UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 14A

(RULE 14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act ofSECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

Filed by the Registrant  ☒                             Filed by a party other than the Registrant  ☐

Check the appropriate box:

 

 Preliminary proxy statement
 Confidential, for use of the Commission only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
 Definitive proxy statement
 Definitive additional materials
 Soliciting material pursuant to Sec. 240.14a-11(c) or Sec. 240.14a-12

 

LOGO

CECO ENVIRONMENTAL CORP.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than Registrant)

Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):

 No Fee Required
 Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11
 (1) 

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

     

 (2) 

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

     

 (3) 

Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

 

     

 (4) 

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

     

 (5) 

Total fee paid:

 

     

 Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:
 Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
 (1) 

Amount previously paid:

 

     

 (2) 

Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.

 

     

 (3) 

Filing party:

 

     

 (4) 

Date filed:

 

     

 

 

 


Table

LOGO


LOGO

April 15, 2021

Dear Stockholder:

We are pleased to invite you to attend CECO Environmental Corp.’s (“CECO” or the “Company”) Annual Meeting of ContentsStockholders at 8:00 a.m. Central Time on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 to be held solely through virtual participation via webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CECE2021(the “Annual Meeting”). We continue to embrace the latest technology to provide expanded access, improved communication and cost savings. We believe hosting a virtual meeting enables increased stockholder attendance and participation from locations around the world. Stockholders attending the virtual meeting will be afforded the same rights and opportunities to participate as they would at an in-person meeting. Further information on attending, voting, and submitting questions at the Annual Meeting are included in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement.

Before outlining some of the agenda items for this year’s Annual Meeting, we want to mention the extraordinary efforts of team CECO during 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging crisis throughout the world, and our investors, employees and communities have been greatly impacted by the pandemic and related mitigation efforts. Working together, our Board of Directors (“Board”), management team and hard-working employees ensured the health and safety of our employees while successfully managing the business. These efforts included guidance and input from a task force of Board members and the Company’s executive management that included creating a comprehensive plan with discrete actions to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. As part of CECO’s proactive company-wide cost-reduction measures in response to the economic pressures brought on by the pandemic, many of our employees took voluntary pay reductions and, effective from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020, our non-management directors reduced their cash compensation for their service on our Board by 50% and our Board Chairman waived 100% of his cash compensation during this time. Also, during 2020, a search committee of the non-executive members of the Board established and undertook an international search for our new Chief Executive Officer and, over the course of five months, identified and, working with the CECO senior management team, successfully onboarded Todd Gleason, a seasoned leader with deep industry experience poised to drive transformational change. We are beyond proud of the way CECO handled and emerged from 2020.

Our Annual Meeting agenda again will include an advisory “Say-on-Pay” vote to approve the compensation paid to our named executive officers. At last year’s meeting, our Say-on-Pay proposal received over 99% approval, based on votes cast for and against, or approximately 89% approval of all shares represented at the meeting. During 2020, we continued our focus on aligning our executive compensation programs with the interests of our stockholders. We also continued to reach out to our largest stockholders for their feedback.

Our agenda this year also includes a proposal to approve the CECO Environmental Corp. 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2021 Plan”). If approved, the 2021 Plan will continue to afford the Compensation Committee the ability to design compensatory awards that are responsive to the Company’s needs and includes authorization for a variety of awards designed to advance the interests and long-term success of the Company by encouraging stock ownership among officers, other employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, and non-employee directors of the Company.

Your vote is important to us, regardless of whether or not you plan to participate virtually during the Annual Meeting. We have included voting instructions within these materials and request that you vote as soon as possible.

On behalf of our entire Board of Directors, we thank you for your continued ownership and support of CECO Environmental Corp. and our mission to help companies across the globe grow their business with safe, clean and more efficient solutions that help protect our shared environment.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO Page

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

Jason DeZwirek

Chairman of the Board

LOGO

 iiLOGO 

Todd Gleason

Chief Executive Officer

LOGO

THESE PROXY SOLICITATION MATERIALS AND CECO ENVIRONMENTAL CORP.S ANNUAL REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, INCLUDING THE RELATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, WERE FIRST MADE AVAILABLE TO STOCKHOLDERS ON OR ABOUT APRIL 15, 2021.

2021 Proxy Statement •   


CECO Environmental Corp.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

PROXY STATEMENTDate:

  1Tuesday, May 25, 2021

PROPOSAL 1Time:

  38:00 a.m., Central Time

Directors and NomineesPlace:

  3www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CECE2021

The Board and Its CommitteesRecord Date:

  Stockholders of record at the close of business on March 26, 2021 are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the meeting.
7  

Report of the Audit CommitteeAgenda:

  10The Company recommends that you vote as follows

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial OwnersProposal 1: To elect eight directors for a one-year term.

  11FOR each director nominee.

Security Ownership of Management

12

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

13

Certain Transactions

13

Executive Compensation

14

PROPOSALProposal 2

39

PROPOSAL 3

40

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

42

-i-


CECO ENVIRONMENTAL CORP.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON JUNE 12, 2018

: To the Stockholders of CECO Environmental Corp.

Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting (“Annual Meeting”) of the stockholders of CECO Environmental Corp. (“CECO,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”) will be held at 14651 N. Dallas Parkway, Suite 118, Dallas, Texas 75254 on June 12, 2018 at 8:30 a.m., Central time, for the following purposes:

1.to elect eight directors;

2.to approve, on an advisory basis, the Company’scompensation paid to our named executive officer compensation;officers.

  3.FOR the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation paid to our named executive officers.
to

Proposal 3: To approve the CECO Environmental Corp. 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan.

FOR the approval of the CECO Environmental Corp. 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan.

Proposal 4: To ratify the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as theour independent registered public accounting firm for 2021.

FOR the ratification of the Companyappointment of BDO USA, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2018; and2021.

4.toWe will also transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.

Stockholders of record at the close of business on April 13, 2018, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the meeting.

We are taking advantage of the Securities and Exchange Commission rules allowing us to furnish proxy materials to stockholders on the internet. We believe that these rules provide you with proxy materialsthis method of delivery is more quicklyefficient and reducereduces the environmental impact of our Annual Meeting. Accordingly, we are mailing to stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials containing instructions on how to access and review our proxy materials, and to vote online. The proxy materials consist of: (1) this Notice of 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders; (2) the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting (the “Proxy Statement”); and (3) the CECO Environmental Corp. 2020 Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2017, and to vote online or by telephone.

Stockholders. If you would like to receive a paper copy of our proxy materials, please follow the instructions for requesting these materials in the proxy statement.Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or in the Proxy Statement.

This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of CECO Environmental Corp., a Delaware corporation (“we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”), of proxies to be voted at the Annual Meeting to be held solely through virtual participation via webcast at 8:00 a.m., Central Time, on May 25, 2021, or any postponement or adjournment thereof.

For more information about the Annual Meeting, please refer to the “Additional Information About the Annual Meeting” section on the first page of this Notice.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

/s/ Jason DeZwirek

LOGO
Jason DeZwirek
Chairman of the Board of Directors

April 27, 201815, 2021

2021 Proxy Statement •   


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING1
PROPOSAL 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS2

Directors and Nominees

2

Our Board and Its Committees

7

2020 Director Compensation

11

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

13

Certain Transactions

13

COVID-19 Response and Employee Safety

14
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION15

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

15

Compensation Committee Report

26

2020 Summary Compensation Table

27

2020 Grants of Plan-Based Awards

28

2020 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table

29

2020 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table

30

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

30

Chief Executive Officer Pay Ratio

34
PROPOSAL 2 ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS35
PROPOSAL 3 APPROVAL OF THE CECO ENVIRONMENTAL CORP. 2021 EQUITY AND INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN36
AUDIT MATTERS49

Audit Committee Report

49

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees

49
PROPOSAL 4 RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM51
OTHER INFORMATION52

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

52
INFORMATION FOR THIS ANNUAL MEETING54
INFORMATION FOR OUR 2022 ANNUAL MEETING58
OTHER MATTERS59
Appendices

CECO ENVIRONMENTAL CORP. 2021 EQUITY AND INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

I-1

RELATIVE TSR PEER COMPANIES

II-1

2021 Proxy Statement •   


Information About the Annual Meeting

Attendance and Participation

 

-ii-Our Annual Meeting will be conducted on the internet via webcast only. Stockholders attending the Annual Meeting will be afforded the same rights and opportunities to participate as they would at an in-person meeting. Stockholders will be able to attend and participate online and submit questions during the Annual Meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CECE2021. Stockholders who would like to attend and participate in the Annual Meeting will need the 16-digit control number included on their proxy card or voting instruction form. The Annual Meeting will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m. CT. We encourage you to access the Annual Meeting prior to the start time. Online access will begin at 7:45 a.m. CT.


CECO ENVIRONMENTAL CORP.The Annual Meeting platform is fully supported across browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, and Safari) and devices (desktops, laptops, tablets, and cell phones) running the most updated version of applicable software and plugins. Stockholders should ensure that they have a strong internet connection if they intend to attend and/or participate in the Annual Meeting. Attendees should allow plenty of time to log in and ensure that they can hear streaming audio prior to the start of the Annual Meeting.

PROXY STATEMENTQuestions and Information Accessibility

FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON JUNE 12, 2018Stockholders may submit questions during the Annual Meeting. If you wish to submit a question, you may do so by logging into the virtual meeting platform atwww.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CECE2021, typing your question into the “Ask a Question” field, and clicking “Submit.”

This proxy statement is furnished in connection withQuestions pertinent to the solicitation byAnnual Meeting will be answered during the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of CECO Environmental Corp.Annual Meeting, subject to time constraints. Any such questions that cannot be answered during the Annual Meeting due to time constraints will be posted and answered on our Investor Relations website,www.cecoenviro.com/Investor, a Delaware corporation (“we,” “us,” “CECO” oras soon as practicable after the “Company”) of proxies to be voted atAnnual Meeting.

Additional information regarding the annual meetingability of stockholders to ask questions during the Annual Meeting, related rules of the Company to be held at 8:30 a.m., Central time, at 14651 N. Dallas Parkway, Suite 118, Dallas, Texas 75254, on June 12, 2018, or any postponement or adjournment thereof (the “Annual Meeting”). These proxy solicitationconduct and other materials and CECO’s Annual Report to stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2017,Annual Meeting, including related financial statements, were first made available tothe list of our stockholders entitled to notice of andrecord, will be available atwww.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CECE2021. In addition, the list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting will be available during the Annual Meeting for inspection by stockholders for any legally valid purpose related to the Annual Meeting atwww.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CECE2021 using your control number. Stockholders may view the list for such purposes 10 days prior to the meeting by contacting Investor.Relations@OneCECO.com.

Technical Difficulties

Information regarding matters addressing technical and logistical issues, including technical support during the Annual Meeting, will be available atwww.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CECE2021 starting at 7:45 a.m. CT on or about April 27, 2018.May 25, 2021 through the conclusion of the Annual Meeting.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting Toto Be Held on JuneMay 25, 2021

 12, 2018 — ourThis Proxy Statement and the CECO Environmental Corp. 2020 Annual Report to Stockholders, this proxy statement and the related proxy cardwhich includes our Annual Report on Form 10-K, are available at www.cecoenviro.com/investors.aspx. The content on any website referred to in this proxy statementProxy Statement is not incorporated by reference into this proxy statement unless expressly noted.Proxy Statement.

Who Can Vote

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 13, 2018, which we refer to as the record date, are entitled to notice of and to attend and vote at the Annual Meeting. As of the record date, there were 34,658,733 outstanding sharesWe will provide a copy of our common stock. Each share of our common stock outstanding on the record date will be entitled to cast one vote at the Annual Meeting.

How You Can Vote

Stockholders of record can simplify their voting by voting their shares via the Internet. Instructions for voting via the Internet are described on the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials. Being a record holder means that the shares are registered in your name, as opposed to the name of your broker or bank. If your shares are held in the name of a bank or broker (in “street name”), the availability of telephone and Internet voting will depend on the voting processes of the applicable bank or broker; therefore, it is recommended that you follow the voting instructions on the proxy card. If you request a paper copy of the proxy materials please mark your choices on the proxy card and then date, sign and return the proxy card at your earliest opportunity pursuant to the instructions on the proxy card.

You may also vote in person at the meeting. If your shares are held in street name, you can vote at the meeting only if you have a valid proxy from your bank or broker confirming your beneficial ownership of shares of our common stock as of the record date and your authority to vote such shares. Please bring personal photo identification with you to the meeting. If you need directions tofor the Annual Meeting please call usto any stockholder without charge upon written request addressed to CECO Environmental Corp., to the attention of the Corporate Secretary, 14651 N. Dallas Parkway, Suite 500, Dallas, Texas 75254 or by phone at (214)357-6181.

Revocability of Proxies

Stockholders who execute proxies retain the right to revoke them at any time before the shares are voted by proxy at the meeting. A Any stockholder may revokealso receive a proxy by delivering a signed statement tocopy of our Corporate Secretary at or priorAnnual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 as filed with the SEC, without exhibits, upon written request to the Annual Meeting or by timely executing and delivering, by Internet, telephone, mail or in person at the Annual Meeting, another proxy dated as of a later date. Furthermore, you may revoke a proxy by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person, which will automatically cancel any proxy previously given.address above.

Attendance at the Annual Meeting, however, will not automatically revoke any proxy that you have given previously unless you request a ballot and vote in person. If you hold shares through a bank or brokerage firm, you must contact the bank or brokerage firm to revoke any prior voting instructions.

2021 Proxy Statement • 1

Quorum Required


In order for business to be conducted, a quorum must be represented at the Annual Meeting. The holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Shares represented by a proxy in which authority to vote for any matter considered is “withheld,” a proxy marked “abstain” or a proxy as to which there is a “brokernon-vote” (described below) will be considered present at the meeting for purposes of determining a quorum.

Required Vote to Elect Directors

Directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting, meaning the eight nominees receiving the most votes will be elected. Only votes cast for a nominee will be counted. Unless indicated otherwise by your proxy, the shares will be voted for the eight nominees named in this proxy statement. Instructions on the accompanying proxy to withhold authority to vote for one or more of the nominees will result in those nominees receiving fewer votes but will not count as a vote against the nominees.

Required Votes to Pass Other Proposals

Proposal 2 (approval, on an advisory basis, of the Company’s named executive officer compensation) and Proposal 3 (to ratify the selection of BDO USA, LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of CECO for fiscal year 2018), each requires the favorable vote of the majority of shares represented at the Annual Meeting for approval. Although these votes are advisory in nature and are not binding on the Company, the Board will consider the outcomes of these votes in future deliberations. For these proposals, abstentions are treated as shares present or represented and voting, so abstaining has the same effect as a negative vote.

BrokerNon-Votes

If your shares are held by a bank, broker or other nominee and you do not provide the bank, broker or other nominee with specific voting instructions, the organization that holds your shares may generally vote on “routine” matters but cannot vote onnon-routine matters.

If the bank, broker or other nominee that holds your shares does not receive instructions from you on how to vote your shares on anon-routine matter, the organization will inform our Inspector of Elections that it does not have the authority to vote on this matter with respect to your shares. This is generally referred to as a “brokernon-vote.”

When our Inspector of Elections tabulates the votes for any matter, brokernon-votes will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present.

We believe that Proposal 1 (election of directors) and Proposal 2 (approval, on an advisory basis, of the Company’s named executive officer compensation) will be considered“non-routine,” and banks, brokers and certain other nominees that hold your shares in street name will not be able to cast votes on these proposals if you do not provide them with voting instructions. Any brokernon-votes will have the same effect as a vote against Proposal 2, but will not affect the outcome of Proposal 1 because directors are elected by a plurality of votes cast.

We believe that Proposal 3 (ratification of independent auditors) will be considered “routine” and we do not expect any brokernon-votes on this matter.

Please provide voting instructions to the bank, broker or other nominee that holds your shares by carefully following their instructions.

Other Information

If no instructions are indicated on a duly executed and returned proxy, the shares represented by the proxy will be voted FOR the election of the eight nominees for director proposed by the Board and set forth herein, FOR the approval, on an advisory basis, of the Company’s named executive officer compensation and FOR the ratification of the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for fiscal year 2018, and in accordance with the judgment of the persons named in the proxy as to such other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting.

PROPOSAL 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Directors and Nominees

TheOur Board has determined that the number of Directors (“Board”) consists of eight directors, shall be eight and, accordingly, the Board has nominated, uponeach serving a one-year term. Upon the recommendation of the Nominations and Governance Committee of the Board, our Board has proposed the eight persons identified belowre-election of each of our existing directors to serve as directors to hold office until the next annual meeting or until their successors shall behave been duly elected and qualified. The names of, and certain information with respect to, the nominees of the Board for election as directors, are set forth below. The terms of Seth Rudin and Donald A. Wright, who are currently members of the Board, will expire at the Annual Meeting. All nominees are currently CECO directors, except for Mr. Nanda. Mr. Nanda was identified by the Nominations and Governance Committee as a potential director nominee at the recommendation of several directors, including certain members of the Nominations and Governance Committee, who knew of Mr. Nanda and had met him previously. If, for any reason, any nominee should become unable or unwilling to serve as a director, theour Board may either reduce the number of directors to be elected or select a substitute nominee. If a substitute nominee is selected, the persons named in the proxy card may exercise their discretion to vote your shares for the substitute nominee. The following table lists all of the director nominees.

  Name  Director  
  Since  
  Independent    Audit  
  Committee  
  Compensation  
  Committee  
  Nominations &  
  Governance  
  Committee  

Jason DeZwirek

Chairman of the Board

1994

Todd Gleason

Chief Executive Officer

2020

Jonathan Pollack

2011X

Eric M. Goldberg

2013XX

David B. Liner

2017XXXChair

Claudio A. Mannarino

2015XChairX

Munish Nanda

2018XX

Valerie Gentile Sachs

2016XChairX

Our Board believes that collectively our directors provide the diversity of experience and skills necessary for a well-functioning board. Our Board values highly the ability of individual directors to contribute to a constructive board environment and believes that our current directors perform in such a manner. Below is a description of each director’s background, professional experience, qualifications and skills.

2 • CECO Environmental


LOGO

JASON DEZWIREK (50) Mr. DeZwirek has been our Chairman of the Board since May 2013. Previously, he served as Secretary of our Company from February 1998 until September 2013. In 1999, Mr. DeZwirek founded Kaboose Inc., a family focused online media company. Mr. DeZwirek served as the Chairman and CEO of Kaboose Inc. until its sale to Disney Online (a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and Barclays Private Equity Limited in June 2009. Mr. DeZwirek also previously served as a director and corporate secretary of API Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:ATNY), a prime contractor in electronics, highly engineered systems, secure communications and electronic components and sub-systems for the defense and aerospace industries, from November 2006 through January 2011. Mr. DeZwirek also is and has been involved in private investment activities.

With his experience at Kaboose Inc., Mr. DeZwirek brings broad executive expertise, including operations, technology, management and strategy. Having served as a director of our Company for over 20 years, he also has a breadth of knowledge of the overall issues our Company faces.

LOGO

TODD GLEASON(49) Mr. Gleason has served as a director and Chief Executive Officer since July 2020. Mr. Gleason most recently served, from April 2015 to July 2020, as President and Chief Executive Officer of Scientific Analytics Inc., a predictive analytic technologies and services company. Prior to that position, Mr. Gleason served from June 2007 to March 2015 in a number of senior officer and executive positions for Pentair plc, a water treatment company. During his tenure with Pentair, Mr. Gleason served as Senior Vice President and Corporate Officer from January 2013 to March 2015, President, Integration and Standardization from January 2010 to January 2013, and Vice President, Global Growth and Investor Relations from June 2007 to January 2010. Before joining Pentair, Mr. Gleason served as Vice President, Strategy and Investor Relations for American Standard Companies Inc. (later renamed to Trane Inc. prior to its acquisition by Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited), a global, diversified manufacturing company, and in a number of different roles (including as Chief Financial Officer, Honeywell Process Solutions) at Honeywell International Inc., a diversified technology and manufacturing company. Mr. Gleason’s qualifications to sit on the Board include his financial and business background, as well as his extensive executive and leadership experience.

2021 Proxy Statement • 3


LOGO

JONATHAN POLLACK(49) Mr. Pollack is currently the Chief Financial Officer of AcuityAds Holdings Inc. (TSX:AT), a global advertising technology company, and has served as a Director since May 2011. Mr. Pollack has been the President of JMP Fam Holdings, Inc. since 2000. Previously, he served as Executive Vice President of API Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:ATNY) from September 2009 and as a director from June 2007 until, in each case, January 2011. Mr. Pollack also served on its audit committee and compensation committee from January 2007 through September 2009. From March 2005 through its sale in June 2009, he served as the Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of Kaboose Inc. (TSX:KAB). Prior thereto, he worked in investment banking in New York. He was also a director of Pinetree Capital Ltd. (TSX:PNP) from February 2014 until April 2015 and a Director of Aeterna Zentaris Inc. (NASDAQ: AEZS) from May 2018 until August 2019. Mr. Pollack received a Master of Science degree in Finance from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McGill University. He sits on the boards of several philanthropic organizations in Toronto, Ontario, including the Mt. Sinai Hospital Foundation, the Crescent School Foundation and the Sterling Hall School Foundation.

Mr. Pollack brings over 25 years of financial, strategic and merger and acquisitions expertise to our Board, which will assist our Board as we continue to expand our business. He also brings experience serving on the board of directors of other public companies.

LOGO

ERIC M. GOLDBERG (51) Mr. Goldberg has served as the President of All American Events & Tours, a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based sports incentive company, specializing in providing unique and customized experiences for retail and corporate clients since 1996. Since 2007, he has also been a principal of GKK Capital, a commercial real estate development company. From 1996 until 1999, Mr. Goldberg was the general counsel for Native American Nations, a company focusing on developing business strategies for Native American tribes throughout the United States. From 2010 until 2011, he served as a director of API Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:ATNY). Mr. Goldberg received a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from the Tulane University A. B. Freeman School of Business and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law. Mr. Goldberg is licensed to practice law in the State of Florida.

Mr. Goldberg brings over 20 years of sales, marketing, operations, strategic planning and legal expertise to our Board, which assists our Board as we continue to expand our business.

4 • CECO Environmental


LOGO

DAVID B. LINER(65) Mr. Liner served as General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer of Roper Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: ROP) from August 2005 until June 2016 and as a Vice President until his retirement in January 2018. Roper Technologies, a component of the S&P 500, designs and develops software and engineered products and solutions for healthcare, transportation, food, energy, water, education and other niche markets worldwide. Mr. Liner helped execute Roper Technologies’ acquisition program, deploying over $5 billion in assets and acquiring over 40 businesses. Prior to joining Roper Technologies, Mr. Liner served as a corporate partner in the Detroit office of Dykema Gossett, a national law firm, where he headed the firm’s automotive industry practice and founded the firm’s China practice. He had previously been the Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Metaldyne Corporation, formerly MascoTech, Inc. (NYSE: MSX), a manufacturer of products for the global transportation industry. Mr. Liner earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and his Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School.

Mr. Liner brings extensive legal, transactional and corporate governance expertise to our Board that will assist us as we continue to expand our business and create stockholder value. Having built and led a global corporate compliance and risk program as the General Counsel of a public company, he has developed expertise in areas of governance and compliance which will provide strong support and additional depth to our Board and to the committees on which he may serve. Mr. Liner also brings international experience to our Board, including past international board service.

LOGO

CLAUDIO A. MANNARINO(50) Mr. Mannarino is the President of Sette CS Inc., a management consulting firm. From June 2014 to November 2015, he served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of API Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ: ATNY), a leading provider of RF/microwave, microelectronics and security technologies for critical and high-reliability applications. He also served as API’s Senior Vice President, Finance from January 2010 to June 2014 and as its Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance from November 2006 to January 2010. Prior to that, he served in various, senior-level management roles throughout API’s finance organization. Before joining API, Mr. Mannarino served as Controller for two divisions of Transcontinental, Inc., a Canadian publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Mr. Mannarino holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Ottawa and attained his Certified Management Accountant certification in 1996.

Mr. Mannarino brings over 20 years of financial, strategic and merger and acquisition expertise to our Board, which will assist us as we expand our business.

2021 Proxy Statement • 5


LOGO

MUNISH NANDA (56) Mr. Nanda has served as the President, Americas & Europe of Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: WTS), a global manufacturer of plumbing, heating and water quality products, since February 2016. He joined Watts Water in April 2015 as President, Americas. Mr. Nanda previously served as President of Control Technologies for ITT Corporation from April 2011 to March 2015 and as Group Vice President of ITT Corporation’s Fluid and Motion Control Group from April 2008 to April 2011. ITT Corporation is a diversified manufacturer of highly engineered critical components and customized technology solutions for the energy, transportation and industrial markets. Prior to joining ITT Corporation, Mr. Nanda held several operating leadership and general management positions with Thermo Fisher Scientific Corporation and Honeywell International Inc. Mr. Nanda graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Production Engineering with Honors from Regional Engineering College Tiruchy in India and earned an MBA from Northern Arizona University.

Mr. Nanda brings over 25 years of experience working in senior operational management roles for global industrial manufacturers, which will assist us as we continue to grow and streamline our business. Mr. Nanda also brings extensive experience in the fluid handling, energy and niche manufacturing industries.

LOGO

VALERIE GENTILE SACHS(65) Ms. Sachs served as the Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of OM Group, Inc. (NYSE: OMG), a global developer and manufacturer of magnetic technologies, battery technologies and engineered specialty chemicals, from September 2005 through the completion of its sale in November 2015 to Apollo Global Management. She had executive responsibility for OM Group’s world-wide Legal, Internal Audit and Environment, Health & Safety operations. She also served on the boards of directors and acted as Managing Director of numerous U.S. and non-U.S. entities affiliated with OM Group. Prior to joining OM Group, Ms. Sachs served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. (NYSE: JAS), a US-based retailer. She had previously served as General Counsel of Marconi plc (LSE and NASDAQ: MONI), a London-based, global communications and information technology company. Ms. Sachs has been a trustee of a regional humane society and is active with a number of charitable organizations fighting hunger and meeting basic human needs. She earned her bachelor’s degree (B.L.S.—Chemistry) with honors from Bowling Green State University and her Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where she was a member of Law Review and a DeWitt Scholar.

Ms. Sachs brings a combination of legal expertise, extensive executive management and leadership experience to our Board. She has been an integral part of executive management teams that have effectively worked through strategic transitions, integrations and restructurings and is very familiar with international operating challenges and opportunities. As the General Counsel of three public companies, she has developed expertise in the areas of governance, compliance and executive compensation, which will provide strong support and additional depth to our Board and to the committees on which she may serve.

In order to be elected, a nominee must receive a plurality of the votes cast at the meeting in person or by proxy.

LOGO

6 • CECO Environmental


Our Board and Its Committees

Our Board held 14 meetings during 2020. Our Board’s policy regarding director attendance at the Annual Meeting is that directors are encouraged to attend, and that we will make all appropriate arrangements for directors to attend. All of the directors attended our 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. During 2020, each director attended 100% of the aggregate number of meetings of our Board and the committees on which they served in 2020.

Our Board has three standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominations and Governance Committee.Each of these committees operates under a written charter, which can be found on our website www.cecoenviro.com on the Investor Relations, Corporate Governance section.

Director Independence

All of our director nominees and directors who served during 2017,2020, other than Messrs. DeZwirek Pollack and Sadlowski,Gleason, qualify as independent directors in accordance with the listing requirements of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (the “NASDAQ”). The NASDAQ independence definition includes a series of objective tests, including that the director is not an employee of CECOour Company and has not engaged in various types of business dealings with us. In addition, theour Board has made a subjective determination as to each independent director that no relationships exist, which, in the opinion of theour Board, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director.

The following table shows information asMr. Pollack controls JMP Fam Holdings, Inc. (“JMP”), a firm that provided consulting services to the Company. During 2020 or any twelve-month period within the last three fiscal years, fees paid by the Company to JMP did not exceed $100,000. Because of the passage of time and the immaterial amounts paid to JMP, in April 15, 2018 for each director nominee.2021, the Board determined that Mr. Pollack was an independent director.

Audit Committee

 

Members:

Claudio A. Mannarino, Chair

Name

    Age

Position with CECO

Jason DeZwirek

47

Chairman of the Board and Director

Dennis Sadlowski

57

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Jonathan Pollack

46

Assistant Secretary and Director

Eric M. Goldberg2

48

Director

David B. Liner1, 3

    62

Director

Claudio A. Mannarino1

47

Director

Munish Nanda

53

Director Nominee

Valerie Gentile Sachs2, 3

62

Director

(1)Member of the Audit Committee
(2)Member of the Compensation Committee
(3)Member of the Nominations and Governance Committee

The Board believes that the directors and director nominee as a whole will provide the diversity of experience and skills necessary for a well-functioning Board. The Board values highly the ability of individual directors to contribute to a constructive Board environment and the Board believes that the current director nominees, collectively, perform in such a manner. Set forth below is a more complete description of each director’s background, professional experience, qualifications and skills.

Jason DeZwirekbecame a director of the Company in February 1994 and Chairman of the Board in May 2013. Previously, he served as Secretary of the Company from February 1998 until September 2013. He also serves as a member of the board of directors of several of the Company’s subsidiaries. In 1999, Mr. DeZwirek founded Kaboose Inc., a family focused online media company. Mr. DeZwirek served as the Chairman and CEO of Kaboose Inc. until its sale to Disney Online (a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and Barclays Private Equity Limited in June 2009. Mr. DeZwirek also previously served as a director and corporate secretary of API Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:ATNY), a prime contractor in electronics, highly engineered systems, secure communications and electronic components andsub-systems for the defense and aerospace industries, from November 2006 through January 2011. Mr. DeZwirek also is and has been involved in private investment activities.

With his experience at Kaboose Inc., Mr. DeZwirek brings broad executive expertise, including operations, technology, management and strategy. Having served as director of the Company for over 20 years, he also has a breadth of knowledge of the overall issues the Company faces.

Dennis Sadlowskihas served as our Chief Executive Officer since June 2017 and as a director since May 2016. Mr. Sadlowski served as Interim Chief Executive Officer and President from February 2017 until his appointment as Chief Executive Officer in June 2017. Previously, he was the Chief Operating Officer of LSG Sky Chefs North America, a provider of food and food-related services for transportation providers, from April 2013 until March 2015. As Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Sadlowski oversaw operations across over 40 locations in North America and managed over 8,000 employees. Previously, Mr. Sadlowski served as the Chief Executive Officer of International Battery, an early stage green tech company focused on large format lithium ion batteries for the grid storage markets, from September 2011 until April 2012. Mr. Sadlowski worked at Siemens from July 2000 to March 2010, serving as the President & Chief Executive Officer of Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. from July 2007 until October 2009, an operating subsidiary of the global manufacturer Siemens AG, where he had executive accountability for the company’s global strategic direction, operating performance and marketplace success. His responsibilities at Siemens Energy & Automation included overseeing six operating divisions along with a combined sales organization, a number of wholly-owned subsidiaries and over 12,000 employees. Mr. Sadlowski has also previously worked at General Electric and Thomas & Betts. Mr. Sadlowski serves on the board of directors and audit committee of Trojan Battery, a privately-held global leader in deep cycle lead-acid batteries. Mr. Sadlowski earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical and Nuclear Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley, and his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Seattle University.

Mr. Sadlowski blends global strategic leadership capabilities along with operating depth across a variety of long cycle businesses. He has led global executive teams to strong organic growth supplemented with targeted acquisitions. Having served on the board of both private and public companies, Mr. Sadlowski brings a strategic focus to growth and a strong market orientation to the board room. Additionally, as our Chief Executive Officer, he provides the Board with valuable insight on theday-to-day operations of the Company and any current issues it may face.

Jonathan Pollackbecame a director in May 2011 and has served as Assistant Secretary of the Company since May 2012. He is currently the President of JMP Fam Holdings, Inc., an investment and consulting company. Previously, he served as Executive Vice President of API Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:ATNY), a prime contractor in electronics, highly engineered systems, secure communications and electronic components andsub-systems for the defense and aerospace industries, from September 2009 and as a director from June 2007 until, in each case, January 2011. Mr. Pollack also served on its audit committee and compensation committee from January 2007 through September 2009. From March 2005 through its sale in June 2009, he served as the Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of Kaboose Inc. (TSX:KAB). Prior thereto, he worked in investment banking in New York. Mr. Pollack was formerly a director of Hanfeng Evergreen Inc. (TSX:HF) from November 2010 until February 2013 and then was reappointed to the board of directors in February 2014 and served as the lead director until August 2014. Mr. Pollack was formerly a director of Pinetree Capital Ltd. (TSX:PNP) from February 2014 until April 2015 and was formerly a director of Lifebank Corp.(TSX-V:LBK) from November 2003 until September 2012, where he served on the audit committee and compensation committee. Mr. Pollack received a Master’s of Science in Finance from the London School of Economics and a Bachelors of Commerce from McGill University. He sits on the Boards of several philanthropic organizations in Toronto, Ontario, including the Mt. Sinai Hospital Foundation, the Crescent School Foundation and the Sterling Hall School Foundation.

Mr. Pollack brings over 20 years of financial, strategic and merger and acquisitions expertise to the Board, which will assist the Board as the Company continues to expand its business. He also brings experience serving on the board of directors of other public companies.

Eric M. Goldberghas served as a director of the Company since April 2013. Since 1996, he has served as the President of All American Events & Tours, a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based sports incentive company, specializing in providing unique and customized experiences for retail and corporate clients. Since 2007, Mr. Goldberg has also been a principal of GKK Capital, a commercial real estate development company. From 1996 until 1999, Mr. Goldberg was the general counsel for Native American Nations, a company focusing on developing business strategies for Native American tribes throughout the United States. From 2010 until 2011, Mr. Goldberg served as a director of API Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:ATNY). Mr. Goldberg received a Bachelor of Science in Management from the Tulane University A. B. Freeman School of Business and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law. Mr. Goldberg is licensed to practice law in the State of Florida.

Mr. Goldberg brings over 20 years of sales, marketing, operations, strategic planning, and legal expertise to the Board, which assists the Board as the Company continues to expand its business.

David B. Liner has served as a director since May 2017. Mr. Liner served as General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer of Roper Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: ROP) (“Roper Technologies”) from August 2005 until June 2016 and as a Vice President until his retirement in January 2018. Roper Technologies, a component of the S&P 500, designs and develops software and engineered products and solutions for healthcare, transportation, food, energy, water, education and other niche markets worldwide. Mr. Liner helped execute Roper Technologies’ acquisition program, deploying over $5 billion in assets and acquiring over 40 businesses. Prior to joining Roper Technologies, Mr. Liner served as a corporate partner in the Detroit office of Dykema Gossett, a national law firm, where he headed the firm’s automotive industry practice and founded the firm’s China practice. Before that, he was Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Metaldyne Corporation, formerly MascoTech, Inc., a manufacturer of products for the global transportation industry. Mr. Liner earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and his Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School.

Mr. Liner brings extensive legal and corporate governance expertise to the Board which will assist the Company as it continues to expand its business and create shareholder value. Having built and led a global corporate compliance and risk program as the General Counsel of a public company, he has developed expertise in areas of governance and compliance which will provide strong support and additional depth to our Board and to the committees on which he may serve. Mr. Liner also brings international experience to our Board, including past international board service.

Claudio A. Mannarinohas served as a director since June 2015. He is currently the President of Sette CS Inc., a management consulting firm. Mr. Mannarino served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of API Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ: ATNY), a leading provider of RF/microwave, microelectronics and security technologies for critical and high-reliability applications from June 2014 to November 2015. Mr. Mannarino also served as Senior Vice President, Finance from January 2010 to June 2014 and as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance from November 2006 to January 2010. Prior to that, he served in various, senior-level management roles throughout API’s finance organization. Before joining API, Mr. Mannarino served as Controller for two divisions of Transcontinental, Inc., a Canadian publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“Transcontinental”). Mr. Mannarino holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Ottawa and attained his Certified Management Accountant certification in 1996.

Mr. Mannarino brings over 20 years of financial, strategic, and merger and acquisition expertise to the Board, which will assist the Company as CECO expands its business.

Munish Nandahas served as President, Americas & Europe of Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: WTS) (“Watts”) since February 2016. Mr. Nanda joined Watts in April 2015 as President, Americas. Watts is a global manufacturer of plumbing, heating and water quality products. Mr. Nanda previously served as President of Control Technologies for ITT Corporation from April 2011 to March 2015. Mr. Nanda also served as Group Vice President of ITT Corporation’s Fluid and Motion Control Group from April 2008 to April 2011. ITT Corporation is a diversified manufacturer of highly engineered critical components and customized technology solutions for the energy, transportation and industrial markets. Prior to joining ITT Corporation, Mr. Nanda held several operating leadership and general management positions with Thermo Fisher Scientific Corporation and Honeywell International Inc. Mr. Nanda graduated with a Bachelors of Engineering in Production Engineering with Honors from Regional Engineering College Tiruchy in India and earned an MBA from Northern Arizona University.

Mr. Nanda brings over 20 years of experience working in senior operational management roles for global industrial manufacturers, which will assist the Company as it continues to grow and streamline its business. Mr. Nanda also brings extensive experience in the fluid handling, energy and niche manufacturing industries.

Valerie Gentile Sachs has served as a director since May 2016. Previously, she was the Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of OM Group, Inc., (NYSE: OMG), a global developer and manufacturer of magnetic technologies, battery technologies and engineered specialty chemicals from September 2005 through the completion of the sale of the company in November 2015 to Apollo Global

Management. Ms. Sachs had executive responsibility for OM Group’s world-wide Legal, Internal Audit and Environment, Health & Safety operations. Ms. Sachs also served on the Board of Directors and acted as Managing Director of numerous U.S. andnon-U.S. entities affiliated with OM Group. Prior to joining OM Group, Ms. Sachs served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary atJo-Ann Stores, Inc. (NYSE: JAS), aUS-based retailer. Before that, she was General Counsel of Marconi plc (LSE and NASDAQ: MONI), a London-based, global communications and information technology company. Ms. Sachs has been a trustee of a regional humane society and is active with a number of charitable organizations fighting hunger and meeting basic human needs. Ms. Sachs earned her bachelor’s degree (B.L.S.—Chemistry), with honors, from Bowling Green State University and her Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where she was a member of Law Review and a DeWitt Scholar.

Ms. Sachs brings a combination of legal expertise, extensive executive management and leadership experience to our Board. She has been an integral part of executive management teams that have effectively worked through strategic transitions, integrations and restructurings and is very familiar with international operating challenges and opportunities. As the General Counsel of three public companies, she has developed expertise in the areas of governance, compliance and executive compensation, which will provide strong support and additional depth to our Board and to the committees on which she may serve.

In order to be elected, a nominee must receive a plurality of the votes cast at the meeting in person or by proxy.

The Board recommends a vote “FOR” approval of the election of the nominees named herein as directors.

The Board and Its Committees

During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, the Board held sixteen meetings. The Board’s policy regarding director attendance at the annual meeting of stockholders is that directors are encouraged to attend, and that we will make all appropriate arrangements for directors to attend. All of the directors serving at the time attended the 2017 annual meeting. All directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and the Committees on which they served during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017. Additionally, the independent directors regularly meet in executive session. The standing committees of the Board include the Audit Committee the Compensation Committee and the Nominations and Governance Committee.held five meetings in 2020.

Audit Committee

The Company has a separately designated Audit Committee, as defined in Section 3(a) (58) (A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). The members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Liner, Mannarino and Wright. Mr. Mannarino serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee. TheOur Board has determined that Mr. Mannarino qualifies as an audit committee financial expert as described bydefined in Item 407(d)(5) of RegulationS-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), and that each of theour Audit Committee members is independent under the applicable NASDAQ listing requirements and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The Audit Committee held five meetings in 2017.

The primary purpose of theour Audit Committee is to assist theour Board in its general oversight of CECO’sthe integrity of our Company’s financial reporting processstatements and approval of our Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Its responsibilities include overseeing and reviewing:

  the financial reports and other financial information;

  our Company’s system of internal accounting and financial controls;

  the engagement of our independent auditor; and

  the annual independent audit of our financial statements.

LOGO

Our Audit Committee also reviews and approves the services provided to CECO by its auditors. The Audit Committee alsoof our independent registered public accounting firm and evaluates transactions where the potential for a conflict of interest exists. The Audit Committee’s purposes are more fully described in its written charter, a copy of which can be found on our websitewww.cecoenviro.comon the Investor Relations, Corporate Governance section.

2021 Proxy Statement • 7


Compensation Committee

Our

Members:

Valerie Gentile Sachs, Chair

Eric M. Goldberg

David B. Liner

The Compensation Committee held six meetings in 2020.

Each member of our Compensation Committee is comprised of Messrs. Goldberg and Wright and Ms. Sachs, each of whom is an independent director under the applicable NASDAQ listing requirements. Ms. Sachs serves as Chairwoman of the Compensation Committee. TheOur Compensation Committee operates under a written charter, which can be found onoversees our website www.cecoenviro.com on the Investor Relations, Corporate Governance section. The Compensation Committee held seven meetings in 2017. The primary purpose of the Compensation Committee is to review and approve corporate goals and objectives relevantcompensation programs, with particular attention to the compensation offor our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and the other named executive officers, andofficers. Its primary purpose is to approve or make recommendationsassist our Board in matters related to the Board with respect to the compensation of our other executive officers. TheIts responsibilities include:

  reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives for the compensation of our CEO, evaluating our CEO’s performance in light of those goals and objectives, and determining and recommending to our Board for approval, our CEO’s compensation level based on this evaluation; and

  approving or making recommendations to our Board with respect to the compensation of our other executive officers.

LOGO

Our Compensation Committee also administers the CECO Environmental Corp.our equity programs, including our 2017 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2017 Incentive Plan”) and the2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. ThePlan, and will administer our 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan if Proposal 3 is approved by our stockholders. Our Compensation Committee reports to our Board on all compensation matters regarding our directors, executive officers, and other key salaried employees. Our Compensation Committee annually reviews and approves the compensation for our directors, executive officers and other key salaried employees. It does not generally delegate any of its authority to other persons, although it has the power to delegate certain authority as permitted by applicable law and the NASDAQ listing standards to subcommittees, our Board or management. Our Compensation Committee’s processes and procedures for the consideration and determination of executive compensation, including the role of executive officers and directorthe Compensation Committee’s independent consultant in determining or recommending the amount or form of compensation of our named executive officers, are discussed in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section entitled “Executive Compensation” below.

Nominations and Governance Committee

Our

Members:

David B. Liner, Chair

Claudio A. Mannarino

Valerie Gentile Sachs

The Nominations and Governance Committee is comprisedheld three meetings in 2020.

Each member of Messrs. Linerour Nominations and Rudin and Ms. Sachs, each of whomGovernance Committee is an independent director under the applicable NASDAQ listing requirements. Mr. Liner serves as Chairman of the Nominations and Governance Committee. TheIts primary purposes are:

  to identify individuals qualified to become Board members;

  to make recommendations to our Board regarding Board and committee composition;

  to develop and recommend to our Board corporate governance principles applicable to our Company; and

  to oversee the evaluation of our Board and management.

LOGO

Our Nominations and Governance Committee operates under a written charter, whichidentifies individuals qualified to become Board members and makes recommendations to our Board regarding Board and committee composition, consistent with the Director Nomination Policy described below. It also recommends Board members for committee membership. A copy of the Director Nomination Policy can be found on our website www.cecoenviro.com on the Investor Relations, Corporate Governance section. The

8 • CECO Environmental


Our Bylaws provide stockholders the ability to nominate candidates for election as directors at the annual meeting of stockholders. Stockholders who wish to nominate a candidate should submit the candidate’s name and the other information required by our Bylaws to our Corporate Secretary and follow the procedures stated in our Bylaws. These procedures are summarized below in “Information for Our 2022 Annual Meeting.”

In addition to the formal procedure set forth in our Bylaws for the nomination of directors by stockholders, our Nominations and Governance Committee held four meetingshas adopted a policy to consider stockholder recommendations of candidates for nomination to our Board that stockholders submit outside the process in 2017. The primary purposes of the Company’s Bylaws discussed above. Our Nominations and Governance Committee arewill consider director candidates recommended by stockholders for inclusion on the slate of directors recommended to identify individuals qualifiedour Board on the same basis as candidates recommended by other sources, including evaluating the candidate against the standards and qualifications set out in our Director Nomination Policy, as well as any other criteria approved by our Board from time to become Board members, make recommendationstime. Our Nominations and Governance Committee will determine whether to interview any candidate. Recommendations must include the candidate’s name, contact information and a statement of the candidate’s background and qualifications, and must be mailed to the Board regarding Board and committee composition and to develop and recommend to the Board corporate governance principles applicable to the Company and oversee the evaluation of the Board and management.following address: CECO Environmental Corp., 14651 N. Dallas Parkway, Suite 500, Dallas, Texas 75254, Attention: Corporate Secretary.

Board Leadership Structure and Risk Oversight

The positions of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer are held by different individuals: JasonMr. DeZwirek serves as Chairman and Dennis SadlowskiMr. Gleason serves as Chief Executive Officer. Our Bylaws provide that any two or more offices may be held by the same person, but theour Board believes that the current separation of the offices of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman reflects the difference in the roles of those positions. TheOur Chief Executive Officer is responsible for determining the strategic direction and theday-to-day leadership of theour Company. Our Chairman facilitates and provides leadership to our Board and executive management and ensures they are focused on key issues. The Chairman determinesof the agenda forBoard shares a common understanding of the organization with the executive management and presides overprovides focus to ensure our Board meetings.is effective in its task of setting and implementing the Company’s strategy.

The separation of the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman and the independence of a majority of the board members helpsour Board help ensure independent oversight of management. All of theour directors, on the current Board, other than the Chairman, JasonMr. DeZwirek and the Chief Executive Officer, Dennis Sadlowski, and Jonathan PollackMr. Gleason qualify as independent under the applicable NASDAQ listing requirements. The standing committees — the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominations and Governance Committee — are comprised entirely of independent directors and provide independent oversight of management. Additionally, the non-management directors regularly meet in executive session, and the independent directors meet in executive session, as required.

CECO’sOur management is responsible for identifying, assessing and managing the material risks facing CECO. Theour Company. Our Board performs an important role in the review and oversight of these risks and generally oversees CECO’sour Company’s risk management practices and processes, with a strong emphasis on financial controls. TheOur Board has delegated primary oversight of the management of (i) financial and accounting risks and related-party transaction risks to theour Audit Committee, (ii) compensation risk to theour Compensation Committee, and (iii) corporate governance risk to theour Nominations and Governance Committee. To the extent that the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee or the Nominations and Governance Committee identifies any material risks or related issues, the risks or issues are addressed with the full Board.

Nomination Process

2021 Proxy Statement • 9

The Company has a standing Nominations and Governance Committee. The Nominations and Governance Committee identifies individuals qualified to become Board members and makes recommendations to the Board regarding Board and committee composition, consistent with the Director Nomination Policy described below, and develops and recommends Board members to the Board for committee membership. A copy of the Director Nomination Policy can be found on our websitewww.cecoenviro.comon the Investor Relations, Corporate Governance section.


The Company’s Bylaws provide stockholders the ability to nominate candidates for election as directors at an annual meeting of stockholders. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice generally must be delivered to or mailed and received by the Corporate Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal executive offices not less than 90 nor more than 120 calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, subject to adjustment as provided in the Company’s Bylaws in the event of advancement or delay of the Company’s annual meeting. The Company’s Bylaws also provide certain requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. These provisions may preclude stockholders from making nominations for directors at an annual meeting of stockholders. A stockholder’s notice must set forth, among other things, as to a nomination the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting:

the name and address of the stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal or nomination is made;

the class, series and number of shares that are owned of record or beneficially by the stockholder nominating the nominee or nominees;

a representation that the stockholder giving the notice is a holder of record of shares of the Company’s voting stock entitled to vote at such annual meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice;

whether such stockholder or beneficial owner intends to deliver a proxy statement and forms of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of shares of the Company’s voting stock required to nominate such nominee or nominees;

any derivative interest in the Company’s securities (as such term is defined in the Company’s Bylaws);

any voting arrangements pursuant to which such stockholder has the right to vote any shares of the Company or which has the effect of increasing or decreasing such stockholder’s voting power;

any contract or arrangement pursuant to which such stockholder is a party that provides any party, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit from any decrease in the price or value of the Company’s stock;

any material pending or threatened legal proceeding involving the Company, any of its affiliates or the directors and officers of the Company;

any rights to certain dividends on shares of the Company that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Company and any entitlement to certain performance-related fees resulting from an increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Company or derivative interests;

any equity interests, including any convertible, derivate or short interests, in any competitor of the Company; and

any other information relating to such stockholder that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act to be made in connection with a general solicitation of proxies or consents in support of the nomination of the nominee or nominees.

In addition to the formal procedure set forth in the Company’s Bylaws for the nomination of directors by stockholders, the Nominations and Governance Committee has adopted a policy to consider stockholder recommendations of candidates for nomination to the Board who stockholders submit outside the process in the Company’s Bylaws discussed above. The Nominations and Governance Committee will consider director candidates recommended by stockholders for inclusion on the slate of directors recommended to the Board on the same basis as candidates recommended by other sources, including evaluating the candidate against the standards and qualifications set out in our Director Nomination Policy, as well as any other criteria approved by the Board from time to time. The Nominations and Governance Committee will determine whether to interview any candidate.

Any stockholder may submit one candidate for consideration at each stockholder meeting at which directors are to be elected. Stockholders wishing to recommend a candidate must submit the recommendation no later than 120 days before the date our proxy statement was released to stockholders in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting of stockholders, provided, that if we did not hold any annual meeting in the previous year, or if the date of the next annual meeting has been changed by more than 30 days from the date of the previous year’s meeting, then the deadline will be a date that is a reasonable time before we begin to print and mail our proxy materials, but in no event, less than 90 days prior to such mailing. Recommendations must include the candidate’s name, contact information and a statement of the candidate’s background and qualifications, and must be mailed to the following address: CECO Environmental Corp., 4625 Red Bank Road, Suite 200, Cincinnati, Ohio 45227, Attention: Secretary.

Director Qualifications and Diversity

Our Board believes that the Board, as a whole, should have a diverse range of characteristics and skills to function at an optimal level in exercising its oversight over theour Company. When evaluating a person for nomination for election to theour Board, the qualifications and skills considered by theour Board, including theour Nominations and Governance Committee, include:

 

Whether the person will qualify as a director who is “independent” under applicable laws and regulations, and whether the person is qualified under applicable laws and regulations to serve as a director of CECO.

  Whether the person will qualify as a director who is “independent” under applicable laws and regulations, and whether the person is qualified under applicable laws and regulations to serve as a director of our Company;

  Whether the person is willing to serve as a director, and willing to commit the time necessary for the performance of the duties of a director;

  The contribution that the person can make to our Board, with consideration being given to the person’s business experience, education and skills, conflicts of interest, the interplay of the candidate’s experience with that of other Board members, and such other factors as our Board may consider relevant; and

  The character and integrity of the person.

LOGO

Whether the person is willing to serve as a director, and willing to commit the time necessary for the performance of the duties of a director.

The contribution that the person can make to the Board, with consideration being given to the person’s business experience, education, skills, conflicts of interest, the interplay of the candidate’s experience with that of other Board members, and such other factors as the Board may consider relevant.

The character and integrity of the person.

TheOur Board applies a broad concept of diversity, which includes all of the criteria listed abovein the paragraph below together with other factors such as the nominee’s ageexperience and leadership abilities. Although CECO does not have a diversity policy, when theWhen our Board seeks new director candidates to add to theour Board or to replace directors who have resigned or recommends there-election of incumbent directors, theour Board selects director nominees on the basis of all of these criteria with the goal of finding the best match for CECO’sour Board.

The Board is also committed to having a membership that reflects a diversity of gender, race, ethnicity, age and background. This commitment is demonstrated by the fact that the Board currently includes one female director and one director who is ethnically diverse. Our directors currently range in age from 49 to 65.

With respect to skill set diversity, theour Board seeks to have directors and nominees composed of qualified professionals with not only experience and expertise related to environmental, energy or fluid handling, but also in a broad range of skills. Our current directors have a broad range of skills, expertise and diversity, some of which have been described in the director profiles. Diversity helps to create a balanced Board to effectively develop strategies for our Company’s growth.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Corporate Governance Guidelines

We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to our directors and employees (including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and persons performing similar functions) and Corporate Governance Guidelines applicable to our directors to assist our Board in following corporate guidelines that serve the best interests of our Company and stockholders. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Corporate Governance Guidelines are posted on our website www.cecoenviro.com on the Investor Relations, Corporate Governance section. We will post on our website any amendments to or waivers of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for executive officers or directors in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The information on or accessible through our website is not a part of or incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement.

Insider Trading Policy

Our Insider Trading Policy, which applies to all of our directors, officers, employees and agents, expressly prohibits buying or selling securities while in possession of material, nonpublic information about us or another company and from disclosing such information on to others who might purchase or sell securities on the basis of such information. We consider short term or speculative transactions by our personnel involving our securities to be inappropriate. We also discourage our personnel from buying or selling our securities in margin accounts. Our Insider Trading Policy expressly prohibits the following activities with respect to our securities: short sales, including short sales against the box, buying or selling puts or calls and frequent trading to take advantage of fluctuations in stock price. The restrictions under our Insider Trading Policy also apply to immediate family and household members of our directors, officers, employees and agents.

10 • CECO Environmental


Our Insider Trading Policy prohibits all members of our Board and all officers and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries from engaging in hedging or monetization transactions, including through the use of financial instruments such as prepaid variable forwards, equity swaps, collars and exchange funds, or through other areas, andtransactions that hedge or offset, or are designed to hedge or offset, any decrease in the Board currently consistsmarket value of members with expertise in manufacturing, finance, accounting and legal matters.Company securities. The policy further prohibits such persons from pledging, hypothecating or otherwise using the Company’s securities as collateral for a loan or other form of indebtedness.

Stockholder Communications with Directors

The

Our Board has adopted a process by which stockholders may communicate with theour Board for matters other than director nominations. Stockholders who would like to communicate with theour Board or a committee of theour Board should send the communication to: Chairman of the Board, CECO Environmental Corp., 2300 Yonge Street, Suite 1710, Toronto, Ontario M4P 1E4.

Our Chairman of the Board, Mr. DeZwirek, will forward such communications to theour Board at or prior to theits next meeting of the Board.regular meeting. Stockholders wishing to communicate only with the independent directors can address their communications to “Independent Directors, c/o Chairman of the Board” at the same address above. These communications will be forwarded to the independent directors at or prior to the next meeting of the independent directors.

TheOur Board or the independent directors will determine, in their respective sole discretion, the method by which any such communications will be reviewed and considered.

2020 Director Compensation

In the past, our non-management directors received the following compensation for their service on our Board:

  Director Service

Compensation ($)   

  Annual cash retainer, paid quarterly:

45,000 

  Annual equity retainer:

70,000 

  Annual Committee Chair supplement:

Audit Committee

30,000 

Compensation Committee

15,000 

Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee

15,000 

Our Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

has determined that granting restricted stock units (“RSUs”) in lieu of cash meeting payments simplifies the directors’ compensation while promoting the ownership of our common stock. Accordingly, in June 2020 we granted to each non-management director RSUs covering 11,667 shares of our common stock. The membersRSUs generally vest on the one-year anniversary of the grant and are settled in shares of Company common stock. We also reimburse or pay our Board members their reasonable travel and out-of-pocket expenses to attend meetings. Our non-management directors are eligible to participate in the Company’s Compensation Committee are Messrs. Wright and Goldberg and Ms. Sachs. NoneU.S. health plan with 100% of the memberspremium payable by the enrolled director.

2021 Proxy Statement • 11


In lieu of paying an annual cash retainer or fees to Mr. DeZwirek for his service as Chairman of the Company’s Compensation Committee that served during 2017 is or has been an officer or employeeBoard, we pay consulting fees to Icarus Investments Corp. (“Icarus”). As part of CECO’s proactive cost reduction measures in response to the Company. No executive officer ofeconomic pressures brought on by the Company served in the last year as a director or member of theCOVID-19 pandemic, effective from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020, our non-management directors reduced their cash compensation committee of another entity one of whose executive officers served as a member of the Company’s Board or on the Company’s Compensation Committee.

Code of Ethics and Corporate Governance Guidelines

We have adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to our directors and employees (including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and controller and persons performing similar functions) and Corporate Governance Guidelines applicable to our directors to assist the Board in following corporate guidelines that serve the best interests of the Company. The Code of Ethics and Corporate Governance Guidelines are postedfor their service on our website atwww.cecoenviro.comon the Investor Relations, Corporate Governance section. We will post on our website any amendments to or waiversBoard by 50% and Mr. DeZwirek waived 100% of the Code of Ethics for executive officers or directors in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The information on or accessible through the Company’s website is not a part of or incorporated by reference intohis cash compensation during this proxy statement.

Report of the Audit Committee

The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements of CECO for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, with CECO’s management and has discussed with BDO USA, LLP (“BDO”), CECO’s independent registered public accounting firm, those matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard No. 1301, “Communications with Audit Committees,” as issued by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”).

In addition, the Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from BDO required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB, regarding BDO’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and the Audit Committee has discussed BDO’s independence with BDO.

Based on these reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in CECO’s Annual Report on Form10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 for filing with the SEC.

Audit Committee

Claudio A. Mannarino, Chairman

David B. Liner

Donald A. Wright

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

time. The following table sets forthreflects the name2020 compensation paid to each of our non-management directors. The compensation for Todd Gleason and address of each beneficial owner known by CECO to be beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of CECO’s common stockDennis Sadlowski, who also served on the Board during 2020, is reported in the 2020 Summary Compensation Table, and such individuals received no additional compensation for their service as of April 13, 2018.directors.

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner

  Amount and Nature of
Common Stock
Beneficially Owned
   Percent of Total Shares of
Common Stock
Outstanding  1
 

Jason DeZwirek2, 3

Chairman of the Board and Director

2300 Yonge Street, Suite 1710

Toronto, Ontario M4P IE4

   4,187,060    12.07

Trigran Investments, Inc.4

630 Dundee Road, Suite 230

Northbrook, Illinois 60062

   3,839,974    11.07

Icarus Investment Corp.2

2300 Yonge Street, Suite 1710

Toronto, Ontario M4P 1E4

   2,734,546    7.89

BlackRock, Inc.5

55 East 52nd Street

New York, New York 10055

   2,409,772    6.95

J. Luther King, Jr.6

301 Commerce Street, Suite 1600

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

   2,191,767    6.32

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP7

Building One

6300 Bee Cave Road

Austin, Texas, 78746

   1,943,772    5.61
  Name 

 

Fees Earned or

Paid in Cash

($)

  

Stock Awards1

($)

  

 

All Other
Compensation

($)

  

Total

($)

 

  Jason DeZwirek

 

 

— 

 

 

 

70,002 

 

 

 

60,000 2

 

 

 

130,002 

 

  Eric M. Goldberg

 

 

33,750 

 

 

 

70,002 

 

 

 

—   

 

 

 

103,752 

 

  David B. Liner

 

 

45,000 

 

 

 

70,002 

 

 

 

—   

 

 

 

115,002 

 

  Claudio A. Mannarino

 

 

56,250 

 

 

 

70,002 

 

 

 

—   

 

 

 

126,252 

 

  Munish Nanda

 

 

33,750 

 

 

 

70,002 

 

 

 

—   

 

 

 

103,752 

 

  Jonathan Pollack

 

 

            33,750 

 

 

 

            70,002 

 

 

 

52,000 3

 

 

 

155,752 

 

  Valerie Gentile Sachs

 

 

45,000 

 

 

 

70,002 

 

 

 

—   

 

 

 

115,002 

 

 

(1)Based upon 34,658,733 shares

This column represents the grant date fair value of RSU awards calculated in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (“FASB ASC Topic 718”), disregarding estimated forfeitures, rather than amounts realized by the named individuals. Assumptions used in calculating these amounts are included in Note 9 to the Company’s audited financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. The stock awards shown in the table above represent the RSU awards granted to our directors in 2020. The table below shows the aggregate number of unvested RSUs and unexercised options held by each of our common stock outstandingnon-management directors as of April 13, 2018. For each named person, this percentage includes common stock of which such person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership either currently or within 60 days of April 13, 2018, including upon the exercise of an option or warrant; however, such common stock is not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage owned by any other person.December 31, 2020.

 

  Name

  

 

RSUs (#)   

   

 

Stock Options (#)   

 

  Jason DeZwirek

  

 

                    11,667 

 

  

 

— 

 

  Eric M. Goldberg

  

 

11,667 

 

  

 

15,000 

 

  David B. Liner

  

 

11,667 

 

  

 

— 

 

  Claudio A. Mannarino

  

 

11,667 

 

  

 

— 

 

  Munish Nanda

  

 

11,667 

 

  

 

— 

 

  Jonathan Pollack

  

 

11,667 

 

  

 

38,000 

 

  Valerie Gentile Sachs

  

 

11,667 

 

  

 

— 

 

(2)

This information was obtained fromamount reflects the fees we paid to Icarus, a Schedule 13D/A filed with the SECcompany controlled by Mr. DeZwirek, pursuant to which Icarus provides us management consulting services. This agreement ceased on September 11, 2015December 31, 2020 as Mr. DeZwirek will be paid directly as a director and is supplemented by a Form 4 filed with the SEC on November 9, 2017 by Jason DeZwirek. Jason DeZwirek is deemed to control Icarus Investment Corp. (“Icarus”) and has sole voting and dispositive power of the shares of common stock owned by Icarus and ownership of such shares is attributed to Jason DeZwirek in this table.chairman starting January 1, 2021.

(3)Includes shares beneficially owned by Icarus. Please see footnote 2. Includes 9,849 restricted stock units that vest within 60 days of April 13, 2018.
(4)

This information was obtained fromamount reflects the fees we paid to JMP Fam Holdings, Inc., a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 14, 2018. According to the Schedule 13G/A, Trigran Investments, Inc. beneficially owns and has shared dispositive and voting power over all of these shares.

(5)This information was obtained from a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 29, 2018. According to the Schedule 13G/A, BlackRock, Inc. beneficially owns and has sole dispositive power over all of these shares and has sole voting power over 2,343,642 of these shares, which include shares held by certain subsidiaries of BlackRock, Inc.
(6)This information was obtained from a Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on November 27, 2017. According to the Schedule 13D/A, J. Luther King, Jr. beneficially owns and has sole dispositive and voting power over all of these shares, which include shares held by J. Bryan King and certain entitiescompany controlled by J. Luther King, Jr.Mr. Pollack, for consulting services performed by Mr. Pollack during 2020. Pursuant to an oral arrangement, JMP Fam Holdings provided us with strategic advisory services, including the evaluation of financing options, capital structure and J. Bryan King.potential acquisitions. This agreement ceased on December 31, 2020.

(7)This information was obtained from a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 9, 2018. According to the Schedule 13G, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP beneficially owns 1,943,772 of these shares and has sole voting power over 1,843,250 of these shares and sole dispositive power over all of these shares.

Security OwnershipOur Board has implemented mandatory stock ownership guidelines for non-management directors to further align the interests of Management

The following table sets forth the beneficial ownershipnon-management directors and stockholders. Each non-management director is required to own shares of CECO’sour common stock ashaving a value equal to five times the non-management director’s regular annual cash retainer. As of April 13, 2018,December 31, 2020, all non-management directors met the stock ownership requirement. For purposes of this requirement, a non-management director’s stock ownership includes all shares of our common stock owned by the non-management director outright or held in trust for each named executive officer,the director and director nominees and by all executive officers, directors and director nomineesthe director’s immediate family, plus a non-management director’s restricted stock units. The value of CECOa share is measured as the greater of the then current market price or the closing price of a group.share of our common stock on the acquisition or grant date.

Name of Beneficial Owner

 Number of Shares of
Common Stock
Beneficially Owned
  Percent of Total Common
Shares Outstanding 1
 

Jason DeZwirek2

  4,187,060   12.07

Jonathan Pollack3

  185,544   

Donald A. Wright4

  125,144   

Eric M. Goldberg5

  35,244   

Seth Rudin5

  34,744   

Dennis Sadlowski 6

  31,993   

Claudio A. Mannarino7

  22,244   

David B. Liner8

  21,642   

Valerie Gentile Sachs 9

  17,056   

Munish Nanda

  0   

Matthew Eckl

  9,000   

Paul Gohr10

  5,965   

Jeffrey Lang

  0   

Benton L. Cook

  1,100   

Edward J. Prajzner

  0   

Executive Officers, Directors and Director Nominees as a group (12 persons)11

  4,676,736   13.44

 

*Less than 1%
12 • CECO Environmental
(1)See Note 1 to the prior table.
(2)See Notes 2 and 3 to the prior table.
(3)Includes 100,000 vested options and 9,849 restricted stock units that vest within 60 days of April 13, 2018 (“vested RSUs”). Also includes 2,300 shares owned by Mr. Pollack’s spouse, over which she has sole voting and dispositive power and 65,200 shares held by JMP (as defined below), over which Mr. Pollack has sole voting and dispositive power.
(4)Includes 29,000 vested options and 9,849 vested RSUs.
(5)Includes 15,000 vested options and 9,849 vested RSUs.
(6)Includes 17,686 vested RSUs.
(7)Includes 9,849 vested RSUs.
(8)Includes 7,642 vested RSUs.
(9)Includes 9,849 vested RSUs.
(10)Includes 3,500 vested options and 1,365 vested RSUs.
(11)Does not include shares beneficially owned by Messrs. Lang, Cook and Prajzner, none of whom are current executive officers, directors or director nominees.


Delinquent Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting ComplianceReports

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors and executive officers and persons beneficially owning more than ten percent of a class of our equity securities to file certain reports of beneficial ownership and changes in beneficial ownership with the SEC. Based solely on our review of Section 16(a) reports and any written representation made to us, the Company believes that all such required filings for 20172020 were made in a timely manner.manner, except that each of Messrs. Sadlowski, Eckl and Gohr filed one Form 4 late during June 2020 reporting one exempt acquisition of service-based RSUs.

Certain Transactions

Since January 1, 2017,2020, except as described below, we have not been a party to any transaction or series of similar transactions in which the amount involved exceeded or will exceed $120,000 and in which any then director,then-director, executive officer, holder of more than 5% of our common stock, or any member of the immediate family of any of the foregoing, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, other thaninterest. Our Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving or ratifying any related party transactions in connectionaccordance with the transactionsAudit Committee Charter, and it has approved the transaction described below.

We are a party to an oral agreement with Icarus pursuant to which Icarus providesEffective April 5, 2021, Ramesh Nuggihalli joined us managementas Chief Operating Officer of the Company. Mr.Nuggihalli provided consulting services regarding the Company’s corporate policies, marketing, strategicbusiness strategy since November 2020. Mr. Nuggihalli received a total of $128,250 in consulting fees. Upon appointment as Chief Operating Officer, the consulting arrangement was terminated and financial planning, including long and short-term goals, mergers and acquisitions and other business combinations, financing, growth plans and other related matters, for $30,000 per month. In October 2017, this agreement was amended to be $20,000 per month. IcarusMr. Nuggihalli is controlled by our Chairmancompensated as an employee of the Company and in accordance with our executive compensation program.

2021 Proxy Statement • 13


COVID-19 Response and Employee Safety

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging crisis throughout the world. Similar to the Company’s investors, our employees have felt the impact of the illness, death and social disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has also had a significant impact on our business and our operations. Our employees, their families, and local communities have felt the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and government mitigation efforts.

In 2020, a committee was formed consisting of Board Jason DeZwirek. Duringmembers and members of the fiscalCompany’s executive management that focused on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic (“COVID-19 Committee”). The COVID-19 Committee met frequently in 2020 to assess the pandemic’s impact on our employees, business, and operations and to provided key inputs as management navigated managing the business in a challenging environment. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, our management team and employees have worked diligently to continue to successfully manage the business.

At CECO, the health and safety of our employees is one of our highest priorities. Through our environmental, health and safety program, we implement policies and training programs, as well as perform self-audits, to help ensure our colleagues leave the workplace safely every day. To better understand employee safety at the site level, we have implemented safety committees and developed safety scorecards to share best practices among sites. We currently share scorecard information monthly to foster visibility, accountability and commitment across our workplace, communicating and celebrating successful results across the enterprise. In addition to lagging indicators, such as injury performance, the scorecards highlight leading indicators such as safety observations and near-misses, as well as other proactive actions taken at each site to ensure worker safety. For the year ended December 31, 2017, we paid fees2020, CECO’s domestic Total Recordable Incident Rate (“TRIR”) was 1.9% as compared to our benchmark industry average TRIR of $330,0004.5%.

Our safety focus is also evident in our response to Icarus.the COVID-19 pandemic around the globe. We implemented applicable government, federal and state policies, in addition to the following policies and procedures:

We entered into an oral agreement with JMP Fam Holdings, Inc. (“JMP”) in August 2011, under which JMP provides us consulting

  added work from home flexibility for office job roles;

  deployed Microsoft Teams world-wide to enable collaboration while helping to ensure team safety;

  implemented an Emergency Paid Pandemic Leave policy to encourage those who are sick to stay home;

  increased cleaning protocols across all locations;

  initiated regular communication regarding impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including health and safety protocols and procedures;

  implemented a self-certification health assessment for all employees, partners and vendors at our manufacturing facilities (where allowed by local law);

  established new physical distancing procedures for employees who need to be onsite;

  provided additional personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies;

  implemented safety protocols to address actual and suspected COVID-19 cases and potential exposure;

  prohibited all non-essential domestic and international business travel for all employees;

  required masks to be worn in all locations where allowed by local law;

  required on site visitors to complete a health and travel declaration; and

  for on site visitors traveling by plane, required a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction test before entering the facility.

LOGO

CECO manufactures products and performs services consisting of strategic advisory services,deemed essential to critical infrastructure, including the evaluation of financing options, capital structuremanufacturing, and potential acquisitions, for $10,000 per month. In October 2017, this agreement was amended to be $6,500 per month. Mr. Pollack, who controls JMP, performs the services on behalf of JMP. We paid JMP $109,500energy, and, as a result, our facilities have continued operating during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.

COVID-19 pandemic. Importantly, during 2020, our experience and continuing focus on workplace safety have enabled us to preserve business continuity without sacrificing our commitment to keeping our colleagues and workplace visitors safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

14 • CECO Environmental


Executive CompensationEXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Founded in 1966, we are a global leader in industrial air qualityOur executive compensation program is designed to attract, motivate, retain and fluid handling servingreward executive talent to achieve our business goals, with the energy, industrialultimate goal of increasing stockholder value. This Compensation Discussion and other niche markets. The CompanyAnalysis provides innovative technologyinformation about our compensation objectives and application expertise that helps companies grow their businesses with safe, clean and more efficient solutions to help protect our shared environment. The Company serves both established and emerging industries in regions around the world working to improve air quality, optimize the energy value chain, and provide customized engineered solutions in multiple applications that include oil and gas, power generation, water and wastewater, battery production, poly silicon fabrication, chemical and petrochemical processing, along with a wide range of other industries.

2017 was a year of transitionpolicies for our Company’s executive leadership team. Jeffrey Lang stepped down as Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), President and a member of the Boardother individuals included in the “2020 Summary Compensation Table,” who are referred to as of February 1, 2017. Upon Mr. Lang’s separation,our “named executive officers.” This Compensation Discussion and Analysis puts in perspective the Board appointed Dennis Sadlowski, then a member ofinformation set forth in the Board, to serve as interim CEO and President. After a very effective four months of service“2020 Summary Compensation Table” that follows in this interim role, Mr. Sadlowski was appointed as permanent CEO effective June 9, 2017. Additionally, in January 2017, Matthew Eckl joined us as the Company’s new Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), and our former CFO, Edward Prajzner, assumed the role of Executive Vice President of Corporate Development. Mr. Prajzner subsequently stepped down from his roles with the Company on July 17, 2017. On May 16, 2017, Paul Gohr was appointed as the Chief Accounting Officer of the Company. Previously, Mr. Gohr served as the Vice President of Financial Reporting of the Company. On December 31, 2017, Benton Cook, our Controller and former Chief Accounting Officer, separated from the Company.Proxy Statement.

For purposes of this proxy statement, the following individuals are considered our 20172020 “named executive officers”: (or “NEOs”).

  Named Executive OfficerTitle

  Todd Gleason(1)

Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”)

  Matthew Eckl

Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”)

  Paul Gohr

Chief Accounting Officer (“CAO”)

  Dennis Sadlowski(1)

Former CEO

(1)

Effective July 5, 2020, Mr. Sadlowski ceased serving as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board, and, effective July 6, 2020, Mr. Gleason commenced serving as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board.

2021 Proxy Statement • 15


Compensation Highlights

 

Named Executive Officer

  During 2020, our Compensation Committee continued to administer executive compensation programs that it considers to be competitive in the market for talent and aligned with industry best practices and the long-term interests of our stockholders.

  Our annual performance-based cash incentive compensation program is typically designed to reward NEOs for achievement of certain pre-established, short-term financial or operational goals. However, in March 2020, in light of changing market conditions and the uncertain impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Compensation Committee postponed approval of annual cash incentive awards to our NEOs. In April 2020, the Compensation Committee determined that the best way to recognize strong performance throughout the pandemic, ensure sustained engagement and drive key business results was to provide an annual cash bonus to our NEOs on a discretionary basis for 2020.

  Performance-based restricted stock units (“PRSUs”) that were granted in 2020 under our long-term equity incentive program require attainment of relative total shareholder return (“Relative TSR”) goals during the 2020-2022 performance period for all or a portion of those PRSUs to vest. We also granted time-based restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and (for Mr. Gleason only) stock options with an exercise price equal to the market value of our stock on the grant date and stock options with an exercise price that reflected 100% appreciation in the market value of our stock on the grant date. These RSUs and stock options vest ratably over four years.

  For 2020, 70% of the total target equity compensation for Mr. Sadlowski (who served as CEO in the first half of 2020) was designed to be performance-based.

  In February 2020, the non-executive members of the Board established a CEO search committee (the “Search Committee”) to undertake a search for a new CEO. The Search Committee was comprised of five non-executive members of the Board. An international executive search firm was retained by the Search Committee and a broad global search was commenced. Over the course of five months, a diverse pool of candidates was identified, reviewed, and interviewed. In June of 2020, Todd Gleason was identified as the top candidate for the role of CECO CEO. The Search Committee worked with the Compensation Committee’s independent compensation consultant, Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC (“Meridian”), to analyze the competitive market for CEO compensation and assist the Compensation Committee in the design of a heavily performance weighted compensation package. Mr. Gleason accepted a compensation package that has a significantly lower base wage than his predecessor but provides the potential for greater longer-term value to him through equity grants, the majority of which we view as performance-based.

  Our stock ownership guidelines apply to all executive officers, including our named executive officers. Our CEO is required to own our stock having a value equal to five times his base salary. Our CFO is required to own our stock having a value equal to three times his base salary, and our other executive officers (currently, only Mr. Gohr) are required to own our stock having values equal to one times their base salaries.

  As noted above, our Compensation Committee has engaged an independent executive compensation consultant to provide advice on compensation matters. In 2019, we engaged our independent compensation consultant to conduct a market analysis of Mr. Sadlowski’s, Mr. Eckl’s, and Mr. Gohr’s total cash compensation and equity incentives against the general market and our peer group. In 2020, we had this market analysis updated for NEOs and director compensation. As described above, the independent compensation consultant also advised the Compensation Committee with respect to the compensation and offered to Mr. Gleason under the terms of his employment agreement. We have determined that our named executive officers are fairly compensated.

  Our clawback policy permits us to recover excess incentive-based compensation paid to an executive officer if we are required to restate our financial statements due to material noncompliance with the financial reporting requirements under United States federal securities laws and such executive officer willfully committed an act of fraud, dishonesty or recklessness in the performance of his duties that contributed to the noncompliance or benefitted materially as a result of receiving excess incentive-based compensation.

  We generally use tally sheets when determining executive compensation.

  We provide limited perquisites.

 

Title

Jason DeZwirek1Chairman of the Board
Dennis SadlowskiChief Executive Officer
Matthew EcklChief Financial Officer
Paul GohrChief Accounting Officer
Jeffrey LangFormer Chief Executive Officer and President
Edward PrajznerFormer Executive Vice President, Corporate Development
Benton CookFormer Vice President of Finance and ControllerLOGO

 

(1)In connection with the amendments to the Company’s Bylaws in December 2017, that, among other things, clarify that the Chairman of the Board is not an officer position within the Company, Mr. DeZwirek ceased being deemed an executive officer of the Company and will not be a named executive officer in our proxy statement for our annual meeting to be held in 2019.
16 • CECO Environmental

Board Composition Changes

We are also undergoing transition in our Board leadership. During 2017, we nominated a new, independent Board member, David Liner, who was elected to the Board at our 2017 annual meeting of shareholders and is the Chairman of our Nominations and Governance Committee. In 2018, the terms of service of two long-term directors (Messrs. Rudin and Wright) will expire at the Annual Meeting. Only one new, independent Board member (Mr. Nanda) has been nominated for election in 2018. Therefore, the Board will be reduced to eight members.


Stockholder Engagement

Shareholder Engagement and 2018 Changes to Executive Compensation Program

At our 2017 annual meeting2020 Annual Meeting of shareholders,Stockholders, our advisory “Say-on-Pay” proposal to approve the compensation we paid to our named executive officers received approximately 98%over 99% approval, based on total votes cast for and against, foror approximately 89% approval of all shares represented at the meeting. Our Compensation Committee believes that this strong approval reflects our advisory“Say-on-Pay” proposalcontinued efforts to approve theimprove our compensation of our named executive officers. In 2017,practices. During 2020, we had direct contact and discussions with shareholdersstockholders representing greater than 40%approximately 57% of our outstanding shares outstanding. Our Chairman, CEO, CFOup from approximately 55% in 2019. Mr. Gleason, Mr. Sadlowski and otherMr. Eckl as well as some of our directors participated in these discussions and provided shareholderstockholder feedback to the Chairs of the Committees of the Board and to the remainder of theour Board as a whole. TheOur Compensation Committee considered the 20172020 Say-on-Pay voting results at its subsequent

meetings and remains dedicated to continuous improvement to the Company’s existingour executive pay programs. However, the Compensation Committeecompensation programs, although it did not make any changes to our executive compensation policies or practices that were specifically driven by the outcome of theSay-on-Paythat vote.

Nonetheless, theCompensation Policy and Objectives

Our Compensation Committee did approve changesbelieves that an effective executive compensation program generally rewards the achievement of annual, long-term and strategic goals set by the Company and aligns our named executive officers’ interests with those of our other stockholders. Our executive compensation program is designed to attract, motivate, retain and reward highly qualified individuals who are committed to the achievement of solid financial performance and excellence in the management of our Company assets. To accomplish this objective, our typical executive compensation program is designed to provide competitive compensation and to link compensation to our Company’s financial and operational performance. Our Compensation Committee generally evaluates compensation against individual and external market factors to help ensure that we maintain our ability to attract, motivate and retain key executive compensation programs in 2017 and 2018, as further described below, to be more market competitive and more closely approximate what we believe are industry best practices. Among those changes were the following:talent.

In 2017, we implemented a modified annual cash incentiveTotal compensation program for our named executive officers that wasgenerally is comprised of four objective performance targets (or,base salary, short-term incentives and long-term incentives, a portion of which is designed to be earned based on our Company’s financial performance. From time to time, our Compensation Committee may approve discretionary cash bonuses or special equity awards to recognize and reward a named executive officer’s individual effort in certain circumstances. As discussed elsewhere in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis, for Messrs. Gohr and Cook, three objective performance targets and individual, qualitative goals). In contrast2020 the Compensation Committee approved discretionary short-term cash bonus awards to previous years, the program was designed so that noour NEOs in lieu of a short-term cash incentive compensation was payable unless the Company achieved a threshold operating income goal. Our general goal with this modification was to move to a program in which our named executive officers’ annual incentive opportunities are tied exclusively to financial or operating performance.
program.

Compensation Committee Role

 

In 2017, we took steps to help better ensure that Mr. Sadlowski’s target total compensation as CEO was significantly at risk. For 2017, about 60% of his total target compensation was performance-based. For comparison purposes, Mr. Lang’s 2016 total target compensation was about 45% performance-based.

In 2018, Mr. Sadlowski’s target total compensation as CEO was set at a level that approximates the 25th percentile of our peer group companies (based on 2015 data), which is in line with where the Company is positioned within that peer group in respect of revenue and certain other financial metrics. However, Mr. Sadlowski and other key executives have an opportunity to earn a greater level of stock compensation if the Company’s performance exceeds the EBITDA targets established for 2020.

In 2018, we also modified the metrics used under our annual incentive program, and introduced performance-based RSUs as a vehicle under our long-term incentive program, as further described below. Further, no cash incentive compensation is payable for Messrs. Sadlowski and Eckl unless the Company achieves 100% of target operating income and no cash incentive compensation is payable for other named executive offers and participants unless the Company achieves 90% of target operating income.

Overview of Compensation Program

TheOur Compensation Committee oversees our compensation programs, with particular attention to the compensation for our CEO and the other named executive officers, (other than for Mr. DeZwirek, our Chairman, who receives his compensation pursuant to the related person transaction arrangement with Icarus as described above). It is the responsibility of the Compensation Committee to review and approve (or, as the case may be, recommend to the Board for approval) changes to our executive compensation policies and benefits programs, to recommend and approve stock-based awards to named executive officers, and to otherwise ensure that the Company’sour compensation philosophy is consistent with the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and is properly implemented and monitored. The Compensation Committee reports to the Board on all compensation matters regarding our directors, executives, and other key salaried employees. The Compensation Committee annuallystockholders. It reviews and approves the compensation(or, as appropriate, recommends to our Board for our directors, executives, and other key salaried employees. The Compensation Committee does not generally delegate any of its authorityapproval) changes to other persons, although it has the power to delegate certain authority as permitted by applicable law and the NASDAQ listing standards to subcommittees, the Board or management.

Theday-to-day administration of savings, health, welfare, and paidtime-off plans and policies applicable to salaried employees in general is handled by our human resources and finance department employees. The responsibility for certain fundamental changes outside theday-to-day requirements necessary to maintain these plans and policies belongs to the Compensation Committee.

The following discussion and analysis of our 2017 executive compensation program, which may include forward-looking statements, should be read together with the compensation tables and related disclosures that follow this section.

Compensation Policy and Objectives

The principal objectives of our executive compensation program are to attract, motivate, retainpolicies and reward highly qualified persons who are committed to the achievement asprograms. While our executive officers of solid financial performance and excellence in the management of the Company’s assets. The Compensation Committee has established objective, formula-based arrangements, it believes that the mostan effective executive compensation program is one that is designed to rewardalso requires the achievementuse of annual, long-termsound business judgment and strategic goals by the Company and to align the named executive officers’ interests with those of the Company’s other stockholders. The Compensation Committee seeks to accomplish this by providing competitive compensation designed to link executive compensation to the Company’s financial and operational performance, as well as rewarding the overall performance of its named executive officers, when applicable, in line with the ultimate objective of increasing stockholder value. The Compensation Committee generally evaluates compensation against individual performance and external market factors to help ensure that we maintain our ability to attract and retain key executive talent. To that end, total compensation for the named executive officers other thanexercise discretion. Accordingly, our Chairman generally is comprised of a base salary, short-term incentives, and long-term incentives, a portion of which is designed to be earned based on the Company’s financial performance and other factors, including, for certain named executive officers, achievement ofnon-financial, qualitative goals. However, the Compensation Committee retains discretion to approve individualnon-incentive bonuses to rewardadjust the individual effortsmix of named executive officers.

Risk Considerations incash and equity compensation components, adjust the mix of RSUs and PRSUs awarded, and offer other forms of equity-based compensation. In the past, our Compensation Program

We structure the compensation of management, other than for our Chairman, to consist of both fixed and variable compensation. The fixed (or salary) portion of compensation is designed to provide a steady income so management does not feel pressured to focus exclusively on short-term gains, which may be to the detriment of long-term stock price appreciation and other business metrics. The variable portions of compensation (cash bonus, short-term incentive and, in some cases, stock, stock-based and option awards) are designed to reward both individual performance and overall corporate performance. Individual performance is qualitatively determined by the Compensation Committee. Company performance is determined based on achievement in operating income, bookings and revenue, working capital and (for certain officers) earnings per share, as further described below. We believe that the variable components of compensation are sufficient to motivate management to produce short- and long-term corporate results while the fixed element is also sufficient such that management is not encouraged to take unnecessary or excessive risks in working to produce such results. During 2016, we conducted a risk review of our 2016 compensation program for all employees. Based on this review, we believe our compensation policies and practices do not create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Role of Executive Officers in Compensation Decisions

Based on the compensation objectives described above, the Compensation Committee has generally structured the Company’s annual and long-term incentive-based executive compensation with the intent to motivate the named executive officers other than our Chairman to achieve the business goals set by the Company and to reward them for achieving such goals. These goals may include overall Company performance goals and qualitative goals communicated to the individual named executive officer. The Compensation Committee from time to time relies upon recommendations made by the Company’s management, and in particular, the CEO, regarding compensation for the named executive officers other than himself and our Chairman. The Compensation Committee reviews and approves (or, if the situation warrants, recommends to the full Board for approval) all new executive compensation programs, including those for the named executive officers other than our Chairman. As part of its review and establishment of the performance criteria and compensation of our named executive officers, the Compensation Committee meets separately at least once on an annual basis with the CEO and other executives as it deems appropriate. The CEO and such other executives as the CEO deems appropriate, including the Chairman, annually review the performance of each of the other named executive officers of the Company, and the CEO’s performance is reviewed by the Compensation Committee and thenon-executive members of the Board of Directors. The conclusions reached and recommendations based on these reviews are presented to the Compensation Committee and to the non-executive members of the Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee exercisesexercised its discretion in modifying anyand modified the recommended adjustments or awards to our named executive officers. We believe that this discretion allows our Compensation Committee to better calibrate the relative contributions of each named executive officer and to respond to market practices as our business needs change, as reflected in the Compensation Committee’s ability to take a different approach to the 2020 short-term cash program for the NEOs in light of the uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Role of Compensation Consultants in Compensation Decisions

Under its charter, the

Our Compensation Committee has authority to engage such compensation consultants as it deems necessary or appropriate to carry out its responsibilities and to cause the Company to pay the reasonable compensation of such compensation consultants as established by the Compensation Committee.

In 2017, the Compensation Committee engaged Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC (“Meridian”) as its independent executive compensation consultant to advise theour Compensation Committee on executive compensation matters. At theour Compensation Committee’s direction, Meridian prepared, presented and made recommendations on peer group data, competitive market pay, compensation structure and general market trends. More specifically, Meridian provided the Compensation Committee with market and peer group data to give theour Compensation Committee context for our Company’s short-term cash compensation. The Compensation Committee sought the Company’s annual incentive plan participants, target award opportunities andadvice of Meridian in considering the appropriate allocation between financial and qualitativedesign of the NEOs’ 2020 cash compensation, including the decision to implement a discretionary cash bonus program. As described above, we also consulted Meridian in connection with determining Mr. Gleason’s compensation package, which emphasizes performance metrics. In addition, Meridian recommended that the Company set annual incentive targets to alignreviewing our executive compensation programs for market-competitiveness and alignment with the Company’s short-term business strategy and complement its long-term incentive structure, as well as to be measurable and specific with respect to goals and ranges tied to creating shareholder value. Theindustry best practices, our Compensation Committee considered the information and advice presented by Meridian.

2021 Proxy Statement • 17


Meridian has also provided a review of Meridian as part of itsour fixed, variable and long-term compensation decision making processagainst our peer group for a portion of 2017 compensation, as further described below.our named executive officers.

As noted above, the Company engaged Mr. Sadlowski to serve as interim CEO in January 2017. After a thorough internal and external search, and based on his successful tenure as interim CEO, the Company determined that Mr. Sadlowski was best positioned to take on the role of permanent CEO. In connection with Mr. Sadlowski’s appointment, Meridian advised theOur Compensation Committee on the design of Mr. Sadlowski’s compensation package, including the elements and magnitude of pay.

The Compensation Committee has assessed the independence of Meridian, as required under the NASDAQ listing requirements. The Compensation Committee also hasrequirements, and considered and assessed all relevant factors, including those set forth in Rule10C-1(b)(4)(i) through (vi) under the Exchange Act, that could give rise to a potential conflict of interest with respect to Meridian during 2017.2020. Based on this review, theour Compensation Committee did not identify any conflict of interest raised by the work of Meridian. Meridian does not provide any services to management or any other services to theour Company.

Role of Executive Officers in Compensation Decisions

Our annual and long-term incentive-based executive compensation is generally structured to reward our executive officers for achieving our Company’s business goals. From time to time, our Compensation Committee relies upon recommendations made by our management, and in particular, our CEO, regarding compensation for our executive officers other than our CEO. As part of its review and establishment of the performance criteria and compensation of our named executive officers, our Compensation Committee meets separately with our CEO at least once each year and with our other executive officers as it deems appropriate. Our CEO and such other executive officers as our CEO deems appropriate annually review the performance of each of our other named executive officers (other than our CEO) with our Compensation Committee and makes recommendations to our Compensation Committee regarding such named executive officers’ compensation. Our Compensation Committee makes its compensation decisions for our named executive officers other than the CEO based on that review and the recommendations of our CEO. Each year, our CEO’s performance is reviewed by our non-management directors, and based on that review, our Compensation Committee makes a recommendation to the non-management directors regarding the compensation of our CEO.

Setting Executive Compensation

The

Our Compensation Committee evaluates the performance of theour CEO and the other named executive officers (other than our Chairman)as described above and based on such evaluation, reviews and approves the annual salary and any annual cash incentive, bonus, long-term stock-based compensation and other material benefits of the CEO and such otherour named executive officers other than our CEO, subject to the terms of any applicable employment agreements. In determining appropriate baseBased on the recommendations of our Compensation Committee, our non-management directors approve the annual salary levels, subjective consideration is givenand any annual cash incentive, bonus, long-term stock-based compensation and other material benefits of our CEO, subject to the applicable named executive officer’s impact level, scopeterms of responsibility and past accomplishments.his employment agreement.

External Pay Comparisons

The

Our Compensation Committee usedconsiders external pay comparison data as a market check on its compensation decisions, but not for specific benchmarking. In 2015, Meridian prepared a list of peer companies withWith input from members of the Board. ThisMeridian, our independent compensation consultant, in December 2019, our Compensation Committee recommended not changing our peer group was initially designed to include companies with which we compete for executive talent. The market checkas it believed our then-current peer group, was determinedas revised in December 2018, reflected our peers for purposes of determining executive compensation in 2020. These companies were selected based on revenue, market capitalization and various market peer indices, as well as overall business characteristics, including product offerings and end markets, similar to be appropriate again for 2017 and consisted of the following 21 companies:ours.

 

  Aegion Corporation

•  Federal Signal Corporation

•  Ormat Technologies, Inc.

  Ameresco, Inc.

 

  Global Power Equipment Group  Esco Technologies, Inc.

 

  Powell Industries,  Manitex International, Inc.

•  Calgon Carbon Corporation

 

  Graco  Argan, Inc.

 

  Preformed Line Products Co.

•  Chart Industries, Inc.

  Graham Corporation

 

  Powell Industries, Inc.

  Aspen Aerogels, Inc.

  Heritage-Crystal Clean Inc.

  Preformed Line Products Co.

  DMC Global, Inc.

  Hurco Companies, Inc.

  The Gorman-Rupp Co.

LOGO

  Douglas Dynamics, Inc.

  L.B. Foster Company

  Thermon Group Holdings Inc.

  Circor International, Inc.

•  HC2 Holdings, Inc.

•  TRC Companies, Inc.

•  Douglas Dynamics, Inc.

•  Heritage-Crystal Clean Inc.

•  US Ecology, Inc.

  Enphase Energy, Inc.

 

  Lydall, Inc.

 

  US Ecology, Inc.

•  Esco Technologies, Inc.

  

The market check peer group for 2017 was the same as the market check peer group for 2016 and 2015. Currently, the Company isWe are currently positioned in the bottom quartile of the peer group37th percentile in terms of size, based primarily on revenue and market capitalization.

cap for this peer group. Based on its review of the peer group data and market data and other factors outlineddiscussed in thethis Compensation Discussion and Analysis, among other things, Meridian determined that Mr. Sadlowski’s 2018our CEO’s 2020 total target compensation approximatesis between the 25th percentile and median of thethis peer group, which is in line with where the Company is positionedcorresponds to our Company’s size within the peer group, as described above.

Stock Ownership Guidelines

Effective August 3, 2016, the Board implemented mandatory stock ownership guidelines for our CEO to further align the interests of the CEO and stockholders. The CEO is required to own shares of our common stock having a value equal to at least five times his base salary. On March 30, 2018, the Compensation Committee approved revised stock ownership guidelines, which require the Company’s named executive officers to own shares of our common stock having values equal to the applicable multiple of base salary set forth in the table below:

 

Named Executive Officer

18 • CECO Environmental
  Ownership
Requirement
(as % of
base salary)

Chief Executive Officer

5X

Chief Financial Officer

3X

Other Named Executive Officers

1X

A


2020 Executive Compensation

In April 2020, the Compensation Committee determined that the best way to recognize strong performance throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, ensure sustained engagement and drive key business results was to provide an annual cash bonus to our NEOs on a discretionary basis for 2020. Our Company’s financial performance remained resilient, despite lower orders volume, and our proactive cost reductions assisted in maintaining stable margins and Adjusted EBITDA. As a result, in recognition of the foregoing, the Committee approved 2020 cash bonus awards for NEOs (other than Mr. Gleason) equal to 50% of each such NEO’s target award under our 2019 annual cash incentive program, consistent with the Company’s approach for other participants in the annual incentive program. These payments are described below in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis and reflected in our 2020 Summary Compensation Table under the column captioned “Bonus.”

As incentive for future performance, in May 2020, Mr. Sadlowski and Mr. Eckl were granted PRSUs that give them the opportunity to earn shares based on our Company’s future performance. As in prior years, each named executive officer, has fiveincluding Mr. Gohr, also received grants of timed-based RSUs that generally vest over four years, from his or her appointment to a participating position to comply with this requirement. The Compensation Committee in its discretion may extendso the period of time for attainment of such ownership levels in appropriate circumstances. For purposes of this requirement, stock ownership includes all shares of our common stock owned by the namedvalue an executive officer outright or held in trust formay actually realize depends on our future stock performance. In connection with his commencement of service, Mr. Gleason was granted stock options, the CEO and his or her immediate family, plusmajority of which have an exercise price equal to two times the CEO’s deferred or restricted stock or restricted stock units. Thefair market value of a share is measured as the greater of the then current market price or the closing price of a share of the commonour stock on the grant date.date and therefore will only have value if that stock value is exceeded.

The charts below show the proportion of base salary and cash bonus payments for 2020 and the RSUs and PRSUs granted in the first half of 2020 for each of Messrs. Sadlowski, Eckl and Gohr, who were serving as executive officers at the beginning of 2020. The compensation of Mr. Gleason, who commenced service as our CEO in July 2020, is discussed in further detail below. The PRSUs noted below represent the grant date fair value and assume probable achievement with respect to performance conditions. These charts do not reflect an additional grant of RSUs made to Mr. Eckl in the second half of 2020, as further described below.

LOGO

Elements of Compensation

Our 2020 executive compensation program consists of cash, with a fixed base salary and bonus, and equity generally in the form of RSUs and PRSUs (and, for Mr. Gleason, stock options).

Base Salary

The Company providesWe provide our named executive officers (other than our Chairman) with a base salary to compensate them for the expertise and value they bring to their jobs.us. Base salary is determined for each applicable named executive officerindividual based on histhe executive’s position and responsibility, by taking into account the named executive officer’sexecutive’s impact level, external market data, scope of responsibility, prior experience, past accomplishments and other similar factors, and whether the particular base salary is subject to any existing employment agreement with such named executive officer.agreement.

2021 Proxy Statement • 19


Salary levels for the applicableour named executive officers are reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee annually as well as upon a promotion or other change in job responsibility. The salary levels, including any increases, are also based on theour Compensation Committee’s evaluation of the individual’s strengths, development and expected future contributions with respect to the corporate goals and objectives relevant to the individual’s compensation, including individual performance. Base salary rates in effect during employmentIn 2020, our Compensation Committee did not approve any adjustments to the base salaries for theour named executive officers during 2017 were as follows:in light of the market uncertainty created by COVID-19.

 

Named Executive

Officer

  Base Salary 

Jason DeZwirek

   N/A 

Dennis Sadlowski

  $575,000 

Matthew Eckl

  $300,000 

Paul Gohr

  $192,500 

Jeffrey Lang

  $575,000 

Edward Prajzner

  $300,000 

Benton Cook

  $169,560 
  Named Executive Officer  

Base Salary

Rate ($)

(as of 12/31/19)

   

Base Salary

Rate ($)

(as of 12/31/20)

   % Increase  

  Todd Gleason1

  

 

N/A  

 

  

 

450,000  

 

  

 

N/A    

   

  Dennis Sadlowski

  

 

                587,000  

 

  

 

                587,000  

 

  

 

                0%

 

  Matthew Eckl

  

 

342,000  

 

  

 

342,000  

 

  

 

0%

 

  Paul Gohr

  

 

208,000  

 

  

 

208,000  

 

  

 

0%

 

(1)

In accordance with his employment agreement, Mr. Gleason’s base salary was initially established at $450,000 in connection with his commencement of employment in July 2020 and was not increased from that level during 2020.

None of the named executive officers who were employees in 2016 received a salary increase in 2017, except for Mr. Gohr, whose base salary shown in the table above reflects an increase of $37,635 per year (or approximately 25% of his base salary) on May 16, 2017 in connection with his promotion to Chief Accounting Officer. The base salaries of Messrs. Eckl and Sadlowski were determined based on the factors outlined above and impacted by arms’ length negotiations with such officers in connection with their commencement of employment during 2017.

Cash Incentive Compensation

We believe that, in typical circumstances, a portion of the compensation paid to our named executive officers (other than the Chairman)officers’ cash compensation should be designed to be earned based on our annual performance, so that the executivesour executive officers are appropriately motivated to maximize our financial and operating performance each year. To that end, in 2017 theEarly each year, our Compensation Committee approved annual incentive award opportunities for our named executive officers under our annual incentive program. Under the annual incentive program, the Compensation Committeetypically selects the executive officers to participate in the annual incentive program and determines the amountsamount of awards for each such executive officer, determinesthe award and the performance goals for the participant.However, in March 2020, in light of changing market conditions and determines whether objectives and conditions for earning awards have been met. The performance goals may consistthe uncertain impact of both objective financial targets and (for certain named executive officers) personal qualitativeperformance targets.

Each of our participating named executive officers had a target cash incentive opportunity for 2017 expressed as a percentage of base salary. In 2017, following consultation with Meridian, the Company proposed,COVID-19 pandemic, the Compensation Committee recommended,postponed approving metrics for the annual cash incentive awards to our NEOs.

In April 2020, our Compensation Committee took into consideration the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s operations and recognized the extraordinary actions that would be required by executive management to deliver uninterrupted performance, ensure sustained employee engagement and drive key business results. The Compensation Committee determined that it was appropriate under these unusual circumstances to provide an annual cash bonus to our NEOs on a discretionary basis for 2020. The Compensation Committee did not establish “target” awards for the NEOs, and did not establish specific financial metrics for 2020.

Following the end of the 2020 fiscal year, the Compensation Committee evaluated the Company’s performance and the Boardperformance of the individual NEOs, with a particular focus on the following key accomplishments:

  The NEOs were disciplined in developing and applying COVID-19 policies and procedures to protect our workforce and maintain our plant operations, all of which remained open throughout the pandemic;

  The NEOs addressed the challenges in the markets, and took prompt and decisive actions designed to minimize the adverse impact of the pandemic on the Company’s businesses;

  The NEOs continued to execute on the Company’s transformation strategy, successfully completing the acquisition, and subsequent integration, of Environmental Integrated Solutions Limited and the joint venture with Mader Machine Co., Inc.;

  The NEOs delivered on several cost saving initiatives and identified others that are expected to result in annualized savings of approximately $17 million: and

  The NEOs maintained the Company’s strong liquidity and balance sheet.

LOGO

20 • CECO Environmental


In recognition of the foregoing, and with input from the COVID-19 Committee, the Compensation Committee approved a modification2020 cash bonus awards for NEOs (other than Mr. Gleason) equal to 50% of each such NEO’s target award under our 2019 annual cash incentive program, consistent with the Company’s approach for other participants in the annual incentive compensation program to expandprogram. Even at this level, the rangeCommittee believes the 2020 cash bonus payments reflect a strong correlation with the short-term financial performance of the Company.

The payouts of the discretionary awards for above target performance for certain named executive officers, including by increasing the maximum payout for the CEO and the CFO to 200%. Previously, the CEO and CFO were eligible for a payout of up to 120% of their annual incentive target. Mr. Lang was not a participant in the 2017 cash incentive program as he was no longer employed by the Company at the time performance targets were set. Mr. DeZwirek was not a participant in the 2017 cash incentive program, as he receives his compensation pursuant to the related person transaction arrangement with Icarus, as described above. Target awards and potential payout levels for the participating named executive officers for 20172020 are shown in the following table:

Named

Executive

Officer

  Target Cash
Incentive
Amount ($)
   Target Award
as a
Percentage of
Salary
  Possible Payout Levels
as Percentage of Base Salary
 
     Threshold  Target  Maximum 

Dennis Sadlowski1

  $575,000    100  50  100  200

Matthew Eckl

  $150,000    50  50  100  200

Paul Gohr

  $66,500    35  50  100  120

Edward Prajzner

  $150,000    50  50  100  150

Benton Cook

  $42,187    25  50  100  120

(1)For the period from January 1, 2017 through May 31, 2017, Mr. Sadlowski was entitled to a bonus of $201,644 pursuant to his employment agreement, which amount reflected the bonus for such period that was determined at the discretion of the Compensation Committee under the terms of Mr. Sadlowski’s initial offer letter, as described below. The bonus was negotiated and offered to compensate Mr. Sadlowski for stepping into the CEO role on an interim basis and forgoing other opportunities. The amount of the bonus reflects 100% of the target bonus as the Compensation Committee determined Mr. Sadlowski’s performance met or exceeded expectations with respect to the commencement of strategic review and planning, operational assessment and implementation planning for improvements and employee engagement.

For 2017, in recognition of his promotion to Chief Accounting Officer and his increased responsibilities, Mr. Gohr’s target award was increased from 25% of base salary (which was the applicable target level for his 2016 annual incentive) to 35% of base salary.

Depending on the performance results achieved, actual awards can vary as a percentage of target from a threshold of 50% to a maximum level, as set forth in the table above. For 2017,below and reflected in our 2020 Summary Compensation Table under the Compensation Committee approved the specific performance measures for the 2017 cash incentive program and their relative weightings. If the designated target level for each performance metric is attained, the cash incentive award is designed to pay out at 100% for that metric. The threshold is the lowest level of payout below which no payment is made for the specific component. If performance for a metric is between the identified threshold and target, or target and maximum, the actual payout is determined based on straight-line mathematical interpolation. However, regardless of the actual attainment of any of the individual metrics, the awards were designed so that no payout was to occur if we did not achieve a threshold operating income goal of $46,400,000 for the performance period.

The following performance metrics were selected for the 2017 cash incentive program to drive desired behavior that impacts shareholder value:column captioned “Bonus.”

 

  Named Executive Officer  Bookings and Revenue: Bookings are recorded upon a customer placing an order with the Company and are a representation

Amount of the amount of revenue expected from complete performance of firm fixed-price contracts that have not been completed for products and services we expect to substantially deliver within the next 12 to 18 months. Revenue is recognized on the income statement when bookings are executed and revenue, as defined by United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”Bonus

Payment ($), recognition criteria has been met.

  Matthew Eckl

                    94,000    

  Paul Gohr

                    36,500    

  Dennis Sadlowski

                149,5641

 

1 

Mr. Sadlowskiwas entitled to receive a Non-GAAPpro-rata Operating Income: The Company calculatesnon-GAAP operating income as Company GAAP operating income excluding special items. The Company excluded the following special items: (1) legacy design repairs, (2) property, plant and equipment valuation adjustment, (3) amortization and earn out expenses, (4) intangible asset and goodwill impairment, (5) restructuring expenses, (6) executive transition expenses and (7) facility exist expenses.

Working Capital as a Percentageportion of Sales: Working Capital as a Percentage of Sales is calculated by taking total Company working capital divided by the trailing twelve months of total Company sales for each quarter in 2017, where working capital equals (1) trade accounts receivable (2) plus inventory (3) plus costs of excess on uncompleted contracts (4) minus trade accounts payable (5) minus billings of excess on uncompleted contracts. To determine the fiscal year 2017 results, the Company averages each quarter’s calculation for the fiscal year.

Non-GAAP Earnings per Share (“EPS”):Non-GAAP EPS is calculated by taking the Company’snon-GAAP net income and dividing by outstanding shares. The Company excludes special items when calculatingnon-GAAP net income. The Company excluded the following special items when calculatingnon-GAAP net income: (1) legacy design repairs, (2) property, plant and equipment valuation adjustment, (3) amortization and earnout expenses, (4) intangible asset and goodwill impairment, (5) restructuring expenses, (6) executive transition expenses, (7) facility exist expenses, (8) foreign currency remeasurement and (9) the tax benefit of these special items.

For 2017, the specific corporate performance goals and actual achievements were as follows for Messrs. Sadlowski, Eckl, and Prajzner (dollars in millions, except for EPS):

Metric

  Threshold  Target  Maximum  Actual 2017
Results
  Weighting  Payout % 

(Bookings + Revenue)/2

  $396  $440  $484  $339.4   25  0

Non-GAAP Operating Income

  $46.4  $58  $69.6  $28.3   25  0

Working Capital

   13.2  11  8.8  13.6  25  0

Non-GAAP EPS

  $0.86  $1.07  $1.28  $0.28   25  0

For the period from January 1, 2017 through May 31, 2017, Mr. Sadlowski received ahis 2020 bonus of $201,644 pursuant to the terms of Mr. Sadlowski’s initial offer letter, dated January 26, 2017. Only thepro-rata portion of his annual cash incentive opportunity for the period from June 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017 was subject to the performance objectives described in the table above. For such period, Mr. Sadlowski’spro-rated target award was $337,123.

For 2017, the specific financial performance goals and actual achievements were as follows for Messrs. Cook and Gohr (dollars in millions):

Metric

  Threshold  Target  Maximum  Actual 2017
Results
  Weighting  Payout % 

(Bookings + Revenue)/2

  $396  $440  $484  $339.4   30  0

Non-GAAP Operating Income

  $46.4  $58  $69.6  $28.3   30  0

Working Capital

   13.2  11  8.8  13.6  30  0

This different structure was used for Messrs. Gohr and Cook to ensure the performance metrics aligned with the primary responsibilities of their departments.

In addition, 10% of the award for each of Messrs. Cook and Gohr could be earned based on the achievement ofnon-financial, qualitative objectives. For Mr. Gohr, thesenon-financial objectives were as follows:

Adopt financial policies for all of our divisions;

Performance of ASC 606 compliance evaluation, document required adjustments for 2018 adoption and prior year disclosures;

Reduce closing cycle time by two days for month end and one day for quarter end;

Support the financial planning, consolidation, and reporting program election and implementation project with emphasis on consolidation and reporting;

Re-organize corporate controllership team and set goals within the corporate finance team to promote team efficiency and accuracy, as well as promote individual growth, including by ensuring direct staff have five to six “SMART” goals established and approved;

Develop12-18 month timeline to implement share service capability for select cycles; and

Transition Mr. Prajzner’s governance duties to appropriate corporate personnel.

For Mr. Cook, thesenon-financial objectives were as follows:

Reduce closing cycle time by two days for month end and one day for quarter end;

Develop12-18 month timeline to implement share service capability for select cycles;

Promote employee satisfaction and talent development by setting goals within the corporate finance team;

Replace the Excel based reporting currently used with a reporting tool with no loss of information;

Modify various reports used by top level management to promote clarity and timeliness; and

Identify reporting needs by defining the top three potential improvements to the current data set based on feedback from segments and implement at least one of these potential improvements.

In February 2018, the Compensation Committee determined the degree to which the cash incentive award goals for 2017 were achieved, which actual results are highlighted in the tables above. However, because the threshold operating income goal for the performance period was not achieved (actualNon-GAAP operating income achieved was $28.3 million), no payouts were earned under the 2017 annual cash incentive program. However, after consideration of the individual contributions of Mr. Eckl during 2017, including improving the operating calendar and cadence, compliance with The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Sarbanes-Oxley”), executing two credit agreement amendments, promoting transparency between management and the Board, initiating an enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) reduction plan, legal entity optimization plan and implementing several performance management strategies, the Compensation Committee awarded him a discretionary bonus equal to $50,000. Further, after consideration of the individual contributions of Mr. Gohr during 2017, including the roll out of certain financial policies, compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley, the successful implementation of new accounting standards,re-organizing the finance team to promote and align individual and Company growth and the initiation of share service capability for select cycles, the Compensation Committee awarded him a discretionary bonus equal to $30,000. In addition, pursuant to the terms of his separation agreement.

Pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Sadlowski was determined to have earnedGleason received a fixed annual bonus paymentfor 2020 equal to $201,644$150,000 in lieu of any other annual cash bonus opportunity for the period from January 1, 2017 through May 31, 2017, as confirmed and approved by the Compensation Committee pursuant to the terms of Mr. Sadlowski’s interim CEO offer letter, dated January 26, 2017. Thenon-financial objectives for Mr. Gohr were not evaluated due to the failure to achieve the threshold operating income goal, and Mr. Cook’snon-financial objectives were not evaluated due to his departure fromyear. In addition, the Company on December 31, 2017.

Other Bonus Payments

Inpaid him a “sign-on” bonus of $150,000 in connection with his commencement of service as CEO. If Mr. Gleason terminates employment and in accordance with the terms of his employment agreement with the Company without good reason (as defined in his employment agreement) prior to September 30, 2021 and Mr. Eckl received aGleason has not relocated his primary residence to the Dallas, Texas area as of his date of termination, he is required to repay to the Company the $150,000 sign-on bonus paymentwithin 30 days after his date of $65,000 on January 12, 2017 (as further described below under Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control).termination.

Long-Term Equity Compensation

The CompanyOur Compensation Committee believes that granting stock-based awards and options from time to time provides namedour executive officers with a strong economic interest in maximizing stockholder returns over the longer term. The Company also believes that the practice of granting stock-based awardsterm and options from time to time is important in retaining and recruiting the key talent necessary to ensure theour Company’s continued success.

Our equity compensation plans have permitted us to grant stock awards as well as option awards. The Compensation Committee believes that this gives the Company more flexibility in designing its overall compensation packages. The As a result, our equity compensation plans have been designed to promote the long-term financial interests and growth of theour Company by helping attract and retain management with the ability to contribute to the success of the business, by providing an opportunity for increased equity ownership by namedour executive officers and by maintaining competitive levels of total compensation. The Compensation Committee administers our equity compensation plans.

Under theour 2017 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan, awards may take the form of restricted stock grants, bonus stock grants without restrictions,non-qualified stock options, incentive stock options, restricted stock units (“RSUs”),RSUs, performance-based awards and certain other awards. The restrictions on awards may lapse based on performance and/or time vesting. In 2017, theOur Compensation Committee granted time-basednon-qualified stock options, time-based RSUs, and performance unitsbelieves that the ability to executives and time-based RSUs to directors.

As discussed above,grant various types of equity awards offers more flexibility in designing the Board has implemented mandatory stock ownership guidelines for our CEO in 2017 and for other officers and key executives in 2018.

Options

As discussed above, from time to time, we issue options underoverall compensation packages. Our Compensation Committee administers our equity compensation plansplans.

2020 Equity Grants

Our Compensation Committee changed our Company’s long-term equity incentive practices in 2018 to provide for grants of long-term equity compensation to executive officers. The options issued in recent years have consistedincentive awards that generally consist of the following awards to our named executive officers.

In connection with his hiring, we granted Mr. Lang options in 2010 to purchase 600,000 shares of our common stock, which options were designed toRSUs that generally vest over a five-year period. In connection with our acquisition ofMet-Pro in August 2013, we granted Mr. Lang options to purchase 400,000 shares of our common stock, which options were designed totime and PRSUs that generally vest over a five-year period. Mr. Lang exercised 280,000 vested options in March 2017. In connection with his separation fromonly to the extent our Company all of Mr. Lang’s unvested options were forfeited.

Mr. Prajzner received 15,000 options to purchase shares ofattains the performance goal established by our commonCompensation Committee. To the extent stock in August 2013 in connection with our acquisition ofMet-Pro, which options were designed to generallyunits vest, over a five-year period, 10,000 options to purchase shares of our common stock in January 2014, which options were designed to generally vest over a five-year period, 25,000 options to purchase shares of our common stock in May 2014, which options were designed to generally vest over a three-year period, 25,000 options to purchase shares of our common stock in January 2015, which options were designed to generally vest over a five-year period, 25,000 options to purchase shares of our common stock in January 2016, which options were designed to generally vest over a five-year period, and 12,403 options to purchase shares of our common stock in May 2017, which options were designed to generally vest over a four-year period. Mr. Prajzner exercised 5,000 vested options in October 2017. In connection with his separation from the Company, all of Mr. Prajzner’s unvested options were forfeited and the exercise period for all remaining vested options has expired.

Mr. Cook received 3,000 options to purchase shares of our common stock in May 2012, which options were designed to generally vest over a four-year period, 5,000 options to purchase shares of our common stock in November 2012, which options were designed to generally vest over a four-year period,5,000 options to purchase shares of our common stock in May 2013, which options were designed to generally vest over a four-year period, 15,000 options to purchase shares of our common stock in August 2013 in connection with our acquisition ofMet-Pro, which options were designed to generally vest over a five-year period, 10,000 options to purchase shares of our common stock in January 2014, which options were designed to generally vest over a five-year period, 7,500 options to purchaserecipient receives one share of our common stock for each vested stock unit and an amount in October 2014, which options were designedcash equal to generally vest over a five-year period, and 4,000 options to purchase shares of ourthe dividends, if any, that would have been paid on the underlying common stock since the date of the stock unit grant.

For 2020, the value of the total stock units awarded to each named executive officer serving at the beginning of the year was based on a fixed dollar amount determined by our Compensation Committee with Meridian’s guidance. To determine the number of stock units, we divided the value of the award by $6.25. For Messrs. Sadlowski and Eckl, our Compensation Committee allocated the stock units between RSUs and PRSUs. Because he served as our Chief Executive Officer, our Compensation Committee determined that Mr. Sadlowski would be granted equity awards with an aggregate value of approximately $500,000, and that his awards would be more heavily allocated to PRSUs (70% of the target long-term incentive award value), with the remaining 30% allocated to time-based RSUs. For Mr. Eckl, our Compensation Committee determined that his equity awards would have an aggregate value of approximately $250,000,

2021 Proxy Statement • 21


with the target long-term incentive award value allocated evenly between time-based RSUs and PRSUs. Messrs. Sadlowski and Eckl both have a significant portion of their annual equity opportunity tied to PRSUs due to their leadership positions and responsibilities for our financial performance.

Our Compensation Committee determined that Mr. Gohr should receive time-based RSUs with a target value of $50,000. The target long-term incentive award values for Messrs. Sadlowski, Eckl and Gohr were unchanged from 2019.

On July 6, 2020, we awarded an additional, special grant of 50,000 time-based RSUs to Mr. Eckl in September 2015, which options were designedrecognition of his commitment to generally vest over a four-year period. No optionsthe organization and for his seamless onboarding of Mr. Gleason as CEO.

The RSUs that were granted to the named executive officers in 2020 generally vest in four substantially equal annual installments on each of the first four anniversaries of the grant date. All of the 2020 RSU awards granted to all of our named executive officers are shown in the “2020 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table” below in this Proxy Statement.

The long-term performance awards that were granted in 2020 were designated as PRSUs that generally vest on March 15, 2023, to the extent our Company attains the Relative TSR (as defined below) goal for the performance period beginning on January 1, 2020 and ending on December 31, 2022 as established by our Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee determined to use Relative TSR for the 2020 PRSU awards because this metric keeps the focus on the future financial performance of the company and creating value even in challenging times Messrs. Sadlowski and Eckl were granted the following target PRSU awards:

PRSU Target Opportunity
 
Dennis Sadlowski  Matthew Eckl
 

56,000

  20,000

For purposes of the 2020 PRSU awards, Relative TSR is the percentile rank of the Company’s total shareholder return as compared to (and included in) the total shareholder returns of all members of a designated peer group at the end of the 2020-2022 performance period. “Total shareholder return” is a rate of return reflecting stock price appreciation, plus the reinvestment of dividends in additional shares of stock (with appropriate adjustments for certain changes in capital structure), from the beginning of the performance period through the end of the performance period, where (1) the beginning stock price is based on the average closing stock price for the 20 calendar days preceding January 1, 2020 and (2) the ending stock price is based on the average closing stock price for the 20 calendar days preceding January 1, 2023.

For purposes of Relative TSR, the Company’s total shareholder return will be compared against a peer group of 90 publicly traded companies that, at the time of selection by the Compensation Committee, were classified in the Materials or Industrials sector with a market capitalization from $100 million to $500 million. The list of Relative TSR peer companies is included with this Proxy Statement as Appendix II. The peer group is subject to adjustment in the event of certain significant events that occur with respect to a peer company, including bankruptcy, delisting, liquidation, certain acquisitions, or “going private” transactions.

Based on our Relative TSR achievement during the 2020-2022 performance period, the PRSUs can be earned as follows (with straight-line interpolation between performance levels):

  Performance LevelRelative TSR% of Target PRSUs Earned  

  Below Threshold

Below 25th percentile0%  

  Threshold

At 25th percentile50%  

  Target

At 50th percentile100%  

  Maximum

At or above 75th percentile150%  

However, regardless of the level of Relative TSR performance, if the Company’s absolute total shareholder return during the performance period is negative, the percentage of target PRSUs earned will not exceed 100% of target.

22 • CECO Environmental


In accordance with the terms of his employment agreement, the Compensation Committee approved the following initial awards to Mr. CookGleason:

  A grant of time-based RSUs valued at approximately $600,000, which grant will generally vest, subject to Mr. Gleason’s continued employment with the Company, in substantially equal installments on each of the first four anniversaries of the date of grant;

  A grant of stock options valued at approximately $900,000, which award will generally vest, subject to Mr. Gleason’s continued employment with the Company, in substantially equal installments on each of the first four anniversaries of the date of grant. This stock option award has an exercise price equal to the market value (determined in accordance with the employment agreement) of our stock on the grant date; and

  A grant of stock options valued at approximately $1,500,000, which award will generally vest, subject to Mr. Gleason’s continued employment with the Company, in substantially equal installments on each of the first four anniversaries of the date of grant. This stock option award has an exercise price equal to two times the market value (determined in accordance with the employment agreement) of our stock on the grant date.

LOGO

Under the terms of his employment agreement, for calendar years following 2020, Mr. Gleason is generally eligible for annual awards under our equity compensation arrangements as reasonably determined by the Compensation Committee. His total annual equity award target opportunity for each such calendar year will have an aggregate grant date value (as reasonably determined by the Compensation Committee) of no less than $1,000,000. Mr. Gleason’s annual equity awards will be made in 2016the form of time-based RSUs and/or PRSUs, or in such other forms as determined by the Compensation Committee after consideration of competitive market data provided by its independent compensation consultant. However, no less than 60% of Mr. Gleason’s annual equity awards will be subject to the achievement performance objectives determined by the Compensation Committee.

Performance-Based Awards Granted in Prior Years

In 2018, we granted PRSUs to our NEOs that were generally scheduled to vest on March 15, 2021 to the extent the Company attained Adjusted EBITDA goals for the 2020 fiscal year established by the Compensation Committee. For purposes of these awards, Adjusted EBITDA is as calculated for purposes of the Company’s quarterly financial reports. Based on 2020 Adjusted EBITDA achievement, the NEOs were eligible to earn PRSUs in the following amounts, with no interpolation between performance levels:

 PRSUs Earned (#)
  2020 Adjusted EBITDA Performance LevelDennis
Sadlowski
Matthew
Eckl
Paul Gohr
  

  Target: $45,000,000

 70,000   25,000   —    
  

  Maximum: $50,000,000

 120,000   50,000   7,500  

No PRSUs would be earned for Adjusted EBITDA performance below the target level. Although the PRSUs of Messrs. Sadlowski and 2017 and he exercised 2,000 vested optionsEckl could be earned at either a “target” or “maximum” level, Mr. Gohr’s PRSUs could only be earned if the “maximum” level of Adjusted EBITDA was achieved. The Company’s Adjusted EBITDA for 2020 was $32.8 million. As a result, none of Mr. Eckl or Mr. Gohr’s PRSUs were earned. Mr. Sadlowski’s PRSUs were forfeited in March 2018. In connection with his departure from the Company, all of Mr. Cook’s unvested options were forfeited and the exercise period for all remaining vested options expired on March 31, 2018.Company.

Mr. Gohr received 2,500 options to purchase shares of our common stock in October 2014, which options generally vest over a five-year period, and 4,000 options to purchase shares of our common stock in September 2015, which options generally vest over a four-year period.

2021 Proxy Statement • 23

None of the named executive officers received options in 2017, except for Mr. Prajzner, as described above.

Restricted Stock Units


In addition, after consultation with Meridian and consideration of general market trends, in 2015 the Compensation Committee introduced time-based RSUs and performance-based RSUs into our compensation program.

Mr. DeZwirek received 7,642 time-based RSUs in connection with his service as a director in May 2017, which RSUs generally vest on theone-year anniversary of the grant date.

In connection with his appointment as CEO in June 2017, pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Sadlowski received 23,511 time-based RSUs, which RSUs generally vest ratably on an annual basis over a three-year period. Mr. Sadlowski also received 7,642 time-based RSUs in connection with his service as a director in May 2017, which RSUs generally vest on theone-year anniversary of the grant.

In connection with his appointment as CFO in January 2017, pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Eckl received 26,000 time-based RSUs, 11,000 of which vest on the second anniversary of the grant and 15,000 of which vest ratably on an annual basis over a five-year period.

In connection with his appointment as Chief Accounting Officer in May 2017, Mr. Gohr received 5,459 time-based RSUs, which generally vest over a four-year period.

Mr. Prajzner received 8,406 time-based RSUs in May 2017. In connection with his departure from the Company, all of Mr. Prajzner’s unvested RSUs, except for 3,125 RSUs vested in September 2017, were forfeited.

Mr. Cook received 4,367 time-based RSUs in May 2017. In connection with his departure from the Company, all of Mr. Cook’s unvested RSUs were forfeited.

No RSUs were granted to Mr. Lang in 2017. In connection his separation from the Company, all of Mr. Lang’s unvested RSUs were forfeited.

Performance Units

In connection with his appointment as CEO in July 2017, pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Sadlowski received performance units at a “target” level of $700,000, the payout of which performance units willcould vary from 0% to 200% of the target award, subject generally to atwo-year performance period (which beginsbegan on June 10, 2018 and endsended on June 10, 2020) and the achievement of stock price performance criteria and objectives established by the Compensation Committee (as set forth in the table below). To the extent earned, the performance units were generally scheduled to vest on the third anniversary of the grant date. If, upon the conclusion of the performance period, our stock price performance iswas between performance levels, there willwould be no interpolation between payout levels. For purposes of this award, stock price performance is measured based on the highest average fair market value of our common stock that is attained during any period of 30 consecutive trading days that fall within the performance period.

 

  Performance LevelStock Price PerformancePerformance Units Earned
 

  Below Threshold

Below $12.000%
 

  Threshold

$12.0050%
 

  Target

$15.00100%
 

  Maximum

$18.00 +200%

To the extent earned, the performance units arewould be paid in the form of shares of common stock determined by dividing the dollar value of the earned performance units by the highest stock price performance hurdle attained during the performance period ($12.00, $15.00 or $18.00, as applicable), rounded to the nearest whole share. As an example, if at any time duringDuring thetwo-year performance period, the highest stock price is $15 at its highestachieved for 30 consecutive trading days then the performance units are vested at 100%. At the endwas $8.75. As a result, Mr. Sadlowski did not earn any of the performance period, Mr. Sadlowski would receive 46,667 shares of common stock, which is the quotient obtained by dividing $700,000 by $15.units.

Personal Benefits and Perquisites

The Company provides certainWe provide our named executive officers with a limited number of perquisites and other personal benefits that the Company and the Compensation Committeewe believe are reasonable and consistent with the Company’sour overall compensation program toand better enable the Companyus to attract and retain employees for key positions. These perquisites generally consist of car allowances and payment of life insurance premiums,premiums. In connection with his appointment as applicable, as further describedCEO, Mr. Gleason is also entitled to reimbursement through June 30, 2021 for up to $2,500 per month for apartment or comparable rental expenses incurred by him in the 2017 Summary Compensation Table below.

Dallas, Texas area, pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement. During 2020, we agreed to extend the reimbursement period through December 31, 2021.

Retirement and Post-Employment Benefits

TheOur Company sponsors a 401(k) retirement plan for substantially all of our U.S. employees (the “401(k) Plan”). Pursuant, pursuant to the 401(k) Plan, the Company matcheswhich we match contributions each pay period at 100% of the employee’s contributions for the first 3%, of eligible compensation, and 50% of the employee’s contribution on the next 3%, of an employee’seligible compensation, for a maximum match of 4.5%. The of eligible compensation. Our named executive officers (other than our Chairman) may participate in the 401(k) Plan on the same terms as the rest of our other eligible employees. We believe the 401(k) Plan, which has limited cost to our Company, is set at a reasonable level, is highly valued by recipients, has limited cost,participants, and is part of a competitive compensation program and is consistent with our overall goal of attracting and retaining qualified employees.

For more information about our equity compensation awards for 2017, see the2017 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table and theOutstanding Equity Awards at 2017 FiscalYear-End Table and the accompanying narratives below.

Agreements with Individual Named Executive Officers

We have employment agreements with Mr. Gleason and Mr. Eckl, and we had an employment agreement with Mr. Sadlowski during his employment.

Effective July 6, 2020, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Gleason in connection with his appointment as our CEO. We entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Eckl effective as of January 9, 2017. We entered into an interim offer letter with Mr. Sadlowski on January 26, 2017, and then entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Sadlowski on June 10, 2017 when he was appointedjoined our Company as permanent CEO.our CFO. These employment agreements and offer letters, as applicable, set forth the basic terms and conditions of employment for such named executive officers, including initial base salary, annual incentive opportunity, and long-term incentive opportunity, as well as certainsign-on equity and cash bonus compensation and certain perquisites and personal benefits. The employment agreements also include customary restrictive covenants and provide for certain severance compensation and benefits in the event of a qualifying termination of employment. The terms of these employment agreements reflect the product of arms’ length negotiations between the named executive officersindividual and the Company.

At the beginning of 2017, we were party to

24 • CECO Environmental


We also had an employment agreement with our Former CEO, Mr. Lang. However,Sadlowski. We entered into the June 10, 2017 employment agreement with Mr. Sadlowski in connection with Mr. Lang’s separationhis appointment as our permanent CEO, having served as our interim CEO for the previous four months pursuant to an interim offer letter dated January 26, 2017. In connection with his departure from the Company, on February 1, 2017 we entered into a Separation Agreementseparation and consulting agreement with Mr. Lang pursuantSadlowski, effective as of July 5, 2020. Under the separation and consulting agreement, Mr. Sadlowski is entitled to which the Company provided him certain severance compensation and benefits. In connection withbenefits previously negotiated under his separation from the Company on July 21, 2017, Mr. Prajzner entered into a separationemployment agreement and release with the Company pursuantfor a termination without cause, except that Mr. Sadlowski is entitled to which(1) up to 18 months (rather than up to 12 months) of health and welfare premium reimbursements, (2) a pro-rata 2020 bonus payout, (3) payments equal to 4 weeks of vacation pay, and (4) certain other benefits as further described under “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” below. In addition, in order to facilitate an orderly transition of duties, Mr. Sadlowski also agreed to provide consulting services to the Company provided him certain severance compensation and benefits.through December 31, 2020 at the rate of $48,917 per month.

For more information regarding these individual arrangements and the benefits provided thereunder, please see Potential“Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Controlin Control” below.

Stock Ownership Guidelines

To reinforce the alignment of our CEO’s long-term financial interest with the interests of our stockholders, we have required our CEO to own shares of our common stock having a value equal to at least five times his base salary. During 2018, our Compensation Committee revised our stock ownership guidelines to require our other executive officers to own shares of our common stock having values equal to the applicable multiple of base salary set forth in the table below:

Named Executive Officer

Ownership Requirement  

(as multiple of base salary)  

Chief Executive Officer

5X

Chief Financial Officer

3X

Other Executives Officers (currently, only Mr. Gohr)

1X

Our executive officers have five years after becoming subject to these guidelines to achieve the stock ownership required. Our Compensation Committee in its discretion may extend the period of time for attainment of such ownership levels in appropriate circumstances. For purposes of this requirement, stock ownership includes all shares of our common stock owned by the named executive officer directly or held in trust for the executive or the executive’s immediate family. In addition, restricted stock and RSUs are also included in determining whether the required level of ownership has been attained. For purposes of the stock ownership requirements, the value of a share is measured as the greater of the then current market price or the closing price of a share of the common stock on the grant date. As of December 31, 2020, all NEO’s met the stock ownership requirement except for Mr. Gleason, who has served as our Chief Executive Officer only since July 2020. As a result of his departure from the Company, Mr. Sadlowski is no longer subject to the stock ownership guidelines.

Our executive officers are prohibited under our Insider Trading Policy from engaging in certain transaction in our securities, including short sales against the box, buying or selling puts or calls and frequent trading to take advantage of fluctuations in stock price. Our Insider Trading Policy is described in the “Insider Trading Policy” paragraph under “Our Board and Its Committees” section above.

Clawback Policy

In April 2017, our

Our Board adopted a clawback policy. Under the clawback policy that provides if (1) theour Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the Company’sits material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the U.S. federal securities laws and (2) theour Board reasonably in good faith determines that any current or former “Section 16 officer” of theour Company willfully committed an act of fraud, dishonesty or recklessness that contributed to the noncompliance or benefitted materially from excessive incentive-based compensation, then theour Board may direct the Company to use prompt and reasonable efforts to recover the excessive incentive-based compensation.compensation paid to the individual.

2018

2021 Proxy Statement • 25


Risk Considerations in our Compensation DecisionsProgram

As noted above,

Our executive compensation consists of both fixed and variable compensation. The fixed (or salary) portion of compensation is designed to provide a steady income so our executive officers are not pressured to focus exclusively on short-term gains, which may be detrimental to long-term stock price appreciation and other business metrics. The variable portions of compensation consist of cash incentives or discretionary cash bonuses and long-term equity incentives (time-based RSUs, PRSUs and stock options). In a typical year, incentive compensation is generally tied to the achievement of corporate performance goals based on metrics established by our Compensation Committee. For 2020, we used a Relative TSR goal for 2018,long-term equity incentives. Although 2020 cash bonuses were determined on a discretionary basis by the Compensation Committee, has approved certain changes to the Company’s executive compensation practices. Generally these changes were approved, with the advice of Meridian, to be more market competitive and more closely approximate what we believe are industry best practices.

Underthat the annuallevel of such bonuses was appropriate in light of our 2020 performance. For 2021 only, we made a decision to add an additional metric for orders to our usual incentive program for 2018, payouts for Messrs. Sadlowskimetrics of Adjusted EBITDA, revenue and Ecklfree cash flow, as steadily rebuilding our backlog will range from 0%be a priority in 2021. We believe that the variable components of targetcompensation motivate our executive officers to produce short- and long-term corporate results while the fixed element of compensation helps provide security so that management is not encouraged to take unnecessary or excessive risks in working to produce such results. Periodically, our Compensation Committee conducts a maximum levelrisk review of 200% of target. However,the compensation programs for all other eligible named executive officers, payouts can range from 0% of target to a maximum level of 150% of target. The performance metrics applicable to 2018 annual incentive awards are revenue, adjusted operating income and adjusted free cash flow. We believe these metrics help inspire and drive desired behaviors and performance. We expect to describe the actual goals associated with these metrics in next year’s proxy statement.

The Compensation Committee also approved a change to the Company’s long-term incentive program for 2018. In particular, stock options will not be granted during 2018 toemployees, including our named executive officers. Instead, long-term incentiveIn 2020, a market pay analysis study was conducted, and following discussions held in Compensation Committee meetings that addressed risks associated with our plans and metrics, we believe our compensation policies and practices do not create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our Company.

Tax and Accounting Considerations

We recognize a charge to earnings for accounting purposes for equity awards will generally consistover their requisite service period. With respect to the tax deductibility of time-based RSUs and performance-based RSUs. For Mr. Sadlowski, 70%compensation, although the “performance-based compensation” exception under Section 162(m) of the target long-term incentive award value willInternal Revenue Code was repealed as part of the late 2017 U.S. tax reform, generally effective as of January 1, 2018, our Compensation Committee still considers the tax deductibility of compensation. However, our Compensation Committee is fully authorized to approve compensation that may not be allocateddeductible when it believes that such payments are appropriate to performance-based RSUs,attract and retain executive talent.

Conclusion

We recognize the remaining 30% will be allocatedimportance of attracting, motivating, retaining and rewarding executive talent who can effectively lead our business. Our Compensation Committee continues to time-based RSUs. For Mr. Eckl,analyze and adjust our compensation programs to emphasize the target long-term incentive award value will be allocated evenly between time-based and performance-based RSUs. For Mr. Gohr, 30%alignment of such value will be allocated to performance-based RSUs, and the remaining 70% will be allocated to time-based RSUs. Performance-based RSUs will be subject to an EBITDA metric. This design is intended to help alignour named executive officerofficers’ interests with the long-term interests of our stockholders. It seeks to incentivize our named executive officers to maximize our Company’s performance and reward them for their achievements. With the various components of our executive compensation programs, our Compensation Committee seeks a balance between fixed and at-risk compensation, cash and equity, and short-term and long-term rewards with shareholder interests, and to help create a stronger and more direct connection to success drivers and stock price performance.the ultimate objective of creating long-term value for our stockholders.

Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management.

Based on this review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in ourthis Proxy Statement and, by incorporation by reference, in the Company’s Annual Report on Form10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and this proxy statement.2020.

This report is submitted on behalf of the members of the Compensation Committee:

Valerie Gentile Sachs, Chair

Eric M. Goldberg

Donald A. Wright

David B. Liner

26 • CECO Environmental

2017


2020 Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the compensation earned duringfor the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016indicated for Mr. Gleason and 2015 byMr. Sadlowski, the individuals who served as our principal executive officer during 2020, Mr. Eckl, our principal financial officer, and Mr. Gohr, our other 2020 executive officer. We refer to these executive officers collectively as “our named executive officers, as applicable, for their service to the Company:officers.”

 

Name and Principal

Position                     

 Year  Salary
($)(1)
  Bonus
($)(2)
  Stock
Awards
($)(3)
  Option
Awards
($)(3)
  All Other
Compensation

($)
  Total
($)
 

Dennis Sadlowski, Chief Executive Officer

       
  2017  $531,629  $201,644  $471,716   —    $27,5264  $1,232,515 

Matthew Eckl, Chief Financial Officer

       
  2017  $282,693  $115,000  $368,940   —    $199,6365  $966,259 

Jason DeZwirek, Chairman of the Board

       
  2017   —     —    $70,001   —    $330,0006  $400,001 
  2016   —     —    $70,006   —    $360,000  $430,006 
  2015   —     —    $69,630   —    $360,000  $429,630 

Paul Gohr, Chief Accounting Officer

       
  2017  $176,137  $30,000  $50,004   —    $12,7277  $268,868 

Jeffrey Lang, Former Chief Executive Officer and President

       
  2017  $72,981   —     —     —    $851,8048  $924,785 
  2016  $575,000  $575,000  $140,004   —    $32,232  $1,322,236 
  2015  $491,166  $781,250  $994,731   —    $27,486  $2,294,633 

Edward J. Prajzner, Former Executive Vice President, Corporate Development

       
  2017  $178,846   —    $76,999  $33,000  $193,4909  $482,335 
  2016  $300,730  $144,480   —    $51,853  $24,475  $521,538 
  2015  $264,787  $100,000  $118,000  $178,870  $23,956  $685,613 

Benton L. Cook, Former Vice President of Finance and Controller

       
  2017  $168,750   —    $40,002   —    $11,05310  $219,805 
  2016  $169,560  $46,540  $32,910   —    $10,977  $259,987 
  2015  $151,221  $29,530  $18,880  $11,312  $10,343  $221,286 
  Name and Principal
  Position
 Year     

Salary

($)

 

Bonus

($)(1)

 

Stock   

Awards   

($)(2)   

 

Option

Awards

($)(3)

  Non-Equity 
Incentive Plan 
Compensation 
($) 
  

All Other 
Compensation 

($)(4) 

  

Total   

($)   

  Todd Gleason

  Chief Executive Officer

 

 

2020

   

 

 

216,346

   

 

 

300,000

   

 

 

599,059

   

 

 

2,400,000  

 

 

 

—    

 

 

 

24,376

 

 

 

3,539,781

   

        

  Dennis Sadlowski

  Former Chief

  Executive Officer

 

 

2020

 

 

 

311,296

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

545,440

 

 

 

—    

 

 

 

—    

 

 

 

1,114,680

 

 

 

1,971,416

 

 

 

2019

 

 

 

582,963

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

500,000

 

 

 

—    

 

 

 

289,739  

 

 

 

33,168

 

 

 

1,405,870

 

 

 

2018

 

 

 

575,000

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

742,500

 

 

 

—    

 

 

 

715,561  

 

 

 

29,692

 

 

 

2,062,753

 

  Matthew Eckl

  Chief Financial Officer

 

 

2020

 

 

 

336,739

 

 

 

94,000

 

 

 

570,700

 

 

 

—    

 

 

 

—    

 

 

 

25,165

 

 

 

1,026,604

 

 

 

2019

 

 

 

339,846

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

250,000

 

 

 

—    

 

 

 

92,899  

 

 

 

27,352

 

 

 

710,097

 

 

 

2018

 

 

 

334,192

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

357,650

 

 

 

—    

 

 

 

228,736  

 

 

 

18,795

 

 

 

939,373

 

  Paul Gohr

  Chief Accounting Officer

 

 

2020

 

 

 

205,005

 

 

 

36,500

 

 

 

40,880

 

 

 

—    

 

 

 

—    

 

 

 

19,843

 

 

 

302,228

 

 

 

2019

 

 

 

205,744

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

50,000

 

 

 

—    

 

 

 

35,790  

 

 

 

19,075

 

 

 

310,609

 

 

 

2018

 

 

 

198,423

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

86,625

 

 

 

—    

 

 

 

70,991  

 

 

 

18,347

 

 

 

374,386

 

 

(1)For

This column reflects, for Mr. Sadlowski, includesGleason, (a) a sign-oncash retainerbonus equal to $14,125$150,000 that was paid in 2020 in lieu of any relocation payments in connection with Mr. Gleason’s relocation to the Dallas, Texas area, and (b) a fixed bonus for his service on the Board prior2020 calendar year equal to being appointed$150,000 (paid in lieu of any other annual cash bonus opportunity for 2020), each as CEO, which amount would have been reported inprovided for under Mr. Gleason’s employment agreement. For Messrs. Eckl and Gohr, this column reflects the “Fees Earned or Paid in Cash” column of the Director Compensationdiscretionary cash bonuses for Fiscal Year 2017 table if Mr. Sadlowski was not a2020 that such named executive officer.officers received.

(2)For Mr. Sadlowski, this amount reflects a bonus of $201,644 for the period from January 1, 2017 through May 31, 2017 that was paid under the terms of Mr. Sadlowski’s offer letter. For Mr. Eckl, this amount reflects a“sign-on” cash bonus of $65,000 paid to him pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement and a $50,000 discretionary cash bonus approved by the Compensation Committee following the completion of the 2017 fiscal year. For Mr. Gohr, the amount in this

This column reflects a discretionary cash bonus approved by the Compensation Committee following the completion of the 2017 fiscal year.

(3)Represents as applicable the aggregate grant date fair value of stock and option awards calculated in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (“FASB ASC Topic 718”),718, disregarding estimated forfeitures, rather than amounts realized byforfeitures. There is no assurance that the named executive officers. For Mr. Sadlowski’s performance unit award, the value included in this column reflects the probable outcome of the applicable performance conditions. Assuming the highest level of performance is achieved with respect to Mr. Sadlowski’s performance unit award, the value in this column for him would be $1,696,412. The amount reported in this column for Mr. DeZwirek, and $70,001 of the amount reported in this column for Mr. Sadlowski, represent RSUs awarded as compensation for services as a director, and would have been reported in the “Stock Awards” column of the Director Compensation for Fiscal Year 2017 table if Messrs. Sadlowski and DeZwirek were not named executive officers.officers will realize these amounts. Assumptions used in calculating these amounts are included in Note 109 to the Company’s audited financial statements included in the Company’sour Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.2020. For PRSU awards, the grant date fair value represents the probable outcome of the applicable performance conditions. Assuming maximum achievement with respect to the performance metrics applicable to the 2020 PRSU awards, the grant date fair values of such awards would be as follows: $507,360 for Mr. Sadlowski; and $181,200 for Mr. Eckl.

(3)

This column reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of option awards granted to Mr. Gleason, calculated in accordance with FASB ASC 718. Assumptions used in calculating this amount are included in Note 9 to the Company’s audited financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

(4)Represents a Company contribution

Amounts reported in this column for 2020 consist of $15,209 to our 401(k) Plan on behalf ofthe following:

Named Executive Officer  

401 (k)
Matching
Contributions

($)

   

Term Life
Insurance
Premiums

($)

   

Car
Allowance

($)

   

Rental
Allowance

($)

   

Severance

($)(1)

   

Total

($)

 

Todd Gleason

  

 

4,798

 

  

 

575

 

  

 

6,000

 

  

 

13,003

 

  

 

 

  

 

24,376

 

Dennis Sadlowski

  

 

12,825

 

  

 

6,070

 

  

 

6,923

 

  

 

 

  

 

1,088,862

 

  

 

1,114,680

 

Matthew Eckl

  

 

7,857

 

  

 

4,846

 

  

 

12,462

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

25,165

 

Paul Gohr

  

 

8,914

 

  

 

960

 

  

 

9,969

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

19,843

 

(1)

Reflects the following payments and benefits that were accrued by Mr. Sadlowski $1,471in connection with cessation of insurance premiums paid for term life insurance for his benefit and a $10,846 car allowance.

(5)Represents a Company contribution of $6,480 to our 401(k) Plan on behalf of Mr. Eckl, $145 of insurance premiums paid for term life insurance for his benefit, a $11,539 car allowance and $181,472 in relocation expenses.
(6)Represents amount paid to Icarus for Mr. DeZwirek’s services.
(7)Represents a Company contribution of $6,889 to our 401(k) Plan on behalf of Mr. Gohr, $152 of insurance premiums paid for term life insurance for his benefit and a $5,686 car allowance.
(8)Represents a Company contribution of $4,515 to our 401(k) Plan on behalf of Mr. Lang, $2,449 of insurance premiums paid for term life insurance for his benefit, a $1,846 car allowance, severance payments of $575,000 pursuant to Mr. Lang’s separation agreement, a cash transition bonus of $250,000 pursuant to Mr. Lang’s separation agreement, a vacation payment of $3,406 and severance medical insurance payments of $14,588. For more information regarding Mr. Lang’s severance compensation, seePotentialservice as CEO, as further described below under “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control”: (a) a lump sum cash payment equal to Mr. Sadlowski’s annual base salary ($587,000); (b) a lump sum cash amount equal to the 2020 annual bonus that Mr. Sadlowski would have received had he remained employed through the end of Control below.
(9)Representsthe 2020 calendar year (which was equal to what he would have earned under our typical annual cash incentive program at 50% of his target award), pro-rated based on Mr. Sadlowski’s service as an employee during 2020 ($149,564); (c) four weeks of vacation pay ($45,115); (d) COBRA reimbursements for up to 18 months ($12,683); (e) consulting fees pursuant to his separation and consulting agreement ($293,500); and (f) a Company contribution of $13,510 to our 401(k) Plan on behalf of Mr. Prajzner, $723 of insurance premiums paid for term life insurance for his benefit, a $9,600 car allowance, severance payments of $150,000 pursuant to Mr. Prajzner’s separation agreement, a vacation payment of $2,631laptop and severance medical insurance payments of $12,026. For more information regarding Mr. Prajzner’s severance compensation, seePotential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control below.phone ($1,000).

(10)Represents a Company contribution of $9,708 to our 401(k) Plan on behalf of Mr. Cook and $1,345 of insurance premiums paid for term life insurance for his benefit.
2021 Proxy Statement • 27


20172020 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table

 

     Estimated Possible Payouts
Under
Non-Equity Incentive  Plan
Awards(1)
 Estimated Future Payouts
Under
Equity Incentive Plan
Awards(2)
 

All Other

Stock

Awards:

Number

of Shares

of Stock

 

All Other

Option

Awards:

Number of

Securities

Underlying

 

Exercise or

Base Price

of Option

 

Grant

Date Fair

Value of

Stock and

Option

 
 Grant Committee     Maximum Threshold   Maximum or Units Options Awards Awards  

Grant
Date

  

Committee
Action Date

  

 

Estimated Future Payouts

Under Equity Incentive Plan

Awards(1)

  

All Other

Stock

Awards:

Number

of Shares

of Stock
or Units
(#)(2)

  

All Other

Option

Awards:

Number

of Securities

Underlying
Options (#)(3)

  

Exercise or
Base Price of
Option
Awards ($/Sh)

  

Grant Date

Fair Value

of Stock

and Option
Awards
($)(4)

 

Name

 Date Action Date Threshold ($) Target ($) ($) (#) Target (#) (#) (#)(3) (#)(4) ($/Sh) ($)(5)  Threshold
(#)
  

Target

(#)

  Maximum
(#)
 

Dennis Sadlowski

    —    $337,123  $674,246   —     —     —     —     —     —     —   
 5/16/17  5/16/17   —     —     —     —     —     —    7,642   —     —    $70,001 
 

 

7/6/20

 

 

 

7/6/20

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

94,340

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

599,059

 

 

7/6/20

 

 

 

7/6/20

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

316,902

 

 

 

6.36

 

 

 

900,000

 

Todd Gleason

 

7/6/20

 

 

 

7/6/20

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

898,204

 

 

 

12.72

 

 

 

1,500,000

 

 6/10/17  6/9/17   —     —     —     —     —     —    23,511   —     —    $226,411  

 

5/20/20

 

 

 

5/19/20

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

24,000

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

122,640

 

 6/10/17  6/9/17   —     —     —    29,167  46,667  77,778   —     —     —    $175,304 

 

5/20/20

 

 

 

5/19/20

 

 

 

28,000

 

 

 

56,000

 

 

 

84,000

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

422,800

 

Matthew Eckl

    —    $150,000  $300,000   —     —     —     —     —     —     —    

 

5/20/20

 

 

 

5/19/20

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

20,000

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

102,200

 

 1/11/17  1/11/17   —     —     —     —     —     —    15,000   —     —    $212,850 

 

5/20/20

 

 

 

5/19/20

 

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

20,000

 

 

 

30,000

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

151,000

 

 1/11/17  1/11/17   —     —     —     —     —     —    11,000   —     —    $156,090 

 

7/6/20

 

 

 

7/6/20

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

50,000

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

317,500

 

Jason DeZwirek

 5/16/17  5/16/17   —     —     —     —     —     —    7,642   —     —    $70,001 

Paul Gohr

    —    $66,500  $79,800   —     —     —     —     —     —     —    

 

5/20/20

 

 

 

5/19/20

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

8,000

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

40,880

 

 5/16/17  5/16/17   —     —     —     —     —     —    5,459   —     —    $50,004 

Jeffrey Lang

  —      —    $575,000  $1,150,000   —     —     —     —     —     —     —   

Edward J. Prajzner

  —      —    $150,000  $225,000   —     —     —     —     —     —     —   
 5/16/17  5/16/17   —     —     —     —     —     —    8,406   —     —    $76,999 
 5/16/17  5/16/17   —     —     —     —     —     —     —    12,403  $9.16  $33,000 

Benton L. Cook

  —      —    $42,187  $50,624   —     —     —     —     —     —     —   
 5/16/17  5/16/17      —     —     —    4,367   —     —    $40,002 

 

(1)The amounts shown in the “Target” and “Maximum” columns consist of annual performance-based cash compensation opportunities for 2017 initially provided to the named executive officers and further described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis above. The “Threshold” column shows dashes because the ultimate value of the performance-based compensation opportunities could be reduced to essentially zero. Please see the 2017 Summary Compensation Table for information about cash bonuses paid to these named executive officers.
(2)

The amounts shown in the “Threshold,” “Target” and “Maximum” columns reflectfor Messrs. Sadlowski and Eckl represent the potential common stock payout levels under the performance unit awardwith respect to PRSU awards granted to Mr. Sadlowskisuch officers in 2017, as further described in2020, which amounts may be earned based on Relative TSR performance during the Compensation Discussion2020-2022 performance period and Analysis above.will generally vest, subject to continued employment, on March 15, 2023.

(3)(2)

The amounts shown in this column consist of RSU awards to Messrs. Sadlowski, Eckl, DeZwirek, Gohr, Prajzner and Cook. For Messrs. Sadlowski and DeZwirek, the awards with grant dates of May 16, 2017 were awarded in connection with their service as a director (for Mr. Sadlowski, prior to his appointment as permanent CEO). Please see the Compensation Discussion and Analysis above for more information about these awards.

(4)(3)

The amountamounts shown in this column reflects anconsist of stock option awardawards granted to Mr. Prajzner. Please see the Compensation Discussion and Analysis above for more information aboutGleason in 2020.

(4)

The amounts shown in this award.

(5)Representscolumn represent the grant date fair value of stock awards and option awards calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, disregarding estimated forfeitures, rather than amounts realized by the named executive officers. Assumptions used in calculating these amounts are included in Note 10 9to the Company’s audited financial statements included in the Company’sour Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.2020.

For information regarding the terms of the employment agreements in effect with our named executive officers during 2017,2020, please see Potential“Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change ofin Control. For information regarding the terms of the awards described in the table above, please see Compensation“Compensation Discussion and Analysis.

” For more information about the amount of salary and bonus earned in relation to total compensation, please see “2020 Executive Compensation” in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above.

28 • CECO Environmental


2020 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal 2017Year-End Table

The following table sets forth information regarding outstanding equity awards for each named executive officer as of the end of fiscal year 2017.December 31, 2020.

 

Name

 Option Awards  Stock Awards 
 Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
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 (#)
  Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market or
Payout

Value of
Unearned
Shares,

Units  or
Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested ($)
 

Dennis Sadlowski

  —     —     —     —     6,6211  $33,9662   —     —   
  —     —     —     —     7,6423  $39,2032   —     —   
  —     —     —     —     23,5114  $120,6112   —     —   
  —     —     —     —     —     —     29,1675  $149,6272 

Matthew Eckl

  —     —     —     —     15,0006  $76,9502   —     —   
  —     —     —     —     11,0007  $56,4302   —     —   

Jason DeZwirek

  —     —     —     —     3,6888  $18,9192   —     —   
  —     —     —     —     6,6211  $33,9662   —     —   
      7,6423  $39,2032   

Paul Gohr

  1,500   1,0009  $13.08   10/1/19   —     —     —     —   
  2,000   2,00010  $9.44   9/4/19   —     —     —     —   
  —     —     —     —     5,45911  $28,0052   —     —   
  —     —     —     —     1,00012  $5,1302   —     —   
      2,40013  $12,3122   

Jeffrey Lang

  —     —     —     —     —     —     —     —   

Edward J. Prajzner

  —     —     —     —     —     —     —     —   

Benton L. Cook

  2,000   —    $1.98   3/31/201814   —     —     —     —   
  4,000   —    $5.26   3/31/201814   —     —     —     —   
  3,000   —    $7.09   3/31/201814   —     —     —     —   
  5,000   —    $9.63   3/31/201814   —     —     —     —   
  5,000   —    $12.05   3/31/201814   —     —     —     —   
  12,000   —    $12.72   3/31/201814   —     —     —     —   
  8,000   —    $15.39   3/31/201814   —     —     —     —   
  4,500   —    $13.08   3/31/201814   —     —     —     —   
  2,000   —    $9.44   3/31/201814   —     —     —     —   
     Option Awards  Stock Awards 
  Name 

Grant

Date

  

Number of

Securities

Underlying

Unexercised

Options (#)

Exercisable

  

Number of

Securities

Underlying

Unexercised

Options (#)

Unexercisable(1)

  

Option

Exercise

Price ($)

  

Option
Expiration

Date

  

Number of

Shares or

Units of

Stock That

Have Not

Vested (#)(2)

  

Market

Value of

Shares or

Units of

Stock That

Have Not

Vested ($)(4)

  

Equity

Incentive

Plan

Awards:

Number of

Unearned

Shares,

Units or

Other

Rights That

Have Not

Vested (#)

  

Equity

Incentive

Plan

Awards:

Market or

Payout

Value of

Unearned

Shares,

Units or

Other

Rights That

Have Not

Vested ($)(4)

 

  Todd Gleason

 

 

7/6/2020

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

316,902

 

 

 

6.36

 

 

 

7/6/2027

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

7/6/2020

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

898,204

 

 

 

12.72

 

 

 

7/6/2027

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

7/6/2020

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

94,340

 

 

 

656,606

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

  Dennis Sadlowski(8)

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

  Matthew Eckl

 

 

1/11/2017

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

6,000

3 

 

 

41,760

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

2/12/2018

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

12,000

3 

 

 

83,520

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

4/19/2018

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

2,500

 

 

 

17,400

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

3/08/2019

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

12,950

 

 

 

90,129

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

5/20/2020

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

20,000

 

 

 

139,200

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

7/6/2020

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

50,000

 

 

 

348,000

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

4/19/2018

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

25,000

5 

 

 

174,000

 

 

 

3/15/2019

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

17,266

6 

 

 

120,171

 

 

 

5/20/2020

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

30,000

7 

 

 

208,800

 

  Paul Gohr

 

 

10/1/2014

 

 

 

2,500

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

13.08

 

 

 

10/1/2024

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

9/04/2015

 

 

 

4,000

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

9.44

 

 

 

9/4/2025

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

9/08/2016

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

600

3 

 

 

4,176

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

5/16/2017

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

1,365

 

 

 

9,500

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

4/19/2018

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

5,000

 

 

 

34,800

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

3/08/2019

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

5,180

 

 

 

36,053

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

5/20/2020

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

8,000

 

 

 

55,680

 

   
 

 

4/19/2018

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

—  

 

 

 

7,500

5 

 

 

52,200

 

 

(1)Represents RSUs that

This column shows the unvested options, which options generally vest in threefour equal annual installments on the anniversary date ofcommencing one year after the grant commencing May 12, 2018.date.

(2)

This column shows the unvested RSUs, which RSUs generally vest in four equal annual installments commencing one year after the grant date, except as otherwise indicated.

(3)

These RSUs generally vest in five equal annual installments commencing one year after the grant date.

(4)

Represents the market value of the awards based on the closing share price of our common stock on December 29, 201731, 2020 of $5.13.$6.96.

(3)Represents RSUs that vest on the anniversary date of the grant, May 16, 2018.
(4)Represents RSUs that vest in three equal installments on the anniversary date of the grant, commencing June 10, 2018.

(5)Reflects

These PRSUs generally vest on March 15, 2021 based on the threshold number ofextent to which the applicable performance units that could be earned pursuanttarget for 2020 is met.

(6)

These PRSUs generally vest on March 15, 2022 based on the extent to which the applicable performance target for 2021 is met.

(7)

These PRSUs generally vest on March 15, 2023 based on the extent to which the Relative TSR goal for the performance unit award. Please see theperiod beginning on January 1, 2020 and ending on December 31, 2022 as established by our Compensation Committee is met. See “Compensation Discussion and AnalysisAnalysis” above for more information about this award, including vesting terms.these awards.

(6)3,000 of these RSUs vested on January 11, 2018. The remaining RSUs vest in four equal installments on the anniversary date of the grant, commencing January 11, 2019.
(7)Represents RSUs that vest in two equal installments on the anniversary date of the grant, commencing January 11, 2018.

(8)Represents RSUs that vest

Mr. Sadlowski’s equity awards were forfeited in two equal installments on the anniversary date of the grant, commencing September 4, 2018.

(9)Represents options that vest in two equal installments on the anniversary date of the grant, commencing October 1, 2018.
(10)Represents options that vest in two equal installments on the anniversary date of the grant, commencing September 4, 2018.

(11)Represents RSUs that vest in four equal installments on the annual anniversary date of the grant, commencing May 16, 2018.
(12)Represents RSUs that vest on the anniversary date of the grant, September 4, 2018.
(13)Represents RSUs that vest in four equal installments on the annual anniversary date of the grant, September 8, 2018.
(14)In connection with his departure from the Company, all of Mr. Cook’s unvested options were forfeited and the exercise period for all remaining vested options expired on March 31, 2018. Please see the Compensation Discussion and Analysis above for more information about these awards.Company.

2021 Proxy Statement • 29


20172020 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table

 

 Option Awards Stock Awards  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  Number of Shares
Acquired on Exercise
(#)
1
   Value Realized on Exercise
($)
   

Number of Shares Acquired on

Vesting (#)

   Value Realized on Vesting
($)
2
 

Todd Gleason

   —      —      —      —   

Dennis Sadlowski

  —    —   2,207 $22,600   —      —      22,723    134,088 

Matthew Eckl

  —    —    —    —     —      —      12,566    88,537 

Jason DeZwirek

  —    —   4,051 $36,430

Paul Gohr

  —    —   1,100 $8,334   —      —      6,191    34,736 

Jeffrey Lang

 280,000 $1,836,771  —    —  

Edward J. Prajzner

  —    —   3,125 $23,438
 5,000 $9,094  —    —  

Benton L. Cook

  —    —   1,100 $8,334

 

(1)Calculated based on the difference between the market price of the underlying common

No named executive officer exercised stock at exercise and the exercise price of the stock options.options in 2020.

(2)

Amounts reflect the number of shares acquired on vesting valued at the closing price of our common stock on the business day immediately preceding the date of vesting.

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change ofin Control

Regardless of the manner in which aOur named executive officer’s employment terminates, he isofficers may be entitled to receive amounts earned during his term of employment. The Company hascertain payments upon voluntary or involuntary termination, retirement, death or disability or change in control. We have no formal policy regarding severance payments or retirement payments. Uponpayments, but certain of our NEOs may be entitled to severance or other benefits in certain circumstances pursuant to their employment agreements or the terms of their equity awards. We maintain disability and life insurance policies that would provide for certain benefits upon the death or disability of a named executive officer then serving as one of our employees,employees.

The tables below summarize the amounts that each continuing named executive officer willwould receive benefits under the disability or life insurance policies maintained for such officer, as appropriate.

If a named executive officer’sif his employment had terminated on December 29, 2017, he would have been entitled to31, 2020, the followinglast business day of that year, under the various circumstances shown. The amounts include the value of such named executive officer’s equity awards outstanding as of that date (based on hypothetical vesting under the various circumstances) based on his then outstanding stock option, RSU and performance unit awards (as applicable) and the closing price of our common stock on such date. Please see Compensation Discussion and Analysis above for moredate ($6.96). For information about these equity awards held by our named executive officers, see the stock option, RSU and performance unit awards (as applicable), and please see“2020 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal 2017Year-End above for information about suchTable” above. We also discuss these awards held by thesein the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above. If a named executive officers. The following table sets forth amounts thatofficer’s employment was terminated for cause, no amount would have been payable to each named executive officer who was serving at the end of 2017 in the event of such a termination of employment. For Messrs. Langbe payable. Actual payments and Prajzner, actual paymentsbenefits received by Mr. Sadlowski in connection with their separationshis departure from the Company are described under Employment and Separation Agreements below. Mr. Cook did not receive any severance compensation or enhanced benefits as a result of his separation from the Company during 2017.discussed below in this section.

 

Named Executive Officer

  For Cause   Death or
Disability1
   Change in
Control2
   Without
Cause or for
Good
Reason3
 

Dennis Sadlowski

   —     $193,781   $1,693,989   $994,293 

Matthew Eckl

   —     $105,165   $461,801   $461,801 

Jason DeZwirek

   —     $92,088   $92,088   $92,088 

Paul Gohr

   —     $45,557   $45,557   $45,557 
Todd Gleason  Death or Disability(1) ($)   Change in Control(2) ($)   

Without Cause or for

Good Reason(1) ($)

 
   

Cash Payments(3)

  

 

 

 

 

   600,000    600,000 
   

Accelerated Equity Awards

  

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

   

RSUs

   656,606    656,606    656,606 
   

Options

   190,141    190,141    190,141 
   

COBRA(5)

   —      28,716    28,716 
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   

Total

   846,747    1,475,463    1,475,463 
         
Matthew Eckl  Death or Disability(1) ($)   Change in Control(2) ($)   

Without Cause or for

Good Reason(1) ($)

 
   

Cash Payments(4)

  

 

 

 

 

   436,000    436,000 
   

Accelerated Equity Awards

  

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

   

RSUs

   720,009    720,009    720,009 
   

PRSUs

   676,971    676,971    676,971 
   

COBRA(5)

   —      8,508    8,508 
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   

Total

   1,396,980    1,841,488    1,841,488 

30 • CECO Environmental


Paul Gohr  Death or Disability(1) ($)   Change in Control(2) ($)   Without Cause or for
Good Reason
(1) ($)
 
   

Accelerated Equity Awards

  

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

   

RSUs

   140,209    140,209    140,209 
   

PRSUs

   52,200    52,200    52,200 
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   

Total

      192,409      192,409       192,409 

 

(1)

The accelerated vesting of all or part of unvested RSUoutstanding RSUs and PRSUs, and stock optionsoption awards areis subject to the discretion of the Boardour Compensation Committee in the event of an involuntary termination or a termination as a result of death or disability. For the purpose of this disclosure, we have assumed that all outstanding RSURSUs, PRSUs, and stock optionsoption awards will be accelerated. In the event of death or disability, Mr. Sadlowski’s performance units would generally vest on apro-rata basis (based on the date ofaccelerated in such death or disability) based on actual performance for the full performance period. For the purpose of this disclosure, Mr. Sadlowski’s performance units have a value of $0 because of stock price performance to date.circumstances.

(2)This column sets forth the benefits that would be provided in the event of a change in control of the Company.

The accelerated vesting of all or part of unvested RSUoutstanding RSUs and PRSUs, and stock option awards upon a change in control is generally subject to the discretion of the Boardour Compensation Committee, except as described in the event of a change in control, except thatthis footnote. Mr. Eckl’s RSUs will vest immediately prior to the closing of a change in control pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement. Mr. Sadlowski’s performance unitsGleason’s RSUs and stock option awards would generally vest in the event of a change in control based on performance through the date of the change in control, unless a replacement award is provided in accordance with the applicable award agreement. If such a replacement award is provided, and Mr. SadlowskiGleason is terminated by us without cause (as defined in the applicable award agreement) or by Mr. SadlowskiGleason for good reason (as defined in the applicable award agreement), in each case within a period of two years after the change in control, 100% of the replacement award will become vested. PRSU awards would generally vest in the event of a change in control based on “target” performance, unless a replacement award is provided in accordance with the applicable award agreement. If such a replacement award is provided, and the grantee is terminated by us without cause (as defined in the applicable award agreement) or by the grantee for good reason (as defined in the applicable award agreement), in each case within two years after the change in control, 100% of the replacement award will become vested. For the purposes of this disclosure, we have assumed that all outstanding awards will accelerate and that the named executive officer experiences a qualifying termination of employment on the date of the change in control. The amounts in this column for each named executive officer consist of the following:

Mr. Sadlowski: a lump sum cash amount equal to base salary ($575,000); a lump sum cash amount equal to apro-rated annual bonus payment for 2017 ($201,644); the value of COBRA reimbursements for 12 months following employment ($23,564); the value of RSU awards for which vesting is accelerated ($193,781); and the value of performance units for which vesting is accelerated ($700,000).

Mr. Eckl: a lump sum cash amount equal to the sum of his annual base salary plus his annual bonus (equal to the same percentage of his annual base salary as the annual bonus, if any, that he received for the prior fiscal year) ($300,000); a lump sum cash amount equal to apro-rated annual bonus payment for 2017 ($50,000); a lump sum amount equal to the product of 12 multiplied by the monthly COBRA premium for health, dental and vision benefits in effect for the officer, his spouse and his dependents ($6,636); and the value of RSU awards for which vesting is accelerated ($105,165).

Mr. DeZwirek: the value of RSU awards for which vesting is accelerated ($98,088).

Mr. Gohr: the value of RSU awards for which vesting is accelerated ($45,557).

 

(3)This column sets forth

Mr. Gleason’s employment agreement provides that if his employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” or by Mr. Gleason for “good reason” (as such terms are defined in his employment agreement) other than during the two-year period following a change in control, he will receive, in addition to certain accrued benefits, (i) a lump sum equal to his annual base salary ($450,000); and (ii) a lump sum equal to a pro-rated annual cash incentive payment based on actual performance or, if such termination occurs during 2020 (as is assumed for purposes of this disclosure), a pro-rata portion of Mr. Gleason’s fixed cash bonus for such year (the “2020 Fixed Bonus”) ($150,000). Mr. Gleason’s employment agreement provides that wouldif his employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by Mr. Gleason for good reason within a period of two years after a change in control, he will receive, in addition to certain accrued benefits, a lump sum payment equal to the sum of (a) his annual base salary and (b) his full year target annual bonus for the year in which termination occurs or, if the termination occurs in 2020 (as is assumed for purposes of this disclosure), the 2020 Fixed Bonus. Mr. Gleason’s cash severance benefits are generally subject to Mr. Gleason’s execution and non-revocation of a release of claims against the Company.

(4)

Mr. Eckl’s employment agreement provides that if his employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” or by Mr. Eckl for “good reason” (as such terms are defined in his employment agreement), he will receive (i) a lump sum equal to the sum of his annual base salary ($342,000); and (ii) a lump sum equal to a pro-rated annual cash incentive payment for 2020 based on actual performance (which we have assumed to be provided inthe discretionary bonus of $94,000 for purposes of this disclosure). In the event of a termination bychange in control of the Company, other thanin certain circumstances as described below, Mr. Eckl may be eligible for “cause,” death or disability or by the officer for “good reason” (other than in connection with a change in control). The accelerated vesting of all or part of unvested RSUs and stock option awards are subject to the discretion of the Board in the event of termination. For the purposes of this disclosure, we have assumed that all outstanding RSUs and stock options will be accelerated. For the purpose of this disclosure, Mr. Sadlowski’s performance units have a value of $0 because of stock price performance to date. The amounts in this column for each named executive officer consist of the following:

Mr. Sadlowski: a lump sum cash amount equal to the sum of his annual base salary ($575,000)342,000) plus an annual cash incentive (equal to the same percentage of his annual base salary as the annual cash incentive, if any, that he received for the prior fiscal year ($94,000)); aif this amount were paid, it would be in lieu of the base salary ($342,000) lump sum cash amount equal tothat would be paid in apro-ratednon-change annual bonusin control termination.

(5)

Represents the payment for 2017 ($201,644); the value of COBRA reimbursements for 12 months following termination. Mr. Gleason’s employment ($23,564); andagreement provides for the valuereimbursement of RSU awardshis COBRA payments if he elects continued coverage. Mr. Eckl’s employment agreement provides for which vesting is accelerated ($193,781).a lump sum payment.

 

  Mr. Eckl: a lump sum cash amount equal to base salary ($300,000); a lump sum cash amount equal to apro-rated annual bonus payment for 2017 ($50,000); a lump sum amount equal to the product of 12 multiplied by the monthly COBRA premium for health, dental and vision benefits in effect for the officer, his spouse and his dependents ($6,636); and the value of RSU awards for which vesting is accelerated ($105,165).2021 Proxy Statement • 31


Employment Agreement with Mr. Gleason

 

Mr. DeZwirek: the value of RSU awards for which vesting is accelerated ($98,088).

 

Mr. Gohr: the value of RSU awards for which vesting is accelerated ($45,557).

Employment and Separation Agreements

During 2017, of the named executive officers, only Messrs. Sadlowski, Eckl and Lang had employment agreements with the Company.

As of January 9, 2017, the CompanyWe entered into an employment agreement on July 6, 2020 with Mr. Eckl.Gleason in connection with his appointment as our CEO. The material terms of the employment agreement are as follows:

has an initial term of three years, subject to annual base salary of $300,000, which base salary would be increased to $335,000 for 2018, and then reviewed byextensions unless the Company at least annually for any increase;

initial target annual bonus opportunity equaltimely terminates such extensions. In addition to 50% of annual base salary, which target bonus opportunity would increase to 55% of annual base salary for 2018, and then be reviewed by the Compensation Committee and approved annually thereafter;

aone-time bonus of $65,000 (less any annual bonus amount Mr. Eckl received from his prior employer with respect to 2016), which bonus was paid to him on January 12, 2017;

subject to approval by the Compensation Committee, an initial award of 15,000 RSUs in January 2017, and an award of 20,000 RSUs in or about January 2018, which RSUs will generally vest (subject to continued employment) in five equal installments on each of the first five anniversary dates of the applicable grant dates of such awards;

an additional initial award of 11,000 RSUs in January 2017, which RSUs will generally vest (subject to continued employment) in two equal installments on each of the first two anniversary dates of the grant date of such award;

a monthly car allowance of $1,000; and

participation in the employee benefit plans, programs and policies for senior executives of our Company, his employment agreement provides for the Company.following:

  a base salary that is subject to annual reviews for increase;

  the opportunity to earn, based on achievement with respect to the applicable performance criteria established by our Compensation Committee, an annual cash bonus with a target bonus opportunity equal to no less than 100% of his base salary and a maximum bonus opportunity equal to no less than 200% of his base salary (except that his 2020 cash bonus would be equal to $150,000); and

  eligibility for annual awards under our Company’s long-term incentive compensation arrangements as reasonably determined by our Compensation Committee after consideration of competitive market data provided by its independent compensation consultant, in accordance with Company policies and the applicable award agreements and incentive compensation plans under which such awards may be granted.

LOGO

Mr. Gleason’s employment agreement also provided for the following additional compensation and benefits:

  a sign-on cash bonus equal to $150,000, partly in lieu of relocation payments, with the sign-on bonus subject to repayment under certain circumstances if Mr. Gleason terminates employment without good reason prior to September 30, 2021;

  initial equity awards for approximately $600,000 in time-based restricted stock units that generally vest over four years, approximately $900,000 in nonqualified stock options (granted at market value) that generally vest over four years, and approximately $1,500,000 in premium-priced nonqualified stock options (exercise price equal to two times market value) that generally vest over four years;

  a $1,000 monthly car allowance; and

  reimbursement through December 31, 2021 for up to $2,500 per month for apartment or comparable rental expenses in the Dallas, Texas area.

LOGO

Under the employment agreement, Mr. Gleason is subject to customary one-year post-employment non-competition obligations and indefinite employee non-solicitation and confidentiality obligations. The employment agreement also includes a mutual non-disparagement provision that applies for one year following termination of Mr. Gleason’s employment.

32 • CECO Environmental

In connection


Arrangements with his assumption of the role of interim CEO, the CompanyMr. Sadlowski

We entered into an offer letteremployment agreement on June 10, 2017 with Mr. Sadlowski on January 26, 2017, which offer letter established his initial compensation terms, including a base salary of $575,000, a discretionary cash bonus opportunity targeted at 100% of base salary (with the ultimate amount of such bonus determined at the end of the term based on the Compensation Committee’s subjective evaluation of Mr. Sadlowski’s performance), and an award of RSUs at least equal to the number received by each of the Company’snon-employee directors in connection with the Company’s 2017 annual meeting of stockholders (which RSUs generally vest in four equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date). In connection with his appointment as our permanent CEO, on June 9, 2017,

Mr. Sadlowski entered into anwhich employment agreement with the Company. The material terms of the employment agreement are as follows:

initial annual base salary of $575,000, which base salary will be reviewed by the Company at least annually for any increase;

eligibilitywas in effect during 2020. In addition to earn a cash bonus for 2017 as follows: (1) for the period up to May 31, 2017, $201,644 (representing the discretionary cash bonus earned under his prior offer letter); and (2) for the remainder of the 2017 calendar year (the “Stub Period”), eligibility to earn, based on achievement with respect to the applicable performance criteria established by the Compensation Committee, an additional bonus amount with a target opportunity equal to 100% of the portion of his base salary actually earned during the Stub Period and a maximum opportunity equal to 200% of such amount;

for each calendar year after 2017 ending during the term of the employment agreement, the opportunity to earn, based on achievement with respect to the applicable performance criteria established by the Compensation Committee, an annual cash bonus with a target bonus opportunity equal to no less than 100% of his base salary and a maximum bonus opportunity equal to no less than 200% of his base salary;

the following initial long-term incentive awards:

time-based RSUs with a grant date value (as determined by the Compensation Committee) equal to $300,000 (but subtracting 7,642 from the number of shares subject to the award as so calculated, representing the number of RSUs granted to Mr. Sadlowski on May 16, 2017 in connection with his service as a member of the Board), which award will generally vest, subject to continued employment, in three substantially equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date; and

a grant of performance units with a grant date “target” value (as determined by the Compensation Committee) equal to $700,000, the payout of which will vary from 0% of the target award to 200% of the target award, subject generally to a three-year performance period and performance criteria and objectives established by the Compensation Committee;

for calendar years after 2017 during the term of the employment agreement, eligibility for market-competitive annual awards under the Company’s long-term incentive compensation arrangements as reasonably determined by the Compensation Committee after consideration of competitive market data provided by its independent compensation consultant, in accordance with the Company’s policies and the applicable award agreements and incentive compensation plans under which such awards may be granted; and

participation in the employee benefit plans, programs and policies for senior executives of our Company and a monthly car allowance, his employment agreement provided for the following:

  a base salary that was subject to annual reviews for increase;

  the opportunity to earn, based on achievement with respect to the applicable performance criteria established by our Compensation Committee, an annual cash bonus with a target bonus opportunity equal to no less than 100% of his base salary and a maximum bonus opportunity equal to no less than 200% of his base salary; and

  eligibility for market-competitive annual awards under our Company’s long-term incentive compensation arrangements as reasonably determined by our Compensation Committee after consideration of competitive market data provided by its independent compensation consultant, in accordance with Company policies and the applicable award agreements and incentive compensation plans under which such awards may be granted.

LOGO

As noted above, Mr. Sadlowski ceased serving as CEO effective July 5, 2020. On July 5, 2020, the Company entered into a separation and consulting agreement with Mr. Sadlowski specifying that Mr. Sadlowski’s departure from the Company was a termination without “cause” for purposes of Mr. Sadlowski’s employment agreement with the Company.

Under the separation and consulting agreement, Mr. Sadlowski is entitled to the following payments and benefits, in addition to certain accrued benefits:

  a lump sum cash amount equal in value to Mr. Sadlowski’s annual base salary ($587,000);

  a lump sum cash amount equal in value to the product obtained by multiplying (1) the amount of Mr. Sadlowski’s 2020 annual bonus, by (2) a fraction, the numerator of which is the total number of days that elapsed during the 2020 calendar year through Mr. Sadlowski’s separation date and the denominator of which is 365 ($149,564);

  payments equal to four weeks of vacation pay ($45,115); and

  reimbursement of monthly COBRA payments for up to 18 months ($12,683).

LOGO

The Company has also agreed to provide for the reasonable transition of Mr. Sadlowski’s Company-provided executive life insurance plan to Mr. Sadlowski. Pursuant to the separation and consulting agreement, in order to facilitate an orderly transition of CEO duties, Mr. Sadlowski agreed to provide consulting services to the Company through December 31, 2020 at the rate of $48,917 per month. Mr. Sadlowski’s outstanding equity awards were forfeited in connection with his departure from the Company.

Employment Agreement with Mr. Eckl

We entered into an employment agreement on January 9, 2017 with Mr. Eckl when he joined our Company as our Chief Financial Officer. In addition to participation in the employee benefit plans, programs and policies for senior executives of our Company and a monthly car allowance, his employment agreement provides a minimum base salary that is now subject to annual reviews for increase.

The employment agreements with Mr. SadlowskiMessrs. Gleason and Mr. Eckl also provide that if we terminate the executive officer’s employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” (as defined in theeach employment agreement) or byif the executive officer terminates employment for “good reason” (as defined in theeach employment agreement), he will be entitled to receive (in addition to certain accrued compensation and other benefits), subject to his execution of a release: (1) a lump sum cash amount equal to his annual base salary; (2) a lump sum cash amount equal to a pro rata portion of the annual bonus he would have earned had he remained employed through the end of the fiscal year in which such termination occurs; and (3) for Mr. Gleason, reimbursement of monthly COBRA payments for up to 12 months after termination, and for Mr. Eckl, a lump sum cash

2021 Proxy Statement • 33


amount equal to the product of 12 multiplied by the monthly COBRA premium for health, dental and vision benefits in effect for the executive officer, his spouse and his dependents (or,dependents.

If Mr. Gleason is terminated without cause or terminates his employment for good reason within two years after a “change in control” (as defined in Mr. Sadlowski, reimbursementGleason’s employment agreement) of monthly COBRA paymentsour Company, the cash severance amount would include Mr. Gleason’s target annual bonus for up to 12 months after termination)the year of termination (rather than a pro-rata bonus based on actual performance).

In the event of a “change in control” (as defined in Mr. Eckl’s employment agreement) of theour Company, if Mr. Eckl is not offered employment with the successor entity or purchaser does not offer Mr. Eckl employment as CFOChief Financial Officer with a compensation package equal to or better than the combination of his annual base salary and annual bonus opportunity as in effect immediately prior to such change in control, then Mr. Eckl will resign as of the date of such change in control (or agree to resign as of the end of a reasonable transition period) and, subject to his execution of a release, in lieu of the amount described in (1) above, he will be entitled to receive a lump sum

cash amount equal to the sum of his annual base salary plus his annual bonus (equal to the same percentage of his annual base salary as the annual bonus, if any, that he received for the prior fiscal year). Immediately prior to the closing of a change in control, any unvested RSUs held by Mr. Eckl will immediately vest.

Pursuant to their employment agreements, Mr.Messrs. Gleason and Eckl and Mr. Sadlowski are also subject toone-year post-employmentnon-competition obligations and indefinitenon-solicitation and confidentiality obligations. The Employment AgreementEach of these employment agreements also includes a customary indemnification provision. Mr. Sadlowski’sGleason’s employment agreement also includes a mutualnon-disparagement provision that applies for one year following termination of Mr. Sadlowski’shis employment.

In February 2010, the Compensation Committee approved an Employment Agreement with Mr. Lang that set forth the basic terms and conditions of his employment, which agreement was extended until February 15, 2018 on September 3, 2015. Pursuant to his Employment Agreement, either the Company or Mr. Lang could terminate his Employment Agreement at any time without cause, although Mr. Lang had to give 60 days’ notice of such termination. “Cause” under the Employment Agreement included, among other items, willful and material breach of the terms of the Employment Agreement by Mr. Lang, conviction of a felony or certain misdemeanors, and his failure to perform his duties as lawfully directed by the Board, subject to a cure period. If the Company terminated Mr. Lang without cause, provided he remained in compliance with the restrictive covenants under his employment agreement and executed a general release of claims in favor of the Company, he would have generally been entitled to (in addition to certain accrued compensation and other benefits) continued base salary and medical benefits for twelve months, plus an annual bonus based upon the percentage of base salary applicable to the annual bonus for the prior fiscal year. In addition, vested stock options held by Mr. Lang would remain exercisable for a period of 90 days following the termination date. If Mr. Lang’s employment had been terminated due to his death or disability (as defined in the Employment Agreement), Mr. Lang would have been entitled to three months continued base salary, subject to continued compliance with the restrictive covenants under the employment agreement. If in addition, there was a change in control of the Company (as defined in the CECO Environmental Corp. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan) and Mr. Lang was not offered employment as CEO with a compensation package equal to or better than his base salary and bonus under his Employment Agreement, then Mr. Lang was to resign and would have been entitled to a lump sum on the date of the change in control equal to his annual base salary plus his bonus in an amount equal to the same percentage of his base salary as the bonus, if any, that he received for the most recently ended fiscal year.

In connection with Mr. Lang stepping down as CEO, President and Director, the Company and Mr. Lang entered into a separation agreement on February 1, 2017. The Separation Agreement provides that Mr. Lang is entitled to the benefits under his employment agreement with the Company for a termination without cause, plus a lump sum transition bonus payment of $250,000. The other compensation under the severance provisions of Mr. Lang’s employment agreement consist of 12 months of continued base salary payments ($575,000), continued medical benefits under the Company’s current medical plans for up to 12 months (estimated to be $14,588) and payment of an annual bonus for the 2016 fiscal year ($575,000), which annual bonus was already earned at the time of Mr. Lang’s termination. All of Mr. Lang’s unvested RSUs and stock option awards were forfeited in accordance with the applicable equity plan and applicable award agreements. SeeOutstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal 2017Year-End above for more information on Mr. Lang’s stock option and RSU holdings. The separation agreement specifically provides that the restrictive covenants under Mr. Lang’s employment agreement will survive his termination of employment, and includes anon-disparagement provision. Pursuant to the separation agreement, before any shares of the Company’s stock that Mr. Lang acquires upon exercise of a Company stock option may be sold or transferred by Mr. Lang, the Company will have a right of first refusal to purchase such shares upon the terms and conditions further described in the separation agreement.

In connection with his separation from the Company on July 21, 2017, Mr. Prajzner entered into a separation agreement and release with the Company. Pursuant to the agreement, in exchange for Mr. Prajzner’s general release of claims, the Company agreed to provide the following compensation and benefits to Mr. Prajzner (in addition to certain accrued compensation and benefits): (1) an amount equal to $150,000, payable in substantially equal installments over a period of six months after the separation date; (2) subject to Mr. Prajzner’s timely election of COBRA coverage under the Company’s medical, dental, vision and prescription drug plans, payment by the Company of 100% of the COBRA premiums on behalf of Mr. Prajzner (and his eligible dependents, if applicable) for up to six months following the separation date (estimated to be $12,026); and (3) immediate vesting of 3,125 RSUs that were initially scheduled to vest on September 4, 2017 (valued at $23,438). The separation agreement includes an acknowledgement that Mr. Prajzner will continue to be bound by his confidentiality,non-competition,non-solicitation and other obligations under his restrictive covenant agreement with the Company, and that the Company’s obligation to pay the severance amounts will cease if Mr. Prajzner breaches any of his obligations under the restrictive covenants agreement. The separation agreement also includesnon-disparagement provisions in favor of the Company.

In connection with his separation from the Company on December 31, 2017, Mr. Cook did not enter into a separation agreement and release with the Company. Mr. Cook did not receive compensation and benefits post-employment except for those earned on an as needed, consulting basis.

Chief Executive Officer Pay Ratio

For 2017,2020, the ratio of the annual total compensation of Mr. Sadlowski,Gleason, our current CEO who was serving in such capacity on November 30, 2017 (“CEO Compensation”), to the median of the annual total compensation of all our employees and those of our consolidated subsidiaries (other than Mr. Sadlowski)our CEO) (“Median Annual Compensation”), was 26approximately 67 to 1. We note that due to our permitted use of reasonable estimates and assumptions in preparing this pay ratio disclosure, the disclosure may involve a degree of imprecision, and thusimprecision. Accordingly, this pay ratio disclosure is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with Item 402(u) of RegulationS-KSEC rules, using the data and assumptions described below. In this summary, weWe refer to the employee who received the Median Annual Compensation as the “Median Employee.” For purposes

As permitted under the pay ratio disclosure rules, we calculated the pay ratio disclosed above based solely on the compensation of this disclosure, the date used to identify the Median Employee was November 30, 2017 (the “Determination Date”)Mr. Gleason, who has served as principal executive officer since July 6, 2020 (including on our “determination date” of December 31, 2020).

For purposes of this pay ratio disclosure, CEO Compensation was determined to be $1,253,000. As further discussed above, Mr. Sadlowski began serving as our interim CEO on February 1, 2017, and then served from June 9, 2017 through the end of 2017 as our permanent CEO. CEO Compensation for purposes of this disclosure$3,784,808, which represents the total 2020 compensation reported for Mr. Sadlowski underGleason, as set forth above in the “20172020 Summary Compensation Table” for 2017, annualizedTable, but increased by $245,027 to annualize the amount based on Mr. Sadlowski’sGleason’s period of service during 20172020 and reasonable estimates regarding the composition of Mr. Sadlowski’sGleason’s compensation that would have been applicable if Mr. SadlowskiGleason had been employed by us for all of 2017.

2020. For purposes of this pay ratio disclosure, Median Annual Compensation was determined to be $48,900,$56,800 and was calculated by totalingusing the same methodology we used for our Median Employee all applicable elementsnamed executive officers in the 2020 Summary Compensation Table.

The annual total compensation of Mr. Gleason in 2020 includes special initial equity awards of RSUs and stock options having an aggregate grant date fair value of approximately $3.0 million that were granted to him in connection with his appointment as CEO in July 2020. Based on a reasonable estimate of what we believe Mr. Gleason’s annualized 2020 compensation would have been based on regular target annual compensation under his employment agreement, had his annual total compensation for 20172020 been $1,925,000, we believe this would have resulted in accordance with Item 402(c)(2)(x) of RegulationS-K.a ratio closer to 34 to 1.

To identify the Median Employee, we measured cash compensation (as described below) for the period beginning on January 1, 20172020 and ending on November 30, 2017December 31, 2020 for 923702 U.S. andnon-U.S. employees, representing all full-time, part-time, seasonal and temporary employees for us and our consolidated subsidiaries as of the Determination Dateour “determination date” of December 31, 2020 (except as described below and other than Mr. Sadlowski)for our CEO). This number does not include any independent contractors or “leased” workers, as permitted by the applicable SEC rules. This number excludes approximately 2823 non-U.S. employees (consisting of approximately 14 employees in England, 108 employees in Singapore, 24 employees in MexicoCanada and 211 employees in India,the United Kingdom, or collectively approximately 3% of our total workforce of 951725 employees) and does not exclude any employees of businesses acquired by us or combined with us. ThisThe cash compensation measurement was calculated by totaling, for each employee, the following cash compensation elements: salary, wages, commissions, bonuses, and certain cash perquisites (such as moving allowance and automobile allowances). This cash compensation represents the consistently applied compensation measure that we used for our pay ratio determination. Specifically excluded from the consistently applied compensation measure were equity awards and Company contributions to 401(k) plans. Further, we annualized compensation but did not utilize any statistical sampling, orcost-of-living adjustments or other annualizations for purposes of this pay ratio disclosure.

Director Compensation for Fiscal Year 2017

The following table provides information on 2017 compensation for each of our directors who are not named executive officers and who served during 2017. The table does not include expenses for attending meetings.

Name

  Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
($)
   Stock Awards1
($)
   All Other
Compensation2
($)
  Total
($)
 

Eric M. Goldberg

  $45,000   $70,001   $1,007  $116,008 

Claudio A. Mannarino

  $75,000   $70,001   $1,007  $146,008 

Jonathan Pollack

  $45,000   $70,001   $110,5073  $225,508 

Seth Rudin

  $45,000   $70,001   $1,007  $116,008 

Valerie Gentile Sachs

  $56,264   $70,001    —    $126,265 

Donald A. Wright

  $52,528   $70,001   $1,007  $123,536 

David B. Liner

  $28,146   $70,001    —    $98,147 

 

(1)Represents the grant date fair value of RSU awards calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, disregarding estimated forfeitures, rather than amounts realized by the named individuals. Assumptions used in calculating these amounts are included in Note 10 to the Company’s audited financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. The RSU awards are unvested and represent all outstanding RSU awards to our directors in 2017. The aggregate number of RSU awards held by each of our directors, who are not named executive officers as of December 31, 2017 are as follows: Mr. Goldberg – 17,951, Mr. Mannarino – 17,951, Mr. Pollack – 17,951, Mr. Liner – 7,642, Mr. Rudin – 17,951, Ms. Sachs – 14,263 and Mr. Wright – 17,951. The aggregate number of option awards held by each of our directors, who are not named executive officers as of December 31, 2017 are as follows: Mr. Goldberg – 15,000, Mr. Mannarino – 0, Mr. Pollack – 103,000, Mr. Liner – 0, Mr. Rudin – 15,000, Ms. Sachs – 0 and Mr. Wright – 29,000.
34 • CECO Environmental
(2)Amounts in this column are inclusive of dividend equivalent payments on RSUs awards in connection with the dividend we paid in September 2017.
(3)Includes amount paid to JMP for consulting services. See Certain Transactions above for more information.

Directors who are named executive officers of the Company do not receive any additional compensation for their services as directors, except as described below.

During 2017, the


non-employee directors received an annual retainer of $45,000, which was paid quarterly. The chairperson of the Audit Committee received an annual retainer of $75,000. The chairperson of the Compensation Committee and Nominations and Governance Committee received an annual retainer of $60,000.Non-employee directors who were not a chairperson of a committee received an annual retainer of $45,000. Mr. Sadlowski, who currently serves as our CEO, received a retainer of $14,125 for his service on the Board until being appointed CEO.

All of the directors – including our Chairman – also received service-based RSUs in 2017 in lieu of meeting fees. The Compensation Committee determined that issuing RSUs in lieu of cash meeting payments would simplify the directors’ compensation while promoting the ownership of stock of the Company. We therefore granted RSUs covering 7,642 shares of common stock in May 2017 to each of thenon-management directors serving at that time. The RSUs generally vest on the one year anniversary of the grant. We also reimburse or pay the Board members their reasonable travel andout-of-pocket expenses to attend meetings.

Effective August 3, 2016, the Board implemented mandatory stock ownership guidelines fornon-management directors to further align the interests ofnon-management directors and stockholders. Eachnon-management director is required to own shares of our common stock having a value equal to at least three times thenon-management director’s regular annual cash retainer.Non-management directors shall have three years from the later of August 3, 2016 or his or her election or appointment to the Board to attain such ownership levels. The Compensation Committee in its discretion may extend the period of time for attainment of such ownership levels in appropriate circumstances. For purposes of this requirement, anon-management director’s stock ownership includes all shares of our common stock owned by thenon-management director outright or held in trust for thenon-management director and his or her immediate family, plus anon-management director’s deferred or restricted stock or equivalent units. The value of a share shall be measured as the greater of the then current market price or the closing price of a share of our common stock on the acquisition or grant date.

PROPOSAL 2

APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS,VOTE TO APPROVE THE COMPENSATION OF THE COMPANY’SOUR

NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATIONOFFICERS

As required pursuant to Section 14A of the Exchange Act and the related rules of the SEC, weWe are including in this proxy statement a separate resolution to enable our stockholders to approve, on anseeking your advisory andnon-binding(non-binding) basis,vote approving the compensation of our named executive officers. Consistent withWe believe that the structure of our stockholders’ preference as indicated atexecutive officer compensation programs promotes the long-term interests of our 2013 annual meeting of stockholders,stockholders. Our executive officer compensation programs are designed to attract, retain, motivate and reward talented executive officers who will achieve our stockholders are given an opportunitybusiness objectives and create long-term value for advisory approval of the Company’s executive compensation on an annual basis. Therefore, we expectour stockholders. We believe that our stockholders will next have the opportunity to vote on the advisory approval of the Company’s executive compensation at the 2019 annual meeting of stockholders.program rewards sustained performance that is aligned with long-term stockholder interests.

This proposal, commonly known as a“Say-on-Pay” proposal, gives our stockholders the opportunity to express their views on our named executive officers’ compensation. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our named executive officers and the philosophy, policies, and practices described in this proxy statement. Accordingly, you may vote on the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:

“RESOLVED, that Company’sProxy Statement. We encourage stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers, as disclosed in CECO Environmental Corp.’s proxy statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC, including the compensation tables and narrative disclosure.”

This vote is advisory, and thereforenon-binding. In considering their vote, stockholders are encouraged to read the Executive Compensation sectionsections of this proxy statement,Proxy Statement, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, which discusses the Company’sour compensation policies and procedures, and the compensation for the Company’sof our named executive officers for 2020.

At our 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, our Say-on-Pay proposal to approve the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017. The Boardcompensation of our named executive officers received over 99% approval, based on total votes cast for and against, or approximately 89% approval of all shares represented at the meeting. We believe that this indicates strong support for our continued focus on aligning our named executive officer compensation programs with the interests of our stockholders. During 2020, we continued to focus on pay for performance, and in addition to granting time-based restricted stock units, we granted performance-based restricted stock units that only vest if our market performance meets or exceeds the goals established by our Compensation Committee.

This vote is required pursuant to Section 14A of the Exchange Act and is advisory and non-binding; however, our Compensation Committee expectand our Board is expected to take into accountconsider the outcomeresults of the vote when consideringmaking future determinations regarding our named executive officer compensation decisionsprograms. Advisory Say-on-Pay votes have been scheduled to be held once every year. We expect to hold the extent they can determinenext advisory vote to approve the cause or causescompensation of any significant negative voting results.

Our compensation programs are designed to motivate our executives to create a successful Company. We believe that our compensation program rewards sustained performance that is aligned with long-term stockholder interests.named executive officers in 2022.

This proposal requires a favorable vote of the majority of shares represented at the Annual Meeting for advisory approval.

The Board recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” For the approval, on an advisory basis, of the Company’s named executive officer compensation described in the compensation tables and the narrative discussionpurposes of this proxy statement.

proposal, abstentions and broker non-votes are treated as shares represented at the Annual Meeting, and will have the same effect as a vote against.    

LOGO

2021 Proxy Statement • 35


PROPOSAL 3

APPROVAL OF THE CECO ENVIRONMENTAL CORP. 2021 EQUITY AND INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

Overview

We are asking stockholders to approve the CECO Environmental Corp. 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2021 Plan”). Our Board of Directors is recommending that the Company’s stockholders vote in favor of the 2021 Plan, which will succeed the existing CECO Environmental Corp. 2017 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan, including as amended or amended and restated to date (the “2017 Plan”). The 2017 Plan has shares remaining available for new awards as of the date of this Proxy Statement, but if the 2021 Plan is approved by our stockholders, no further grants will be made under the 2017 Plan. However, outstanding awards under the 2017 Plan will generally continue in effect in accordance with their terms. The Company also continues to administer its 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2007 Plan,” and, together with the 2017 Plan, the “Predecessor Plans”) with respect to awards outstanding thereunder, but no grants could be made under the 2007 Plan on or after May 16, 2017 (the effective date of the 2017 Plan).

The 2021 Plan will continue to afford the Compensation Committee the ability to design compensatory awards that are responsive to the Company’s needs and includes authorization for a variety of awards designed to advance the interests and long-term success of the Company by encouraging stock ownership among officers and other employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, certain consultants or other service providers to the Company and its subsidiaries, and non-employee directors of the Company.

Stockholder approval of the 2021 Plan would constitute approval of 1,675,000 new shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”), plus, any shares remaining available for future grant under the 2017 Plan as of the effective date of the 2021 Plan, to be available for awards under the 2021 Plan, as described below and in the 2021 Plan, with such amount subject to adjustment, including under the 2021 Plan’s share counting rules. If the 2021 Plan is approved by stockholders, it will be effective as of the day of the Annual Meeting. If the 2021 Plan is not approved by our stockholders, no awards will be made under the 2021 Plan, and the 2017 Plan will remain in effect.

The actual text of the 2021 Plan is attached to this proxy statement as Appendix I. The following description of the 2021 Plan is only a summary of its principal terms and provisions and is qualified by reference to the actual text as set forth in Appendix I.

Why We Believe You Should Vote for this Proposal

The 2021 Plan authorizes the Compensation Committee to provide cash awards and equity-based compensation in the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance shares, performance units, dividend equivalents, and certain other awards, including those denominated or payable in, or otherwise based on, shares of Common Stock, for the purpose of providing our non-employee directors, officers and other employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, and certain consultants and other service providers of the Company and its subsidiaries, incentives and rewards for service and/or performance. Some of the key features of the 2021 Plan that reflect our commitment to effective management of equity and incentive compensation are set forth below in this subsection.

We believe our future success depends in part on our ability to attract, motivate, and retain high quality employees and directors and that the ability to provide equity-based and incentive-based awards under the 2021 Plan is critical to achieving this success. We would be at a severe competitive disadvantage if we could not use share-based awards to recruit and compensate our employees and directors. The use of shares of Common Stock as part of our compensation program is also important because equity-based awards are an essential component of our compensation for key employees, as they help link compensation with long-term stockholder value creation and reward participants based on service and/or performance.

As of April 5, 2021, 871,014 shares of Common Stock remained available for issuance under the 2017 Plan. If the 2021 Plan is not approved, we may be compelled to increase significantly the cash component of our employee and director compensation, which approach may not necessarily align employee and director compensation interests with the investment interests of our stockholders. Replacing equity awards with cash also would increase cash compensation expense and use cash that could be better utilized.

36 • CECO Environmental


The following includes aggregated information regarding our view of the overhang and dilution associated with the Predecessor Plans and the potential dilution associated with the 2021 Plan. This information is as of April 5, 2021. As of that date, there were approximately 35,567,511 shares of Common Stock outstanding:

  Outstanding full-value awards (time-based RSUs and performance-based RSUs based on maximum performance): 1,289,963 shares (approximately 3.6% of our outstanding shares of Common Stock);

  Outstanding stock options: 1,536,154 shares (approximately 4.3% of our outstanding shares of Common Stock) (outstanding stock options have a weighted average exercise price of $11.20 and a weighted average remaining term of 5.6 years);

  In summary, total shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding awards, as described above (full-value awards and stock options): 2,826,117 shares (approximately 7.9% of our outstanding shares of Common Stock);

  Total shares of Common Stock available for future awards under the 2017 Plan: 871,014 shares (approximately 2.4% of our outstanding shares of Common Stock) (however, as noted above, no further grants will be made under the 2017 Plan upon the effective date of the 2021 Plan, so we view the remaining shares under the 2017 Plan as “rolling into” the new 2021 Plan based on the design of the new 2021 Plan);

  The total number of shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding awards (2,826,117 shares) under the Predecessor Plans, plus the total number of shares of Common Stock available for future awards under the 2017 Plan (871,014 shares), represents a current overhang percentage of approximately 10.4% (in other words, the potential dilution of the holders of shares of Common Stock represented by the Predecessor Plans);

  Proposed additional shares of Common Stock available for awards under the 2021 Plan: 1,675,000 shares (approximately 4.7% of our outstanding shares of Common Stock – this percentage reflects the simple dilution of the holders of shares of Common Stock that would occur if the 2021 Plan is approved); and

  The total shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding awards as of April 5, 2021 (2,826,117 shares), plus the proposed shares of Common Stock available for future awards under the 2021 Plan (the 871,014 shares of Common Stock that remain available under the 2017 Plan, plus the 1,675,000 additional shares), represent an approximate total overhang of 5,372,131 shares (approximately 15.1%) under the 2021 Plan.

LOGO

Based on the closing price on the NASDAQ Stock Market for our shares of Common Stock on April 5, 2021 of $8.18 per share, the aggregate market value as of April 5, 2021 of the new 1,675,000 shares of Common Stock requested under the 2021 Plan was $13,701,500.

In 2018, 2019 and 2020, we granted awards under the Predecessor Plans covering 963,000 shares, 464,000shares, and 553,000 shares, respectively. Based on our basic weighted average shares of Common Stock outstanding for those fiscal years of 34,717,395, 34,987,878, and 35,289,616, respectively, for the three-fiscal-year period 2018-2020, our average burn rate, not taking into account forfeitures, was approximately 1.9% (our individual years’ burn rates were 2.8% for fiscal 2018, 1.3% for fiscal 2019 and 1.6% for 2020).

In determining the number of shares to request for approval under the 2021 Plan, our management team worked with the Compensation Committee to evaluate a number of factors, including our recent share usage and criteria expected to be utilized by institutional proxy advisory firms in evaluating our proposal for the 2021 Plan,

If the 2021 Plan is approved, we intend to utilize the shares authorized under the 2021 Plan to continue our practice of incentivizing key individuals through equity grants. We currently anticipate that the shares requested in connection with the approval of the 2021 Plan will last for approximately 5 years, based on our historic grant rates and the approximate current share price, but could last for a different period of time if actual practice does not match recent rates or our share price changes materially. As noted below, our Compensation Committee retains full discretion under the 2021 Plan to determine the number and amount of awards to be granted under the 2021 Plan, subject to the terms of the 2021 Plan, and future benefits that may be received by participants under the 2021 Plan are not determinable at this time.

We believe that we have demonstrated a commitment to sound equity compensation practices in recent years. We recognize that equity compensation awards dilute stockholders’ equity, so we have carefully managed our equity incentive

2021 Proxy Statement • 37


compensation. Our equity compensation practices are intended to be competitive and consistent with market practices, and we believe our historical share usage has been responsible and mindful of stockholder interests, as described above.

In evaluating this proposal, stockholders should consider all of the information in this proposal.

Information on Equity Compensation Plans as of April 5, 2021

The information included in this Proxy Statement and our 2020 Annual Report is updated by the following information regarding all existing equity compensation plans as of April 5, 2021:

  Total stock options outstanding(1)

   1,536,154 

  Weighted-average exercise price of stock options outstanding

  $11.20 

  Weighted-average remaining duration of stock options outstanding

   5.6 

  Total full value awards outstanding(2)

   1,289,963 

  Shares available for grant under the 2017 Plan(3)

   871,014 

  Total shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date

   35,567,511 

(1)

No stock appreciation rights were outstanding as of April 5, 2021

(2)

The number of outstanding performance-based RSUs assumes performance at the maximum level

(3)

Assumes outstanding performance-based RSUs at the maximum level.

2021 Plan Highlights

Below are certain highlights of the 2021 Plan. These features of the 2021 Plan are designed to reinforce alignment between equity compensation arrangements awarded pursuant to the 2021 Plan and stockholders’ interests, consistent with sound corporate governance practices:

Reasonable 2021 Plan Limits. Generally, awards under the 2021 Plan are limited to 1,675,000 shares of Common Stock, plus the total number of shares remaining available for future grant under the 2017 Plan as of the effective date of the 2021 Plan, plus the number of shares of Common Stock that are added (or added back, as applicable) to the aggregate number of shares available under the 2021 Plan pursuant to the share counting rules of the 2021 Plan (as described below). This design means that we are essentially “rolling into” the new 2021 Plan the shares that we have remaining under the 2017 Plan. These shares may be shares of original issuance or treasury shares, or a combination of the two.

Non-Employee Director Compensation Limit. The 2021 Plan provides that in no event will any non-employee director in any one calendar year be granted compensation for such service having an aggregate maximum value (measured at the date of grant, as applicable, and calculating the value of any awards based on the grant date fair value for financial reporting purposes) in excess of $600,000.

Incentive Stock Option Limit. The 2021 Plan also provides that, subject as applicable to adjustment as described in the 2021 Plan, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock actually issued or transferred upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options (as defined below) will not exceed 1,675,000 shares of Common Stock.

38 • CECO Environmental


Share Recycling Provisions. Subject to certain exceptions described in the 2021 Plan, if any award granted under the 2021 Plan (in whole or in part) is canceled or forfeited, expires, is settled for cash, or is unearned, the shares of Common Stock subject to such award will, to the extent of such cancellation, forfeiture, expiration, cash settlement, or unearned amount, again be available under the 2021 Plan. Additionally, if on or after the effective date of the 2021 Plan, any shares of Common Stock subject to an award granted under the Predecessor Plans are forfeited, or an award granted under the Predecessor Plans (in whole or in part) is cancelled or forfeited, expires, is settled in cash, or is unearned, the shares of Common Stock subject to such award will, to the extent of such cancellation, forfeiture, expiration, cash settlement, or unearned amount, be available for awards under the 2021 Plan. Notwithstanding anything else in the 2021 Plan, the following share recycling rules apply under the 2021 Plan:

  Shares of Common Stock withheld by us, tendered or otherwise used in payment of the exercise price of a stock option granted under the 2021 Plan will not be added (or added back, as applicable) to the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available under the 2021 Plan;

  Shares of Common Stock withheld by us, tendered or otherwise used to satisfy a tax withholding obligation will not be added (or added back, as applicable) to the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available under the 2021 Plan;

  Shares of Common Stock subject to a share-settled SAR that are not actually issued in connection with the settlement of such SAR on exercise will not be added back to the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available under the 2021 Plan;

  Shares of Common Stock reacquired by the company on the open market or otherwise using cash proceeds from the exercise of stock options will not be added to the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available under the 2021 Plan; and

  If a participant elects to give up the right to receive compensation in exchange for shares of Common Stock based on fair market value, such shares of Common Stock will not count against the aggregate number of shares available under the 2021 Plan.

LOGO

Minimum Vesting Requirement. In general, awards granted under the 2021 Plan (other than cash-based awards) will vest no earlier than the first anniversary of the applicable grant date. However, the following awards will not be subject to such minimum vesting requirement: any (1) awards granted in connection with awards that are assumed, converted or substituted in connection with a corporate acquisition or merger transaction as described in the 2021 Plan; (2) shares of Common Stock delivered in lieu of fully vested cash obligations; (3) awards to non-employee directors that vest on the earlier of the one-year anniversary of the applicable grant date and the next annual meeting of stockholders which is at least 50 weeks after the immediately preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; and (4) any additional awards the Committee may grant, up to a maximum of five percent (5%) of the available share reserve authorized for issuance under the 2021 Plan (subject to adjustment as described in the 2021 Plan). The minimum vesting requirement does not preclude the Committee, in is sole discretion, from providing for continued vesting or accelerated vesting for any award under the 2021 Plan upon certain events, including in connection with or following a participant’s retirement, death, disability, or termination of employment or service or a change in control, or exercising its discretionary vesting authority (as described in the 2021 Plan) at any time following the grant of an award.

No Repricing Without Stockholder Approval. Outside of certain corporate transactions or adjustment events described in the 2021 Plan or in connection with a “change in control,” the exercise or base price of stock options and SARs cannot be reduced, nor can “underwater” stock options or SARs be cancelled in exchange for cash or replaced with other awards with a lower exercise or base price, without stockholder approval under the 2021 Plan.

Change in Control Definition. The 2021 Plan includes a non-liberal definition of “change in control,” which is described below.

Exercise or Base Price Limitation. The 2021 Plan also provides that, except with respect to certain converted, assumed or substituted awards as described in the 2021 Plan, no stock options or SARs will be granted with an exercise or base price less than the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant.

2021 Proxy Statement • 39


Dividends and Dividend Equivalents. The 2021 Plan provides that dividends and dividend equivalents on 2021 Plan awards will generally be deferred until, and paid contingent upon, the vesting or earning of such awards. The 2021 Plan does not allow for dividends or dividend equivalents on stock options or SARs.

Clawback Provisions. The 2021 Plan provides that awards under the 2021 Plan may be made subject to a clawback policy of the Company or otherwise provide for recoupment by the Company in the event that a grantee engages in detrimental activity, as provided in the documents governing the awards or the applicable clawback policy.

Summary of Other Material Terms of the 2021 Plan

Administration. The 2021 Plan will generally be administered by the Compensation Committee (or its successor), or any other committee of the Board of Directors designated by the Board of Directors to administer the 2021 Plan. However, the Board of Directors may grant awards under the 2021 Plan to non-employee directors of the Company and administer the 2021 Plan with respect to such awards. References to the “Committee” in this proposal refer to the Compensation Committee, such other committee designated by the Board of Directors, or the Board of Directors, as applicable. The Committee may from time to time delegate all or any part of its authority under the 2021 Plan to a subcommittee. Any interpretation, construction and determination by the Committee of any provision of the 2021 Plan, or of any agreement, notification or document evidencing the grant of awards under the 2021 Plan, will be final and conclusive. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Committee may delegate to one or more of its members or to one or more officers, or to one or more agents or advisors of the Company, such administrative duties or powers as it deems advisable. In addition, the Committee may by resolution, subject to certain restrictions set forth in the 2021 Plan, authorize one or more officers of the Company to (1) designate employees to be recipients of awards under the 2021 Plan, and (2) determine the size of such awards. However, the Committee may not delegate such responsibilities to officers for awards granted to non-employee directors or certain employees who are subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act of 1934. The Committee is authorized to take appropriate action under the 2021 Plan subject to the express limitations contained in the 2021 Plan.

Eligibility. Any person who is selected by the Committee to receive benefits under the 2021 Plan and who is at that time an officer or other employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (including a person who has agreed to commence serving in such capacity within 90 days of the date of grant) is eligible to participate in the 2021 Plan. In addition, certain persons (including consultants) who provide services to the Company or any of its subsidiaries that are equivalent to those typically provided by an employee (provided that such persons satisfy the Form S-8 definition of “employee”), and non-employee directors of the Company, may also be selected by the Committee to participate in the 2021 Plan. April 5, 2021, the Company and its subsidiaries had approximately 730 employees and the Company had 7 non-employee directors. Although consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries are also eligible to participate in the 2021 Plan, we have not granted equity awards to consultants in recent years and, due to the temporary status of such service providers, do not have a current estimate of how many such consultants may be eligible in the future to participate in the 2021 Plan. We do not currently expect to make material grants of awards under the 2021 Plan to consultants. The basis for participation in the 2021 Plan by eligible persons is the selection of such persons by the Committee (or its authorized delegate) in its discretion.

Shares Available for Awards under the 2021 Plan. Subject to adjustment as described in the 2021 Plan and the 2021 Plan share counting rules, the number of shares of Common Stock available under the 2021 Plan for awards of:

  Stock options or SARs;

  Restricted stock;

  RSUs;

  Performance shares or performance units;

  Other share-based awards under the 2021 Plan; or

  Dividend equivalents paid with respect to awards under the 2021 Plan;

LOGO

will not exceed, in the aggregate, 1,675,000 shares of Common Stock, plus the total number of shares remaining available for future grant under the 2017 Plan as of the effective date of the 2021 Plan, plus any shares of Common Stock that become

40 • CECO Environmental


available under the 2021 Plan as a result of forfeiture, cancellation, expiration, cash settlement or less-than-maximum earning of 2021 Plan awards. This design means that we are essentially “rolling into” the new 2021 Plan the shares that we have remaining under the Predecessor Plan.

Share Counting. Generally, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available under the 2021 Plan will be reduced by one share of Common Stock for every one share of Common Stock subject to an award granted under the 2021 Plan. Additionally, if on or after the effective date of the 2021 Plan, any shares of Common Stock subject to an award granted under the Predecessor Plans are forfeited, or an award granted under the Predecessor Plans (in whole or in part) is cancelled or forfeited, expires, is settled for cash, or is unearned, the shares of Common Stock subject to such award will, to the extent of such cancellation, forfeiture, expiration, cash settlement, or unearned amount, be available for awards under the 2021 Plan.

Types of Awards Under the 2021 Plan. Pursuant to the 2021 Plan, the Company may grant cash awards and stock options (including stock options intended to be “incentive stock options” as defined in Section 422 of the Code (“Incentive Stock Options”)), SARs, restricted stock, RSUs, performance shares, performance units, cash incentive awards, and certain other awards based on or related to our shares of Common Stock.

Generally, each grant of an award under the 2021 Plan will be evidenced by an award agreement, certificate, resolution or other type or form of writing or other evidence approved by the Committee (an “Evidence of Award”), which will contain such terms and provisions as the Committee may determine, consistent with the 2021 Plan. A brief description of the types of awards which may be granted under the 2021 Plan is set forth below.

Stock Options. A stock option is a right to purchase shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the stock option. Stock options granted to an employee under the 2021 Plan may consist of either an Incentive Stock Option, a non-qualified stock option that is not intended to be an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code, or a combination of both. Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to employees of the Company or certain of our related corporations. Except with respect to awards issued in substitution for, in conversion of, or in connection with an assumption of stock options held by awardees of an entity engaging in a corporate acquisition or merger with us or any of our subsidiaries, Incentive Stock Options and non-qualified stock options must have an exercise price per share that is not less than the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant. The term of a stock option may not extend more than 10 years from the date of grant. The Committee may provide in an Evidence of Award for the automatic exercise of a stock option.

Each grant of a stock option will specify the applicable terms of the stock option, including the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the stock option and the required period or periods of the participant’s continuous service, if any, before any stock option or portion of a stock option will become exercisable. Stock options may provide for continued vesting or the earlier vesting of such stock options, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a participant or in the event of a change in control.

Any grant of stock options may specify management objectives regarding the vesting of the stock options. Each grant will specify whether the consideration to be paid in satisfaction of the exercise price will be payable: (1) in cash, by check acceptable to the Company, or by wire transfer of immediately available funds; (2) by the actual or constructive transfer to the Company of shares of Common Stock owned by the participant with a value at the time of exercise that is equal to the total exercise price; (3) subject to any conditions or limitations established by the Committee, by a net exercise arrangement pursuant to which the Company will withhold shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon exercise of a stock option; (4) by a combination of the foregoing methods; or (5) by such other methods as may be approved by the Committee. To the extent permitted by law, any grant may provide for deferred payment of the exercise price from the proceeds of a sale through a bank or broker of some or all of the shares to which the exercise relates. Stock options granted under the 2021 Plan may not provide for dividends or dividend equivalents.

SARs. The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the granting of SARs. A SAR is a right to receive from us an amount equal to 100%, or such lesser percentage as the Committee may determine, of the spread between the base price and the value of our shares of Common Stock on the date of exercise.

Each grant of SARs will specify the period or periods of continuous service, if any, by the participant with the Company or any subsidiary that is necessary before the SARs or installments of such SARs will vest. SARs may provide for continued vesting or the earlier vesting of such SARs, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a participant or in the event of a change in control. Any grant of SARs may specify management objectives regarding the vesting of such SARs. A SAR may be paid in cash, shares of Common Stock or any combination of the two.

2021 Proxy Statement • 41


Except with respect to awards issued in substitution for, in conversion of, or in connection with an assumption of SARs held by awardees of an entity engaging in a corporate acquisition or merger with us or any of our subsidiaries, the base price of a SAR may not be less than the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant. The term of a SAR may not extend more than 10 years from the date of grant. The Committee may provide in an Evidence of Award for the automatic exercise of a SAR. SARs granted under the 2021 Plan may not provide for dividends or dividend equivalents.

Restricted Stock. Restricted stock constitutes an immediate transfer of the ownership of shares of Common Stock to the participant in consideration of the performance of services, entitling such participant to dividend, voting and other ownership rights, subject to the substantial risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer determined by the Committee for a period of time determined by the Committee or until certain management objectives specified by the Committee are achieved. Each such grant or sale of restricted stock may be made without additional consideration or in consideration of a payment by the participant that is less than the fair market value per share of Common Stock on the date of grant.

Restricted stock may provide for continued vesting or the earlier vesting of such restricted stock, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a participant or in the event of a change in control.

Any grant of restricted stock may specify management objectives regarding the vesting of the restricted stock. Any grant of restricted stock may require that any and all dividends or distributions paid on restricted stock that remains subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture be automatically deferred and/or reinvested in additional restricted stock, which will be subject to the same restrictions as the underlying restricted stock. Any such dividends or other distributions on restricted stock will be deferred until, and paid contingent upon, the vesting of such restricted stock.

RSUs. RSUs awarded under the 2021 Plan constitute an agreement by the Company to deliver shares of Common Stock, cash, or a combination of the two, to the participant in the future in consideration of the performance of services, but subject to the fulfillment of such conditions (which may include achievement regarding management objectives) during the restriction period as the Committee may specify. Each grant or sale of RSUs may be made without additional consideration or in consideration of a payment by the participant that is less than the fair market value of our shares of Common Stock on the date of grant.

RSUs may provide for continued vesting or the earlier lapse or other modification of the restriction period, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination or employment of service of a participant or in the event of a change in control.

During the restriction period applicable to RSUs, the participant will have no right to transfer any rights under the award and will have no rights of ownership in the shares of Common Stock deliverable upon payment of the RSUs and no right to vote them. Rights to dividend equivalents may be extended to and made part of any RSU award at the discretion of and on the terms determined by the Committee, on a deferred and contingent basis, either in cash or in additional shares of Common Stock, but dividend equivalents or other distributions on shares of Common Stock underlying the RSUs will be deferred until and paid contingent upon vesting of such RSUs. Each grant or sale of RSUs will specify the time and manner of payment of the RSUs that have been earned. An RSU may be paid in cash, shares of Common Stock or any combination of the two.

Performance Shares, Performance Units and Cash Incentive Awards. Performance shares, performance units and cash incentive awards may also be granted to participants under the 2021 Plan. A performance share is a bookkeeping entry that records the equivalent of one share of Common Stock, and a performance unit is a bookkeeping entry that records a unit equivalent to $1.00 or such other value as determined by the Committee. Each grant will specify the number or amount of performance shares or performance units, or the amount payable with respect to a cash incentive award being awarded, which number or amount may be subject to adjustment to reflect changes in compensation or other factors.

Each grant of a cash incentive award, performance shares or performance units will specify management objectives regarding the earning of the award.

The performance period with respect to each cash incentive award or grant of performance shares or performance units will be a period of time determined by the Committee and within which the management objectives relating to such award are to be achieved, which may be subject to continued vesting or earlier lapse or other modification, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a participant or in the event of a change in control. Each grant will specify the time and manner of payment of performance shares, performance units or a cash incentive award that has been earned.

42 • CECO Environmental


Any grant of performance shares or performance units may provide for the payment of dividend equivalents in cash or in additional shares of Common Stock, subject to deferral and payment on a contingent basis based on the participant’s earning and vesting of the performance shares or performance units, as applicable, with respect to which such dividend equivalents are paid.

Other Awards. Subject to applicable law and applicable share limits under the 2021 Plan, the Committee may grant to any participant shares of Common Stock or such other awards (“Other Awards”) that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, shares of Common Stock or factors that may influence the value of such shares of Common Stock, including, without limitation, convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into shares of Common Stock, purchase rights for shares of Common Stock, awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Company or specified subsidiaries, affiliates or other business units or any other factors designated by the Committee, and awards valued by reference to the book value of the shares of Common Stock or the value of securities of, or the performance of the specified subsidiaries, affiliates or other business units of the Company. The terms and conditions of any such awards will be determined by the Committee. shares of Common Stock delivered under such an award in the nature of a purchase right granted under the 2021 Plan will be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such time, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, shares of Common Stock, other awards, notes or other property, as the Committee determines.

In addition, the Committee may grant cash awards, as an element of or supplement to any other awards granted under the 2021 Plan. The Committee may also authorize the grant of shares of Common Stock as a bonus, or may authorize the grant of Other Awards in lieu of obligations of the Company or a subsidiary to pay cash or deliver other property under the 2021 Plan or under other plans or compensatory arrangements, subject to terms determined by the Committee in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code.

The Committee may provide for the payment of dividends or dividend equivalents on Other Awards in cash or in additional shares of Common Stock, subject to deferral and payment on a contingent basis based on the participant’s earning and vesting of the Other Awards with respect to which such dividends or dividend equivalents are paid.

Other Awards may provide for the earning or vesting of, or earlier termination of restrictions applicable to, such award, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a participant or in the event of a change in control.

Change in Control. The 2021 Plan includes a definition of “change in control.” In general, except as may be otherwise prescribed by the Committee in an Evidence of Award, a change in control will be deemed to have occurred upon the occurrence (after the effective date of the 2021 Plan) of any of the following events (subject to certain exceptions and limitations and as further described in the 2021 Plan):

1)  a person becomes the beneficial owner of 50% or more of either the then-outstanding Common Stock or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;

2)  individuals who, as of the effective date of the 2021 Plan, constitute the Board cease to constitute at least a majority of the Board;

3)  consummation of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the acquisition of assets or securities of another entity by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, unless such transaction does not result in a significant change in ownership or leadership as further described in the 2021 Plan; or

4)  stockholders approve a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

LOGO

Management Objectives. The 2021 Plan generally provides that any of the awards set forth above may be granted subject to the achievement of specified management objectives. Management objectives are defined as the performance objective or objectives established pursuant to the 2021 Plan for participants who have received grants of performance shares,

2021 Proxy Statement • 43


performance units or cash incentive awards or, when so determined by the Committee, stock options, SARs, restricted stock, RSUs, dividend equivalents or Other Awards. The management objectives applicable to an award under the 2021 Plan (if any) will be determined by the Committee, and may be based on one or more, or a combination, of metrics under the following categories or such other metrics as may be determined by the Committee (including relative or growth achievement regarding such metrics):

  Profits (e.g., gross profit, gross profit growth, operating income, earnings before or after deduction for all or any portion of interest, taxes, depreciation or amortization, net income (before or after taxes), consolidated net income, net earnings, net sales, cost of sales, basic or diluted earnings per share (before or after taxes), residual or economic earnings, net operating profit (before or after taxes), or economic profit);

  Cash Flow (e.g., actual or adjusted earnings before or after interest, taxes, depreciation and/or amortization (including EBIT and EBITDA), free cash flow, free cash flow with or without specific capital expenditure target or range, including or excluding divestments and/or acquisitions, operating cash flow, total cash flow, cash flow in excess of cost of capital or residual cash flow, or cash flow return on investment);

  Returns (e.g., profits or cash flow returns on: assets, investment, capital, invested capital, net capital employed, equity, or sales);

  Working Capital (e.g., working capital targets, working capital divided by sales, days’ sales outstanding, days’ sales inventory, or days’ sales in payables);

  Profit Margins (e.g., profits divided by revenues or gross margins and material margins divided by revenues);

  Liquidity Measures (e.g., debt-to-capital,debt-to-EBITDA, or total debt ratio);

  Sales Growth, Gross Margin Growth, Cost Initiative and Stock Price Metrics (e.g., revenue, net revenue, revenue growth, net revenue growth, revenue growth outside the United States, gross margin and gross margin growth, material margin and material margin growth, stock price appreciation, total return to stockholders, sales and administrative costs divided by sales, or sales and administrative costs divided by profits); and

  Strategic Initiative Key Deliverable Metrics consisting of one or more of the following: product development, strategic partnering, research and development, vitality index, market penetration, market share, geographic business expansion goals, expense targets or cost reduction goals, general and administrative expense savings, selling, general and administrative expenses, objective measures of client/customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, employee retention, management of employment practices and employee benefits, supervision of litigation and information technology, productivity ratios, economic value added (or another measure of profitability that considers the cost of capital employed), product quality, sales of new products, or goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures of subsidiaries, affiliates and joint ventures.

LOGO

Additionally, if the Committee determines that a change in the business, operations, corporate structure or capital structure of the Company, or the manner in which it conducts its business, or other events or circumstances render the management objectives unsuitable, the Committee may in its discretion modify such management objectives or the goals or actual levels of achievement, in whole or in part, as the Committee deems appropriate and equitable.

Transferability of Awards. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, and subject to the terms of the 2021 Plan with respect to Section 409A of the Code, no stock option, SAR, restricted stock, RSU, performance share, performance unit, cash incentive award, Other Award or dividend equivalents paid with respect to awards made under the 2021 Plan will be transferrable by a participant except by will or the laws of descent and distribution. In no event will any such award granted under the 2021 Plan be transferred for value. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, stock options and SARs will be exercisable during the participant’s lifetime only by him or her or, in the event of the participant’s legal incapacity to do so, by his or her guardian or legal representative acting on behalf of the participant in a fiduciary capacity under state law or court supervision.

The Committee may specify on the grant date that all or part of the shares of Common Stock that are subject to awards under the 2021 Plan will be subject to further restrictions on transfer, including minimum holding periods.

44 • CECO Environmental


Adjustments; Corporate Transactions. The Committee will make or provide for such adjustments in: (1) the number of and kind of shares of Common Stock covered by outstanding stock options, SARs, restricted stock, RSUs, performance shares and performance units granted under the 2021 Plan; (2) if applicable, the number of and kind of shares of Common Stock covered by Other Awards granted pursuant to the 2021 Plan; (3) the exercise price or base price provided in outstanding stock options and SARs, respectively; (4) cash incentive awards; and (5) other award terms, as the Committee in its sole discretion, exercised in good faith, determines is equitably required in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of participants that otherwise would result from (a) any extraordinary cash dividend, stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization or other change in the capital structure of the Company; (b) any merger, consolidation, spin-off, spin-out, split-off, split-up, reorganization, partial or complete liquidation or other distribution of assets, issuance of rights or warrants to purchase securities; or (c) any other corporate transaction or event having an effect similar to any of the foregoing.

In the event of any such transaction or event, or in the event of a change in control of the Company, the Committee may provide in substitution for any or all outstanding awards under the 2021 Plan such alternative consideration (including cash), if any, as it may in good faith determine to be equitable under the circumstances and will require in connection therewith the surrender of all awards so replaced in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code. In addition, for each stock option or SAR with an exercise price or base price, respectively, greater than the consideration offered in connection with any such transaction or event or change in control of the Company, the Committee may in its discretion elect to cancel such stock option or SAR without any payment to the person holding such stock option or SAR. The Committee will make or provide for such adjustments to the number of shares of Common Stock available under the 2021 Plan and the share limits of the 2021 Plan as the Committee, in its sole discretion, exercised in good faith, determines is appropriate to reflect such transaction or event. However, any adjustment to the limit on the number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued upon exercise of Incentive Stock Options will be made only if and to the extent such adjustment would not cause any stock option intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option to fail to so qualify.

Prohibition on Repricing. Except in connection with certain corporate transactions or changes in the capital structure of the Company or in connection with a change in control, the terms of outstanding awards may not be amended to (1) reduce the exercise price or base price of outstanding stock options or SARs, respectively, or (2) cancel outstanding “underwater” stock options or SARs in exchange for cash, other awards or stock options or SARs with an exercise price or base price, as applicable, that is less than the exercise price or base price of the original stock options or SARs, as applicable, without stockholder approval. The 2021 Plan specifically provides that this provision is intended to prohibit the repricing of “underwater” stock options and SARs and that it may not be amended without approval by our stockholders.

Detrimental Activity and Recapture. Any Evidence of Award may reference a clawback policy of the Company or provide for the cancellation or forfeiture of an award or forfeiture and repayment to us of any gain related to an award, or other provisions intended to have a similar effect, upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee from time to time, if any participant, either during employment or other service with us or a subsidiary or within a specified period after such employment or service, engages in any detrimental activity, as described in the applicable Evidence of Award or such clawback policy. In addition, any Evidence of Award or such clawback policy may provide for cancellation or forfeiture of an award or the forfeiture and repayment of any shares of Common Stock issued under and/or any other benefit related to an award, or other provisions intended to have a similar effect, including upon such terms and conditions as may be required by the Committee or under Section 10D of the Exchange Act and any applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any national securities exchange or national securities association on which the shares of Common Stock may be traded.

Grants to Non-U.S. Based Participants. In order to facilitate the making of any grant or combination of grants under the 2021 Plan, the Committee may provide for such special terms for awards to participants who are foreign nationals, who are employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries outside of the United States of America or who provide services to the Company or any of its subsidiaries under an agreement with a foreign nation or agency, as the Committee may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom. The Committee may approve such supplements to, or amendments, restatements or alternative versions of, the 2021 Plan (including sub-plans) (to be considered part of the 2021 Plan) as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes, provided that no such special terms, supplements, amendments or restatements will include any provisions that are inconsistent with the terms of the 2021 Plan as then in effect unless the 2021 Plan could have been amended to eliminate such inconsistency without further approval by our stockholders.

Withholding. To the extent the Company is required to withhold federal, state, local or foreign taxes or other amounts in connection with any payment made or benefit realized by a participant or other person under the 2021 Plan, and the amounts

2021 Proxy Statement • 45


available to us for such withholding are insufficient, it will be a condition to the receipt of such payment or the realization of such benefit that the participant or such other person make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for payment of the balance of such taxes or other amounts required to be withheld, which arrangements, in the discretion of the Committee, may include relinquishment of a portion of such benefit. If a participant’s benefit is to be received in the form of shares of Common Stock, and such participant fails to make arrangements for the payment of taxes or other amounts, then, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, we will withhold shares of Common Stock having a value equal to the amount required to be withheld. When a participant is required to pay the Company an amount required to be withheld under applicable income, employment, tax or other laws, the Committee may require the participant to satisfy the obligation, in whole or in part, by having withheld, from the shares delivered or required to be delivered to the participant, shares of Common Stock having a value equal to the amount required to be withheld or by delivering to us other shares of Common Stock held by such participant. The shares of Common Stock used for tax or other withholding will be valued at an amount equal to the fair market value of such shares of Common Stock on the date the benefit is to be included in the participant’s income. In no event will the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock to be withheld and delivered pursuant to the 2021 Plan exceed the minimum amount required to be withheld, unless (1) an additional amount can be withheld and not result in adverse accounting consequences, and (2) such additional withholding amount is authorized by the Committee. Participants will also make such arrangements as the Company may require for the payment of any withholding tax or other obligation that may arise in connection with the disposition of shares of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of stock options.

No Right to Continued Employment. The 2021 Plan does not confer upon any participant any right with respect to continuance of employment or service with the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

Effective Date of the 2021 Plan. The 2021 Plan will become effective on the date it is approved by the Company’s stockholders. No grants will be made under the Predecessor Plans on or after the date on which our stockholders approve the 2021 Plan, provided that outstanding awards granted under the Predecessor Plans will continue following such date.

Amendment and Termination of the 2021 Plan. The Board of Directors generally may amend the 2021 Plan from time to time in whole or in part. However, if any amendment, for purposes of applicable stock exchange rules (and except as permitted under the adjustment provisions of the 2021 Plan) (1) would materially increase the benefits accruing to participants under the 2021 Plan, (2) would materially increase the number of securities which may be issued under the 2021 Plan, (3) would materially modify the requirements for participation in the 2021 Plan, or (4) must otherwise be approved by our stockholders in order to comply with applicable law or the rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market, or, if the shares of Common Stock is not traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market, the principal national securities exchange upon which the shares of Common Stock are traded or quoted, all as determined by the Board of Directors, then such amendment will be subject to stockholder approval and will not be effective unless and until such approval has been obtained.

Further, subject to the 2021 Plan’s prohibition on repricing, the Committee generally may amend the terms of any award prospectively or retroactively. Except in the case of certain adjustments permitted under the 2021 Plan, no such amendment may be made that would materially impair the rights of any participant without his or her consent. If permitted by Section 409A of the Code and subject to certain other limitations set forth in the 2021 Plan, and including in the case of termination of employment or service, or in the case of unforeseeable emergency or other circumstances or in the event of a change in control, the Committee may provide for continued vesting or accelerate the vesting of certain awards granted under the 2021 Plan or waive any other limitation or requirement under any such award.

The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, terminate the 2021 Plan at any time. Termination of the 2021 Plan will not affect the rights of participants or their successors under any awards outstanding and not exercised in full on the date of termination. No grant will be made under the 2021 Plan on or after the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the 2021 Plan, but all grants made prior to such date will continue in effect thereafter subject to their terms and the terms of the 2021 Plan.

Allowances for Conversion Awards and Assumed Plans. shares of Common Stock issued or transferred under awards granted under the 2021 Plan in substitution for or conversion of, or in connection with an assumption of, stock options, SARs, restricted stock, RSUs, or other stock or stock-based awards held by awardees of an entity engaging in a corporate acquisition or merger transaction with us or any of our subsidiaries will not count against (or be added to) the aggregate share limit or other 2021 Plan limits described above. Additionally, shares available under certain plans that we or our subsidiaries may assume in connection with corporate transactions from another entity may be available for certain awards under the 2021 Plan, under circumstances further described in the 2021 Plan, but will not count against the aggregate share limit or other 2021 Plan limits described above.

46 • CECO Environmental


New Plan Benefits

It is not possible to determine the specific amounts and types of awards that may be awarded in the future under the 2021 Plan because the grant and actual settlement of awards under the 2021 Plan are subject to the discretion of the plan administrator.

U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences

The following is a brief summary of certain of the Federal income tax consequences of certain transactions under the 2021 Plan based on Federal income tax laws in effect. This summary, which is presented for the information of stockholders considering how to vote on this proposal and not for 2021 Plan participants, is not intended to be complete and does not describe Federal taxes other than income taxes (such as Medicare and Social Security taxes), or state, local or foreign tax consequences.

Tax Consequences to Participants

Restricted Stock. The recipient of restricted stock generally will be subject to tax at ordinary income rates on the fair market value of the restricted stock (reduced by any amount paid by the recipient for such restricted stock) at such time as the restricted stock is no longer subject to forfeiture or restrictions on transfer for purposes of Section 83 of the Code (“Restrictions”). However, a recipient who so elects under Section 83(b) of the Code within 30 days of the date of transfer of the shares will have taxable ordinary income on the date of transfer of the shares equal to the excess of the fair market value of such shares (determined without regard to the Restrictions) over the purchase price, if any, of such restricted stock. If a Section 83(b) election has not been made, any dividends received with respect to restricted stock that are subject to the Restrictions generally will be treated as compensation that is taxable as ordinary income to the recipient.

Performance Shares, Performance Units and Cash Incentive Awards. No income generally will be recognized upon the grant of performance shares, performance units or cash incentive awards. Upon payment in respect of the earn-out of performance shares, performance units or cash incentive awards, the recipient generally will be required to include as taxable ordinary income in the year of receipt an amount equal to the amount of cash received and the fair market value of any unrestricted shares of Common Stock received.

Nonqualified Stock Options. In general:

  No income will be recognized by an optionee at the time a non-qualified stock option is granted;

  At the time of exercise of a non-qualified stock option, ordinary income will be recognized by the optionee in an amount equal to the difference between the option price paid for the shares and the fair market value of the shares, if unrestricted, on the date of exercise; and

  At the time of sale of shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of a non-qualified stock option, appreciation (or depreciation) in value of the shares after the date of exercise will be treated as either short-term or long-term capital gain (or loss) depending on how long the shares have been held.

LOGO

Incentive Stock Options. No income generally will be recognized by an optionee upon the grant or exercise of an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code. If shares of Common Stock are issued to the optionee pursuant to the exercise of an incentive stock option, and if no disqualifying disposition of such shares is made by such optionee within two years after the date of grant or within one year after the transfer of such shares to the optionee, then upon sale of such shares, any amount realized in excess of the option price will be taxed to the optionee as a long-term capital gain and any loss sustained will be a long-term capital loss.

If shares of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of an incentive stock option are disposed of prior to the expiration of either holding period described above, the optionee generally will recognize ordinary income in the year of disposition in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the fair market value of such shares at the time of exercise (or, if less, the amount realized on the disposition of such shares if a sale or exchange) over the exercise price paid for such shares. Any further gain (or loss) realized by the participant generally will be taxed as short-term or long-term capital gain (or loss) depending on the holding period.

2021 Proxy Statement • 47


SARs. No income will be recognized by a participant in connection with the grant of a SAR. When the SAR is exercised, the participant normally will be required to include as taxable ordinary income in the year of exercise an amount equal to the amount of cash received and the fair market value of any unrestricted shares of Common Stock received on the exercise.

RSUs. No income generally will be recognized upon the award of RSUs. The recipient of an RSU award generally will be subject to tax at ordinary income rates on the fair market value of unrestricted shares of Common Stock on the date that such shares are transferred to the participant under the award (reduced by any amount paid by the participant for such RSUs), and the capital gains/loss holding period for such shares will also commence on such date.

Tax Consequences to the Company and its Subsidiaries

To the extent that a participant recognizes ordinary income in the circumstances described above, the Company or the subsidiary for which the participant performs services will be entitled to a corresponding deduction provided that, among other things, the income meets the test of reasonableness, is an ordinary and necessary business expense, is not an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and is not disallowed by the $1 million limitation on certain executive compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.

Registration with the SEC

We intend to file a Registration Statement on Form S-8 relating to the issuance of shares of Common Stock under the 2021 Plan with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as soon as practicable after approval of the 2021 Plan by our stockholders.

This Proposal 3 requires a favorable vote of the majority of shares represented at the Annual Meeting for approval. For the purposes of this proposal, abstentions and broker non-votes are treated as shares represented at the Annual Meeting, and will have the same effect as a vote against.

LOGO

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table provides information as of December 31, 2020 regarding our compensation plans under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance.

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))

 
    

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

2007 Equity Incentive Plan1

  330,346   $11.15   —   
    

2017 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan2

  962,708   $  0.25   1,151,092 
    

2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan3

  —     $    —     1,300,000 
    

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders4

  1,309,446   $10.26   —   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
    

TOTAL

  2,602,500  

 

 

 

 

  2,451,092 

1

The 2007 Equity Incentive Plan was replaced with the 2017 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan and no further grants will be made under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan. The 2007 Equity Incentive Plan remains in effect solely for the continued administration of the awards currently outstanding under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan.

48 • CECO Environmental


2

The 2017 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan was approved by our stockholders on May 16, 2017. We have reserved 1.9 million shares of our common stock for issuance under our 2017 Equity Incentive Plan. In 2020, approximately 0.6 million restricted stock units were awarded to plan participants under the 2017 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan. All of the shares shown in column (c) with respect to this plan may be issued with respect to awards other than options, warrants or rights, such as restricted stock.

3

The 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan was approved by our shareholders on June 11, 2020. As of December 31, 2020, 21,012 of the shares listed in this column were subject to outstanding purchase rights under the 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and 1,278,988shares remained available for future purchase rights under the 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

4

On July 6, 2020, in connection with Mr. Gleason’s appointment as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, the Company granted Mr. Gleason 94,340 restricted stock units, 316,902 nonqualified stock options, with an exercise price equal to grant date market value, and 898,204 premium-priced nonqualified stock options, with an exercise price equal to two times grant date market value. Mr. Gleason’s restricted stock units and option grants were approved by the Board of Directors of the Company. See Note 9 to the Company’s audited financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 for additional information on Mr. Gleason’s inducement grants.

AUDIT MATTERS

Audit Committee Report

Our Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed our Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, with our management and has discussed with BDO USA, LLP (“BDO”), our independent registered public accounting firm, those matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

In addition, our Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from BDO required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB, regarding BDO’s communications with our Audit Committee concerning independence, and our Audit Committee has discussed BDO’s independence with BDO.

Based on these reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to our Board that our audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 for filing with the SEC.

Audit Committee

Claudio A. Mannarino, Chairman

David B. Liner

Munish Nanda

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees

The following table sets forth the fees for services provided to us by BDO for the fiscal years ended December 31:

   
    2020   2019 
   

Audit Fees

                      $1,267,779                       $1,538,324 
   

Audit-Related Fees

   85,000    174,573 
   

Tax Fees

   —      23,112 
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   

Total

                      $1,352,779                       $1,736,009 

The following is a description of the nature of the services comprising the fees disclosed in the table above for each of the three categories of services. The Audit Committee has considered whether providing non-audit services is compatible with maintaining BDO’s independence.

Audit Fees

These are fees for professional services for the integrated audit of our annual consolidated financial statements, the review of financial statements included in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Proxy Statements and services that are normally rendered in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

2021 Proxy Statement • 49


Audit-Related Fees

These are fees for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or the review of our financial statements that are not included as audit fees.

Tax Fees

These are fees for professional services rendered by BDO with respect to tax compliance and tax planning.

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy

Our Audit Committee is responsible for pre-approving all audit services and permitted non-audit services (including the fees and retention terms) to be performed for our Company by its auditors prior to their engagement for such services. Our Audit Committee has delegated to each of its members the authority to grant pre-approvals, such approvals to be presented to the full Audit Committee at the next scheduled meeting. All of the fees paid to BDO under the categories Audit-Related Fees and Tax Fees were pre-approved by the Audit Committee or the Audit Committee Chair and none of the fees for such services were under the de minimis exception to pre-approval provided in the applicable rules rendered established by the SEC.

50 • CECO Environmental


PROPOSAL 4

RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT

REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

At the recommendation of the Audit Committee, theour Board has appointedratified the appointment of BDO as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018.2021. BDO has served asin that capacity and reported on our independent registered public accounting firmconsolidated financial statement and the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting continuously since September 2008. A representative of BDO is not expected to be present at the Annual Meeting.

TheOur Audit Committeepre-approves approves any engagement of BDO and has the ultimate authority and responsibility to select, evaluate and, where appropriate, replace the independent registered public accounting firm and nominate an independent registered public accounting firm for stockholder approval.

A representative of BDO isAlthough we are not expectedrequired to be present at the Annual Meeting. Althoughseek stockholder approval of the selectionappointment of BDO, is not required by law, the Board believes that it is advisableconsistent with good corporate governance practices to giveask stockholders an opportunity to ratify this selection.the appointment. If the appointment is not ratified, the Audit Committee will explore the reasons for stockholder rejection and will reconsider the appointment. In addition, even if stockholders fail to ratify the Audit Committee’s appointment of BDO, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may reconsiderstill appoint a different independent registered public accounting firm if it believes that such a change would be in the selection.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees

The following table sets forth the fees for services provided by BDO for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

   2017   2016 

Audit Fees

  $1,966,872   $2,020,282 

Audit-Related Fees

  $3,000   $3,250 

Tax Fees

  $30,496   $37,909 

All Other Fees

   —      —   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $2,000,368   $2,061,441 

The following is a descriptionbest interests of the nature of the services comprising the fees disclosed in the table above for each of the four categories of services. The Audit Committee has considered whether providingnon-audit services is compatible with maintaining BDO’s independence.

Audit Fees

These are fees for professional services for the integrated audit ofCompany and our annual consolidated financial statements, the review of financial statements included in Quarterly Reports on Form10-Q, proxy statements and services that are normally rendered in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.stockholders.

Audit-Related Fees

These are fees for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or the review of our financial statements that are not included as audit fees.

Tax Fees

These are fees for professional services rendered by BDO with respect to tax compliance and tax planning.

All Other Fees

These are fees for other services rendered by BDO that do not meet the above category descriptions.

Audit CommitteePre-Approval Policy

The Audit Committee is responsible forpre-approving all audit services and permittednon-audit services (including the fees and retention terms) to be performed for the Company by its auditors prior to their engagement for such services. The Audit Committee has delegated to each of its members the authority to grantpre-approvals, such approvals to be presented to the full Audit Committee at the next scheduled meeting. None of the fees paid to BDO under the categories Audit-Related Fees and Tax Fees were approved by the Audit Committee after the services were rendered pursuant to the de minimis exception established by the SEC.

This proposal requires a favorable vote of the majority of shares represented at the Annual Meeting for approval.

LOGO

2021 Proxy Statement • 51


OTHER INFORMATION

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

The following table shows the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of February 25, 2021 by (i) each of our directors, (ii) each of our named executive officers, (iii) all directors and executive officers as a group, and (iv) all persons whom we know to be the beneficial owner of five percent (5%) or more of our common stock. Beneficial ownership includes the right to acquire shares within 60 days, including upon the exercise of an option or vesting of an RSU; however, such shares are not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage owned by any other person. Except as noted below, each person exercises sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares listed.

Name of Beneficial Owner

Number of Shares of  

Common Stock  

Beneficially Owned 2  

Percent of Total Common  

Stock Outstanding 1  

  

Executive Officers, Directors and Director

Nominees as a group (10 persons)

4,770,545  13.5%  
  

Jason DeZwirek 3

4,249,867  12.0%  
  

Matthew Eckl

56,284  *  
  

Todd Gleason

—    *  
  

Paul Gohr

25,948  *  
  

Eric M. Goldberg

62,051  *  
  

David B. Liner

63,847  *  
  

Claudio A. Mannarino

49,051  *  
  

Munish Nanda

18,705  *  
  

Jonathan Pollack 4

204,579  *  
  

Valerie Gentile Sachs

40,213  *  
  

Other Beneficial Owners

 

 

  

American Century Investment Management, Inc. 5

4500 Main Street, 9th Floor

Kansas City, Missouri, 64111

2,044,879  5.8%  
  

BlackRock, Inc. 6

55 East 52nd Street

New York, New York 10055

2,422,601  6.9%  
  

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP 7

Building One

6300 Bee Cave Road

Austin, Texas, 78746

2,432,470  6.9%  
  

Icarus Investment Corp.3

2300 Yonge Street, Suite 1710

Toronto, Ontario M4P 1E4

2,770,546  7.8%  
  

J. Luther King, Jr.8

301 Commerce Street, Suite 1600

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

2,300,569  6.5%  
  

Trigran Investments, Inc. 9

630 Dundee Road, Suite 230

Northbrook, Illinois 60062

5,516,272  15.6%  

*

Less than 1%

(1)

Based on 35,350,727 shares of common stock outstanding as of February 25, 2021.

52 • CECO Environmental


(2)

Amounts reported in this column include RSUs that vest before April 26, 2021 and shares that could be acquired upon options that are exercisable before April 26, 2021, as shown in this table:

Name of Beneficial Owner  RSUs                           Option Shares                         
  

Matthew Eckl

   5,567      —     
  

Paul Gohr

   4,227      6,500   
  

Eric M. Goldberg

   —        15,000   
  

Jonathan Pollack

   —        36,000   

(3)

This information was obtained from a Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on September 11, 2015 and is supplemented by a Form 4 filed with the SEC on August 10, 2020 by Jason DeZwirek. Jason DeZwirek is deemed to control Icarus and has sole voting and dispositive power over the shares of common stock owned by Icarus. Shares shown as beneficially owned by Mr. DeZwirek include the shares owned by Icarus.

(4)

Shares beneficially owned by Mr. Pollack include 2,300 shares owned by his spouse, over which she has sole voting and dispositive power, and 88,200 shares held by JMP Fam Holdings, Inc., over which Mr. Pollack has sole voting and dispositive power.

(5)

Based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 11, 2021, as of December 31, 2020, American Century Investments Management, Inc. beneficially owned and had sole dispositive power over all of these shares and has sole voting power over 1,964,439 of these shares.

(6)

Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 28, 2021, as of December 31, 2020, BlackRock, Inc. beneficially owned and had sole dispositive power over all of these shares and has sole voting power over 2,369,288 of these shares, which include shares held by certain subsidiaries of BlackRock, Inc.

(7)

Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 12, 2021, as of December 31, 2020, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP beneficially owned and has sole dispositive power over all of these shares and has sole voting power over 2,324,024 shares. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP disclaims beneficial ownership of all of these shares.

(8)

This information was obtained from a Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on November 27, 2017. According to the Schedule 13D/A, J. Luther King, Jr. beneficially owns and has sole dispositive and voting power over all of these shares, which include shares held by J. Bryan King and certain entities controlled by J. Luther King, Jr. and J. Bryan King.

(9)

Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 11, 2021, as of December 31, 2020, Trigran Investments, Inc. and certain control persons of that entity beneficially owned and had shared dispositive and voting power over all of these shares.

2021 Proxy Statement • 53


INFORMATION FOR THIS ANNUAL MEETING

The Board recommendsof Directors of CECO Environmental Corp. is soliciting proxies to be voted at the Annual Meeting to be held solely through virtual participation via webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CECE2021 at 8:00 a.m., Central Time, on May 25, 2021, or any postponement or adjournment thereof.

Why Did I Receive a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials

Pursuant to rules adopted by the SEC, we have elected to provide access to our proxy materials over the internet. Accordingly, we have sent you a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (“Notice”) because our Board is soliciting your proxy to vote at the Annual Meeting, including at any adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting. All stockholders will have the ability to access the proxy materials on the website referred to in the Notice or request to receive a printed set of the proxy materials. Instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the internet or to request a printed copy may be found in the Notice.

We mailed the Notice and released our proxy materials on or about April 15, 2021 to all stockholders of record as of March 26, 2021, the Record Date, who are entitled to vote in connection with the Annual Meeting.

Will I Receive Other Proxy Materials by Mail

No, you will not receive any proxy materials, other than the Notice, by mail unless you request a paper copy of proxy materials. To request that a full set of the proxy materials be sent to your specified postal address, please go to www.ProxyVote.com,call 1-800-579-1639 or send an email to sendmaterial@proxyvote.com prior to May 11, 2021.

Who Bears the Cost of Solicitation

The Company is soliciting your votes for this Annual Meeting. The cost of solicitation of the proxies will be borne by us. In addition to this solicitation of the proxies, our employees, without extra remuneration, may solicit proxies personally or by telephone. We will reimburse brokerage firms, nominees, custodians, and fiduciaries for their out-of-pocket expenses for forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners and seeking instruction regarding the proxy materials.

Who Can Vote

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 26, 2021, which we refer to as the record date, are entitled to notice of, and to attend and vote at, the Annual Meeting. As of the record date, there were 35,567,511 outstanding shares of our common stock. Each share of our common stock outstanding on the record date will be entitled to cast one vote upon each matter submitted to a vote “FOR”at the Annual Meeting.

Who is a Stockholder of Record

A stockholder of record (or record holder or registered holder) means that your shares are registered in your name directly on the books of our registrar and transfer agent Broadridge Financial Services, Inc. If you are a stockholder of record, we have provided these proxy materials directly to you.

If you hold your shares through a bank, broker or other intermediary, you are considered the “beneficial owner” of those shares held in “street name.” If your shares are held in street name, these proxy materials have been forwarded to you by your bank, broker or other intermediary. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to instruct that institution on how to vote the shares you beneficially own.

How You Can Vote and What You are Voting on

If you are a registered shareholder, there are several ways for you to vote. You may attend the Annual Meeting via the internet and vote during the Annual Meeting. You may also vote by internet before the date of the Annual Meeting, by proxy or by telephone using one of the methods described on the Notice and in the proxy card. We recommend you vote by mail, internet or telephone even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting. If you vote by internet or telephone, please do not return the proxy card. If voting by mail, please complete, sign and date your proxy card enclosed with these proxy materials. If desired, you can change your vote at the Annual Meeting.

54 • CECO Environmental


Whether you hold your shares directly as the stockholder of record or beneficially in street name, you may vote without attending the Annual Meeting in one of the following manners:

By Internet: Go to www.proxyvote.com and follow the instructions. You will need the 16-digit control number included on the Notice, proxy card or voting instruction form;

By Telephone: Dial 1-800-579-1639. You will need the control number included on the Notice, proxy card or voting instruction form; or

By Mail: Complete, date and sign your proxy card or voting instruction form and mail it.

Internet and telephone voting for stockholders is available 24 hours a day, and will close at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 24, 2021.

The persons named as proxies have informed the Company of their intention, if no contrary instructions are given, to vote the shares represented by such proxies as follows:

  FOR the election of each director nominee (Proposal 1);

  FOR the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation paid to our named executive officers (Proposal 2);

  FOR the approval of the CECO Environmental Corp. 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (Proposal 3);

  FOR the ratification of the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2021 (Proposal 4); and

  In accordance with their judgment on any other matters which may properly come before the Annual Meeting.

LOGO

The Board does not know of any other business to be brought before the Annual Meeting other than as indicated in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. If other matters are properly presented at the Annual Meeting, the persons named as proxies may vote on such matters in their discretion. In addition, the persons named as proxies may vote your shares to adjourn the Annual Meeting and will be authorized to vote your shares at any adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting.

How Many Votes do I Have

On each matter to be voted upon, you have one vote for each share of common stock you own as of March 26, 2021.

What Does it Mean if I Receive More Than One Notice

If you receive more than one Notice, your shares may be registered in more than one name or in different accounts. Please follow the voting instructions on each of the Notices you receive to ensure that all of your shares are voted.

Revocability of Proxies

Stockholders who execute proxies retain the right to revoke them at any time before the shares are voted by proxy at the meeting. A stockholder may revoke a proxy by delivering a signed statement to our Corporate Secretary at or prior to the Annual Meeting or by timely executing and delivering, by internet, mail or during the Annual Meeting, another proxy dated as of a later date. Furthermore, you may revoke a proxy by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person, which will automatically cancel any proxy previously given. Unless you revoke your proxy at the Annual Meeting, your revocation must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 24, 2021.

Attendance at the Annual Meeting, however, will not automatically revoke any proxy that you have given previously unless you request a ballot and vote during the Annual Meeting. If you hold shares through a bank, broker or other intermediary, you must contact the bank, broker or other intermediary to revoke any prior voting instructions.

2021 Proxy Statement • 55


How do I participate in, and ask questions during the Annual Meeting?

you would like to submit a question during the Annual Meeting, you may log in to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CECE2021 using your control number, type your question into the “Ask a Question” field, and click “Submit.”

To help ensure that we have a productive and efficient meeting, and in fairness to all stockholders in attendance, you will also find posted our rules of conduct for the Annual Meeting when you log in prior to its start. These rules of conduct will include the following guidelines:

  You may submit questions and comments electronically through the meeting portal during the Annual Meeting.

  Only stockholders of record as of the Record Date for the Annual Meeting and their proxy holders may submit questions or comments.

  Questions pertinent to the Annual Meeting and related to our business will be answered during the webcast, subject to time constraints. Any such questions that cannot be answered live due to time constraints will be posted and answered on our website, https://cecoenviro.com as soon as practical after the Annual Meeting.

  Questions may be omitted if they are, among other things, irrelevant to our business, related to pending or threatened litigation, disorderly, repetitious of statements already made, or in furtherance of the speaker’s own personal, political or business interests.

  No audio or video recordings of the Annual Meeting are permitted.

LOGO

How are Votes Counted

Votes will be counted by the inspector of election appointed for the meeting, who will separately count votes “For,” “Withhold,” broker non-votes (Proposals 1, 2 and 3) and “Abstain” (Proposals 2, 3 and 4).

Abstentions will be counted towards the vote total for Proposals 2, 3, and 4, and will have the same effect as “Against” votes. Broker non-votes have no effect and will not be counted towards the vote total for Proposal 1 and will have the same effect as a vote against proposals 2 and 3.

Quorum Required

In order for business to be conducted, a quorum must be represented at the Annual Meeting. The holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock, present at the Annual Meeting or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Shares represented by a proxy in which authority to vote for any matter considered is “withheld,” a proxy marked “abstain” or a proxy as to which there is a “broker non-vote” will be considered present at the meeting for purposes of determining a quorum.

Required Vote to Elect Directors

Directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting. This means the eight nominees receiving the most votes will be elected. Only votes cast for a nominee will be counted. Unless indicated otherwise by your proxy, the shares will be voted for the eight nominees named in this Proxy Statement. Instructions on the accompanying proxy to withhold authority to vote for one or more of the nominees will result in those nominees receiving fewer votes but will not count as a vote against the nominees.

Required Votes to Pass Other Proposals

Proposal 2 (to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation paid to our named executive officers), Proposal 3 (to approve, the 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan) and Proposal 4 (to ratify the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2021), each require the favorable vote of the majority of shares represented at the Annual Meeting for approval. For these proposals, abstentions are treated as shares present or represented and voting, so abstaining has the same effect as a negative vote.

56 • CECO Environmental


The votes for Proposal 2 and Proposal 4 are advisory in nature and are not binding on our Company, however, our Board will consider the outcomes of these votes in future deliberations.

Broker Non-Votes

If your shares are held by a bank, broker or other nominee and you do not provide the bank, broker or other nominee with specific voting instructions, the organization that holds your shares may generally vote on “routine” matters but cannot vote on non-routine matters. If the bank, broker or other nominee that holds your shares does not receive instructions from you on how to vote your shares on a non-routine matter, the organization will inform our Inspector of Elections that it does not have the authority to vote on this matter with respect to your shares. This is generally referred to as a “broker non-vote.” When our Inspector of Elections tabulates the votes for any matter, broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present.

Only Proposal 4 (ratification of the selection of BDO USA, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2021) is a routine proposal. Proposal 1 (election of directors), Proposal 2 (to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation paid to our named executive officers) and Proposal 3 (to approve the CECO Environmental Corp. 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan) will be considered “non-routine,” and banks, brokers and certain other nominees that hold your shares in street name will not be able to cast votes on these proposals if you do not provide them with voting instructions. Any broker non-votes will have the same effect as a vote against Proposal 2 and Proposal 3 but will not affect the outcome of Proposal 1 because directors are elected by a plurality of votes cast.

Please provide voting instructions to the bank, broker or other nominee that holds your shares by carefully following their instructions.

Where Can I Find the Voting Results

Preliminary voting results will be announced at the Annual Meeting. In addition, final voting results will be published in a Current Report on Form 8-K that we expect to file within four business days after the Annual Meeting. The report will be available on our website at www.cecoenviro.com.

Other Information

If no instructions are indicated on a duly executed and returned proxy, the shares represented by the proxy will be voted FOR the election of the eight director nominees proposed by our Board, FOR the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation paid to our named executive officers, FOR the approval of the CECO Environmental Corp. 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan, FOR the ratification of the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm of CECO for fiscal year 2018.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Other Matters

As2021, and in accordance with the judgment of the date of this proxy statement, the Board knows of no matters that will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting other than the proposals set forth in this proxy statement. If any other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is intended that the persons named in the proxy will vote the shares they represent as the Boardto such other matters as may recommend.

A copy of our proxy materials forproperly come before the Annual Meeting.

2021 Proxy Statement • 57


INFORMATION FOR OUR 2022 ANNUAL MEETING

Stockholders who wish to submit a proposal to be considered at our 2022 Annual Meeting willof Stockholders, must comply with the following procedures. Any communication to be sentmade to any stockholder without charge upon written or oral requestus as described below should be addressed to the Corporate Secretary, CECO Environmental Corp., to the attention of the Secretary, 14651 N. Dallas Parkway, Suite 500, Dallas, Texas 75254 or by phone at (214)357-6181. Any stockholder may also receive a copy of our Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 as filed with the SEC, without exhibits, upon written request75254.

Proxy Statement Proposals

If you intend to the address above.

Stockholder Proposals for 2019 Annual Meeting

A stockholder who would like a proposal consideredpresent proposals for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement relating to the Company’s 2019 annual meeting pursuant toour Proxy Statement for our 2022 Annual Meeting, you must give us written notice of your intent, and your proposal must comply with SEC regulations under Rule14a-814a-8. under the Exchange Act, must be received by theOur Corporate Secretary of the Companymust receive your notice no later than December 28, 201816, 2021 (120 calendar days prior to the anniversary of our mailing this Proxy Statement).

Matters for Annual Meeting Agenda

If you intend to bring a matter before the 2021 Annual Meeting, other than by submitting a proposal to be included in our Proxy Statement, we must receive your notice in accordance with our Bylaws. To be timely, such notice must be delivered to or mailed and must otherwise comply with Rule14a-8, Any stockholder proposals received outsideby us not less than 90 nor more than 120 calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the Rule14a-8 procedure for consideration atdate of the Company’s 2019 annual meetingpreceding year’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders. In accordance with our Bylaws, we must be received by the Company betweenreceive your notice no earlier than January 25, 2022 and no later than February 12, 2019 and March 14, 2019. 24, 2022.

If, however, the date of the 2019 annual meeting2022 Annual Meeting is changed by more than 30 days from the anniversary date of this year’s Annual Meeting, the stockholder notice described above will be deemed timely if it is received not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th calendar day prior to such annual meeting and the 10th calendar day after public announcement of the date of such meeting. Such proposals must be addressed to the Secretary of the Company at 14651 N. Dallas Parkway, Suite 500, Dallas, Texas 75254. If the Company does not receive such notice within the timeframe described above, the notice will be considered untimely and the proposal may not be brought.

MethodDirector Candidate Nominations

Any stockholder may submit one candidate for consideration at each stockholder meeting at which directors are to be elected. Stockholders wishing to recommend a candidate must submit the recommendation no later than 120 days before the date our Proxy Statement was released to stockholders in connection with the previous year’s Annual Meeting of Proxy Solicitation

The cost of solicitationStockholders, provided, that if we did not hold any annual meeting in the previous year, or if the date of the proxiesnext annual meeting has been changed by more than 30 days from the date of the previous year’s meeting, then the deadline will be borne by us. In additiona date that is a reasonable time before we begin to thisprint and mail our proxy materials, but in no event, less than 90 days prior to such mailing.

58 • CECO Environmental


Our Bylaws also provide certain requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. These provisions may preclude stockholders from making nominations for directors at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. A stockholder’s notice must set forth, among other things, as to a nomination the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting:

  the name and address of the stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal or nomination is made;

  the class, series and number of shares that are owned of record or beneficially by the stockholder nominating the nominee or nominees;

  a representation that the stockholder giving the notice is a holder of record of shares of our voting stock entitled to vote at such annual meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice;

  whether such stockholder or beneficial owner intends to deliver a Proxy Statement and forms of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of shares of our voting stock required to nominate such nominee or nominees;

  any derivative interest in our Company’s securities (as such term is defined in our Bylaws);

  any voting arrangements pursuant to which such stockholder has the right to vote any shares of the Company or which has the effect of increasing or decreasing such stockholder’s voting power;

  any contract or arrangement pursuant to which such stockholder is a party that provides any party, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit from any decrease in the price or value of our stock;

  any material pending or threatened legal proceeding involving our Company, any of its affiliates or any of our directors or officers;

  any rights to certain dividends on shares of Company stock that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Company and any entitlement to certain performance-related fees resulting from an increase or decrease in the value of shares of Company stock or derivative interests; and

  any equity interests, including any convertible, derivate or short interests, in any competitor of the Company; and any other information relating to such stockholder that would be required to be disclosed in a Proxy Statement or other filing required pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act to be made in connection with a general solicitation of proxies or consents in support of the nomination of the nominee or nominees.

LOGO

OTHER MATTERS

As of the proxies, our employees, without extra remuneration, may solicit proxies personally or by telephone. Wedate of this Proxy Statement, the Board knows of no matters that will reimburse brokerage firms, nominees, custodians, and fiduciariesbe presented for theirout-of-pocket expenses for forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners and seeking instruction regardingconsideration at the Annual Meeting other than the proposals set forth in this Proxy Statement. If any other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is intended that the persons named in the proxy materials.will vote the shares they represent as the Board may recommend.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

/s/ Jason DeZwirek                                        LOGO

Jason DeZwirek
Chairman of the Board of Directors

April 27, 2018

15, 2021

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF

2021 Proxy Statement • 59


Appendix I

CECO ENVIRONMENTAL CORP.

June 12, 20182021 EQUITY AND INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

GO GREEN1. Purpose. The purpose of this Plan is to permit award grants to non-employee Directors, officers and other employeesof the Company and its Subsidiaries, and certain consultants to the Company and its Subsidiaries, and to provide to such persons incentives and rewards for service and/or performance.

2. Definitions. As used in this Plan:

 

(a)

“Appreciation Right” means a right granted pursuant to Section 5 of this Plan.

(b)

“Base Price” means the price to be used as the basis for determining the Spread upon the exercise of an Appreciation Right.

(c)

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(d)

“Cash Incentive Award” means a cash award granted pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan.

(e)

“Change in Control” has the meaning set forth in Section 12 of this Plan.

(f)

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder, as such law and regulations may be amended from time to time.

(g)

“Committee” means the Compensation Committeeof the Board (or its successor), or any other committee of the Board designated by the Board to administer this Plan pursuant to Section 10 of this Plan.

(h)

“Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company or any security into which such common stock may be changed by reason of any transaction or event of the type referred to in Section 11 of this Plan.

(i)

“Company” means CECO Environmental Corp., a Delaware corporation, and its successors.

(j)

“Date of Grant” means the date provided for by the Committee on which a grant of Option Rights, Appreciation Rights, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Cash Incentive Awards, or other awards contemplated by Section 9 of this Plan, or a grant or sale of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, or other awards contemplated by Section 9 of this Plan, will become effective (which date will not be earlier than the date on which the Committee takes action with respect thereto).

(k)

“Director” means a member of the Board.

(l)

“Effective Date” means the date this Plan is approved by the Stockholders.

(m)

“Evidence of Award” means an agreement, certificate, resolution or other type or form of writing or other evidence approved by the Committee that sets forth the terms and conditions of the awards granted under this Plan. An Evidence of Award may be in an electronic medium, may be limited to notation on the books and records of the Company and, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, need not be signed by a representative of the Company or a Participant.

(n)

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, as such law, rules and regulations may be amended from time to time.

(o)

“Incentive Stock Option” means an Option Right that is intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision.

(p)

“Management Objectives” means the performance objective or objectives established pursuant to this Plan for Participants who have received grants of Performance Shares, Performance Units or Cash Incentive Awards or, when so determined by the Committee, Option Rights, Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, dividend equivalents or other awards pursuant to this Plan. The Management Objectives applicable to an award under this Plan (if any) shall be determined by the Committee, and may be based on one or more, or a combination, of metrics under the following categories or such other metrics as may be determined by the Committee (including relative or growth achievement regarding such metrics):

(i)

Profits (e.g., gross profit, gross profit growth, operating income, earnings before or after deduction for all or any portion of interest, taxes, depreciation or amortization, net income (before or after taxes), consolidated net income, net earnings, net sales, cost of sales, basic or diluted earnings per share (before or after taxes), residual or economic earnings, net operating profit (before or after taxes), or economic profit);

2021 Proxy Statement • I-1


(ii)

Cash Flow (e.g., actual or adjusted earnings before or after interest, taxes, depreciation and/or amortization (including EBIT and EBITDA), free cash flow, free cash flow with or without specific capital expenditure target or range, including or excluding divestments and/or acquisitions, operating cash flow, total cash flow, cash flow in excess of cost of capital or residual cash flow, or cash flow return on investment);

(iii)

Returns (e.g., profits or cash flow returns on: assets, investment, capital, invested capital, net capital employed, equity, or sales);

(iv)

Working Capital (e.g., working capital targets, working capital divided by sales, days’ sales outstanding, days’ sales inventory, or days’ sales in payables);

(v)

Profit Margins (e.g., profits divided by revenues or gross margins and material margins divided by revenues);

(vi)

Liquidity Measures (e.g., debt-to-capital,debt-to-EBITDA, or total debt ratio);

(vii)

Sales Growth, Gross Margin Growth, Cost Initiative and Stock Price Metrics (e.g., revenue, net revenue, revenue growth, net revenue growth, revenue growth outside the United States, gross margin and gross margin growth, material margin and material margin growth, stock price appreciation, total return to stockholders, sales and administrative costs divided by sales, or sales and administrative costs divided by profits); and

(viii)

Strategic Initiative Key Deliverable Metrics consisting of one or more of the following: product development, strategic partnering, research and development, vitality index, market penetration, market share, geographic business expansion goals, expense targets or cost reduction goals, general and administrative expense savings, selling, general and administrative expenses, objective measures of client/customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, employee retention, management of employment practices and employee benefits, supervision of litigation and information technology, productivity ratios, economic value added (or another measure of profitability that considers the cost of capital employed), product quality, sales of new products, or goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures of subsidiaries, affiliates and joint ventures.

If the Committee determines that a change in the business, operations, corporate structure or capital structure of the Company, or the manner in which it conducts its business, or other events or circumstances render the Management Objectives unsuitable, the Committee may in its discretion modify such Management Objectives or the goals or actual levels of achievement regarding the Management Objectives, in whole or in part, as the Committee deems appropriate and equitable.

(q)

“Market Value per Share” means, as of any particular date, the closing price of a share of Common Stock as reported for that date on the NASDAQ Stock Market or, if the shares of Common Stock are not then listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market, on any other national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed, or if there are no sales on such date, on the next preceding trading day during which a sale occurred. If there is no regular public trading market for the shares of Common Stock, then the Market Value per Share shall be the fair market value as determined in good faith by the Committee. The Committee is authorized to adopt another fair market value pricing method provided such method is stated in the applicable Evidence of Award and is in compliance with the fair market value pricing rules set forth in Section 409A of the Code.

(r)

“Optionee” means the optionee named in an Evidence of Award evidencing an outstanding Option Right.

(s)

“Option Price” means the purchase price payable on exercise of an Option Right.

(t)

“Option Right” means the right to purchase shares of Common Stock upon exercise of an award granted pursuant to Section 4 of this Plan.

(u)

“Participant” means a person who is selected by the Committee to receive benefits under this Plan and who is at the time (i) an officer or other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, including a person who has agreed to commence serving in such capacity within 90 days of the Date of Grant, (ii) a person, including a consultant, who provides services to the Company or any Subsidiary that are equivalent to those typically provided by an employee (provided that such person satisfies the Form S-8 definition of an “employee”), or (iii) a non-employee Director.

(v)

“Performance Period” means, in respect of a Cash Incentive Award, Performance Share or Performance Unit, a period of time established pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan within which the Management Objectives relating to such Cash Incentive Award, Performance Share or Performance Unit are to be achieved.

(w)

“Performance Share” means a bookkeeping entry that records the equivalent of one share of Common Stock awarded pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan.

(x)

“Performance Unit” means a bookkeeping entry awarded pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan that records a unit equivalent to $1.00 or such other value as is determined by the Committee.

I-2 • CECO Environmental


(y)

“Person” means any individual, entity, or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act).

(z)

“Plan” means this CECO Environmental Corp. 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan, as may be amended or amended and restated from time to time.

(aa)

“Predecessor Plans” means the CECO Environmental Corp. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan and the CECO Environmental Corp. 2017 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan, in each case including as amended or amended and restated from time to time.

(bb)

“Restricted Stock” means shares of Common Stock granted or sold pursuant to Section 6 of this Plan as to which neither the substantial risk of forfeiture nor the prohibition on transfer has expired.

(cc)

“Restricted Stock Units” means an award made pursuant to Section 7 of this Plan of the right to receive shares of Common Stock, cash or a combination thereof at the end of the applicable Restriction Period.

(dd)

“Restriction Period” means the period of time during which Restricted Stock Units are subject to restrictions, as provided in Section 7 of this Plan.

(ee)

“Spread” means the excess of the Market Value per Share on the date when an Appreciation Right is exercised over the Base Price provided for with respect to the Appreciation Right.

(ff)

“Stockholder” means an individual or entity that owns one or more shares of Common Stock.

(gg)

“Subsidiary” means a corporation, company or other entity (i) more than 50% of whose outstanding shares or securities (representing the right to vote for the election of directors or other managing authority) are, or (ii) which does not have outstanding shares or securities (as may be the case in a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, unincorporated association or other similar entity), but more than 50% of whose ownership interest representing the right generally to make decisions for such other entity is, now or hereafter, owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company; provided, however, that for purposes of determining whether any person may be a Participant for purposes of any grant of Incentive Stock Options, “Subsidiary” means any corporation in which the Company at the time owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the total combined Voting Power represented by all classes of stock issued by such corporation.

(hh)

“Voting Power” means, at any time, the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors in the case of the Company or members of the board of directors or similar body in the case of another entity.

3. Shares Available Under this Plan.

(a)

Maximum Shares Available Under this Plan.

(i)

Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11 of this Plan and the share counting rules set forth in Section 3(b) of this Plan, the number of shares of Common Stock available under this Plan for awards of (A) Option Rights or Appreciation Rights, (B) Restricted Stock, (C) Restricted Stock Units, (D) Performance Shares or Performance Units, (E) awards contemplated by Section 9 of this Plan, or (F) dividend equivalents paid with respect to awards made under this Plan will not exceed in the aggregate (x) 1,675,000 shares of Common Stock, plus (y) the total number of shares of Common Stock remaining available for future grant under the CECO Environmental Corp. 2017 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan as of the Effective Date, plus (z) the shares of Common Stock that are subject to awards granted under this Plan or the Predecessor Plans that are added (or added back, as applicable) to the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available under this Section 3(a)(i) pursuant to the share counting rules of this Plan. Such shares may be shares of original issuance or treasury shares or a combination of the foregoing.

(ii)

Subject to the share counting rules set forth in Section 3(b) of this Plan, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available under Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan will be reduced by one share of Common Stock for every one share of Common Stock subject to an award granted under this Plan.

(b)

Share Counting Rules.

(i)

Except as provided in Section 22 of this Plan, if any award granted under this Plan (in whole or in part) is cancelled or forfeited, expires, is settled for cash or is unearned, the shares of Common Stock subject to such award will, to the extent of such cancellation, forfeiture, expiration, cash settlement or unearned amount, again be available under Section 3(a)(i) above.

(ii)

If, on or after the Effective Date, any shares of Common Stock subject to an award granted under the Predecessor Plans are forfeited, or an award granted under the Predecessor Plans (in whole or in part) is cancelled or forfeited,

2021 Proxy Statement • I-3


expires, is settled for cash or is unearned, the shares of Common Stock subject to such award will, to the extent of such cancellation, forfeiture, expiration, cash settlement or unearned amount, be available for awards under this Plan.

(iii)

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan: (A) shares of Common Stock withheld by the Company, tendered or otherwise used in payment of the Option Price of an Option Right will not be added (or added back, as applicable) to the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available under Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan; (B) shares of Common Stock withheld by the Company, tendered or otherwise used to satisfy a tax withholding obligation will not be added (or added back, as applicable) to the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available under Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan; (C) shares of Common Stock subject to a stock-settled Appreciation Right that are not actually issued in connection with the settlement of such Appreciation Right on the exercise thereof, will not be added back to the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available under Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan; and (D) shares of Common Stock reacquired by the Company on the open market or otherwise using cash proceeds from the exercise of Option Rights will not be added to the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available under Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan.

(iv)

If, under this Plan, a Participant has elected to give up the right to receive compensation in exchange for shares of Common Stock based on fair market value, such shares of Common Stock will not count against the aggregate limit under Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan.

(c)

Limit on Incentive Stock Options. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11 of this Plan, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock actually issued or transferred by the Company upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will not exceed 1,675,000 shares of Common Stock.

(d)

Non-Employee Director Compensation Limit. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, in no event will any non-employee Director in any one calendar year be granted compensation for such service having an aggregate maximum value (measured at the Date of Grant as applicable, and calculating the value of any awards based on the grant date fair value for financial reporting purposes), in excess of $600,000.

(e)

Minimum Vesting Requirement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan (outside of this Section 3(e)) to the contrary, awards granted under this Plan (other than cash-based awards) shall vest no earlier than the first anniversary of the applicable Date of Grant; provided, that the following awards shall not be subject to the foregoing minimum vesting requirement: any (i) awards granted in connection with awards that are assumed, converted or substituted pursuant to Section 22(a) of this Plan; (ii) shares of Common Stock delivered in lieu of fully vested cash obligations; (iii) awards to non-employee Directors that vest on the earlier of the one-year anniversary of the applicable Date of Grant and the next annual meeting of Stockholders which is at least 50 weeks after the immediately preceding year’s annual meeting of Stockholders; and (iv) any additional awards the Committee may grant, up to a maximum of five percent (5%) of the available share reserve authorized for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Section 3(a)(i) (subject to adjustment under Section 11). Nothing in this Section 3(e) or otherwise in this Plan, however, shall preclude the Committee, in is sole discretion, from (x) providing for continued vesting or accelerated vesting for any award under this Plan upon certain events, including in connection with or following a Participant’s retirement, death, disability, or termination of employment or service or a Change in Control, or (y) exercising its authority under Section 18(c) at any time following the grant of an award.

4. Option Rights. The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the granting to Participants of Option Rights. Each such grant may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:

(a)

Each grant will specify the number of shares of Common Stock to which it pertains subject to the limitations set forth in Section 3 of this Plan.

(b)

Each grant will specify an Option Price per share of Common Stock, which Option Price (except with respect to awards under Section 22 of this Plan) may not be less than the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant.

(c)

Each grant will specify whether the Option Price will be payable (i) in cash, by check acceptable to the Company or by wire transfer of immediately available funds, (ii) by the actual or constructive transfer to the Company of shares of Common Stock owned by the Optionee having a value at the time of exercise equal to the total Option Price, (iii) subject to any conditions or limitations established by the Committee, by the withholding of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon exercise of an Option Right pursuant to a “net exercise” arrangement (it being understood that, solely for purposes of

determining the number of treasury shares held by the Company, the shares of Common Stock so withheld will not be treated as issued and acquired by the Company upon such exercise), (iv) by a combination of such methods of payment, or (v) by such other methods as may be approved by the Committee.

I-4 • CECO Environmental


(d)

To the extent permitted by law, any grant may provide for deferred payment of the Option Price from the proceeds of sale through a bank or broker on a date satisfactory to the Company of some or all of the shares of Common Stock to which such exercise relates.

(e)

Each grant will specify the period or periods of continuous service by the Optionee with the Company or any Subsidiary, if any, that is necessary before any Option Rights or installments thereof will vest. Option Rights may provide for continued vesting or the earlier vesting of such Option Rights, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a Participant or in the event of a Change in Control.

(f)

Any grant of Option Rights may specify Management Objectives regarding the vesting of such rights.

(g)

Option Rights granted under this Plan may be (i) options, including Incentive Stock Options, that are intended to qualify under particular provisions of the Code, (ii) options that are not intended to so qualify, or (iii) combinations of the foregoing. Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to Participants who meet the definition of “employees” under Section 3401(c) of the Code.

(h)

No Option Right will be exercisable more than 10 years from the Date of Grant. The Committee may provide in any Evidence of Award for the automatic exercise of an Option Right upon such terms and conditions as established by the Committee.

(i)

Option Rights granted under this Plan may not provide for any dividends or dividend equivalents thereon.

(j)

Each grant of Option Rights will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award. Each Evidence of Award will be subject to this Plan and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve.

5. Appreciation Rights.

(a)

The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the granting to any Participant of Appreciation Rights. An Appreciation Right will be the right of the Participant to receive from the Company an amount determined by the Committee, which will be expressed as a percentage of the Spread (not exceeding 100%) at the time of exercise.

(b)

Each grant of Appreciation Rights may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:

(i)

Each grant may specify that the amount payable on exercise of an Appreciation Right will be paid by the Company in cash, shares of Common Stock or any combination thereof.

(ii)

Each grant will specify the period or periods of continuous service by the Participant with the Company or any Subsidiary, if any, that is necessary before the Appreciation Rights or installments thereof will vest. Appreciation Rights may provide for continued vesting or the earlier vesting of such Appreciation Rights, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a Participant or in the event of a Change in Control.

(iii)

Any grant of Appreciation Rights may specify Management Objectives regarding the vesting of such Appreciation Rights.

(iv)

Appreciation Rights granted under this Plan may not provide for any dividends or dividend equivalents thereon.

(v)

Each grant of Appreciation Rights will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award. Each Evidence of Award will be subject to this Plan and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve.

(c)

Also, regarding Appreciation Rights:

(i)

Each grant will specify in respect of each Appreciation Right a Base Price, which (except with respect to awards under Section 22 of this Plan) may not be less than the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant; and

(ii)

No Appreciation Right granted under this Plan may be exercised more than 10 years from the Date of Grant. The Committee may provide in any Evidence of Award for the automatic exercise of an Appreciation Right upon such terms and conditions as established by the Committee.

6. Restricted Stock. The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the grant or sale of Restricted Stock to Participants. Each such grant or sale may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:

(a)

Each such grant or sale will constitute an immediate transfer of the ownership of shares of Common Stock to the Participant in consideration of the performance of services, entitling such Participant to voting, dividend and other

2021 Proxy Statement • I-5


ownership rights (subject in particular to Section 6(g) of this Plan), but subject to the substantial risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer hereinafter described.

(b)

Each such grant or sale may be made without additional consideration or in consideration of a payment by such Participant that is less than the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant.

(c)

Each such grant or sale will provide that the Restricted Stock covered by such grant or sale will be subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” within the meaning of Section 83 of the Code for a period to be determined by the Committee on the Date of Grant or until achievement of Management Objectives referred to in Section 6(e) of this Plan.

(d)

Each such grant or sale will provide that during or after the period for which such substantial risk of forfeiture is to continue, the transferability of the Restricted Stock will be prohibited or restricted in the manner and to the extent prescribed by the Committee on the Date of Grant (which restrictions may include rights of repurchase or first refusal of the Company or provisions subjecting the Restricted Stock to a continuing substantial risk of forfeiture while held by any transferee).

(e)

Any grant of Restricted Stock may specify Management Objectives regarding the vesting of such Restricted Stock.

(f)

Restricted Stock may provide for continued vesting or the earlier vesting of such Restricted Stock, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a Participant or in the event of a Change in Control.

(g)

Any such grant or sale of Restricted Stock may require that any and all dividends or other distributions paid thereon during the period of such restrictions be automatically deferred and/or reinvested in additional Restricted Stock, which will be subject to the same restrictions as the underlying award. For the avoidance of doubt, any such dividends or other distributions on Restricted Stock will be deferred until, and paid contingent upon, the vesting of such Restricted Stock.

(h)

Each grant or sale of Restricted Stock will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award. Each Evidence of Award will be subject to this Plan and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve. Unless otherwise directed by the Committee, (i) all certificates representing Restricted Stock will be held in custody by the Company until all restrictions thereon will have lapsed, together with a stock power or powers executed by the Participant in whose name such certificates are registered, endorsed in blank and covering such shares or (ii) all Restricted Stock will be held at the Company’s transfer agent in book entry form with appropriate restrictions relating to the transfer of such Restricted Stock.

7. Restricted Stock Units. The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the granting or sale of Restricted Stock Units to Participants. Each such grant or sale may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:

(a)

Each such grant or sale will constitute the agreement by the Company to deliver shares of Common Stock or cash, or a combination thereof, to the Participant in the future in consideration of the performance of services, but subject to the fulfillment of such conditions (which may include achievement regarding Management Objectives) during the Restriction Period as the Committee may specify.

(b)

Each such grant or sale may be made without additional consideration or in consideration of a payment by such Participant that is less than the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant.

(c)

Restricted Stock Units may provide for continued vesting or the earlier lapse or other modification of the Restriction Period, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a Participant or in the event of a Change in Control.

(d)

During the Restriction Period, the Participant will have no right to transfer any rights under his or her award and will have no rights of ownership in the shares of Common Stock deliverable upon payment of the Restricted Stock Units and will have no right to vote them, but the Committee may, at or after the Date of Grant, authorize the payment of dividend equivalents on such Restricted Stock Units on a deferred and contingent basis, either in cash or in additional shares of Common Stock; provided, however, that dividend equivalents or other distributions on shares of Common Stock underlying Restricted Stock Units will be deferred until, and paid contingent upon, the vesting of such Restricted Stock Units.

(e)

Each grant or sale of Restricted Stock Units will specify the time and manner of payment of the Restricted Stock Units that have been earned. Each grant or sale will specify that the amount payable with respect thereto will be paid by the Company in shares of Common Stock or cash, or a combination thereof.

(f)

Each grant or sale of Restricted Stock Units will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award. Each Evidence of Award will be subject to this Plan and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve.

I-6 • CECO Environmental


8. Cash Incentive Awards, Performance Shares and Performance Units. The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the granting of Cash Incentive Awards, Performance Shares and Performance Units. Each such grant may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:

(a)

Each grant will specify the number or amount of Performance Shares or Performance Units, or amount payable with respect to a Cash Incentive Award, to which it pertains, which number or amount may be subject to adjustment to reflect changes in compensation or other factors.

(b)

The Performance Period with respect to each Cash Incentive Award or grant of Performance Shares or Performance Units will be such period of time as will be determined by the Committee, and the Evidence of Award will specify the time and terms of delivery, which may be subject to continued vesting or earlier lapse or other modification, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a Participant or in the event of a Change in Control.

(c)

Each grant of a Cash Incentive Award, Performance Shares or Performance Units will specify Management Objectives regarding the earning of the award.

(d)

Each grant will specify the time and manner of payment of a Cash Incentive Award, Performance Shares or Performance Units that have been earned.

(e)

The Committee may, on the Date of Grant of Performance Shares or Performance Units, provide for the payment of dividend equivalents to the holder thereof either in cash or in additional shares of Common Stock, which dividend equivalents will be subject to deferral and payment on a contingent basis based on the Participant’s earning and vesting of the Performance Shares or Performance Units, as applicable, with respect to which such dividend equivalents are paid.

(f)

Each grant of a Cash Incentive Award, Performance Shares or Performance Units will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award. Each Evidence of Award will be subject to this Plan and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve.

9. Other Awards.

(a)

Subject to applicable law and the applicable limits set forth in Section 3 of this Plan, the Committee may authorize the grant to any Participant of shares of Common Stock or such other awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, shares of Common Stock or factors that may influence the value of such shares, including, without limitation, convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into shares of Common Stock, purchase rights for shares of Common Stock, awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Company or specified Subsidiaries, affiliates or other business units thereof or any other factors designated by the Committee, and awards valued by reference to the book value of the shares of Common Stock or the value of securities of, or the performance of specified Subsidiaries or affiliates or other business units of the Company. The Committee will determine the terms and conditions of such awards. Shares of Common Stock delivered pursuant to an award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 9 will be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such time, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, shares of Common Stock, other awards, notes or other property, as the Committee determines.

(b)

Cash awards, as an element of or supplement to any other award granted under this Plan, may also be granted pursuant to this Section 9.

(c)

The Committee may authorize the grant of shares of Common Stock as a bonus, or may authorize the grant of other awards in lieu of obligations of the Company or a Subsidiary to pay cash or deliver other property under this Plan or under other plans or compensatory arrangements, subject to such terms as will be determined by the Committee in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code.

(d)

The Committee may, at or after the Date of Grant, authorize the payment of dividends or dividend equivalents on awards granted under this Section 9 on a deferred and contingent basis, either in cash or in additional Common Stock; provided, however, that dividend equivalents or other distributions on Common Stock underlying awards granted under this Section 9 will be deferred until, and paid contingent upon, the earning and vesting of such awards.

(e)

Each grant of an award under this Section 9 will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award. Each such Evidence of Award will be subject to this Plan and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve, and will specify the time and terms of delivery of the applicable award.

(f)

Awards under this Section 9 may provide for the earning or vesting of, or earlier termination of restrictions applicable to, such award, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a Participant or in the event of a Change in Control.

2021 Proxy Statement • I-7


10. Administration of this Plan.

(a)

This Plan will be administered by the Committee; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, the Board may grant awards under this Plan to non-employee Directors and administer this Plan with respect to such awards. The Committee may from time to time delegate all or any part of its authority under this Plan to a subcommittee thereof. To the extent of any such delegation, references in this Plan to the Committee will be deemed to be references to such subcommittee.

(b)

The interpretation and construction by the Committee of any provision of this Plan or of any Evidence of Award (or related documents) and any determination by the Committee pursuant to any provision of this Plan or of any such agreement, notification or document will be final and conclusive. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any such action or determination made in good faith. In addition, the Committee is authorized to take any action it determines in its sole discretion to be appropriate subject only to the express limitations contained in this Plan, and no authorization in any Plan section or other provision of this Plan is intended or may be deemed to constitute a limitation on the authority of the Committee.

(c)

To the extent permitted by law, the Committee may delegate to one or more of its members, to one or more officers of the Company, or to one or more agents or advisors, such administrative duties or powers as it may deem advisable, and the Committee, the subcommittee, or any person to whom duties or powers have been delegated as aforesaid, may employ one or more persons to render advice with respect to any responsibility the Committee, the subcommittee or such person may have under this Plan. The Committee may, by resolution, authorize one or more officers of the Company to do one or both of the following on the same basis as the Committee: (i) designate employees to be recipients of awards under this Plan; and (ii) determine the size of any such awards; provided, however, that (A) the Committee will not delegate such responsibilities to any such officer for awards granted to an employee who is an officer (for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act), Director, or more than 10% “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of any class of the Company’s equity securities that is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, as determined by the Committee in accordance with Section 16 of the Exchange Act; (B) the resolution providing for such authorization shall set forth the total number of shares of Common Stock such officer(s) may grant; and (C) the officer(s) will report periodically to the Committee regarding the nature and scope of the awards granted pursuant to the authority delegated.

11. Adjustments. The Committee shall make or provide for such adjustments in the number of and kind of shares of Common Stock covered by outstanding Option Rights, Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units granted hereunder and, if applicable, in the number of and kind of shares of Common Stock covered by other awards granted pursuant to Section 9 of this Plan, in the Option Price and Base Price provided in outstanding Option Rights and Appreciation Rights, respectively, in Cash Incentive Awards, and in other award terms, as the Committee, in its sole discretion, exercised in good faith, determines is equitably required to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants that otherwise would result from (a) any extraordinary cash dividend, stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization or other change in the capital structure of the Company, (b) any merger, consolidation, spin-off, split-off, spin-out, split-up, reorganization, partial or complete liquidation or other distribution of assets, issuance of rights or warrants to purchase securities, or (c) any other corporate transaction or event having an effect similar to any of the foregoing. Moreover, in the event of any such transaction or event or in the event of a Change in Control, the Committee may provide in substitution for any or all outstanding awards under this Plan such alternative consideration (including cash), if any, as it, in good faith, may determine to be equitable in the circumstances and shallrequire in connection therewith the surrender of all awards so replaced in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code. In addition, for each Option Right or Appreciation Right with an Option Price or Base Price, respectively, greater than the consideration offered in connection with any such transaction or event or Change in Control, the Committee may in its discretion elect to cancel such Option Right or Appreciation Right without any payment to the Person holding such Option Right or Appreciation Right. The Committee shall also make or provide for such adjustments in the number of shares of Common Stock specified in Section 3 of this Plan as the Committee in its sole discretion, exercised in good faith, determines is appropriate to reflect any transaction or event described in this Section 11; provided, however, that any such adjustment to the number specified in Section 3(c) of this Plan will be made only if and to the extent that such adjustment would not cause any Option Right intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option to fail to so qualify.

12. Change in Control. For purposes of this Plan, except as may be otherwise prescribed by the Committee in an Evidence of Award made under this Plan, a “Change in Control” will be deemed to have occurred upon the occurrence (after the Effective Date) of any of the following events:

(a)

any Person becomes the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of either (i) the then-outstanding Common Stock (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (ii) the combined

I-8 • CECO Environmental


voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that, for purposes of this definition, the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company, (B) any acquisition by the Company, (C) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company, or (D) any acquisition pursuant to a transaction that complies with Sections 12(c)(i), (c)(ii) and (c)(iii) below;

(b)

individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a Director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, or nomination for election by the Stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least three-fourths (3/4) of the Directors then comprising the Incumbent Board (either by specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such individual is named as a nominee for Director, without objection to such nomination) shall be considered as though such individual was a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of Directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;

(c)

consummation of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the acquisition of assets or securities of another entity by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (each, a “Business Combination”), in each case unless, following such Business Combination, (i) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities that were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then-outstanding shares of common stock (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent securities) and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent governing body), as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity that, as a result of such transaction, owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (ii) no Person (excluding any entity resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such entity resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent securities) of the entity resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such entity, except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent governing body) of the entity resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the action of the Board providing for such Business Combination; or

(d)

approval by the Stockholders of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

13. Detrimental Activity and Recapture Provisions. Any Evidence of Award may reference a clawback policy of the Company or provide for the cancellation or forfeiture of an award or the forfeiture and repayment to the Company of any gain related to an award, or other provisions intended to have a similar effect, upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee from time to time, if a Participant, either (a) during employment or other service with the Company or a Subsidiary, or (b) within a specified period after termination of such employment or service, engages in any detrimental activity, as described in the applicable Evidence of Award or such clawback policy. In addition, notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, any Evidence of Award or such clawback policy may also provide for the cancellation or forfeiture of an award or the forfeiture and repayment to the Company of any shares of Common Stock issued under and/or any other benefit related to an award, or other provisions intended to have a similar effect, including upon such terms and conditions as may be required by the Committee or under Section 10D of the Exchange Act and any applicable rules or regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any national securities exchange or national securities association on which the shares of Common Stock may be traded.

14. Non-U.S. Participants. In order to facilitate the making of any grant or combination of grants under this Plan, the Committee may provide for such special terms for awards to Participants who are foreign nationals or who are employed by the Company or any Subsidiary outside of the United States of America or who provide services to the Company or any Subsidiary under an agreement with a foreign nation or agency, as the Committee may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom. Moreover, the Committee may approve such supplements to or amendments,

2021 Proxy Statement • I-9


restatements or alternative versions of this Plan (including sub-plans) (to be considered part of this Plan) as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes, without thereby affecting the terms of this Plan as in effect for any other purpose, and the secretary or other appropriate officer of the Company may certify any such document as having been approved and adopted in the same manner as this Plan. No such special terms, supplements, amendments or restatements, however, will include any provisions that are inconsistent with the terms of this Plan as then in effect unless this Plan could have been amended to eliminate such inconsistency without further approval by the Stockholders.

15. Transferability.

(a)

Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, and subject to compliance with Section 17(b) of this Plan and Section 409A of the Code, no Option Right, Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit, Cash Incentive Award, award contemplated by Section 9 of this Plan or dividend equivalents paid with respect to awards made under this Plan will be transferable by the Participant except by will or the laws of descent and distribution. In no event will any such award granted under this Plan be transferred for value. Where transfer is permitted, references to “Participant” shall be construed, as the Committee deems appropriate, to include any permitted transferee to whom such award is transferred. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, Option Rights and Appreciation Rights will be exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by him or her or, in the event of the Participant’s legal incapacity to do so, by his or her guardian or legal representative acting on behalf of the Participant in a fiduciary capacity under state law or court supervision.

(b)

The Committee may specify on the Date of Grant that part or all of the shares of Common Stock that are (i) to be issued or transferred by the Company upon the exercise of Option Rights or Appreciation Rights, upon the termination of the Restriction Period applicable to Restricted Stock Units or upon payment under any grant of Performance Shares or Performance Units or (ii) no longer subject to the substantial risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer referred to in Section 6 of this Plan, will be subject to further restrictions on transfer, including minimum holding periods.

16. Withholding Taxes. To the extent that the Company is required to withhold federal, state, local or foreign taxes or other amounts in connection with any payment made or benefit realized by a Participant or other Person under this Plan, and the amounts available to the Company for such withholding are insufficient, it will be a condition to the receipt of such payment or the realization of such benefit that the Participant or such other Person make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for payment of the balance of such taxes or other amounts required to be withheld, which arrangements (in the discretion of the Committee) may include relinquishment of a portion of such benefit. If a Participant’s benefit is to be received in the form of shares of Common Stock, and such Participant fails to make arrangements for the payment of taxes or other amounts, then, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Company will withhold shares of Common Stock having a value equal to the amount required to be withheld. Notwithstanding the foregoing, when a Participant is required to pay the Company an amount required to be withheld under applicable income, employment, tax or other laws, the Committee may require the Participant to satisfy the obligation, in whole or in part, by having withheld, from the shares of Common Stock delivered or required to be delivered to the Participant, shares of Common Stock having a value equal to the amount required to be withheld or by delivering to the Company other shares of Common Stock held by such Participant. The shares of Common Stock used for tax or other withholding will be valued at an amount equal to the fair market value of such shares of Common Stock on the date the benefit is to be included in Participant’s income. In no event will the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock to be withheld and delivered pursuant to this Section 16 exceed the minimum amount required to be withheld, unless (a) an additional amount can be withheld and not result in adverse accounting consequences, and (b) such additional withholding amount is authorized by the Committee. Participants will also make such arrangements as the Company may require for the payment of any withholding tax or other obligation that may arise in connection with the disposition of shares of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of Option Rights.

17. Compliance with Section 409A of the Code.

(a)

To the extent applicable, it is intended that this Plan and any grants made hereunder comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, so that the income inclusion provisions of Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code do not apply to the Participants. This Plan and any grants made hereunder will be administered in a manner consistent with this intent. Any reference in this Plan to Section 409A of the Code will also include any regulations or any other formal guidance promulgated with respect to such section by the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service.

(b)

Neither a Participant nor any of a Participant’s creditors or beneficiaries will have the right to subject any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) payable under this Plan and grants hereunder to any anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment or garnishment. Except as permitted under Section 409A of the Code, any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) payable to a Participant or for a Participant’s benefit under this Plan and grants hereunder may not be reduced by, or offset against, any amount owed by a Participant to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

I-10 • CECO Environmental


(c)

If, at the time of a Participant’s separation from service (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code), (i) the Participant will be a specified employee (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and using the identification methodology selected by the Company from time to time) and (ii) the Company makes a good faith determination that an amount payable hereunder constitutes deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) the payment of which is required to be delayed pursuant to the six-month delay rule set forth in Section 409A of the Code in order to avoid taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code, then the Company will not pay such amount on the otherwise scheduled payment date but will instead pay it, without interest, on the fifth business day of the seventh month after such separation from service.

(d)

Solely with respect to any award that constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code and that is payable on account of a Change in Control (including any installments or stream of payments that are accelerated on account of a Change in Control), a Change in Control shall occur only if such event also constitutes a “change in the ownership,” “change in effective control,” and/or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of assets” of the Company as those terms are defined under Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(5), but only to the extent necessary to establish a time and form of payment that complies with Section 409A of the Code, without altering the definition of Change in Control for any purpose in respect of such award.

(e)

Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan and grants hereunder to the contrary, in light of the uncertainty with respect to the proper application of Section 409A of the Code, the Company reserves the right to make amendments to this Plan and grants hereunder as the Company deems necessary or desirable to avoid the imposition of taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code. In any case, a Participant will be solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may be imposed on a Participant or for a Participant’s account in connection with this Plan and grants hereunder (including any taxes and penalties under Section 409A of the Code), and neither the Company nor any of its affiliates will have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold a Participant harmless from any or all of such taxes or penalties.

18. Amendments.

(a)

The Board may at any time and from time to time amend this Plan in whole or in part; provided, however, that if an amendment to this Plan, for purposes of applicable stock exchange rules and except as permitted under Section 11 of this Plan, (i) would materially increase the benefits accruing to Participants under this Plan, (ii) would materially increase the number of securities which may be issued under this Plan, (iii) would materially modify the requirements for participation in this Plan, or (iv) must otherwise be approved by the Stockholders in order to comply with applicable law or the rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market or, if the shares of Common Stock are not traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market, the principal national securities exchange upon which the shares of Common Stock are traded or quoted, all as determined by the Board, then, such amendment will be subject to Stockholder approval and will not be effective unless and until such approval has been obtained.

(b)

Except in connection with a corporate transaction or event described in Section 11 of this Plan or in connection with a Change in Control, the terms of outstanding awards may not be amended to reduce the Option Price of outstanding Option Rights or the Base Price of outstanding Appreciation Rights, or cancel outstanding “underwater” Option Rights or Appreciation Rights (including following a Participant’s voluntary surrender of “underwater” Option Rights or Appreciation Rights) in exchange for cash, other awards or Option Rights or Appreciation Rights with an Option Price or Base Price, as applicable, that is less than the Option Price of the original Option Rights or Base Price of the original Appreciation Rights, as applicable, without Stockholder approval. This Section 18(b) is intended to prohibit the repricing of “underwater” Option Rights and Appreciation Rights and will not be construed to prohibit the adjustments provided for in Section 11 of this Plan. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, this Section 18(b) may not be amended without approval by the Stockholders.

(c)

If permitted by Section 409A of the Code, but subject to Section 18(d), including in the case of termination of employment or service, or in the case of unforeseeable emergency or other circumstances or in the event of a Change in Control, to the extent a Participant holds an Option Right or Appreciation Right not immediately exercisable in full, or any Restricted Stock as to which the substantial risk of forfeiture or the prohibition or restriction on transfer has not lapsed, or any Restricted Stock Units as to which the Restriction Period has not been completed, or any Cash Incentive Awards, Performance Shares or Performance Units which have not been fully earned, or any dividend equivalents or other awards made pursuant to Section 9 of this Plan subject to any vesting schedule or transfer restriction, or who holds shares of Common Stock subject to any transfer restriction imposed pursuant to Section 15(b) of this Plan, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for continued vesting or accelerate the time at which such Option Right, Appreciation Right or other award may vest or be exercised or the time at which such substantial risk of forfeiture or prohibition or restriction on transfer will lapse or the time when such Restriction Period will end or the time at which such Cash Incentive Awards, Performance Shares or

2021 Proxy Statement • I-11


Performance Units will be deemed to have been earned or the time when such transfer restriction will terminate or may waive any other limitation or requirement under any such award.

(d)

Subject to Section 18(b) of this Plan, the Committee may amend the terms of any award theretofore granted under this Plan prospectively or retroactively. Except for adjustments made pursuant to Section 11 of this Plan, no such amendment will materially impair the rights of any Participant without his or her consent. The Board may, in its discretion, terminate this Plan at any time. Termination of this Plan will not affect the rights of Participants or their successors under any awards outstanding hereunder and not exercised in full on the date of termination.

19. Governing Law. This Plan and all grants and awards and actions taken hereunder will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal substantive laws of the State of Delaware.

20. Effective Date/Termination. This Plan will be effective as of the Effective Date. No grants will be made on or after the Effective Date under the Predecessor Plans, provided that outstanding awards granted under the Predecessor Plans will continue following the Effective Date. No grant will be made under this Plan on or after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, but all grants made prior to such date will continue in effect thereafter subject to the terms thereof and of this Plan. For clarification purposes, the terms and conditions of this Plan shall not apply to or otherwise impact previously granted and outstanding awards under the Predecessor Plans, as applicable (except for purposes of providing for shares of Common Stock under such awards to be added to the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available under Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan pursuant to the share counting rules of this Plan).

21. Miscellaneous Provisions.

(a)

The Company will not be required to issue any fractional shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Plan. The Committee may provide for the elimination of fractions or for the settlement of fractions in cash.

(b)

This Plan will not confer upon any Participant any right with respect to continuance of employment or other service with the Company or any Subsidiary, nor will it interfere in any way with any right the Company or any Subsidiary would otherwise have to terminate such Participant’s employment or other service at any time.

(c)

Except with respect to Section 21(e) of this Plan, to the extent that any provision of this Plan would prevent any Option Right that was intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option from qualifying as such, that provision will be null and void with respect to such Option Right. Such provision, however, will remain in effect for other Option Rights and there will be no further effect on any provision of this Plan.

(d)

No award under this Plan may be exercised by the holder thereof if such exercise, and the receipt of cash or stock thereunder, would be, in the opinion of counsel selected by the Company, contrary to law or the regulations of any duly constituted authority having jurisdiction over this Plan.

(e)

Absence on leave approved by a duly constituted officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries will not be considered interruption or termination of service of any employee for any purposes of this Plan or awards granted hereunder.

(f)

No Participant will have any rights as a Stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock subject to awards granted to him or her under this Plan prior to the date as of which he or she is actually recorded as the holder of such shares of Common Stock upon the stock records of the Company.

(g)

The Committee may condition the grant of any award or combination of awards authorized under this Plan on the surrender or deferral by the Participant of his or her right to receive a cash bonus or other compensation otherwise payable by the Company or a Subsidiary to the Participant.

(h)

Except with respect to Option Rights and Appreciation Rights, the Committee may permit Participants to elect to defer the issuance of shares of Common Stock under this Plan pursuant to such rules, procedures or programs as it may establish for purposes of this Plan and which are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. The Committee also may provide that deferred issuances and settlements include the crediting of dividend equivalents or interest on the deferral amounts.

(i)

If any provision of this Plan is or becomes invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or would disqualify this Plan or any award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision will be construed or deemed amended or limited in scope to conform to applicable laws or, in the discretion of the Committee, it will be stricken and the remainder of this Plan will remain in full force and effect. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan or an Evidence of Award to the contrary, nothing in this Plan or in an Evidence of Award prevents a Participant from providing, without prior notice to the Company, information to governmental authorities regarding possible legal violations or otherwise testifying or participating in any

I-12 • CECO Environmental


investigation or proceeding by any governmental authorities regarding possible legal violations, and for purpose of clarity a Participant is not prohibited from providing information voluntarily to the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 21F of the Exchange Act.

22. Stock-Based Awards in Substitution for Awards Granted by Another Company. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary:

(a)

Awards may be granted under this Plan in substitution for or in conversion of, or in connection with an assumption of, stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units or other stock or stock-based awards held by awardees of an entity engaging in a corporate acquisition or merger transaction with the Company or any Subsidiary. Any conversion, substitution or assumption will be effective as of the close of the merger or acquisition, and, to the extent applicable, will be conducted in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code. The awards so granted may reflect the original terms of the awards being assumed or substituted or converted for and need not comply with other specific terms of this Plan, and may account for shares of Common Stock substituted for the securities covered by the original awards and the number of shares subject to the original awards, as well as any exercise or purchase prices applicable to the original awards, adjusted to account for differences in stock prices in connection with the transaction.

(b)

In the event that a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary merges has shares available under a pre-existing plan previously approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or merger, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, to reflect such acquisition or merger) may be used for awards made after such acquisition or merger under this Plan; provided, however, that awards using such available shares may not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan absent the acquisition or merger, and may only be made to individuals who were not employees or directors of the Company or any Subsidiary prior to such acquisition or merger.

(c)

Any shares of Common Stock that are issued or transferred by, or that are subject to any awards that are granted by, or become obligations of, the Company under Sections 22(a) or 22(b) of this Plan will not reduce the shares of Common Stock available for issuance or transfer under this Plan or otherwise count against the limits contained in Section 3 of this Plan. In addition, no shares of Common Stock subject to an award that is granted by, or becomes an obligation of, the Company under Sections 22(a) or 22(b) of this Plan, will be added to the aggregate limit contained in Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan.

2021 Proxy Statement • I-13


Appendix II

Relative TSR peer companies:

  Company (n = 90)

  Acacia Research Corporation

Mesa Air Group, Inc.

  Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc.

Mesabi Trust

  AgroFresh Solutions, Inc.

Miller Industries, Inc.

  Allied Motion Technologies Inc.

Mistras Group, Inc.

  American Superconductor Corporation

Nesco Holdings, Inc.

  Amyris, Inc.

NL Industries, Inc.

  Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc.

NN, Inc.

  BG Staffing, Inc.

Northern Technologies International Corporation

  BlueLinx Holdings Inc.

Northwest Pipe Company

  Briggs & Stratton Corporation

Olympic Steel, Inc.

  CAI International, Inc.

Orion Energy Systems, Inc.

  Ciner Resources LP

Orion Group Holdings, Inc.

  Civeo Corporation

P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc.

  Clearwater Paper Corporation

Pangaea Logistics Solutions, Ltd.

  Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc.

Park Aerospace Corp.

  Concrete Pumping Holdings, Inc.

Park-Ohio Holdings Corp.

  Contura Energy, Inc.

Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc.

  Covenant Transportation Group, Inc.

PICO Holdings, Inc.

  CRA International, Inc.

Preformed Line Products Company

  CVR Partners, LP

Quad/Graphics, Inc.

  Daseke, Inc.

R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company

  Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc.

Ramaco Resources, Inc.

  Flotek Industries, Inc.

Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.

  Franklin Covey Co.

Red Violet, Inc.

  FuelCell Energy, Inc.

Ryerson Holding Corporation

  Genco Shipping & Trading Limited

Steel Partners Holdings L.P.

  Gencor Industries, Inc.

Sterling Construction Company, Inc.

  General Finance Corporation

Synalloy Corporation

  GP Strategies Corporation

Team, Inc.

  Graham Corporation

The Eastern Company

  Hawkins, Inc.

The ExOne Company

  Haynes International, Inc.

TimkenSteel Corporation

  Hill International, Inc.

Titan International, Inc.

  Hurco Companies, Inc.

Titan Machinery Inc.

  InnerWorkings, Inc.

Transcat, Inc.

  Insteel Industries, Inc.

Trecora Resources

  Intrepid Potash, Inc.

Twin Disc, Incorporated

  L.B. Foster Company

U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc.

  Lawson Products, Inc.

UFP Technologies, Inc.

  LSB Industries, Inc.

Ultralife Corporation

  LSI Industries Inc.

Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc.

  Lydall, Inc.

Veritiv Corporation

  Manitex International, Inc.

VSE Corporation

  Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc.

Willdan Group, Inc.

  Mayville Engineering Company, Inc.

Willis Lease Finance Corporation

2021 Proxy Statement • II-1


LOGO


CECO ENVIRONMENTAL CORP.

C/O BROADRIDGE

P.O. BOX 1342

BRENTWOOD, NY 11717

VOTE BY INTERNET

Before The Meeting - Go to www.proxyvote.com

Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information. Vote by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 24, 2021. 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/CECE2021

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. Vote by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 24, 2021. 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.

e-Consent makes it easy to go paperless. With e-Consent, you can quickly access your proxy

materials, statements and other eligible documents online, while reducing costs, clutter and

paper waste. Enroll today via www.astfinancial.com to enjoy online access.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials

for the Stockholders Meeting to Be Held on June 12, 2018

Our Annual Report to Stockholders and the Proxy Statement

are available at www.cecoenviro.com/investors.aspx

Please sign, date and mail

your proxy card in the

envelope provided as soon

as possible.

i Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided. i

LOGO

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS ATO VOTE, “FOR” THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS,
“FOR” PROPOSAL NO. 2 AND “FOR” PROPOSAL NO. 3.
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTEBLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE FOLLOWS:
D48686-P51119KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS

— — — — — — — — — — — — — —  — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —  — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —  — — —

DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY

THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.

CECO ENVIRONMENTAL CORP.

The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR each

of the nominees in Proposal 1:

For

All

Withhold

All

For All ExceptTo 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. 

1.    

Election of Directors

      FORAGAINSTABSTAIN

 1.

 ☐

 ☐

 ☐

Election of Directors:

FOR ALL NOMINEES

WITHHOLD AUTHORITY

FOR ALL NOMINEES

FOR ALL EXCEPT

(See instructions below)

  

NOMINEES:

¡  Jason DeZwirek

¡  Eric M. Goldberg

¡  David B. Liner

¡  Claudio A. Mannarino

¡  Munish Nanda

¡  Jonathan Pollack

¡  Valerie Gentile Sachs

¡  Dennis Sadlowski

   

 

Nominees:

01)   Jason DeZwirek

02)   Eric M. Goldberg

03)   David B. Liner

04)   Claudio A. Mannarino

05)   Munish Nanda

06)   Jonathan Pollack

07)   Valerie Gentile Sachs

08)   Todd Gleason

The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR proposals 2, 3 and 4:

ForAgainstAbstain

2.   To approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation paid to the Company’s named excutive officer compensation.executive officers.

 

 

 

    
 

3.   To approve the CECO Environmental Corp. 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan.

  

3.4.   To ratify the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as theour independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for fiscal year 2018.2021.

 

FOR

 

AGAINST

 

ABSTAIN

    
  

4.NOTE: To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.

INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “FOR ALL EXCEPT” and fill in the circle next to each nominee you wish to withhold, as shown here:  🌑

  

 

THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED BY THE STOCKHOLDER. IF NO SUCH DIRECTIONS ARE MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES LISTED HEREIN FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, FOR PROPOSAL 2 AND FOR PROPOSAL 3.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.

 

           

PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

     MARK “X” HERE IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING.  

  

Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]

Date

 

            Signature (Joint Owners) 

To change the address on your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new address in the address space above. Please note that changes to the registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted via this method.

Date

      


Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:

Our Annual Report to Stockholders and the Proxy Statement are available at www.proxyvote.com.

— — — — — — — — — — — — —  — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —  — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — –

 

D48687-P51119      

Signature of Stockholder  Date:  Signature of Stockholder  Date:  

LOGO

  Note:CECO ENVIRONMENTAL CORP.  Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.
  LOGOAnnual Meeting of Stockholders
May 25, 2021 8:00 AM Central Time

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The undersigned stockholder hereby appoints Todd Gleason and Chasity Henry, or either of them, as proxy, and each with full power of substitution and revocation, to represent and to vote as designated on this proxy, all of the shares of common stock that the undersigned would be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 8:00 AM Central Time on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CECE2021, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof.

THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED BY THE STOCKHOLDER. IF NO SUCH DIRECTIONS ARE MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR” ALL OF THE NOMINEES LISTED IN PROPOSAL 1 AND “FOR” PROPOSALS 2, 3 AND 4.

Continued and to be signed on reverse side