WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. (NYSE:WHG) Files An 8-K Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain OfficersItem 5.02
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
(e)Approval of 2018 Annual Bonus Award to Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer
On March8, 2018, the Compensation Committee approved an annual cash incentive bonus award under the Fourth Amended and Restated Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Plan”) for Brian O. Casey, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, in the “target” amount of $1,350,000 with potential payout ranging from 0% to 185% of target based on the Committee’s certification, on or before March 15, 2019, of the Company’s fiscal 2018 performance with respect to each of the following performance measures: investment performance (weighted 20%); service and sales (weighted 20%); financial results (weighted 40%); and strategic goals (weighted 20%). Mr. Casey will earn 0% of his target award for below-threshold performance, 50% for threshold-level performance, 50% for target-level performance, and 185% for performance at or above the maximum performance level, in each case as certified by the Compensation Committee following the end of the 2018 fiscal year.
On March8, 2018, the Compensation Committee approved an annual cash incentive bonus award under the Plan for Mark R. Freeman, the Company’s Chief Investment Officer, in the “target” amount of $750,000 with potential payout ranging from 0% to 185% of target based on the Committee’s certification, on or before March 15, 2019, of the Company’s fiscal 2018 performance with respect to each of the following performance measures: investment performance (weighted 40%); strategic goals (weighted 30%); sales and service (weighted 15%); and financial results (weighted 15%). Mr. Freeman will earn 0% of his target award for below-threshold performance, 50% for threshold-level performance, 50% for target-level performance, and 185% for performance at or above the maximum performance level, in each case as certified by the Compensation Committee following the end of the 2018 fiscal year.
(e)Award of Performance Shares to Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer
On March8, 2018, the Compensation Committee approved an award under the Plan (as defined above) of 35,966 performance shares (the “CEO Performance Shares”) to Brian O. Casey, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. The CEO Performance Shares are subject to a Performance Share Agreement, dated as of March9, 2017 (the “CEO Performance Share Agreement”) in the form previously filed in the Company’s March 14, 2016 Form 8-K. Each CEO Performance Share represents the right to receive one share of the Company’s common stock (and any dividends declared and paid on such shares since the grant date), subject to the achievement of specified performance goals and time-based vesting requirements.
All of the CEO Performance Shares are subject to a performance condition based on the Company’s earnings before taxes for the period from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 (the “Performance Cycle”). Mr. Casey will earn 17,983 of the CEO Performance Shares (the “CEO Category 1 Shares”) if the Company achieves earnings before taxes for the Performance Cycle equal to or exceeding the level specified by the Compensation Committee and set forth in the CEO Performance Share Agreement. Mr. Casey will earn between 0% and 185% of the remaining 17,983 CEO Performance Shares (the “CEO Category 2 Shares”) based on the Company’s earnings before taxes for the Performance Cycle, as measured against the threshold, target, and maximum performance levels established by the Compensation Committee and set forth in the CEO Performance Share Agreement. Mr. Casey will earn 0% of the CEO Category 2 Shares for below-threshold performance, 25% for threshold-level performance, 50% for target-level performance, and 185% for performance at or above the maximum performance level, in each case as certified by the Compensation Committee following the end of the Performance Cycle. The number of earned CEO Category 2 Shares for performance between each of the performance levels will be calculated using straight-line interpolation.
Any earned CEO Category 1 Shares and CEO Category 2 Shares will cumulatively vest 33%, 67%, and 50% on or before March 10, 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively, subject to Mr. Casey’s continuous employment with the Company through each vesting date. Notwithstanding, if Mr. Casey’s employment terminates due to death or Disability (as defined in the Plan) or the Company undergoes a Change in Control (as defined in Mr. Casey’s Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2015), either (a) during the Performance Cycle, all CEO Category 1 Shares and 50% of the CEO Category 2 Shares will fully vest effective upon the termination date, or (b) following the last day of the Performance Cycle, all of the unvested but earned CEO Category 1 Shares and CEO Category 2 Shares will fully vest. If Mr. Casey is terminated without Cause (as defined in the Plan) or terminates his employment for Good Reason (as defined in the CEO Performance Share Agreement), either (a) during the Performance Cycle, all CEO Category 1 Shares and CEO Category 2 Shares shall remain outstanding and eligible to vest as if Mr. Casey’s employment had continued but subject to achievement of the applicable
performance goals, or (b) following the last day of the Performance Cycle, all of the unvested but earned CEO Category 1 Shares and CEO Category 2 Shares will fully vest.
On March8, 2018, the Compensation Committee approved an award under the Plan of 17,983 performance shares (the “CIO Performance Shares”) to Mark R. Freeman, the Company’s Chief Investment Officer. The CIO Performance Shares are subject to a Performance Share Agreement, dated as of March9, 2017 (the “CIO Performance Share Agreement”) in the form previously filed in the Company’s March 10, 2017 Form 8-K. Each CIO Performance Share represents the right to receive one share of the Company’s common stock (and any dividends declared and paid on such shares since the grant date), subject to the achievement of specified performance goals and time-based vesting requirements.
All of the CIO Performance Shares are subject to a performance condition based on the Company’s earnings before taxes for the Performance Cycle. Mr. Freeman will earn 8,992 of the CIO Performance Shares (the “CIO Category 1 Shares”) if the Company achieves earnings before taxes for the Performance Cycle equal to or exceeding the level specified by the Compensation Committee and set forth in the CIO Performance Share Agreement. Mr. Freeman will earn between 0% and 185% of the remaining 8,991 CIO Performance Shares (the “CIO Category 2 Shares”) based on the Company’s earnings before taxes for the Performance Cycle, as measured against the threshold, target, and maximum performance levels established by the Compensation Committee and set forth in the CIO Performance Share Agreement. Mr. Freeman will earn 0% of the CIO Category 2 Shares for below-threshold performance, 25% for threshold-level performance, 50% for target-level performance, and 185% for performance at or above the maximum performance level, in each case as certified by the Compensation Committee following the end of the Performance Cycle. The number of earned CIO Category 2 Shares for performance between each of the performance levels will be calculated using straight-line interpolation.
Any earned CIO Category 1 Shares and CIO Category 2 Shares will cumulatively vest 33%, 67%, and 50% on or before March 10, 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively, subject to Mr. Freeman’s continuous employment with the Company through each vesting date. Notwithstanding, if Mr. Freeman’s employment terminates due to death or Disability (as defined in the Plan) or the Company undergoes a Change in Control (as defined in Mr. Freeman’s Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of November 9, 2016), either (a) during the Performance Cycle, all CIO Category 1 Shares and 50% of the CIO Category 2 Shares will fully vest effective upon the termination date, or (b) following the last day of the Performance Cycle, all of the unvested but earned CIO Category 1 Shares and CIO Category 2 Shares will fully vest. If Mr. Freeman is terminated without Cause (as defined in the Plan) or terminates his employment for Good Reason (as defined in the CIO Performance Share Agreement), either (a) during the Performance Cycle, all CIO Category 1 Shares and CIO Category 2 Shares shall remain outstanding but eligible to vest as if Mr. Freeman’s employment had continued and subject to achievement of the applicable performance goals, or (b) following the last day of the Performance Cycle, all of the unvested but earned CIO Category 1 Shares and CIO Category 2 Shares will fully vest.
About WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. (NYSE:WHG)
Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. (Westwood) is a holding company. Through its subsidiaries, the Company manages investment assets and provides services. The Company operates through its subsidiaries, which include Westwood Management Corp. and Westwood Advisors, LLC (together, Westwood Management), Westwood International Advisors Inc. (Westwood International) and Westwood Trust. The Company operates through two segments: Advisory and Trust. The Company’s advisory segment comprises Westwood Management and Westwood International, and encompasses three distinct investment teams: the United States Value Team, the Global Convertible Securities Team, and the Global and Emerging Markets Equity Team. The Company, through Westwood Trust, provides fiduciary and investment services to high net worth individuals and families, non-profit endowments and foundations, public and private retirement plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs).
