UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant ☑
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
Core Laboratories N.V.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):
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No fee required |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials |
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Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 |
CORE LABORATORIES N.V.
Van Heuven Goedhartlaan 7B
1181 LE Amstelveen
The Netherlands
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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS |
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To Be Held May 19, 2022 |
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Dear Shareholder:
You are cordially invited to attend our 2022 annual meeting of shareholders of Core Laboratories N.V. (the “Company”), which will be held at the Hotel Sofitel Legend the Grand Amsterdam, Oudezijds Voorburgwal 197, 1012 EX, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on Thursday, May 19, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. Central European Summer Time (“CEST”) for the following purposes as proposed by the Board of Supervisory Directors:
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To elect one new Class II Supervisory Director and to re-elect two current Class II Supervisory Directors to serve under the terms and conditions described within the proxy statement until our annual meeting in 2025 and until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified; |
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To appoint KPMG, including its U.S. and Dutch affiliates (collectively, “KPMG”), as the Company's independent registered public accountants for the year ending December 31, 2022; |
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To confirm and adopt our Dutch Statutory Annual Accounts in the English language for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, following a discussion of our Dutch Report of the Management Board for that same period; |
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To approve and resolve the cancellation of our repurchased shares held at 12:01 a.m. CEST on May 19, 2022; |
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To approve and resolve the extension of the existing authority to repurchase up to 10% of our issued share capital from time to time for an 18-month period, until November 19, 2023, and such repurchased shares may be used for any legal purpose; |
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To approve and resolve the extension of the authority to issue shares and/or to grant rights (including options to purchase) with respect to our common and preference shares up to a maximum of 10% of outstanding shares per annum until November 19, 2023; |
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To approve and resolve the extension of the authority to limit or exclude the preemptive rights of the holders of our common shares and/or preference shares up to a maximum of 10% of outstanding shares per annum until November 19, 2023; |
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To: |
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approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation philosophy, policies and procedures described in the section entitled Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”), and the compensation of Core Laboratories N.V.'s named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's compensation disclosure rules, including the compensation tables; |
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cast a favorable advisory vote on the remuneration report referred to in Section 2:135b of the Dutch Civil Code for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021; and |
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To transact such other business as may properly come before the annual meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
The election of the Supervisory Board members as described in agenda item no. 1 and the topics covered by agenda item nos. 2 through 8 have largely been presented to and approved by our shareholders at our prior annual meetings. All items are being presented to our shareholders as a result of our being organized under the laws of the Netherlands.
Copies of the Dutch statutory annual accounts, the report of the Management Board and the list of nominees for the Supervisory Board will be available for inspection at our offices in the Netherlands, located at Van Heuven Goedhartlaan 7B, 1181 LE Amstelveen, the Netherlands, Attention: Mr. Jacobus Schouten, by registered shareholders and other persons entitled to attend our shareholder meetings. Such copies will be available for inspection from the date of this notice until the close of our annual meeting. The proxy materials, including the aforementioned copies, will be posted on www.proxydocs.com/clb and on the Company's website, www.corelab.com.
THE IMPACT OF COVID-19
We plan to hold the 2022 Annual Meeting in Amsterdam and plan to have our executives and supervisory directors attend, in person; however, due to the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, that may not be possible and we strongly encourage you to exercise your voting rights through an electronic or written proxy prior to the annual meeting. We continue to actively monitor the impacts of the pandemic and are sensitive to the public health and travel concerns our shareholders may have and the protocols that foreign, federal, state, and local governments may impose. In the event it is not possible or advisable to hold the annual meeting in person, we will announce alternative arrangements for the meeting as promptly as practicable, which may include holding the meeting partially or solely by means of remote communication.
IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND IN PERSON:
Attendance at the meeting is limited to shareholders as of the close of business Eastern Daylight Time on April 21, 2022 (and others with a statutory meeting right), Company management and Company advisors. Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. CEST and the meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. CEST on May 19, 2022. Each shareholder desiring to attend MUST bring proof of share ownership as of the “day of registration” (“dag van registratie”) as referred to in the Dutch Civil Code (which is April 21, 2022, as described further in the proxy statement) with him/her to the meeting along with a valid form of identification. Examples of proof of share ownership include voting instruction statements from a broker or bank. In addition, you should register with the Company beforehand to indicate your plan to attend. Such registration may be made by contacting the Company's Secretary as described in the proxy statement. Failure to comply with these requirements may preclude you from being admitted to the meeting.
It is important that your shares be represented at the annual meeting regardless of whether you plan to attend. In order to be able to vote at the annual meeting, you will have to be a record holder of shares (or otherwise a person with voting rights with respect to shares) at the close of business Eastern Daylight Time on April 21, 2022. Please mark, sign, date and return the accompanying proxy card accordingly, vote online or vote by phone, all as described in further detail in the proxy statement. If you are present at the annual meeting and wish to do so, you may revoke your proxy and vote in person.
By Order of the Board of Supervisory Directors, |
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Monique van Dijken Eeuwijk |
Supervisory Director |
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
March 22, 2022
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF
PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE 2022 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MAY 19, 2022
The Notice of 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and the Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, along with the Company’s Annual Report to Shareholders, is available free of charge at www.proxydocs.com/clb.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Security Ownership by Certain Beneficial Owners and Management |
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INFORMATION ABOUT OUR SUPERVISORY DIRECTORS AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION |
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Communications with Directors; Website Access to Our Corporate Documents |
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INFORMATION ABOUT OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
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Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table |
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CORE LABORATORIES N.V.
Van Heuven Goedhartlaan 7B
1181 LE Amstelveen
The Netherlands
PROXY STATEMENT |
ABOUT THE 2022 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
WHY HAVE I RECEIVED THESE MATERIALS?
This proxy statement and the accompanying proxy card are first being made available to you on the Internet on March 22, 2022, and written notice has been sent to our shareholders in a manner consistent with applicable law. If you receive notice of the materials and desire to request a physical copy of the materials be sent to you, those materials will be mailed to you upon receipt of your request. These materials are being furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by and on behalf of the Board of Supervisory Directors of Core Laboratories N.V. (the “Company”) for use at our 2022 annual meeting of shareholders to be held at the Hotel Sofitel Legend the Grand Amsterdam, Oudezijds Voorburgwal 197, 1012 EX, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on Thursday, May 19, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. CEST for the purpose of voting on the proposals described in this proxy statement.
WHY DID I RECEIVE A ONE-PAGE NOTICE IN THE MAIL REGARDING THE INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS INSTEAD OF A FULL SET OF PROXY MATERIALS?
As permitted by rules adopted by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, we are making this proxy statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Annual Report”) available on the Internet. In order to be able to comply with applicable electronic notification deadlines, we will mail a notice to those who were shareholders as of the close of business Eastern Daylight Time on March 16, 2022, containing instructions on how to access the proxy statement and Annual Report and vote on-line or by phone. In addition, shareholders may request to receive proxy materials in printed form by mail or electronically by email on an ongoing basis. The proxy materials will be posted on www.proxydocs.com/clb and on the Company's website, www.corelab.com. See the Section below on “WHO IS ENTITLED TO VOTE” for the important dates related to voting the shares.
Choosing to receive your future proxy materials by email will save us the cost of printing and mailing documents to you. If you choose to receive future proxy materials by email, you will receive an email next year with instructions containing a link to those materials and a link to the proxy voting site. Your election to receive proxy materials by email will remain in effect until you terminate it.
WHAT AM I VOTING ON?
You will be voting on the following matters proposed by the Board of Supervisory Directors, with the exception of item 9, which is a discussion item only:
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To elect one new Class II Supervisory Director and to re-elect two current Class II Supervisory Directors to serve under the terms and conditions described within the proxy statement until our annual meeting in 2025 and until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified; |
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To appoint KPMG as our Company's independent registered public accountants for the year ending December 31, 2022; |
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To confirm and adopt our Dutch Statutory Annual Accounts in the English language for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, following a discussion of our Dutch Report of the Management Board for that same period; |
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To approve and resolve the cancellation of our repurchased shares held at 12:01 a.m. CEST on May 19, 2022; |
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To approve and resolve the extension of the existing authority to repurchase up to 10% of our issued share capital from time to time for an 18-month period, until November 19, 2023, and such repurchased shares may be used for any legal purpose; |
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To approve and resolve the extension of the authority to issue shares and/or to grant rights (including options to purchase) with respect to our common and preference shares up to a maximum of 10% of outstanding shares per annum until November 19, 2023; |
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To approve and resolve the extension of the authority to limit or exclude the preemptive rights of the holders of our common shares and/or preference shares up to a maximum of 10% of outstanding shares per annum until November 19, 2023; |
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To: |
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approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation philosophy, policies and procedures described in the section entitled Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”), and the compensation of Core Laboratories N.V.'s named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's compensation disclosure rules, including the compensation tables; |
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cast a favorable advisory vote on the remuneration report referred to in Section 2:135b of the Dutch Civil Code for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021; and |
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To transact such other business as may properly come before the annual meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
WHO IS ENTITLED TO VOTE?
We are sending notice of the 2022 annual meeting to those shareholders who hold common shares at the close of business Eastern Daylight Time on March 16, 2022 in order to be able to comply with applicable electronic notification deadlines. As of March 16, 2022, there were 46,283,677 common shares outstanding. Our common shares are the only class of our capital stock outstanding and entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting. Each outstanding common share (issued shares excluding common shares held by the Company) is entitled to one vote.
The March 16, 2022 date only determines who receives the electronic notice and does not determine who has the right to vote at the annual meeting. In order to be able to vote at the annual meeting, you will have to be a record holder of shares (or otherwise a person with voting rights with respect to shares) at the close of business Eastern Daylight Time on April 21, 2022. This latter date is the “day of registration” (“dag van registratie”) as referred to in the Dutch Civil Code and only holders of shares (or other persons with voting rights with respect to shares) on such date are entitled to vote. Under Dutch law, this latter date must occur exactly twenty-eight (28) days before the date of the annual meeting.
HOW DO I VOTE BEFORE THE MEETING?
If you are a registered shareholder, meaning that you hold your shares through an account with our transfer agent, Computershare, as of April 21, 2022, you can vote by mail by completing, signing and returning the accompanying proxy card or you may vote online at www.proxyvote.com or by phone: +1-800-690-6903.
If you hold your shares, as of April 21, 2022, through an account with a bank or broker, you may vote by mail, online or by phone by following the directions that your bank or broker provides.
Given the time of the meeting in the Netherlands, in order for your mailed or on-line vote or vote cast by phone to be counted, it must be received on or before 2:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Wednesday, May 18, 2022. The official electronic voting results will be those reported by our vote tabulator, Broadridge Financial Solutions, in its final report upon the close of business Eastern Daylight Time on May 18, 2022. Any other proxies that are actually received in hand by our Secretary before the polls close at the conclusion of voting at the meeting will be voted as indicated.
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MAY I VOTE AT THE MEETING?
If you are a registered shareholder as of April 21, 2022, you may vote your shares at the meeting if you attend in person. If you hold your shares as of April 21, 2022 through an account with a bank or broker, you must obtain a legal proxy from the bank or broker in order to vote at the meeting. Even if you plan to attend the meeting, we encourage you to vote your shares by proxy.
IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND IN PERSON:
Attendance at the meeting is limited to shareholders as of the close of business Eastern Daylight Time on April 21, 2022 (and others with a statutory meeting right), Company management and Company advisors. Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. CEST and the meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. CEST on May 19, 2022. Each shareholder desiring to attend MUST bring proof of share ownership as of the “day of registration” (“dag van registratie”) as referred to in the Dutch Civil Code (which is April 21, 2022) with him/her to the meeting along with a valid form of identification. Examples of proof of share ownership include voting instruction statements from a broker or bank. In addition, you should register with the Company beforehand to indicate your plan to attend. Such registration may be made by contacting the Company's Secretary as described further in the proxy statement. Failure to comply with these requirements may preclude you from being admitted to the meeting.
THE IMPACT OF COVID-19
We plan to hold the 2022 Annual Meeting in Amsterdam and plan to have our executives and supervisory directors attend, in person; however, due to the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, that may not be possible and we strongly encourage you to exercise your voting rights through an electronic or written proxy prior to the annual meeting. We continue to actively monitor the impacts of the pandemic and are sensitive to the public health and travel concerns our shareholders may have and the protocols that foreign, federal, state, and local governments may impose. In the event it is not possible or advisable to hold the annual meeting in person, we will announce alternative arrangements for the meeting as promptly as practicable, which may include holding the meeting partially or solely by means of remote communication.
CAN I CHANGE MY MIND AFTER I VOTE?
You may change your vote at any time before the polls close at the conclusion of voting at the meeting. You may revoke your proxy (1) by giving written notice to Mark D. Tattoli, Secretary, in care of Core Laboratories LP, 6316 Windfern Road, Houston, Texas 77040, at any time before the proxy is voted, (2) by submitting a properly signed proxy card with a later date, or (3) by voting in person at the annual meeting.
If you hold your shares through an account with a bank or broker, you may revoke your proxy by following the instructions provided to you by your bank or broker, or by obtaining a legal proxy from your bank or broker and voting in person at the annual meeting.
WHAT IF I RETURN MY PROXY CARD BUT DO NOT PROVIDE VOTING INSTRUCTIONS?
Proxies that are signed and returned but do not contain instructions will be voted “FOR” all proposals and in accordance with the best judgment of the named proxies on any other matters properly brought before the meeting.
WHAT VOTE IS REQUIRED?
Under Dutch law and our Articles of Association, there is no specific quorum requirement for our annual meeting and the affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast is required to approve each of the proposals proposed by the Supervisory Board, except that in relation to agenda item nos. 4 and 7, a two-thirds majority of the votes cast is required to approve these proposals in the event less than 50% of the issued share capital is present or represented at the meeting. Our Articles of Association prohibit
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shareholders from acting by written consent, unless such written consent is unanimous. Dutch law does not allow a written consent at a lesser percentage.
Dutch law and our Articles of Association provide that common shares abstaining from voting will count as shares present at the annual meeting but will not count for the purpose of determining the number of votes cast. Broker non-votes will not count as shares present at the annual meeting or for the purpose of determining the number of votes cast. A “broker non-vote” occurs if you do not provide the record holder of your shares (usually a bank, broker, or other nominee) with voting instructions on a matter and the holder is not permitted to vote on the matter without instructions from you under applicable rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”).
WHO WILL BEAR THE EXPENSE OF SOLICITING PROXIES?
We will bear the cost of preparing and mailing proxy materials as well as the cost of soliciting proxies and will reimburse banks, brokerage firms, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their expenses in sending proxy materials to the beneficial owners of our common shares. The solicitation of proxies by the Supervisory Board will be conducted by mail and through the Internet. In addition, certain members of the Supervisory Board, as well as our officers and regular employees may solicit proxies in person, by facsimile, by telephone or by other means of electronic communication. We have retained Okapi Partners LLC to assist in the solicitation of proxies for a fee of $9,000 plus out-of-pocket expenses, which fee and expenses will be paid by the Company. In addition to solicitation of proxies, Okapi Partners LLC may provide advisory services as requested pertaining to the solicitation of proxies.
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The table below sets forth certain information, as of March 16, 2022, with respect to the common shares beneficially owned by:
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each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding common shares; |
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each currently serving Supervisory Director; |
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each nominee for election as Supervisory Director; |
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each of our named executive officers in 2021; |
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all Supervisory Directors and executive officers as a group. |
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Unless otherwise indicated, each person has sole voting power and investment power with respect to the common shares listed. |
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Based on 46,283,677 common shares outstanding as of March 16, 2022. |
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Based upon an Amendment No. 3 to Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 14, 2022, Ariel Investment, LLC is deemed to be the beneficial owner of 7,804,307 shares. Ariel Investment, LLC has sole voting power of 7,481,485 shares and sole dispositive power with respect to all of the shares it is deemed to beneficially own. Ariel Investments’ current address is 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 2900, Chicago, Illinois 60601. |
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Based upon an Amendment No. 6 to Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on January 27, 2022, BlackRock, Inc. is deemed to be the beneficial owner of 5,362,893 shares. BlackRock, Inc has sole voting power of 5,061,524 shares and sole dispositive power with respect to all of the shares it is deemed to beneficially own. BlackRock, Inc’s current address is 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055. |
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Based upon an Amendment No. 10 to Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 9, 2022, The Vanguard Group, Inc. is deemed to be the beneficial owner of 4,967,126 shares. The Vanguard Group, Inc. has sole voting power of 0 shares and shared voting power of 16,046 shares. The Vanguard Group, Inc. has shared dispositive power with respect to 52,457 shares and sole dispositive power with respect to 4,914,579 shares. The Vanguard Group, Inc.’s current address is 100 Vanguard Blvd. Malvern, PA 19355. |
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Based upon an Amendment No. 2 to Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on January 10, 2022, Alger Associates, Inc. is deemed to be the beneficial owner of 4,019,235 shares. Alger Associates, Inc. has sole voting power of 4,019,235 shares and sole dispositive power with respect to all of the shares it is deemed to beneficially own. Alger Associates, Inc.’s current address is 100 Pearl Street, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10004. |
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Based upon an Amendment No. 9 to Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 11, 2022, Earnest Partners, LLC is deemed to be the beneficial owner of 3,433,430 shares. Earnest Partners, LLC has sole voting power of 2,475,474 and sole dispositive power with respect to all of the shares it is deemed to beneficially own. Earnest Partners, LLC 's current address is 1180 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 2300, Atlanta, Georgia 30309. |
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Mr. Barnett is retiring from the Board, effective at the conclusion of the annual meeting on May 19, 2022. |
We have two main incentive plans, our 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”), and our 2014 Non-employee Director Stock Incentive Plan (“2014 Director Plan”), both of which have been approved by our shareholders. The following table shows the balance of shares in each plan that remain available for future issuance and the number of shares that have been awarded, but not yet vested, under each of the equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2021.
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Number of Common Shares to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights |
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Weighted Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights |
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Number of Common Shares Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans |
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Equity compensation plans approved by our shareholders |
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LTIP |
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1,009,829 |
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731,034 |
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2014 Director Plan |
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25,842 |
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556,143 |
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Equity compensation plans not approved by our shareholders |
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Total |
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1,035,671 |
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1,287,177 |
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The following performance graph compares the performance of our common shares to the Standard & Poor's 500 Index and the Philadelphia Oil Service Index (“OSX”) for the period beginning December 31, 2016 and ending December 31, 2021. Core Laboratories is an established member of the OSX, which includes a greater concentration of our most direct peers.
The graph assumes that the value of the investment in our common shares and each index was $100 at December 31, 2016 and that all dividends were reinvested. The stockholder return set forth below is not necessarily indicative of future performance. The following graph and related information is “furnished” and shall not be deemed “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) except to the extent that Core Laboratories specifically incorporates it by reference into such filing.
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INFORMATION ABOUT OUR SUPERVISORY DIRECTORS AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Set forth below as of March 16, 2022 is the biographical information for our Supervisory Directors who will serve following the annual meeting and their respective committee assignments following the meeting, including individuals who have been nominated for election as Class II Supervisory Directors. You may vote for one, two or all three of the nominees or none of the nominees.
Nominees for Class II Supervisory Directors (Term to Expire 2025)
Martha Z. Carnes
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Supervisory Director since 2016 |
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Lead Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee |
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Age: 61 |
Ms. Carnes retired from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) in June 2016, where she had a thirty-four year career with the firm. She was an Assurance Partner serving large, publicly traded companies in the energy industry. Ms. Carnes held a number of leadership positions with PwC including the Houston office Managing Partner. She also served as PwC’s Energy and Mining leader for the United States where she led the firm’s energy and mining assurance, tax and advisory practices. In these roles, she was responsible for leading the design and execution of the market and sector strategies, business development, compensation, professional development, succession planning, and client satisfaction. As an Assurance Partner, Ms. Carnes had vast experience with capital markets activities and was the lead audit partner on some of the largest merger and acquisition transactions completed in the energy sector. Ms. Carnes also served as one of PwC’s Risk Management Partners and was PwC’s United States representative on the firm’s Global Communities Board. She is a certified public accountant.
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Since December 2019, she has served as a director of SunCoke Energy, Inc., whose principal businesses are cokemaking and logistics, and is the Chair of the Audit Committee. Since July 2017, Ms. Carnes has also served as a director of Matrix Service Company, a services company that provides engineering, fabrication, infrastructure, construction, and maintenance services primarily to the oil, gas, power, petrochemical, industrial, agricultural, mining and minerals markets, where she chairs the Audit Committee and is a member of the Compensation and Nominations and Governance Committees. She is also a Member Representative for Ohio Valley Midstream, a member managed limited liability corporation engaged in natural gas and natural gas liquids gathering and processing. She is a member of the Board of Trustees at Texas Children’s Hospital where she chairs the Operations, Planning and Philanthropy Committee and serves on the Executive Committee and Audit and Compliance Committee. Ms. Carnes is also a member of the Board of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation. Her financial expertise and experience in working with and auditing public companies in the energy industry, and her operational experience at PwC, a professional services firm, allow her to provide important insight to the Company. |
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Michael Straughen
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Supervisory Director since 2016 |
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Chairman of the Compensation Committee and member of the Audit Committee |
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Age: 72 |
Following an extensive career in oilfield services, Mr. Straughen retired from executive office at the end of 2014 and has since held various non-executive positions. He currently serves on the board of the Glasgow-based Denholm Energy Services Group. He was previously on the board of Glacier Energy Services, an Aberdeen-based offshore services company, until June 2020, on the board of ASCO, an Aberdeen-based logistics support group, until June 2019, and also on the board of GMS PLC, an Abu Dhabi-based, but London-listed, marine services company for three years until the end of 2016. Mr. Straughen’s last executive position was as an Executive Director of John Wood Group PLC, the UK’s leading oilfield services business, from 2007 to the end of 2014, where he served as Chief Executive of the Engineering Division, which had revenues of $1.8 billion and 10,000 employees. His responsibilities included P&L performance, HSSE, resourcing, customer relationships, strategy and growth. As an Executive Director of a publicly traded company, he also had responsibilities for corporate governance. |
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From 1982 to 2007, he served in various roles, including as Group Managing Director, with AMEC PLC, an international project management and engineering services provider. Mr. Straughen is a Chartered Engineer, has served on various industry bodies and continues to be a mentor to small businesses. His extensive management experience in the oil and gas sector, as well as his diverse background, enable him to provide valuable insight on management, governance, and strategic issues. |
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Katherine Murray
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Proposed Supervisory Director |
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Proposed Member of the Audit Committee |
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Age: 60 |
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Continuing Class III Supervisory Directors (Term To Expire 2024)
Lawrence Bruno
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President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman |
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Supervisory Director since 2018 |
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Age: 62 |
Mr. Bruno became President of the Company on February 1, 2018 and on January 1, 2019, he also assumed the position of Chief Operating Officer. On May 20, 2020, Mr. Bruno succeeded Mr. David Demshur as the Chairman of the Supervisory Board and Chief Executive Officer and has led the Company’s global operations for both of its business segments, Reservoir Description and Production Enhancement. Over the last several years, Mr. Bruno has served as a technical spokesperson for many investor presentations and panels in the oil and gas industry, and has been instrumental in driving the Company’s technology innovation that will continue to be a critical strength in the years to come. Mr. Bruno previously led the Company’s global reservoir-based laboratories within the Company’s Reservoir Description segment, from July 2015 through January 31, 2018. Mr. Bruno has been in the industry for more than 35 years and with the Company for more than 22 years. |
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Prior to being named as President of the Petroleum Services division in July 2015, Mr. Bruno was the General Manager of U.S. Rocks from 1999 to July 2015. Prior to joining the Company, he was employed at an oil and gas service company for 14 years before it was acquired by the Company in 1999. Mr. Bruno received a Master’s of Science degree in Geology in 1987 from the University of Houston. |
13
Kwaku Temeng
• |
Supervisory Director since 2021 |
• |
Member of the Compensation Committee and the Nominating, Governance, Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Committee |
• |
Age: 67 |
Mr. Kwaku Temeng retired from Aramco Services Company (“ASC”) in Houston, Texas in May of 2021, where he served as Director of Upstream since 2007. During his tenure, he was responsible for managing Saudi Aramco’s upstream technology and business programs in North America. These included cultivating business relationships, evaluating commercial opportunities, performing analyses of technology trends and best practices, and overseeing technical studies undertaken by commercial laboratories, universities, and technology centers. Prior to his final assignment, Mr. Temeng worked for 14 years with Saudi Aramco in Saudi Arabia where he held a variety of professional, managerial, and advisory positions. He oversaw managing the company’s drilling budget development, coordination of petroleum engineering studies and served as a special advisor to senior management. He was instrumental in developing the framework for Saudi Aramco’s upstream research and development program. In his assignments with Saudi Aramco and ASC, Mr. Temeng combined his knowledge of engineering and economics to direct production planning, budgeting, and technical studies for the world’s largest producing company. He also administered contracts and relationships with all the major oilfield services companies, and in the process has gained great insight from the client perspective into what drives successful relationships between producing companies and service providers.
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Before joining Saudi Aramco, Mr. Temeng worked in the U.S. as a petroleum engineer with Exxon Company USA and Mobil Oil Corporation. Mr. Temeng earned a Bachelor’s degree in Ocean Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a Master of Science, Master of Engineering and Doctorate degrees in Petroleum Engineering from Stanford University. He is a member of the Stanford University Earth Sciences Advisory Board and the Society of Petroleum Engineers, and is licensed as a professional petroleum engineer in the State of California. Mr. Temeng’s experience in the oil and gas industry and expertise in petroleum engineering allow him to provide valuable insight to the Company. |
14
Continuing Class I Supervisory Directors (Term to Expire 2023)
Monique van Dijken Eeuwijk
• |
Supervisory Director since 2020 |
• |
Chairman of the Nominating, Governance, Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Committee |
• |
Age: 52 |
Ms. van Dijken Eeuwijk (Dutch nationality), has over 20 years of experience as a lawyer and board room counsel specialized in supervisory laws and regulations applicable to financial institutions, audit firms, their respective worldwide networks and the national professional services firms of which they form a part. Ms. van Dijken Eeuwijk started her career in 1996 as a Company Secretary and General Counsel of the banking division of Delta Lloyd Nuts Ohra, a large financial institution in the Netherlands, where she worked until 2001. From 2001 until 2018, she worked as an attorney for the Amsterdam-based law firm of NautaDutilh. Within NautaDutilh, from 2006, she was responsible for leading the Benelux Sector Team Professional Services Firms. While practicing at NautaDutilh, she acted as the assistant secretary of the Board of Discipline for Auditors from 2002 to 2006. In 2019, she founded the law firm MGM Regulatory & Governance. Ms. van Dijken Eeuwijk’s practice focuses on advising (i) Supervisory Boards on their various roles and how to execute and demonstrate effective internal supervision and governance and (ii) Managing Boards on the execution of strategy, long term value creation, ESG, external supervision and dealing with external regulatory authorities. She also advises Compliance, Risk Management and Legal Departments on supervisory and compliance issues in creating and enabling the provision of financial services and the global cross-border transmission and processing of personal data. Ms. van Dijken Eeuwijk also holds the position of non-executive director of the publicly listed Dutch company ARGO Properties NV since April 2021.
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Ms. Van Dijken was also appointed as member of the Governance Risk and Compliance Committee of the Royal Dutch Institute of Chartered Accountants (“NBA”) (2018-2019), as well as member of the Public Interest Entity Committee (2019-2021) and, as of 2021, appointed as member of the Stakeholder Forum of the NBA. She also holds the position of co-chair of the Dutch Chapter of the global Women Corporate Directors Foundation. She is a member of the Women Interest Group of the International Bar Association, as well as a member of the Dutch Association of Board and Supervisory Board Members. She is also a member of Funding Mother WOMEN Inc. Ms. van Dijken Eeuwijk frequently chairs and attends meetings of these various associations and speaks on a range of topics pertaining to corporate governance, supervision, regulatory law, diversity, ESG, privacy and data protection. Ms. van Dijken Eeuwijk is a graduate of the University of Amsterdam, where she earned a degree in European Studies, as well as a degree in Dutch law. She is a member of the Dutch Bar. As a result of these professional experiences, Ms. Van Dijken Eeuwijk possesses unique knowledge and experience advising on corporate governance and ESG matters, including risk management and analysis, that strengthen the Board’s collective qualifications, skills and experience. |
15
Harvey Klingensmith
• |
Supervisory Director since 2020 |
• |
Member of the Nominating, Governance, Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Committee and the Compensation Committee |
• |
Age: 69 |
Mr. Klingensmith, a native of Denver, Colorado, retired from executive office at the end of January 2019 after numerous executive leadership positions in the oil and gas industry. Mr. Klingensmith co-founded and served as Chief Executive Officer and Board member of Ajax Resources LLC (“Ajax”), an exploration and production company focused on oil and gas development in the Permian Basin. He served as Chief Executive Officer from its founding in July 2015 until October 2017 and served on the Board until its sale in 2018. As Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ajax, Mr. Klingensmith was instrumental in successfully putting together the $425 million financing package necessary to start Ajax; recruited key personnel needed to build and run the business; and executed key business initiatives that resulted in production growth from 2,000 to 18,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day and Ajax’s sale to Diamondback Energy for $1.24 billion. Mr. Klingensmith was also President of Wyatt Energy LLC (“Wyatt”), a privately held, independent oil and gas exploration and production company based in Houston, Texas, focused on the identification of and investment in unique opportunities in the oil and gas space, from April 2014 through January 2018. He led this effort simultaneously with his roles at Ajax.
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Mr. Klingensmith also co-founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of Spoke Resources Ltd. (“Spoke”), including its predecessor entity Stone Mountain Resources Ltd (“Stone”), from April 2006 through August 2018. Spoke was a large natural gas production company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, and had its primary producing asset in NE British Columbia before its sale to Surmont Oil and Gas in 2018. During his tenure at Spoke and Stone, Mr. Klingensmith led efforts to raise capital, headed operations and production growth as well as gained experience with financially distressed companies during Stone’s entry into receivership and exit as Spoke before its sale to Surmont Oil and Gas in 2018. Prior to entering the private space Mr. Klingensmith had served as President of El Paso Canada (2002-2004), Senior Vice President Worldwide Exploration for Coastal Oil and Gas (1994-2001), and Vice President of Worldwide Exploration of Maxus Energy (1986-1993). Mr. Klingensmith received dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Geological Engineering and Geophysical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 1975. He is an active member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists. Mr. Klingensmith’s over 44 years of diverse experience in the upstream oil and gas business along with his proven leadership and executive oversight experience make him a valuable addition to our board.
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16
The following table sets forth a summary of the compensation we paid to our non-executive Supervisory Directors in 2021. Supervisory Directors who are our full-time employees receive no compensation for serving as Supervisory Directors.
Supervisory Director Compensation
for Year Ended December 31, 2021
Name (1) |
|
Fee Earned or Paid in Cash ($) |
|
|
Stock Awards (2)(3) ($) |
|
|
Total ($) |
|
|||
Gregory B. Barnett (4) |
|
|
64,875 |
|
|
|
129,469 |
|
|
|
194,344 |
|
Martha Z. Carnes |
|
|
118,875 |
|
|
|
129,469 |
|
|
|
248,344 |
|
Monique van Dijken Eeuwijk |
|
|
73,125 |
|
|
|
129,469 |
|
|
|
202,594 |
|
Margaret Ann van Kempen (5) |
|
|
39,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
39,000 |
|
Harvey Klingensmith |
|
|
76,875 |
|
|
|
129,469 |
|
|
|
206,344 |
|
Michael Straughen |
|
|
94,875 |
|
|
|
129,469 |
|
|
|
224,344 |
|
Kwaku Temeng (6) |
|
|
40,125 |
|
|
|
153,846 |
|
|
|
193,971 |
|
(1) |
Mr. Bruno is not included in this table because he received no additional compensation for his service as a Supervisory Director. The compensation earned by Mr. Bruno in 2021 is shown under “Information About our Named Executive Officers and Executive Compensation--Summary Compensation.” |
(2) |
The amounts included in the “Stock Awards” column include the aggregate grant date fair value of the equity-based awards granted under the Restricted Share Award Program during 2021. This value was computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 718, Compensation--Stock Compensation, by discounting the share price on the date of grant by dividends expected to be paid during the term of the award. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note 14 to our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, and are included in our annual report on Form 10-K. |
(3) |
Each of our currently serving non-executive Supervisory Directors had 4,307 restricted stock awards granted in 2021 and outstanding as of December 31, 2021. |
(4) |
Mr. Barnett is retiring from the Board, effective at the conclusion of the annual meeting of shareholders on May 19, 2022. |
(5) |
Ms. van Kempen retired from the Board effective at the conclusion of the annual meeting of shareholders on May 19, 2021 and does not have any outstanding restricted stock awards. |
(6) |
Mr. Temeng was elected at the annual meeting of shareholders on May 19, 2021. |
Retainer/Fees
Each non-executive Supervisory Director was paid the following amounts during fiscal year 2021:
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• |
a base annual retainer, payable semiannually in arrears, in the amount of $55,000, which annual retainer was reduced by ten percent (10%), to $49,500 effective from the second half of 2020, due to the downturn in the industry due, in part, to the effects of COVID-19. In July 2021, half of the reduction (5%) of the base annual retainer was reinstated, amounting to $50,875 paid in annual retainer during 2021. The base annual retainer was fully reinstated to $55,000 effective January 1, 2022. |
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• |
an additional annual retainer for the following positions: |
|
o |
for our Lead Director, an additional $25,000; |
|
o |
for our Audit Committee chairman, an additional $25,000; |
|
o |
for our Compensation Committee chairman, an additional $20,000; |
|
o |
for our Nominating, Governance, Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Committee (“NGSCR Committee”) chairman, an additional $12,500; |
|
• |
$2,000 per meeting of the Supervisory Board at which the individual was present; |
17
|
|
• |
$2,000 per meeting for each committee meeting at which the individual was present; and |
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• |
reimbursement for all out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending any Supervisory Board or committee meeting. |
Equity-Based Compensation
Effective as of April 1, 2020, we made a grant of restricted shares to the non-executive Supervisory Directors serving in 2020 in the amount of $150,000, divided by the closing price of the Company's stock on March 31, 2020, rounded upwards to the nearest whole share for a total of 14,507 shares each. The restricted shares vested, without performance criteria, at the end of a one-year vesting period that began on April 1, 2020 and ended on April 1, 2021.
Effective as of April 1, 2021, we made a grant of restricted shares to the non-executive Supervisory Directors serving in 2021 in the amount of $150,000, divided by the closing price of the Company's stock on January 21, 2021, rounded upwards to the nearest whole share for a total of 4,307 shares each. The restricted shares will vest, without performance criteria, at the end of a one-year vesting period that began on April 1, 2021 and ends on April 1, 2022.
Outstanding awards granted to the current non-executive Supervisory Directors require the recipient's continued service as a director (other than termination of service due to death or disability) to the time of vesting for the recipient to receive the shares that would otherwise vest. In the event of an award recipient's death or disability prior to the last day of these vesting periods, his or her restricted shares would vest in accordance with the aforementioned vesting schedules. If an award recipient's service with us terminates (other than due to death or disability) prior to the last day of these vesting periods, his or her restricted shares would be immediately forfeited to the extent not then vested. In the event of a change in control (as defined in the 2014 Non-employee Director Stock Incentive Plan (the “2014 Director Plan”)) prior to the last day of the aforementioned vesting periods and while the award recipient is in our service (or in the event of a termination of the award recipient's service upon such change in control), all of the award recipient's restricted shares will vest as of the effective date of such change in control.
Minimum Stock Ownership by Non-Executive Supervisory Directors
The Compensation Committee has established a requirement that non-executive Supervisory Directors must maintain equity ownership of Company stock, determined using the average price of the stock over the immediately preceding five years, in the minimum amount of five times the annual base retainer for the previous year. Non-executive Supervisory Directors will be allowed five years to achieve that minimum equity ownership level. All current Supervisory Directors are in compliance with the Compensation Committee's requirements.
Policy against Insider Trading
The Company has a written policy against insider trading that is applicable to all Supervisory Directors and other persons with access to material, non-public information about the Company. Such policy provides that entering into any derivative transaction which effectively shifts the economic risk of ownership to a third party (e.g., selling the stock short; entering into collars, floors, cap arrangements, or placing the stock on margin) is not allowed at any time.
2022 Non-Executive Supervisory Director Compensation
Each non-executive Supervisory Director serving in 2022 shall receive the same level of cash compensation in 2022 as received by Supervisory Board members in 2021 and described above under “Retainer/Fees” on page 17 of this proxy statement; however, for 2022, the Supervisory Board has approved the elimination of meeting fees in favor of increased annual retainers. The 10% reduction in base annual retainer pay was restored, effective January 1, 2022.
In addition, effective as of April 1, 2022, we will award each of our non-executive Supervisory Directors serving after the conclusion of the 2022 annual meeting, an amount of restricted shares equal to $150,000 based on the closing price of the Company's stock on January 17, 2022, which was $27.35 rounded upwards to the nearest whole share, which amounts to 5,485 shares. The restricted shares will vest, without performance criteria, at the end of a one-year vesting period that will begin on April 1, 2022 and will end on April 1, 2023. This award will be subject to an agreement to be signed by each recipient.
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The Company has a two-tier board structure consisting of a Management Board and a Supervisory Board, each of which must consist of at least one member under the Company's Articles of Association. Under Dutch law, the Supervisory Board's duties include supervising and advising the Management Board in performing its management tasks. The Supervisory Board currently consists of seven Supervisory Directors in three classes. The Supervisory Directors are expected to exercise oversight of management with the Company's interests in mind.
The Management Board's sole member is Core Laboratories International B.V. (“CLIBV”). As a Managing Director, CLIBV's duties include overseeing the management of the Company, consulting with the Supervisory Board on important matters and submitting certain important decisions to the Supervisory Board for its prior approval. CLIBV receives no remuneration for serving as the Company's Managing Director.
Mr. Bruno currently serves as the Company's Chief Executive Officer and as Chairman of the Supervisory Board (“Chairman of the Board”). Given the size of the Company, we believe our stakeholders are well served by having Mr. Bruno hold the Chief Executive Officer role along with being Chairman of the Board and that this is the most effective leadership structure for us at the present time. We also note that within our industry, the common practice is for the same person to hold both positions. We believe this structure has served us well for many years.
Ms. Carnes has served as our Lead Director since the 2020 annual meeting. The Lead Director has leadership authority and responsibilities and sets the agenda for, and leads, all executive sessions of the independent directors, providing consolidated feedback, as appropriate, from those meetings to the Chairman of the Board. Ms. Carnes has served on the Supervisory Board since 2016. She is deemed to be independent from the Company (according to applicable regulatory standards, as well as by shareholder advisory services such as ISS and Glass-Lewis).
In its role in the risk oversight of the Company, the Supervisory Board oversees our stakeholders' interest in the long-term health and overall success of the Company and its financial strength, as well as the interests of the other stakeholders of the Company. The Supervisory Board is actively involved in overseeing risk management for the Company, and each of our Supervisory Board committees considers the risks within its areas of responsibilities. The Supervisory Board and each of our Supervisory Board committees regularly discuss with management our major risk exposures, their potential financial impact on us and the steps we take to manage them.
In connection with determining the independence of each Supervisory Director of the Company, the Supervisory Board inquired as to any transactions and relationships between each Supervisory Director and his or her immediate family and the Company and its subsidiaries, and reviewed and discussed the results of such inquiry. The purpose of this review was to determine whether any such relationships or transactions were material and, therefore, inconsistent with a determination that a Supervisory Director is independent, under the standards set forth by the NYSE and, to the extent consistent therewith, the Dutch Corporate Governance Code (the “Dutch Code”). Under the Dutch Code, the Supervisory Board is to be composed of members who are able to act critically and independently of each other and of the Management Board. With regard to Messrs. Barnett, Klingensmith Straughen and Temeng and Mmes. Carnes, Murray and van Dijken Eeuwijk, none have ever held any position with the Company or any of its affiliates apart from service on the Supervisory Board and its committees and all qualify as independent under the NYSE Listed Company Manual section 303A.02.
As a result of this review, after finding no material transactions or relationships among the following Supervisory Directors and the Company, the Supervisory Board affirmatively determined that each of Messrs. Barnett, Klingensmith, Straughen and
19
Temeng as well as Mmes. Carnes, Murray and van Dijken Eeuwijk are independent under the applicable standards described above.
The Supervisory Board held four meetings in 2021. All Supervisory Directors participated in 100% of the 2021 Supervisory Board meetings. All Supervisory Directors participated in 100% of the meetings in 2021 of all committees on which he or she serves, except Ms. van Kempen did not participate in one Compensation Committee meeting for personal reasons. Under our Corporate Governance Guidelines, Supervisory Directors are expected to diligently fulfill their fiduciary duties to the Company, including preparing for, attending and participating in meetings of the Supervisory Board and the committees of which the Supervisory Director is a member. In 2021, all Supervisory Directors participated in the 2021 annual general meeting of shareholders, though due to COVID-19, the meeting could not be held with all directors and executives present in the Netherlands and was therefore held by telephone conference. Mr. Temeng, who was a candidate for election to the Supervisory Board at the 2021 annual meeting participated in the conference call. All current board members are expected to attend the 2022 annual meeting, with the exception of Mr. Barnett, who will not stand for re-election to the Supervisory Board and therefore is excused from the meeting. Additionally, one new board nominee, Ms. Murray, will attend the 2022 annual meeting. The details of how they will attend will depend on COVID-19 travel restrictions at the time of the meeting.
Our non-executive Supervisory Directors meet separately in executive session without any members of management present. The Lead Director is the presiding Supervisory Director at each such session. If any of our non-executive Supervisory Directors were to fail to meet the applicable criteria for independence, then our independent Supervisory Directors would meet separately at least once a year in accordance with the rules of the NYSE.
The Supervisory Board has three standing committees, the identities, memberships and functions of which are described below. Each Supervisory Director who is at the time “independent” and who has never served as a director of any affiliate of the Company may be considered for Committee assignment at any time during their term, as determined by the Supervisory Board. In accordance with the Dutch Code, any Supervisory Director who is at the time “independent”, but who has previously served as a director of any affiliate of the Company, may be considered for Committee assignment, as determined by the Supervisory Board, at the earlier of: (a) five years after they last served as an affiliate director or (b) they are not classified as “non-independent” at the time of their nomination and election.
Audit Committee
The current members of the Audit Committee are Ms. Carnes (Chairman), and Messrs. Klingensmith and Straughen. Ms. Carnes and Mr. Straughen will continue in their respective roles following the conclusion of the 2022 annual meeting of shareholders. Mr. Klingensmith will be replaced by Ms. Murray as a member of the Audit Committee, subject to her election to the Supervisory Board at the conclusion of the 2022 annual meeting. The Audit Committee's principal functions, which are discussed in detail in its charter, include making recommendations concerning the engagement of the independent registered public accountants, reviewing with the independent registered public accountants the plan and results of the engagement, approving professional services provided by the independent registered public accountants and reviewing the adequacy of our internal accounting controls. Each member of the Audit Committee is independent, as defined by Section 10A of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and by the corporate governance standards set forth by the NYSE and, to the extent consistent therewith, the Dutch Code. Each member of the Audit Committee is financially literate and Ms. Carnes qualifies as an audit committee financial expert under the rules promulgated pursuant to the Exchange Act. The Audit Committee held five meetings in 2021. A copy of the Audit Committee's written charter may be found on the Company's website at http://www.corelab.com/cr/governance. See “Audit Committee Report” below.
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Compensation Committee
The current members of the Compensation Committee are Messrs. Straughen (Chairman), Barnett and Temeng. Messrs. Straughen and Temeng will continue in their respective roles following the conclusion of the 2022 annual meeting of shareholders. Mr. Barnett is not standing for re-election to the Supervisory Board at the 2022 annual meeting. He will be replaced by Mr. Klingensmith as a member of the Compensation Committee. The Supervisory Board has determined that each of the members of the Compensation Committee is (i) independent under the NYSE’s rules governing Compensation Committee membership and (ii) a “non-employee director” under Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act.
The Compensation Committee's principal functions, which are discussed in detail in its charter, include a general review of our compensation and benefit plans to ensure that they are properly designed to meet corporate objectives. The Compensation Committee reviews and approves the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and our senior executive officers, granting of awards under our benefit plans and adopting and changing major compensation policies and practices. In addition to establishing the compensation for the Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee reports its recommendations to the Supervisory Board for review and approval of awards made pursuant to our LTIP. Pursuant to its charter, the Compensation Committee has the authority to delegate its responsibilities to other persons. The Compensation Committee held three meetings in 2021.
The Compensation Committee periodically retains a consultant to provide independent advice on executive compensation matters and to perform specific project-related work. The consultant reports directly to the committee, which pre-approves the scope of work and fees charged. The Compensation Committee communicates to the consultant the role that management has in the analysis of executive compensation, such as the verification of executive and Company information as required by the consultant.
The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter. A copy of the Compensation Committee charter may be found on the Company's website at http://www.corelab.com/cr/governance. See “Compensation Committee Report” below.
Nominating, Governance, Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Committee
The current members of the NGSCR Committee are Ms. van Dijken Eeuwijk (Chairman) and Messrs. Klingensmith and Temeng, each of whom will continue in their respective roles following the conclusion of the 2022 annual meeting of shareholders.
The NGSCR Committee's principal functions, which are discussed in detail in its charter, include recommending candidates to the Supervisory Board for election as Supervisory Directors, recommending candidates to the Supervisory Board for appointment to the Supervisory Board's committees, reviewing succession planning for the Chief Executive Officer and other senior executive management, reviewing the Company’s sustainability strategies and evaluating the Company’s performance and compliance with its sustainability, corporate governance and social responsibility policies, and leading the Supervisory Board in its annual review of the performance of the Supervisory Board, its committees and management. Each member of the NGSCR Committee is independent as defined by the corporate governance standards of the NYSE. The NGSCR Committee held four meetings in 2021.
The NGSCR Committee operates under a written charter. A copy of the NGSCR Committee Charter may be found on the Company's website at http://www.corelab.com/cr/governance.
The NGSCR Committee has the responsibility to make recommendations to the Board of Supervisory Directors of candidates for the Supervisory Board that the NGSCR Committee believes will perform well in that role and maximize shareholder and stakeholder value. In considering suitable candidates for that position, the NGSCR Committee considers, among other factors, the person's reputation, knowledge, experience, integrity, independence, skills, expertise, business and governmental acumen and time commitments. In addition to considering these factors on an individual basis, the NGSCR Committee considers how these factors contribute to the overall variety and mix of attributes of our Supervisory Board as a whole so that the members of our Supervisory Board collectively possess the diverse knowledge and complementary attributes necessary to oversee our business.
21
Supervisory Directors should be exemplary representatives of the Company and be able to provide a wide range of management and strategic advice and be someone that the Company can count on to devote the required time and attention needed from members of the Supervisory Board. In the case of current Supervisory Directors being considered for re-nomination, the NGSCR Committee will also take into account the Supervisory Director's tenure as a member of our Supervisory Board; the Supervisory Director's history of attendance at meetings of the Supervisory Board and committees thereof; the Supervisory Director's preparation for and participation in all meetings; and the Supervisory Director's contributions and performance as a member of the Supervisory Board.
Six of the seven members of the Supervisory Board who will serve following the 2022 annual meeting, including Ms. Murray assuming her election to the Supervisory Board, are considered independent under applicable SEC, NYSE and Dutch Code standards. For this year's annual meeting and election, the NGSCR Committee believes the candidates possess the characteristics outlined above and bring to the Supervisory Board valuable skills that enhance the Supervisory Board's ability to manage and guide the strategic affairs of the Company in the best interests of our shareholders and our other stakeholders.
A more complete description of the specific qualifications of each of our Supervisory Board members and of this year's nominees are contained in the biographical information section beginning on page 10 of this proxy statement.
The NGSCR Committee, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or a Supervisory Director identifies a need to add a new Supervisory Board member that meets specific criteria or to fill a vacancy on the Supervisory Board. The NGSCR Committee also reviews the candidacy of existing members of the Supervisory Board whose terms are expiring and who may be eligible for reelection to the Supervisory Board. The NGSCR Committee also considers recommendations for nominees for directorships submitted by shareholders as provided below:
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• |
If a new Supervisory Board member is to be considered, the NGSCR Committee initiates a search by seeking input from other Supervisory Directors and senior management, and hiring a search firm, if necessary. An initial slate of candidates that will satisfy specific criteria and otherwise qualify for membership on the Supervisory Board are identified by and/or presented to the NGSCR Committee, which ranks the candidates. Members of the NGSCR Committee review the qualifications of prospective candidate(s), and the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, and all other Supervisory Board members have the opportunity to review the qualifications of prospective candidate(s); |
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• |
Shareholders seeking to recommend Supervisory Director candidates for consideration by the NGSCR Committee may do so by writing to the Company's Secretary at the address indicated on page 5 of this proxy statement, giving the recommended candidate's name, biographical data and qualifications. The NGSCR Committee will consider all candidates submitted by shareholders within the time period specified under “Other Proxy Matters - Information About Our 2022 Annual Meeting; Shareholder Proposals and Shareholder Access” below; |
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• |
The NGSCR Committee recommends to the Supervisory Board the nominee(s) from among the candidate(s), including existing members of the Supervisory Board whose terms are expiring and who may be eligible for reelection to the Supervisory Board, and new candidates, if any, identified as described above; and |
|
• |
The nominee(s) are nominated by the Supervisory Board. |
Related person transactions have the potential to create actual or perceived conflicts of interest between the Company and its Supervisory Directors and/or named executive officers or any of their respective immediate family members. Under its charter, the Audit Committee is charged with the responsibility of reviewing with management and the independent registered public accountants (together and/or separately, as appropriate) insider and affiliated party transactions and potential conflicts of interest. The Audit Committee has delegated authority to review transactions involving employees, other than our named executive
22
officers, to our General Counsel. We identify such transactions by distributing questionnaires annually to each of our Supervisory Directors, officers and employees.
In deciding whether to approve a related person transaction, the following factors may be considered:
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• |
information about the goods or services proposed to be or being provided by or to the related party; |
|
• |
the nature of the transactions and the costs to be incurred by the Company or payments to the Company; |
|
• |
an analysis of the costs and benefits associated with the transaction and consideration of comparable or alternative goods or services that are available to the Company from non-related parties; |
|
• |
the commercial advantage the Company would gain by engaging in the transaction; and |
|
• |
an analysis of the significance of the transaction to the Company and to the related party. |
To receive approval, the related person transaction must be on terms that are fair and reasonable to the Company, and which are on terms at least as favorable to the Company as would be available from non-related entities in comparable transactions. The Audit Committee requires that there is a Company business interest supporting the transaction and the transaction meets the same Company standards that apply to comparable transactions with unaffiliated entities. The Audit Committee has adopted a written policy that governs the approval of related person transactions.
There were no transactions that occurred during fiscal year 2021 in which, to our knowledge, the Company was or is a party, in which the amount involved exceeded $120,000, and in which any director, director nominee, named executive officer, holder of more than 5% of our common shares or any member of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.
During 2021, no named executive officer served as:
|
• |
a member of the compensation committee (or other Supervisory Board committee performing equivalent functions or, in the absence of any such committee, the entire Supervisory Board of Directors) of another entity, one of whose named executive officers served on our Compensation Committee; |
|
• |
a member of the compensation committee (or other Supervisory Board committee performing equivalent functions or, in the absence of any such committee, the entire Supervisory Board of Directors) of another entity, one of whose named executive officers served as one of our Supervisory Directors; or |
|
• |
a director of another entity, one of whose named executive officers served on our Compensation Committee or the board of directors of one of our subsidiaries. |
Shareholders or other interested parties can contact any Supervisory Director or committee of the Board of Supervisory Directors by directing correspondence to Mark D. Tattoli, Secretary, in care of Core Laboratories LP, 6316 Windfern Road, Houston, Texas 77040. Comments or complaints relating to the Company's accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters will be referred to members of the Audit Committee.
Our Internet address is www.corelab.com. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Ethics and Corporate Responsibility and the charters of our Supervisory Board committees are available on our website. We will also furnish printed copies of such information free of charge upon written request to our Investor Relations department (investor.relations@corelab.com).
We file Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Current Reports on Form 8-K with the SEC. We also file Annual Accounts and Semi-Annual Accounts with the Dutch regulator, the Autoriteit Financiële Markten (“AFM”).
23
These reports are available free of charge through our website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with the respective agency. We may from time to time provide important disclosures to investors by posting them in the investor relations section of our website, as allowed by SEC and/or AFM rules. The SEC maintains an Internet website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding our Company that we file electronically with the SEC.
The Dutch Corporate Governance Code contains principles of good corporate governance and best practice provisions. The Dutch Code emphasizes the principles of integrity, transparency and accountability as the primary means of achieving good corporate governance. The Dutch Code includes certain principles of good corporate governance, supported by “best practice” provisions. Listed Dutch N.V. companies are required to disclose in their annual report how they intend to incorporate the principles of the Dutch Code or, where relevant, to explain why they do not. The Management and Supervisory Boards regularly monitor the Dutch Code and generally agree with its fundamental principles. As discussed above, the Company complies with U.S. corporate governance rules and, to the extent consistent therewith, the corporate governance principles of the Dutch Code. The Company intends to continue to monitor the developments in corporate governance and shall take such steps as it considers appropriate to further implement the provisions of the Dutch Code. Please see the report of the Management Board, a copy of which will be available for inspection at our offices in the Netherlands, located at Van Heuven Goedhartlaan 7B, 1181 LE, Amstelveen, the
Netherlands and on our Internet site at www.corelab.com for a discussion of our compliance with the Dutch Code.
We have assessed our compensation policies and practices and found that the compensation policies and practices are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on us. Our Compensation Committee and our Supervisory Board are aware of the need to routinely assess our compensation policies and practices and will make a determination as to the necessity of this particular disclosure on an annual basis.
24
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND RESPONSIBILITY
Core Laboratories maintains a corporate governance page on its website that includes key information about corporate governance initiatives, including Corporate Governance Guidelines, a Code of Ethics and Corporate Responsibility, and committee charters for the Audit, Compensation, and NGSCR Committees of the Supervisory Board. The corporate governance page can be found at http://www.corelab.com/cr/governance.
The actions we are taking regarding corporate responsibility, are posted on our website, and in the form of our Annual Sustainability Reports, under the “Corporate Responsibility” link at http://www.corelab.com/cr/.
25
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) describes our executive compensation program as it relates to our Named Executive Officers (“NEOs”). This CD&A also summarizes the Compensation Committee's process for making pay decisions, as well as its rationale for specific decisions related to the 2021 performance year. Our NEOs for 2021 are listed below, along with the title that each NEO held during the 2021 year:
Name of Executive |
|
Title |
Lawrence Bruno |
|
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer |
Christopher S. Hill |
|
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Gwendolyn Y. Gresham |
|
Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations |
Mark D. Tattoli |
|
Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel |
During 2021, Ms. Gresham and Mr. Tattoli became executive officers in February and August, respectively.
Industry Conditions and COVID-19
As COVID-19 concerns continued into 2021, we remained vigilant in our efforts to ensure a healthy and safe work environment while delivering to the needs of our clients and stakeholders by maintaining many of the risk mitigation and communication efforts put in place in the previous year.
We have continued to operate as an essential business with timely delivery of products and services to our clients during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have also implemented a continuity plan across our global organization to protect the health of employees while servicing our clients. Business disruptions caused by new or continuing government mandated shut-downs, travel restrictions, quarantine protocols and site closures in various international regions associated with the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic have halted or restricted operational workflows. The global supply chain challenges have also resulted in certain disruptions to our workflow, however, our operations have managed to minimize the impact for 2021. Currently, we do not anticipate disruptions in our supply chain to have a material adverse impact in 2022. In addition, results during 2021 were impacted by costs associated with disruptions and damage to facilities caused by the North American mid-continent winter storm event in February 2021 and major named storms in the Gulf of Mexico in August and September 2021. Due to recent high inflation that is affecting the U.S. and most other countries globally, we anticipate our cost of services and cost product sales will increase moderately in 2022.
As part of our long-term growth strategy, we continue to expand our market presence by opening or expanding facilities in strategic areas and realizing synergies within our business lines consistent with client demand and market conditions. More recently, we have expanded our laboratory capabilities in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Brazil. We believe our market presence in strategic areas provides us a unique opportunity to serve our clients who have global operations, whether they are international oil companies, national oil companies, or independent oil companies.
2021 Business Achievements
Over the course of our 26 years as a publicly-traded company, we have posted an annualized compounded shareholder return of 8.8%, according to Bloomberg Financial, compared to 10.4% for the S&P 500, over that same time period. See “Ownership of Securities - Performance Graph” on page 9 of this proxy statement for a graph that compares our five-year cumulative total shareholder return to the S&P 500 Index and the Philadelphia Oil Services Index (“OSX”).
In addition, during 2021, our relative and absolute results are as follows:
|
• |
Based on Bloomberg's calculations using the latest comparable data available, our return on invested capital (“ROIC”) was the highest of the Bloomberg Oil and Gas Services Comp Group (“Bloomberg Comp Group”); |
26
|
• |
Revenue decline of 13.5% was at the 57th percentile of the Bloomberg Comp Group; |
|
• |
Operating margin of 11.9% was at the 83rd percentile of the Bloomberg Comp Group; |
|
• |
EPS decline of 21.9% was at the 80th percentile of the Comp. Group; |
|
• |
We maintained industry leading above average ranking/scores/standing among our peer group on several key sustainability indexes and preserved inclusion in notable sustainability related indices in 2021 such as the Bloomberg’s Gender Diversity Index and multiple MSCI indices. This reflects our emphasis on producing long-term profitable growth in a sustainable and responsible manner. |
Compensation Actions
Our executive compensation decisions included:
|
• |
Staged restoration of reduced salaries: NEO salaries were reduced by total of 20% in April of 2020, in reaction to challenges faced by the Company due to industry conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic. NEO salaries were fully restored in two installments in August of 2021 and January of 2022. Salaries for Mr. Bruno, Ms. Gresham and Mr. Hill are unchanged from pre-April 2020 levels. Mr. Tattoli's salary was adjusted to be more in line with market rates for his role. |
|
• |
Reduced bonuses to NEOs under our annual cash incentive plan: Actual performance under the plan would have justified a payout at 80.12% of the maximum for each NEO; however, based upon a broader assessment of the Company’s financial performance and considering affordability, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board, acting on authority conferred upon him by the Compensation Committee, elected to pay out a substantially reduced amount to the NEOs in 2021 resulting in bonuses that were well below target for each of our NEOs. |
|
• |
Continued commitment to performance based LTI: We granted NEO equity exclusively in the form of performance share awards for 2021 and 2022. |
2021 “Say-on-Pay” / Shareholder Engagement
Each year, we carefully consider the results of our shareholder say-on-pay vote from the preceding year. We also consider the feedback we receive from our major shareholders, which we solicit in various ways, to including through face to face meetings during the year. We held our 2021 annual meeting with 90% of shares outstanding represented at the meeting. At that meeting, almost 70% of the votes cast approved our executive compensation program.
While a significant majority of our shareholders expressed approval, the total level of support was less than we are accustomed to receiving. In order to better understand this result, we reached out to shareholders reflecting 67% of shares outstanding, and held meetings with 14 shareholders, reflecting 60% of shares outstanding. Our shareholders expressed strong support for the design and administration of our current program. Based upon the absence of any significant concerns, we believe that our 2021 vote was influenced by a one-time payment to our former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer upon his retirement in 2021. This retirement payment was required under his 2007 employment agreement, and that contract provision has been clearly disclosed each year under “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” in our annual proxy filing. No such retirement-related payments are included in the contracts of any of our current NEOs.
Our committee believes that shareholder feedback supports their view that our compensation programs remain aligned with the best interests of our shareholders. The Committee continues to review the design of our programs to ensure that they remain aligned with shareholder interests, with our industry peers, and with compensation governance best practices. As part of that process, as discussed later in this CD&A, in 2022 the Committee approved the adoption of a clawback policy that applies to cash and equity incentive compensation for all of our executive officers.
27
Best Compensation Governance Practices & Policies
Our executive compensation program is grounded in the following policies and practices, which promote sound compensation governance, enhance our pay-for-performance philosophy and further align our executives' interests with those of our stakeholders:
WHAT WE DO |
|
WHAT WE DO NOT DO |
||
✓ |
100% of NEO equity awards are performance-based and at-risk |
|
✘ |
No hedging transactions by executive officers or directors |
✓ |
Target performance for equity incentive awards set at 75th percentile of industry peers
|
|
✘ |
No significant prerequisites |
✓ |
Incentive awards based on both absolute and relative performance results, with no guaranteed payouts |
|
✘ |
No “single trigger” change in control cash severance benefits |
✓ |
Equity award grants subject to three-year performance periods to promote retention |
|
✘ |
Core Laboratories stock may not be margined by executive officers or directors |
✓ |
Clawback policy applies to cash and equity incentive compensation (new for 2022) |
|
|
|
✓ |
Retain independent compensation consultant |
|
|
|
Developing, Retaining and Rewarding Our Employees
The success of our organization is built on great people, doing outstanding work in often challenging environments. Core Laboratories recognizes and values this dedication and is committed to providing resources that engage employees, enhance their work experience, and develop them for the future.
|
• |
To ensure we have a diverse employee population reflective of our communities and client base, we have implemented recruiting practices that support and encourage the hiring and retention of diverse talent. |
|
• |
To ensure we stay competitive in how we compensate and reward our employees, we use a Total Rewards approach aligned to our business strategy and country-specific market influences. We offer competitive compensation and benefit programs in each country where we operate. |
|
• |
To ensure our employees understand where they add value to the organization, provide focus on and discussion around career aspirations, and reward employees for high performance, our annual Performance Management cycle is an ongoing process that enables managers and employees to collaborate throughout the year to set performance goals and development plans that align to business objectives. |
|
• |
To ensure we are providing our employees opportunities for growth, we have introduced Employee Development as a new Core Value. Our Core Values are the framework that unite us on the path toward achieving our goals and propelling Core Laboratories forward. With the inclusion of Employee Development as a Core Value we have solidified our foundation by which we conduct our business and treat each other. |
|
• |
To ensure that we build a long-term bench, we have expanded our Talent Assessment with the aim to identify emerging technical and leadership talent across our Company. The assessment focuses on our higher performers as well as recent hires, at every level in our Company, from individual contributor to Business Leader. This will allow us to take data driven development actions in both leadership and technical roles, which will target developing our bench and also supporting our long-term employee engagement and value proposition. |
28
|
Compensation Philosophy and Objectives
Our executive compensation program is designed to create a strong financial incentive for our NEOs to maximize ROIC and other financial and operational metrics, which we believe leads to long-term sustainable growth in stakeholder value. Our compensation philosophy is driven by the following guiding principles and objectives:
Guiding Principle |
|
Objective |
Pay for Performance |
|
Drive performance relative to our financial goals, which are designed to achieve growth in shareholder returns and long-term value creation |
Competitiveness |
|
Provide compensation at levels that will attract, motivate, and retain highly qualified executives who are focused on the long-term best interests of our shareholders |
Stakeholder Alignment |
|
Reinforce a culture of ownership and long-term commitment to stakeholder interests through alignment of Corporate, Environmental and Social Governance |
The Core Elements of Compensation
The core elements of executive compensation are summarized in the table below:
Element |
|
Form |
|
What It Does |
|
How It Links to Performance |
Base Salary |
|
Cash (Fixed) |
|
Provides a competitive rate relative to similar positions in the oilfield services industry and other service-based industries, and enables the Company to attract and retain critical executive talent |
|
•Based on job scope, level of responsibilities, experience, tenure and market levels |
Annual Cash Incentive Plan |
|
Cash (Variable and At-Risk) |
|
Focuses executives on achieving annual financial and operational goals that drive long-term stockholder value |
|
•Payouts: 0% to 200% of target for Mr. Bruno and Hill, and 0% to 173% of target for Ms. Gresham and Mr. Tattoli, based on annual performance •Combination of absolute and relative financial and non-financial goals |
Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) |
|
Equity (Variable and At-Risk) |
|
Provides incentives for executives to execute on longer-term financial/strategic growth goals that drive value creation and support talent retention |
|
•Payouts: 0% to 150% of target, based on performance over a three-year period •Combination of relative (ROIC) and absolute (TSR) performance |
Pay Mix: Emphasis on Variable Performance-based Compensation
The charts below show the target compensation of our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and our other NEOs for fiscal year 2021. These charts illustrate that a majority of NEO compensation is performance-based and variable (84% for our CEO and an average of 72% for our other NEOs). We view each compensation element as a different means of encouraging and promoting performance. These elements are designed to work in tandem, not against each other. The weighting of these compensation components is consistent with the market and puts a material, significant portion of the executives' total direct compensation “at risk” if Company performance declines or underperforms relative to the Bloomberg Comp Group.
29
CEO Realizable Compensation: Aligned with Performance
Our emphasis on at-risk, variable and performance-based pay elements, particularly equity incentives, helps to ensure that the actual compensation realized by our NEOs aligns with returns to our shareholders. As shown in the charts below, CEO realizable pay over the past five years has aligned closely with our total shareholder return performance.
CEO REALIZABLE PAY ALIGNED WITH PERFORMANCE |
|
Target compensation includes base salary, target annual incentive opportunity, and the grant-date value of performance share units. Realizable compensation includes base salary, actual annual cash incentive paid, and the value of performance share units determined by whether the awards are still outstanding as of the end of the year or have been settled during that year. Any performance share units settled within the five-year period have been adjusted for actual payout percent. Outstanding performance share unit awards have been valued assuming a target payout with the stock price that is applicable at the end of each year.
30
The Role of the Compensation Committee
Our Compensation Committee's principal functions include conducting periodic reviews of the Company’s compensation and benefits programs to ensure that they are properly designed to meet corporate objectives, overseeing of the administration of the cash incentive and equity-based plans and developing the compensation program for the Supervisory Directors.
The Compensation Committee generally focuses on compensation structures designed to reflect the middle range of the market. We believe that maintaining compensation opportunities in the middle range of our peer group supports recruitment and retention while ensuring that realized pay opportunities align appropriately with individual and Company performance. The Compensation Committee targets a market range rather than a specific percentile in order to respond better to changing business conditions, manage salaries and incentives more evenly over an individual's career, and minimize potential for automatic increases in salaries and incentives that could occur with inflexible and narrow competitive targets. The Compensation Committee links a significant portion of each executive's total compensation to accomplishing specific, measurable results based on both company and individual performance intended to create value for shareholders in both the short- and long-term. Only executives with performance exceeding established targets may exceed the market median in total compensation due to incentive compensation.
The Role of Management
Our CEO provides recommendations to the Compensation Committee in its evaluation of our other NEOs, including recommendations of individual cash and equity compensation levels for each of the remaining NEOs.
The Role of the Independent Compensation Consultant
Our Compensation Committee periodically retains a consultant to provide independent advice on executive compensation matters and to perform specific project-related work. During 2021, the Compensation Committee engaged Meridian Compensation Partners (“Meridian”) to provide information on pay levels and program design for 2021. The consultant reported to and acted at the direction of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee assessed the independence of the firm pursuant to applicable SEC and NYSE rules and concluded that the firm’s work for the Compensation Committee did not raise any conflict of interest for 2021.
The Role of Market Compensation Analysis
The Compensation Committee reviews several sources as a reference for determining competitive total compensation packages. For 2021 executive compensation recommendations, the Compensation Committee reviewed and considered Meridian’s evaluation and analysis of compensation survey data from multiple general industry and industry-specific sources.
In addition, the Compensation Committee reviews proxy statement data from the Company’s peer group (see below). This analysis was used to determine our NEOs' base salary, annual incentive targets and long-term equity awards (100% performance-based) for 2021.
Selecting the Peer Group
The Compensation Committee, with the assistance of its independent consultants, developed a peer group of companies to be used for compensation comparison purposes (“Compensation Peer Group”). The Compensation Peer Group consists of publicly traded oilfield services companies comparable in size to our Company in terms of annual revenues and the value of ongoing operations. The following companies comprise our Compensation Peer Group used to evaluate the market for NEO compensation for 2021:
Baker Hughes Company |
|
Fugro N.V. |
|
RPC, Inc. |
Champion X Corporation |
|
Helix Energy Solutions Group |
|
TechnipFMC plc |
Dril-Quip Inc. |
|
John Wood Group PLC |
|
TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company ASA |
Forum Energy Technologies |
|
Oceaneering International |
|
|
Frank’s International N.V. |
|
Oil States International |
|
|
31
The Compensation Committee periodically reviews the composition of our Compensation Peer Group to ensure it remains appropriate.
Base Salary
Base salary is the fixed annual compensation we pay to an executive for performing specific job responsibilities. It represents the minimum income an executive may receive in any given year. We target annual base salaries in the middle range of our Compensation Peer Group for executives having similar responsibilities. The Compensation Committee may adjust salaries based on its annual review of the following factors:
|
• |
the individual's experience and background; |
|
• |
the individual's performance during the prior year; |
|
• |
the benchmark salary data; |
|
• |
the general movement of salaries in the marketplace; and |
|
• |
our financial and operating results. |
As a result of these factors, a particular executive's base salary may be above or below the median of our Compensation Peer Group for a given year. The table below shows base salaries for each of our NEOs for the years ending December 31, 2021 and 2020. The reduced base salary values of 20% from the amounts originally approved by the Compensation Committee are reflected in the table below. NEO salaries were fully reinstated in two installments of 10% in August 2021 and January 2022.
Name of Executive |
|
January 2022 (2) ($) |
|
|
August 2021 (2) ($) |
|
|
April 2020 (2) ($) |
|
|
January 2020 ($) |
|
||||
Lawrence Bruno (1) |
|
|
820,000 |
|
|
|
738,000 |
|
|
|
656,000 |
|
|
|
820,000 |
|
Christopher S. Hill (1) |
|
|
430,000 |
|
|
|
387,000 |
|
|
|
344,000 |
|
|
|
430,000 |
|
Gwendolyn Y. Gresham (3) |
|
|
370,000 |
|
|
|
333,000 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
||
Mark D. Tattoli (4) |
|
|
370,000 |
|
|
|
315,000 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
(1) NEO annual base salaries approved by the Compensation Committee in 2021, $820,000 for Mr. Bruno and $430,000 for Mr. Hill. |
(2) NEO salaries were reduced by a total of 20% in April 2020, which continued into 2021. Subsequently, NEO salaries were reinstated in two installments of 10% in August 2021 and January 2022. |
(3) Ms. Gresham became an executive officer in February 2021 and her annual base salary of $370,000 was approved by the Compensation Committee in 2021. |
(4) Mr. Tattoli became an executive officer in August 2021, at which time his base salary was $350,000. Mr. Tattoli’s salary was increased to $370,000 beginning January 1, 2022. |
Annual Cash Incentives
All of our NEOs participate in our annual cash incentive plan. Under this plan, each NEO is assigned a target and a maximum bonus expressed as a percentage of his or her base salary. The target bonus percentage and maximum bonus percentage for each NEO in 2021 is set forth in the table below.
|
|
|
|
Award Percentages |
|
|||
Name of Executive |
|
Title |
|
Target |
|
|
Maximum |
|
Lawrence Bruno |
|
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer |
|
100% |
|
- |
200% |
|
Christopher S. Hill |
|
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
|
75% |
|
- |
150% |
|
Gwendolyn Y. Gresham |
|
Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations |
|
75% |
|
- |
130% |
|
Mark D. Tattoli |
|
Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel |
|
75% |
|
- |
130% |
|
The target award opportunity is established as a percentage of the NEO’s salary based upon a review of the competitive data for that officer’s position, level of responsibility and ability to impact our financial success.
32
The Compensation Committee has set performance goals that are consistent with the Company’s business strategy and focus on creating long-term shareholder value. Performance is assessed based on the achievement of specific financial measures, safety metrics, operating objectives, and environmental, social and governance goals. The Compensation Committee may also consider individual contributions to performance results.
Relative Performance
Relative performance requires that NEOs achieve at least median performance among the Bloomberg Comp Group. The achievement of three different financial performance metrics accounts for 75% of the potential annual cash incentive award.
Metric |
|
Description |
|
Weight |
|
Revenue |
|
Change in the Company’s annual revenue relative to Bloomberg Comp Group |
|
25% |
|
Operating Margin |
|
Change in the Company’s margins relative to Bloomberg Comp Group |
|
25% |
|
EPS |
|
Change in the Company’s annual EPS relative to Bloomberg Comp Group |
|
25% |
|
Relative performance is assessed at the end of the year. Bloomberg data is analyzed on a trailing four-quarter period for the Bloomberg Comp Group for the period ending with the third quarter of the current year. This data is used to determine the Company’s percentile ranking in the Bloomberg Comp Group for each metric.
For each metric, the NEOs can achieve a maximum score of 25 and a minimum score of 12.5 for a ranking between the 100th and the 50th percentile, respectively. For example, if the Company’s ranking for change in revenue compared to the Bloomberg Comp Group’s change in revenue is at the 75th percentile, then the revenue metric would receive a score of 18.75, equivalent to a weighting of 18.75% for that metric.
Messrs. Bruno and Hill may earn up to 200% of the target opportunity, and Ms. Gresham and Mr. Tattoli may earn up to 173% of the target opportunity, for each metric in return for the Company finishing first (i.e., at the 100th percentile) in the Bloomberg Comp Group. Performance below the 50th percentile of the Bloomberg Comp Group on any metric will result in a zero percent payout for that metric. Performance between the 50th and the 100th percentile is calculated using straight-line interpolation as shown in the table below.
Percentile of Bloomberg Comp Group |
Below 50th |
50th |
100th |
Payout as a Percent of Target (Messrs. Bruno and Hill) |
0% |
100% |
200% |
Payout as a Percent of Target (Ms. Gresham and Mr. Tattoli) |
0% |
100% |
173% |
Absolute Performance
Absolute performance accounts for 25% of the annual incentive award. The Compensation Committee evaluates the Company’s year-over-year improvement in the areas of safety and ESG. The Compensation Committee bases its determination primarily on objective third-party reports and may award up to 25% of the maximum bonus possible depending on the Company’s overall improvement in these areas. If the Compensation Committee determines that the Company’s performance has declined, it may award as little as zero bonus for this metric.
33
2021 Results
For 2021, our performance results were as follows:
Metric |
|
Weight |
|
|
Ranking |
|
Weighted Percent of Maximum Opportunity |
|
||
Revenue |
|
25% |
|
|
57th percentile |
|
|
14.29 |
% |
|
Operating Margin |
|
25% |
|
|
83rd percentile |
|
|
20.83 |
% |
|
EPS |
|
25% |
|
|
80th percentile |
|
|
20.00 |
% |
|
Weighted payout factor (relative) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
55.12 |
% |
Absolute Performance |
|
25% |
|
|
|
|
|
25.00 |
% |
|
Weighted payout factor (total) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
80.12 |
% |
As shown, relative and actual performance under the plan produced a weighted payout factor equal to 80.12% of the maximum. The table below reflects the actual annual cash incentive award earned by the NEOs and approved by the Compensation Committee. However, based upon a broader assessment of the Company’s financial performance and considering affordability, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board, acting on authority conferred upon him by the Compensation Committee, elected to pay out a substantially reduced amount to the NEOs in 2021.
Name of Executive |
|
Target Award Opportunity |
|
|
Max Award Opportunity |
|
|
Actual Award Opportunity |
|
|
Actual Award Earned ($) |
|
|
Actual Award Paid (1) ($) |
|
||
Lawrence Bruno |
|
100% |
|
|
200% |
|
|
160% |
|
|
|
1,313,968 |
|
|
|
459,889 |
|
Christopher S. Hill |
|
75% |
|
|
150% |
|
|
120% |
|
|
|
516,774 |
|
|
|
180,871 |
|
Gwendolyn Y. Gresham |
|
75% |
|
|
130% |
|
|
104% |
|
|
|
385,377 |
|
|
|
134,882 |
|
Mark D. Tattoli (2) |
|
75% |
|
|
130% |
|
|
104% |
|
|
|
182,273 |
|
|
|
73,796 |
|
(1) Payment of the cash incentive award will be made in April 2022.
(2) Mr. Tattoli became an executive officer in August 2021. Accordingly, his award was prorated by one-half.
Equity Incentive Compensation
We currently administer long-term incentive compensation awards through our LTIP. Under the LTIP, our NEOs are eligible for performance-based restricted shares.
Our Compensation Committee, based on recommendations from our CEO (other than with respect to awards for himself), determines the amount of each NEO’s grant by periodically reviewing competitive market data and each NEO’s long-term past performance, ability to contribute to our future success, and time in the current job. The Compensation Committee considers the risk of losing the executive to other employment opportunities and the value and potential for appreciation in our shares. The number of shares previously granted or vested pursuant to prior grants is not typically a factor in determining subsequent share grants to a NEO. The Compensation Committee considers the foregoing factors together and determines the appropriate amount of the award.
Performance Share Award Program (“PSAP”)
PSAP shares vest if we achieve certain performance goals generally over a three-year period, which allow us to compensate our employees as we meet or exceed our business objectives.
PSAP Awards Generally
Under the PSAP, our NEOs are awarded rights to receive a pre-determined number of common shares if certain performance targets are met at the end of a three-year performance period and as specified in the applicable agreements. Awards vest at the end of each three-year performance period.
34
Performance share units may be earned based upon our ROIC performance against our Bloomberg Comp Group. In order for our NEOs to earn a target award, our performance must be at the 75th percentile of the group as shown in the chart below. Performance below the 50th percentile results in no payout.
ROIC |
Below 50th |
50th |
75th |
100th |
Shares Earned as a Percent of Target |
0% |
50% |
100% |
150% |
Starting with PSAP shares awarded in 2020, the Compensation Committee has added a modifier based upon absolute total shareholder return (“TSR”), such that any award for performance in excess of the 75th percentile in ROIC will be reduced if TSR over the three-year performance period is negative.
2019 PSAP Awards
On February 12, 2019, we made grants of 46,508 restricted performance shares to two of our current NEOs. The three-year performance period began on January 1, 2019 and ended on December 31, 2021.
The 2019 PSAP awards to the executives who were NEOs on the grant date were as follows:
Name of Executive |
|
Target Award (in Shares) |
|
|
2019 Performance Period ROIC Percentile Rank |
|
|
Approved Percent of Target Award Earned |
|
|
Actual Share Earned |
|
||
Lawrence Bruno |
|
|
30,822 |
|
|
100% |
|
|
150% |
|
|
|
46,233 |
|
Christopher S. Hill |
|
|
15,686 |
|
|
100% |
|
|
150% |
|
|
|
23,529 |
|
On February 12, 2019, at the time of the 2019 PSAP award, Ms. Gresham and Mr. Tattoli were not NEOs. Based upon the actual performance results, which were verified by the Compensation Committee, the 2019 PSAP awards to Messrs. Bruno and Hill fully vested at 150% of the award on December 31, 2021, the end of the three-year performance period.
2021 PSAP Awards
On February 19, 2021, we made grants of 148,832 restricted performance shares to our current NEOs serving in 2021. The three-year performance period began on January 1, 2021 and will end on December 31, 2023.
The 2021 PSAP awards to our current NEOs were as follows:
Name of Executive |
|
Target Award (in Shares) |
|
|
Maximum Possible Award (in Shares) |
|
||
Lawrence Bruno |
|
|
94,172 |
|
|
|
141,258 |
|
Christopher S. Hill |
|
|
33,950 |
|
|
|
50,925 |
|
Gwendolyn Y. Gresham |
|
|
13,810 |
|
|
|
20,715 |
|
Mark D. Tattoli (1) |
|
|
6,900 |
|
|
|
6,900 |
|
(1) |
At the time of the 2021 PSAP award, Mr. Tattoli was not an NEO. Mr. Tattoli was awarded 6,900 restricted performance shares on February 19, 2021 that are not subject to the NEO performance criteria. Instead, such shares will vest, if at all, if the Company’s ROIC performance against the Bloomberg Comp Group is at or above the 75th percentile at the conclusion of the three-year performance period on December 31, 2023. |
35
Stock Ownership Requirements
Alignment with shareholder interests is reinforced through meaningful stock ownership requirements among the NEOs. In order to help ensure that our NEOs maintain a meaningful ownership stake, the Compensation Committee has adopted the ownership requirements related to common shares outlined below:
NEO |
Required Ownership (multiple of salary) |
CEO |
5.0x |
Other NEOs |
3.0x |
NEOs have five years from the date they become a NEO to comply with these guidelines as of December 31, 2021. All of our NEOs were either in compliance with their required ownership level or were still within the five-year compliance window for their position.
Clawback Policy (new for 2022)
Effective January 1, 2022, the Supervisory Board adopted a clawback policy applicable to performance-based compensation paid to the Company’s executives. The policy applies to any current or former executive of the Company who is or, as of the effective date, was an “officer” as that term is defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which consists of all Section 16 filers of the Company, including the Company’s named executive officers.
Under the policy, if the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement of its financial statements due to the Company’s material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws and such noncompliance is attributable, in whole or in part, to the gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or other illegal or improper acts of an executive, including a violation of the Company’s Code of Conduct, then the Compensation Committee may, in its sole discretion, recover from the executive all or a portion of the performance-based compensation, whether cash or equity awards, paid to the executive at any time during the three completed fiscal years immediately prior to the date the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement. The amount of compensation subject to recovery under the policy would be the excess paid to the executive based on the erroneous data giving rise to the restatement over the amount that would have been earned by the executive had the incentive compensation been based on the restated results. The policy applies to all incentive compensation granted, approved or awarded after the effective date of the policy.
Securities Trading Policy and Hedging Restrictions
We prohibit officers, directors and certain other managers from trading our securities on the basis of material, non-public information or “tipping” others who may so trade on such information and from trading in our securities without obtaining prior approval from our General Counsel. If a manager or officer does not have inside information that is material to the business, such officer or manager may trade immediately following quarterly earnings press releases during an open trading window. Any exceptions must be requested in writing and signed by our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer or our General Counsel. The Company’s stock may not be placed on margin. Moreover, any derivative transaction which effectively shifts the economic risk of ownership to a third party, or any transaction that hedges or offsets, or is designed to hedge or offset, any decrease in the market value of our securities, is not allowed at any time by our NEOs and managers (including our directors), unless approved by the Compensation Committee. The policy does not apply to all of our employees, nor does it specifically apply to the designees of directors, executive officers or covered employees.
Health and Welfare Benefits
We offer a standard range of health and welfare benefits to all employees, including our NEOs. These benefits include medical, prescription drug, and dental coverages, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, long-term disability insurance and flexible spending accounts. Our plans do not discriminate in favor of our NEOs.
401(k)
We offer a defined contribution 401(k) plan to substantially all of our employees in the United States. We provide this plan to assist our employees in saving some amount of their cash compensation for retirement in a tax efficient manner. Participants may contribute up to 60% of their base and cash incentive compensation, subject to the current limits under the IRS Code. We provide safe harbor matching contributions under this plan up to the first 4% of the participant’s compensation and may make
36
additional discretionary contributions. As of June 1, 2020, the safe harbor matching and discretionary contributions were suspended. Effective April 1, 2022, we intend to reinstate one-half (equivalent to 2%) of the 401(k) match.
Deferred Compensation Plan
Through our subsidiary, Core Laboratories LP, we have adopted a nonqualified deferred compensation plan that permits certain employees, including our NEOs, to elect to defer all or a part of their cash compensation (base, annual incentives and/or commissions) from us until the termination of their status as an employee. Participating employees are eligible to receive a matching deferral under the nonqualified deferred compensation plan that compensates them for contributions they could not receive from us under the 401(k) plan due to the various limits imposed on 401(k) plans by the U.S. federal income tax laws. As of June 1, 2020, the matching deferral contribution was suspended and the suspension continued throughout 2021. Effective April 1, 2022 we intend to reinstate the deferral match at 2%.
Discretionary employer contributions may also be made on behalf of participants in the plan and are subject to discretionary vesting schedules determined at the time of such contributions. Vesting in employer contributions is accelerated upon the death or disability of the participant or a change in control. Discretionary employer contributions under the plan are forfeited upon a participant’s termination of employment to the extent they are not vested at that time. We made discretionary employer contributions to the nonqualified deferred compensation plan on behalf of Messrs. Bruno, Hill, Tattoli and Ms. Gresham in accordance with each executive’s employment agreement, subject to a threshold based on ROIC measured against the trailing four-quarter period ended on September 30, 2021. During 2021, the age to be attained for immediate vesting changed from 62-½ years to 62 years.
Other Perquisites and Personal Benefits
We do not offer any perquisites or other personal benefits to any executive with a value over $10,000 beyond those discussed within this proxy and specifically in the table “Summary Compensation for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021” and the supplemental table titled “All Other Compensation from Summary Compensation Table” within this proxy statement.
We believe in the importance of providing attractive intangible benefits to all employees such as open and honest communications, ethical business practices, and a safe work environment.
Deductibility of Compensation Over $1 Million
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally limits the amount of compensation that may be deducted per covered employee to $1 million per taxable year. A “covered employee” for purposes of Section 162(m) generally includes each of our NEOs. The Compensation Committee views the tax deductibility of executive compensation as one factor to be considered in the context of its overall compensation philosophy and will consider the impact of any material tax laws on our Company’s compensation program. The Compensation Committee reviews each material element of compensation on a continuing basis to determine whether deductibility can be accomplished without sacrificing flexibility and other important elements of the overall executive compensation program. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee will continue to retain the discretion to pay compensation that is not deductible.
The employment agreements with Messrs. Bruno and Hill, Ms. Gresham and Mr. Tattoli remain in effect for 2021 and generally provide for severance compensation to be paid if the employment of these individuals is terminated under certain conditions. Effective October 18, 2021, the employment agreements for Messrs. Bruno and Hill and Ms. Gresham were amended and restated, and we entered into the employment agreement with Mr. Tattoli effective the same date. These agreements, as amended where applicable, are described in greater detail in “Information About Our Named Executive Officers and Executive Compensation – Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table – Employment Agreements.”
Change in Control
As part of our normal course of business, we engage in discussions with other companies about possible collaborations and/or other ways in which the companies may work together to further our respective long-term objectives. In addition, many larger, established companies consider companies at similar stages of development to ours as potential acquisition targets. In certain
37
scenarios, the potential for a merger or being acquired may be in the best interests of our stakeholders. We provide severance compensation if certain of our executives’ employment is terminated following a change in control transaction to promote the ability of our senior executives to act in the best interests of our stakeholders even though their employment could be terminated as a result of the transaction.
Termination Without Cause
If we terminate the employment of a NEO without cause as defined in their applicable agreements, we would be obligated to continue to pay him or her certain amounts as described in greater detail in “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.” We believe these payments are appropriate because the terminated executive is bound by confidentiality, non-solicitation and non-compete provisions covering the two-year period immediately following termination of service and because the Company and each executive have mutually agreed to a severance package that is in place prior to any termination event. This provides us with more flexibility to make a change in senior management if such a change is in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders.
38
INFORMATION ABOUT OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
As of December 31, 2021, our NEOs consisted of Messrs. Bruno and Hill, Ms. Gresham and Mr. Tattoli. Biographical information regarding Mr. Bruno can be found in “Information About Our Supervisory Directors and Director Compensation – Board of Supervisory Directors.” The following biography describes the business experience of Mr. Hill, Ms. Gresham and Mr. Tattoli. Our NEOs are not Managing Directors of our Company for purposes of Dutch law.
Mr. Hill, who is 52 years of age, has been with the Company for over fifteen years, most recently as Chief Financial Officer, since May 24, 2018, after serving as Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer from May 2015 to May 2018. Since joining the Company in October 2006, Mr. Hill led the Company’s Investor Relations effort, was Corporate Group Controller based in Amsterdam, and was Controller of Financial Reporting. Prior to joining the Company, he worked at Halliburton from August 2000 to October 2006 as Controller – Energy & Chemicals of the KBR Division and Corporate Director of Training and Accounting Research. Mr. Hill a CPA worked at Ernst & Young from January 1993 until August 2000, where he held the position of Manager his last three years there. Mr. Hill has a B.B.A. in Accounting from Texas A&M University, and an M.B.A degree from Rice University.
Ms. Gresham, who is 54 years of age, has been with the Company for over fifteen years. Since 2016 Ms. Gresham has served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations, leading the Company’s Sustainability, Investor Relations, Risk Management, and Human Resources functions. Since joining the Company in October 2006, Ms. Gresham led the Company’s Human Resources and Sustainability efforts, as Corporate Vice President based in Amsterdam from 2013 to 2016 and Director of U.S. Human Resources from 2006 to 2013. Prior to joining the company, Ms. Gresham worked at Texas Children’s Hospital Integrated Delivery System and the University of Texas MD Anderson as Assistant Director of Leadership Development and Director of Human Resources, respectively. Ms. Gresham has a B.S in Business from Lubbock Christian University and an M.B.A. from Texas Women’s University.
Mr. Tattoli, who is 50 years of age, has been with the Company for nine years, most recently as Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel, since July 1, 2021, after serving as Assistant General Counsel since November 2012. Mr. Tattoli oversees all aspects of the Company’s legal and compliance matters. Mr. Tattoli has 20 years of industry experience acting as in-house counsel and outside counsel for companies in the petroleum industry across all sectors, including upstream, midstream and downstream. Prior to joining the Company, he worked in private practice initially with the law firm of Haynes & Boone LLP in its Austin and Houston, Texas offices, and most recently as a partner at the law firm of Buchanan, Ingersoll and Rooney PC in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. While in private practice, Mr. Tattoli advised public and private clients on mergers and acquisitions, joint venture formation and structuring, debt and equity securities offerings, and general corporate governance and transactional matters. Mr. Tattoli has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame, and J.D. and M.B.A. degrees from the University of Texas at Austin.
39
The following table summarizes, with respect to our Chief Executive Officer and each of our other NEOs as of December 31, 2021, information relating to the compensation earned for services rendered to the Company in all capacities during fiscal years 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Summary Compensation
for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021
Name of Executive and Principal Position |
|
Year |
|
Salary (1) ($) |
|
|
Stock Awards (2) ($) |
|
|
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation (3) ($) |
|
|
Change in Post- employment Benefit Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings (4) ($) |
|
|
All Other Compensation (5) ($) |
|
|
Total ($) |
|
||||||
Lawrence Bruno |
|
2021 |
|
|
820,000 |
|
|
|
4,939,861 |
|
|
|
459,889 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
328,380 |
|
|
|
6,548,130 |
|
Chairman, President and |
|
2020 |
|
|
820,000 |
|
|
|
4,257,913 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
367,131 |
|
|
|
5,445,044 |
|
Chief Executive Officer |
|
2019 |
|
|
531,000 |
|
|
|
2,753,637 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
212,267 |
|
|
|
3,496,904 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Christopher S. Hill |
|
2021 |
|
|
430,000 |
|
|
|
1,780,872 |
|
|
|
180,871 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
91,782 |
|
|
|
2,483,525 |
|
Senior Vice President, and |
|
2020 |
|
|
430,000 |
|
|
|
1,479,243 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
118,029 |
|
|
|
2,027,272 |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
|
2019 |
|
|
365,000 |
|
|
|
1,401,387 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
83,020 |
|
|
|
1,849,407 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gwendolyn Y. Gresham (6) |
|
2021 |
|
|
370,000 |
|
|
|
724,414 |
|
|
|
134,882 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
74,162 |
|
|
|
1,303,458 |
|
Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark D. Tattoli (6) |
|
2021 |
|
|
350,000 |
|
|
|
290,979 |
|
|
|
73,796 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
35,106 |
|
|
|
749,881 |
|
Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
The values in this column disclose the full amount of base salary earned with respect to the 2020 and 2021 year, and therefore does not reflect the reductions in base salaries that occurred in the respective years for Messrs. Bruno and Hill, Ms. Gresham and Mr. Tattoli. |
(2) |
The amounts included in the “Stock Awards” column include the aggregate grant date fair value of the equity-based awards granted during 2019, 2020 and 2021, and have been computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, formerly FAS 123I disregarding any estimate for forfeitures. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note 14 to our audited financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021. See “Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table” for a description of the material features of these awards. For accounting purposes, the probable outcome for the awards is the maximum level. |
(3) |
With respect to the 2021 year, Messrs. Bruno and Hill, Ms. Gresham and Mr. Tattoli earned the full cash incentive bonuses, however the Chairman of the Supervisory Board elected to award a reduced payment. In 2019 and 2020, Messrs. Bruno and Hill declined such awards due to industry market conditions. |
(4) |
The changes in post-employment benefit values for 2019, 2020 and 2021 were primarily the result of changes in the underlying actuarial assumptions. Specifically, the interest rate is based on a federal rate that changes annually and the mortality tables are pursuant to Section 417 of the IRS Code which is required for valuing payouts from qualified plans. These changes were not the result of additional contributions or benefits accruing to the NEOs. |
(5) |
All Other Compensation is described in the section entitled “All Other Compensation from Summary Compensation Table.” |
(6) |
Ms. Gresham and Mr. Tattoli became executive officers in February 2021 and August 2021, respectively. |
40
The following table contains a breakdown of the compensation and benefits included under All Other Compensation in the Summary Compensation table above.
Name of Executive |
|
Year |
|
Core 401(k) Contributions (1) ($) |
|
|
Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation: Company Contributions |
|
|
Discretionary Contributions to Retirement Plans (2) ($) |
|
|
Company-Owned Life Insurance (3) ($) |
|
|
All Other Compensation Total ($) |
|
|||||
Lawrence Bruno |
|
2021 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
164,000 |
|
|
|
164,000 |
|
|
|
380 |
|
|
|
328,380 |
|
Christopher S. Hill |
|
2021 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
48,655 |
|
|
|
43,000 |
|
|
|
127 |
|
|
|
91,782 |
|
Gwendolyn Y. Gresham |
|
2021 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
37,000 |
|
|
|
37,000 |
|
|
|
162 |
|
|
|
74,162 |
|
Mark D. Tattoli (4) |
|
2021 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
|
106 |
|
|
|
35,106 |
|
(1) |
The Company did not make any matching contributions in 2021. |
(2) |
The amounts shown reflect the additional discretionary contributions made by the Company with respect to the 2021 plan year and made in 2022 in the amount of $164,000 for Mr. Bruno, $43,000 for Mr. Hill, $37,000 for Ms. Gresham and $35,000 for Mr. Tattoli. These discretionary contributions were made in accordance with each executive’s employment agreement subject to a threshold based on ROIC and will remain unvested until the executive reaches 62 years of age. |
(3) |
The amounts shown reflect premiums the Company pays for life insurance coverage for the NEOs, which insurance payments will be used to assist the Company with providing death benefits under the deferred compensation plan. |
(4) |
Mr. Tattoli became an executive officer in August 2021. |
A total of 148,832 target shares of plan-based awards were awarded to our Chief Executive Officer and the other applicable NEOs in 2021 under the PSAP.
The following table provides information concerning each grant of an award made to our Chief Executive Officer and each of our other NEOs in 2021 under the PSAP and our annual cash incentive plan.
Grants of Plan-Based Awards for the Year Ended December 31, 2021
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards (1) |
|
|
Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards |
|
|
All Other Stock Awards (3) |
|
|
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option |
|
||||||||||||||||
Name of Executive |
|
Grant Date |
|
Approval Date |
|
Target ($) |
|
|
Maximum ($) |
|
|
Threshold (#) |
|
|
Target (#) |
|
|
Maximum (#) |
|
|
(#) |
|
|
Awards (2) ($) |
|
|||||||
Lawrence Bruno |
|
|
|
|
|
|
820,000 |
|
|
|
1,640,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2/19/2021 |
|
2/19/2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
47,086 |
|
|
|
94,172 |
|
|
|
141,258 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,939,861 |
|
Christopher S. Hill |
|
|
|
|
|
|
322,500 |
|
|
|
645,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2/19/2021 |
|
2/19/2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,975 |
|
|
|
33,950 |
|
|
|
50,925 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,780,872 |
|
Gwendolyn Y. Gresham |
|
|
|
|
|
|
277,500 |
|
|
|
481,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2/19/2021 |
|
2/19/2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,905 |
|
|
|
13,810 |
|
|
|
20,715 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
724,414 |
|
Mark D. Tattoli |
|
|
|
|
|
|
262,500 |
|
|
|
455,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2/19/2021 |
|
2/19/2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,900 |
|
|
|
6,900 |
|
|
|
6,900 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
241,296 |
|
|
|
8/1/2021 |
|
8/1/2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,500 |
|
|
|
49,683 |
|
(1) |
The amounts shown in these columns reflect the potential target and maximum values approved on the date of the awards. |
(2) |
Awards shown are at maximum award for the 2021 PSAP grants for Mr. Bruno, Ms. Gresham and Mr. Hill. Based on past performance of the Company, we believe that future performance will meet the top criteria and 150% of the award will vest. |
(3) |
Awards shown are 2021 RSAP grants for Mr.Tattoli. |
41
The following is a discussion of material factors necessary to an understanding of the information disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table.
Employment Agreements
The information below describes the employment agreements that we maintained with Messrs. Bruno, Hill and Tattoli, and Ms. Gresham during the 2021 year, including any amendments that were made effective during the 2021 year, as applicable.
Lawrence Bruno
Mr. Bruno serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective from May 20, 2020, pursuant to an employment agreement entered into on March 1, 2019 and subsequently amended and restated effective as of October 15, 2021. Unless either the Company or Mr. Bruno gives notice to terminate the agreement, the agreement will automatically renew each year on the anniversary of the effective date for a successive one-year term. Mr. Bruno’s employment agreement entitles him to a base salary of $820,000 per year, subject to increase at the discretion of the Compensation Committee, and the opportunity to earn an annual bonus of up to 200% of his then-current annual base salary dependent upon his reaching certain performance objectives established by the Compensation Committee and described above under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Elements of Compensation – Non-Equity Incentive Compensation.” The employment agreement allows Mr. Bruno to participate in all of our benefit plans and programs that are generally available to our other executive employees.
Christopher S. Hill
Mr. Hill serves as our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to an employment agreement entered into on March 1, 2019 and subsequently amended and restated effective as of October 15, 2021. Unless either the Company or Mr. Hill gives notice to terminate the agreement, the agreement will automatically renew each year on the anniversary of the effective date for a successive one-year term. Mr. Hill’s employment agreement entitles him to a base salary of $430,000 per year, subject to increase at the discretion of the Compensation Committee, and the opportunity to earn an annual bonus of up to 150% of his then-current annual base salary dependent upon his reaching certain performance objectives established by the Compensation Committee and described above under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Elements of Compensation – Non-Equity Incentive Compensation.” The employment agreement allows Mr. Hill to participate in all of our benefit plans and programs that are generally available to our other executive employees.
Gwendolyn Y. Gresham
Ms. Gresham serves as our Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations pursuant to an employment agreement entered into on March 1, 2019 and subsequently amended and restated effective as of October 15, 2021. Unless either the Company or Ms. Gresham gives notice to terminate the agreement, the agreement will automatically renew each year on the anniversary of the effective date for a successive one-year term. Ms. Gresham’s employment agreement entitles her to a base salary of $370,000 per year, subject to increase at the discretion of the Compensation Committee, and the opportunity to earn an annual bonus of up to 130% of her then-current annual base salary dependent upon her reaching certain performance objectives established by the Compensation Committee and described above under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Elements of Compensation – Non-Equity Incentive Compensation.” The employment agreement allows Ms. Gresham to participate in all of our benefit plans and programs that are generally available to our other executive employees.
Mark D. Tattoli
Mr. Tattoli serves as our Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel pursuant to an employment agreement entered into effective as of October 15, 2021. Unless either the Company or Mr. Tattoli gives notice to terminate the agreement, the agreement will automatically renew each year on the anniversary of the effective date for a successive one-year term. Mr. Tattoli’s employment agreement entitles him to a base salary of $350,000 per year, subject to increase at the discretion of the Compensation Committee, and the opportunity to earn an annual bonus of up to 130% of his then-current annual base salary dependent upon him reaching certain performance objectives established by the Compensation Committee and described above under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Elements of Compensation – Non-Equity Incentive Compensation.” The employment
42
agreement allows Mr. Tattoli to participate in all of our benefit plans and programs that are generally available to our other executive employees.
The following table provides information concerning stock that has not vested and equity incentive plan awards for our Chief Executive Officer and each of our other NEOs as of the end of our last completed fiscal year. None of our NEOs held unexercised options as of the end of our last completed fiscal year.
Outstanding Equity Awards
at December 31, 2021
|
|
Performance Share Award Program |
|
|
Restricted Share Award Program |
|
||||||||||
Name of Executive |
|
Equity and Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (1) (#) |
|
|
Equity and Incentive Plan Awards: Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (2) ($) |
|
|
Equity and Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (1) (#) |
|
|
Equity and Incentive Plan Awards: Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (2) ($) |
|
||||
Lawrence Bruno |
|
|
278,076 |
|
|
|
6,203,876 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Christopher S. Hill |
|
|
98,457 |
|
|
|
2,196,576 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Gwendolyn Y. Gresham (3) |
|
|
32,775 |
|
|
|
731,210 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Mark D. Tattoli (3) |
|
|
6,900 |
|
|
|
153,939 |
|
|
|
7,840 |
|
|
|
174,910 |
|
(1) |
Awards shown are at maximum award for the 2021 PSAP grants for Mr. Bruno, Ms. Gresham and Mr. Hill and the maximum award for the 2020 PSAP grants for Mr. Bruno and Mr. Hill. Based on past performance of the Company, we believe that future performance will meet the top criteria and 150% of the award will vest. |
(2) |
Market Value is based on the closing price on December 31, 2021 (the last NYSE trading day of the year) of $22.31 per share. |
(3) |
Ms. Gresham and Mr. Tattoli were not NEOs in 2020. |
Vesting Schedule for Unvested PSAPs
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vesting Schedule |
|
|||||
Name of Executive |
|
Type of Award |
|
Grant Date |
|
2022 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
Lawrence Bruno |
|
PSAP |
|
February 11, 2020 |
|
|
136,818 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
February 19, 2021 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
141,258 |
|
Christopher S. Hill |
|
PSAP |
|
February 11, 2020 |
|
|
47,532 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
February 19, 2021 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
50,925 |
|
Gwendolyn Y. Gresham |
|
PSAP |
|
February 11, 2020 |
|
|
12,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
February 19, 2021 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
20,715 |
|
Mark D. Tattoli |
|
PSAP |
|
February 19, 2021 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
6,900 |
|
Vesting Schedule for Unvested RSAPs
43
The following table provides information concerning each vesting of stock, including restricted stock, restricted stock units and similar instruments during the last completed fiscal year on an aggregated basis with respect to each of our NEOs.
Stock Vested
for the Year Ended December 31, 2021
|
|
Stock Awards |
|
|||||
Name of Executive |
|
Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) |
|
|
Value Realized on Vesting ($) |
|
||
Lawrence Bruno |
|
|
46,233 |
|
|
|
1,031,458 |
|
Christopher S. Hill |
|
|
23,529 |
|
|
|
524,932 |
|
Gwendolyn Y. Gresham |
|
|
4,700 |
|
|
|
104,857 |
|
Mark D. Tattoli |
|
|
1,640 |
|
|
|
48,568 |
|
The following table provides information relating to our NEOs’ benefits in our nonqualified deferred compensation plans, including, with respect to each NEO, the aggregate contributions made by such NEO during the year ended December 31, 2021, the aggregate contributions made by the Company during the year ended December 31, 2021 on behalf of the NEO, the aggregate interest or other earnings accrued during the year ended December 31, 2021, the aggregate value of withdrawals and distributions to the NEO during the year ended December 31, 2021, and the balance of each account as of December 31, 2021.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
for the Year Ended December 31, 2021
Name of Executive |
|
Aggregate Balance at December 31, 2020 ($) |
|
|
Executive Contributions in 2021 (1) ($) |
|
|
Company Contributions in 2021 (2) ($) |
|
|
Aggregate Earnings (Losses) in 2021 ($) |
|
|
Aggregate Withdrawals/ (Distributions) ($) |
|
|
Aggregate Balance at December 31, 2021 ($) |
|
||||||
Lawrence Bruno |
|
|
1,279,015 |
|
|
|
69,905 |
|
|
|
164,000 |
|
|
|
198,348 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,711,268 |
|
Christopher S. Hill |
|
|
671,409 |
|
|
|
15,492 |
|
|
|
48,655 |
|
|
|
107,610 |
|
|
|
(32,059 |
) |
|
|
811,107 |
|
Gwendolyn Y. Gresham |
|
|
230,335 |
|
|
|
8,965 |
|
|
|
37,000 |
|
|
|
27 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
276,327 |
|
Mark D. Tattoli |
|
|
287,280 |
|
|
|
18,663 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
63,693 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
369,636 |
|
(1) |
All amounts reflected in this column were originally reported as “Salary” within the Summary Compensation table. |
(2) |
Company contributions are included in the Summary Compensation table in the All Other Compensation column for 2021. |
Since 2006, the Company has made certain matching contributions on participant salary reduction deferrals to our nonqualified deferred compensation plan. The plan also provides for employer contributions equal in amount to certain forfeitures of, and/or reductions in, employer contributions that participants could have received under our 401(k) plan in the absence of certain limitations imposed by the IRS Code. Distributions of a participant’s plan benefits can only be made under certain prescribed circumstances, such as termination of employment or upon a specified date as elected by the participant. In the event of a termination of employment (other than by death or disability) of a “key employee,” distributions must be delayed for six months. A participant’s plan benefits include the participant’s deferrals, the vested portion of the employer’s contributions, and deemed investment gains and losses on such amounts. In the case of a participant who dies while employed with the Company, an additional $50,000 life insurance benefit will also be paid under the nonqualified deferred compensation plan to the participant’s beneficiary. The plan was amended in 2008 to comply with the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 to reflect certain statutorily mandated requirements applicable to the plan. For additional information, see “Components of Executive Compensation – Deferred Compensation Plan.”
44
We have entered into certain agreements and maintain certain plans that require us to provide compensation and/or benefits to our NEOs in the event of a termination of employment or a change in control of the Company.
Messrs. Bruno and Hill and Ms. Gresham entered into their respective employment agreements on March 1, 2019, as amended and restated on October 18, 2021, and each could receive potential benefits pursuant to those agreements at termination or upon the occurrence of certain events. The compensation and benefits described in the tables beginning on page 48 assume that any termination of employment for Messrs. Bruno or Hill, or Ms. Gresham, was effective as of December 31, 2021, and thus includes amounts earned through that date.
Mr. Tattoli entered into his employment agreement on October 18, 2021, and could receive potential benefits pursuant to that agreement at termination or upon the occurrence of certain events. The compensation and benefits described in the tables beginning on page 48 assume that any termination of employment for Mr. Tattoli was effective as of December 31, 2021, and thus includes amounts earned through that date.
The tables beginning on page 48 provide estimates of the compensation and benefits that would be provided to the applicable NEOs upon their termination of employment or a change in control; however, in the event of an NEO’s separation from the Company or a change in control event, any actual amounts will be determined based on the facts and circumstances in existence at that time.
The Bruno, Hill, Gresham and Tattoli Employment Agreements
Effective October 15, 2021, we amended and restated the 2019 employment agreements with Messrs. Bruno and Hill and Ms. Gresham, and entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Tattoli (collectively the “2021 Employment Agreements”). These agreements are also described in “Information About Our Named Executive Officers and Executive Compensation – Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table – Employment Agreements.”
Pursuant to the terms of the 2021 Employment Agreements, in the event that (A) any of the executives are terminated by the Company for any reason other than (i) death, (ii) Disability (as defined below), (iii) Cause (as defined below), or (iv) the executive’s material breach of a material provision of his or her 2021 Employment Agreement, (B) the executive terminates his or her employment with the Company for Good Reason (as defined below), or (C) the Company determines not to renew the executive’s employment agreement with the Company at expiration of the term, the executive shall be entitled to receive the following:
(I) if such termination occurs at any time other than within two years following a Change in Control (as defined below):
(1) an amount equal to the sum of (a) a multiple of the executive’s annual base salary in effect immediately prior to the termination (such multiple being two (2) times for Mr. Bruno and one and one-half (1 ½) times for Mr. Hill, Ms. Gresham and Mr. Tattoli), plus (b) a pro-rata bonus calculated by multiplying the target incentive bonus amount for the year in which the termination occurs by the number of days during the applicable year that the executive was employed (the “Pro-Rata Bonus”) (together, the “Severance Payment”); and
(2) continued coverage under the Company’s medical, dental, and group life insurance plans for the executive, the executive’s spouse and the executive’s dependent children after termination at no cost to the executive for twenty-four (24) months for Mr. Bruno and eighteen (18) months for Mr. Hill, Ms. Gresham, and Mr. Tattoli, and thereafter, such coverage may be extended provided the executive pays the employee portion of the insurance premium; accelerated vesting of outstanding equity awards, with the vesting of performance-based awards measured against performance criteria as of the most recent quarter-end; and reimbursement of up to $25,000 for outplacement services for a period of twelve months following termination.
45
(II) if such termination occurs at any time within two years following a Change in Control (as defined below):
(1) an amount equal to the sum of (a) a multiple (three (3) for Mr. Bruno and two and one-half (2 ½) for Mr. Hill, Ms. Gresham and Mr. Tattoli) times the sum of (i) the executive’s annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to the termination, and (ii) the target annual incentive bonus the executive could have earned for the year of termination, plus (b) the Pro-Rata Bonus (together, the “Change in Control Payment”); and
(2) continued coverage under the Company’s medical, dental and group life insurance plans for the executive, executive’s spouse and the executive’s dependent children at no cost to the executive for thirty-six (36) months for Mr. Bruno and thirty (30) months for Mr. Hill, Ms. Gresham and Mr. Tattoli, and thereafter, such coverage may be extended provided the executive pays the employee portion of the insurance premium; accelerated vesting of outstanding equity awards, with the vesting of performance-based awards measured against performance criteria as of the most recent quarter-end; and reimbursement of up to $25,000 for outplacement services for a period of twelve months following termination.
In the event that the payments and benefits received by an executive in connection with a Change in Control constitute “parachute payments” (as defined in Section 280G of the Code), the payments and benefits provided to that executive shall either be reduced to $1.00 below the amount that would subject the payments to excise taxes pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code, or paid in full, whichever will result in the better net tax position for the executive.
The 2021 Employment Agreements provide that any unvested contributions to the executives’ accounts with respect to our Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan would vest upon the executive reaching age 62 and would likewise immediately vest upon (i) termination of the executive’s employment due to death or Disability, (ii) non-renewal of the executive’s employment agreement with the Company, (iii) termination by the executive for Good Reason, or (iv) a Change in Control event. The 2021 Employment Agreements also provide that notwithstanding anything to the contrary within an individual award agreement, any restricted stock awards granted to the executive will not be forfeited upon the executive’s voluntary retirement on or after age 62. Additionally, the 2021 Employment Agreements provide benefits to each executive upon his or her voluntary retirement on or after age 62, consisting of continued coverage under the Company’s medical, dental, and group life insurance plans for the executive, the executive’s spouse and the executive’s dependent children after termination at no cost to the executive for twenty-four (24) months for Mr. Bruno and eighteen (18) months for Mr. Hill, Ms. Gresham, and Mr. Tattoli, and thereafter, such coverage may be extended provided the executive pays the employee portion of the insurance premium.
The Severance Payment or the Change in Control Payment, as applicable, will generally be paid to the executive in equal installments over a twelve-month period following the applicable termination of employment, although certain payments may be made at different times in order to comply with Section 409A of the Code.
The 2021 Employment Agreements contain customary confidentiality restrictions and impose noncompetition restrictions on the executives during their employment and for a period of two years following a termination of employment for any reason other than a termination by us without Cause or by the executive without Good Reason.
For purposes of the 2021 Employment Agreements, the terms below are generally defined as follows:
|
• |
“Cause” means the executive (i) has been convicted of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or a felony, (ii) has engaged in conduct which is materially injurious (monetarily or otherwise) to us or any of our affiliates, or (iii) has engaged in gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of executive’s duties. |
|
• |
“Change in Control” means a merger of the Company with another entity, a consolidation involving the Company, or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company if (i) the holders of equity securities of the Company immediately prior to the transaction do not beneficially own immediately after the transaction 50% or more of the common equity of the resulting entity, (ii) the holders of equity securities of the Company immediately prior to the transaction do not beneficially own immediately after the transaction 50% of the voting securities of the resulting entity, or (iii) the persons who were members of the Supervisory Board of Directors immediately prior to the transaction are not the majority of the board of the resulting entity immediately after the transaction. A Change in Control also occurs when (i) there is shareholder approval of a plan of dissolution or liquidation of the Company, |
46
|
(ii) any person or entity acquires or gains ownership of control of more than 30% of the combined voting power of outstanding securities of the Company or resulting entity, or (iii) a change in the composition of the Supervisory Board of Directors the results of which are that fewer than a majority of the supervisory directors are incumbent directors. |
|
• |
“Disability” means that the executive has become incapacitated by accident, sickness or other circumstance that renders the executive mentally or physically incapable of performing the duties and services required of the executive pursuant to the 2021 Employment Agreements on a full-time basis for a period of at least 180 consecutive calendar days. |
|
• |
“Good Reason” means (i) a material diminution in the executive’s authority, duties or responsibilities, (ii) a permanent change in location of executive’s principal place of employment that is more than 50 miles away from the prior location, (iii) a material breach by us of any material provision of the 2021 Employment Agreements, or (iv) a material diminution of the executive’s annual base salary. |
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan
See the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table on page 44 and subsequent narrative discussion for a description of the benefits payable to the NEOs under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan upon death or separation from service and in connection with a change in control.
Equity Award Program
Awards under our PSAP and RSAP will vest in full in the event an NEO’s service is terminated by reason of his or her death or disability or upon the occurrence of a Change in Control. As of December 31, 2021, following the vesting of the 2019 PSAP award, Mr. Bruno has two PSAP awards worth $6.2 million, Mr. Hill has two PSAP awards worth $2.2 million, Ms. Gresham has two PSAP awards worth $0.7 million and Mr. Tattoli has one PSAP award worth $0.2 million and seven RSAP award worth $0.2 million. Please see table in “Information About Our Named Executive Officers - Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End” on page 43 for further description of the assumptions used to calculate the value of the awards.
The tables below reflect the amount of compensation that would be payable to each of Messrs. Bruno, Hill, Ms. Gresham and Mr. Tattoli in various scenarios involving termination of the NEO's employment, including following a change in control. The amount of compensation payable to each applicable NEO upon voluntary termination, involuntary not-for-cause termination (non-change in control), voluntary termination for good cause or involuntary termination following a change in control, involuntary for cause termination, and termination in the event of death or disability of each applicable NEO is shown below. The amounts shown assume that the termination was effective on December 31, 2021, and thus includes amounts earned through that time and are estimates of the amounts which would be paid out to the applicable NEOs upon their termination. The amounts payable upon termination following a change in control assume that the change in control occurred on December 31, 2021, and the termination was effective the same day. The actual amounts to be paid out can only be determined at the time of the applicable NEO's separation from us. Each NEO would also have available the value of unvested shares reflected in the Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End table, if any. The value of accelerated equity award amounts reflected below have been calculated using the closing price of our common stock on December 31, 2021 (the last trading day of 2021) of $22.31.
47
Lawrence Bruno |
|
Voluntary Termination on 12/31/2021 (1) ($) |
|
|
Involuntary Not For Cause Termination on 12/31/2021 (1) ($) |
|
|
For Cause Termination on 12/31/2021 ($) |
|
|
Termination related to Change-in- Control on 12/31/2021 ($) |
|
|
Disability on 12/31/2021 (1) ($) |
|
|
Death on 12/31/2021 (1) ($) |
|
||||||
Compensation: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Severance |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,640,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4,920,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Short-term Incentive |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
820,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
820,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Long-term Incentives: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accelerated Equity Award Programs |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
6,203,876 |
|
|
|
6,203,876 |
|
|
|
6,203,876 |
|
Benefits & Perquisites: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Health and Welfare Benefits |
|
|
425,200 |
|
|
|
425,200 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
425,200 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Outplacement Services |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Accelerated Deferred Comp |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Total |
|
|
425,200 |
|
|
|
2,910,200 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
12,394,076 |
|
|
|
6,203,876 |
|
|
|
6,203,876 |
|
Christopher S. Hill |
|
Voluntary Termination on 12/31/2021 (1) ($) |
|
|
Involuntary Not For Cause Termination on 12/31/2021 (1) ($) |
|
|
For Cause Termination on 12/31/2021 ($) |
|
|
Termination related to Change-in- Control on 12/31/2021 ($) |
|
|
Disability on 12/31/2021 (1) ($) |
|
|
Death on 12/31/2021 (1) ($) |
|
||||||
Compensation: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Severance |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
645,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,881,250 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Short-term Incentive |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
322,500 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
322,500 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Long-term Incentives: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accelerated Equity Award Programs |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2,196,576 |
|
|
|
2,196,576 |
|
|
|
2,196,576 |
|
Benefits & Perquisites: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Health and Welfare Benefits |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
596,600 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
596,600 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Outplacement Services |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Accelerated Deferred Comp |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
48,655 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
48,655 |
|
|
|
48,655 |
|
|
|
48,655 |
|
Total |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,637,755 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
5,070,581 |
|
|
|
2,245,231 |
|
|
|
2,245,231 |
|
48
Gwendolyn Y. Gresham |
|
Voluntary Termination on 12/31/2021 (1) ($) |
|
|
Involuntary Not For Cause Termination on 12/31/2021 (1) ($) |
|
|
For Cause Termination on 12/31/2021 ($) |
|
|
Termination related to Change-in- Control on 12/31/2021 ($) |
|
|
Disability on 12/31/2021 (1) ($) |
|
|
Death on 12/31/2021 (1) ($) |
|
||||||
Compensation: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Severance |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
555,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,618,750 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Short-term Incentive |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
277,500 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
277,500 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Long-term Incentives: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accelerated Equity Award Programs |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
731,210 |
|
|
|
731,210 |
|
|
|
731,210 |
|
Benefits & Perquisites: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Health and Welfare Benefits |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
371,500 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
371,500 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Outplacement Services |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Accelerated Deferred Comp |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
37,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
37,000 |
|
|
|
37,000 |
|
|
|
37,000 |
|
Total |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,266,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
3,060,960 |
|
|
|
768,210 |
|
|
|
768,210 |
|
Mark D. Tattoli |
|
Voluntary Termination on 12/31/2021 (1) ($) |
|
|
Involuntary Not For Cause Termination on 12/31/2021 (1) ($) |
|
|
For Cause Termination on 12/31/2021 ($) |
|
|
Termination related to Change-in- Control on 12/31/2021 ($) |
|
|
Disability on 12/31/2021 (1) ($) |
|
|
Death on 12/31/2021 (1) ($) |
|
||||||
Compensation: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Severance |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
525,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,531,250 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Short-term Incentive |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
262,500 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
262,500 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Long-term Incentives: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accelerated Equity Award Programs |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
328,849 |
|
|
|
328,849 |
|
|
|
328,849 |
|
Benefits & Perquisites: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Health and Welfare Benefits |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
675,300 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
675,300 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Outplacement Services |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Accelerated Deferred Comp |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Total |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,487,800 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2,822,899 |
|
|
|
328,849 |
|
|
|
328,849 |
|
(1) |
Messrs. Bruno and Hill and Ms. Gresham and Mr. Tattoli could vest in PSAP and RSAP awards following termination if the performance criteria for vesting is met at the end of the Performance Period. See table of Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End on page 43. |
Pay Ratio Disclosure
Pursuant to Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K, we are required to disclose the ratio of our CEO's compensation to the annual total compensation of our median employee with respect to fiscal year 2021:
We determined that the annual total compensation of our CEO, Mr. Bruno, for 2021 was $6,548,130 for the purpose of the CEO pay ratio calculation. We determined that the median of the annual total compensation from the population of our employees (other than Mr. Bruno) was $76,662; therefore, the ratio of these two amounts is 85 to 1. Please see the Summary Compensation table on page 40 for our CEO's compensation for 2021.
Our most recent identification of the median employee was performed in 2020, during which we prepared a database including the total cash compensation consisting of base salary, allowance, bonus and other cash compensation paid as reflected in our payroll records, for our global workforce (other than our CEO). As needed, amounts were converted from local currency to U.S. dollars.
49
For the median employee we identified from the database in 2020, who remained active in 2021, we updated all compensation elements of the median employee for 2021 to calculate total annual compensation with the same methodology used in the Summary Compensation table in accordance with SEC rules and regulations.
The pay ratio reported above is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with SEC rules based on our internal payroll and employment records, and the methodology described above. SEC rules for identifying the median compensated employee and calculating the pay ratio based on that employee’s annual total compensation allow companies to adopt a variety of methodologies, to apply certain exclusions, and to make reasonable estimates and assumptions that reflect their compensation practices. Accordingly, the pay ratio reported by other companies may not be comparable to the pay ratio for our Company.
50
In preparation for the filing of this proxy statement with the SEC, the Compensation Committee:
|
• |
reviewed and discussed the Company's disclosure set forth herein below the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” with management; and |
|
• |
based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, recommended to the Supervisory Board that the disclosure set forth herein below the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” be included in this proxy statement and incorporated by reference into our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. |
Submitted by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Supervisory Directors.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Michael Straughen (Chairman)
Gregory Barnett
Kwaku Temeng
51
For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Audit Committee consisted of Ms. Carnes and Messrs. Klingensmith and Straughen. The Company has determined that: (1) each member of the Audit Committee is independent, as defined in Section 10A of the Exchange Act and under the standards set forth by the NYSE and, to the extent consistent therewith, the Dutch Code; and (2) all current Audit Committee members are financially literate. In addition, Ms. Carnes qualifies as an audit committee financial expert under the applicable rules promulgated pursuant to the Exchange Act and as defined in the Dutch Code.
During the last fiscal year, and earlier this year in preparation for the filing with the SEC of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, the Audit Committee:
|
• |
reviewed and discussed the Company's audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021 with management and with the independent registered public accountants; |
|
• |
considered the adequacy of the Company's internal controls and the quality of its financial reporting, and discussed these matters with management, with the internal auditors and with the independent registered public accountants; |
|
• |
reviewed and discussed with the independent registered public accountants (1) their judgments as to the quality of the Company's accounting policies, (2) and has also received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accountants required by Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Independence Rules, and the independent registered public accountants' independence, and (3) the matters required to be discussed by Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Auditing Standard 1301, Communication with Audit Committees; |
|
• |
discussed with management, with the internal auditors and with the independent registered public accountants the process by which the Company's chief executive officer and chief financial officer make the certifications required by the SEC in connection with the filing with the SEC of the Company's periodic reports, including reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q; |
|
• |
pre-approved all auditing services and non-audit services to be performed for the Company by the independent registered public accountants as required by the applicable rules promulgated pursuant to the Exchange Act, considered whether the rendering of non-audit services was compatible with maintaining KPMG's independence, and concluded that KPMG's independence was not compromised by the provision of such services (details regarding the fees paid to KPMG in fiscal 2021 for audit services, audit-related services, tax services and all other services, are set forth at “Audit Fee Summary” below); and |
|
• |
based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, recommended to the Supervisory Board that the financial statements referred to above be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. |
A copy of the Audit Committee's written charter may be found on the Company's website at http://www.corelab.com/cr/governance.
Notwithstanding the foregoing actions and the responsibilities set forth in the Audit Committee's charter, it is not the duty of the Audit Committee to plan or conduct audits or to determine that the Company's financial statements are complete and accurate and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Management is responsible for the Company's financial reporting process including its system of internal controls, and for the preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The independent registered public accountants are responsible for expressing an opinion on those financial statements. Audit Committee members are not employees of the Company or accountants or auditors by profession. Therefore, the Audit Committee has relied, without independent verification, on management's representation that the financial statements have been prepared with integrity and objectivity and in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and on the representations of the independent registered public accountants included in their report on the Company's financial statements.
The Audit Committee meets regularly with management and the independent and internal auditors, including private discussions with the independent registered public accountants and the Company's internal auditors and receives the
52
communications described above. The Audit Committee has also established procedures for (a) the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, and (b) the confidential, anonymous submission by the Company's employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. However, this oversight does not provide us with an independent basis to determine that management has maintained appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles or policies, or appropriate internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations. Furthermore, our considerations and discussions with management and the independent registered public accountants do not assure that the Company's financial statements are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or that the audit of the Company's financial statements has been carried out in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.
Submitted by the Audit Committee of the Board of Supervisory Directors.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Martha Z. Carnes (Chairman)
Harvey Klingensmith
Michael Straughen
53
INFORMATION ABOUT OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee approved in advance 100% of the audit fees, including all non-audit fees. For the 2020 and 2021 fiscal years, KPMG served as the Company's independent auditor. Set forth below is a summary of the total fees incurred with KPMG for service related to fiscal years 2021 and 2020. These fees consisted of:
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
||
Audit Fees |
|
|
2,835,373 |
|
|
$ |
2,883,000 |
|
Audit-Related Fees |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Tax Fees |
|
|
55,000 |
|
|
|
63,000 |
|
All Other Fees |
|
|
5,500 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Total |
|
$ |
2,895,873 |
|
|
$ |
2,946,000 |
|
Audit Fees
Audit fees consist primarily of the audit and quarterly reviews of the consolidated financial statements, assistance with and review of documents filed with the SEC in the United States and with the AFM in the Netherlands, work performed in connection with the audit and quarterly reviews, statutory audits, and the audit of internal controls in order to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. This category also includes fees for services consisting primarily of comfort letters, consents, and work performed related to other public filings.
Audit-Related Fees
Audit-related fees consist primarily of attestation services required by statute or regulation and certain agreed-upon procedures including accounting and research work necessary to comply with generally accepted auditing standards.
Tax Fees
Tax fees include professional services provided for preparation of federal and state tax returns, review of tax returns prepared by the Company, assistance in assembling data to respond to governmental reviews of past tax filings, and tax advice, exclusive of tax services rendered in connection with the audit.
All Other Fees
The fees identified under this caption were for all other non-audit services, including permissible business and advisory consulting services.
AUDIT COMMITTEE'S PRE-APPROVAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES |
The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit and non-audit services to be performed by its independent auditors, and has established policies and procedures to ensure that the Company is in full compliance with the requirements for pre-approval set forth in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the SEC rules regarding auditor independence. The policies and procedures are detailed as to the particular service and do not delegate the Audit Committee's responsibility to management.
In accordance with these policies and procedures, management submits for approval audit and non-audit services that management may wish to have the independent auditor perform during the fiscal year, accompanied by an estimated range of fees for each service to be performed. The Audit Committee pre-approves or rejects the service and an accompanying range of fees for each service desired to be performed. Management is required to seek additional Audit Committee pre-approval when management becomes aware that any pre-approved service will result in actual fees greater than the fees initially approved. During the course of the year, the chair of the Audit Committee has the authority to pre-approve requests for services. At each subsequent Audit Committee meeting, the chair of the Audit Committee reports any interim pre-approvals since the last meeting.
54
Our Articles of Association provide for one or more Supervisory Directors. Our Board of Supervisory Directors currently has seven members who are divided into three classes. Each class is elected for a term such that the term of one class of Supervisory Directors expires at the annual meeting each year.
For the 2022 annual meeting, the Board of Supervisory Directors is proposing the election of one new Class II member, and the re-election of two current Class II members, effective at the conclusion of the 2022 annual meeting. Specifically, the Board of Supervisory Directors is proposing the election of Ms. Katherine Murray as a Class II Supervisory Director and the re-election of Ms. Martha Carnes and Mr. Michael Straughen as Class II Supervisory Directors. All Class II candidates are being nominated for terms expiring at the annual meeting in 2025. Please see “Information About Our Supervisory Directors and Director Compensation - Board of Supervisory Directors” for biographical information of our Supervisory Directors.
Candidates for Supervisory Director are recommended by the NGSCR Committee to our Supervisory Board. Our Supervisory Board then nominates selected candidates, who are elected at the annual meeting by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the meeting. You may vote for all of these nominees, any one or more of these nominees, or none of these nominees. Under Dutch law and our Articles of Association, common shares abstaining from voting will not count as votes cast at the annual meeting but will count for the purpose of determining the number of shares represented at the meeting. Broker non-votes will not count as shares present at the annual meeting or for the purpose of determining the number of votes cast.
Unless otherwise instructed or unless the proxy is withdrawn, the accompanying proxy will be voted for the election of the three nominees listed above to serve under the terms and conditions described within this proxy statement. If at the time of, or prior to, the annual meeting, any of the nominees should be unable or decline to serve, the discretionary authority provided in the proxy may be used to vote for a substitute or substitutes designated by our Supervisory Board. The Supervisory Board has no reason to believe that any substitute nominees will be required. No proxy will be voted for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees named herein. Shareholders may not cumulate their votes in the election of Supervisory Directors.
The elections set out above will be put to a vote separately and those votes shall be considered to constitute separate sub-items of agenda item no. 1.
The Supervisory Board recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” the three Class II nominees for Supervisory Director as set forth above, and proxies executed and returned will be so voted unless contrary instructions are indicated thereon.
The Audit Committee of the Supervisory Board has recommended and the Supervisory Board has approved the appointment of the firm of KPMG, including its U.S. and Dutch affiliates (collectively, “KPMG”) as our independent registered public accountants for the year ending December 31, 2022, subject to approval by our shareholders. We have invited representatives of KPMG to the annual meeting and we expect one such representative to attend. If such representative should attend, we expect that he or she will be available to respond to questions and will have the opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires to do so.
The affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast at the annual meeting is required to appoint KPMG as our independent registered public accountants for 2022. Under Dutch law and our Articles of Association, common shares abstaining from voting will not count as votes cast at the annual meeting. Broker non-votes will not count as shares present at the annual meeting or for the purpose of determining the number of votes cast.
55
The Supervisory Board recommends that the shareholders vote “FOR” the appointment of KPMG as our independent registered public accountants for the year ending December 31, 2022 and proxies executed and returned will be so voted unless contrary instructions are indicated thereon.
At the annual meeting, as required under Dutch law and our Articles of Association, following a discussion of our Dutch Report of the Management Board, our shareholders will be asked to confirm and adopt our Dutch Statutory Annual Accounts (the “Annual Accounts”) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, which are our audited consolidated financial statements that are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union. In accordance with Article 408, Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code, the Annual Accounts are our annual accounts reported under IFRS standards. However, the Annual Accounts do not represent the consolidated accounts of our Company and subsidiaries as presented in our Consolidated Financial Statements contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. Companies domiciled in the United States are not generally required to obtain shareholder confirmation and adoption of annual accounts.
The affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast at the annual meeting is required to confirm and adopt the Annual Accounts. Under Dutch law and our Articles of Association, common shares abstaining from voting will not count as votes cast at the annual meeting. Broker non-votes will not count as shares present at the annual meeting or for the purpose of determining the number of votes cast.
The Supervisory Board recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” the confirmation and adoption of the Annual Accounts, and proxies executed and returned will be so voted unless contrary instructions are indicated thereon.
At the annual meeting, our shareholders will be asked to resolve to cancel all of the shares that have been repurchased and are being held by the Company, as opposed to any of its subsidiaries (collectively “we”), at 12:01 a.m. CEST on May 19, 2022.
According to the Dutch Civil Code, we and our subsidiaries may repurchase and can hold up to 50% of our issued share capital at one time, if such repurchase has been approved by the shareholders. At our most recent annual meeting on May 19, 2021, we received authority for the Management Board to repurchase up to 10% of our issued share capital for a period of eighteen (18) months, until November 19, 2022. Management believes it is in the best interest of our shareholders and stakeholders for shares held by the Company at 12:01 a.m. CEST on May 19, 2022 to be canceled. This authority is similar to that generally afforded under state law to public companies domiciled in the United States. Upon the affirmative vote of our shareholders, the shares held by the Company at 12:01 a.m. CEST on May 19, 2022 will be canceled in the manner described in Articles 2:99(2) and 2:100 of the Dutch Civil Code.
After the general meeting of shareholders, if this Item 4 is approved, we will file a copy of the extract of the minutes of the annual meeting of shareholders with the Dutch trade registry and will subsequently publish a notice of such deposit in a Dutch daily newspaper. If no creditors oppose the capital reduction within two months after the publication in a Dutch daily newspaper, then the cancellation of the shares will become effective after this two-month waiting period.
The affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast at the annual meeting is required to cancel our repurchased shares if at least half of our issued share capital is represented at the annual meeting. If less than one-half of our issued share capital is represented at the annual meeting, then the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the votes cast at the annual meeting is required to approve the cancellation of our repurchased shares. Under Dutch law and our Articles of Association, common shares abstaining from voting and broker non-votes will not count as votes cast at the annual meeting.
The Supervisory Board recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” the cancellation of our repurchased shares held by the Company at 12:01 a.m. CEST on May 19, 2022, and proxies executed and returned will be so voted unless contrary instructions are indicated thereon.
56
Pursuant to Dutch law and our Articles of Association, we and our subsidiaries are allowed to repurchase up to 50% of our issued share capital, if such repurchase has been approved by the shareholders. At our most recent annual meeting on May 19, 2021, we received authority for the Management Board to repurchase up to 10% of our issued share capital for a period of 18 months, until November 19, 2022.
For the 2022 annual meeting, it is proposed to extend and renew the existing authorization of our Management Board to repurchase up to 10% of the issued share capital, as described in more detail below, through one or more purchases at the stock exchanges where our shares are listed or otherwise, and to determine the price of shares at any price in the open market, such price not to exceed $350.00 per share or its equivalent in other currencies. This authorization of our Management Board must be renewed every 18 months. In connection with our IPO in September 1995, our shareholders authorized repurchases for a period of 18 months. At each annual meeting from 1995 through 2021, our shareholders have renewed that authorization such that the current period is set to expire on November 19, 2022. In 2021, we repurchased 300,568 common shares (this total includes open market purchases and shares withheld for taxes from vested restricted share grants) for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $8.3 million. We believe that it is in the best interest of our Company and shareholders and other stakeholders to have the flexibility to repurchase shares in the future if the Management Board deems it advisable to do so. This authority is similar to that generally afforded under state law to public companies domiciled in the United States.
At the annual meeting, our shareholders will be asked to authorize the Management Board to repurchase up to 10% of our issued share capital from time to time through one or more purchases at the stock exchanges where our shares are listed or otherwise, for an 18-month period, until November 19, 2023, and such repurchased shares may be used for any legal purpose.
The affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast at the annual meeting is required to authorize the Management Board to repurchase up to 10% of our issued share capital, as described herein, from time to time for the indicated periods from the date of the annual meeting. Under Dutch law and our Articles of Association, common shares abstaining from voting and broker non-votes will not count as votes cast at the annual meeting.
The Supervisory Board recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” the authorization of the Management Board to repurchase up to 10% of our issued share capital until November 19, 2023, through one or more purchases at the stock exchanges where our shares are listed or otherwise and to determine the price of shares at any price in the open market, such price not to exceed $350.00 per share or its equivalent in other currencies and proxies executed and returned will be so voted unless contrary instructions are indicated thereon.
Our current authorized share capital consists of 200 million common shares and 6 million preference shares, each share with a current par value of EUR 0.02. Under Dutch law and our Articles of Association, the Supervisory Board has the power to issue shares of our authorized share capital as long as the Supervisory Board has been designated and authorized by the shareholders to do so at the annual meeting. Previous authorizations of the Supervisory Board to issue shares were effective for a period of up to five years and were renewed on an annual rolling basis. In connection with our IPO in September 1995, our shareholders authorized the Supervisory Board to issue shares and/or rights with respect to our shares for a five-year period. At each annual meeting subsequent to 1995, our shareholders have extended the period such that the current period is set to expire on November 19, 2022. At the 2021 annual meeting, we obtained authorization to issue shares up to 10% of our outstanding shares per annum for an 18-month period. We are seeking this same authorization at the 2022 annual meeting. We do not have any specific plans, proposals or arrangements to issue any new shares of common stock for any purpose, with the exception of issuing repurchased shares for equity interest of the Company, including in connection with acquisitions, financings or equity compensation.
At the annual meeting, our shareholders will be asked to approve a further extension of this authority to issue shares and/or to grant rights, including options to purchase, with respect to our unissued common and preference shares up to a maximum of 10% of outstanding shares per annum for an 18-month period from the date of the annual meeting until November 19, 2023. This
57
authority to issue shares is similar to that generally afforded under state law to public companies domiciled in the United States. Management believes that retaining the flexibility to issue shares for acquisition, financing or other business purposes in a timely manner without first obtaining specific shareholder approval is important to our continued growth. Furthermore, since our common shares are listed on the NYSE in New York and the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange in Amsterdam, the issuance of additional shares will remain subject to, inter alia, the rules of the NYSE and Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange.
The affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast at the annual meeting is required to extend the authority of the Supervisory Board to issue shares and/or to grant rights (including options to purchase) with respect to our common and/or preference shares for an 18-month period from the date of the annual meeting. Under Dutch law and our Articles of Association, common shares abstaining from voting will not count as votes cast at the annual meeting. Broker non-votes will not count as shares present at the annual meeting or for the purpose of determining the number of votes cast.
The Supervisory Board recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” the extension of the authority of the Supervisory Board to issue shares and/or to grant rights (including options to purchase) with respect to our common and/or preference shares up to a maximum of 10% of outstanding shares per annum until November 19, 2023, and proxies executed and returned will be so voted unless contrary instructions are indicated thereon.
Item 7. Extension of Authority of Supervisory Board to Limit or Eliminate Preemptive Rights until November 19, 2023 |
Holders of our common shares (other than our employees and employees of our subsidiaries who are issued common shares pursuant to stock awards granted under the LTIP and the 2014 Director Plan) have a pro rata preemptive right of subscription to any of our common shares issued for cash unless such right is limited or eliminated by our Supervisory Board. Holders of our common shares have no pro rata preemptive subscription right with respect to any common shares issued for consideration other than cash. If designated and authorized by our shareholders at the annual meeting, the Supervisory Board has the power to limit or eliminate such rights. Previous authorizations were effective for up to five years and were renewed for successive five-year periods. In connection with our IPO in September 1995, our shareholders authorized the Supervisory Board to limit or eliminate the preemptive rights of holders of our common shares for a five-year period. At each annual meeting subsequent to 1995, our shareholders have extended this period such that the current period is set to expire on November 19, 2022. At the 2021 annual meeting, we obtained authorization to limit or eliminate preemptive rights up to 10% of our common shares and/or preference shares per annum for an eighteen-month period. We are seeking this same authorization at the 2022 annual meeting.
At the annual meeting, our shareholders will be asked to approve an extension of this authority for an eighteen-month period from the date of the annual meeting until November 19, 2023 to limit or eliminate preemptive rights up to a maximum of 10% of outstanding shares per annum. Preemptive rights are uncommon for public companies domiciled in the United States. Management believes that if the Supervisory Board is not granted the authority to limit preemptive rights, the ability of our Company to engage in equity financing transactions would be significantly affected. Any limits or waivers of preemptive rights would apply equally to all holders of our common shares. Furthermore, since our common shares are listed on the NYSE in New York and the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange in Amsterdam, the rights to limit or eliminate preemptive rights will remain subject to, inter alia, the rules of the NYSE and Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange.
The affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast at the annual meeting is required to extend the authority of the Supervisory Board to limit or eliminate the preemptive rights of holders of our common shares for an eighteen-month period from the date of the annual meeting. However, if less than 50% of all issued shares are present or represented at the meeting, then two-thirds of the votes cast will be required to extend this authority. Under Dutch law and our Articles of Association, common shares abstaining from voting will not count as votes cast at the annual meeting. Broker non-votes will not count as shares present at the annual meeting or for the purpose of determining the number of votes cast.
The Supervisory Board recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” the extension of the authority of the Supervisory Board to limit or eliminate preemptive rights of holders of our common shares and/or preference shares up to a maximum of 10% of outstanding shares per annum until November 19, 2023, and proxies executed and returned will be so voted unless contrary instructions are indicated thereon.
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Item 8(a). To Approve, On an Advisory Basis, the Compensation of our Named Executive Officers as Described in the CD&A Section of this Proxy Statement |
We and our Supervisory Board recognize that executive compensation is an important matter for our shareholders. As described in detail in the Compensation Committee's report and the CD&A section of this proxy statement, the Compensation Committee is tasked with the implementation of our executive compensation philosophy and the core of that philosophy has been and continues to be to pay our executives based on our performance. In particular, the Compensation Committee strives to base awards of the substantial majority of executive compensation on performance metrics that are directly linked to the consequent long-term increase in the value of the Company for its owners - the shareholders. It is always the intention of the Compensation Committee that our NEOs be compensated competitively and consistent with our strategy, sound corporate governance principles, and shareholder interests and concerns. As described in the CD&A section, we believe our compensation program is strongly aligned with the long-term interests of our shareholders. As you consider this proposal, we urge you to read the CD&A section of this proxy statement for additional details on executive compensation, including the more detailed information about our compensation philosophy and objectives and the past compensation of the NEOs.
We believe that the shareholders, by voting for supervisory directors individually as described in Item No. 1, have had a clear ability to express their approval or disapproval of the performance of the Supervisory Board members and, specifically, any Supervisory Directors serving on the Compensation Committee; however, the United States Congress has enacted legislation requiring a non-binding advisory “Say on Pay” vote on executive compensation and we welcome the opportunity to give our shareholders an opportunity to provide us with such a vote on executive compensation at our 2022 Annual Meeting.
We are therefore asking shareholders to vote on the following resolution:
The shareholders approve the compensation philosophy, policies and procedures described in the CD&A, and the compensation of Core Laboratories N.V.'s named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's (“SEC”) compensation disclosure rules, including the compensation tables.
As an advisory vote, Item 8 is non-binding. Although the vote is non-binding, the Supervisory Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee value the opinions of our shareholders, and will carefully consider the outcome of the vote when making future compensation decisions for our named executive officers.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of Company common stock present or represented by proxy and voting at the annual meeting is required for approval of this agenda item. Under Dutch law and our Articles of Association, common shares abstaining from voting and broker non-votes will not count as votes cast at the annual meeting. If you own shares through a bank, broker or other holder of record, you must instruct your bank, broker or other holder of record how to vote in order for them to vote your shares so that your vote can be counted on this proposal.
The Supervisory Board recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” the approval of, on an advisory basis, the compensation philosophy, policies and procedures described in the CD&A, and the compensation of Core Laboratories N.V.’s named executive officers disclosed pursuant to the SEC’s compensation disclosure rules, including the compensation tables.
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Item 8(b). Advisory vote on the remuneration report as referred to in Section 2:135b of the Dutch Civil Code for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 |
On December 1, 2019, Dutch legislation implementing the revised European shareholders rights directive (Directive (EU) 2017/828) came into force, stipulating new requirements with respect to the remuneration report of Dutch listed companies. As the new Dutch requirements with respect to the remuneration report deviate to a certain extent from the requirements with respect the CD&A under applicable laws and regulations of the United States, a separate remuneration report in line with the Dutch legal requirements will be presented to the general meeting for an advisory vote.
We are asking shareholders to cast a favorable advisory vote on the remuneration report as referred to in Section 2:135b of the Dutch Civil Code for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, a copy of which is available on our website at www.corelab.com.
Next year's remuneration report will contain an explanation on how this year’s advisory vote by the general meeting has been taken into account.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of Company common stock present or represented by proxy and voting at the annual meeting is required for approval of this agenda item. Under Dutch law and our Articles of Association, common shares abstaining from voting and broker non-votes will not count as votes cast at the annual meeting. If you own shares through a bank, broker or other holder of record, you must instruct your bank, broker or other holder of record how to vote in order for them to vote your shares so that your vote can be counted on this proposal.
The Supervisory Board recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” the proposal to cast a favorable advisory vote on the remuneration report as referred to in Section 2:135b of the Dutch Civil Code for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.
The Supervisory Board does not know of any other matters that are to be presented for action at the annual meeting. However, if any other matters properly come before the annual meeting or any adjournment thereof, it is intended that the accompanying proxy will be voted in accordance with the judgment of the persons voting the proxy.
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Any shareholder who qualifies under applicable law to have the right to submit a matter for inclusion in the Company's proxy material for consideration at the 2023 annual meeting may submit such matter, including recommendations for nominees for supervisory directorships, to the Company.
As a company registered in the Netherlands whose shares are traded on a U.S. securities exchange, we are governed by Dutch company law rules and U.S. rules and timeframes regarding the access rights of shareholders to submit a matter for inclusion in the Company's proxy material for consideration at an annual meeting. Effective July 1, 2013, Dutch company law rules were amended to increase the minimum threshold in order for shareholders to submit an item for the agenda of the annual meeting. Since that amendment, Dutch law requires that an agenda item may only be submitted by one or more shareholders representing at least three percent of the issued share capital of the Company. The Company’s Articles of Association follow this law and are not more restrictive than this. In order for such matter to be included in the Company's proxy materials or presented at the 2023 annual meeting, the qualified shareholder(s) must submit the matter to the Company's Secretary at the address indicated on page 5 of this proxy statement not later than the 60th day before the date on which the 2022 annual meeting will be held.
Under U.S. securities laws, if you wish to have a proposal included in our proxy statement for the 2023 annual meeting, then in addition to the above requirements, you also need to follow the procedures outlined in Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which we refer to as the Exchange Act, and the deadline for submitting your proposal to us is earlier than the deadline specified above. For your proposal to be eligible for inclusion in our proxy statement for our 2022 annual meeting, we must receive your proposal at our registered offices in the Netherlands not later than 120 days nor earlier than 150 days before the first anniversary of the date of the 2023 annual meeting of shareholders. Accordingly, any such notice must be received no earlier than December 25, 2022, and no later than January 24, 2023, and must otherwise satisfy the requirements of our bylaws. Under the rules of the Exchange Act, we may use discretionary authority to vote with respect to any proposal not included in our proxy materials that is presented by a shareholder in person at the 2023 annual meeting of shareholders if the shareholder making the proposal has not given notice to us by January 24, 2023. At this point, the Company anticipates conducting the 2023 annual meeting in mid-May, 2023.
Just as with the right of shareholders to submit an item for the agenda, we also follow the full contours of Dutch law, without further restriction, on the rights of shareholders to request a shareholder meeting. Our Articles of Association (art. 18.3) specifically mandate that shareholder meetings can be convened by shareholders with due observance of article 2:110 of the Dutch Civil Code, which is the article that addresses this subject under Dutch law. That provision of Dutch law provides that only one or more shareholders representing at least ten percent (10%) of the issued share capital may make a request to the Management and Supervisory Boards to convene a meeting to be held within eight weeks and also provides a procedure to approach the Dutch Court, if those Boards fail to call such a meeting in a timely fashion.
The Company is sending only one copy of its proxy statement to shareholders who share the same address, unless they have notified the Company that they want to continue receiving multiple copies. This practice, known as “householding,” is designed to reduce duplicate mailings and save significant printing and postage costs as well as natural resources.
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If you received mail via post this year and you would like to have additional copies of the Company's proxy statement mailed to you, or you would like to opt out of this practice for future mailings, please submit your request to Mark D. Tattoli, Secretary, in care of Core Laboratories LP, 6316 Windfern Road, Houston, Texas 77040 or by phone at +1 (713) 328-2673. You may also contact the Company if you received multiple copies of the annual meeting materials and would prefer to receive a single copy in the future.
The information contained in this proxy statement in the sections entitled “Compensation Committee Report” and “Report of the Audit Committee” shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or “filed” with the Securities and Exchange Commission, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates it by reference into a document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.
A copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, including the financial statements, schedules and exhibits thereto, may be obtained without charge by written request to Mark D. Tattoli, Secretary, in care of Core Laboratories LP, 6316 Windfern Road, Houston, Texas 77040.
By Order of the Board of Supervisory Directors,
Monique van Dijken Eeuwijk
Supervisory Director
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
March 22, 2022
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CORE LABORATORIES N.V. C/O COMPUTERSHARE TRUST CO., N.A. ATTN: JENNIFER HARLA 250 ROYALL STREET CANTON, MA 02021 |
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VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 2:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time on May 18, 2022. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form. |
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ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS |
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If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by our company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years. |
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VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903 |
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Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 2:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time on May 18, 2022. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions. |
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VOTE BY MAIL |
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Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. |
TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: |
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M52480-P33425-P33515 |
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KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS |
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DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY |
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.
CORE LABORATORIES N.V. |
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The Board of Supervisory Directors recommends that you vote FOR the following: |
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1. To elect one new Class II Supervisory Director and to re-elect two current Class II Supervisory Directors to serve under the terms and conditions described within the proxy statement until our annual meeting in 2025 and until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified; |
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1a) Katherine Murray |
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1b) Martha Carnes |
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1c) Michael Straughen |
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Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name, by authorized officer. |
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Signature (PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX) |
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Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:
The Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at www.proxydocs.com/clb.
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CORE LABORATORIES N.V. |
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Annual Meeting of Shareholders |
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May 19, 2022 9:00 AM CEST |
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This proxy is solicited by the Board of Supervisory Directors |
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This Proxy is being solicited on behalf of the Board of Supervisory Directors of Core Laboratories N.V. for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on Thursday, May 19, 2022. |
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The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each member of the Supervisory Board, Mark Tattoli, general counsel of the Company, Jacobus Schouten, as well as Jaap Stoop, Jules van de Winckel, Joppe Schoute and any other lawyer or notary working with NautaDutilh N.V., the Company's Dutch legal counsel, and each or any of them, his true and lawful attorneys and proxies with full power of substitution, for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Core Laboratories N.V. to be held at the Hotel Sofitel Legend the Grand Amsterdam, Oudezijds Voorburgwal 197, 1012 EX, Amsterdam The Netherlands, on Thursday, May 19, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. CEST and any adjournment(s) thereof, with all powers the undersigned would possess if personally present and to vote thereof, as provided on the reverse side of this card, the number of shares the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present. In accordance with their discretion, said attorneys and proxies are authorized to vote upon such other matters and issues as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
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THIS PROXY IS BEING SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORY DIRECTORS. THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED. IN THE ABSENCE OF DIRECTION, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE THREE NOMINEES FOR SUPERVISORY DIRECTOR IN PROPOSAL 1, FOR PROPOSALS 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8a AND 8b. |
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(If you noted any Address Changes/Comments above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse side) |
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Continued and to be signed on reverse side |
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