Compensation of Directors

Our employee directors do not receive any compensation for serving on our Board or its committees, other than the compensation they receive for serving as employees of RCM. The Company has had employee directors in the past but as of January 3, 2015, the Company did not have any employee directors.

During our fiscal year ended January 3, 2015, our non-employee directors were compensated in accordance with the compensation structure for non-employee directors that had been effective since July 2009. Under such arrangement, each non-employee director received a retainer fee of $36,000 per year as compensation for service on the Board. In addition to the retainer fee, each eligible non-employee director was paid meeting attendance fees of $750 for each Board meeting and $300 for each Committee meeting in excess of four that was held on a date other than the date of a Board meeting.

In addition, under this policy all employee and non-employee directors are eligible to receive equity awards. The Company issued 60,000 and 12,500 restricted stock units to directors in 2014 and 2013, respectively.

In 2014, the Compensation Committee engaged Towers Watson as an independent consultant to assist it in altering the structure of compensation to the Board’s non-employee members. Ultimately, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board, and the Board adopted, the following revised compensation structure for non-employee members of the Board, to be implemented beginning with the 2015 fiscal year:

The following table lists cash and other compensation paid to, or accrued by us for, our Board of Directors for our fiscal year ended January 3, 2015.

Executive Severance Agreements and Change in Control Agreements

The Company is a party to Executive Severance Agreements (the “Executive Severance Agreements”) with Messrs. Campanelli and Miller, which set forth the terms and conditions of certain payments to be made by the Company to each executive in the event, while employed by the Company, such executive experiences (a) a termination of employment unrelated to a “Change in Control” (as defined therein) or (b) there occurs a Change in Control and either (i) the executive’s employment is terminated for a reason related to the Change in Control or (ii) the executive remains continuously employed with the Company for a specified period of time following the Change in Control (i.e., twelve months for Mr. Campanelli and three months for Mr. Miller).

Under the terms of the Executive Severance Agreements, if either (a) the executive is involuntarily terminated by the Company for any reason other than “Cause” (as defined therein), “Disability” (as defined therein) or death, or (b) the executive resigns for “Good Reason” (as defined therein), and, in each case, the termination is not a “Termination Related to a Change in Control” (as defined below), the executive will receive the following severance payments: (i) an amount equal to 1.5 times the sum of (a) the executive’s annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to the termination date (before taking into account any reduction that constitutes Good Reason) (“Annual Base Salary”) and (b) the highest annual bonus paid to the executive in any of the three fiscal years immediately preceding the executive’s termination date (“Bonus”), to be paid in installments over the twelve month period following the executive’s termination date; and (ii) for a period of eighteen months following the executive’s termination date, a monthly payment equal to the monthly COBRA premium that the executive is required to pay to continue medical, vision, and dental coverage, for himself and, where applicable, his spouse and eligible dependents.

Notwithstanding the above, if the executive has a termination as described above and can reasonably demonstrate that such termination would constitute a Termination Related to a Change in Control, and a Change in Control occurs within 120 days following the executive’s termination date, the executive will be entitled to receive the payments set forth below for a Termination Related to a Change in Control, less any amounts already paid to the executive, upon consummation of the Change in Control.

Under the terms of the Executive Severance Agreements, if a Change in Control occurs and (a) the executive experiences a Termination Related to a Change in Control on account of (i) an involuntary termination by the Company for any reason other than Cause, death, or Disability, (ii) an involuntary termination by the Company within a specified period of time following a Change in Control (i.e., twelve months for Mr. Campanelli and three months for Mr. Miller) on account of Disability or death, or (iii) a resignation by the executive with Good Reason; or (b) a resignation by the executive, with or without Good Reason, which results in a termination date that is the last day of the specified period (i.e., twelve months for Mr. Campanelli and three months for Mr. Miller) following a Change in Control, then the executive will receive the following severance payments: (1) a lump sum payment equal to two times the sum of the executive’s (a) Annual Base Salary and (b) Bonus; and (2) a lump sum payment equal to twenty-four multiplied by the monthly COBRA premium cost, as in effect immediately prior to the executive’s termination date, for the executive to continue medical, dental and vision coverage, as applicable, in such Company plans for himself and, if applicable, his spouse and eligible dependents.

The Executive Severance Agreements provide that if the executive remains continuously employed for a specified period of time following a Change in Control (i.e., twelve months for Mr. Campanelli and three months for Mr. Miller) and is employed by the Company on the last day of such specified period, the executive will receive a lump sum payment equal to two times the sum of the executive’s (a) Annual Base Salary and (b) Bonus (the “Change in Control Payment”). If the executive receives the Change in Control Payment, the executive will not be eligible to receive any severance payments under his Executive Severance Agreement.

Mr. Brandt, along with several other members of the Company’s senior management (not including Messrs. Campanelli and Miller), is covered by our Change in Control Plan for Selected Executive Management (the “CIC Plan”).

The CIC Plan sets forth the terms and conditions of severance and benefits to be provided to a covered employee in the event (a) the covered employee experiences a covered termination of employment after a “Potential Change in Control” (as defined in the CIC Plan), but prior to a “Change in Control” (as defined in the CIC Plan), and a Change in Control that relates to the Potential Change in Control occurs within the six month period following the covered employee’s termination, or (b) the covered employee is employed by the Company on the date of a Change in Control. The CIC Plan also sets forth the terms and conditions of severance payments to be made to a covered employee in the event such employee is employed on the date of a Change in Control and is subsequently terminated on account of a covered termination during his “Designated Severance Period” (a period specified by the Company for each covered employee that is measured from the date of an applicable Change in Control, which is 18 months for Mr. Brandt.

Under the terms of the CIC Plan, if a covered employee is (a) employed on the date of a Potential Change in Control, (b) terminated by the Company for a reason other than “Cause” (as defined in the CIC Plan), death, or disability, and (c) a Change in Control to which the Potential Change in Control relates occurs within the six month period following the covered employee’s covered termination, the covered employee will receive, if the covered employee executes and does not revoke a release of claims, severance payments at the covered employee’s annual base salary rate in regular payroll installments for the duration of the covered employee’s Designated Severance Period. If the covered employee dies before receiving the entire amount that is owed, the remaining portion will be paid to the covered employee’s estate. Severance payments will be discontinued if it is determined that the covered employee has engaged in any actions constituting Cause.

Under the terms of the CIC Plan, if a covered employee is employed on the date of a Change in Control and the covered employee executes and does not revoke a release of claims:

Any bonuses paid under the CIC Plan upon a Change in Control will be paid in a single lump sum following the Change in Control.

Under the terms of the Plan, if a covered employee’s employment with the “Employer” (as defined in the CIC Plan) is terminated during the covered employee’s Designated Severance Period following the occurrence of a Change in Control (a) by the Employer for any reason other than Cause, death, or disability, or (b) by the covered employee for “Good Reason” (as defined in the CIC Plan), and the covered employee executes and does not revoke a release of claims, the Employer will continue to pay to the covered employee his annual base salary in regular payroll installments for the remainder of the covered employee’s Designated Severance Period. A covered employee is not eligible for severance benefits from the Company after a Change in Control if the Change in Control is an asset sale with respect to the covered employee and the successor to the Company offers the covered employee employment with a level of compensation and benefits that in the aggregate are at least as favorable as the level of the covered employee’s compensation and benefits with the Company prior to the Change in Control. If the covered employee dies before receiving the entire amount that is owed, the remaining portion will be paid to the covered employee’s estate. Severance payments will be discontinued if the Employer determines that the covered employee has engaged in any actions constituting Cause.

Separation Agreement with Leon Kopyt  

On January 22, 2014, the Company and Mr. Kopyt entered into a Separation Agreement and General Release (the “Separation Agreement”) in connection with his retirement as our President and Chief Executive Officer, effective as of February 28, 2014.

Under the Separation Agreement, Mr. Kopyt received a cash severance payment of approximately $2.6 million, less applicable deductions and withholdings, to be paid to Mr. Kopyt in a single lump sum following the end of the six-month period from his retirement date. This amount was less than half of what Mr. Kopyt’s Employment Agreement would otherwise have stipulated. The Separation Agreement also contains mutual releases and other provisions customary to such agreements.

Prior to entering into the Separation Agreement, Mr. Kopyt and the Company were party to an Employment Agreement, Termination Benefits Agreement and Severance Agreement, all of which terminated upon execution of the Separation Agreement. 

COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT

We believe that, during our fiscal year ended January 3, 2015, our executive officers and directors made all required filings under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act on a timely basis. Our belief is based solely on:

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MATTERS

Commitment to Best Practices . As discussed above with respect to executive compensation, RCM’s leadership takes its fiduciary responsibility seriously and is similarly committed to the implementation of best practices in corporate governance. This has led to several developments in our corporate governance:

Board Independence. The Board of Directors has determined that Roger H. Ballou, Maier O. Fein, Richard D. Machon, S. Gary Snodgrass and Bradley S. Vizi are “independent directors” as defined in Marketplace Rule 4200(a)(15) of the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC. In this Proxy, these five directors are referred to individually as an “Independent Director” and collectively as the “Independent Directors.”

Stockholder Communications with the Board . Stockholders may send communications to the Board of Directors in writing, addressed to the full Board of Directors, individual directors or a specific committee of the Board of Directors, care of Kevin D. Miller, Secretary, RCM Technologies, Inc., 2500 McClellan Avenue, Suite 350, Pennsauken, New Jersey 08109. In general, all stockholder communications sent to our Secretary for forwarding to the Board of Directors, or to specified Board members, will be forwarded in accordance with the sender's instructions. However, our Secretary reserves the right to not forward to Board members any abusive, threatening or otherwise inappropriate materials.

Director Attendance at Annual Meetings . The Company encourages all of the directors to attend the annual meeting of stockholders. The 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders was attended by all of the directors.

Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics . We have adopted a Code of Conduct applicable to all of our directors, officers and employees. In addition, we have adopted a Code of Ethics, within the meaning of applicable Commission rules, applicable to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Controller. If we make any amendments to either of these Codes (other than technical, administrative, or other non-substantive amendments), or waive (explicitly or implicitly) any provision of the Code of Ethics to the benefit of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or Controller, we will disclose the nature of the amendment or waiver, its effective date and to whom it applies in the investor relations portion of our website at www.rcmt.com, or in a report on Form 8-K that we file with the Commission.

Related Party Transaction Approval Policy . Our Code of Conduct mandates that officers and directors bring promptly to the attention of our Compliance Officer, currently our Chief Financial Officer, any transaction or series of transactions that may result in a conflict of interest between that person and the Company. Furthermore, our Audit Committee must review and approve any “related party” transaction as defined in Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, before it is consummated. Following any disclosure to our Compliance Officer, the Compliance Officer will then typically review with the Chairman of our Audit Committee the relevant facts disclosed by the officer or director in question. After this review, the Chairman of the Audit Committee and the Compliance Officer determine whether the matter should be brought to the Audit Committee or the full Board of Directors for approval. In considering any such transaction, the Audit Committee or the Board of Directors, as the case may be, will consider various relevant factors, including, among others, the reasoning for the Company to engage in the transaction, whether the terms of the transaction are at arm’s length and the overall fairness of the transaction to the Company. If a member of the Audit Committee or the Board is involved in the transaction, he or she will not participate in any of the discussions or decisions about the transaction. The transaction must be approved in advance whenever practicable, and if not practicable, must be ratified as promptly as practicable.

Risk Oversight by the Board. The role of our Board of Directors in our risk oversight process includes receiving regular reports from members of management on areas of material risk to us, including operational, financial, legal and strategic risks.

In particular, our Audit Committee is tasked pursuant to its charter to “discuss significant financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor, control and report such exposures.” As appropriate, the Chairman of the Audit Committee reports to the full Board of Directors on the activities of the Audit Committee in this regard, allowing the Audit Committee and the full Board to coordinate their risk oversight activities.

As one component of our risk oversight and anti-fraud program, our Audit Committee has established complaint reporting procedures described under “Compliance Policy” in the “Investors” section of our website at www.rcmt.com. These procedures indicate how to submit complaints to our Audit Committee regarding concerns about our accounting practices, our adherence to financial policies and procedures, or our compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Once received, grievances are reviewed by the Chairman of the Audit Committee for consideration.

Board Leadership Structure . Our governance documents provide the Board with flexibility to select the appropriate leadership structure for the Company. In making leadership structure determinations, the Board may consider many factors, including the specific needs of our business and what is in the best interests of our stockholders. Pursuant to the Company’s January 2014 Settlement Agreement with the shareholder group a party thereto, the Company agreed that by no later than this Annual Meeting, the Board would appoint either Mr. Ballou or Mr. Vizi as the Chairman of the Board. Accordingly, Mr. Vizi was named the Chairman as of September 1, 2015. Our Chairman: (i) presides at all meetings of the Board including presiding at executive sessions of the Board (without management present) at every regularly scheduled Board meeting, (ii) serves as a liaison between the management and the independent directors, (iii) approves meeting agendas, time schedules and other information provided to the Board, and (iv) is available for direct communication and consultation with major stockholders upon request.

BOARD MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES

Our Board of Directors has a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee. The committees report their actions to the full Board at the Board’s next regular meeting. The following table shows on which of our Board’s committees each of our directors served.

Our Board of Directors held nine meetings in the fiscal year ended January 3, 2015. The Company does not have a specific written policy with regard to attendance of directors at our annual meetings of stockholders, although board member attendance is strongly encouraged. Each of our six directors attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings held by the Board and all committees on which the director served. At each meeting of the Board of Directors, there was an executive session attended only by the Independent Directors.

General Duties of Each Committee

The general duties of each committee are as follows:

Audit Committee

The Board of Directors has adopted a written Audit Committee Charter. A copy of the Audit Committee Charter is posted on our website under "Investors - Corporate Governance."

Compensation Committee

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The Board of Directors has adopted a written Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter. A copy of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter is posted on our website under "Investors - Corporate Governance."

Independence of Committees

The Board of Directors has determined each member of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board meets the independence requirements applicable to members of those committees as prescribed by the NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC, the Commission and the Internal Revenue Service. The Board of Directors has further determined that Roger H. Ballou, Chair of the Audit Committee, is an “audit committee financial expert” as such term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the Commission.

Director Nominations

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s charter does not include formal requirements for the nominating process. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes that candidates for director should meet certain minimum qualifications, including being able to read and understand financial statements, having substantial business experience, having high moral character and personal integrity, and having sufficient time to attend to their duties and responsibilities to RCM. Exceptional candidates who do not meet all of these criteria may still be considered. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will also consider the potential director’s independence, whether the member would be considered an “Audit Committee Financial Expert” as described in the applicable SEC standards, and the diversity that the potential director would add to the Board of Directors in terms of gender, ethnic background, and professional experience. With respect to their consideration of diversity of background, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not have a formal policy of assessing diversity with respect to any particular qualities or attributes.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee identifies potential candidates through its members’ networks of contacts, by soliciting recommendations from other directors or executive officers, major stockholders and, as appropriate, engaging search firms to identify and screen suitable director nominees. After the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has identified a potential candidate, publicly available information about the person is collected and reviewed. If the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee decides to further pursue the potential candidate after this initial review, contact is made with the person. If the potential candidate expresses a willingness to serve on the Board of Directors, interviews are conducted with the potential candidate and additional information is requested. Candidates are chosen by a majority vote of the members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for recommendation to the Board of Directors.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider stockholder recommendations for director candidates on the same basis as other candidates, provided that the following procedures are followed in submitting recommendations. All such stockholder recommendations should be submitted in writing to the attention of Kevin D. Miller, Secretary, RCM Technologies, Inc., 2500 McClellan Avenue, Suite 350, Pennsauken, New Jersey 08109 no earlier than August 5, 2016 and no later than September 4, 2016 and should be accompanied by (i) the potential candidate’s five-year employment history with employer names and a description of the employer’s business, the candidate’s experience with financial statements, and the candidate’s other board membership(s); (ii) a written consent of the director candidate to stand for election if nominated by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and approved by the Board of Directors, and to serve if elected by the stockholders; and (iii) proof of ownership of RCM’s common stock by the person submitting the recommendation.

Communications with the Board

Stockholders may send communications to the Board of Directors in writing, addressed to the full Board of Directors, individual directors or a specific committee of the Board of Directors, in care of Kevin D. Miller, Secretary, RCM Technologies, Inc., 2500 McClellan Avenue, Suite 350, Pennsauken, New Jersey 08109. In general, all stockholder communications sent to our Secretary for forwarding to the Board of Directors or to specified Board members will be forwarded in accordance with the sender’s instructions. However, our Secretary reserves the right not to forward any personally abusive, threatening or otherwise inappropriate materials.