantee is not taxed on the grant of a stock appreciation right. On exercise, the grantee recognizes ordinary income equal to the cash or the fair market value of any shares received. We are entitled to an income tax deduction in the year of exercise in the amount recognized by the grantee as ordinary income.

Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units

Grantees of restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares and performance share units do not recognize income at the time of the grant. When the award vests or is paid, grantees generally recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the fair market value of the stock or units at such time, and we will receive a corresponding deduction. However, no later than 30 days after a participant receives an award of restricted shares, the participant may elect to recognize taxable ordinary income in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares at the time of receipt. Provided that the election is made in a timely manner, when the restrictions on the shares lapse, the participant will not recognize any additional income. If the participant forfeits the shares to us (e.g., upon the participant’s termination prior to vesting), the participant may not claim a deduction with respect to the income recognized as a result of the election. Dividends paid with respect to unvested shares of restricted shares generally will be taxable as ordinary income to the participant at the time the dividends are received.

Miscellaneous Tax Issues

Awards may be granted under the 2013 Stock Plan that do not fall clearly into the categories described above. The federal income tax treatment of these awards will depend upon the specific terms of such awards. Generally, the Corporation will be required to make arrangements for withholding applicable taxes with respect to any ordinary income recognized by a participant in connection with awards made under the 2013 Stock Plan.

Special rules will apply in cases where an optionee pays the exercise or purchase price of the option or applicable withholding tax obligations under the 2013 Stock Plan by delivering previously owned Common

 

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Stock or by reducing the amount of Common Stock otherwise issuable pursuant to the option. The surrender or withholding of such shares will in certain circumstances result in the recognition of income with respect to such shares.

The 2013 Stock Plan provides that, in the event of certain changes in ownership or control of the Corporation, the right to exercise options otherwise subject to a vesting schedule may be accelerated. In the event such acceleration occurs and depending upon the individual circumstances of the recipient, certain amounts with respect to such options may constitute “excess parachute payments” under the “golden parachute” provisions of the Code. Pursuant to these provisions, a recipient will be subject to a 20% excise tax on any “excess parachute payments” and the Corporation will be denied any deduction with respect to such payment. Optionees should consult their tax advisors as to whether accelerated vesting of an option in connection with a change in ownership or control of the Corporation would give rise to an excess parachute payment.

As described above, Section 162(m) denies a deduction to any publicly held corporation for compensation paid to certain employees in a taxable year to the extent that compensation exceeds $1,000,000 for a covered employee. It is possible that compensation attributable to awards under the plan, either on their own or when combined with all other types of compensation received by a covered employee from the Corporation, may cause this limitation to be exceeded in any particular year.

Certain kinds of compensation, including qualified “performance-based compensation,” are disregarded for purposes of the deduction limitation. In accordance with applicable U.S. Treasury regulations issued under Section 162(m), compensation attributable to stock options and stock appreciation rights will qualify as performance-based compensation, provided that: either (a)(i) the option plan contains a per-employee limitation on the number of shares for which options may be granted during a specified period, (ii) the per-employee limitation is approved by the stockholders, (iii) the option is granted by a compensation committee comprised solely of “outside directors” (as defined in Section 162(m)), and (iv) the exercise price of the options is no less than the fair market value of the stock on the date of the grant; or (b) the award is granted by a compensation committee comprised solely of “outside directors” and is granted (or exercisable) only upon the achievement (as certified in writing by the compensation committee) of an objective performance goal approved by stockholders and established by the compensation committee while the outcome is substantially uncertain. The plan is designed to allow grants of stock options and stock appreciation rights that are “performance based” within this definition. However, the rules and regulations promulgated under Section 162(m) are complicated and subject to change from time to time, sometimes with retroactive effect. In addition, a number of requirements must be met in order for a particular compensation to so qualify. As such, there can be no assurance that any compensation awarded or paid under the 2013 Stock Plan will be deductible under all circumstances.

The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of the Corporation’s Common Stock represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at a duly held shareholder’s meeting is required for the approval of the 2013 Stock Incentive Plan. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE 2013 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN.

 

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Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plan Plans

The following table provides information about our compensation plans under which equity securities are authorized for issuance as of December 31, 2012.

 

    Number of Securities
to be Issued Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding
Options,
Warrants  and Rights
(a)
    Weighted Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding
Options,
Warrants  and Rights
(b)
    Number of  Securities
Remaining
Available for
Future Issuance
Under Equity
Compensation Plans
(Excluding Securities
Reflected
in Column)
(a)(c)(2)
 

Equity Compensation Plans

     

Approved by security holders(1)

    1,216,290      $ 9.810        78,350   

Not approved by security holders

    —          —          —     
 

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total

    1,216,290          78,350   
 

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

(1) The number of securities to be issued consists of 1,026,588 for stock options, 78,702 for restricted stock units and 111,000 for performance stock units at target. The weighted average exercise price applies only to the stock options.
(2) Awards are not restricted to any specified form or structure and may include, without limitation, sales or bonuses of stock, restricted stock, stock options, reload stock options, stock purchase warrants, other rights to acquire stock, securities convertible into or redeemable for stock, stock appreciation rights, limited stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, dividend equivalents, performance units or performance shares, and an award may consist of one such security or benefit, or two or more of them in tandem or in alternative.

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The Audit Committee reviews the Corporation’s financial statements and internal control over financial reporting on behalf of the Board of Directors. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the internal control over financial reporting. The Corporation’s independent auditors are responsible for expressing opinions on the conformity of the audited financial statements to generally accepted accounting principles and on the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting.

In this context, the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management and the independent auditors the audited financial statements and the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee has discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communication with Audit Committees), as amended (AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1, AU Section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. In addition, the Audit Committee has received from the independent auditors the written disclosures and the letter required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and has discussed with them their independence from the Corporation and its management. The Audit Committee has considered whether the independent auditor’s provision of information technology services and other non-audit services to the Corporation is compatible with the auditor’s independence.

In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board has approved, that the audited financial statements be included in the Corporation’s Annual Report on SEC Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Submitted by the Audit Committee,

Jay L. Haberland—Chairman

Robert C. Ducommun

Dean M. Flatt

 

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The above report of the Audit Committee shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the Corporation specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not be deemed filed under such Acts.

REPORTS

The Annual Report of the Corporation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, describing the Corporation’s operations and including audited financial statements and information about the executive officers of the Corporation, has been mailed prior to or concurrently with this Proxy Statement. The Corporation will provide a copy of its most recent report to the SEC on Form 10-K upon the written request of any beneficial owner of the Corporation’s securities as of the Record Date for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders without charge except for the cost of reproducing Exhibits. Such request should be addressed to Ducommun Incorporated, 23301 Wilmington Ave., Carson, California 90745-6209, Attn: James S. Heiser, Secretary.

Only one Annual Report and Proxy Statement is being delivered to multiple shareholders sharing an address unless the Corporation has received contrary instructions from one or more of the shareholders. The Corporation will deliver promptly upon a written or oral request a separate copy of the Annual Report and Proxy Statement to a shareholder at a shared address to which a single copy of the documents was delivered. Such request should be addressed to Ducommun Incorporated, 23301 Wilmington Ave., Carson, California 90745-6209, Attn: James S. Heiser, Secretary, or by telephone at (310) 513-7200. Shareholders sharing an address who prefer to receive separate copies of the Annual Report and Proxy Statement in the future should notify the Corporation at the address listed above. Shareholders sharing an address also may request delivery of a single copy of Annual Reports and/or Proxy Statements if they are receiving multiple copies of Annual Reports and/or Proxy Statements by notifying the Corporation at the address listed above.

INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

The Corporation’s independent accountants selected for the current fiscal year, as well as for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, are PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Corporation’s independent public accountants, billed the Corporation for the following professional services rendered:

 

     2012      2011  

Audit Fees(1)

   $ 1,372,500       $ 1,326,045   

Audit-Related Fees(2)

     18,500         231,848   

Tax Fees(3)

     420,875         241,131   

All Other Fees

     0         0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,811,875       $ 1,799,024   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Professional services rendered for the audit of the Corporation’s annual financial statements, review of the financial statements included in the Corporation’s Form 10-Q, and services normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings for these years.
(2) Professional services rendered for audit-related services principally related to the LaBarge acquisition.
(3) Professional services rendered for reviews of federal and state tax returns, and tax planning primarily related to research and development tax credits, foreign sales and sales and use tax.

 

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Policy for Pre-Approval of Independent Accountant Services

For audit services, the independent accountant provides the Audit Committee with an engagement letter outlining the scope of audit services to be performed in connection with the year-end audit, the quarterly financial statement reviews for the three quarters of the following year, and other audit-related services (which are services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Corporation’s financial statements) and the proposed audit service fees related thereto. If approved by the Audit Committee, this engagement letter is formally signed by the chairman of the Audit Committee acting on behalf of the Audit Committee.

For non-audit services, Corporation management submits to the Audit Committee for approval in the fourth quarter of each year a schedule of non-audit services that it recommends the Audit Committee engage the independent accountant to provide in connection with the year-end audit and during the following year. The schedule includes a description of the planned non-audit services and an estimated budget for such services. To ensure the prompt handling of unexpected requirements, the Audit Committee has delegated to the chairman of the Audit Committee the authority to amend, supplement or modify the schedule of approved permissible non-audit services. The chairman of the Audit Committee reports any such actions taken to the Audit Committee at the next Audit Committee meeting.

The Audit Committee pre-approved 100% of the aggregate fees of the independent accountant for 2012 and 2011.

ITEM 4: RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

The Audit Committee has selected PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Corporation’s independent accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013. The Board of Directors urges you to vote for ratification of that appointment. A representative of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP plans to be present at the Annual Meeting, will be given an opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires to do so and will be available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS.

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

From time to time individual shareholders of the Corporation may submit proposals which they believe should be voted upon by the shareholders. The SEC has adopted regulations which govern the inclusion of such proposals in the Corporation’s annual proxy materials. All such written proposals must be received by the Secretary of the Corporation no later than November 29, 2013 and must comply with the SEC regulations, in order to be considered for inclusion in the Corporation’s 2014 proxy materials.

For business to be considered at the Corporation’s 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, written proposals must be received by the Secretary of the Corporation no later than January 31, 2014.

 

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OTHER BUSINESS

The Board of Directors does not know of any other business which will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting. If any other business properly comes before the Annual Meeting, or any adjournment or postponement thereof, the proxy holders will vote in regard thereto according to their discretion insofar as such proxies are not limited to the contrary.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors
James S. Heiser
Secretary

Carson, California

March 27, 2013

 

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APPENDIX A

DUCOMMUN INCORPORATED

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER

1. Members. The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Ducommun Incorporated (the “Company”) shall appoint an Audit Committee of at least three members, consisting entirely of independent directors, and will designate one member as chairperson. Members of the Audit Committee are appointed by the Board upon the recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. For purposes hereof, an “independent” director is a director who meets the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) and Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) definition of “independence,” as determined by the Board. Members of the Audit Committee may be removed at any time by the Board.

Each member of the Audit Committee must be financially literate and at least one member must have accounting or related financial management expertise, as determined by the Board. In addition, at least one member of the Audit Committee shall be an “audit committee financial expert,” as determined by the Board in accordance with SEC rules. Members of the Audit Committee may not simultaneously serve on the audit committees of more than two other public companies (in addition to the Company).

2. Purposes, Duties, and Responsibilities. The purposes of the Audit Committee shall be to represent and assist the Board in its oversight of (i) the integrity of the Company’s financial statements, (ii) the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (iii) the independent auditor’s qualifications and independence, and (iv) the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and the Company’s independent auditor. In addition, the Audit Committee shall prepare the report required by the rules of the SEC to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement filed with the SEC.

The specific duties and responsibilities of the Audit Committee will be to:

(a) Be directly responsible, in its capacity as a Committee of the Board, for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the independent auditor. In this regard, the Audit Committee shall appoint and retain, compensate, evaluate, and terminate, when appropriate, the independent auditor, which shall report directly to the Audit Committee.

(b) Obtain and review, at least annually, a report by the independent auditor describing: the independent auditor’s internal quality-control procedures; and any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years, respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the independent auditing firm, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues.

(c) Approve in advance all audit services to be provided by the independent auditor. (By approving the audit engagement, an audit service within the scope of the engagement shall be deemed to have been pre-approved).

(d) Establish policies and procedures for the engagement of the independent auditor to provide audit and permissible non-audit services, which shall include pre-approval of all permissible non-audit services to be provided by the independent auditor.

(e) Consider, at least annually, the independence of the independent auditor, including whether the independent auditor’s performance of permissible non-audit services is compatible with the auditor’s independence, and obtain and review a report by the independent auditor describing any relationships between the independent auditor and the Company or any other relationships that may adversely affect the independence of the auditor.

(f) Review and discuss with the independent auditor: (i) the scope of the audit, the results of the annual audit examination by the auditor, and any difficulties the auditor encountered in the course of their audit

 

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work, including any restrictions on the scope of the independent auditor’s activities or on access to requested information, and any significant disagreements with management, and (ii) any reports of the independent auditor with respect to interim periods.

(g) Review and discuss with management and the independent auditor the annual audited and quarterly financial statements of the Company, including: (i) an analysis of the auditor’s judgment as to the quality of the Company’s accounting principles, setting forth significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the financial statements, (ii) the Company’s disclosures under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” including accounting policies that may be regarded as critical, and (iii) major issues regarding the Company’s accounting principles and financial statement presentations, including any significant changes in the Company’s selection or application of accounting principles and financial statement presentations; and receive reports from the independent auditor as required by SEC rules.

(h) Recommend to the Board based on the review and discussion described in paragraphs (e)–(g) above, whether the financial statements should be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K.

(i) Review and discuss the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls, including any significant deficiencies in internal controls and significant changes in such controls reported to the Audit Committee by the independent auditor or management.

(j) Review and discuss with the principal internal auditor of the Company the scope and results of the internal audit program.

(k) Review and discuss corporate policies with respect to earnings press releases, as well as financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and ratings agencies. Such review and discussion may be done generally, and the Audit Committee need not review and discuss each earnings press release or each instance of earnings guidance.

(l) Oversee the Company’s policies and practices with respect to risk assessment and risk management.

(m) Establish procedures for receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls and auditing matters, including procedures for confidential, anonymous submission of concerns by employees regarding accounting and auditing matters.

(n) Establish policies for the hiring of employees and former employees of the independent auditor.

(o) Annually evaluate the performance of the Audit Committee and the adequacy of the Committee’s charter.

(p) Produce an Audit Committee report as required by the SEC to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement filed with the SEC.

3. Outside Advisors. The Audit Committee will have the authority to retain such outside counsel, accountants, experts and other advisors as it determines appropriate to assist it in the full performance of its functions and shall receive appropriate funding, as determined by the Audit Committee, from the Company for payment of compensation to any such advisors.

4. Meetings. The Audit Committee shall meet at least four times per year, either in person or telephonically, and at such times and places as the Audit Committee shall determine. The Audit Committee shall meet separately in executive session, periodically, with each of management, the principal internal auditor of the Company and the independent auditor. The majority of the members of the Audit Committee constitutes a quorum. The Audit Committee shall report regularly to the full Board with respect to its meetings.

ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON MARCH 24, 2011.

 

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APPENDIX B

DUCOMMUN INCORPORATED

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE CHARTER

1. Members. The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Ducommun Incorporated (the “Company”) shall appoint a Compensation Committee of at least three members, consisting entirely of independent directors, and will designate one member as chairperson. Members of the Compensation Committee are appointed by the Board upon the recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. For purposes hereof, an “independent” director is a director who meets the New York Stock Exchange definition of “independence,” as determined by the Board. Additionally, members of the Compensation Committee must qualify as “nonemployee directors” for purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as “outside directors” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.

2. Purpose, Duties, and Responsibilities. The purpose, duties and responsibilities of the Compensation Committee will be to:

(a) Review and approve corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), evaluate the CEO’s performance in light of those goals and objectives, and either as a Committee or together with the other independent directors (as directed by the Board), determine and approve the CEO’s compensation level (including perquisites) based on this evaluation.

(b) Consider and approve the compensation (including perquisites) of other senior executive officers based upon the recommendation of the CEO.

(c) Consider and approve the Company’s incentive-compensation plans for senior executive officers.

(d) Administer and make recommendations to the Board with respect to the Company’s equity-based compensation plans.

(e) Approve stock option and other stock incentive awards.

(f) Review and approve the design of any pension, deferred compensation and other retirement benefit plans pertaining to senior executive officers.

(g) Review and approve employment agreements and severance arrangements for senior executive officers, including change-in-control provisions, plans or agreements.

(h) In collaboration with the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, oversee the evaluation of management of the Company.

(i) Review the Company’s compensation programs for employees generally.

(j) Review the Company’s employee development process.

(k) Annually evaluate the performance of the Compensation Committee and the adequacy of the Committee’s charter.

(l) Produce a Compensation Committee report on executive compensation as required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement filed with the SEC.

3. Outside Advisors. The Compensation Committee will have the authority to retain such outside counsel, experts, and other advisors as it determines appropriate to assist it in the full performance of its functions, including sole authority to retain and terminate any compensation consultant used to assist the Committee in the evaluation of director, CEO or senior executive compensation, and to approve the consultant’s fees and other retention terms.

 

B-1


4. Meetings. The Compensation Committee will meet as often as may be deemed necessary or appropriate, in its judgment, either in person or telephonically, and at such times and places as the Compensation Committee determines. The majority of the members of the Compensation Committee constitutes a quorum. The Compensation Committee shall report regularly to the full board with respect to its meetings.

ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON MARCH 24, 2011.

 

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APPENDIX C

DUCOMMUN INCORPORATED

2013 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

Section 1. PURPOSE OF PLAN

The purpose of the 2013 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) of Ducommun Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), is to enable the Corporation and its subsidiaries to attract, retain and motivate their employees and nonemployee directors by providing for or increasing the proprietary interests of such persons in the Corporation.

Section 2. PERSONS ELIGIBLE UNDER PLAN

Any person who is a current or prospective employee or a nonemployee director of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries (a “Participant”) shall be eligible to be considered for the grant of Awards (as hereinafter defined) hereunder.

Section 3. AWARDS

(a) The Board of Directors and/or the Committee (as hereinafter defined), on behalf of the Corporation, is authorized under this Plan to enter into any type of arrangement with a Participant that is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Plan and that, by its terms, involves or might involve the issuance of (i) shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Corporation (“Common Shares”) or (ii) a Derivative Security (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as such Rule may be amended from time to time) with an exercise or conversion privilege at a price related to the Common Shares or with a value derived from the value of the Common Shares. The entering into of any such arrangement is referred to herein as the “grant” of an “Award.”

(b) Awards are not restricted to any specified form or structure and may include, without limitation, sales or bonuses of stock, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock options, stock purchase warrants, other rights to acquire stock, securities convertible into or redeemable for stock, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, dividend equivalents, performance units or performance shares, and an Award may consist of one such security or benefit, or two or more of them in tandem or in the alternative.

(c) Common Shares may be issued pursuant to an Award for any lawful consideration as determined by the Board of Directors and/or the Committee, including, without limitation, services rendered by the recipient of such Award.

(d) Subject to the provisions of this Plan, the Board of Directors and/or the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine all of the terms and conditions of each Award granted under this Plan, which terms and conditions may include, among other things:

(i) a provision permitting the recipient of such Award, including any recipient who is a director or officer of the Corporation, to pay the purchase price of the Common Shares or other property issuable pursuant to such Award, or such recipient’s tax withholding obligation with respect to such issuance, in whole or in part, by any one or more of the following:

(A) the delivery of previously owned shares of capital stock of the Corporation (including “pyramiding”) or other property, provided that the Corporation is not then prohibited from purchasing or acquiring shares of its capital stock or such other property,

(B) a reduction in the amount of Common Shares or other property otherwise issuable pursuant to such Award, or

 

C-1


(C) the delivery of a promissory note, the terms and conditions of which shall be determined by the Committee.

(ii) a provision conditioning or accelerating the receipt of benefits pursuant to such Award, either automatically or in the discretion of the Board of Directors and/or the Committee, upon the occurrence of specified events, including, without limitation, a change of control of the Corporation, an acquisition of a specified percentage of the voting power of the Corporation, the dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation, a sale of substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation or an event of the type described in Section 7 hereof; or

(iii) a provision required in order for such Award to qualify as an incentive stock option (“Incentive Stock Option”) under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), provided that the recipient of such Award is eligible under the Code to receive an Incentive Stock Option.

(e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, with respect to stock options and stock appreciation rights issued under the Plan, the Board of Directors and/or the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine the exercise or base price per Common Share subject to such Awards, which, in no event will be less than the Fair Market Value (as defined below) of the Common Shares on the date of grant; provided, however, that the exercise or base price per Common Share with respect to a stock option or stock appreciation right that is granted in connection with a merger or other acquisition as a substitute or replacement award for options and/or stock appreciation rights held by employees or directors of the acquired entity may be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Shares on the date such Award is granted if such exercise or base price is based on an adjustment method or formula set forth in the terms of the awards held by such individuals or in the terms of the agreement providing for such merger or other acquisition. For purposes of the Plan, the term “Fair Market Value” means, as of any given date, the closing sales price on such date (or, if there are no reported sales on such date, on the last date prior to such date on which there were sales) of the Common Shares on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape.

(f) The Board of Directors and/or the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine the term of each stock option and stock appreciation right awarded under the Plan, which in no case shall exceed a period of ten (10) years from the date of grant.

(g) Other than in connection with a change in the Corporation’s capitalization (as described in Section 7), at any time when the exercise or base price of a stock option or stock appreciation right is above the Fair Market Value of a Common Share, the Corporation shall not, without shareholder approval (i) reduce the exercise or base price of such stock option or stock appreciation right, (ii) exchange such stock option or stock appreciation right for cash, another Award, or a new stock option or stock appreciation right with a lower exercise or base price or (iii) otherwise reprice such stock option or stock appreciation right.

(h) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the grant, issuance, retention, vesting and/or settlement of restricted stock, restricted stock unit, performance share, performance unit and other similar Awards will occur when and in such installments and/or pursuant to the achievement of such performance criteria, in each case, as the Board of Directors and/or the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine. In addition, the performance criteria for any such Awards (or portions thereof) that is intended to satisfy the requirements for “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code will be a measure based on one or more Qualifying Performance Criteria selected by the Committee and specified when such Award is granted.

(i) For purposes of the Plan, the term “Qualifying Performance Criteria” shall mean any one or more of the following performance criteria, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, applied to either the Corporation as a whole or to a business unit or subsidiary, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, and measured either annually or cumulatively over a period of years, on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target, to previous years’ results or to a designated comparison group, in each case as specified by the Committee: earnings per share (diluted and/or basic), revenue, net profit after tax, gross profit, operating profit, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), earnings before

 

C-2


interest and taxes (EBIT), cash flow, asset quality, stock price performance, unit volume, return on equity, change in working capital, change in indebtedness or financial leverage, return on capital or shareholder return. To the extent provided for by the Committee at the time an Award is granted, the Committee shall appropriately adjust any evaluation of performance under a Qualifying Performance Criteria to account for any of the following events that occurs during a performance period: (a) asset write downs; (b) litigation or claim judgments or settlements; (c) the effect of changes in tax law, accounting principles or other such laws or provisions affecting reported results; (d) accruals for reorganization and restructuring programs; and (e) any extraordinary, non-recurring or other unusual items, either as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 or in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Corporation’s annual report to stockholders for the applicable year.

Section 4. STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN

(a) The aggregate number of Common Shares issued and issuable pursuant to all Awards granted under this Plan shall not exceed 240,000, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 7 hereof.

(b) For purposes of Section 4(a) hereof, the aggregate number of Common Shares issued under this Plan at any time shall equal only the number of Common Shares actually issued upon exercise or settlement of an Award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Common Shares subject to an Award under the Plan may not again be made available for issuance under the Plan if such Common Shares are: (i) Common Shares that were subject to a stock-settled stock appreciation right and were not issued upon the net settlement or net exercise of such stock appreciation right, (ii) Common Shares used to pay the exercise or purchase price of a stock option or other Award, (iii) Common Shares delivered to or withheld by the Corporation to pay the withholding taxes related a stock option or stock appreciation right, or (iv) Common Shares repurchased on the open market with the proceeds of a stock option exercise. Common Shares subject to Awards that have been canceled, expired, forfeited or otherwise not issued under an Award and Common Shares subject to Awards settled in cash shall not count as Common Shares issued under this Plan.

(c) The aggregate number of shares of Common Shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options granted under this Plan shall not exceed 240,000, which number shall be calculated and adjusted pursuant to Section 7 only to the extent that such calculation or adjustment will not affect the status of any option intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code. The aggregate number of Common Shares subject to Awards granted under this Plan during any calendar year to any one Participant shall not exceed 240,000 (the “Annual Share Limit”), which number shall be calculated and adjusted pursuant to Section 7 only to the extent that such calculation or adjustment will not affect the status of any Award intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code but which number shall not count any tandem stock appreciation rights granted under the Plan. In addition, if, in any calendar year, all or a portion of the Annual Share Limit is not awarded to a Participant, the unused portion of the Annual Share Limit for such Participant shall also be available for grant to that Participant in subsequent years.

Section 5. DURATION OF PLAN

Awards shall not be granted under this Plan after March 20, 2023. Although Common Shares may be issued after March 20, 2023 pursuant to Awards granted prior to such date, no Common Shares shall be issued under this Plan after March 20, 2033.

Section 6. ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN

(a) This Plan shall be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Committee”), or, in the absence of a Committee, the Board of Directors itself. Any power of the Committee may also be exercised by the Board of Directors, except to the extent that the grant or exercise of such authority would cause any Award or transaction to become subject to (or lose an exemption under) the short-swing profit recovery provisions of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or cause an Award

 

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otherwise intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code not to qualify for such treatment. To the extent that any permitted action taken by the Board of Directors conflicts with action taken by the Committee, the Board of Directors action shall control. The Committee may by resolution or written policy authorize one or more officers of the Corporation to perform any or all things that the Committee is authorized and empowered to do or perform under the Plan, and for all purposes under this Plan, such officer or officers shall be treated as the Committee; provided, however, that the resolution or policy so authorizing such officer or officers shall specify that the total number of Awards (if any) such officer or officers may award pursuant to such delegated authority shall not exceed the annual allotment of shares approved by the Committee, and any such Award shall be subject to the form of award agreement theretofore approved by the Committee. No such officer shall designate himself or herself as a recipient of any Awards granted under authority delegated to such officer. In addition, the Committee may delegate any or all aspects of the day-to-day administration of the Plan to one or more officers or employees of the Corporation or any subsidiary, and/or to one or more agents.

(b) Subject to the provisions of this Plan, the Board of Directors and/or the Committee shall be authorized and empowered to do all things necessary or desirable in connection with the administration of this Plan, including, without limitation, the following:

(i) adopt, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to this Plan;

(ii) determine which persons are Participants and to which of such Participants if any, Awards shall be granted hereunder;

(iii) grant Awards to Participants and determine the terms and conditions thereof, including the number of Common Shares issuable pursuant thereto;

(iv) determine the extent to which adjustments are required pursuant to Section 7 hereof;

(v) interpret and construe this Plan and the terms and conditions of all Awards granted hereunder; and

(vi) to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this Plan.

Section 7. ADJUSTMENTS

If the outstanding securities of the class then subject to this Plan are increased, decreased or exchanged for or converted into cash, property or a different number or kind of securities, or if cash, property or securities are distributed in respect of such outstanding securities, in either case as a result of a reorganization, merger, consolidation, recapitalization, restructuring, reclassification, dividend (other than a regular, quarterly cash dividend) or other distribution, stock split, reverse stock split or the like, or if substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation are sold, then, unless the terms of such transaction shall provide otherwise, the Board of Directors and/or the Committee shall make appropriate and proportionate adjustments in (a) the number and type of, and exercise price for, shares or other securities or cash or other property that may be acquired pursuant to Incentive Stock Options and other Awards theretofore granted under this Plan, (b) the maximum number and type of shares or other securities that may be issued pursuant to Incentive Stock Options and other Awards thereafter granted under this Plan, and (c) the number and type of shares or other securities subject to the individual limits set forth in Section 4 of this Plan.

Section 8. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF PLAN

The Board of Directors may amend or terminate this Plan at any time and in any manner, provided, however, that no such amendment or termination shall deprive the recipient of any Award theretofore granted under this Plan, without the consent of such recipient, of any of his or her rights thereunder or with respect thereto. In addition, the Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency in any award agreement in the manner and to the extent it shall deem desirable to effectuate the purposes of the Plan and the related Award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such amendment shall, without the approval of the shareholders of the Corporation:

 

(a) increase the maximum number of Common Shares for which Awards may be granted under this Plan;

 

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(b) reduce the price at which options may be granted below the price provided for in Section 3(e);

 

(c) reprice outstanding options or stock appreciation rights;

 

(d) extend the term of this Plan;

 

(e) change the class of persons eligible to be Participants;

 

(f) increase the individual maximum limits in Section 4(c); or

 

(g) otherwise amend the Plan in any manner requiring shareholder approval by law or the rules of any stock exchange or market or quotation system on which the Common Shares are traded, listed or quoted.

Section 9. EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN

This Plan shall be effective as of March 20, 2013 provided, however, that no Common Shares may be issued under this Plan until it has been approved, directly or indirectly, by the affirmative votes of the holders of a majority of the securities of the Corporation present, or represented, and entitled to vote at a meeting duly held in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

Section 10. LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

(a) No Common Shares issuable pursuant to an Award shall be issued or delivered unless and until, in the opinion of counsel for the Corporation, all applicable requirements of federal, state and other securities laws, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, and any applicable listing requirements of any stock exchange on which shares of the same class are then listed, shall have been fully complied with. The Corporation shall not be required to register in a Participant’s name or deliver any Common Shares prior to the completion of any registration or qualification of such shares under any foreign, federal, state or local law or any ruling or regulation of any government body which the Committee shall determine to be necessary or advisable. To the extent the Corporation is unable to or the Committee deems it infeasible to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Corporation’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Common Shares hereunder, the Corporation and its subsidiaries shall be relieved of any liability with respect to the failure to issue or sell such Common Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained. No Award shall be exercisable and no Common Shares shall be issued and/or transferable under any other Award unless a registration statement with respect to the Common Shares underlying such Award is effective and current or the Corporation has determined that such registration is unnecessary.

(b) It is the Corporation’s intent that the Plan shall comply in all respects with Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time. If any provision of the Plan is found not to be in compliance with Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, such provision shall be null and void.

(c) The Committee may provide that the Common Shares issued upon exercise of an Award or otherwise subject to or issued under an Award shall be subject to such further agreements, restrictions, conditions or limitations as the Committee in its discretion may specify prior to the exercise of such Award or the grant, vesting or settlement of such Award, including without limitation, conditions on vesting or transferability, forfeiture or repurchase provisions and method of payment for the Common Shares issued upon exercise, vesting or settlement of such Award (including the actual or constructive surrender of Common Shares already owned by the Participant) or payment of taxes arising in connection with an Award. Without limiting the foregoing, such restrictions may address the timing and manner of any resales by the Participant or other subsequent transfers by the Participant of any Common Shares issued under an Award, including without limitation (i) restrictions under an insider trading policy or pursuant to applicable law, (ii) restrictions designed to delay and/or coordinate the timing and manner of sales by Participant and holders of other Corporation equity compensation arrangements, (iii) restrictions as to the use of a specified brokerage firm for such resales or other transfers and (iv) provisions requiring Shares to be sold on the open market or to the Corporation in order to satisfy tax withholding or other obligations.

 

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Section 11. MISCELLANEOUS

(a) Neither the adoption of this Plan by the Board nor the submission of this Plan to the shareholders of the Corporation for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or the Committee to adopt such other incentive arrangements as either may deem desirable, including without limitation, the granting of retention shares or stock options otherwise than under this Plan or an arrangement not intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m), and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

(b) This Plan and any agreements or other documents hereunder shall be interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware and applicable federal law. Any reference in this Plan or in the agreement or other document evidencing any Awards to a provision of law or to a rule or regulation shall be deemed to include any successor law, rule or regulation of similar effect or applicability.

(c) Nothing in this Plan or an Award agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Corporation, its subsidiaries and/or its affiliates to terminate any Participant’s employment, service on the Board or service for the Corporation at any time or for any reason not prohibited by law, nor shall this Plan or an Award itself confer upon any Participant any right to continue his or her employment or service for any specified period of time. Neither an Award nor any benefits arising under this Plan shall constitute an employment contract with the Corporation, any subsidiary and/or its affiliates. Subject to Sections 5, 8 and 9, this Plan and the benefits hereunder may be terminated at any time in the sole and exclusive discretion of the Board without giving rise to any liability on the part of the Corporation, its subsidiaries and/or its affiliates.

(d) Except as otherwise provided by the Committee in the Award agreement, Awards may be forfeited if the Participant terminates his or her employment with the Corporation, a subsidiary or an affiliate for any reason.

(e) To the extent any payment under this Plan is considered deferred compensation subject to the restrictions contained in Section 409A of the Code, such payment may not be made to a specified employee (as determined in accordance with a uniform policy adopted by the Corporation with respect to all arrangements subject to Section 409A of the Code) upon “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) before the date that is six months after the specified employee’s separation from service (or, if earlier, the specified employee’s death). Any payment that would otherwise be made during this period of delay shall be accumulated and paid on the sixth month plus one day following the specified employee’s separation from service (or, if earlier, as soon as administratively practicable after the specified employee’s death).

(f) The Plan is intended to be an unfunded plan. Participants are and shall at all times be general creditors of the Corporation with respect to their Awards. If the Committee or the Corporation chooses to set aside funds in a trust or otherwise for the payment of Awards under the Plan, such funds shall at all times be subject to the claims of the creditors of the Corporation in the event of its bankruptcy or insolvency.

(g) All obligations of the Corporation under the Plan with respect to Awards granted hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the Corporation, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Corporation.

(h) Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Committee may provide that any Participant and/or any Award, including any Common Shares subject to an award, will be subject to any recovery, recoupment, clawback and/or other forfeiture policy maintained by the Corporation from time to time.

 

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LOGO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

x

 

 

LOGO

 

q  IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.  q

 

 

 

  A  

  Proposals — The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all the nominees listed and FOR Proposals 2, 3 and 4.

 

1.   Election of Directors:

  

For

 

  

Withhold

 

     

For

 

  

Withhold

 

     

For

 

  

Withhold

 

   +
      01 - Richard A. Baldridge    ¨    ¨    02 - Gregory S. Churchill    ¨    ¨    03 - Robert C. Ducommun    ¨    ¨   
      04 - Dean M. Flatt    ¨    ¨    05 - Jay L. Haberland    ¨    ¨            

 

 

    

For

 

  

Against

 

  

Abstain

 

       

For

 

  

Against

 

  

Abstain

 

2.   Advisory resolution on named executive compensation

   ¨    ¨    ¨   

3.   2013 Stock Incentive Plan for 240,000 shares of Common Stock available thereunder

   ¨    ¨    ¨

4.   Ratification of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Corporation’s independent accountants

   ¨    ¨    ¨   

5.   In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

        

 

  B     Non-Voting Items
Change of Address — Please print new address below.       Comments — Please print your comments below.

  

      

  

        

 

  C     Authorized Signatures — This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. —  Date and Sign Below
NOTE: Please sign as name appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.
Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below.              Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box.                 Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box.

        /        /

             

 

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Important notice regarding the Internet availability of

proxy materials for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

The Proxy Statement and the 2012 Annual Report to Shareholders are available at:

www.envisionreports.com/dco

 

 

 

 

 

q   IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.  q

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proxy — Ducommun Incorporated

 

PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS ON MAY 1, 2013

 

The undersigned hereby appoints JAMES S. HEISER and ROSE F. ROGERS, and each of them (with full power to act without the other), the agents and proxies of the undersigned, each with full power of substitution, to represent and to vote, as specified below, all of the shares of Common Stock of Ducommun Incorporated, a Delaware corporation, held of record by the undersigned on March 11, 2013, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 1, 2013, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof.

 

THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER.

 

IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR PROPOSALS 1, 2, 3 AND 4.

 

This proxy may be revoked at any time prior to the voting thereof. All other proxies heretofore given by the undersigned are hereby expressly revoked.

 

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD

PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

 

(Continued and to be marked, dated and signed, on the other side)