UNITED STATES

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

Washington, D.C.DC 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to SectionPROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act ofOF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (Amendment

(Amendment No.     )

 

  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)14A-6(E)(2))
Definitive Proxy Statement
Definitive Additional Materials
Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12

 

Comfort Systems USA, Inc.

 

 

(Name of Registrant as Specified Inin Its Charter)

 

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

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box)all boxes that apply):
No fee required.
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a6(i)14a-6(i)(1) and 0-110-11.



ANNUAL STOCKHOLDER MEETING

TUESDAY,FRIDAY, May 16, 202317, 2024

11:00AM CENTRAL TIME

 

THE HOUSTONIAN HOTEL

111 NORTH POST OAK LANE,

HOUSTON, TEXAS 77024

 

Webuildlegacies.

Comfort Systems USA is composed of more than 40 operating companies in approximately 170 locations across the United States. We are a leading building and service provider for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing building systems. Our national footprint provides us the ability to meet your objectives to build and maintain safe, comfortable, and efficient facilities.

Across the United States, companies turn to Comfort Systems USA for our unparalleled expertise in mechanical and electrical services, process piping, modular construction, controls, energy efficiency, and countless other nonresidential building renovation and service needs. We focus on a long termlong-term approach by emphasizing safety and sustainability in everything we do. You can count on Comfort Systems USA to integrate planning, engineering, and implementation to provide you with a customized approach to all of your complex building needs.

 

WE BUILD LEGACIES

WEBUILDLEGACIES

FOROUR

CUSTOMERS

by safely installing and   maintaining their most critical building systems

PEOPLE

by providing the tools   and paths for individual   career achievement

ACQUISITIONS

by preserving and advancing their life’s   work

 

WITH OUR

CUSTOMERS

by safely installing and maintaining their most critical building systems

PEOPLE

by providing the tools and paths for individual career achievement

ACQUISITIONS

by preserving and advancing their life’s work

OUR VALUES

Be safe.

Be honest.

Be respectful.

Be innovative.

Be collaborative.

Our values define, inform, and guide the way we operate on a daily basis,
both within the company and in the communities where we do business.


 

     

Comfort Systems USA, Inc.
675 Bering Drive, Suite 400
Houston, Texas 77057

 

Message from
our Chair and CEO

Franklin MyersI Brian E. Lane I April 6, 20238, 2024

To our Stockholders:

You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of Comfort Systems USA, Inc., which will be held on Tuesday,Friday, May 16, 202317, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. Central Time.

Information about the meeting is presented on the following pages. At this meeting, you are being asked to elect the nineten directors nominated by the board to serve until the next annual meeting; to ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as the Company’s auditors for 2023;2024; and to approve, by stockholder non-binding advisory vote, the compensation paid by the Company to its named executive officers, commonly referred to as a “Say on Pay” proposal; and to approve, by a stockholder non-binding advisory vote, the frequency of submission to stockholders of advisory “Say on Pay” proposals.proposal.

Please read the proxy statement, which presents important information about the Company and each of the items being presented for stockholder vote. Whether or not you intend to be present in person, when you have finished reading the statement, please submit your vote promptly by telephone or internet, which saves the Company money, or by marking, signing, and returning your proxy card in the enclosed envelope so that your shares will be represented.

We hope that many of you will be able to attend the meeting in person. We look forward to seeing you there.

 

Sincerely yours,

Franklin Myers

Brian E. Lane

Chair of the Board

April 6, 2023

Brian E. Lane

President and Chief Executive Officer

April 8, 2024

Whetherornotyouintendtobepresentinperson,pleasevoteassoonaspossiblesothatyourshareswillberepresented.

Please read the proxy statement, which presents important information about the Company and each of the items being presented for stockholder vote.

ImportantNoticeRegardingtheAvailabilityofProxyMaterialsfortheAnnualMeetingofStockholderstoBeHeldonMay16,2023. 17, 2024.

This proxy statement and the 20222023 Annual Report are available at http://proxy.comfortsystemsusa.com.
 


  |  2024 Proxy Statement1

Tuesday,Friday, May 16, 202317, 2024

NOTICE
of Annual Meeting of Stockholders

11:00 a.m. Central Time

The Houstonian

111 North Post Oak Lane

Houston, Texas 77024

NOTICE

of Annual Meeting of Stockholders

 

NOTICEISHEREBYGIVEN that the 20232024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Comfort Systems USA, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), will be held:

 

Tuesday,Friday, May 16, 2023

17, 2024
11:00 a.m. Central Time

  

The Houstonian


111 North Post Oak Lane


Houston, Texas 77024

  

Stockholders of record at the close of business on March 17, 202318, 2024 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

 

LauraHowell

Corporate Secretary
Houston, Texas
April 6, 20238, 2024

ITEMSOFBUSINESS

1.

To elect the following nine (9) directors nominated by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) to serve until the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

1
To elect the following ten (10) directors nominated by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) to serve until the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Darcy G. Anderson

   Rhoman J. Hardy

   Pablo G. Mercado

   William J. Sandbrook

   Vance W. Tang

   Herman E. Bulls

Brian E. Lane

Franklin Myers

Constance E. Skidmore

Cindy L. Wallis-Lage

Herman E. Bulls

Pablo G. Mercado

William J. Sandbrook

Vance W. Tang

2.

To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as the Company’s auditors for 2023

3.
2To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as the Company’s auditors for 2024
3To hold a non-binding advisory vote on the compensation paid by the Company to its named executive officers for 2023 (the “Named Executive Officers”), commonly referred to as a “Say on Pay” proposal
4To transact any other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof

To hold a non-binding advisory vote on the compensation paid by the Company to its named executive officers for 2022 (the “Named Executive Officers”), commonly referred to as a “Say on Pay” proposal

4.

To hold a non-binding advisory vote on the frequency of submission to stockholders of advisory “Say on Pay” proposals

5.

To transact any other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof

We are not aware of any other business to come before the Annual Meeting. Any action may be taken on any one of the foregoing proposals at the Annual Meeting on the date specified above, or on any date or dates to which the Annual Meeting may be adjourned or postponed. Stockholders of record at the close of business on March 17, 202318, 2024 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. In the event that there are not enough votes for a quorum or to approve or ratify any of the foregoing proposals at the time of the Annual Meeting, the Annual Meeting may be adjourned or postponed in order to permit our further solicitation of proxies.


 

TO ASSURE YOUR REPRESENTATION AT THE MEETING, PLEASE EITHER FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR PHONE OR INTERNET VOTING ON YOUR PROXY CARD OR SIGN, DATE, AND RETURN YOUR PROXY AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE. AN ENVELOPE, WHICH REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES, IS ENCLOSED FOR THIS PURPOSE.

 

REVIEW YOUR PROXY STATEMENT AND 
VOTE IN ONE OF FOUR WAYS:

INTERNET

BY TELEPHONE

BY MAIL

IN PERSON

Please refer to the enclosed proxy materials or the information forwarded by your bank, broker, or other holder of recordintermediary to see which voting methods are available to you.

INTERNET

Visit the website
on your proxy card

BY TELEPHONE

Call the telephone
number on
your proxy card

BY MAIL

Sign, date, and
return your
proxy card in the
enclosed envelope

IN PERSON

Attend the annual
meeting in Houston,
Texas


Table of Contents

  |  2024 Proxy Statement2

Proxy Summary

4

Table of Contents

2023PROXY SUMMARY4
2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

4

Governance Overview

5

Overview of Audit Matters

9

8

Stockholder Engagement and Compensation Overview

10

9

General Meeting Information

12

Proposal NumberGENERAL MEETING INFORMATION

10
PROPOSAL 1: Election of DirectorsELECTION OF DIRECTORS

16

14

Board of Directors

16

14

Information with Respect to Nominees for Director

16

14

Meetings of the Board and Committees

21

19

Corporate Governance

25

23

Director Compensation for 20222023

28

26

Proposal NumberPROPOSAL 2: Ratification of the Selection of Independent AuditorsRATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

30

28

Relationship with Independent Auditors

30

28

Proposal NumberPROPOSAL 3: Advisory Vote to Approve the Compensation of the Named Executive OfficersADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE THE COMPENSATION OF THE NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

32

29

Proposal Number 4: Advisory Vote on the Frequency of Stockholder Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation

33

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and ManagementSECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

34

30

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

36

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

32
Overview

36

32

20222023 Performance Highlights

37

33

Compensation and Governance Practices

37

33

Consideration of Stockholder Advisory Vote

37

34

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

38

34

Use of Tally Sheets

40

36

Chief Executive Officer Compensation

40

36

Elements of Compensation

40

37

Allocation Among Compensation Elements

41

38

Change in Control and Severance Benefits

49

47

Stock Ownership Requirements

49

47

Executive Compensation Recovery, or “Clawback,” Policy

49

47

Anti-Hedging/Pledging Policy

50

48

Risk Considerations in our Compensation Policies

50

48

Impact of Accounting and Tax Treatment on Compensation

50

48

Compensation and Human Capital Committee Report

51

Summary of Executive CompensationCOMPENSATION AND HUMAN CAPITAL COMMITTEE REPORT

52

49

SUMMARY OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION50
Summary Compensation Table

52

50

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

54

Equity AwardsGRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS

55

52

Outstanding Equity Awards at Year-End

56

Option Exercises and Stock VestedEQUITY AWARDS

58

53

Pension Benefits

58

Nonqualified Deferred CompensationOUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT YEAR-END

58

54

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

59

OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED

56
PENSION BENEFITS56
NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION56
POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL57
Summary of Potential Payments

60

58

Equity Compensation Plan Information

62

Ratio of Chief Executive Officer Compensation to Median Company Employee CompensationEQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

63

60

Pay vs. Performance

64

RATIO OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION TO MEDIAN COMPANY EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION

61
PAY VS. PERFORMANCE62
Pay vs. Performance Table

64

62

Company-selected Measures

66

65

Analysis of the Information Presented in the Pay vs. Performance Table

66

65

Report of the Audit Committee

69

Other InformationREPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

70

68

OTHER INFORMATION69
Compensation and Human Capital Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

70

69

Delinquent Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting ComplianceReports

70

69

Householding of Stockholder Materials

70

69

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

70

69

Interest of Certain Persons in Matters to Be Acted Upon

71

70

Stockholder Proposals for 20242025 Annual Meeting

71

70

Other Business

71

70

Form 10-K and Annual Report to Stockholders

71

70


Back to Contents

Back to Contents

Proxy Summary

20232024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

TIME AND DATE

LOCATION

RECORD DATE

Tuesday,Friday, May 16, 2023

17, 2024
11:00 a.m. Central Time

The Houstonian


111 North Post Oak Lane


Houston, Texas 77024

Stockholders of record at the close of business
business on March 17, 202318, 2024 are entitled to
notice of, and
to vote at, the Annual Meeting

Voting Matters and our Board’s Recommendations

Proposal

Board’s

Recommendation

See Page

1

To elect the nine director nominees for a one-year term

FOR each director nominee

16

2

To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2023

FOR

30

3

To hold a non-binding advisory vote on the compensation of the Company’s
named executive officers

FOR

32

4

To hold a non-binding advisory vote on the frequency of submission to stockholders of advisory “Say on Pay” proposals

FOR frequency of every one year

33

Proposal Board’s
Recommendation
 See Page
1Election of the ten director nominees for a one-year term FOR each director nominee 14
2Ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2024 FOR 28
3Advisory vote to approve the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers FOR 29

In addition to these matters, stockholders may be asked to vote on such other business as may properly come before our 20232024 annual meeting of stockholders.

How to Vote

Stockholders of Record

Have your proxy card available and follow the instructions.

Beneficial Owners

By Telephone

Call toll-free 1-800-PROXIES (1-800-776-9437) in the U.S. or 1-718-921-85001-201-299-4446 from outside the country

If you are a beneficial owner and your shares are held by a bank, broker, or other nominee,intermediary, you should follow the instructions provided to you by that firm. Although most banks and brokers now offer voting by mail, telephone, and on the internet, availability and specific procedures will depend on their voting arrangements.

By Internet

Visit, 24/7, www.voteproxy.com

By Mail

Complete, date, and sign your proxy card and send by mail in the enclosed postage-paid envelope

By Mobile Device

Scan the QR code

The deadline to vote by phone or by internet is 10:59 p.m. Central Time on May 15, 2023. If you vote by phone or electronically, you do not need to return a proxy card.

The deadline to vote by phone or by internet is 10:59 p.m. Central Time on May 16, 2024. If you vote by phone or electronically, you do not need to return a proxy card.

  |  20232024 Proxy Statement4

Back to Contents

Governance Overview

Director Nominees

Name & Principal Occupation

Age

Director

Since

Independent

Other Current

Public Company

Boards

Committee Membership

Audit

Compensation &

Human Capital

Nominating,

Governance, &

Sustainability

DARCY G. ANDERSON

Vice Chairman, Hillwood Management

66

2008

0

 

 

HERMAN E. BULLS

Vice Chairman,
Americas and International
Director, JLL

67

2001

2

 

BRIAN E. LANE

President and CEO,
Comfort Systems USA

66

2010

 

1

 

 

 

 

PABLO G. MERCADO

Former CFO,

Enlink Midstream

46

2018

0

 

FRANKLIN MYERS

Former CFO,
Cameron International
CHAIR
OF THE BOARD
SINCE 2014

70

2005

1

 

 

WILLIAM J. SANDBROOK

Chairman and Co-CEO,
Andretti Acquisition Corp.

65

2018

1

 

CONSTANCE E. SKIDMORE

Former Managing Partner
and Board Member, PwC

71

2012

2

 

VANCE W. TANG

President,
VanTegrity Consulting

56

2012

1

 

 

CINDY L. WALLIS-LAGE

Former Executive Director,
Sustainability & Resilience,
Black & Veatch

60

2021

0

 

Committee chair

Committee member

Audit Committee financial expert

  |  2023 Proxy Statement5

Back to Contents

Snapshot of Director Nominees

Board Qualifications Matrix

* 2 female directors and 2 directors who self-identify as racially / ethnically diverse

  |  2023 Proxy Statement6

Back to Contents

Our governance practices

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE HIGHLIGHTS

Back to Contents

8

Governance Overview

Director Nominees

           Committee Membership
Name & Principal Occupation Age Director
Since
 Independent Other Current
Public Company
Boards
 Audit Compensation &
Human Capital
 Nominating,
Governance, &
Sustainability

DARCY G. ANDERSON

Vice Chairman,
Hillwood Management

 67 2008  0    

HERMAN E. BULLS

Vice Chairman, Americas
and International Director,
JLL

 68 2001  2     

RHOMAN J. HARDY

Former Sr. Vice President,
Shell USA, Inc.

 55 2023  1          

BRIAN E. LANE

President and CEO,
Comfort Systems USA

 67 2010   1      

PABLO G. MERCADO

CFO,
Lithium Americas Corp.

 47 2018  0    

FRANKLIN MYERS

Former CFO,
Cameron International

CHAIR OF THE BOARD
SINCE 2014

 71 2005  1     

WILLIAM J. SANDBROOK

Chairman and Co-CEO,
Andretti Acquisition Corp.

 66 2018  2    

CONSTANCE E. SKIDMORE

Former Managing Partner
and Board Member,
PwC

 72 2012  2    

VANCE W. TANG

President,
VanTegrity Consulting

 57 2012  1     

CINDY L. WALLIS-LAGE

Former Executive Director,
Sustainability & Resilience,
Black & Veatch

 61 2021  1     
  Committee chair      Committee member      Audit Committee financial expert

  |  2024 Proxy Statement5
Back to Contents

Snapshot of Director Nominees

  |  2024 Proxy Statement6
Back to Contents

Our Governance Practices

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE HIGHLIGHTS

9 of our 910 continuing directors are independent including all members of our committees

Active oversight of strategic and risk management issues

All memberscommittees are solely comprised of our Audit Committee are considered to be financial experts

independent board members

Stock ownership guidelines for directors and executives

Annual elections of the Board

Annual review and succession planning

Our Board balances fresh thinking and new perspectives with institutional knowledge and stability

No overboarding

Annual Board self-evaluations to evaluate performance and effectiveness

Focus on creating long-term value for our stockholders

Regular investor outreach and engagement to discuss our performance, governance policies, and other topics: during 2022,2023, executive officers held more than 140160 meetings, including those held during the course of seveneight investor conferences and fivesix roadshows

New director orientation and ongoing education


Policy to address the resignation of a director nominee who receives more votes “withheld” than votes “for” his or her election in an uncontested election

Mandatory retirement policy following a director’s 72nd75th birthday

ESGSustainability and Corporate Responsibility

Our commitment to sustainability

Everyone at Comfort Systems USA shares a responsibility for doing business ethically and in a sustainable manner, preserving our good name. We ensure that this responsibility applies at every level in our organization, and everyone, from corporate officers to members of our Board of Directors to our field personnel, is responsible for overseeing these efforts. We are committed to promoting sustainable business practices.

INDUSTRY COMPLIANCE

OSHA COMPLIANCE

9CERTIFICATIONS

LEED®Accredited

Six Sigma Methodology

Refrigerant Handling

Medical Certification

ASSE 6010 Certified Medical Gas Installers

Certified Cross Connection Control Testers

ASME and NB Accredited

ASHE Healthcare Construction

Certificate — National Environmental Balancing Bureau

1.011.10 OSHARecordableRate

In 2022,2023, our Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) recordable rate was 33%52% better than the most recently published rate for our industry as of our 20222023 Form 10-K filing date.

 

  |  20232024 Proxy Statement7

Back to Contents

SAFETY

Back to Contents

HUMAN CAPITAL

SAFETY

HUMAN CAPITAL
We focus on company-wide accident prevention, not just OSHA compliance. We believe safety has more to do with what is in the minds of our workers and the hearts of our management. Our employees receive comprehensive training and certification in OSHA 10-Hour Safety. Managers and supervisors receive OSHA 30-hour safety training. We also provide our employees with the safety equipment they need to perform their work. Our Think 5 x 5 initiative increases worker awareness and enhances the company culture to “Safely take 5 seconds and 5 steps back” to think about their surroundings and work area to make sure it is a safe environment. We strictly adhere to all federal, state, and local regulations.

We provide opportunities for personal and professional growth and development and invest in leadership training, mentoring, and succession planning initiatives to equip our future leaders for generations to come.

We have created in-house training courses specific to leadership, communication, relationship management, diversity and inclusion, ethics and conduct in the workplace, and many more key competencies for our employees’ development.

ENVIRONMENT

ENVIRONMENT CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

We believe that the work we perform to optimize and upgrade systems and to enable wise controls allows our customers to reduce their energy use, which in turn reduces our nation’s carbon footprint. Our emphasis on environmental stewardship and improving productivity drives our effort to become more energy efficient.

We strive to minimize our environmental impacts through Board oversight, regulatory compliance, ongoing improvement investments, local specialists, and community group involvement. Our Board supplies high-level oversight of our Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”)corporate sustainability performance and material ESGsustainability issues, as applicable, through the Nominating, Governance, and Sustainability Committee, which reviews and advises on updates from our internal Sustainability Committee, made up of a diverse set of corporate leadership, on at least a bi-annual basis.

We have invested in the experts, training, and internal and external knowledge transfer to ensure that we are properly scaling, achieving true buildability, and fundamentally and continuously improving our design capabilities to meet our customers’ evolving requirements.

We are improving productivity by increasing use of innovative techniques in prefabrication, project design, and planning, as well as in coordination and production methods. Our investments in design and building information modeling enable us to collaborate with our customers to achieve reliable and energy efficient construction outcomes and to eliminate unnecessary waste. We work to identify, develop, and implement new materials, products, and methods that can achieve greater productivity and more efficient and sustainable outcomes.

OUR COMMUNITIES

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

We believe in making a positive difference in people’s lives and maintaining the health and welfare of the communities where we live and work.

We promote, encourage, and support a diverse range of corporate social responsibility activities. Our employees’ involvement in the many initiatives we support is integral to the success of our impact in the communities where we operate.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and we welcome and celebrate our teams’ differences, experiences, and beliefs. We expect all employees to be treated with dignity and respect in an environment free from discrimination and harassment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected class. We know that diversity is truly a competitive advantage that helps drive growth and innovation, and we have increasingly focused on diversity and inclusion programs within our Company. Diversity and inclusion is among our leadership team’s top priorities, with clearly outlined near-term actions to accelerate progress in outreach, representation, development, and advancement of underrepresented groups within our Company. The Compensation and Human Capital Committee of our Board of Directors provides oversight on our diversity and inclusion strategy.

  |  2023 Proxy Statement8

Back to Contents

Overview of Audit Matters

The Audit Committee has re-appointed Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2023.2024. 

  |  20232024 Proxy Statement98

Back to Contents

Back to Contents

Stockholder Engagement and Compensation Overview

Stockholder Engagement

Throughout the year, we meet regularly with investors and actively seek their input on topics related to our performance and our compensation and governance policies, as well as a wide variety of other topics on which they may have feedback, so that we may address any questions or concerns of our stockholders. We value our stockholders’ input and welcome feedback through our ongoing engagement practices. Our stockholders are generally supportive of our executive compensation program, which is summarized below, as evidenced by our historically high levels of support for say-on-pay proposals.

 

 

Compensation Objectives

Provide competitive base pay consistent with job scope, experience, and related skills

Link bonus opportunities to the Company’s performance

Grant equity compensation at competitive levels, a significant portion of which is performance-based

Avoid unnecessary and imprudent risks

Attract and motivate talented executive officers and minimize turnover of senior-level Company employees, which contributes to the stability and continuity of senior leadership

Compensation Highlights

COMPENSATION PRACTICES

Provide competitive total compensation consistent with job scope, experience, and related skills
Link bonus opportunities to the Company’s performance
Grant equity compensation at competitive levels, a significant portion of which is performance-based
Avoid unnecessary and imprudent risks
Attract and motivate talented executive officers and minimize turnover of senior-level Company employees, which contributes to the stability and continuity of senior leadership

Compensation Highlights

COMPENSATION PRACTICES
A majority of each executive officer’s compensation is at-risk (i.e., variable and not fixed).*

Executive officers and directors are subject to stock ownership requirements.

A majority of each executive officer’s compensation is tied to the Company’s financial performance and/or stock price.*

The Company has adopted a compensation clawback policy and an anti-hedging/pledging policy that apply to all executive officers.

50% of each executive officer’s equity awards are subject to the Company achieving specific performance goals over a 3-year time horizon.*

The Compensation and Human Capital Committee and management routinely engage with independent third parties, including an independent compensation consultant and the Company’s stockholders, to advise and provide feedback on executive compensation matters.

*
*Assuming target performance is achieved, when applicable, and based on grant date values of annual equity awards. Does not take into account any one-time equity awards outside of the annual equity award cycle.

Pay-For-Performance

  |  20232024 Proxy Statement109

Back to Contents

Pay-For-Performance

Total Target Compensation Mix

 
Back to Contents
  |  2023 Proxy Statement11

Back to Contents

General Meeting Information

TIME AND DATE

LOCATION

RECORD DATE

Tuesday,Friday, May 16, 2023

17, 2024
11:00 a.m. Central Time

LOCATION

The Houstonian


111 North Post Oak Lane


Houston, Texas 77024

RECORD DATE

Stockholders of record at the close of
business on March 17, 202318, 2024 are entitled to
notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting.

 

Why am I receiving this Proxy Statement?

The enclosed proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (the “Company”) for the 20232024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”), to be voted at the Annual Meeting. This proxy statement and the enclosed proxy are first being provided to stockholders on or about April 6, 2023.8, 2024. 

 

When and where is the 20232024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders?

The Annual Meeting will be held at The Houstonian, 111 North Post Oak Lane, Houston, Texas 77024, at 11:00 a.m. Central Time on Tuesday,Friday, May 16, 2023,17, 2024, and at any reconvened meetings after any adjournments or postponements thereof.

 

Who can vote?

The holders of record of shares of the Company’s common stock, $.01 par value per share (the “Common(“Common Stock”), at the close of business on March 17, 202318, 2024 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting.

 

How do I vote?

If you are a record stockholder, you may vote in person at the Annual Meeting or by proxy. You may submit your vote by proxy by providing your voting instructions by internet or telephone or by signing, dating, and returning a proxy card. The instructions for each method of voting are on the proxy card. If you wish to vote in person at the meeting, be sure to bring a form of personal picture identification with you.

 

What are the voting rights of holders of Common Stock?

Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote on each matter before the Annual Meeting.

 

What are my voting choices and what is the required vote?

By giving us your proxy, you authorize the persons named on the proxy card to vote your shares in the manner you indicate at the Annual Meeting or at any adjournments or postponements thereof.

  |  20232024 Proxy Statement1210

Back to Contents

Proposal

Back to Contents

Proposal

Voting Choices

Board

Recommendation

Voting Details and

Applicable Policies

Withholding, Abstaining,

and Broker Non-Votes

1
ElectionofDirectors

Election of Directors

In the vote on the election of director nominees nominated by the Board of Directors to serve until the 20242025 Annual Meeting, stockholders may:

Vote for all nominees

Withhold authority from the proxy holders to vote for all nominees

Vote for all nominees except those specified

 

FOR all

nominees

The Board recommends a vote FOR all nominees. If a quorum is present, the nineten nominees for election as directors receiving the greatest number of votes properly cast at the Annual Meeting, or at any adjournments or postponements thereof, will be elected. The Company has a policy to address the resignation of an incumbent director who receives more votes “withheld” than votes “for” his or her election. See “Proposal Number 1: Election of Directors—Directorthe subsection titled “Director Resignation Policy” below.

Votes withheld from any director are counted for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for the transaction of business. Broker non-votes will be counted toward a quorum, but will not be taken into account in determining the outcome of the election.

2
RatificationofAuditors

Ratification of Auditors

In the vote on whether to ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent auditors for the Company for the year ending December 31, 2023,2024, stockholders may:

Vote for ratification

Vote against ratification

Abstain from voting on ratification

 

FORFOR

The Board recommends a vote FOR ratification. If the stockholders do not ratify the selection, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether to retain Deloitte & Touche LLP, but still may retain them. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may change the appointment at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by stockholders represented at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on this proposal will be required to ratify the appointment of the independent auditors.

Abstentions will be counted toward a quorum, but will not be taken into account in determining the outcome of this vote.

3
“Say on Pay” VoteonPay”Vote

In the non-binding advisory vote on whether to approve the compensation paid by the Company to its named executive officers, stockholders may:

Vote for approval

Vote against approval

Abstain from voting on the approval

FORFOR

The Board recommends a vote FOR approval. The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by stockholders represented at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on this proposal will constitute the stockholders’ non-binding approval with respect to the Company’s executive compensation program. The Board and the Compensation and Human Capital Committee will review the voting results and take them into consideration when making future decisions regarding executive compensation.

Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted toward a quorum, but will not be taken into account in determining the outcome of this vote.

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Proposal

Voting Choices

Board

Recommendation

Voting Details and

Applicable Policies

Withholding, Abstaining,

and Broker Non-Votes

4
Frequencyof“SayonPay”Votes

In the non-binding advisory vote on the frequency of “Say on Pay” votes, stockholders may:

Vote to advise the Board of Directors to hold “Say on Pay” votes every one year

Vote to advise the Board of Directors to hold “Say on Pay” votes every two years

Vote to advise the Board of Directors to hold “Say on Pay” votes every three years

Abstain from voting to advise the Board of Directors on this matter

FOR votes every one year

The Board recommends a vote for every ONE YEAR as the frequency for voting on “Say on Pay” proposals. The frequency receiving a plurality of the shares represented at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on this proposal will constitute the stockholders’ non-binding advisory vote with respect to the frequency of “Say on Pay” votes. The Board will review the voting results and take them into consideration when making future decisions regarding the frequency of “Say on Pay” votes.

Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted toward a quorum, but will not be taken into account in determining the outcome of this vote.

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What constitutes a quorum?

A quorum is the minimum number of shares required to hold a meeting. Consistent with Delaware law and the Company’s Bylaws, the holders of a majority in number of the total outstanding shares of stock of the Company entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, constitutes a quorum as to that matter. As of the Record Date, 35,735,34135,684,609 shares of Common Stock, representing the same number of votes, were outstanding. Therefore, the presence of holders of Common Stock representing at least 17,867,67117,842,305 votes will be required to establish a quorum.

 

What is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder of record and as a beneficial owner of shares held in street name?

If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Equiniti Trust Company (formerly American Stock Transfer & Trust Company,Company), you are considered the stockholder of record with respect to those shares, and the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting was sent directly to you by the Company.

If your shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer, or other similar organization, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name,” and the Notice of Annual Meeting was forwarded to you by your bank, broker, or other intermediary. The organization holding your account is considered the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the Annual Meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct that organization on how to vote the shares held in your account.

 

What happens if I do not give specific voting instructions?

If you are a stockholder of record and you sign and return a proxy card without giving specific voting instructions, then the proxy holders will vote your shares FOR the nominees listed in Proposal 1, FOR the ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s auditors for 20232024 in Proposal 2, and FOR approval with respect to the Company’s executive compensation program in Proposal 3, and FOR EVERY ONE YEAR as the frequency for voting on “Say on Pay” proposals in Proposal 4.3. 

If you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name and do not provide the organization that holds your shares with specific voting instructions, under New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) rules, the organization that holds your shares may generally vote on routine matters but cannot vote on non-routine matters (including uncontested director elections “Say on Pay” and “Say on Frequency”Pay”). If the organization that holds your shares does not receive instructions from you on how to vote your shares on a non-routine matter (including uncontested director elections “Say on Pay” and “Say on Frequency”Pay”), the organization that holds your shares will inform our election inspectors that it does not have the authority to vote on this matter with respect to your shares and your shares will not be voted. This is generally referred to as a “broker non-vote.” When our election inspectors tabulate the votes for any particular matter, broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present but will not otherwise be counted. We encourage you to provide voting instructions to the organization that holds your shares.

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Can I change my vote after I return my proxy card?

Yes. A proxy may be revoked by a record stockholder at any time before it is voted by (i) returning to the Company another properly signed proxy bearing a later date, (ii) delivering a written revocation to the Secretary of the Company no later than the close of business on May 15, 2023,16, 2024, or (iii) attending the Annual Meeting, or any adjourned session thereof, and voting the shares covered by the proxy in person. If your stock is held in street name, you must follow the instructions of the broker, bank, or nominee as to how to change your vote.

Who pays to prepare, mail, and solicit the proxies?

The Company will pay the expense of soliciting proxies. In addition to the solicitation of proxies by use of the mails, the Company may use the services of its officers, directors, and regular employees as well as brokerage houses and other stockholders to solicit proxies personally and by mail, telephone, or email communication. The Company will reimburse brokers and other persons for their reasonable charges and expenses in forwarding soliciting materials to their principals. Officers and employees of the Company will receive no compensation in addition to their regular salaries to solicit proxies.

Who tabulates the votes?

Votes cast by proxy or in person at the Annual Meeting will be counted by two people appointed by the Company to act as election inspectors for the Annual Meeting.

Could other matters be decided at the Annual Meeting?

We do not know of any matters that may be properly presented for action at the Annual Meeting other than Proposals 1, 2, 3, and 4.3. If other business does properly come before the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the proxy intend to act on those matters as they deem advisable. With respect to shares held in street name, the nominee may vote on those matters, subject to the NYSE’s rules on the exercise of discretionary authority.

What happens if the Annual Meeting is postponed or adjourned?

Your proxy may be voted at the postponed or adjourned Annual Meeting. You will still be able to change your proxy until it is voted.

How can I find the Company’s governance documents, such as its corporate Governance Standards, Director Independence Guidelines, Code of Conduct, and Board committee charters?

All these documents can be found on our website at http://investors.comfortsystemsusa.com under the “Governance” tab. Please note that documents and information on our website are not incorporated into this proxy statement by reference. These documents are also available in print by writing to the Office of the General Counsel, 675 Bering Drive, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77057.

How can I receive a copy of the Annual Report?

The Annual Report to Stockholders, which includes the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022,2023, accompanies this proxy statement and may also be accessed through our website—http://investors.comfortsystemsusa.com.

Where can I find the voting results of the Annual Meeting?

We plan to announce the preliminary voting results at the Annual Meeting and to publish the final results in a current report on Form 8-K, which we will file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and make available on our website—http://investors.comfortsystemsusa.com.

When and where will a list of stockholders be available?

A list of stockholders of record will be available for examination at the Company’s headquarters during ordinary business hours for the ten days prior to the Annual Meeting.

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PROPOSAL 1

Election of Directors

THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FORTHE ELECTION OF THE NINETEN DIRECTOR NOMINEES.

Board of Directors

Nine

Ten directors will be elected at the Annual Meeting to serve for a one-year term expiring at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders expected to be held in May 2024.2025.

The nominees for election at the Annual Meeting are:

Darcy G. Anderson

Herman E. Bulls

  Rhoman J. Hardy

Brian E. Lane

Pablo G. Mercado

Franklin Myers

William J. Sandbrook

Constance E. Skidmore

Vance W. Tang

Cindy L. Wallis-Lage

(each a “Nominee” and collectively the “Nominees”). Mr. Hardy took office in October 2023 and is thus standing for his first election at an annual meeting of stockholders.

If elected, each Nominee has agreed to serve for a term of one year expiring at the 20242025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. It is expected that all the Nominees will be able to serve, but if any Nominee is unable to serve, the proxies reserve discretion to vote, or refrain from voting, for a substitute nominee.

Alan P. Krusi informed the Company on March 21, 2023 that he is retiring from the Board effective May 16, 2023 and, as a result, will not stand for re-election at the 2023 Annual Meeting. The Company thanks Mr. Krusi for his guidance and service to the Company and the Board. As a result of Mr. Krusi’s decision to retire, the Board will reduce the number of directors constituting the Board from 10 to 9, effective as of May 16, 2023.

Information with Respect to Nominees for Director

Key Information About Our Nominees

Name

Primary (or former) occupation

Age

Director

Since

Independent

Committee Membership

Audit

Compensation

and Human

Capital

Nominating,

Governance, and

Sustainability

Darcy G. Anderson

Vice Chairman of Hillwood Management

66

2008

 

 

Herman E. Bulls

Vice Chairman, Americas and International Director of JLL

67

2001

 

Brian E. Lane

President and CEO of
Comfort Systems USA

66

2010

 

 

 

 

 

Pablo G. Mercado

Former CFO of EnLink Midstream

46

2018

 

Franklin Myers

Former CFO of Cameron International

70

2005

 

 

William J. Sandbrook

Chairman and Co-CEO of Andretti Acquisition Corp.

65

2018

 

Constance E. Skidmore

Former Managing Partner and Board Member of PwC

71

2012

 

Vance W. Tang

President of VanTegrity Consulting

56

2012

 

 

Cindy L. Wallis-Lage

Former Executive Director, Sustainability & Resilience of Black & Veatch

60

2021

 

          Committee Membership
Name Primary (or Former) Occupation  Age Director
Since
 Independent Audit Compensation
and Human
Capital
 Nominating,
Governance, and
Sustainability
Darcy G. Anderson Vice Chairman of Hillwood Management  67 2008     
Herman E. Bulls Vice Chairman, Americas and International Director of JLL  68 2001      
Rhoman J. Hardy Former Senior Vice President of Shell USA, Inc. 55 2023             
Brian E. Lane President and CEO of Comfort Systems USA 67 2010        
Pablo G. Mercado CFO of Lithium Americas Corp. 47 2018     
Franklin Myers ✪ Former CFO of Cameron International 71 2005      
William J. Sandbrook Chairman and Co-CEO of Andretti Acquisition Corp. 66 2018     
Constance E. Skidmore Former Managing Partner and Board Member of PwC 72 2012     
Vance W. Tang President of VanTegrity Consulting 57 2012      
Cindy L. Wallis-Lage Former Executive Director, Sustainability & Resilience of Black & Veatch 61 2021      

Board Chair

Committee chair

Committee member

  Committee chair

  Committee member

Audit Committee financial expert

Independent director

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Set forth below are the names, ages as of March 31, 2023,2024, and principal occupations for at least the past five years of each of the Nominees and the names of any other public companies on which each is currently serving, or has served in the past five years, as a director:

DARCY G. ANDERSON

Age 6667

Director

Independent

Committees:

  Audit

Compensation and Human Capital

Nominating, Governance, and Sustainability

Darcy G. Anderson has served as a Director of the Company since March 2008. Since April 2009, Mr. Anderson has served as Vice Chairman of Hillwood Management, a real estate, oil and gas, and investments company. From November 2000 until April 2009, Mr. Anderson served as Chief People Officer and Vice President for Perot Systems Corporation, an information technology services and consulting firm. Prior to joining Perot Systems, Mr. Anderson held various positions at Hillwood Development Corporation beginning in 1987, including Senior Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Anderson also served as president of Hillwood Urban, overseeing all of the operations and development for the company’s Victory project and the new American Airlines Center in downtown Dallas. He also served in various leadership roles for the Perot ‘92’92 Presidential Campaign. Mr. Anderson joined Electronic Data Systems (EDS) in 1983 working in recruiting management. Prior to his employment with EDS, Mr. Anderson completed five years of active duty in the United States Army Corp of Engineers. He is on the Executive Committee of the Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce. He is a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army representing North Texas. Mr. Anderson is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Mr. Anderson has significant experience and knowledge of real estate development, human resources and leadership development practices, energy efficiency, corporate facilities management, and information technology services.

HERMAN E. BULLS

Age 6768

Director

Independent

Committees:

Audit

Compensation  Nominating, Governance, and Human CapitalSustainability

Herman E. Bulls has served as a Director of the Company since February 2001. Mr. Bulls serves as Vice Chairman, Americas and International Director of JLL, an international full-service real estate firm. He is the founder of JLL’s Public Institutions division and served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from January 2002 until January 2014. From September 2000 until August 2001, Mr. Bulls served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of one of the nation’s largest Fannie Mae multifamily lenders. From March 1998 to September 2000, Mr. Bulls was a Managing Director for JLL. From 1989 until 1998, he held several positions with the predecessor organization, LaSalle Partners. Prior to his employment with JLL, he served over eleven years of active duty service with the United States Army. Mr. Bulls was the Co-Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Bulls Capital Partners, a commercial mortgage firm. He sold the firm to a Wall Street entity in 2010. Mr. Bulls retired as a Colonel from the Army Reserve. Mr. Bulls is a member of the Board of Directors of the West Point Association of Graduates, serves as a member of the Real Estate Advisory Committee for New York State Teachers’ Retirement System, and serves on the Board of Directors of Host Hotels, USAA, Collegis Education, and Fluence Energy, where he serves as Chairman of the board. Mr. Bulls also currently serves on the Board of Governors for the American Red Cross, the Military Bowl Foundation (emeritus), and the Defense Policy Board. Mr. Bulls previously served on the Board of Directors of American Campus Communities from January 2021 to August 2022, when the firm was purchased by Blackstone, Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) from 2015 to 2017, Exelis Inc. from 2011 until its 2015 merger with Harris Corporation, Tyco International from 2014 until its 2016 merger with Johnson Controls International PLC, and Rasmussen College until its sale to a private equity partner. Mr. Bulls is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and of the Harvard Business School.

Mr. Bulls has decades of real estate and finance experience with a particular knowledge of team-building, marketing, and strategic development. Additionally, he is a seasoned director with vast governance experience with public, private, and not-for-profit organizations.

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RHOMAN J. HARDY

Age 55

Director

Independent

Committees:

  Audit

Rhoman J. Hardy has served as a Director of the Company since October 2023. Mr. Hardy founded HardLine Consulting LLC in July 2022, providing expertise in strategy and leadership to companies focused on energy, technical services, and infrastructure. Prior to then, he served in various leadership positions with Shell USA, Inc., having most recently served as Senior Vice President, Shell Chemicals and Products, for the U.S. Gulf Coast from December 2018 until his retirement in May 2022 and General Manager, Shell Geismar Chemical Site, from June 2015 to December 2018. Mr. Hardy first joined Shell in 1988. Mr. Hardy is a Director with HF Sinclair and an operating partner with Bernhard Capital. Mr. Hardy also serves on the board of the following non-profit organizations: Baton Rouge General Hospital System and Louisiana State University Foundation. He is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Rice University with an Executive MBA.

Mr. Hardy has a background in engineering and offers extensive technical and operational expertise as well as experience in executive management and service as a director on a public company board.  Mr. Hardy was recommended by a non-management director as nominee for director.

   
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BRIAN E. LANE

Age 6667

Director, President, and Chief

Executive Officer

Committees:

Not applicable

Brian E. Lane has served as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company since December 2011 and as a Director since November 2010. Mr. Lane served as the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer from March 2010 until December 2011. Mr. Lane joined the Company in October 2003 and served as Vice President and then Senior Vice President for Region One of the Company until he was named Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in January 2009. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Lane spent fifteen years at Halliburton, the global service and equipment company devoted to energy, industrial, and government customers. During his tenure at Halliburton, he held various positions in business development, strategy, and project initiatives. He departed as the Regional Director of Europe and Africa. Mr. Lane’s additional experience included serving as a Regional Director of Capstone Turbine Corporation, a distributed power manufacturer. He also was a Vice President of Kvaerner, an international engineering and construction company where he focused on the chemical industry. Mr. Lane is a member of the Board of Directors of Main Street Capital Corporation and previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of Griffin Dewatering Corporation. Mr. Lane earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Notre Dame and his MBA from Boston College.

Mr. Lane has more than thirty years of experience in the construction and engineering industries. As the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President, Mr. Lane provides the Board a valuable perspective on the Company’s day-to-day operations and on current trends and developments in the industry.

PABLO G. MERCADO

Age 4647

Director

Independent

Committees:

Audit

Nominating, Governance,  Compensation and SustainabilityHuman Capital

Pablo G. Mercado has served as a Director of the Company since November 2018. Mr. Mercado is currentlyhas served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Lithium Americas Corp. since April 2023 (both before the 2023 separation transaction, through which it created a private investor since December 2022.separate public company consisting of its North American business, and continuing in that role for the North American business formed under the same name). Previously, Mr. Mercado served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of EnLink Midstream, LLC, a midstream energy services company, from July 2020 to December 2022. Prior to July 2020, Mr. Mercado served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. (“Forum Energy”), a global oilfield products company, from March 2018 to July 2020. Mr. Mercado also previously held various finance and corporate development positions at Forum Energy since joining in November 2011, including Senior Vice President, Finance from June 2017 to March 2018 and Vice President, Operations Finance from August 2015 to June 2017. Prior to Forum Energy, Mr. Mercado was an investment banker with the Oil and Gas Group of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC where he worked with clients in the energy industry from 2005 to 2011. Between 1998 and 2005, Mr. Mercado was an investment banker at UBS Investment Bank and Bank of America Merrill Lynch.America. Mr. Mercado holds a B.B.A. from the Cox School of Business, a B.A. in Economics from the Dedman College at Southern Methodist University, and an M.B.A. from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Mr. Mercado has extensive public company finance and accounting experience, and he has significant experience in corporate strategy and operations.

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FRANKLIN MYERS 
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FRANKLIN MYERS

Age 7071

Director and Chairman of the Board Chair

Independent

Committees:

Audit  Nominating, Governance, and Sustainability

Franklin Myers has served as a Director of the Company since May 2005 and as Chair of the Board since May 2014. Mr. Myers has been a Senior Advisor and advisory director of Quantum Energy Partners, a private equity firm, since February 2013. From April 2008 until March 2009, Mr. Myers served as Senior Advisor to Cameron International Corporation, a global provider to the oil & gas and process industries. Mr. Myers served as the Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Cameron International Corporation from 2003 to 2008. From 1995 to 2003, Mr. Myers served at various times as Senior Vice President and President of a division within Cameron as well as General Counsel and Secretary. Prior to joining Cameron in 1995, Mr. Myers served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Baker Hughes Incorporated, and an attorney and partner at the law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski, now known as Norton Rose Fulbright. Mr. Myers currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of HF Sinclair Corporation, and Mr. Myers also serves on the boardboards of WireCo WorldGroup, a privately-owned company.three small private manufacturing companies. Mr. Myers served on the Board of Directors of Seahawk Drilling Company from 2009 until 2011; Frontier Oil Corporation—a predecessor of HF Sinclair Corporation—from 2009 until its 2011 merger with Holly Corporation; HollyFrontier Corporation from 2011 until its merger with HF Sinclair in 2022; Ion Geophysical Corporation from 2001 to 2019; Forum Energy Technologies from 2011 until March 2018; and NCS Multistage from 2017 to 2020. Mr. Myers holds a Bachelor of Science, Industrial Engineering, from Mississippi State University and a J.D. degree from the University of Mississippi.

Mr. Myers has several decades of public company experience, with a particular knowledge of operations, financial management, and legal affairs. Additionally, Mr. Myers has significant experience serving on other public company boards and has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas School of Law where he taught a course on mergers and acquisitions.

WILLIAM J. SANDBROOK

Age 6566

Director

Independent

Committees:

Audit

Compensation and Human Capital

William J. Sandbrook has served as a Director of the Company since April 2018. Mr. Sandbrook has served as Chairman and Co-CEO of Andretti Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company formed for the purpose of effecting a business combination, since January 2022. From August 2011 until his retirement in April 2020, Mr. Sandbrook served as President and Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Concrete, Inc., a company specializing in concrete and heavy construction aggregates, and as the Chairman of the Board from May 2018 until April 2020. From June 2008 until August 2011, Mr. Sandbrook was Chief Executive Officer of Oldcastle Inc.’s Products and Distribution Group. From 2006 to June 2008, Mr. Sandbrook was Chief Executive Officer of Oldcastle Architectural Product’s Groupgroup responsible for Oldcastle’s U.S. and Canadian Operations, as well as CRH plc’s business in South America. From 2003 to 2006, Mr. Sandbrook served as President of Oldcastle Materials West Division. From 1995 to 2002, Mr. Sandbrook served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Tilcon New York, and as Vice President from 1992 to 1995. Prior to 1992, Mr. Sandbrook spent thirteen years in the U.S. Army. In recognition of his efforts at Ground Zero after the September 11th bombing of the World Trade Center, Mr. Sandbrook was named the Rockland County, New York 2002 Business Leader of the Year, the Dominican College 2002 Man of the Year, and the American Red Cross 2003 Man of the Year for Southern New York. In 2017, Mr. Sandbrook was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the New Jersey Concrete and Aggregate Association. In March of 2018, he was awarded the William B. Allen Award from the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association in recognition of his lifetime commitment to the concrete industry. Also in March of 2018, Mr. Sandbrook was inducted into the Pit and Quarry Magazine’s Hall of Fame. From March 2019 through March 2020, Mr. Sandbrook held the position of Chairman of the National Ready Mix Concrete Association. In June, 2023, he was appointed to the board of Knife River Corporation. Mr. Sandbrook is a registered Professional Engineer and holds an MBA from Wharton, a Master of Science in Systems Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master in Public Policy from the Naval War College, a Master of Arts in International Relations from Salve Regina University, and a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy.

Mr. Sandbrook has over thirty years of operations experience in the building materials and construction industries, including significant experience as a Chief Executive Officer and experience as a public company board member.

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CONSTANCE E. SKIDMORE

Age 72

Director

Independent

 
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Committees:

 

CONSTANCE E. SKIDMORE

Age 71

Director

Independent

Committees:

Audit

Compensation and Human Capital

Constance E. Skidmore has served as a Director of the Company since December 2012. Ms. Skidmore retired from PricewaterhouseCoopers, a public accounting firm, in 2009 after serving for more than two decades as a partner, including a term on its governing board. Ms. Skidmore serves on the Board of Directors and chairs the Audit Committees of Sensata Technologies (NYSE: ST) and Proterra, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTRA) as well as serves on the boards of two other privately-held and non-profit companies: The V Foundation for Cancer Research and Viz Kinect. Ms. Skidmore previously served on the Board of Directors and Audit Committee of Shortel, Inc. (NASDAQ: SHOR) from 2014 until 2017 when it was acquired by Mitel Networks Corporation. Ms. Skidmore is a graduate of Florida State University and earned a Master of Science in Taxation from Golden Gate University.

Ms. Skidmore has more than thirty years of experience in accounting and finance, including in the construction industry, and significant experience and knowledge in talent management and strategic planning.

VANCE W. TANG

Age 5657

Director

Independent

Committees:

Compensation and Human Capital

Nominating, Governance, and Sustainability

Vance W. Tang has served as a Director of the Company since December 2012. Mr. Tang has been President and Owner of VanTegrity Consulting, a strategy and leadership consulting services and executive coaching provider, since August 2012. Mr. Tang previously owned a wealth management business, VanTegrity Financial, LLC, from February 2012 to December 2016. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. subsidiary of KONE OY, a public company and a leading global provider of elevators and escalators, and Executive Vice President of KONE Corporation from February 2007 until August 2012. In this role, he led the organization through a major transformation around customer focus and profitable growth. Prior to joining KONE, he was Vice President and General Manager at Honeywell Building Control Systems. Previously, he spent over fourteen years at Trane, a supplier of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems to both the residential and commercial markets. He serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of American Woodmark Corporation (NASDAQ: AMWD) and previously on the Board of Governors of the Center for Creative Leadership. Mr. Tang has a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and an MBA degree from the University of Wisconsin.

Mr. Tang has deep operations experience in the building construction and service industries, including experience as a Chief Executive Officer, and he also has experience serving on other public company boards. Additionally, Mr. Tang is currently serving as our Board Liaison for Cybersecurity, leveraging his CERT Certificate in Cybersecurity Oversight, engineering background, and business leadership experience.

CINDY L. WALLIS-LAGE

Age 6061

Director

Independent

Committees:

Audit

Nominating, Governance, and Sustainability

Cindy L. Wallis-Lage has served as a Director of the Company since May 2021. Ms. Wallis-Lage retired from Black & Veatch, an engineering, procurement, consulting, and construction company, on September 30, 2022. At Black & Veatch, she served as Executive Director, Sustainability and Resilience from January 2022 until her retirement. Previously, during her 36 years of experience at Black & Veatch, Ms. Wallis-Lage served in various roles, including President, Water Business from January 2012 to December 2021, Executive Managing Director of Technical Solutions from January 2010 to January 2012, and Chief of Water Technology Group from February 2006 to January 2010, and Director of Wastewater Treatment Technology from March 2003 to February 2006.2010. She joinedserved on the Black & Veatch Board of Directors infrom March 2012.2012 through September 2022. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the U.S. Water Alliance.Veralto and Metiri Group. She serves as an advisory board member for Cambi ASA. Ms. Wallis-Lage earned her bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Kansas State University and her master’s degree in Environmental Health Engineering from the University of Kansas.

Ms. Wallis-Lage has extensive senior executive experience leading strategies, development, and operations of a background in engineering as well as experience in areas such as senior leadership, corporate governance,global business and sustainability. She also has experience serving as a board member.development of sustainability practices.

 
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE DIRECTORS LISTED ABOVE IN PROPOSAL NUMBER 1.

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Board Qualifications Matrix

The following matrixmatrix: (1) summarizes desired qualifications, skills and experience, which we believe are appropriate for consideration as we propose leaders to advance our strategy and provide proper oversight, and (2) illustrates the number of Nominees to whom each qualification applies:

Board Qualifications Matrix

* 2 female directors and 2 directors who self-identify as racially / ethnically diverse

*2 female directors and 3 directors who self-identify as racially / ethnically diverse

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE

FOR THE DIRECTORS LISTED ABOVE IN PROPOSAL NUMBER 1.

Meetings of the Board and Committees

During the year ended December 31, 2022,2023, the Board held five regular meetings and fourfive special meetings. At each regularly scheduled meeting of the Board, the non-employee directors, each of whom is independent, met separately from management in executive session under the direction of Mr. Myers, the Chair of the Board. Members of the Board are encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting and all members of the Board attended the Annual Meeting in 2022.2023. Additional information regarding the determination of director independence is set forth below under “Corporate Governance—Independence.the subsection titled “Independence.” Each director has attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and the Board committees of which he or she was or is a member that took place during his or her term of office.

The Board has several committees. Each of these committees and their members are described below. The Board has adopted a written charter for each of these committees (with the exception of the Executive Committee), which, together with the Company’s corporate Governance Standards and Independence Guidelines, are available:

ON OUR CORPORATE WEBSITE

BY WRITING TO


http://investors.comfortsystemsusa.com
under the “Governance” tab

BY WRITING TO
Comfort Systems USA, Inc.
Attention: Office of the General Counsel
675 Bering Drive, Suite 400
Houston, Texas 77057

 

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Audit Committee

PABLOG.
MERCADO

HERMANE.
BULLS

FRANKLIN
MYERS

WILLIAM J.
SANDBROOK

CONSTANCE E.
SKIDMORE

CINDY L.
WALLIS-LAGE

Audit Committee

 

 

PABLO G. MERCADO
DARCY G. ANDERSONRHOMAN J. HARDYWILLIAM J. SANDBROOKCONSTANCE E. SKIDMORE

PRIMARYRESPONSIBILITIES

The Audit Committee:

reviews with management and the independent auditors the Company’s quarterly and annual financial statements, the scope of the audit, any comments made by the independent auditors, and such other matters as the committee deems appropriate;

annually reviews the enterprise risk management matrix, which addresses a wide variety of risks including, but not limited to, key cybersecurity, environmental, and social risks affecting, or potentially affecting, the Company;

reviews the performance and retention of the Company’s independent auditors;

reviews with management those matters relating to compliance with corporate policies, as the committee deems appropriate; and

reviews and reassesses the adequacy of its charter every year.

QUALIFICATIONS

QUALIFICATIONS

The Board has determined that the Audit Committee consists entirely of directors who meet the independence requirements of the NYSE’s listing standards, the Board’s Independence Guidelines (discussed below at “Corporate Governance—Independence”in the subsection titled “Independence”) and the rules and regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

No member is or has been an executive officer or employee of the Company at any time.

The Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is financially literate and, based on accounting or related financial management expertise, that each member is anfour members are audit committee financial expert.experts. 

MEETINGS IN 2023

MEETINGSIN2022

8 regular

No special

 

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Compensation and Human Capital Committee

CONSTANCE E. SKIDMORE
SKIDMORE

DARCY G.
ANDERSON

HERMANE.BULLS

PABLO G. MERCADO

ALANP.KRUSI

WILLIAM J.
SANDBROOK

VANCEW.TANG

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

 

PRIMARYRESPONSIBILITIES

The Compensation and Human Capital Committee:

establishes and administers the Company’s executive compensation program;

reviews, and advises the Board with respect to, significant organizational changes, leadership development, and leadership succession, other than the succession of the Chief Executive Officer, which is overseen by the Nominating, Governance, and Sustainability Committee;

establishes and regularly reviews the compensation levels of executive officers and other key managers and approves incentive awards;

assists the Board in its oversight of the Company’s policies and strategies relating to human capital management, including safety, culture, diversity, equity, and inclusion;

annually performs a risk assessment of the Company’s compensation programs;

annually reviews compliance with the Company’s stock ownership guidelines by executive officers; and

reviews with management reports regarding significant conduct issues that could affect the Company’s culture and any related employee actions.

The Compensation and Human Capital Committee may delegate any of its responsibilities to a subcommittee thereof and has the authority to hire a professional consultant to review and analyze the Company’s compensation programs.

ROLE OF THE INDEPENDENT COMPENSATION CONSULTANT AND MANAGEMENT

 

ROLEOFTHEINDEPENDENTCOMPENSATIONCONSULTANTANDMANAGEMENT

In 2022,2023, the committee retained Compensation Advisory Partners to advise the committee during its review of the Company’s short-term and long-term incentive compensation programs and to provide a comprehensive analysis of executive compensation survey data and market trends.

The committee’s work with Compensation Advisory Partners is described in greater detail below in the subsection titled “Independent Compensation Consultant.Consultant; Use of Market Data.

Further, as discussed below in the section titled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” the Compensation and Human Capital Committee consults with management in developing compensation plans for the Company.

QUALIFICATIONS

QUALIFICATIONS

The Board has determined that the Compensation and Human Capital Committee consists entirely of directors who meet the independence requirements of the NYSE listing standards, the Board’s Independence Guidelines, and the rules and regulations under the Exchange Act.

No member is or has been an executive officer or employee of the Company at any time.

MEETINGS IN 2023

MEETINGSIN2022

5 regular

1 special

 

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Nominating, Governance, and Sustainability Committee

 

VANCEW.TANG

DARCYG.ANDERSON

HERMAN E. BULLS

ALANP.KRUSI

FRANKLIN MYERS

PABLOG.MERCADO

CINDYL.WALLIS-LAGE

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

 

PRIMARYRESPONSIBILITIES

The Nominating, Governance, and Sustainability Committee:

evaluates the structure and membership of the Board;

evaluates candidates for nomination to the Board, as appropriate, with an emphasis on diversity of viewpoint and professional experience;appropriate; 

reviews the compensation structure for the non-employee directors and the frequency and content of meetings;

annually reviews compliance with the Company’s stock ownership guidelines by non-employee directors;

establishes and reviews the Company’s succession plan for its Chief Executive Officer;

discusses and evaluates environmental and social matters affecting the Company at least bi-annually;

reviews the Company’s sustainability strategy, initiatives, policies, and reporting at least bi-annually and receives periodic reports from the Company’s management responsible for these activities;

reviews political and charitable contributions made by the Company; and

makes recommendations to the Board on all such matters.

COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION OF CANDIDATES

COMMITTEECONSIDERATIONOFCANDIDATES

The committee’s diversity policy values diversity in its broadest sense, reflecting, but not limited to, an individual’s gender, ethnicity, race, age, disability, gender identity or expression, military veteran status, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, skills, and other backgrounds and experiences, and endeavors to include candidates who are diverse in the qualified pool from which Board candidates are chosen. The committee is committed to actively seeking out, and pursuant to the Company’s Governance Standards will instruct any search firm it engages to identify, individuals who will contribute to the diversity of the Board to be included in the pool of candidates from which nominees to the Board are selected.

The committee periodically examines the composition of the Board to ensure that the Board, taken as a whole, has the necessary skills and experience to steer the Company toward its stated objectives, as well as the necessary skills and experience to set the Company’s future strategies.

Directors are nominated or elected by the Board, and stockholders may nominate directors as described further in “Corporate Governance—Directorthe subsection below titled “Director Nomination by Stockholders.”

The committee identifies Board candidates through a variety of formal and informal channels. The committee has the authority to hire a professional search firm to help identify candidates with specific qualifications, and the committee retained Egon Zehnder to identify potential director candidates both in previous years and in 2023.

QUALIFICATIONS

QUALIFICATIONS

The Board has determined that the Nominating, Governance, and Sustainability Committee consists entirely of directors who meet the independence requirements of the NYSE listing standards, the Board’s Independence Guidelines, and the rules and regulations under the Exchange Act.

MEETINGS IN 2023

MEETINGSIN2022

3 regular

2 special

 

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Executive Committee

Executive Committee 

 

PRIMARYRESPONSIBILITIES

The Executive Committee:

was formed in August 2019 and held no meetings during 2022;2023; 

was established to act in place of the Board, and to exercise the authority and powers of the Board, while the Board is not in session; and

operates pursuant to authority that is specifically delegated to it by the Board, which authority may be revoked or modified by the Board and which is subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations and to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, as amended.

MEMBERSHIP

MEMBERSHIP

The committee’s membership is subject to change and is comprised of no less than three and no more than eight directors, including the Chair of the Board or Lead Director, the Chief Executive Officer, and at least one other member of the Board who shall be nominated by the chair of the committee as an interim member of the committee based on:

(i)

I

the circumstances under which the committee must take action,

(ii)

II

the member’s relevant experience and skills,

(iii)

III

the member’s availability when a meeting is necessary, and

(iv)

IV

any other factor the chair reasonably considers to be relevant and proper.

The chair of the committee shall be the Chair of the Board, or the Lead Director if the Chair of the Board is also the Chief Executive Officer, or another director designated by the Chair of the Board or Lead Director.

Corporate Governance

The Board believes that the purpose of corporate governance is to maximize stockholder value in a manner consistent with legal requirements and the highest standards of integrity. The Board has adopted and adheres to corporate governance practices that the Board believes promote this purpose, are sound practices, and represent best practices, which we refer to as the Company’s “Governance Standards.” The Board continually reviews these governance practices, Delaware law (the state in whichwhere the Company is incorporated), the rules and listing standards of the NYSE and SEC regulations, and best practices suggested by recognized governance authorities.

Our corporate governance documents include:

Annual Sustainability Report

Independence Guidelines

Supplier Diversity Policy

Labor & Human Rights Policy

Committee Charters  

Governance Standards  

Supplier Code of Conduct

Policy for Recoupment of Incentive Compensation

Code of Conduct

Director Resignation Policy

Environmental Policy 

Code of Conduct

The Company adopted a Compliance Policy in 1997, the year the Company was founded. That policy, with subsequent amendments discussed, approved, and adopted by the Board, including a recentan amendment to change the title of the policy to our “Code of Conduct,” remains in effect and applies to the Company’s directors, officers, and employees who are subject to disciplinary action, including termination, for violations of the code. The code forms the basis of the Company’s ethics and compliance program and covers a wide range of areas. Many Company policies are summarized in the Code of Conduct, including conflict of interest, insider trading, confidentiality, human rights, and compliance with all laws and regulations applicable to the conduct of the Company’s business. The Code of Conduct is regularly reinforced to the Company’s employees and management through periodic ethics, equal opportunity employment, and anti-corruption trainings. Any amendments to the Code of Conduct or the grant of a waiver from a provision of the policy requiring disclosure under applicable SEC rules will be disclosed to the public. The Code of Conduct is posted, in both English and Spanish, under the “Governance” tab of the Company’s website at http://investors.comfortsystemsusa.com and is also available upon request to Comfort Systems USA, Inc., Office of the General Counsel, 675 Bering Drive, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77057.

 

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Independence 

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Independence

The Board has adopted Independence Guidelines to assist the Board in making independence determinations relating to members of the Board. The criteria are consistent with the NYSE listing standards regarding director independence. For a director to be considered independent, the Board must determine that the director does not have a material relationship, directly or indirectly, with the Company. The Independence Guidelines are published on our website, http://investors.comfortsystemsusa.com under the “Governance” tab, and are also available by written request to Comfort Systems USA, Inc., Office of the General Counsel, 675 Bering Drive, Suite 400, Houston, TX 77057.

The Board has considered the independence of its members in light of the Independence Guidelines and the rules and regulations under the Exchange Act and NYSE, including each director’s affiliations and relationships, and has determined that Mses. Skidmore and Wallis-Lage and Messrs. Anderson, Bulls, Krusi,Hardy, Mercado, Myers, Sandbrook, and Tang, who together constitute a majority of the Board, qualify as independent directors of the Company.

Retirement Policy

Under the Company’s Governance Standards, a director shall not be a candidate for reelection after his or her seventy-secondseventy-fifth birthday. In December 2023, this mandatory retirement age for directors was increased from 72 to 75 following the recommendation of the Nominating, Governance, and Sustainability Committee. The retirement age increase was implemented based on an analysis of several factors, including the committee’s review of potential succession plans and consideration of the relevant skills and expertise of the Board as a whole.

The Company’s Governance Standards, and other governance documents, are available:

ON OUR CORPORATE WEBSITE

BY WRITING TO


http://investors.comfortsystemsusa.com
under the “Governance” tab

BY WRITING TO
Comfort Systems USA, Inc.
Attention: Office of the General Counsel
675 Bering Drive, Suite 400
Houston, Texas 77057

Director Nomination by Stockholders

The Board will consider director candidates recommended by stockholders for inclusion on the slate of directors nominated by the Board. Any stockholder may submit a candidate or candidates for consideration in conformity with the Bylaws and as set forth hereafter under the caption “Stockholder Proposals.Proposals for 2025 Annual Meeting.” Stockholders desiring to recommend a candidate must submit the recommendation to the Nominating, Governance, and Sustainability Committee c/o the Corporate Secretary, Comfort Systems USA, Inc., 675 Bering Drive, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77057. If a nominating stockholder is not a record holder, the stockholder must provide the same evidence of eligibility as set forth in Exchange Act Rule 14a-8(b)(2).

At the time the nominating stockholder submits the recommendation, the candidate must submit all personal information that the Company would be required to disclose in a proxy statement in accordance with Exchange Act rules. In addition, at that time the candidate must:

Certify that he or she meets the requirements to be: (a) independent under the NYSE’s listing standards and the Board’s Independence Guidelines, and (b) a non-employee director under Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act;

Certify that he or she meets the requirements to be: (a) independent under the NYSE’s listing standards and the Board’s Independence Guidelines, and (b) a non-employee director under Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act;
Consent to serve on the Board, if nominated and elected; and
Agree to complete, upon request, a customary director’s questionnaire.

Consent to serve on the Board, if nominated and elected; and

Agree to complete, upon request, a customary director’s questionnaire.

In addition to satisfying the foregoing requirements, to comply with the universal proxy rules, shareholdersstockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Company’s nominees must deliver notice that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 under the SecuritiesExchange Act of 1934, as amended, no later than March 17, 2024.18, 2025.

The Nominating, Governance, and Sustainability Committee will evaluate any candidate recommended by a stockholder to determine whether he or she is highly qualified. The committee evaluates candidates recommended by stockholders in the same way it evaluates candidates proposed from other sources. In selecting nominees, particular consideration is given to those individuals who have substantial achievement in their personal and professional pursuits and whose talents, experience, and integrity would be expected to contribute to the best interests of the Company and to long-term stockholder value. In evaluating candidates, the committee considers various qualities and skills that it believes will benefit the Board and the stockholders, including, without limitation, general management experience, specialization in the Company’s principal business activities or finance, significant experience in issues encountered by public companies, and contribution to the diversity of the Board.

 

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Stockholder Engagement

Throughout the year, we meet regularly with investors and actively seek their input on topics related to our performance and our compensation and governance policies, as well as a wide variety of other topics on which they may have feedback, so that we may address any questions or concerns of our stockholders. During 2022,2023, executive officers held more than 140160 meetings, including those held during the course of seveneight investor conferences and fivesix roadshows. This process is led by Brian Lane, President, Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board, and William George, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In addition, as appropriate, we work to clarify and expand our disclosures as we prepare our next proxy statement based on such discussions. We value our stockholders’ input and welcome feedback through our ongoing engagement practices.

Communications With the Board

Stockholders and other interested parties may communicate directly with the Board by writing to Comfort Systems USA, Inc., Board of Directors, 675 Bering Drive, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77057. The Chair of the Board will review these communications and will determine appropriate steps to address them. A stockholder wishing to communicate directly with the non-employee members of the Board may address the communication to “Non-Employee Directors, c/o Board of Directors” at the address listed above. These communications will be handled by the Chair of the Board, who is currently designated to preside at meetings of non-employee directors. Finally, communications can be sent directly to individual directors by addressing letters to their individual name, c/o the Board of Directors, at the address listed above. All communications received by the Company are sent directly to the Board or appropriate director.

Board Leadership Structure and Self-Evaluation Process

The Board does not have a formal policy regarding whether the position of Chair of the Board may be filled by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. Instead, the Board has adopted a fluid approach to the Board’s leadership structure that allows for variations depending on the circumstances and changing needs of the Company over time.

Mr. Myers has served as a director since 2005 and has served as the Company’s Chair of the Board since May 2014. The Board has determined that Mr. Myers meets the independence requirements of the NYSE listing standards, the Board’s Independence Guidelines, and the rules and regulations under the Exchange Act. The Board has carefully considered its leadership structure and determined that currently it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders for the roles of Chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer to be filled by different individuals. This structure allows the Chief Executive Officer to focus on the Company’s day-to-day operations.

Since the Company has an independent, non-executive Chair of the Board, the Company has determined that the role of a Lead Director is not currently necessary. The Board may appoint a Lead Director to coordinate the activities of the independent directors in the future at its discretion.

Pursuant to the Board’s policy, the Board conducts an annual self-evaluation process as follows: (i) each director evaluates the Board as a whole; (ii) each member of the Audit Committee, the Compensation and Human Capital Committee, and the Nominating, Governance, and Sustainability Committee evaluates the respective committee(s) on which he or she serves; and (iii) each director prepares an individual performance-related self-evaluation of himself or herself as well as other individual members of the Board. In connection with this annual self-evaluation, the Board considers whether the current leadership structure continues to be appropriate for the Company. The Board believes that directors should be responsive to the Company’s evolving circumstances and objectives, and that the Board’s leadership structure should adapt when necessary.

The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

The Company’s full Board is actively involved in overseeing the Company’s risk management process. These activities are aligned with the Company’s strategy. The Audit Committee, Compensation and Human Capital Committee, and Nominating, Governance, and Sustainability Committee consider risks that fall within their respective areas of responsibility. For example, the Nominating, Governance, and Sustainability Committee is formally scheduled to review environmental and socialsustainability matters relevant to the Company and its operations bi-annually, and the Audit Committee reviews the enterprise risk management matrix, which addresses environmental and socialsustainability risks, annually. Further, in recognition of the importance of maintaining the confidence of all Company stakeholders, the Board considers information technology and data security risk, specifically cybersecurity risk, a premier area of focus. The Company’s Vice President ofChief Information Security Officer (“VPIS”CISO”) works and reports separately from the Information Technology department, an arrangement meant to allow the VPISCISO to advise the Company most effectively on cybersecurity and related risks, and reports directly to our executive management team. The Board oversees information technology, data security, and cybersecurity risk

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management through regular reports and presentations from the VPISCISO and other management members. Vance

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W. Tang, Chair of the Nominating, Governance, and Sustainability Committee, serves as the Board Liaison for Cybersecurity and has completed extensive training on cybersecurity risk mitigation. Most recently,For example, in 2022, Mr. Tang obtained a certification related to his completion of the NACD Cyber Risk Oversight Program. In addition, a group of the Company’s executive officers serve on a committee (the “Risk Committee”) that is directly responsible for the Company’s risk management process. The Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, a member of the Board, serves on the Risk Committee; however, the Risk Committee is a committee of management, not of the Board. The Risk Committee meets at least annually to define and improve the risk-mapping process and considers any appropriate updates at least quarterly. All members of the Risk Committee attended at least 75% of the quarterly meetings held in 2022.2023. Any risks that are identified through the Company’s compliance and ethics program are included in the Risk Committee’s processes, along with operational, financial, environmental, cybersecurity, social, governance, and strategic risks. The Risk Committee presents comprehensive reports directly to the Board at least annually through the enterprise risk management matrix, which, as explained above, is reviewed by the Audit Committee.

Director Resignation Policy

Effective March 8, 2017, the Board adopted a Director Resignation Policy to address the situation in which a nominee for director in an uncontested election to the Board receives more votes “withheld” than votes “for” his or her election. The policy provides that any incumbent nominee for director in an uncontested election who receives a greater number of votes affirmatively “withheld” with respect to his or her election than votes “for” such election (a “majority withhold vote”) shall promptly tender his or her resignation to the Chair of the Board following certification of the stockholder vote. The Nominating, Governance, and Sustainability Committee will promptly consider the tendered resignation and recommend to the Board whether to accept or reject the resignation or take other action, such as rejecting the tendered resignation and addressing the apparent underlying causes of the majority withheld vote. In making its recommendation, the committee will consider all relevant factors, including, but not limited to, (i) the underlying reasons why stockholders withheld their votes (if ascertainable), (ii) the length of service and qualifications of the director whose resignation has been tendered, (iii) the director’s contributions to the Board and the Company, (iv) the overall composition of the Board and compliance with applicable laws, regulations, governing documents, and stock exchange listing standards, (v) the availability of other qualified candidates, and (vi) whether accepting the resignation is in the best interests of stockholders and the Company. The Board will act on the committee’s recommendation no later than its first regularly scheduled meeting following certification of the stockholder vote, but in no case later than 120 days following the vote certification. Following the committee’s recommendation and the Board’s decision, the Company will promptly publicly disclose its decision whether to accept or reject such tendered resignation in a periodic or current report filed or furnished in accordance with SEC rules.

Any director who tenders his or her resignation under the Director Resignation Policy will not participate in the committee recommendation or Board consideration of the resignation. However, such director will otherwise remain as an active Board member unless and until the resignation becomes effective. If a majority of the Nominating, Governance, and Sustainability Committee members receive a majority withhold vote at the same election, then the independent directors who did not receive a majority withhold vote will appoint a committee amongst themselves to consider the tendered resignations. If the only directors who did not receive a majority withhold vote in the same election constitute fewer directors than a majority of the Board, then all the independent directors may participate in the Board consideration of the tendered resignations, except that no director will participate in the vote on his or her own resignation.

While this summary reflects the current terms of the Director Resignation Policy, the Board retains the power to amend and administer the policy as the Board, in its sole discretion, determines is appropriate. The Director Resignation Policy is published under the “Governance” tab on our website, http://investors.comfortsystemsusa.com, and is also available by written request to Comfort Systems USA, Inc., Office of the General Counsel, 675 Bering Drive, Suite 400, Houston, TX 77057.

Director Compensation for 20222023

In 2022,2023, each director who was not an employee of the Company or one of its subsidiaries received, in quarterly installments, an annual cash fee for his or her service as follows: $80,000 for service on the Board andBoard; an additional annual cash fees for services as a committee chair or the chair of the Board. For 2022, the rate of annual cash fee was increased from $60,000 to $80,000, effective as of the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and blended based on those two rates for 2022, and the additional annual cash fees were payable at the rate of $30,000 for service as the chair of the Audit Committee; an additional $20,000 for service as the chair of the Compensation and Human Capital Committee or the Nominating, Governance, and Sustainability Committee; and an additional $100,000 for service as the chair of the Board. The Board approved the increase in the annual cash fee for services on the Board following the recommendation of the Nominating, Governance, and Sustainability Committee, which had recommended this $20,000 annual increase based on an analysis of several factors, including the committee’s review of survey and peer group data prepared by Compensation Advisory Partners, which indicated that the increased amount was more consistent with the market median, and the Company’s historical non-employee director compensation practices.  Directors are reimbursed for expenses incurred in connection with attending meetings.

 

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Each non-employee director who continues in office or is elected at an annual stockholder meeting receives an award of fully-vested shares of Common Stock having a fair market value on the grant date equal to approximately $160,000. Further, in 2023, the Nominating, Governance, and Sustainability Committee determined that each non-employee director who is initially elected or appointed to serve on the Board other than at any annual stockholder meeting will be granted a prorated number of fully vested shares of Common Stock based on the number of days between the effective date of appointment and the next annual stockholders’ meeting. In connection with Mr. Hardy’s appointment in October 2023, Mr. Hardy was granted fully-vested shares of

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Common Stock having a fair market value on the grant date of $99,408. Pursuant to the Company’s 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, the maximum grant date fair value of awards granted to an individual non-employee director in any calendar year may not exceed $400,000. The Board has adopted stock ownership requirements, pursuant to which each non-employee director must own shares of Common Stock (or share equivalents) having a value equal to ten times the director’s annual cash fees for service on the Board (excluding any additional fees for service as the chair of the Board or any committee of the Board and any other compensation or expense reimbursement received by the director) within five years of being elected or appointed to the Board. The Nominating, Governance, and Sustainability Committee evaluates each director’s stock ownership level on an annual basis. At the time of such evaluation, the value of the stock owned by each director is determined by reference to the higher of: (i) the original share (or share equivalent) purchase or issuance price, and (ii) the value of the share (or share equivalent) price at the time of determining compliance with these stock ownership requirements. The Nominating, Governance, and Sustainability Committee may modify these stock ownership requirements in its reasonable discretion and is authorized to make exceptions to these stock ownership requirements when special circumstances arise. All non-employee directors are currently in compliance with these ownership requirements.

Directors who are employees of the Company or one of its subsidiaries receive no additional compensation for serving as directors. The following table discloses the compensation earned by, or paid or awarded to, as the case may be, each of the Company’s non-employee directors for 2022.2023. 

Name(1)

Fees Earned or

Paid in Cash(2)

($)

Stock

Awards(3)

($)

All Other

Compensation(4)

($)

Total

($)

Darcy G. Anderson

72,418

159,921

0

232,339

Herman E Bulls

72,418

159,921

0

232,339

Alan P. Krusi

80,000

159,921

0

239,921

Pablo G. Mercado

102,418

159,921

0

262,339

Franklin Myers

172,418

159,921

0

332,339

William J. Sandbrook

72,418

159,921

0

232,339

Constance E. Skidmore

84,835

159,921

0

244,756

Vance W. Tang

92,418

159,921

0

252,339

Cindy L. Wallis-Lage

72,418

159,921

0

232,339

(1)

Brian E. Lane also served as a member of the Board during 2022 but was an employee of the Company in 2022 and received no additional compensation for his service on the Board. Mr. Lane’s compensation for his service as an employee for 2022 is disclosed in the “Summary Compensation Table” included elsewhere in this proxy statement.

(2)

Effective May 17, 2022, the annual cash fee for service on the Board increased from $60,000 to $80,000. Consequently, each non-employee director received a cash fee at a blended rate for service on the Board in 2022. Additionally, Mr. Krusi served as the chair of the Compensation and Human Capital Committee from January 1, 2022 to May 17, 2022, and Ms. Skidmore succeeded him for the remainder of the year. Consequently, Mr. Krusi and Ms. Skidmore each received a prorated additional annual fee for service as chair of the Compensation and Human Capital Committee in 2022, as reflected above.

(3)

Represents grants of 1,869 fully-vested shares of Common Stock. The aggregate grant date fair value of the shares was computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, disregarding the effect of estimated forfeitures, and is equal to the number of shares granted multiplied by the average of the high and low price of the Common Stock on the date of grant.

(4)

The Company maintains a visiting director’s office for all members of the Board at its headquarters in Houston, Texas. The office is available on a first-come-first-served basis for all directors. In accordance with SEC regulations, perquisites that in the aggregate total less than $10,000 are not required to be disclosed. No amount is included in the table above with respect to the availability and use of this office.

Name(1) Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash(2)
($)
 Stock
Awards(3)
($)
 All Other
Compensation(4)
($)
 Total
($)
Darcy G. Anderson 80,000 159,984 0 239,984
Herman E. Bulls 80,000 159,984 0 239,984
Rhoman J. Hardy 20,000 99,408 0 119,408
Alan P. Krusi 30,110 0 0 30,110
Pablo G. Mercado 110,000 159,984 0 269,984
Franklin Myers 180,000 159,984 0 339,984
William J. Sandbrook 80,000 159,984 0 239,984
Constance E. Skidmore 100,000 159,984 0 259,984
Vance W. Tang 100,000 159,984 0 259,984
Cindy L. Wallis-Lage 80,000 159,984 0 239,984

(1)Brian E. Lane also served as a member of the Board during 2023 but was an employee of the Company in 2023 and received no additional compensation for his service on the Board. Mr. Lane’s compensation for his service as an employee for 2023 is disclosed in the “Summary Compensation Table” included elsewhere in this proxy statement.
(2)Amounts in this column represent fees earned in 2023. For Mr. Hardy, the amount reflects a prorated portion of the annual cash fee based on his appointment to the Board on October 1, 2023.  Additionally, Mr. Krusi retired effective May 16, 2023, and the amount reflects a prorated portion of the annual cash fee for service on the Board in 2023.
(3)Represents grants of 1,065 fully-vested shares of Common Stock (with the exception of Mr. Hardy and Mr. Krusi). As described above, Mr. Hardy received a prorated portion of shares for his service on the Board in 2023, and his award represents 503 shares of Common Stock. Mr. Krusi retired as of the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and, thus, did not receive a grant of Common Stock. The aggregate grant date fair value of the shares was computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, disregarding the effect of estimated forfeitures, and is equal to the number of shares granted multiplied by the average of the high and low price of the Common Stock on the date of grant.
(4)The Company maintains a visiting director’s office for all members of the Board at its headquarters in Houston, Texas. The office is available on a first-come-first-served basis for all directors. In accordance with SEC regulations, perquisites that in the aggregate total less than $10,000 are not required to be disclosed. No amount is included in the table above with respect to the availability and use of this office.

 

  |  20232024 Proxy Statement2927

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PROPOSAL 2
Ratification of the Selection of Independent Auditors

THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE SELECTION OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT AUDITORS.

The Audit Committee has re-appointed Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the year ending December 31, 2023.2024. Deloitte & Touche LLP was the Company’s independent auditor for the year ended December 31, 2022.2023.

We expect that representatives of Deloitte & Touche LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting to respond to appropriate questions, and they will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire.

The affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock voted at the Annual Meeting is required to ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for 2023.2024. If the stockholders fail to ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee will reconsider its selection, but it still may decide to retain Deloitte & Touche LLP. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may direct the appointment of a different independent accounting firm at any time during the year if the committee determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

Relationship with Independent Auditors

The Audit Committee has selected Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent auditors for the Company for the year ending December 31, 2023.

On March 10, 2021, the Audit Committee, following a competitive request for proposal process, approved the engagement of Deloitte & Touche LLP, subject to the completion of Deloitte & Touche LLP’s customary client acceptance procedures, as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2021, and dismissed Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, each effective as of that date. Ernst & Young LLP’s audit reports on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles.

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the subsequent interim periods through March 10, 2021, there were (i) no disagreements (as described in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions) between the Company and Ernst & Young LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which, if not resolved to Ernst & Young LLP’s satisfaction, would have caused Ernst & Young LLP to make reference thereto in their reports on the financial statements for such years, and (ii) no “reportable events” within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

The Company provided Ernst & Young LLP with a copy of the disclosures it made in the Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 10, 2021, and filed March 15, 2021, and requested that Ernst & Young LLP furnish a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether or not it agreed with the statements made therein. A copy of Ernst & Young LLP’s letter dated March 15, 2021 is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to such Form 8-K. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the subsequent interim periods prior to engaging Deloitte & Touche LLP on March 10, 2021, neither the Company nor anyone on its behalf consulted Deloitte & Touche LLP with respect to either (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, where either a written report or oral advice was provided to the Company that Deloitte & Touche LLP concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and related instructions) or a reportable event (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).2024.

 

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Deloitte & Touche LLP acted as independent auditors for the Company for the year ended December 31, 2022.2023. Fees disbursed by the Company and its subsidiaries for professional services rendered by Deloitte & Touche LLP during 20222023 and 20212022 were as follows:

Description

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Audit Fees

$

2,172,590

 

$

2,123,322

 

Audit-Related Fees

$

0

 

$

0

 

Tax Fees

$

0

 

$

0

 

All Other Fees

$

2,051

(1) 

$

2,051

(1)

(1)

This amount represents the Company’s subscription fee for the Deloitte Accounting Research Tool (“DART”), a comprehensive web-based library of accounting and financial disclosure literature.

Description 2023  2022 
Audit Fees$     2,250,247                 $     2,172,590 
Audit-Related Fees$0 $0 
Tax Fees$0 $0 
All Other Fees$2,051(1) $2,051(1) 
(1)This amount represents the Company’s subscription fee for the Deloitte Accounting Research Tool (“DART”), a comprehensive web-based library of accounting and financial disclosure literature.

The amount of audit fees for 20222023 is based on a fees estimate determined with input from Deloitte & Touche LLP for audit services provided to us in connection with the audit of our 20222023 financial statements. The final audit fees for those services may be more or less than the amount reflected on this table.

The Audit Committee has established pre-approval policies and procedures applicable to all services provided by the Company’s independent auditors to the Company, pursuant to which the committee reviews for approval each service expected to be provided by the independent auditors, and is provided with sufficiently detailed information so that it can make well-reasoned assessments of the impact of the services on the independence of the auditors. In 2022,2023, all the fees paid to the Company’s auditors were approved by the Audit Committee. Pre-approvals include pre-approved cost levels or budgeted amounts (or a range of cost levels or budgeted amounts). Any proposed service that would exceed pre-approved cost levels or budgeted amounts also requires pre-approval. Substantive changes in terms, conditions, or fees resulting from changes in the scope, structure or other items regarding pre-approved services will also be pre-approved if necessary. The pre-approvals may include services in categories of audit services (including consultation to support such audits), audit-related services (items reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the financial statements), tax services (tax compliance, tax planning, and tax advice), and other services (services permissible under the SEC’s auditor independence rules, typically routine and recurring type services that would not impair the independence of the auditor).

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTEFOR PROPOSAL NUMBER 2.

 

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PROPOSAL 3
Advisory Vote to Approve the Compensation of the Named Executive Officers

THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.

The Board recognizes that executive compensation is an important matter for our stockholders. As described in detail in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” (the “CD&A”) section elsewhere in this proxy statement, the Compensation and Human Capital Committee is tasked with the implementation of our executive compensation philosophy, and the core of that philosophy has been and continues to be to pay the Company’s executive officers based on Company performance. In particular, the Compensation and Human Capital Committee strives to attract, retain, and motivate exceptional executive officers, to reward past performance as measured against pre-established goals, to provide incentives for future performance, and to align executive officers’ long-term interests with the interests of our stockholders. To do so, the Compensation and Human Capital Committee uses a combination of short- and long-term incentive compensation to reward near-term performance and to encourage our executive officers’ commitment to our long-term strategic business goals. It is the intention of the Compensation and Human Capital Committee that our executive officers be compensated competitively and consistently with our business goals and strategy, sound corporate governance principles, and stockholder interests and concerns. As discussed further in the CD&A, the Compensation and Human Capital Committee retains an independent compensation consultant and reviews survey and peer group data to ensure that compensation for key positions is properly aligned with market practices. The Company’s commitment to aligning pay with performance is evidenced by the compensation paid to or earned by the Company’s Named Executive Officers.

As described in the CD&A, we believe that our executive compensation program is effective, appropriate, and strongly aligned with the long-term interests of our stockholders and that the compensation provided to the Named Executive Officers (including potential payouts upon a termination of employment or change in control) is reasonable and not excessive. As you consider this Proposal Number 3, we urge you to read the CD&A section of this proxy statement for additional details on our executive compensation program, including more detailed information about our compensation philosophy and objectives and the compensation paid or awarded to the Named Executive Officers, and to review the tabular disclosures regarding Named Executive Officer compensation together with the accompanying narrative disclosures in the “Summary of Executive Compensation” section of this proxy statement.

Congress has enacted the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank”), which requires a non-binding advisory “Say on Pay” vote and gives our stockholders the opportunity to express their views on the compensation of the Named Executive Officers. We value the opportunity to have our stockholders provide us with such a vote on executive compensation at the Annual Meeting.

As an advisory vote and as prescribed by Dodd-Frank, Proposal Number 3 is not binding on the Board or the Compensation and Human Capital Committee, will not overrule any decisions made by the Board or the Compensation and Human Capital Committee, and will not require the Board or the Compensation and Human Capital Committee to take any action. Although the vote is non-binding, the Board and the Compensation and Human Capital Committee value the opinions of our stockholders and will consider the outcome of the vote when making future executive compensation decisions. In particular, if there are a significant number of votes against the Named Executive Officers’ compensation as disclosed in this proxy statement, we will consider our stockholders’ concerns, and the Board and the Compensation and Human Capital Committee will evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address those concerns. Unless the Board modifies its policy on the frequency of “Say on Pay” votes, the next “Say on Pay” vote will be held in 2024.2025. The next advisory vote on the frequency for “Say-on-Pay” stockholder votes will be held no later than at the Company’s 2029 Annual Meeting.

The Board of Directors is asking that stockholders cast a non-binding, advisory vote FOR the following resolution:

“RESOLVED, that the compensation paid or awarded to the Company’s Named Executive Officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables, and narrative discussion, is hereby APPROVED on an advisory basis.”

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR PROPOSAL NUMBER 3.

 

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PROPOSAL 4
Advisory Vote on the Frequency of Stockholder Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation

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THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTEFORTHE OCCURRENCE OF A STOCKHOLDER ADVISORY VOTE ON “SAY ON PAY”EVERY YEAR.

Dodd-Frank requires a non-binding advisory vote by our stockholders on how frequently we should seek an advisory vote on the compensation of the Named Executive Officers. The vote on to this Proposal Number 4 will be considered in determining the schedule on which future “Say on Pay” proposals, like Proposal Number 3, are presented to stockholders. Similar to the “Say on Pay” advisory vote, this vote is not binding on the Board or the Compensation and Human Capital Committee.

By voting on this Proposal Number 4, stockholders may indicate whether the advisory “Say on Pay” vote should occur every three years, every two years, or every one year. After careful consideration of this Proposal Number 4, the Board has determined that an advisory “Say on Pay” vote on executive compensation that occurs every year is the most appropriate option for the Company, and therefore the Board recommends that you support a frequency period of every one year for the “Say on Pay” advisory vote on executive compensation.

Setting a one-year period for holding this stockholder vote will enhance stockholder communication by providing a clear, simple means for us to obtain information on investor sentiment about our executive compensation program. An advisory vote every year will be the most effective timeframe for us to respond to stockholder feedback and provide us with sufficient time to engage with stockholders to understand and respond to the vote results.

The Board of Directors is asking that stockholders cast a non-binding, advisory vote FOR EVERY ONE YEAR in response to the following resolution:

“RESOLVED, that the option of once every one, two or three years that receives the highest number of votes properly cast for this resolution will be determined to be the preferred frequency recommended by stockholders with which the Company is to hold a non-binding advisory vote to approve the compensation paid to the Company’s Named Executive Officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion.”

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTEFOR A FREQUENCY OF ONE YEARON PROPOSAL NUMBER 4.

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Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

The following table sets forth information about the beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock as of March 1, 2023:2024: (i) individually by the Chief Executive Officer, each of the other Named Executive Officers, and current directors and nominees for director of the Company, (ii) by all executive officers and directors of the Company as a group, and (iii) by each person known to the Company as reported on schedules filed with the SEC to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company.

Except as noted below, each of the persons listed has sole investment and voting power with respect to the shares indicated.

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(s)(1)

Common Stock Beneficially Owned

Shares

Owned as of

March 1, 2023

 

Shares Subject to

Options Which Are or

Will Become Exercisable

Prior to April 30, 2023

 

Total

Beneficial

Ownership

 

% of

Class(2)

BRIAN LANE

271,118

(3)

0

 

271,118

 

*

FRANKLIN MYERS

150,000

 

0

 

150,000

 

*

WILLIAM GEORGE

41,438

(4)

29,936

(5)

71,374

 

*

HERMAN BULLS

52,169

 

0

 

52,169

 

*

DARCY ANDERSON

47,663

 

0

 

47,663

 

*

TRENT MCKENNA

33,903

(6)

4,000

(7)

37,903

 

*

CONSTANCE SKIDMORE

27,722

 

0

 

27,722

 

*

VANCE TANG

25,837

(8)

0

 

25,837

 

*

WILLIAM SANDBROOK

24,461

(9)

0

 

24,461

 

*

JULIE SHAEFF

22,274

(10)

0

 

22,274

 

*

ALAN KRUSI

16,828

(11)

0

 

16,828

 

*

PABLO MERCADO

11,173

 

0

 

11,173

 

*

LAURA HOWELL

6,798

(12)

0

 

6,798

 

*

CINDY WALLIS-LAGE

3,808

(13)

0

 

3,808

 

*

ALL EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS AS A GROUP (14 PERSONS)

735,192

 

33,936

 

769,128

 

2.2%

BLACKROCK, INC.
55 EAST 52ND STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10055

 

 

 

 

5,880,679

(14)

16.4%

THE VANGUARD GROUP, INC.
100 VANGUARD BLVD.
MALVERN, PENNSYLVANIA 19355

 

 

 

 

3,938,900

(15)

11.0%

CAPITAL WORLD INVESTORS
333 SOUTH HOPE STREET, 55TH FLOOR
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90071

 

 

 

 

2,033,116

(16)

5.7%

*

Less than 1%.

 Common Stock Beneficially Owned
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(s)(1)Shares
Owned as of
        March 1, 2024
           Shares Subject to
Options Which Are or
Will Become Exercisable
Prior to April 30, 2024
           Total
Beneficial
Ownership
           % of
Class(2)
BRIAN LANE227,926(3) 0 227,926 *
FRANKLIN MYERS118,000 0 118,000 *
WILLIAM GEORGE62,471(4) 29,936(5) 92,407 *
DARCY ANDERSON47,541 0 47,541 *
HERMAN BULLS44,234 0 44,234 *
TRENT MCKENNA22,644(6) 4,000(7) 26,644 *
JULIE SHAEFF18,387(8) 0 18,387 *
CONSTANCE SKIDMORE16,787 0 16,787 *
WILLIAM SANDBROOK13,026(9) 0 13,026 *
VANCE TANG12,770(10) 0 12,770 *
PABLO MERCADO11,038 0 11,038 *
LAURA HOWELL6,965(11) 0 6,965 *
CINDY WALLIS-LAGE4,873(12) 0 4,873 *
RHOMAN HARDY1,287 0 1,287 *
ALL EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS AS A GROUP (15 PERSONS)611,399 33,936 645,335 1.8%

BLACKROCK, INC.

50 HUDSON YARDS
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10001

    4,807,189(13)  13.5%

THE VANGUARD GROUP, INC.

100 VANGUARD BLVD.
MALVERN, PENNSYLVANIA 19355

    3,914,091(14) 10.96%

CAPITAL WORLD INVESTORS

333 SOUTH HOPE STREET, 55TH FLOOR
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90071

    1,701,855(15) 4.8%
*Less than 1%.

 

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(1)

Except as noted, the address of each person is c/o Comfort Systems USA, Inc., 675 Bering Drive, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77057.

(2)

Calculated using total outstanding shares as of March 1, 2023,2024, which was 35,735,54135,684,609 (excluding 5,387,8245,438,756 shares held in treasury).

(3)

Includes 32,48326,387 shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to restricted stock grants that remain subject to tenure vesting.

(4)

Includes 11,25333,812 shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to restricted stock grants that remain subject to tenure vesting.

(5)

Includes 15,422 options with an exercise price of $36.25 and 14,514 options with an exercise price of $42.50.

(6)

Includes 6,7925,714 shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to restricted stock grants that remain subject to tenure vesting.

(7)

Includes 2,000 options with an exercise price of $36.25 and 2,000 options with an exercise price of $42.50.

(8)

Includes 15,8372,644 shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to restricted stock grants that remain subject to tenure vesting.
(9)Includes 170 shares held by a member of Mr. Sandbrook’s household.
(10)Includes 12,770 shares of Common Stock held in The Tang Living Trust, dated October 3, 2014, for which Mr. Tang and his spouse are trustees.

(9)

(11)Includes 170 shares held by a member of Mr. Sandbrook’s household.

(10)

Includes 3,5613,029 shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to restricted stock grants that remain subject to tenure vesting.

(11)

(12)Includes 16,828 shares of Common Stock held in The Krusi Family Trust for which Mr. Krusi and his spouse are trustees.

(12)

Includes 3,166 shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to restricted stock grants that remain subject to tenure vesting.

(13)

Includes 3,8084,873 shares of Common Stock held in the Kent L. Lage and Cindy L. Wallis-Lage Trust, dated December 21, 2017, for which Ms. Wallis-Lage and her spouse are trustees.

(14)

(13)As reported by BlackRock, Inc. in a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 26, 2023.23, 2024. The Schedule 13G/A states that BlackRock, Inc. has sole voting power with respect to 5,807,8454,704,451 shares of Common Stock and sole dispositive power with respect to 5,880,6794,807,189 shares of Common Stock.

(15)

(14)As reported by The Vanguard Group, Inc. in a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 9, 2023.13, 2024. The Schedule 13G/A states that The Vanguard Group, Inc. has sole voting power with respect to 0 shares of Common Stock, shared voting power with respect to 60,02967,932 shares of Common Stock, sole dispositive power with respect to 3,843,7653,808,024 shares of Common Stock, and shared dispositive power with respect to 95,135106,067 shares of Common Stock.

(16)

(15)As reported by Capital World Investors, a division of Capital Research and Management Company, in a Schedule 13G13G/A filed with the SEC on February 13, 2023.9, 2024. The Schedule 13G13G/A states that Capital World Investors has sole voting power with respect to 2,033,1161,701,855 shares of Common Stock and sole dispositive power with respect to 2,033,1161,701,855 shares of Common Stock.

 

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Compensation Discussion and Analysis

HIGHLIGHTS

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

36

Overview

36

2022 Named Executive Officers

36

2022 Performance Highlights

37

Consideration of Stockholder Advisory Vote

37

Allocation Among Compensation Elements

41

Overview

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis (the “CD&A”) provides:

an overview and analysis of the Company’s executive compensation program;

an overview and analysis of the Company’s executive compensation program;
the material decisions made with respect to 2023 compensation for the Named Executive Officers; and
the material factors considered in making those decisions.

the material decisions made with respect to 2022 compensation for the Named Executive Officers; and

the material factors considered in making those decisions.

The CD&A focuses on the compensation paid or awarded to the Named Executive Officers unless noted otherwise.

20222023 Named Executive Officers

 

*

Mr. McKenna served as Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President during 2021 and has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since January 2022. Ms. Howell served as Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary from January 2019 through December 2021 and has served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary since January 2022.

*Mr. McKenna served as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer during 2021 and has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since January 2022. Ms. Howell served as Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary from January 2019 through December 2021 and has served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary since January 2022.

 

The Board has delegated to the Compensation and Human Capital Committee (referred to in this CD&A simply as the “Committee”) the duty of designing and overseeing the Company’s executive compensation program. The Committee is comprised entirely of independent (pursuant to NYSE and SEC rules, and the Company’s own Independence Guidelines) members of the Board.

The Company’s executive compensation program is designed to:

provide competitive base pay consistent with job scope, experience, and related skills;

link bonus opportunities to the Company’s performance;

grant equity compensation at competitive levels, a significant portion of which is performance-based;

avoid unnecessary and imprudent risks; and

attract and motivate talented executive officers and minimize turnover of senior-level Company employees, which contributes to the stability and continuity of senior leadership.

provide competitive total compensation consistent with job scope, experience, and related skills;
link bonus opportunities to the Company’s performance;
grant equity compensation at competitive levels, a significant portion of which is performance-based;
avoid unnecessary and imprudent risks; and
attract and motivate talented executive officers and minimize turnover of senior-level Company employees, which contributes to the stability and continuity of senior leadership.

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20222023 Performance Highlights

To put the Company’s 20222023 compensation decisions in context, the following summarizes the Company’s key financial and business results for 2022:2023:

$5.214.14BB

$4.06B*

$245.9M

REVENUE

BACKLOG

NET INCOME

$6.82

$5.16B*

BACKLOG

$323.4M

NET INCOME

 

$301.5M

$256.0M

$9.01

EPS (PER DILUTED SHARE)

$639.6M

OPERATING CASH FLOW

$550.7M

FREE CASH FLOW

*

Backlog is as of December 31, 2022.

2023.

We finished 20222023 with increased revenue (revenue of $5.21 billion in 2023, as compared to revenue of $4.14 billion in 2022, as compared to $3.07 billion in 2021)2022), record earnings (net income of $323.4 million, or $9.01 per diluted share, in 2023, as compared to net income of $245.9 million, or $6.82 per diluted share, in 2022, as compared to $143.3 million, or $3.93 per diluted share, in 2021)2022), increased cash flow (operating cash flow of $639.6 million in 2023, as compared to $301.5 million in 2022, as compared to $180.2 million in 2021)2022), and a notable surge of backlog (backlog was $5.16 billion as of December 31, 2023, as compared to $4.29 billion as of September 30, 2023 and $4.06 billion as of December 31, 2022, as compared to $3.25 billion as of September 30, 2022 and $2.31 billion as of December 31, 2021)2022). As a result of this performance, the Named Executive Officers each received 156.3%200.0% of their respective earnings-per-share (“EPS”) target awards and 200.0% of their respective free cash flow (“FCF”) target awards under the corporate financial incentive portion of the Company’s 20222023 annual incentive plan, as further described below.

Compensation and Governance Practices

Below we highlight certain of our practices that we consider good governance features of our executive compensation program.

COMPENSATION PRACTICES

A majority of each executive officer’s compensation is at-risk (i.e., variable and not fixed).*

Executive officers and directors are subject to stock ownership requirements.

A majority of each executive officer’s compensation is tied to the Company’s financial performance and/or stock price.*

The Company has adopted a compensation clawback policy and an anti-hedging/pledging policy that apply to all executive officers.

50% of each executive officer’s annual equity awardsaward targets are subject to the Company achieving specific performance goals over a 3-year time horizon.*

The Committee and management routinely engage independent third parties, including an independent compensation consultant and the Company’s stockholders, to advise and provide feedback on executive compensation matters.

*

Assuming target performance is achieved, when applicable, and based on grant date values of annual equity awards.  Does not take into account any one-time equity awards outside of the annual equity award cycle.

  |  2024 Proxy Statement33

Consideration of Stockholder Advisory Vote

In designing the Company’s overall executive compensation program, the Committee also values and considers stockholder input. While evaluating the Company’s executive compensation program, the Committee considered the stockholder advisory vote on the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers that was taken in 2022.2023.

The Committee viewed the outcome of that advisory vote—approval by more than 98%97% of the shares voted—as indicating that the Company’s stockholders support the Company’s overall approach to executive compensation and made no changes to the structure of our executive compensation program as a direct result of the vote.

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Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

The Committee evaluates each element of the overall executive compensation program to ensure that it supports the Committee’s objectives of:

OUR COMPENSATION OBJECTIVES

providing competitive base paytotal compensation consistent with job scope, experience, and related skills;

avoiding unnecessary and imprudent risks; and

linking bonus opportunities to the Company’s performance;

attracting and motivating talented executive officers and minimizing turnover of senior-level Company employees, which contributes to the stability and continuity of senior leadership.

granting equity compensation at competitive levels, a significant portion of which is performance-based;

Against that backdrop, the Company’s executive compensation program is designed to:

Against that backdrop, the Company’s executive compensation program is designed to:

OUR COMPENSATION PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO

pay competitive levels of salary and total compensation;

align the interests of the Company’s executive officers with the long-term interests of the Company’s stockholders; and

link executive pay to Company performance by making a significant portion of pay variable and not fixed;

reward long-term results.

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To achieve these objectives, in addition to the objectives referenced in the “Elements of Compensation” sectionsubsection below, the Committee implements a pay-for-performance” philosophy using the guiding principles that:

1compensation should be incentive-driven, with a balanced short-term and long-term focus;
2a significant portion of pay for executive officers should be “at-risk;”
3a significant portion of annual incentive compensation should be tied to the overall performance of the Company;
4a portion of annual incentive compensation should be tied to individual performance; and
5a significant portion of long-term incentive awards should be contingent upon performance.

1.

compensation should be incentive-driven, with a balanced short-term and long-term focus;

2.

a significant portion of pay for executive officers should be “at-risk”;

3.

a significant portion of annual incentive compensation should be tied to the overall performance of the Company;

4.

a portion of annual incentive compensation should be tied to individual performance; and

5.

a significant portion of long-term incentive awards should be contingent upon performance.

Role of the Chief Executive Officer

The Company’s Chief Executive Officer makes annual recommendations to the Committee regarding the compensation arrangements of the Company’s executive officers (except that he makes no recommendation with respect to his own compensation arrangements). The Committee considers the recommendations during its regularly-scheduled meetings, and may choose to adopt the recommendations, in whole or in part, at the Committee’s sole discretion. The Committee is responsible for making all decisions regarding executive compensation.

Independent Compensation Consultant; Use of Market Data

In 2022,2023, the Committee retained a compensation consultant, Compensation Advisory Partners, to advise the Committee on the design and administration of the Company’s short-term and long-term incentive compensation programs and to provide a comprehensive analysis of executive compensation survey data and market trends. The Committee reviewed the services

  |  2023 Proxy Statement38

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provided by Compensation Advisory Partners and believes that Compensation Advisory Partners was independent in providing executive compensation consulting services to the Committee. In making this determination, the Committee noted that during 2022:2023:

Compensation Advisory Partners did not provide any services to the Company or management other than services requested by or with the approval of the Committee, and its services were limited to advising on executive and director compensation-related matters. Specifically, Compensation Advisory Partners did not provide, directly or indirectly through any affiliates, any non-executive employee compensation services, such as pension consulting or human resource outsourcing;

Compensation Advisory Partners did not provide any services to the Company or management other than services requested by or with the approval of the Committee, and its services were limited to advising on executive and director compensation-related matters. Specifically, Compensation Advisory Partners did not provide, directly or indirectly through any affiliates, any non-executive employee compensation services, such as pension consulting or human resource outsourcing;
Compensation Advisory Partners maintained a conflicts policy, which was provided to the Committee, with specific policies and procedures designed to ensure independence;
Fees paid to Compensation Advisory Partners by the Company during 2023 were less than 1% of their total revenue;
None of the Compensation Advisory Partners consultants working on Company matters had any business or personal relationship with Committee members;
None of the Compensation Advisory Partners consultants working on Company matters had any business or personal relationship with any executive officer of the Company; and
None of the Compensation Advisory Partners consultants working on Company matters owned Company stock.

Compensation Advisory Partners maintained a conflicts policy, which was provided to the Committee, with specific policies and procedures designed to ensure independence;

Fees paid to Compensation Advisory Partners by the Company during 2022 were less than 1% of their total revenue;

None of the Compensation Advisory Partners consultants working on Company matters had any business or personal relationship with Committee members;

None of the Compensation Advisory Partners consultants working on Company matters had any business or personal relationship with any executive officer of the Company; and

None of the Compensation Advisory Partners consultants working on Company matters owned Company stock.

The Committee monitors the independence of its outside consultants on a periodic basis.

During 2022,2023, the Committee consulted with Compensation Advisory Partners regarding the Company’s short-term and long-term incentive compensation programs, as well as market trends and executive compensation peer group and other survey data, as described below. Compensation Advisory Partners has provided the Committee with detailed analysis and recommendations on the structure of the Company’s short-term and long-term incentive compensation programs in terms of design, metrics, and payout opportunities, and the Committee intends to continue to periodically refine the Company’s short-term and long-term incentive compensation programs based on a number of factors, including its compensation consultant’s recommendations, market trends in the Company’s industry, and general economic conditions.

Peer Group and the Benchmarking Process

The Committee reviews executive compensation levels annually using peer group and other survey data provided by its compensation consultant. The Committee does not attempt to set executive compensation at a pre-defined percentile of the market, but the Committee does use comparative data in an effort to be better informed in its executive compensation-related decisions.

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The Committee believes that, due to the Company’s unique position in its industry, there are no directly comparable companies in the broader market for the purpose of determining appropriate compensation comparators for the compensation of its executive officers and, for this reason, does not depend solely on a “peer group” to determine executive officer compensation. It does, however, review executive compensation against compensation paid to executive officers holding similar positions in certain select “peer group” companies. For purposes of making 20222023 executive compensation decisions, this peer group was as follows:

20222023 PEER GROUP

EMCOR Group, Inc.

MasTec, Inc.

KBR, Inc.

ABM Industries Incorporated

Tutor Perini Corporation

Valmont Industries, Inc.

Granite Construction Incorporated

Dycom Industries, Inc.

MYR Group Inc.

Primoris Services Corporation

Tetra Tech, Inc.

IES Holdings, Inc.

APi Group Corporation

Sterling Construction Company,Infrastructure, Inc.

Limbach Holdings, Inc.

Ameresco, Inc.

 

In determining the appropriateness of the foregoing companies, the Committee, in consultation with Compensation Advisory Partners, considered factors such as historical revenue, the company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), and total shareholder return, in addition to the primary industry, enterprise value, and market capitalization of each company. In 2022,November 2023, this peer group was further refined by the Committee, in consultation with Compensation Advisory Partners and considering these same factors, to remove Quanta Services,add Oshkosh Corporation and MDU Resources Group, Inc., as both companies were identified as peers by Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), and the Committee decided itsdetermined that both companies had comparable revenue and market capitalization did not meet the peer specifications during the Company’s annual peer analysis.capitalization.

The Committee uses a combination of the peer group and survey data from certain other industry companies to provide a general market review of the reasonableness of total compensation levels for the Company’s executive officers; however, the Committee does not use the peer group or survey data for any other purpose or otherwise formally benchmark the compensation of the Company’s executive officers.

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Use of Tally Sheets

The Committee routinely uses tally sheets to assist it in analyzing executive officers’ total compensation. Tally sheets provide the Committee with information about the following components of compensation paid or granted over the preceding three-year period: cash compensation, including salary and annual incentive compensation, and long-term incentive compensation. These tally sheets also provide an estimate of amounts payable in the event of a voluntary or involuntary termination of employment, including by reason of death, disability, or a change in control resulting in termination of employment. The Committee also reviews information regarding long-term incentive awards, including statistics on share usage, analysis of current “in-the-money” values of outstanding option grants and current values of time-vesting restricted stock unit (“RSU”) and performance-vesting restricted stock unit (“PSU”) awards, and a summary of current and past performance results.

Chief Executive Officer Compensation

Each year, the Committee meets in executive session (i.e.(i.e., separately from management) to evaluate the Chief Executive Officer’s performance and determine his total compensation. The Committee conducts an assessment of the Chief Executive Officer’s performance as well as an assessment of other relevant factors, such as the Company’s performance, individual tenure, and position tenure, and sets the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation for each year based on the Committee’s assessment of these factors. Although the Committee does not attempt to target the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation at any specific percentile of compensation at peer group companies, the Committee does use peer group and other survey data as context in reviewing the Chief Executive Officer’s overall compensation levels and approving compensation actions, as described above. Based on this data, the Committee believes that the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation was below the market median in 2022.2023.

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Elements of Compensation

The Company’s executive compensation program consists of four basic elements:

COMPENSATION

ELEMENT

OBJECTIVE

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

BASE SALARY

BASESALARY

Provide a fixed level of cash compensation for performing day-to-day functions

Attract and retain strong executive talent

Levels are evaluated annually by the Committee

For 2022,2023, base salaries were established based on a number of factors, including each executive’s performance and time in his or her role, advice from the Committee’s independent compensation consultant, and analysis of peer group and survey data and economic conditions

ANNUALINCENTIVEPLAN

Reward annual financial and individual performance

Target awards are established as a percentage of base salary

The majority of each award’s target opportunity is based on the achievement of objective, pre-established goals related to the Company’s EPS and FCF performance

LONG-TERMINCENTIVEAWARDS

Reward long-term Company performance

Encourage focus on growing stockholder value

Align management’s interests with stockholders’ interests

Encourage retention of key management employees, stability, and continuity of leadership

Awards are provided through a combination of time-vesting RSUs and dollar-denominated PSUs

Dollar-denominated PSUs are earned based on the achievement of objective, pre-established performance goals, including total shareholder return relative to certain comparable companies and the Company’s EPS performance

RSUs are subject to a three-year vesting schedule; 
dollar-denominated PSUs that are earned based on performance cliff vest following the end of a three-year performance period

BENEFITS

BENEFITS

Attract and retain strong executive talent

Provide basic financial stability

Participation in health, welfare, and retirement benefit plans, generally on the same terms as all other full-time employees of the Company

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While base salaries, together with health, welfare, and retirement benefits, are designed to provide basic compensation and financial stability, the purpose of annual incentive compensation is primarily to encourage the Company’s executive officers to focus on the execution of the Company’s business strategy and plan for the current year. Long-term incentives, granted in the form of RSUs and PSUs, are designed to:

align executive officers’ interests with those of stockholders;

align executive officers’ interests with those of stockholders;
incentivize them to attain longer-term Company performance goals; and
encourage them to remain with the Company.

incentivize them to attain longer-term Company performance goals; and

encourage them to remain with the Company.

Unlike annual incentive compensation, which, as discussed below, tends to focus on more current Company and individual performance, long-term incentives focus on sustained results and growing stockholder value.

Relative Size of Major Compensation Elements

The combination of base salary, annual incentive awards, and long-term incentive awards is referred to as the “total direct compensation.” In setting executive officer compensation, the Committee considers the aggregate compensation payable to the executive, assuming target performance is achieved, as well as the weighting of each compensation component. The Committee seeks to achieve the appropriate balance between short- and long-term cash compensation and incentives for the achievement of both annual and long-term financial and non-financial objectives.

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Allocation Among Compensation Elements

For 2022,2023, the portion of the Chief Executive Officer’s and the average of each of the other Named Executive Officers’ total target direct compensation (for annual incentive awards, assuming target performance was achieved, and, for annual equity awards, based on grant date values at target) that was variable and at-risk is illustrated as follows:

TotalTargetCompensationMix

 

“Average of Other Named Executive Officers” is based on an average of the respective compensation of Messrs. George and McKenna and Mses. Shaeff and Howell. Due to rounding,Howell and does not include the variable pay total is 1% larger than the sumspecial one-time grant of the rounded, individual elements of variable pay.RSUs received by Mr. George in November 2023, as described in greater detail below. 

Because the value that a Named Executive Officer may receive with respect to RSUs will depend on the performance of the Company’s Common Stock, and therefore is variable, we have included these awards as an element of “Variable Pay” in the charts above.

Base Salary

The Committee determines base salary for our executive officers after considering several factors, including the executive’s individual experience, performance, and individual skills. Only after weighing these factors does the Committee consider peer group and/or survey data. The Committee uses executive officers’ performance assessments, Company performance, peer group and other survey data, as described above, and its own analysis of the executive officer’s individual performance to determine each executive’s base salary at least annually. Based onFollowing its review of peer group and market data and the other factors described above, and taking into account the Company’s strong performance, on December 8, 2021,6, 2022, the Committee approved an increase in each Named Executive Officer’s base salary as set forth in the table below, effective January 1, 2022.2023. The Committee believes that these increases were appropriate to reward the Named Executive Officers and bring their base salaries more in line with the market. 

Named Executive Officer2023 Base Salary
$
2022 Base Salary
Brian Lane1,002,000871,200
William George 633,000550,000
Trent McKenna 506,000440,000
Laura Howell 425,000350,000
Julie Shaeff 367,000333,000

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Named Executive Officer

2021 Base Salary

$

2022 Base Salary

$

Brian Lane

792,000

871,200 

William George

500,000

550,000 

Trent McKenna

400,000

440,000 

Laura Howell

300,000

350,000 

Julie Shaeff

317,000

333,000 

Annual Incentive Plan

The Named Executive Officers are eligible to participate in a cash-based annual incentive plan and receive incentive bonuses based on actual performance against key business and individual goals.

The annual incentive plan consists of two distinct components: a corporate financial performance component and an individual performance component. In 2022,2023, consistent with previous years, the corporate financial performance component of the annual incentive plan rewarded the achievement of EPS and FCF goals (collectively,(together, the “Corporate Financial Incentive”). The Committee believes that EPS remains an important metric for the Company because it encourages a focus on profitability. The Committee continued the use of FCF as a metric under the annual incentive plan because it incentivizes management’s focus on increasing the Company’s cash flow. The second, smaller, component of the annual incentive plan rewarded the achievement of specified individual performance goals (the “Individual Performance Incentive”).

Each year, the Committee determines the threshold, target, and maximum incentive opportunities for the Company’s executive officers, as a percentage of the executive’s base salary. To determine these base salary percentages for each Named Executive Officer for 2022,2023, in addition to historical and projected Company financial performance, the Committee considered the Named Executive Officer’s historical annual incentive levels and the degree to which a Named Executive Officer’s efforts and job function were expected to influence and contribute to the Company’s financial performance. After assigning threshold, target, and maximum base salary percentages for each Named Executive Officer, the Committee then used peer group and other survey data, as described above, to assess the reasonableness of such assigned levels. For 2022, following its review of these factors, the Committee approved the following adjustment: Ms. Howell’s Corporate Financial Incentive, as a percentage of her base salary, increased from 55% to 65% (for a total target annual incentive opportunity of 75%). Target annual incentive opportunities for the Named Executive Officers for 20222023 are summarized in the table below:below, which were unchanged as compared to 2022 targets:

Named Executive Officer

Target Annual Incentive Opportunity As a Percent of Base Salary

Target Corporate

Financial Incentive

 

Target Individual

Performance Incentive

 

Total Target Incentive

Opportunity

 

Brian Lane

110

%

10

%

120

%

William George

90

%

10

%

100

%

Trent McKenna

90

%

10

%

100

%

Julie Shaeff

65

%

10

%

75

%

Laura Howell

65

%

10

%

75

%

Named Executive Officer Target Annual Incentive Opportunity as a Percent of Base Salary
Target Corporate
Financial Incentive
 Target Individual
Performance Incentive
 Total Target Incentive
Opportunity
 
Brian Lane 110%10%120%
William George 90%10%100%
Trent McKenna 90%10%100%
Laura Howell65%10%75%
Julie Shaeff65%10%75%

For the Corporate Financial Incentive, annual incentive opportunities were allocated 70% to the EPS portion and 30% to the FCF portion. For each metric, each Named Executive Officer had a threshold opportunity of 40% (up from 20%) of his or her target annual incentive opportunity and a maximum annual incentive opportunity of 200% (up from 150%) of his or her target annual incentive opportunity. The Committee approved the threshold and maximum opportunities after consideration of several factors, including the Committee’s review of survey and peer group data prepared by Compensation Advisory Partners, which indicated that the higher threshold and maximum levels were more consistent with the market and the Board’s compensation objectives.

Corporate Financial Incentive Criteria

At the beginning of each year, the Committee sets a threshold, target, and maximum performance level for each corporate performance goal for purposes of the Corporate Financial Incentive component of the annual incentive plan. For each of the Named Executive Officers for 2022,2023, consistent with prior years, the EPS portion of the Corporate Financial Incentive represented 70% of the total Corporate Financial Incentive opportunity, and the FCF portion of the Corporate Financial Incentive represented 30% of the total Corporate Financial Incentive opportunity. If neither the EPS nor FCF thresholds were met, then no portion of the Corporate Financial Incentive would be paid. If only one of the EPS or FCF thresholds were met, then only that portion of the Corporate Financial Incentive would be paid.

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In setting the EPS and FCF threshold, target, and maximum performance levels, the Committee reviews management’s recommendations and then considers the Company’s historical financial performance as well as projections for the industry and industry historical financial performance and projections. The Committee sets EPS and FCF at levels that it considers aggressive but attainable with the intention that the Named Executive Officers will be encouraged to strive for continued improvement in Company performance, ultimately benefiting the Company’s stockholders, and to continue those efforts even after the EPS and/or FCF threshold performance levels have been achieved. The Committee believes that the added value that results from the Company’s achievement of EPS and/or FCF goals above the threshold performance levels to the Company and its stockholders is sufficient to justify the proportionate increases in amounts paid to the Named Executive Officers for achievement above threshold performance levels.

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The threshold, target, and maximum performance levels for each of the corporate performance goals for 2022 bonuses2023 annual incentives were as set forth in the table below. For performance between threshold, target, and maximum performance levels, the amount that is earned is determined on a straight-line basis.

2022 Corporate Financial Incentive Goals

EPS

2023 Corporate Financial Incentive Goals

Threshold

$2.98

Target

EPS 

$4.25

Threshold

$3.82

Max

Target

$5.53

5.46

FCF

Max

Threshold

$7.10

$141.4M

Target

FCF

$202.0M

Threshold

$142.8M

Max

Target

$262.6M

204.0M

Max
$265.2M

 

For purposes of the annual incentive plan and consistent with previous years, (i) EPS was calculated from the Company’s audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 20222023 in accordance with GAAP,U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, except that it did not take into account: (A) goodwill impairment; (B) write-off of debt costs; (C) restructuring charges; (D) any cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles; or (E) any other unusual or non-recurring items as determined by the Committee; and (ii) FCF was calculated by excluding: (A) certain unusual items, as determined by the Committee; and (B) certain items related to acquisitions or sales of businesses, including less customary capital expenditures plus the proceeds from asset sales. FCF is defined as cash flow from operating activities less customary capital expenditures, plus the proceeds from asset sales.

In 2022,2023, the Committee adjusted EPS and FCF for purposes of determining levels of achievement under the annual incentive planplans as follows. First, the Committee excluded positive effects related to research and development tax credit amounts attributable both to 2022 and to refunds from prior periods in calculating EPS, and FCF results, as the Committee determined that the timing of the tax credit allowance and the likelihood that any credits would be obtainedthese were unforeseeable when the Committee defined threshold, target, and maximum performance levels. Similarly, the Committee determined that it was appropriate to also exclude the positive effect of a conforming adjustment related to a tax law change pursuant to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which change eliminated the Company’s ability to currently deduct research and experimentation expenses, and provided that those effects would be deducted for compensation attainment if recovered in the subsequent year(s). In addition, in 2020, the2017. The Committee determined that it was appropriate to exclude the deferred payroll taxes resulting from certain provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act that increased actual cash flow in 2020 fromalso reduced the FCF attainment calculation in 2020 and that such deferred payroll taxes would be added back to actual FCF results for short-term incentive plan attainment when and2023 related to the extent they are actually paid toturnaround effect of the Internal Revenue Service in 2021payments that were excluded from the 2022 FCF calculation. For 2023, all of these adjustments had the effect of reducing actual EPS and 2022. As such,FCF achievement for purposes of the amount actually paid to the Internal Revenue Service in 2022, $14.3 million in total, was added back to actual FCF results for short-termannual incentive plan attainment in 2022.plan. For a further discussion of how we calculate EPS and FCF, see the “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section and Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.2023. 

The Company’s EPS and FCF for calculating incentive compensation achievement levels for 20222023 were $4.97$8.61 and $275.0$512.7 million, respectively. The amounts earned by each of the Named Executive Officers in respect of the Corporate Financial Incentive under the annual incentive plan for 20222023 are set forth in the table below.

2023 CORPORATE FINANCIAL INCENTIVE ACHIEVEMENT LEVELS 

Named Executive Officer Base Salary
$
EPS Incentive Award
Achievement
FCF Incentive Award
Achievement
Corporate Financial
 Incentive Awarded
(As a % of
Base Salary)
 (In Dollars)
$
(As a % of
Base Salary)
 (In Dollars)
$
(As a % of
Base Salary)
 (In Dollars)
$
Brian Lane 1,002,000154.0%1,543,08066.0%661,320220.0%2,204,400
William George 633,000126.0%797,58054.0%341,820180.0%1,139,400
Trent McKenna 506,000126.0%637,56054.0%273,240180.0%910,800
Laura Howell 425,00091.0%386,75039.0%165,750130.0%552,500
Julie Shaeff 367,00091.0%333,97039.0%143,130130.0%477,100

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2022 Corporate Financial Incentive Achievement Levels

Named Executive Officer

Base Salary

$

EPS Incentive Award

Achievement

FCF Incentive Award

Achievement

Corporate Financial

Incentive Awarded

(As a % of

Base Salary)

 

(In Dollars)

$

(As a % of

Base Salary)

 

(In Dollars)

$

(As a % of

Base Salary)

 

(In Dollars)

$

Brian Lane

871,200

120.3

%

1,048,163

66.0

%

574,992

186.3

%

1,623,155

William George

550,000

98.4

%

541,406

54.0

%

297,000

152.4

%

838,406

Trent McKenna

440,000

98.4

%

433,125

54.0

%

237,600

152.4

%

670,725

Laura Howell

350,000

71.1

%

248,828

39.0

%

136,500

110.1

%

385,328

Julie Shaeff

333,000

71.1

%

236,742

39.0

%

129,870

110.1

%

366,612

Individual Performance Incentive

In addition to, and independent from, the Corporate Financial Incentive portion of the annual incentive plan, for 20222023 each Named Executive Officer was eligible to receive the Individual Performance Incentive, which is annual incentive compensation based on the executive’s achievement of individual performance goals related to the Company’s business and strategy.

At the beginning of 2022,2023, each Named Executive Officer, including the Chief Executive Officer, identified individual performance goals for the upcoming year. Each Named Executive Officer’s individual performance goals were discussed and identified in consultation with (i) the Chief Executive Officer, in the case of Messrs. George and McKenna and Ms. Howell, (ii) the Chief Financial Officer, in the case of Ms. Shaeff, and (iii) the Committee, in the case of Mr. Lane. These goals varied depending on the roles and responsibilities for each Named Executive Officer. For 2022,2023, specific goals for each Named Executive Officer included:

Executive

20222023 Individual Performance Goals

Brian Lane Lane

Grow acquired revenue

Advance strategic succession planning initiatives 

Advance strategic service growth initiatives

Improve Company-wide employee safety measure(1)

Achieve Company-wide and corporate diversity and inclusion initiative annual goals

William George George

Grow acquired revenue

Advance strategic acquisition and succession planning initiatives

Improve Company-wide employee safety measure(1)

Achieve Company-wide and corporate diversity and inclusion initiative annual goals

Trent McKenna McKenna

Accomplish IT, innovationenterprise strategy, professional development, and regional succession strategicplanning goals

Advance strategic service growth initiatives

Improve Company-wide employee safety measure(1)

Achieve Company-wide and corporate diversity and inclusion initiative annual goals

Laura Howell Howell

Accomplish cybersecurity strategy priorities

Ensure success of additional diversity and inclusionsustainability initiative priorities

Improve Company-wide employee safety measure(1)

Achieve Company-wide and corporate diversity and inclusion initiative annual goals

 
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Executive

2022 Individual Performance Goals

JulieShaeff

Complete 2022 target implementations for ERP strategy

Accomplish certain professional development goals

Improve Company-wide employee safety measure(1)

Achieve Company-wide and corporate diversity and inclusion initiative annual goals

(1)

The Company-wide employee safety measure tracks Days Away, Restricted, or Transferredthe OSHA Recordable Incident Rate (“DART”ORIR”), which is a nationally-recognized OSHA calculation determined by how many workplace injuries and illnesses resultedmetric that tracks the number of employees per 100 full-time employees that have been involved in employees missing work, required restricted work activities,a recordable work-related injury or resulted in them being transferred to another job.illness. In addition to the DARTORIR performance metric, the Company’s executive officers are required to attend safety training classes on an annual basis. No amount would be payable to the Named Executive Officers in respect of this safety measure if there was a work-related fatality of a Company employee during the year or if a Named Executive Officer does not attend the required safety classes. In 2023, the Company did not have a work-related fatality; however, the Company’s ORIR did not improve as compared to the prior fiscal year, and no safety component credit related to the individual performance incentive was obtained in 2023.

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Each of the Named Executive Officers’ individual performance goals for 20222023 were quantifiable and were generally composed of four levels of attainment: Minimum (25% attainment), Meets (50% attainment), Exceeds (75% attainment) and Significantly Exceeds (100% attainment). The goals were measured on a scale of 0-200% and were weighted to reflect each goal’s strategic importance. At least 10%20% of each Named Executive Officer’s Individual Performance Incentive for 20222023 was based on a diversity and inclusion component.

The Chief Executive Officer and/or the General Counsel presented a summary evaluation of the level of achievement of these goals for each Named Executive Officer (other than himself or herself) to the Committee following the end of the year. In addition, each Named Executive Officer (other than Mr. Lane) received performance feedback from his or her direct supervisor throughout the year and a formal performance review at the end of the year, at which time the Named Executive Officer and his or her direct supervisor evaluated the Named Executive Officer’s satisfaction of his or her individual performance goals.

In executive session, the Committee reviewed and discussed its evaluation of Mr. Lane’s performance over the past year and the performance summaries for each other Named Executive Officer. The Committee also considered significant individual contributions beyond the pre-established goals and each executive’s overall effectiveness. Based on its evaluation of these factors, the Committee then determined the Named Executive Officer’s individual performance score. For 2022,2023, the individual performance scores and the Individual Performance Incentive for each of the Named Executive Officers are set forth below:

2022 Individual Performance Incentive Determination

Named

Executive Officer

Base Salary

$

 

Individual Performance Incentive

Opportunity (As a % of Base Salary)

Individual

Performance
Score

 

Individual Performance Incentive

Threshold

 

Target

 

Maximum

 

(As a % of

Base Salary)

 

(In Dollars)

$

Brian Lane

871,200

 

1

%

10

%

20

%

196.7

%

19.7

%

171,365

William George

550,000

 

1

%

10

%

20

%

199.2

%

19.9

%

109,560

Trent McKenna

440,000

 

1

%

10

%

20

%

196.7

%

19.7

%

86,548

Laura Howell

350,000

 

1

%

10

%

20

%

199.2

%

19.9

%

69,720

Julie Shaeff

333,000

 

1

%

10

%

20

%

199.2

%

19.9

%

66,334

2023 INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE DETERMINATION 

Named
Executive Officer 
Base Salary
$
 Individual Performance Incentive
Opportunity (As a % of Base Salary)
Individual
Performance
Score
 Individual Performance Incentive
 Threshold Target Maximum (As a % of
Base Salary)
 (In Dollars)
$
Brian Lane 1,002,000 5%10%20%150.0%15.0%150,300
William George 633,000 5%10%20%145.0%14.5%91,785
Trent McKenna 506,000 5%10%20%80.0%8.0%40,480
Laura Howell425,000 5%10%20%162.5%16.3%69,063
Julie Shaeff367,000 5%10%20%180.0%18.0%66,060
 

The Committee believes that corporate financial measures such as EPS and FCF, when taken together with an additional component to reflect individual achievement, are appropriate measures for determining annual incentive compensation. This two-part framework provided the Named Executive Officers with incentives to both achieve key Company financial goals and sustain long-term growth for the Company and also maintains the Committee’s flexibility to reward outstanding individual performance.

In addition to the 2022 annual incentive plans set forth above, in March 2022, the Committee approved a one-time additional bonus payment, equal to 10% of each Named Executive Officer’s base salary, to reward the Named Executive Officers’ success in obtaining tax credits for the Company’s research and development efforts. The Committee determined that these one-time additional bonus payments were appropriate because of the years of effort invested by management to successfully pursue the tax credits and the strategic commitment to research and development that merited such credits. Further, the Committee acknowledged that no Named Executive Officer was otherwise receiving compensation for these efforts through the annual incentive plan and that the Company’s financial performance benefited significantly therefrom, ultimately resulting in a negative tax rate of 4.3% in 2022.

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Long-termLong-Term Incentives

In 2022,2023, LTI grants made to the Named Executive Officers consisted of RSUs and PSUs, the latter of which are denominated in dollar amounts but, once earned, are settled in shares of Common Stock based on the market value of the Common Stock following the end of the applicable performance period. The Committee designs the components and weightings of LTI awards to encourage the achievement of key performance goals and retention and also to balance the performance metrics utilized among the Company’s performance relative to certain comparable companies, the Company’s ongoing profitability, and the performance of the Common Stock. The Committee believes that these awards promote a long-term view and further align the executive officers’ interests with those of our stockholders.

From 2012 through 2018, the Company’s executive officers were generally granted PSUs, RSUs, and stock options on an annual basis. The Committee modified the structure for LTI awards in March 2019 by removing stock options from annual LTI grants and rebalancing the awards so that 50% of the LTI grant was in the form of RSUs and 50% was in the form of PSUs, based on grant date value and, for PSUs, assuming target performance is achieved. This decision was based, in part, on input from its compensation consultant, and was the first significant structural change since the previous LTI structure was adopted in 2012. The Committee believed that removing stock options and allocating more value to the PSU and RSU awards better aligned the Company’s compensation program with peer and broader market practices. The mix provides a balanced approach to long-term retention through the use of RSU awards while still including a heavy emphasis on performance-based awards through the use of PSUs. The Company’s annual LTI grants for the Named Executive Officers in March 20222023 followed this 50% RSU and 50% PSU structure.

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Award Type

Description

Alignment With and Key Benefits to Stockholders

RSUs

50% of total LTI grant value

Vest ratably over three years

Value dependent upon stock price performance

Enhances retention of executive talent

Encourages long-term stock ownership

PSUs

50% of total LTI grant value (assuming target performance)

Vest following the end of a three-year performance period,
contingent upon achievement of specified levels of performance measured for each year during such period

Dollar-denominated awards

Settled in shares based upon stock price following the end of the performance period

Performance based upon: EPS performance (50%) and TSR (defined below) performance against peers (50%)

Performance-based

EPS performance goals reward focus on sustainable year-over-year profitability

TSR performance goals reward focus on producing stockholder returns in excess of those produced by comparable companies

2022 LTI Grants*

 

*Based on grant date fair value, assuming target performance. Does not include the one-time RSU grant made to Mr. George in November 2023.ongrantdatefairvalue,assumingtargetperformance

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The Committee believes that LTI compensation should be correlated with salary and short-term incentive compensation. As such, the Committee uses a percentage of each executive officer’s base salary to determine the total dollar amount of the LTI compensation award to be granted to that executive each year, based on grant date values and, for PSUs, assuming target performance is achieved. The Committee determines these percentage levels by analyzing each executive officer’s tenure, responsibilities, and professional experience, recommendations from its compensation consultant based on peer group and other survey data, as described above, and the executive officer’s historical annual LTI compensation levels. For 2022,2023, the following percentage of base salary was used for the Named Executive Officers to determine the grant date value of annual LTI awards: Mr. Lane, 300%325% of base salary; Mr. George, 160%170% of base salary; Mr. McKenna, 130%145% of base salary; Ms. Howell, 80%100% of base salary; and Ms. Shaeff, 80%85% of base salary. For 2022, following the Committee’sFollowing its review of peer group and market data and the other factors described above, and taking into account the grant date value of Mr. McKenna’sCompany’s strong performance, on December 6, 2022, the Committee approved an increase in each Named Executive Officer’s annual LTI awards, as a percentage of his base salary, was increased from 115% of base salary to 130% of base salary; and the grant date value of Ms. Howell’s LTI awards, as a percentage ofor her base salary, was increased from 75% of base salaryas set forth in the table below. The Committee believes that these increases were appropriate to 80% of base salary.reward the Named Executive Officers, further align their interest with our stockholders, and bring their LTI awards and compensation generally more in line with the market.

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Named Executive Officer2023 LTI Percentage     2022 LTI Percentage
Brian Lane325%300%
William George 170%160%
Trent McKenna 145%130%
Laura Howell 100%80%
Julie Shaeff 85%80%
 

Once each executive officer’s total grant date value is determined, the number of RSUs and the value of PSUs is determined. The number of RSUs granted is determined by dividing the total dollar amount of the RSUs to be granted by the closing price of the Company’s stock on the date of grant. PSUs are denominated in dollars.

As an illustration, Mr. Lane’s 20222023 award of LTI compensation was calculated as follows:

Total Amount of Award: 300%325% of base salary of $871,200$1,002,000 equals $2,613,600.$3,256,500.

RSUs Awarded: 50% of $2,613,600$3,256,500 equals $1,306,800$1,628,250 in value of RSUs. $1,306,800$1,628,250 divided by $91.16$141.22 (the closing price of the Common Stock on the date of grant) equals 14,33511,529 RSUs.

PSUs Awarded: 50% of $2,613,600$3,256,500 equals $1,306,800$1,628,250 in value of PSUs (dollar-denominated, assuming target performance).

The table below sets forth the 20222023 annual LTI awards for each of the Named Executive Officers:

Named Executive Officer Base Salary
$
Salary
Percentage For
Calculating
Plan Awards
 Number of RSUs
Awarded 
Dollar Value of PSUs
Awarded
(At Target)
$
Value of Awards
Under Plan
(At Target)
$
Brian Lane 1,002,000325%11,5291,628,2503,256,500
William George 633,000170%3,810538,0501,076,100
Trent McKenna 506,000145%2,597366,850733,700
Laura Howell 425,000100%1,504212,500425,000
Julie Shaeff367,00085%1,104155,975311,950
       

Further, in November 2023, the Committee approved a one-time additional equity award to Mr. George of 25,000 RSUs, in addition to the awards he received during the 2023 annual compensation cycle described above. The Committee granted this award to Mr. George for retention purposes and to reward his historical contributions to the Company, including his role as a founding member of management and his key role in the development of the Company’s acquisition program. The RSUs granted to Mr. George vest in equal annual installments over three years. This special, one-time RSU grant is not included in the tables above for Mr. George, as it was not part of the 2023 annual LTI awards.

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Named Executive Officer

Base Salary

$

Salary

Percentage

For Calculating

Plan Awards

 

Number of RSUs

Awarded

Dollar Value of

PSUs Awarded

(At Target)

$

Value of Awards

Under Plan

(At Target)

$

Brian Lane

871,200

300

%

14,335

1,306,800

2,613,600

William George

550,000

160

%

4,826

440,000

880,000

Trent McKenna

440,000

130

%

3,137

286,000

572,000

Laura Howell

350,000

80

%

1,535

140,000

280,000

Julie Shaeff

333,000

80

%

1,461

133,200

266,400

PSU Design

DESIGN

Upon vesting, PSUs will be settled in shares of Common Stock, with the number of such shares determined by dividing the dollar value of vested PSUs (which may be up to 200% of the original dollar value of such PSUs) by the market value of the Common Stock following the end of the applicable three-year performance period. PSUs are earned based on the level of achievement of the two goals set forth in the table below, both of which are measured on an annual basis over a three-year performance period, and earned PSUs vest in full upon determination of the level of achievement of the performance metrics by the Committee following the end of the applicable three-year performance period, generally subject to continued employment through the end of the three-year performance period.

Performance Measure

Measurement

Measurement 

Percentage of Performance

Award Subject to Measure

EarningsPerShare

Company’s actual EPS performance relative to pre-established EPS performance goals

50%

Relative Total Shareholder Return TotalShareholderReturn

Company’s performance relative to comparable companies*

50%

*

For purposes of measuring the Company’s relative total shareholder return for awards granted in 2022,2023, the identified group of comparable companies consists of: Matrix Service Company; Primoris Services Corporation; Tutor Perini Corporation; Stantec Inc.; Dycom Industries Inc.; MasTec, Inc.; Sterling Construction,Infrastructure, Inc.; EMCOR Group Inc.; MYR Group, Inc.; Quanta Services, Inc.; Tetra Tech Inc.; Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation; Granite Construction Incorporated; Limbach Holdings, Inc.; and APi Group Corporation. In 2022, this group was refined to remove Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc. (formerly known as NCI Building Systems Inc.), as it ceased to be a publicly traded company in 2022. Based on industry analysis and feedback from financial analysts, the Company believes these companies are the most likely to compete with the Company for investment by institutional investors. This group of comparable companies is not used for benchmarking the compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers.

EPS

The EPS measure compares the Company’s actual EPS performance against its pre-established EPS performance goals over a three-year performance period. For this purpose, EPS is determined and calculated as described under “Annual Incentive Plan” above. For each year in the performance period, the Company’s actual EPS performance is compared against these EPS goals and expressed as a percentage. The EPS percentages for each of the three years in the performance period are then averaged together to determine the final level of EPS achievement upon which the payout, if any, will be earned.

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Relative Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”)

The relative TSR measure compares the Company’s TSR to the TSR of a specified group of comparable companies, and payouts are determined by the Company’s rank relative to others in the group. For each year in the three-year performance period, TSR is calculated by determining the difference between the average closing price of a company’s common stock during the first 30 consecutive days of the year and the last 30 consecutive days of the year. The calculation assumes that dividends are reinvested in additional shares. The Company’s TSR is then compared against the TSR for other companies in the group and assigned a percentile ranking. The Company’s TSR percentile ranking for each of the three years in the performance period are then averaged together to determine the final percentile ranking upon which the payout, if any, will be earned.

The following chart shows the range of potential settlement of the PSUs based on the two performance measures, as a percentage of the target amount. The number of PSUs that may be earned ranges from 0% to 200% of the target award amount.

Performance LevelRelative TSR  EPS
Percentage of
Target Earned
 Performance
Measure
 Percentage of
Target Earned
 Performance
Measure
Maximum 200%75th Percentile or Above   200%Over 120% of Target
Target 100%50th Percentile   100%100% of Target
Threshold 50%25th Percentile   25%70% of Target
Below Threshold 0%Below 25th Percentile   0%Below 70% of Target
 

PSU Awards With Performance Period Ending in 2022

AWARDS WITH PERFORMANCE PERIOD ENDING IN 2023

PSU awards granted in 20202021 with a 2020-20222021-2023 performance period were settled in early 2023.2024. The following table shows the EPS and TSR levels achieved over such awards’ three-year performance period and the payout factor for these awards.

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

3-Year Average

 

Payout Factor (% of Target)

 

EPS

129

%

129

%

117

%

125

%

200

%

TSR

43

%

93

%

93

%

76

%

200

%

Rule of

 2021 2022 2023 3-Year Average Payout Factor (% of Target)  
EPS 129%117%158%134%200% 
TSR 93%93%87%91%200% 
 

RULE OF 75

The “Rule of 75” provides that if an executive officer retires from the Company at a time when the sum of his or her age and his or her years of service at the Company is greater than or equal to 75, then upon the executive’s retirement, the executive will generally have been deemed to have satisfied the continuous employment requirement for any equity award to vest.vest (unless the award provides otherwise). Pursuant to the Rule of 75, all performance-based equity awards will continue to be earned only if the applicable performance measures are satisfied and only up to a maximum of target value, but the requirement that the executive be employed by the Company at the time of vesting based on performance will be deemed to be satisfied. As of December 31, 2022,2023, Messrs. Lane and George and Ms. Shaeff satisfied the Rule of 75.

Health and Retirement Benefits

The Company’s health and retirement plans include medical, dental, life, disability and accidental death and dismemberment coverage, and eligibility to participate in the Company’s 401(k) retirement plan. The Company’s benefit programs are designed to be competitive with those of other similarly-sized and -situated companies. The plans offered to the Company’s executive officers are broad-based plans available to all full-time employees. Under the Company’s 401(k) retirement plan, the Company matches an employee’s pre-tax contributions to the plan at a rate of 50% of up to 5% of an employee’s eligible pay or up to the maximum allowed contribution pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

Perquisites

The Company generally does not provide perquisites to its executive officers that are not provided to other employees. However, the Company does provide increased levels of disability and life insurance coverage that are only available to executive officers of the Company. The Company pays these increased premiums on behalf of the executive officers.

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Change in Control and Severance Benefits

The Named Executive Officers and other members of senior management serve as at-will employees of the Company without any guaranteed period of employment. However, the Committee believes that an executive severance policy paired with change in control agreements provide appropriate protections to attract and retain qualified and talented individuals to serve as the Company’s executive officers, permit the Company’s executive officers to focus fully on improving the Company’s operations and long-term success, and protect stockholder value by providing continuity of management during any transition period. The severance and change in control benefits are intended to be set at market-competitive levels and help ensure that the Company can attract and retain talented executive officers. These benefits also help ensure that executive officers remain focused on maximizing stockholder value in the context of an actual or potential transaction that might result in the loss or the diminution of their current positions. The Company believes that these benefits are reasonable and ultimately benefit stockholders. The executive severance policy and change in control agreements are more fully described below under “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”

Stock Ownership Requirements

The Company’s stock ownership requirements provide that within three years of being appointed as an executive officer, or being promoted to such a position, an executive is required to beneficially own Common Stock, taking into account all outstanding vested and unvested stock options, RSUs, PSUs, and shares of stock, having a market value or cost basis, whichever is higher, equal to at least the following multiple of his or her base salary (for purposes of calculating this multiple, the actual compensation expense incurred by the Company related to the equity award is used only if it is greater than the current market value of the Common Stock subject to the equity award):

 

 

As of December 31, 2022,2023, each of our executive officers was in compliance with the stock ownership requirements.  Further, in March 2024, the Board revised the Company’s Governance Standards to add ownership requirements for all Regional Vice Presidents, as set forth above. 

Executive Compensation Recovery, or “Clawback,” Policy

The Company’s executive compensation recovery, or “clawback,” policy provides that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may seek to recoup—or “claw back”—any cash compensation paid to executive officers and certain other employees identified by the Board where the payment was predicated upon the achievement of certain financial results that were satisfied based upon such individual’s intentional, fraudulent, or illegal conduct. The Board has the sole discretion to determine whether an individual’s conduct has or has not met any particular standard of conduct. The Board may, in its sole discretion after considering the best interests of the Company, determine not to recover such payment. In the event that a restatement of the Company’s financial statements is required, the Company will seek to recover any compensation received by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer that is required to be recovered by Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. We intend to updateIn 2023, we expanded our clawback policy to address the recovery of erroneously-awarded incentive compensation in compliance with the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act, final SEC rules, and applicable listing standards.standards by adopting an additional policy, which additional policy was filed as an exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

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Anti-Hedging/Pledging Policy

Our Insider Trading Window Policy prohibits our directors, executive officers, and other employees from, among other things, engaging in hedging or monetization transactions, including through the use of financial instruments such as prepaid variable forwards, equity swaps, collars, and exchange funds, that may permit them to continue to own Company stock, but without the full risks and rewards of ownership. No categories of hedging transactions are specifically permitted by this policy. Our Insider Trading Window Policy also prohibits our directors, executive officers, and other employees from holding Company securities in a margin account or otherwise pledging Company securities as collateral for a loan.

Risk Considerations in our Compensation Policies

The Committee regularly reviews our various compensation programs and has concluded that they do not create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company or our stockholders. In reaching this conclusion, the Committee considered the following: (i) the use of balanced performance targets; (ii) the Company’s “clawback” policy;policies; (iii) the Company’s stock ownership requirements; (iv) the use of EPS performance metrics that are uniformly applied to all executive officers; (v) a three-year vesting period for LTI compensation; and (vi) the Company’s anti-hedging/pledging policy.

Impact of Accounting and Tax Treatment on Compensation

Section 162(m) of the Code (“Section 162(m)”) generally disallows a tax deduction for any publicly-held corporation for individual compensation exceeding $1 million in any taxable year payable to certain executive officers, subject to certain grandfathering rules for compensation arrangements in effect on November 2, 2017 and not materially modified thereafter. The Committee believes that its primary responsibility is to provide a compensation program that attracts, retains, and rewards the executive officers and other key employees that are important to the Company’s success. Accordingly, the Committee has authorized and will continue to authorize compensation payments that are limited, in full or in part, as to tax deductibility.

The Committee regularly considers the accounting implications of significant compensation decisions, especially in connection with decisions that relate to our equity plans and programs. If accounting standards change, the Company may revise certain programs to appropriately align accounting expenses of our equity awards with our overall executive compensation philosophy and objectives.

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Compensation and Human Capital Committee Report

The Compensation and Human Capital Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management and, based on its review and discussions, the committee recommended to the Company’s Board of Directors the inclusion of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis in the Company’s 20232024 proxy statement. This report is provided by the following independent directors, who comprise the Compensation and Human Capital Committee.

MembersoftheCompensationandHumanCapital

Members of the Compensation and Human Capital Committee

Constance E. Skidmore (Chair)
Darcy G. Anderson
Herman E. Bulls
Alan P. Krusi
William J. Sandbrook
Vance W. Tang

 

Constance E. Skidmore (Chair)
Darcy G. Anderson
Pablo G. Mercado
William J. Sandbrook

 

Thepreceding“Compensation “Compensation andHumanCapitalCommitteeReport”shallnotbedeemedsolicitingmaterialortobefiledwiththeSecuritiesandExchangeCommission,norshallanyinformationinthisreportbeincorporatedbyreferenceintoanypastorfuturefilingundertheSecuritiesActof1933,asamended,ortheExchangeAct,excepttotheextenttheCompanyincorporatesitbyreferenceintosuchfiling.

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Summary of Executive Compensation

The following table includes information regarding the compensation paid or awarded to, or earned by, the Named Executive Officers for each of 2023, 2022, 2021, and 20202021 or for such shorter period for which disclosure is required under SEC rules. For more information about the components of total compensation for 2022,2023, please refer to the following subsections of the CD&A:

“Base Salary” for information about salary;

“Base Salary” for information about salary;
“Annual Incentive Plan” for information about short-term incentives;
“Long-Term Incentives” for information about equity grants; and
“Health and Retirement Benefits” and “Perquisites” for information about other compensation.

“Annual Incentive Plan” for information about short-term incentives;

“Long-term Incentives” for information about equity grants; and

“Health and Retirement Benefits” and “Perquisites” for information about other compensation.

Mr. McKenna was promoted to Chief Operating Officer effective on January 1, 2021 and was not a named executive officer for 2020. As a result, the

Summary Compensation Table only includes compensation for Mr. McKenna for 2021 and 2022.

 

Summary Compensation Table

Name and Principal

Position

Year

Salary

($)

Stock

Awards

($)(1)

Bonus

($)(2)

Non-Equity

Incentive Plan

Compensation

($)(3)

All Other

Compensation

($)(4)

Total

($)

Brian Lane

President and Chief
Executive Officer

2022

871,200

2,613,579

87,120

1,794,520

20,289

5,386,708

2021

792,000

2,375,954

1,321,739

13,394

4,503,087

2020

765,000

1,912,479

1,369,350

13,173

4,060,002

William George

Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer

2022

550,000

879,938

55,000

947,966

10,597

2,443,501

2021

500,000

799,944

696,244

9,936

2,006,124

2020

483,000

724,458

748,650

9,577

1,965,685

Trent McKenna

Executive Vice President
and Chief Operating Officer

2022

440,000

571,969

44,000

757,273

8,469

1,821,711

2021

400,000

459,927

556,995

8,423

1,425,345

2020

��

Laura Howell

Senior Vice President,
General Counsel, and Secretary

2022

350,000

279,931

35,000

455,048

8,101

1,128,080

2021

300,000

224,998

269,649

7,527

802,175

2020

265,000

158,996

206,038

7,213

637,246

Julie Shaeff

Senior Vice President and
Chief Accounting Officer

2022

333,000

266,385

33,300

432,946

8,987

1,074,618

2021

317,000

253,566

341,415

8,962

920,943

2020

307,000

245,592

346,910

8,397

907,898

(1)

Reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of PSUs and RSUs granted to the Named Executive Officers in the applicable year. The aggregate grant date fair value of these awards was computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures. See Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the years ended December 31, 2020, December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2022, as applicable, for a discussion of the relevant assumptions used in calculating the value of these awards. For these purposes, the grant date fair value of the PSUs is computed based on performance at the target level, the probable outcome of the performance conditions as of the date of grant, and the grant date fair value of RSUs is equal to the number of RSUs granted multiplied by the closing stock price of the Common Stock on the date of grant. The aggregate grant date fair value will likely vary from the actual amount the Named Executive Officers receive in respect of the PSUs and RSUs, based on a number of factors, including stock price fluctuations and variances from valuation assumptions.

Name and Principal Position    Year Salary
($)
 Stock
Awards

($)(1)
 Bonus
($)(2)
 Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)(3)

 

 

All Other
Compensation
($)(4)
 Total
($)

Brian Lane

President and Chief
Executive Officer

 2023 1,002,000 3,256,375  2,354,700 22,384 6,635,459
 2022 871,200 2,613,579 87,120 1,794,520 20,289 5,386,708
 2021 792,000 2,375,954  1,321,739 13,394 4,503,087

William George

Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer

 2023 633,000 6,116,348  1,231,185 11,124 7,991,657
 2022 550,000 879,938 55,000 947,966 10,597 2,443,501
 2021 500,000 799,944  696,244 9,936 2,006,124

Trent McKenna

Executive Vice President
and Chief Operating Officer

 2023 506,000 733,598  951,280 9,374 2,200,252
 2022 440,000 571,969 44,000 757,273 8,469 1,821,711
 2021 400,000 459,927  556,995 8,423 1,425,345

Laura Howell

Senior Vice President,
General Counsel, and
Secretary

 2023 425,000 424,895  621,563 9,280 1,480,738
 2022 350,000 279,931 35,000 455,048 8,101 1,128,080
 2021 300,000 224,998  269,649 7,527 802,175

Julie Shaeff

Senior Vice President and
Chief Accounting Officer

 2023 367,000 311,882  543,160 10,511 1,232,553
 2022 333,000 266,385 33,300 432,946 8,987 1,074,618
 2021 317,000 253,566  341,415 8,962 920,943

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(1)Reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of PSUs and RSUs granted to the Named Executive Officers in the applicable year. The aggregate grant date fair value of these awards was computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures. See Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the years ended December 31, 2021, December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2023, as applicable, for a discussion of the relevant assumptions used in calculating the value of these awards. For these purposes, the grant date fair value of the PSUs is computed based on performance at the target level, the probable outcome of the performance conditions as of the date of grant, and the grant date fair value of RSUs is equal to the number of RSUs granted multiplied by the closing stock price of the Common Stock on the date of grant. The aggregate grant date fair value will likely vary from the actual amount the Named Executive Officers receive in respect of the PSUs and RSUs, based on a number of factors, including stock price fluctuations and variances from valuation assumptions.
The PSUs are denominated in dollars and, to the extent they are earned and vest, will be settled in Common Stock based on the market value of the Common Stock following the applicable performance period. PSUs are earned if, and to the degree that, the Company meets certain objective, pre-established performance goals relating to total shareholder return compared to a specified group of comparable companies and EPS performance each year over a three-year performance period and generally vest only if the Named Executive Officer remains employed by the Company through such performance period. The aggregate grant date fair value of the PSUs granted during 2023, assuming achievement of the highest level of performance, was $3,256,500 for Mr. Lane; $1,076,100 for Mr. George; $733,700 for Mr. McKenna; $425,000 for Ms. Howell; and $311,950 for Ms. Shaeff. The aggregate grant date fair value of the PSUs granted during 2022, assuming achievement of the highest level of performance, was $2,613,600 for Mr. Lane; $880,000 for Mr. George; $572,000 for Mr. McKenna; $280,000 for Ms. Howell; and $266,400 for Ms. Shaeff. The aggregate grant date fair value of the PSUs granted during 2021, assuming achievement of the highest level of performance, was $2,376,000 for Mr. Lane; $800,000 for Mr. George; $460,000 for Mr. McKenna; $225,000 for Ms. Howell; and $253,600 for Ms. Shaeff. The aggregate grant date fair value of the PSUs granted during 2020, assuming achievement of the highest level of performance, was $1,912,500 for Mr. Lane; $724,500 for Mr. George; $159,000 for Ms. Howell; and $245,600 for Ms. Shaeff.

The RSUs are scheduled to vest over three years, generally subject to the Named Executive Officer’s continued employment with the Company on the applicable vesting date.

(2)

Reflects a one-time bonus payment in 2022 equal to 10% of the Named Executive Officer’s base salary to reward efforts to obtain tax credits for the Company’s research and development efforts.

(3)

Reflects annual incentive plan awards earned in the applicable year based upon the satisfaction of specified performance goals. The above amount specifically excludes a one-time payment for each Named Executive Officer equal to 10% of such Named Executive Officer’s above-listed 2022 base salary and approved by the Committee in March 2022 to reward efforts from prior years to obtain tax credits for the Company’s research and development efforts given that the Committee decided that positive impacts to EPS and FCF would be excluded from annual incentive compensation calculations.

(3)Reflects annual incentive plan awards earned in the applicable year based upon the satisfaction of specified performance goals. To avoid duplication, the 2022 amounts specifically exclude the one-time bonus payments referenced above. For more information on the annual incentive compensation paid to Named Executive Officers for 2022,2023, see the subsection of the CD&A titled “Annual Incentive Plan.”

(4)

Reflects the following amounts for 2022:

2023:

 

401(K)

Match

($)(a)

Executive Disability

& Group Term Life(a)

($)

Fitness(b)

($)

Brian Lane

7,500

12,789

0

William George

7,500

2,857

240

Trent McKenna

7,250

979

240

Laura Howell

7,500

601

0

Julie Shaeff

7,250

1,737

0

(a)

Reflects $250 in 401(K) “true up” amounts related to 2021 for Messrs. Lane and George and Ms. Howell, which amounts are not included in 2021 “Other Compensation” above.

(b)

Reflects group term life insurance and disability premiums paid by the Company on behalf of each of the Named Executive Officers.

(c)

Reflects reimbursement of health-club dues pursuant to a wellness plan available to all employees in the Company’s corporate headquarters.

  401(k)
Match
($)(a)
Executive Disability
& Group Term Life(b)
($)
Fitness(c)
($)
 Brian Lane7,62514,7590
 William George7,6253,259240
 Trent McKenna7,6251,509240
 Laura Howell8,6256550
 Julie Shaeff8,6251,8860

(a)Reflects 401(k) “true up” amounts related to 2022 (but received in 2023) for each Named Executive Officer equal to $375, which amounts are not included in 2022 “Other Compensation” above.
(b)Reflects group term life insurance and disability premiums paid by the Company on behalf of each of the Named Executive Officers.
(c)Reflects reimbursement of health-club dues pursuant to a wellness plan available to all employees in the Company’s corporate headquarters.

  |  20232024 Proxy Statement5351

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Grants of Plan-Based Awards

The following table provides information concerning awards granted under the Company’s annual incentive plan and equity incentive plan during 20222023 for the Named Executive Officers. For further information related to grants of plan-based awards, see the sectionsubsection of the CD&A titled “Annual Incentive Plan” and the sectionsubsection of the CD&A titled “Long-term“Long-Term Incentives.”

Name

Grant

Date

Estimated Future 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 or Units

(#)(3)

Grant Date

Fair Value of

Stock Awards

($)(4)

Threshold

($)

Target

($)

Maximum

($)

Threshold

($)

Target

($)

Maximum

($)

Brian Lane

 

392,040

1,045,440

2,090,880

 

3/23/22

 

163,350

1,306,800

2,613,600

1,306,800

3/23/22

 

 

14,335

1,306,779

William George

 

203,500

550,000

1,100,000

 

3/23/22

 

55,000

440,000

880,000

440,000

3/23/22

 

4,826

439,938

Trent McKenna

 

162,800

440,000

880,000

 

3/23/22

 

35,750

286,000

572,000

286,000

3/23/22

 

3,137

285,969

Laura Howell

 

94,500

262,500

525,000

 

3/23/22

 

17,500

140,000

280,000

140,000

3/23/22

 

1,535

139,931

Julie Shaeff

 

89,910

249,750

499,500

 

3/23/22

 

16,650

133,200

266,400

133,200

3/23/22

 

1,461

133,185

(1)

Reflects amounts payable under 2022 annual incentive plan awards based on individual and Company performance for 2022, which are described in greater detail in the subsection of the CD&A titled “Annual Incentive Plan.” Goals under the Individual Performance Incentive component of annual incentive plan awards are measured on a scale of 0% - 200% and do not have a threshold payment level. For purposes of this table, it is assumed that each Named Executive Officer realizes (a) 40% of the Corporate Financial Incentive at threshold, 100% at target, and 200% at maximum, and (b) 10% of the Individual Performance Incentive at threshold, 100% at target, and 200% at maximum. No amounts are included in this table in respect of the one-time bonus described under “Annual Incentive Plan.”

(2)

Reflects amounts payable under dollar-denominated PSUs granted as part of each Named Executive Officer’s 2022 LTI awards based on the satisfaction of Company performance goals applicable to the PSUs. The threshold amount is calculated based on the minimum amount that a Named Executive Officer could earn with respect to the PSUs, calculated as if the EPS performance goal were achieved at the minimum level of performance that would result in a portion of the PSUs being earned and as if the minimum level of performance to earn PSUs based on the relative TSR performance goal was not achieved. For additional information about the PSU awards, see footnote 1 of the Summary Compensation Table and the subsection of the CD&A titled “Long-term Incentives.”

(3)

Reflects RSUs granted as part of each Named Executive Officer’s 2022 LTI awards. For additional information about the RSU awards, see footnote 1 of the Summary Compensation Table and the subsection of the CD&A titled “Long-term Incentives.”

(4)

Reflects the grant date fair value of LTI awards, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures. For the RSUs, the value is equal to the number of RSUs multiplied by the closing stock price of the Common Stock on the date of grant. For the PSUs, the value is determined as the value at the grant date based on the probable outcome of the performance conditions. For a discussion of valuation assumptions, see Note 15 to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and for the maximum value of these awards at grant, see footnote 1 to the Summary Compensation Table above.

NameGrant
Date
 Estimated Future 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 or Units
(#)(3)

 

 

 

Grant Date
Fair Value
of Stock
Awards
($)(4)
Threshold
($)
Target
($)
Maximum
($)
Threshold
($)
Target
($)
Maximum
($)
Brian Lane  490,9801,202,4002,404,800   
3/21/23  203,5311,628,2503,256,500  1,628,250
3/21/23   11,529 1,628,125
William George  259,530633,0001,266,000   
3/21/23  67,256538,0501,076,100  538,050
3/21/23   3,810 538,048
11/14/23   25,000 5,040,250
Trent McKenna  207,460506,0001,012,000   
3/21/23  45,856366,850733,700  366,850
3/21/23   2,597 366,748
Laura Howell  131,750318,750637,500   
3/21/23  26,563212,500425,000  212,500
3/21/23   1,504 212,395
Julie Shaeff  113,770275,250550,500   
3/21/23  19,497155,975311,950  155,975
3/21/23   1,104 155,907

(1)Reflects amounts payable under 2023 annual incentive plan awards based on individual and Company performance for 2023, which are described in greater detail in the subsection of the CD&A titled “Annual Incentive Plan.” Goals under the Individual Performance Incentive component of annual incentive plan awards are measured on a scale of 0% - 200% and do not have a threshold payment level. For purposes of this table, it is assumed that each Named Executive Officer realizes (a) 40% of the Corporate Financial Incentive at threshold, 100% at target, and 200% at maximum, and (b) 50% of the Individual Performance Incentive at threshold, 100% at target, and 200% at maximum.
(2)Reflects amounts payable under dollar-denominated PSUs granted as part of each Named Executive Officer’s 2023 LTI awards based on the satisfaction of Company performance goals applicable to the PSUs. The threshold amount is calculated based on the minimum amount that a Named Executive Officer could earn with respect to the PSUs, calculated as if the EPS performance goal were achieved at the minimum level of performance that would result in a portion of the PSUs being earned and as if the minimum level of performance to earn PSUs based on the relative TSR performance goal were not achieved. For additional information about the PSU awards, see footnote 1 of the Summary Compensation Table and the subsection of the CD&A titled “Long-Term Incentives.”
(3)Reflects RSUs granted as part of each Named Executive Officer’s 2023 annual LTI awards. Also includes the one-time grant of RSUs granted to Mr. George in November 2023 outside of the annual LTI cycle. For additional information about the RSU awards, see footnote 1 of the Summary Compensation Table and the subsection of the CD&A titled “Long-Term Incentives.”
(4)Reflects the grant date fair value of LTI awards, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures. For the RSUs, the value is equal to the number of RSUs multiplied by the closing stock price of the Common Stock on the date of grant. For the PSUs, the value is determined as the value at the grant date based on the probable outcome of the performance conditions. For a discussion of valuation assumptions, see Note 15 to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and for the maximum value of these awards at grant, see footnote 1 to the Summary Compensation Table above.

  |  20232024 Proxy Statement5452

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Equity Awards

As discussed in further detail above, each of the Named Executive Officers was granted RSUs and PSUs in 2022.2023. The RSUs granted to the Named Executive Officers vest ratably in equal annual installments over three years and dollar-denominated PSUs are earned based on the achievement of relative TSR and EPS performance goals and, to the extent earned, cliff vest after three years, in each case, generally subject to the Named Executive Officer’s continued employment with the Company.

  |  20232024 Proxy Statement5553

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Outstanding Equity Awards at Year-End

The following table provides information concerning unexercised stock options, unvested RSUs, and unvested dollar-denominated PSUs held by the Named Executive Officers on December 31, 2022.2023.

Name

Option Awards

Number of

Shares or

Units of Stock

that have not
Vested(#)(2)

Market Value

of Shares or

Units of Stock

that have not

Vested

($)(3)

Number of

Unearned

Shares, Units

or Other

Rights that

have not

Vested

(#)(4)

Market or

Payout Value

of Unearned

Shares, Units

or Other

Rights that

have not

Vested

($)(5)

Number of

Securities

Underlying

Unexercised

Options (#)

Exercisable

Number of

Securities

Underlying

Unexercised

Options (#)

Unexercisable(1)

Option

Exercise

Price

($)

Option

Expiration

Date

Brian Lane

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32,483

3,738,144

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,618

1,912,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20,646

2,376,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

22,711

2,613,600

William George

15,422

36.25

03/08/2027

 

 

 

 

14,514

 

42.50

03/07/2028

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,253

1,294,995

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,295

724,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,951

800,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,646

880,000

Trent McKenna

2,000

36.25

03/08/2027

 

 

 

 

2,000

 

42.50

03/07/2028

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,792

781,623

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,531

406,352

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,997

460,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,970

572,000

Laura Howell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,166

364,343

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,381

159,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,955

225,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,433

280,000

Julie Shaeff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,561

409,800

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,134

245,600

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,203

253,600

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,314

266,400

Name Option Awards Stock Awards
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
($)(3)
 Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights that
have not
Vested
(#)(4)
 Market or
Payout Value
of Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights that
have not
Vested
($)(5)
Brian Lane            
        26,387 5,427,014    
        11,552 2,376,000    
            15,833 3,256,500
            12,707 2,613,600
William George 15,422  36.25 03/08/2027        
14,514   42.50 03/07/2028        
        33,812 6,954,114    
        3,889 800,000    
            5,232 1,076,100
            4,278 880,000
Trent McKenna 2,000  36.25 03/08/2027        
2,000   42.50 03/07/2028        
        5,714 1,175,198    
        2,236 460,000    
            3,567 733,700
            2,781 572,000
Laura Howell            
        3,029 622,974    
        1,093 225,000    
            2,066 425,000
            1,361 280,000

  |  20232024 Proxy Statement5654

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Name Option Awards Stock Awards
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
 Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable(1)
 Option
Exercise
Price
($)
 Option
Expiration
Date
Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock
that have
not
Vested
(#)(2)
 Market Value
of Shares or
Units of Stock
that have not
Vested
($)(3)
 Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights that
have not
Vested
(#)(4)
 Market or
Payout Value
of Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights that
have not
Vested
($)(5)
Julie Shaeff            
        2,644 543,791    
        1,233 253,600    
            1,516 311,950
            1,295 266,400

(1)

No Named Executive Officer held any unexercisable options as of December 31, 2022.

2023.
(2)

Mr. Lane’s 32,48326,387 unvested RSUs consist of 17,625 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1st of 2023, 10,08013,923 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1st of 2024, and 4,7788,621 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1st of 2025, and 3,843 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1st of 2026, in each case, generally subject to his continued employment with the Company through the applicable vesting date.

Mr. George’s 11,25333,812 unvested RSUs consist of 6,251 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1st of 2023, 3,3934,663 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1st of 2024, and 1,6098,333 RSUs scheduled to vest on December 1st of 2024, 2,879 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1st of 2025, 8,334 RSUs scheduled to vest on December 1st of 2025, 1,270 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1st of 2026, and 8,333 RSUs scheduled to vest on December 1st of 2026, in each case, generally subject to his continued employment with the Company through the applicable vesting date.

Mr. McKenna’s 6,7925,714 unvested RSUs consist of 3,675 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1st of 2023, 2,0712,937 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1st of 2024, and 1,0461,911 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1st of 2025, and 866 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1st of 2026, in each case, generally subject to his continued employment with the Company through the applicable vesting date.

Ms. Howell’s 3,1663,029 unvested RSUs consist of 1,641 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1st of 2023, 1,0131,514 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1st of 2024, and 5121,014 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1st of 2025, and 501 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1st of 2026, in each case, generally subject to her continued employment with the Company through the applicable vesting date.

Ms. Shaeff’s 3,5612,644 unvested RSUs consist of 2,021 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1st of 2023, 1,0531,421 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1st of 2024, and 487855 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1st of 2025, and 368 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1st of 2026, in each case, generally subject to her continued employment with the Company through the applicable vesting date.

The number of units in the bottom most row of this column for each Named Executive Officer relates to the PSU awards granted for the 2020-20222021-2023 performance period. The three-year average performance payout factor for the EPS component of these awards was 200%. The three-year average performance payout factor for the relative TSR component of these awards was 200%. For purposes of this table, the number of units has been determined by dividing the cash value of the portion of the awards earned based on actual performance by $115.08,$205.67, the closing price of a share of Common Stock on December 30, 202229, 2023 (the final trading day of 2022)2023). The actual number of shares that were delivered in respect of these awards was determined by dividing the cash value of the awards earned based on actual performance by $141.22,$314.31, the closing price of a share of Common Stock on March 21, 2023,20, 2024, the date on whichwhen the performance was determined by the Compensation and Human Capital Committee.

(3)

The market value is based on the closing price of a share of Common Stock ($115.08)205.67) as of December 30, 202229, 2023 (the final trading day of 2022)2023) for unvested RSUs, and is based on the actual dollar amount earned under the PSU awards for the 2020-20222021-2023 performance period, given that these awards are dollar-denominated awards.

(4)

The number of shares in this column relates to outstanding PSU awards for the 2021-20232022-2024 and 2022-20242023-2025 performance periods, with the PSU awards for the 2022-2024 performance period in the bottom most row of this column for each Named Executive Officer. The number of shares underlying PSU awards is determined by calculating the market value of shares of Common Stock underlying such PSU awards assuming maximum performance is achieved, as described in more detail in footnote 5 below, divided by the closing price of a share of Common Stock ($115.08)205.67) as of December 30, 202229, 2023 (the final trading day of 2022)2023). The actual number of shares that will be delivered in respect of outstanding PSU awards will depend on the performance achieved for the relevant performance periods and the market value of shares of Common Stock on the date of delivery.

(5)

PSU awards are denominated in dollar amounts and are settled by delivery of shares of Common Stock following the end of the applicable performance period. PSU awards are subject to both time-based and performance-based vesting and vest only to the extent that the relevant performance metrics are achieved during the applicable performance period. Thus, at any time prior to the end of the applicable performance period, the exact number of shares of Common Stock underlying unvested PSU awards is not readily identifiable. Instead, the Company has included the dollar value that a Named Executive Officer would earn under outstanding PSU awards for each of the 2021-20232022-2024 and 2022-20242023-2025 performance periods assuming achievement of maximum performance.

performance, with the dollar value for the 2022-2024 performance period in the bottom most row of this column for each Named Executive Officer.

  |  20232024 Proxy Statement5755

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Option Exercises and Stock Vested

The following table provides information on option exercises and stock vested in 20222023 related to the Named Executive Officers and the resulting value realized.

Name

Option Awards

 

RSU Awards

 

PSU Awards

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

Vesting (#)

Value Realized

on Vesting

($)(3)

Brian Lane

 

18,772

1,678,498

 

16,794

1,530,941

William George

16,371

1,208,523

 

6,895

616,516

 

6,379

581,510

Trent McKenna

4,325

386,722

 

3,891

347,914

 

3,574

325,806

Laura Howell

 

1,514

135,374

 

1,088

99,182

Julie Shaeff

12,849

898,763

 

2,297

205,386

 

2,159

196,814

(1)

The value realized on the exercise of stock options is the difference between (a) the price at which the shares of Common Stock were sold upon exercise of the stock option on the date of exercise (or, if inapplicable due to a cash exercise, the closing price of the Common Stock on the date of exercise), and (b) the exercise price of the option.

(2)

The value realized on the vesting of RSU awards is determined based on the average of the high and low price of the Common Stock on the vesting date.

(3)

Represents PSUs that were earned with respect to the 2019-2021 performance period and that were settled in early 2022. The value realized on the vesting of PSU awards is calculated based on the closing price of the Common Stock on March 23, 2022, the date on which the performance was determined by the Compensation and Human Capital Committee.

  Option Awards RSU Awards PSU 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
Vesting
(#)
 Value Realized
on Vesting
($)(3)
Brian Lane   17,625 2,581,005 13,542 1,912,401
William George   6,251 915,396 5,130 724,459
Trent McKenna   3,675 538,167 2,876 406,149
Laura Howell   1,641 240,308 1,124 158,731
Julie Shaeff   2,021 295,955 1,738 245,440
(1)The value realized on the exercise of stock options is the difference between (a) the price at which the shares of Common Stock were sold upon exercise of the stock option on the date of exercise (or, if inapplicable due to a cash exercise, the closing price of the Common Stock on the date of exercise), and (b) the exercise price of the option.
(2)The value realized on the vesting of RSU awards is determined based on the average of the high and low price of the Common Stock on the vesting date.
(3)Represents PSUs that were earned with respect to the 2020-2022 performance period and that were settled in early 2023. The value realized on the vesting of PSU awards is calculated based on the closing price of the Common Stock on March 21, 2023, the date when the performance was determined by the Compensation and Human Capital Committee.

Pension Benefits

We currently have no defined benefit pension plans.

 

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

We currently have no defined contribution plans that provide for the deferral of compensation on a basis that is not tax-qualified.

  |  20232024 Proxy Statement5856

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Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

The Company maintains an Executive Severance Policy that covers the Named Executive Officers and other key employees and has entered into change in control agreements with each Named Executive Officer, as described below. Under the Executive Severance Policy, in addition to providing outplacement assistance of up to $50,000 and reimbursing former executive officers’ insurance premiums for continuing COBRA coverage under the Company’s policies for up to 12 months if they do not have insurance coverage available through another employer, the Company will pay the followinga lump-sum amount if an executive officer’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause, and not dueequal to death or disability:

Two times(i) the sum of the executive officer’s current base salary plus bonus (the(consisting of the greater of the average annual incentive plan bonus paid during the last three years or the annual incentive plan bonus for the year of termination of employment, determined following completion of the applicable performance period pursuant to the goals established for such bonus) for, times (ii) the Chief Executive Officer or the President;

One and one-half times such amounts for the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, orapplicable multiplier set forth below, if an Executive Vice President;

One times such amounts for the Chief Accounting Officer, Chief Legal Officer or General Counsel, and certain specified Senior Vice Presidents; and

One-half times such amounts for any other employees who have been subject to reporting under Section 16 of the Exchange Act while employedexecutive officer’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause, and not due to death or who have been otherwise designated by the Compensation and Human Capital Committee to participate in the plan, but not at a different participation level.disability:

Two times such amounts for the Chief Executive Officer or the President;
One and one-half times such amounts for the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, or an Executive Vice President;
One times such amounts for the Chief Accounting Officer, Chief Legal Officer or General Counsel, and certain specified Senior Vice Presidents; and
One-half times such amounts for any other employees who have been subject to reporting under Section 16 of the Exchange Act while employed by the Company or who have been otherwise designated by the Compensation and Human Capital Committee to participate in the plan, but not at a different participation level.

In the case of death or disability, the Executive Severance Policy provides for the Company’s payment of a one-time lump-sum amount equal to the executive’s annual base salary reduced by any benefits payable under Company-paid life or disability insurance policies. No amounts are paid under the policy on a voluntary termination of employment or a termination of employment by the Company for cause.

The change in control agreements with the Named Executive Officers provide severance benefits in connection with certain qualifying terminations following a change in control. Severance benefits under the change in control agreements are triggered in case of a termination of employment by the Company (or its successor) without cause or by the executive for good reason, in each case, within 12 months following the change in control event. The current change in control agreements with Messrs. Lane and George and Ms. Shaeff also provide for severance benefits if the executive resigns from the Company (with or without good reason) within 90 days following the change in control event. As we have previously disclosed, new change in control agreements entered into after February 2014 do not include this feature, and, as such, it is not included in either Mr. McKenna’s or Ms. Howell’s change in control agreement. These agreements provide for the Company’s payment of the following lump-sum amount to the Named Executive Officers upon a qualifying termination of employment within 12 months following a change in control event, inIn addition to reimbursement of the former executive officers’ insurance premiums for continuing COBRA coverage under the Company’s policies for up to 12 months if they do not have insurance coverage available through another employer:

Two timesemployer, these agreements provide for the Company’s payment of a lump-sum amount equal to (i) the sum of the officer’s current base salary plus bonus (the greater of the average incentive plan bonus paid during the last three years or annual incentive plan bonus for the year of termination of employment, determined following completion of the applicable performance period pursuant to the goals established for such bonus) for Messrs. Lane, George, and McKenna; and

One, times such amounts for Mses. Shaeff and Howell.(ii) the applicable multiplier set forth below, to the Named Executive Officers upon a qualifying termination of employment within 12 months following a change in control event:

Two times such amounts for Messrs. Lane, George, and McKenna; and
One times such amounts for Mses. Shaeff and Howell.

Under the change in control agreements, Messrs. Lane and George and Ms. Shaeff may be entitled to so-called golden parachute excise tax gross ups in connection with change in control payments in certain circumstances. The Company eliminated the practice of providing for gross-up payments in change in control or other agreements on a going-forward basis, starting in 2013.

Under the change in control agreements, unvested equity awards held by the Named Executive Officers vest in full upon a change in control, with PSUs vesting at target levels.

Regardless of the reason for termination, the Named Executive Officers must execute a release of claims and are subject to a one-year non-compete agreement in order to receive any severance benefits under the change in control agreements or Executive Severance Policy.

As described above, holders of outstanding equity awards who meet the age and service requirements under the “Rule of 75” will, upon the holder’s retirement, generally be deemed to have satisfied the continuous employment requirement for any equity awards held by themaward to vest.vest, unless the equity award specifies otherwise. Pursuant to the Rule of 75, all performance-based equity awards will continue to be earned only if the applicable performance measures are satisfied and only up to a maximum of target value, but the requirement that the executive be employed by the Company at the time of vesting based on performance will be deemed to have been satisfied. As of December 31, 2022,2023, Messrs. Lane and George and Ms. Shaeff satisfied the Rule of 75.

  |  20232024 Proxy Statement5957

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If Mr. Lane had retired on December 31, 2022,2023, he would be deemed to have satisfied the continuous employment requirement for purposes of vesting in: (1) 32,48326,387 RSUs, 17,625consisting of which would13,923 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1, 2023, 10,0801st of which would2024, 8,621 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1, 2024,1st of 2025, and 4,778 of which would3,843 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1, 2025;1st of 2026; and (2) if applicable performance measures are satisfied, PSUs granted in 2020 with a target value of $956,250, PSUs granted in 2021 with a target value of $1,188,000, and PSUs granted in 2022 with a target value of $1,306,800, each of which would vest in the year following the performance period, to the extent earned based on performance and only up to target value, on the date on which the performance is determined by the Compensation and Human Capital Committee.

If Mr. George had retired on December 31, 2022, he would be deemed to have satisfied the continuous employment requirement for purposes of vesting in: (1) 11,253 RSUs, 6,251 of which would vest on April 1, 2023, 3,393 of which would vest on April 1, 2024, and 1,609 of which would vest on April 1, 2025; and (2) if applicable performance measures are satisfied, PSUs granted in 20202023 with a target value of $362,250, PSUs granted in 2021 with a target value of $400,000, and PSUs granted in 2022 with a target value of $440,000, each of which would vest in the year following the performance period, to the extent earned based on performance and only up to target value, on the date on which the performance is determined by the Compensation and Human Capital Committee.

If Ms. Shaeff had retired on December 31, 2022, she would be deemed to have satisfied the continuous employment requirement for purposes of vesting in: (1) 3,561 RSUs, 2,021 of which would vest on April 1, 2023, 1,053 of which would vest on April 1, 2024, and 487 of which would vest on April 1, 2025; and (2) if applicable performance measures are satisfied, PSUs granted in 2020 with a target value of $122,800, PSUs granted in 2021 with a target value of $126,800, and PSUs granted in 2022 with a target value of $133,200,$1,628,250, each of which would vest in the year following the performance period, to the extent earned based on performance and only up to target value, on the date on which the performance is determined by the Compensation and Human Capital Committee.

 

If Mr. George had retired on December 31, 2023, he would be deemed to have satisfied the continuous employment requirement for purposes of vesting in: (1) 8,812 RSUs consisting of 4,663 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1st of 2024, 2,879 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1st of 2025, and 1,270 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1st of 2026; and (2) if applicable performance measures are satisfied, PSUs granted in 2021 with a target value of $400,000, PSUs granted in 2022 with a target value of $440,000, and PSUs granted in 2023 with a target value of $538,050, each of which would vest in the year following the performance period, to the extent earned based on performance and only up to target value, on the date on which the performance is determined by the Compensation and Human Capital Committee. Mr. George’s one-time grant of 25,000 RSUs in November 2023 does not include any “Rule of 75” vesting provisions and, as a result, would have been forfeited upon retirement on December 31, 2023.

If Ms. Shaeff had retired on December 31, 2023, she would be deemed to have satisfied the continuous employment requirement for purposes of vesting in: (1) 2,644 RSUs consisting of 1,421 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1st of 2024, 855 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1st of 2025, and 368 RSUs scheduled to vest on April 1st of 2026; and (2) if applicable performance measures are satisfied, PSUs granted in 2021 with a target value of $126,800, PSUs granted in 2022 with a target value of $133,200, and PSUs granted in 2023 with a target value of $155,975, each of which would vest in the year following the performance period, to the extent earned based on performance and only up to target value, on the date on which the performance is determined by the Compensation and Human Capital Committee.

Summary of Potential Payments

The following table provides the lump-sum payments that would have been made to each Named Executive Officer if his or her employment had been terminated on December 31, 20222023 by the Company without cause, or by reason of the Named Executive Officer’s death or disability, in each case, other than in connection with a change in control.

 

For

Cause

($)

Death(1)

($)

Disability(2)

($)

Without

Cause(3)

($)

Brian Lane

 

0

 

871,200

 

871,200

 

5,377,083

William George

 

0

 

550,000

 

550,000

 

2,296,147

Trent McKenna

 

0

 

440,000

 

440,000

 

1,839,867

Laura Howell

 

0

 

350,000

 

350,000

 

836,362

Julie Shaeff

 

0

 

333,000

 

333,000

 

807,380

(1)

The Company maintains life insurance for each of the Named Executive Officers in an amount equal to the Named Executive Officer’s annual base salary, up to a maximum of $500,000. The death benefit contained in the Executive Severance Policy is paid net of insurance proceeds.

(2)

The Company maintains disability insurance for each of the Named Executive Officers in an amount equal to the Named Executive Officer’s annual base salary, up to a maximum of $500,000. The disability benefit contained in the Executive Severance Policy is paid net of insurance proceeds.

(3)

Consists of two times the sum of current base salary plus bonus (the greater of the average annual incentive plan bonus paid during the last three years or the annual incentive plan bonus for the year of termination of employment, determined following completion of the applicable performance period pursuant to the goals and objectives established for such bonus) for Mr. Lane; one and one-half times such amounts for Messrs. George and McKenna; and one times such amounts for Mses. Howell and Shaeff. In addition, the following amounts are included in the total for each executive as an estimate of one year of COBRA premium reimbursements payable by the Company to the Named Executive Officer over the 12-month period following termination: Mr. Lane—$20,644; Mr. George—$24,197; Mr. McKenna—$18,958; Ms. Howell—$6,314; and Ms. Shaeff—$16,434. These COBRA reimbursements would be made by the Company to the Named Executive Officer, and they would cease if the Named Executive Officer obtained other insurance coverage. In no event would these COBRA premium reimbursements be paid for more than 12 months. The total amount also reflects an estimate of $25,000 for outplacement services, which services are provided for in the Executive Severance Policy in an amount not to exceed $50,000.

  For
Cause
($)
 Death(1)
($)
 Disability(2)
($)
 Without
Cause(3)
($)
Brian Lane 0 1,002,000 1,002,000 6,759,044
William George 0 633,000 633,000 2,843,907
Trent McKenna 0 506,000 506,000 2,230,898
Laura Howell 0 425,000 425,000 1,071,563
Julie Shaeff 0 367,000 367,000 951,811
(1)The Company maintains life insurance for each of the Named Executive Officers in an amount equal to the Named Executive Officer’s annual base salary, up to a maximum of $500,000. The death benefit contained in the Executive Severance Policy is paid net of insurance proceeds.
(2)The Company maintains disability insurance for each of the Named Executive Officers in an amount equal to the Named Executive Officer’s annual base salary, up to a maximum of $500,000. The disability benefit contained in the Executive Severance Policy is paid net of insurance proceeds.
(3)Consists of two times the sum of current base salary plus bonus (the greater of the average annual incentive plan bonus paid during the last three years or the annual incentive plan bonus for the year of termination of employment, determined following completion of the applicable performance period pursuant to the goals and objectives established for such bonus) for Mr. Lane; one and one-half times such amounts for Messrs. George and McKenna; and one times such amounts for Mses. Howell and Shaeff. In addition, the following amounts are included in the total for each executive as an estimate of one year of COBRA premium reimbursements payable by the Company to the Named Executive Officer over the 12-month period following termination: Mr. Lane—$20,644; Mr. George—$22,629; Mr. McKenna—$19,978; Ms. Howell—$0; and Ms. Shaeff—$16,651. These COBRA reimbursements would be made by the Company to the Named Executive Officer, and they would cease if the Named Executive Officer obtained other insurance coverage. In no event would these COBRA premium reimbursements be paid for more than 12 months. The total amount also reflects an estimate of $25,000 for outplacement services, which services are provided for in the Executive Severance Policy in an amount not to exceed $50,000.

  |  20232024 Proxy Statement6058

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The following table provides the value of the accelerated vesting of equity awards that would have been received by each Named Executive Officer in connection with a change in control, and the amount of the lump-sum payout to each Named Executive Officer if his or her employment had been terminated in a qualifying termination, as described above, in connection with a change in control, assuming such change in control and qualifying termination occurred on December 31, 2022.2023.

 

Cash(1)

($)

Value of Early

Vesting Equity(2)

($)

Excise Tax

Gross Up(3)

($)

Total Value

($)

Brian Lane

 

5,352,083

 

7,189,194

0

 

12,541,276

William George

 

3,020,130

 

2,497,245

0

 

5,517,375

Trent McKenna

 

2,413,504

 

1,500,798

0

 

3,914,302

Laura Howell

 

811,362

 

696,343

0

 

1,507,705

Julie Shaeff

 

782,380

 

792,600

0

 

1,574,980

(1)

Consists of two times the sum of current base salary plus bonus (the greater of the average incentive plan bonus paid during the last three years or the current annual incentive plan bonus for 2022) for Messrs. Lane, George, and McKenna and one times such amounts for Mses. Shaeff and Howell. The amount listed also includes payments made as reimbursements for COBRA premiums for a one-year period after the change in control event; these payments would be made as reimbursements by the Company to the Named Executive Officer, and would cease if the Named Executive Officer obtained other insurance coverage.

(2)

The value of the acceleration of unvested time-based RSUs is determined by multiplying the number of shares underlying the award by the closing price of a share of Common Stock on December 30, 2022 ($115.08), the final trading day of 2022. The value of PSUs for the 2020-2022, 2021-2023, and 2022-2024 performance periods has been determined by assuming that the awards vest and are paid out at target levels of performance.

(3)

Reflects the estimated amount of the gross-up for excise taxes imposed under Section 4999 of the Code.

  Cash(1)
($)
 Value of Early
Vesting Equity(2)
($)
 Excise Tax
Gross Up(3)
($)
 Total Value
($)
Brian Lane 6,734,044 9,550,064 0 16,284,108
William George 3,750,999 8,332,164 0 12,083,163
Trent McKenna 2,934,538 2,058,048 0 4,992,586
Laura Howell 1,046,563 1,087,974 0 2,134,537
Julie Shaeff 926,811 959,766 0 1,886,578
(1)Consists of two times the sum of current base salary plus bonus (the greater of the average incentive plan bonus paid during the last three years or the current annual incentive plan bonus for 2023) for Messrs. Lane, George, and McKenna and one times such amounts for Mses. Shaeff and Howell. The amount listed also includes payments made as reimbursements for COBRA premiums for a one-year period after the change in control event; these payments would be made as reimbursements by the Company to the Named Executive Officer, and would cease if the Named Executive Officer obtained other insurance coverage.
(2)The value of the acceleration of unvested time-based RSUs is determined by multiplying the number of shares underlying the award by the closing price of a share of Common Stock on December 29, 2023 ($205.67), the final trading day of 2023. The value of PSUs for the 2021-2023, 2022-2024, and 2023-2025 performance periods has been determined by assuming that the awards vest and are paid out at target levels of performance.
(3)Reflects the estimated amount of the gross-up for excise taxes imposed under Section 4999 of the Code.

  |  20232024 Proxy Statement6159

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Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table sets forth information about the Company’s equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2022.2023.

Plan Category

Number of

Securities

to be Issued Upon

Exercise of

Outstanding

Options,

Warrants and

Rights

(A)

 

Weighted Average

Exercise Price of

Outstanding

Options,

Warrants and

Rights

(B)

Number of Securities

Remaining Available

for Future Issuance

Under Equity

Compensation Plans

(Excluding Securities

Reflected in Column (A))

(C)

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

480,563

(1)

$

$37.97

(2)

1,637,904

 

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

 

 

 

 

Total

480,563

 

 

 

 

1,637,904

(3)

(1)

Includes 36,305 stock options and 207,314 shares of time-vested restricted stock units that have been granted but remain unvested as of December 31, 2022, determined by treating each share underlying a stock option as one share and each share underlying such time-vested restricted stock unit awards as two shares. Additionally, 236,944 shares of Common Stock may be issued upon the achievement of certain performance conditions under outstanding PSU awards. The PSU awards are dollar-denominated and paid in shares based on the market value of the shares following the end of the performance period for such awards; for purposes of this table, the number of shares underlying outstanding PSU awards has been estimated based on current estimated achievement of the performance conditions applicable to the awards and the closing market price of the Company’s stock on December 31, 2022. The Company has no other securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants, or rights.

(2)

Restricted stock units and PSUs are not factored into this average.

(3)

Reflects shares that are part of a fungible share plan, which means that each share granted that is not an option or a SAR is counted against the plan as two (2.0) shares.

Plan CategoryNumber of
Securities
to be Issued Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding
Options,
Warrants and
Rights
(A)
Weighted Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding
Options,
Warrants and
Rights
(B)
Number of Securities
Remaining Available
for Future Issuance
Under Equity
Compensation Plans
(Excluding Securities
Reflected in Column (A))
(C)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders425,543(1)$ 38.53(2)1,502,465
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
Total425,5431,502,465(3)
(1)Includes 35,305 stock options and 225,046 shares of time-vested restricted stock units that have been granted but remain unvested as of December 31, 2023, determined by treating each share underlying a stock option as one share and each share underlying such time-vested restricted stock unit awards as two shares. Additionally, 165,192 shares of Common Stock may be issued upon the achievement of certain performance conditions under outstanding PSU awards. The PSU awards are dollar-denominated and paid in shares based on the market value of the shares following the end of the performance period for such awards; for purposes of this table, the number of shares underlying outstanding PSU awards has been estimated based on current estimated achievement of the performance conditions applicable to the awards and the closing market price of the Company’s stock on December 31, 2023. The Company has no other securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants, or rights. For additional information regarding our equity plans, see Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
(2)Restricted stock units and PSUs are not factored into this average.
(3)Reflects shares that are part of a fungible share plan, which means that each share granted that is not an option or a SAR is counted against the plan as two (2.0) shares.

  |  20232024 Proxy Statement6260

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Ratio of Chief Executive Officer Compensation to Median Company Employee Compensation

As required by SEC rules, we are providing the following information about the relationship of the annual total compensation of our employees and the annual total compensation of our Chief Executive Officer. This pay ratio is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K. Because the SEC rules for identifying the median compensated employee and calculating the pay ratio based on that employee’s annual total compensation allow companies to adopt a variety of methodologies, to apply certain exclusions, and to make reasonable estimates and assumptions that reflect their compensation practices, the pay ratio reported by other companies may not be comparable to the pay ratio reported below.

For 2022,2023, our last completed fiscal year:

The median of the annual total compensation of all employees of the Company (other than our Chief Executive Officer) was $82,503; and

The annual total compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, as reported in the Summary Compensation Table included elsewhere in this proxy statement, was $5,386,708.

The median of the annual total compensation of all employees of the Company (other than our Chief Executive Officer) was $60,905; and
The annual total compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, as reported in the Summary Compensation Table included elsewhere in this proxy statement, was $6,635,459.

Based on this information, for 2022,2023, the ratio of annual total compensation of our Chief Executive Officer to the median of the annual total compensation of all other employees is estimated to be 65.3108.9 to 1.

 

As permitted by SEC rules, in determining this ratio, we used the same “median employee” that we used for purposes of calculating our pay ratio for 2020 because there have been no changes in our employee population or employee compensation arrangements that we reasonably believe would result in a significant change to our pay ratio disclosure. For 2020, toTo identify the median of the annual total compensation of all our employees, as well as to determine the annual total compensation of our median employee, we took the following steps:

We determined that, as of December 31, 2020, our employee population consisted of approximately 10,528 individuals, all of whom were located in the United States. This population consisted of all of our full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees. This population does not include independent contractors or leased workers who were engaged through an unaffiliated third-party staffing agency. We also excluded approximately 1,013 employees of Starr Electric Company, Incorporated and each of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, TAS Energy Inc. and each of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and Tennessee Electric Company, Inc., which are companies that we acquired during 2020 in transactions that closed on February 1, 2020, April 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020, respectively.

We determined that, as of December 31, 2023, our employee population consisted of approximately 14,900 individuals, all of whom were located in the United States. This population consisted of all of our full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees. This population does not include independent contractors or leased workers who were engaged through an unaffiliated third-party staffing agency. We also excluded approximately 961 employees of Eldeco, Inc. and DECCO, Inc., which are companies that we acquired during 2023 in transactions that closed on February 1, 2023 and October 2, 2023, respectively.
To identify the median employee from our employee population, we used the amount of salary, wages, bonuses, commissions, and overtime pay of our employees as reflected in our payroll records as reported to the Internal Revenue Service on Form W-2 for 2023. Because only a small portion of Company employees receive grants of equity awards, when identifying the median employee we did not take into account any amounts reported on the employees’ Forms W-2 for 2023 with respect to stock option exercises or the vesting of equity awards. We also did not annualize the compensation of any individuals who were employed for less than the full calendar year.
We identified our median employee using this compensation measure, which was consistently applied to all of our employees who were included in the calculation. Since all of our employees are located in the United States, as is our Chief Executive Officer, we did not make any cost-of-living adjustments in identifying the median employee.

To identify the median employee from our employee population, we used the amount of salary, wages, bonuses, commissions, and overtime pay of our employees as reflected in our payroll records as reported to the Internal Revenue Service on Form W-2 for 2020. Because only a small portion of Company employees receive grants of equity awards, when identifying the median employee we did not take into account any amounts reported on the employees’ Forms W-2 for 2020 with respect to stock option exercises or the vesting of equity awards. We also did not annualize the compensation of any individuals who were employed for less than the full calendar year.

We identified our median employee using this compensation measure, which was consistently applied to all of our employees who were included in the calculation. Since all of our employees are located in the United States, as is our Chief Executive Officer, we did not make any cost-of-living adjustments in identifying the median employee.

For 2022,2023, we calculated this same employee’s compensation in accordance with the requirements of Item 402(c)(2)(x) of Regulation S-K, resulting in annual total compensation of $82,503.$60,905. The difference between such employee’s salary, wages, bonuses, commissions, and overtime pay reflected in such employee’s Form W-2 and the employee’s annual total compensation represents matching contributions by the Company to such employee’s account under the Company’s 401(k) Plan.

With respect to the annual total compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, we used the amount reported in the “Total” column of our 20222023 Summary Compensation Table included in this proxy statement.

The Company recognizes that employees are a key asset and are vital to the Company’s continued success. In addition to the Company’s commitment to provide fair and equitable wages and benefits to employees, the Company also periodically conducts formal and informal surveys at all levels of the organization to gauge employee satisfaction and engagement.

  |  20232024 Proxy Statement6361

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Pay vs. Performance

Pay vs. Performance Table

As required by Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, we are providing the following information about the relationship between executive compensation actually paid, as computed under SEC rules, and certain financial performance of the Company. For more information about the Company’s executive compensation program, refer to the CD&A starting on p. 3632 and the compensation tables starting on p. 52.50. Note that for our Named Executive Officers (“NEOs”) other than Mr. Lane, our principal executive officer (“PEO”), compensation is reported as an average.

Year

Summary

Compensation

Table Total

for PEO

($)(1)

Compensation

Actually Paid

to PEO

($)(2)

Average

Summary

Compensation

Table Total for

Non-PEO NEOs

($)(1)

Average

Compensation

Actually Paid to

Non-PEO NEOs

($)(2)

 

Value of Initial Fixed $100

Investment Based on:

Net Income

(millions) ($)(5)

Earnings Per

Share ($)(6)

Total

Shareholder

Return

($)(3)

Peer Group

Total

Shareholder

Return

($)(4)

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

 

(f)

(g)

(h)

(i)

2022

5,386,708

6,948,812

1,616,978

1,907,821

 

235.94

109.59

245,947

6.82

2021

4,503,087

7,814,908

  1,288,647

1,950,011

 

201.71

137.74

143,348

3.93

2020

4,060,002

4,388,659

1,061,468

1,109,474

 

106.73

119.96

150,139

4.09

(1)

Reflects the amounts of total compensation reported for Mr. Lane and the average amounts of total compensation of the named executives (other than Mr. Lane) for each applicable year in the “Total” column of the “Summary Compensation Table.” The named executive officers included for purposes of calculating such amounts are William George, Trent McKenna (2021 and 2022), Laura Howell, Julie Shaeff, and Terrence Young (2020).

(2)

Reflects the amount of “compensation actually paid” to Mr. Lane, and the average amounts of “compensation actually paid” to named executive officers (other than Mr. Lane) for each applicable year, as computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K. The dollar amount of “compensation actually paid” is determined under SEC rules and does not reflect the actual amount of compensation earned by or paid to Mr. Lane or our other named executive officers for the applicable year.

 

Under SEC rules, the amounts shown below were deducted and added to total compensation for Mr. Lane to determine the “compensation actually paid” for the applicable year:

Year

Reported Summary

Compensation Table

Total for PEO

($)

Reported Value of

Stock Awards

($)(a)

Equity Award

Adjustments

($)(b)

Compensation

Actually Paid

to PEO

($)

2022

5,386,708

(2,613,579)

4,175,683

6,948,812

2021

4,503,087

(2,375,954)

5,687,775

7,814,908

2020

4,060,002

(1,912,479)

2,241,136

4,388,659

(a)

Reflects the amounts reported in the “Stock Awards” column of the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable year for the PEO and the average of non-PEO NEOs, as applicable. These amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of stock awards granted during the applicable year, as determined in accordance with ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures.

 

     Value of Initial Fixed $100
Investment Based on:
  
Year Summary
Compensation
Table Total for
PEO ($)(1)
 Compensation
Actually Paid to
PEO ($)(2)
 Average Summary
Compensation
Table Total for
Non-PEO NEOs
($)(1)
 Average
Compensation
Actually Paid to
Non-PEO
NEOs
($)(2)
 Total
Shareholder
Return
($)(3)
 Peer
Group
Total
Shareholder
Return
($)(4)
 Net
Income
(thousands)
($)(5)
 Earnings
Per Share
($)(6)
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i)
2023 6,635,459 10,681,797 3,226,300 4,022,097 423.80 189.57 323,398 9.01
2022 5,386,708 6,948,812 1,616,978 1,907,821 235.94 137.67 245,947 6.82
2021 4,503,087 7,814,908 1,288,647 1,950,011 201.71 153.00 143,348 3.93
2020 4,060,002 4,388,659 1,061,468 1,109,474 106.73 119.84 150,139 4.09
(1)Reflects the amounts of total compensation reported for Mr. Lane in column (b) and the average amounts of total compensation of the NEOs (other than Mr. Lane) in column (d), in each case, for each applicable year in the “Total” column of the “Summary Compensation Table.” The NEOs included for purposes of calculating such amounts are William George, Trent McKenna (2021-2023), Laura Howell, Julie Shaeff, and Terrence Young (2020).
(2)Reflects the amount of “compensation actually paid” to Mr. Lane reported in column (c), and the average amounts of “compensation actually paid” to non-PEO NEOs reported in column (e), for each applicable year, as computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K. The dollar amount of “compensation actually paid” is determined under SEC rules and does not reflect the actual amount of compensation earned by or paid to Mr. Lane or our other NEOs for the applicable year. Under SEC rules, the amounts shown below were deducted and added to total compensation for Mr. Lane to determine the “compensation actually paid” for the applicable year:
(3)The amounts reported in column (f) represent cumulative TSR of the Company under SEC rules from December 31, 2019, the last trading day of 2019, through the last trading day for the applicable year in the table. TSR is calculated by dividing the sum of the cumulative amount of dividends for the measurement period, assuming dividend reinvestment, and the difference between the Company’s share price at the end and the beginning of the measurement period by the Company’s share price at the beginning of the measurement period.
(4)The amounts reported in column (g) represent the peer group TSR under SEC rules, from December 31, 2019, the last trading day of 2019, through the last trading day for the applicable year in the table, assuming reinvestment of dividends and weighted according to the respective companies’ stock market capitalization at the beginning of each period for which a return is indicated. The peer group used for this purpose is the S&P 400 Capital Goods Index. The Company intends to use the S&P 400 Capital Goods Index, rather than the Russell 2000 Index, for purposes of Item 201(e) of Regulation S-K going forward. For last year, the Company used the Russell 2000 Index as its peer group for this purpose. The peer group TSR under SEC rules for the Russell 2000 Index, from December 31, 2019, would be $128.14 for the period ending December 31, 2023, $109.59 for the period ending December 31, 2022, $137.74 for the period ending December 31, 2021, and $119.96 for the period ending December 31, 2020. Below is a table that shows the TSR from December 31, 2018, in accordance with Item 201(e) of Regulation S-K, of the Russell 2000 and the S&P 400 Capital Goods Index. While not directly comparable, the Company believes that the S&P 400 Capital Good Index is an appropriate trade or line of business index.
(5)The dollar amounts reported in column (h) represent the amount of net income reflected in the Company’s audited financial statements for the applicable year.
(6)The amounts reported in column (i) represent the Company’s earnings per share, which the Company has determined represents the most important performance measure used to link compensation actually paid to our PEO and other NEOs to the Company’s performance.

  (1)Reflects the amounts of total compensation reported for |Mr. Lane 2023 Proxy Statement64in column (b) and the average amounts of total compensation of the NEOs (other than Mr. Lane) in column (d), in each case, for each applicable year in the “Total” column of the “Summary Compensation Table.” The NEOs included for purposes of calculating such amounts are William George, Trent McKenna (2021-2023), Laura Howell, Julie Shaeff, and Terrence Young (2020).

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(2)
Reflects the amount of “compensation actually paid” to Mr. Lane reported in column (c), and the average amounts of “compensation actually paid” to non-PEO NEOs reported in column (e), for each applicable year, as computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K. The dollar amount of “compensation actually paid” is determined under SEC rules and does not reflect the actual amount of compensation earned by or paid to Mr. Lane or our other NEOs for the applicable year. Under SEC rules, the amounts shown below were deducted and added to total compensation for Mr. Lane to determine the “compensation actually paid” for the applicable year:

Year Reported Summary
Compensation Table
Total for PEO
($)
 Reported Value of
Stock Awards
($)(a)
 Equity Award
Adjustments
($)(b)
 Compensation
Actually Paid to
PEO
($)
2023 6,635,459 (3,256,375) 7,302,713 10,681,797
2022 5,386,708 (2,613,579) 4,175,683 6,948,812
2021 4,503,087 (2,375,954) 5,687,775 7,814,908
2020 4,060,002 (1,912,479) 2,241,136 4,388,659
(a)Reflects the amounts reported in the “Stock Awards” column of the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable year for the PEO as reflected in the table above and the average of non-PEO NEOs set forth in the table below, as applicable. These amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of stock awards granted during the applicable year, as determined in accordance with ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures.
(b)

The equity award adjustments (or average equity award adjustments, as applicable) for each applicable year include the addition (or subtraction, as applicable) of the following: (i) the year-end fair value of any equity awards granted in the applicable year that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the year; (ii) the amount of change as of the end of the applicable year (from the end of the prior year) in fair value of any awards granted in prior years that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the applicable year; (iii) for awards that are granted and vest in the same applicable year, the fair value as of the vesting date; (iv) for awards granted in prior years that vest in the applicable year, the amount equal to the change as of the vesting date (from the end of the prior year) in fair value; (v) for awards granted in prior years that are determined to fail to meet the applicable vesting conditions during the applicable year, a deduction for the amount equal to the fair value at the end of the prior year; and (vi) the dollar value of any dividends or other earnings paid on stock awards in the applicable year prior to the vesting date that are not otherwise reflected in the fair value of such award or included in any other component of total compensation for the applicable year. The amounts deducted or added in calculating the equity award adjustments are as follows:

  |  2024 Proxy Statement62

Year

Fair Value of

Outstanding

and Unvested

Equity Awards

Granted in

Same Year

($)

Year over Year

Change in Fair

Value of

Outstanding

and Unvested Equity

Awards

($)

Fair Value as

of Vesting

Date of Equity

Awards

Granted and

Vested in

the Year

($)

Year over

Year Change

in Fair Value

of Equity

Awards

Granted in

Prior Years

that Vested

in the Year

($)

Fair Value at

the End of the

Prior Year of

Equity Awards

that Failed to

Meet Vesting

Conditions in the

Year

($)

Value of

Dividends or

other Earnings

Paid on Stock or

Option Awards

not Otherwise

Reflected in Fair Value

or Total Compensation

($)

Total Equity

Award

Adjustments

($)

2022

2,672,724

1,653,961

(151,002)

4,175,683

2021

2,618,925

2,491,617

577,233

5,687,775

2020

1,766,757

817,233

(342,854)

2,241,136

Year Fair Value of
Outstanding
and Unvested
Equity Awards
Granted in
Same Year
($)
 Year over Year
Change in Fair
Value of
Outstanding
and Unvested
Equity Awards
($)
 Fair Value as of
Vesting Date
of Equity
Awards
Granted and
Vested in the
Year
($)
 Year over Year
Change in Fair
Value of Equity
Awards
Granted in
Prior Years that
Vested in the
Year
($)
 Fair Value at
the End of the
Prior Year of
Equity Awards
that Failed to
Meet Vesting
Conditions in
the Year
($)
 Value of
Dividends or
other Earnings
Paid on Stock
or Option
Awards not
Otherwise
Reflected in
Fair Value or
Total
Compensation
($)
 Total Equity
Award
Adjustments
($)
2023 3,676,557 3,073,436  552,720   7,302,713
2022 2,672,724 1,653,961  (151,002)   4,175,683
2021 2,618,925 2,491,617  577,233   5,687,775
2020 1,766,757 817,233  (342,854)   2,241,136

Under SEC rules, the amounts shown below were deducted and added to total compensation for non-PEO NEOs to determine the “compensation actually paid” for the applicable year:

Year Average Reported Summary
Compensation Table Total for
Non-PEO NEOs
($)
 Average Reported
Value of Stock Awards
($)(a) above
 Average Equity Award
Adjustments
($)(b) above
 Average Compensation
Actually Paid to Non-PEO
NEOs ($)
2023 3,226,300 (1,896,681) 2,692,478 4,022,097
2022 1,616,978 (499,556) 790,399 1,907,821
2021 1,288,647 (434,609) 1,095,973 1,950,011
2020 1,061,468 (330,632) 378,638 1,109,474

(a)Reflects the amounts reported in the “Stock Awards” column of the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable year for the PEO as reflected in the table above and the average of non-PEO NEOs set forth in the table below, as applicable. These amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of stock awards granted during the applicable year, as determined in accordance with ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures.
(b)The equity award adjustments (or average equity award adjustments, as applicable) for each applicable year include the addition (or subtraction, as applicable) of the following: (i) the year-end fair value of any equity awards granted in the applicable year that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the year; (ii) the amount of change as of the end of the applicable year (from the end of the prior year) in fair value of any awards granted in prior years that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the applicable year; (iii) for awards that are granted and vest in the same applicable year, the fair value as of the vesting date; (iv) for awards granted in prior years that vest in the applicable year, the amount equal to the change as of the vesting date (from the end of the prior year) in fair value; (v) for awards granted in prior years that are determined to fail to meet the applicable vesting conditions during the applicable year, a deduction for the amount equal to the fair value at the end of the prior year; and (vi) the dollar value of any dividends or other earnings paid on stock awards in the applicable year prior to the vesting date that are not otherwise reflected in the fair value of such award or included in any other component of total compensation for non-PEO Named Executive Officers to determine the “compensation actually paid” for the applicable year:

Year

Average Reported

Summary Compensation

Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs

($)

Average Reported Value of

Stock Awards

($)(a) above

Average Equity Award

Adjustments

($)(b) above

Average Compensation

Actually Paid to Non-PEO

NEOs ($)

2022

1,616,978

(499,556)

790,399

1,907,821

2021

  1,288,647

(434,609)

1,095,973

1,950,011

2020

1,061,468

(330,632)

378,638

1,109,474

year. The amounts deducted or added in calculating the total average equity award adjustments are as follows:

Year

($)

Average Fair

Value of

Outstanding

and Unvested

Equity Awards

Granted in

Same Year

($)

Year over Year

Average

Change in Fair

Value of

Outstanding

and Unvested

Equity Awards

($)

Average Fair

Value as of

Vesting Date

of Equity

Awards

Granted and

Vested in

the Year

($)

Year over Year

Average

Change in Fair

Value of Equity

Awards Granted in

Prior Years that

Vested in the Year

($)

Average Fair

Value at the

End of the

Prior Year of

Equity Awards

that Failed to

Meet Vesting

Conditions in

the Year

($)

Average Value

of Dividends or

other Earnings

Paid on Stock

or Option

Awards not

Otherwise

Reflected in

Fair Value or

Total

Compensation

($)

Total

Average

Equity

Award

Adjustments

($)

2022

510,773

308,871

(29,245)

790,399

2021

478,976

497,219

119,778

1,095,973

2020

305,434

134,023

(60,819)

378,638

The amounts deducted or added in calculating the total average equity award adjustments are as follows:

Year ($) Average Fair
Value of
Outstanding
and Unvested
Equity Awards
Granted in
Same Year
($)
 Year over Year
Average
Change in Fair
Value of
Outstanding
and Unvested
Equity Awards
($)
 Average Fair
Value as of
Vesting Date of
Equity Awards
Granted and
Vested in the
Year
($)
 Year over Year
Average
Change in Fair
Value of Equity
Awards
Granted in
Prior Years that
Vested in the
Year
($)
 Average Fair
Value at the
End of the Prior
Year of Equity
Awards that
Failed to Meet
Vesting
Conditions in
the Year
($)
 Average Value of
Dividends or
other Earnings
Paid on Stock or
Option Awards
not Otherwise
Reflected in Fair
Value or Total
Compensation
($)
 Total Average
Equity Award
Adjustments
($)
2023 2,004,075 581,873  106,530   2,692,478
2022 510,773 308,871  (29,245)   790,399
2021 478,976 497,219  119,778   1,095,973
2020 305,434 134,023  (60,819)   378,638

(3)

The amounts reported in column (f) represent cumulative TSR of the Company under SEC rules from December 31, 2019, the last trading day of 2019, through the last trading day for the applicable year in the table. TSR is calculated by dividing the sum of the cumulative amount of dividends for the measurement period, assuming dividend reinvestment, and the difference between the Company’s share price at the end and the beginning of the measurement period by the Company’s share price at the beginning of the measurement period.

(4)

The amounts reported in column (g) represent the peer group TSR under SEC rules, from December 31, 2019, the last trading day of 2019, through the last trading day for the applicable year in the table, assuming reinvestment of dividends and weighted according to the respective companies’ stock market capitalization at the beginning of each period for which a return is indicated. The peer group used for this purpose is the S&P 400 Capital Goods Index. The Company intends to use the S&P 400 Capital Goods Index, rather than the Russell 2000 index.

Index, for purposes of Item 201(e) of Regulation S-K going forward. For last year, the Company used the Russell 2000 Index as its peer group for this purpose. The peer group TSR under SEC rules for the Russell 2000 Index, from December 31, 2019, would be $128.14 for the period ending December 31, 2023, $109.59 for the period ending December 31, 2022, $137.74 for the period ending December 31, 2021, and $119.96 for the period ending December 31, 2020. Below is a table that shows the TSR from December 31, 2018, in accordance with Item 201(e) of Regulation S-K, of the

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Russell 2000 and the S&P 400 Capital Goods Index. While not directly comparable, the Company believes that the S&P 400 Capital Good Index is an appropriate trade or line of business index.

COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*

Among Comfort Systems USA, Inc., the S&P 500 Index,
the Russell 2000 Index and the S&P 400 Capital Goods Index

(5)The dollar amounts reported in column (h) represent the amount of net income reflected in the Company’s audited financial statements for the applicable year.

(6)

The amounts reported in column (i) represent the Company’s earnings per share, which the Company has determined represents the most important performance measure used to link compensation actually paid to our PEO and other NEOs to the Company’s performance.

  |  2024 Proxy Statement64

Company-selected Measures

Company-selected Measures

2023 Key Performance Measures Linking Performance and Executive Compensation Actually Paid:*

Earnings Per SharePerShare

Free Cash FlowCashFlow

Relative Total Shareholder ReturnTotalShareholderReturn

*

For a further discussion of how we calculate EPS, FCF, and Relative TSR, see the “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section and Notes 14 and 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

2023.

Analysis of the Information Presented in the Pay vs. Performance Table

Relationship between: (a) the compensation actually paid to the Company’s PEO and (b) the average of thecompensation actually paid to the Company’s other NEOs to (i) the TSR of the Company.

 

PEO and Average Non-PEO NEO Compensation Actually Paid
Versus Company TSR

 

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Relationship between: (a) the compensation actually paid to the Company’s PEO and (b) the average of the compensation actually paid to the Company’s other NEOs to (ii) the net income of the Company.

Company over the four years presented in the table.

 

PEO and Average Non-PEO NEO Compensation Actually Paid
Versus Net Income

Relationship between: (a) the compensation actually paid to the Company’s PEO and (b) the average of the compensation actually paid to the Company’s other NEOs to (iii) the Company’s “Company-selected Measure,” which is EPS.

EPS, over the four years presented in the table.

 

PEO and Average Non-PEO NEO Compensation Actually Paid
Versus Company EPS

 

 

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Relationship between the Company’s TSR and the TSR of its chosen peer group over the Company’s threefour fiscal years included in the Pay vs. Performance Table.

 

Comparison of Cumulative TSR of
Comfort Systems USA, Inc. and Peer Group

 

 

  |  20232024 Proxy Statement6867

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Report of the Audit Committee

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company oversees the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors. The committee is made up solely of independent directors, as defined in the applicable NYSE and SEC rules, and it operates under a written charter, amended and effective as of May 2021, reviewed as of March 2023,2024, and approved by the Board of Directors, which is available under the “Governance” tab on the Company’s website athttp://investors.comfortsystemsusa.com.investors.comfortsystemsusa.com.

Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the Company’s internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements in the Annual Report with management. The discussion explored the quality, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments, and the clarity of each of the key disclosures in the financial statements.

As part of its oversight of the Company’s financial statements, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with management and with the Company’s independent auditors, Deloitte & Touche LLP, the audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2022.2023. The committee discussed with Deloitte & Touche LLP, who is responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of the audited financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, such matters as are required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 16, as amended (Communications with Audit CommitteesonAuditingStandardsNo.16,asamended(CommunicationswithAuditCommittees)), relating to the conduct of the audit. The Audit Committee also has discussed with Deloitte & Touche LLP the auditors’ independence from the Company and its management, including the matters in the written disclosures the committee received from the independent auditors, in compliance with applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence, and the committee has considered the compatibility of non-audit services with the auditors’ independence.

The Audit Committee discussed with the Company’s internal and independent auditors the overall scope and plans for their respective audits. The committee meets regularly with the external auditors, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their evaluations of the Company’s internal controls, and the content and quality of the Company’s financial reporting. Based on the review and discussions above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20222023 and for filing with the SEC.

 

Members of the Audit Committee
Pablo G. Mercado (Chair)
Darcy G. Anderson
Rhoman J. Hardy
William J. Sandbrook
Constance E. Skidmore

MembersoftheAuditCommittee

Pablo G. Mercado (Chair)
Herman E. Bulls
Franklin Myers
William J. Sandbrook
Constance E. Skidmore
Cindy L. Wallis-Lage
The preceding “Report of the Audit Committee” shall not be deemed soliciting material or to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, nor shall any information in this report be incorporated by reference into any past or future filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except to the extent the Company incorporates it by reference into such filing.

 

Thepreceding“ReportoftheAuditCommittee”shallnotbedeemedsolicitingmaterialortobefiledwiththeSecuritiesandExchangeCommission,norshallanyinformationinthisreportbeincorporatedbyreferenceintoanypastorfuturefilingundertheSecuritiesActof1933,asamended,ortheExchangeAct,excepttotheextenttheCompanyincorporatesitbyreferenceintosuchfiling.

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Other Information

Compensation and Human Capital Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Messrs. Anderson, Bulls, Krusi, Mercado, Sandbrook, and Tang and Mses.Ms. Skidmore, and Wallis-Lage, none of whom is or was an officer or employee of the Company or any of our subsidiaries through 2022,2023, served on the Compensation and Human Capital Committee during 2022.2023. None of the Company’s executive officers serve on the board of directors or Compensation and Human Capital Committee, or any other committee serving an equivalent function, of another company that employs any member of the Board.

Delinquent Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting ComplianceReports

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company’s directors, officers, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership with the SEC and the NYSE. Officers, directors, and greater-than-ten-percent stockholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

To the Company’s knowledge, based solely upon review of the copies of such reports furnished to the Company during the year ended December 31, 2022,2023, all directors, officers, and beneficial holders of more than 10% of any class of equity securities of the Company complied with all filing requirements, except it was determined that the CompanyMr. George and Mr. Hardy failed to timely report via Form 4 the purchase by Ms. Wallis-LageNovember 2023 RSU awards granted to Mr. George and Mr. Hardy in the amount of 4.4732 shares in November 2022, which transaction was effected pursuant to an automatic dividend reinvestment program.25,000 RSUs and 503 RSUs, respectively. 

Householding of Stockholder Materials

Some banks, brokers, and other nominee record holders may be participating in the practice of “householding” proxy statements and annual reports. This means that only one copy of the Company’s proxy statement or Annual Report to Stockholders may have been sent to multiple stockholders in the same household unless the Company has received contrary instructions from one or more of the stockholders. The Company will promptly deliver a separate copy of either document to any stockholder upon written request to the Company at the following address: Comfort Systems USA, Inc., Office of the General Counsel, 675 Bering Drive, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77057 or upon oral request directed to the Company’s Office of the General Counsel at (713) 830-9600. Any stockholder who wants to receive separate copies of the annual report and proxy statement in the future, or who is currently receiving multiple copies and would like to receive only one copy for his or her household, should contact the stockholder’s bank, broker, or other nominee record holder,intermediary, or contact the Company by writing to the above address or by oral request at the above telephone number.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

In March 2011, the Board adopted a written Related Person Transactions Policy that codifies the Company’s policies and procedures regarding the identification, review, consideration, and approval or ratification of “related person transactions.” For purposes of this policy only, a “related party transaction” is a transaction, arrangement, or relationship (or any series of similar transactions, arrangements, or relationships) in which the Company and any “related person” are, were, or will be participants in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000. Transactions involving compensation directly paid to a Named Executive Officer or director for services provided directly to the Company in their role as an employee or director shall not be considered related person transactions under the policy. A “related person” is any executive officer, director, or more than 5% stockholder of the Company, including any immediate family members of such persons, and any entity owned or controlled by such persons.

Under the Company’s Related Person Transactions Policy, where a transaction has been identified as a potential related person transaction, the Company’s management shall present such potential related person transaction to the Audit Committee for review, consideration, and approval or ratification. The presentation shall include all information reasonably necessary for the Committee to determine the benefits of the related-party transaction and whether the related-party transaction is commercially comparable to an otherwise unrelated transaction of similar nature and management’smanagement's recommendation related thereto. This process is to be used for both approvals as well as ratifications under the policy.

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The Audit Committee, in approving or rejecting the proposed related person transaction, considers all the relevant facts and circumstances deemed relevant by and available to the Audit Committee, including, but not limited to (i) the risks, costs, and benefits to the Company, (ii) the impact on a director’s independence in the event the related person is a director, immediate family member of a director, or an entity with which a director is affiliated, (iii) the terms of the transaction, (iv) the availability of other sources for comparable services or products, and (v) the terms available to or from, as the case may be, unrelated third parties or to or from employees generally. The Audit Committee approves only those related-party transactions that, in light of known circumstances, are in, or are not inconsistent with, the Company’s best interests and those of the Company’s stockholders, as the Audit Committee determines in the good faith exercise of its discretion.

From time to time, the Company or its subsidiaries may have employees who are related to our executive officers or directors. The Company employed no such persons in 2022.2023.

See the sectionsubsection above titled “Compensation and Human Capital Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” for other information required to be disclosed here.

Interest of Certain Persons in Matters to Be Acted Upon

The Named Executive Officers and directors of the Company do not have any substantial interest in the matters to be acted upon at the Annual Meetings, other than in their roles as officers or directors of the Company.

Stockholder Proposals for 20242025 Annual Meeting

Stockholders who wish to present proposals for inclusion in the Company’s proxy materials for the 20242025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders may do so by following the procedures prescribed in Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act. To be eligible, the stockholder proposals must be received by the Company at its principal executive offices on or before December 8, 2023.9, 2024. 

Under the Company’s current Bylaws, proposals of business and nominations for directors, other than those to be included in the Company’s proxy materials following the procedures described in Rule 14a-8, may be made by stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting if notice is timely given and if the notice contains the information required by the Bylaws. In accordance with the Company’s Bylaws, to be considered timely a proposal or nominations submitted for consideration at the 20242025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received by the Company at its principal executive offices no later than the close of business on the 60th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the first anniversary of the 20232024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Bylaws also contain procedures for regulation of the order of business and conduct of stockholder meetings, the authority of the presiding officer, and attendance at such meetings.

Other Business

The Board knows of no business to be brought before the Annual Meeting that is not referred to in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting. Should any such matters be presented, the persons named in the proxy intend to take such action in regard to such matters as in their judgment seems advisable, subject to the NYSE’s rules on the exercise of discretionary authority.

Form 10-K and Annual Report to Stockholders

A copy of the Company’s Annual Report to Stockholders, which includes the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC, accompanies this proxy statement.

  |  20232024 Proxy Statement7170

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