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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

__________________________________________________

FORM 10-K/A

 

(Amendment No. 1)

 

(Mark One)
x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Fiscal Year Ended October 3, 2020

or

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Commission File Number: 001-33962

 

___________________________________________________

COHERENT, INC.

 

Delaware 94-1622541

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

   

5100 Patrick Henry Drive, Santa Clara, California 95054

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (408764-4000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

  Title of each class Trading Symbol

Name of each exchange on which

registered

  Common Stock, $0.01 par value COHR The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
      Nasdaq Global Select Market

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes     No 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes     No 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes     No 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§229.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files.) Yes  No 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer Accelerated filer Non-accelerated filer Smaller reporting company Emerging growth company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes     No 

 

The aggregate market value of the voting shares (based on the closing price reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on April 4, 2020) of Coherent, Inc., held by nonaffiliates was approximately $1,386,117,559. For purposes of this disclosure, shares of common stock held by persons who own 5% or more of the outstanding common stock and shares of common stock held by each officer and director have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be “affiliates” as that term is defined under the Rules and Regulations of the Exchange Act. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

 

As of January 22, 2021, 24,447,453 shares of common stock were outstanding.

 

DOCUMENT INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

None.

 

 

 

 

 

Explanatory Note

 

Coherent, Inc. (“we,” “us,” “our,” “Company,” or “Coherent”) is filing this Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A (“Amendment No. 1”) to amend our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 3, 2020 (“Original Filing”), originally filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on December 1, 2020 (“Original Filing Date”), solely to include the information required by Items 10 through 14 of Part III of Form 10-K. This information was previously omitted from the Original Filing in reliance on General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, which permits the information in the above referenced items to be incorporated in the Form 10-K by reference from our definitive proxy statement if such proxy statement is filed no later than 120 days after our fiscal year-end. We are filing this Amendment No. 1 to include the Part III information in our Form 10-K because we will not file a definitive proxy statement containing such information within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by the Original Filing. The reference on the cover page of the Original Filing to the incorporation by reference to portions of our definitive proxy statement into Part III of the Original Filing has been deleted. This Amendment No. 1 hereby amends and restates in its entirety the cover page and Items 10 through 14 of Part III of the Original Filing.

 

Pursuant to Rule 12b-15 under the Exchange Act, this Amendment No. 1 also contains new certifications by the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Accordingly, Item 15 of Part IV is amended to include the currently dated certifications as exhibits.

 

Except as expressly noted in this Amendment No. 1, this Amendment No. 1 does not reflect events that may have occurred subsequent to the Original Filing Date or modify or otherwise update any other disclosures contained in the Original Filing, including, without limitation, the financial statements. Accordingly, this Amendment No. 1 should be read in conjunction with the Original Filing.

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART III
  ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 2
  ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION 8
  ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS 40
  ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE 43
  ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES 44
PART IV  
  ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES 45
SIGNATURES   47

 

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PART III

 

ITEM 10.     Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

 

Our Directors

 

The names of our directors and certain information about them as of January 22, 2021 is set forth below. The term of office of each director will continue until our next annual meeting of stockholders or until a successor has been elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal. There are no arrangements or understandings between any director or executive officer and any other person pursuant to which he or she is or was to be selected as a director or officer.

 

There are no family relationships among directors or executive officers of Coherent. Except as set forth below, each of our directors has been engaged in his or her principal occupation set forth below during the past five years.

 

Name Age Director Since Principal Occupation
Jay T. Flatley(1)(2) 68 2011 Chairman of the Board of Illumina, Inc.
Pamela Fletcher(2) 54 2017 Vice President—Global Innovation at General Motors Company
Andreas (“Andy”) W. Mattes 59 2020 President and Chief Executive Officer
Beverly Kay Matthews(3) 62 2019 Retired Partner, Ernst & Young
Michael R. McMullen(2) 59 2018 President and Chief Executive Officer of Agilent Technologies, Inc.
Garry W. Rogerson(1)(3) 68 2004 Former Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.
Steve Skaggs(1)(3) 58 2013 Former Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Atmel Corporation
Sandeep Vij(2) 55 2004 Former President and Chief Executive Officer of MIPS Technologies, Inc.
       

(1)        Member of the Governance and Nominating Committee.

(2) Member of the Compensation and HR Committee.
(3) Member of the Audit Committee.

 

Jay T. Flatley. Since 1999 Mr. Flatley has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Illumina, Inc., a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of life science tools and integrated systems for the analysis of genetic variation and function and from July 2016 to December 2019, as Illumina’s Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors. Since January 2020, he has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Illumina. From January 2016 to July 2016, he also served as Illumina’s Chairman of the Board of Directors. From 1999 until July 2016, Mr. Flatley was Illumina’s Chief Executive Officer. From 1999 to December 2013, Mr. Flatley also served as Illumina’s President. Prior to joining Illumina, Mr. Flatley was President, Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the Board of Directors of Molecular Dynamics, Inc., a Nasdaq listed life sciences company focused on genetic discovery and analysis, from 1994 until its sale to Amersham Pharmacia Biotech Inc. in 1998. Additionally, he was a co-founder of Molecular Dynamics and served in various other positions there from 1987 to 1994. Mr. Flatley is also a member of the board of directors of Denali Therapeutics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. Mr. Flatley previously served on the board of directors of Juno Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. Mr. Flatley holds a B.A. in Economics from Claremont McKenna College and a B.S. and a M.S. in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University.

 

Mr. Flatley’s years of executive and management experience in the high technology industry, including serving as the chief executive officer of several public companies, his service on the boards of other publicly held companies, and his years of service as a director of Coherent make him an invaluable member of the Board.

 

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Pamela Fletcher. Ms. Fletcher has served as Vice President—Global Innovation at General Motors Company (“GM”), a global automotive company, since October 2018 and was previously Vice President—Global Innovation and R&D Laboratories at GM from January 2019 to February 2020 (for R&D Laboratories). Over a fifteen-plus year career with GM, Ms. Fletcher has served in various roles, including Vice President—Global Electric Vehicle Programs from October 2017 to October 2018; Global Executive Chief Engineer, Autonomous and Electrified Vehicles and New Technology from July 2016 to October 2017; Executive Chief Engineer, Electrified Vehicles from August 2012 to July 2016; Chief Engineer, Chevrolet Volt Propulsion System from 2009 to August 2012; and Assistant Chief Engineer, Hybrid & Electric Propulsion Systems from 2007 to 2008. She holds a B.S. in Engineering from Kettering University and an M.S. in Engineering from Wayne State University.

 

Ms. Fletcher’s years of executive and management experience in the automotive industry, her knowledge of advanced and emerging automotive technologies, and her years of service as a director of Coherent make her an invaluable member of the Board.

 

Andy Mattes. Mr. Mattes has served as our Chief Executive Officer and President as well as a member of the Board since April 2020. Prior to joining Coherent and beginning in June 2019, he was a Senior Advisor to McKinsey & Company, a leading global management consulting firm, providing corporate and strategic consulting services to various clients of the firm. From January 2018 to May 2019, he was an independent corporate advisor. From 2013 to December 2017, he was the Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Diebold Nixdorf Incorporated, a retail and financial services technology systems company. He also served as its President from 2013 to August 2016. Mr. Mattes was the Senior Vice President, Global Strategic Partnerships at Violin Memory, a computer storage systems company, in 2013. He has also held various senior management positions with Hewlett-Packard Co., a computer technologies company. From 2008 to 2011 he was the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Hewlett Packard’s Enterprise Services for the Americas. From 2006 to 2008 he was Hewlett Packard’s Chief Sales Officer for the Enterprise Business. Mr. Mattes spent the first 20 years of his career (between 1985 and 2005) at Siemens, holding a variety of senior leadership positions. These culminated in his role as chief executive officer of Siemens Communications Inc., USA, in Boca Raton, Florida. He received his Diplom-Kaufmann in business administration from Ludwig Maximilian University.

 

Mr. Mattes’ decades of experience developing and executing business strategies, his prior executive service in public companies, his extensive international experience, his recent appointment as our President and Chief Executive Officer, and his previous service on the board of another publicly held company make him an invaluable member of the Board.

 

Beverly Kay Matthews. Ms. Matthews is a certified public accountant (Texas) and retired from Ernst & Young, LLP (“EY”), a global accounting firm, in June 2019, where she served as Vice Chair and Managing Partner of the West Region since 2008. She joined EY in 1983 and held a number of leadership positions, including Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner of the Americas’ Assurance and Advisory Business Services from 2005 to 2008; Managing Partner of the Assurance Practice of the Gulf Coast Region from 2001 to 2005; Managing Partner of the Austin Office from 1998 to 2001; and served as an audit partner for privately and publicly held companies in the technology, transportation and healthcare industries. She is also a member of the board of directors and audit and compensation committees of SVB Financial Group, the parent company of Silicon Valley Bank, a member of the board of directors and audit committee of Main Street Capital Corporation, and a member of the Texas Tech University Jerry S. Rawls College of Business Advisory Council. Ms. Matthews holds a Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting from Texas Tech University.

 

Ms. Matthews’ years in the public accounting industry working with public companies in the technology, transportation and healthcare industries, as well as her service on the boards of other publicly held companies, make her an invaluable member of the Board.

 

Michael R. McMullen. Mr. McMullen has served as Chief Executive Officer of Agilent Technologies, Inc. (“Agilent”), a global leader in Life Sciences and Diagnostics, since March 2015 and as President of Agilent since September 2014. From September 2014 to March 2015, he also served as Agilent’s Chief Operating Officer. From September 2009 to September 2014, he served as Senior Vice President, Agilent and President, Chemical Analysis Group at Agilent. From January 2002 to September 2009, he served as Agilent’s Vice President and General Manager of the Chemical Analysis Solutions Unit of the Life Sciences and Chemical Analysis Group. Prior to assuming this position, from March 1999 to December 2001, Mr. McMullen served as Country Manager for Agilent’s China, Japan and Korea Life Sciences and Chemical Analysis Group. Prior to this position, Mr. McMullen served as the Controller for the Hewlett-Packard Company and Yokogawa Electric Joint Venture from July 1996 to March 1999. Mr. McMullen is also a member of the board of directors of Agilent. Mr. McMullen holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and business administration from the University of Delaware and an MBA from the Wharton School of Business.

 

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Mr. McMullen’s years of executive and management experience in the high technology industry, including serving as the chief executive officer and on the board of another publicly held company, make him an invaluable member of the Board.

 

Garry W. Rogerson. Mr. Rogerson has served as Coherent’s Chairman of the Board since June 2007. Since September 2015, Mr. Rogerson has been a private investor. From August 2011 to September 2015, Mr. Rogerson was Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Advanced Energy Industries, Inc., a provider of power and control technologies for thin film manufacturing and solar-power generation, after which he agreed to serve as a special advisor for a period of time. He was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Varian, Inc., a major supplier of scientific instruments and consumable laboratory supplies, vacuum products and services, from February 2009 and 2004, respectively, until the purchase of Varian by Agilent Technologies, Inc. in May 2010. Mr. Rogerson served as Varian’s Chief Operating Officer from 2002 to 2004, as Senior Vice President, Scientific Instruments from 2001 to 2002, and as Vice President, Analytical Instruments from 1999 to 2001. Mr. Rogerson received an honours degree and Ph.D. in biochemistry as well as an honorary doctoral science degree from the University of Kent at Canterbury.

 

Mr. Rogerson’s years of executive and management experience in the high technology industry, including serving as the chief executive officer of several public companies, his service on the boards of other publicly held companies, and his years of service as a director of Coherent make him an invaluable member of the Board.

 

Steve Skaggs. Mr. Skaggs has been a private investor since April 2016. He currently also serves as Director and Audit Committee Chair of IDEX Biometrics, ASA.  From May 2013 to April 2016, Mr. Skaggs was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Atmel Corporation, a leading supplier of microcontrollers, until its acquisition by Microchip Technology Incorporated. Mr. Skaggs has more than 25 years of experience in the semiconductor industry, including serving as President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Lattice Semiconductor, a supplier of programmable logic devices and related software. He was also previously a member of the board of directors of Lattice. Prior to Lattice, Mr. Skaggs was employed by Bain & Company, a global management consulting firm, where he specialized in high technology product strategy, mergers and acquisitions and corporate restructurings. Mr. Skaggs holds an MBA degree from the Harvard Business School and a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.

 

Mr. Skaggs’ years of executive and management experience in the high technology industry, including serving as the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of other public companies, his prior service on the board of another publicly held company and his years of service as a director of Coherent make him an invaluable member of the Board.

 

Sandeep Vij. Mr. Vij has been a private investor since February 2013. Previously, he held the position of President and Chief Executive Officer and was a member of the board of directors of MIPS Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of processor architectures and cores, from January 2010 until its sale in February 2013. In addition, Mr. Vij had been the Vice President and General Manager of the Broadband and Consumer Division of Cavium Networks, Inc., a provider of highly integrated semiconductor products from May 2008 to January 2010. Prior to that, he held the position of Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, Services and Support for Xilinx Inc., a digital programmable logic device provider, from 2007 to April 2008. From 2001 to 2006, he held the position of Vice President of Worldwide Marketing at Xilinx. From 1997 to 2001, he served as Vice President and General Manager of the General Products Division at Xilinx. Mr. Vij joined Xilinx in 1996 as Director of FPGA Marketing. He is a graduate of General Electric’s Edison Engineering Program and Advanced Courses in Engineering. He holds an MSEE from Stanford University and a BSEE from San Jose State University.

 

Mr. Vij’s years of executive and management experience in the high technology industry, including serving as the chief executive officer of another public company, his service on the board of another publicly held company, and his years of service as a director of Coherent make him an invaluable member of the Board.

 

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Our Executive Officers

 

The name, age, position and a brief account of the business experience of our executive officers as of January 22, 2021 are set forth below:

 

Name Age Office Held
Andreas (“Andy”) W. Mattes 59 President and Chief Executive Officer
Kevin Palatnik 63 Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Mark Sobey 60 Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Bret DiMarco 52 Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary

 

Please see “—Our Directors” above for Mr. Mattes’ biographical information.

 

Kevin Palatnik. Mr. Palatnik has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since February 2016. Prior to that from August 2011 until its acquisition by Knowles Corporation in July 2015, Mr. Palatnik served as the Chief Financial Officer of Audience, Inc., a provider of intelligent voice and audio solutions for mobile devices. Prior to that from June 2001 to November 2010, Mr. Palatnik held various roles at Cadence Design Systems, Inc., an electronic design automation software company, including as its senior vice president and chief financial officer. Mr. Palatnik also served as a member of the board of directors and chair of the audit committee of Adesto Technologies, Inc., a provider of innovative, application-specific semiconductors and embedded systems that comprise the essential building blocks of Internet of Things (IoT) edge devices from September 2015 until July 2020 when the company was sold to Dialog Semiconductor. Mr. Palatnik received a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research and a M.B.A. from Syracuse University.

 

Mark Sobey. Dr. Sobey has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since his appointment on April 6, 2020. Dr. Sobey previously served as our Executive Vice President and General Manager of OEM Laser Sources (OLS) from November 2016 to April 2020, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Specialty Laser Systems (SLS) from April 2010 to November 2016, and Senior Vice President and General Manager of SLS from joining Coherent in July 2007 until April 2010. Prior to Coherent, Dr. Sobey spent over 20 years in the Laser and Fiber Optics Telecommunications industries, including Senior Vice President roles in Product Management at Cymer and Global Sales at JDS Uniphase. He received his PhD in Engineering and BSc in Physics from the University of Strathclyde in Scotland.

 

Bret DiMarco. Mr. DiMarco has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer since October 2020. Mr. DiMarco previously served as our Executive Vice President and General Counsel from June 2006 to October 2020 and he has served as our Corporate Secretary since February 2007. From February 2003 until May 2006, Mr. DiMarco was a member and from October 1995 until January 2003 was an associate at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C., a law firm. Mr. DiMarco received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Irvine and a Juris Doctorate degree from the Law Center at the University of Southern California. Additionally, Mr. DiMarco is a member and chair of the Nasdaq Listing and Hearing Review Council and an adjunct professor at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.

 

Business Conduct Policy

 

We have adopted a worldwide Business Conduct Policy that applies to the members of our Board of Directors, executive officers and other employees. This policy is posted on our Website at www.coherent.com and may be found as follows:

 

1. From our main Web page, first click on “Company”.
2. Next, click on “Business Conduct Policy”.

 

We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding an amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of this Business Conduct Policy by posting such information on our Website, at the address and location specified above.

 

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Stockholders may request free printed copies of our worldwide Business Conduct Policy from:

 

Coherent, Inc.

Attention: Investor Relations

5100 Patrick Henry Drive

Santa Clara, California 95054

 

Audit Committee

 

The Audit Committee consists of directors Skaggs (Chair), Matthews and Rogerson. The Audit Committee held ten (10) meetings during fiscal 2020. Susan James also served on the committee during fiscal 2020 until her retirement from the Board on April 27, 2020. The Board has determined that directors Skaggs, Matthews and Rogerson are “audit committee financial experts” as that term is defined in the rules of the SEC. Among other things, the Audit Committee has the sole authority for appointing and supervising our independent registered public accounting firm and is primarily responsible for approving the services performed by our independent registered public accounting firm and for reviewing and evaluating our accounting principles and our system of internal accounting controls.

 

Process for Stockholders to Recommend Candidates for Election to the Board of Directors

 

The Governance and Nominating Committee will consider nominees properly recommended by stockholders. A stockholder that desires to recommend a candidate for election to the Board must direct the recommendation in writing to us at our principal executive offices (Attention: Corporate Secretary) and must include the candidate’s name, age, home and business contact information, principal occupation or employment, the number of shares beneficially owned by the nominee and the stockholder making the recommendation, whether any hedging transactions have been entered into by the nominee or on his or her behalf, information regarding any arrangements or understandings between the nominee and the stockholder nominating the nominee or any other persons relating to the nomination, a written statement by the nominee acknowledging that the nominee will owe a fiduciary duty to Coherent if elected, a written statement of the nominee that such nominee, if elected, intends to tender, promptly following such nominee’s election or re-election, an irrevocable resignation effective upon such nominee’s failure to receive the required vote for re-election at the next meeting at which such nominee would face re-election and upon acceptance of such resignation by the Board in accordance with Coherent’s guidelines or policies, and any other information required to be disclosed about the nominee if proxies were to be solicited to elect the nominee as a director.

 

For a stockholder recommendation to be considered by the Governance and Nominating Committee as a potential candidate at a meeting of stockholders, nominations must be received on or before the deadline for receipt of stockholder proposals for such meeting. In the event a stockholder decides to nominate a candidate for director and solicits proxies for such candidate, the stockholder will need to follow the rules set forth by the SEC and in our bylaws.

 

The Governance and Nominating Committee’s criteria and process for evaluating and identifying the candidates that it approves as director nominees are as follows:

 

· the Governance and Nominating Committee regularly reviews the current composition and size of the Board;

 

· the Governance and Nominating Committee reviews the qualifications of any candidates who have been properly recommended by a stockholder, as well as those candidates who have been identified by management, individual members of the Board or, if the Governance and Nominating Committee determines, a search firm. Such review may, in the Governance and Nominating Committee’s discretion, include a review solely of information provided to the Governance and Nominating Committee or may also include discussions with persons familiar with the candidate, an interview with the candidate or other actions that the committee deems proper;

 

· the Governance and Nominating Committee evaluates the performance of the Board as a whole and evaluates the qualifications of individual members of the Board eligible for re-election at the annual meeting of stockholders;

 

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· the Governance and Nominating Committee considers the suitability of each candidate, including the current members of the Board, in light of the current size and composition of the Board. Except as may be required by rules promulgated by the Nasdaq Stock Market or the SEC, it is the current belief of the Governance and Nominating Committee that there are no specific, minimum qualifications that must be met by any candidate for the Board, nor are there specific qualities or skills that are necessary for one or more of the members of the Board to possess. In evaluating the qualifications of the candidates, the Governance and Nominating Committee considers many factors, including, issues of character, judgment, independence, age, expertise, diversity of experience, length of service, other commitments and the like. While Coherent does not have a formal policy with regard to the consideration of diversity in identifying director nominees, as noted above, diversity of experience is one of many factors that the committee considers;

 

· the Governance and Nominating Committee considers each individual candidate in the context of the current perceived needs of the Board as a whole. While the Governance and Nominating Committee has not established specific minimum qualifications for director candidates, the committee believes that candidates and nominees must reflect a Board that is comprised of directors who (i) are predominantly independent, (ii) are of high integrity, (iii) have qualifications that will increase the overall effectiveness of the Board, and (iv) meet other requirements as may be required by applicable rules, such as financial literacy or financial expertise with respect to audit committee members;

 

· in evaluating and identifying candidates, the Governance and Nominating Committee has the authority to retain and terminate any third party search firm that is used to identify director candidates and has the authority to approve the fees and retention terms of any search firm; and

 

· after such review and consideration, the Governance and Nominating Committee recommends the slate of director nominees to the full Board for its approval.

 

The Governance and Nominating Committee will endeavor to notify, or cause to be notified, all director candidates, including those recommended by a stockholder, of its decision as to whether to nominate such individual for election to the Board.

 

Our corporate governance guidelines require that upon a member of the Board turning 72 years old, he or she shall submit a conditional resignation to the Governance and Nominating Committee effective upon the next annual meeting of stockholders. The committee then determines whether to recommend that the Board accept such resignation.

 

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ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Fiscal 2020 Director Compensation

 

During fiscal 2020, we paid our non-employee directors an annual cash retainer (depending upon position) for service on the Board as follows:

 

Position Annual Retainer
Board Member $ 60,000
Board Chair $ 60,000
Audit Committee Chair $ 34,000
Compensation and HR Committee Chair $ 20,000
Governance and Nominating Committee Chair $ 13,500
Audit Committee member (non-Chair) $ 12,500
Compensation and HR Committee member (non-Chair) $ 10,000
Governance and Nominating Committee member (non-Chair) $ 6,500

 

 

The Governance and Nominating Committee annually reviews Board and committee compensation with the assistance of an independent compensation consultant, which for fiscal 2020 was Compensia. Compensia is separately compensated for this work from the work it does as the Compensation and HR Committee’s independent consultant for executive compensation. The annual review includes a comparison to peer companies (which are the same as used for executive compensation) and market pay practices for service on boards of directors. Compensia advised the committee that the design and pay levels of the director compensation program were aligned with peer market practices. As noted, the Board is compensated with a combination of cash retainers and a fixed value of time-based RSUs. As noted elsewhere in this Amendment No. 1, Compensia has not provided any other service for the Company other than as directed by a committee of the Board.

 

Following the recommendation of the Governance and Nominating Committee (based upon review by Compensia) in February 2017, the Board adopted resolutions automatically granting each year without any discretion to each non-employee director an award of RSUs (rounded down to the nearest whole share) valued at $225,000 (based on the trailing thirty day closing price of the Company’s common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market measured from the last trading day prior to the date of grant) upon the director’s election to the Board at the Company’s annual meeting. In addition, the Board determined that upon the initial appointment of a non-employee director, such director will receive an award of RSUs valued at $225,000 (based on the trailing thirty day closing price of the Company’s common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market measured from the last trading day prior to the date of grant), which RSUs shall vest over two years (fifty percent on each anniversary of the date of grant). Such awards of RSUs are currently granted under the Coherent Equity Incentive Plan. Prior to the approval of the Coherent Equity Incentive Plan by our stockholders in April 2020, these awards of RSUs were made under the 2011 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

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The chart below presents information concerning the total compensation of our non-employee directors for service (including the Board and, where applicable, committee service) during fiscal 2020:

 

Name Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
($)(1)
Stock Awards
($)(2)(3)
Option Awards
($)(4)
Total ($)
Jay T. Flatley 76,500 269,724 346,224
Pamela Fletcher 70,000 269,724 339,724
Susan M. James* 64,625 64,625
Beverly Kay Matthews 72,500 269,724 342,224
Michael R. McMullen 70,000 269,724 339,724
Garry W. Rogerson 146,000 269,724 415,724
Steve Skaggs 95,125 269,724 364,849
Sandeep Vij 80,000 269,724 349,724
         
* Fees paid in cash to Ms. James reflect the pro-rata amount for her service during the fiscal year. Ms. James retired from the Board effective as of April 27, 2020.

 

(1) The chart below summarizes the gross cash amounts earned by non-employee directors for service during fiscal 2020 on the Board and its committees:

 

Name Annual
Board
Service
($)
Audit
Committee
($)
Compensation
and HR
Committee
($)
Governance
and Nominating
Committee
($)
Total
($)
Jay T. Flatley 60,000 10,000 6,500 76,500
Pamela Fletcher 60,000 10,000 70,000
Susan M. James* 45,000† 14,750† 4,875† 64,625
Beverly Kay Matthews 60,000 12,500 72,500
Michael R. McMullen 60,000 10,000 70,000
Garry W. Rogerson 120,000 12,500 13,500 146,000
Steve Skaggs 60,000 28,625† 6,500 95,125
Sandeep Vij 60,000 20,000 80,000
           
* Retainer amounts for Ms. James are pro-rata for her service during the fiscal year. Ms. James retired from the Board effective as of April 27, 2020.
   
Reflects pro-rata amounts for service on the Board and the respective committee during the year; the applicable individual did not serve on the applicable committee for the entire fiscal year. In the case of Mr. Skaggs, he was appointed Chair of the Audit Committee in December 2019.

 

(2) These amounts do not reflect compensation actually received. Rather, these amounts represent the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with ASC 718, for restricted stock units (“RSUs”) which were granted in fiscal 2020. The assumptions used to calculate the value of these RSUs are set forth in Note 12, “Employee Stock Award and Benefit Plans” of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Original Filing.

 

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(3) The aggregate number of shares underlying unvested RSUs held by each of our non-employee directors as of the end of fiscal 2020 (including the grants made to our non-employee directors during fiscal 2020) was as follows:

 

Name Shares(a)
Jay T. Flatley 2,148(b)
Pamela Fletcher 2,148(b)
Susan M. James
Beverly Kay Matthews 2,898(c)
Michael R. McMullen 2,148(b)
Garry W. Rogerson 2,148(b)
Steve Skaggs 2,148(b)
Sandeep Vij 2,148(b)
   
(a) The shares underlying the RSUs will vest to the extent an individual is a member of the Board on the applicable vesting date.
(b) These shares are scheduled to vest on February 15, 2021.
(c) 2,148 shares are scheduled to vest on February 15, 2021, and 750 shares are scheduled to vest on May 9, 2021.

 

(4) No stock options have been granted to our non-employee directors since 2011. As of the end of fiscal 2020, none of our non-employee directors held any stock options.

 

Option Exercises and Stock Vested during Fiscal 2020

 

The table below sets forth certain information for each non-employee director regarding the exercise of options and the vesting of stock awards during fiscal 2020, including the aggregate value realized upon such exercise or vesting.

 

 

Option Awards

Stock Awards

Name Number of Shares
Acquired on
Exercise
(#)
Value Realized
on Exercise
($)(1)
Number of Shares
Acquired on
Vesting
(#)
Value Realized
on Vesting
($)(2)
Jay T. Flatley 24,000 1,468,560 1,805 277,627
Pamela Fletcher 1,805 277,627
Susan M. James 1,805 277,627
Beverly Kay Matthews 750 105,150
Michael R. McMullen 2,422 345,386
Garry W. Rogerson 1,805 277,627
Steve Skaggs 1,805 277,627
Sandeep Vij 1,805 277,627
         

 

(1) Reflects the difference between the exercise price of the option and market price of our common stock on the exercise date.

 

(2) Reflects the market price of our common stock on the vesting date or the last day on which our common stock traded prior to the vesting date if trading did not occur on the vesting date.

 

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Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

Introduction

 

In this section, we describe the material components of our executive compensation program for our “Named Executive Officers” or “NEOs” for fiscal 2020: Messrs. Mattes, Ambroseo, Palatnik, Sobey, DiMarco and Merk. Messrs. Ambroseo and Merk are no longer executive officers of the Company. Effective April 6, 2020, Mr. Ambroseo retired from his position as our President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of our Board, transitioning to the role of Special Advisor, and Mr. Mattes was appointed by our Board to serve as President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board. Mr. Merk also transitioned from his executive officer role after the end of fiscal 2020 (see “—Transitions” below). In addition, on August 20, 2020, the Company and Mr. Palatnik entered into an executive transition services agreement whereby Mr. Palatnik was to retire from his role as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer no later than February 28, 2021; however, in conjunction with the Company’s execution of an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 18, 2021, with Lumentum Holdings Inc., Mr. Palatnik and the Company terminated the executive transition services agreement.

 

We also provide an overview of our executive compensation philosophy, principal compensation policies and practices by which the Compensation and HR Committee, or the committee, arrives at its decisions regarding NEO compensation.

 

NEO Compensation Overview

 

The following chart sets forth our compensation philosophy and design principles:

 

Compensation Philosophy Compensation Design Principles
Retain and hire talented
executives
Our executives should have market competitive compensation and the committee orients our target total compensation generally near the 50th percentile of the committee’s selected peer group, with actual compensation falling above or below depending upon our financial performance and the performance of our stock price against an index over a three-year vesting period. Compensation components may be above or below such percentile target and vary by individual executive.
Pay for performance, with both short and long-term measurements A significant portion of the annual compensation of our executives is designed to vary with annual business performance and a significant portion of long-term equity compensation is based on the long-term relative performance of our stock price in comparison to the Russell Index (as defined below), by way of a single three-year vesting period.
Tie compensation to
performance of our core business
Payouts under our fiscal 2020 annual cash incentive plan were dependent upon corporate achievement of two performance targets: revenue and Adjusted EBITDA dollars. The committee determined that these were the most effective metrics for tying management’s compensation directly to our core operating results for fiscal 2020. In fiscal 2020, the Company’s financial results did not meet the challenging targets established by the committee and, as a result, no payout under our annual cash incentive plan was made to our NEOs. In connection with the COVID pandemic, we thought it important to incentivize our executives through a special equity performance award based on fiscal 2020 free cash flow because cash flow is essential to maintaining a healthy business.  
Align compensation with
stockholder interests
We believe that having a significant portion of compensation tied to equity with both time and performance-based vesting requirements directly aligns management to stockholder returns. Performance-based RSUs make up the largest potential portion of the equity grants for our CEO, and generally make up half of the equity grants of our other NEOs at target. The grants are fully at risk and the executive may not receive any shares at the end of the vesting period. Grants of regular performance-based RSUs in fiscal 2020 have the same measurement period consistent with historical practice: a single vesting date three years from grant solely dependent upon the performance of our common stock price measured against the Russell Index. In fiscal 2019, target was increased from meeting the Russell Index performance to exceeding the Russell Index performance. Prior to fiscal 2018, we used the Russell 2000 Index to compare our stock price performance, but due to an increase in our market cap, the Company was moved up to the Russell 1000 Index, and, accordingly, for grants made since the first quarter of fiscal 2018, the committee compares our stock price performance against the performance of the Russell 1000 Index. We refer to the applicable Russell Index as the “Russell Index.”

 

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The following chart sets forth our principal elements of NEO compensation:

 

Executive Compensation Program Overview—Elements of Compensation

 

Element Variability Objective How Established Fiscal Year 2020 for NEOs
Base Salary Fixed Provide a competitive fixed component of compensation that, as part of a total cash compensation package, enables us to attract and retain top talent. Reviewed against executive officer’s skill, experience and responsibilities, and for competitiveness against our compensation peer group. Base salary increased for 2020 for NEOs to more closely align with peers and market data provided by the committee’s compensation consultant.
Annual Cash
Incentive
Performance Based Offer a variable cash compensation opportunity once per fiscal year generally based upon the level of achievement of corporate performance targets. Target payouts set by measuring total cash compensation opportunity against the peer group. Corporate performance targets based on meeting operational goals tied to the Company’s operating budget for the applicable fiscal year. Annual bonus measurement period in fiscal 2020 tied to revenue and Adjusted EBITDA achievement. Revenue achievement weighted at 25% and Adjusted EBITDA achievement weighted at 75%. Total payout can range from 0% to 200% of target. For fiscal 2020, the Company did not meet the performance targets, and as a result, there was no cash bonus payout.
RSUs—Service
Based
Value Tied to Stock Price Align long-term management and stockholder interests and strengthen retention with three-year vesting. Service-based awards create long-term retention. Target total value of annual awards using market data (reviewed against our compensation peer group for competitiveness) and the executive officer’s responsibilities, contributions and criticality to ongoing success. Fiscal 2020 service-based awards vest 1/3 per year over three years, with the first vesting date occurring on the one-year anniversary of the grant date.

 

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Element Variability Objective How Established Fiscal Year 2020 for NEOs
RSUs—
Performance
Based

Performance Based—Value Tied to Stock Price and Based on Relative Performance to Russell Index

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Performance Based—Value Tied to Free Cash Flow

At-risk performance-based awards provide an incentive opportunity based upon the performance of our stock price against the performance of the Russell Index. This component directly aligns NEO pay to our stockholders’ interests.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At-risk performance-based awards provide an incentive opportunity based upon generating cash as essential to maintaining a healthy business particularly during the COVID pandemic.

Target total value of annual awards using market data (reviewed against our compensation peer group for competitiveness) and the executive officer’s responsibilities, contributions and criticality to ongoing success.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Target total value of awards using market data and the executive officer’s responsibilities and contributions.

Performance award measured by comparing our stock price performance against that of the Russell Index. To achieve 100% vesting of the awards, our stock price must outperform the Russell Index by 2% during the defined performance period. If our stock outperforms that target, the award is increased 2% for each percentage point of outperformance (with a cap of a 200% vesting). If our stock underperforms the target, the award is decreased 2% for each of the first two percentage points of underperformance, and decreased 4% for each additional percentage point of underperformance (with a floor of a 0% vesting).

 

 

 

 

Performance award measured by achievement of annual free cash flow. Vesting capped at 100% of target award.

Other Benefits Primarily Fixed Provide competitive employee benefits. We do not view this as a significant component of our executive compensation program. Reviewed for competitiveness. No significant changes for fiscal 2020 program.
         

 

Stockholder Engagement

 

The committee considers feedback from our stockholders regarding our executive compensation program, including as expressed by the results of our annual advisory vote on executive compensation, which our stockholders have historically strongly supported. We have strong pay for performance alignment, and the say-on-pay proposal for fiscal 2019 compensation was approved by an overwhelming majority of our stockholders.

 

Beyond the results of our annual say-on-pay vote, our stockholder engagement program is designed to foster an on-going dialogue with our stockholders. The principal form of engagement in this program consists of our CEO and CFO regularly meeting with our stockholders throughout the year. These meetings are primarily focused on financial and business matters related to the Company, and they allow our stockholders the opportunity to raise questions on a variety of topics, including our executive compensation design philosophy and principles. We believe this regular engagement has been productive and has allowed for a helpful exchange of ideas and perspectives for both management and our stockholders. In addition, in preparation for our annual meeting of stockholders held in April 2020, our CFO and CLO contacted each of our top five stockholders and were able to meet with two of them to discuss the Company’s compensation practices and the equity plan proposal that was included in our proxy statement for such meeting.

 

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As a result of these efforts, our CEO and CFO met with over 45 stockholders (in many cases speaking to a particular investor multiple times throughout the year), representing approximately 60% of our outstanding shares as of the end of fiscal 2020.

 

The Board, the committee and the Company’s management greatly value the feedback from those meetings, and consider such feedback in deliberations on important topics, such as executive compensation design and principles, throughout the year.

 

Also, as part of our stockholder engagement program, we encourage our stockholders to directly express their views to the committee. The committee welcomes direct stockholder feedback and considers such feedback as well as our historical “say-on-pay” results in its deliberations on executive compensation.

 

Transitions

 

Appointment of New CEO

 

On April 6, 2020, Mr. Mattes became President and CEO of the Company, as well as a member of the Board.

 

In connection with Mr. Mattes’ appointment as President and CEO, the Company and Mr. Mattes entered into an employment agreement on March 31, 2020 providing for, among other things, a base salary of $850,000 per year and a 2020 fiscal year target bonus of 120% of his base salary. Pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Mattes received a signing bonus of $500,000, subject to repayment to the Company if within the first year of his employment, he terminates employment without good reason or the Company terminates his employment for cause.

 

The employment agreement also provided for equity grants within 30 days after his commencement of employment which were made as described below in “Equity Awards.”

 

Under his employment agreement, Mr. Mattes is eligible for a severance payment equal to twice the sum of his annual salary and target bonus as well as a benefit allowance if his employment is terminated without cause or he terminates his employment for good reason. Mr. Mattes is covered by the Company’s change of control plan and entitled to participate in employee benefit plans generally applicable to senior executives of the Company. Mr. Mattes also entered into the Company’s standard form of indemnification and confidentiality agreements.

 

Retirement of CEO

 

Mr. Ambroseo retired from his role as President and CEO and a member of the Board, effective April 6, 2020. Upon his retirement, Mr. Ambroseo transitioned to the role of a Special Advisor to the Company. This transition was effected pursuant to a transition and retirement agreement that was entered into by Mr. Ambroseo and the Company in April 2019. The transition and retirement agreement provides for continuation of Mr. Ambroseo’s employment through December 1, 2021, with a continuation of his compensation through April 13, 2021 and a base salary of $10,000 per month thereafter through December 1, 2021, continued vesting in outstanding equity awards through December 1, 2021 and eligibility for change of control benefits if a change of control occurs by such date. Because performance thresholds were not achieved, neither Mr. Ambroseo nor any other executive vested in performance-based restricted stock units that were eligible to be earned in November 2020. The transition and retirement agreement also includes customary confidentiality, proprietary information and indemnification provisions and includes a release by Mr. Ambroseo. The terms of the agreement were extensively reviewed and discussed with Compensia, the committee’s independent compensation consultant. Both Mr. Ambroseo and the committee strongly believed that entering this agreement was in the best interest of Coherent and our stockholders by further supporting the upcoming transition.

 

In addition, in the first quarter of fiscal 2020, the committee determined to make an automatic grant of time-based RSUs with a value of approximately $200,000 to Mr. Ambroseo on the first day of each fiscal quarter in which he was still serving as CEO, with each such grant vesting on the last day of the fiscal quarter in which it was granted. Mr. Ambroseo received three such grants, which ceased once he was no longer CEO. The committee determined to make these quarterly grants in lieu of granting Mr. Ambroseo any additional time or performance-based RSUs in fiscal 2020.

 

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Other Transition

 

Mr. Merk also transitioned from his executive officer role after the end of fiscal year 2020 and entered into an agreement that provided him with the same level of benefits as the Leadership Change severance benefits under our Change of Control and Leadership Change Severance Plan as described below in “Other Benefits—Severance and Change of Control Arrangements” and in the section entitled “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control” below.

 

Key Design Changes to Executive Compensation

 

The committee closely reviewed the Company’s executive compensation recoupment (or “clawback”) policy in light of the state of applicable law, governance trends and practices of other public companies.

 

In fiscal 2020, the Board, at the recommendation of the committee and management, adopted a new clawback policy, expanding potential recoupment of cash and equity compensation to include all NEOs, as well as all employees of the Company holding the title of Senior Vice President or higher who report directly to our CEO. As described further below, the new clawback policy allows the committee to recoup excess incentive compensation from such covered individuals in the event of a restatement of the Company’s financial results, regardless of whether the covered executive played a role in the need for the restatement.

 

As disclosed in the Company’s fiscal 2019 proxy statement, the committee made the following changes to the design of executive compensation in fiscal 2019 continuing through fiscal 2020:

 

Redesigned the measurement of the Company’s performance-based RSUs to require performance above the Russell Index in order to achieve target vesting levels; and

 

Considered internal pay equity between the CEO and other NEOs as a factor in determining compensation.

 

The committee made changes to the design of performance-based RSUs granted in fiscal 2021:

 

Measured Company stock performance against the stock performance of the companies within the Russell Index rather than the Russell Index itself requiring the Company stock performance to be at the 55th percentile (above the median) with respect to the companies within the Russell Index to achieve target vesting;

 

Capped the maximum value of performance-based RSUs at vesting at five times the grant date stock price; and

 

Capped vesting of performance-based RSUs at 100% of target amount if the total stockholder return for the Company is not positive (greater than 0).

 

Executive Summary

 

Our Business

 

Founded in 1966, Coherent, Inc. is one of the leading providers of lasers and laser-based technology for scientific, commercial and industrial customers. Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and is part of several indexes, including the Russell 1000 and Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index. For more information about our business, please read the sections captioned “Business” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Original Filing.

 

Selected Business Highlights

 

We experienced a significant decrease in year-over-year revenue, Adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP earnings per share in fiscal 2020 and accordingly failed to meet our internal targets. As a result, you will see in the coming pages that our performance-related executive compensation in our annual cash program yielded no payout (zero %) in fiscal 2020.

 

Set forth below are tables reflecting several performance metrics from the last three fiscal years that impact the compensation for our NEOs.

 

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Our revenue decreased 25% from fiscal 2018 to fiscal 2019 and decreased 14% from fiscal 2019 to fiscal 2020 (dollars in millions):

 

ANNUAL REVENUE

 

 

 

Our Adjusted EBITDA decreased 53% from fiscal 2018 to fiscal 2019 and decreased 42% from fiscal 2019 to fiscal 2020 (dollars in millions):

 

ADJUSTED EBITDA

 

 

 

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Our non-GAAP earnings per share from continuing operations decreased 57% from fiscal 2018 to fiscal 2019 and decreased 49% from fiscal 2019 to fiscal 2020:

 

NON-GAAP EARNINGS PER SHARE*

 

 

 

For a reconciliation table of earnings per share on a GAAP basis to non-GAAP basis and net income (loss) from continuing operations on a GAAP basis to Adjusted EBITDA, please refer to the “Reconciliation Table” at the end of this section.

 

Compensation Overview

 

Compensation Philosophy. We tie executive total compensation to stockholder value with two measures: our operational results and the comparative performance of our stock price. This approach provides strong alignment between executive pay and performance, and focuses executives on making decisions that enhance our stockholder value in both the short and long-term. We design our executive compensation program to achieve the following goals:

 

Retain and hire talented executives—Our executives should have market competitive compensation, and the committee orients our target total compensation generally near the 50th percentile of the committee’s selected peer group (as noted below), with actual compensation falling above or below depending upon Coherent’s financial performance. Additionally, certain compensation components may be above or below such percentile target and vary by individual executive.

 

Pay for performance, with both short and long-term measurements—A significant portion of the annual compensation of our executives is designed to vary with annual business performance and the long-term relative performance of Coherent’s stock price in comparison to the Russell Index (by way of a single three-year vesting period). The committee and management set demanding performance targets. For example, there was no annual cash bonus paid out for fiscal 2020 as explained below. To incentivize conservation of cash during the COVID pandemic, the committee granted performance RSUs based on achievement of free cash flow which were earned.

 

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The following chart shows the payout percentages as compared to the committee’s selected financial targets for each of the last three fiscal years under our annual cash incentive plan:

 

PAYOUT PERCENTAGE UNDER

ANNUAL CASH INCENTIVE PLAN

 

 

 

Payouts under our annual cash incentive plan over the last seven years have ranged from 0% to 200% as shown in the following chart:

 

VCP Payout Percentage

 

 

 

Tie compensation to performance of our core business— Our fiscal 2020 annual cash incentive plan was dependent upon Coherent’s achievement against two criteria: Adjusted EBITDA dollars and revenue. The committee determined that these were the most effective metrics for tying management’s compensation directly to Coherent’s core operating results for fiscal 2020.

 

Align compensation with stockholder interests—We believe that having a significant portion of compensation tied to equity, with both time and performance-based vesting requirements, directly aligns management to stockholder interests. The performance-based RSUs make up the largest potential portion of the equity grants for our CEO. Grants of performance-based RSUs historically have the same measurement period: a single vesting date three years from grant solely dependent upon the performance of Coherent’s common stock price measured against the Russell Index. Prior to fiscal 2019, the performance target was equal to meeting the index’s performance. As mentioned above, the committee modified the design of the performance-based RSU grants made in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 and going forward to require performance two percentage points above the Russell Index to achieve the targeted vesting. If our stock outperforms that target during the defined performance period, the award is increased 2% for each percentage point of outperformance (up to a maximum cap of 200% of target). If our stock underperforms the target, the award is decreased 2% for each of the first two percentage points of underperformance, and decreased 4% for each additional percentage point of underperformance (with a floor of a 0% vesting). As a result, compensation decreases faster for failing to outperform the Russell Index than it increases for exceeding the target. If Coherent’s stock underperforms the Russell Index by more than 24%, then there is no payout, but in order to hit the maximum possible payout, Coherent’s stock has to outperform the Russell Index by at least 52%. The table and chart below illustrate this structure:

 

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FISCAL 2020 PERFORMANCE RSU VESTING

 

Relative Performance Percentage Against the Russell Index Vesting Percentage of Target Amount
152% or more 200% (maximum vesting)
102% 100%
100% 96%
85% 36%
77% 4%
76% or less 0% (no PRSUs vest)

 

 

 

Elements of Executive Compensation. During fiscal 2020, the compensation of our NEOs primarily consisted of (A) base salary, (B) participation in our annual variable compensation plan (referred to herein as our “annual cash incentive plan” or “VCP”), (C) long-term equity incentive awards divided between time-based RSUs and performance-based RSUs and (D) special performance-based equity incentive awards based on achievement of free cash flow metrics during the COVID pandemic. For fiscal 2020, on average, approximately 78% of our NEO’s target compensation and approximately 88% of our CEO’s target compensation was delivered through our annual cash incentive plan and long-term equity incentives (both time and performance RSUs).

 

As a demonstration of how executive cash compensation is tied to company performance, the cash compensation for our CEO during fiscal 2020 at target, maximum and actual can be illustrated as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

CEO FY2020 CASH PAY MIX*

 

 

 

* Actual excludes sign-on bonus of $500,000 and includes special strategic operating plan incentive.

 

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Compensation Governance. “Pay for performance” has been and remains at the core of Coherent’s executive compensation coupled with appropriately managing risk and aligning our compensation programs with long-term stockholder interests. We accomplish this primarily by having a majority of our NEOs’ potential compensation being “at risk” through a combination of (i) an annual cash incentive plan tied to achievement of financial metrics and (ii) equity award vesting tied to achievement of a performance metric. The committee monitors and considers evolving governance approaches and standards in executive compensation, as well as communications it receives directly from stockholders.

 

As more fully discussed below, recent examples of how this philosophy is applied and changes made pursuant to compensation practices as well as governance practices in effect during fiscal 2020, include:

 

We have minimum share ownership requirements for our CEO and members of the Board as well as Executive Vice Presidents and Senior Vice Presidents who report to the CEO;

 

Our performance-based RSU program is measured by the Company’s stock price achievement against the Russell Index over a three-year period, which the committee believes is a direct connection to long-term total stockholder interests. Fiscal 2020 grants require achievement in excess of the Russell Index to achieve target payout;

 

The committee is composed entirely of directors who satisfy the standards of independence in Coherent’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and Nasdaq listing standards;

 

The committee made decisions regarding CEO compensation without the CEO present;

 

Executive incentive compensation programs include limits on maximum payouts to contain the risk of excessive payouts;

 

The committee utilizes an independent compensation consultant;

 

We have eliminated material historical perquisites as an element of compensation for our NEOs;

 

We had a recoupment or “claw-back” policy for our CEO and CFO, and, in fiscal 2020, our Board, at the recommendation of the committee, adopted an updated policy extending coverage to all individuals with the title Senior Vice President and above, as described below;

 

We have in place a policy prohibiting executive officers and directors from hedging or pledging Company stock;

 

Change-of-control payments occur solely in “double-trigger” circumstances, that is a change of control coupled with a termination of employment within a defined time period;

 

None of our NEOs are entitled to any “gross-up” to offset the impact of IRS Code Sections 280G or 4999 in connection with a change of control; and

 

Our stockholders have historically strongly supported our executive compensation philosophy and design as seen in the significant majorities approving our “say-on-pay” proposal (does not include broker non-votes; rounded).

 

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Role of Management

 

The committee regularly met with the CEO to obtain recommendations with respect to the compensation programs, practices and packages for our NEOs other than the CEO. Additionally, Mr. Palatnik, our Executive Vice President and CFO, Mr. DiMarco, our Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, and members of our human resources department are regularly invited to meetings of the committee or otherwise asked to assist the committee.

 

The assistance of these individuals includes providing financial information and analysis for the committee and its compensation consultant, taking minutes of the meeting or providing legal advice, developing compensation proposals for consideration, and providing insights regarding our employees (executive and otherwise) and the business context for the committee’s decisions. NEOs attend portions of committee meetings when invited by the committee, but leave the meetings when matters potentially affecting them are discussed.

 

Role of the Committee’s Compensation Consultant

 

The committee utilizes the services of an independent compensation consultant and in fiscal 2020, engaged Compensia as its independent compensation consultant. Compensia assisted the committee by:

 

Reviewing and analyzing our executive compensation program, including providing NEO tally sheets to the committee;

 

Providing market data for fiscal 2020 compensation; and

 

Providing further insight on compensation governance trends.

 

The independent compensation consultant serves at the discretion of the committee and is not permitted to do other work for Coherent unless expressly authorized by the committee. Since retention, Compensia has not performed any work for Coherent other than its work with the committee, the Board or other committees of the Board, such as work with the Governance and Nominating Committee with respect to compensation for service on the Board and its committees. The committee is focused on maintaining the independence of its compensation consultant and, accordingly, does not anticipate having its consultant perform any other work for the Company in addition to its direct work for the committee, the Board, or another committee of the Board. The committee has assessed the independence of Compensia and concluded that no conflict of interest exists.

 

The Company also participates in and maintains a subscription to the Radford Global Technology and Sales surveys. These surveys provide benchmark data and compensation practices reports of a broad cross-section of technology companies similar in size to Coherent to assist us with employee compensation generally.

 

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Pay Positioning Strategy and Benchmarking of Compensation

 

Philosophically the committee initially orients target total compensation for our NEOs generally near the 50th percentile of our peers (as measured by our designated peer group and compiled by the committee’s independent compensation consultant and, when applicable, including, for example, when there are few comparable positions reported in the proxy data of our peer group companies, data from the Radford Global Technology Survey), resulting in targeted total compensation that is competitive for performance that meets the objectives established by the committee. Each NEO’s actual salary, cash incentive compensation opportunity and equity compensation grant value may fall below or above the target position based on the individual’s performance, contributions, scope of role, experience, skills and knowledge, as well as the historical pay structure for each executive, Company performance and the proportion of compensation at risk. These factors are weighed by the committee in its judgment, and no single factor takes precedence over others nor is any formula used in making these decisions nor was the impact of any factor on the determination of compensation quantifiable. In general, the committee will balance between cash and equity compensation elements to have more compensation in equity for each NEO in order to more closely align NEO compensation directly with that of the performance of the Company and with stockholders’ interests. In fiscal 2020, the committee also asked its independent compensation consultant to review and report on internal pay equity between the CEO and the other NEOs as a factor when approving compensation.

 

The CEO’s review of the performance of the other NEOs is considered by the committee in making individual pay decisions. With respect to the CEO, the committee additionally considers the performance of Coherent as a whole and the views of other members of the Board regarding the CEO’s performance. Actual realized pay is higher or lower than the targeted amounts for each individual based primarily on the Company’s performance.

 

In analyzing our executive compensation program relative to target market positioning, the committee reviews information provided by its independent compensation consultant, which includes an analysis of data from peer companies’ proxy filings with respect to similarly situated individuals at the peer companies (when available) and the Radford Global Technology Survey (as a supplement when peer group company data is unavailable). It is important to note that these are the peers selected by the committee. The committee uses criteria as described below in determining the appropriate peer group. There are proxy advisory services that use their own criteria to select peers for the Company and, accordingly, stockholders should be aware that these advisory services do not, in fact, follow the same methodology of the committee and there may be wide variances between the different peer groups used by these services. Any comparison of company performance or market data for executive compensation using a completely different peer group will, therefore, naturally result in a different analysis.

 

For pay decisions made for fiscal 2020, after consulting with its independent compensation consultant, the committee determined that the following companies comprise the peer group for fiscal 2020:

 

Ciena Corporation (CIEN) Lumentum Holdings Inc. (LITE)
Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (CY) MKS Instruments (MKSI)
Dolby Laboratories (DLB) National Instruments (NATI)
Entegris (ENTG) Nuance Communications (NUAN)
F5 Networks (FFIV) OSI Systems (OSIS)
Finisar (FNSR) Synaptics (SNYA)
FLIR Systems (FLIR) Teradyne (TER)
II-VI Inc. (IIVI) Trimble Inc. (TRMB)
Itron, Inc. (ITRI) ViaSat (VSAT)
Keysight Technologies (KEYS)  

 

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Several factors are considered in selecting the peer group, the most important of which are:

 

Primary Criteria

 

Industry (primarily companies in the Electronic equipment, Semiconductor and communications equipment sub-industry classifications defined by the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) system); and

 

Revenue level (primarily companies with annual revenues between 0.5x-2.0x that of Coherent).

 

Secondary Criteria

 

Market capitalization between 0.25x and 3.0x of Coherent;

 

Market capitalization as a multiple of revenues of greater than 1.5x; and

 

A disclosed peer of a peer company.

 

The committee reviews the composition of the peer group annually to ensure it is the most relevant set of companies in light of the foregoing criteria to use for comparison purposes, but does not necessarily remove a peer company from the peer group the first year it ceases to meet the criteria. II-VI Inc. was added to the companies comprising the Company’s peer group for fiscal 2020 replacing one company (Microsemi, due to acquisition) from the fiscal 2019 peer group.

 

Components of Our Executive Compensation Program

 

The principal components of our executive officer compensation and employment arrangements during fiscal 2020 included:

 

Base salary;

 

Annual cash incentive plan;

 

Equity awards; and

 

Other benefits.

 

These components were selected because the committee believes that a combination of salary, incentive pay and benefits is necessary to help us attract and retain the executive talent on which Coherent’s success depends. The following table shows the components of total direct compensation at target and maximum for our NEOs as a group for fiscal 2020. In maintaining the design for fiscal 2020, the committee recognized the significant support received from the Company’s stockholders for the compensation program design, as reflected in the continued strong vote totals in favor of our executive compensation through our annual “say-on-pay” proposal.

 

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CEO AND NEO (OTHER THAN CEO) FY2020
DIRECT COMPENSATION MIX*

 

 

 

*Excludes special one-time RSU & PRSU grants and
performance-based RSUs measured by achievement of annual
free cash flow.

 

Base Salary

 

Base salary is the foundation to providing an appropriate total cash compensation package. We use base salary to fairly and competitively compensate our executives for the jobs we ask them to perform. This is the most stable component of our executive compensation program, as this amount is not at risk. The committee reviewed market data information provided by Compensia with respect to similarly situated individuals to assist it in determining the base salary for each NEO, depending upon the particular executive’s experience, skills, knowledge, performance and contribution. The committee increased the base salaries of our NEOs in the first quarter of fiscal 2020, as supported by compensation analysis provided by Compensia, from 0% to 10.0% to more closely align their base salary with the base salary of peers. In addition, in connection with Mr. Sobey’s promotion to Chief Operating Officer in April 2020, his annual base salary increased to $500,000 to reflect the expansion of his role. According to information provided by the committee’s compensation consultant, our CEO’s base salary was approximately at the 50th percentile of our peer group companies. The base salaries for our other NEOs ranged from approximately the 40th percentile to the 60th percentile of our peer group companies.

 

Variable Cash Incentive Compensation

 

A substantial portion of each individual’s potential short-term compensation is in the form of variable incentive cash compensation tied to committee-established goals. In fiscal 2020, Coherent maintained one incentive cash program under which executive officers were eligible to receive annual cash incentives, the 2020 Variable Compensation Plan (“2020 VCP”).

 

2020 VCP

 

The 2020 VCP was designed as an “at risk” bonus compensation program to promote a focus on Coherent’s growth and profitability. It provided an incentive compensation opportunity in line with targeted market rates to our NEOs. Under the 2020 VCP, participants were eligible to receive a bonus based on annual fiscal year performance. In setting the performance goals at the beginning of the fiscal year, the committee assessed the anticipated difficulty and importance to Coherent’s success of achieving the performance goals.

 

The actual awards (if any) payable for the annual period depend on the extent to which actual performance met, exceeded or fell short of the goals approved by the committee. The 2020 VCP goals were tied to Coherent achieving targeted levels of revenue and Adjusted EBITDA dollars, with revenue weighted at 25% and Adjusted EBITDA weighted at 75%. Each performance metric is measured and paid out independently, but the revenue payout is capped at 100% achievement until Adjusted EBITDA reaches a minimum dollar target. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as operating income adjusted for VCP payouts, depreciation, amortization, stock compensation expenses, major restructuring charges and certain non-operating income or expense items, such as costs related to acquisitions. The committee also reviews the financial impact of mergers and acquisitions to determine if any adjustments in VCP are required.

 

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The annual award had a potential payout range between zero and 200%.

 

In addition to a 100% target bonus based on the factors described above, the committee provided our CEO an additional target bonus of 20% of base salary based on the strategic operating plan process, which he met. The maximum payout under such additional target bonus was capped at 20%. The committee determined that Mr. Mattes earned this 20% of base salary target bonus.

 

Fiscal 2020 Variable Compensation Plan Scale for NEOs

 

Revenue achievement for fiscal 2020 was $1,430.6 million, which fell short of the threshold for a cash bonus payout and resulted in no cash bonus. Adjusted EBITDA achievement for fiscal 2020 was $259.1 million, which fell short of the threshold for a cash bonus payout and resulted in no cash bonus.

 

Fiscal 2020 VCP Scale

 

Revenue $ (in millions) Payout
$1,229.0(actual) 0% (actual)
$1,420.0 (threshold) 0%
$1,480.0 (target) 100%
$1,154.0 200%

 

Adjusted EBITDA $ (in millions) Payout
$151.1 (actual) 0% (actual)
$250.0 (threshold) 0%
$291.0 (target) 100%
$333.0 200%

 

The table below describes for each NEO under the 2020 VCP (i) the target percentage of base salary and (ii) the actual award earned for fiscal 2020. The potential award range for each NEO is 0% to 200% of the target award percentage of base salary.

 

Fiscal 2020

 

Named
Executive
Officer
Target
Percentage
of Salary
Actual
Payout
($)
Actual
Payout as a
Percentage
of Target

Andy Mattes 100%(1) 0 0%
Kevin Palatnik 75% 0 0%
Mark Sobey 75% 0 0%
Bret DiMarco 70% 0 0%
John Ambroseo 100% 0 0%
Thomas Merk 65% 0 0%
     
(1) Consists of VCP at 100% and 20% based on individual goals. Mr. Mattes earned $170,003 based on achievement of his individual goals.

 

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Equity Awards

 

We believe that equity awards provide a strong alignment between the interests of our executives and our stockholders. We seek to provide equity award opportunities that are consistent with our compensation philosophy, with the potential for increase for exceptional financial performance, consistent with the reasonable management of overall equity compensation expense and stockholder dilution. Finally, we believe that long-term equity awards are an essential tool in promoting executive retention. For fiscal 2020, our long-term incentive program included the grant of time-based RSUs and performance-based RSUs. These components provide a reward for individual performance and an incentive for future performance.

 

Our performance-based RSU grants are tied to the Company’s performance and, as a result, may fluctuate from no vesting to vesting up to a maximum of 200% of target. The committee reviews a compensation overview prepared by its compensation consultant reflecting the intrinsic value of unvested equity awards and performance-based RSUs at target and projected values for all of the NEOs.

 

Fiscal 2020 Equity Grants

 

For fiscal 2020, the committee based the annual equity program on a combination of time-based and performance-based RSUs over a three-year period. In particular, the committee determined to measure achievement for the performance RSUs by the relative performance of Coherent’s stock price in comparison to the Russell Index. The committee believed that using the Russell Index (in which Coherent was a member at the time of grant) as a proxy of total stockholder return directly aligns executive compensation with stockholder interests. The committee determined that both the performance-based and time-based RSU grants strengthen retention in that the time-based grants vest over three years with pro rata annual vesting and the performance-based RSU grants vest, assuming the performance threshold is met, in a single cliff vesting after a three-year period.

 

Performance-based standard RSU grants in fiscal 2020 vest solely upon the performance of Coherent’s common stock price measured against the Russell Index. To achieve 100% vesting of the awards, our stock price must outperform the Russell Index by 2% during the defined performance period. If our stock outperforms that target, the award is increased 2% for each percentage point of outperformance (with a cap of a 200% vesting). If our stock underperforms the target, the award is decreased 2% for each of the first two percentage points of underperformance, and decreased 4% for each additional percentage point of underperformance (with a floor of a 0% vesting). As a result, vesting decreases faster for failing to outperform the Russell Index than it increases for exceeding the target. The performance-based RSUs make up the largest potential portion of the equity grants for our CEO.

 

The following table summarizes some of the key features of our annual fiscal 2020 equity grants:

 

Fiscal 2020 Standard Equity Grants

 

Type RSUs and performance-based RSUs (PRSUs)
Vesting for RSUs One-third each grant anniversary
Vesting for PRSUs Single vesting date three years from grant
  100% tied to Russell Index
Minimum vest: zero
PRSU Metrics Target vest: 2% above Russell Index
Maximum vest: 200% of target

 

For our CEO, more than half of his total equity awards are performance-based. Approximately 61% of his equity awards are performance-based and at maximum achievement that percentage increases to approximately 76%.

 

As an example, our performance-based design was seen in the vesting of the PRSU grants made in November 2016, which vested in the first quarter of fiscal 2020. Our common stock gained 39% as compared to the Russell Index, which gained 25% over the defined measurement periods at the beginning and end of the three-year vesting period. This out-performance resulted in 128% PRSU vesting.

 

In the event of a change of control of the Company, the performance-based grants will be measured, with respect to performance periods not yet completed, by the relative stock performance of Coherent in comparison to the Russell Index through the date of the change of control and such performance-based shares would, subject to the terms of the Change of Control Severance Plan, then convert to time-based vesting with a single vesting date at the three year anniversary of the grant.

 

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The following charts show the aggregate composition of equity grants for fiscal 2020 to our CEO, at target and at maximum achievement under the terms of the performance-based grants (excluding PRSUs measured by achievement of annual free cash flow):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following table reflects equity grants made to the NEOs during fiscal 2020. The table includes a special one-time retention RSU with respect to 3,209 shares and with a single two-year cliff vest made to Mr. Palatnik in November 2019 as our CFO while the search for a CEO to succeed Mr. Ambroseo upon his retirement was underway. The table also includes PRSU grants made to Messrs. Sobey, DiMarco, and Palatnik made at the same time and the same performance measures as the PRSU grants made to Mr. Mattes as the new CEO in April 2020. These PRSU grants have a single three-year vest and were made by the committee, in consultation with its independent compensation consultant, to further support a successful transition with Mr. Mattes as our new President and CEO.

 

Named Executive Officer Time-Based RSU
Grants
Performance-Based RSU
Grants at Target
Performance-Based RSU Grants
Range (vesting dependent upon
achievement)
Andy Mattes 16,165 25,057 0 – 50,114
Kevin Palatnik 8,663 6,261 0 – 12,522
Mark Sobey 5,133 7,806 0 – 15,612
Bret DiMarco 3,529 4,689 0 – 9,378
Thomas Merk 2,567 2,096 0 – 4,192
       

 

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In addition to the standard time and performance-based RSUs described above, the committee in consultation with its independent compensation consultant determined in April 2020 that it was important during the COVID pandemic to provide performance-based RSUs based on the Company’s free cash flow. The committee set $40 million free cash flow (net cash provided by operating activities reduced by purchases of property and equipment) for fiscal year 2020 as the target for earning these performance-based RSUs. No vesting of such performance-based RSUs could occur unless more than the threshold of $20 million free cash flow was achieved. Potential vesting with respect to free cash flow above the threshold $20 million free cash flow target was linear to the target free cash flow amount.

 

The Company exceeded the target $40 million free cash flow for fiscal 2020 and therefore the NEOs earned the target performance-based RSUs as set forth below:

 

Named Executive Officer Performance-Based RSU Grants Tied to Free
Cash Flow at Target
Andy Mattes 3,588
Kevin Palatnik 1,615
Mark Sobey 1,583
Bret DiMarco 1,300
Thomas Merk 1,066
   

 

 

Equity Award Practices

 

Equity grants to our employees are driven by our annual review process. Grant guidelines are based on competitive market practices. Typically, an eligible employee is granted equity at the first committee meeting after beginning employment and may be eligible for periodic grants thereafter. Eligibility for and the size of grants are influenced by the then-current guidelines for non-executive officer grants and the individual’s performance or particular requirements at the time of hire. No option grants have been made to an employee since fiscal 2010.

 

In fiscal 2020 the committee and the Equity Committee granted an aggregate of 403,689 shares subject to time-based and performance-based restricted stock units (at maximum), representing approximately 1.66% of Coherent’s outstanding common stock as of October 3, 2020 (excluding automatic and initial grants to directors). With the assistance of Compensia, the committee has reviewed this burn rate relative to peer practices and proxy advisory firm guidance and found that the total dilution was consistent with the median of peer practices and such guidance.

 

CEO and Executive Minimum Stock Ownership Guidelines

 

The committee adopted mandatory stock ownership guidelines for our CEO during fiscal 2012. During the first quarter of fiscal 2018, the committee adopted enhanced stock ownership guidelines increasing the value of shares our CEO must hold to at least five times base salary and making our Executive Vice Presidents and Senior Vice Presidents reporting to the CEO subject to stock ownership guidelines of one times such individual’s base salary. In the event that our CEO or other officer does not satisfy the minimum requirements, then 50% of the net after-tax shares (e.g., exercised options/shares received on the vesting of RSUs) are required to be held until the guidelines are met. Mr. Mattes has until 2025 to meet the minimum stock ownership guidelines. Our other current NEOs exceeded the minimum stock ownership guidelines as of December 31, 2020.

 

Other Benefits

 

Retirement Plans

 

U.S. based executive officers are eligible to participate in our 401(k) Retirement Plan on the same terms as all other U.S. employees, including a 4% Company matching contribution. Our 401(k) Retirement Plan is intended to be a tax-qualified plan and therefore is subject to certain Internal Revenue Code limitations on the dollar amounts of deferrals and Company contributions that can be made to plan accounts. These limitations apply to our more highly-compensated employees (including the NEOs).

 

We maintain a Deferred Compensation Plan for certain employees and members of the Board. The Deferred Compensation Plan permits eligible participants to defer receipt of compensation pursuant to the terms of the plan. The Deferred Compensation Plan permits participants to contribute, on a pre-tax basis, up to 75% of their base salary earnings, up to 100% of their cash bonus pay and up to 100% of directors’ annual retainer earned in the upcoming plan year. We provide no matching or other additional contributions to such Deferred Compensation Plan. Plan participants may designate investments for deferrals in a variety of different deemed investment options. To preserve the tax-deferred status of deferred compensation plans, the IRS requires that the available investment alternatives be “deemed investments.” Participants do not have an ownership interest in the funds they select; the funds are only used to measure the gains or losses that are attributed to the participant’s deferral account over time.

 

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The committee considers the Deferred Compensation Plan to be a reasonable and appropriate program because it promotes executive officer retention by offering a deferred compensation plan that is comparable to and competitive with what is offered by our peer group of companies.

 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

Our stockholders have approved an employee stock purchase plan whereby employees can purchase shares for a discount, subject to various participation limitations. As employees, our NEOs are eligible to participate in this plan.

 

Severance and Change of Control Arrangements

 

Our Change of Control and Leadership Change Severance Plan (the “Change of Control Plan”) provides certain benefits in the event of a change of control of Coherent for certain executives, including each of our NEOs. Benefits are provided if there is a change in ownership of Coherent, a change in effective control of Coherent, or a change in ownership of a substantial portion of Coherent’s assets (in each case as construed under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder) (a “change of control”) and within two years thereafter (or within two months prior thereto) the participant’s employment is terminated without cause or voluntarily terminates following a constructive termination event. The plan’s provisions are, therefore, of the variety commonly referred to as “double-trigger.” Importantly, the plan does not include any “gross up” provisions for the participants for the tax effects caused by any such benefits. The committee believes the Change of Control Plan serves as an important retention tool in the event of a pending change of control transaction.

 

In the first quarter of fiscal 2019, the committee reviewed and adopted substantially the same Change of Control Plan as adopted four years previously and determined to review the plan again in four years. Compensia assisted the committee in its review and analysis of the Change of Control Plan. The committee believes that reviewing the Change of Control Plan every four years allows for the right balance in providing certainty for the participants while providing the committee with the opportunity to revise the plan consistent with corporate governance best practices, evolving peer group practices and regulatory changes.

 

In addition, in connection with the succession planning process related to the Company’s announcement of Mr. Ambroseo’s intention to retire as our President and CEO, the Company’s Change of Control Plan was amended in fiscal 2019 to include a time-limited severance benefit for those Executive Vice Presidents and Senior Vice Presidents reporting directly to Mr. Ambroseo at the time of his announcement if their employment is terminated without cause or they terminate for good reason within the two-year period after the new CEO was appointed, which was April 6, 2020. The severance benefit includes 18 months of base and bonus pay, an 18-month benefit stipend, 24 months of additional vesting credit for equity awards and a pro rata annual incentive for the year of termination. The Board believed that it was in the best interests of stockholders and the Company to adopt this change to reinforce continuity during a time of transition. As described in “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control” below, one NEO who is transitioning will be receiving severance in accordance with such transition severance benefits.

 

The committee does not consider the potential payments and benefits under these arrangements when making compensation decisions for our NEOs. These arrangements serve specific purposes unrelated to the determination of the NEOs’ total direct compensation for a specific year.

 

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Tax and Accounting Considerations

 

Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—We account for stock-based compensation in accordance with the requirements of ASC 718. We also take into consideration ASC 718 and other generally accepted accounting principles in determining changes to policies and practices for our stock-based compensation programs.

 

Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code—Section 409A imposes additional significant taxes in the event that an executive officer, director or service provider received “deferred compensation” that does not satisfy the requirements of Section 409A. We consider Section 409A in the design and operation of any plans.

 

Other Compensation Policies

 

To further align our executive compensation program with the interests of our stockholders, at the end of fiscal 2009, a committee of the Board approved a clawback policy for our CEO and CFO. This clawback policy provided that, in the event that there is an accounting restatement and there is a finding by the Board that such restatement was due to the gross recklessness or intentional misconduct of the CEO or CFO and it caused material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement, then Coherent shall seek disgorgement of any portion of the bonus or other incentive or equity-based compensation related to such accounting restatement received by such individual during the 12-month period following the originally filed financial document.

 

As disclosed in the Company’s fiscal 2019 proxy statement, the committee reviewed the Company’s existing clawback policy during fiscal 2019 and, as a result of that review, recommended a new policy to the Board, which the Board adopted in fiscal 2020. The new clawback policy expands potential recoupment of cash and equity incentive compensation to include all NEOs, as well as all employees of the Company holding the title of Senior Vice President or higher who report directly to our CEO. The new policy allows for the committee to recoup excess incentive compensation from such covered individuals in the event of a restatement of the Company’s financial results if the committee determines that during the three-years prior to such restatement the covered individuals would have received less incentive compensation if it had been calculated based on the restated financials.

 

In addition, under our Insider Trading Policy, we have established a policy with respect to hedging or pledging Coherent securities.

 

Compensation and HR Committee Report

 

The Compensation and HR Committee of the Board has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management and, based on such review and discussions, the Compensation and HR Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Amendment No. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted by the Compensation and HR Committee

 

Sandeep Vij, Chair

Jay Flatley

Pamela Fletcher

Michael McMullen

 

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RECONCILIATION TABLE—NON-GAAP EARNINGS PER SHARE FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

 

  Fiscal Year  
  2020 2019 2018
GAAP NET INCOME (LOSS) PER DILUTED SHARE FROM
CONTINUING OPERATIONS
$ (17.18) $ 2.22 $ 9.95
Stock-based compensation 1.61 1.30 1.11
Amortization of intangible assets 0.90 1.81 1.72
Restructuring charges and other 0.12 0.66 0.12
Non-recurring tax expense (benefit) (0.01) (0.04) 0.66
Costs related to acquisitions 0.03
Goodwill and other impairment/asset charges (recoveries) 17.56 (0.04) 0.03
Purchase accounting step up 0.01 0.02
NON-GAAP NET INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS PER
DILUTED SHARE
$ 3.00 $ 5.92 $ 13.64

 

 

RECONCILIATION TABLE—ADJUSTED EBITDA

 

 

Fiscal Year

(in millions) 2020 2019 2018
GAAP NET INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS $ (414.1) $ 53.8 $ 247.4
Income tax expense (28.6) 6.2 114.2
Interest and other income (expense), net 18.9 24.4 36.5
Depreciation and amortization 76.8 116.4 113.4
Costs related to acquisitions 0.7
Restructuring charges and other 3.6 22.7 3.9
Goodwill and other impairment/asset charges (recoveries) 449.7 (1.3) 0.8
Stock-based compensation 44.8 36.5 32.7
Purchase accounting step up 0.4 0.8
ADJUSTED EBITDA $ 151.1 $ 259.1 $ 550.4
       

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

During fiscal 2020, the Compensation and HR Committee of the Board consisted of directors Vij (Chair), Flatley, Fletcher, and McMullen. None of the members of the committee has been or is an officer or employee of Coherent. None of our executive officers serve on the board of directors or compensation committee of a company that has an executive officer that serves on our Board or Compensation and HR Committee. No member of our Board is an executive officer of a company in which one of our executive officers serves as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of that company.

 

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Summary Compensation and Equity Tables

 

Fiscal 2020 Summary Compensation Table

 

The table below presents information concerning the total compensation of our NEOs for the fiscal years ended October 3, 2020, September 28, 2019 and September 29, 2018.

Name and Principal Position Fiscal
Year
Salary
($)(1)
Bonus
($)(2)
Stock
Awards
($)(3)
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)(4)
All Other
Compensation
($)(5)
Total
($)
Andy Mattes, 2020 375,967 500,000 5,713,268 170,003 5,600 6,764,838
President and              
Chief Executive Officer(6)              
John Ambroseo, 2020 825,011 0 599,881 0 11,348 1,436,240
Former President and 2019 820,203 0 4,056,096 0 11,146 4,887,445
Chief Executive Officer(7) 2018 800,010 0 7,867,051 853,885 10,946 9,531,892
Kevin Palatnik, 2020 507,132 0 2,641,428 0 11,348 3,159,908
Executive Vice President 2019 484,439 0 1,247,657 0 11,146 1,743,242
and Chief Financial Officer(8) 2018 438,083 0 1,568,031 306,283 10,946 2,323,343
Mark Sobey, 2020 477,604 0 2,287,515 0 11,348 2,776,467
Executive Vice President 2019 445,200 0 2,702,495 0 11,146 3,158,841
and Chief Operating Officer 2018 420,390 0 1,463,443 276,121 10,946 2,170,900
Bret DiMarco, 2020 432,311 0 1,504,001 0 11,348 1,947,660
Executive Vice President, 2019 398,081 0 2,507,454 0 11,146 2,916,681
Chief Legal Officer and 2018 387,116 0 1,149,941 235,280 10,946 1,783,283
Corporate Secretary              
Thomas Merk, 2020 402,531 0 926,352 0 15,994 1,344,877
Former Executive Vice              
President and General              
Manager, Industrial Lasers & Systems(9)              

 

(1) Reflects the dollar amount of salary earned in the applicable fiscal year.

 

(2) Reflects Mr. Mattes’ signing bonus which is subject to repayment to the Company if within the first year of Mr. Mattes’ employment, he terminates employment without good reason or the Company terminates his employment for cause.

 

(3) Amounts shown reflect the grant date fair value of awards granted in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 718. Reflects unvested time-based and performance-based restricted stock units; there is no guarantee that the recipients will ultimately receive this amount, or any amount. See footnote 2 to the Grants of Plan-Based Awards table for additional information. Amounts in this column may not equal the sum of the awards included in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards table due to rounding. No stock options were granted to the NEOs in fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018.

 

(4) Reflects the dollar amounts earned under the Variable Compensation Plan (VCP) during the applicable fiscal years.

 

(5) Reflects a 401(k) company match earned during the applicable fiscal year for Messrs. Mattes, Ambroseo, Palatnik, Sobey, and DiMarco. For Mr. Merk, reflects a car lease benefit, which is customary in Europe and was historically provided by Rofin-Sinar.

 

(6) Mr. Mattes joined the Company as our President and Chief Executive Officer effective April 6, 2020.

 

(7) Effective April 6, 2020, Mr. Ambroseo retired from the role of the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

 

(8) As previously noted, on August 20, 2020, the Company and Mr. Palatnik entered into an executive transition services agreement, pursuant to which Mr. Palatnik was to retire from the Company on February 28, 2021. On January 19, 2021 the Company announced the termination of such agreement and that Mr. Palatnik would remain in his current position.

 

(9) Mr. Merk met the requirements for inclusion in the Summary Compensation Table for fiscal year 2020; however, Mr. Merk resigned from his officer position in October 2020. Mr. Merk was paid in Euros. For the purposes of this table, Euros were converted into US dollars using the Company’s internal average P&L rate (1 Euro = $1.118142) for fiscal year 2020.

 

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Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal 2020

 

The following table shows all plan-based equity and non-equity incentive awards granted to our NEOs during fiscal 2020. Our NEOs did not receive any option awards during fiscal 2020.

 

      Estimated Future Payouts
Under Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
 
Actual
Payouts
Under
Non-Equity
Incentive
Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
 
All Other
Stock
Awards:
# of
Shares of
Stock or
Grant
Date Fair
Name Type Grant Date Threshold($) Target($) Maximum($) Plan Awards
($)(1)
Threshold(#) Target(#) Maximum(#) Units
(#)
Value
($)(2)
Andy Mattes PRSU 04/17/2020         0 25,057 50,114   3,466,636
  PRSU 04/25/2020         0 3,588 3,588   424,999
  RSU 04/17/2020               16,165 1,821,633
  Annual bonus   0 1,020,015 1,870,028 170,003          
John Ambroseo RSU 11/15/2019               1,283 199,943
  RSU 12/29/2019               1,206 199,931
  RSU 04/05/2020               2,146 200,007
  Annual bonus   0 825,011 1,650,022 0          
Kevin Palatnik PRSU 11/15/2019         0 4,454 8,908   850,090
  PRSU 04/17/2020         0 1,807 3,614   249,999
  PRSU 04/25/2020         0 1,615 1,615   191,297
  RSU 11/15/2019               3,209 500,091
  RSU 11/15/2019               5,454 849,951
  Annual bonus   0 382,512 765,024 0          
Mark Sobey PRSU 11/15/2019         0 4,192 8,384   800,085
  PRSU 04/17/2020         0 3,614 7,228   499,997
  PRSU 04/25/2020         0 1,583 1,583   187,506
  RSU 11/15/2019               5,133 799,927
  Annual bonus   0 375,008 750,017 0          
Bret DiMarco PRSU 11/15/2019         0 2,882 5,764   550,058
  PRSU 04/17/2020         0 1,807 3,614   249,999
  PRSU 04/25/2020         0 1,300 1,300   153,985
  RSU 11/15/2019               3,529 549,959
  Annual bonus   0 308,002 616,004 0          
Thomas Merk PRSU 11/15/2019         0 2,096 4,192   400,043
  PRSU 04/25/2020         0 1,066 1,066   126,268
  RSU 11/15/2019               2,567 400,041
  Annual bonus   0 261,645 523,290 0          
                       

 

(1) Failure to meet a minimum level of performance resulted in no bonus paid out under the 2020 Variable Compensation Plan. For the 2020 fiscal year, under the terms of Mr. Mattes’ employment agreement, target bonus equal to 100% of his full annual base salary was based on VCP metrics, which were not met. Target bonus equal to 20% of his full annual base salary was based on individual goals (with a maximum award of 20%). These individual goals were met, resulting in an individual bonus payment of $170,003.

 

(2) Reflects the dollar amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes (disregarding an estimate of forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions) for fiscal 2020 in accordance with ASC 718, and includes grants made in fiscal 2020. The assumptions used in the valuation of these awards are set forth in Note 12 “Employee Stock Award and Benefit Plans” of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Original Filing. For informational purposes, if the maximum level of performance for the PRSU awards was achieved, the value, calculated by multiplying the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant by the number of shares issuable upon achievement of the maximum level of performance under (i) the PRSU granted on November 15, 2019 is $1,388,223, $1,306,566, $898,262 and $653,281, for Messrs. Palatnik, Sobey, DiMarco and Merk, respectively; and (ii) the PRSU granted on April 17, 2020 is $5,647,347, $407,262, $814,523 and $407,262, for Messrs. Mattes, Palatnik, Sobey and DiMarco, respectively. These amounts do not correspond to the actual value, if any, that will be recognized by the NEOs. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Equity Awards” for a description of the PRSUs.

 

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Option Exercises and Stock Vested in Fiscal 2020

 

The table below sets forth certain information for each NEO regarding the exercise of options and the vesting of stock awards during fiscal 2020, including the aggregate value realized upon such exercise or vesting.

 

  Option Awards     Stock Awards  
Name Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Exercise (#)
Value Realized
on Exercise ($)
  Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Vesting (#)(1)
Value Realized
on Vesting ($)(2)
Andy Mattes   3,588 394,680
John Ambroseo   57,985 8,911,463
Kevin Palatnik   12,604 1,888,237
Mark Sobey   11,746 1,756,664
Bret DiMarco   10,016 1,500,267
Thomas Merk   8,162 1,223,583
           

 

(1) Includes 3,588, 1,615, 1,583, 1,300 and 1,066 shares for Messrs. Mattes, Palatnik, Sobey, DiMarco and Merk, respectively, that vested on October 3, 2020 as a result of fiscal 2020 free cash flow performance. Such shares were settled on December 1, 2020, upon the performance metric being certified by the Compensation and HR Committee based on numbers set forth in the Original Filing.

 

(2) Reflects the market price of our common stock on the vesting date.

 

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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal 2020 Year-End

 

The following table presents information concerning outstanding equity awards held by each NEO as of October 3, 2020.

 

   

Option Awards

Stock Awards

Name Grant Date Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
exercisable
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
unexercisable
Option
Exercise
Price ($)
Option
Expiration
Date
Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
(#)(1)
Market Value
of Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
($)(2)
Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other Rights
That Have
Not Vested (#)
Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Market or
Payout Value
of Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other Rights
That Have
Not Vested ($)
Andy Mattes 04/17/2020 50,114(3) 5,512,540
  04/17/2020 16,165 1,778,150
John Ambroseo 11/13/2018 44,998(4) 4,949,780
  11/13/2018 7,648 841,280
  11/03/2017 37,582(5) 4,134,020
  11/03/2017 2,497 274,670
Kevin Palatnik 04/17/2020 3,614(3) 397,540
  11/15/2019 8,908(6) 979,880
  11/15/2019 3,209 352,990
  11/15/2019 5,454 599,940
  11/13/2018 10,184(4) 1,120,240
  11/13/2018 3,514 386,540
  11/03/2017 5,010(5) 551,100
  11/03/2017 999 109,890
Mark Sobey 04/17/2020 7,228(3) 795,080
  11/15/2019 8,384(6) 922,240
  11/15/2019 5,133 564,630
  04/12/2019 11,062 1,216,820
  11/13/2018 7,956(4) 875,160
  11/13/2018 2,745 301,950
  11/03/2017 4,676(5) 514,360
  11/03/2017 932 102,520
Bret DiMarco 04/17/2020 3,614(3) 397,540
  11/15/2019 5,764(6) 634,040
  11/15/2019 3,529 388,190
  04/12/2019 11,062 1,216,820
  11/13/2018 6,364(4) 700,040
  11/13/2018 2,196 241,560
  11/03/2017 3,674(5) 404,140
  11/03/2017 732 80,520
Thomas Merk 11/15/2019 4,192(6) 461,120
  11/15/2019 2,567 282,370
  11/13/2018 5,092(4) 560,120
  11/13/2018 1,757 193,070
  11/03/2017 3,340(5) 367,400
  11/03/2017 666 73,260
                   

 

(1) Generally, time-based RSU grants vest 1/3 per year on each anniversary of the grant date. Mr. Palatnik’s 3,209 time-based RSUs granted on November 15, 2019 have a November 15, 2021 vest date, and Messrs. Sobey and DiMarco’s 11,062 time-based RSUs granted on April 12, 2019 have an April 12, 2022 vest date. Mr. Merk will vest in certain time-based RSUs that would otherwise vest within 24 months of his employment termination in accordance with the Leadership Change severance benefits under the Company’s Change of Control and Leadership Change Severance Plan as described in “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control” below.

 

(2) Market value is determined by multiplying the number of shares by $110.00, the closing price of our common stock on October 2, 2020, the last trading day of fiscal 2020.

 

(3) The performance-based RSU vesting determination date is April 6, 2023. The performance-based RSUs will vest in an amount which is 0-200% subject to the achievement of certain performance metrics. The amount reflected in the table is the maximum amount of 200%.

 

(4) The performance-based RSU vesting determination date is November 13, 2021. The performance-based RSUs will vest in an amount which is 0-200% subject to the achievement of certain performance metrics. The amount reflected in the table is the maximum amount of 200%.

 

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(5) The performance-based RSU vesting determination date was November 3, 2020. The performance-based RSUs could have vested in an amount which is 0-200% subject to the achievement of certain performance metrics. The amount reflected in the table is the maximum amount of 200%; however, such performance-based RSUs did not vest since the performance metric was not achieved.

 

(6) The performance-based RSU vesting determination date is November 15, 2022. The performance-based RSUs will vest in an amount which is 0-200% subject to the achievement of certain performance metrics. The amount reflected in the table is the maximum amount of 200%.

 

Fiscal 2020 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation

 

For a description of our Deferred Compensation Plan, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Retirement Plans.” The following table presents information regarding the non-qualified deferred compensation activity for each NEO during fiscal 2020 other than Mr. Merk who does not participate in our Deferred Compensation Plan:

 

Name Executive
Contributions
in Last FY
($)(1)
Registrant
Contributions
in Last FY
($)(2)
Aggregate
Earnings in
Last FY
($)
Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions
($)
Aggregate
Balance at
Last FYE
($)(3)
Andy Mattes 78,463 4,348 82,811
John Ambroseo 1,641,326 14,549,955
SRP(4) 303,012 2,549,962
Kevin Palatnik 54,233  842,600
Mark Sobey 20,459 (17,185) 1,949,189
Bret DiMarco 5,611 175,299
           

 

(1) All amounts reported as executive contributions are executive elective deferrals included in the Fiscal 2020 Summary Compensation Table, as salary for fiscal 2020.

 

(2) Company contributions to our Deferred Compensation Plan were terminated on December 31, 2010.

 

(3) The deferred compensation in a participant’s account is fully vested and is credited with positive or negative investment results based upon plan investment options selected by the participant. The balance reflects contributions previously reported in the Summary Compensation Table to the extent the executive was a Named Executive Officer at the time of such contributions.

 

(4) Amounts include account balances (including earnings) from the Supplementary Retirement Plan (SRP), which was suspended on December 31, 2004. The Deferred Compensation Plan is the only current non-qualified deferred compensation plan available for executive management.

 

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Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control

 

The following table shows the potential payments and benefits that we (or our successor) would be obligated to make or provide upon termination of employment of our current executive officers pursuant to the terms of the Change of Control and Leadership Change Severance Plan and our CEO’s employment agreement. For purposes of this table, it is assumed that such NEO's employment terminated at the close of business on October 2, 2020 (the last business day of fiscal 2020). These payments are conditioned upon the execution of a form release of claims by the NEO in favor of us. The amounts reported below do not include the nonqualified deferred compensation distributions that would be made to the NEOs following a termination of employment (for those amounts and descriptions, see the prior table) nor amounts that were earned as of the end of fiscal 2020. There can be no assurance that a triggering event would produce the same or similar results as those estimated below if such event occurs on any other date or at any other price, or if any other assumption used to estimate potential payments and benefits is not correct. Due to the number of factors that affect the nature and amount of any potential payments or benefits, any actual payments and benefits may be different. These are aggregate payments and do not reflect such individual's net after tax benefit. No officer is entitled to any "gross up" to offset the impact of IRS Code Section 280G.

 

NEO Nature of Benefit Termination
Other Than for
Change of
Control or Leadership Change
($)
Leadership Change Termination
($)
Change of
Control
Termination
($)
Andy Mattes Salary Severance(1) 1,700,026 2,541,538
  Bonus Severance(1) 2,040,031 3,049,846
  Time-Based Equity Compensation Acceleration(2) 1,778,150
  Performance-Based Equity Compensation
Acceleration
2,756,270
  Aggregate Healthcare Related Monthly Payment(3) 49,500 99,000
  TOTAL BENEFIT 3,789,557 10,224,804
Kevin Palatnik Salary Severance(1)  765,024 1,020,032
  Bonus Severance(1) 573,768 765,024
  Time-Based Equity Compensation Acceleration(2)  1,249,380 1,449,360
  Performance-Based Equity Compensation
Acceleration
1,202,092 1,248,830
  Aggregate Healthcare Related Monthly Payment(3) 49,500  66,000
  TOTAL BENEFIT 3,839,764 4,549,246
Mark Sobey Salary Severance(1) 750,017 1,000,022
  Bonus Severance(1) 562,513 750,017
  Time-Based Equity Compensation Acceleration(2) 1,997,783 2,185,920
  Performance-Based Equity Compensation
Acceleration
1,217,174 1,296,240
  Aggregate Healthcare Related Monthly Payment(3) 49,500 66,000
  TOTAL BENEFIT 4,576,987 5,298,199
Bret DiMarco Salary Severance(1) 660,005 880,006
  Bonus Severance(1) 462,003 616,004
  Time-Based Equity Compensation Acceleration(2) 1,797,767 1,927,090
  Performance-Based Equity Compensation
Acceleration
823,876 865,810
  Aggregate Healthcare Related Monthly Payment(3) 49,500 66,000
  TOTAL BENEFIT 3,793,151 4,354,910
         

 

(1) Reflects salary as in effect as of October 2, 2020. Bonus severance is based on target bonus as a percentage of salary as in effect as of October 2, 2020. The multiplier for a Change of Control Termination is 2.99 for the CEO and 2.0 for other NEOs. The multiplier for a Leadership Change Termination is 1.5. Note that for purposes of this table, the Company used actual salary rate in the payroll system, which due to rounding is immaterially different than the annual rate described (e.g. with regards to Mr. Mattes, the difference is approximately $13).

 

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(2) Equity Compensation Acceleration represents the value of time-based restricted stock units and performance-based restricted stock units, in each case at the closing stock price ($110.00) on October 2, 2020 (the last trading day of fiscal year 2020) that would become vested because of a termination of employment on October 2, 2020 assuming a Change in Control or Leadership Change. 100% of the time-based restricted stock units with respect to a Change of Control termination and those time-based restricted stock units that would vest within 24 months after the Leadership Change termination are accelerated. The value of accelerated restricted stock units is calculated by multiplying the number of unvested restricted stock units subject to acceleration by the closing stock price on October 2, 2020. This assumes vesting of the performance-based restricted stock units with a performance period ending in November 2021 and November 2022 at target achievement and in the event of a Leadership Change Termination, pro rata vesting of such restricted stock units with a performance period ending November 2022 reflecting an additional 24 month period after employment. The amounts reflected for Equity Compensation Acceleration do not reflect any value for the performance-based restricted stock units with a performance period ending in November 2020 since the performance goal for those units was not met and, therefore, no units vested. The amounts reflected for Equity Compensation Acceleration do not reflect any applicable taxes, just gross proceeds. Since the table assumes a triggering event as of the last business day of the fiscal year, only those restricted stock units outstanding to which the executives did not have a right as of that date are included in the table.

 

(3) Aggregate Healthcare Related Monthly Payment is a monthly payment of $2,750 in lieu of receiving Company-subsidized COBRA benefits, life insurance premiums and/or other welfare benefits, multiplied by 36 months for our CEO and for our other NEOs, 24 months in a Change of Control termination or 18 months in a Leadership Change termination.

 

John Ambroseo retired from his role as President and CEO and a member of the Board, effective April 6, 2020. Upon his retirement, Mr. Ambroseo transitioned to the role of a Special Advisor to the Company. This transition was effected pursuant to a transition and retirement agreement that was entered into by Mr. Ambroseo and the Company in April 2019. The transition and retirement agreement provides for continuation of Mr. Ambroseo's employment through December 1, 2021, with a continuation of his base salary at $68,750 per month through April 13, 2021 and a base salary of $10,000 per month thereafter through December 1, 2021, continued vesting in outstanding equity awards through December 1, 2021 and eligibility for Change in Control benefits under the Company’s Change of Control and Leadership Change Severance Plan as though he continued as Chief Executive Officer if a Change of Control occurs before his retirement date. If a Change of Control and termination of employment occurred on October 2, 2020, Mr. Ambroseo would have been entitled to salary severance of $2,466,783, bonus severance of $2,466,783, equity compensation acceleration of $1,115,950 in time-based restricted stock units and $2,474,890 in performance-based restricted stock units (assuming target performance and the October 2, 2020 stock price) and aggregate health care related monthly payments of $99,000 for a total value of $8,623,406.

 

On August 20, 2020, the Company and Kevin Palatnik, entered into an executive transition services agreement, pursuant to which Mr. Palatnik was to retire from the Company on February 28, 2021. The executive transition services agreement provided that Mr. Palatnik was to transition to a special advisor to the Company in connection with the appointment of a successor Chief Financial Officer. Under the executive transition services agreement, Mr. Palatnik would have received the “Change in Leadership Severance Benefits” but not the “Change of Control Severance Benefits” under the Company’s Change of Control and Leadership Change Severance Plan, subject to the requirements thereof to provide an effective release. Mr. Palatnik’s “Change in Leadership Severance Benefits” (determined as of October 2, 2020) are set forth in the table above. As previously noted, the Company and Mr. Palatnik terminated the executive transition services agreement on January 18, 2021. Therefore, the table above also sets forth Mr. Palatnik’s “Change of Control Severance Benefits” (determined as of October 2, 2020) under the Company’s Change of Control and Leadership Change Severance Plan even though Mr. Palatnik would not have been eligible for such benefits while his executive transition services agreement was in effect.

 

The Company and Thomas Merk entered into a termination agreement pursuant to which Mr. Merk resigned from his officer position in October 2020 and terminated all employment relationships with the Company effective December 31, 2020. Under the termination agreement, Mr. Merk will basically receive the “Change in Leadership Severance Benefits” under the Company’s Change of Control and Leadership Change Severance Plan in severance and compensation for the period after his officer resignation, subject to the requirements thereof to provide an effective release. Mr. Merk’s “Change in Leadership Severance Benefits” included continued payment of his full salary through December 31, 2020, severance payment of €845,055 (valued at $990,286 using an October 2, 2020 currency conversion rate of 1 Euro = $1.17186) and vesting of the 2,589 time-based restricted stock units which were scheduled to vest within the 24 month period after his termination of employment (valued at $284,790 based on the October 2, 2020 stock price) and the continued ability to earn performance-based restricted stock units based on actual Company performance during the performance period ending November 13, 2021 (target of 2,546 performance-based restricted stock units valued at $280,060 based on the October 2, 2020 stock price) and performance-based restricted stock units based on actual Company performance for the performance period ending November 15, 2021 (target of 2,096 performance-based restricted stock units valued at $230,560 based on the October 2, 2020 stock price).

 

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Pay Ratio

 

As provided for by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the SEC adopted a rule requiring companies to disclose the ratio of the median employee's total annual compensation relative to total annual compensation of the CEO. The fiscal 2020 total annualized compensation for our CEO, for purposes of this disclosure, as discussed below, was $7,244,632. We estimate that the fiscal 2020 total annual compensation for the median of all employees, excluding our CEO, was $67,064. The resulting ratio of our CEO's total annual compensation to that of the median of all employees, excluding our CEO, for fiscal 2020 is approximately 108 to 1.

 

For purposes of reporting annual total compensation and the ratio of annual total compensation of the CEO to the median employee, both the CEO and median employee's annual total compensation were calculated consistent with the disclosure requirements of executive compensation under the Summary Compensation Table.

 

For fiscal year 2020, the total compensation reported in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table for our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mattes, was $6,764,838.  Since Mr. Mattes was appointed Chief Executive Officer effective April 6, 2020, we annualized his Salary, Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation and Company contributions to the 401(k) Retirement Plan, disclosed in the Fiscal 2020 Summary Compensation Table, and added the values set forth in the Fiscal 2020 Summary Compensation Table of his Bonus, Stock Awards, and other components of All Other Compensation to arrive at a value of $7,244,632, used for the ratio of annual total compensation for our CEO to the annual total compensation for our median employee.

 

We identified the median employee by (i) aggregating for each employee employed on October 3, 2020 (our fiscal year end) (A) annual base salary for salaried employees (or hourly rate multiplied by estimated work schedule, for hourly and seasonal employees) and (B) target incentive compensation, (ii) converting amounts from local currency to U.S. dollars and (iii) ranking this compensation measure for our employees other than our CEO from lowest to highest. Because we had an even number of employees (excluding our CEO) on the determination date, two employees were identified as the median compensated employees. We reviewed the compensation of these two employees as well as the compensation of five employees immediately above and below, to further analyze employee median compensation for consistency with that of other employees near the median. For these twelve employees, we calculated total annual compensation for such employees using the same methodology used to calculate the "Total" column of the Fiscal 2020 Summary Compensation Table. We then selected from among the two median compensated employees, a United States employee whose compensation was consistent with that of the twelve employees reviewed.

 

The pay ratio reported above is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with SEC rules based on our internal records and the methodology described above. The SEC rules for identifying the median compensated employee and calculating the pay ratio based on that employee's total annual compensation allow companies to adopt a variety of methodologies, to apply certain exclusions, and to make reasonable estimates and assumptions that reflect their employee populations and compensation practices. Therefore, the pay ratio reported by other companies may not be comparable to the pay ratio reported above, as other companies have different employee populations and compensation practices and may utilize different methodologies, exclusions, estimates, and assumptions in calculating their own pay ratios.

 

39 

 

 

 

ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

The following table provides information as of October 3, 2020 about the Company’s equity compensation plans under which shares of our common stock may be issued to employees, consultants or members of the Board:

 

Plan category (a) Number of
securities to be
issued
upon exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(b)
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options,
warrants and
rights(1)
(c) Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under equity
compensation plans (excluding
securities reflected in column
(a))
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders 555,019(2) 3,177,501(3)
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
TOTAL 555,019 3,177,501
       

 

(1) The weighted average exercise price does not reflect shares that will be issued upon the vesting of outstanding RSUs or upon the exercise of rights under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

 

(2) This number consists of 530,115 shares outstanding under the 2011 Equity Incentive Plan and 24,904 shares outstanding under the Coherent Equity Incentive Plan.

 

(3) This number consists of 143,465 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan and 3,034,036 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under the Coherent Equity Incentive Plan. This number reflects counting each share issued pursuant to vested RSUs (either service or performance-based) under the Coherent Equity Incentive Plan as 2.0 shares. Performance-based RSUs are included at 100% of target goal; under the terms of performance-based RSUs, the recipient may earn between 0% and 200% of the award.

 

40

 

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

 

The following table sets forth, as of January 15, 2021, certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of Coherent common stock by (i) any person (including any “group” as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)) known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our voting securities, (ii) each director, (iii) each of the executive officers named in the Fiscal 2020 Summary Compensation Table, and (iv) all current executive officers and directors as a group. We do not know of any arrangements, including any pledge by any person of our securities, the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change of control. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each stockholder in the table below is c/o Coherent, Inc., 5100 Patrick Henry Drive, Santa Clara, California 95054.

 

Name and Address Number
of Shares
Percent of
Total(1)
Wellington Management Group LLP(2)
c/o Wellington Management Company LLP
280 Congress Street
Boston, MA 02210
2,490,193 10.19%
The Vanguard Group(3)
100 Vanguard Blvd.
Malvern, PA 19355
2,261,774 9.25%
BlackRock, Inc.(4)
55 East 52nd Street
New York, NY 10055
2,256,984 9.23%
Victory Capital Management Inc.(5)
4900 Tiedeman Rd. 4th Floor
Brooklyn, OH 44144
1,265,659 5.18%
Andy Mattes 2,545 *
John Ambroseo(6) 187,283 *
Kevin Palatnik 31,437 *
Mark Sobey 12,477 *
Bret DiMarco(7) 22,717 *
Thomas Merk(8) 9,143 *
Jay T. Flatley(9) 42,162 *
Pamela Fletcher(10) 3,738 *
Beverly Kay Matthews(10) 2,898 *
Michael R. McMullen(10) 5,187 *
Garry W. Rogerson(11) 16,662 *
Steve Skaggs(10) 13,662 *
Sandeep Vij(12) 9,662 *
All directors and executive officers as a group (11 persons)(13) 163,147 *
     

 

* Represents less than 1%.

 

(1) Based upon 24,447,453 shares of Coherent common stock outstanding as of January 15, 2021. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to the securities. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, each share of Coherent common stock subject to options held by that person that are currently exercisable or will be exercisable within 60 days of January 15, 2021 and all RSUs held by that person that will vest within 60 days of January 15, 2021, are deemed outstanding. Such shares are not deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.

 

(2) According to the information reported by Wellington Management Group LLP, Wellington Group Holdings LLP, Wellington Investment Advisors Holdings LLP and Wellington Management Company LLP on a Schedule 13G/A jointly filed with the SEC on January 8, 2020, (a) each of Wellington Management Group LLP, Wellington Group Holdings LLP, and Wellington Investment Advisors Holdings LLP beneficially owns an aggregate of 2,490,193 shares, which consists of (i) 2,224,872 shares as to which it has shared voting power and (ii) 2,490,193 shares as to which it has shared dispositive power, and (b) Wellington Management Company LLP beneficially owns an aggregate of 2,385,484 shares, which consists of (i) 2,145,749 shares as to which it has shared voting power and (ii) 2,385,484 shares as to which it has shared dispositive power.

 

41

 

 

(3) According to the information reported by The Vanguard Group (“Vanguard”) on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 12, 2020, Vanguard beneficially owns an aggregate of 2,261,774 shares, which consists of (i) 12,168 shares as to which it has sole voting power, (ii) 3,818 shares as to which it has shared voting power, (iii) 2,248,833 shares as to which it has sole dispositive power, and (iv) 12,941 shares as to which it has shared dispositive power.

 

(4) According to the information reported by BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”) on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 5, 2020, BlackRock beneficially owns an aggregate of 2,256,984 shares, which consists of (i) 2,161,222 shares as to which it has sole voting power and (ii) 2,256,984 shares as to which it has sole dispositive power.

 

(5) According to the information reported by Victory Capital Management Inc. (“Victory Capital”) on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on January 31, 2020, Victory Capital beneficially owns an aggregate of 1,265,659 shares, which consists of (i) 1,216,534 shares as to which it has sole voting power and (ii) 1,265,659 shares as to which it has sole dispositive power.

 

(6) Shares are owned by the Ambroseo-Lacorte Family Trust, of which Mr. Ambroseo is a trustee.

 

(7) Shares are owned by the DiMarco Family Trust, of which Mr. DiMarco is a trustee.

 

(8) Includes 2,589 shares issuable upon vesting of RSUs within 60 days of January 15, 2021.

 

(9) Includes 2,148 shares issuable upon vesting of RSUs within 60 days of January 15, 2021, and 40,014 shares held by the Flatley Family Trust, of which Mr. Flatley is a trustee.

 

(10) Includes 2,148 shares issuable upon vesting of RSUs within 60 days of January 15, 2021.

 

(11) Includes 2,148 shares issuable upon vesting of RSUs within 60 days of January 15, 2021, and 14,514 shares held by the 2000 Rogerson Family Revocable Living Trust, of which Dr. Rogerson is a trustee.

 

(12) Includes 2,148 shares issuable upon vesting of RSUs within 60 days of January 15, 2021, and 7,514 shares held by the Vij Family 2001 Trust, of which Mr. Vij is a trustee.

 

(13) Includes an aggregate of 15,036 shares issuable upon vesting of RSUs within 60 days of January 15, 2021.

 

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ITEM 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

 

Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions

 

Review, Approval or Ratification of Related Person Transactions

 

In accordance with the charter of the Audit Committee, the members of the Audit Committee, all of whom are independent directors, review and approve in advance any proposed related person transactions. Additionally, from time to time the Board may directly consider these transactions. For purposes of these procedures, the individuals and entities that are considered “related persons” include:

 

· Any of our directors, nominees for director and executive officers;

 

· Any person known to be the beneficial owner of five percent or more of our common stock (a “5% Stockholder”); and

 

· Any immediate family member, as defined in Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, of a director, nominee for director, executive officer and 5% Stockholder. We will report all such material related person transactions under applicable accounting rules, federal securities laws and SEC rules and regulations.

 

Related Person Transactions

 

We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our executive officers and directors. Such indemnification agreements require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted by law. We also intend to execute these agreements with our future directors and officers.

 

Director Independence

 

The Board has determined that, with the exception of Mr. Mattes, all of its current members are “independent directors” as that term is defined in the listing rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market.

 

43

 

 

ITEM 14.  PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

 

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

 

The following table sets forth fees for services provided by Deloitte & Touche LLP, the member firms of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, and their respective affiliates (collectively, “Deloitte”) during fiscal 2020 and 2019:

 

  2020 2019
Audit fees(1) $3,612,428 $  3,454,348
Tax fees(2) 523,716 546,618
All other fees(3) 1,895 1,895
Total $4,138,039 $  4,002,861

 

(1) Represents fees for professional services provided in connection with the integrated audit of our annual financial statements and internal control over financial reporting and review of our quarterly financial statements, advice on accounting matters that arose during the audit and audit services provided in connection with other statutory or regulatory filings.

 

(2) Represents tax compliance and related services.

 

(3) Represents the annual subscription for access to the Deloitte Accounting Research Tool, which is a searchable on-line accounting database.

 

Pre-Approval of Audit and Non Audit Services

 

The Audit Committee has determined that the provision of non-audit services by Deloitte is compatible with maintaining Deloitte’s independence. In accordance with its charter, the Audit Committee approves in advance all audit and non-audit services to be provided by Deloitte. In other cases, the Chairman of the Audit Committee has the delegated authority to pre-approve certain additional services, and such pre-approvals are communicated to the full Audit Committee at its next meeting. During fiscal years 2020 and 2019, 100% of the services were pre-approved by the Audit Committee in accordance with this policy.

 

44

 

 

 

PART IV

 

ITEM 15.  EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

1.       Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules

 

Financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are either not required, not applicable or the information required to be set forth therein is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements hereto.

 

2.       Exhibits

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

        Incorporated by reference herein
Exhibit
Numbers
      Form   Exhibit No.   Filing Date   File No.
3.1   Restated and Amended Certificate of Incorporation   10-K   3.1   December 28, 1990   000-05255
3.2   Certificate of Amendment of Restated and Amended Certificate of Incorporation of Coherent, Inc.   10-K   3.2   December 18, 2002   000-05255
3.3   Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of Coherent, Inc., effective as of January 18, 2021   8-K   3.1   January 19, 2021   001-33962
4.1   Description of Capital Stock   10-K   4.1   November 26, 2019   001-33962
10.1‡   Form of Indemnification Agreement   10-K   10.18   December 15, 2010   001-33962
10.2‡   Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan   S-8   10.1   June 12, 2012   333-182074
10.3‡   Change of Control and Leadership Change Severance Plan, as amended and restated effective April 13, 2019   10-Q   10.1   May 8, 2019   001-33962
10.4‡   Variable Compensation Plan, as amended   10-K   10.7   November 30, 2011   001-33962
10.5‡   Supplementary Retirement Plan   10-Q   10.5   May 10, 2006   000-05255
10.6‡   2005 Deferred Compensation Plan                
10.7‡   2011 Equity Incentive Plan   S-8   10.1   May 6, 2011   333-174019
10.8‡   2011 Equity Incentive Plan-Form of RSU Agreement for members of the Board of Directors   10-Q   10.1   August 10, 2011   001-33962
10.9‡   2011 Equity Incentive Plan-Form of Time-Based RSU Agreement   10-K   10.23   November 30, 2011   001-33962
10.10‡   2011 Equity Incentive Plan-Form of Performance RSU Agreement   10-K   10.11   November 26, 2019   001-33962
10.11‡   2011 Equity Incentive Plan-Form of Global RSU Agreement   10-K   10.12   November 27, 2018   001-33962
10.12‡   2011 Equity Incentive Plan-Form of Global Performance RSU Agreement   10-K   10.13   November 26, 2019   001-33962
10.13‡   Equity Incentive Plan   S-8   99.1   April 27, 2020   333-237855
10.14‡   Equity Incentive Plan – Form of Global Restricted Stock Unit Agreement   10-Q   10.2   August 12, 2020   001-33962
10.15‡   Equity Incentive Plan – Form of Performance Restricted Stock Unit Agreement   10-Q   10.3   August 12, 2020   001-33962
10.16‡   Equity Incentive Plan – Form of Global Restricted Stock Unit Agreement with Covenant Appendix                
10.17‡   Employment Agreement dated March 31, 2020 between Andreas W. Mattes and the Company   8-K   10.1   April 6, 2020   001-33962
10.18‡   Offer letter with Thomas Merk   10-Q   10.3   February 9, 2017   001-33962
10.19‡   Managing director agreement with Thomas Merk   10-Q   10.4   February 9, 2017   001-33962
10.20‡   Termination Agreement, dated June 30, 2020, between Coherent Munich GmbH & Co. KG and Thomas Merk                
10.21‡   CEO Transition and Retirement Agreement, dated April 13, 2019, between the Company and John Ambroseo   10-Q   10.2   May 8, 2019   001-33962
10.22‡   Transition Agreement and Release, dated February 4, 2019, between the Company and Paul Sechrist   10-Q   10.2   February 6, 2019   001-33962
10.23‡   Offer letter with Kevin Palatnik   10-Q   10.3   February 10, 2016   001-33962
10.24‡   Executive Transition Services Agreement, dated August 20, 2020, between the Company and Kevin Palatnik   10-K   10.23   December 1, 2020   001-33962
10.25‡   Agreement, dated January 18, 2021, between the Company and Kevin Palatnik terminating the Executive Transition Services Agreement, dated August 20, 2020, between the Company and Kevin Palatnik                

 

45

 

 

        Incorporated by reference herein
Exhibit
Numbers
      Form   Exhibit No.   Filing Date   File No.
10.26   Credit Agreement, dated as of November 7, 2016, by and among Coherent, Inc., Coherent Holding GmbH, the guarantors from time to time party thereto, the lenders from time to time party thereto, Barclays Bank PLC, as Administrative Agent and L/C Issuer, Bank of America, N.A., as L/C Issuer, and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UJF, Ltd., as L/C Issuer   8-K   10.1   November 8, 2016   001-33962
10.27   Amendment No. 1 and Waiver to Credit Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2017, by and among Coherent, Inc., Coherent Holding GmbH, the Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and Barclays Bank PLC, as Administrative Agent   8-K   10.1   May 9, 2017   001-33962
10.28   Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement, dated as of July 5, 2017, by and among Coherent, Inc., Coherent Holding GmbH, the Guarantors party thereto and Barclays Bank PLC as Administrative Agent   10-Q   10.2   August 9, 2017   001-33962
21.1   Subsidiaries   10-K   21.1   December 1, 2020   001-33962
23.1   Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm   10-K   23.1   December 1, 2020   001-33962
24.1   Power of Attorney (see signature page)   10-K   24.1   December 1, 2020   001-33962
31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002   10-K   31.1   December 1, 2020   001-33962
31.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002   10-K   31.2   December 1, 2020   001-33962
31.3   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002                
31.4   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002                
32.1**   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002   10-K   32.1   December 1, 2020   001-33962
32.2**   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002   10-K   32.2   December 1, 2020   001-33962
101.INS   Inline XBRL Instance   10-K   101.INS   December 1, 2020   001-33962
101.SCH   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema   10-K   101.SCH   December 1, 2020   001-33962
101.CAL   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase   10-K   101.CAL   December 1, 2020   001-33962
101.DEF   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase   10-K   101.DEF   December 1, 2020   001-33962
101.LAB   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase   10-K   101.LAB   December 1, 2020   001-33962
101.PRE   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase   10-K   101.PRE   December 1, 2020   001-33962
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)   10-K   104   December 1, 2020   001-33962

 

 

 

  Identifies management contract or compensatory plans or arrangements required to be filed as an exhibit.
**   Previously furnished.

 

46

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

   

COHERENT, INC.

 

Date: February 1, 2021 /s/ ANDREAS W. MATTES
    By:  Andreas W. Mattes
   

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.6

 

COHERENT, INC.

 

2005 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

Page

 

Article I Definitions 1
1.1 Definitions 1
Article II Participation 5
2.1 Date of Participation 5
2.2 Resumption of Participation Following Return to Service 5
2.3 Change in Employment Status 5
Article III Contributions 5
3.1 Deferral Contributions 5
3.2 Accounts 7
3.3 Company Discretionary Contributions 7
3.4 Cancellation of Elections Due to Unforeseeable Emergency Distribution 7
Article IV Participants’ Accounts 8
4.1 Individual Accounts 8
4.2 Accounting for Distributions 8
4.3 Separate Accounts 8
Article V Investment of Contributions 8
5.1 Manner of Investment 8
5.2 Investment Decisions 8
Article VI Distributions 8
6.1 Certain Distributions to Participants and Beneficiaries 8
6.2 Subsequent Election to Delay or Change Form of Payment 10
6.3 Lump-Sum Distribution Timing 10
6.4 Installment Amounts 10
6.5 Unforeseeable Emergency Distributions 11
6.6 Scheduled In-Service Distribution 11
6.7 Death 12
6.8 Notice to Trustee 12
6.9 Time of Distribution 12
6.10 Domestic Relations Order Distributions 12
6.11 Conflicts of Interest and Ethics Rules Distributions 12
6.12 FICA and Related Income Tax Distribution 12
6.13 State, Local and Foreign Tax Distribution 13

 

  -i-  

 

 

Table of Contents

(continued)

 

Page

 

6.14 Code Section 409A Distribution 13
6.15 Tax Withholding 13
6.16 Special 2008 Election 13
Article VII Change of Control 13
7.1 No New Participants Following Change of Control 13
Article VIII Termination Due to Corporate Dissolution or Pursuant to Bankruptcy Court Approval 13
8.1 Corporate Dissolution 13
8.2 Bankruptcy Court Approval 13
Article IX Amendment and Termination 14
9.1 Amendment by Employer 14
9.2 Retroactive Amendments 14
9.3 Plan Deferral Termination 14
9.4 Distribution upon Certain Plan Terminations 14
Article X The Trust 14
10.1 Establishment of Trust 14
Article XI Miscellaneous 15
11.1 Limitation of Rights 15
11.2 Nontransferability; Domestic Relations Orders 15
11.3 Facility of Payment 15
11.4 Information between Employer and Trustee 15
11.5 Notices 15
11.6 Governing Law 16
11.7 No Guarantees Regarding Tax Treatment; Disclaimer 16
Article XII Plan Administration 16
12.1 Powers and Responsibilities of the Administrator 16
12.2 Nondiscriminatory Exercise of Authority 16
12.3 Claims and Review Procedures 17
12.4 Exhaustion of Claims Procedure and Right to Bring Legal Claim 20
12.5 Plan’s Administrative Costs 20

 

  -ii-  

 

 

PREAMBLE

 

This Coherent, Inc. 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan is adopted by Coherent, Inc. for the benefit of certain of its Employees and members of its Board of Directors, effective as of January 1, 2005 (the “Effective Date”). The purpose of the Plan is to provide supplemental retirement income and to permit eligible Participants the option to defer receipt of Compensation, pursuant to the terms of the Plan. The Plan is intended to be an unfunded deferred compensation plan maintained for the benefit of a select group of management or highly compensated employees under sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of ERISA and is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. Participants shall have the status of unsecured creditors of Coherent, Inc. with respect to the payment of Plan benefits.

 

From and after the Effective Date, this Plan replaces the Coherent, Inc. 1995 Deferred Compensation Plan, the Coherent, Inc. Supplementary Retirement Plan and the Director Deferred Compensation Plan, which have been frozen to new deferrals as of December 31, 2004 so as to qualify these prior plans for “grandfather” treatment under Internal Revenue Code Section 409A.

 

Article I

 

Definitions

 

1.1       Definitions. Wherever used herein, the following terms have the meanings set forth below, unless a different meaning is clearly required by the context:

 

(a)        “Account” means an account established on the books of the Employer for the purpose of recording amounts credited on behalf of a Participant and any expenses, gains or losses included thereon.

 

(b)        “Administrator” means the Employer, or the Committee, if one has been designated by such Employer.

 

(c)        “Bankruptcy Court Approval” means the approval of a bankruptcy court pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 503(b)(1)(A).

 

(d)        “Beneficiary” means the person or persons entitled under Section 6.7 to receive benefits under the Plan upon the death of a Participant.

 

(e)        “Change of Control Event” means a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets, as defined under Code Section 409A.

 

(f)        “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

(g)        “Code Section 409A” means Code Section 409A and the proposed or final (as applicable) Treasury regulations and other official guidance promulgated thereunder.

 

  1  

 

 

(h)        “Code Section 409A Distribution” means a distribution pursuant to Section 6.15 hereof.

 

(i)         “Committee” means the Deferred Compensation Committee composed of three or more individuals appointed by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Employer, or following a Change of Control, appointed by the Committee, to function as the Administrator. Once appointed, the Deferred Compensation Committee shall interpret and administer this Plan and take such other actions as may be specified herein.

 

(j)         “Company” means the Employer and any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(k)        “Compensation” means (i) with respect to Eligible Employees, base salary, commissions, variable compensation plan bonuses, and, to the extent that they qualify as Sales Commissions under Code Section 409A, sales commission plan bonuses and sales incentive bonuses, including amounts that are otherwise excludable from the gross income of the Participant under a salary reduction agreement by reason of the application of Sections 125 or 402(a)(8) of the Code, and (ii) with respect to Outside Directors, all cash retainers and cash meeting fees, excluding expense reimbursements. Compensation does not include any severance payments or benefits.

 

(l)         “Corporate Dissolution” means a dissolution of the Company that is taxed under Code Section 331.

 

(m)       “Deferral Contributions” means, for each Participant, the amount deferred pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof.

 

(n)        “Disability” means the Participant (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering Company employees.

 

(o)        “Domestic Relations Order” means a court order that qualifies as a domestic relations order under Code Section 414(p)(1)(B).

 

(p)        “Eligible Participant” means (i) any employee within a category specified by the Committee, including without limitation, a category based on annual base salary and position; (ii) any Outside Director, and (iii) any other employees designated as eligible by the Committee.

 

(q)        “Employee” means any employee of the Employer.

 

(r)        “Employer” means Coherent, Inc. and any successors and assigns unless otherwise provided herein.

 

  2  

 

 

(s)        “Entry Date” means (i) January 1 (which is also the Entry Date for employees who are promoted or given a base salary increase or otherwise have a change in circumstance so as to become an Eligible Participant for the first time and for re-hires who were previously Eligible Participants), (ii) for new employees who are Eligible Participants (including re-hires who were not previously Eligible Participants), the first day of the next payroll period commencing after the next paydate following receipt of their deferral election by the Company; provided, however, that such new employee’s deferral election must be submitted no later than 30 days following their becoming newly eligible, or (iii) for Non-Employee Directors who are Eligible Participants for the first time, the first day of the next Company fiscal quarter following their becoming a Non-Employee Director; provided, however, that such new Non-Employee Director’s deferral election must be submitted no later than 30 days following their becoming a newly eligible Non-Employee Director.

 

(t)         “ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as from time to time amended.

 

(u)        “FICA Amount” means the aggregate Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax imposed on any Account under Code Sections 3101, 3121(a) and 3121(v)(2), as applicable and any corresponding tax withholding provisions of applicable state, local or foreign tax laws as a result of the payment of the FICA amount.

 

(v)        “401(k) Plan” means the Coherent, Inc. Employee Retirement and Investment Plan.

 

(w)       “Outside Director” means a member of the Board whom is not an Employee.

 

(x)        “Participant” means any Employee or Outside Director who participates in the Plan in accordance with Article 2 hereof.

 

(y)        “Plan” means this Coherent, Inc. 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan.

 

(z)        “Plan Year” means the 12-consecutive month period beginning January 1 and ending December 31.

 

(aa)      “Prior Plans” means the Coherent, Inc. 1995 Deferred Compensation Plan, the Coherent, Inc. Supplementary Retirement Plan and the Director Deferred Compensation Plan.

 

(bb)      “Retirement” means a Participant’s Separation from Service after attaining 50 years of age.

 

(cc)      “Sales Commission” means “sales commission compensation” as such term is defined in Treasury Regulation §1.409A-2(a)(12)(i).

 

(dd)      “Separation From Service” means a separation from service as defined under Code Section 409A. For this purpose, the employment relationship will be treated as continuing intact while the Participant is on military leave, sick leave or other bona fide leave of

 

  3  

 

 

absence, except that if the period of such leave exceeds six (6) months and the Participant does not retain a right to re-employment under an applicable statute or by contract, then the employment relationship will be deemed to have terminated on the first day immediately following such six-month period. A leave of absence constitutes a bona fide leave of absence only if there is a reasonable expectation that the Participant will return to perform services for the Company.

 

(ee)      “Specified Employee” means a Participant who, as of the date of his or her Separation from Service, is a key employee of the Company. For this purpose, a Participant is a key employee if he or she meets the requirements of Code section 416(i)(1)(A)(i), (ii) or (iii) (disregarding Code section 416(i)(5)). As of 2020, this generally includes (i) the top fifty (50) Company officers with compensation greater than $185,000 per year, (ii) a 5% owner of the Company, or (iii) a 1% owner of the Company with compensation greater than $150,000 per year. For purposes of the preceding sentence, “compensation” means compensation as such term is defined in the 401(k) Plan for Code section 415 purposes. The determination of who is a Specified Employee shall be made on December 31 of each year and shall include any employee who qualified as a Specified Employee at any time during the preceding twelve-month period. Once so determined, the list of Specified Employees shall be initially effective on the following April 1 and shall remain effective for twelve months (i.e., through March 31 of the following year).

 

(ff)        “Subsidiary” means a subsidiary of the Employer, as such term is defined in Code section 424(f).

 

(gg)      “Trading Day” means a day upon which the major U.S. national stock exchanges are open for trading.

 

(hh)      “Trust” means the trust fund established pursuant to the terms of the Plan.

 

(ii)        “Trustee” means the corporation or individuals named in the agreement establishing the Trust and such successor and/or additional trustees as may be named in accordance with the Trust Agreement.

 

(jj)        “Unforeseeable Emergency” means (a) a severe financial hardship to a Participant resulting from an illness or accident of the Participant or his or her spouse, beneficiary or dependent (as defined in section 152 of the Code, but without regard to subsections (b)(1), (b)(2) and (d)(1)(B) thereof), (b) loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty (including the need to rebuild a home following damage to a home not otherwise covered by insurance, for example, not as a result of a natural disaster), or (c) other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant.

 

(kk)      “Year of Service” means a period of 12 consecutive months during which the Participant is employed by the Employer or serves as a Board member. Service commences on the date the Participant first commences service for the Employer and ends on the date that the Participant quits, retires, is discharged, is determined to be Totally Disabled or dies.

 

  4  

 

 

(ll)        “Valuation Date” means (i) for re-allocations of amounts previously deferred, the date of re-allocation, or, if that date is not a Trading Day, then the next Trading Day, (ii) for distributions hereunder, the last day of the preceding month, or, if that day is not a Trading Day, then the most recently concluded Trading Day, and (iii) for allocations of deferrals, the next Trading Day following the payday to which the deferral relates.

 

Article II

 

Participation

 

2.1       Date of Participation. Each Eligible Participant shall become a Participant as of the Entry Date next following their timely filing of an election to defer Compensation in accordance with Section 3.1.

 

2.2       Resumption of Participation Following Return to Service. If a Participant ceases to be an Employee or Outside Director and thereafter returns to the service of the Employer he or she will again become a Participant as of the Entry Date following the date on which he or she re-commences service with the Employer, provided he or she is an Eligible Participant and has timely filed an election to defer Compensation pursuant to Section 3.1. Any scheduled Plan payments the Participant has been receiving shall continue to be paid as previously scheduled.

 

2.3       Change in Employment Status. If any Employee Participant continues in the employ of the Employer but ceases to be an Eligible Participant, the individual shall continue to be a Participant until the entire amount of his benefit is distributed; provided, however, the individual shall not be entitled to make Deferral Contributions during subsequent Plan Years in which he or she is not an Eligible Participant. In the event an Employee Participant ceases to be an Eligible Participant, if such individual has not undergone a Separation From Service, he or she shall continue to make Deferral Contributions under the Plan through the end of the Plan Year in which he or she ceases to be an Eligible Participant. Thereafter, such individual shall not make any further Compensation deferral contributions to the Plan unless or until he or she again becomes an Eligible Participant. In the event that the individual subsequently again becomes an Eligible Participant, the individual may resume full participation on the next Entry Date in accordance with Section 3.1.

 

Article III

 

Contributions

 

3.1       Deferral Contributions.

 

(a)        Annual Open Enrollment. Prior to the beginning of each Plan Year, each Eligible Participant (including newly eligible Eligible Participants who were formerly Eligible Participants) may elect to execute a compensation reduction agreement with the Employer to reduce his Compensation in accordance with procedures set by the Committee. Such agreement shall become irrevocable as of the last day of the calendar year in which it is made and shall be effective, with respect to Eligible Employees, with the first payday in the following Plan Year and with respect to Outside Directors, with the first day of service in the following Plan Year.

 

  5  

 

 

Except with respect to payroll periods that cross-over from one calendar year to the next, the election shall not be effective with respect to Compensation relating to services already performed. With respect to Compensation that qualifies as a Sales Commission, the services relating to such Compensation shall be deemed performed in the year in which the customer pays the Company. An election once made will remain in effect for paydays falling in the duration of the Plan Year. After the beginning of a Plan Year, a Participant will not be permitted to change, terminate or revoke his or her Compensation Deferral election for such Plan Year, except to the limited extent provided in Section 3.4. Amounts credited to a Participant’s Account prior to the effective date of any new election will not be affected and will be paid in accordance with that prior election.

 

(b)        Newly Eligible Participants. The same rules as in Section 3.1(a) above shall also apply to individuals who become Eligible Participants for the first time, except (i) such new Eligible Participants shall have no more than thirty (30) days following their becoming eligible for the first time under the Plan or any other non-qualified deferred compensation plans of the Employer required to be aggregated with the Plan in which to elect to have their Compensation reduced, and (ii) the agreement shall become effective, with respect to Eligible Employees, with the first full payroll period commencing following the receipt of their election by the Company and with respect to Outside Directors, with the first day of service following the receipt of their election by the Company. Newly eligible Outside Directors may not, however, defer quarterly fees payable on account of the Company’s fiscal quarter in which the election is made.

 

(c)        Variable Compensation Plan, Sales Commission Plan and Sales Incentive Bonuses Payable in a Subsequent Year. If a Variable Compensation Plan, Sales Commission Plan or Sales Incentive Bonus (so long as such Sales Commission Plan and Sales Incentive Bonus qualifies as Sales Commissions under Section 409A) is earned in one calendar year and would normally be paid in the first quarter of the ensuing calendar year, it shall be deferred and distributed based upon the election made by the Eligible Participant in the open enrollment period in the year prior to the year in which it was earned. For newly Eligible Participants, any such Variable Compensation Plan, Sales Commission Plan or Sales Incentive Bonus shall be deferred and distributed based upon their initial election made with respect to the year in which it was earned (or the year in which it was paid to the Company, with respect to Sales Commissions); provided, however, that such election may apply to no more than the total amount of such compensation multiplied by the ratio of the number of days remaining in the applicable performance period after such election becomes irrevocable over the total number of days in the applicable performance period. Performance-based compensation may also be deferred in accordance with Treasury Regulation §1.409A-2(a)(8).

 

EXAMPLE: In the December, 2019 open enrollment period, an Eligible Participant elects to defer 75% of her Sales Incentive Bonus for 2020. The 2020 Sales Incentive Bonus is normally paid in March, 2021. The deferral and distribution of her 2020 Sales Incentive Bonus otherwise payable in March 2021 are controlled by her election made in the 2019 open enrollment period.

 

(d)        Year-End Cross-Over Payroll Periods. Paydays relating to periods of service that cross-over the calendar year end shall be covered by the Participant’s deferral

 

  6  

 

 

election in effect for the later year, consistently with the default rules under Treasury Regulation §1.409A-2(a)(13).

 

(e)        Limitation on Deferral Changes. The dollar amount of any Plan deferrals shall not be reduced or increased during any Plan Year by virtue of any Participant election to increase, decrease or terminate his or her rate of deferral in any other employee benefit plan, including the Company’s employee stock purchase plan; except as permitted by Code Section 409A with respect to changes in deferral elections under the Company’s 401(k) Employee Savings Plan and Code section 125 flexible benefits plan (or as otherwise permitted under Code Section 409A).

 

3.2       Accounts. The Employer shall credit an amount to the Account maintained on behalf of the Participant corresponding to the amount of said reduction. Under no circumstances may an election to defer Compensation be adopted retroactively.

 

3.3       Company Discretionary Contributions. The Company may, in its sole discretion, make a contribution to a Participant’s Account, subject to such vesting and distribution conditions and limitations as the Company, in its sole discretion, shall impose. To the extent such Company contributions do not vest, corresponding debits will be made to a Participant’s Account, including any earnings on such forfeited amounts.

 

3.4       Cancellation of Elections Due to Unforeseeable Emergency Distribution.

 

(a)        Unforeseeable Emergency Distribution. A Participant’s deferral election shall be automatically cancelled in the event the Participant obtains an unforeseeable emergency distribution from the Plan pursuant to Section 6.5 hereof. The Participant, if still an Eligible Participant, may re-enroll in the Plan in the next open enrollment period.

 

(b)        Special 2005 Elections.

 

(i)         In accordance with Internal Revenue Service Notice 2005-1, Q&A-21, Eligible Participants may make a deferral election with respect to 2005 Compensation that has not been paid or become payable at the time of election, and superseding their prior election, if any, with respect to such Compensation, on or before March 15, 2005, or such earlier time as is determined by the Administrator (or its designee) in its sole discretion.

 

(ii)        In accordance with Internal Revenue Service Notice 2005-1 and the proposed Treasury regulations promulgated under Code Section 409A, and notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Plan, a Participant may elect to rescind or reduce his or her 2005 Compensation deferral election made under Section 3.1 by filing a form specified by the Administrator (or its designee) with the Administrator (or its designee) no later than December 31, 2005, or such earlier time as is determined by the Administrator (or its designee), in its sole discretion. The amount subject to such election shall be distributed to the Participant in a single lump sum payment of cash (or its equivalent) in calendar year 2005 or, if later, the Participant’s taxable year in which the amount becomes earned and vested.

 

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Article IV

 

Participants’ Accounts

 

4.1       Individual Accounts. The Administrator will establish and maintain an Account for each Participant which will reflect Deferral Contributions credited to the Account on behalf of the Participant with earnings, expenses, gains and losses credited thereto, attributable to the investments made with the amounts in the Participant’s Account. Statements of their Account values will be made available to Participants at least once each Plan Year.

 

4.2       Accounting for Distributions. As of any date of a distribution to a Participant or a Beneficiary hereunder, the distribution to the Participant or to the Participant’s Beneficiary(ies) shall be charged to the Participant’s Account.

 

4.3       Separate Accounts. A separate account under the Plan shall established and maintained to reflect the Account for each Participant with subaccounts to show separately the earnings, expenses, gains and losses credited or debited to that Account.

 

Article V

 

Investment of Contributions

 

5.1       Manner of Investment. All amounts credited to the Accounts of Participants shall be treated as though invested only in eligible investments selected by the Employer.

 

5.2       Investment Decisions.

 

(a)        Accounts shall be treated as invested as directed by the Participant among the eligible investment alternatives selected by the Employer. Participants may change their investment allocations as specified by the Committee.

 

(b)        All dividends, interest, gains and distributions of any nature earned in respect of an investment alternative in which the Account is treated as investing shall be credited to the Account in an amount equal to the net increase or decrease in the net asset value of each investment option since the preceding Valuation Date.

 

Article VI

 

Distributions

 

6.1       Certain Distributions to Participants and Beneficiaries.

 

(a)        Earliest Distributions

 

(i)         Regular Participants. Except as permitted by the Plan and Code Section 409A in connection with a Corporate Dissolution, pursuant to a Bankruptcy Court Approval, a conflicts of interest or ethics rule distribution under Section 6.11, a FICA and related income tax distribution under Section 6.12, a state, local or foreign tax distribution under Section 

 

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6.13, or a Code Section 409A Distribution, in no event may the account of a Participant who is not a Specified Employee be distributed earlier than (i) the Participant’s Separation From Service, (ii) the Participant’s Disability, (iii) the Participant’s death, (iv) a specified time under Section 6.6 hereunder, (v) the occurrence of an Unforeseeable Emergency, or (vi) as required to satisfy a Domestic Relations Order.

 

(ii)        Specified Employee Participants. Except as permitted by the Plan and Code Section 409A in connection with a Corporate Dissolution, pursuant to a Bankruptcy Court Approval, a conflicts of interest or ethics rules distribution under Section 6.11, a FICA and related income tax distribution under Section 6.12, a state, local or foreign tax distribution under Section 6.13, or a Code Section 409A Distribution, in no event may a Specified Employee’s account be distributed earlier than (i) six (6) months following the Specified Employee’s Separation From Service (or if earlier, the Specified Employee’s death), (ii) the Specified Employee’s Disability, (iii) the Specified Employee’s death, (iv) a specified time under Section 6.6 hereunder, (v) the occurrence of an Unforeseeable Emergency, or (vi) as required to satisfy a Domestic Relations Order. In the event a Specified Employee’s Plan distributions are delayed due to the six-month delay requirement, the amounts otherwise payable to the Specified Employee during such period of delay shall be paid on a date that is at least six months and one day following Separation From Service, but no later than the end of the calendar year in which such six month and one day period ends (or, if earlier, within 60 days following the death of the Specified Employee). The Participant’s other scheduled distributions, if any, shall not be affected by the period of delay.

 

(b)        Lump-Sum or Installment Payment Initial Elections. At the same time their initial elections for any Plan Year are made, Participants shall elect to have their Compensation deferrals for that Plan Year paid out, either following their Retirement or their Disability, in one of the following forms of payment:

 

(i)         Lump sum cash payment; or

 

(ii)        Two to fifteen substantially equal annual installments.

 

At the same time their initial elections for the 2021 Plan Year or thereafter are made, Participants shall elect to have their Compensation deferrals for the 2021 Plan Year or any year thereafter paid out, following their Separation From Service other than by death, in one of the following forms of payment:

 

(iii)       Lump sum cash payment; or

 

(iv)       Two to fifteen substantially equal annual installments.

 

For Compensation deferrals for Plan Years before the 2021 Plan Year, in no event shall any Plan payments be made more than sixteen (16) years following a Participant’s Separation From Service. Any payment with respect to Compensation deferrals for Plan Years before the 2021 Plan Year scheduled to be made more than sixteen (16) years following a Participant’s Separation From Service shall be paid with the last scheduled payment with the sixteen (16) year period.

 

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(c)        Other Plan Payments. All Plan payments not specified in Section 6.1(b), except for certain scheduled in-service withdrawals as specified in Section 6.6, shall be made in the form of a lump-sum payment.

 

(d)        Installment Payments Treated as Single Payments. All installment payments under the Plan are considered a single payment for purposes of complying with Code Section 409A.

 

6.2       Subsequent Election to Delay or Change Form of Payment.

 

(i)         A Participant’s initial election to receive a distribution may be delayed or the form of payment changed by filing an election, in the form required by the Administrator, at least one year in advance of the date upon which any distribution would otherwise have been made pursuant to the prior election. Such election shall not be effective for a period of one (1) year, and must delay the initial payment by a period of at least five (5) years, but may not result in the initial payment occurring more than then ten (10) years following Separation From Service or Disability. In the absence of such timely filed election, the value of such Participant’s Account shall be distributed in accordance with their previously timely filed Account election.

 

(ii)        Because Plan installment payments are considered a single payment for purposes of Code Section 409A, a subsequent election may accelerate the method of distribution. For example, if a Participant initially elected to receive Separation From Service or Disability payments in five annual installments following her Separation From Service, she could make a timely election to instead take a lump-sum distribution five years following her Separation From Service. Moreover, a subsequent election may change a lump-sum distribution to an installment election, so long as, in either case, the initial payment is delayed for a period of at least five (5) years, the election is not effective for one (1) year and is made at least one (1) year in advance of the date upon which the first distribution would have otherwise been made.

 

(iii)       Because installment payments are treated as a single payment, any subsequent election must apply to all of the installment payments. For example, if a Participant initially elected to receive Separation From Service or Disability payments in five annual installments following her Separation From Service, the Participant may not elect to defer the 1st, 2d, 3rd and 5th installments only, but must also defer the 4th installment.

 

6.3       Lump-Sum Distribution Timing. Except as elected otherwise for Plan Years prior to the 2009 Plan Year, for Participants receiving a lump-sum distribution, the value of their Account (or portion thereof specified in the Participant’s election) shall be paid in a lump-sum cash payment in the first February following their Separation From Service, or, for Specified Employees (or their estates or beneficiaries), if later, at least six months and one day after the date upon which they incur a Separation From Service, but no later than the end of the calendar year in which such six month and one day period ends or, if earlier, upon their death.

 

6.4       Installment Amounts. For purposes of this Section 6, installment payments shall be determined by dividing the value of the Participant’s Account at the time of such installment by the number of payments remaining. Except as elected otherwise for Plan Years prior to the

 

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2009 Plan Year, installment payments other than in-service distributions shall commence in the next February following the triggering distribution event, or, for Specified Employees undergoing a Separation From Service triggering event, as soon as is practicable at least six months and one day after the date upon which they incur a Separation From Service, but no later than the end of the calendar year in which such six month and one day period ends. In-service distributions will commence in the February of the specified year.

 

6.5       Unforeseeable Emergency Distributions. With the consent of the Administrator, a Participant may withdraw up to one hundred percent (100%) of his or her Account as may be required to meet a sudden Unforeseeable Emergency of the Participant. Such distribution may only be made if the amounts distributed with respect to an Unforeseeable Emergency may not exceed the amounts necessary to satisfy such emergency plus amounts necessary to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of the distribution, after taking into account the extent to which such hardship is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise or by liquidation of the Participant’s assets (to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship).

 

6.6       Scheduled In-Service Distribution. A Participant may elect, as provided in his or her Participant deferral election, to receive one or more scheduled in-service (i.e., commencing while employed by the Company, or, for outside director Participants, while serving as a Board member) distributions relating to the Plan Year to which the deferral election relates. Such in-service distributions may only be scheduled for years at least two full calendar years following the end of the calendar year to which the deferrals relate. Participants may elect to receive in-service distributions of deferrals in annual installments of up to five years.

 

EXAMPLE: In the December, 2017 open enrollment period, an Eligible Participant elects to receive an in-service distribution of 50% of her 2018 plan deferrals, plus earnings and losses thereon, in 2021. This includes a variable compensation plan bonus paid in 2019 but earned in 2018. Because the scheduled in-service distribution is at least two full calendar years following the end of 2018 (the end of the year to which the deferrals relate), the election is permissible.

 

Each scheduled in-service distribution may only be postponed in accordance with Section 6.2 hereof. In the event a Participant incurs a Separation From Service prior to receiving the first scheduled payment, then the scheduled in-service distribution election shall be without further force and effect and the applicable Separation From Service distribution provisions of the Plan and the Participant’s deferral election shall control. Similarly, in the event a Participant incurs a Separation From Service after receiving the first scheduled in-service distribution payment, and if the Separation From Service is not pursuant to Retirement, Disability or death, then any scheduled future installments of the in-service distribution election shall be without further force and effect and the applicable Separation From Service distribution provisions of the Plan and the Participant’s deferral election shall control. If, however, a Participant incurs a Separation From Service due to his or her Retirement, Disability or death after receiving their first scheduled in-service distribution payment, then the scheduled in-service distributions will be made according to their schedule and will take precedence over the Participant’s other deferral elections; provided, however, that the first scheduled payment following the Separation From Service for a Specified Employee shall be paid on a date that is at least six months and one day following

 

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Separation From Service, but no later than the end of the calendar year in which such six month and one day period ends (or, if earlier, upon the death of the Specified Employee).

 

6.7       Death. Except with respect to certain in-service distributions as provided below, if a Participant dies, his or her designated Beneficiary or Beneficiaries will receive the balance of his or her Account in a lump sum. Moreover, if such death occurs prior to a Separation From Service, the Account shall vest 100% as to any previously unvested Account balance. Distribution to the Beneficiary or Beneficiaries will be made as soon as is practicable after death but no later than the end of the year following the year of death.

 

A Participant may designate a Beneficiary or Beneficiaries, or change any prior designation of Beneficiary or Beneficiaries by giving notice to the Administrator on a form designated by the Administrator (spousal consent to such change may be required on the form designated by the Administrator). If more than one person is designated as the Beneficiary, their respective interests shall be as indicated on the designation form.

 

If upon the death of the Participant there is, in the opinion of the Administrator, no designated Beneficiary for part or all of the Participant’s Account, the amount as to which there is no designated Beneficiary will be paid to his or her surviving spouse or, if none, to his or her estate (such spouse or estate shall be deemed to be the Beneficiary for purposes of the Plan).

 

6.8       Notice to Trustee. The Administrator will notify the Trustee in writing whenever any Participant or Beneficiary is entitled to receive benefits under the Plan. The Administrator’s notice shall indicate the form, amount and frequency of benefits that such Participant or Beneficiary shall receive.

 

6.9       Time of Distribution. In no event will distribution to a Participant be made later than the date specified by the Participant in his or her election to defer Compensation; provided, however, that if a Participant is a Specified Employee, his or her election shall be subject to the six (6) month distribution delay requirements of the Plan and Code Section 409A.

 

6.10     Domestic Relations Order Distributions. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may accelerate a payment (or payments) make such payments to an individual other than the Participant as necessary to comply with the terms of a Domestic Relations Order.

 

6.11     Conflicts of Interest and Ethics Rules Distributions. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may accelerate a payment (or payments) as necessary (i) for any U.S. federal officer or employee in the executive branch of the U.S. federal government to comply with an ethics agreement with the U.S. federal government, or (ii) to avoid violating a U.S. federal, state, local or foreign ethics law or conflicts of interest law, as specified under Code Section 409A.

 

6.12     FICA and Related Income Tax Distribution. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may permit a distribution from a Participant’s Account sufficient to pay any FICA Amounts due upon the vesting of any Company contribution as well as to satisfy the income tax withholding requirements with respect to the FICA Amount and income tax payments under this Section 6.12. In no event may the total payment under this Section 6.12 exceed the aggregate of the FICA Amount and the related income tax withholding.

 

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6.13     State, Local and Foreign Tax Distribution. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may permit a distribution from a Participant’s Account sufficient to pay any state, local or foreign tax obligations arising from participation in the Plan that apply to an amount deferred under the Plan prior to the scheduled distribution of such amount. In the event the Committee exercises such discretion, the Committee may also permit a distribution sufficient to pay related income tax withholding in accordance with Code Section 409A. In no event may the total payment under this Section 6.13 exceed the aggregate amount of such taxes due.

 

6.14     Code Section 409A Distribution. In the event that the Plan fails to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 409A, then the Committee, in its sole discretion, may permit a distribution from a Participant’s Account up to the maximum amount required to be included in income as a result of the failure to comply with Code Section 409A.

 

6.15     Tax Withholding. Payments under this Article VI shall be subject to all applicable withholding requirements for state and federal income taxes and to any other federal, state or local taxes that may be applicable to such payments.

 

6.16     Special 2008 Election. Notwithstanding other Plan provisions, pursuant to and in accordance with IRS Notice 2007-86, in the 2008 Plan Year, the Committee had the discretion to permit Participants to change the time and form or payment of Accounts with respect to amounts credited on and after January 1, 2005 so long as the change did not (i) accelerate payment of amounts that would otherwise be payable in a future year into the year of the new election, and (ii) apply to amounts that would otherwise be paid in the year of the election.

 

Article VII

 

Change of Control

 

7.1       No New Participants Following Change of Control. No individual may commence participation in the Plan following a Change of Control Event.

 

Article VIII

 

Termination Due to Corporate Dissolution or Pursuant to Bankruptcy Court Approval

 

8.1       Corporate Dissolution. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may terminate the Plan and accelerate all scheduled Plan distributions within 12 months following a Corporate Dissolution; provided that such termination and distribution acceleration complies with the requirements of Code Section 409A.

 

8.2       Bankruptcy Court Approval. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may terminate the Plan and accelerate all scheduled Plan distributions pursuant to Bankruptcy Court Approval; provided that such termination and distribution acceleration complies with the requirements of Code Section 409A.

 

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Article IX

 

Amendment and Termination

 

9.1       Amendment by Employer. The Employer reserves the authority to amend the Plan. Any such change notwithstanding, no Participant’s Account shall be reduced by such change below the amount to which the Participant would have been entitled if he had voluntarily left the employ of the Employer immediately prior to the date of the change. The Employer may from time to time make any amendment to the Plan that may be necessary to satisfy Code Section 409A or ERISA.

 

9.2       Retroactive Amendments. An amendment made by the Employer in accordance with Section 9.1 may be made effective on a date prior to the first day of the Plan Year in which it is adopted if such amendment is necessary or appropriate to enable the Plan and Trust to satisfy the applicable requirements of Code Section 409A or ERISA or to conform the Plan to any change in federal law or to any regulations or rulings thereunder, so long as such retroactive amendment is permitted by applicable law.

 

9.3       Plan Deferral Termination. The Employer has adopted the Plan with the intention and expectation that deferrals will be permitted indefinitely. However, the Employer has no obligation to maintain the Plan for any length of time and may discontinue future Compensation deferrals under the Plan in advance of any Plan Year by written notice delivered to Eligible Participants without any liability for any such discontinuance.

 

9.4       Distribution upon Certain Plan Terminations. Upon termination of the Plan other than pursuant to a Corporate Dissolution or pursuant to a Bankruptcy Court Approval, no further Deferral Contributions or Employer Contributions shall be made under the Plan, but Accounts of Participants maintained under the Plan at the time of termination shall continue to be governed by the terms of the Plan until paid out in accordance with the terms of the Plan, Participants’ deferral elections and the requirements of Code Section 409A, which latter requirements shall take precedence over the terms of the Plan and Participants’ deferral elections in the event of any conflict. For purposes of clarity, the Employer may discontinue future Compensation deferrals in accordance with Section 9.3 but other than pursuant to a Corporate Dissolution or pursuant to a Bankruptcy Court Approval may not terminate the Plan pursuant to Treas. Regulation 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix)(B) or (C) in a manner that would provide for pay out of the Accounts of Participants in a manner other than as elected in Participants’ deferral elections.

 

Article X

 

The Trust

 

10.1     Establishment of Trust. The Employer shall establish the Trust between the Employer and the Trustee, in accordance with the terms and conditions as set forth in a separate agreement, under which assets are held, administered and managed, subject to the claims of the Employer’s creditors in the event of the Employer’s insolvency, until paid to Participants and their Beneficiaries as specified in the Plan. The Trust is intended to be treated as a grantor trust

 

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under the Code, and the establishment of the Trust is not intended to cause Participants to realize current income on amounts contributed thereto.

 

Article XI

 

Miscellaneous

 

11.1     Limitation of Rights. Neither the establishment of the Plan and the Trust, nor any amendment thereof, nor the creation of any fund or account, nor the payment of any benefits, will be construed as giving to any Participant or other person any legal or equitable right against the Employer, Administrator or Trustee, except as provided herein; and in no event will the terms of employment or service of any Participant be modified or in any way affected hereby

 

11.2     Nontransferability; Domestic Relations Orders. The right of any Participant, any Beneficiary, or any other person to the payment of any benefits under this Plan shall not be assigned, transferred, pledged or encumbered; provided, however, that a Deferral Account hereunder may be transferred to a Participant’s former spouse pursuant to a Domestic Relations Order.

 

11.3     Facility of Payment. In the event the Administrator determines, on the basis of medical reports or other evidence satisfactory to the Administrator, that the recipient of any benefit payments under the Plan is incapable of handling his affairs by reason of minority, illness, infirmity or other incapacity, the Administrator may direct the Trustee to disburse such payments to a person or institution designated by a court which has jurisdiction over such recipient or a person or institution otherwise having the legal authority under State law for the care and control of such recipient. The receipt by such person or institution of any such payments therefore, and any such payment to the extent thereof, shall discharge the liability of the Trust for the payment of benefits hereunder to such recipient.

 

11.4     Information between Employer and Trustee. The Employer agrees to furnish the Trustee, and the Trustee agrees to furnish the Employer with such information relating to the Plan and Trust as may be required by the other in order to carry out their respective duties hereunder, including without limitation information required under the Code or ERISA and any regulations issued or forms adopted thereunder.

 

11.5     Notices. Any notice or other communication in connection with this Plan shall be deemed delivered in writing if addressed as provided below and if either actually delivered at said address or, in the case of a letter, three business days shall have elapsed after the same shall have been deposited in the United States mails, first-class postage prepaid and registered or certified:

 

(a)        If it is sent to the Employer or Administrator, it will be at the address specified by the Employer;

 

(b)        If it is sent to the Trustee, it will be sent to the address set forth in the Trust Agreement; or, in each case at such other address as the addressee shall have specified by written notice delivered in accordance with the foregoing to the addressor’s then effective notice address.

 

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11.6     Governing Law. The Plan will be construed, administered and enforced according to ERISA, and to the extent not preempted thereby, the laws of the state of California.

 

11.7     No Guarantees Regarding Tax Treatment; Disclaimer. Participants (or their Beneficiaries) will be completely responsible for all taxes with respect to any benefits under the Plan. The Administrator, the Board of Directors and the Employer make no guarantees regarding the tax treatment to any person of any deferrals or payments made under the Plan. The Plan is intended to comply with the provisions of Code Section 409A. Neither the Employer nor any of their employees shall have any liability to any Participant should the Plan or its administration fail to comply with Code Section 409A.

 

Article XII

 

Plan Administration

 

12.1     Powers and Responsibilities of the Administrator. The Administrator has the full power and the full responsibility to administer the Plan in all of its details, subject, however, to the applicable requirements of ERISA. The Administrator’s powers and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

(a)        To make and enforce such rules and regulations as it deems necessary or proper for the efficient administration of the Plan;

 

(b)        The discretionary authority to construe and interpret the Plan, its interpretation thereof in good faith to be final and conclusive on all persons claiming benefits under the Plan;

 

(c)        To decide all questions concerning the Plan and the eligibility of any person to participate in the Plan;

 

(d)        To administer the claims and review procedures specified in Section 12.3;

 

(e)        To compute the amount of benefits which will be payable to any Participant, former Participant or Beneficiary in accordance with the provisions of the Plan;

 

(f)         To determine the person or persons to whom such benefits will be paid;

 

(g)        To authorize the payment of benefits;

 

(h)        To appoint such agents, counsel, accountants, and consultants as may be required to assist in administering the Plan;

 

(i)         By written instrument, to allocate and delegate its responsibilities.

 

12.2     Nondiscriminatory Exercise of Authority. Whenever, in the administration of the Plan, any discretionary action by the Administrator is required, the Administrator shall exercise its authority in a nondiscriminatory manner so that all persons similarly situated will receive substantially the same treatment.

 

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12.3     Claims and Review Procedures.

 

(a)        Purpose. Every Participant or Beneficiary (or his or her representative who is authorized in writing by the Claimant to act on his or her behalf) (hereinafter collectively, “Claimant”) shall be entitled to file with the Administrator (and subsequently with the individual(s) designated to review claims appealed after being initially denied by the Administrator (the “Review Panel”)) a written claim for benefits under the Plan. The Administrator and Review Panel shall each be able to establish such rules, policies and procedures, consistent with ERISA and the Plan, as it may deem necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties and responsibilities under this Section 12.3. In the case of a denial of the claim, the Administrator or Review Panel, as applicable, shall provide the Claimant with a written or electronic notification that complies with Department of Labor Regulation Section 2520.104b-1(c)(1).

 

(b)        Denial of Claim. If a claim is denied by the Administrator (or its authorized representative), in whole or in part, then the Claimant shall be furnished with a denial notice that shall contain the following:

 

(i)         specific reason(s) for the denial;

 

(ii)        reference to the specific Plan provision(s) on which the denial is based;

 

(iii)       a description of any additional material or information necessary for the Claimant to perfect the claim, and an explanation of why the material or information is necessary; and

 

(iv)       an explanation of the Plan’s claims review procedure and the time limits applicable to such procedures, including a statement of the Claimant’s right to bring a civil action under ERISA Section 502(a) following a denial on review (as set forth in Section 12.4 below).

 

The denial notice shall be furnished to the Claimant no later than ninety (90)-days after receipt of the claim by the Administrator, unless the Administrator determines that special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim. If the Administrator determines that an extension of time for processing is required, then notice of the extension shall be furnished to the Claimant prior to the termination of the initial ninety (90)- day period. In no event shall such extension exceed a period of ninety (90)-days from the end of such initial period. The extension notice shall indicate the special circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date by which the Plan expects to render the benefits determination.

 

(c)        Claim Review Procedure. The Claimant may request review of the denial at any time within sixty (60) days following the date the Claimant received notice of the denial of his or her claim. The Administrator shall afford the Claimant a full and fair review of the decision denying the claim and, if so requested, shall:

 

(i)         provide the Claimant with the opportunity to submit written comments, documents, records and other information relating to the claim for benefits;

 

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(ii)        provide that the Claimant shall be provided, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information (other than documents, records and other information that is legally-privileged) relevant to the Claimant’s claim for benefits; and

 

(iii)       provide for a review that takes into account all comments, documents, records and other information submitted by the Claimant relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination.

 

(d)        If the claim is subsequently also denied by the Review Panel, in whole or in part, then the Claimant shall be furnished with a denial notice that shall contain the following:

 

(i)         specific reason(s) for the denial;

 

(ii)        reference to the specific Plan provision(s) on which the denial is based; and

 

(iii)       an explanation of the Plan’s claims review procedure and the time limits applicable to such procedures, including a statement of the Claimant’s right to bring a civil action under ERISA Section 502(a) following the denial on review.

 

(e)        The decision on review shall be issued within sixty (60) days following receipt of the request for review. The period for decision may, however, be extended up to one hundred twenty (120) days after such receipt if the Review Panel determines that special circumstances require extension. In the case of an extension, notice of the extension shall be furnished to the Claimant prior to the expiration of the initial sixty (60)-day period. In no event shall such extension exceed a period of sixty (60) days from the end of such initial period. The extension notice shall indicate the special circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date by which the Plan expects to render the benefits determination.

 

(f)         Special Procedure for Claims Due to Disability. To the extent an application for distribution as a result of a Disability requires the Administrator or the Review Panel, as applicable, to make a determination of Disability under the terms of the Plan, then such determination shall be subject to all of the general rules described in this Article, except as they are expressly modified by this Section.

 

(i)         The initial decision on the claim for a Disability distribution will be made within forty-five (45) days after the Plan receives the Claimant’s claim, unless special circumstances require additional time, in which case the Administrator will notify the Claimant before the end of the initial forty-five (45)-day period of an extension of up to thirty (30) days. If necessary, the Administrator may notify the Claimant, prior to the end of the initial thirty (30)-day extension period, of a second extension of up to thirty (30) days. If an extension is due to the Claimant’s failure to supply the necessary information, then the notice of extension will describe the additional information and the Claimant will have forty-five (45) days to provide the additional information. Moreover, the period for making the determination will be delayed from the date the notification of extension was sent out until the Claimant responds to the request for additional information. No additional extensions may be made, except with the Claimant’s

 

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voluntary consent. The contents of the notice shall be the same as described in Section 13.3(b) above. If a disability distribution claim is denied in whole or in part, then the Claimant will receive notification, as described in Section 12.3(b).

 

(g)        If an internal rule, guideline, protocol or similar criterion is relied upon in making the adverse determination, then the denial notice to the Claimant will either set forth the internal rule, guideline, protocol or similar criterion, or will state that such was relied upon and will be provided free of charge to the Claimant upon request (to the extent not legally-privileged) and if the Claimant’s claim was denied based on a medical necessity or experimental treatment or similar exclusion or limit, then the Claimant will be provided a statement either explaining the decision or indicating that an explanation will be provided to the Claimant free of charge upon request.

 

(h)        Any Claimant whose application for a Disability distribution is denied in whole or in part, may appeal the denial by submitting to the Review Panel a request for a review of the application within one hundred and eighty (180) days after receiving notice of the denial. The request for review shall be in the form and manner prescribed by the Review Panel. In the event of such an appeal for review, the provisions of Section 12.3(c) regarding the Claimant’s rights and responsibilities shall apply. Upon request, the Review Panel will identify any medical or vocational expert whose advice was obtained on behalf of the Review Panel in connection with the denial, without regard to whether the advice was relied upon in making the determination. The entity or individual appointed by the Review Panel to review the claim will consider the appeal de novo, without any deference to the initial denial. The review will not include any person who participated in the initial denial or who is the subordinate of a person who participated in the initial denial.

 

(i)         If the initial Disability distribution denial was based in whole or in part on a medical judgment, then the Review Panel will consult with a health care professional who has appropriate training and experience in the field of medicine involved in the medical judgment, and who was neither consulted in connection with the initial determination nor is the subordinate of any person who was consulted in connection with that determination; and upon notifying the Claimant of an adverse determination on review, include in the notice either an explanation of the clinical basis for the determination, applying the terms of the Plan to the Claimant’s medical circumstances, or a statement that such explanation will be provided free of charge upon request.

 

(j)         A decision on review shall be made promptly, but not later than forty-five (45) days after receipt of a request for review, unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing. If an extension is required, the Claimant will be notified before the end of the initial forty-five (45)-day period that an extension of time is required and the anticipated date that the review will be completed. A decision will be given as soon as possible, but not later than ninety (90) days after receipt of a request for review. The Review Panel shall give notice of its decision to the Claimant; such notice shall comply with the requirements set forth in paragraph (h) above. In addition, if the Claimant’s claim was denied based on a medical necessity or experimental treatment or similar exclusion, then the Claimant will be provided a statement explaining the decision, or a statement providing that such explanation will be furnished to the Claimant free of charge upon request. The notice shall also contain the following statement: “You and your Plan may have other voluntary alternative dispute resolution options, such as

 

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mediation. One way to find out what may be available is to contact your local U.S. Department of Labor Office and your State insurance regulatory agency.”

 

12.4     Exhaustion of Claims Procedure and Right to Bring Legal Claim. No action in law or equity shall be brought more than one (1) year after the Review Panel’s affirmation of a denial of the claim, or, if earlier, more than four (4) years after the facts or events giving rise to the Claimant’s allegation(s) or claim(s) first occurred.

 

12.5     Plan’s Administrative Costs. The Employer shall pay all reasonable costs and expenses (including legal, accounting, and employee communication fees) incurred by the Administrator and the Trustee in administering the Plan and Trust.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Employer by its duly authorized officer(s), has caused this Plan to be adopted initially effective January 1, 2005, and amended and restated as of November 14, 2006, November 20, 2008, November 20, 2009, January 1, 2011, December 2, 2020 and January 17, 2021.

 

  COHERENT, INC.
   
   
  By: Mitchell A. McPeek
   
   
   
  Date: January 18, 2021

 

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Exhibit 10.16 

 

COHERENT

 

EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

GLOBAL RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT

 

1.                   Grant.  The Company hereby grants to the Employee named in the Notice of Grant of Award and Award Agreement (the “Notice of Grant”) an award of Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”), as set forth in the Notice of Grant, subject to the terms and conditions in this agreement, including the additional terms and restrictive covenant conditions contained in the appendix attached hereto (the “Appendix” and, together with the Global Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, the “Agreement”) and in the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). Capitalized terms used and not defined in this Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan.

 

2.                   Company’s Obligation.  Each RSU granted represents the right to receive one Share on the vesting date.  Unless and until the RSUs vest, the Employee will have no right to receive Shares under such RSUs.  Prior to actual distribution of Shares pursuant to any vested RSUs, such RSUs will represent an unsecured obligation of the Company, payable (if at all) only from the general assets of the Company.

 

3.                   Vesting Schedule.  The RSUs shall vest as set forth in the Notice of Grant, subject to paragraph 4 and the Appendix.

 

4.                   Termination as a Service Provider.  If the Employee terminates service as a Service Provider because of death or Disability prior to the date the RSUs would otherwise vest if the Employee had remained a Service Provider, such RSUs shall become vested upon such termination of service as a Service Provider because of such death or Disability. For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” means when the Employee as a result of sickness or injury is unable to perform with reasonable continuity the substantial and material acts necessary to pursue the Employee’s usual occupation.

 

Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Agreement or the Notice of Grant, if the Employee terminates service as a Service Provider for any or no reason other than death or Disability prior to vesting, the unvested RSUs awarded by this Agreement will thereupon be forfeited at no cost to the Company.

 

For purposes of the RSUs, the Service Provider’s service will be considered terminated as of the date that the Service Provider is no longer providing services to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries (regardless of the reason for such termination and whether or not later to be found invalid or in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction where the Employee is employed or the terms of the Employee’s employment agreement, if any), and unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or determined by the Company, the Service Provider’s right to vest in the RSUs under the Plan, if any, will terminate as of such date and will not be extended by any notice period (e.g., the Employee’s period of service would not include any contractual notice period or any period of “garden leave” or similar period mandated under employment laws in the jurisdiction where the Employee is employed or the terms of the Employee’s employment agreement, if any); the Company shall have the exclusive discretion to determine when the Service Provider is no longer providing services for purposes of the RSUs (including whether the Service Provider may still be considered to be providing services while on a leave of absence).

 

5.                   Settlement upon Vesting.  Any RSUs that vest in accordance with paragraph 3 or 4 will be distributed to the Employee (or in the event of the Employee’s death, to his or her estate) in Shares.

 

6.                   Responsibility for Taxes.  The Employee acknowledges and agrees that, regardless of any action taken by the Company or, if different, the Employee’s employer (the “Employer”), the ultimate liability for all income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, fringe benefits tax, payment on account or other tax-related items related to the Employee’s participation in the Plan and legally applicable to the Employee (“Tax-Related Items”) is and remains the Employee’s responsibility and may exceed the amount (if any) withheld by the Company or the Employer. The Employee further acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (i) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the RSUs, including, but not limited to, the grant, vesting or settlement of the RSUs, the receipt of any dividends on Shares, and the subsequent sale of the

 

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Shares; and (ii) do not commit to and are under no obligation to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of the RSUs to reduce or eliminate the Employee’s liability for Tax-Related Items or achieve any particular tax result.  Further, if the Employee has become subject to tax in more than one jurisdiction, the Employee acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (or former employer, as applicable) may be required to withhold or account for Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction.

 

Prior to any relevant taxable or tax withholding event, as applicable, the Employee will pay or make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy all Tax-Related Items. In this regard, the Company shall withhold in Shares otherwise deliverable to the Employee having a Fair Market Value equal to an amount that satisfies the Tax-Related Items required to be withheld. In the event that such withholding in Shares is problematic under applicable tax, securities or other laws, or has materially adverse accounting consequences, the Employee authorizes the Company and/or the Employer, or their respective agents, at their discretion, to satisfy their withholding obligations, if any, with regard to all Tax-Related Items by one or a combination of the following:

 

a.                       withholding from the Employee’s wages or cash compensation paid to the Employee by the Company and/or the Employer; or

 

b.                      withholding from proceeds of the sale of Shares acquired upon vesting/settlement of the RSUs either through a voluntary sale or through a mandatory sale arranged by the Company (on the Employee’s behalf pursuant to this authorization without further consent).

 

The Company may withhold or account for Tax-Related Items by considering statutory withholding rates or other withholding rates, including maximum rates applicable in the Employee’s jurisdiction, in which case the Employee may receive a refund of any over-withheld amount in cash and will have no entitlement to the equivalent amount in Shares. If the obligation for Tax-Related Items is satisfied by withholding in Shares, for tax purposes, the Employee is deemed to have been issued the full number of Shares subject to the vested RSUs, notwithstanding that a number of the Shares are held back solely for the purpose of paying the Tax-Related Items .

 

Finally, the Employee shall pay to the Company or the Employer any amount of Tax-Related Items that the Company or the Employer may be required to withhold or account for as a result of the Employee’s participation in the Plan that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described.  The Company may refuse to issue or deliver the Shares or the proceeds of the sale of Shares if the Employee fails to comply with the Employee’s obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items.

 

7.                   Rights as Stockholder.  Neither the Employee nor any person claiming under or through the Employee will have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Company in respect of any Shares deliverable hereunder unless and until certificates representing such Shares will have been issued, recorded on the records of the Company or its transfer agents or registrars, and delivered to the Employee or the Employee’s broker.

 

8.                   Acknowledgements.  In accepting the grant of RSUs, the Employee acknowledges, understands and agrees that:

 

a.                       the Company (and not the Employee’s employer) is granting the RSU. The Company will administer the Plan from outside the Employee’s country of residence if the Employee’s country of residence is outside the United States, and the provisions of this Agreement will be governed by, and subject to, the internal substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of the State of Delaware;

 

b.                      the benefits and rights provided under the Plan, if any, are wholly discretionary and do not constitute regular or periodic payments;

 

c.                       the Employee is voluntarily participating in the Plan and acceptance of the RSU is not a condition of employment;

 

d.                      the RSUs and the Shares subject to the RSUs, and the income from and value of same, are not intended to replace any pension rights or compensation;

 

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e.                       the RSUs and the Shares subject to the RSUs, and the income from and value of same, are not part of normal or expected compensation for any purposes, including, but not limited to, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, dismissal, end-of-service payments, leave-related payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar payments;

 

f.                       unless otherwise agreed with the Company, the RSUs and the Shares subject to the RSUs, and the income from and value of same, are not granted as consideration for, or in connection with, services the Employee may provide as a director of a Subsidiary;

 

g.                      no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from forfeiture of the RSUs resulting from the termination of the Employee as a Service Provider (for any reason whatsoever; and whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction where the Employee is employed or the terms of the Employee’s employment agreement, if any);

 

h.                      the future value of the underlying Shares is unknown, indeterminable and cannot be predicted with certainty;

 

i.                        the grant of the RSUs, and all decisions with respect to any future grant of RSUs under the Plan, is at the complete discretion of the Company;

 

j.                        the grant of the RSUs is voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of Restricted Stock Units, or benefits in lieu of Restricted Stock Units, even if Restricted Stock Units have been granted in the past;

 

k.                      the Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature, and it may be modified, amended, suspended, or terminated by the Company at any time, to the extent permitted by the Plan;

 

l.                        the grant of RSUs and the Employee’s participation in the Plan shall not create a right to employment or other service or be interpreted as forming an employment or service contract with the Company and shall not interfere with the ability of the Employer to terminate the Employee’s employment or other service relationship (if any) at any time;

 

m.                    unless otherwise provided in the Plan or by the Company in its discretion or in the agreement and plan of merger, dated as of January 18, 2021, by and among the Company, Lumentum Holdings Inc., Cheetah Acquisition Sub, Inc. and Cheetah Acquisition Sub LLC,, the RSUs and the benefits evidenced by this Agreement do not create any entitlement to have the RSUs or any such benefits transferred to, or assumed by, another company nor be exchanged, cashed out or substituted for, in connection with any corporate transaction affecting the Shares; and

 

n.                      neither the Company, the Employer nor any Subsidiary shall be liable for any foreign exchange rate fluctuation between the Employee’s local currency and the United States Dollar that may affect the value of the RSUs or of any amounts due to the Employee pursuant to the settlement of the RSUs or the subsequent sale of any Shares acquired upon settlement.

 

9.                   Data Privacy Information and Consent

 

a.                       Data Collection and Usage. The Company and the Employer may collect, process and use certain personal information about the Employee, including, but not limited to, the Employee’s name, home address, telephone number, email address, date of birth, social insurance number, passport or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title, any Shares or directorships held in the Company, details of all awards granted under the Plan or any other entitlement to Shares awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding in the Employee’s favor (“Data”), for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing the Employee’s participation in the Plan. The legal basis, where required, for the processing of Data is the Employee’s consent.

 

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b.                      Stock Plan Administration Service Providers. The Company transfers Data to E*TRADE Financial Corporate Services, Inc. and certain of its affiliated companies (“E*TRADE”), an independent service provider based in the United States which is assisting the Company with the implementation, administration and management of the Plan. The Company may select a different service provider or additional service providers and share Data with such other provider serving in a similar manner. The Employee may be asked to agree on separate terms and data processing practices with the service provider, with such agreement being a condition to the ability to participate in the Plan.

 

c.                       International Data Transfers. The Company and E*TRADE are based in the United States. The Employee’s country or jurisdiction may have different data privacy laws and protections than the United States. The Company’s legal basis for the transfer of Data, where required, is the Employee’s consent.

 

d.                      Data Retention. The Company will hold and use Data only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage the Employee’s participation in the Plan, or as required to comply with legal or regulatory obligations, including under tax and security laws.

 

e.                       Voluntariness and Consequences of Consent Denial or Withdrawal. Participation in the Plan is voluntary and the Employee is providing the consents herein on a purely voluntary basis. If the Employee does not consent, or if the Employee later seeks to revoke the consent, his or her salary from or employment with the Employer will not be affected; the only consequence of refusing or withdrawing the consent is that the Company would not be able to grant the Employee awards under the Plan or administer or maintain such awards.

 

f.                       Data Subject Rights. The Employee may have a number of rights under data privacy laws in his or her jurisdiction. Depending on where the Employee is based, such rights may include the right to (i) request access to or copies of Data the Company processes, (ii) rectify incorrect Data, (iii) delete Data, (iv) restrict the processing of Data, (v) restrict the portability of Data, (vi) lodge complaints with competent authorities in the Employee’s jurisdiction, and/or (vii) receive a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of Data. To receive clarification regarding these rights or to exercise these rights, the Employee can contact his or her local human resources representative.

 

g.                      Additional Legal Basis. The Employee understands that the Company may rely on a different legal basis for the collection, processing or transfer of Data in the future and/or request the Employee to provide another data privacy consent. If applicable, upon request of the Company or the Employer, the Employee agrees to provide an executed data privacy consent form to the Company and/or the Employer (or any other agreements or consents that may be required by the Company and/or the Employer) that the Company and/or the Employer may deem necessary to obtain from the Employee for the purpose of administering his or her participation in the Plan in compliance with the applicable data privacy laws, either now or in the future. The Employee understands and agrees that he or she will not be able to participate in the Plan if he or she fails to provide any such consent or agreement requested by the Company and/or the Employer.

 

10.                No Advice Regarding Grant.  The Company is not providing any tax, legal, or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding the Employee’s participation in the Plan or the Employee’s acquisition or sale of Shares.  The Employee should therefore consult with his or her own personal tax, legal, and financial advisors regarding the Employee’s participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.

 

11.                Language.  The Employee has received the terms and conditions of this Agreement and any other related communications, and the Employee consents to having received these documents, in English. If the Employee has received this Agreement or any other communications related to the Plan translated into a language other than English, and if the meaning of the translated version is different from the English version, the English version will control.

 

12.                Electronic Delivery & Acceptance.  The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to current or future participation in the Plan by electronic means.  The Employee hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or a third party designated by the Company.

 

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13.                Address for Notices.  Any notice to be given to the Company under the terms of this Agreement shall be addressed to the Company, in care of Stock Plan Administration at Coherent, Inc., 5100 Patrick Henry Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95054 U.S.A., or at such other address as the Company may hereafter designate in writing.

 

14.                Conditions for Issuance of Shares.  The Shares deliverable upon vesting of the RSUs may be either previously authorized but unissued Shares or issued Shares that have been reacquired by the Company.  The Company shall not be required to issue any Shares hereunder prior to fulfillment of all the following conditions:  (a) the admission of such Shares to listing on all stock exchanges on which the class of stock is then listed; (b) the completion of any registration or other qualification of such Shares under any law or under the rulings or regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental regulatory body, whether in the United States or elsewhere, which the Company shall, in its absolute discretion, deem necessary or advisable; (c) the obtaining of any approval or other clearance from any governmental agency, which the Company shall, in its absolute discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable; (d) the lapse of such reasonable period of time following the date of vesting of the RSUs as the Company may establish from time to time for legal or administrative reasons; (e) the execution of the Appendix by the Employee and the acknowledgement of the Appendix by the Employee’s attorney; and (f) compliance with the terms of the Agreement, including, without limitation the Appendix.

 

15.                Plan Governs.  This Agreement is subject to all terms and provisions of the Plan.  In the event of a conflict between one or more provisions of this Agreement and one or more provisions of the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall govern except that the Governing Law and Venue provisions of the Appendix shall govern rather than the Choice of Law and Venue provision of the Plan and jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in the State of Delaware shall be exclusive. 

 

16.                Captions.  Captions provided herein are for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

 

17.                Agreement Severable.  In the event that any provision in this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be severable from, and such invalidity or unenforceability shall not be construed to have any effect on, the remaining provisions of this Agreement.

 

18.                Modifications to the Agreement.  This Agreement (including any appendices attached hereto) constitutes the entire understanding of the parties on the subjects covered.  The Employee expressly warrants that he or she is not executing this Agreement in reliance on any promises, representations, or inducements other than those contained herein. Subject to paragraph 21 below, modifications to this Agreement or the Plan can be made only in an express written contract executed by a duly authorized officer of the Company.

 

19.                Governing Law and Venue.  The RSU grant and the provisions of this Agreement will be governed by, and subject to, the internal substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of the State of Delaware.  For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises directly or indirectly from the relationship of the parties evidenced by the grant or this Agreement, the parties hereby submit to and consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the State of Delaware and agree that such litigation shall be conducted only in the courts of Delaware, and no other courts, where this grant is made and/or to be performed. The Governing Law and Venue provision set forth in the Appendix shall govern.

 

20.                Appendix.  Notwithstanding any provisions in this Agreement, the RSU grant shall be subject to any additional terms and conditions set forth in the Appendix and the Appendix is an integral part of this Agreement. 

 

21.                Imposition of Other Requirements.  The Company reserves the right to impose other requirements on the Employee’s participation in the Plan, on the RSUs, and on any Shares acquired under the Plan, to the extent the Company determines it is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons, and to require the Employee to sign any additional agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.

 

22.                Insider Trading Restrictions/Market Abuse Laws. By participating in the Plan, the Employee agrees to comply with the Company’s policy on insider trading (to the extent that it is applicable to the Employee). The Employee acknowledges that, depending on his or her country or the broker’s country, or the country in which the Shares are listed, the Employee may be subject to insider trading restrictions and/or market abuse laws in

 

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applicable jurisdictions, which may affect his or her ability to accept, acquire, sell or attempt to sell, or otherwise dispose of the Shares, rights to Shares (e.g., the RSUs) or rights linked to the value of Shares, during such times as the Employee is considered to have “inside information” regarding the Company (as defined by the laws or regulations in applicable jurisdictions, including the United States and, if different, the Employee’s country). Local insider trading laws and regulations may prohibit the cancellation or amendment of orders the Employee placed before possessing inside information. Furthermore, the Employee may be prohibited from (i) disclosing insider information to any third party, including fellow employees or service providers (other than on a “need-to-know” basis) and (ii) “tipping” third parties or causing them to otherwise buy or sell securities. Any restrictions under these laws or regulations are separate from and in addition to any restrictions that may be imposed under any applicable Company insider trading policy. The Employee acknowledges that it is the Employee’s responsibility to comply with any applicable restrictions, and the Employee should speak to his or her personal advisor on this matter.

 

23.                Foreign Asset/Account Reporting Requirements. The Employee acknowledges that there may be certain foreign asset and/or account reporting requirements which may affect his or her ability to acquire or hold the Shares acquired under the Plan or cash received from participating in the Plan (including from any dividends paid on the Shares) in a brokerage or bank account outside his or her country. The Employee may be required to report such accounts, assets or transactions to the tax or other authorities in his or her country. The Employee also may be required to repatriate sale proceeds or other funds received as a result of participating in the Plan to his or her country through a designated bank or broker within a certain time from receipt. The Employee acknowledges that it is his or her responsibility to be compliant with such regulations.

 

24.                Waiver. The Employee acknowledges that a waiver by the Company of breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement, or of any subsequent breach by the Employee or any other Participants.

 

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COHERENT

 

EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

APPENDIX

 

 

 

Certain capitalized terms used but not defined in this Appendix have the meanings set forth in the Plan, the Notice of Grant and/or the Global Restricted Stock Unit Agreement.

 

This Appendix includes additional terms and conditions that govern the RSUs to the Employee under the Plan

 

1.       Restrictive Covenants. In consideration for the award of RSUs with respect to ______ Shares as set forth in the Notice of Grant and this Agreement and subject to the terms contained herein [and any other consideration], Employee hereby agrees to the restrictive covenants set forth in this Appendix.

 

A. The Company’s Legitimate Business Interests. Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Company has legitimate business interests in protecting: (i) the Confidential Information and trade secrets to which the Company furnishes Employee and to which Employee has access to during Employee’s employment with the Company; (ii) the Company’s substantial relationships with its customers, vendors, contractors, consultants, and licensees; (iii) customer goodwill; and (iv) the Company’s relationship and goodwill with its employees. Employee further acknowledges and agrees that due to the nature of Employee’s position with the Company, Employee would inevitably give a competitor an unfair competitive advantage if Employee were to engage in Prohibited Activity as defined below or use certain Confidential Information, trade secrets and goodwill entrusted to Employee by the Company for the benefit of a competitor. To protect these legitimate business interests of the Company, Employee agrees to the provisions in this Appendix.
   
B. Noncompetition with Company’s Legitimate Business Interests.
   
  Because of Company’s legitimate business interest as described in this Appendix and the good and valuable consideration offered to the Employee, during the term of Employee’s employment and for 18 months to follow, to run consecutively, beginning on the last day of the Employee’s employment with the Company, whether terminated for any reason or no reason, by the Employee or the Company, the Employee agrees and covenants not to engage in Prohibited Activity.
   
“Prohibited Activity” is activity in which the Employee contributes the Employee’s knowledge, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, as an employee, employer, owner, operator, manager, advisor, consultant, contractor, agent, partner, director, stockholder, officer, volunteer, intern, or any other similar capacity to an entity competitive with the current or reasonably anticipated business of the Company, including, without limitation, the laser industry or the photonics industry. Prohibited Activity also includes activity that may require or inevitably require disclosure of trade secrets, proprietary information, or Confidential Information.
   
  Nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit Employee from purchasing or owning less than five percent (5%) of the publicly traded securities of any corporation, provided that such ownership represents a passive investment and that the Employee is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group that controls, such corporation.
   
C. Non-Solicitation of Customers. During Employee’s employment with the Company and for a period of 18 months following Employee’s resignation, involuntary termination, or other separation from the Company, Employee will not, directly or indirectly: (i) cause or encourage any of the Company’s Customers to refrain from purchasing the Company’s products or services; (ii) solicit, influence, or attempt to influence any of the Company’s Customers to direct any purchase of products and/or services to any person or entity

 

 

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engaging in a business that is the same, substantially similar, or a substitute for the Company’s business; or (iii) solicit, influence, or attempt to influence any of the Company’s Customers to terminate their relationship or diminish the level of their business with the Company.

 

D. Non-Solicitation of Company Employees. During Employee’s employment with the Company and for a period of 18 months following Employee’s resignation, involuntary termination, or other separation from the Company, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, for Employee or any third party other than the Company, solicit, induce, recruit, or encourage any of the Company’s employees to leave their employment with the Company, or attempt to solicit, induce, recruit, or encourage any Company employees to leave their employment with the Company.
   
E. Non-Solicitation of Other Parties. During Employee’s employment with the Company and for a period of 18 months following Employee’s resignation, involuntary termination, or other separation from the Company, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, for Employee or any third party other than the Company, solicit, induce, or encourage any vendor, consultant, collaborator, agent, contractor, or licensee of the Company to cease or diminish its business relationship with the Company or engage in any activity that would cause them to cease or diminish their business relationship with the Company.
   
F. Definitions.
   
  i. “Customers” are defined as persons who, during the last 18 months of Employee’s employment with the Company, have purchased or used the Company’s products or services or have otherwise caused or referred others to purchase or use the Company’s products or services. “Customers” include both a business or organization, as well as the individual persons who have some responsibility for making or influencing the purchasing and use decisions of a business or organization with respect to the Company’s products or services.
   
  ii. “Confidential Information” shall mean any and all technical and non-technical confidential knowledge, data or information related to the business of the Company or to the business of any parent, subsidiary, affiliate, customer or vendor of the Company or any other party with whom the Company agrees to hold information of such party in confidence, including without limitation: (a) trade secrets, inventions, ideas, processes, computer source and object code, data, formulae, programs, other works of authorship, know-how, improvements, discoveries, developments, designs and techniques; (b) information regarding products, services, plans for research and development, marketing and business plans, budgets, financials statements, contracts, prices, suppliers and customers; (c) internal Company records documenting the job performance, skills, evaluations, and compensation of the Company’s employees, contractors and any other service providers of the Company; and (d) the existence of any business discussions, negotiations or agreements between the Company and any third party. Without in any way limiting the foregoing, Confidential Information explicitly includes the Company’s list of its current and potential customers. Employee understands that the Company has invested, and continues to invest substantial time, money, and specialized knowledge into developing its Confidential Information by developing its sources, creating a customer base, generating customer and potential customer lists, and training its employees. Employee understands and acknowledges that as a result of these efforts, the Company has created, and continues to use and create Confidential Information. The Confidential Information provides the Company with a competitive advantage over others in the marketplace.
   
G. Notice to Third Parties. Employee agrees that for so long as Employee is subject to the noncompetition and non-solicitation restrictions under this Agreement, Employee shall inform any entity or person with whom Employee may seek to enter into a business relationship (whether as an owner, Employee, independent contractor or otherwise) of Employee’s contractual obligations under this Agreement. Employee also understands and agrees that the Company may, with or without prior notice to Employee and during or after Employee’s employment with the Company, notify third parties of Employee’s agreements and obligations under this Agreement. Employee further agrees that, upon written request by

 

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the Company, Employee will respond to the Company in writing regarding Employee’s compliance with all terms of this Appendix.

 

H. Defend Trade Secrets Act. Pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b)(1), Employee acknowledges that Employee shall not have criminal or civil liability under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that (A) is made (i) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. 
   
I. No Defense. Employee agrees and acknowledges that the existence of any counterclaim or dispute between Employee and the Company or any of its officers, directors, or limited partners shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement of these covenants by the Company.
   
J. Tolling. In the event that Employee breaches any of the restrictive covenants as set forth in Paragraph (B) to Paragraph (E), the periods of noncompetition and non-solicitation described in Paragraph (B) through Paragraph (E) will be extended by an amount of additional time equal to the lesser period of (i) two years or (ii) the amount of time between when such breach commenced and ending when the activities constituting such breach ended.
   
K. Modification of Restrictive Covenants. If, in any judicial proceeding, a court refuses to enforce any of these separate covenants (or any part of a covenant), then the unenforceable covenant (or part) will be eliminated from this Appendix to the extent necessary to permit the remaining separate covenants (or portions) to be enforced. In the event that the provisions of this Appendix are deemed to exceed the time, geographic, or scope limitations permitted by law, then the provisions will be reformed to the maximum time, geographic, or scope limitations permitted by law.
     

2.       Governing Law and Venue. This RSU, including in particular the terms of this Appendix, for all purposes, shall be governed by, construed and enforced and the legality and validity of each term and condition shall be determined in accordance with internal, substantive laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflicts of law principles. Any action or proceeding by either Employee or the Company to enforce or avoid this Agreement, including, without limitation, the terms of this Appendix or the RSU, or otherwise arising from or under the terms of this Agreement, shall be brought only in a state or federal court located in the State of Delaware. Employee irrevocably submits to the sole and exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware and the state courts of the State of Delaware for the purposes of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of this Agreement including, without limitation, this Appendix or the RSU or otherwise arising from or under the terms of this Agreement. Employee irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any action, suit or proceeding arising out of this Agreement including, without limitation, this Appendix or the RSU or otherwise arising from or under the terms of this Agreement in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware or the state courts of the State of Delaware, acknowledge the propriety of the venue there, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

3.       Acknowledgement that Restrictive Covenants are Not a Condition of Employment and Representation by Counsel. Employee acknowledges that Employee has carefully read this Agreement including, without limitation, the Appendix and consulted with legal counsel of Employee’s choosing regarding its contents, has given careful consideration to the restraints imposed upon Employee by this Appendix and is in full accord as to their necessity for the reasonable and proper protection of confidential and proprietary information of the Company now existing or to be developed in the future. Employee acknowledges that Employee has consulted with counsel and is individually represented in negotiating the terms of this Agreement, which includes the section designating the venue in which a controversy arising hereunder may be adjudicated and the choice of law to be applied hereto.

 

Employee understands, acknowledges and agrees that (i) Employee has no obligation to accept this RSU award and Employee’s decision to do so by signing this Appendix is knowing and voluntary; and (ii) agreeing to the restrictive covenants contained in this Appendix is not a condition of employment and the continuation of Employee’s employment will not depend on whether Employee agrees to the restrictive covenants. The agreement to the

 

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restrictive covenants in this Appendix is in consideration of the RSUs set forth in the Notice of Grant and this Agreement and [any other consideration]. Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee was represented by counsel in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement, namely [attorney name], including without limitation the specific negotiation of this Appendix, including its application to the RSUs with respect to governing law and venue. Employee acknowledges that the Company is incorporated in Delaware. Employee acknowledges and agrees that the RSUs will be subject to restrictive covenants, governing law, and dispute provisions set forth therein, to which Employee shall be bound in all respects. Employee further acknowledges and agrees that pursuant to Section 925 of the California Labor Code, (i) Employee has waived the application of California law to this Agreement and the RSUs, including without limitation, the restrictive covenants contained in this Appendix, and any proceeding related thereto, (ii) Employee has waived any right to have any proceeding adjudicated in California, and (iii) Employee acknowledges and agrees that any proceeding shall not be deemed to be a controversy arising in California.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Employee and the Company have executed this Agreement including the Appendix as of the dates indicated below.

 

COHERENT, INC.   EMPLOYEE
     
By:                                     
     
Its:      
     
Dated: ____________________   Dated: _________________

 

I acknowledge that I represented [Employee] individually as legal counsel in negotiating the terms of this Agreement including, without limitation, this Appendix.

 

   
[Attorney]  

 

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Exhibit 10.20

 

Aufhebungsvertrag   Termination Agreement
zwischen:   Between
(1)       Coherent Munich GmbH & Co. KG,
vertreten durch die CBL Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Zeppelinstr. 10, 82205 Gilching,
  (1)       Coherent Munich GmbH & Co. KG,
represented by the CBL Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Zeppelinstr. 10, 82205 Gilching
– nachfolgend "Gesellschaft" –   – in the following "Company" –
(2)       Herrn Thomas Merk, Wettersteinstraße 12, 82335 Berg,   (2)       Mr Thomas Merk, Wettersteinstraße 12, 82335 Berg,
– nachfolgend "Herr Merk" –   – hereinafter "Mr Merk" –
Vorbemerkung   Preliminary Remark
Herr Merk ist als Geschäftsführer bei der Gesellschaft angestellt. Grundlage des Anstellungsverhältnisses ist der zwischen Herrn Merk und der ROFIN-SINAR Laser GmbH, Berzeliusstraße 87, 22113 Hamburg geschlossene Anstellungsvertrag vom 16/20. Juni 2016 sowie die zwischen Herrn Merk und der Gesellschaft geschlossene Übernahmevereinbarung vom 13. Juli 2018 (zusammen nachfolgend "Dienstvertrag"). Als Folge einer strukturellen Reorganisation, die eine Änderung der Berichtslinie und des Titels von Herrn Merk bewirk hätte, möchten  die Parteien das Anstellungsverhältnis im gegenseitigen Einverständnis beenden. Dies vorausgeschickt vereinbaren die Parteien was folgt:   Mr Merk is engaged as managing director at the Company. The contractual relationship is based on the managing director's agreement concluded between Mr Merk and the ROFIN-SINAR Laser GmbH, Berzeliusstraße 87 dated 16/20 June 2016  and the concluded Takeover Agreement between Mr Merk and the Company dated 13 July 2018 (together hereinafter "Managing Director Agreement"). As a result of a structural reorganization that would have triggered a change of reporting line and title for Mr Merk, the parties intend to terminate the service relationship by mutual consent. Having said this, the parties agree as follows:
§ 1
Beendigung Geschäftsführeramt
  § 1
Termination of office as managing director
(1)          Die Parteien beabsichtigen, dass Herr Merk spätestens bis zum 31. Oktober 2020 sein   (1)         The parties intend that Mr Merk will resign from his office as managing director of the

 

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Amt als Geschäftsführer der Gesellschaft niederlegt.   Company until the 31 October 2020 at the latest.
(2)         Herr Merk verpflichtet sich, alle Handlungen vorzunehmen sowie Erklärungen abzugeben und entgegenzunehmen, die zur Berichtigung des Handelsregisters erforderlich sind.   (2)        Mr Merk undertakes to perform all actions and to issue and receive all declarations necessary for the correction of the commercial register.
(3)       Alle weiteren Mandate und Ämter, die Herr Merk im Interesse und auf Wunsch der Gesellschaft oder mit der Gesellschaft im Sinne der §§ 15 ff. AktG verbundenen Unternehmen (im Folgenden "verbundene Unternehmen") bei anderen Unternehmen oder Organisationen übernommen hat, wird Herr Merk ebenfalls spätestens bis zum 31. Oktober 2020 niederlegen.   (3)        Mr Merk will also resign from all other offices and positions held by him at other undertakings or organizations in the interests and at the request of the Company or the undertakings affiliated with the Company in terms of §§ 15 ff German Stock Corporation Act (AktG) (in the following, "affiliated undertakings") at the latest until 31 October 2020.
§ 2
Beendigung Anstellungsverhältnis
  § 2
Termination of contractual relationship
(1)       Die Parteien sind sich einig, dass das zwischen ihnen bestehende Anstellungsverhältnis mit Wirkung zum 31. Dezember 2020 ("Endtermin") enden wird.   (1)       The parties agree that the contractual relationship existing between them will end with effect from 31 December 2020 ("Final Termination Date").
(2)         Die Parteien sind sich ferner darüber einig, dass zwischen ihnen keine weiteren Anstellungsverhältnisse mehr bestehen (Dienst- oder Arbeitsverhältnisse).   (2)       The parties also agree that there are no other contractual relationships between them (managing director/executive agreements or employment relationships).
(3)         Die Parteien sind sich zudem darüber einig, dass auch keine Anstellungsverhältnisse zwischen Herrn Merk und mit der Gesellschaft verbundenen Unternehmen bestehen. Sollten solche Anstellungsverhältnisse rechtlich bestehen, gleich aus welchem Rechtsgrund, werden sie mit Abschluss dieses Vertrages mit sofortiger Wirkung beendet. Die Gesellschaft ist insoweit zur Abgabe und Entgegennahme aller für eine Beendigung   (3)        The parties also agree that no contractual relationships between Mr Merk and undertakings affiliated with the Company will remain in existence. Should such contractual relationships still be legally valid, irrespective of their legal foundation, they will be terminated with immediate effect upon conclusion of this Agreement. The Company is authorised in this respect to issue and receive all declarations of intent necessary for the termination of any

 

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etwaiger noch bestehender Anstellungsverhältnisse notwendigen Willenserklärungen für alle mit ihr verbundenen Gesellschaften ermächtigt.   remaining contractual relationships for all companies affiliated with it.
§ 3
Freistellung
  § 3
Release from obligation to work (garden leave)
(1)        Herr Merk wird ab dem 5. Oktober 2020 bis zur rechtlichen Beendigung des Anstellungsverhältnisses unter Anrechnung bestehender Urlaubs- und sonstiger Freizeitausgleichsansprüche unwiderruflich von seiner Pflicht zur Erbringung der Dienstleistung freigestellt. Die Parteien sind sich einig, dass dadurch sämtlich Urlaubs- und Freizeitausgleichsansprüche in natura erfüllt werden. Etwaige Vergütungsansprüche bleiben von der Freistellung unberührt.   (1)        Mr Merk will be released irrevocably from his obligation to work from 5 October 2020 until the legal termination of the contractual relationship, taking into account the entire existing leave and other remaining entitlements to time off in lieu. Accordingly, the parties agree that all leave entitlements or other remaining entitlements to time off in lieu will be satisfied in kind. The garden leave will not affect any remuneration entitlements.
(2)          Das für die Dauer des Dienstvertrags bestehende Wettbewerbsverbot gilt auch für die Dauer der Freistellung ohne Einschränkung bis zur rechtlichen Beendigung des Anstellungsverhältnisses fort.   (2)        The covenant not to compete in force for the duration of the managing director agreement will continue to apply without restriction during the garden leave period until the legal termination of the contractual relationship.
§ 4
Vergütung
  § 4
Remuneration
(1)         Die feste Vergütung (wie auch die Performance Goals soweit einschlägig) wird unverändert bis zum Vertragsende gezahlt.   (1)        The fixed remuneration will be paid unchanged until the end of the contract contract and also performance goals (if any).
(2)         Die Parteien sind sich einig, dass das Anstellungsverhältnis auch im Übrigen finanziell bis zum Beendigungszeitpunkt ordnungsgemäß abgewickelt wird (einschließlich dem Ausüben von RSU oder   (2)        The parties agree that the contractual relationship will also otherwise be properly transacted in financial terms until the termination date like vesting of RSU or

 

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PRSU, Beiträgen zu Direktversicherungen und dem Arbeitgeberanteil zur Krankenversicherung).   PRSU, direct insurances and health insurances (company part).
§ 5
Leadership Change Plan
  § 5
Leadership Change Plan
(1)         Vorbehaltlich der Unterzeichnung der beigefügten Freistellungserklärung durch Herrn Merk nach dem Endtermin aber spätestens am 22. Februar 2021 sowie der anschließenden Wirksamkeit der Freistellungserklärung werden die Auszahlung und die beschleunigte Unverfallbarkeit von Equity Awards, wie in diesem Abschnitt festgelegt, geleistet.  

(1)     Subject to Mr Merk’s signing the Release attached hereto after the Final Termination Date but on or before February 22, 2021 and the subsequent effectiveness of such Release, the payment and accelerated vesting of equity awards as set forth in this Section shall be provided.

 

(2)          Die Gesellschaft wird den Bruttobetrag von EUR 845,055 [CIL-Betrag abzüglich (Brutto-) Leistungen während der Freistellungsphase] zur vollständigen Abgeltung aller Rechte von Herrn Merk gemäß dem Change of Control and Leadership Change Severance Plan und als einzige Entschädigung für die Beendigung des Vertragsverhältnisses zahlen. Diese Zahlung wird im Jahr 2021 nach der Wirksamkeit der beigefügten Freistellungserklärung fällig.      (2)     The Company will pay the gross amount of EUR 845,055 [CIL amount minus (gross) benefits during garden leave] in complete settlement of any and all of Mr Merk’s rights under the Change of Control and Leadership Change Severance Plan and as the only compensation for the termination of the contractual relationship. This payment will become due in 2021 after the effectiveness of the attached Release.
(3)          Darüber hinaus hat Herr Merk mit Wirksamkeit der unterzeichneten Freistellungserklärung Anspruch auf Unverfallbarkeit von 2589 time-vesting Restricted Stock Units. Weiter werden die Kennzahlen der leistungsabhängigen Restricted Stock Units, die Herrn Merk im November 2018 und im November 2019 gewährt wurden, zum festgelegten Zeitpunkt gemäß den Bedingungen für leistungsabhängige Restricted Stock Unit-Zuteilungen so gemessen, als ob Herr Merk bis zu diesem Zeitpunkt weiter beschäftigt   (3)      Further, with the effectiveness of the signed Release, Mr Merk will be entitled to vesting of 2589 time-vesting restricted stock units. In addition, the performance-based restricted stock units granted to Mr Merk in November 2018 and November 2019 shall have their metrics measured at the designated time pursuant to the terms of such performance-based restricted stock unit awards as though Mr Merk had continued in employment through such time and Mr Merk will earn the resulting number of performance-based restricted stock units that would have been

 

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gewesen wäre, und Herr Merk wird die sich daraus ergebende Anzahl an leistungsabhängigen Restricted Stock Units erhalten, die er erhalten hätte, wenn er bis zu diesem festgelegten Zeitpunkt weiter beschäftigt gewesen wäre. Der Anspruch auf die in diesem Abschnitt festgelegte Zahlung und Unverfallbarkeit der Aktienzuteilungen entsteht nicht, wenn das Vertragsverhältnis vor seinem vereinbarten Ende aus wichtigem Grund fristlos und wirksam beendet wird.   earned if he had continued in employment through such designated time. The entitlement to the payment and equity award vesting set forth in this Section will not arise if the contractual relationship is validly terminated without notice for just cause before its agreed end
(4)           Weitere Abfindungsansprüche bestehen nicht.   (4)       There are no further severance claims.
(5)         Die Gesellschaft übernimmt keine Gewähr für die steuerliche Behandlung der Abfindungszahlung durch die Finanzbehörden. Auf die Abfindung anfallende Steuern sind von Herrn Merk zu tragen.   (5)      The Company does not assume any liability for the tax treatment of the severance payment by the fiscal authorities. Any taxes due on the severance payment will be borne by Mr Merk.
§ 6
Dienstwagen
  § 6
Company car
Herr Merk wird seinen Dienstwagen spätestens am 1 Dezember 2020 ordnungsgemäß am Firmensitz in Gilching an die Gesellschaft zurückgeben. Etwaige Zurückbehaltungsrechte sind ausgeschlossen.   Mr Merk will return his company car at the latest until the 1 December 2020 duly and properly to the headquarter of the Company in Gilching. Any rights of retention are excluded.
§ 7
Herausgabe
  § 7
Surrender of company property
Herr Merk verpflichtet sich, sämtliche in seinem Besitz befindlichen Gegenstände, Unterlagen und Daten, die der Gesellschaft gehören oder die Herr Merk im Zusammenhang mit seiner Tätigkeit von der Gesellschaft oder deren Geschäftspartner zur Verfügung gestellt worden sind, spätestens am   Mr Merk undertakes to return to the Company all objects, documents and data in his possession that belong to the Company or that have been made available to Mr Merk by the Company or its business partners in connection with his work at the

 

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letzten Werktag vor Beginn seiner Freistellung an die Gesellschaft herauszugeben. Herr Merk wird ferner sämtliche von ihm eingerichteten Passwörter der Gesellschaft mitteilen. Ein Zurückbehaltungsrecht besteht nicht.   latest on the last working day prior to the commencement of his garden leave. Mr Merk will also communicate all passwords set up by him to the Company. There is no right of retention.
§ 8
Geheimhaltung vertraulicher Informationen,
Vertragsstrafe
  § 8
Secrecy of confidential information, contractual penalty
Unabhängig von der bisher vereinbarten Geheimhaltungsklausel vereinbaren die Parteien Folgendes:   Irrespective of the confidentiality clause agreed so far, the parties agree on the following:
(1)         Herr Merk verpflichtet sich, vertrauliche Informationen der Gesellschaft im Sinne von Abs. (2) geheim zu halten ("Geheimhaltungspflicht"). Es ist Herrn Merk damit insbesondere untersagt, vertrauliche Informationen der Gesellschaft   (1)         Mr Merk undertakes to keep confidential information of the Company within the meaning of paragraph (2) secret ("obligation of secrecy"). In particular, Mr Merk may not
a)             unbefugten Personen innerhalb oder außerhalb des Unternehmens der Gesellschaft offenzulegen oder solchen unbefugten Personen den Zugriff auf die vertraulichen Informationen zu ermöglichen,   a)             disclose confidential information of the Company to unauthorised persons within or outside the Company or enable such unauthorised persons to access it,
b)            zu anderen Zwecken als zur Erfüllung seiner vertraglichen Pflichten zu nutzen oder zu erlangen,   b)           use or obtain confidential information of the Company for purposes other than performing the obligations of his contract,
c)           durch das Beobachten, Untersuchen, Rückbauen oder Testen eines nicht öffentlich verfügbar gemachten Produkts oder Gegenstands der Gesellschaft zu erlangen (sog. Reverse Engineering) oder dies zu versuchen, soweit dies zur Erfüllung seiner vertraglichen Pflichten nicht erforderlich ist, oder   c)          obtain confidential information of the Company by observing, examining, dismantling or testing one of the Company's products or items which has not been made publicly available (reverse engineering) or to attempt to do so where this is not necessary for the purpose of performing the obligations of his contractual relationship, or

 

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d)             der rechtmäßigen Kontrolle der Gesellschaft zu entziehen.   d)           remove the confidential information of the Company from the lawful control of the Company.
Diese Geheimhaltungspflicht erstreckt sich sowohl auf vertrauliche Informationen der Gesellschaft, die Herr Merk rechtmäßig erlangt hat, als auch auf solche, die Herr Merk unrechtmäßig erlangt hat.   This obligation of secrecy covers both confidential information of the Company which Mr Merk has lawfully obtained and information which Mr Merk has unlawfully obtained.
(2)         Vertrauliche Informationen der Gesellschaft sind insbesondere   (2)         In particular, confidential information of the Company includes
a)           Geschäftsgeheimnisse im Sinne von § 2 Nr. 1 Gesetz zum Schutz von Geschäftsgeheimnissen (GeschGehG) sowie   a)          trade secrets within the meaning of section 2 no 1 German Trade Secrets Act (GeschGehG) and
b)            sonstige Informationen, die durch die Gesellschaft ausdrücklich als vertraulich gekennzeichnet sind oder nach dem ausdrücklichen oder aus den Umständen erkennbaren Willen der Gesellschaft als vertraulich anzusehen sind.   b)           other information expressly marked as confidential by the Company or regarded as confidential based on the Company's express will or where this is clear from the circumstances.
Die Parteien sind sich darüber einig, dass insbesondere die folgenden Informationen vertrauliche Informationen der Gesellschaft im Sinne dieses Paragraphen darstellen:   The Parties agree that the following information in particular constitutes confidential information of the Company within the meaning of this paragraph:
·                Einkaufspreise und Zuliefererkonditionen   ·                Purchase prices and delivery conditions
·                Fertigungsverfahren und Herstellungsprozesse   ·                Production and manufacturing processes
·                Konstruktionspläne   ·                Design/engineering plans
·                Prototypen   ·                Prototypes

 

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·                Algorithmen   ·                Algorithms
·                Forschungs- und Entwicklungsschritte/-ziele/-ergebnisse   ·                Research and development steps/targets/results
·                Rezepturen und Produktzusammensetzungen   ·                Formulae and product compositions
·                Vertriebskonzepte/-konditionen/-wege   ·                Sales concepts/conditions/paths
·                Kundenlisten   ·                Customer lists
·                Businesspläne und Geschäftsstrategien   ·                Business plans and strategies
·                Finanzplanung   ·                Financial planning
·                Werbestrategien   ·                Advertising strategies
·                Margen zu den Produkten des Arbeitgebers   ·                Margins of the Company's products
·                Gehaltsstrukturen   ·                Wage structures
     
(3)         Die vorstehend geregelte Geheimhaltungspflicht über vertrauliche Informationen der Gesellschaft, die grundsätzlich zeitlich unbegrenzt ist und auch nach Beendigung des Anstellungsverhältnisses fortbesteht, gilt nicht, soweit   (3)         The aforementioned obligation of secrecy regarding confidential information of the Company, which is generally unlimited in time and continues even after termination of the contractual relationship, does not apply
a)           die Informationsweitergabe mit Zustimmung der Gesellschaft erfolgt, in deren Interesse zweifelsfrei erforderlich oder aber für die Gesellschaft offensichtlich ohne Nachteil ist,   a)           if the information is passed on with the Company's consent, where disclosure is without doubt necessary to pursue the Company's interest or is clearly not to the Company's detriment,

 

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b)          eine gesetzliche Pflicht von Herrn Merk zur Auskunft über die jeweilige Information besteht (z.B. gegenüber dem Finanzamt, der Arbeitsagentur oder dem Ehepartner),   b)           if Mr Merk has a statutory obligation to disclose such information (e.g. to the tax authorities, the employment authorities or Mr Merk's spouse),
c)          bezogen auf Geschäftsgeheimnisse einer der in § 5 GeschGehG geregelten Ausnahmetatbestände einschlägig ist,   c)          in the case of an exception stipulated in section 5 German Trade Secrets Act,
d)             die jeweilige Information ohne Verletzung der Herrn Merk obliegenden Geheimhaltungspflicht zum jeweiligen Zeitpunkt bereits allgemein bekannt geworden ist,   d)            if, at the respective point in time, the information had already become generally known without Mr Merk having breached the obligation of secrecy,
e)          Herr Merk die jeweilige Information nur als reines Erfahrungswissen nutzt,   e)            if Mr Merk uses the information concerned only for the purpose of increasing his own expertise
f)           Herr Merk durch die Pflicht zur Geheimhaltung der jeweiligen Information in seiner beruflichen Tätigkeit im Sinne eines nachvertraglichen Wettbewerbsverbots gem. § 74 HGB beschränkt wäre oder   f)              if Mr Merk would be restricted in his professional duties by the obligation to secrecy of the information concerned within the meaning of a post-contractual prohibition on competition pursuant to section 74 German Commercial Code (HGB), or
g)           aufgrund Zeitablaufs oder aus sonstigen Gründen kein berechtigtes Interesse der Gesellschaft an der Geheimhaltung der jeweiligen Information (mehr) besteht.   g)          if the Company has no (longer has any) interest in keeping the information concerned secret owing to the expiry of deadlines or other reasons.
(4)          Bei Zweifeln über Bestehen und Umfang der Geheimhaltungspflicht ist Herr Merk verpflichtet, eine diesbezügliche Weisung des für ihn zuständigen Organs der Gesellschaft einzuholen. Das gilt auch nach Beendigung des Anstellungsverhältnisses.   (4)         If Mr Merk has any doubt as to the existence and extent of the obligation of secrecy, he must seek appropriate instructions from the Company's management. This also applies after termination of the contractual relationship.

 

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(5)         Die Geheimhaltungspflicht erstreckt sich auch auf die in Abs. (2) bezeichneten vertraulichen Informationen anderer Unternehmen, mit denen die Gesellschaft im Sinne von § 15 AktG verbunden ist.   (5)          The obligation of secrecy also includes the confidential information pursuant to paragraph (2) of other companies with which the Company is associated within the meaning of section 15 German Stock Corporation Act.
(6)         Herr Merk verpflichtet sich auch, vertrauliche Informationen Dritter (z.B. eines Unternehmens, mit dem die Gesellschaft in geschäftlichem Kontakt steht) nicht unrechtmäßig zu nutzen oder zu erlangen.   (6)           Mr Merk will also not unlawfully use or obtain the confidential information of third parties (e.g. a company with which the Company has business contacts).
(7)         Für jeden schuldhaften Verstoß von Herrn Merk gegen die in diesem Paragraphen geregelten Pflichten hat dieser eine Vertragsstrafe in Höhe von EUR 15.000 an die Gesellschaft zu bezahlen.   (7)         For each culpable breach by Mr Merk of the obligations set forth in this paragraph, Mr Merk shall pay the Company a contractual penalty in the amount of EUR 15,000.
Verstößt Herr Merk innerhalb eines Kalendermonats mehrfach oder dauerhaft gegen seine Pflichten, so hat er jedoch nur einmal die Vertragsstrafe in Höhe von EUR 15.000 für diesen Kalendermonat zu zahlen. Kommt es im Folgemonat erneut zu einem oder mehreren Verstößen, oder dauert ein Verstoß aus dem vorausgegangenen Monat noch an, so wird für diesen Folgemonat erneut eine Vertragsstrafe von EUR 15.000 verwirkt. Für die auf den Folgemonat folgenden Monate gilt Entsprechendes. If Mr Merk breaches his duties several times or permanently within one calendar month, however, he must pay the contractual penalty (liquidated damages) of EUR 15,000  only once for that calendar month. If one or more breaches of his obligations occur again in the following month, or if a breach from the previous month still persists, an additional contractual penalty (liquidated damages) of EUR 15,000 will become due for the subsequent month.
Weitergehende oder andersartige Ansprüche der Gesellschaft werden von dieser Vertragsstrafenregelung nicht berührt. Insbesondere behält sich die Gesellschaft die Geltendmachung der in §§ 6 ff. GeschGehG geregelten Ansprüche sowie sonstiger einschlägiger Ansprüche (z.B. Beseitigung, Unterlassung, Auskunft,  Schadenersatz) auf anderer Rechtsgrundlage ausdrücklich vor.    Further or different claims of the Company are not affected by this contractual penalty regulation. In particular, the Company expressly reserves the right to assert the claims set out in sections 6 ff. German Trade Secrets Act as well as other relevant claims (e.g. removal, omission, information, compensation) on another legal basis.   

 

10

 

 

§ 9
Erledigungsklausel
  § 9
Settlement clause
Die Parteien sind sich darüber einig, dass mit Erfüllung dieser Vereinbarung sämtliche Ansprüche aus dem Anstellungsverhältnis und aus dem Anlass seiner Beendigung erledigt sind.   The parties agree that the fulfilment of this agreement means that all claims arising from the employment relationship and from the reason for its termination are settled.
§ 10
Rücktritt
  § 10
Revocation
Das Rücktrittsrecht gem. § 323 BGB wird ausgeschlossen.   The revocation right pursuant to § 323 German Civil Code is excluded.
§ 11
Nebenabreden / Schriftform
  § 11
Side agreements/written form
Nebenabreden wurden nicht getroffen. Änderungen und Ergänzungen dieses Vertrages bedürfen zu ihrer Wirksamkeit der Schriftform (§ 126 BGB); die elektronische Form (§ 126a BGB) und die Textform (§ 126b BGB) sind ausgeschlossen. Dies gilt auch für die Aufhebung, Änderung oder Ergänzung des Schriftformerfordernisses selbst. Individuelle Vereinbarungen haben stets Vorrang und gelten auch ohne Beachtung des Formerfordernisses (§ 305b BGB).   No side agreements have been made. Any amendments and additions to this Agreement require written form to be valid (§ 126 German Civil Code); electronic form (§ 126a German Civil Code) and text form (§ 126b German Civil Code) are excluded. This also applies to any revocation of, amendment of or addition to the written form requirement itself. Individual agreements always take precedence and apply regardless of the written form requirement (§ 305b German Civil Code).
§ 12
Anwendbares Recht / Sprachen
  § 12
Applicable law / languages
(1)           Dieser Vertrag unterliegt deutschem Recht.   (1)           This Agreement is governed by German law.

 

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(2)           Der Vertrag ist in Deutsch und Englisch aufgesetzt. Rechtlich maßgeblich ist ausschließlich die deutsche Fassung.   (2)           This Agreement has been drawn up in German and in English. Only the German version is legally authoritative.
§ 13
Teilnichtigkeitsklausel
  § 13
Partial invalidity clause
Die etwaige Unwirksamkeit einzelner Bestimmungen dieses Vertrags lässt die Wirksamkeit der übrigen Vertragsbestimmungen unberührt.   Any invalidity of individual provisions of this Agreement will not affect the validity of the rest of the provisions of this Agreement.

  

Signatures

 

June 30, 2020   June 30, 2020

für die / on behalf of

 

Coherent Munich GmbH & Co. KG

 

   
/s/ Bret DiMarco   /s/ Thomas Merk

Bret DiMarco

 

Geschäftsführer/Managing Director

  Thomas Merk

 

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Exhibit 10.25

 

AGREEMENT

 

THIS AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into as of January 18, 2021 (“Execution Date”) by Kevin Palatnik (“Executive”) and Coherent, Inc. for and on behalf of itself and its predecessors, assigns, parents, subsidiaries, branches, affiliated entities and related entities (collectively “Company”). Executive and Company are collectively referred to in this Agreement as the “Parties”.

 

WHEREAS, Executive and the Company entered into an Executive Transition Services Agreement as of August 20, 2020 (“Executive Transition Services Agreement”) providing for Executive’s termination of employment with the Company as of February 28, 2021;

 

WHEREAS, the Company and Executive would like Executive to continue his employment with the Company beyond February 28, 2021;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed as follows:

 

The Parties agree that the Executive Services Agreement is hereby terminated and have executed this Agreement as of the dates indicated below.

 

COHERENT, INC. KEVIN PALATNIK

 

By:      /Andreas W. Mattes  

 

Its: President and CEO /s/ Kevin Palatnik
 
Dated: 1/18/21 Dated: Jan 18-2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 31.3

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO

EXCHANGE ACT RULE 13a-14(a)

 

I, Andreas W. Mattes, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this Amendment No. 1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A of Coherent, Inc.; and

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report.

 

Date: February 1, 2021

 

  By: /s/ ANDREAS W. MATTES
  Andreas W. Mattes
  President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 31.4

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER PURSUANT TO

EXCHANGE ACT RULE 13a-14(a)

 

I, Kevin Palatnik, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this Amendment No. 1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A of Coherent, Inc.; and

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report.

 

Date: February 1, 2021

 

  By: /s/ KEVIN PALATNIK
    Kevin Palatnik
    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer