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 x
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 under
§240.14a-12 |
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Monster Beverage
Corporation |
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(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) |
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the
Registrant) |
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Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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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 14a6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
MONSTER BEVERAGE CORPORATION
1 Monster Way
Corona, California 92879
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD JUNE 14, 2022
April 27, 2022
Dear Stockholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of Monster Beverage Corporation (the “Company”) to be
held on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at 2:30 p.m. local time
(the “Annual Meeting”). Similar to last year, in light of the
public health impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic,
we will conduct our Annual Meeting exclusively as a virtual meeting
via live webcast. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting
in person. We believe that a virtual meeting will provide
meaningful stockholder access and participation and also protect
the health and safety of the Company’s stockholders, employees and
other stakeholders. During the virtual meeting, you may ask
questions and will be able to vote your shares electronically.
Stockholders can access the Annual Meeting by visiting:
www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/MNST2022. This proxy is
solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company.
In addition to the specific matters to be voted on at the Annual
Meeting that are listed in the accompanying notice, there will be a
report on the Company’s business and an opportunity for
stockholders of the Company to ask questions.
We are pleased to take advantage of the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission rule that allows companies to furnish
proxy materials to their stockholders over the internet. As a
result, we are mailing to our stockholders a Notice of Internet
Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) instead of a paper
copy of this proxy statement and our Annual Report to Stockholders
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. We believe this
process allows us to provide our stockholders with the information
they need in a timely manner, while reducing the environmental
impact and lowering costs of printing and distributing our proxy
materials. The Notice contains instructions on how to access those
documents over the internet. The Notice also contains instructions
on how to request a paper copy of our proxy materials, including
this proxy statement, our Annual Report to Stockholders for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and a form of proxy card
or voting instruction card.
I hope that you will be able to join us. Your vote is important to
us and to our business. I encourage you to vote by telephone, over
the internet, or if you requested to receive printed proxy
materials, by marking, signing, dating and returning your proxy
card so that your shares will be represented and voted at the
Annual Meeting, whether or not you plan to attend. If you attend
the Annual Meeting via live webcast, you will, of course, have the
right to revoke the proxy and vote your shares electronically.
The proxy materials, including this proxy statement and our Annual
Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2021, are being distributed and made available on or about
April 27, 2022.
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Sincerely, |
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/s/ Rodney C. Sacks |
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Rodney C. Sacks |
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Chairman of the Board of Directors |
MONSTER BEVERAGE CORPORATION
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD JUNE 14, 2022
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of
Monster Beverage Corporation (“Monster” or the “Company”) will be
held on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at 2:30 p.m. local time
(the “Annual Meeting”). Due to the ongoing public health impact of
the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, this year’s Annual
Meeting will be exclusively conducted as a virtual meeting via live
webcast. You will be able to attend the Annual Meeting, vote your
shares electronically and submit questions during the meeting by
visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/MNST2022. You
will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person. Additional
information regarding attending the Annual Meeting, voting your
shares and submitting questions can be found in the Proxy Statement
for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Proxy Statement”). The
Annual Meeting is being held for the following purposes:
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1. |
To elect ten directors to serve
until the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders of the Company; |
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2. |
To ratify the appointment of
Deloitte & Touche LLP to serve as the independent
registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal
year ending December 31, 2022; |
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3. |
To approve, on a non-binding,
advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive
officers; |
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4. |
To consider a stockholder proposal
regarding a report on the Company’s plans to reduce greenhouse gas
(“GHG”) emissions; and |
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5. |
To transact such other business as
may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or
postponement thereof. |
The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the
Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice. Only stockholders of the
Company of record at the close of business on April 21, 2022
are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and
any adjournment or postponement thereof.
All stockholders of the Company are cordially invited to attend the
Annual Meeting via live webcast at
www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/MNST2022 and use their
16-digit control number provided in the Notice of Internet
Availability of Proxy Materials or on the proxy card. We encourage
stockholders to log in to this website and access the webcast
before the Annual Meeting’s start time. Please note that there is
no in-person annual meeting for you to attend. However, to ensure
your representation at the Annual Meeting, you are urged to vote by
telephone, over the internet, or if you requested to receive
printed proxy materials, by marking, signing, dating and returning
your proxy card prior to the Annual Meeting. We encourage you to
send your proxies in as early as possible. You may revoke your
voted proxy at any time prior to the Annual Meeting or vote
electronically if you attend the Annual Meeting via live webcast.
However, your attendance at the Annual Meeting will not
automatically revoke your proxy unless you vote again at the Annual
Meeting electronically via live webcast, specifically request in
writing that your prior proxy be revoked, or are a beneficial
holder who requests a legal proxy.
If you encounter any technical difficulties with the virtual
meeting platform on the Annual Meeting day, please call the
technical support line number that will be posted on the virtual
meeting login page.
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Sincerely, |
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/s/ Rodney C. Sacks |
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Rodney C. Sacks |
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Chairman of the Board of Directors |
Corona, California
April 27, 2022
IMPORTANT: WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING,
YOU ARE REQUESTED TO VOTE YOUR SHARES AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE. IN
ADDITION TO VOTING ELECTRONICALLY VIA LIVE WEBCAST, STOCKHOLDERS OF
RECORD MAY VOTE VIA A TOLL FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER OR OVER THE
INTERNET AS INSTRUCTED IN THESE MATERIALS. IF YOU REQUESTED TO
RECEIVE A PROXY CARD OR VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD BY MAIL, YOU
MAY ALSO VOTE BY MARKING, SIGNING, DATING AND MAILING THE
PROXY CARD PROMPTLY IN THE RETURN ENVELOPE PROVIDED.
PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOUR SHARES ARE HELD BY A BROKER OR OTHER
INTERMEDIARY AND YOU WISH TO VOTE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, YOU MUST
OBTAIN A LEGAL PROXY FORM AND VOTE YOUR SHARES IN THE MANNER
PRESCRIBED BY THAT RECORD HOLDER.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials
for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be Held on
June 14, 2022.
The
Company’s Proxy Statement and the Company’s Annual Report to
Stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 are
available at https://materials.proxyvote.com/61174X.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
MONSTER BEVERAGE CORPORATION
PROXY STATEMENT FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
INFORMATION CONCERNING
SOLICITATION AND VOTING
General
The Board of Directors of Monster Beverage Corporation (“Monster”
or the “Company”) is soliciting proxies to be voted at the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders of the Company (the “Annual Meeting”) to be
held on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at 2:30 p.m. local time,
for the purposes set forth herein and in the accompanying Notice of
Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company. The Annual Meeting
will be exclusively conducted as a virtual meeting via live
webcast. You will be able to attend the Annual Meeting, vote your
shares electronically, examine a list of stockholders as of the
close of business on April 21, 2022 and submit questions
during the meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholder
meeting.com/MNST2022. To enter the annual meeting, you will
need the 16-digit control number that is printed on your proxy
card. We encourage stockholders to log in to this website and
access the webcast before the Annual Meeting’s start time. You will
not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person. In this proxy,
unless the context requires otherwise, references to “we,” “our,”
or “us” refer to Monster.
The proxy materials, including this proxy statement and our Annual
Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2021, are being distributed and made available on or about
April 27, 2022. This proxy statement contains important
information for you to consider when deciding how to vote on
matters brought before the Annual Meeting. Please read it
carefully.
Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials
In accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the SEC,
we have elected to provide our stockholders access to our proxy
materials over the internet. Accordingly, a Notice of Internet
Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) will be mailed on or
about April 27, 2022 to our stockholders who owned the
Company’s common stock, par value $0.005 per share (“Common
Stock”), at the close of business on April 21, 2022.
Stockholders will have the ability to access the proxy materials on
a website referred to in the Notice, or request that a printed set
of the proxy materials be sent to them by following the
instructions in the Notice.
Householding
If you are a beneficial owner, your bank or broker may deliver a
single proxy statement, along with individual proxy cards, or
individual Notices to any household at which two or more
stockholders reside unless contrary instructions have been received
from you. This procedure, referred to as householding, reduces the
volume of duplicate materials stockholders receive and reduces
mailing expenses. Stockholders may revoke their consent to future
householding mailings or enroll in householding mailings by
contacting American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC,
1-800-937-5449, or by writing to American Stock Transfer &
Trust Company, LLC, 6201 15th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11219.
Alternatively, if you wish to receive a separate set of proxy
materials for this year’s Annual Meeting, we will deliver them
promptly upon request to Monster Beverage Corporation, 1 Monster
Way, Corona, CA 92879, or by calling (951) 739-6200 or (800)
426-7367.
Record Date, Outstanding Voting Securities
Holders of record of Common Stock at the close of business on
April 21, 2022 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the
Annual Meeting. Each share entitles its holder to one vote. As of
the record date, 529,664,395 shares of our Common Stock were issued
and outstanding. There are no other outstanding voting securities
of the Company.
Quorum
The presence, via live webcast or by proxy, of the holders of
one-third of the shares of Common Stock entitled to vote at the
Annual Meeting is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual
Meeting. Such stockholders are counted as present at the Annual
Meeting if they (i) are present via live webcast at the Annual
Meeting or (ii) have properly submitted their vote by
telephone, over the internet, or by returning their proxy card.
Abstentions and withheld votes will be counted for determining
whether a quorum is present for the Annual Meeting.
Required Vote
In accordance with the Company’s by-laws:
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Directors are elected
by the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast
electronically via live webcast or by proxy by the holders of
shares of Common Stock entitled to vote in the election at the
Annual Meeting (if any nominee for director receives a greater
number of votes “withheld” than votes “for” such election, our
director resignation policy requires that such person must promptly
tender his or her resignation to the Board following certification
of the results); |
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The ratification of
Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent
registered public accounting firm shall be by the affirmative vote
of the majority of the votes cast on the proposal electronically
via live webcast or by proxy at the Annual Meeting (meaning the
number of shares voted “for” a proposal must exceed the number of
shares voted “against” such proposal); |
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The approval, on a
non-binding, advisory basis, of the compensation of the Company’s
named executive officers shall be by the affirmative vote of the
majority of the votes cast on the proposal electronically via live
webcast or by proxy at the Annual Meeting (the “Say-on-Pay
Proposal”); and |
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The approval of a
stockholder proposal regarding a report on the Company’s plans to
reduce GHG emissions, if properly presented at the Annual Meeting,
shall be by the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast
on the proposal electronically via live webcast or by proxy at the
Annual Meeting (the “Report on the Company’s Plans to Reduce GHG
Emissions Proposal”). |
In each case, provided a quorum is present.
With respect to the election of directors, you may vote “for” or
“withhold” authority to vote for each of the nominees for the
Board. If you “withhold” authority to vote with respect to one or
more director nominees, your vote will have no effect on the
election of such nominees (except with respect to the director
resignation policy). Broker non-votes will have no effect on the
election of the nominees. With respect to the other proposals, you
may vote “for”, “against” or “abstain” from voting. If you
“abstain” from voting, your vote will have no effect on these
proposals. Broker non-votes will also have no effect on the vote
for these proposals.
Non-Discretionary Proposals
If you are a beneficial owner and hold your shares in street name
and do not provide the organization that holds your shares with
voting instructions, the broker or other intermediary will
determine if it has the discretionary authority to vote on the
particular matter. Brokers and other intermediaries may not vote
uninstructed shares in (i) the election of directors,
(ii) the approval of the Say-on-Pay Proposal and
(iii) the approval of the Report on the Company’s Plans to
Reduce GHG Emissions Proposal. If your shares are held by a broker
or other intermediary and you do not instruct your broker or other
intermediary how to vote for each of these proposals, no votes will
be cast on your behalf. Therefore, it is important that you cast
your vote if you want it to count for each of these proposals.
Discretionary Proposals
Brokers that do not receive instructions are entitled to vote on
the ratification of the independent registered public accounting
firm.
No stockholder shall be entitled to cumulative voting. Broadridge
Financial Solutions, Inc. will receive and tabulate the
proxies.
Board of Directors’ Recommendations
The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors” or
the “Board”) recommends a vote:
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“FOR” each of the
nominees to the Board (Proposal One); |
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“FOR” the
ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent
registered public accountants for fiscal year 2022 (Proposal
Two); |
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“FOR” the Say-on-Pay
Proposal (Proposal Three); and |
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“AGAINST” the Report
on the Company’s Plans to Reduce GHG Emissions Proposal (Proposal
Four). |
How to Vote
If on April 21, 2022 your shares are registered directly in
your name with the Company’s registrar and transfer agent, American
Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, you are considered a
stockholder of record with respect to those shares and the Notice
was sent to you directly by the Company. As the stockholder of
record, you have the right to grant your voting proxy directly to
the Company or to vote electronically via live webcast at the
Annual Meeting.
If you are a stockholder of record and you sign and submit a proxy
card, but you do not provide voting instructions on the card, your
shares will be voted “FOR” proposals 1, 2, and 3 and “AGAINST”
proposal 4.
If on April 21, 2022 your shares are held in a brokerage
account, bank, broker-dealer, trust or similar organization, you
are considered the “beneficial owner” of those shares held in
street name and the Notice was forwarded to you by that
organization. The organization that holds your shares is considered
the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the Annual
Meeting. Because you are not the stockholder of record, you may not
vote your shares at the Annual Meeting unless you request and
obtain a valid proxy from the organization that holds your shares
giving you the right to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting. As
the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker or
other intermediary how to vote your shares and you are also invited
to attend the Annual Meeting via live webcast.
Your vote is very important to us and we hope that you will attend
the Annual Meeting via live webcast. However, whether or not you
plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please vote by proxy in
accordance with the instructions on your proxy card, voting
instruction form (from your broker or other intermediary) or the
instructions that you received through electronic mail. There are
three convenient ways of submitting your vote:
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By Telephone or
Internet - All stockholders of record can vote by touchtone
telephone from the U.S. using the toll free telephone number on the
proxy card, or over the internet using the procedures and
instructions described on the proxy card. Beneficial owners may
vote by telephone or internet if their broker or other intermediary
makes those methods available, in which case the broker or other
intermediary will enclose the instructions with the proxy
materials. The telephone and internet voting procedures are
designed to authenticate stockholders’ identities, to allow
stockholders to vote their shares and to confirm that their
instructions have been recorded properly. |
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Via Live
Webcast - All stockholders of record may vote
electronically via live webcast at the virtual Annual Meeting at
www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/MNST2022 and using their
16-digit control number provided in their proxy card. Beneficial
owners may vote electronically via live webcast at the Annual
Meeting if their broker or other intermediary has furnished a legal
proxy. If you are a beneficial owner and would like to vote your
shares by proxy, you will need to ask your broker or other
intermediary to furnish you with a legal proxy. Attendance at the
Annual Meeting will not cause your previously granted proxy to be
revoked, unless you vote again at the Annual Meeting electronically
via live webcast, specifically request in writing that your prior
proxy be revoked, or are a beneficial holder who requests a legal
proxy. |
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· |
By Written
Proxy - All stockholders of record can vote by written
proxy card, if they have requested to receive printed proxy
materials. If you are a beneficial holder and you requested to
receive printed proxy materials, you will receive a written proxy
card and a voting instruction form from your broker or other
intermediary. |
Revocability of Proxies
If you are a stockholder of record, you may revoke your proxy and
change your vote at any time before the Annual Meeting by:
(i) delivering a written notice of revocation to the Office of
the Secretary at the Company’s principal executive offices;
(ii) voting again over the internet or by telephone (only your
latest internet or telephone proxy submitted prior to the Annual
Meeting will be counted) or, if you requested and received written
proxy materials, by signing and returning a new proxy card with a
later date; or (iii) by attending the Annual Meeting via live
webcast and voting electronically.
If you are a beneficial owner, you may revoke your proxy and change
your vote at any time before the Annual Meeting by:
(i) submitting new voting instructions to your broker or other
intermediary; or (ii) if you have obtained a legal proxy from
your broker or other intermediary, by attending the Annual Meeting
via live webcast and voting electronically.
However, your attendance at the Annual Meeting will not
automatically revoke your proxy unless you vote again at the Annual
Meeting electronically via live webcast, specifically request in
writing that your prior proxy be revoked, or are a beneficial
holder who requests a legal proxy.
Solicitation
The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company. The
Company will reimburse brokerage firms and other persons
representing beneficial owners of shares for their expenses in
forwarding solicitation material to such beneficial owners. In
addition to solicitation by use of the mail or via the internet,
proxies may also be solicited by certain of the Company’s
directors, officers and regular employees, without additional
compensation, personally or by telephone, facsimile or letter. In
addition, the Company has engaged D.F. King &
Co., Inc. to act as its proxy solicitor and has agreed to pay
approximately $11,500 plus reasonable expenses for such
services.
Questions
In order to submit a question at the Annual Meeting, you will need
your 16-digit control number provided in the Notice or on the proxy
card and visit www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/MNST2022.
You may log in 15 minutes before the start of the Annual Meeting
and submit questions online, and you will be able to submit
questions during the Annual Meeting as well. We encourage you to
submit any question that is relevant to the business of the
meeting. Relevant questions will be read and addressed during the
meeting, subject to time limitations. The questions and answers
from the Annual Meeting will be available at
www.monsterbevcorp.com in the “Events &
Presentations Section” as soon as practicable following the Annual
Meeting and archived for approximately one year.
Technical Support
If you encounter any technical difficulties with the virtual
meeting platform on the Annual Meeting day, please call the
technical support line number that will be posted on the virtual
meeting login page.
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS AND
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth, as of the most recent practical
date, April 13, 2022 (unless otherwise noted below), the
beneficial ownership of the Company’s Common Stock of
(a) those persons known to the Company to be the beneficial
owners of more than 5% of the Company’s Common Stock; (b) each
of the Company’s directors and nominees for director; (c) the
Company’s named executive officers; and (d) all of the
Company’s current directors and executive officers as a group. In
computing the number and percentage of shares beneficially owned by
each person, we include any shares of Common Stock that could be
acquired within 60 days of April 13, 2022 by the exercise of
options or the vesting of restricted stock units. Such shares,
however, are not counted in computing the percentage ownership of
any other person.
Name
and Address of Beneficial Owner* |
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Amount
and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership |
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|
Percent
of Class |
Brandon
Limited Partnership No. 11 |
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5,645,568 |
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1.1% |
Brandon
Limited Partnership No. 22 |
|
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29,386,944 |
|
|
5.5% |
Hilrod
Holdings IV, L.P. |
|
|
104,772 |
|
|
**% |
Hilrod
Holdings V, L.P. |
|
|
214,284 |
|
|
**% |
Hilrod
Holdings VI, L.P. |
|
|
323,700 |
|
|
**% |
Hilrod
Holdings VII, L.P. |
|
|
120,216 |
|
|
**% |
Hilrod
Holdings VIII, L.P. |
|
|
568,584 |
|
|
**% |
Hilrod
Holdings IX, L.P. |
|
|
453,444 |
|
|
**% |
Hilrod
Holdings X, L.P. |
|
|
249,918 |
|
|
**% |
Hilrod
Holdings XI, L.P. |
|
|
505,242 |
|
|
**% |
Hilrod
Holdings XII, L.P. |
|
|
327,186 |
|
|
**% |
Hilrod
Holdings XIII, L.P. |
|
|
1,440,954 |
|
|
**% |
Hilrod
Holdings XIV, L.P. |
|
|
186,790 |
|
|
**% |
Hilrod
Holdings XV, L.P. |
|
|
4,176 |
|
|
**% |
Hilrod
Holdings XVII, L.P. |
|
|
988,386 |
|
|
**% |
Hilrod
Holdings XIX, L.P. |
|
|
336,772 |
|
|
**% |
Hilrod
Holdings XX, L.P. |
|
|
731,566 |
|
|
**% |
Hilrod
Holdings XXI, L.P. |
|
|
731,566 |
|
|
**% |
Hilrod
Holdings XXII, L.P. |
|
|
500,000 |
|
|
**% |
Hilrod
Holdings XXIV, L.P. |
|
|
360,244 |
|
|
**% |
Hilrod
Holdings XXV, L.P. |
|
|
900,000 |
|
|
**% |
RCS
Direct 2010 GRAT |
|
|
105,486 |
|
|
**% |
RCS
Direct 2010 GRAT #2 |
|
|
4,836 |
|
|
**% |
RCS
Direct 2011 GRAT |
|
|
80,598 |
|
|
**% |
HHS
2010 GRAT #3 |
|
|
3,091,215 |
|
|
**% |
RCS
2010 GRAT #3 |
|
|
1,639,842 |
|
|
**% |
HHS
2014 GRAT #2 |
|
|
28,722 |
|
|
**% |
The
Vanguard Group3 |
|
|
29,500,911 |
|
|
5.6% |
The
Coca-Cola Company4 |
|
|
102,121,602 |
|
|
19.3% |
Rodney
C. Sacks5 |
|
|
50,193,706 |
|
|
9.4% |
Hilton
H. Schlosberg6 |
|
|
48,925,001 |
|
|
9.2% |
Mark
J. Hall7 |
|
|
795,356 |
|
|
**% |
Ana
Demel8 |
|
|
58 |
|
|
**% |
James
L. Dinkins9 |
|
|
- |
|
|
**% |
Gary
P. Fayard10 |
|
|
6,153 |
|
|
**% |
Tiffany
M. Hall11 |
|
|
- |
|
|
**% |
Jeanne
P. Jackson12 |
|
|
- |
|
|
**% |
Steven
G. Pizula13 |
|
|
- |
|
|
**% |
Benjamin
M. Polk14 |
|
|
45,700 |
|
|
**% |
Mark
S. Vidergauz15 |
|
|
46,845 |
|
|
**% |
Guy
P. Carling16 |
|
|
90,898 |
|
|
**% |
Thomas
J. Kelly17 |
|
|
126,292 |
|
|
**% |
Emelie
C. Tirre18 |
|
|
247,172 |
|
|
**% |
Officers and Directors as a group (14 members: 56,396,869 shares or
10.5% in aggregate).
* Except as noted otherwise, the address for each of the named
stockholders is 1 Monster Way, Corona, California 92879.
** Less than 1%.
1 The mailing address of Brandon Limited Partnership
No. 1 (“Brandon No. 1”) is 56 Conduit Street, London W1S
2YZ England. The general partners of Brandon No. 1 are Rodney
C. Sacks and Hilton H. Schlosberg.
2 The mailing address of Brandon Limited Partnership
No. 2 (“Brandon No. 2”) is 56 Conduit Street, London W1S
2YZ England. The general partners of Brandon No. 2 are Rodney
C. Sacks and Hilton H. Schlosberg.
3 Based on Schedule 13G/A, filed February 10, 2022
by The Vanguard Group, based on common shares held on
December 31, 2021. The mailing address of this reporting
person is 100 Vanguard Blvd., Malvern, PA 19355.
4 Based on Schedule 13D/A, filed March 20, 2018 by
The Coca-Cola Company and European Refreshments, based on common
shares held on December 31, 2017, for which they have shared
beneficial ownership. The mailing address of The Coca-Cola Company
is One Coca-Cola Plaza, Atlanta, GA 30313. The mailing address of
European Refreshments is Southgate, Dublin Road, Drogheda, County
Meath, Ireland.
5 Includes 138,224 common shares owned by
Mr. Sacks; 5,645,568 shares beneficially held by Brandon
No. 1 because Mr. Sacks is one of Brandon No. 1’s
general partners; 29,386,944 shares beneficially held by Brandon
No. 2 because Mr. Sacks is one of Brandon No. 2’s
general partners; 104,772 shares beneficially held by Hilrod
Holdings IV, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings
IV’s general partners; 214,284 shares beneficially held by Hilrod
Holdings V, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings
V’s general partners; 323,700 shares beneficially held by Hilrod
Holdings VI, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings
VI’s general partners; 120,216 shares beneficially held by Hilrod
Holdings VII, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings
VII’s general partners; 568,584 shares beneficially held by Hilrod
Holdings VIII, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod
Holdings VIII’s general partners; 453,444 shares beneficially held
by Hilrod Holdings IX, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod
Holdings IX’s general partners; 249,918 shares beneficially held by
Hilrod Holdings X, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod
Holdings X’s general partners; 505,242 shares beneficially held by
Hilrod Holdings XI, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod
Holdings XI’s general partners; 327,186 shares beneficially held by
Hilrod Holdings XII, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod
Holdings XII’s general partners; 1,440,954 shares beneficially held
by Hilrod Holdings XIII, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of
Hilrod Holdings XIII’s general partners; 186,790 shares
beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XIV, L.P. because
Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings XIV’s general partners;
4,176 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XV, L.P. because
Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings XV’s general partners;
988,386 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XVII, L.P.
because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings XVII’s general
partners; 336,772 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XIX,
L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings XIX’s general
partners; 731,566 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XX,
L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings XX’s general
partners; these shares have been pledged by Hilrod Holdings XX,
L.P.; 731,566 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XXI, L.P.
because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings XXI’s general
partners; these shares have been pledged by Hilrod Holdings XXI,
L.P.; 500,000 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XXII,
L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings XXII’s
general partners; 360,244 shares beneficially held by Hilrod
Holdings XXIV, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod
Holdings XXIV’s general partners; 900,000 shares beneficially held
by Hilrod Holdings XXV, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of
Hilrod Holdings XXV’s general partners; 3,091,215 shares
beneficially held by the HHS 2010 GRAT #3 because Mr. Sacks is
the trustee of the HHS 2010 GRAT #3; and 28,722 shares beneficially
held by the HHS 2014 GRAT #2 because Mr. Sacks is the trustee
of the HHS 2014 GRAT #2. Also includes options presently
exercisable or exercisable within 60 days to purchase 630,000
common shares, exercisable at $17.99 per share, granted pursuant to
a stock option agreement dated June 3, 2013 between the
Company and Mr. Sacks (of which options to purchase 210,000
common shares are currently held by Hilrod Holdings XV, L.P. and
options to purchase 408,882 common shares are currently held by
Hilrod Holdings XVI, L.P.); options presently exercisable to
purchase 630,000 common shares, exercisable at $23.35 per share,
granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated March 14,
2014 between the Company and Mr. Sacks (of which options to
purchase 420,000 common shares are currently held by Hilrod
Holdings XVI, L.P., options to purchase 154,302 common shares are
currently held by Hilrod Holdings XVIII, L.P. and options to
purchase 51,417 common shares are currently held by Hilrod Holdings
XXIII, L.P.); options presently exercisable to purchase 237,600
common shares, exercisable at $45.16 per share, granted pursuant to
a stock option agreement dated March 13, 2015 between the
Company and Mr. Sacks (of which options to purchase 79,200
common shares are currently held by Hilrod Holdings XVI, L.P. and
options to purchase 156,186 common shares are currently held by
Hilrod Holdings XVIII, L.P.); options presently exercisable to
purchase 315,000 common shares, exercisable at $43.99 per share,
granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated March 14,
2016 between the Company and Mr. Sacks (of which options to
purchase 97,257 common shares are currently held by Hilrod Holdings
XVIII, L.P. and options to purchase 215,472 common shares are
currently held by Hilrod Holdings XXVI, L.P.); options presently
exercisable to purchase 305,500 common shares, exercisable at
$46.27 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement
dated March 14, 2017 between the Company and Mr. Sacks
(of which options to purchase 24,963 common shares are currently
held by Hilrod Holdings XVIII, L.P., options to purchase 76,871
common shares are currently held by Hilrod Holdings XXIII, L.P. and
options to purchase 201,503 common shares are currently held by
Hilrod Holdings XXVI, L.P.); options presently exercisable to
purchase 264,000 common shares, exercisable at $58.73 per share,
granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated March 14,
2018 between the Company and Mr. Sacks (of which options to
purchase 86,298 common shares are currently held by
Hilrod Holdings XXIII, L.P. and options to purchase 176,000 common
shares are currently held by Hilrod Holdings XXVI, L.P.); options
presently exercisable to purchase 291,600 common shares,
exercisable at $59.67 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option
agreement dated March 14, 2019 between the Company and
Mr. Sacks (of which options to purchase 97,200 common shares
are currently held by Hilrod Holdings XXIII, L.P. and options to
purchase 97,200 common shares are currently held by Hilrod Holdings
XXVI, L.P.); options presently exercisable to purchase 138,233
common shares, exercisable at $62.39 per share, granted pursuant to
a stock option agreement dated March 13, 2020 between the
Company and Mr. Sacks (of which options to purchase 85,066
common shares are currently held by Hilrod Holdings XXIII, L.P.)
and options presently exercisable to purchase 43,300 common shares,
exercisable at $88.94 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option
agreement dated March 12, 2021 between the Company and
Mr. Sacks. Mr. Sacks has pledged 138,224 common
shares.
Mr. Sacks disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares deemed
beneficially owned by him hereunder except (i) 138,224 common
shares; (ii) 2,855,233 shares presently exercisable or
exercisable within 60 days under the stock option agreements;
(iii) 1,048 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings IV,
L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings IV’s general
partners; (iv) 2,143 shares beneficially held by Hilrod
Holdings V, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings
V’s general partners; (v) 3,237 shares beneficially held by
Hilrod Holdings VI, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod
Holdings VI’s general partners; (vi) 1,202 shares beneficially
held by Hilrod Holdings VII, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of
Hilrod Holdings VII’s general partners; (vii) 5,686 shares
beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings VIII, L.P. because
Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings VIII’s general partners;
(viii) 4,534 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings IX,
L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings IX’s general
partners; (ix) 2,499 shares beneficially held by Hilrod
Holdings X, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings
X’s general partners; (x) 5,052 shares beneficially held by
Hilrod Holdings XI, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod
Holdings XI’s general partners; (xi) 3,272 shares beneficially
held by Hilrod Holdings XII, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of
Hilrod Holdings XII’s general partners; (xii) 14,410 shares
beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XIII, L.P. because
Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings XIII’s general partners;
(xiii) 1,868 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XIV,
L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings XIV’s general
partners; (xiv) 42 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings
XV, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings XV’s
general partners; (xv) 9,884 shares beneficially held by
Hilrod Holdings XVII, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod
Holdings XVII’s general partners; (xvi) 3,368 shares
beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XIX, L.P. because
Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings XIX’s general partners;
(xvii) 7,316 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XX,
L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings XX’s general
partners; (xviii) 7,316 shares beneficially held by Hilrod
Holdings XXI, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings
XXI’s general partners; (xix) 5,000 shares beneficially held
by Hilrod Holdings XXII, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of
Hilrod Holdings XXII’s general partners; (xx) 3,602 shares
beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XXIV, L.P. because
Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings XXIV’s general partners
and (xxi) 9,000 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings
XXV, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings XXV’s
general partners.
6 Includes 158,694 common shares owned by
Mr. Schlosberg; 5,645,568 shares beneficially held by Brandon
No. 1 because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Brandon
No. 1’s general partners; 29,386,944 shares beneficially held
by Brandon No. 2 because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Brandon
No. 2’s general partners; 104,772 shares beneficially held by
Hilrod Holdings IV, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of
Hilrod Holdings IV’s general partners; 214,284 shares beneficially
held by Hilrod Holdings V, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one
of Hilrod Holdings V’s general partners; 323,700 shares
beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings VI, L.P. because
Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings VI’s general
partners; 120,216 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings VII,
L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings VII’s
general partners; 568,584 shares beneficially held by Hilrod
Holdings VIII, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod
Holdings VIII’s general partners; 453,444 shares beneficially held
by Hilrod Holdings IX, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of
Hilrod Holdings IX’s general partners; 249,918 shares beneficially
held by Hilrod Holdings X, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one
of Hilrod Holdings X’s general partners; 505,242 shares
beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XI, L.P. because
Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings XI’s general
partners; 327,186 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XII,
L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings XII’s
general partners; 1,440,954 shares beneficially held by Hilrod
Holdings XIII, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod
Holdings XIII’s general partners; 186,790 shares beneficially held
by Hilrod Holdings XIV, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of
Hilrod Holdings XIV’s general partners; 4,176 shares beneficially
held by Hilrod Holdings XV, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one
of Hilrod Holdings XV’s general partners; 988,386 shares
beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XVII, L.P. because
Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings XVII’s general
partners; 336,772 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XIX,
L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings XIX’s
general partners; 731,566 shares beneficially held by Hilrod
Holdings XX, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod
Holdings XX’s general partners; these shares have been pledged by
Hilrod
Holdings XX, L.P.; 731,566 shares beneficially held by Hilrod
Holdings XXI, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod
Holdings XXI’s general partners; these shares have been pledged by
Hilrod Holdings XXI, L.P.; 500,000 shares beneficially held by
Hilrod Holdings XXII, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of
Hilrod Holdings XXII’s general partners; 360,244 shares
beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XXIV, L.P. because
Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings XXIV’s general
partners; 900,000 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XXV,
L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings XXV’s
general partners; 105,486 shares beneficially held by the RCS
Direct 2010 GRAT because Mr. Schlosberg is the trustee of the
RCS Direct 2010 GRAT; 4,836 shares beneficially held by the RCS
Direct 2010 GRAT #2 because Mr. Schlosberg is the trustee of
the RCS Direct 2010 GRAT #2; 1,639,842 shares beneficially held by
the RCS 2010 GRAT #3 because Mr. Schlosberg is the trustee of
the RCS 2010 GRAT #3; and 80,598 shares beneficially held by the
RCS Direct 2011 GRAT because Mr. Schlosberg is the trustee of
the RCS Direct 2011 GRAT. Also includes options presently
exercisable or exercisable within 60 days to purchase 630,000
common shares, exercisable at $17.99 per share, granted pursuant to
a stock option agreement dated June 3, 2013 between the
Company and Mr. Schlosberg (of which options to purchase
210,000 common shares are currently held by Hilrod Holdings XV,
L.P. and options to purchase 408,882 common shares are currently
held by Hilrod Holdings XVI, L.P.); options presently exercisable
to purchase 630,000 common shares, exercisable at $23.35 per share,
granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated March 14,
2014 between the Company and Mr. Schlosberg (of which options
to purchase 420,000 common shares are currently held by Hilrod
Holdings XVI, L.P., options to purchase 154,302 common shares are
currently held by Hilrod Holdings XVIII, L.P. and options to
purchase 51,417 common shares are currently held by Hilrod Holdings
XXIII, L.P.); options presently exercisable to purchase 237,600
common shares, exercisable at $45.16 per share, granted pursuant to
a stock option agreement dated March 13, 2015 between the
Company and Mr. Schlosberg (of which options to purchase
79,200 common shares are currently held by Hilrod Holdings XVI,
L.P. and options to purchase 156,186 common shares are currently
held by Hilrod Holdings XVIII, L.P.); options presently exercisable
to purchase 315,000 common shares, exercisable at $43.99 per share,
granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated March 14,
2016 between the Company and Mr. Schlosberg (of which options
to purchase 97,257 common shares are currently held by Hilrod
Holdings XVIII, L.P. and options to purchase 215,472 common shares
are currently held by Hilrod Holdings XXVI, L.P.); options
presently exercisable to purchase 305,500 common shares,
exercisable at $46.27 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option
agreement dated March 14, 2017 between the Company and
Mr. Schlosberg (of which options to purchase 24,963 common
shares are currently held by Hilrod Holdings XVIII, L.P., options
to purchase 76,871 common shares are currently held by Hilrod
Holdings XXIII, L.P. and options to purchase 201,503 common shares
are currently held by Hilrod Holdings XXVI, L.P.); options
presently exercisable to purchase 264,000 common shares,
exercisable at $58.73 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option
agreement dated March 14, 2018 between the Company and
Mr. Schlosberg (of which options to purchase 86,298 common
shares are currently held by Hilrod Holdings XXIII, L.P. and
options to purchase 176,000 common shares are currently held by
Hilrod Holdings XXVI, L.P.); options presently exercisable to
purchase 291,600 common shares, exercisable at $59.67 per share,
granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated March 14,
2019 between the Company and Mr. Schlosberg (of which options
to purchase 97,200 common shares are currently held by Hilrod
Holdings XXIII, L.P. and options to purchase 97,200 common shares
are currently held by Hilrod Holdings XXVI, L.P.); options
presently exercisable to purchase 138,233 common shares,
exercisable at $62.39 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option
agreement dated March 13, 2020 between the Company and
Mr. Schlosberg (of which options to purchase 85,066 common
shares are currently held by Hilrod Holdings XXIII, L.P.) and
options presently exercisable to purchase 43,300 common shares,
exercisable at $88.94 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option
agreement dated March 12, 2021 between the Company and
Mr. Schlosberg. Mr. Schlosberg has pledged 158,694 common
shares.
Mr. Schlosberg disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares
deemed beneficially owned by him hereunder except (i) 158,694
common shares; (ii) 2,855,233 shares presently exercisable or
exercisable within 60 days under the stock option agreements;
(iii) 1,048 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings IV,
L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings IV’s
general partners; (iv) 2,143 shares beneficially held by
Hilrod Holdings V, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of
Hilrod Holdings V’s general partners; (v) 3,237 shares
beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings VI, L.P. because
Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings VI’s general
partners; (vi) 1,202 shares beneficially held by Hilrod
Holdings VII, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod
Holdings VII’s general partners; (vii) 5,686 shares
beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings VIII, L.P. because
Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings VIII’s general
partners; (viii) 4,534 shares beneficially held by Hilrod
Holdings IX, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod
Holdings IX’s general partners; (ix) 2,499 shares beneficially
held by Hilrod Holdings X, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one
of Hilrod Holdings X’s general partners; (x) 5,052 shares
beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XI, L.P. because
Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings XI’s general
partners; (xi) 3,272 shares beneficially held by Hilrod
Holdings XII, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod
Holdings XII’s general partners; (xii) 14,410 shares
beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XIII, L.P.
because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings XIII’s
general partners; (xiii) 1,868 shares beneficially held by
Hilrod Holdings XIV, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of
Hilrod Holdings XIV’s general partners; (xiv) 42 shares
beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XV, L.P. because
Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings XV’s general
partners; (xv) 9,884 shares beneficially held by Hilrod
Holdings XVII, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod
Holdings XVII’s general partners; (xvi) 3,368 shares
beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XIX, L.P. because
Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings XIX’s general
partners; (xvii) 7,316 shares beneficially held by Hilrod
Holdings XX, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod
Holdings XX’s general partners; (xviii) 7,316 shares
beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XXI, L.P. because
Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings XXI’s general
partners; (xix) 5,000 shares beneficially held by Hilrod
Holdings XXII, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod
Holdings XXII’s general partners; (xx) 3,602 shares
beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XXIV, L.P. because
Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings XXIV’s general
partners and (xxi) 9,000 shares beneficially held by Hilrod
Holdings XXV, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod
Holdings XXV’s general partners.
7 Includes 622,106 shares beneficially held by the MJCF
Hall Family Trust as Mr. Hall and his spouse are trustees and
beneficiaries of the MJCF Hall Family Trust; options presently
exercisable to purchase 60,000 common shares, exercisable at $45.16
per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated
March 13, 2015 between the Company and Mr. Hall; options
presently exercisable to purchase 60,000 common shares, exercisable
at $43.64 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement
dated December 1, 2016 between the Company and Mr. Hall;
options presently exercisable to purchase 35,000 common shares,
exercisable at $58.73 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option
agreement dated March 14, 2018 between the Company and
Mr. Hall; options presently exercisable to purchase 11,250
common shares, exercisable at $59.67 per share, granted pursuant to
a stock option agreement dated March 14, 2019 between the
Company and Mr. Hall; options presently exercisable to
purchase 5,000 common shares, exercisable at $62.39 per share,
granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated March 13,
2020 between the Company and Mr. Hall and options presently
exercisable to purchase 2,000 common shares, exercisable at $88.94
per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated
March 12, 2021 between the Company and Mr. Hall.
8 Does not include 202 deferred stock units which are
settled (other than fractional units) in stock.
9 Does not include 1,790 unvested restricted stock
units.
10 Does not include 16,338 deferred stock units which
are settled (other than fractional units) in stock and 1,790
unvested restricted stock units.
11 Does not include 130 deferred stock units which are
settled (other than fractional units) in stock.
12 Does not include 7,233 deferred stock units which are
settled (other than fractional units) in stock and 1,790 unvested
restricted stock units.
13 Does not include 4,861 deferred stock units which are
settled (other than fractional units) in stock and 1,790 unvested
restricted stock units.
14 Does not include 4,847 deferred stock units which are
settled (other than fractional units) in stock and 1,790 unvested
restricted stock units.
15 Does not include 1,790 unvested restricted stock
units.
16 Includes 15,981 common shares owned by
Mr. Carling; options presently exercisable to purchase 18,000
common shares, exercisable at $43.64 per share, granted pursuant to
a stock option agreement dated December 1, 2016 between the
Company and Mr. Carling; options presently exercisable to
purchase 22,500 common shares, exercisable at $58.73 per share,
granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated March 14,
2018 between the Company and Mr. Carling; options presently
exercisable to purchase 16,667 common shares, exercisable at $51.50
per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated
June 1, 2018 between the Company and Mr. Carling; options
presently exercisable to purchase 8,750 common shares, exercisable
at $59.67 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement
dated March 14, 2019 between the Company and Mr. Carling;
options presently exercisable to purchase 5,000 common shares,
exercisable at $62.39 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option
agreement dated March 13, 2020 between the Company and
Mr. Carling; options presently exercisable to purchase 1,000
common shares, exercisable at $88.94 per share, granted pursuant to
a stock option agreement dated March 12, 2021 between the
Company and Mr. Carling and 3,000 restricted stock units
granted pursuant to a restricted stock unit agreement dated
June 1, 2018 between the Company and Mr. Carling.
17 Includes 13,467 common shares owned by
Mr. Kelly; options presently exercisable to purchase 7,200
common shares, exercisable at $45.16 per share, granted pursuant to
a stock option agreement dated March 13, 2015 between the
Company and Mr. Kelly; options presently exercisable to
purchase 20,625 common shares, exercisable at $43.99 per share,
granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated March 14,
2016 between the Company and Mr. Kelly; options presently
exercisable to purchase 22,000 common shares, exercisable at $43.64
per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated
December 1, 2016 between the Company and Mr. Kelly;
options presently exercisable to purchase 35,000 common shares,
exercisable at $58.73 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option
agreement dated March 14, 2018 between the Company and
Mr. Kelly; options presently exercisable to purchase 3,334
common shares, exercisable at $51.50 per share, granted pursuant to
a stock option agreement dated June 1, 2018 between the
Company and Mr. Kelly; options presently exercisable to
purchase 15,000 common shares, exercisable at $59.67 per share,
granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated March 14,
2019 between the Company and Mr. Kelly; options presently
exercisable to purchase 8,000 common shares, exercisable at $62.39
per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated
March 13, 2020 between the Company and Mr. Kelly and
options presently exercisable to purchase 1,666 common shares,
exercisable at $88.94 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option
agreement dated March 12, 2021 between the Company and
Mr. Kelly.
18 Includes 19,526 common shares owned by
Ms. Tirre; options presently exercisable to purchase 15,729
common shares, exercisable at $43.99 per share, granted pursuant to
a stock option agreement dated March 14, 2016 between the
Company and Ms. Tirre; options presently exercisable to
purchase 100,000 common shares, exercisable at $43.64 per share,
granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated December 1,
2016 between the Company and Ms. Tirre; options presently
exercisable to purchase 40,000 common shares, exercisable at $46.27
per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated
March 14, 2017 between the Company and Ms. Tirre; options
presently exercisable to purchase 35,000 common shares, exercisable
at $58.73 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement
dated March 14, 2018 between the Company and Ms. Tirre;
options presently exercisable to purchase 16,667 common shares,
exercisable at $51.50 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option
agreement dated June 1, 2018 between the Company and
Ms. Tirre; options presently exercisable to purchase 11,250
common shares, exercisable at $59.67 per share, granted pursuant to
a stock option agreement dated March 14, 2019 between the
Company and Ms. Tirre; options presently exercisable to
purchase 5,000 common shares, exercisable at $62.39 per share,
granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated March 13,
2020 between the Company and Ms. Tirre; options presently
exercisable to purchase 1,000 common shares, exercisable at $88.94
per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated
March 12, 2021 between the Company and Ms. Tirre and
3,000 restricted stock units granted pursuant to a restricted stock
unit agreement dated June 1, 2018 between the Company and
Ms. Tirre.
DELINQUENT
SECTION 16(A) REPORTS
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the “Exchange Act”) requires the Company’s directors,
executive officers and persons who own more than ten percent of a
registered class of the Company’s equity securities to file by
specific dates with the SEC initial reports of ownership and
reports of changes in ownership of equity securities of the
Company. Directors, executive officers and greater than ten percent
stockholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company
with copies of all Section 16(a) forms that they file.
The Company is required to report in this proxy statement any
failure of its directors, executive officers and greater than ten
percent stockholders to file by the relevant due date any of these
reports during the most recent fiscal year or prior fiscal
years.
To the Company’s knowledge, based solely on review of copies of
such reports furnished to the Company during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2021, all Section 16(a) filing
requirements applicable to the Company’s directors, executive
officers and greater than ten percent stockholders were complied
with.
DEADLINES FOR RECEIPT OF
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Stockholders may present a proper proposal for consideration at the
2023 annual meeting of stockholders by submitting their proposal in
writing to the Office of the Secretary of the Company at the
Company’s principal executive offices in a timely manner.
For stockholders who wish to present a proposal, other than a
director nomination to the proxy access provision of our by-laws
(the “Proxy Access By-law”), to be considered for inclusion in our
proxy statement and for consideration at the 2023 annual meeting,
pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, the proposal
must be delivered to the Office of the Secretary at the Company’s
principal executive offices no later than December 28, 2022.
Stockholder proposals must otherwise comply with the requirements
of Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act.
For stockholders who wish to present a proposal for nominations or
other business for consideration at the 2023 annual meeting, but
who do not intend for the proposal to be included in our proxy
statement, pursuant to the advance notice provisions contained in
our by-laws, the proposal must be delivered to the Office of the
Secretary at the Company’s principal executive offices no earlier
than February 14, 2023 and no later than March 16, 2023,
provided, however, that in the event that the date of the 2023
annual meeting is more than thirty days before or more than seventy
days after the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual
meeting, notice by the stockholder must be so delivered no earlier
than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth day prior
to the 2023 annual meeting and no later than the close of business
on the later of the ninetieth day prior to the 2023 annual meeting
or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of
the date of the 2023 annual meeting is first made by the
Company.
In 2018, the Board adopted the Proxy Access By-law. The Proxy
Access By-law permits a stockholder, or a group of up to twenty
stockholders, owning three percent or more of the Company’s
outstanding Common Stock continuously for at least three years to
nominate and include in the Company’s proxy materials Director
nominees consisting of two nominees or twenty percent of the Board,
whichever is greater, provided that the stockholder(s) and
nominee(s) comply with the requirements of Article 1,
Section 16 of our by-laws. To be timely for inclusion in the
Company’s proxy materials for our 2023 annual meeting, pursuant to
the Proxy Access By-law, the stockholder(s) notice to nominate
a Director must be delivered to the Office of the Secretary at the
Company’s principal executive offices no earlier than
November 28, 2022 and no later than December 28, 2022.
The notice must contain the information required by our by-laws,
and the stockholder(s) and nominee(s) must comply with
the information and other requirements in our by-laws relating to
the inclusion of stockholder nominees in our proxy materials.
It is presently intended that the 2023 annual meeting will be held
in June 2023.
Proposals should be sent to the Office of the Secretary by mail to
Monster Beverage Corporation, 1 Monster Way, Corona, California,
92879.
PROPOSAL ONE
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Nominees
The Board is currently comprised of eleven members. Benjamin M.
Polk is not standing for reelection and will retire from the Board
effective as of the Annual Meeting. Our Board thanks Mr. Polk
for his many years of exemplary service. Upon the recommendation of
the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of
Directors (the “Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee”),
our Board has nominated ten directors identified on the following
pages for election at the Annual Meeting. Unless otherwise
instructed, the proxy holders will vote the proxies received by
them
for the Company’s ten nominees named below. In the event that any
nominee is unable or declines to serve as a director at the time of
the Annual Meeting, the proxies will be voted for any nominee
designated by the present Board to fill the vacancy. The Company is
not aware of any nominee who will be unable or expects to decline
to serve as a director. The term of office of each person elected
as a director will continue until the 2023 annual meeting or until
a successor has been elected and qualified.
The Board has a director resignation policy. This policy provides
that, in an uncontested election, any incumbent director nominee
who receives a greater number of votes “WITHHELD” from his or her
election than votes “FOR” his or her election must promptly tender
his or her resignation to the Board following certification of the
election results. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
will review the circumstances surrounding the election and
recommend to the Board whether to accept or reject the resignation.
The Board must act on the tendered resignation. If such resignation
is rejected, the Board must publicly disclose its decision,
together with the rationale supporting its decision, within 90 days
after certification of the election results. A copy of the director
resignation policy is available on our website at
http://investors.monsterbevcorp.com/governance.cfm.
The names of the nominees, and certain biographical information
about them, are set forth below.
Name |
|
Age |
|
Position |
Rodney C.
Sacks1 |
|
72 |
|
Chairman of the Board of Directors and
Co-Chief Executive Officer
|
Hilton H.
Schlosberg1 |
|
69 |
|
Vice
Chairman of the Board of Directors and
Co-Chief Executive Officer
|
Mark J. Hall |
|
66 |
|
Director |
Ana Demel |
|
61 |
|
Director |
James L. Dinkins |
|
59 |
|
Director |
Gary P.
Fayard2,3,4 |
|
70 |
|
Director |
Tiffany M. Hall |
|
43 |
|
Director |
Jeanne P.
Jackson3 |
|
70 |
|
Director |
Steven G.
Pizula2,4 |
|
66 |
|
Director |
Mark S.
Vidergauz2,3,4,5 |
|
68 |
|
Director |
1 If re-elected, to serve as member of the Executive
Committee.
2 If re-elected, to serve as member of the Audit
Committee. If re-elected, Mr. Pizula to serve as Chairman of
the Audit Committee.
|
3 |
If re-elected, to serve as member
of the Compensation Committee. If re-elected, Mr. Vidergauz to
serve as Chairman of the Compensation Committee. |
|
4 |
If re-elected, to serve as member
of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. If
re-elected, Mr. Vidergauz to serve as Chairman of the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. |
5 If re-elected, to serve as Lead Independent
Director.
The Board Diversity Matrix (the “Matrix”) below highlights certain
additional attributes of the director nominees. Each of the
categories listed in the below table has the meaning as it is
defined in the Nasdaq listing standards.
Board Diversity Matrix (As of April 27, 2022) |
|
Total Number of Directors* |
10 |
Part I: Gender Identity |
Female |
Male |
Non-Binary |
Did Not
Disclose
Gender |
Directors |
3 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
Part II: Demographic Background |
African American or Black |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Alaskan Native or American Indian |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Asian |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Hispanic or Latinx |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
White |
1 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
Two or More Races or Ethnicities |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
LGBTQ+ |
0 |
Did Not Disclose Demographic Background |
0 |
* The Matrix reflects director nominees standing for election at
the Annual Meeting and does not include current directors that are
not standing for re-election at the Annual Meeting, if any.
Each of our directors brings extensive management and leadership
experience gained through their service in our industry and other
diverse businesses. In these roles, they have assumed day-to-day
leadership or other senior leadership responsibilities. In
addition, most directors bring board experience acquired by either
significant experience on other boards or long service on our Board
of Directors that broadens their knowledge of board policies and
processes, rules and regulations, issues and solutions. The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s process for
selecting and nominating qualified director candidates is described
under the section entitled “Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee.” In the paragraphs below, we describe specific
individual qualifications and skills of our directors that
contribute to the overall effectiveness of our Board of Directors
and its committees.
Rodney C. Sacks—Chairman of the Board of Directors of
the Company and a director of the Company from November 1990
to the present. Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Company since
January 2021. Member of the Executive Committee of the Board
of Directors (the “Executive Committee”) since October 1992.
Chief Executive Officer of the Company from November 1990 to
January 2021. Chairman of the Board of Directors, Co-Chief
Executive Officer and a director of Monster Energy Company (“MEC”).
Mr. Sacks has led the Company for over 32 years and has
extensive experience in the food and beverage industry.
Mr. Sacks has detailed knowledge and valuable perspective and
insights regarding our business and has responsibility for
development and implementation of our business strategy.
Hilton H. Schlosberg—Vice Chairman of the Board of
Directors of the Company and a director of the Company from
November 1990 to the present. Co-Chief Executive Officer of
the Company since January 2021. Member of the Executive
Committee since October 1992. President, Chief Operating
Officer, and Secretary of the Company from November 1990 to
January 2021. Chief Financial Officer of the Company from
July 1996 to January 2021. Vice Chairman, Co-Chief
Executive Officer and a
director of MEC. Mr. Schlosberg has held senior leadership
positions with the Company for over 32 years, was the
Company’s Chief Financial Officer for 24 years and has
extensive experience in the food and beverage industry.
Mr. Schlosberg has a high level of financial literacy, and his
day-to-day supervision of business operations and co-leadership
with Mr. Sacks brings valuable insight to the Board.
Mr. Schlosberg has detailed knowledge and valuable perspective
and insights regarding our business and has responsibility for
development and implementation of our business strategy.
Mark J. Hall—Director of the Company since
January 2014 and employee of MEC focusing on ideation, design
and development of new products since May 2017. Chief
Marketing Officer of MEC from January 2015 to May 2017.
Chief Brand Officer of MEC from January 2014 to
December 2014, and President of the Monster Beverage Division
from January 2007 to December 2013. Mr. Hall joined
MEC in 1997 as a Senior Vice President. Prior to joining MEC,
Mr. Hall was employed by the Arizona Beverage Co. as Vice
President of Sales, where he was responsible for sales and
distribution of products through a national network of beer
distributors and soft drink bottlers in the United States.
Mr. Hall has detailed knowledge of and valuable perspectives
and insights into both our business and the beverage business in
general.
Ana Demel—Director of the Company since
December 2021. Chair of the Board of Directors of Pro
Mujer, Inc. and Adjunct Professor at the New York University
School of Law. Since January 1, 2021, Ms. Demel has
served as the Chair of the board of directors of Pro
Mujer, Inc., a women’s development non-profit that brings
financial services, entrepreneurship training, and basic health
services to low-income women in Latin America. Ms. Demel has
also served as an Adjunct Professor at the New York University
School of Law since 2009. Prior to 2009, Ms. Demel was a
partner at the international law firm of Cleary Gottlieb
Steen & Hamilton, LLP where her practice focused on
international financing and business transactions, particularly in
Latin America. Ms. Demel advised public and private sector
clients on a variety of transactions, including structured finance,
project finance and mergers and acquisitions.
James L. Dinkins—Director of the Company since
November 2020. Chief Executive Officer of the Honey Baked Ham
Company, LLC since May 2021. Director of Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de
C.V. since 2020. Mr. Dinkins joined The Coca-Cola Company
(“TCCC”) in 1988, serving in various account management, marketing
and bottler franchise leadership roles with Coca-Cola USA until
June 1999. He rejoined TCCC in August 2002 and held
positions of increasing responsibility in Coca-Cola North America,
including Chief Retail Sales Officer and President of the Minute
Maid Business Unit. Mr. Dinkins was appointed President of
Coca-Cola North America and elected Senior Vice President of TCCC
effective January 1, 2018 until August 2020.
Mr. Dinkins served as a Senior Advisor to TCCC through
February 2021. Mr. Dinkins also serves on the board of
governors of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and is a
trustee of The University of Georgia Foundation and Morehouse
College. Mr. Dinkins has substantial business and leadership
experience in the beverage industry.
Gary P. Fayard—Director of the Company since
June 2015, member of the Audit Committee of the Board of
Directors (the “Audit Committee”) since February 2016 and
member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee since
April 2021. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of TCCC from February 2003 to April 2014.
Mr. Fayard joined TCCC in 1994, and in July 1994, he was
elected Vice President and Controller, a position he held until
December 1999 when he was elected Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Fayard has also served on the
board of directors of Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V. from 2004 to
March 2016. Mr. Fayard has been on the board of directors
of Genuine Parts Company since 2014. Mr. Fayard has a strong
background in accounting and finance as well as substantial
business and leadership experience in the beverage industry.
Tiffany M. Hall—Director of the Company since
October 2021. Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff to
the Chief Executive Officer at Mastercard Incorporated since
January 2021. Ms. Hall joined Mastercard in May 2013
and has served in various roles of increasing responsibility. Most
recently, Ms. Hall managed commercial transactions and legal
support for Core Products, Marketing Initiatives and Financial
Institutions within the U.S. as Vice President and Senior Managing
Counsel, U.S Markets. Prior to joining Mastercard, Ms. Hall
served as Acting Head of Marketing Legal Support & Counsel
at Pernod Ricard USA and held several marketing and advertising
roles at Sotheby’s, Atlantic Records, and Ogilvy & Mather.
Ms. Hall is also the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of
Empower Cocktails, a ready-to-pour cocktail brand. Ms. Hall
currently serves as a director on the board of the Children’s
Museum of Manhattan, as a Co-Chair of the National Democratic
Institute’s New York Advisory Council, and as a member of Duke
University’s Sanford School of Public Policy’s Alumni Council.
Jeanne P. Jackson—Director of the Company since
June 2019 and member of the Compensation Committee of the
Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”) since
April 2021. At Nike, Inc., Ms. Jackson served as
President and Senior Strategic Advisor to the Chief Executive
Officer from June 2016 to August 2017, President of
Product & Merchandising from July 2013 to
April 2016, President of Direct to Consumer from
March 2009 to July 2013. Director of Delta Air
Lines, Inc. since January 2017. Ms. Jackson has
previously served on the boards of Kraft Heinz Company, Kraft Foods
Group, Inc., McDonald’s Corporation, Nike, Inc.,
Nordstrom, Inc., Williams-Sonoma, Inc., Motorola Mobility
Holdings, Inc., Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. and others.
Ms. Jackson is the founder of MSP Capital and served as its
Chief Executive Officer from 2002 to 2009 and is again serving as
its Chief Executive Officer from 2017 to present. Ms. Jackson
has served in senior leadership roles in many organizations,
including Wal-Mart.com USA, LLC, the Gap, Inc., Banana
Republic, Victoria’s Secret, Saks Fifth Avenue, Walt Disney
Attractions, Inc. and Federated Department Stores, Inc.
Ms. Jackson brings knowledge and experience of over thirty
years as a senior executive and director in an array of large,
public companies.
Steven G. Pizula—Director of the Company and member
of the Audit Committee since June 2019 (Chairman since
January 2021). Partner at Deloitte & Touche LLP from
September 1977 to June 2018. Since joining
Deloitte & Touche LLP (then Haskins & Sells) in
1977, Mr. Pizula served as the supervising audit partner on a
number of large, multinational public companies in a wide range of
industries, including consumer products. Mr. Pizula held
various leadership positions at Deloitte & Touche LLP,
most recently as Practice Growth Leader for the Pacific Southwest
Region and as a Member of the National Committee for Audit Quality,
and National Partner Admissions Committee. Mr. Pizula is
currently a board member of The Whittier Trust Company, the Arnold
and Mabel Beckman Foundation and the Forum for Corporate Directors.
Mr. Pizula is a Certified Public Accountant and member of the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the
California Society of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Pizula
brings extensive experience in accounting and audit matters.
Mark S. Vidergauz—Director of the Company, member of
the Compensation Committee since June 1998 (Chairman since
June 2019), member of the Audit Committee from April 2021
and April 2000 through May 2004, member of the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee since June 2019 and Lead
Independent Director since March 2014. Chief Executive Officer
of The Sage Group LLC, an investment banking firm, from
April 2000 to the present. The Sage Group, LLC provides
merger, acquisition and capital formation advisory services to a
wide range of companies in the consumer sector. Managing Director
at the Los Angeles office of ING Barings LLC, a diversified
financial service institution headquartered in the Netherlands,
from April 1995 to April 2000. Mr. Vidergauz brings
strong merger and acquisition, corporate finance, corporate
governance and leadership experience to the Board.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE
“FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR SET FORTH
ABOVE.
MANAGEMENT
Board Meetings and Committees; Annual Meeting Attendance
The Board is comprised of Rodney C. Sacks, Hilton H. Schlosberg,
Mark J. Hall, Ana Demel, James L. Dinkins, Gary P. Fayard, Tiffany
M. Hall, Jeanne P. Jackson, Steven G. Pizula, Benjamin M. Polk and
Mark S. Vidergauz. The Board held nine meetings during the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2021. Each director attended the
annual meeting held on June 15, 2021. During the 2021 period
in which he or she was a director, each director attended at least
75% of the aggregate total number of meetings of the Board of
Directors and Board committees in which he or she was a member. The
Board has determined that Messrs. Dinkins, Fayard, Pizula,
Polk and Vidergauz and Mses. Demel, Hall and Jackson are
independent, as that term is defined in the Nasdaq Stock Market
Rules and SEC regulations. Our independent directors met in
executive session seven times during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2021. The executive sessions include reviewing
and assessing succession plans for the Co-Chief Executive Officers
and other key members of executive management. The Board does not
have a policy requiring the attendance by the directors at the
Annual Meeting.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the Audit
Committee was comprised of Gary P. Fayard, Steven G. Pizula, Sydney
Selati (through March 2021) and Mark S. Vidergauz (from
April 2021). Mr. Pizula served as Chairman. The Board of
Directors amended and restated the written charter for the Audit
Committee in November 2021, which is available on our website
at http://investors. monsterbevcorp.com/governance.cfm. The
Audit Committee held four meetings during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2021. The Audit Committee last met in
February 2022 in connection with the review of the Company’s
financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2021. See “Audit Committee” below for more information.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the
Compensation Committee was comprised of Jeanne P. Jackson (from
April 2021), Benjamin M. Polk, Sydney Selati (through
March 2021) and Mark S. Vidergauz. Mr. Vidergauz served
as Chairman. All members of the Board who serve on the Compensation
Committee meet the independence requirements of the Nasdaq Stock
Market Rules. The Compensation Committee held four meetings during
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. Under the
Monster Beverage Corporation 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2020
Omnibus Incentive Plan”), (which replaced the Monster Beverage
Corporation 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2011 Omnibus
Incentive Plan”) effective June 3, 2020), and the grant
procedures adopted by the Board for grants of equity awards, the
Compensation Committee has sole and exclusive authority to grant
equity awards to all employees and consultants who are not new
hires and to all new hires and promotions who are subject to
Section 16 of the Exchange Act. The Compensation Committee and
the Executive Committee each independently has the authority to
grant awards for new hires and promotions for employees who are not
Section 16 employees. The Board of Directors adopted an
amended and restated written charter for the Compensation Committee
in February 2019, which is available on our website at
http://investors.monsterbevcorp.com/governance.cfm.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee was comprised of Gary P. Fayard
(from April 2021), Benjamin M. Polk, Sydney Selati (through
March 2021) and Mark S. Vidergauz. Mr. Polk served as
Chairman. The Board adopted a written charter for the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee, which is available on our
website at
http://investors.monsterbevcorp.com/governance.cfm. The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held five meetings
during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 (see
“Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee” below for more
information).
The Executive Committee, comprised of Rodney C. Sacks and Hilton H.
Schlosberg, held eight meetings during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2021. The Executive Committee manages and directs
the business of the Company between meetings of the Board. Under
the 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan equity grant procedures, each of
the Compensation Committee and the Executive Committee
independently has the authority to grant equity awards for new
hires and promotions for employees who are not Section 16
employees. Equity awards granted by the Executive Committee are not
subject to approval or ratification by the Board or the
Compensation Committee, as set forth in the written Equity Grant
Procedures adopted by the Board (see “Compensation Discussion and
Analysis – Equity Grant Procedures” below for more
information).
Non-Employee Director Stock Ownership Policy
The Board has adopted stock ownership requirements for non-employee
directors. In February 2022, the Board of Directors
amended and restated the Monster Beverage Corporation 2017
Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the “2017 Directors
Plan”) to require each non-employee director to satisfy the share
ownership guidelines set forth below, as may be modified by the
Board of Directors from time to time. The current share ownership
guidelines provide that non-employee directors of the Company
must:
|
· |
Hold shares of Company common stock
having a total value of five times the annual retainer payable to a
non-employee director (excluding any portion of the annual retainer
attributable to a non-employee director’s service as a member of a
subcommittee, as a chair of a subcommittee or as the lead
independent director, as applicable). For this purpose, deferred
shares or deferred restricted stock units will be deemed held, to
the extent vested. |
|
· |
The minimum stock ownership level
must be achieved by each non-employee director by the fifth
anniversary of such non-employee director’s initial appointment to
the Board of Directors. |
|
· |
Once achieved, ownership of the
guideline amount should be maintained for so long as the
non-employee director retains his or her seat on the Board of
Directors. |
|
· |
There may be rare instances where
these guidelines would place a hardship on a non-employee director.
In these cases or in similar circumstances, the Board of Directors
will make the final decision as to developing an alternative stock
ownership guideline for a non-employee director that reflects the
intention of these guidelines and his or her personal
circumstances. |
During 2021, all non-employee directors complied with the
non-employee director stock ownership policy.
Anti-Hedging Policy
The Company’s insider trading policy prohibits the Company’s
directors, officers and employees from engaging in transactions
that use any financial instrument that is designed to hedge or
offset any decrease in the market value of Company securities,
including prepaid variable forward contracts, collars and exchange
funds.
Anti-Pledging Policy
The Company’s insider trading policy prohibits employees and
directors from pledging Company securities. However, in certain
limited circumstances the Company’s compliance officer may allow an
employee or director to pledge certain Company securities. As of
April 13, 2022, only two employees, Mr. Sacks and
Mr. Schlosberg, pledged approximately 3.5% of the shares of
Common Stock they beneficially own.
Director Resignation Policy
The Board has a director resignation policy. This policy provides
that, in an uncontested election, any incumbent director nominee
who receives a greater number of votes “WITHHELD” from his or her
election than votes “FOR” his or her election must promptly tender
his or her resignation to the Board following certification of the
election results. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
will review the circumstances surrounding the election and
recommend to the Board whether to accept or reject the resignation.
The Board must act on the tendered resignation. If such resignation
is rejected, the Board must publicly disclose its decision,
together with the rationale supporting its decision, within 90 days
after certification of the election results. A copy of the director
resignation policy is available on our website at
http://investors.monsterbevcorp.com/governance.cfm.
Board Leadership Structure
The Board of Directors does not have a policy on whether or not the
roles of Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
should be separate and, if they are to be separate, whether the
Chairman of the Board should be selected from the non-employee
directors or be an employee. The Corporate Governance Guidelines
state the Board’s belief that whether to have the same person
occupy the offices of chairperson of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer should be decided by the Board, from time to time, in
accordance with the Company’s by-laws and its business judgment
after considering relevant factors, including the specific needs of
the business and what is in the best interest of the Company’s
stockholders. The Board believes that the Company’s current
Co-Chief Executive Officer is best situated to serve as Chairman of
the Board. Rodney C. Sacks has led the Company for over 32 years
and therefore is highly knowledgeable with respect to the Company’s
business, operations and industry. Mr. Sacks is well
positioned to identify strategic priorities and lead the Board’s
consideration and analysis of such priorities. The Board believes
that the combined role of Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer
(“CEO”) promotes consistency and efficiency in the development and
execution of the Company’s business strategy. Further, the Board
recognizes that Mr. Sacks and Mr. Schlosberg serve as
co-leaders and bring valuable insight to the Board. A copy of the
Corporate Governance Guidelines is available on our website at
http://investors.monsterbevcorp.com/governance.cfm.
Lead Independent Director
In March 2014, the independent directors of the Board approved
a Lead Independent Director Charter. Under the Lead Independent
Director Charter, if the offices of Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer are held by the same person, the independent
members of the Board of Directors will annually elect with a
majority vote an independent director to serve in a lead capacity.
Although elected annually, the Lead Independent Director is
generally expected to serve for more than one year. The Lead
Independent Director may be removed or replaced at any time with or
without cause by a majority vote of the independent members of the
Board.
Mr. Vidergauz is currently the Lead Independent Director. In this
capacity, Mr. Vidergauz is, among other things, responsible for
leading executive sessions of the independent directors and serving
as the principal liaison between the Chairman, Vice Chairman and
the independent directors. A copy of the Lead Independent Director
Charter is available on our website at
http://investors.monsterbevcorp.com/ governance.cfm.
The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight
The Board of Directors plays an active role in overseeing and
managing the Company’s risks. The full Board and its Executive
Committee regularly review the Company’s results, performance,
operations, competitive position, business strategy, liquidity,
capital resources, product distribution and development, material
contingencies and senior personnel, as well as the risks associated
with each of these matters. The Board implements its risk oversight
function both as a whole and through its standing committees.
Certain of the work is delegated to committees, which meet
regularly and report back to the full Board. The Compensation
Committee reviews the Company’s compensation practices and discerns
the relationship among risk, risk management and compensation in
light of the Company’s objectives. The Audit Committee reviews and
discusses with management the risks faced by the Company and the
policies, guidelines and process by which management assesses and
manages the Company’s risks, including the Company’s major
financial risk exposures and risks related to financial statements,
the financial reporting process and accounting and legal matters,
as well as the steps management has taken to monitor and control
such exposures. The full Board also discusses risk throughout the
year during meetings in relation to specific proposed actions
including risks related to cybersecurity and reputation. These
processes are designed to ensure that risks are taken knowingly and
purposefully. The Board believes that its role in oversight of risk
management (as well as the role of the Compensation Committee and
the Audit Committee) has not adversely affected its leadership
structure or results of operations.
Information about Our Executive Officers
The names and ages of our executive officers and certain
biographical information about them, are set forth on page 14
and below.
Name |
|
Age |
|
Position |
Rodney C. Sacks |
|
72 |
|
Chairman of the Board of Directors
and
Co-Chief Executive
Officer
|
Hilton H. Schlosberg |
|
69 |
|
Vice Chairman of the Board of
Directors and
Co-Chief Executive
Officer
|
Thomas J. Kelly |
|
68 |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
Guy P. Carling |
|
45 |
|
President, EMEA |
Emelie C. Tirre |
|
52 |
|
President, Americas |
Thomas J. Kelly—Chief Financial Officer of the
Company since January 2021. Executive Vice President, Finance,
and/or Controller and Secretary of MEC from 1992 to
January 2021. In his position as Chief Financial Officer,
Mr. Kelly reports directly to the Executive Committee and our
Board of Directors. Prior to joining MEC, Mr. Kelly served as
controller for California Copackers Corporation. Mr. Kelly is
a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) and has worked in the
beverage business for over 36 years.
Guy P. Carling—President of EMEA since
July 2018. In his position as President of EMEA,
Mr. Carling oversees the Company’s sales, development and
expansion in markets in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and
Central Asia, and frequently reports directly to the Executive
Committee and our Board of
Directors. Mr. Carling joined MEC in December 2007, and
previously served as Chief Commercial Officer & Managing
Director of EMEA. Mr. Carling has worked in the beverage
business for over 24 years.
Emelie C. Tirre—President of the Americas since
July 2018. In her position as President of the Americas,
Ms. Tirre oversees the Company’s sales, development and
expansion in markets in the United States, Canada, Latin America,
Oceania and the Caribbean. She frequently reports directly to
the Executive Committee and our Board of Directors.
Ms. Tirre joined MEC in July 2010, and previously served
as Chief Commercial Officer and the Senior Vice President of Sales
for North America. Ms. Tirre has worked in the beverage
business for over 30 years.
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND
ANALYSIS
Executive Summary
Entering into the second year of a global pandemic continued to
present unique challenges for the Company, as it did for our peers
in the worldwide beverage industry. Nonetheless, the Company’s
financial performance generally demonstrated resilience during
2021, especially as evidenced in part by the following:
|
· |
Net sales of $5.54 billion, up
20.5% from 2020. |
|
· |
Operating income of $1.80 billion,
up 10.1% from 2020. |
In 2021, we continued the implementation of our revamped executive
compensation program introduced in 2020, which is more formulaic
and objective in nature than our historical approach to the
program. Each of our named executive officers (“NEOs”) once again
had a pre-established target bonus opportunity as part of our
annual incentive award (“AIA”) program for short-term annual
incentive compensation. Our NEOs’ target AIAs were earned based on
pre-established financial criteria and individual performance
criteria, weighted 75% and 25%, respectively. In addition to the
AIAs, consistent with our revamping in 2020, the Compensation
Committee approved grants of performance share units (“PSUs”),
together with time-vested stock options and time-vested restricted
stock units (“RSUs”) to all of our NEOs. The PSUs granted in 2021
(“2021 PSUs”) are the Company’s first grant of PSUs that are
eligible to be earned based on the Company’s three-year cumulative
adjusted diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) from 2021 through 2023
(i.e., one single, three-year performance period). The grant of the
2021 PSUs differs from the PSUs granted in 2020 (“2020 PSUs”),
which were earned based on three separate performance measurements.
The introduction of a three-year performance period demonstrates
the commitment our NEOs have for pursuing growth of the Company
over the long-term. It is with this commitment that we have chosen
to grant PSUs as 50% of the annual long-term incentive (“LTI”)
grant value for 2021 and beyond.
Consistent with our strong performance during the year, the
financial performance component of the AIAs was earned at 141% of
target based on adjusted operating income falling between the
pre-established target and maximum performance goals and individual
performance at 175% of target, for overall payouts of approximately
150% of target. Additionally, the second tranche of the 2020 PSUs
was earned at 200% of target in connection with two-year cumulative
adjusted diluted EPS from 2020 through 2021 above the
pre-established maximum performance goal.
2021 “Say-on-Pay” Vote Results
At our 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, 96.4% of the votes cast
(excluding abstentions and broker non-votes) were in favor of our
advisory resolution regarding the compensation of our NEOs. The
Compensation Committee believes this affirms the stockholders’
support of the Company’s pay-for-performance philosophy with
respect to executive compensation and, in particular, the decision
to adopt a formulaic approach for our annual incentive and LTI
programs which began in 2020 and will continue for the foreseeable
future. No specific changes were made to the compensation program
for NEOs as a direct response to the result of the vote conducted
in 2021. The Compensation Committee will continue to consider the
results of future advisory votes on executive compensation and
periodically reach out to our large institutional stockholders for
input on our compensation programs.
2021 Compensation Program
Compensation Philosophy
Our executive compensation program is designed to reinforce
ownership and overall entrepreneurialism and to link rewards to
measurable corporate and qualitative individual performance. The
program’s primary objectives are to motivate and retain executive
talent, to reward executives fairly for performance relative to
business plan goals, and to create sustainable stockholder value
through continued profitable growth.
In executing on these objectives, the Compensation Committee has
integrated cash and equity incentive compensation programs with our
short- and long-term strategic plans in order to align the
interests of our NEOs with the long-term interests of our
stockholders. With respect to specific elements of compensation,
base salary is a fixed amount to secure executive service, the AIA
is designed to incentivize and reward achievement of short-term
financial and operating performance, and equity grants that vest
over multiyear periods are designed to reward long-term financial
and stock price performance as well as serve as a key retention
vehicle for our executive talent. While the Compensation Committee
intends for compensation levels to be competitive relative to
similarly situated executives at companies of comparable size and
scope of operations, no specific market positioning or percentile
is targeted as a matter of practice.
The Compensation Committee annually evaluates risks and rewards
associated with the Company’s overall compensation philosophy and
structure. Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. (“F.W. Cook”)
performed an annual risk assessment in October 2021 to
demonstrate whether the Company’s pay practices and policies pose
significant financial, operational or other risks that are
reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
F.W. Cook’s report summarizing the results of this assessment was
reviewed and discussed with the Compensation Committee at its
November 2021 meeting. Based upon F.W. Cook’s review, the
Compensation Committee concluded that the risks arising from the
Company’s overall compensation programs are not reasonably likely
to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Setting Executive Compensation for 2021
The compensation programs for our NEOs are generally administered
by or under the direction of the Compensation Committee (in the
case of Rodney C. Sacks, the Chairman and Co-Chief Executive
Officer, and Hilton H. Schlosberg, the Vice Chairman and Co-Chief
Executive Officer) and, in the case of the other NEOs, by our
Compensation Committee, based on the recommendation of the
Executive Committee. The compensation program is benchmarked
annually by the Compensation Committee’s independent consultant to
ensure that target compensation levels are competitive and
reasonable and continue to achieve the goals set forth in our
compensation philosophy. In reviewing the compensation for
Mr. Sacks and Mr. Schlosberg, the Compensation Committee
recognizes that Mr. Sacks and Mr. Schlosberg serve as our
co-leaders. Given the long-term complementary nature of their
leadership and
their contributions to our success, the Compensation Committee has
determined it is appropriate to continue to compensate them
equally.
For 2021 compensation decisions, the Compensation Committee again
retained F.W. Cook to provide competitive market data and make
recommendations to the Compensation Committee with respect to
compensation for Mr. Sacks and Mr. Schlosberg and to both
the Compensation Committee and Executive Committee with respect to
compensation for our other NEOs and senior management. F.W. Cook
reports directly to the Compensation Committee and did not perform
any other services for the Company in 2021. Following an
independence assessment of F.W. Cook during 2021, the Compensation
Committee determined that the services provided by F.W. Cook did
not raise any conflicts of interest.
The Compensation Committee considers relevant market pay practices
and individual and Company performance when setting executive
compensation. We do not set compensation at a targeted percentile
level relative to the market, but we do seek to provide salary,
incentive compensation opportunities and employee benefits that are
largely competitive within the consumer products industry, the food
and beverage industry and within the labor markets in which we
participate. Within this framework, we generally seek to keep
target cash compensation levels below median for Mr. Sacks and
Mr. Schlosberg, with equity awards providing enhanced
compensation opportunities. We gather market compensation data to
provide context, but we also consider Company and individual
performance, as well as our recruiting and internal retention
experience when making executive compensation decisions.
The Compensation Committee consulted with F.W. Cook in early 2021
to conduct a 2021 competitive market analysis (the “Early 2021
Market Analysis”) using a comparison group of similarly sized,
high-performing U.S. food and beverage and consumer products
companies (the “Early 2021 Peers”). As market compensation levels
are correlated to revenues for cash compensation and market
capitalization for equity compensation, the Compensation Committee
selects its peer companies using objective size criteria for each
metric. Relative to the Early 2021 Peers, in early 2021, revenue
was below the median, operating income was between the median and
75th percentile, and market capitalization was slightly
above the 75th percentile. The Early 2021 Peers were the
same as the peers referenced for 2020 compensation, with the
addition of Lululemon Athletica, Inc., which was newly added
as a peer company in October 2020. The resulting Early 2021
Peers composed of 19 companies are shown below:
|
· |
Brown-Forman Corporation |
· |
Ralph Lauren Corporation |
|
· |
Campbell Soup Company |
· |
Starbucks Corporation |
|
· |
Capri Holdings Limited |
· |
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. |
|
· |
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. |
· |
The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. |
|
· |
Constellation Brands, Inc. |
· |
The Hershey Company |
|
· |
Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. |
· |
The J. M. Smucker Company |
|
· |
L Brands, Inc. |
· |
Under Armour, Inc. |
|
· |
Lululemon Athletica, Inc. |
· |
V.F. Corporation |
|
· |
Molson Coors Brewing Company |
· |
Yum! Brands, Inc. |
|
· |
PVH Corp. |
|
|
The Early 2021 Market Analysis was considered in determining the
NEOs’ 2021 base salaries, target AIA opportunities and equity award
grant values.
In October 2021, subsequent to F.W. Cook’s review of the Early
2021 Peers, McCormick & Company and Peloton
Interactive, Inc. were added as peer companies, and each of
Capri Holdings Limited, L Brands, Inc. and the Hain Celestial
Group, Inc. were removed as peer companies, resulting in
the 18-company Late 2021 Peer Group (the “Late 2021 Peers”). As
such, compensation and performance data of the Late 2021 Peers may
be considered in determining compensation for the 2022 performance
year.
Taking into consideration the Early 2021 Market Analysis, the
Compensation Committee set Mr. Sacks’ and
Mr. Schlosberg’s 2021 target cash compensation below the
median of the Early 2021 Peers and granted them above-median equity
compensation in order to align their interests over the long-term
with those of our stockholders. The Early 2021 Market Analysis
noted that the performance of the Company was above the peer
75th percentile in revenue growth (85th
percentile), EPS growth (79th percentile) and return on
invested capital (85th percentile). The Company’s 3-year
and 5-year total shareholder return (“TSR”) were both between the
peer median and 75th percentile. This level of operating
and TSR performance, which was considered significant by the
Compensation Committee, was factored into the compensation
decisions. This long-term high operating performance and high
market capitalization guided the Compensation Committee’s
determination of the target total compensation of Mr. Sacks
and Mr. Schlosberg above the Early 2021 Peers’ 75th
percentile. The peer group data serves as only one reference point
used by us when making compensation decisions. However, we
generally believe that reviewing and analyzing such pay and
performance information is an important component of our executive
compensation decision-making process.
The 2021 awards of stock options, RSUs and PSUs granted to
Mr. Sacks and Mr. Schlosberg were made under our annual
grant philosophy as well as to reward them for the Company’s
continued growth in key performance criteria in 2020 and further
align their interests with our stockholders. Recent equity awards
granted to Mr. Sacks and Mr. Schlosberg vest over a
three-year period, in each case, per the terms of their respective
stock option, RSU and PSU award agreements.
For 2021, the decisions to increase base salaries for each of
Mr. Kelly, Mr. Carling and Ms. Tirre were informed
by F.W. Cook’s senior executive benchmarking analysis and
individual performance. Specifically, F.W. Cook’s senior executive
benchmarking analysis was used for guidance in determining the
total compensation for Mr. Kelly, Mr. Carling and
Ms. Tirre, which included specified performance targets for
their respective AIAs. The compensation levels for Mr. Kelly,
Mr. Carling and Ms. Tirre were generally set relative to
the market data in F.W. Cook’s senior executive benchmarking
analysis with above-median long-term equity compensation value
through stock options, RSUs and PSUs, in order to emphasize the
Company’s commitment to continued stockholder growth and to
recognize that long-term equity compensation has been an effective
incentive for motivating performance, and annual cash compensation
value that is comparable to the compensation received by
similarly-situated individuals employed by the Early 2021 Peers.
Recent equity awards granted to Mr. Kelly vest over a
three-year period and recent equity awards granted to
Mr. Carling and Ms. Tirre vest over a five-year period,
in each case, per the terms of their respective stock option, RSU
and PSU award agreements.
We view all components of compensation as related but distinct. We
determine the appropriate level for each compensation component,
based in part, but not exclusively, on competitive benchmarks
gathered through our recruitment and retention experience, market
data such as the Early 2021 Market Analysis discussed above, and
our review of internal comparatives as well as other considerations
we deem relevant, such as individual and corporate performance. We
believe that equity awards effectively reward for long-term
performance and are an important compensation-related motivator to
attract and retain executives through the various vesting periods
and through the achievement of applicable performance thresholds.
In addition, we believe equity awards allow executives to share in
the value that they may create. Except as described in this proxy
statement, neither our Compensation Committee nor our Executive
Committee has adopted any formal or informal policies or guidelines
for allocating
compensation between short-term and long-term and current
compensation between cash and non-cash compensation. However, our
Compensation Committee and Executive Committee’s respective
philosophy is that a greater percentage of our NEOs’ compensation
should be rewarded in long-term equity rather than short-term cash,
and we believe that this philosophy has benefited our long-term
performance by attracting, retaining and motivating a long-tenured
NEO group that has built significant long-term value for our
stockholders. Compensation packages for each of our NEOs are
tailored to each individual NEO’s circumstances by the Compensation
Committee and/or the Executive Committee, as appropriate. Those
decisions are largely based on subjective evaluations of Company
and individual performance, with consideration given to
compensation of comparable officers at companies who are in our
peer group. Each element of compensation is determined differently
for each individual NEO, based on a variety of facts and
circumstances applicable at the time and specific to that NEO.
Our Compensation Committee and Executive Committee perform an
annual strategic review of LTI compensation paid to our NEOs to
determine whether the Company has provided effective incentives and
motivation to such NEOs, and whether the Company adequately
compensates our NEOs relative to comparable officers in other
companies with which we compete for executives. For decisions
regarding the grant of equity compensation relating to NEOs, other
than our Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer and our Vice
Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee
specifically considers recommendations from the Executive
Committee.
2021 Compensation Program Components
Our NEO compensation program for 2021 had three primary components:
base salary, annual bonus and equity awards granted pursuant to our
2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan.
Each of the primary components of NEO compensation for 2021 is
discussed below.
2021 Base Salary
Base salaries for our NEOs are established based on the scope of
their individual responsibilities, taking into account competitive
market remuneration paid by other companies for individuals in
similar positions. We set NEO base salaries at levels which we
believe enable us to retain individuals in a competitive
environment (but without any fixed formula) and reward performance
based upon contributions to our overall business goals. We may also
utilize input on compensation from compensation consultants,
executive search firms and market data when making crucial hiring
decisions.
For 2021, the Compensation Committee determined the base salaries
for Mr. Sacks and Mr. Schlosberg and for the other NEOs
(which were based on the recommendation of the Executive
Committee).
Following the Compensation Committee’s discussions with F.W. Cook,
for 2021, base salaries for all NEOs were increased in connection
with market adjustments based on the Early 2021 Market Analysis.
The annual base salary for each of Mr. Sacks and
Mr. Schlosberg was increased from $900,000 to $950,000 to
maintain their market positioning for this compensation element
between the 25th percentile and median of our Early 2021
Peers. For 2021, Mr. Kelly’s annual base salary was increased
from $480,000 to $525,000, Mr. Carling’s annual base salary
was increased from $588,773 to $681,543 (Mr. Carling’s
compensation, including AIA, as presented in this proxy statement
was paid in Pound Sterling (“GBP”) and converted to United States
Dollars (“USD”) using the average exchange rate of GBP to USD
on a monthly basis for the year ended December 31, 2021), and
Ms. Tirre’s annual base salary was increased from $680,000 to
$725,000.
2021 AIAs
For 2021, our NEOs were granted AIAs under the 2020 Omnibus
Incentive Plan based on a formulaic approach, whereby each NEO had
a target AIA opportunity (expressed as a percentage of base
salary), set by the Compensation Committee, that is earned based on
pre-established financial and individual performance criteria,
weighted 75% and 25%, respectively. The Compensation Committee
determines the AIAs for Mr. Sacks and Mr. Schlosberg, and
the AIAs for the other NEOs are also determined by the Compensation
Committee based on the recommendation of the Executive
Committee.
NEOs’ target AIA opportunities ranged from 50% to 150% of 2021 base
salary, as shown in the table below.
Name
|
Fiscal Year 2021 Target AIA
Opportunity
(Percentage of Base Salary) |
Rodney C. Sacks |
150%* |
Hilton H. Schlosberg |
150%* |
Thomas J. Kelly |
50% |
Guy P. Carling |
50% |
Emelie C. Tirre |
50% |
*Increased from 120% in 2020.
Payouts were eligible to range from 0% to 200% of the applicable
target performance criteria, with no payout earned for performance
below a threshold level. In developing the performance goals for
the AIAs granted in 2021, the Compensation Committee worked with
F.W. Cook to develop a target goal that represented a meaningful
level of growth relative to prior year performance with sufficient
rigor to be challenging, but not impossible, to achieve. Adjusted
operating income was chosen again as the primary performance
criteria in fiscal year 2021 because we believe it is an
appropriate measurement for management’s contributions to operating
performance and profitability of the Company. The adjustments to
operating income allow evaluation of performance but exclude
certain gains and charges which can distort operating income. For
further information on the adjusted operating income compensation
performance measure, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, please
see Appendix A. Achievement under either the adjusted operating
income or the individual performance component of AIAs are
independent of each other (i.e., a payout can be made under one
component even if no payout is made under the other) and consistent
with past practice, payout of AIAs can be made in the form of cash,
shares of our Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of
our Common Stock at the Compensation Committee’s discretion, and
equal to the weighted sum of the achievement for each applicable
performance metric. Linear interpolation is applied to calculate
actual percentage payout for achievement of the adjusted operating
income component between threshold, target, and maximum
amounts.
Performance
Level |
Threshold |
Target
|
Maximum
|
Actual
|
2021 Adjusted
Operating
Income ($) |
$1.7025 Billion |
$1.7836 Billion |
$1.8647 Billion |
$1.8168 Billion |
Percentage
Payout (% of
Target) |
50% |
100% |
200% |
141% |
The actual achievement of the adjusted operating income and the
individual performance components under the AIAs were certified and
approved by the Compensation Committee and paid in the first
quarter of 2022 following a review of financial results prepared by
the Company’s management and evaluation of each NEO’s individual
performance based on a variety of factors. With respect to the
individual performance component, the Co-Chief Executive Officers
informed the Compensation Committee of their assessment of each
NEO’s contribution to the Company’s fiscal 2021 performance. The
Compensation Committee determined that the adjusted operating
income component was satisfied at 141% achievement for all NEOs and
the individual performance component for all NEOs was determined to
be 175%. The individual performance component was determined to be
175% with respect to Mr. Sacks and Mr. Schlosberg, due to
the Company’s continued overall excellent performance; with respect
to Mr. Kelly, due to his navigation of the financial
implications caused by the Company’s supply chain challenges; and
with respect to Mr. Carling and Ms. Tirre, due to the
continued increases in sales in their respective geographical
markets. For a reconciliation of adjusted operating income to
operating income, the most directly corresponding GAAP financial
measure, please see Appendix A. The total 2021 AIAs for each NEO is
set forth in the table below. For Mr. Carling, his total AIA
payout resulted in a slightly higher payout relative to his target
AIA opportunity than the other NEOs due to exchange rate
fluctuations between GBP and USD.
Name |
Dollar Amount
of Target AIA
Opportunity
($) |
Adjusted Operating
Income Component
at 141% Achievement
(75% Weighting)
($)
|
Individual
Performance
at 175% Achievement
(25% Weighting)
($)
|
Total
AIA
($)
|
Rodney C. Sacks |
1,425,000 |
1,507,247 |
623,438 |
2,130,685 |
Hilton H. Schlosberg |
1,425,000 |
1,507,247 |
623,438 |
2,130,685 |
Thomas J. Kelly |
262,500 |
277,594 |
114,844 |
392,438 |
Guy P. Carling |
340,772 |
363,943 |
150,568 |
514,511 |
Emelie C. Tirre |
362,500 |
383,344 |
158,594 |
541,938 |
In early 2022, Mr. Sacks and Mr. Schlosberg were each
awarded 14,550 fully vested shares of our Common Stock valued at
$1,065,497, which represented approximately one-half of their total
AIA payout as part of their 2021 performance. The purpose of paying
a portion of Mr. Sacks’ and Mr. Schlosberg’s 2021 AIAs in
equity was consistent with the payment of their AIA in prior years,
which is to increase the alignment of their interests with
stockholders. Consistent with 2020 and prior years, the remaining
portion of Mr. Sacks’ and Mr. Schlosberg’s 2021 AIAs, and
the full portion of the 2021 AIAs for the other NEOs, were paid in
cash.
The 2021 AIAs were granted by the Compensation Committee in early
2021 and the Compensation Committee confirmed achievement in early
2022.
2021 LTI Program
We believe that long-term performance is achieved through an
ownership culture that encourages superior performance by our NEOs
through the use of equity awards and, as a result, the compensation
program emphasizes equity awards over cash compensation. The
Compensation Committee reviews and approves equity awards to our
NEOs based upon compensation data principally gathered through a
market analysis conducted by our independent compensation
consultants, our recruiting and retention experience and our
qualitative assessment of individual performance, as well as a
review of each NEO’s current LTI award opportunities and retention
considerations.
The Compensation Committee, with the assistance of F.W. Cook,
revised the LTI program in 2020 to introduce PSUs as part of the
overall award mix. The Compensation Committee believes that the
move to include PSUs as part of the LTI pay mix continues to align
the NEO’s compensation with long-term growth and objectives. With
respect to 2021, the Compensation Committee determined that the
March 2021 LTI grants to our NEOs would be split among
time-vested stock options (25% weighting), time-vested RSUs (25%
weighting) and PSUs (50% weighting).
PSUs
Following the Compensation Committee’s introduction of PSUs as part
of the overall award mix in 2020, 2021 introduced the first grants
of PSUs that cliff vest over a single three-year performance period
based on performance achievement versus the pre-established
performance goal for the three-year performance period, subject to
continued service during the period. The Compensation Committee
believes that the move to a three-year performance period for
grants of PSUs continues to align the NEOs’ compensation with
long-term growth and objectives at the forefront. Specifically, the
2021 grants of PSUs are eligible to be earned based on three-year
cumulative adjusted diluted EPS from fiscal year 2021 through
fiscal year 2023. The number of PSUs that may be earned range from
0% to 200% of target versus the pre-established performance goals,
with threshold, target and maximum performance levels earning 50%,
100% and 200% of target PSUs, respectively, as set forth in the
table below.
Name
|
Performance Period
|
Threshold Shares
(50% of Target)
(#)
|
Target Shares
(100% of Target)
(#)
|
Maximum Shares
(200% of Target)
(#)
|
Rodney C. Sacks |
2021 – 2023 (three
years) |
37,950 |
75,900 |
151,800 |
Hilton H. Schlosberg |
2021 – 2023 (three
years) |
37,950 |
75,900 |
151,800 |
Thomas J. Kelly |
2021 – 2023 (three
years) |
1,400 |
2,800 |
5,600 |
Guy P. Carling |
2021 – 2023 (three
years) |
2,800 |
5,600 |
11,200 |
Emelie C. Tirre |
2021 – 2023 (three
years) |
2,800 |
5,600 |
11,200 |
For the second tranche of the 2020 PSUs, relating to the
performance period beginning on January 1, 2020 and ending on
December 31, 2021, the pre-established threshold, target and
maximum performance levels are set forth in the table below (linear
interpolation applies between threshold/target and target/maximum
performance goals with no payout for performance below
threshold).
Second Tranche Performance
Goal
(Performance
Percentage) |
Two-Year Cumulative Adjusted Diluted EPS
for 2020 - 2021
|
Threshold (50% of
Target) |
$4.165 |
Target (100% of Target) |
$4.500 |
Maximum (200% of
Target) |
$4.847 |
With the completion of the second tranche for the 2020 PSUs, the
Compensation Committee considered the two-year cumulative adjusted
diluted EPS from 2020 through 2021 of $4.889 and awarded the NEOs
the following number of shares of Common Stock based on 200%
achievement, as set forth in the table below. The second tranche
for the 2020 PSUs for each of Mr. Sacks and
Mr. Schlosberg represents approximately 41.7% of the total
portion of their target payouts in respect of the 2020 PSUs and for
each of Mr. Kelly, Mr. Carling and Ms. Tirre,
represents one-third of the total portion of their target payouts
in respect of the 2020 PSUs. For a reconciliation of adjusted
diluted EPS to diluted EPS, the most directly comparable GAAP
financial measure, please see Appendix A.
Name
|
Target Shares
(100% of Target)
(#)
|
Shares Delivered Based on
Second Tranche Achievement
(#)
|
Rodney C. Sacks |
32,042 |
64,084 |
Hilton H. Schlosberg |
32,042 |
64,084 |
Thomas J. Kelly |
1,000 |
2,000 |
Guy P. Carling |
2,000 |
4,000 |
Emelie C. Tirre |
2,000 |
4,000 |
Stock Options and RSUs
In addition to the PSUs, each of Mr. Sacks and
Mr. Schlosberg were granted 129,900 stock options under the
2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan that vest in three equal annual
installments starting on March 12, 2022, subject to their
continued employment through each vesting date. Additionally, on
the same day, each of Mr. Sacks and Mr. Schlosberg were
granted 37,900 RSUs under the 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan that vest
in three annual installments as follows: 12,633 units on
March 12, 2022, 12,633 units on March 12, 2023 and 12,634
units on March 12, 2024, in each case, subject to their
continued employment through each vesting date. These grants, taken
together with PSU grants, represented an aggregate annual grant
value of approximately $13.5 million, an increase of $1.5 million
from fiscal year 2020. Mr. Kelly was granted 5,000 stock
options under the 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan that vest in three
annual installments as follows: the option to purchase 1,666 shares
on March 12, 2022, the option to purchase 1,667 shares on
March 12, 2023 and the option to purchase 1,667 shares on
March 12, 2024 and Mr. Carling and Ms. Tirre were
each granted 10,000 stock options under the 2020 Omnibus Incentive
Plan that vest in five annual installments as follows: the option
to purchase 1,000 shares on March 12, 2022, the option to
purchase 1,500 shares on March 12, 2023, the option to
purchase 2,000 shares on March 12, 2024, the option to
purchase 2,500 shares on March 12, 2025, and the option to
purchase 3,000 shares on March 12, 2026, in each case, subject
to their continued employment through each vesting date.
Additionally, on the same day, Mr. Kelly was granted 1,400
RSUs that vest in three annual installments as follows: 466 units
on March 12, 2022, 466 units on March 12, 2023 and 467
units on March 12, 2024 and Mr. Carling and
Ms. Tirre were each granted 2,800 RSUs that vest in five
annual installments as follows: 280 units on March 12, 2022,
420 units on March 12, 2023, 560 units on March 12, 2024,
700 units on March 12, 2025, and 840 units on March 12,
2026, in each case, subject to their continued employment through
each vesting date.
Deferred Compensation
The Monster Beverage Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan (the
“Deferred Compensation Plan”) (amended effective January 1,
2017) was adopted to permit eligible employees to elect to defer
cash and/or equity compensation and to receive the deferred
amounts, together with an investment return (positive or negative),
in the future. We believe that maintaining the Deferred
Compensation Plan provides value to our NEOs who may otherwise not
be able to fully participate in our qualified retirement plans due
to certain limitations under the Internal Revenue Code (the
“Code”). Deferrals under the Deferred Compensation Plan are
unfunded and unsecured. Mr. Schlosberg is the only NEO
who currently participates in the Deferred Compensation Plan. See
“2021 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table” for further
information.
Employment Agreements
Certain NEOs who are parties to employment agreements will continue
to be subject to such agreements in their current form based on the
terms of such agreements, or upon renewal should the
Compensation Committee determine in its discretion that revisions
to such employment agreements are recommended. We believe that
having employment agreements with Mr. Sacks and
Mr. Schlosberg is beneficial to us because it provides
retentive value and subjects each of them to restrictive covenants.
For a summary description of the terms of these agreements, see
“Narrative to 2021 Summary Compensation Table and 2021 Grants of
Plan-Based Awards Table – Employment Agreements and Arrangements”
below.
Perquisites
Consistent with prior years, we continued to maintain our current
perquisites for our NEOs, which we believe are currently in line
with those provided by comparable companies within the consumer
products industry, the food and beverage industry and within the
labor markets in which we participate, for similarly situated
executives, based principally on information gathered through our
recruiting and retention experience. The perquisites include
payment of the cost and expense for personal use of a Company
automobile or an automobile allowance and the Company’s payment of
benefit premiums under certain employee benefit plans. For
Mr. Sacks and Mr. Schlosberg, the perquisites include the
use of an office desk for a personal accountant on an occasional
basis, at no cost to the Company. In addition, pursuant to their
employment agreements, Mr. Sacks and Mr. Schlosberg are
entitled to receive initial and annual fees and all other
reasonable expenses relating to membership in up to two business or
social clubs selected by the executive. In 2021, personal guests of
Mr. Sacks traveled on a business-related flight chartered by
the Company, and Mr. Sacks was imputed income for the cost of
travel by such personal guests in accordance with the Internal
Revenue Service’s regulations. Ms. Tirre is entitled to
receive 50% of the annual fees relating to the membership in one
business or social club selected by the executive. However, the
Compensation Committee in its discretion may revise, amend or add
to the employee benefits and perquisites of a NEO if it deems it
advisable. Executives bear all taxes associated with these employee
benefits and perquisites and these arrangements do not provide for
tax gross ups.
Stock Ownership Guidelines for Co-Chief Executive Officers,
President and Chief Financial Officer
The Board maintains stock ownership guidelines (the “Executive
Officer Stock Ownership Guidelines”) to further align the interests
of the Company’s Co-Chief Executive Officers, President and Chief
Financial Officer (“CFO”) with the interests of stockholders and to
further promote the Company’s commitment to sound corporate
governance. The guidelines require the Company’s Co-Chief Executive
Officers, President and CFO, as applicable, to hold an amount of
stock at least equal to six times annual base salary, which is then
converted to a fixed number of shares. Shares that satisfy the
Executive Officer Stock Ownership Guidelines include: Company
stock owned directly or indirectly with, or separately by, the
covered executive officer’s immediate family members residing in
the same household; shares held in trust for the benefit of the
covered executive officer or his or her immediate family
members; all unvested restricted stock with time-based
vesting; shares issuable upon the settlement of RSUs; and shares
held in the Deferred Compensation Plan. Unexercised stock options,
or the unearned or non-vested portion of any performance-based
restricted stock, do not count towards satisfying the guidelines.
Any newly appointed CEO, President and CFO will have five years
from the date of his or her appointment to comply with the
guidelines. The Compensation Committee will monitor compliance with
the Executive Officer Stock Ownership Guidelines and has the
authority to establish, review and approve the guidelines as it
deems appropriate. During 2021, each of Mr. Sacks,
Mr. Schlosberg and Mr. Kelly were in compliance with the
Executive Officer Stock Ownership Guidelines by holding the
required number of shares.
Clawback Policy
Pursuant to the 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan and the 2020 Omnibus
Incentive Plan, the Compensation Committee may specify in an award
agreement that a participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with
respect to an award granted under the 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan
or under the 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as applicable, will be
subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment upon
the occurrence of certain specified events in order to encourage
participants (including our NEOs) from acting in a manner that
could result in a risk of litigation or otherwise while conducting
business. If the Company is required to file an accounting
restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company, as a
result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement
under the securities laws, if a participant knowingly or recklessly
engaged in the misconduct, or knowingly or recklessly failed to
prevent or report the misconduct, or if a participant is subject to
automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002, such participant will reimburse the Company the amount
of any payment in settlement of an award earned or accrued under
the 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan or earned or accrued under the 2020
Omnibus Incentive Plan, as applicable, for such period as
determined by the Compensation Committee following the first public
issuance or filing with the SEC (whichever just occurred) of the
financial document reflecting such material noncompliance.
Equity Grant Procedures
The Compensation Committee maintains equity grant procedures, which
set forth, among other things, the authorities of the Compensation
Committee and Executive Committee to make grants under the 2020
Omnibus Incentive Plan under certain circumstances and the timing
of our grants of equity awards. Under the equity grant procedures,
other than awards granted to new hires and promotions, awards may
only be granted during an applicable window period.
Employee Benefit Plans
Our employees, including our NEOs who generally participate on the
same basis as our broader employee population, are entitled to
various employee benefits, which generally include health care
plans, flexible spending accounts, life and disability insurance,
401(k) plan and paid time off.
401(k) Plan
Our employees, including our NEOs, may participate in our
401(k) plan, a defined contribution plan that qualifies under
Section 401(k) of the Code. Participating employees may
contribute up to statutory limits. We make discretionary matching
contributions, and currently match 50% of our employee
contributions, up to 8% of each employee’s earnings on a per pay
period basis, which vest at a rate of 50% upon completion of two
years of service, 75% upon completion of three years of service and
100% upon completion of four years of service.
Change in Control and Separation Arrangements
Certain of our NEOs, per the terms of their respective employment
agreements and/or equity award agreements, are eligible for certain
benefits and/or payments if there is a change in control and/or a
termination of their employment, as described under “Potential
Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” beginning on
page 42.
For 2021 and beyond, the Compensation Committee has agreed, and the
Company has since ensured, that all of the Company’s equity awards
granted to participants (including NEOs) under the 2020 Omnibus
Incentive Plan be subject to “double-trigger” vesting following the
occurrence of a change in control where such awards are assumed,
replaced or continued. Prior to 2021, the Company historically
granted time-vested RSU and stock option awards to Mr. Sacks
and Mr. Schlosberg that provided for “single-trigger” equity
vesting (and for all other NEOs, discretion by the Board to provide
for “single-trigger” equity vesting), whereby vesting was
accelerated solely upon the occurrence of a change in control,
whether or not such awards were assumed, replaced or continued. The
award agreements for each of the 2021 PSUs, 2021 time-vested RSUs
and 2021 stock options provided for “double-trigger” vesting
provisions for all NEOs, which provide for accelerated vesting upon
a qualifying termination of employment following the occurrence of
a change in control where such awards are assumed, replaced or
continued. Upon a change in control where such awards are assumed,
replaced or continued, the 2021 PSUs will automatically convert
into time-vested RSUs, with vesting occurring on the original
vesting date applicable to such PSUs; provided that such converted
time-vested RSUs will automatically accelerate upon a subsequent
qualifying termination of employment. The number of time-vested
RSUs that a portion of the 2021 PSUs could convert to depends on
the timing of a change in control. If a change in control had
occurred during calendar year 2021 (i.e., in the first year of the
three-year performance period), the number of shares of Common
Stock underlying the RSUs to be delivered would have been based on
the number of shares of Common Stock deliverable at target
performance (as outlined in the applicable award agreement). If a
change in control occurs during calendar year 2022 or 2023 (i.e.,
in the second year or third year of the three-year performance
period), the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the RSUs
to be delivered will be based on the number of shares of Common
Stock deliverable at actual performance for the portion of the
performance period that ended before the change in control (as
outlined in the applicable award agreement). Upon a change in
control where time-vested RSU and stock option awards are assumed,
replaced or continued, each of the time-vested RSU and stock option
awards will automatically accelerate upon a subsequent qualifying
termination of employment.
We believe these arrangements are an important part of overall
compensation and will help to secure the continued employment and
dedication of our NEOs prior to or following a change in control,
notwithstanding any concern that they may have at such time
regarding their own future and continued employment. In addition,
we believe that these arrangements are an important recruitment and
retention incentive. These arrangements do not provide for tax
gross ups.
Tax and Accounting Implications
We considered the taxation and accounting consequences of our
executive officer compensation programs as part of our internal
evaluation of such programs and awards made under them. However,
consistent with prior years, those consequences were not a deciding
factor in our decisions in establishing or administering our
executive officer compensation programs for fiscal year 2021.
We retain the discretion to structure compensation in ways
that may result in less than full deductibility, that may not
maximize tax savings and that may not minimize the accounting cost
to the Company.
Compensation Committee Report
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with
management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by
Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K. Based on such review and
discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board
that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis referred to above be
included in this proxy statement.
Compensation Committee
Mark S. Vidergauz, Chairman
Jeanne P. Jackson
Benjamin M. Polk
2021
Summary Compensation Table
The following table summarizes the total compensation of our NEOs
during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and
2019. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, our NEOs
were Rodney C. Sacks, Hilton H. Schlosberg, Thomas J. Kelly, Guy P.
Carling and Emelie C. Tirre.
Name
and Principal
Position |
Year |
Salary
($)(1)
|
Bonus
($)
|
Stock
Awards
($)(2) |
Option
Awards
($)(3) |
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)(4)
|
All Other
Compensation
($)(5) |
Total
($)
|
Rodney C. Sacks
Chairman, Co-CEO
and Director
|
2021 |
950,000 |
- |
10,121,372 |
3,407,849 |
2,130,685 |
97,671 |
16,707,577 |
2020 |
934,615 |
- |
8,905,549 |
3,599,698 |
2,027,766 |
96,057 |
15,563,685 |
2019 |
850,000 |
508,000 |
6,486,726 |
6,012,646 |
- |
125,062 |
13,982,434 |
Hilton H. Schlosberg
Vice Chairman, Co-CEO
and Director
|
2021 |
950,000 |
- |
10,121,372 |
3,407,849 |
2,130,685 |
76,622 |
16,686,528 |
2020 |
934,615 |
- |
8,905,549 |
3,599,698 |
2,027,766 |
75,777 |
15,543,405 |
2019 |
850,000 |
508,000 |
6,486,726 |
6,012,646 |
- |
81,927 |
13,939,299 |
Thomas J. Kelly
Chief Financial Officer
|
2021
2020
2019
|
525,000
498,462
450,000
|
-
-
225,000
|
373,548
436,730
310,284
|
131,172
224,818
302,636
|
392,438
435,600
-
|
40,682
41,736
38,781
|
1,462,840
1,637,346
1,326,701
|
Guy P. Carling
President,
EMEA (6)
|
2021
2020
2019
|
681,543
588,773
549,652
|
-
-
279,154
|
747,096
811,070
507,195
|
262,344
374,696
504,393
|
514,511
564,963
-
|
54,764
47,301
45,557
|
2,260,258
2,386,803
1,885,951
|
Emelie C. Tirre
President,
Americas
|
2021
2020
2019
|
725,000
706,154
630,000
|
-
-
320,000
|
747,096
811,070
507,195
|
262,344
374,696
504,393
|
541,938
638,350
-
|
39,701
37,964
35,345
|
2,316,079
2,568,234
1,996,933
|
|
(1) |
The amounts in this column include
one additional pay period for the year ended December 31,
2020. |
|
(2) |
As computed in accordance with
Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 718, modified to
exclude the effect of estimated forfeitures related to
service-based vesting conditions, the amounts in this column
represent the aggregate grant date fair value of awards of shares
of our Common Stock (solely in the case of Messrs. Sacks and
Schlosberg, which amounts represent half of their respective
bonuses earned in each of 2019 and 2018 and paid in 2020 and 2019,
respectively) and RSUs (in the case of all NEOs, which were granted
in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively) and, with respect to awards
of PSUs (in the case of all NEOs, which were granted in 2021 and
2020, respectively), represent the grant date fair value based on
the probable outcome of the performance conditions at the date of
the grant. The amount reflected in this column with respect to the
PSUs granted in 2021 is: Mr. Sacks, $6,750,546;
Mr. Schlosberg, $6,750,546; Mr. Kelly, $249,032;
Mr. Carling, $498,064; and Ms. Tirre, $498,064. The
assumptions used in the valuation of equity awards are disclosed in
Note 15 to the Audited Consolidated Financial Statements included
in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2021. The amounts do not reflect the value
actually realized or that ultimately may be realized by the NEOs.
The value of the PSU awards granted in 2021, assuming achievement
of the maximum performance level of 200%, would have been:
Mr. Sacks, $13,501,092; Mr. Schlosberg, $13,501,092;
Mr. Kelly, $498,064; Mr. Carling, $996,128; and
Ms. Tirre, $996,128. |
|
(3) |
The amounts represent the aggregate
grant date fair value for option awards computed in accordance with
ASC Topic 718, modified to exclude the effect of estimated
forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions, and are
based |
on the estimated fair value of the options on the date of grant
using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing formula assumptions
disclosed in Note 15 to the Audited Consolidated Financial
Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2021. The amounts do not reflect the
value actually realized or that ultimately may be realized by the
NEOs.
|
(4) |
The amounts in this column
represent for 2021 the amount earned for AIAs granted under the
2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan and paid in 2022. For Mr. Sacks
and Mr. Schlosberg, approximately one-half of their respective
AIAs granted in 2021 were paid in shares of immediately vested
Common Stock valued at $1,065,497 (based on the closing stock price
of our Common Stock on March 14, 2022 ($73.23), which was
determined as the date the shares would be released in accordance
with our equity grant procedures after the Compensation Committee
certified achievement with respect to such portion of the AIA). See
“Compensation Discussion and Analysis – 2021 AIAs” for a discussion
of how the 2021 AIAs were determined. |
|
(5) |
The amounts reported in this column
for 2021 include the items set forth in the table below, as
applicable to each NEO: |
Name
|
Company
Automobile
($)
|
Automobile
Allowance
($)
|
401(k)
Matching
Contribution
($)
|
Benefit
Premiums
($)(a)
|
Other
Perquisites
($)(b) |
Personal
Equipment
Allowance
($) |
Total
($)
|
Rodney C. Sacks |
15,322 |
- |
11,600 |
65,474 |
4,677 |
598 |
97,671 |
Hilton H. Schlosberg |
31,932 |
- |
11,600 |
32,492 |
- |
598 |
76,622 |
Thomas J. Kelly |
- |
6,822 |
11,600 |
21,662 |
- |
598 |
40,682 |
Guy P. Carling |
- |
16,519 |
34,424 |
3,821 |
- |
- |
54,764 |
Emelie C. Tirre |
- |
8,953 |
11,600 |
9,026 |
9,524 |
598 |
39,701 |
|
(a) |
For Mr. Sacks, the amount in
this column represents premiums paid by the Company for coverage
for himself, his spouse, and certain dependents, as the case may
be, under all medical, dental, disability, group life, accidental
death and travel accident insurance plans and programs. For
Mr. Schlosberg, the amounts in this column represent premiums
paid by the Company for coverage for himself and the members of his
immediate family (to the extent permitted by the applicable plan),
as the case may be, under all medical, dental, disability, group
life, accidental death and travel accident insurance plans and
programs. For Mr. Kelly, the amounts in this column represent
premiums paid by the Company for coverage for himself and his
spouse, as the case may be, under all medical, dental, disability,
group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance plans
and programs. For Mr. Carling, the amounts in this column
represent premiums paid by the Company for coverage for himself and
the members of his immediate family (to the extent permitted by the
applicable plan), as the case may be, under all medical, dental,
critical illness, group life, accidental death and travel accident
insurance plans and programs. For Ms. Tirre, the amounts in
this column represent premiums paid by the Company for coverage for
herself, as the case may be, under all medical, dental, disability,
group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance plans
and programs. |
|
(b) |
For Mr. Sacks, the amount in
this column represents (i) the entitlement to receive initial
and annual fees and all other reasonable expenses relating to
membership in up to two business or social clubs selected by
Mr. Sacks as well as (ii) expenses related to the travel
of certain of Mr. Sacks’ personal guests on a plane chartered
by the Company, which amount is valued based on the cost associated
with the use of a chartered plane and imputed as income to
Mr. Sacks. For Ms. Tirre, the amount in this column
represents the entitlement to receive 50% of the annual fees
relating to the membership in one business or social club selected
by Ms. Tirre. |
|
(6) |
For Mr. Carling, the amounts
reported were paid in GBP and converted to USD using the average
exchange rate of GBP to USD on a monthly basis for the years
indicated. |
2021
Grants of Plan-Based Awards
The following table summarizes grants of plan-based awards granted
to our NEOs during the fiscal year ended December 31,
2021.
Name |
Grant Date |
Estimated Future Payouts
Under
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards
(3) |
Estimated Future Payouts
Under
Equity Incentive Plan Awards
(4) |
All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number
of Shares
of Stock
or Units
(#) |
All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Shares
Underlying
Options
(#)(5) |
Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards
($/Share)
|
Grant
Date Fair
Value of
Stock and
Option
Awards
($)(6)
|
|
|
Threshold
($) |
Target
($) |
Maximum
($) |
Threshold
(#) |
Target
(#) |
Maximum
(#) |
|
|
|
|
Rodney C. Sacks |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RSUs
(1) |
3/12/2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
37,900 |
- |
- |
3,370,826 |
PSUs (2) |
3/12/2021 |
|
|
|
37,950 |
75,900 |
151,800 |
|
- |
- |
6,750,546 |
Options |
3/12/2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
129,900 |
88.94 |
3,407,849 |
AIA |
3/12/2021 |
712,500 |
1,425,000 |
2,850,000 |
|
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
Hilton H.
Schlosberg |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RSUs (1) |
3/12/2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
37,900 |
- |
- |
3,370,826 |
PSUs (2) |
3/12/2021 |
|
|
|
37,950 |
75,900 |
151,800 |
|
- |
- |
6,750,546 |
Options |
3/12/2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
129,900 |
88.94 |
3,407,849 |
AIA |
3/12/2021 |
712,500 |
1,425,000 |
2,850,000 |
|
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
Thomas J. Kelly |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RSUs (1) |
3/12/2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,400 |
- |
- |
124,516 |
PSUs (2) |
3/12/2021 |
|
|
|
1,400 |
2,800 |
5,600 |
|
- |
- |
249,032 |
Options |
3/12/2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
88.94 |
131,172 |
AIA |
3/12/2021 |
131,250 |
262,500 |
525,000 |
|
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
Guy P. Carling |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RSUs
(1) |
3/12/2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,800 |
- |
- |
249,032 |
PSUs (2) |
3/12/2021 |
|
|
|
2,800 |
5,600 |
11,200 |
|
- |
- |
498,064 |
Options |
3/12/2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,000 |
88.94 |
262,344 |
AIA |
3/12/2021 |
170,386 |
340,772 |
681,544 |
|
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
Emelie C. Tirre |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RSUs (1) |
3/12/2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,800 |
- |
- |
249,032 |
PSUs (2) |
3/12/2021 |
|
|
|
2,800 |
5,600 |
11,200 |
|
- |
- |
498,064 |
Options |
3/12/2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,000 |
88.94 |
262,344 |
AIA |
3/12/2021 |
181,250 |
362,500 |
725,000 |
|
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
(1) |
The amounts represent shares
underlying RSUs granted under our 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan. |
|
(2) |
The amounts represent shares
underlying PSUs granted under our 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan. |
|
(3) |
Represents threshold, target and
maximum payout levels for AIAs granted in March 2021 for
performance in the year ended December 31, 2021. See
“Compensation Discussion and Analysis – 2021 AIAs” for a
description of the AIAs. The threshold numbers set forth above are
based on achieving the minimum level of performance for which
payment would be made with respect to financial performance
measures (75% weighting), and assumes no payout is made for the
discretionary component (25% weighting). For Mr. Sacks and
Mr. Schlosberg, approximately one-half of their respective
AIAs granted in 2021 were paid in shares of immediately vested
Common Stock valued at $1,065,497 (based on the closing stock price
of our Common Stock on March 14, 2022 ($73.23), which was
determined as the date the shares would be released in accordance
with our equity grant procedures after the Compensation Committee
certified achievement with respect to such portion of the
AIA). |
|
(4) |
Represents threshold, target and
maximum payout levels for PSUs based on achievement of
pre-approved, annualized EPS targets and is subject to adjustments
as described more fully in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis –
2021 LTI Program – PSUs.” |
|
(5) |
The amounts represent options
granted under our 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan. |
|
(6) |
The assumptions used in the
valuation of equity awards are disclosed in Note 15 to the Audited
Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. |
Narrative to 2021 Summary Compensation Table and 2021 Grants of
Plan-Based Awards Table
Employment Agreements and Arrangements. The principal
terms of the employment agreements and arrangements with our NEOs
are set forth below.
Rodney C. Sacks – On March 18, 2014, we entered
into an employment agreement with Mr. Sacks (the “Sacks
Employment Agreement”), pursuant to which Mr. Sacks renders
services as our Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer. Under the
Sacks Employment Agreement, Mr. Sacks’ annual base salary will
be reviewed annually and increased at the discretion of our Board.
Mr. Sacks is eligible to receive an AIA as described under
“Compensation Discussion and Analysis – 2021 AIAs” as well as
certain fringe benefits. The initial employment period of this
agreement commenced on January 1, 2014 and continued through
December 31, 2018. Beginning December 31, 2018, the
agreement automatically renews for successive one-year renewal
periods, unless notice of intent to not renew is given by either us
or Mr. Sacks by June 30 of any renewal year. Under the
Sacks Employment Agreement, Mr. Sacks is subject to a
confidentiality covenant and a six-month post-termination
non-competition covenant. The Sacks Employment Agreement is subject
to termination (i) upon the death or disability of
Mr. Sacks, (ii) voluntarily by Mr. Sacks on 90 days’
written notice, (iii) for Cause (as defined in the Sacks
Employment Agreement) by us, or (iv) upon Constructive
Termination (as defined in the Sacks Employment Agreement) by
Mr. Sacks. The severance provisions in the Sacks Employment
Agreement are discussed in the “Potential Payments Upon Termination
or Change in Control” section below. During 2021, we entered into
certain equity compensation agreements with Mr. Sacks as
disclosed in the “2021 Grants of Plan-Based Awards” table
above.
Hilton H. Schlosberg – On March 18, 2014, we
entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Schlosberg (the
“Schlosberg Employment Agreement”), pursuant to which
Mr. Schlosberg renders services as our Vice Chairman and
Co-Chief Executive Officer. Under the Schlosberg Employment
Agreement, Mr. Schlosberg’s annual base salary will be
reviewed annually and increased at the discretion of our Board.
Mr. Schlosberg is eligible to receive an AIA as described
under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – 2021 AIAs” as well as
certain fringe benefits. The initial employment period of this
agreement commenced on January 1, 2014 and continued through
December 31, 2018. Beginning December 31, 2018, the
agreement automatically renews for successive one-year renewal
periods, unless notice of intent to not renew is given by either us
or Mr. Schlosberg by June 30 of any renewal year. Under
the Schlosberg Employment Agreement, Mr. Schlosberg is subject
to a confidentiality covenant and a six-month post-termination
non-competition covenant. The Schlosberg Employment Agreement is
subject to termination (i) upon the death or disability of
Mr. Schlosberg, (ii) voluntarily by Mr. Schlosberg
on 90 days’ written notice, (iii) for Cause (as defined in the
Schlosberg Employment Agreement) by us, or (iv) upon
Constructive Termination (as defined in the Schlosberg Employment
Agreement) by Mr. Schlosberg. The severance provisions in the
Schlosberg Employment Agreement are discussed in the “Potential
Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” section below.
During 2021, we entered into certain equity compensation agreements
with Mr. Schlosberg as disclosed in the “2021 Grants of
Plan-Based Awards” table above.
Thomas J. Kelly, Guy P. Carling and Emelie C. Tirre –
Mr. Kelly’s, Mr. Carling’s and Ms. Tirre’s
employment, respectively, is “at will” and thus may be terminated
at any time for any or no reason. Mr. Kelly, Mr. Carling
and Ms. Tirre are each eligible to receive an AIA as described
under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – 2021 AIAs” as well as
certain fringe benefits.
2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan. The principal terms of
the awards granted to our NEOs in 2021 under the 2020 Omnibus
Incentive Plan are set forth below.
Options. Options granted in 2021 to our NEOs under
the 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan have a ten-year term. For
Mr. Sacks and Mr. Schlosberg, the options granted in 2021
are scheduled to vest in three, equal one-third annual installments
on the first three anniversaries of the grant date, subject to
continuous employment. For Mr. Kelly, the options granted in
2021 are scheduled to vest in three annual
installments as follows: the option to purchase 1,666 shares on
March 12, 2022, the option to purchase 1,667 shares on
March 12, 2023 and the option to purchase 1,667 shares on
March 12, 2024, subject to continuous employment. For
Mr. Carling and Ms. Tirre, the options granted in 2021
are scheduled to vest in five annual installments with 10% vesting
on the first anniversary of the grant date, 15% vesting on the
second anniversary of the grant date, 20% vesting on the third
anniversary of the grant date, 25% vesting on the fourth
anniversary of the grant date and 30% vesting on the fifth
anniversary of the grant date, subject to continuous employment.
The effect of termination and change in control on vesting of
options for our NEOs is discussed in the “Potential Payments Upon
Termination or Change in Control” section below.
RSUs. For Mr. Sacks and Mr. Schlosberg, the
RSUs granted in 2021 are scheduled to vest in three annual
installments as follows: 12,633 units on March 12, 2022,
12,633 units on March 12, 2023 and 12,634 units on
March 12, 2024, in each case, subject to continuous
employment. For Mr. Kelly, the RSUs granted in 2021 are
scheduled to vest in three annual installments as follows: 466
units on March 12, 2022, 466 units on March 12, 2023 and
467 units on March 12, 2024, subject to continuous employment.
For Mr. Carling and Ms. Tirre, the RSUs granted in 2021
are scheduled to vest in five annual installments with 10% vesting
on the first anniversary of the grant date, 15% vesting on the
second anniversary of the grant date, 20% vesting on the third
anniversary of the grant date, 25% vesting on the fourth
anniversary of the grant date and 30% vesting on the fifth
anniversary of the grant date, subject to continuous employment.
The effect of termination and change in control on vesting of RSUs
for our NEOs is discussed in the “Potential Payments Upon
Termination or Change in Control” section below.
PSUs. The number of PSUs in which our NEOs may vest
for the 2021 PSUs ranges from 0% to 200% of the number of PSUs
granted, subject to the achievement of a pre-established EPS goal
during the performance period (the three-year period beginning on
January 1, 2021 and ending on December 31, 2023), which
goal is subject to certain adjustments, and continuous employment
through the performance period. For all NEOs, the 2021 PSUs will
vest on December 31, 2023, following the achievement of the
performance criteria and subject to continuous employment. The
effect of termination and change in control on vesting of PSUs for
our NEOs is discussed in the “Potential Payments Upon Termination
or Change in Control” section below.
2021
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table
The following table summarizes the outstanding equity awards held
by our NEOs at December 31, 2021.
|
|
Option
Awards |
Stock
Awards |
Name |
Grant
Date |
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Exercisable
(#)
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options
Unexercisable
(#)
|
Option
Exercise
Price
($)
|
Option
Expiration
Date |
Number
of Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have Not
Vested
(#)
|
Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
($)
|
Equity
Incentive Plan
Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested
($)(4)
|
Equity
Incentive Plan
Awards:
Market or
Payout Value
of Unearned
Shares, Units
or other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested
($)(12) |
Rodney
C. Sacks |
06/03/2013
(1) |
630,000 |
- |
17.99 |
06/03/2023 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/14/2014
(1) |
630,000 |
- |
23.35 |
03/14/2024 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/13/2015
(1) |
237,600 |
- |
45.16 |
03/13/2025 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/14/2016
(1) |
315,000 |
- |
43.99 |
03/14/2026 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/14/2017
(1) |
305,500 |
- |
46.27 |
03/14/2027 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/14/2018
(1) |
264,000 |
- |
58.73 |
03/14/2028 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/14/2019
(2) |
- |
- |
- |
|
33,534 |
3,220,605 |
- |
- |
03/14/2019
(1) |
194,400 |
97,200 |
59.67 |
03/14/2029 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/13/2020
(3) |
- |
- |
- |
|
32,056 |
3,078,658 |
- |
- |
03/13/2020
(10) |
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
128,168 |
12,309,255 |
03/13/2020
(3) |
85,066 |
106,334 |
62.39 |
03/13/2030 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/12/2021
(2) |
- |
- |
- |
|
37,900 |
3,639,916 |
- |
- |
03/12/2021
(13) |
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
37,950 |
3,644,718 |
03/12/2021
(1) |
- |
129,900 |
88.94 |
03/12/2031 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Hilton
H. Schlosberg |
06/03/2013
(1) |
630,000 |
- |
17.99 |
06/03/2023 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/14/2014
(1) |
630,000 |
- |
23.35 |
03/14/2024 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/13/2015
(1) |
237,600 |
- |
45.16 |
03/13/2025 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/14/2016
(1) |
315,000 |
- |
43.99 |
03/14/2026 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/14/2017
(1) |
305,500 |
- |
46.27 |
03/14/2027 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/14/2018
(1) |
264,000 |
- |
58.73 |
03/14/2028 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/14/2019
(2) |
- |
- |
- |
|
33,534 |
3,220,605 |
- |
- |
03/14/2019
(1) |
194,400 |
97,200 |
59.67 |
03/14/2029 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/13/2020
(3) |
- |
- |
- |
|
32,056 |
3,078,658 |
- |
- |
03/13/2020
(10) |
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
128,168 |
12,309,255 |
03/13/2020
(3) |
85,066 |
106,334 |
62.39 |
03/13/2030 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/12/2021
(2) |
- |
- |
- |
|
37,900 |
3,639,916 |
- |
- |
03/12/2021
(13) |
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
37,950 |
3,644,718 |
03/12/2021
(1) |
- |
129,900 |
88.94 |
03/12/2031 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Thomas
J. Kelly |
03/13/2015
(9) |
7,200 |
- |
45.16 |
03/13/2025 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/14/2016
(5) |
20,625 |
- |
43.99 |
03/14/2026 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
12/01/2016
(5) |
22,000 |
- |
43.64 |
12/01/2026 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/14/2018
(5) |
22,500 |
27,500 |
58.73 |
03/14/2028 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
06/01/2018
(7) |
1,667 |
3,333 |
51.50 |
06/01/2028 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/14/2019
(2) |
- |
- |
- |
|
1,734 |
166,533 |
- |
- |
03/14/2019
(1) |
10,000 |
5,000 |
59.67 |
03/14/2029 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/13/2020
(2) |
- |
- |
- |
|
2,667 |
256,139 |
- |
- |
03/13/2020
(11) |
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
4,000 |
384,160 |
03/13/2020
(1) |
4,000 |
8,000 |
62.39 |
03/13/2030 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/12/2021
(2) |
- |
- |
- |
|
1,400 |
134,456 |
- |
- |
03/12/2021
(13) |
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
1,400 |
134,456 |
03/12/2021
(1) |
- |
5,000 |
88.94 |
03/12/2031 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Guy P.
Carling |
12/01/2016
(5) |
18,000 |
- |
43.64 |
12/01/2026 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/14/2018
(5) |
10,000 |
27,500 |
58.73 |
03/14/2028 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
06/01/2018
(6) |
- |
- |
- |
|
6,000 |
576,240 |
- |
- |
06/01/2018
(7) |
8,334 |
16,666 |
51.50 |
06/01/2028 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/14/2019
(8) |
- |
- |
- |
|
6,375 |
612,255 |
- |
- |
03/14/2019
(5) |
3,750 |
18,750 |
59.67 |
03/14/2029 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/13/2020
(8) |
- |
- |
- |
|
6,300 |
605,052 |
- |
- |
03/13/2020
(11) |
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
8,000 |
768,320 |
03/13/2020
(5) |
2,000 |
18,000 |
62.39 |
03/13/2030 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/12/2021
(8) |
- |
- |
- |
|
2,800 |
268,912 |
- |
- |
03/12/2021
(13) |
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
2,800 |
268,912 |
03/12/2021
(5) |
- |
10,000 |
88.94 |
03/12/2031 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Emelie
C. Tirre |
03/14/2016
(5) |
15,729 |
- |
43.99 |
03/14/2026 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
12/01/2016
(5) |
100,000 |
- |
43.64 |
12/01/2026 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/14/2017
(5) |
28,000 |
12,000 |
46.27 |
03/14/2027 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/14/2018
(5) |
22,500 |
27,500 |
58.73 |
03/14/2028 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
06/01/2018
(6) |
- |
- |
- |
|
6,000 |
576,240 |
- |
- |
06/01/2018
(7) |
8,334 |
16,666 |
51.50 |
06/01/2028 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/14/2019
(8) |
- |
- |
- |
|
6,375 |
612,255 |
- |
- |
03/14/2019
(5) |
6,250 |
18,750 |
59.67 |
03/14/2029 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/13/2020
(8) |
- |
- |
- |
|
6,300 |
605,052 |
- |
- |
03/13/2020
(11) |
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
8,000 |
768,320 |
03/13/2020
(5) |
2,000 |
18,000 |
62.39 |
03/13/2030 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
03/12/2021
(8) |
- |
- |
- |
|
2,800 |
268,912 |
- |
- |
03/12/2021
(13) |
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
2,800 |
268,912 |
03/12/2021
(5) |
- |
10,000 |
88.94 |
03/12/2031 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(1) |
Award of stock options in this row has vested, or, to the extent
not yet vested, is subject to vest, in three, equal (or
substantially equal) one-third annual installments on the first
three anniversaries of the grant date, subject to continuous
employment.
|
(2) |
Award of RSUs in this row is subject to vest in
three, equal (or substantially equal) one-third annual installments
on the first three anniversaries of the grant date, subject to
continuous employment.
|
(3) |
Award of stock options or RSUs in this row has vested, or, to the
extent not yet vested, is subject to vest, in three, annual
installments with approximately 44% vesting on the first
anniversary of the grant date and approximately 28% vesting on each
of the second and third anniversaries of the grant date, subject to
continuous employment.
|
(4) |
Award of PSUs in this column represent the issuable number of PSUs
granted under the 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan and under the 2020
Omnibus Incentive Plan, assuming the applicable threshold level of
performance is achieved and all NEOs remained continuously employed
through the applicable vesting date. Award of PSUs in this column
are eligible to vest subject to the achievement of pre-established
EPS goals during each applicable performance period (the two-year
period beginning on January 1, 2020 and ending on
December 31, 2021, the three-year period beginning on
January 1, 2020 and ending on December 31, 2022, and the
three-year period beginning on January 1, 2021 and ending on
December 31, 2023, respectively), which goals are subject to
certain adjustments, and continuous employment through each
applicable performance period.
|
(5) |
Award of stock options in this row has vested, or, to the extent
not yet vested, is subject to vest, in five, annual installments
with 10% vesting on the first anniversary of the grant date, 15%
vesting on the second anniversary of the grant date, 20% vesting on
the third anniversary of the grant date, 25% vesting on the fourth
anniversary of the grant date and 30% vesting on the fifth
anniversary of the grant date, subject to continuous
employment.
|
(6) |
Award of RSUs in this row is subject to vest in four, equal
one-fourth annual installments on the second, third, fourth and
fifth anniversaries of the grant date, subject to continuous
employment.
|
(7) |
Award of stock options in this row has vested, or, to the extent
not yet vested, is subject to vest in three, equal (or
substantially equal) one-third annual installments on the third,
fourth and fifth anniversaries of the grant date, subject to
continuous employment.
|
(8) |
Award of RSUs in this row is subject to vest in five, annual
installments with 10% vesting on the first anniversary of the grant
date, 15% vesting on the second anniversary of the grant date, 20%
vesting on the third anniversary of the grant date, 25% vesting on
the fourth anniversary of the grant date and 30% vesting on the
fifth anniversary of the grant date, subject to continuous
employment.
|
(9) |
Award of stock options in this row is subject to vest in five equal
one-fifth annual installments on the first five anniversaries of
the grant date, subject to continuous employment.
|
(10) |
Approximately 16% of PSUs vest following the achievement of the
performance criteria in the first performance period and the
remaining approximately 84% of the PSUs vest in two, equal
installments following the achievement of the performance criteria
in the second and third performance periods, as applicable, subject
to continuous employment.
|
(11) |
Award of PSUs are scheduled to vest in three, equal installments
following the achievement of the performance criteria in each
applicable performance period, subject to continuous
employment.
|
(12)
(13)
|
Represents the value of unvested PSUs using the closing price of
our Common Stock on December 31, 2021 ($96.04), assuming the
applicable threshold level of performance is achieved for each
applicable performance period.
Award of PSUs are scheduled to vest in one installment following
the achievement of the performance criteria in the applicable
performance period, subject to continuous employment.
|
2021
Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table
The following table summarizes exercise of stock options and stock
vested by our NEOs during the Company’s fiscal year ended
December 31, 2021.
|
Option Awards |
Stock Awards |
Name |
Number of Shares
Acquired on Exercise
(#)
|
Value Realized on
Exercise
($)(1)
|
Number of
Shares Acquired
on Vesting
(#)
|
Value Realized on
Vesting
($)(2)(3)
|
Rodney C. Sacks |
|
|
118,876 |
10,607,332 |
Hilton H. Schlosberg |
|
|
118,876 |
10,607,332 |
Thomas J. Kelly |
|
|
5,066 |
451,704 |
Guy P. Carling |
33,000 |
1,573,500 |
8,975 |
812,917 |
Emelie C. Tirre |
87,057 |
4,538,598 |
8,975 |
812,917 |
|
(1) |
The value realized upon the
exercise of the stock options reflects the number of options
multiplied by the difference between the closing stock price of our
Common Stock on the date of the exercise and the exercise price of
the options. |
|
(2) |
The value realized upon vesting of
the RSU awards represents the number of shares of our Common Stock
underlying such RSU awards multiplied by the closing stock price of
our Common Stock on the date the awards vested. |
|
(3) |
The value realized upon vesting of
the first of three tranches of the PSU awards granted under the
2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan represents the number of shares of our
Common Stock underlying such tranche of such PSU awards,
respectively, multiplied by the closing stock price of our Common
Stock on March 12, 2021 ($88.94), the date the shares
underlying the first of three tranches of such PSU awards were
released. |
Pension Benefits
We do not maintain or make contributions to a defined benefit plan
for any of our NEOs.
2021
Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table
The following table summarizes the contributions, earnings (loss)
and withdrawals by our NEOs during the Company’s fiscal year ended
December 31, 2021. For additional details regarding the
Deferred Compensation Plan, see “Compensation Discussion and
Analysis - Deferred Compensation Plan.”
Name |
Executive
Contributions
in Last FY(1) |
Registrant
Contributions
in Last FY |
Aggregate
Earnings (Loss)
in Last FY(2) |
Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions |
Aggregate
Balance at
Last FYE(3) |
Rodney C. Sacks |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Hilton H. Schlosberg |
$392,770 |
$0 |
$63,239 |
$0 |
$1,572,148 |
Thomas J. Kelly |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Guy P. Carling |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Emelie C. Tirre |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
(1) |
All contributions shown are
included in the “Salary” column of the 2021 Summary Compensation
Table. |
|
(2) |
The amount reported in the earnings
column above is not reported as compensation in the Summary
Compensation Table because the applicable earnings rate was not in
excess of market rates. |
|
(3) |
With respect to
Mr. Schlosberg, amount includes amounts previously reported in
the Summary Compensation Table for years prior to 2021 as “Salary”
in the following aggregate amount: $957,723. The information in
this footnote is provided to clarify the extent to which amounts
payable as deferred compensation represent compensation reported in
our prior proxy statements, rather than additional currently earned
compensation. |
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
We have entered into certain agreements and maintain certain plans
that may require us to make certain payments and/or provide certain
benefits to our NEOs in the event of a termination of their
employment or a change of control. The following tables and
narrative disclosure summarize the payments to each of our NEOs
assuming that one of the events listed in the tables below occurs.
The tables assume that the event occurred on December 31,
2021, the last day of our most recently completed fiscal year.
Key Employment Agreement and Equity Award Agreement
Definitions
For purposes of the Sacks Employment Agreement and the Schlosberg
Employment Agreement described in this section, “cause” (under
which we may terminate their employment) is defined as: (i) an
act or acts of dishonesty or gross misconduct on the executive’s
part which results or is intended to result in material damage to
our business or reputation; or (ii) repeated material
violations by the executive of his obligations relating to his
position and duties, which violations are demonstrably willful and
deliberate on the executive’s part and which result in material
damage to our business or reputation and as to which material
violations our Board has notified the executive in writing.
For purposes of the Sacks Employment Agreement and the Schlosberg
Employment Agreement described in this section, “constructive
termination” (under which they may terminate their employment) is
defined as: (i) without the written consent of the executive,
(A) the assignment to the executive of any duties inconsistent
in any substantial respect with the executive’s position, authority
or responsibilities as contemplated by the position and duties
described in his employment agreement, or (B) any other
substantial adverse change in such position, including titles,
authority or responsibilities; (ii) any failure by us to
comply with any of the provisions of his employment agreement,
other than an insubstantial or inadvertent failure, remedied by us
promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the executive;
(iii) our requiring the executive without his consent to be
based at any office location outside of Riverside County,
California or Orange County, California, except for travel
reasonably required in the performance of the executive’s
responsibilities; or (iv) any failure by the Company to obtain
the assumption and agreement by a successor entity to perform his
employment agreement, provided that the successor entity has had
actual written notice of the existence of his employment agreement
and its terms and an opportunity to assume the Company’s
responsibilities under his employment agreement during a period of
10 business days after receipt of such notice.
For purposes of the Sacks Employment Agreement and the Schlosberg
Employment Agreement described in this section, “disability” is
defined as any disability which would entitle the executive to
receive full long-term disability benefits under our long-term
disability plan, or if no such plan will then be in effect, any
physical or mental disability or incapacity which renders the
executive incapable of performing the services and obligations
required of him relating to the executive’s position and duties for
a period of more than 120 days in the aggregate during any 12-month
period during the employment period.
For purposes of the RSU agreements associated with RSUs granted
under the 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan with Mr. Sacks and
Mr. Schlosberg, “good reason” is defined as termination of
employment on or after a reduction in his compensation or benefits,
his removal from his current position, or his being assigned duties
and responsibilities that are inconsistent with the dignity,
importance or scope of his position.
For purposes of the RSU agreements associated with RSUs granted
under the 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan with Mr. Sacks and
Mr. Schlosberg, “cause” is defined as an act of fraud or
dishonesty,
knowing and material failure to comply with applicable laws or
regulations, or drug or alcohol abuse, in any case as determined by
the Board.
For purposes of all the PSU agreements associated with PSUs granted
under the 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan or under the 2020 Omnibus
Incentive Plan, “cause” is as defined in any employment or
consulting agreement or similar services agreement between the
executive and the Company or one of its affiliates, or, in the
absence of any such employment, consulting or similar services
agreement, the executive’s (i) act(s) of fraud or
dishonesty, (ii) knowing and material failure to comply with
applicable laws or regulations or satisfactorily perform the
executive’s services with the Company or its affiliates,
(iii) insubordination, or (iv) drug or alcohol abuse.
For purposes of all the PSU agreements associated with PSUs granted
under the 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan, “disability” is defined as
the complete and permanent inability of the executive to perform
the executive’s essential duties consistent with the terms of the
executive’s employment or services with the Company and its
affiliates, as determined by the Compensation Committee upon the
basis of such evidence the Compensation Committee deems appropriate
or necessary, including independent medical reports and data.
For purposes of all the PSU agreements associated with PSUs granted
under the 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan, “good reason” is defined as
“good reason” to terminate the executive’s employment or services,
as defined in any employment or consulting or similar services
agreement between the executive and the Company or one of its
affiliates, or, in the absence of any such employment, consulting,
or similar services agreement, (i) a diminution in the
executive’s duties and responsibilities from those in effect
immediately prior to a change in such duties and responsibilities
including (a) any change to a different reporting structure
that results from a “change in control,” and (b) any change
resulting from the Company becoming a subsidiary of another
organization, in each case, regardless of the structure of the
“change in control,” (ii) a decrease in the executive’s base
salary or bonus opportunity, or (iii) a relocation of the
executive’s primary work location more than thirty (30) miles from
the executive’s primary work location, without the executive’s
prior written consent, provided that the executive will have
delivered written notice to the Company of the executive’s
intention to terminate the executive’s employment or services for
“good reason,” and the Company will not have cured such
circumstances within 30 days following the Company’s receipt of
such notice.
For purposes of all the stock option agreements associated with
stock options under the 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan, “change in
control” is defined as: (i) the acquisition of “Beneficial
Ownership” by any person (as defined in Rule 13(d)–3 and
13(d)-5 under the Exchange Act), corporation or other entity other
than us or a wholly-owned subsidiary of ours of 50% or more of our
outstanding stock; (ii) the sale or disposition of
substantially all of our assets; or (iii) our merger with
another corporation in which our Common Stock is no longer
outstanding after such merger.
For purposes of the stock option agreements with Mr. Sacks and
Mr. Schlosberg, associated with stock options granted under
the 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan, “good reason” (under which they
may terminate their employment) is defined as a reduction in the
individual’s compensation or benefits, the individual’s removal
from his current position or the assignment to the individual of
duties or responsibilities that are inconsistent with the dignity,
importance or scope of the individual’s position with us.
For purposes of all the stock option agreements associated with
stock options granted under the 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan,
“cause” (under which we may terminate their employment) is defined
as the individual’s act of fraud or dishonesty, knowing and
material failure to comply with applicable laws
or regulations or drug or alcohol abuse; and “total disability” is
defined as the complete and permanent inability of the executive to
perform all his duties of employment with us.
Circumstances of
Termination |
|
|
Payments
and
Benefits |
Death
($) |
Disability
($) |
Non-
Renewal
by
Executive
($) |
Cause
($) |
Voluntary
Termination
($) |
Termination by
Corporation
Other Than for
Cause or
Disability or
Termination by
the Executive
for Constructive
Termination or
Good Reason
($) |
Change in
Control
($) |
Termination
without Cause or
Constructive
Dismissal
Following a
Change in
Control
($) |
|
(a) |
(a) |
(b) |
(c) |
(d) |
(e) |
(f) |
(g) |
Base Salary |
950,000 |
950,000 |
- |
- |
475,000 |
1,936,538 |
- |
1,936,538 |
Bonus |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1,065,188 |
- |
1,065,188 |
Vacation |
146,154 |
146,154 |
146,154 |
146,154 |
146,154 |
146,154 |
- |
146,154 |
Benefit Plans |
54,650 |
66,700 |
- |
33,350 |
33,350 |
100,050 |
- |
100,050 |
Automobile |
15,322 |
15,322 |
- |
- |
- |
22,983 |
- |
22,983 |
Perquisites & Other Personal
Benefits |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Acceleration of Equity
Awards |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
13,412,567 |
13,412,567 |
37,573,463 |
Total |
1,166,126 |
1,178,176 |
146,154 |
179,504 |
654,504 |
16,683,480 |
13,412,567 |
40,844,376 |
|
(a) |
Under the Sacks Employment
Agreement, upon termination due to death or disability,
Mr. Sacks, or his legal representative, would be entitled to
continuation of base salary, payment of benefit premiums for
himself and his family and automobile benefits for a period of one
year from the date of termination and payment for accrued
vacation. |
|
(b) |
Under the Sacks Employment
Agreement, upon non-renewal by Mr. Sacks, Mr. Sacks would
be entitled to payment for accrued vacation. |
|
(c) |
Under the Sacks Employment
Agreement, upon termination by us for cause, Mr. Sacks would
be entitled to payment of benefit premiums for himself and his
family for a period of six months from the date of termination and
payment for accrued vacation. |
|
(d) |
Upon voluntary termination by
Mr. Sacks, Mr. Sacks would be entitled to payment of his
full base salary for a period of six months from the date of
termination, payment of benefit premiums for himself and his family
for a period of six months from the date of termination and payment
for accrued vacation. |
|
(e) |
Under the Sacks Employment
Agreement, upon termination by us without cause or termination by
Mr. Sacks for constructive termination, or if we elected not
to renew his employment agreement, Mr. Sacks would be entitled
to a payment of two times his base salary, at the rate in effect on
the date of termination, and a pro-rata portion of the bonus
received in the year immediately prior to the year of the
termination date, payable in the same manner and at the same time
as the other senior officers of the Company, as if he remained
employed through the applicable payment date. In addition,
Mr. Sacks would be entitled to payment of all benefit premiums
and automobile benefits for the period from the date of termination
through the date which is eighteen months from the date of
termination. Also, in the case of termination without cause,
Mr. Sacks would be entitled to two weeks base salary in lieu
of notice at the rate in effect on the date of termination. In
addition, under Mr. Sacks’ RSU and stock option agreements
associated with grants of RSUs and stock options under the 2011
Omnibus Incentive Plan, if Mr. Sacks’ employment is terminated
by us without cause or by Mr. Sacks for good reason, all RSUs
and stock options subject to such agreements will immediately
become exercisable in their entirety. Finally, under
Mr. Sacks’ PSU agreements, if Mr. Sacks’ employment is
terminated by us without cause or by Mr. Sacks for good
reason, any unvested portion of the PSU award is forfeited, |
except to the extent such termination occurs on or after a vesting
date, in which case, such portion of the PSUs that vested on such
vesting date which remains unpaid will remain eligible to be
received by Mr. Sacks.
|
(f) |
Under Mr. Sacks’ RSU and stock
option agreements associated with grants of RSUs and stock options
under the 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan, upon a change in control,
all RSU and stock option awards, as applicable, will immediately
vest or become exercisable in their entirety. With respect to
Mr. Sacks’ stock option agreements associated with grants of
stock options under the 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan, options may,
with the consent of Mr. Sacks, be purchased by the Company for
cash at a price equal to the aggregate of the fair market value for
one (1) share of our Common Stock less the purchase price
payable by Mr. Sacks to exercise the options as set forth
under each option agreement, multiplied by the number of shares of
Common Stock which Mr. Sacks has the option to purchase. Under
Mr. Sacks’ PSU agreement associated with the grant of the 2020
PSUs under the 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan, upon a change in
control which occurs within the second or third years of the
performance period and results in such award to be assumed or
replaced, (i) the remaining unvested portion of the PSU award
is converted to RSUs with the number of shares to be converted
based on actual performance for the most recently completed
performance period prior to the change in control with as-scheduled
vesting to remain unchanged and (ii) in the event of an
involuntary termination without cause or for good reason following
a change in control, all unvested RSUs (as converted from PSUs upon
a change in control) become immediately vested. Under
Mr. Sacks’ PSU agreement associated with the grant of the 2021
PSUs under the 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan, upon a change in
control which occurs within the first year of the performance
period and results in such award to be assumed or replaced,
(i) the entire portion of the PSU award automatically converts
into RSUs with the number of shares to be converted based on target
performance with as-scheduled vesting to remain unchanged and
(ii) in the event of an involuntary termination without cause
or for good reason following a change in control which occurs
within 24 months following such change in control, all unvested
RSUs (as converted from PSUs upon a change in control) become
immediately vested. |
|
(g) |
Under Mr. Sacks’ PSU
agreement, in the event of an involuntary termination without cause
or for good reason within 24 months following a change in control,
all unvested RSUs (as converted from PSUs upon a change in control
(as more fully described in footnote (f) immediately above))
become immediately vested. Under Mr. Sacks’ RSU and stock
option agreements associated with grants under the 2020 Omnibus
Incentive Plan, in the event of an involuntary termination without
cause or for good reason within 24 months following a change in
control, all RSU and stock option awards, as applicable, will
immediately vest or become exercisable in their entirety. |
Circumstances of
Termination |
|
|
Payments
and
Benefits |
Death
($) |
Disability
($) |
Non-
Renewal
by
Executive
($) |
Cause
($) |
Voluntary
Termination
($) |
Termination by
Corporation
Other Than for
Cause or
Disability or
Termination by
the Executive
for Constructive
Termination or
Good Reason
($) |
Change in
Control
($) |
Termination
without Cause or
Constructive
Dismissal
Following a
Change in
Control
($) |
|
(a) |
(a) |
(b) |
(c) |
(d) |
(e) |
(f) |
(g) |
Base Salary |
950,000 |
950,000 |
- |
- |
475,000 |
1,936,538 |
- |
1,936,538 |
Bonus |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1,065,188 |
- |
1,065,188 |
Vacation |
146,154 |
146,154 |
146,154 |
146,154 |
146,154 |
146,154 |
- |
146,154 |
Benefit Plans |
32,553 |
33,718 |
- |
16,859 |
16,859 |
50,577 |
- |
50,577 |
Automobile |
31,932 |
31,932 |
- |
- |
- |
47,898 |
- |
47,898 |
Perquisites & Other Personal
Benefits |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Acceleration of Equity
Awards |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
13,412,567 |
13,412,567 |
37,573,463 |
Total |
1,160,639 |
1,161,804 |
146,154 |
163,013 |
638,013 |
16,658,922 |
13,412,567 |
40,819,818 |
|
(a) |
Under the Schlosberg Employment
Agreement, upon termination due to death or disability,
Mr. Schlosberg, or his legal representative, would be entitled
to continuation of base salary, payment of benefit premiums for
himself and his family and automobile benefits for a period of one
year from the date of termination and payment for accrued
vacation. |
|
(b) |
Under the Schlosberg Employment
Agreement, upon non-renewal by Mr. Schlosberg,
Mr. Schlosberg would be entitled to payment for accrued
vacation. |
|
(c) |
Under the Schlosberg Employment
Agreement, upon termination by us for cause, Mr. Schlosberg
would be entitled to payment of benefit premiums for himself and
his family for a period of six months from the date of termination
and payment for accrued vacation. |
|
(d) |
Upon voluntary termination by
Mr. Schlosberg, Mr. Schlosberg would be entitled to
payment of his full base salary for a period of six months from the
date of termination, payment of benefit premiums for himself and
his family for a period of six months from the date of termination
and payment for accrued vacation. |
|
(e) |
Under the Schlosberg Employment
Agreement, upon termination by us without cause or termination by
Mr. Schlosberg for constructive termination, or if we elected
not to renew his employment agreement, Mr. Schlosberg would be
entitled to a payment of two times his base salary, at the rate in
effect on the date of termination, and a pro-rata portion of the
bonus received in the year immediately prior to the year of the
termination date, payable in the same manner and at the same time
as the other senior officers of the Company, as if he remained
employed through the applicable payment date. In addition,
Mr. Schlosberg would be entitled to payment of all benefit
premiums and automobile benefits for the period from the date of
termination through the date which is eighteen months from the date
of termination. Also, in the case of termination without cause,
Mr. Schlosberg would be entitled to two weeks base salary in
lieu of notice at the rate in effect on the date of termination. In
addition, under Mr. Schlosberg’s RSU and stock option
agreements associated with grants of RSUs and stock options under
the 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan, if Mr. Schlosberg’s
employment is terminated by us without cause or by
Mr. Schlosberg for good reason, all RSUs and stock options
subject to such agreements will immediately become exercisable in
their entirety. Finally, under Mr. Schlosberg’s PSU
agreements, if Mr. Schlosberg’s employment is terminated by us
without cause or by Mr. Schlosberg for good reason, any
unvested portion of the PSU award is forfeited except to the extent
such termination occurs on or after a vesting date, in which case,
such portion of the PSUs that vested on such vesting date which
remains unpaid will remain eligible to be received by
Mr. Schlosberg. |
|
(f) |
Under Mr. Schlosberg’s RSU and
stock option agreements associated with grants of RSUs and stock
options under the 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan, upon a change in
control, all RSU and stock option awards, as applicable, will
immediately vest or become exercisable in their entirety. With
respect to Mr. Schlosberg’s stock option agreements associated
with grants of stock options under the 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan,
options may, with the consent of Mr. Schlosberg, be purchased
by the Company for cash at a price equal to the aggregate of the
fair market value for one (1) share of our Common Stock less
the purchase price payable by Mr. Schlosberg to exercise the
options as set forth under each option agreement, multiplied by the
number of shares of Common Stock which Mr. Schlosberg has the
option to purchase. Under Mr. Schlosberg’s PSU agreement
associated with the grant of the 2020 PSUs under the 2011 Omnibus
Incentive Plan, upon a change in control which occurs within the
second or third years of the performance period and results in such
award to be assumed or replaced, (i) the remaining unvested
portion of the PSU award is converted to RSUs with the number of
shares to be converted based on actual performance for the most
recently completed performance period prior to the change in
control with as-scheduled vesting to remain unchanged and
(ii) in the event of an involuntary termination without cause
or for good reason following a change in control, all unvested RSUs
(as converted from PSUs upon a change in control) become
immediately vested. Under Mr. Schlosberg’s PSU agreement
associated with the grant of the 2021 PSUs under the 2020 Omnibus
Incentive Plan, upon a change in control which occurs within the
first year of the performance period and results in such award to
be assumed or replaced, (i) the entire portion of the PSU
award automatically converts into RSUs with the number of shares to
be converted based on target performance with as-scheduled vesting
to remain unchanged and (ii) in the event of an involuntary
termination without cause or for good reason following a change in
control which occurs within 24 months following such change in
control, all unvested RSUs (as converted from PSUs upon a change in
control) become immediately vested. |
|
(g) |
Under Mr. Schlosberg’s PSU
agreement, in the event of an involuntary termination without cause
or for good reason within 24 months following a change in control,
all unvested RSUs (as converted from PSUs upon a change in control
(as more fully described in footnote (f) immediately above))
become immediately vested. Under Mr. Schlosberg’s RSU and
stock option agreements associated with grants under the 2020
Omnibus Incentive Plan, in the event of an involuntary termination
without cause or for good reason within 24 months following a
change in control, all RSU and stock option awards, as applicable,
will immediately vest or become exercisable in their entirety. |
Circumstances of
Termination |
|
Payments and
Benefits |
Death
($)
|
Disability
($)
|
Cause or
Voluntary
Termination
($) |
Termination by Corporation Other Than for Cause or
Disability
($)
|
Termination without Cause or Constructive Dismissal Following a
Change in Control
($)
|
|
(a) |
(a) |
(b) |
(c) |
(d) |
Base Salary |
- |
- |
- |
- |
262,500 |
Vacation |
53,555 |
53,555 |
53,555 |
53,555 |
- |
Benefit Plans |
1,765 |
1,810 |
1,810 |
1,810 |
- |
Automobile |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Perquisites & Other Personal
Benefits |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Acceleration of Equity
Awards |
- |
- |
- |
- |
823,028 |
Total |
55,320 |
55,365 |
55,365 |
55,365 |
1,085,528 |
|
(a) |
Under our general employment
practices, upon termination due to death or disability,
Mr. Kelly, or his legal representative, is entitled to payment
for accrued vacation and payment of benefit premiums for dependent
for one month from the date of termination. |
|
(b) |
Under our general employment
practices, upon termination by us for cause or voluntary
termination by Mr. Kelly, Mr. Kelly is entitled to
payment for accrued vacation and payment of benefit premiums for
himself and dependent for one month from the date of
termination. |
|
(c) |
Under our general employment
practices, upon termination by us without cause, Mr. Kelly is
entitled to payment for accrued vacation and payment of benefit
premiums for himself and dependent for one month from the date of
termination. Under Mr. Kelly’s PSU agreements, if
Mr. Kelly’s employment is terminated by us without cause or by
Mr. Kelly for good reason, any unvested portion of the PSU
award is forfeited except to the extent such termination occurs on
or after a vesting date, in which case, such portion of the PSUs
that vested on such vesting date which remains unpaid will remain
eligible to be received by Mr. Kelly. |
|
(d) |
Under Mr. Kelly’s stock option
agreements associated with grants of stock options under the 2011
Omnibus Incentive Plan, the Board may, at any time, in its sole
discretion, provide that upon the occurrence of a change in control
(as determined by the Board), all or a specified portion of any
outstanding options subject to such agreements not theretofore
exercisable, will immediately become exercisable and that any
options subject to such agreements not exercised prior to such
change in control will be canceled. Under the Amendment to
Conditions of Employment of Mr. Kelly dated December 7,
1999, if, following a change in control, Mr. Kelly’s
employment with us is terminated by us other than for cause or in
the event that Mr. Kelly resigns under circumstances which
constitute constructive dismissal by us of Mr. Kelly, then
Mr. Kelly will be entitled to receive severance pay from us as
follows: if termination occurs within the first six (6) months
after the change in control occurs, Mr. Kelly will be entitled
to six (6) months’ severance pay in the amount of $262,500; if
termination occurs between six (6) and twelve (12) months
after the change in control occurs, Mr. Kelly will be entitled
to five (5) months’ severance pay in the amount of $218,750;
if termination occurs between twelve (12) and eighteen (18) months
after the change in control occurs, Mr. Kelly will be entitled
to four (4) months’ severance pay in the amount of $175,000
and if the termination occurs between eighteen (18) and twenty-four
(24) months after the change in control occurs, Mr. Kelly will
be entitled to three (3) months’ severance pay in the amount
of $131,250. Under Mr. Kelly’s PSU agreement associated with
the grant of the 2020 PSUs under the 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan,
upon a change in control which occurs within the second or third
years of the performance period and results in such award to be
assumed or replaced, (i) the remaining unvested portion of the
PSU award is converted to RSUs with the number of shares to be
converted based on actual performance for the most recently
completed performance period prior to the change in control with
as-scheduled vesting to remain unchanged and (ii) in the event
of an involuntary termination without cause or for good reason
following a change in control, all unvested RSUs (as converted from
PSUs upon a change in control) become immediately vested. Under
Mr. Kelly’s PSU agreement associated with the grant of the
2021 PSUs under the 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan, upon a change in
control which occurs within the first year of the performance
period and results in such award to be assumed or replaced,
(i) the entire portion of the PSU award automatically converts
into RSUs with the number of shares to be converted based on target
performance with as-scheduled vesting to remain unchanged and
(ii) in the event of an involuntary termination without cause
or for good reason following a change in control which occurs |
within 24 months following such change in control, all unvested
RSUs (as converted from PSUs upon a change in control) become
immediately vested. Under Mr. Kelly’s RSU and stock option
agreements associated with grants under the 2020 Omnibus Incentive
Plan, in the event of an involuntary termination without cause or
for good reason within 24 months following a change in control, all
RSU and stock option awards, as applicable, will immediately vest
or become exercisable in their entirety.
Circumstances of
Termination |
|
Payments and
Benefits |
Death
($) |
Disability
($) |
Cause or
Voluntary
Termination
($) |
Termination by
Corporation Other
Than for Cause or
Disability
($) |
Termination
without Cause or
Constructive
Dismissal Following
a Change in
Control
($) |
|
(a) |
(a) |
(b) |
(c) |
(d) |
Base Salary |
- |
- |
- |
157,279 |
157,279 |
Vacation |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Benefit Plans |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Automobile |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Perquisites & Other Personal
Benefits |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Acceleration of Equity
Awards |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1,646,056 |
Total |
- |
- |
- |
157,279 |
1,803,335 |
|
(a) |
Under our general employment
practices, upon termination due to death or disability,
Mr. Carling, or his legal representative, is entitled to
payment for accrued vacation. |
|
(b) |
Under our general employment
practices, upon termination by us for cause or voluntary
termination by Mr. Carling, Mr. Carling is entitled to
payment for accrued vacation. |
|
(c) |
Under our general employment
practices, upon termination by us without cause, Mr. Carling
is entitled to payment for accrued vacation. Under the Statement of
Terms and Conditions of Employment of Mr. Carling dated
February 2007, if Mr. Carling’s employment is terminated,
he is entitled to twelve (12) weeks of notice. In lieu of this
notice, the Company may terminate Mr. Carling’s employment
summarily upon payment equal to Mr. Carling’s salary
calculated over Mr. Carling’s entitlement or remaining
entitlement to notice. Under Mr. Carling’s PSU agreements, if
Mr. Carling’s employment is terminated by us without cause or
by Mr. Carling for good reason, any unvested portion of the
PSU award is forfeited except to the extent such termination occurs
on or after a vesting date, in which case, such portion of the PSUs
that vested on such vesting date which remains unpaid will remain
eligible to be received by Mr. Carling. |
|
(d) |
Under Mr. Carling’s stock
option agreements associated with grants of stock options under the
2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan, the Board may, at any time, in its
sole discretion, provide that upon the occurrence of a change in
control (as determined by the Board), all or a specified portion of
any outstanding options subject to such agreements not theretofore
exercisable, will immediately become exercisable and that any
options subject to such agreements not exercised prior to such
change in control will be canceled. Under the Statement of Terms
and Conditions of Employment of Mr. Carling dated
February 2007, if Mr. Carling’s employment is terminated,
he is entitled to twelve (12) weeks of notice. In lieu of this
notice, the Company may terminate Mr. Carling’s employment
summarily upon payment equal to Mr. Carling’s salary
calculated over Mr. Carling’s entitlement or remaining
entitlement to notice. Under Mr. Carling’s PSU agreement
associated with the grant of the 2020 PSUs under the 2011 Omnibus
Incentive Plan, upon a change in control which occurs within the
second or third years of the performance period and results in such
award to be assumed or replaced, (i) the remaining unvested
portion of the PSU award is converted to RSUs with the number of
shares to be converted based on actual performance for the most
recently completed performance period prior to the change in
control with as-scheduled vesting to remain unchanged and
(ii) in the event of an involuntary termination without cause
or for good reason following a change in control, all unvested RSUs
(as converted from PSUs upon a change in control) become
immediately vested. Under Mr. Carling’s PSU agreement
associated with the grant of the 2021 PSUs under the 2020 Omnibus
Incentive Plan, upon a change in control which occurs within the
first year of the performance period and results in such award to
be assumed or replaced, (i) the entire portion of the PSU
award automatically converts into RSUs with the number of shares to
be converted based on target performance with as-scheduled vesting
to remain unchanged and (ii) in the event of an involuntary
termination without cause or for good reason following a change in
control which occurs within 24 months following such change in
control, all |
unvested RSUs (as converted from PSUs upon a change in control)
become immediately vested. Under Mr. Carling’s RSU and stock
option agreements associated with grants under the 2020 Omnibus
Incentive Plan, in the event of an involuntary termination without
cause or for good reason within 24 months following a change in
control, all RSU and stock option awards, as applicable, will
immediately vest or become exercisable in their entirety.
Circumstances of
Termination |
|
Payments and
Benefits |
Death
($) |
Disability
($) |
Cause or
Voluntary
Termination
($) |
Termination by
Corporation Other
Than for Cause or
Disability
($) |
Termination
without Cause or
Constructive
Dismissal Following
a Change in
Control
($) |
|
(a) |
(a) |
(b) |
(c) |
(d) |
Base Salary |
- |
- |
- |
362,500 |
362,500 |
Vacation |
69,712 |
69,712 |
69,712 |
69,712 |
- |
Benefit Plans |
757 |
757 |
757 |
757 |
- |
Automobile |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Perquisites & Other Personal
Benefits |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Acceleration of Equity
Awards |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1,646,056 |
Total |
70,469 |
70,469 |
70,469 |
432,969 |
2,008,556 |
|
(a) |
Under our general employment
practices, upon termination due to death or disability,
Ms. Tirre, or her legal representative, is entitled to payment
for accrued vacation and payment of benefit premiums for herself
for one month from the date of termination. |
|
(b) |
Under our general employment
practices, upon termination by us for cause or voluntary
termination by Ms. Tirre, Ms. Tirre is entitled to
payment for accrued vacation and payment of benefit premiums for
herself for one month from the date of termination. |
|
(c) |
Under our general employment
practices, upon termination by us without cause, Ms. Tirre is
entitled to payment for accrued vacation and payment of benefit
premiums for herself for one month from the date of termination.
Under the Agreement of Ms. Tirre dated May 31, 2018, if
Ms. Tirre’s employment with us is terminated by us other than
for cause or in the event that Ms. Tirre resigns under
circumstances which constitute constructive dismissal by us of
Ms. Tirre, then Ms. Tirre will be entitled to receive
severance pay from us as follows: if termination occurs in month
twenty-five (25) after May 31, 2018, or thereafter
Ms. Tirre will be entitled to six (6) months’ severance
pay in the amount of $362,500. Under Ms. Tirre’s PSU
agreements, if Ms. Tirre’s employment is terminated by us
without cause or by Ms. Tirre for good reason, any unvested
portion of the PSU award is forfeited except to the extent such
termination occurs on or after a vesting date, in which case, such
portion of the PSUs that vested on such vesting date which remains
unpaid will remain eligible to be received by Ms. Tirre. |
|
(d) |
Under Ms. Tirre’s stock option
agreements associated with grants of stock options under the 2011
Omnibus Incentive Plan, the Board may, at any time, in its sole
discretion, provide that upon the occurrence of a change in control
(as determined by the Board), all or a specified portion of any
outstanding options subject to such agreements not theretofore
exercisable, will immediately become exercisable and that any
options subject to such agreements not exercised prior to such
change in control will be canceled. Under the Agreement of
Ms. Tirre dated May 31, 2018, if Ms. Tirre’s
employment with us is terminated by us other than for cause or in
the event that Ms. Tirre resigns under circumstances which
constitute constructive dismissal by us of Ms. Tirre, then
Ms. Tirre will be entitled to receive severance pay from us as
follows: if termination occurs in month twenty-five (25) after
May 31, 2018, or thereafter Ms. Tirre will be entitled to
six (6) months’ severance pay in the amount of $362,500. Under
Ms. Tirre’s PSU agreement associated with the grant of the
2020 PSUs under the 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan, upon a change in
control which occurs within the second or third years of the
performance period and results in such award to be assumed or
replaced, (i) the remaining unvested portion of the PSU award
is converted to RSUs with the number of shares to be converted
based on actual performance for the most recently completed
performance period prior to the change in control with as-scheduled
vesting to remain unchanged and (ii) in the event of an
involuntary termination without cause or for good reason following
a change in control, all unvested RSUs (as converted from PSUs upon
a change in control) become immediately vested. Under
Ms. Tirre’s PSU agreement associated with the grant of the
2021 PSUs under the 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan, upon a change in
control which occurs within the first year of the performance
period and results in such award to be assumed or replaced,
(i) the entire portion of the PSU award automatically converts
into RSUs with the number of shares to be converted based on target
performance with as- |
scheduled vesting to remain unchanged and (ii) in the event of
an involuntary termination without cause or for good reason
following a change in control which occurs within 24 months
following such change in control, all unvested RSUs (as converted
from PSUs upon a change in control) become immediately vested.
Under Ms. Tirre’s RSU and stock option agreements associated
with grants under the 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan, in the event of
an involuntary termination without cause or for good reason within
24 months following a change in control, all RSU and stock option
awards, as applicable, will immediately vest or become exercisable
in their entirety.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth a summary of the compensation paid
to our non-employee directors and Mr. Hall (an employee
director) during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.
Name |
Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash ($)(1) |
Stock
Awards
($)(2)(3) |
Option
Awards
($)(4) |
All Other
Compensation
($)(5) |
Total ($) |
Ana Demel (6) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
James L. Dinkins |
60,000 |
165,020 |
- |
- |
225,020 |
Gary P. Fayard |
- |
238,804 |
- |
- |
238,804 |
Mark J. Hall (5) |
- |
- |
524,688 |
1,335,138 |
1,859,826 |
Tiffany M. Hall (6) |
15,000 |
- |
- |
- |
15,000 |
Jeanne P. Jackson |
- |
228,724 |
- |
- |
228,724 |
Steven G. Pizula |
87,500 |
165,020 |
- |
- |
252,520 |
Benjamin M. Polk |
- |
255,002 |
- |
- |
255,002 |
Sydney Selati (7) |
21,250 |
- |
- |
- |
21,250 |
Mark S. Vidergauz |
117,500 |
165,020 |
- |
- |
282,520 |
|
(1) |
The
amounts reported in this column reflect the cash fees earned by
each non-employee director in 2021. Cash fees deferred and received
in the form of deferred stock units are included in the “Stock
Awards” column of this Director Compensation Table. |
|
(2) |
The
amounts reported in this column are valued based on the aggregate
grant date fair value computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718.
The assumptions used in the valuation of equity awards are
disclosed in Note 15 to the Audited Consolidated Financial
Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2021. The non-employee directors held
the following numbers of outstanding deferred stock units as of
December 31, 2021: Ms. Demel, 0; Mr. Dinkins, 0;
Mr. Fayard, 15,819; Ms. Hall, 0; Ms. Jackson, 6,771;
Mr. Pizula, 4,861; Mr. Polk, 8,117; and
Mr. Vidergauz, 0. Each of Mr. Fayard, Ms. Jackson,
Mr. Pizula and Mr. Polk elected to defer the entire
portion of their respective June 3, 2020 grants of RSUs, which
vested on June 14, 2021. Only Mr. Fayard,
Ms. Jackson, and Mr. Polk elected to defer a portion of
their 2021 cash compensation into deferred stock units, as
reflected in further detail in the table below. |
Name |
Grant Date
of Deferred
Stock Units |
Number of Deferred
Stock Units
(#)
|
Grant Date Fair Value of
Deferred Stock Units
($)
|
Gary P. Fayard |
01/08/2021
04/08/2021
07/08/2021
10/07/2021
|
184
184
216
215
|
17,478
17,535
19,405
19,365
|
Jeanne P. Jackson |
01/08/2021
04/08/2021
07/08/2021
10/07/2021
|
158
157
188
187
|
15,008
14,962
16,890
16,843
|
Benjamin M. Polk |
01/08/2021
04/08/2021
07/08/2021
10/07/2021
|
237
236
250
250
|
22,513
22,491
22,460
22,518
|
|
(3) |
The
non-employee directors held the following numbers of RSUs as of
December 31, 2021: Ms. Demel, 0; Mr. Dinkins, 1,790;
Mr. Fayard, 1,790; Ms. Hall, 0; Ms. Jackson, 1,790;
Mr. Pizula, 1,790; Mr. Polk, 1,790; and Mr. |
Vidergauz, 1,790. For those non-employee directors who held RSUs as
of December 31, 2021, such RSUs were granted on June 15,
2021 and will vest on the last business day prior to the Annual
Meeting. The aggregate grant date fair value for each such grant of
RSUs was $165,020, which amount, as applicable, is reflected in
this column. Each RSU represents either (i) a contingent right
to receive one share of the Common Stock or (ii) a cash amount
equal to the number of shares received as of the vesting date (the
last business day prior to the Annual Meeting).
|
(4) |
The
non-employee directors held no outstanding stock options as of
December 31, 2021. With respect to Mr. Hall, the amounts
reported in this column are valued based on the aggregate grant
date fair value computed in accordance with ASC Topic
718. |
|
(5) |
Mr. Hall received no compensation as a
director in 2021. As an employee of MEC, in 2021, Mr. Hall
received a base salary of $725,000, a cash bonus award of $541,938,
an automobile allowance of $8,203, a 401(k) match of $8,154,
payment of benefits premiums of $21,662, a personal equipment
allowance of $598, a housing and utilities allowance of $29,583,
and was granted 20,000 stock options under the 2020 Omnibus
Incentive Plan that vest in five annual installments starting on
March 12, 2022. Mr. Hall held 235,000 outstanding stock
options as of December 31, 2021. |
|
(6) |
Ms. Demel and Ms. Hall were elected to
the Board effective December 31, 2021, and October 1,
2021, respectively. Ms. Demel’s election to the Board became
effective following the close of business on December 31,
2021. Accordingly, Ms. Demel did not earn nor was she paid any
fees for service on the Board during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2021. |
|
(7) |
Mr. Selati retired from the Board and all
committees of the Board, effective March 31, 2021. |
In 2021, non-employee directors were entitled to receive an annual
cash retainer of $60,000. Except for committee chairs,
members of the Audit Committee received an additional annual cash
retainer of $10,000 and members of the Compensation
Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee received an additional annual retainer of $7,500.
The chairman of the Audit Committee received an additional
annual retainer of $17,500 and the chairs of the Compensation
Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
each received an additional annual cash retainer of $15,000. The
Lead Independent Director received an additional annual cash
retainer of $20,000. In 2021, non-employee directors were entitled
to receive an annual equity retainer of approximately $165,000,
delivered in the form of RSUs that generally vest one day prior to
the immediately following Annual Meeting. As further described
below under “Non-Employee Directors Equity Compensation Plans,”
RSUs may be deferred under the Deferred Compensation Plan for
Non-Employee Directors.
In February 2022, as part of the Board of Directors’ amendment
and restatement of the 2017 Directors Plan, such amendment and
restatement provided for increases to the annual cash retainer and
annual equity retainer that non-employee directors are entitled to
receive as follows: (i) non-employee directors will be
entitled to receive an annual cash retainer of $85,000 (an increase
of $25,000), (ii) the Lead Independent Director will receive
an additional annual cash retainer of $40,000 (an increase of
$20,000), (iii) the chairman of the Audit Committee will
receive $25,000 (an increase of $7,500), (iv) the chairs of
the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee will each receive an additional annual cash
retainer of $22,500 (an increase of $7,500) and (v) an annual
equity retainer of approximately $175,000 (an increase of $10,000),
delivered in the form of RSUs that generally vest one day prior to
the immediately following Annual Meeting.
As described below under “Non-Employee Directors Equity
Compensation Plans,” non-employee directors are subject to stock
ownership guidelines.
Non-Employee Directors Equity Compensation Plans
In 2017, the Company adopted the 2017 Directors Plan, a successor
plan to the 2009 Monster Beverage Corporation Stock Incentive Plan
for Non-Employee Directors. The 2017 Directors Plan permits the
granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted
shares or RSUs, deferred
awards, dividend equivalents and other share-based awards up to an
aggregate of 1,250,000 shares of Common Stock to non-employee
directors of the Company.
Each calendar year, a non-employee director will receive an annual
cash retainer and an annual equity retainer, as provided for in the
2017 Directors Plan, which may be modified from time to time.
Currently, with respect to equity awards, each non-employee
director receives an award of RSUs at each annual meeting of the
Company’s stockholders or promptly thereafter. A non-employee
director’s annual award of RSUs will generally vest on earliest to
occur of: (a) the last business day immediately preceding the
annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders in the calendar year
following the calendar year in which the grant date occurs,
(b) a Change of Control (as defined in the 2017 Directors
Plan), (c) the non-employee director’s death, or (d) the
date of the non-employee director’s separation from service due to
disability, so long as the non-employee director remains a
non-employee director through such date. The Board of Directors may
in its discretion award stock options, stock appreciation rights,
restricted stock and other share-based awards to non-employee
directors in lieu of or in addition to RSUs. The Board of Directors
may amend or terminate the 2017 Directors Plan at any time, subject
to certain limitations set forth in the 2017 Directors Plan.
In 2017, the Company adopted the Monster Beverage Corporation
Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (as a sub
plan to the 2017 Directors Plan), pursuant to which the Board of
Directors may permit non-employee directors to elect, at such times
and in accordance with rules and procedures (or sub-plan)
adopted by the Board of Directors (which are intended to comply
with Code Section 409A, as applicable), to receive all or any
portion of such non-employee director’s compensation, whether
payable in cash or in equity, on a deferred basis. The 2017
Directors Plan was adopted to effectuate any such deferrals. The
2017 Directors Plan is administered by the Board of Directors. Each
award granted under the 2017 Directors Plan will be evidenced by a
written agreement and will contain the terms and conditions that
the Board of Directors deems appropriate.
In February 2022, the Board of Directors amended and restated
the 2017 Directors Plan to require each non-employee director to
satisfy the share ownership guidelines set forth below, as may be
modified by the Board of Directors from time to time. The current
share ownership guidelines provide that non-employee directors of
the Company must:
|
· |
Hold shares of Company common stock
having a total value of five times the annual retainer payable to a
non-employee director (excluding any portion of the annual retainer
attributable to a non-employee director’s service as a member of a
subcommittee, as a chair of a subcommittee or as the lead
independent director, as applicable). For this purpose, deferred
shares or deferred restricted stock units will be deemed held, to
the extent vested. |
|
· |
The minimum stock ownership level
must be achieved by each non-employee director by the fifth
anniversary of such non-employee director’s initial appointment to
the Board of Directors. |
|
· |
Once achieved, ownership of the
guideline amount should be maintained for so long as the
non-employee director retains his or her seat on the Board of
Directors. |
|
· |
There may be rare instances where
these guidelines would place a hardship on a non-employee director.
In these cases or in similar circumstances, the Board of Directors
will make the final decision as to developing an alternative stock
ownership guideline for a non-employee director that reflects the
intention of these guidelines and his or her personal
circumstances. |
|
|
During 2021, each of our
non-employee directors were in compliance with the share ownership
guidelines. |
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN
INFORMATION
In 2016, the Company adopted the Deferred Compensation Plan,
pursuant to which eligible employees may elect to defer cash and/or
equity based compensation and to receive the deferred amounts,
together with an investment return (positive or negative), either
at a pre-determined time in the future or upon termination of their
employment with the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates that
are participating employers under the Deferred Compensation Plan,
as provided under the Deferred Compensation Plan and in relevant
deferral elections. Deferrals under the Deferred Compensation
Plan are unfunded and unsecured.
The following table sets forth information as of December 31,
2021 with respect to shares of our Common Stock that may be issued
under our equity compensation plans.
Plan category |
|
Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(a) |
|
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights
(b) |
|
Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected in column (a))
(c) |
Equity
compensation plans approved by stockholders
|
|
14,769,365 (1) |
|
$48.19 (2) |
|
43,664,556 (3) |
Equity
compensation plans not approved by stockholders
|
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
Total
|
|
14,769,365 |
|
$48.19 |
|
43,664,556 |
|
(1) |
Represents the number of shares of
our Common Stock associated with stock options, RSUs, PSUs and
deferred share units outstanding as of December 31, 2021. |
|
(2) |
Represents the weighted average
exercise price of the 13,859,528 stock options disclosed in column
(a) of this table. |
|
(3) |
Represents the number of shares of
our Common Stock for the granting of stock options, stock
appreciation rights, restricted stock, RSUs, performance awards,
and other share-based awards under the 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan,
comprised of 32,000,000 new shares of Common Stock reserved under
the 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan and 14,169,367 shares of Common
Stock that were available for grant under the 2011 Omnibus
Incentive Plan as of December 31, 2019 and prior to
June 3, 2020. |
As of April 13, 2022, 39,942,443 shares were available for
grant under equity compensation plans.
CEO PAY RATIO
Pursuant to Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K and
Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and
Consumer Protection Act, the Company is required to provide the
ratio of the annual total compensation of Mr. Sacks and
Mr. Schlosberg, who served as the Company’s Co-Chief Executive
Officers in 2021, to the annual total compensation of the median
employee of the Company for 2021.
As reported in the Summary Compensation Table, Mr. Sacks’ and
Mr. Schlosberg’s annual total compensation for 2021 was
$16,707,577 and $16,686,528, respectively. In accordance with Item
402(u) of Regulation-SK, we are using the same “median
employee” identified in our pay ratio calculations in our 2021
proxy statement, as we believe that there has been no change in our
employee population or employee compensation arrangements that we
believe would result in a significant change to our pay ratio
disclosure. See our 2021 proxy statement for information regarding
the process we utilized to identify our “median employee.” We then
identified and calculated the elements of this employee’s annual
total compensation for 2021 in accordance with the requirements of
Item 402(c)(2)(x) of Regulation S-K, resulting in a median
annual total compensation of all employees of the Company and its
subsidiaries (other than Mr. Sacks and Mr. Schlosberg) of
$69,417. Based on this information, for 2021, the ratio of the
compensation of Mr. Sacks and Mr. Schlosberg to the
median annual total compensation of all other employees (other than
Mr. Sacks and Mr. Schlosberg) was estimated to be 241:1
and 240:1, respectively.
Because the SEC rules for identifying the median employee and
calculating the pay ratio allow companies to use different
methodologies, exemptions, estimates and assumptions, the above
disclosure may not be comparable to the pay ratio reported by other
companies and is only a reasonable estimate.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND
RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The Board has determined that Messrs. Dinkins, Fayard, Pizula,
Polk and Vidergauz and Mses. Demel, Hall and Jackson are
independent directors under applicable Nasdaq Stock Market
Rules and SEC regulations.
Each director and nominee for election as a director delivers to
the Company annually a questionnaire that includes, among other
things, information relating to any transactions the director or
nominee, or their family members, may have with the Company, or in
which the director or nominee, or such family member, has a direct
or indirect material interest.
The Board, as well as its Audit Committee, reviews, approves and
oversees all related-party transactions. The Audit Committee’s
policies and procedures for related-party transactions are not in
writing, but the proceedings are documented in the minutes of the
Board and/or Audit Committee meetings. The Audit Committee will
assess, among factors it deems appropriate, whether the transaction
is on terms no more favorable than terms generally available to an
unaffiliated third party under the same or similar circumstances
and the extent of the related party’s interest in the transaction.
The Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing all related-party
transactions on a continuing basis as well as potential conflict of
interest situations where appropriate. No director will participate
in any discussion or approval of a transaction for which he is a
related party, except that this director will provide all material
information concerning the transaction to the Audit Committee.
During 2021, we purchased promotional items from IFM Group, LLC
(“IFM”). Rodney C. Sacks, through certain trusts, owns
approximately 27% of the membership interests in IFM. Members of
Mr. Schlosberg’s family own approximately 53% of the
membership interests in IFM. Expenses incurred with such company in
connection with promotional materials purchased during the fiscal
years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were $3.6 million and
$2.1 million, respectively. We continue to purchase promotional
items from IFM in 2022.
In December 2018, the Company and Mark J. Hall, an employee
and director of the Company, entered into a 50-50 partnership that
purchased land, and real property thereon, in Kona, Hawaii for the
purpose of producing coffee products. The Company’s
initial 50% contribution of $1.9 million was
accounted for as an equity investment. During the year ended
December 31, 2021, the Company recorded an equity loss of
$0.2 million. As of December 31, 2021, the Company’s
equity investment is $1.4 million.
During 2021, Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP (“SRZ”), a law firm,
rendered services totaling approximately $0.7 million to the
Company. Ms. Demel’s spouse is a partner at SRZ.
Carly Rothenberg, who joined the Company’s legal department in
August 2016 from a top-tier international law firm, is
Mr. Schlosberg’s daughter. The aggregate value of
compensation paid to Ms. Rothenberg in 2021 was less than
$360,000, including equity awards, computed in accordance with ASC
Topic 718. Her compensation, including her equity awards, is
comparable to other employees of the Company who hold analogous
positions.
In 2021, the Company occasionally chartered a private aircraft that
is indirectly owned by Mr. Sacks for his business and personal
travel. On certain occasions, Mr. Sacks was accompanied by
guests and other Company personnel when using such aircraft
for business travel. For all such use, the Company paid
$190,433, an amount we believe is commensurate with market rates
for comparable travel. See the section entitled “Compensation
Discussion and Analysis - Perquisites” and the Summary Compensation
Table and related tables and narrative that follow it for
information on the Company’s payments for travel by personal guests
of Mr. Sacks.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the Company’s
Audit Committee was comprised of Mr. Fayard, Mr. Pizula,
Mr. Selati (through March 2021) and Mr. Vidergauz
(from April 2021). Mr. Pizula served as Chairman. The
Board of Directors amended and restated the written charter for the
Audit Committee in November 2021, a copy of which is available
on our website at http://investors.
monsterbevcorp.com/governance.cfm. The Board of Directors has
determined that the members of the Audit Committee,
Mr. Fayard, Mr. Pizula and Mr. Vidergauz, are
“independent,” as defined in the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules and
SEC regulations relating to audit committees, meaning that they
have no relationship to the Company that may interfere with the
exercise of independent judgment in carrying out their
responsibilities of a director.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Audit Committee consists of three or more independent directors
(as independence is defined by Nasdaq Stock Market
Rule 5605(a)(2) and SEC regulations). Our Board of
Directors has determined that each of Mr. Fayard and
Mr. Pizula qualify as (1) an “audit committee financial
expert,” as that term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of
Regulation S-K of the Exchange Act, and (2) independent as
defined by the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules and
Section 10A(m)(3) of the Exchange Act. The Audit
Committee appoints, determines funding for, oversees and evaluates
the independent registered public accounting firm with respect to
accounting, internal controls and other matters and makes other
decisions with respect to audit and finance matters, including the
review of our quarterly and annual filings on Form 10-Q and
Form 10-K, respectively. The Audit Committee also pre-approves
the retention of the independent registered public accounting firm
and the independent registered public accounting firm’s fees for
all audit and non-audit services provided by the independent
registered public accounting firm, and determines whether the
provision of non-audit services is compatible with maintaining the
independence of the independent registered public accounting firm.
In addition, during 2021, the principal internal auditor and
management documented, tested and evaluated the Company’s internal
control over financial reporting system in accordance with the
requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002
and related regulations. The Audit Committee was kept apprised of
the progress of the evaluation and provided oversight and advice
during the process. In connection with this oversight, the Audit
Committee received periodic updates provided by the principal
internal auditor, management and Deloitte & Touche LLP,
the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm at
least quarterly at an Audit Committee meeting. All members of the
Audit Committee have a working familiarity with basic finance and
accounting practices, including the ability to read and understand
financial statements and all have account or related financial
management expertise. The Audit Committee also reviews and
discusses key aspects of the Company’s environmental, social and
governance (“ESG”) and sustainability strategies with management,
including the Company’s initiatives, policies, practices and
reporting related to ESG and sustainability.
Pursuant to authority delegated by the Board of Directors and the
Audit Committee’s written charter, the Audit Committee assists the
Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities
with respect to:
|
· |
the integrity of the Company’s financial
statements; |
|
· |
the
Company’s systems of internal controls regarding finance and
accounting as established by management; |
|
· |
the
qualifications and independence of the independent registered
public accounting firm; |
|
· |
the
performance of the Company’s independent registered public
accounting firm; |
|
· |
the
Company’s auditing, accounting and financial reporting processes
generally; and |
|
· |
compliance with the Company’s ethical standards
for senior financial officers and all personnel. |
In fulfilling its duties, the Audit Committee maintains free and
open communication with the Board, the independent registered
public accounting firm, financial management and all employees.
Report of the Audit Committee
In connection with these responsibilities, the Audit Committee met
with management and Deloitte & Touche LLP, the Company’s
independent registered public accounting firm, to review and
discuss the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2021. The Company believes that its
choice to use Deloitte & Touche LLP to review, audit and
discuss the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2021 is in the best interests of the
Company and its stockholders. The Audit Committee also discussed
with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters
required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) and the
SEC. The Audit Committee also received from Deloitte &
Touche LLP the written disclosures and the letter required by the
applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding Deloitte &
Touche LLP’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning
independence, and has discussed with Deloitte & Touche LLP
its independence. The Audit Committee is actively engaged in a
dialogue with Deloitte & Touche LLP with respect to any
disclosed relationships or services that might affect
Deloitte & Touche LLP’s objectivity and independence.
Based on the foregoing reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee
recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial
statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2021.
Audit Committee
Steven G. Pizula, Chairman
Gary P. Fayard
Mark S. Vidergauz
Principal Accounting Firm Fees and Services
Fees of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for
2021 and 2020
Aggregate fees billed and unbilled to the Company for service
provided for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm,
Deloitte & Touche LLP, the member firms of Deloitte Touche
Tohmatsu, and their respective affiliates (collectively
“Deloitte & Touche”):
|
Year ended
December 31, |
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
Audit Fees |
$2,100,433 |
|
$1,963,771 |
|
Tax Fees1 |
854,720 |
|
1,262,445 |
|
All Other
Fees2 |
12,265 |
|
11,895 |
|
Total Fees3 |
$2,967,418 |
|
$3,238,111 |
|
1 Tax fees consisted of fees for tax consultation
services including advisory services for domestic and international
tax advice.
2 All other fees consisted of fees incurred in
connection with other transactions for the Company and subscription
fees for use of accounting research tools.
3 For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020,
all of the services performed by Deloitte & Touche were
approved by the Audit Committee.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and
Procedures
The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit, non-audit and tax
services provided by the Company’s independent registered public
accounting firm. These services may include audit services,
audit-related services, tax services and other services. In
August 2019, the Audit Committee adopted a policy for the
pre-approval of services provided by the Company’s independent
registered public accounting firm. The policy provides for
(i) general pre-approval of certain audit, non-audit and tax
services which do not exceed a specified dollar threshold approved
by the Audit Committee; (ii) specific pre-approval by the
Chairman of the Audit Committee of certain audit, non-audit and tax
services between the dollar threshold referenced in (i) above
and a specified dollar threshold approved by the Audit Committee;
and (iii) specific pre-approval by a quorum of the full Audit
Committee of certain audit, non-audit and tax services above the
threshold referenced in (ii) above. Any services not listed in
the policy must be preapproved individually by the full Audit
Committee. The Audit Committee is provided updates, at least
quarterly, regarding the services provided by the independent
registered public accounting firm in accordance with the
pre-approval policies. All services in the table above were
approved by the Audit Committee.
COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the Company’s
Compensation Committee was comprised of Ms. Jackson (from
April 2021), Mr. Polk, Mr. Selati (through
March 2021) and Mr. Vidergauz. Mr. Vidergauz served
as Chairman. The Board of Directors amended and restated the
written charter for the Compensation Committee in
February 2019, a copy of which is available on our website at
http://investors. monsterbevcorp.com/governance.cfm. The
Compensation Committee is responsible for reviewing, developing and
recommending to the Board the appropriate management compensation
policies, programs and levels, and reviewing the performances of
the Chief Executive Officer, President and other senior executive
officers periodically in relation to certain objectives. The
Compensation
Committee is ultimately responsible for determining, affirming or
amending the level and nature of executive compensation of the
Company. The Compensation Committee has access, at the Company’s
expense, to independent, outside compensation consultants for both
advice and competitive data for the purpose of making such
determinations.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider
Participation
Ms. Jackson (from April 2021), Mr. Polk,
Mr. Selati (through March 2021) and Mr. Vidergauz
served on the Compensation Committee during the 2021 fiscal
year. No member of the Compensation Committee is now, or
during 2021 was, an officer or employee of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries. No member of the Compensation Committee was
formerly an officer of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries. During 2021, no member of the Compensation
Committee had a relationship that must be described under the SEC
rules relating to disclosure of related person
transactions. In 2021, none of our executive officers served
on the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity
that had one or more of its executive officers serving on the Board
or the Compensation Committee of the Company.
NOMINATING AND CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the Company’s
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee was comprised of
Mr. Fayard (from April 2021), Mr. Polk,
Mr. Selati (through March 2021) and Mr. Vidergauz.
Mr. Polk served as Chairman. In February 2019, the Board
of Directors renamed the Nominating Committee the “Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee.” The Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its
responsibilities by establishing, and submitting to the Board for
approval, criteria for the selection of new directors, identifying
and approving individuals qualified to serve as members of the
Board, selecting director nominees for our annual meetings of
stockholders, evaluating the performance of the Board, reviewing
and recommending to the Board any appropriate changes to the
committees of the Board, and developing and recommending to the
Board corporate governance guidelines and oversight with respect to
corporate governance. The Board of Directors has adopted a written
charter for the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, a
copy of which is available on our website at
http://investors.monsterbevcorp. com/governance.cfm.
Process for Selection and Nomination of Directors
In connection with the process of selecting and nominating
candidates for election to the Board, the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee reviews the desired experience, mix of skills
and other qualities to assure appropriate Board composition, taking
into account the current Board members and the specific needs of
the Company and the Board. Among the qualifications to be
considered in the selection of candidates, the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee considers the experience, knowledge,
skills, expertise, diversity, personal and professional integrity,
character, business judgment, time available in light of other
commitments and dedication of any particular candidate, as well as
such candidate’s past or anticipated contributions to the Board and
its committees so that the Board includes members, where
appropriate, with diverse backgrounds, knowledge and skills
relevant to the business of the Company. The charter for the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee specifically states
that diversity of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and
gender identity are factors in evaluating suitable candidates for
Board membership. See “Deadlines for Receipt of Stockholder
Proposals” for information regarding nominations of director
candidates by stockholders for the 2023 annual meeting of
stockholders.
Though the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not
solicit recommendations for director candidates, the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee has a policy regarding the
consideration of any director candidates recommended by
stockholders. Suggestions for candidates to the Board may be made
in writing and mailed to the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee, c/o Office of the Secretary, Monster Beverage
Corporation, 1 Monster Way, Corona, CA 92879. Nominations must be
submitted in a manner consistent with our by-laws. We will furnish
a copy of the by-laws to any person, without charge, upon written
request directed to the Office of the Secretary at our principal
executive offices. Each candidate suggestion made by a stockholder
must include the following:
|
· |
the candidate’s name, contact
information, detailed biographical material, qualifications and an
explanation of the reasons why the stockholder believes that this
candidate is qualified for service on the Board; |
|
· |
all information relating to the
candidate that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of
proxies for elections of directors in an election contest, or as
otherwise required, under the securities laws; |
|
· |
a written consent of the candidate
to be named in a Company proxy statement as a nominee and to serve
as a director, if elected; and |
|
· |
a description of any arrangements
or undertakings between the stockholder and the candidate regarding
the nomination. |
Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will evaluate all
stockholder-recommended candidates on the same basis as any other
candidate.
Director Resignation Policy
The Board has a director resignation policy. This policy provides
that, in an uncontested election, any incumbent director nominee
who receives a greater number of votes “WITHHELD” from his or her
election than votes “FOR” his or her election must promptly tender
his or her resignation to the Board following certification of the
election results. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
will review the circumstances surrounding the election and
recommend to the Board whether to accept or reject the resignation.
The Board must act on the tendered resignation. If such resignation
is rejected, the Board must publicly disclose its decision,
together with the rationale supporting its decision, within 90 days
after certification of the election results. A copy of the director
resignation policy is available on our website at
http://investors.monsterbevcorp.com/governance.cfm.
PROPOSAL TWO
RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE
LLP AS THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM OF THE
COMPANY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2022
The Audit Committee has appointed Deloitte & Touche LLP,
an independent registered public accounting firm, to audit the
financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2022. In the event of a negative vote on such
ratification, the Audit Committee will reconsider its
selection.
Representatives of Deloitte & Touche LLP are expected to
be present at the Annual Meeting with the opportunity to make a
statement if they desire to do so, and are expected to be available
to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders of the
Company.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE
“FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP AS THE
COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
FIRM.
PROPOSAL THREE
ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Pursuant to Section 14A of the Exchange Act, the Company asks
our stockholders to approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the
compensation of our Named Executive Officers as disclosed in this
proxy statement.
Our executive compensation program for our Named Executive Officers
is designed to motivate our executive talent, to reward those
individuals fairly over time for achieving performance goals, to
retain those individuals who continue to perform at or above the
levels that are deemed essential to ensure our long-term success
and growth and to attract, as needed, individuals with the skills
necessary for us to achieve our business plan. We believe our
compensation policies are designed to reinforce a sense of
ownership and overall entrepreneurial spirit and to link rewards to
measurable corporate and qualitative individual performance.
In addition, the Compensation Committee made several key
enhancements in 2020 to our compensation program in response to
feedback from stockholders, which enhancements were implemented in
2021 and will continue to be implemented in future years. See
“Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above.
We urge stockholders to read the Compensation Discussion and
Analysis, as well as the Summary Compensation Table and related
tables and narrative that follow it. This proposal is not intended
to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the
overall compensation of our Named Executive Officers and the
policies and practices described in this proxy statement.
The Board requests that stockholders approve the following advisory
resolution at the Annual Meeting:
RESOLVED, that the stockholders of Monster Beverage Corporation
(the “Company”) approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of
the Company’s Named Executive Officers described in the
Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Summary Compensation
Table and the related compensation tables and narrative in the
Proxy Statement for the Company’s Annual Meeting of
Stockholders.
While the vote on the resolution is advisory in nature and
therefore will not bind us to take any particular action, our Board
and the Compensation Committee intend to carefully consider the
stockholder vote resulting from the proposal in making future
decisions regarding our compensation program. The Board has adopted
a policy of providing for annual advisory votes from stockholders
on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers. The next such
vote will occur at our 2023 annual meeting.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE
“FOR” THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.
PROPOSAL FOUR
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL REGARDING A REPORT ON THE COMPANY’S
PLANS TO REDUCE GHG EMISSIONS
The Company received the following resolution and supporting
statement submitted by As You Sow, 2020 Milvia St.,
Suite 500, Berkeley, CA 94704, on behalf of the As You Sow
Shareholder Action Account, 2020 Milvia St., Suite 500,
Berkeley, CA 94704, the proponent and beneficial owner of 415
shares of the Company’s common stock and is including the proposal
in this Proxy Statement in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under
the Exchange Act.
The following stockholder proposal (the “Proposal”) and
supporting statement are presented as received in accordance with
SEC rules, and the Company disclaims any responsibility for their
content.
Report on the Company’s GHG Emissions Reduction
Initiatives
Whereas: The increasing rate and number of climate related
disasters affecting society is causing alarms to be raised
globally, making the corporate sector’s contribution to climate
mitigation a significant policy issue.
Beyond environmental and social harms, climate change is creating
systemic risks to the economy. The Commodity Futures Trading
Commission last year underscored that climate change could impair
the productive capacity of the U.S. economy.1
Shareholders are increasingly concerned about material climate risk
to their companies and their portfolios and seek clear and
consistent disclosures from the companies in which they invest,
including credible climate transition plans. BlackRock’s CEO writes
that, “there is no company whose business model won’t be
profoundly affected by the transition to a net zero economy”
and that investors “are asking companies to disclose a plan for
how their business model will be compatible with a net zero
economy.”2
In response to material climate risk, the Climate Action 100+
initiative (CA100+), a coalition of 615 investors with $60 trillion
in assets, issued a Net Zero Benchmark (Benchmark) outlining
metrics that create climate accountability for companies and
transparency for shareholders. Indicators 1 through 5 of the
Benchmark seek reporting on companies’ net zero emissions
ambitions; short, medium and long term greenhouse gas (GHG)
reductions goals covering enterprise-wide emissions; and strategic
action plans to achieve decarbonization targets.3
Monster Beverage Corporation sells and distributes beverages and
concentrates. Our company has adopted activities to reduce GHG
emissions such as installing energy efficient lighting and control
systems, undertaking manufacturing localization efforts, and use of
electric vehicles. While our Company completed its first Scope 1
and 2 emissions reporting in 2020, it has not adopted GHG reduction
goals. By setting targets, reporting a clear climate transition
plan, and demonstrating progress toward achieving net zero
emissions by 2050 or sooner, Monster Beverage Corporation can
provide investors with assurance that management is reducing its
climate contribution and addressing the growing risks associated
with climate change.
BE IT RESOLVED: Shareholders
request that Monster Beverage issue a report at reasonable cost and omitting
proprietary information disclosing how the Company intends to
reduce its operational and supply chain GHG emissions in alignment
with the Paris Agreement's 1.5 degree goal requiring net zero
emissions by 2050.
1
https://www.cftc.gov/sites/default/files/2020-09/9-9-20%20Report%20of%20the%20Subcommittee%20on%20Climate-
Related%20Market%20Risk%20-%20Managing%20Climate%20Risk%20in%20the%20U.S.%20Financial%20System%20for%20posting.pdf
2
https://www.blackrock.com/corporate/investor-relations/larry-fink-ceo-letter
3
https://www.climateaction100.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Climate-Action-100-Benchmark-Indicators-FINAL-3.12.pdf
SUPPORTING STATEMENT: Proponents suggest, at Board and
Company discretion, that the report include:
|
· |
Disclosure of the Company’s annual
Scope 3 (where relevant) GHG emissions. |
|
· |
A timeline for setting a net zero
GHG reduction target and aligned interim goals. |
|
· |
An enterprise-wide climate
transition plan to achieve net zero emissions. |
|
· |
A rationale for any decision not to
set targets aligned with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5 degree
goal. |
|
· |
Other information the Board deems
appropriate. |
THE COMPANY’S STATEMENT IN OPPOSITION
The Board has considered the Proposal and believes that issuing a
report disclosing how the Company intends to reduce its operational
and supply chain greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions is
unnecessary and not in the best interests of the Company or its
stockholders. The Company recognizes the importance of reducing
its GHG emissions and takes the issue of climate change seriously.
In opposing the Proposal, the Company does not mean to show a lack
of concern by the Board or the Company for this topic. Rather the
Company is merely resisting the creation and publication of a
report that would duplicate existing efforts and
disclosures.
The Company is investing time, effort and resources towards
sustainability and is working to reduce the Company’s impact on the
environment through certain initiatives and is also committed to
transparency with its stockholders concerning its sustainability
efforts.
Over the past several years, the Company has expanded its
initiatives and disclosures to address climate change. In the past
year alone, the Company has made substantial progress by engaging
in the following efforts:
|
· |
Completing and refining direct GHG
emissions (Scope 1) and indirect GHG emissions (Scope 2) inventory
for empirical and automated data collection. |
|
· |
Engaging third parties to collect
environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) data from
suppliers, bottlers and manufacturers for Scope 3 inventory. |
|
· |
Using CDP (formerly known as the
Carbon Disclosure Project) as a guide to develop the Company’s
climate-related governance, risk identification and management,
opportunities, and GHG metrics. |
|
· |
Formalizing Board level oversight
for ESG and sustainability strategies. |
|
· |
Creating a year-over-year GHG
emissions inventory in compliance with the GHG Protocol. |
|
· |
Publishing the Company’s first
Sustainability Report, which disclosed its sustainability efforts
as well as its GHG emissions inventory. |
|
· |
Identifying the Company’s water
risks with respect to direct operations and implementing tools to
evaluate the Company’s operations against current and future water
risks. |
|
· |
Continuing to use sustainable
packaging with over 95% of the Company’s products made of aluminum,
which is 100% recyclable, and approximately 73% of aluminum sourced
from recycled material. |
|
· |
Investing in solar projects to
generate carbon free electricity for the Company’s corporate
headquarters, the Rialto warehouse, and the new American
Fruits & Flavors, LLC (“AFF”) facility. |
|
· |
Submitting AFF’s first EcoVadis
assessment, which earned AFF a silver rating and placed it in the
top 30% of responding companies. |
In 2022, the Company is already planning on taking the following
actions:
|
· |
Obtaining more empirical data for
Scope 1 and 2 emissions. |
|
· |
Onboarding third-party software to
help facilitate the inventory, tracking, and monitoring of
emissions. |
|
· |
Prioritizing the collection of
relevant Scope 3 emissions data. |
|
· |
Publishing the Company’s annual
Sustainability Report in 2022. |
|
· |
Working with suppliers to introduce
innovations to reduce weight of packaging, increase use of recycled
content and reduce related supplier emissions. |
|
· |
Conducting internal education and
engagement focused on environmental sustainability. |
|
· |
Completing and submitting AFF’s
EcoVadis assessment for the second consecutive year. |
|
· |
Responding to numerous customers’
ESG surveys. |
Despite our increased and varied efforts, the Proposal seeks to
divert resources and attention to issuing an additional report on
such initiatives.
In light of the Company’s ongoing GHG related reporting,
issuing another report would be duplicative and fail to fully
capture the Company’s endeavors. The Company acknowledges
the importance of the issue of GHG emissions and providing the
Company’s stockholders with relevant disclosures to evaluate the
Company’s emissions-related policies and strategies. Accordingly,
the Company has expanded its disclosures by providing the
following:
|
· |
The Company publishes an annual
sustainability report that discloses, and will continue to
disclose, the Company’s GHG emissions, break down applicable
metrics, and detail the Company’s sustainability efforts; |
|
· |
The Company has submitted 2020 and
2021 CDP responses and will be submitting its 2022 CDP response,
which provides additional insight into the GHG information sought
by the Proposal; and |
|
· |
The Company frequently provides
relevant data to various customers, suppliers and stakeholders as
requested. |
Given the Company’s numerous disclosures surrounding this issue,
the issuance of an additional, one-time report is redundant. The
Company will inevitably need to modify its efforts to adapt to
changes within the Company, such as acquisitions, and external
factors such as customer demands and legal requirements.
In addition to the aforementioned reporting, the Company is
currently reviewing and preparing to provide the information
required by the SEC. As of March 21, 2022, the SEC has
proposed rules that would require the Company to disclose
Scopes 1, 2 and 3 emissions and obtain an attestation report from
an independent attestation service provider covering, at a minimum,
Scopes 1 and 2 emissions disclosure. The SEC has stated that “the
proposed rules would enhance comparability by requiring
registrants to provide disclosures on a common set of qualitative
and quantitative climate-related disclosure topics in their
filings.” Given that the Company will be filing extensive
comparable emissions related disclosure for 2023 with the SEC, the
Company believes that providing another report, as requested by the
Proposal, would not provide stockholders with any new insight into
the Company’s efforts or progress concerning its GHG emissions.
The Company is working on gathering the applicable data to
set future GHG emissions targets. The Company is currently
implementing an inventory management plan, automating its data
collection process, and collecting more empirical data, which is
needed to compare year-over-year information. The Company is also
performing an empirical Scope 3 inventory and engaging with
suppliers on data collection. In addition, the Company is also
analyzing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on 2021 data. For
example most of the Company’s office-based employees continued to
work remotely in 2021. In order to set realistic GHG emissions
targets, the Company must complete these data inventories and
carefully analyze where the Company stands and what targets are
achievable. Once the Company has gathered comparable data, it can
set and report on such targets in its future sustainability reports
and SEC filings as required. The Company believes that its
deliberate, thoughtful approach to setting targets based on
tangible evidence will be more helpful to the Company and its
stockholders rather than providing a report which may not have all
applicable data at the time of publication.
Given the extensive knowledge of and real-time information
supplied to the Company’s senior management, the Board believes
that Company’s management, with Board oversight, is best positioned
to supervise and adjust the Company’s sustainability
efforts. The Company’s management actively monitors the
Company’s initiatives to ensure that they are advancing the
Company’s commitment to sustainability. The Board believes that the
proposed report is not the most efficient or helpful method for
setting GHG reduction goals. Rather the Company’s sustainability
efforts are best accomplished through the deliberate, thought-out
policies and strategies of Company management, made with Board
oversight.
We appreciate that the reduction of GHG emissions is an ongoing
concern and must be addressed accordingly, which is why the Company
is committed to reducing its environmental impact through the
efforts described above and in its various reporting. Given such
initiatives and for the reasons stated above, the Board believes
that issuing a report on the Company’s plans to reduce its GHG
emissions is unnecessary and not in the best interests of our
stockholders.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE
“AGAINST” THE REPORT ON THE COMPANY’S PLANS TO REDUCE GHG EMISSIONS
PROPOSAL.
OTHER MATTERS
The Company knows of no other matters to be submitted to the Annual
Meeting. If any other matters properly come before the Annual
Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the proxy to
vote the shares they represent as the Board of Directors may
recommend.
It is important that your shares be represented at the Annual
Meeting, regardless of the number of shares that you hold. You are,
therefore, urged to vote by calling the toll free number or over
the internet or, if you requested to receive printed proxy
materials, by marking, signing, dating and returning your proxy
card.
COMMUNICATING WITH THE
BOARD
Stockholders, employees and other individuals interested in
communicating with the Chairman and Co-CEO should write to the
address below:
Rodney C. Sacks, Chairman and Co-CEO
Monster Beverage Corporation
1 Monster Way
Corona, CA 92879
Those interested in communicating directly with the Board, any of
the committees of the Board, the Lead Independent Director, and the
non-employee directors as a group or individually should write to
the address below:
Office of the Corporate Secretary
Monster Beverage Corporation
1 Monster Way
Corona, CA 92879
FORM 10-K AND OTHER
DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE
A copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, as filed with the SEC, is
available over the internet at the SEC’s website,
www.sec.gov, or on our website at
www.monsterbevcorp.com. The Annual Report on Form 10-K,
as amended, is also available without charge to any stockholder
upon request to:
Monster Beverage Corporation
1 Monster Way
Corona, CA 92879
(951) 739-6200 * (800)
426-7367
Additionally, charters for certain of the committees of the Board
of Directors and the Lead Independent Director as well as the
Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Director
Resignation Policy are available on our website.
Incorporation by Reference
In accordance with SEC rules, notwithstanding anything to the
contrary set forth in any of the Company’s previous or future
filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the
Exchange Act that might incorporate this proxy statement or future
filings made by the Company under those statutes, the information
included under the captions “Compensation Committee Report” and
“Report of the Audit Committee” shall not be deemed filed with the
SEC and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any of
those prior filings or into any future filings made by the Company
under those statutes, except to the extent that the Company
specifically incorporates these items by reference.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dated: April
27, 2022 |
/s/ Rodney C. Sacks |
|
RODNEY C. SACKS |
|
Chairman of the Board of
Directors |
Appendix A – Reconciliation
of GAAP and Non-GAAP Information
The Company provides certain non-GAAP financial measures in this
proxy statement that are not in accordance with, or alternatives
for, generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States.
Our non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted Operating Income
excludes the below listed adjustments, as they do not contribute to
a meaningful evaluation of the Company’s future operating
performance or comparisons to the Company’s past operating
performance. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to Adjusted
Operating Income is Operating Income. Adjusted Operating Income may
have limitations as an analytical tool. This measure should not be
considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the
Company’s results as reported under GAAP. Other companies may
calculate this non-GAAP financial measure differently than the
Company does, limiting the usefulness of such measure for
comparative purposes.
Annual
Incentive Program Reconciliation of Operating Income to Adjusted
Operating Income
(In
Thousands) |
For
the Year
Ended
December 31,
2021 |
Operating
Income |
$ |
1,797,467 |
|
|
Adjustments
to Operating Income: |
|
Depreciation
and amortization |
14,520 |
Significant
settlements1 |
(16,932) |
Distributor
terminations2 |
5,306 |
Foreign
exchange rate deviations from budget3 |
(13,496) |
Financial
impact of acquisitions or divestitures4 |
4,845 |
Aluminum
cost in excess of budgeted cost5 |
25,121 |
Total
adjustments to Operating Income |
19,364 |
|
|
Adjusted
Operating Income |
$ |
1,816,831 |
1 |
Represents
derecognition of accrued liability in relation to an intellectual
property claim. The prior adverse jury verdict was
reversed on appeal. |
|
|
2 |
Represents
costs incurred to terminate existing distributors. |
|
|
3 |
Represents
impact of foreign currency exchange rate deviations from budget on
net sales, cost of sales and operating expenses. |
|
|
4 |
Represents
costs incurred in relation to business acquisitions or divestitures
including commissions and due diligence expenses. |
|
|
5 |
Represents
the actual cost of aluminum in excess of budgeted cost. |
Our non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted Diluted EPS excludes the
below listed adjustments, as they do not contribute to a meaningful
evaluation of the Company’s future operating performance or
comparisons to the Company’s past operating performance. The GAAP
measure most directly comparable to Adjusted Diluted EPS is Diluted
EPS. Adjusted Diluted EPS may have limitations as an analytical
tool. This measure should not be considered in isolation or as a
substitute for analysis of the Company’s results as reported under
GAAP. Other companies may calculate this non-GAAP financial measure
differently than the Company does, limiting the usefulness of such
measure for comparative purposes.
Long
Term Incentive Program Reconciliation of Diluted EPS to Adjusted
Diluted EPS
|
For
the Year
Ended
December 31,
2021 |
Diluted
EPS |
$ |
2.572 |
|
|
Adjustments
to Diluted EPS: |
|
Depreciation
and amortization |
0.020 |
Significant
settlements1 |
(0.024) |
Distributor
terminations2 |
0.007 |
Foreign
exchange rate deviations from budget3 |
(0.019) |
Financial
impact of acquisitions or divestitures4 |
0.007 |
Foreign
currency gain5 |
- |
Total
adjustments to diluted EPS |
(0.009) |
|
|
Adjusted
Diluted EPS |
$ |
2.563 |
|
|
Adjusted
Diluted EPS - Fiscal Year 2020 |
$ |
2.326 |
Two-Year
Cumulative Adjusted Diluted EPS - 2020 through 2021 |
$ |
4.889 |
1 |
Represents
derecognition of accrued liability in relation to an intellectual
property claim. The prior adverse jury verdict was reversed on
appeal. |
|
|
2 |
Represents
costs incurred to terminate existing distributors. |
|
|
3 |
Represents
impact of foreign currency exchange rate deviations from budget on
net sales, cost of sales and operating expenses. |
|
|
4 |
Represents
costs incurred in relation to business acquisitions or divestitures
including commissions and due diligence expenses. |
|
|
5 |
Represents
foreign currency gains recognized. |

|
Signature [PLEASE
SIGN WITHIN BOX] Date Signature (Joint Owners) Date TO VOTE, MARK
BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: KEEP THIS PORTION FOR
YOUR RECORDS DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY THIS PROXY CARD IS
VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. MONSTER BEVERAGE CORPORATION 1
MONSTER WAY CORONA, CA 92879 D81583-P72705 01) Rodney C. Sacks 02)
Hilton H. Schlosberg 03) Mark J. Hall 04) Ana Demel 05) James L.
Dinkins 06) Gary P. Fayard 07) Tiffany M. Hall 08) Jeanne P.
Jackson 09) Steven G. Pizula 10) Mark S. Vidergauz 4. To consider a
stockholder proposal regarding a report on the Company's plans to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions; if properly presented at the
Annual Meeting. 2. Proposal to ratify the appointment of Deloitte
& Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting
firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022.
3. Proposal to approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the
compensation of the Company’s named executive officers. NOTE: Such
other business as may properly come before the meeting or any
adjournment thereof. The shares represented in this proxy card will
be voted as directed above. IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN AND THE PROXY
CARD IS VALIDLY EXECUTED, THE SHARES WILL BE VOTED "FOR" PROPOSALS
1, 2, AND 3 AND "AGAINST" PROPOSAL 4. ! ! ! 1. Proposal to elect
ten Directors: Nominees: For All Withhold All For All Except For
Against Abstain ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! MONSTER BEVERAGE CORPORATION To
withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark "For
All Except" and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line
below. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" PROPOSALS 1,
2, AND 3 AND "AGAINST" PROPOSAL 4. 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. VOTE BY INTERNET Before The
Meeting - Go to www.proxyvote.com or scan the QR Barcode above Use
the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for
electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time
the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. 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. During The Meeting - Go to
www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/MNST2022 You may attend the
meeting via the Internet and vote during the meeting. Have the
information that is printed in the box marked by the arrow
available and follow the instructions. VOTE BY PHONE -
1-800-690-6903 Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting
instructions up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time the day before the
cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you
call and then follow the instructions. VOTE BY MAIL 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. SCAN TO VIEW MATERIALS & VOTE
w
|

|
D81584-P72705
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for
the Annual Meeting: The Proxy Statement and 10-K Wrap are available
at www.proxyvote.com. PROXY FOR MONSTER BEVERAGE CORPORATION THE
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON JUNE 14, 2022 THIS
PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS The
undersigned stockholder of Monster Beverage Corporation (the
“Company”) hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual
Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement, each dated April 27,
2022, and hereby appoints Rodney C. Sacks and Hilton H. Schlosberg,
or either of them, as proxies and attorneys-in-fact, each with the
power to appoint his substitute, on behalf and in the name of the
undersigned, to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of the Company to be held on June 14, 2022 at 2:30
p.m. PDT, virtually at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/MNST2022,
and at any postponement or adjournment thereof, and to vote all the
stock of the Company that the undersigned would be entitled to vote
as designated on the reverse hereof, on the matters set forth in
the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement.
In their discretion, such proxies are each authorized to vote upon
such other business as may properly come before such Annual Meeting
of Stockholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
(Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)
|
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