UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  August 31, 2017

 

Commission File Number: 1-9852

 

CHASE CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Massachusetts

 

11-1797126

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation of
organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

295 University Avenue, Westwood, Massachusetts 02090

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Including Zip Code)

 

(781) 332-0700

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

N/A

 (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

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.

 

 

 


 

 

Section 5 - Corporate Governance and Management

 

Item 5.02 — Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

 

On August 31, 2017, the Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board of Directors of Chase Corporation (the “Company”) approved the Chase Corporation Annual Incentive Plan and the Chase Corporation Long Term Incentive Plan, in each case for the Company’s fiscal year ending August 31, 2018.

 

Consistent with prior years, the Annual Incentive Plan for fiscal 2018 provides participating executive team members the opportunity for cash bonuses based on the Company achieving a preset annual goal or target based on earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA). For fiscal year 2018, budgeted  Adjusted EBITDA, less the effects of foreign transaction gain (loss), aka Adjusted EBITDAX will be used as the EBITDA based target.  For each participating executive team member, target awards are valued at a specified percentage of base salary. The threshold for any payments to be made under the plan is 80% of the EBITDA based target, at which point 50% of the target bonus would be paid. The maximum award of 200% of the target would be paid if the actual EBITDA based target under the plan equals or exceeds 20% of the target performance above 105% of actual fiscal year 2017 Adjusted EBITDAX.

 

Also consistent with prior years, the Long Term Incentive Plan provides the opportunity for participating executive team members to participate in the long term growth of the Company through three types of equity awards: performance-based restricted stock awards, time-based restricted stock awards, and stock option awards. For the Chief Executive Officer, the performance share portion represents 50% of the total award (at target) and the time-based restricted stock and stock option awards represent 25% each. For the Chief Financial Officer, the performance share portion represents 67% of the total award (at target) and the time-based restricted stock awards represent the remaining 33%. The performance-based restricted stock is granted subject to achieving certain preset annual goals relating to the Company’s earnings per share (EPS) for fiscal year 2018, and can be adjusted up or down depending on performance.  For any of the performance-based shares to vest, 80% of the of the EPS target must be met, at which point 50% of the award would vest. The full award would vest at 100% of the EPS target and the award may be adjusted upward to a maximum of 200% of the target award if 120% of the of fiscal year 2017 actual EPS is achieved. For purposes of the plan, EPS is determined using the number of weighted average diluted shares outstanding on August 31, 2017, the last day of fiscal year 2017. The time-based restricted stock awards will vest on the last day of the Company’s 2020 fiscal year if continued employment conditions are met. Stock options are valued using a Black-Scholes calculation, and vest in three equal annual installments beginning on the last day of fiscal 2018.

 

The Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board of Directors of Chase Corporation also voted to amend the September 1, 2016 equity retention agreement issued to the Chief Financial Officer. The amended terms call for the vesting of the restricted stock grant in five equal annual installments over the five-year period following the grant, if continued employment conditions are met. The first annual installment vested on August 31, 2017. No other significant changes were made to the agreement.

 

The above summaries of the Chase Corporation Annual Incentive Plan and the Chase Corporation Long Term Incentive Plan are qualified in their entirety by the copies of such plans filed as exhibits to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by this reference. 

 

Item 9.01 — Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d) Exhibits

 

8

 

 

99.1

 

Chase Corporation Annual Incentive Plan for Fiscal Year 2018

99.2

 

Chase Corporation Long Term Incentive Plan for Fiscal Year 2018

 

2


 

 

INDEX OF EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit No.

 

 

 

 

99.1

 

Chase Corporation Annual Incentive Plan for Fiscal Year 2018

99.2

 

Chase Corporation Long Term Incentive Plan for Fiscal Year 2018

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements 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.

 

 

 

 

 

Chase Corporation

 

 

 

Dated: September 6, 2017

By:

/s/ Kenneth J. Feroldi

 

 

Kenneth J. Feroldi

 

 

Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

 

3


Exhibit 99.1

 

CHASE CORPORATION

ANNUAL INCENTIVE PLAN

 

Fiscal Year 2018

 

The Company, in addition to salary and benefits provides further cash compensation to key employees based on achieving preset annual goals.

 

The plan is maintained and paid at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors and may be modified or suspended at any time by the Board.

 

Upon approval by the Board of Directors, the CFO will administer the plan.

 

It is the intent of the Board of Directors to exclude the effect of unusual events and expenses from the calculation.  The Compensation and Management Development Committee is given the authority by the Board to use its discretion in determining relevant exclusions.

 

Targets, awards, opportunities and associated performance award methodology and eligibility requirements will be established by the Compensation and Management Development Committee for the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer and approved by the Board of Directors.  For senior management, the Executive Chairman and the CEO will jointly make recommendations to be approved by the Compensation and Management Development Committee.  For all other employees, the Executive Chairman and the CEO will be the approval authority.  See schedule below for award opportunities for the executive officers:

 

For fiscal year 2018, fiscal year 2018 budgeted Adjusted EBITDA, less the effects of foreign transaction gain (loss), aka Adjusted EBITDAX will be used as the target.    Payment threshold is 80% of the target which yields 50% of individual award opportunity.  There is a cap on the incentive payments of 200% achieved at 20% of the target performance above 105% actual fiscal year 2017 Adjusted EBITDAX.

 

 

 

 

 

Actual v. Target

 

Award Earned

 

80% of target

  

50 

%

90% of target

  

75 

%

100% of target to 105% of 2017 Adj. EBITDAX

  

100 

%

10% of target above 105% of 2017 Adj. EBITDAX

  

150 

%

15% of target above 105% of 2017 Adj. EBITDAX

  

175 

%

20% of target above 105% of 2017 Adj. EBITDAX

  

200 

%

 

Payment is made in cash no later than 75 days from the close of the fiscal year.

 


 

 

Award Opportunity

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

100% of base salary for 100% achievement of target. At 80% of target award is 50% of base salary. For results in excess of 105% of 2017 actual Adjusted EBITDAX, award increases to 200% of base salary at 20% of the target above 105% of 2017 actual Adjusted EBITDAX.

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

50% of base salary for 100% achievement of target. At 80% of target award is 25% of base salary. For results in excess of 105% of 2017 actual Adjusted EBITDAX, award increases to 100% of base salary at 20% of the target above 105% of 2017 actual Adjusted EBITDAX.

 

In addition to the financial targets the Compensation and Management Development Committee may choose to establish qualitative measurement criteria.  Together with the financial measures these are referred to as critical success factors (CSF).  When utilized, the CEO’s CSFs and appropriate weightings are approved by the Board.  The Executive Chairman and the CEO will jointly approve all others.

 

Other management and non-union bonus participants will have opportunities established by the Executive Chairman and the CEO.

 

To be eligible an employee must be on the active payroll when the bonus is paid and for at least 6 months prior to the end of the fiscal year.

 


Exhibit 99.2

 

CHASE CORPORATION

 

Long Term Incentive Plan

Award Design and Grant Process

Fiscal Year Ending August 31, 2018

 

Key Provisions

 

1.

There are three reward vehicles:  1) Performance-based restricted stock, 2) Time-vested restricted stock and 3) Stock options.  At least two will be used each year.  For the Chief Executive Officer, Fiscal Year 2018 performance shares will be 50%, time-vested restricted stock will be 25% and stock options will be 25%. For the Chief Financial Officer, Fiscal Year 2018 performance shares will be 67%, and time-vested restricted stock will be 33%.

 

2.

Time-vested restricted stock is fixed and not subject to performance measures and will vest at the end of the third fiscal year after the grant date (August 31, 2020), subject to grant date, pricing, and termination provisions listed below.

 

3.

Stock options will be fixed based on a Black-Scholes calculation, and will vest in three equal annual allotments beginning on August 31, 2018, and be exercisable for 10 years.

 

4.

Performance shares will be in the form of restricted stock subject to performance and other criteria as follows.

 

·

Performance measures:  Target is earnings per share (EPS) based on Fiscal Year 2018’s budget determined by dividing net income by the number of diluted shares outstanding at August 31, 2017 (end of most recent fiscal year). Actual is net income for the measurement period divided by the same number of diluted shares used in the Target. 

·

Performance measurement period:  September 1, 2017 through August 31, 2018

·

Vesting:  2 years after performance measurement period (August 31, 2020)

·

Grant date:  first day of measurement period

·

Stock price for award:  closing price for last trading day prior to grant date

·

Threshold:  the point at which an award is earned (80% of the target).  Between threshold and target the award increases on a linear basis.

·

Stretch area:  performance in excess of actual EPS for Fiscal Year 2017 (200% for 120% achievement of actual EPS for Fiscal Year 2017) with a cap of 200%.  For achieving performance between actual EPS for Fiscal Year 2017 and cap, the award increases on a linear basis (5% increase over target payout, for every 1% increase above EPS for Fiscal Year 2017).

 

Example:

 

·

Individual opportunity is $50,000 at target; performance share opportunity (50%) is $25,000 at target

·

Stock price (8/31/2017) is $25.00

·

Threshold is 80% of target

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Performance

    

Payout % of Target

      

Vesting Shares

      

Reward Value

 

Threshold 80% of target

 

50 

%  

500 

 

$

12,500 

 

Between target and Fiscal Year 2017 actual

 

100 

%  

1,000 

 

$

25,000 

 

Stretch at 120% of Fiscal Year 2017 actual

 

200 

%  

2,000 

 

$

50,000 

 

 

Plan metrics:  standard performance measures are 80% of target threshold, 100% between target and Fiscal Year 2017 actual and 120% of Fiscal Year 2017 actual maximum.

 

 

 


 

 

5.

Termination provisions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Termination Event

    

Year

     

Payment in Shares

 

Retirement

 

Pro-rated

 

Paid as scheduled

 

Voluntary

 

All shares forfeit

 

No payment

 

Without cause

 

Pro-rated

 

Paid as scheduled

 

With cause

 

All shares forfeit

 

No payment

 

Upon change of control

 

Acceleration at target

 

Paid at change of control

 

Death or disability

 

Pro-rated

 

Paid as scheduled

 

 

6.

Eligibility:  key executives and others

 

 

 

 

 

 

Participant

 

    

Opportunity at Target 

 

Adam P. Chase

 

 $

566,666 

 

Kenneth J. Feroldi

 

 $

171,000 

 

 

Award opportunities are set annually and the plan is subject to the approval of the Compensation and Management Development (C&MD) Committee and may be modified from time to time.

 

FY 2018 SCHEDULE

 

·

Q4 FY17           Board approves continuance of plan and sets grant date

·

Q4 FY17           Goals and awards proposed by management for FY18

·

Q4 FY17           C&MD Committee reviews and approves FY18 plan

·

Q1 FY18           Management presents FY17 plan achievement

·

Q1 FY18           C&MD Committee approves FY17 results

·

Q1 FY19           Management presents FY18 plan achievement

·

Q1 FY19           C&MD Committee approves FY18 results

·

Q4 FY20           Vested FY18 shares are released to participant

 

2