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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.      )

 

Filed by the Registrant                                   Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  

Check the appropriate box:

 

 

Preliminary Proxy Statement

 

 

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

 

 

Definitive Proxy Statement

 

 

Definitive Additional Materials

 

 

Soliciting Material under § 240.14a-12

DIODES INCORPORATED

(Name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(Name of person(s) filing proxy statement, if other than the registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

No fee required.

Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

(1)

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

(2)

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

(3)

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

(4)

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

(5)

Total fee paid:

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

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

(1)

Amount Previously Paid:

(2)

Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

(3)

Filing Party:

(4)

Date Filed:


DIODES INCORPORATED

Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders

To Be Held May 18, 2020

Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting (the “Meeting”) of the stockholders of Diodes Incorporated (the “Company”) will be held online via live audio webcast at www.proxydocs.com/DIOD on Monday, May 18, 2020, at 4:00 p.m. (Central Time). Due to the increasing public health impact of the Coronavirus outbreak and out of an abundance of caution to support the health and well-being of our employees, stockholders, and communities, the Meeting will be conducted completely virtually, via a live audio webcast; there will be no physical meeting location. Even though our Meeting is being held virtually, stockholders will still have the ability to participate in, hear others, and ask questions during the Meeting. The Meeting is being held for the following purposes:

1.

Election of Directors. To elect seven persons to the Board of Directors of the Company, each to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors have been elected and qualified. The Board of Directors’ nominees are: C.H. Chen, Warren Chen, Michael R. Giordano, Keh-Shew Lu, Peter M. Menard, Christina Wen-Chi Sung and Michael K.C. Tsai.

2.

Approval of Executive Compensation. To approve, on an advisory basis, the Company’s executive compensation.

3.

Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. To ratify the appointment of Moss Adams LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.

4.

Other Business. To transact such other business as properly may come before the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

It is possible that an adjournment or postponement may be necessary due to a national emergency that makes us unable to hold the Meeting on the date as planned. If such an adjournment or postponement is made, the Company will notify stockholders through the issuance of a press release and the filing of definitive additional soliciting material with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Only persons who were stockholders of record at the close of business on March 19, 2020 are entitled to notice of and to vote either by proxy or at the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

The proxy statement, which accompanies this Notice, contains additional information regarding the proposals to be considered at the Meeting, and stockholders are encouraged to read it in its entirety.

We have elected to provide access to our proxy materials by notifying you of the availability of our proxy statement and our fiscal 2019 Annual Report to Stockholders over the Internet at www.proxydocs.com/DIOD. Stockholders may also obtain a printed copy of the proxy materials free of charge by following the instructions provided in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials that will be first mailed to stockholders on or about April 8, 2020 or in the enclosed proxy statement.

As set forth in the enclosed proxy statement, proxies are being solicited by and on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company. All proposals set forth above are proposals of the Board of Directors.

Whether or not you plan to participate in the virtual Meeting, YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. Please follow the instructions enclosed to ensure that your shares are voted. If you participate in the Meeting, you may revoke your proxy at any time prior to its exercise at the Meeting.

Dated at Plano, Texas, this eighth day of April, 2020.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

DIODES INCORPORATED

(Name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(Name of person(s) filing proxy statement, if other than the registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

No fee required.

Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

(1)

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

(2)

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

(3)

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

(4)

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

(5)

Total fee paid:

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

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

(1)

Amount Previously Paid:

(2)

Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

(3)

Filing Party:

(4)

Date Filed:


DIODES INCORPORATED

Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders

To Be Held May 24, 2021

Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting (the “Meeting”) of the stockholders of Diodes Incorporated (the “Company”) will be held online via live audio webcast at www.proxydocs.com/DIOD on Monday, May 24, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. (Central Time). Due to the continued public health impact of the Coronavirus outbreak and out of an abundance of caution to support the health and well-being of our employees, stockholders, and communities, the Meeting will be conducted completely virtually, via a live audio webcast; there will be no physical meeting location. Even though our Meeting is being held virtually, stockholders will still have the ability to participate in, hear others, and ask questions during the Meeting. The Meeting is being held for the following purposes:

1.

Election of Directors. To elect eight persons to the Board of Directors of the Company, each to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors have been elected and qualified. The Board of Directors’ nominees are: Angie Chen Button, C.H. Chen, Warren Chen, Michael R. Giordano, Keh-Shew Lu, Peter M. Menard, Christina Wen-Chi Sung and Michael K.C. Tsai.

2.

Approval of Executive Compensation. To approve, on an advisory basis, the Company’s executive compensation.

3.

Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. To ratify the appointment of Moss Adams LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021.

4.

Other Business. To transact such other business as properly may come before the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

It is possible that an adjournment or postponement may be necessary that makes us unable to hold the Meeting on the date as planned. If such an adjournment or postponement is made, the Company will notify stockholders through the issuance of a press release and the filing of definitive additional soliciting material with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Only persons who were stockholders of record at the close of business on March 29, 2021 are entitled to notice of and to vote either by proxy or at the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

The proxy statement, which accompanies this Notice, contains additional information regarding the proposals to be considered at the Meeting, and stockholders are encouraged to read it in its entirety.

We have elected to provide access to our proxy materials by notifying you of the availability of our proxy statement and our fiscal 2020 Annual Report to Stockholders over the Internet at www.proxydocs.com/DIOD. Stockholders may also obtain a printed copy of the proxy materials free of charge by following the instructions provided in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials that will be first mailed to stockholders on or about April 14, 2021 or in the enclosed proxy statement.

As set forth in the enclosed proxy statement, proxies are being solicited by and on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company. All proposals set forth above are proposals of the Board of Directors.

Whether or not you plan to participate in the virtual Meeting, YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. Please follow the instructions enclosed to ensure that your shares are voted. If you participate in the Meeting, you may revoke your proxy at any time prior to its exercise at the Meeting.

Dated at Plano, Texas, this 14th day of April, 2021.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

DIODES INCORPORATED

Richard D. White,
Secretary

IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING

 

If you plan to attend the Meeting online you must be registered no later than 4:5:00 p.m. Central Time on May 16, 2020.22, 2021. To register go to www.proxydocs.com/DIOD.  Upon completing your registration, you will receive further instructions via email, including your unique links that will allow you access to the Meeting and will also permit you to submit questions during the Meeting and in advance. Please be sure to follow instructions found on your proxy card and subsequent instructions that will be delivered to you via email. You will be able to listen, vote, and submit questions from any remote location that has Internet connectivity.  Technical assistance is available as part of the instructions.

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

General Information

 

1

Matters to be Considered at the Meeting

 

1

Voting Recommendations of the Board

 

1

Voting Shares Held in “Street Name”

 

1

Internet Access to Proxy Materials

 

1

How to Vote

 

2

How to Change or Revoke Your Vote

 

3

Meeting Admission

 

3

Voting Rights

 

3

Procedures for Stockholder Nominations and Proposals

 

5

Cost of Proxy Solicitation

 

5

Other Business

 

5

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

 

6

Proposal One – Election of Directors

 

9

Corporate Governance

 

1314

Committees of the Board

 

1314

Meetings of the Board and Committees

 

1415

Board Leadership Structure

 

1516

Nominating Procedures and Criteria and Board Diversity

 

1516

Director Resignation Policy

 

1617

Communications with Directors

 

1617

Compensation of Directors

 

1718

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

1819

Corporate Policies

 

1819

Corporate Social ResponsibilitySustainability

 

2022

Executive Officers of the Company

 

2328

Report of the Audit Committee

 

2530

Code of Ethics

 

2631

Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions

 

2631

Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

33

Proposal Two - Approval of Executive Compensation

 

2834

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

2935

Introduction

 

2935

Executive Summary

 

2935

Overview of Compensation Program

 

3237

Pay for Performance

 

3439

Principal Components of Compensation

 

3641

Compensation Review Process

 

4349

Additional Benefits and Perquisites

 

4550

Best Practices

 

4651

Compensation Risk Assessment

 

4651

Post-Termination and Change-In-Control Payments

 

4651

Tax and Accounting Considerations

 

4753

Report of the Compensation Committee on Executive Compensation

 

4854

Executive Compensation

 

4955

Summary Compensation Table

 

4955

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

 

5156

CEO Pay Ratio

 

5157

Narrative to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table

 

5157

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

 

5661

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

 

5761

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

5762

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

 

5863

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

 

5863

Proposal Three - Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

6468

Audit Fees, Audit-Related Fees, Tax Fees and All Other Fees

 

6468

Proposals of Stockholders and Stockholder Nominations for 20212022 Annual Meeting

 

6670

Annual Report and Form 10-K

 

6771

Meeting Location and Driving Directions

 

Back Cover

 

 

 


DIODES INCORPORATED

4949 Hedgcoxe Road, Suite 200

Plano, Texas 75024

(972) 987-3900

PROXY STATEMENT

ANNUAL MEETING: MAY 18, 202024, 2021

GENERAL INFORMATION

This proxy statement (“Proxy Statement”) is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Diodes Incorporated (the “Company”) for use at the annual meeting (the “Meeting”) of the stockholders of the Company to be held online via live audio webcast at www.proxydocs.com/DIOD on Monday, May 18, 2020,24, 2021, at 4:7:00 p.m. (Central Time), and at any adjournment or postponement thereof. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 19, 202029, 2021 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to notice of and to vote by proxy or at the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

Matters to be Considered at the Meeting

The matters to be considered and voted upon at the Meeting will be:

 

1.

Election of Directors. To elect seveneight persons to the Board, each to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors have been elected and qualified. The Board’s nominees are: Angie Chen Button, C.H. Chen, Warren Chen, Michael R. Giordano, Keh-Shew Lu, Peter M. Menard, Christina Wen-Chi Sung and Michael K.C. Tsai.

 

2.

Approval of Executive Compensation. To approve, on an advisory basis, the Company’s executive compensation.  

 

3.

Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. To ratify the appointment of Moss Adams LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.2021.

 

4.

Other Business. To transact such other business as properly may come before the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

Voting Recommendations of the Board

Our Board recommends that you vote your shares “FOR” each of the nominees to the Board, “FOR” the approval of executive compensation and “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Moss Adams LLP.

Voting Shares Held in “Street Name”

Brokerage firms who are members of the New York Stock Exchange cannot vote your shares held in street name in the election of directors or on executive compensation, if you fail to instruct the organization how to vote such shares. Therefore, it is very important that you provide instructions on how to vote any shares beneficially owned by you in street name.

Internet Access to Proxy Materials

Under rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), we have elected to provide access to our proxy materials over the Internet at www.proxydocs.com/DIOD. Stockholders will not receive printed copies of the proxy materials unless they have requested us to provide proxy materials in printed form. On or about April 8, 2020,14, 2021, a Notice

1 Diodes Incorporated


Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) will be first sent to our stockholders of record and beneficial owners.  All stockholders receiving the Notice can request a printed copy of the proxy materials.

The Notice provides you with instructions regarding how to:

View our proxy materials for the Meeting on the Internet;

View our proxy materials for the Meeting on the Internet;

Request a printed copy of the proxy materials; and

Request a printed copy of the proxy materials; and

Instruct us to send future proxy materials to you by mail or electronically by email on an ongoing basis.

Instruct us to send future proxy materials to you by mail or electronically by email on an ongoing basis.

Choosing to receive future proxy materials by email will save us the cost of printing and mailing documents to you and will reduce the impact of our annual meetings on the environment. If you choose to receive future proxy materials by email, you will receive an email next year with instructions containing a link to those materials and a link to the proxy voting site. Your election to receive proxy materials by email will remain in effect until you terminate it, and it is your responsibility to notify us of any change to your email address given to us.

The proxy materials include:

Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders;

Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders;

This Proxy Statement; and

This Proxy Statement; and

The 2019 Annual Report to Stockholders, which includes our audited consolidated financial statements.

The 2020 Annual Report to Stockholders, which includes our audited consolidated financial statements.

If you request printed copies of the proxy materials by mail, these materials will also include a proxy card.

How to Vote

Stockholder of Record. If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, you are considered the stockholder of record with respect to those shares, and the Notice was sent directly to you by the Company. If you are a stockholder of record, you may attend the Meeting and vote in person via the internetInternet at www.proxydocs.com/DIOD.

If you do not wish to attend the Meeting and vote online during the Meeting, you may vote by proxy. There are three ways to vote by proxy. You may submit a proxy by telephone by calling (855) 686-4804 and following the instructions provided. You may submit a proxy over the Internet at www.proxypush.com/diod by following the instructions provided. If you request and receive a printed copy of the proxy materials by mail, you can submit a proxy by signing and dating the enclosed proxy card and either mailing it in the postage-paid envelope provided to the address stated on the proxy card or transmitting it by facsimile to the Inspector of Elections at (972) 731-3510.

Telephone and Internet voting facilities for stockholders will be available 24 hours a day and will close at 11:595:00 p.m. (Eastern(Central Time) on May 17, 2020.21, 2021. If a proxy is properly submitted and is not revoked, the proxy will be voted at the Meeting in accordance with the stockholder’s instructions indicated on the proxy. If no instructions are indicated on the proxy with respect to any matter, the proxy will be voted on such matter as follows: “FOR” the election of the Board’s nominees, “FOR” the approval of executive compensation, “FOR” ratification of the appointment of Moss Adams LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020,2021, and in accordance with the recommendations of the Board as to any other matter that may properly be brought before the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

Beneficial Owner of Shares Held in Street Name. 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 was forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding your shares is considered the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the Meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct that organization on how to vote the shares held in your account by following the instructions they provided. If you wish to attend the Meeting and vote during the Meeting in person via the internet,Internet, you must obtain a proxy executed in your favor from the organization that holds your shares.

2 Diodes Incorporated


Even if you plan to attend the Meeting, we recommend that you also submit your proxy or voting instructions so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the Meeting.

How to Change or Revoke Your Vote

You may change your vote at any time before the vote at the Meeting. If you are a stockholder of record, you may change your vote by submitting a proxy over the Internet or telephone on a later date (only your last Internet or telephone proxy will be counted), or by filing a written revocation, or a duly executed proxy card bearing a later date, with the Company’s Secretary at the Meeting or at our offices located at 4949 Hedgcoxe Road, Suite 200, Plano, Texas 75024 provided that any such written revocation or duly executed proxy card bearing a later date must be received at such offices no later than May 17, 2020.21, 2021. You may also change your vote by attending the Meeting and voting in person via the internet.Internet. Attending the Meeting will not automatically revoke a previously granted proxy unless you vote at the Meeting or file a written revocation with the Company’s Secretary at or before the Meeting.

If you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name, you may change your vote by submitting new voting instructions to the brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer or other organization holding your shares by following the instructions they provided or, if you obtained a proxy in your favor from that organization, by attending the Meeting and voting in person via the internet.Internet.

Meeting Admission

Due to rising concerns around the spread of COVID-19 in the United States and globally, this year our Meeting will be a completely virtual meeting, which will be conducted via live audio webcast at www.proxydocs.com/DIOD. You are entitled to participate in the Meeting only if you were a holder of Diodes’ Common Stock at the close of business on March 19, 2020,29, 2021, which is the record date for the Meeting, or if you hold a valid proxy. If you plan to attend the Meeting online you must be registered no later than 4:5:00 p.m. (Central Time) on May 16, 2020.21, 2021. Upon completing your registration, you will receive further instructions via email, including your unique links that will allow you access to the Meeting and will also permit you to submit questions during the Meeting and in advance. Please be sure to follow instructions found on your proxy card and subsequent instructions that will be delivered to you via email. You will be able to listen, vote,participate in, hear others and submitask questions from any remote location that has Internet connectivity.  Technical assistance is available as part of the instructions.

Voting Rights

The authorized capital of the Company consists of (i) 70,000,000 shares of common stock,Common Stock, par value $0.66-2/3 per share (“Common Stock”), of which 51,474,44244,599,992 shares were issued and outstanding on the Record Date, and (ii) 1,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share (“Preferred Stock”), none of which were issued and outstanding on the Record Date.

A majority of the shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the Meeting, present either in person via the internetInternet or by proxy, constitutes a quorum for the conduct of business at the Meeting. Votes withheld, abstentions and “broker non-votes” (as defined below) will be counted for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum.

Each stockholder is entitled to one vote, in person via internetthe Internet or by proxy, for each share of Common Stock standing in his or her name on the books of the Company at the close of business on the Record Date on any matter submitted to the stockholders, except that in connection with the election of directors, each stockholder has the right to cumulate votes. Cumulative voting entitles a stockholder to give one candidate a number of votes equal to the number of directors to be elected multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock owned by such stockholder, or to distribute such stockholder’s votes on the same principle among as many candidates and in such manner as the stockholder shall desire.

3 Diodes Incorporated


If you are a stockholder of record and wish to exercise cumulative voting rights, you must submit a proxy by mail or attend the Meeting and vote in person via the internet.Internet. Your proxy card or ballot must specify how you want to allocate your votes among the nominees. Telephone and Internet voting facilities do not accommodate cumulative voting. If you hold your shares in street name, contact your brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer, or other similar organization for directions on how to exercise cumulative voting rights using their voting instruction card, or to request a legal proxy so that you can vote your shares directly. Discretionary authority to cumulate votes is hereby solicited by the Board. If you return a signed proxy card or submit voting instructions in writing without providing instructions about cumulative voting, or if you submit a proxy by telephone or in person via the Internet, you will confer on the designated Proxyholders named below discretionary authority to exercise cumulative voting. If they elect to do so, they will be authorized, in their discretion, to cast your votes for some or all of the nominees in the manner recommended by the Board or otherwise in the discretion of the Proxyholders. However, they will not cast any of your votes for a nominee as to whom you have instructed them on your proxy card, voting instruction card or otherwise to withhold a vote. If you do not wish to grant the Proxyholders authority to cumulate your votes in the election of directors, you must explicitly state that objection on your proxy card or voting instruction card, as applicable.

 

For Proposal 1, our Bylaws provide that, in the election of directors, the candidates receiving the highest number of votes, up to the number of directors to be elected, shall be elected; provided, however, that the Board has adopted a policy requiring that in an uncontested election (such as the election held at this Meeting), each nominee will submit an irrevocable resignation promptly following the election if he or she fails to receive a majority of votes cast. An uncontested election means that there are as many candidates standing for election as there are vacancies on the Board. A majority of votes cast means that the number of shares cast “FOR” a director’s election exceeds the number of votes “WITHHELD.” Abstentions and broker non‑votes are not considered a vote cast and, therefore, will have no effect with respect to the election of directors other than to reduce the number of affirmative votes required to elect a director. “Broker non‑votes” are shares of stock held in record name by brokers or nominees for which instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote and the broker or nominee does not have discretionary voting power under applicable rules or the instrument under which it serves in such capacity. See “Proposal One – Election of Directors” and ��Corporate“Corporate Governance – Director Resignation Policy.”

Proposals 2 and 3 require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock present, in person via the internetInternet or by proxy, and entitled to vote on the proposal at the Meeting. Abstentions will be included in the number of votes present and entitled to vote on these proposals and, accordingly, will have the effect of a vote “AGAINST” the proposal.  Broker non-votes with respect to these proposals will not be counted as shares present and entitled to vote on these proposals and, accordingly, will not have any effect with respect to the approval of these proposals (other than to reduce the number of affirmative votes required to approve the proposal). The vote with respect to executive compensation is not binding on the Company, the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”). However, the Board and the Compensation Committee will review the result of this vote and take it into consideration when making future decisions regarding executive compensation.  Although the appointment of Moss Adams LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 20202021 is not required to be submitted to a vote of stockholders, the Audit Committee believes that it is appropriate as a matter of policy to request that the stockholders ratify the appointment of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. If the stockholders do not ratify the appointment, which requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock present, in person via internetthe Internet or by proxy, and entitled to vote on the proposal at the Meeting, the Board will consider the selection of another independent registered public accounting firm.

Of the shares of Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date, 7,765,778 shares (or approximately 15.1%) were held in the name of Lite-On Semiconductor Corporation. See “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Corporate Governance – Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions,” for additional information about Lite-On Semiconductor Corporation and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“LSC”). On the Record Date, 2,368,6021,596,150 shares (or approximately 4.6%3.5%) were beneficially owned by directors and executive officers of the Company.

4 Diodes Incorporated


Each of the directors and executive officers have informed the Company that they will vote “FOR” the election of the Board’s nominees named herein, “FOR” the approval of executive compensation and “FOR” ratification of the appointment of Moss Adams LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.2021.

4 Diodes Incorporated


Organizations holding Common Stock in “street name” that are members of a stock exchange are required by the rules of the applicable stock exchange to transmit the proxy materials to the beneficial owner of the Common Stock and to solicit voting instructions with respect to the matters submitted to the stockholders. If the organization has not received instructions from the beneficial owner by the date specified in the statement accompanying such proxy materials, the organization may give or authorize the giving of a proxy to vote the Common Stock in its discretion as to “routine” matters, but not as to “non-routine” matters. When an organization is unable to vote a client’s shares on a proposal, the missing votes are referred to as “broker non-votes.” If you hold Common Stock in “street name” and you fail to instruct the organization that holds your shares as to how to vote such shares, that organization may, in its discretion, vote such Common Stock “FOR” ratification of the appointment of Moss Adams LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020,2021, which is considered a routine matter, but not with respect to the election of the nominees to the Board or the advisory vote on executive compensation, which are considered non-routine matters.

Procedures for Stockholder Nominations and Proposals

Under the Company’s Bylaws, any stockholder generally may submit proposals or nominate one or more persons for election as directors by following the procedures described in this Proxy Statement under “Proposals of Stockholders and Stockholder Nominations for 20212022 Annual Meeting.” No notice of a stockholder proposal or nomination was timely received in connection with the Meeting.

Cost of Proxy Solicitation

This proxy solicitation is made by the Board, and the Company will bear the costs of this solicitation, including the expense of preparing, assembling, printing and mailing this Proxy Statement and any other material used in this proxy solicitation. If it should appear desirable to do so to ensure adequate representation at the Meeting, officers and regular employees may communicate with stockholders of record, beneficial owners, banks, brokerage houses, custodians, nominees and others, by telephone, facsimile transmissions, email or in person via internetthe Internet to request that the proxies be furnished. No additional compensation will be paid for these services to officers or employees of the Company. The Company will reimburse banks, brokerage houses, and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries, for their reasonable expenses in forwarding proxy materials to their principals. We have not engaged a proxy solicitor at this time, but the Board may determine it is necessary to employ an outside firm to assist in the solicitation process. If so, we will pay the proxy solicitor its reasonable and customary fees, estimated not to exceed $15,000 plus reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

Other Business

As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Board knows of no business to be presented for consideration at the Meeting other than as stated in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. However, if any other matters properly come before the Meeting, including a motion to adjourn the Meeting to another time or place in order to solicit additional proxies in favor of the recommendations of the Board, the designated proxyholders, Dr. Keh-Shew Lu, the Company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and Brett R. Whitmire, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Financial Officer, respectively, (the “Proxyholders”), will vote the shares represented by the proxies on such matters in accordance with the recommendation of the Board, and authority to do so is included in the proxy. Such authorization includes authority to appoint a substitute nominee or nominees to the Board’s nominees identified herein where death, illness or other circumstances arise which prevent any such nominee from serving in such position and to vote such proxy for such substitute nominee.

 

 

5 Diodes Incorporated


SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of Common Stock as of the Record Date by each person known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (other than depositories).  

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner

Amount and Nature of

Beneficial Ownership (1)

 

Percent of Class (2)

Amount and Nature of

Beneficial Ownership (1)

 

Percent of Class (2)

Lite-On Semiconductor Corporation

9F. No. 233-2, Pao-Chiao Road, Hsin-Tien, Taipei-hsien 23115, Taiwan, R.O.C.

7,765,778

(3)

15.1%

BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”)

55 East 52nd Street

New York, New York 10022

6,623,947

(4)

12.9%

6,567,054

(3)

14.7%

The Vanguard Group (“Vanguard”)

100 Vanguard Blvd.

Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355

4,754,820

(5)

9.2%

5,133,298

(4)

11.5%

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP ("Dimensional")

15660 Dallas Pkwy Ste 850

Dallas, Texas 75248

3,525,177

(6)

6.8%

2,860,798

(5)

6.4%

 

(1) The named stockholder has sole voting power and investment power with respect to the shares listed, except as indicated below.

(2) Based on 51,474,44244,599,992 shares outstanding as of the Record Date.

(3)LSC is a public company listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange Corporation and a member of the Lite-On Group of companies. See “Corporate Governance – Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions” for a discussion of the relationship among LSC, the Company and certain directors and executive officers of the Company.In the third quarter of 2019 we entered into a Share Swap Agreement that provides for the acquisition of LSC and its subsidiaries by the Company. At the effective date of the transaction, each share of LSC will be converted into the right to receive TWD $42.50 per share in cash, or approximately US $1.42 per share based on December 31, 2019 exchange rates.  The aggregate consideration payable by the Company, based on the December 31, 2019 exchange rate, is approximately $437 million. This amount is subject to change, based on the Taiwan dollar to United States dollar exchange rate at closing. The acquisition received LSC stockholder approval on October 25, 2019, and we anticipate completing the acquisition in the second half of 2020, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.  We expect to fund the purchase price of the transaction primarily with proceeds from a new bank financing arrangement.

(4) Based solely on information provided by BlackRock in Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 4, 2020,January 27, 2021, reporting beneficial ownership of the Company’s Common Stock. According to the Schedule 13G/A, BlackRock has sole voting power with respect to 6,531,7886,501,030 shares, has sole dispositive power with respect to 6,623,9476,567,054 shares and has neither shared voting power nor shared dispositive power with respect to any shares.

(5)(4) Based solely on information provided by Vanguard in Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 12, 2020,March 10, 2021, reporting beneficial ownership of the Company’s Common Stock. According to the Schedule 13G/A, Vanguard has sole voting power with respect to 51,559 shares, has shared voting power with respect to 8,08454,175 shares, has sole dispositive power with respect to 4,700,8835,042,940 shares and has shared dispositive power with respect to 53,93790,358 shares.

(6)(5) Based solely on information provided by Dimensional in Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 12, 2020,2021, reporting beneficial ownership of the Company’s Common Stock.  According to the Schedule 13G/A, Dimensional has sole voting power with respect to 3,391,3622,754,587 shares, has sole dispositive power with respect to 3,525,1772,860,798 shares and has neither shared voting power nor shared dispositive power with respect to any shares.

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The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of Common Stock of the Company as of the Record Date by (i) each director and nominee of the Company, (ii) each Named Executive Officer (“NEO”) of the Company (as defined below), and (iii) all directors, nominees and executive officers of the Company as a group.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner

Common Stock Underlying Options or Restricted Stock Units (1)

Common

Stock

Amount and Nature

of Beneficial

Ownership (2)

 

Percent of  Class (3) (4)

Common Stock Underlying Options or Restricted Stock Units (1)

Common

Stock

Amount and Nature

of Beneficial

Ownership (2)

 

Percent of  Class (3) (4)

Directors and Nominee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raymond K.Y. Soong

364,750

364,750

(1)

*

Angie Chen Button

 

*

C.H. Chen

377,629

377,629

(1)

*

13,525

211,904

225,429

(1)

*

Warren Chen

(1)

*

900

900

(1)

*

Michael R. Giordano

75,325

75,325

(1)

*

4,050

74,855

78,905

(1)

*

Keh-Shew Lu (5)

469,131

682,083

1,151,214

(1)(6)(8)

2.2%

151,687

861,672

1,013,359

(1)(6)(8)

2.3%

Peter M. Menard

1,075

1,075

(1)

*

2,975

3,150

6,125

(1)

*

Christina Wen-Chi Sung

3,225

3,225

(1)

*

4,050

6,375

10,425

(1)

*

Michael K.C. Tsai

31,175

31,175

(1)

*

4,050

35,400

39,450

(1)

*

Named Executive Officers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brett R. Whitmire

3,000

2,258

5,258

(1)(8)

*

(1)(8)

*

Richard D. White

93,326

48,374

141,700

(1)(8)

*

Julie Holland

21,645

36,077

57,722

(1)(8)

*

31,077

31,077

(1)(8)

*

Francis Tang

31,518

73,285

104,803

(1)(8)

*

34,206

34,206

(1)(8)

*

Emily Yang

10,750

17,715

28,465

(1)(8)

*

24,373

24,373

(1)(8)

*

All directors, nominees and executive officers of the Company as a group (14 individuals including those named above)

637,120

1,731,482

2,368,602

(7)

4.6%

All directors and executive officers of the Company as a group (15 individuals including those named above)

181,237

1,414,913

1,596,150

(7)

3.5%

* Indicates less than 1%.

(1) Consists of shares of Common Stock that the named individual has the right to acquire within sixty (60) days after the Record Date by exercising stock options or the vesting of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) or performance stock units (“PSUs”). For further discussion on the Company’s use of equity awards, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Principal Components of Compensation - Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Plan.”

(2) The named stockholder has sole voting power and investment power with respect to the shares listed, except as indicated and subject to community property laws where applicable.

(3) Under Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”), certain shares may be deemed to be beneficially owned by more than one person (for example, if a person shares the power to vote or the power to dispose of the shares). In addition, under Rule 13d-3(d)(1) of the Exchange Act, shares which the person (or group) has the right to acquire within sixty (60) days after the Record Date are deemed to be outstanding in calculating the beneficial ownership and the percentage ownership of the person (or group) but are not deemed to be outstanding as to any other person or group. As a result, the percentage of outstanding shares of any person as shown in this table does not necessarily reflect the person’s actual ownership of voting power with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock actually outstanding at the Record Date.

(4) Percent of Class is based on 51,474,44244,599,992 shares of the Common Stock of the Company outstanding as of the Record Date.  

(5) Dr. Lu is a memberChairman of the Board, the President and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and a NEO.

(6) Includes 4,700 shares of Common Stock held in the name of the Lu Family Revocable Trust, 46,150 shares of Common Stock held in the name of an UTMA (Custodial) Trust, and 700,000421,671 shares held in the name of the Lu Grandchildren’s Trust. Dr. Lu is a co-trustee of the Lu Family Revocable Trust, the UTMA (Custodial) Trust and the Lu Grandchildren’s Trust. Dr. Lu has voting and investment authority over these shares.

(7) Includes 637,120182,112 shares that all directors and executive officers of the Company have the right to acquire within sixty (60) days after the Record Date, by exercising stock options or the vesting of RSUs, but excludes an additional 556,197678,538 shares that all directors and executive officers of the Company will have the right to acquire upon the exercise of stock options or the vesting of RSUs and PSUs, which may vest in installments more than sixty (60) days after the Record Date.

(8) Does not include 63,000, 20,000, 18,000, 13,000 and 10,000 shares of Common Stock subject to PSUs granted on February 14, 2018 to Messrs. Lu, White, Tang, Ms. Holland and Ms. Yang, respectively, that vest only if (i) the Company achieves a targeted Non-GAAP operating income for 2018 through 2020 and (ii) the executive continues to provide services to the Company. Also does not include 59,000, 12,000, 17,000, 17,000 and 13,000 shares of Common Stock subject to PSUs granted February 21, 2019 to Messrs. Lu, Whitmire, Tang, Ms. Holland and Ms. Yang, respectively, that vest only if (i) the Company achieves a targeted Non-GAAP operating income for 2019 through 2021 and (ii) the executive continues to provide services to the Company. Also does not include 53,100, 10,800, 15,300, 15,300 and 11,700 shares of Common Stock subject to PSUs granted February 19, 2020 to Messrs. Lu, Whitmire and Tang, Ms. Holland and Ms. Yang, respectively, that vest only if (i) the Company achieves a targeted Non-GAAP operating income for 2020 through 2022 and (ii) the executive continues to provide services to the Company.

Also does not include 50032,000, 7,600, 7,600, 9,200 and 7,600 shares of Common Stock subject to RSUsPSUs granted on July 1, 2016February 8, 2021 to Messrs. Lu, Whitmire and Tang, Ms. Holland and Ms. Yang, respectively, that vest in one remaining installment on July 1, 2020,only if (i) the Company achieves a targeted Non-GAAP operating income for 2021 through 2023 and (ii) the executive continues to provide services to the Company.

Also does not include 5,000 shares of Common Stock subject to RSUs granted on January 1, 2017 to Ms. Yang that vest in one remaining installment on January 1, 2021, if the executive continues to provide services to the Company. Also does not include 900450 shares of Common Stock subject to RSUs granted on July 3, 2017 to Ms. Yang that vest in one remaining installment on July 3, 2021, if the executive continues to provide services to the Company. Also does not include 27,500, 700, 6,500, 3,00015,750, 4,500, 3,250, and 2,000 shares of Common Stock subject to RSUs granted on May 26, 2016 to Messrs. Lu, Whitmire, White, Tang and Ms. Holland, respectively, that vest in one remaining installment on May 26, 2020, if the executive continues to provide services to the Company. Also does not include 15,727, 1,500, 4,966, 4,554 and 2,829 shares of Common Stock subject to RSUs granted on February 21, 2017 to Messrs. Lu, Whitmire, White, Tang and Ms. Holland, respectively, that vest in two remaining equal installments on February 21, 2021 and 2022, if the executive continues to

7 Diodes Incorporated


provide services to the Company. Also does not include 31,500, 1,800, 10,000, 9,000, 6,500 and 5,0002,500 shares of Common Stock subject to RSUs granted on February 14, 2018 to Messrs. Lu, Whitmire, White, Tang, Ms. Holland and Ms. Yang, respectively, that vest in two remaining equal annual installments on February 14, 2021 and 2022, if the executive continues to provide services to the Company. Also does not include 44,250, 9,000, 12,750, 12,75029,500, 6,000, 8,500, 8,500 and 9,7506,500 shares of Common Stock subject to RSUs granted on February 21, 2019 to Messrs. Lu, Whitmire, Tang and Ms. Holland and Ms. Yang, respectively, that vest in threetwo equal annual installments on February 26,  2021,  2022 and 2023, if the executive continues to provide services to the Company. Also does not include 53,100, 10,800, 15,300, 15,30039,825, 8,100, 11,475, 11,475 and 11,7008,775 shares of Common Stock subject to RSUs granted on February 19, 2020 to Messrs. Lu, Whitmire, Tang and Ms. Holland and Ms. Yang, respectively, that vest in fourthree equal annual installments on February 19, 2022, 2023 and 2024, if the executive continues to provide services to the Company. Also does not include 32,000, 7,600, 7,600, 9,200 and 7,600 shares of Common Stock subject

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to RSUs granted on February 8, 2021 to Messrs. Lu, Whitmire, Tang and Ms. Holland and Ms. Yang, respectively, that vest in three equal annual installments on February 24, 2022, 2023, 2024 and, if the executive continues to provide services to the Company. Also does not include 6,750 shares of Common Stock subject to RSUs granted on May 20, 2020 to Dr. Lu that vest in four equal annual installments on May 20, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, if the executive continues to provide services to the Company. Also does not include 750 shares of Common Stock subject to RSUs granted on July 3, 2017, to Mr. Whitmire that vest on July 3, 2021, if the executive continues to provide services to the Company. Also does not include 1,200 shares of Common Stock subject to RSUs granted on July 2, 2018, to Mr. Whitmire that vest in two equal installments on July 3, 2021 and 2022, if the executive continues to provide services to the Company.

For further discussion on the operating income performance goal and service condition related to these grants, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Principal Components of Compensation - Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Plan.”

 

 

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PROPOSAL ONE

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The Company’s Bylaws provide that the number of directors shall be determined from time to time by the Board, but may not be less than five nor more than seventeen. Currently, the Board has fixed the number of directors at seven.eight. The Company’s Bylaws further provide for the election of each director at each annual meeting of stockholders.

The persons nominated have been nominated for election to the Board to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors have been elected and qualified. All nominees except Warren Chen, are currently directors of the Company, and all nominees have indicated their willingness to serve. Unless otherwise instructed, proxies will be voted in such a way as to elect as many of these nominees as possible under applicable voting rules. In the event that any of the nominees should be unable or unwilling to serve as a director, proxies will be voted for the election of such substitute nominees, if any, as shall be designated by the Board. The Board has no reason to believe that any nominee will be unable or unwilling to serve.

The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines provides that a member of the Board will not be eligible to stand for re-election to the Board after attaining the age of 75 provided that the Board may waive the requirement for up to five years for any director.  Prior to the date of this Proxy Statement, Mr. C.H. Chen attained the age of 76,77, and the Board waived this requirement to allow him to be eligible to stand for re-election to the Board at the Meeting.Mr. Raymond K.Y. Soong will not stand for re-election to the Board at the Meeting, and his tenure as a member of the Board and Chairman of the Board will expire on the date of the Meeting.    

The seveneight nominees who receive the highest number of affirmative votes will be elected. The Board has adopted a policy requiring that in an uncontested election (such as the election held at the Meeting), each nominee will submit an irrevocable resignation promptly following the election if he or she fails to receive a majority of votes cast. An uncontested election means that there are as many candidates standing for election as there are vacancies on the Board. A majority of votes cast means that the number of shares cast “FOR” a director’s election exceeds the number of votes “WITHHELD.” See “Corporate Governance – Director Resignation Policy.”

None of the nominees were selected pursuant to any arrangement or understanding, other than that with the directors of the Company acting within their capacity as such. There are no family relationships among the directors of the Company as of the date hereof, and, except as set forth below, as of the date hereof, no directorships are now, or in the past five years have been, held by any director in a company that has a class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act or subject to the requirements of Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act or any company registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

The following table and discussion sets forth certain biographical information concerning the nominees of the Company as of the Record Date:

 

Nominees

Age

Position with the Company

Director Since

Age

Position with the Company

Director Since

Keh-Shew Lu

74

Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Director

2001

C.H. Chen

76

Director and Vice Chairman of the Board

2000

77

Director and Vice Chairman of the Board

2000

Michael K.C. Tsai

67

Lead Director

2010

Angie Chen Button

67

Director

2021

Warren Chen

70

Nominee

-

71

Director

2020

Michael R. Giordano

73

Director

1990

74

Director

1990

Keh-Shew Lu

73

President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director

2001

Peter M. Menard

66

Director

2018

67

Director

2018

Christina Wen-Chi Sung

66

Director

2017

67

Director

2017

Michael K.C. Tsai

66

Director

2010

 

9 Diodes Incorporated


C.H. Chen            DirectorKeh-Shew Lu

Chairman, President, and Vice Chairman of the BoardChief Executive Officer

Chair,Member, Risk Oversight Committee

Mr. C.H. Chen

Dr. Lu was appointed the Company’s Viceelected Chairman of the Board in 2005. Mr. C.H. Chen is also the Vice Chairman of the Board of LSC,May 2020 and a board member of LTC, each of which is a member or an affiliate of the Lite-On Group. Mr. C.H. Chen is also a board member of Kwong Lung Enterprise Co., Ltd. Mr. C.H. Chen served as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer from 2000 until 2005. From 1969 to 1990, Mr. C.H. Chen held various positions at Texas Instruments Incorporated (“TI”), most recently as the Vice President of TI Taiwan. In 1990, he left TI to found Dyna Image Corporation, which merged with LSC in 2000. Mr. C.H. Chen received his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from National Taiwan University.

Mr. C.H. Chen has extensive experience in the semiconductor industry, particularly in Asia, including as a director of several Asian semiconductor companies. This experience provides the Board with a valuable perspective on the current and future trends and challenges in the semiconductor industry in Asia. As the Company’s former President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. C.H. Chen’s understanding of the Company enables him to provide advice to the Board on matters concerning the operations of the Company. Mr. C.H. Chen is not related to Mr. Warren Chen.

Warren Chen          Nominee

Mr. Warren Chen has served as Vice Chairman and Group CEO of Lite-On Group since 2010. He joined Lite-On in 1983 and has served in positions of increasing responsibility, including as Group  Deputy  CEO  and  Core  Investment  CEO  from  2006  to 2010,  Deputy  CEO  of  Lite-On  Technology  Corporation  from  2000  to  2006,  President  of  Taiwan  Lite-On Electronics  Inc.  from  1992  to  2000,  Senior  Vice  President  of  Lite-On Inc. and  Production Manager  of  Compound  Semi,  Inc. (CA).   Prior to joining Lite-On, from 1975 to 1983, Mr. Warren Chen served as manufacturing superintendent for TI Taiwan. Mr. Warren Chen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Chinese Culture University. LSC is a company in the Lite-On Group.  See “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions – Relationships and Transactions”.

Mr. Warren Chen’s approximately 45 years of management experience in the electronics industry and the global supply chain provides the Board with perspective on the future trends and challenges in the semiconductor industry. Mr. Warren Chen is not related to Mr. C.H. Chen.

Michael R. Giordano            Director

Chair, Audit Committee (Audit Committee Financial Expert)

Mr. Giordano, CIMA, currently serves as Associate Director, Senior Wealth Strategy Associate at the private-banking firm of UBS Financial Services, Inc., having previously served as Senior Vice President-Investment Consulting from when UBS AG acquired PaineWebber, Inc. in 2000 until 2017. PaineWebber, Inc. had acquired his previous employer, Kidder Peabody and Co., Inc., by whom he was employed since 1979. Mr. Giordano advises corporations, foundations, trusts, and municipal governments in investments and finance. Mr. Giordano has served as a board member of OnRamp BioInformatics, a private San Diego genomic analysis company, since July 2017, and also served as Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer of the Leo D. Fields Co. from 1980 to 1990, when GWC Holdings acquired it, and, from 2001 to 2003, served as a board member of Professional Business Bank, a publicly traded corporation. Formerly a captain and pilot in the United States Air Force, Mr. Giordano received his Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from California State Polytechnic University and his Master’s degree in Business Administration (Management and Finance) from the University of Utah. Mr. Giordano also completed post-graduate work in International Investments at Babson College and is certified by the Investment Management Consultants Association. He is also certified by the John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management, University of California at Los Angeles as a Corporate Director, having demonstrated understanding of directorship and corporate governance.

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Mr. Giordano is an experienced leader who has worked in the financial sector for more than 39 years and possesses the skills necessary to lead the Company’s Audit Committee. Having been with UBS Financial Services, Inc. (and its predecessors) since 1979, he has advised numerous public, private, profit, and nonprofit organizations in investments and finance. Mr. Giordano’s experience provides the Board with knowledge in financial and accounting matters.

Keh-Shew Lu            Director, President and Chief Executive Officer

Member, Risk Oversight Committee

Dr. Lu was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company in June 2005 after serving on the Board since 2001. Dr. Lu is also a board member of Lite-On Technology Corporation (“LTC”) and Nuvoton Technology Corporation, (“Nuvoton”), two publicly held companies. Dr. Lu is the founding Chairman of the Asian American Citizen’s Council. From 2001 to 2005, Dr. Lu was a partner of the WK Technology Venture Fund. From 1998 to 2001, Dr. Lu served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Worldwide Mixed-Signal and Logic Products of TI.Texas Instruments (“TI”). His responsibilities included all aspects of the analog, mixed-signal and logic products for TI’s worldwide business, including design, process and product development, manufacturing and marketing. From 1996 to 1998, Dr. Lu was the manager of TI’s worldwide memory business. In addition, he served as the President of TI Asia from 1994 to 1997 where he supervised all of TI activities in Asia, excluding Japan. Dr. Lu holds a Bachelor’sbachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan, and a Master’smaster’s degree and a Doctoratedoctorate in Electrical Engineering from Texas Tech University.

Having worked in the semiconductor industry for more than 40 years and, particularly, having served in various managerial and senior executive capacities at TI, Dr. Lu possesses a wealth of semiconductor management experience. Dr. Lu is also is knowledgeable in the rolean experienced board leader and function of the Board as a result of servingmember, having served for many years as a board memberon behalf of several public and private companies.

C.H. Chen

Director and Vice Chairman of the Board

Chair, Governance and Stockholder Relations Committee

Chair, Risk Oversight Committee

Mr. Chen was appointed the Company’s Vice Chairman of the Board in 2005. Mr. Chen is also a board member of Lite-On Technology Corp. and Kwong Lung Enterprise Co., Ltd. Mr. Chen served as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer from 2000 until 2005. From 1969 to 1990, Mr. Chen held various positions at Texas Instruments (“TI”), most recently as the Vice President of TI Taiwan. In 1990, he left TI to found Dyna Image Corporation, which merged with Lite-On Semiconductor Corp. in 2000. Mr. Chen received his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from National Taiwan University.

Mr. Chen has extensive experience in the semiconductor industry, particularly in Asia, including as a director of several Asian semiconductor companies. This experience provides the Board with a valuable perspective on the current and future trends and challenges in the semiconductor industry in Asia. As the Company’s former President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Chen’s understanding of the Company enables him to provide advice to the Board on matters concerning the operations of the Company. Mr. Chen is not related to Ms. Button or Mr. Warren Chen.

Michael K.C. Tsai

Lead Director

Chair, Compensation Committee

Member, Governance and Stockholder Relations Committee

Mr. Tsai joined and co-founded Powerchip Semiconductor Corp. in 1994, and with the company’s growth has held various positions as Senior VP, President, and Vice Chairman. He has acted as Chairman of the Board of several companies that Powerchip held equity positions in: Nexchip Semiconductor Corp., a joint venture in China, since April 2020; AP Memory Technology Corp. since 2017; Maxchip Electronics Corp. from 2008 to April 2019; Zentel Electronics Corp. from 2010 to 2016; and uPI Semiconductor Corp. from 2007 to 2011. He was also the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer of Elitegroup Computer Systems, Inc. from 1991 to 1994; a partner of Tailink Venture Corp. from 1990 to 1994; the President and Chief Executive Officer of Esprit Systems, Inc. from 1989 to 1990; and held numerous executive positions in sales, marketing, planning, and general management with the Acer Group from 1978 to

10 Diodes Incorporated


1988. He has further been a director on the board of the Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association since 2000 through the present. Mr. Tsai began his career as an electronic design engineer with Tatung Corp. in 1977. Mr. Tsai received his bachelor’s degree in Control Engineering and Computer Science from National Chiao-Tung University in Taiwan in 1975.

Mr. Tsai’s decades of experience serving on the boards of numerous technology and semiconductor companies, and holding various management positions in companies in the technology and semiconductor industry, provide an insightful view of the semiconductor industry to the Board. Mr. Tsai also brings a range of boardroom experience and corporate governance knowledge to further strengthen the operation of the Board.

Angie Chen Button

Director

Ms. Button has served as a representative in the State of Texas House of Representatives since 2009. The only Asian American Woman legislator in Texas, she currently chairs the International Relations and Economic Development Committee, and has previously served as Chair of the Urban Affairs Committee, as Chair of the Economic and Small Business Development Committee, as Vice Chair of the Technology Committee, sat on the Appropriations (Budget) Committee, and has sat and currently serves on the Ways and Means (Taxation) Committee. A CPA, Ms. Button worked for Texas Instruments for over 30 years in various auditing, finance, business development, procurement, and international marketing positions. She also served on the Audit Committee of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Board. As a state representative, she brings experience and connections in dealing with government officials and business leaders, including promoting international business and trade.

Ms. Button received her bachelor’s degree in Accounting from National Taiwan University in 1976, her master’s degree in Public Finance from National Chengchi University in 1978, and her master’s degree in Management Science from University of Texas at Dallas in 1980. Ms. Button is a co-founder of the DFW Asian American Citizens Council. Ms. Button is not related to Mr. C.H. Chen or Mr. Warren Chen.

Warren Chen

Director

Member, Compensation Committee

Member, Governance and Stockholder Relations Committee

Member, Risk Oversight Committee

Mr. Warren Chen has been a member of the Board of Lite-On Technology Corp. (“LTC”) since 2002 and was promoted to President of the Lite-On Group in 2010. He was named Vice Chairman and Group CEO of LTC since 2014 and stepped down on July 31, 2020. He joined the Lite-On Group in 1983 and has served in positions of increasing responsibility, including as Group Deputy CEO and Core Investment CEO from 2006 to 2010, Deputy CEO of LTC from 2000 to 2006, President of Taiwan Lite-On Electronics Inc. from 1992 to 2000, Senior Vice President of Lite-On Inc. and Production Manager of Compound Semi, Inc. (CA). Prior to joining the Lite-On Group, from 1975 to 1983, Mr. Warren Chen served as manufacturing superintendent for TI Taiwan. Mr. Warren Chen holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Chinese Culture University. Lite-On Semiconductor Corp. was a company in the Lite-On Group. See “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions – Relationships and Transactions.”

Mr. Warren Chen’s approximately 45 years of management experience in the electronics industry and the global supply chain provides the Board with perspective on the future trends and challenges in the semiconductor industry. Mr. Warren Chen is not related to Ms. Angie Chen Button or Mr. C.H. Chen.

Michael R. Giordano

Director

Chair, Audit Committee (Audit Committee Financial Expert)

Mr. Giordano, CIMA, currently serves as Associate Director, Senior Wealth Strategy Associate at the private-banking firm of UBS Financial Services, Inc., having previously served as Senior Vice President-Investment Consulting from when UBS

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AG acquired PaineWebber, Inc. in 2000 until 2017. PaineWebber, Inc. had acquired his previous employer, Kidder Peabody and Co., Inc., by whom he was employed since 1979. Mr. Giordano advises corporations, foundations, trusts, and municipal governments in investments and finance. Mr. Giordano has served as a board member of Rosalind Inc., a private San Diego genomic analysis company, since July 2017, and also served as Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer of the Leo D. Fields Co. from 1980 to 1990, when GWC Holdings acquired it. From 2001 to 2003, he served as a board member of Professional Business Bank, a publicly traded corporation. Formerly a captain and pilot in the United States Air Force, Mr. Giordano received his bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from California State Polytechnic University and his master’s degree in Business Administration (Management and Finance) from the University of Utah. Mr. Giordano also completed post-graduate work in International Investments at Babson College and is certified by the Investment Management Consultants Association. He is also certified by the John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management, University of California at Los Angeles as a Corporate Director, having demonstrated understanding of directorship and corporate governance.

Mr. Giordano is an experienced leader who has worked in the financial sector for more than 38 years and possesses the skills necessary to lead the Company’s Audit Committee. Having been with UBS Financial Services, Inc. (and its predecessors) since 1979, he has advised numerous public, private, profit, and non-profit organizations in investments and finance. Mr. Giordano’s experience provides the Board with knowledge in financial and accounting matters.

Peter M. Menard

Director

Member, Audit Committee

Member, Governance and Stockholder Relations Committee

Mr. Menard practiced securities law from 1979 until March 2018. From 1998 until his retirement in March 2018, Mr. Menard was a partner with the international law firm of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, LLP where his principal areas of practice were corporate governance, securities law compliance, and corporate transactions. He has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Business Law Section of the California Lawyers Association (“BLS”), a Chair of the Corporations Committee of the BLS, Chair of the Business & Corporations Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and an adjunct professor at University of Southern California Gould School of Law where he taught a course in securities regulation. Mr. Menard is a member of the Board of Directors and a member of the Governance Committee and the Audit Committee of Huntington Medical Research Institutes.  He received a Bachelor’sbachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Santa Clara University in 1974 and a Master’smaster’s degree in Mathematics in 1976 and J.D. in 1979 from the University of Michigan.

Mr. Menard has more than 40 years of experience representing publicly traded companies. He brings extensive experience in corporate governance, securities law compliance, corporate social responsibility, shareholder engagement, financial reporting, and executive compensation. He has served of the Board of Directors of multiple nonprofit entities.

 

Christina Wen-Chi Sung

Director

Member, Audit Committee

Member, Compensation Committee

Ms. Sung served as the Chairman of the Taipei Financial Center Corporation, the management company for Taipei 101, from 2012 to 2015. She previously served as a Director for Arcadyan Technology Corporation from 2012 to 2014 and Independent Director for Lite-On IT Corporation from 2009 to 2013. She was also the head of the HSBC Asset Management Group (Taiwan) from 2004 to 2006 and the co-CEO of JP Morgan Chase (Taiwan) in 2003. Ms. Sung has

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earned numerous accolades, including being namedincluding: inclusion in the 2019 Most Influential Corporate Directors list by WomenInc. Magazine, the 2003 Most Influential Business Woman of the Year by Taiwan Commonwealth Magazine, the 2002 Montblanc Business Woman of the Year, the 1998 Best CEO of the Securities Industry in Taiwan by the Securities and

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Futures Development Foundation Golden Goblet Awards, and 1998 Outstanding Business Woman in Taiwan by the Chinese Business Woman’s Association.

Ms. Sung brings extensive directorship and business experience to the Board, and she continues to serve on multiple nonprofit boards, including as a director of Feng Chia University. After retiring from Taipei 101, she founded Social Welfare and Social Enterprise Revolving Trust (“SERT”) at the end of 2015, which is aimed at providing financial support and management to nonprofitnon-profit organizations and social enterprises in Taiwan. SERT has been awarded by the government for two consecutive years for its special contribution to the related sector. Ms. Sung received her Bachelor’sbachelor’s degree in English language and literature from Soochow University in 1976 and her Master’smaster’s degree in Executive Management of Business Administration from National Cheng-chi University in 2003.

Michael K.C. Tsai          Director

Member, Compensation Committee

Member, Governance and Stockholder Relations Committee

Mr. Tsai has been the Vice Chairman of the Board of Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp., previously Maxchip Electronics Corp., since May 2019 and the Chairman of the Board of AP Memory Technology Corp. since 2017. He was the Chairman of the Board of Maxchip Electronics Corp. from 2008 to May 2019. He has been a director of Powerchip Semiconductor Corp. since 1994 and served as its Vice Chairman from 2003 to 2012. Mr. Tsai was the Chairman of the Board of Zentel Electronics Corp. from 2010 to 2016, the Chairman of the Board of uPI Semiconductor Corp. from 2007 to 2011, and the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer of Elitegroup Computer Systems, Inc. from 1991 to 1994.  From 1990 to 1994, he served as a board member and an investor representative of Tailink Venture Corp. He was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Esprit Systems, Inc. from 1989 to 1990. He held numerous executive positions in sales, marketing, planning and general management with the Acer Group from 1978 to 1988. Mr. Tsai began his career as an electronic design engineer with Tatung Corp. in 1977. Mr. Tsai received his Bachelor’s degree in Control Engineering and Computer Science from National Chiao-Tung University in Taiwan in 1975.

Mr. Tsai’s decades of experience serving on the boards of numerous technology and semiconductor companies, and holding various management positions in companies in the technology and semiconductor industry, provide an insightful view of the semiconductor industry to the Board. Mr. Tsai also brings a range of boardroom experience and corporate governance knowledge to further strengthen the operation of the Board.

See “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Corporate Governance – Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions” for a discussion of the relationships among LTC, LSC and the Company.

THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” EACH OF THE SEVENEIGHT NOMINEES TO THE BOARD SET FORTH ABOVE.

 

 

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD

The Board has four standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Governance and Stockholder Relations Committee and the Risk Oversight Committee (the “Committees”). Each Committee consists of three or more directors who serve at the discretion of the Board. The Board usually makes Committee and Committee chair assignments annually at its meeting immediately following the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders. The current composition of each Committee is as follows:

 

Directors

Audit Committee

Compensation Committee

Governance and Stockholder Relations Committee

Risk Oversight Committee

Raymond K.Y. Soong (1) (3)Keh-Shew Lu

 

Chair

Chair

Member

C. H. Chen (1)

 

 

Chair

Chair

Angie Chen Button (1)(3)

Warren Chen (1)

Member

Member

Member

Michael R. Giordano (1)

Chair (2)

 

 

 

Keh-Shew Lu

Member

Peter M. Menard (1)

Member

 

Member

 

Christina Wen-Chi Sung (1)

Member

Member

 

 

Michael K.C. Tsai (1)

 

MemberChair

Member

 

 

(1) Independent director (as determined by the Board under the rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) and, in the case of members of the Audit Committee, the rules of the SEC).

(2) Qualifies as “audit committee financial expert” as the term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act.

(3) Mr. Soong is not standing for re-election atMs. Button will receive her committee assignments after the Meeting.

Director Independence

The Board has determined that sixseven of the seveneight current directors (all directors other than Dr. Lu, our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer) are “independent directors” as shown in the above table, and as the term “independent director” is defined under the rules of Nasdaq. In addition, the Board has determined that Warren Chen, a nominee for director, is independent under Nasdaq’s definition of “independent director.”  We expect that, if he is elected, Warren Chen will be appointed to the Governance and Stockholder Relations Committee and the Risk Oversight Committee. The Board also has determined that each member of its Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Governance and Stockholder Relations Committee meets the applicable independence requirements prescribed by Nasdaq and the SEC.

In making its independence determinations with regard to Messrs. Soong, C.H. Chen and Warren Chen, the Board considered the relationships described under “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions – Relationships and Transactions.”

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee makes recommendations to the Board regarding the engagement of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, reviews the plan, scope and results of the audit, reviews the Company’s policies and procedures with the Company’s management concerning internal accounting and financial controls, and reviews changes in accounting policy and the scope of non-audit services which may be performed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee also monitors policies to prohibit unethical, questionable or illegal activities by the Company’s employees. The “Audit Committee Report” section of this Proxy Statement describes in more detail the Audit Committee’s responsibilities, particularly with regard to the Company’s financial statements and its interactions with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

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The Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is “independent” as that term is defined under the rules of Nasdaq and the SEC, and is able to read and understand fundamental financial statements. The Board also has determined that Mr. Giordano qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined under the rules of the SEC.

Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee makes recommendations to the Board regarding compensation, benefits and incentive arrangements for the Chief Executive Officer and other officers and key employees of the Company. The Compensation Committee also administers the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2013 Plan”), the 2001 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “2001 Incentive Plan”), the Company’s 401(k) profit sharing plan (the “401(k) Plan”) and the Company’s nonqualified deferred compensation plan. The Board has determined that each member of the Compensation Committee is “independent” as that term is defined under the rules of Nasdaq.

Governance and Stockholder Relations Committee

The principal purposes of the Governance and Stockholder Relations Committee (the “Governance Committee”) are to help ensure that the Board (i) identifies individuals qualified to become members of the Board, consistent with criteria approved by the Board, and (ii) selects the nominees for election at the next annual meeting of stockholders. The Board has determined that each member of the Governance Committee is “independent” as that term is defined under the rules of Nasdaq.

Risk Oversight Committee

The Risk Oversight Committee assists the Board in overseeing the Company’s risk management process by (i) overseeing the Company’s efforts to align its management of risks with its strategic objectives, (ii) overseeing the establishment and implementation of a risk oversight framework, and (iii) reviewing the effectiveness of the risk oversight framework in the identification, assessment, monitoring, management and disclosure of significant risks. The Risk Oversight Committee’s oversight provides reasonable assurance that processes are in place to identify, assess, monitor, manage and disclose risks that may have a material adverse effect on the achievement of the Company’s strategic objectives.

Charters of the Committees

All four Committees operate pursuant to written charters, current copies of which are available on the Company’s website, at www.diodes.com, in the “Investors – Corporate Governance” section.

MEETINGS OF THE BOARD AND COMMITTEES

The following table represents the number of meetings and actions taken by written consent of the Board and the Committees in 2019:2020:

 

Meetings Held

Action by

Written Consent

Meetings Held

Action by

Written Consent

Board

6

3

5

2

Audit Committee

6

1

6

Compensation Committee

4

3

4

Governance and Stockholder Relations Committee

3

3

Risk Oversight Committee

4

4

All of thecurrent directors attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board and Committees on which each served held during 2019.the period he or she served in 2020.

It is the policy of the Company to require Board members to attend the annual meetings of stockholders, if practicable. Each director, except Mr. Soong, who did not stand for reelection at the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders, and Ms. Button who became a director April 1, 2021, attended the 20192020 annual meeting of stockholders.

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BOARD LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE

The Chairman of the Board conducts each Board meeting and sets the agenda of each Board meeting after consulting with the Chief Executive OfficerVice Chairman of the Board and members of the Board. The Chairman of the Board also has the responsibility in conjunction with the Chief Executive Officer, to establish effective communications with the Company’s stakeholders, including stockholders, customers, employees, communities, suppliers, creditors, governments and corporate partners. The Vice Chairman of the Board has the responsibility to assist the Chairman of the Board in fulfilling these responsibilities. With Dr. Lu's appointment as Chairman, the Board determined that the appointment of an independent lead director ("Lead Director") would be appropriate in order to strengthen Board oversight, share certain responsibilities, and facilitate communication, between our Chairman and our independent directors, and continue to follow best practices in corporate governance. To this end, the Board appointed Mr. Tsai, an independent director, to serve as Lead Director. The duties of the Lead Director are to preside at executive sessions of the independent directors, serve as principal liaison between the independent directors and the Chairman, work with the Chairman to set and approve the schedule and agenda for meetings of the Board and its committees, direct the retention of advisors and consultants who report directly to the Board, serve as liaison for consultation and communication with stockholders, oversee the annual evaluation of our Board and its committees and evaluate, in cooperation with the Compensation Committee and all members of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer's performance.

NOMINATING PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA AND BOARD DIVERSITY

Among its functions, the Governance Committee considers and approves nominees for election to the Board. In addition to the candidates proposed by the Board or identified by the Governance Committee, the Governance Committee considers candidates for director suggested by stockholders provided such recommendations are made in accordance with the procedures set forth under “Proposals of Stockholders and Stockholder Nominations for 20212022 Annual Meeting.” Stockholder nominations that comply with these procedures and meet the criteria outlined below will receive the same consideration that the Governance Committee’s nominees receive.

Essential criteria for all candidates considered by the Governance Committee include the following:

integrity and a commitment to ethical behavior;

integrity and a commitment to ethical behavior;

personal maturity and leadership skills in industry, education, the professions, or government;

personal maturity and leadership skills in industry, education, the professions, or government;

independence of thought and willingness to deal directly with difficult issues;

independence of thought and willingness to deal directly with difficult issues;

fulfillment of the broadest definition of diversity, seeking diversity of thought; and

fulfillment of the broadest definition of diversity, seeking diversity of thought; and

broad business or professional experience, with an understanding of business and financial affairs, and the complexities of business organizations.

broad business or professional experience, with an understanding of business and financial affairs, and the complexities of business organizations.

In evaluating candidates for certain Board positions, the Governance Committee evaluates additional criteria, including the following:

technical expertise in engineering, chemistry, solid state physics or electronics;

technical expertise in engineering, chemistry, solid state physics or electronics;

senior management experience and expertise, especially from leadership roles in semiconductor, information technology or electronics corporations;

senior management experience and expertise, especially from leadership roles in semiconductor, information technology or electronics corporations;

financial or accounting expertise, generally and as necessary to fulfill the financial requirements of the SEC and Nasdaq regulations;

financial or accounting expertise, generally and as necessary to fulfill the financial requirements of the SEC and Nasdaq regulations;

leadership experience in other industries to help the Company better understand the care-abouts in key, targeted industries; and

leadership experience in other industries to help the Company better understand the care-abouts in key, targeted industries; and

experience in investment banking, commercial lending or other financing activities.

experience in investment banking, commercial lending or other financing activities.

In selecting nominees for the Board, the Governance Committee evaluates the general and relevant specialized criteria set forth above prior to commencement of the recruitment process, determines whether a nominee fulfills the independence requirements of the SEC and Nasdaq, evaluates recommendations received from other existing members

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of the Board, reviews the education of the nominee, evaluates the quality of experience and achievement of the nominee, reviews the nominee’s current or past membership on other companies’ boards, determines that the nominee has the ability and the willingness to spend the necessary time required to function effectively as a director (except in extraordinary circumstances, no director shall serve on the board of more than four other public companies), and determines that the nominee has a genuine interest in representing the stockholders and the interests of the Company overall.

If the Governance Committee is evaluating a nominee for re-election, the Governance Committee will review the nominee’s performance, including the following: availability for and attendance at meetings; contribution to Board

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processes such as information gathering and decision making; accessibility for communication with other directors and management; participation in Committee activities; depth of knowledge of the Company and its industry; the Company’s performance during the nominee’s previous term, in light of the role played by the Board and the nominee in guiding management; and any specialized expertise or experience that has contributed or may contribute to the functioning of the Board or the success of the Company.

The Governance Committee believes that the Board should include individuals with a broad range of relevant professional expertise, experience and education and reflect the diversity and cultural and geographical perspectives of the Company’s employees, customers and suppliers.

The Governance Committee, as well as the full Board, has recommended the Board’s nominees for election at the Meeting. Stockholders have not proposed any candidates for election at the Meeting.

DIRECTOR RESIGNATION POLICY

Under the Company’s director resignation policy, promptly following the receipt of the final report from the Inspector of Elections relating to an election of directors of the Company (other than elections in which the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected), any nominee who receives a greater number of votes “WITHHELD” from his or her election than votes “FOR” his or her election, will tender his or her resignation for consideration by the Board. Subject to certain conditions, the Governance Committee will meet to consider the tendered resignation and make a recommendation to the Board concerning the action, if any, to be taken with respect to the director’s resignation.

The Board will consider and act upon the Governance Committee’s recommendation within 90 days of certification of the vote at the Meeting. In considering the director’s resignation, the Governance Committee and the Board will consider all factors they deem relevant, including, without limitation, the underlying reason for the vote result, if known, the director’s contributions to the Company during his or her tenure, and the director’s qualifications. The Board may accept the resignation, refuse the resignation, or refuse the resignation subject to such conditions designed to cure the underlying cause as the Board may impose. Within four business days of the decision regarding the tendered resignation, the Company will file with the SEC a report on Form 8-K disclosing the decision with respect to the resignation, describing the deliberative process and, if applicable, the specific reasons for rejecting the tendered resignation.

COMMUNICATIONS WITH DIRECTORS

You may communicate with the chair of our Audit Committee, our Compensation Committee, our Governance Committee or our Risk Oversight Committee or with our independent directors individually or as a group, by writing to any such person or group c/o Corporate Secretary, Diodes Incorporated, 4949 Hedgcoxe Road, Suite 200, Plano, Texas 75024.

Communications are distributed to the Board, or to any individual director, depending on the facts and circumstances set forth in the communication. In that regard, the Board has requested that certain items that are unrelated to the duties and responsibilities of the Board be excluded, including, but not limited to, the following: junk mail and mass mailings; product complaints; product inquiries; new product suggestions; résumés and other forms of job inquiries;

17 Diodes Incorporated


surveys; and business solicitations or advertisements. In addition, material that is unduly hostile, threatening, illegal or similarly unsuitable will not be distributed, provided that any communication that is not distributed will be made available to any independent director upon request.

Communications that include information that would be better addressed by the Company’s ethics and compliance hotline, which reports to the Audit Committee at (855) 316-2192, will be delivered to the Audit Committee.

 

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COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

The following table sets forth the compensation of each director, who is not a NEO, for service in 2019:2020:

 

Name

(a)

Fees

Earned or

Paid in

Cash

($)

(b)

RSUs

($) (1) (2)

(c)

Stock

Options

($) (1)

(d)

Non-Equity

Incentive Plan

Compensation

($)

(e)

Changes in Pension

Value and

Nonqualified

Deferred

Compensation

Earnings

($)

(f)

All Other

Compensation

($)

(g)

Total

($)

(h)

 

Fees

Earned or

Paid in

Cash

($)

(b)

 

RSUs

($) (1) (2)

(c)

 

Stock

Options

($) (1)

(d)

 

Non-Equity

Incentive Plan

Compensation

($)

(e)

 

Changes in Pension

Value and

Nonqualified

Deferred

Compensation

Earnings

($)

(f)

 

All Other

Compensation

($)

(g)

 

Total

($)

(h)

Raymond K.Y. Soong(3)

80,000

645,240

725,240

 

30,550

 

 

 

 

 

 

C.H. Chen

80,000

441,480

521,480

 

80,000

 

547,560

 

 

 

 

 

627,560

Angie Chen Button(4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Warren Chen

 

50,550

 

168,480

 

 

 

 

 

219,030

Michael R. Giordano

100,000

135,840

235,840

 

100,000

 

168,480

 

 

 

 

 

268,480

Peter M. Menard

90,000

135,840

225,840

 

90,000

 

168,480

 

 

 

 

 

258,480

Christina Wen-Chi Sung

90,000

135,840

225,840

 

90,000

 

168,480

 

 

 

 

 

258,480

Michael K.C. Tsai

80,000

135,840

215,840

 

90,000

 

168,480

 

 

 

 

 

258,480

 

(1) These amounts reflect the value determined by the Company for financial accounting purposes for these awards and do not reflect whether each director has actually realized a financial benefit from the awards. The value of the equity awards in column (c) and (d) is based on the grant date fair value calculated in accordance with the amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes. Pursuant to SEC rules, the amounts shown exclude the impact of estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. Amounts reported for RSUs are calculated by multiplying the number of shares subject to the award by the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the grant date. See Note 14, Share-Based Compensation, to the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019,2020, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 12, 2020,22, 2021, for a further discussion of the relevant valuation assumptions used in calculating grant date fair value. All equity awards vest in four equal annual installments.

(2) Under the Company’s 20192020 director compensation arrangements, each non-employee director listed in the table above was granted an award under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan of 4,0003,600 RSUs on May 17,  2019,18, 2020, except Mr. Raymond K.Y. Soong and Mr. C.H. Chen, who were granted awards of 19,0000 and 13,00011,700 RSUs, respectively, on May 17, 2019.18, 2020.  The per shareper-share closing price of our Common Stock on May 17, 201918, 2020 was $33.96.$46.80.

(3) Mr. Soong did not stand for re-election to the Board at the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders, and his tenure as a member of the Board expired on the date of the 2020 Annual Shareholder Meeting.  

(4)  Ms. Button became a director April 1, 2021.


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The following table shows the aggregate number of shares underlying outstanding RSUs and outstanding stock options held by non-employee directors as of December 31, 2019:2020:

 

Name

 

RSUs (#)

 

Stock Options (#)

Raymond K.Y. SoongC.H. Chen

 

51,25032,475

 

C.H.Angie Chen Button

Warren Chen

 

35,0503,600

 

Michael R. Giordano

 

10,4509,825

 

Peter M. Menard

 

7,2258,750

 

Christina Wen-Chi Sung

 

9,3759,825

 

Michael K.C. Tsai

 

10,4509,825

 

Since 2007, each non-employee director of the Company has received a quarterly retainer of $20,000, the Chairman of the Audit Committee has received an additional $5,000 quarterly retainer, and each other member of the Audit Committee has received an additional $2,500 quarterly retainer.

In addition, the following amounts of RSUs, which vest in four equal annual installments commencing on the first anniversary of the date of grant, have historically been granted to each non-employee director on an annual basis: Chairman of the Board: 21,500 shares; Vice Chairman: 14,700 shares; and all other directors: 4,300 shares.  During 20192020 the Board decreased the RSU grant amount and the following amounts of RSUs were granted, which vest in four equal annual installments commencing on the first anniversary of the date of grant: Chairman of the Board: 19,000 shares; Vice Chairman: 13,00011,700 shares; and all other directors: 4,0003,600 shares. The Board may in its discretion modify such director compensation arrangements in the future.   For additional information see, “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions – Relationships and Transactions.”

 

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Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

During 2019,2020, the Compensation Committee consisted of three directors: Raymond K.Y. SoongMichael K.C. Tsai (Chairman), Warren Chen and Christina Wen-Chi Sungand Michael K.C. Tsai.. During 2019,2020, no executive officer of the Company served on the compensation committee (or equivalent) of the board of directors of another entity whose executive officer(s) served on the Company’s Compensation Committee or Board.

 

CORPORATE POLICIES

Anti-Hedging Policy

The Company’s insider trading policy prohibits all executive officers and directors of the Company from engaging in any hedging or monetization transactions involving the Company’s securities, including zero cost collars, forward sale contracts, and trading in options, puts, calls, or other derivative instruments related to the Company’s Common Stock. To the best of the Company’s knowledge, no executive officers or directors of the Company currently are parties to a hedge with respect to any shares of Common Stock of the Company.

Anti-Pledging Policy

The Company’s insider trading policy prohibits executive officers and directors from pledging the Company’s securities. Acquiring Company shares on margin also is prohibited.  To the best of the Company’s knowledge, no executive officers or directors of the Company currently are parties to a pledge of any shares of the Common Stock of the Company.

Short-Selling Policy

Directors and executive officers are prohibited from selling the Company’s equity securities “short” (i.e., the sale of a security that is not owned and must be borrowed to complete the sale) or “selling short against the box” (i.e., the sale of a security that is currently owned but is not delivered against such sale within twenty days thereafter, or is not within

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five days after such sale deposited in the mails or other usual channels of transportation and the sale is completed with borrowed shares). To the best of the Company’s knowledge, no executive officers or directors of the Company currently are parties to any short-selling transactions with respect to any shares of Common Stock of the Company.

Stock Ownership Policy

Stock Ownership Policy for Directors. The Company’s stock ownership policy provides that all non-employee directors are required to acquire (and thereafter throughout the term of appointment maintain ownership of) a minimum number of shares of Common Stock with a value equal to three times the annual retainer received by them as directors within five years of the later of (1) the adoption of this stock ownership policy, or (2) their respective appointment or initial election. All of the directors are currently or are expected to be in compliance with our stock ownership policy in accordance with the time frame requirements.

Stock Ownership Policy for Executive Officers. The Company’s stock ownership policy provides that all individuals holding the positions with the Company listed below are required to acquire (and thereafter throughout the term of employment maintain ownership of) a minimum number of shares of Common Stock with a value equal to the multiple of such executive officer’s annual base salary (excluding bonus) within five years of the later of (1) the adoption of this stock ownership policy, or (2) their respective appointment (other than a newly-appointed Chief Executive Officer, who has seven years to comply), as follows:

 

Position

Multiple of Salary

Chief Executive Officer of the Company

Six times annual base salary (excluding bonus)

Senior Vice President or Vice President

Two times annual base salary (excluding bonus)

 

All of the executive officers are currently or are expected to be in compliance with our stock ownership policy in accordance to the time frame requirements.

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For purposes of this stock ownership policy, stock ownership includes any shares owned by an executive officer or director or his or her immediate family members or held by him or her as part of a tax or estate plan in which the executive officer or director retains beneficial ownership. The value of shares held is calculated once per year, on the last business day of the fiscal year. For purposes of determining compliance with this stock ownership policy, “value” means an assumed per share value based on the closing price of Common Stock on the last business day of the fiscal year. An executive officer or director subject to this stock ownership policy is not required to acquire shares of Common Stock in accordance with this policy if acquisition at such time would result in a violation of the Company’s insider trading policy, in which event the executive officer or director is required to comply with this stock ownership policy as soon as reasonably feasible thereafter. A hardship exception is available at the discretion of the Compensation Committee, but no exceptions have been solicited or granted to date.

If any executive officer or director is determined to own less than the minimum number of shares of Common Stock, such executive officer or director shall have the two open periods after the two subsequent “Blackout Periods” to obtain the minimum number of shares of Common Stock. Blackout Period is (i) a period starting on the fifteenth day of the third month in the first calendar quarter and the period starting on the first day of the third month (March 1,in the second, third and fourth calendar quarters (i.e. March 15, June 1, September 1, December 1) in each calendar quarter and ending two business days after earnings for that calendar quarter have been publicly released (trading of the Company’s securities can begin on the third business day after announcement); and (ii) any other period of significant corporate activity designated from time to time by the Company.

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Stock Retention Policy

In addition to the stock ownership policy described above, under which each executive officer or director must maintain a certain multiple of his or her annual base salary or annual retainer throughout the term of employment or appointment, each executive officer or director who acquires shares of our Common Stock through the exercise of a stock option is required to retain 33% of the “net” shares acquired (i.e., net of the tax impact of the stock option exercise) until the earlier to occur of the first anniversary of the date of exercise or the date the individual ceases to be an executive officer or director. This stock retention policy applies to all stock option grants awarded to executive officers or directors.

Clawback Policy

In the event the Company is required to restate any interim or annual financial statement filed with the SEC to correct an accounting error due to the material noncompliance of the Company, as a result of misconduct (as defined), with any financial reporting requirement under the federal securities laws, the Board, or any committee of independent directors (as defined in Nasdaq Rule 5605(a)(2)) appointed by the Board (“Independent Committee”), shall review each performance-based award (as defined) paid or granted to or exercised by each covered person (as defined) during the covered period (as defined).

If the Board or the Independent Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion, that (1) a covered person has committed misconduct and (2) the payment, grant, amount, value or vesting during the covered period of any performance-based award would have been different had it been determined, in whole or in part, based on the achievement of the financial results as subsequently restated, then the Board or such Independent Committee may take such actions as it deems appropriate, to recoup any portion of any such performance-based award that would not have been awarded to the covered person had the financial results been properly reported. The Company shall not take any action more than three years after the end of the covered period.

A copy of each such corporate policy is available on the Company’s website, at www.diodes.com, in the “Investors – Corporate Governance” section.

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CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITYSUSTAINABILITY

Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility (“CSER”) Statement

DiodesThe Company is committed to operating in an economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable manner, while recognizing the interests of our stakeholders.

As a participant in the global community, we recognize the impact we have on the communities in which our employees, customers, suppliers and other stakeholders live and work. By living our core values – integrity, commitment, and innovation - continuously through our actions in the way we conduct business and interact with our stakeholders, we uphold our commitment to be a responsible corporate citizen and positive contributor to our global community. We adhere to responsible and ethical business practices and we strive to contribute back to our communities.

The Company is committed to a safe and healthy workplace for all our employees. We value diversity and inclusion as it contributes to our competitiveness in the global marketplace. The Company is dedicated to ensuring that our employees, customers and suppliers are treated with dignity and respect. In addition to compliance with applicable laws and regulations of the countries in which we operate, we also look for opportunities to contribute to the well-being of the communities which we serve.

The Company is also committed to the protection and preservation of the environment including seekingand our communities. We design and manufacture products using sustainable practices to provide a safeminimize our impact on the environment.

The Company strongly believes in and healthy workplace for all employees. Diodes is also committed to upholding the rights of workers, as they are generally understood in the employee handbooks of Diodes, its subsidiaries, and affiliates, and in light of the specific circumstances of Diodes' operations to treat workers with dignity and respect. Diodes is committed to the continual improvement inactively supports environmental protection, health and safety performance, and other social responsibility requirements to which the Company subscribes. We identify and leverage global best practices and guidelines to help us ensure responsible stewardship and sustainable operations for the long term benefit of our stakeholders.

Governance and Oversight

CSER is a strategic focus for the Diodes management team and the Board. To further accelerate our commitment to sustainability, and with the support of the Board, we created a Steering Committee to focus on CSER and the ongoing assessment of our operations and their impact on the communities in which we operate (the “Steering Committee”).

The Steering Committee is headed by the Company’s Senior Vice President of Operations and is comprised of representatives from multiple functions including corporate governance, regional management, operations management, legal and compliance, human resources, and quality. The Steering Committee approves CSER-related policies, long term objectives, and external disclosures and reporting. The Steering Committee also has operational control of environmental, health and safety, and social risks, and provides guidance on actions needed to address these risks.

Given the Company’s global manufacturing footprint and strong commitment to environmental responsibility, we also formed a Task Force represented by regional environmental, health, and safety (“EHS”) subject matter experts (the “Task Force”). This Task Force is supported by the general counsel and corporate compliance officer to focus on harmonizing our EHS metrics and leverage best practices. Both the Task Force and the Steering Team conduct regular review meetings to assess performance and drive continuous improvement.

The Task Force works closely with the Steering Committee, which provides periodic updates to the Board and engages frequently with the CEO and Lead Director on sustainability issues. With oversight and support from the Board, we have developed and implemented business strategies, and managed business operations in ways that are resilient to sustainability-related risks, including the impacts of climate change and pandemics.

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In addition to the Board’s increased oversight of sustainability efforts, the executive bonus compensation includes a measurable CSER component to further demonstrate and enhance the management’s commitment to CSER.

We also engage in regular dialogue with stakeholders and sustainability rating agencies to solicit feedback as we continue to sharpen our focus on sustainability. Taking into account sustainability standards that are appropriate for the semiconductor industry, and for companies with a manufacturing footprint and scale of operations that are comparable to ours, specific sustainability performance metrics are identified where appropriate as we strive for continuous improvement. We believe these collective sustainability efforts help us create and maintain long-term profitability for our stockholders.

Response to COVID-19

The Company operates in many parts of the world and sees the impact COVID-19 has on communities where our employees and stakeholders live and work. As we navigate through this unprecedented time, we are committed to protecting our employees and stakeholders and supporting our workforce and communities.

The health and well-being of our employees continues to be our top priority. We have changed our business practices to include:

Providing onsite facial masks, face coverings and other personal protective equipment as well as compliancealcohol-based hand sanitizers and disinfectants;

Installing Plexiglas, desk and table divider shields and other separation panels in meetings rooms, cafeterias and other communal areas;

Increasing the frequency and extent of cleaning and sanitizing our facilities;

Using ultraviolet disinfection lights to sanitize workspaces, meeting rooms, communal areas, and incoming deliveries;

Providing and paying for accommodations to employees who are subject to quarantines and unable to return home;

Providing paid leave to employees who participate in COVID-19 pandemic response operations; and

Continuing to raise awareness regarding workplace health and safety protocols in alignment with all applicable laws, regulations,government guidance.

We collaborate with local governments in their COVID-19 recovery programs, infection control and permits.prevention plans, and actively promote awareness of health and safety measures to protect our communities. As an example, our support of frontline health workers was recognized through certificates of appreciation issued by the Affiliated Hospital & Clinical Medical College of Chengdu University.

Through our manufacturing facility at Greenock, Scotland, we donated 17,000 face masks to help protect and support the healthcare workers on the frontlines of the pandemic. These face masks were added to the stock of personal protective equipment held by Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership. As recognized by Councilor Robert Moran with Inverclyde Council, this kind of community spirit will help us come out of the pandemic stronger.  In our care for the senior citizens’ community and dementia patients, our manufacturing facility in Oldham, U.K. donated face masks and aprons to their local community.

In addition, many of our employees volunteer their time and resources for COVID-19 pandemic response programs in their communities, and we applaud their participation in these relief efforts through public recognition at the sites.

The Company is committed in doing everything we can to expedite shipment and ensure supply of our products that are used in healthcare technologies and medical equipment that are essential for the diagnostics and treatment of COVID-19. We work with local governments to ensure that our facilities remain in operation or resume manufacturing activities

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promptly so that we can continue manufacturing products that are critical to the frontline health workers, the medical community, and our society.

We are making every effort to assist our customers in the ongoing global fight against COVID-19 by supporting many medical applications, including diagnostic and tomography imaging systems, such as ultra-sound monitors, x-ray systems, and pulse oximetry monitors. The Company delivered switching diode products for personal protective equipment used by first responders and health care providers so they can provide excellent care while still maintaining their own health and safety. Similarly, our MOSFETs, diodes, crystals, and crystal oscillators have been adopted in a number of medical applications ranging from testing equipment to ventilators, especially those to fight COVID-19.

CSER Conduct

Diodes' The Company’s CSER Code of Supplier Conduct is based on the Responsible Business Alliance (“RBA”) Code of Conduct, formerly the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition, as it establishes standards to ensure thatsafe working conditions in the electronics industry orand in industries in which electronics is a key component and its, including the supply chains are safe, that support those industries. The RBA Code of Conduct seeks to ensure workers are treated with respect and dignity and that business operations are environmentally responsible and ethically conducted ethically. . The RBA is the world’s largest industry coalition dedicated to corporate social responsibility in global supply chains.

Through RBA’sits rigorous Validated Assessment Program, Diodesthe Company received Silver recognition at two of its Shanghai manufacturing sites.  sites during their initial RBA audits.

Conflict Minerals

DiodesThe Company is dedicated to ensuring that we use responsibly sourced minerals in both our supply chain as well as the supply chain ofthrough our suppliers. The armed conflict and human rights atrocities that proliferate and are funded as a result ofby the exploitation of natural resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo and adjoining countries (“DRC”) isare unacceptable and any manufacture of product connected with the DRCthis will not be tolerated.

Commonly known conflict minerals are those such as tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold. Diodes seeks to ensure that conflictConflict minerals originating from the DRC aremust not be included in materials or products supplied to Diodes or its subsidiaries. Diodes isthe Company. We are committed to ensuring an ethical and diverse supply chain that is focused on responsible mineral sourcing.

LaborHuman Capital Management

As an international semiconductor company with a global footprint, the Company recognizes the important role its human capital plays in a talent-based economy, and what the impact of effective and efficient human capital management (“HCM”) has on its long-term strategic success and sustainable growth. Our employees are our most critical asset—they contribute to our financial success for the benefit of all our stakeholders, they fuel product innovation, and they contribute to the success of the communities in which we live and work. Human capital management affects many aspects of our operations, including recruitment, retention, training, workforce optimization, performance management, workplace safety, employee health and wellness, employee engagement, and diversity and inclusion.  

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Developing two–way communications and deploying effective feedback mechanisms are critical components in our employee engagement process. In addition to quarterly CEO “all hands” meetings, we have an “Open Door” policy, and encourage employees to have regular conversations with their managers to share feedback and express concerns. We also solicit employee feedback informally through regular employee interactions. We hold our managers accountable for setting clear expectations and goals with their teams, for providing coaching, as well as identifying professional development opportunities for their teams, and for engaging in periodic performance reviews. We assist our managers with performance management tools as needed to help them effectively manage their teams and optimize workforce productivity.

We utilize third-party portals to allow employees to efficiently and timely manage several of their employment related activities, such as employee benefits, expense reporting, leave of absence management, and attendance records. In addition to employee onboarding orientations and on-the-job training, we leverage a third-party learning management system to provide training to our employees. We regularly assess the training modules to be responsive to the professional development and training needs of our employees.  

Employee retention is a critical element in our sustainable success. To maintain a stable workforce, we provide skill advancement training and coaching, where appropriate, to help our employees enhance their existing skill sets. With our support and preparation, our employees can continue to grow in their current role and maximize the value they contribute to their current teams. Where a suitable rotation opportunity arises, we provide skill expansion training to equip employees for these new positions. By honing their skills, our employees can leverage their institutional knowledge and experience to contribute to the overall success of the organization. The availability of rotational opportunities can also help keep our employees motivated and engaged.

Human Rights and Workforce Labor Rights Policy

Diodes’The Company’s human rights and workforce labor rights policy (“Policy”) is rooted in protecting human rights and affording each individual dignity, freedom, respect, and acceptance. WeThis Policy outlines our expectations with respect to human rights and labor practices and the high standard of conduct expected of our employees and suppliers worldwide. The principles of this Policy are an equal opportunity employerreflected in our operational policies and procedures and applied in a non-discriminatory manner, irrespective of geographic location.  

The Company is committed to providing a fair and living wage to all of its employees, and our employee remuneration is consistent with policies against unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, religious creed, marital status, age, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation or any other consideration made unlawful bythe all applicable federal, state or local laws. We prohibit sexual harassmentwage laws, including those relating to minimum wage, overtime hours, and any other form of unlawful harassment. These rights extend to nonemployees who engage in unlawful behavior in the workplace.legally mandated benefits.

We support the elimination of all forms of forced, bonded, or indentured labor and child labor is prohibited in allany of our operations. We support our employees’ rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining in each of the countries where we operate.

These human rights and workforce labor rights of our employees are monitored and assessed through our management, human resources, and environmental/environmental, health and safety teams as appliedthey apply to all Diodesof the Company’s operations worldwide and to our suppliers, vendors, partners, or companies that sell goods or servicesservice providers to Diodes.the Company. These rights are embedded in our Code of Business Conduct, CSER codeCode of supplierSupplier Conduct, and Supplier Letter, and serve to provide essential protections of the women and minorities in our workforce as reinforced through employee training on fundamental topics such as prevention of harassment, discrimination, abusive conduct, supplier letter and supplier quality code.retaliation.

We believe that employee concerns can be satisfactorily addressed through our “Open Door” channels, but if not, the hotline is an alternative. Consistent with our policies and practices, and legal requirements, Diodesthe Company will not allow any

20 Diodes Incorporated


retribution or retaliation against an employee who reports a compliance issue in good faith. This hotline can be used by our customers, vendors and interested parties to report any conduct that they believe in good faith to be an actual or apparent violation of our Code of Conduct.

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Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement

DiodesThe Company conducts business in accordance with its core values of integrity, commitment, and innovation. As a global business committed to protecting human rights, we take seriously the responsibility of preventing modern slavery in our business and supply chains. We are committed to upholding best practices and remaining vigilant to continuously improve.

Pay and Gender

We are committed to complying with applicable wage laws to ensure our employees are fairly and timely compensated and strive to be equitable and ethical in regards to appropriate compensation for applicable roles.

Health and Safety

Diodes’The Company’s health and safety policy is based on our commitment to provide a safe worksite for all employees worldwide and applies to our suppliers, vendors, partners, and other companies that sell goods or services to Diodesthe Company and its affiliates. Every employee is responsible for safety, and Diodesthe Company encourages employees to make sure they notify the responsible party if safety issues arise. To that end we seek to ensure that all domestic federal and state safety practices are observed at all times and our commitment is embedded in our code of supplier conduct, supplier letters and supplier quality codes.

To achieve the goal of having a completely safe workplace, each site has implemented policies and procedures to address emergency preparedness and response, industrial hygiene and health resources, as well as the use of equipment and personal protective equipment. We ask each employee to be safety conscious. DiodesThe Company will attempt to do everything in its control to ensure a safe working environment that is compliant with local safety regulations in the countries where we operate. As part of our efforts to encourage a safe workplace, all employees should understand that we will not tolerate any retaliation against an employee for making safety complaints.

Environment

DiodesThe Company recognizes that environmental responsibility is integral to producing world-class products. We understand the impact our operations have on the environment, the community, as well as the health and safety of our employees, contractors, and suppliers. Therefore we are committed to environmentally sustainable business practices and to minimizing the environmental impact across our supply chain.

As such Diodesthe Company has based its environmental code of conduct on the RBA code of conduct, to ensure that business operations are environmentally responsible and compliant, at a minimum, with applicable environmental laws and regulations of the countries in which we have operations. Diodes’The Company’s direct suppliers are expected to implement the RBA code of conduct as well as maintain an adequate management system to ensure continued compliance with this code.

Furthermore, Diodesthe Company’s internal manufacturing sites are certified to the International Organization for Standardization (“ISO”) 14001 environmental management system standard. The expectation for our external suppliers is that they should be ISO 14001 certified as well or, asat a minimum, submit a plan to become certified.

For Diodes'the Company’s products we seek to enforce rigorous product compliance with the EU Directive regarding the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (“RoHS”) 2011/65/EU and the REACH Directive 2006/1907 on the Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals.

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Where substances of very high concern (“SVHC”) are contained within our operations, these are listed in our master Certificate of Compliance (“CofC”) where they are either registered for usage, exempt or impurities.

All Diodes Incorporated’sof the Company’s products, including products of our subsidiary companies, are RoHS Compliant.compliant. Some use exemptions to enable their compliance and are listed in our master CofC.

RoHS compliance is indicated on shipping labels that are attached on packing materials such as reels and shipping boxes.

Investment in Our Employees

DiodesThe Company values a diverse, inclusive, safe and respectful work environment while offering our employees career growth, professional development and competitive benefits. In today’s product-driven corporations, we regard our employees as our most important asset. We are committed to providing the best possiblean excellent environment for the development and achievement of the professional goals of our employees.

We believe in the value of continuous improvement so that we can strive to satisfy our customers’ requirements. In its broadest sense, we believe our customers include our employees, partners and communities where we operate. We believe in the value of continuous learning and fostering a culture of professional growth. We offer various learning opportunities to employees at all levels. Through developmental courses and experiential learning, we reach out to managers to identify training needs of their employees, and we encourage our employees to search for relevant training opportunities.

In 2020,2021, we will strive to deliver training to our employees worldwide. We aim to enhance our employees' knowledge on a variety of key topics, including ethics, harassment, anti-bribery and corruption through online and small group training sessions. These topics are important to ensuring our employees operate in a work environment that is diverse, inclusive, safe and respectful.


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Executive Officers of the Company

None of the executive officers was selected pursuant to any arrangement or understanding, other than with the executive officers of the Company acting within their capacity as such. Executive officers serve at the discretion of the Board. The following table and discussion sets forth certain biographical information concerning the Company’s executive officers as of the Record Date:

 

Name

Age

Position with the Company

Dr. Keh-Shew Lu (1)

7374

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and Director("CEO")

Brett R. Whitmire(2)

5455

Chief Financial Officer

Richard D. White (2)

72

Corporate Secretary and Special Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer and former Chief Financial Officer

Julie Holland

5859

Senior Vice President, Corporate Operations

Francis Tang

6566

Senior Vice President, Worldwide Discrete Products

Emily Yang

5152

Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales and Marketing

Evan Yu

5960

Senior Vice President, Worldwide Power Products

Gary Yu

48

Senior Vice President, Business Groups

Jin Zhao

52

Vice President, Worldwide Analog Products

(1) See “Proposal One - Election of Directors” for biographical information regarding Dr. Keh-Shew Lu.

(2) Mr. White retired as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer effective March 1, 2019, and was replaced by Mr. Whitmire.   Mr. White remains with the Company as Corporate Secretary and Special Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer.  Effective March 1, 2019, Mr. White no longer serves as an executive officer.

Brett R. Whitmire         Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Whitmire was appointedassumed his current position as the Company'sCompany’s Chief Financial Officer in March 2019. From 2014He has 32 years of industry experience and has been with the Company for over ten years. Prior to 2019,being named CFO, he served as the Company's Corporate Controller and Principal Accounting Officer.Officer of the Company, and previously served as the director of global supply chain. Mr. Whitmire has over 30 years of industry experience, including 20 yearsworked at TI, where he servedFreescale Semiconductor as Chief Financial Officer for the Analog & Sensors Division. He began his career at Texas Instruments in a variety of finance and operations leadership positions including seven years as Vice President while serving as the finance and operations executive for the High-VolumeHigh Volume Analog and& Logic Division and the head of corporate supply chain. In addition,chain head. Mr. Whitmire worked at Freescale Semiconductor as CFO for the Analog and Sensors Division, as well as previously led the global supply chain organization for Diodes. He earnedholds both his Bachelor'sa bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from The University of Texas at Austin.

Julie Holland          Senior Vice President, Corporate Operations

Ms. Holland joined the Company in 2008 and in January 2018 moved from her position as Vice President, Worldwide Analog Products to Vice President, Corporate Operations.2008. She previously spent over 20 years at TITexas Instruments (TI) where she held several key management roles, last serving as director and general manager of the Connectivity Solutions business unit prior to her departure in 2007. Her responsibilities included leading business and technical teams in the United States, Asia and Japan in the development, production and marketing of multiple analog and interface product lines. Prior to joining the Connectivity Solutions business unit, Ms. Holland served at TI as Director, Worldwide Bus Solutions from 2000 to 2001 and as Director, Computer Peripheral and Control Products from 1997 to 1999. She earned her Bachelor’sbachelor’s degree in Physics and Mathematics at Northwestern University and her Master’smaster’s degree in Engineering Management at Southern Methodist University. She is an alumna of Leadership America and Leadership Texas, and was named a Fellow of the International Women’s Forum Leadership Foundation.

Francis Tang          Senior Vice President, Worldwide Discrete Products

Mr. Tang was appointed to his current positionVice President, Worldwide Discrete Products in 2006.2006 and Senior Vice President in November 2020. He previously served as the Company’s Global Product Manager since 2005. From 2002 until joining the Company, Mr. Tang served as general manager of T2 Microelectronics in Shanghai, China where he managed complex mixed-signal SOC product development. From 1996 to 2001, Mr. Tang was the senior strategic marketing director for Acer Labs, Inc. USA, and prior to that, he was employed by NSMNational Semiconductor for 17 years, where he held various management positions in analog and mixed-signal circuit design, applications and strategic marketing. Mr. Tang holds a Master’smaster’s degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Missouri – Rolla.

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Emily Yang   Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales and Marketing

Ms. Yang was appointed Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Marketing in December 2017.2017 and Senior Vice President in November 2020. She has been with the Company since the acquisition of Pericom Semiconductor Corporation in November 2015, where she was Vice President of Global Sales. Prior to that, she held a number of sales management positions with Pericom since 1998, including: Vice PresidentVP of Sale for NEUA,Sales, NAEU, Contract Manufacturing Sales Director, Western Regional Sales

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Director, and Strategic Account Sales Director.Director covering Asia, North America, and Europe. Ms. Yang holds a Bachelor’sbachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Toronto.

Evan Yu  Senior Vice President, Worldwide AnalogPower Products

Mr. Yu joined the Company in 2008. Prior to being named Vice President, Worldwide Analog Products, Mr. Yu served as Diodes’ Asia President.  Prior to joining Diodes,the Company, he was the CEO of Commit Inc., a China home-grown TDSCDMA standard 3/4G chip set start-up company from 2003 to 2008. Prior to Commit Inc., Mr. Yu worked at TITexas Instruments for 15 years, where he held several key management roles, including as Asia Vice President of ASP (Applicationthe Application Specific Product and Digital Signal Product)Products organization (ASP) before his departure in 2001. Mr. Yu’s billion-dollar business responsibilities in ASP included leading several business development,developments, marketing, and technical units of wireless communication, ASIC, DSP, broadband, and digital still camera business units under his Asia ASP leadership.units. He studied electrical engineering at Kaoshung Institute of Technology (KIT) and earned his Bachelor’sbachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering at Tam Kang University in Taiwan.

Mr. Yu joined the Company in 2008. Prior to joining Diodes, he was the CEO of Commit Inc., a China home-grown TDSCDMA standard 3/4G chip set start-up company from 2003-2008. Prior to Commit Inc., Mr. Yu worked at Texas Instruments for 15 years, where he held several key management roles, including Asia Vice President of the Application Specific Products organization (ASP) before his departure in 2001. Mr. Yu’s billion-dollar business responsibilities in ASP included leading several business developments, marketing, and technical units of wireless communication, ASIC, DSP, broadband, and digital still camera business units. He studied electrical engineering at Kaoshung Institute of Technology (KIT) and earned his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering at Tam Kang University in Taiwan.

Gary YuSenior Vice President, Business Groups

Mr. Yu, who has been with the Company since 2008, was appointed to his current position in November 2020. He most recently served as the Company’s President, Asia Pacific Region. Prior roles in the Company include General Manager of the Company’s Shanghai wafer fabrication operation and its BCD business unit, Vice President of Asia Pacific Sales and manager of the Company’s DBS and Sensor business unit. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Yu spent over 10 years at Lite-On Semiconductor Corp. as Vice President, Worldwide Sales and at Texas Instruments in finance and capacity planning positions. Mr. Yu holds a bachelor’s degree in MIS from Fu-Jen University, Taiwan, a master’s degree in Telecommunication Engineering from Southern Methodist University, and an MBA from University of Texas at Dallas.

Jin ZhaoVice President, Worldwide Analog Products

Dr. Zhao was appointed to his current position in November 2020. He previously served as the Company’s Linear, Logic and Power Product Division Manager under the Analog Business Group. From 2014 until joining the Company in 2017, Dr. Zhao served in Vice President and General Manager roles at NXP and Fairchild Semiconductor, managing various product lines including analog interface products and high voltage discrete products. Dr. Zhao worked at Texas Instruments (“TI”) from 2001 to 2014, with roles including management of the integrated PMIC and over-voltage protection product lines. Prior to TI, Dr. Zhao worked at AMD Fab25 at Austin, Texas. Dr. Zhao holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the State University of New York at Buffalo and an MBA from the University of Texas at Dallas.


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REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

The Report of the Audit Committee of the Board does not constitute soliciting material and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts.

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The Board maintains an Audit Committee comprised of three of the Company’s directors, Michael R. Giordano (Chairman), Peter M. Menard and Christina Wen-Chi Sung. Each member of the Audit Committee meets the independence and experience requirements of Nasdaq and the independence requirements of the SEC. Mr. Giordano qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined under the rules of the SEC. The Audit Committee assists the Board in monitoring the accounting, auditing and financial reporting practices of the Company.

Management is responsible for the preparation of the Company’s financial statements and financial reporting process, including evaluating the effectiveness of its system of internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee:

reviewed and discussed with management the audited financial statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2019; and

reviewed and discussed with management the audited financial statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2020; and

obtained from management their representation that the Company’s financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

obtained from management their representation that the Company’s financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an audit of the Company’s financial statements in accordance with the auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and expressing an opinion on whether the Company’s financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the Company’s financial position and results of operations for the periods presented and conform with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee:

discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard No. 1301 (“Communications with Audit Committees”);

discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard No. 1301 (“Communications with Audit Committees”);

has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with Moss Adams LLP the firm’s independence, and;

has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with Moss Adams LLP the firm’s independence, and;

reviewed and discussed with management, the internal auditor, and the independent registered public accounting firm management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and the independent registered public accounting firm’s opinion about the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

reviewed and discussed with management, the internal auditor, and the independent registered public accounting firm management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and the independent registered public accounting firm’s opinion about the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

The Audit Committee operates under a written charter, which was adopted by the Board and is assessed annually for adequacy by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee held six (6) meetings during fiscal 2019, and took action by written consent on one (1) occasion.2020.

In performing its functions, the Audit Committee acts only in an oversight capacity. It is not the responsibility of the Audit Committee to determine that the Company’s financial statements are complete and accurate, are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States or present fairly the results of operations of the Company for the periods presented or that the Company maintains appropriate internal controls. Nor is it the duty of the Audit Committee to determine that the audit of the Company’s financial statements has been carried out in accordance with the generally accepted auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United

25 Diodes Incorporated


States) or that the Company’s auditors are independent. Based upon the reviews and discussions described above, and

30 Diodes Incorporated


the report of the independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee has recommended to the Board, and the Board has approved, that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20192020 for filing with the SEC. The Audit Committee also has recommended, and the Board also has approved, the selection of Moss Adams LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.2021.

 

Dated:  March 24, 202031, 2021

 

THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

 

 

Michael R. Giordano, Chairman

 

 

Peter M. Menard 

 

 

Christina Wen-Chi Sung

 

CODE OF ETHICS

The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics applicable to the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, or persons performing similar functions, and all members of the finance department of the Company. The Code of Ethics is available on the Company’s website at www.diodes.com, in the “Investors – Corporate Governance” section. The Company intends to disclose future amendments to, or waivers from, certain provisions of the Code of Ethics on the Company’s website within four business days following the date of such amendment or waiver.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

Policy Regarding Related Person Transactions

The Audit Committee has adopted a written policy (the “Policy”) to review any transaction in which the Company was, or is to be, a participant and in which any director, executive officer, or beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, or any immediate family member of any such person, has a direct or indirect material interest (a “related person transaction”). The Policy requires the following:

the Audit Committee shall review any proposed agreement or arrangement relating to a related person transaction or series of related person transactions, and any proposed amendment to any such agreement or arrangement;

the Audit Committee shall review any proposed agreement or arrangement relating to a related person transaction or series of related person transactions, and any proposed amendment to any such agreement or arrangement;

the Audit Committee shall establish standards for determining whether the transactions covered by such proposed agreement or arrangement are on terms no less favorable to the Company than could be obtained from an unrelated third party (“fair to the Company”);

the Audit Committee shall establish standards for determining whether the transactions covered by such proposed agreement or arrangement are on terms no less favorable to the Company than could be obtained from an unrelated third party (“fair to the Company”);

before the Company enters into any such proposed agreement or arrangement, and at least annually thereafter, the Company’s internal audit department shall report to the Audit Committee whether the transactions covered by such agreement or arrangement are fair to the Company under the standards established by the Audit Committee;

before the Company enters into any such proposed agreement or arrangement, and at least annually thereafter, the Company’s internal audit department shall report to the Audit Committee whether the transactions covered by such agreement or arrangement are fair to the Company under the standards established by the Audit Committee;

the Audit Committee shall make all reasonable efforts (taking into account the cost thereof to the Company) to cancel or to renegotiate any such agreement or arrangement which is not so determined to be fair to the Company; and

the Audit Committee shall make all reasonable efforts (taking into account the cost thereof to the Company) to cancel or to renegotiate any such agreement or arrangement which is not so determined to be fair to the Company; and

the Company shall disclose any related person transactions required to be disclosed by the rules promulgated by the SEC, in the manner so required.

the Company shall disclose any related person transactions required to be disclosed by the rules promulgated by the SEC, in the manner so required.

From time to time, the Audit Committee also will review any transaction it deems significant to the Company, including, but not limited to, transactions with Keylink International (B.V.I.) Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Keylink”), and Chengdu Ya Guang Electronic Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Ya Guang”). Keylink is the Company’s 5% joint venture partner in the Company’s Shanghai, China manufacturing facilities, and Ya Guang is the Company’s 5% and 2% joint venture partner in the Company’s Chengdu, China manufacturing facilities.

2631 Diodes Incorporated


Relationships and Transactions

The Audit Committee reviews all related person transactions for potential conflict of interest situations on an ongoing basis, in accordance with such procedures as the Audit Committee may adopt from time to time. We believe that all related person transactions are on terms no less favorable to us than could be obtained from unaffiliated third parties.

We conducthistorically conducted business with a related party company, LSC.Lite-On Semiconductor Corporation; (“LSC”), and its subsidiaries and affiliates.  LSC iswas also our largest stockholder, owning approximately 15.1%15% of the Company’sour outstanding Common Stock asStock.  As of the Record DateNovember 30, 2020, we acquired LSC and isthey are no longer a member of the Lite-On Group of companies.  In the third quarter of 2019 we entered into a Share Swap Agreement that provides for the acquisition of LSCstockholder or related party.  We also conduct business with Nuvoton Technology Corporation and its subsidiaries byand affiliates (collectively, “Nuvoton”). Raymond Soong, the Company. At the effective date of the transaction, each share of LSC will be converted into the right to receive TWD $42.50 per share in cash, or approximately US $1.42 per share based on December 31, 2019 exchange rates.  The aggregate consideration payable by the Company, based on the December 31, 2019 exchange rate, is approximately $437 million. This amount is subject to change, based on the Taiwan dollar to United States dollar exchange rate at closing. The acquisition received LSC stockholder approval on October 25, 2019, and we anticipate completing the acquisition in the second half of 2020, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.  We expect to fund the purchase price of the transaction primarily with proceeds from a new bank financing arrangement. Raymond K.Y. Soong,former Chairman of the Board through the date of the Meeting, isDiodes, was the Chairman of LSC, and LTC. In addition,was the Chairman of Lite-On Technology Corporation (“LTC”), which was a significant shareholder of LSC. C.H. Chen, our former President and Chief Executive Officer and our currentcurrently the Vice Chairman of the Board, iswas also Vice Chairman of LSC and is a board member of LTC, a significant shareholder of LSC, each of which is a member or an affiliate of the Lite-On Group.LTC. Dr. Keh-Shew Lu, our current Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, and a member of our Board, is a board member of LTC, and a board member of Nuvoton. Several ofWe consider our directors and executive officers may own LSC common stock and/or hold options to purchase LSC common stock. The Company considers its relationship with LSCrelationships Nuvoton to be mutually beneficial, and the Company planswe plan to continue itsour strategic alliance with LSC through the closing of the acquisition. Following the closing of the acquisition, we expect that LSC and Diodes will continue to conduct business through intercompany transactions and similar arrangements. In 2019, 2018 and 2017, LSC, accounted for less than 3% of our silicon wafer supply and our finished goods supply.

We sell products to, and purchase inventory from, companies owned by Keylink. We sold products to companies owned by Keylink, totaling approximately 1% of net sales for each of the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.  In addition, our subsidiaries in China lease their manufacturing facilities in Shanghai from, and subcontract a portion of our manufacturing process (metal plating and environmental services) to, Keylink. We also pay a consulting fee to Keylink. The aggregate amounts paid to Keylink for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were approximately $15.3 million, $16.6 million and $17.1 million, respectively.

Nuvoton.   We purchased silicon wafers from Nuvoton that we use in the production of finished goods, totaling $7.7$8.4 million and $11.2$7.7 million, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 20192020 and 2018.2019. See “Risk Factors – One of our external suppliers is also a related party. The loss of this supplier could harm our business, operating results and financial condition.” in Part I, Item 1A, and Note 15 - “Related Party Transactions,” to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 12, 202022, 2021 for additional information.

We also conduct business with Keylink International (B.V.I.) Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Keylink”). Keylink is our 5% joint venture partner in our Shanghai assembly and test facilities.   We sell products to, and purchase inventory from, companies owned by Keylink. We sold products to companies owned by Keylink, totaling approximately 2% of our net sales for the 12 months ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019. In addition, our subsidiaries in China lease their manufacturing facilities in Shanghai from, and subcontract a portion of our manufacturing process (metal plating and environmental services) to, Keylink. We also pay a consulting fee to Keylink. The aggregate amounts paid to Keylink for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 were approximately $14.6 million, $15.3 million and $16.6 million, respectively.   In addition, Chengdu Ya Guang Electronic Company Limited (“Ya Guang”) is our 2% joint venture partner in one of our Chengdu assembly and test facilities and our 5% partner in our other Chengdu assembly and test facilities; however, we have no material transactions with Ya Guang, other than this joint venture.  We also purchase materials from Jiyuan Crystal Photoelectric Frequency Technology Ltd. (“JCP”), an FCP manufacturing company in which we have made an equity investment and account for using the equity method of accounting.

Notwithstanding such relationships and transactions, the Board determined that each of Messrs. Soong and Chen is independent under the rules of Nasdaq and the SEC at the relevant times.

Mr. Kevin Chou, the son-in-law of Dr. Keh-Shew Lu, the Company’s Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the Board, is employed by the Company as Corporate Controller.  He has been an employee since 2009. For 2019,2020, Mr. Chou’s total cash compensation was approximately $239,797,$239,600, and his total equity compensation was 2,3002,080 RSUs, which vest in four equal annual installments.

 

 

2732 Diodes Incorporated


COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, the Company’s directors, executive officers and any persons holding ten percent or more of the Common Stock are required to report their ownership of Common Stock and any changes in that ownership to the SEC and to furnish the Company with copies of such reports.

Specific due dates for these reports have been established by the SEC, and the Company is required to report any failure to file on a timely basis. Based solely upon review of copies of reports filed by the Company’s directors and executive officers with the SEC during the most recent fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, the following Section 16(a) filings were not made timely; two Form 4’s for Mr. Brett Whitmire representing two transactions; one Form 4 for Mr. Tang representing two transactions; and one Form 4 for Mr. Warren Chen representing one transaction.

33 Diodes Incorporated


PROPOSAL TWO

APPROVAL OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

At the Meeting, the stockholders are being asked to approve the compensation of the NEOs as disclosed below pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC, including the information in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and in the Summary Compensation Table and other related tables and narrative disclosure below in “Executive Compensation.”

At the Company’s 2017 annual meeting of the stockholders, the Company’s stockholders voted in favor of providing stockholders an advisory vote on the approval of the compensation of the Company’s NEOs on an annual basis.

As discussed below, our executive compensation programs are designed to attract, retain and motivate executives who are critical to our long-term growth and profitability. Under these programs, our executives are incentivized to achieve Company performance goals and individual objectives established by the Compensation Committee, without encouraging undue or unreasonable risk-taking.

The Compensation Committee reviews our executive compensation programs annually to ensure they align executive compensation with the interests of our stockholders and current market practices. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “Executive Compensation” for information about our executive compensation programs, including information about the fiscal 20192020 compensation of the NEOs.

This proposal, commonly known as a “say-on-pay” proposal, gives our stockholders the opportunity to express their views on the compensation of our NEOs. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our NEOs and the executive compensation philosophy and decisions described in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “Executive Compensation.”

Approval of the compensation paid to the NEOs, as disclosed below pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC, requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock present, in person via internetthe Internet or by proxy, and entitled to vote on the proposal at the Meeting.

This vote is advisory and is not binding on the Company, the Board or the Compensation Committee. However, the Board and the Compensation Committee value the opinions of our stockholders and will review the result of the vote and take it into consideration when making future decisions regarding executive compensation.

THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NEOS AS DISCLOSED IN “COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS” AND “EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.”

 

2834 Diodes Incorporated


 

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

INTRODUCTION

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) explains the design and operation of the Company’s compensation program for (i) anyone who served during the fiscal year as our Chief Executive Officer or our Chief Financial Officer and (ii) our three other most highly compensated executive officers in the fiscal year (collectively, our “NEOs”).

Our NEOs for fiscal 20192020 were:

Name

Position with the Company

Dr. Keh-Shew Lu

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and a member of the Board

Brett R. Whitmire(1)

Chief Financial Officer

Richard D. White (1)

Corporate Secretary and Special Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer and former Chief Financial Officer

Julie Holland

Senior Vice President, Corporate Operations

Francis Tang

Senior Vice President, Worldwide Discrete Products

Emily Yang

Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales and Marketing

(1) Mr. Whitmire became the Company’s Chief Financial Officer effective March 1, 2019, upon the retirement from the Chief Financial Officer position by Mr. White. Mr. White remains with the Company as Corporate Secretary and Special Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer.  Effective March 1, 2019, Mr. White no longer served as an executive officer.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

“Say-on-Pay” Vote Summary

At our 20192020 annual meeting of stockholders, our stockholders approved, by a vote of approximately 99% of the shares present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on the proposal (not counting abstentions and broker non-votes), the compensation paid to our NEOs for services rendered in 20182019 as presented in the proxy statement for the 20192020 annual meeting of stockholders.  In light of this favorable “say on pay” vote and our stockholder engagement, the Compensation Committee did not materially adjust the Company’s compensation program for 20192020 or 2020.2021.

We have engaged with our stockholders to understand their perspectives on our Company, including our strategies, performance, governance, and executive compensation. This ongoing dialogue has helped inform the Board's decision-making and ensure our interests remain well-aligned with those of our stockholders.

The Company has a record of adopting provisions or modifying practices to reflect stockholder input. Examples include the Company's majority vote policy which was strengthened and documented at the request of our stockholders, as well as the 2017 redesign of our executive compensation program described below.program.

Redesign of Our Executive Compensation Program

Our stockholders’ approval of the “say-on-pay” vote in 2019, 2018 and 2017 was at approximately 99%, 98% and 98%, respectively, following a 39% favorable vote in 2016.  We attribute the increase in favorable support since 2017 to changes we made to our compensation practices after discussions with our stockholders, proxy advisory firms and Pearl Meyer & Partners, LLC (“Pearl Meyer”), a leading compensation consulting firm.  Based upon such discussions, we took the following actions, in 2017, to implement a best-in-class executive compensation program for the Company:

Replaced the 700,000 performance restricted share awards (“PRSAs”) granted to Dr. Lu in 2015 (the “2015 Awards”) with 62,905 performance stock units (the “Modified Awards”) subject to more stringent vesting and performance criteria than the 2015 Awards they replaced.  

Implemented new annual bonus and long-term incentive (“LTI”) plans that use the same approach to granting awards for the CEO, all other NEOs and other executive officers.

Restructured our annual bonus plan to determine actual payouts using a formula based on financial metrics (80% for 2018 and 2019) and specific strategic targets (20% for 2018 and 2019).

29 Diodes Incorporated


Designed LTI plan awards to vest based upon actual results over a three-year, cumulative performance period relative to pre-established threshold, target and maximum performance levels.

Aligned the LTI plan equity mix with market practice by ensuring at least half (50%) of long-term incentives are performance-based.

 

20192020 Business Summary

We accomplished many importantBelow is a summary of our 2020 financial strategic and operational objectives in fiscal 2019, including:results:

Net sales for fiscal 2019 was2020 were $1.23 billion, a record $1.25 billion, an increasedecrease of 2.9%1.6% from the $1.21$1.25 billion in fiscal 2018.2019,

Gross profit for fiscal 20192020 was $431.1 million, a record $465.8 million, an increasedecrease of 7.0%7.4% from the $435.3$465.8 million in fiscal 2018.2019,

Gross profit margin for fiscal 2019 increased 1402020 decreased 220 basis points to 37.3%35.1% from 35.9%37.3% for fiscal 2018.2019,

Income from operations for fiscal 2019 increased 29.9%2020 decreased 33.0% to a record$134.3 million, or 10.9% of revenue, from $200.6 million, or 16.1% of revenue, from $154.5 million, or 12.7% of revenue, for fiscal 2018.2019,

Net income for fiscal 20192020 was a record$98.1 million, or $1.88 per diluted share, compared to $153.3 million, or $2.96 per diluted share, compared to $104.0 million, or $2.04 per diluted share, in fiscal 2018.2019,  

35 Diodes Incorporated


Achieved $229.8 million of cash flow from operations and $131.3of $187.2 million of free cash flow, including $98.5$75.8 million of capital expenditures. Net cash flow was a positive $17.7$61.0 million, which includesincluded the pay downpurchase of $117.3 million of long-term debt.LSC during the fourth quarter for approximately $453.4 million; and

As of December 31, 2019,2020, the Company had approximately $263.2$327 million in cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and short-term investments, long-terminvestments. Total debt (including the current portion) totaledlong-term and short-term) amounted to approximately $97.5$451 million and working capital was approximately $524.6$514 million.

The following table provides additional information concerning our performance in fiscal 20192020 compared to fiscal 2018 illustrating across the board improved results.2019:

Description (in millions, except per share amounts)

2019

 

2018

2020

 

2019

Net sales

$1,249.1

 

$1,214.0

$1,229.2

 

$1,249.1

Gross profit

465.8

 

435.3

431.1

 

465.8

Gross profit margin

35.1%

 

37.3%

Income from operations

200.6

 

154.5

134.3

 

200.6

Diluted net income per share

2.96

 

2.04

1.88

 

2.96

Stock price at fiscal year end

56.37

 

32.26

70.50

 

56.37

Adjusted earnings per share - common stockholders (Non-GAAP)

2.91

 

2.38

2.35

 

2.91

 

30 Diodes Incorporated


CONSOLIDATED RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO ADJUSTED NET INCOME

CONSOLIDATED RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO ADJUSTED NET INCOME

CONSOLIDATED RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO ADJUSTED NET INCOME

(unaudited)

(unaudited)

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)

(in thousands, except per share data)

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

For the 12 Months Ended December 31,

 

 

For the 12 Months Ended December 31,

 

2019

 

2018

 

2020

 

2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GAAP net income - common stockholders

 

$153,250

 

$104,021

 

$98,088

 

$153,250

GAAP earnings per share - common stockholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted

 

$2.96

 

$2.04

 

$1.88

 

$2.96

Adjustments to reconcile net income - common stockholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

to adjusted net income - common stockholders, net of tax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets

 

14,779

 

15,032

 

13,270

 

14,779

Acquisition related costs

 

1,314

 

-

Land sale inspection extension fee

 

(336)

 

-

Acquisition-related financing costs

 

7,331

 

-

Acquisition-related costs

 

2,366

 

1,314

Restructuring costs

 

2,009

 

-

Board member retirement costs

 

1,347

 

-

Reverse gain on LSC investments

 

(1,714)

 

-

Gain on land sale

 

(19,201)

 

-

 

-

 

(19,201)

Loss on impairment

 

1,283

 

-

 

-

 

1,283

Officer retirement

 

-

 

2,014

Restructuring costs

 

-

 

194

Land sale inspection extension fee

 

-

 

(336)

Adjusted net income - common stockholders (Non-GAAP) (1)

 

$151,089

 

$121,261

 

$122,697

 

$151,089

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted shares used in computing earnings per share

 

51,860

 

50,935

 

52,133

 

51,860

Adjusted earnings per share - common stockholders (Non-GAAP)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted (1)

 

$2.91

 

$2.38

 

$2.35

 

$2.91

(1) See Exhibit 99.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 11, 202016, 2021 for a description of the adjustments used to calculate Adjusted net income – common stockholders (Non-GAAP) and Adjusted earnings per share – common stockholders (Non-GAAP) Diluted.

 


3136 Diodes Incorporated


OVERVIEW OF COMPENSATION PROGRAM

Compensation Philosophy

Our executive compensation program is designed to attract, retain and motivate experienced executives to achieve sustainable profitable growth and generate positive cash flow.  Our compensation philosophy is driven by the following guiding principles:

3237 Diodes Incorporated


Best-Practice Compensation Governance Features

Our executive compensation program is based upon best-practices.

What We Do

What We Don’t Do

Place heavy emphasis on performance-based variable compensation. Generally the Company sets performance objectives for annual bonuses and long-term equity incentives higher year-over-year to establish challenging goals and thereby align the interests of our executives with the interests of our stockholders.

Allow option backdating, cash out of underwater options or option repricing

Emphasize long-term equity awards in executive pay mix

Gross up excise taxes upon a change in control

Apply stock ownership and stock retention guidelines to align executives’ interests with stockholders’ interests

Permit hedging or pledging of Company stock, or short sales and transactions in derivatives

Include a clawback provision in our incentive plans

Provide perquisites to NEOs that are not available to other senior management generally

Conduct an annual risk assessment

Offer enhanced retirement formulas or death benefits

Engage an independent compensation consultant periodically to ensure alignment with market executive compensation

Provide automatic acceleration of equity awards upon retirement

Have a “double-trigger” equity vesting upon a change in control

Provide automatic “single trigger” acceleration of equity or other benefits in the event of a change in control

Conduct an annual stockholder say-on-pay vote

Pay dividend equivalents on unearned restricted shares or stock units

Components of Compensation

The principal elements of our executive compensation program for 2017, 2018, 2019 and 20192020 are summarized in the table below:

 

Element

Form

What It Does

 

How It Links to Performance

Base Salary

Cash (Fixed)

Provides a competitive rate relative to similar positions in the market, and enables the Company to attract and retain critical executive talent

Based on job scope, level of responsibilities, experience, tenure and market levels

Annual (Bonus) Incentive Plan

Cash (Variable)

Focuses executives on achieving annual financial and strategic goals that drive long-term stockholder value

Payouts: 0% to 200% of target, based on results against pre-established goals

Financial Metrics: 80% of bonus for 20192020 and 2020

2021 - Earnings per share (“(��EPS”), and Net sales and CSER

Individual Goals: 20% of bonus for 20192020 and 2020

2021 - Tied to specific strategic objectives

Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Plan

Equity (Variable)

Provides incentives for executives to execute on longer-term financial and strategic growth goals that drive long-term stockholder value and support the Company’s retention strategy

50% of the LTI award is performance-based and 50% vests ratably over a four-year period

Performance-based awards can pay out between 0% and 200% of target, based on actual performance compared to pre-established, three-year financial performance targets subject to a four-year time-based vesting requirement

3338 Diodes Incorporated


Factors Considered in Making Compensation Decisions

Our compensation strategy is flexible and enables us to appropriately differentiate and reward executives by taking into account:

Company financial and operational performance;

The executive's individual performance, experience and qualifications;

The scope of the executive's role;

The level of total compensation for our other executives; and

Competitive market data which helps us evaluate how our executive pay levels compare to othersthat being offered to individuals with comparable roles in our industry and within the market insemiconductor companies with which we compete for talent.

For additional information regarding elements of compensation, please refer to the graphs below in the section entitled “Principal Components of Compensation."

PAY FOR PERFORMANCE

The chart below illustrates the relative degree of alignment between the total stockholder return ("TSR," defined as stock price appreciation plus dividends) and the CEO's annual compensation as reported in the Summary Compensation Table for the Company (set forth below) and its 20172020 Peer Group (as defined below) for the most recent three-year period from 2017 through 2019.available. For further information concerning the 2017 Peer Group and the new 2020 Peer Group, see “Compensation Review Process – Selection of Peer Group.”

34

39 Diodes Incorporated


The table below illustrates the change in Dr. Lu’s total direct compensation for 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2019:2020:

CEO's Total Direct Compensation

CEO's Total Direct Compensation

CEO's Total Direct Compensation

2017

2018

 

2019

2019 vs 2017

2018

2019

 

2020

2020 vs 2018

Base Salary

$657,418

$689,320

 

$723,713

10%

$689,320

$723,713

 

$728,250

6%

Bonus

$1,483,954

$1,686,265

 

$1,507,594

2%

$1,686,265

$1,507,594

 

$1,453,201

-14%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RSU's

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of shares

62,905

63,000

 

59,000

-6%

63,000

59,000

 

53,100

-16%

Value/share (closing price on day of grant)

$26.26

$29.27

 

$41.04

56%

$29.27

$41.04

 

$49.49

69%

Value

$1,651,885

$1,844,010

 

$2,421,360

47%

$1,844,010

$2,421,360

 

$2,627,919

43%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PSU's

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of shares

62,905

63,000

(1)

59,000

-6%

63,000

59,000

 

53,100

-16%

Value/share (closing price on day of grant)

$26.26

$29.27

 

$41.04

56%

$29.27

$41.04

 

$49.49

69%

Value

$1,651,885

$1,844,010

 

$2,421,360

47%

$1,844,010

$2,421,360

 

$2,627,919

43%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock Options

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of shares

 

 

Value/share

 

 

Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Incentive

$3,303,770

$3,688,020

 

$4,842,720

47%

$3,688,020

$4,842,720

 

$5,255,838

43%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other compensation

$81,377

$70,032

 

$102,927

26%

 

 

 

 

Total Compensation

$5,445,142

$6,063,605

 

$7,074,027

30%

$6,144,982

$7,144,059

 

$7,540,216

23%

Change from previous year

61%

11%

 

17%

N/A

11%

16.3%

 

5.5%

N/A

(1) In February 2017, the 700,000 performance restricted share awards (“PRSAs”) which Dr. Lu was entitled to receive between 2015 and 2018 pursuant to his employment agreement (the “2015 Awards”) were modified and replaced with 62,905 performance stock units (the “Modified Awards”).  The Modified Awards cover fewer shares and have more stringent vesting and performance criteria than the 2015 Awards they replaced.  The Modified Awards replace the 2015 Awards and, therefore are intended to be Dr. Lu’s annual equity incentive award grant for 2015. See “Executive Compensation - Narrative to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table – CEO Employment Agreement - 2017 Amendment."

Our CEO’s total direct compensation for 2017, 2018 and 2019, as modified for replacement of the 2015 Awards by the Modified Awards, changed by 61%, 11% and 17%, respectively, compared to the prior year.  Total shareholder return for 2017, 2018, 2019 and 20192020 was 11.7%12.5%, 12.5%74.7% and 74.7%25.1%, respectively.  

The Compensation Committee retained Pearl Meyer in mid-2016 and Compensation Advisory Partners (“CAP”) in January 2020.  Pearl Meyer advised the Compensation Committee on market best practices and the development of a program that would be directly responsive to stockholder feedback, and  CAP advised the Compensation Committee as to the composition of the 2020 Peer Group and compared our 2020 projected executive compensation to that of our 2020 Peer Group.  Pearl Meyer and CAP each reported directly to the Compensation Committee. The individuals at Pearl Meyer and CAP who provided compensation consulting services to the Compensation Committee provide no other services to the Company or its subsidiaries.

40 Diodes Incorporated


In January 2020, CAP reviewed the compensation elements and market practices impacting the top six senior executive positions at Diodes.  The scope of the review focused on the base salary plus target annual and target long-term incentive compensation levels of the top six senior executive positions. The report relied on the compensation practices of our 2020 Peer Group. For a description of the 2020 Peer Group, see “Compensation Review Process – Selection of Peer Group” below. The review summarized the executives’ overall percentile alignment for Diodes’ executives compared to the final blended market data, with target compensation being the primary focus of the study percentile value and derived from base salary, target total cash, 2020 target long-term incentives and total direct compensation at target total cash. The review demonstrated that with some variation by individual, Diodes’ executives are compensated

35 Diodes Incorporated


at the 63rd percentile in terms of total direct compensation using target total cash plus 2020 target long-term incentives. The 63rd percentile measurement was primarily driven by the long-term performance incentives portion of our executive compensation program. Total direct compensation using actual total cash plus target long-term incentives is positioned slightly higher at the 66th percentile. The relative pay rank for our CEO and other executives by type of compensation is detailed in the following chart:

 

 

Pay Rank

Component of Pay

 

CEO(1)

 

Other Executive Officers

 

Overall

Base salary

 

32nd

 

22nd

 

24th

Cash compensation (base salary + target bonus)

 

69th

 

44th

 

48th

Long-term incentives ("LTI")

 

73rd

 

70th

 

71st

Total direct compensation (cash compensation + LTI)

 

67th

 

48th

 

63rd

 

PRINCIPAL COMPONENTS OF COMPENSATION

20192020 Pay Mix

The Compensation Committee set 20192020 base salary and target bonus and LTI award levels to generally align the NEOs’ total direct compensation with the 50th percentile of the market, based on a survey of our 2016 executive compensation prepared by Pearl Meyer.market.  The charts below illustrate the relative composition of 20192020 total direct compensation for our CEO and our other NEOs.

Base Salaries

We provide each of our NEOs with a competitive fixed annual base salary. The base salaries for our NEOs are reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee by taking into account each executive officer's scope of responsibility, level of experience, individual performance, and past and potential contribution to the Company's business, as well as the Company’s performance and the current year’s change in the cost of living.  The Compensation Committee does not assign any particular formula or weight to the foregoing factors.  

41 Diodes Incorporated


Consistent with our compensation philosophy, base salaries represent a fixed portion of total compensation and may generally be at or lower than the median base salaries paidbeing offered to officersindividuals with comparable duties byroles in semiconductor companies with which we compete for talent.

The following table shows each NEO’s annualized base salary for 20172019 to 20192021 and the percentage change in each NEOs’ annualized base salary from the prior year.  With the exception of Ms. Holland,Mr. Whitmire, whose pay increase reflects herhis additional responsibilities upon being appointed CFO, the averageNEO’s did not receive a salary increase in the NEOs’ base salaries from 2018 to 2019 was approximately 5%,

36 Diodes Incorporated


which was consistent with Company-wide salary increases and reflects2020, reflecting the Company’s record net sales, gross profit and profit margindecline in 2018 andperformance in 2020 when compared to 2019.

Annualized Base Salary

Annualized Base Salary

Annualized Base Salary

 

2017

 

2018

 

2019

 

2018

 

2019

 

2020

Name

 

Base Salary

($)

 

(%) Change

 

Base Salary

($)

 

(%) Change

 

Base Salary

($)

 

(%) Change

 

Base Salary

($)

 

(%) Change

 

Base Salary

($)

 

(%) Change

 

Base Salary

($)

 

(%) Change

Keh-Shew Lu

 

660,750

 

3%

 

693,750

 

5%

 

728,250

 

5%

 

693,750

 

5%

 

728,250

 

5%

 

728,250

 

Brett R. Whitmire (1)

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

280,000

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

288,000

 

N/A

 

294,000

 

2%

Richard D. White (1)

 

401,200

 

3%

 

421,200

 

5%

 

250,000

 

-41%

Julie Holland

 

297,150

 

N/A

 

312,150

 

5%

 

390,500

 

25%

 

312,150

 

5%

 

390,500

 

25%

 

390,500

 

Francis Tang

 

354,300

 

3%

 

372,000

 

5%

 

390,500

 

5%

 

372,000

 

5%

 

390,500

 

5%

 

390,500

 

Emily Yang

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

280,000

 

N/A

 

294,000

 

5%

 

280,000

 

N/A

 

294,000

 

5%

 

294,000

 

(1) Mr. Whitmire became an NEO replacing Mr. White as Chief Financial Officer in 2019.

(2) Mr. White ceased being an NEO in 2019 upon Mr. Whitmire becoming Chief Financial Officer.  Mr. White remains with the Company as Corporate Secretary and Special Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer.

In early 2020, the Compensation Committee increased the base salary of Mr. Whitmire to $294,000.  The remainder of the NEOs’ salaries were not changed.

Annual (Bonus) Incentive Plan

Annual incentives reward both the achievement of short-term financial goals, as well as the execution of activities to advance our strategic priorities, which support near-term financial performance and long-term strategic objectives.  Our annual bonus plan for 20182019 and 20192020 was simple, formulaic and responsive to investor feedback:

 

 

3742 Diodes Incorporated


This table illustrates the structure of the plan for 20182019 and 2019.  In 2018 the financial metric weighting was improved from 70% Non-GAAP earnings per share and 30% net sales to 80% Non-GAAP earnings per share and 20% net sales.  The Compensation Committee made this change to emphasize profitability.2020.  

 

Annual Incentives – Plan Structure (2019)

Weighting

Performance Objectives

Metrics

80%

Financial Metrics

Non-GAAP Earnings Per Share (EPS),

Net Sales and Net SalesCSER

 

20%

Strategic Priorities

Examples of strategic initiatives include, but are not limited to:

   Complete the acquisition of GFABLSC

   Manage the impact of the COVID-19 virus on the Company’s operations

   Increase market share

   Develop new products

   Increase % of sales from automotive industry

 

 

Both the financial metrics and the strategic priorities are set at the beginning of the year and on an absolute basis. The schedule below sets forth the annual incentives to be paid as a percentage of target.  Performance below or above target will result in an award ranging from 0% to a maximum of 200% of target.

 

The Compensation Committee chose to use EPS and net sales as the primary measures for 20182019 and 20192020 to keep our NEOs focused on profitability and profitable growth.  The Compensation Committee determined these measures to be appropriate since they are measures used by our peers in evaluating performance and are commonly used by stakeholders in the evaluation of company performance.  In 2020, the Compensation Committee added CSER to the financial metrics at a 3% weighting and established an internal committee to improve Diodes’ focus on its ongoing environmental, social and governance activities.  Achieving goals in bothall of these areas is critical to driving short-term results that have long-term impact on value creation.  The strategic initiatives will be evaluated based upon demonstrated performance against the specific pre-determined targets.

 

Annual Incentives –
Financial and Strategic Performance & Payout Ranges

Performance Level

Range of Payout*

Below 80% of Target

0% payout

From 80% to 100% of Target

50% to 100% payout

From 100% to 120% of Target

100% to 200% payout

Above 120% of Target

200% payout (capped)

*Performance between 80% and 100% of target and 100% and

120% of target is interpolated between the end points identified above.

38

43 Diodes Incorporated


Beginning in 2021 the performance level and payout ranges are revised as follows:

Annual Incentives –
Financial and Strategic Performance & Payout Ranges

Performance Level

Range of Payout*

Below 60% of Target

0% payout

From 60% to 100% of Target

50% to 100% payout

From 100% to 140% of Target

100% to 200% payout

Above 140% of Target

200% payout (capped)

*Performance between 60% and 100% of target and between 100% and

140% of target is interpolated between the end points identified above.

The following table sets forth the performance targets established by the Compensation Committee and the results achieved by the Company for fiscal 20182019 and fiscal 2019:  2020:

 

 

 

2018

 

 

 

2019

 

 

 

2019

 

2020

 

 

Objective

 

Weighting

 

Target

 

Actual

 

Weighting

 

Target

 

Actual

 

Performance vs. Target

 

Weighting

 

Target

 

Actual

 

Weighting

 

Target

 

Actual

 

Performance vs. Target

Financial objectives(80% of award)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial objectives (80% of award)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales (millions)

 

20%

 

$1,090.0

 

$1,214.0

 

20%

 

$1,290.0

 

$1,249.1

 

Not Achieved

 

20%

 

$1,290.0

 

$1,249.1

 

19%

 

$1,160.0

 

$1,212.3

 

Exceeded

Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share

 

80%

 

$1.53

 

$2.38

 

80%

 

$2.55

 

$2.91

 

Exceeded

 

80%

 

$2.55

 

$2.91

 

78%

 

$2.07

 

$2.34

 

Exceeded

Strategic objectives(20% of award)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Complete acquisition of GFAB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Achieved (1)

CSER

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

3%

 

11

 

7

 

Exceeded

Strategic objectives (20% of award)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Complete the acquisition of Lite-On Semiconductor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Achieved (1)

Manage the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Achieved (2)

Increase market share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Achieved (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Achieved (3)

Develop new products

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Achieved (3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Achieved (4)

Increase % of revenues from automotive industry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Achieved (4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Achieved (5)

(1) In April 2019,November 2020, the Company acquired a wafer fabrication plant in Greenock, Scotland;completed its acquisition LSC;

(2) During 2020, the Company managed the challenges presented by COVID-19 with minimum disruptions on its operations;

(3) The Company has increased market share;

(3)(4) The Company continues to develop successful new products; and

(4) Automotive net(5) Net sales related to the automotive industry increased to 11% in 2020 from 10% in 2019 from 9% in 2018.2019.

The following payout percentages, as a percent of target opportunity, for 2020 were calculated based upon the weight of each performance objective for 2020 and the results set forth above:

Performance Objective

% Attained to Target

% Payout to Target

Weight

% Attained to Target

% Payout to Target

Weight

Financial objective

 

 

 

 

Net sales

97

92

16%

105%

123%

15%

Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share

114

170

64%

113%

167%

63%

CSER

157%

200%

2%

Strategic objectives

156

20%

143%

20%

44 Diodes Incorporated


 

Based upon the Company’s 20192020 performance, our NEOs received the following bonuses:

Name

Target Bonus as Percentage of Salary

 

Actual Payout as % of Target

 

Actual Payout as % of Salary

 

2019 Bonus

Target Bonus as Percentage of Salary

 

Actual Payout as % of Target

 

Actual Payout as % of Salary

 

2020 Bonus

Dr. Keh-Shew Lu

125%

 

163%

 

204%

 

$1,479,584

125%

 

160%

 

200%

 

$1,453,201

Brett R. Whitmire

70%

 

159%

 

118%

 

312,502

70%

 

152%

 

107%

 

305,738

Richard D. White

N/A

 

100%

 

9%

 

25,000

Julie Holland

70%

 

159%

 

115%

 

435,829

Julie Holland (1)

70%

 

152%

 

112%

 

436,369

Francis Tang

70%

 

147%

 

104%

 

401,978

70%

 

152%

 

106%

 

414,551

Emily Yang

70%

 

146%

 

103%

 

302,642

70%

 

152%

 

106%

 

312,107

 

For fiscal 20182019 and 2019,2020, each financial objective (i.e., net sales and Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share) was substantially increased overestablished after consideration by the corresponding objective for the prior yearCompensation Committee to ensure that the performance targets establish challenging goals and thereby align the interests of our executives with the interests of our stockholders.

39 Diodes Incorporated


The following table shows each NEO’s maximum executive bonuses for 2017, 2018, 2019 and 20192020 and the percentage change from the prior year:

 

2017

 

2018

 

2019

 

2018

 

2019

 

2020

Name

 

$(1)

 

Change (%)

 

$(1)

 

Change (%)

 

$(1)

 

Change (%)

 

$(1)

 

Change (%)

 

$(1)

 

Change (%)

 

$(1)

 

Change (%)

Dr. Keh-Shew Lu

 

1,471,247

 

132%

 

1,659,582

 

13%

 

1,820,626

 

10%

 

1,659,582

 

13%

 

1,820,626

 

10%

 

1,820,625

 

Brett R. Whitmire

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

392,000

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

392,000

 

N/A

 

401,359

 

2.4%

Richard D. White

 

213,500

 

134%

 

564,250

 

164%

 

25,000

 

-96%

Julie Holland

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

448,164

 

N/A

 

546,700

 

22%

 

448,164

 

N/A

 

546,700

 

22%

 

546,700

 

Francis Tang

 

180,000

 

145%

 

498,341

 

177%

 

546,700

 

10%

 

498,341

 

177%

 

546,700

 

10%

 

546,700

 

Emily Yang

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

375,095

 

N/A

 

411,600

 

10%

 

375,095

 

N/A

 

411,600

 

10%

 

411,600

 

(1) In 2017, the Compensation Committee redesigned our executive bonus plan to determine actual payouts using a formula based on financial metrics (80%) and specific strategic targets (20%).  

This executive bonus plan is operated pursuant to the 2013 Plan which permits the grant of cash awards.  See “Executive Compensation – Narrative to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table – 2013 Equity Incentive Plan.”  The executive bonus formula used performance criteria approved by our stockholders.

 

In early 2020,2021, the Compensation Committee reviewed the design of our annual incentive plan for 2020.2021.  No changes were made to the target awards as a percentage of base salary, the financial objectives, the strategic objectives, or the relative weight of the financial objectives as compared to the strategic objectives.  The weighting of the Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share financial metric remained at 80%will be 77% to emphasize profitability, and the weighting of net sales remained at 20%will be 18% and CSER will be 5%.  The Compensation Committee feels these measures reflect the Company’s longer-term goal of achieving a 40% gross margin.margin and the increased focus on corporate governance. Due to the sensitivity of earnings per share and net sales forecasts and the correlation of earnings per share to our stock price, the 20202021 targets are not being disclosed at this time.  However, the targets will be disclosed at the end of the performance period along with the achievement levels against such targets.

In 2019 each employee of the Company, including NEOs, received two-weeks of pay to reward the successful financial performance of the Company.  For the NEOs, these amounts are shown in column (d) of the Summary Compensation Table.45 Diodes Incorporated


Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Plan

Under the Company's 2013 Plan, the Company may grant any type of equity award whose value is derived from the value of the Common Stock of the Company, including, but not limited to, shares of Common Stock, stock options, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance stock units (“PSUs”) and restricted stock. Equity awards encourage our NEOs to execute on longer-term financial goals that drive stockholder value creation and support our retention strategy.

 

In February 2019,2020, the Committee granted long-term incentive (“LTI”) awards to certain executive officers. Each LTI award consisted of (1) restricted stock units (“RSUs”) which vest over four years and (2) performance stock units (“PSUs”) which contain a performance-based vesting condition under which the PSUs will vest upon the Company achieving a cumulative 3-year Non-GAAP operating income target for 2019-2021.2020-2022.

In February 2020, the Compensation Committee reviewed the design of our LTI plan for 2020, with the assistance of CAP. No changes were made to the structure of the plan compared to 2019, except for a change to the 3-year Non-GAAP operating income target for 2020-2022 and a change in our peer group.  

40 Diodes Incorporated


For fiscal 2017, 2018 and 2019, the cumulative 3-year Non-GAAP operating incomeearnings per share target was substantially increased over the corresponding objective for the prior year to ensure that the performance targets establish challenging goals and thereby align the interests of our executives with the interests of our stockholders.  For fiscal 2020, the cumulative 3-year Non-GAAP earnings per share was reduced compared to 2019 to reflect current market conditions.

The following chart illustrates the structure of the plan for 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2019.2020.  The structure of the LTI awards is the same for the CEO and all other NEOs.

 

        

46 Diodes Incorporated


 

LTI Plan Structure

Weighting

Equity Vehicles

Metrics

50%

Performance-Based Stock Units: Vest according to actual performance compared to pre-established, three‐year absolute financial performance targets, subject to an additional four-year time-based vesting requirement.targets.

For the 2018‐20202020‐2022 award cycle, the Compensation Committee chose a Non-GAAP operating income target of $360.8$390.6 million, and increased this target for 2019-2021.2021-2023.

50%

Time-Based Restricted Stock Units: Vest ratably over a four‐year period (i.e., 25% on each anniversary of the award).

N/A

 


41 Diodes Incorporated


The actual amount of performance-based awards that are earned and vest will be driven by the achievement of the performance metrics at the end of the three-year performance period relative to our three-year absolute performance goals:

LTI Awards
Financial Performance & Payout Ranges

Performance Level

Range of Payout*

Below 80% of Target

0% payout

From 80% to 100% of Target

50% to 100% payout

From 100% to 120% of Target

100% to 200% payout

Above 120% of Target

200% payout (capped)

*Performance between 80% and 100% of target and between 100% and

120% of target is interpolated between the end points identified above.

47 Diodes Incorporated


Beginning in 2021 the performance level and payout ranges are revised as follows:

Annual Incentives –
Financial and Strategic Performance & Payout Ranges

Performance Level

Range of Payout*

Below 60% of Target

0% payout

From 60% to 100% of Target

50% to 100% payout

From 100% to 140% of Target

100% to 200% payout

Above 140% of Target

200% payout (capped)

*Performance between 60% and 100% of target and between 100% and

140% of target is interpolated between the end points identified above.

 

The following table sets forth the number of shares subject to RSUs and PSUs granted to each NEO in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2020,2021, the grant date fair value of such awards, and the percentage change in such shares and such value from the prior year:

 

 

 

2018

 

2019

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

2020

 

2021

Name

Shares/Value

 

RSUs

 

PSUs

 

Change % (1)

 

RSUs

 

PSUs

 

Change % (1)

 

RSUs

 

PSUs

 

Change % (1)

Shares/Value

 

RSUs

 

PSUs

 

Change % (1)

 

RSUs

 

PSUs

 

Change % (1)

 

RSUs

 

PSUs

 

Change % (1)

Dr. Keh-Shew Lu

#

 

63,000

 

63,000

 

 

59,000

 

59,000

 

-6%

 

53,100

 

53,100

 

-10%

#

 

59,000

 

59,000

 

-6%

 

53,100

 

53,100

 

-10%

 

32,000

 

32,000

 

-40%

$

 

1,844,010

 

1,844,010

 

12%

 

2,421,360

 

2,421,360

 

31%

 

2,627,919

 

2,627,919

 

9%

$

 

2,421,360

 

2,421,360

 

31%

 

2,627,919

 

2,627,919

 

9%

 

2,546,240

 

2,546,240

 

-3%

Brett R. Whitmire

#

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

12,000

 

12,000

 

N/A

 

10,800

 

10,800

 

-10%

#

 

12,000

 

12,000

 

N/A

 

10,800

 

10,800

 

-10%

 

7,600

 

7,600

 

-30%

$

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

492,480

 

492,480

 

N/A

 

534,492

 

534,492

 

9%

Richard D. White

#

 

20,000

 

20,000

 

 

 

 

N/A

 

 

 

N/A

$

 

585,400

 

585,400

 

12%

 

 

 

N/A

 

 

 

N/A

$

 

492,480

 

492,480

 

N/A

 

534,492

 

534,492

 

9%

 

604,732

 

604,732

 

13%

Julie Holland

#

 

13,000

 

13,000

 

N/A

 

17,000

 

17,000

 

31%

 

15,300

 

15,300

 

-10%

#

 

17,000

 

17,000

 

31%

 

15,300

 

15,300

 

-10%

 

9,200

 

9,200

 

-40%

$

 

380,510

 

380,510

 

N/A

 

697,680

 

697,680

 

83%

 

757,197

 

757,197

 

9%

$

 

697,680

 

697,680

 

83%

 

757,197

 

757,197

 

9%

 

732,044

 

732,044

 

-3%

Francis Tang

#

 

18,000

 

18,000

 

 

17,000

 

17,000

 

-6%

 

15,300

 

15,300

 

-10%

#

 

17,000

 

17,000

 

-6%

 

15,300

 

15,300

 

-10%

 

7,600

 

7,600

 

-50%

$

 

526,860

 

526,860

 

10%

 

697,680

 

697,680

 

32%

 

757,197

 

757,197

 

9%

$

 

697,680

 

697,680

 

32%

 

757,197

 

757,197

 

9%

 

604,732

 

604,732

 

-20%

Emily Yang

#

 

10,000

 

10,000

 

N/A

 

13,000

 

13,000

 

30%

 

11,700

 

11,700

 

-10%

#

 

13,000

 

13,000

 

30%

 

11,700

 

11,700

 

-10%

 

7,600

 

7,600

 

-35%

$

 

292,700

 

292,700

 

N/A

 

533,520

 

533,520

 

82%

 

579,033

 

579,033

 

9%

$

 

533,520

 

533,520

 

82%

 

579,033

 

579,033

 

9%

 

604,732

 

604,732

 

4%

(1) Represents the combined number of shares subject to RSUs and PSUs for the given year and the combined grant date values of such RSUs and PSUs, compared to the combined number of shares subject to awards and the combined grant date values of such awards for the prior year.

The Compensation Committee believes that both performance-based and time-based awards are appropriate equity vehicles for a portion of long-term incentive compensation for the Company’s executive officers because both such awards align executive officers’ interests with the interests of stockholders by focusing executive officers on long-term Company performance.  The value of these awards increases if the Company’s stock price increases, and the value of these awards decreases if the stock price declines.  Time-based awards also serve to retain executive officers because they provide executive officers some economic value (if time-based vesting requirements are met) regardless of stock price changes. Performance-based awards encourage NEOs to achieve the specific pre-determined performance objectives selected by the Compensation Committee.

The Compensation Committee’s policy is to grant equity awards annually in recognition of each executive officer's current and potential contributions to the Company. To encourage retention, allstock option and restricted stock awards are subject to a four-year time-based vesting requirement in addition to any performance-based vesting requirement.

In determining equity awards in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2020,2021, the Compensation Committee first reviewed the NEOs’ equity awards in light of the executive compensation philosophy that the total compensation (i.e., the aggregate of all cash and equity awards) of the NEOs and all other executive officers should be competitive at the median (50th percentile) with the total compensation paid to executive officers with comparable duties paid by similarly sized companies in the semiconductor industry.  The number of RSU and PSU awards is adjusted to reflect the Company’s stock price at the time the award is granted. The Compensation Committee noted that in 2019,2020, the Company achieved its 29th consecutiveacquired LSC and contended with the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic.

4248 Diodes Incorporated


year of profitability, set a record in net sales and continued to grow net sales from the $1.21 billion in net sales achieved in 2018 to $1.25 billion in 2019.

The Compensation Committee then reviewed each NEO’s personal performance and contribution to the Company.  When doing its review, the Compensation Committee believes that target compensation should be competitive with that being offered to individuals inwith comparable roles at otherin semiconductor companies with which we compete for talent.  This is done to ensure we employ the best people to lead to our success.  The Compensation Committee reviews the allocation between cash and non-cash components of the NEO’s compensation, and the size, term and value of the awards made in prior years.  The Compensation Committee believes that each NEO made meaningful contributions in each area of his or her responsibilities to the growth and profitability of the Company.  The Compensation Committee believes that it has appropriately valued the cash awards and equity awards granted in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 20202021 consistent with the Company’s compensation objectives and philosophy.

 

 

COMPENSATION REVIEW PROCESS

When making individual compensation decisions for NEOs, the Compensation Committee takes many factors into account, including the performance of the Company as a whole, the current market conditions, the executive officer’s experience, responsibilities, management abilities and job performance, and pay levels for similar positions at comparable companies.  The Compensation Committee does not assign any particular formula or weight to the foregoing factors.  

The Role of the Compensation Committee The Compensation Committee determines the compensation for the executive officers, including the NEOs.  The Compensation Committee meets in an executive session at the beginning of each fiscal year to:

Evaluate the performance of the NEOs and all other executive officers during the prior fiscal year;

Determine their final annual bonuses, if any, for the prior fiscal year;

Determine the threshold, target and maximum bonus opportunity for the current fiscal year for each executive officer as a percentage of base salary, the performance objectives and the formula for computing the bonus; and

Determine the mix of stock options, restricted shares and/or restricted stock units to be granted in the current year, the portion of such equity compensation that will be time-vested or performance-based, and the performance objectives.

At the end of each fiscal year, the Compensation Committee:

Certifies satisfaction of the performance objectives; and

Determines the annual bonuses, if any, for all executive officers for such fiscal year.  

The Compensation Committee may meet from time to time during the year to assess the adequacy of the Company’s compensation for all executive officers.  

The Role of Management The Compensation Committee discusses with, and takes into consideration, the recommendations of the CEO concerning the annual evaluation of the executive officers, except for matters related to his own evaluation and compensation.  The CEO has a role in determining executive compensation because he evaluates employee performance, recommends performance goals and objectives, and recommends salary levels, bonuses and incentive awards of the executive officers, other than himself.

The Role of the Independent Consultant To gain a perspective on external pay levels, emerging practices and regulatory changes, our Compensation Committee engages from time to time outside executive compensation consultants that are independent under the SEC and NASDAQ Stock Market rules to provide benchmark and survey information and advise the Compensation Committee as it conducts its review of our executive compensation programs. The Compensation Committee retained Pearl Meyer and Partners, LLC (“Pearl Meyer”) in mid-2016 and CAP in January 2020.  Pearl Meyer advised the Compensation Committee on market best practices and the development of a program that would be directly responsive to

43 Diodes Incorporated


stockholder feedback, and CAP advised the Compensation Committee as to the composition of the 2020 Peer Group and compared our 2020 projected executive compensation to that of our 2020 Peer Group.Group, as defined

49 Diodes Incorporated


below.  Pearl Meyer and CAP each was selected by and reported directly to the Compensation Committee. The individuals at Pearl Meyer and CAP who provided compensation consulting services to the Compensation Committee provide no other services to the Company or its subsidiaries.

The Compensation Committee’s reason for updating the benchmarking/survey information at least every three years as opposed to every year is that the Compensation Committee does not believe that the executive compensation benchmark or the comparable companies are likely to have significant changes over just a one or two year period.

In accordance with its charter, the Compensation Committee analyzed whether the work of Pearl Meyer and CAP as a compensation consultant has raised any conflict of interest, taking into consideration the following factors:  (i) the provision of other services to the Company by Pearl Meyer and CAP; (ii) the amount of fees from the Company paid to Pearl Meyer and CAP as a percentage of the firm’s total revenue; (iii) Pearl Meyer’s and CAP’s policies and procedures that are designed to prevent conflicts of interest; (iv) any business or personal relationship of Pearl Meyer and CAP or the individual compensation advisors employed by the firm with an executive officer of the Company; (v) any business or personal relationship of the individual compensation advisors with any member of the Compensation Committee; and (vi) any stock of the Company owned by Pearl Meyer and CAP or the individual compensation advisors employed by the firm.  The Compensation Committee has determined based on its analysis of the above factors, that the work of Pearl Meyer and CAP and the individual compensation advisors employed by Pearl Meyer and CAP as compensation consultants to the Company has not created a conflict of interest.

Selection of Peer Group The Compensation Committee reviews data concerning the pay practices among semiconductor companies of similar size to the Company.  In mid-2016, as part of the redesign of the executive compensation program for 2017, based on the advice of Pearl Meyer, the Compensation Committee updated its compensation peer group.  Because of industry consolidation, it was recommended that the Company revise its peer group to drop those companies affected by recently completed and pending acquisitions and to add additional companies.  Criteria used for inclusion included semiconductor or communications equipment companies, with which the Company competes for executive talent, annual reported revenues ranging from approximately $700 million to $4.0 billion, market capitalization and inclusion in proxy advising firm peer groups.

The resulting peer group in 2017 (the “Peer Group”) consisted of:

2017 Peer Group

Atmel

Intersil(2)

Cavium, Inc. (3)

Maxim Integrated Products

Cirrus Logic

Microsemi (4)

Cree

ON Semiconductor Corporation

Cypress Semiconductor

Plantronics, Inc.

Fairchild Semiconductor International (1)

Semtech Corporation

Finisar

Silicon Laboratories Inc.

Infinera Corporation

Synaptics, Incorporated

Integrated Device Technology

(1)  Subsequently acquired by ON Semiconductor Corporation.

(2)  Subsequently acquired by Renesa.

(3) Subsequently acquire by Marvell Technology Group Ltd.

(4) Subsequently acquired by Microchip Technology.

44 Diodes Incorporated


Based on the review undertaken in 2020 by CAP, the Company’s peer group effective for 2020 consists of the following companies (the “2020 Peer Group”):

2020 Peer Group(1)

Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited

ON Semiconductor Corporation

Cirrus Logic, Inc.

Plantronics, Inc.

Cree, Inc.

Qorvo, Inc.

Cypress Semiconductor Corporation

Semtech Corporation

Infinera Corporation

Silicon Laboratories Inc.

Littelfuse, Inc.

Skyworks Solutions, Inc.

Marvell Technology Group Ltd.

Synaptics Incorporated

Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.

Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.

 

(1) For the 2020 peer group,Peer Group, the median revenue for the trailing twelve months up to September 30, 2019 was $1.6 billion. For the same period Diodes’ revenue was $1.3 billion.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS AND PERQUISITES

Executive officers are entitled to reimbursement for all reasonable and documented business expenses and paid time off in accordance with the Company’s policies (which are also applicable to all employees). Certain executive officers are also provided additional executive benefits and perquisites. For fiscal 2019,2020, the Company provided the following benefits and perquisites to the NEOs:

 

Benefit

Description

Automobile Allowance

   $1,300 per month for Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer

   $1,000$1,000 per month for certain NEOs

$600 per month for certain Senior Vice President of World Wide Sales

Health Insurance

   Corporate group insurance

Dental Insurance

   Corporate group insurance

Vision Insurance

   Corporate group insurance

Employee Assistance Program

   Corporate employee assistance program

Retirement Plans

   401(k) Plan matching contributions of $1 for every $2 contributed by the participant up to 6% (3% maximum matching) of the participant’s eligible payroll (subject to regulations of the Internal Revenue Service)

   Discretionary 401(k) contribution, the amount of which is to be determined each year.  For 2019,2020, no discretionary contributions were made.

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Benefit

Description

Deferred Compensation Plan

   Defer receipt of a portion of salary, cash bonus, equity or other specified compensation.

   Discretionary contribution made by the Company. For 2019,2020, no discretionary contributions were made.

Life Insurance

   Corporate group life insurance in the amount of $700,000

Accidental Death and Dismemberment

   Insured in the amount of $700,000

Business Travel Accident Insurance

   $1,000,000 for accidental death and dismemberment

   $500,000 for permanent total disability

   $500 per week for up to 52 weeks of accident total disability

Short-Term Disability Insurance

   After elimination period of seven days, 66-2/3% of weekly earnings are paid to a maximum of $3,750 per week.

Long-Term Disability Insurance

   After elimination period of 180 days, 66-2/3% of basic monthly earnings to a maximum of $15,000 per month (and the duration of such benefit is based on such NEO’s age on the date of his or her disability).

Executive Health Reimbursement

Reimbursement of certain enhanced medical services intended to promote the executive's health and well-being up to the annual maximum reimbursement limits as follows:

$6,000 for CEO

$3,000 for Other Executive Officers

 

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The additional benefits and perquisites provided to NEOs for fiscal 20192020 accounted for a nominal amount of the NEOs’ total compensation. The Compensation Committee believes that these benefits and perquisites are consistent with the Compensation Committee’s philosophy to provide a competitive compensation package.

BEST PRACTICES

For a description of the Company’s anti-hedging, anti-pledging, anti-short selling, stock ownership, stock retention and clawback policies, see, “Corporate Governance – Corporate Policies.”

 

COMPENSATION RISK ASSESSMENT

The Compensation Committee has conducted an annual compensation risk assessment and concluded that the Company’s compensation policies and practices do not encourage excessive or unnecessary risk-taking and are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Compensation Committee took into account the significant proportion of the annual compensation that is based on equity incentives that have long maturities and vesting periods, and the Company’s clawback, stock retention and stock ownership policies that align the NEO’s and other executive officers’ compensation with the interests of the Company’s stockholders.

 

POST-TERMINATION AND CHANGE- IN-CONTROL PAYMENTS

The Compensation Committee believes that a change-in-control transaction would create uncertainty regarding the continued employment of the Company’s executive officers.  This is because many change-in-control transactions result in significant organizational changes, particularly at the senior executive level.  In order to encourage the Company’s executive officers to remain employed with the Company during an important time when their continued employment in connection with, or following, a transaction is often uncertain, and to help keep the Company’s executive officers focused on Company business rather than on their personal financial security, the Compensation Committee believes

51 Diodes Incorporated


that providing certain of the Company’s executive officers with severance benefits upon certain terminations of employment following an actual or potential change-in-control transaction is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

 

Dr. Lu entered into his current employment agreement with the Company as of July 21, 2015 to replace his expired 2009 employment agreement.  In the event that Dr. Lu’s employment by the Company is terminated (a) by the Company for "cause" (as defined), or (b) by him other than for "good reason" (as defined), or (c) due to his death, neither the Company nor he shall have any remaining duties or obligations under the employment agreement, except that:

 

 

a)

the Company shall promptly pay or provide to Dr. Lu, or his estate, the annual base salary, prorated through the date of termination,

 

b)

the Company shall pay to Dr. Lu, or his estate, any amount payable under an executive bonus plan for the fiscal year in which such termination occurs, prorated to the date of the termination,

 

c)

all stock-based compensation previously granted to Dr. Lu shall continue to be governed by the applicable award agreement, and

 

d)

Dr. Lu shall continue to be bound by the restrictions on the use of trade secrets, “competitive activities” (as defined) and solicitation of employees and independent contractors.   

 

In the event that Dr. Lu’s employment by the Company is terminated by (a) the Company other than for "cause" including a termination by the Company due to Dr. Lu’s “Disability” (as defined), or (b) Dr. Lu for "good reason" (as defined), neither the Company nor Dr. Lu shall have any remaining duties or obligations under the agreement, except that:

 

 

1)

clauses (a) through (d) in the preceding paragraph shall each be applicable,

 

2)

the Company shall continue to pay or provide to Dr. Lu, or his estate, the annual base salary during the period commencing on the 60th  day after the effective date of such termination and ending on the first anniversary of such effective datesuch that an aggregate total of 12 months of base salary are provided, and

46 Diodes Incorporated


 

3)

the Company shall provide to Dr. Lu continued participation in any group health plan or medical reimbursement plan on the terms existing on the date of termination for the period commencing on the effective date of such termination and ending on the earlier of 18 months thereafter or the date that the Company is otherwise unable to continue to cover him under its group health plans without penalty under applicable law.

The term of Dr. Lu’s employment agreement commenced on July 21, 2015 and shall end on May 31, 2022, unless sooner terminated as provided in the agreement or due to death.  Employment is “at will” and may be terminated by either the Company or Dr. Lu at any time.  See Exhibits 99.1 to the Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 27, 2015 and February 27, 2017 for a complete copy of the employment agreement and the Amendment thereto between the Company and Dr. Lu.

 

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TAX AND ACCOUNTING CONSIDERATIONS

Deductibility of Compensation  Under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), prior to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Tax Act”), a public company generally will not be entitled to a deduction for non-performance-based compensation paid to an executive officer to the extent such compensation exceeds $1.0 million.  Special rules apply for “performance-based” compensation, including the approval of the performance goals by the stockholders of the Company.  The stockholders of the Company have approved each of the Company's incentive plans for the purpose of qualifying those plans under Code Section 162(m).  To qualify for deductibility under Code Section 162(m), the performance goals must be established no later than 90 days from the beginning of the performance period.  

While the Compensation Committee has in the past generally intended that all compensation be deductible, there will be instances where potentially non-deductible compensation is provided to reward our NEOs consistent with our compensation philosophy for each compensation element.  Moreover, the Tax Act substantially revised Code Section 162(m).  As a result of the Tax Act revisions, effective as of 2018, (1) the commission and performance-based exceptions have been removed (effectively eliminating the tax deduction for annual compensation which is in excess of $1 million), and (2) the group of executives covered by Code Section 162(m) includes the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, the three other most highly compensated executive officers, and anyone who was previously a covered executive officer with the Company.  While the Tax Act provides some limited transitional relief for certain performance-based compensation awards that may be grandfathered from the elimination of the performance-based compensation exception, this relief is limited and may not be applicable.  Therefore, despite the Compensation Committee’s past efforts to structure executive team incentive awards in a manner intended to be exempt from Code Section 162(m) and therefore not subject to its deduction limits, no assurance can be given that compensation which is in excess of the annual $1 million compensation limit will in fact be deductible. Further, the Compensation Committee reserves the right to modify compensation that was initially intended to be exempt from Code Section 162(m) if it determines that such modifications are consistent with the Company’s business needs.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation For a discussion of the Company's nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements, see “Executive Compensation – Nonqualified Deferred Compensation.”

Accounting for Share-Based Compensation The Company uses the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model to determine the fair value of stock options on the date of grant.  The amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes for restricted stock and performance stock grants is calculated by multiplying the number of shares subject to the grant by the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the grant date.

Limited Change-in-Control Benefits We provide limited change-in-control severance benefits to Company’s executive officers and do not provide any related tax gross-ups.  See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Additional Benefits and Perquisites.”


4753 Diodes Incorporated


REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The Report of the Compensation Committee of the Board does not constitute soliciting material and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this information by reference and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Compensation Committee of the Board has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with the Company’s management, and based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.

 

Dated:  March 24, 202031, 2021

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

The Compensation Committee

 

 

 

Raymond K.Y. Soong,Michael K.C. Tsai, Chairman

Warren Chen

 

Christina Wen-Chi Sung

Michael K.C. Tsai

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4854 Diodes Incorporated


EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The table below summarizes the compensation for each of the last three fiscal years of (1) each person who served as the Company’s principal executive officer or the Company’s principal financial officer during 2019,2020, (2) the Company’s three other most highly compensated executive officers who were serving as executive officers at the end of 20192020 (excluding the amount in column (h)), and (3) up to two additional individuals for whom disclosure would  have been required under clause (2) but for the fact that the individual was not serving as an executive officer at the end of fiscal 20192020 (collectively, “NEOs”).

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

Name and

Principal Position

(a)

 

Year

(b)

 

Salary

($) (1)

(c)

 

Bonus

($) (2)

(d)

 

Stock

Awards

($) (3)

(e)

 

Option

Awards

($) (3)

(f)

 

Non-Equity

Incentive Plan

Compensation

($) (2)

(g)

 

Change in

Pension Value

and

Non-qualified

Deferred

Compensation

Earnings

($)

(h)

 

All Other

Compensation

($) (6)

(i)

 

Total

($)

(j)

 

Year

(b)

 

Salary

($) (1)

(c)

 

Bonus

($) (2)

(d)

 

Stock

Awards

($) (3)

(e)

 

Option

Awards

($) (3)

(f)

 

Non-Equity

Incentive Plan

Compensation

($) (2)

(g)

 

Change in

Pension Value

and

Non-qualified

Deferred

Compensation

Earnings

($)

(h)

 

All Other

Compensation

($) (5)

(i)

 

Total

($)

(j)

Keh-Shew Lu (4)

 

2019

 

723,713

 

28,010

 

4,842,720

 

 

1,479,584

 

135

 

70,032

 

7,144,059

 

2020

 

728,250

 

 

5,255,838

 

 

1,453,201

 

22

 

102,927

 

7,540,216

President and

 

2018

 

689,320

 

26,683

 

3,688,020

 

 

1,659,582

 

108

 

81,377

 

6,144,982

Chairman, President and

 

2019

 

723,713

 

28,010

 

4,842,720

 

 

1,479,584

 

135

 

70,032

 

7,144,059

Chief Executive Officer

 

2017

 

657,418

 

12,707

 

3,303,771

 

 

1,471,247

 

44

 

80,215

 

5,525,358

 

2018

 

689,320

 

26,683

 

3,688,020

 

 

1,659,582

 

108

 

81,377

 

6,144,982

Brett R. Whitmire (5)(4)

 

2019

 

264,207

 

10,769

 

984,960

 

 

312,502

 

 

42,089

 

1,614,527

 

2020

 

286,685

 

 

1,068,984

 

 

305,738

 

 

45,861

 

1,707,268

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019

 

264,207

 

10,769

 

984,960

 

 

312,502

 

 

42,089

 

1,614,527

Richard D. White (5)

 

2019

 

277,673

 

9,615

 

 

 

25,000

 

379

 

24,459

 

336,747

Corporate Secretary, Special

 

2018

 

418,515

 

16,200

 

1,170,800

 

 

564,250

 

(112)

 

35,837

 

2,205,602

Assistant to the CEO, Former Chief Financial Officer

 

2017

 

399,175

 

7,715

 

1,043,100

 

 

500,262

 

244

 

34,376

 

1,984,628

Julie Holland

 

2019

 

380,196

 

15,019

 

1,395,360

 

 

435,829

 

1,194

 

24,602

 

2,251,006

 

2020

 

390,500

 

 

1,514,394

 

 

436,369

 

770

 

28,326

 

2,369,589

Vice President,

 

2018

 

310,136

 

12,006

 

761,020

 

 

448,164

 

(441)

 

23,837

 

1,555,163

Senior Vice President,

 

2019

 

380,196

 

15,019

 

1,395,360

 

 

435,829

 

1,194

 

24,602

 

2,251,006

Corporate Operations

 

2017

 

295,653

 

5,714

 

594,316

 

 

370,521

 

840

 

22,376

 

1,288,580

 

2018

 

310,136

 

12,006

 

761,020

 

 

448,164

 

(441)

 

23,837

 

1,555,163

Francis Tang

 

2019

 

388,067

 

15,019

 

1,395,360

 

 

401,978

 

98,216

 

23,604

 

2,224,028

 

2020

 

390,500

 

 

1,514,394

 

 

414,551

 

72,652

 

25,659

 

2,345,104

Vice President,

 

2018

 

369,624

 

14,308

 

1,053,720

 

 

498,341

 

(36,916)

 

23,837

 

1,959,830

Senior Vice President,

 

2019

 

388,067

 

15,019

 

1,395,360

 

 

401,978

 

98,216

 

23,604

 

2,224,028

World Wide Discrete Products

 

2017

 

352,517

 

6,813

 

956,599

 

 

441,782

 

83,597

 

22,376

 

1,780,087

 

2018

 

369,624

 

14,308

 

1,053,720

 

 

498,341

 

(36,916)

 

23,837

 

1,959,830

Emily Yang (7)

 

2019

 

292,159

 

11,308

 

1,067,040

 

 

302,642

 

 

18,377

 

1,691,526

Vice President,

 

2018

 

276,476

 

10,769

 

585,400

 

 

375,095

 

 

18,215

 

1,265,955

Emily Yang

 

2020

 

294,000

 

 

1,158,066

 

 

312,107

 

 

21,538

 

1,785,711

Senior Vice President,

 

2019

 

292,159

 

11,308

 

1,067,040

 

 

302,642

 

 

18,377

 

1,691,526

World Wide Sales and Marketing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018

 

276,476

 

10,769

 

585,400

 

 

375,095

 

 

18,215

 

1,265,955

 

(1) Each executive officer’s salary is established in February of each year.  Amounts shown represent the amounts earned in each fiscal year. Effective March 2, 2020,1, 2021, the base salaries for Dr. Lu and Messrs. Whitmire and Tang were $728,250, $288,000$294,000 and $390,500, respectively, and Ms. Holland and Ms. Yang were $390,500 and $294,000, respectively. Effective in 2019, Mr. White

(2) The amount shown is no longer anthe actual cash bonus paid for 2020.  This amount consists of any performance-based bonus and any discretionary bonus.  Under the executive officer.

(2)bonus formula that established the target bonus for each executive officer (i) 80% of the bonus was tied to the financial metrics of the Company and (ii) 20% of the bonus was tied to individual goals for each NEO.  See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Principal Components of Compensation – Annual (Bonus) Incentive Plan.”  In December 2019 2018 and 20172018 the Compensation Committee granted a cash bonus to all employees, including executive officers. These bonuses were equal to two weeks additional pay in 2019 and 2018 and one week additional pay in 2017.pay.

(3) These amounts reflect the value determined by the Company for accounting purposes for these awards and do not reflect whether each NEO has actually realized a financial benefit from the awards. The value of the equity awards in columns (e) and (f) is based on the grant date fair value calculated in accordance with the amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes. Pursuant to SEC rules, the amounts shown exclude the impact of estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. Amounts reported in the Stock Awards column (e) above (in the form of RSUs and PSUs) are calculated by multiplying the number of shares subject to the award by the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the grant date. See Note 14, Share-Based Compensation, to the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019,2020, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 12, 2020,22, 2021, for a further discussion of the relevant valuation assumptions used in calculating grant date fair value. All equityrestricted stock and option awards vest in four equal annual installments after the date of grant. In addition to time requirements, in order for performance-basedPerformance-based equity awards vest according to vest, certainactual performance criteria must be met.compared to pre-established, three‐year absolute financial performance targets.

(4) Does not include 600,000 shares of Common Stock in the form of PRSAs granted as long-term, performance incentives to Dr. Lu in six equal annual installments of 100,000 shares, on each of April 14, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.  Each installment would vest only if the Company files with the SEC an Annual Report on Form 10-K for a fiscal year, which Annual Report contains audited financial statements stating that the Company’s net sales for that fiscal year exceeded $1 billion. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, the Company exceeded $1 billion in net sales, and the 600,000 PRSAs were released to Dr. Lu in February 2018 when the Company filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K. Also does not include 700,000 shares of Common Stock in the form of PRSAs (the “2015 Awards”) separately granted on July 21, 2015 as long-term, performance incentives to Dr. Lu that were replaced with 62,905 shares of Common Stock in the form of performance stock units granted on February 21, 2017 to replace the 2015 Awards (the “Modified Awards”), which Modified Awards would vest only if (i) the Company achieves a Non-GAAP operating income for 2017 through 2019 of $204.6 million and (ii) Dr. Lu continues to provide services to the Company.  The

49 Diodes Incorporated


Company exceeded the 3-year operating income target for 2017-2019, and the Modified Awards vested in February 2020.  For further discussion on the net sales target, Non-GAAP operating income target and service condition related to these grants, see “Executive Compensation – Narrative to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table.”

(5) Mr. Whitmire was appointed Chief Financial Officer effective March 1, 2019, replacing Mr. White who retired as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer on that date.2019.

(6)(5) Certain of the Company’s executive officers receive personal benefits in addition to salary, cash bonuses and share-based compensation, consisting of automobile allowance, medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, employee assistance program, taxable per diem, contributions under the Company’s retirement plans, deferred compensation plan, life insurance payable at the direction of the employee, accidental death and dismemberment insurance (“AD&D”), business travel accident insurance, and short-term and long-term disability insurance. The amount shown in column (i) for “All Other Compensation” includes benefits summarized in the following table for each         NEO.``.

(7) Ms. Yang became an NEO during 2018.

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The table below sets forth the detail of “All Other Compensation” for each NEO.

 

 

Name

 

Year

 

Auto

Allowance

($)

 

Health

Insurance

($)(1)

 

Retirement

Plans

($)

 

Life and Disability

Insurance

($)(2)

 

Per Diem

($)(3)

 

Total

($)(4)

 

Year

 

Auto

Allowance

($)

 

Health

Insurance

($)(1)

 

Retirement

Plans

($)

 

Life and Disability

Insurance

($)(2)

 

Per Diem

($)(3)

 

Total

($)(4)

Keh-Shew Lu

 

2019

 

15,600

 

13,440

 

8,400

 

2,762

 

29,830

 

70,032

 

2020

 

15,600

 

14,347

 

8,550

 

2,762

 

61,668

 

102,927

 

2018

 

15,600

 

12,797

 

8,250

 

2,790

 

41,940

 

81,377

 

2019

 

15,600

 

13,440

 

8,400

 

2,762

 

29,830

 

70,032

 

2017

 

15,600

 

11,245

 

8,100

 

3,031

 

42,239

 

80,215

 

2018

 

15,600

 

12,797

 

8,250

 

2,790

 

41,940

 

81,377

Brett R. Whitmire

 

2019

 

12,000

 

18,958

 

8,400

 

2,731

 

 

42,089

 

2020

 

12,000

 

22,562

 

8,550

 

2,749

 

 

45,861

Richard D. White

 

2019

 

 

13,440

 

8,400

 

2,619

 

 

24,459

 

2018

 

12,000

 

12,797

 

8,250

 

2,790

 

 

35,837

 

2017

 

12,000

 

11,245

 

8,100

 

3,031

 

 

34,376

 

2019

 

12,000

 

18,958

 

8,400

 

2,731

 

 

42,089

Julie Holland

 

2019

 

 

13,440

 

8,400

 

2,762

 

 

24,602

 

2020

 

 

17,015

 

8,550

 

2,762

 

 

28,326

 

2018

 

 

12,797

 

8,250

 

2,790

 

 

23,837

 

2019

 

 

13,440

 

8,400

 

2,762

 

 

24,602

 

2017

 

 

11,245

 

8,100

 

3,031

 

 

22,376

 

2018

 

 

12,797

 

8,250

 

2,790

 

 

23,837

Francis Tang

 

2019

 

 

12,442

 

8,400

 

2,762

 

 

23,604

 

2020

 

 

14,347

 

8,550

 

2,762

 

 

25,659

 

2018

 

 

12,797

 

8,250

 

2,790

 

 

23,837

 

2019

 

 

12,442

 

8,400

 

2,762

 

 

23,604

 

2017

 

 

11,245

 

8,100

 

3,031

 

 

22,376

 

2018

 

 

12,797

 

8,250

 

2,790

 

 

23,837

Emily Yang

 

2019

 

7,200

 

15

 

8,400

 

2,762

 

 

18,377

 

2020

 

7,200

 

3,027

 

8,550

 

2,762

 

 

21,538

 

2018

 

7,200

 

15

 

8,250

 

2,750

 

 

18,215

 

2019

 

7,200

 

15

 

8,400

 

2,762

 

 

18,377

 

2018

 

7,200

 

15

 

8,250

 

2,750

 

 

18,215

 

(1) Consists of medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as employee assistance program.

(2) Consists of life, AD&D, business travel accident, and short-term and long-term disability insurance.

(3) Taxable per diem amounts consist of amounts paid to Dr. Lu for reimbursements while staying at his personal residence while traveling on Company business.

(4) The total does not include change in deferred compensation plan benefit value, if any, which is immaterial.

 

50 Diodes Incorporated


GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to grants of awards to the NEOs under the Company’s non-equity incentive plan and the 2013 Plan during 2019.2020.

 

 

 

Estimated Future Payouts Under

Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards

 

Estimated Future Payouts

Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards

 

All Other Stock

Awards:

Number of Shares of

Stock or Units

(#)

(i)

 

All Other Option

Awards:

Securities Underlying

Options

(#)

(j)

 

Exercise or Base Price of

Option Awards

($/Sh)

(k)

 

Grant Date Fair Value

of Stock and Option Awards

($) (2)

(l)

 

 

 

Estimated Future Payouts Under

Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards

 

Estimated Future Payouts

Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards

 

All Other Stock

Awards:

Number of Shares of

Stock or Units

(#)

(i)

 

All Other Option

Awards:

Securities Underlying

Options

(#)

(j)

 

Exercise or Base Price of

Option Awards

($/Sh)

(k)

 

Grant Date Fair Value

of Stock and Option Awards

($) (1)

(l)

Name

(a)

 

Grant Date

(b)

 

Threshold

($)

(c)

 

Target

($) (1)

(d)

 

Maximum

($)

(e)

 

Threshold

(#)

(f)

 

Target

(#)

(g)

 

Maximum

(#)

(h)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grant Date

(b)

 

Threshold

($)

(c)

 

Target

($)

(d)

 

Maximum

($)

(e)

 

Threshold

(#)

(f)

 

Target

(#)

(g)

 

Maximum

(#)

(h)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keh-Shew Lu

 

2/21/2019

 

455,157

 

910,913

 

1,820,626

 

29,500

 

59,000

 

118,000

 

59,000

 

 

 

4,842,720

 

2/19/2020

 

455,157

 

910,313

 

1,820,626

 

26,550

 

53,100

 

106,200

 

53,100

 

 

 

5,255,838

Brett R. Whitmire

 

2/21/2019

 

98,000

 

196,000

 

392,000

 

6,000

 

12,000

 

24,000

 

12,000

 

 

 

984,960

 

2/19/2020

 

100,800

 

201,600

 

403,200

 

5,400

 

10,800

 

21,600

 

10,800

 

 

 

1,068,984

Richard D. White

 

N/A

 

147,420

 

294,840

 

589,680

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julie Holland

 

2/21/2019

 

136,675

 

273,350

 

546,700

 

8,500

 

17,000

 

34,000

 

17,000

 

 

 

1,395,360

 

2/19/2020

 

136,675

 

273,350

 

546,700

 

7,650

 

15,300

 

30,600

 

15,300

 

 

 

1,514,394

Francis Tang

 

2/21/2019

 

136,675

 

273,350

 

546,700

 

8,500

 

17,000

 

34,000

 

17,000

 

 

 

1,395,360

 

2/19/2020

 

136,675

 

273,350

 

546,700

 

7,650

 

15,300

 

30,600

 

15,300

 

 

 

1,514,394

Emily Yang

 

2/21/2019

 

102,900

 

205,800

 

411,600

 

6,500

 

13,000

 

26,000

 

13,000

 

 

 

1,067,040

 

2/19/2020

 

102,900

 

205,800

 

411,600

 

5,850

 

11,700

 

23,400

 

11,700

 

 

 

1,158,066

 

(1) The amount shown is the actual cash bonus paid for 2019.  This amount consists of any performance-based bonus and any discretionary bonus.  Under the executive bonus formula that established the target bonus for each executive officer (i) 80% of the bonus was tied to the financial metrics of the Company and (ii) 20% of the bonus was tied to individual goals for each NEO.  See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Principal Components of Compensation – Annual (Bonus) Incentive Plan.”

(2) These amounts reflect the value determined by the Company for accounting purposes for these awards and do not reflect whether each NEO has actually realized a financial benefit from the awards. Pursuant to SEC rules, the amounts shown exclude the impact of estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. Grant date fair value reported for stock awards in the form of RSUs and PSUs is calculated by multiplying the number of shares subject to the award by the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the grant date. See Note 14, Share-Based Compensation, to the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019,2020, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 12, 2020,22, 2021, for a further discussion of the relevant valuation assumptions used in calculating grant date fair value. All equitystock option and RSU awards vest in four equal annual installments.  In addition to time requirements, in order forVesting of performance-based equity awards is subject to vest, certain performance criteria must be met.being met over a three-year cumulative period.

56 Diodes Incorporated


CEO Pay Ratio

At the end of 20192020 Diodes had approximately 7,3008,900 employees worldwide, including approximately 3,8003,600 direct labor personnel, located mainly in Asia.  The annual total compensation for our median employee for 20192020 was $17,815$23,299 and $7,144,059$7,540,216 for our CEO. The resulting ratio of our CEO’s pay to the pay of our median employee for 20192020 was 401323 to 1. The annual total compensation for our median U.S.US employee for 20192020 was $178,031,$174,969 and the resulting ratio of our CEO’s pay to the pay of our median U.S.US employee for 20192020 was 4043 to 1.

We identified our 2019the median employee by examining the 20192020 compensation data for all individuals, excluding our CEO, who were employed by us as of December 31, 2019.2020. We included all employees, whether employed on a full-time, part-time or seasonal basis. We did not make any cost-of-living adjustments in identifying the median employee. We also did not make any assumptions adjustments, or estimatesadjustments with respect to total cash compensation, and we did not annualize the compensation for any full-time employees that were not employed by us for all of 2019.compensation. We calculated the median employee’s annual total compensation using the same methodology we use for our NEOs as set forth in the 2020 Summary Compensation Table in this Proxy Statement.proxy statement.

NARRATIVE TO SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE AND GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS TABLE

CEO Employment Agreement

2017 Amendment. On February 22, 2017, the Company and Dr. Lu entered into Amendment No. 1 (the “Amendment”) to the Employment Agreement between the Company and Dr. Lu dated as of July 21, 2015, as described below. The Amendment provided for the replacement of the 2015 Awards covering 700,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock granted to Dr. Lu on July 21, 2015 with the Modified Awards covering 62,905 shares, all pursuant to the

51 Diodes Incorporated


Company’s 2013 Plan.  The Modified Awards had more stringent vesting and performance criteria than the 2015 Awards they replaced. The Modified Awards replaced the 2015 Awards and, therefore, were to be Dr. Lu’s annual equity incentive award granted for 2015. See Exhibit 99.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 27, 2017.  

The terms of performance-based awards state are that within ninety days after the end of the performance period, the Compensation Committee shall determine the degree to which Target Performance has been achieved (such date of determination is the “Determination Date”) and that will also be the date of vesting for the target number of PSUs (the “Target Award”).  These shares were released during February 2020.

The terms of performance-based awards state that the Target Award will vest if the Target Performance is achieved. 50% of the Target Award will vest upon achievement of 80% of the Target Performance, and 200% of the Target Award will vest upon achievement of 120% of the Target Performance. Upon achievement of between 80% and 100%, and between 100% and 120%, of Target Performance, the percentage of the Target Award that vests will be decreased or increased on a pro rata basis, with no vesting or payout upon achievement of below 80% of Target Performance and with vesting and payout limited to 200% of the Target Award if the Target Performance exceeds 120%.  If either a Qualifying Termination or a Change in Control, as defined, occurs before the end of the three-year performance period, then the Target Performance and Target Award shall each be pro-rated based on the number of days within the performance period that have elapsed as of the end of the calendar month before the Qualifying Termination or Change in Control.

Upon termination at any time before the earlier of a Qualifying Termination or Change in Control or the Determination Date, all then unvested PSUs shall be forfeited.

The Company satisfied the performance criteria, at the 200% level, and the 125,810 shares were released in February 2020.

2015 Employment Agreement. The following is a summary of Dr. Lu’s employment agreement entered into on July 21, 2015, that was amended as described above on February 22, 2017.  Prior to the Amendment, the employment agreement provided that Dr. Lu would be entitled to (i) receive an annual base salary of $623,000 (changed to $660,750

57 Diodes Incorporated


by the Amendment)  (subject to increase in the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors), (ii) receive grants of the 2015 Awards, covering 700,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock (replaced with the Modified Awards covering 62,905 shares), (iii) participate in any executive bonus plan of the Company and maintain continued eligibility for additional equity compensation grants, (iv) receive reimbursement for all reasonable and documented business expenses, (v) receive paid vacation in accordance with the Company's vacation policy for employees, (vi) participate in all plans and programs sponsored by the Company for employees in general, (vii) receive a life insurance policy with a death benefit in the amount in effect on the date of the employment agreement ($700,000), and (viii) receive a disability insurance policy in the maximum insurable amount.

The term of Dr. Lu’s employment agreement commenced on July 21, 2015 and shall end on May 31, 2022, unless sooner terminated as provided in the agreement or due to death.  Employment is “at will” and may be terminated by either the Company or Dr. Lu at any time.  See Exhibits 99.1 to the Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 27, 2015 and February 27, 2017 for a complete copy of the employment agreement and the Amendment thereto between the Company and Dr. Lu.

2009 PRSAs. On September 22, 2009, the Company and Dr. Lu entered into a stock award agreement pursuant to which the Company granted Dr. Lu 100,000 shares of Common Stock in the form of PRSAs as long-term, performance-based incentives on each of April 14, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Each installment would vest only if the Company files with the SEC an Annual Report on Form 10-K for a fiscal year, which Annual Report contains audited financial statements stating that the Company’s net sales for that fiscal year exceeded $1 billion. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, the Company exceeded $1 billion in net sales and the 600,000 PRSAs were released to Dr. Lu in February 2018 when the Company filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K.

52 Diodes Incorporated


Executive Bonus Plan

For a description of the Company’s executive bonus plan, including the amount granted to NEOs in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2019,2020, and the method for determining the executive bonuses, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Principal Components of Compensation – Annual (Bonus) Incentive Plan.”

2001 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan

The purpose of the 2001 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (“2001 Incentive Plan”) is to promote and advance the interests of the Company and its stockholders by enabling the Company to attract, retain and motivate key service providers by providing performance-based benefits. The 2001 Incentive Plan encourages ownership in the Company by such key personnel whose long-term service is considered essential to the Company’s continued progress and, thereby, align participants’ and stockholders’ interests. Among other types of awards, SARs, stock options, stock awards, including restricted stock and RSUs, and cash awards, may be granted under the 2001 Incentive Plan. Options granted under the 2001 Incentive Plan may be either “incentive stock options,” as defined in Section 422 of the Code, or nonqualified stock options. Since the approval of the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (as so amended and restated the “2013 Plan”), all new grants are granted under the 2013 Plan, and we will not grant any further grants under the 2001 Plan.

 

2013 Equity Incentive Plan

At the 2017 annual meeting of stockholders, the Company stockholders approved an amendment and restatement of the Diodes Incorporated 2013 Plan to grant stock-based incentive awards to our employees, consultants and directors (collectively, “Selected Participants”). The 2013 Plan was previously approved by our Board on April 14, 2013 and by the stockholders at the annual meeting held on May 29, 2013.  A brief overview of the 2013 Plan follows:

The purpose of the 2013 Plan is to promote our long-term success and the creation of stockholder value by:

Attracting and retaining the services of key employees who would be eligible to receive grants as Selected Participants,

Motivating Selected Participants through equity-based compensation that is based upon the performance of our Common Stock, and

Further aligning Selected Participants’ interests with the interests of our stockholders, through the award of equity compensation grants which increases their proprietary interest in the Company, to achieve long-term growth over short-term performance.


5358 Diodes Incorporated


Certain Key Features of the 2013 Plan are summarized as follows:

If not terminated earlier by the Board, the 2013 Plan will terminate on May 28, 2023.

Up to a maximum aggregate of 12,000,000 shares of Common Stock may be issued under the 2013 Plan. However, a share that is issued pursuant to an award other than a stock option or SAR shall count as 1.84 shares against this limit.

The 2013 Plan will generally be administered by a committee comprised solely of independent members of the Board. This committee will be the Compensation Committee unless otherwise designated by the Board (the “2013 Plan Committee”). The Board or the 2013 Plan Committee may designate a separate committee to make awards to employees who are not officers subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or are not “Covered Employees” (as defined under the Code) Section 162(m)). As so amended by the Tax Act, Code Section 162(m) now provides that Covered Employees are anyone who served as the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer and each of the other three most highly compensated officers.

Employees, consultants and Board members are eligible to receive awards, provided that the 2013 Plan Committee has the discretion to determine (i) who shall receive any awards, and (ii) the terms and conditions of such awards.

Awards may consist of incentive stock options (“ISOs”), nonstatutory stock options (“NQSOs”), restricted stock, stock units, SARs, other equity awards and/or performance-based cash awards.

Stock options and SARs may not be granted at a per share exercise price below the fair market value of a share of our Common Stock on the date of grant.  

Stock options and SARs may not be repriced or exchanged without stockholder approval.

The maximum exercisable term of stock options and SARs may not exceed eight years.

Awards are subject to the recoupment of compensation policies of the Company.

The 2013 Plan shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware (which is the state of our incorporation) except for Delaware’s conflict of law provisions.

Eligibility to Receive Awards. Employees, consultants and Board members of the Company and certain of our affiliated companies are eligible to receive awards under the 2013 Plan. The 2013 Plan Committee determines, in its discretion, the Selected Participants who will be granted awards under the 2013 Plan. As of the Record Date, all employees (including sixeight executive officers) and sixseven non-employee directors were eligible to participate in the 2013 Plan. With respect to our non-employee directors, the 2013 Plan provides that any non-employee director cannot receive awards in any fiscal year that in the aggregate exceed 240,000 shares for the Chairperson, 160,000 shares for the Vice Chairperson, and 20,000 for other non-employee directors. If the Board affirmatively acts to implement such a process, the 2013 Plan also provides that non-employee directors may elect to receive stock grants or stock units (which would be issued under the 2013 Plan) in lieu of fees that would otherwise be paid in cash.

 

401(k) Plan and Other Retirement Plans

The Company maintains a 401(k) Plan for the benefit of qualified employees at our U.S. locations. Employees who participate in the 401(k) Plan may elect to make salary deferral contributions to the 401(k) Plan up to 100% of the employees’ eligible payroll subject to annual Internal Revenue Code maximum. We currently make a discretionary matching contribution of $1 for every $2 contributed by the participant up to 6% (3% maximum matching) of the participant’s eligible payroll, which vests over an initial four years. In addition, we may make a discretionary contribution to the entire qualified employee pool, in accordance with the 401(k) Plan. As stipulated by the regulations of the People’s Republic of China, we maintain a retirement plan pursuant to the local municipal government for the employees in China. We are required to make contributions to the retirement plan at a rate between 10% and 22% of the employee’s eligible payroll. Pursuant to the Taiwan Labor Standard Law and Factory Law, we maintain a retirement plan for the employees in Taiwan, whereby we make contributions at a rate of 6% of the employee’s eligible payroll.

5459 Diodes Incorporated


Defined Benefit Plan

In connection with the 2008 acquisition of Zetex Semiconductor Corporation, the Company adopted a contributory defined benefit plan that covers certain employees in the United Kingdom. The defined benefit plan is closed to new entrants and frozen with respect to future benefit accruals. The retirement benefit is calculated based on the final average compensation and service of each eligible employee. The Company determined the fair value of the defined benefit plan assets and utilizes an annual measurement date of December 31. At subsequent measurement dates, defined benefit plan assets will be determined based on fair value. Defined benefit plan assets consist primarily of high quality corporate bonds that are denominated in the currency in which the benefits will be paid and that have terms to maturity approximating the terms of the related pension liability. The net pension and supplemental retirement benefit obligations and the related periodic costs are based on, among other things, assumptions of the discount rate, estimated return on defined benefit plan assets and mortality rates. These obligations and related periodic costs are measured using actuarial techniques and assumptions. The projected unit credit method is the actuarial cost method used to compute the pension liabilities and related expenses.

DuringThe trustees under the first quarter of 2015, we agreed to a payment plan with the trustees of the defined benefit plan, under which we would make annual contributions each year through 2030, of approximately 2 million British Pounds (“GBP”) (approximately $2.7 million based on a GBP:USD exchange rate of 1.33, effective at December 31, 2019).  The annual contributions were expected to meet the deficit disclosed in the plan as of April 5, 2013, by December 31, 2030.  The trustees are required to review the plan’s funding position every three years. Following theThe pension plan funding valuation as at March 31, 2019 the trustees and the Company have beenresulted in discussions regarding a recovery plan withdeficit of approximately GBP 26.7 million (approximately $34.7 million based on a levelGBP: USD exchange rate of 1:1.3). As a result of this valuation we agreed to a revised schedule of contributions that would resultof GBP 2.0 million (approximately $2.6 million based on a GBP: USD exchange rate of 1:1.3) to be paid in a planannual installments with effect from April 1, 2020 to recoveraddress the deficit revealed by the valuation (with the first payment to be made by March 31, 2021, and payments to be made by December 31 each year thereafter). These contributions, together with the assumed asset outperformance, are expected to eliminate the deficit by JanuaryDecember 31, 2028. Further, we will pay GBP 0.2 million in annual installments effective April 1, 2029.2020 to cover plan expenses. Moving the recovery plan from a 2030 deadline to a 2029 deadline could require us to increase our contributions.  This plan has not been finalized.contributions.  If we fail to reach an agreement with the plan trustees, as we are required to do every three years, the Pension Regulatorpension regulator in the U.K. could impose contributions on Diodes Zetex Limited or Diodes Zetex Semiconductors Limited, or in limited circumstances could require financial support to be provided to the plan from entities connected or associated with Diodes Zetex Limited or Diodes Zetex Semiconductors Limited. Furthermore, Diodes Zetex Limited and Diodes Zetex Semiconductors Limited remain ultimately liable to fully fund the plan regardless of any failure to agree upon future contributions in respect of a particular actuarial valuation, i.e., if either the plan or those companies were wound up, a debt equal to each company’s share of the entire outstanding deficit at that time (calculated on a statutory conservative basis) would be owed by the relevant company. This could have a material adverse effect on our cash flows, operating results and financial condition.  

5560 Diodes Incorporated


OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END

The following table sets forth certain information regarding equity-based awards held by NEOs as of December 31, 2019:2020:

 

 

Option Awards

 

Stock Awards

 

Option Awards

 

Stock Awards

Name

(a)

 

Number of Securities Underlying  Unexercised Options

Exercisable

(#)

(b)

 

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options

Unexcercisable

(#) (1)

(c)

 

Equity Incentive Plan Awards:

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options

(#)

(d)

 

Option

Exercise

Price

($)

(e)

 

Option

Expiration

Date

(f)

 

Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested

(#) (1)

(g)

 

Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested

($)

(h)

 

Equity Incentive Plan Awards:

Number of Unearned Shares, Units of Other Rights That Have Not Vested

(#)

(i)

 

Equity Incentive Plan Awards:

Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units, of Other Rights That Have Not Vested

($)

(j)

 

Number of Securities Underlying  Unexercised Options

Exercisable

(#)

(b)

 

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options

Unexcercisable

(#) (1)

(c)

 

Equity Incentive Plan Awards:

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options

(#)

(d)

 

Option

Exercise

Price

($)

(e)

 

Option

Expiration

Date

(f)

 

Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested

(#) (1)

(g)

 

Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested

($)

(h)

 

Equity Incentive Plan Awards:

Number of Unearned Shares, Units of Other Rights That Have Not Vested

(#)

(i)

 

Equity Incentive Plan Awards:

Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units, of Other Rights That Have Not Vested

($)

(j)

Keh-Shew Lu

 

80,000

 

 

 

23.35

 

6/6/2021

 

27,500

 

1,550,175

 

62,905

 

3,545,955

 

80,000

 

 

 

27.92

 

5/27/2022

 

15,727

 

1,108,754

 

63,000

 

4,441,500

 

80,000

 

 

 

27.92

 

5/27/2022

 

31,453

 

1,773,006

 

63,000

 

3,551,310

 

100,000

 

 

 

19.27

 

5/21/2022

 

31,500

 

2,220,750

 

59,000

 

4,159,500

 

100,000

 

 

 

29.21

 

5/26/2021

 

47,250

 

2,663,483

 

59,000

 

3,325,830

 

 

 

 

 

 

44,250

 

3,119,625

 

53,100

 

3,743,550

 

100,000

 

 

 

19.27

 

5/21/2022

 

59,000

 

3,325,830

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

53,100

 

3,743,550

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,750

 

475,875

 

 

Brett R. Whitmire

 

 

 

 

 

 

700

 

39,459

 

12,000

 

676,440

 

 

 

 

 

 

750

 

52,875

 

12,000

 

846,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,500

 

84,555

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,200

 

84,600

 

10,800

 

761,400

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,800

 

101,466

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,000

 

634,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,000

 

676,440

 

 

Richard D. White

 

38,500

 

 

 

19.27

 

5/21/2022

 

6,500

 

366,405

 

19,861

 

1,119,565

 

25,000

 

 

 

27.92

 

5/27/2022

 

9,931

 

559,810

 

20,000

 

1,127,400

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,800

 

761,400

 

 

Julie Holland

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,000

 

112,740

 

11,316

 

637,883

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,829

 

199,445

 

13,000

 

916,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,658

 

318,941

 

13,000

 

732,810

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,500

 

458,250

 

17,000

 

1,198,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,750

 

549,608

 

17,000

 

958,290

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,750

 

898,875

 

15,300

 

1,078,650

 

 

 

 

 

 

17,000

 

958,290

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,300

 

1,078,650

 

 

Francis Tang

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,000

 

169,110

 

18,214

 

1,026,723

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,554

 

321,057

 

18,000

 

1,269,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,108

 

513,418

 

18,000

 

1,014,660

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,000

 

634,500

 

17,000

 

1,198,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

13,500

 

760,995

 

17,000

 

958,290

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,750

 

898,875

 

15,300

 

1,078,650

 

 

 

 

 

 

17,000

 

958,290

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,300

 

1,078,650

 

 

Emily Yang

 

 

 

 

 

 

500

 

28,185

 

10,000

 

563,700

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,000

 

352,500

 

10,000

 

705,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,000

 

563,700

 

13,000

 

732,810

 

 

 

 

 

 

450

 

31,725

 

13,000

 

916,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

900

 

50,733

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,000

 

352,500

 

11,700

 

824,850

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,500

 

422,775

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,750

 

687,375

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13,000

 

732,810

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,700

 

824,850

 

 

(1) Equity awards vest in four equal annual installments on the first four anniversary dates of the date of grant. All stock options have a maximum termPerformance-based awards can pay out between 0% and 200% of eight years from the date of grant.target, based on actual performance compared to pre-established, three-year financial performance targets.

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OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED

The following table sets forth certain information regarding exercises of options and vesting of RSU or PSUs held by NEOs during the year ended December 31, 2019:2020:

 

 

Option Awards

 

Stock Awards

 

Option Awards

 

Stock Awards

Name

 

Number of Shares

Acquired on

Exercise

(#)

 

Value Realized

on Exercise

($) (1)

 

Number of Shares

Acquired on

Vesting

(#)

 

Value Realized

on Vesting

($) (1)

 

Number of Shares

Acquired on

Exercise

(#)

 

Value Realized

on Exercise

($) (1)

 

Number of Shares

Acquired on

Vesting

(#)

 

Value Realized

on Vesting

($) (1)

Keh-Shew Lu

 

132,000

 

2,661,720

 

86,476

 

3,050,818

 

180,000

 

5,519,200

 

199,536

 

9,826,356

Brett R. Whitmire

 

 

 

2,750

 

101,035

 

 

 

5,050

 

242,204

Richard D. White

 

132,500

 

3,284,487

 

22,965

 

824,214

Julie Holland

 

31,000

 

657,220

 

10,079

 

376,550

 

 

 

34,961

 

1,715,573

Francis Tang

 

54,000

 

1,277,180

 

15,053

 

562,290

 

 

 

52,732

 

2,591,753

Emily Yang

 

 

 

8,450

 

296,578

 

 

 

11,700

 

609,732

 

(1) Value realized on exercise or vesting is calculated by (i) multiplying the number of shares acquired upon exercise or vesting by (ii) the difference between the closing price of the Common Stock of the Company on the transaction date and the exercise price, if any, and does not necessarily reflect the actual value realized.

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The actual value ultimately realized depends upon the number of shares actually sold by each NEO, if any. In addition to time requirements, in order for performance-based equity awards to vest, certain performance criteria must be met.

 

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 The following table sets forth information with respect to shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Company’s equity compensation plans as of December 31, 20192020:

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)

 

 

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

 

2,152,055

 

(1)

 

$24.37

 

(2)

 

4,350,373

 

(3)

 

766,028

 

(1)

 

$23.33

 

(2)

 

2,674,045

 

(3)

Equity Compensation Plans

Not Approved by Security Holders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

2,152,055

 

 

$24.37

 

 

4,350,573

 

 

766,028

 

 

$23.33

 

 

2,674,045

 

 

(1) Shares issuable pursuant to outstanding options and awards under the 2001 Incentive Plan and the 2013 Plan as of December 31, 2019.2020.

(2) Weighted average exercise price based on 464,000192,978 stock options outstanding.

(3) Represents shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to future awards under the 2013 Plan.

 

5762 Diodes Incorporated


NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION

The Company maintains a nonqualified deferred compensation plan, which permits the Board and eligible employees, including the NEOs, to voluntarily elect to defer up to 75% of base salary, and up to 100% of cash bonuses and stock awards until designated future dates, provided that their total deferrals do not reduce their total compensation below the amount necessary to satisfy obligations such as employment taxes and benefit plan payments. Amounts deferred are credited with earnings or losses based on the participant’s investment allocation among investment options, which may include stocks, bonds and mutual fund shares. Withdrawals can be made pursuant to Internal Revenue Service regulations for retirement and distributions. While still employed, distributions are paid in accordance with the participants’ elections with regard to the timing and form of distributions. Upon termination of an executive, a 100% distribution of their account is made after six months has lapsed from their separation from service. The Company may, from time to time, make discretionary contributions to participants’ accounts. No discretionary contributions were made in 2020, 2019 2018 or 2017.2018. The Company offsets its obligations under the nonqualified deferred compensation plan by investing in the actual underlying investments. These investments are classified as trading securities and are carried at fair value. At December 31, 2019,2020, these investments totaled approximately $12.9$12.8 million. Gains and losses in these investments are materially offset by corresponding gains and losses in the deferred compensation plan liabilities.

The following table sets forth certain information related to the nonqualified deferred compensation plan for the NEOs:

 

Name

(a)

 

Executive

Contributions in

Last Fiscal Year

($) (1)

(b)

 

Registrant

Contributions in

Last Fiscal Year

($)

(c)

 

Aggregate Earnings

in Last Fiscal Year

($)(2)

(d)

 

Aggregate

Withdrawals/

Distributions

($)

(e)

 

Aggregate Balance

at Last Fiscal

Year End

($)

(f)

 

Executive

Contributions in

Last Fiscal Year

($) (1)

(b)

 

Registrant

Contributions in

Last Fiscal Year

($)

(c)

 

Aggregate Earnings

in Last Fiscal Year

($)(2)

(d)

 

Aggregate

Withdrawals/

Distributions

($)

(e)

 

Aggregate Balance

at Last Fiscal

Year End

($)

(f)

Keh-Shew Lu

 

 

 

135

 

 

6,816

 

 

 

22

 

 

6,838

Brett R. Whitmire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Richard D. White

 

 

 

379

 

 

2,794

Julie Holland

 

 

 

1,194

 

 

6,242

 

 

 

770

 

 

7,012

Francis Tang

 

 

 

98,216

 

 

614,908

 

 

 

72,652

 

 

687,560

Emily Yang

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) Contributions are reported as compensation in the last completed fiscal year in either the “Salary” or the “Bonus” column in the Summary Compensation Table depending on the source of the deferral.

(2) The amounts reported in this column are reported as compensation for 20192020 in the Summary Compensation Table.

 

POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL

The following discussion sets forth potential payments payable to the NEOs upon termination of their employment or a change in control of the Company. For purposes of this section, certain relevant provisions and terms that are generally applicable and which therefore cover the NEOs are described below:

Dr. Keh-Shew Lu – Employment Agreement and Equity Award Agreements

Payments Upon Termination by the Company Other Than for “Cause” or by the Employee for “Good Reason”

Payments upon termination by the Company other than for “cause” (as defined in Dr. Lu’s employment agreement) or by Dr. Lu for “good reason” (as defined in Dr. Lu’s employment agreement) are governed by his current employment agreement entered into with the Company on July 21, 2015. Dr. Lu’s relationship with the Company is “at will” and may be terminated at the option of either party, for any or no reason whatsoever, with or without cause.

“Cause” means:

the willful and continued refusal of the employee to substantially perform his duties in accordance with his employment agreement (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness),

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the willful and continued refusal of the employee to substantially perform his duties in accordance with his employment agreement (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness), insubordination, or material violation of the Company’s policies, in each case after a written demand for

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substantial performance is delivered to the employee by the Board which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes that the employee has not substantially performed such duties, the acts constituting such insubordination, or such violations of the Company’s policies, as the case may be, and the employee shall have had a reasonable opportunity to remedy the same; or

the conviction of, or a plea of nolo contendere by, the employee to a felony; or

the conviction of, or a plea of nolo contendere by, the employee to a felony; or

a charge or indictment of a felony, the defense of which renders the employee substantially unable to perform his duties under his employment agreement.

a charge or indictment of a felony, the defense of which renders the employee substantially unable to perform his duties under his employment agreement.

“Good reason” means:

a material diminution in employee’s base salary;

a material diminution in employee’s base salary;

a material diminution in the employee’s authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated in his employment agreement;

a material diminution in the employee’s authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated in his employment agreement;

a material change in the geographic location at which the employee must perform services; or

a material change in the geographic location at which the employee must perform services; or

any other action or inaction that constitutes a material breach by the Company of the employment agreement.

any other action or inaction that constitutes a material breach by the Company of the employment agreement.

In the event Dr. Lu’s employment is terminated by (a) the Company other than for “cause” (as defined), or (b) Dr. Lu for “good reason” (as defined), (i) the Company shall continue to pay or provide to Dr. Lu the annual base salary during the period commencing on the 60th  day after the effective date of such termination and ending on the first anniversary of such effective date such that an aggregate total of 12 months of base salary are provided, (ii) the Company shall pay to Dr. Lu any amount payable under an executive bonus plan for the fiscal year in which such termination occurs, prorated to the date of the termination, (iii) the Company shall pay Dr. Lu his accrued but unused paid time off, (iv) the Company shall provide to Dr. Lu continued participation in any group health plan or medical reimbursement plan on the terms existing on the date of termination for the period commencing on the effective date of such termination and ending 18 months thereafter, and (v) all stock-based compensation previously granted to Dr. Lu (including, but not limited to, all stock options, SARs, stock units, bonus units and stock grants) shall continue to be governed by the applicable award agreement.

However, if Dr. Lu’s employment is terminated either by the Company other than for “cause” (as defined) or by Dr. Lu for “good reason” (as defined) and if Dr. Lu then obtains a new employment within one year from the date of his termination, the annual base salary payable by the Company to Dr. Lu shall be reduced by any amount received by him during such one year in connection with such other employment.

Payments Upon Termination by the Company for “Cause” or by Dr. Lu Other Than for “Good Reason”

In the event that Dr. Lu’s employment is terminated by (a) the Company for “cause” (as defined) or (b) Dr. Lu other than for “good reason” (as defined), (i) the Company shall promptly pay or provide to Dr. Lu the annual base salary, prorated through the date of termination, (ii) the Company shall pay to Dr. Lu any amount payable under an executive bonus plan for the fiscal year in which such termination occurs, prorated to the date of the termination, (iii) the Company shall pay Dr. Lu his accrued but unused paid time off, and (iv) all stock-based compensation previously granted to Dr. Lu (including, but not limited to, all stock options, SARs, stock units, bonus units and stock grants) shall continue to be governed by the applicable award agreement.

Payment Upon Termination Due To Death or Disability

Under Dr. Lu’s employment agreement, Dr. Lu is entitled to a life insurance policy with a death benefit in an amount equal to that existing on the date of his employment agreement and/or a disability insurance policy in the maximum insurable amount as defined by such policy. The employment agreement does not provide for a payment to Dr. Lu in the event of termination due to death or disability.

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The 2001 Incentive Plan generally provides that if the executive dies or becomes “permanently disabled” (as defined), the award will be exercisable by the executive’s successor until the earlier of (1) the expiration date of the award (not to

64 Diodes Incorporated


exceed ten years from date of grant in the case of options), or (2) for one year after such death or “permanent disability,” to the extent such award was exercisable on the date of death or permanent disability. The awards will generally continue to vest according to the vesting schedule.

The 2013 Plan generally provides if the executive is terminated due to death or Disability (as defined), the vested portions of his then-outstanding equity awards may be exercised by him or his personal representative within twelve months after the termination date and all unvested portions of all then-outstanding equity awards shall be forfeited without consideration as of the termination date (except for repayment of any amounts he had paid to the Company to acquire unvested portions underlying the forfeited equity awards).

Payment Upon a Change in Control

Except as otherwise stated in the 2001 Incentive Plan or in any of Dr. Lu’s equity award agreements, the 2001 Incentive Plan generally provides that, in the event of a change in control, (1) all of Dr. Lu’s stock options then outstanding shall become fully vested and exercisable as of the date of the change in control and shall terminate at such time as specified in his stock option agreements, and (2) all restrictions and conditions of all Restricted Stock Grants (as defined) then outstanding shall be deemed satisfied as of the date of the change in control.

Except as otherwise stated in the 2013 Plan or in any of Dr. Lu’s equity award agreements, the 2013 Plan generally provides that, (1) in the event of a change in control and/or the Company is a party to a merger, acquisition, reorganization or similar transaction, outstanding equity awards shall be subject to the merger agreement or other applicable transaction agreement, and (2) in the event of a change in control and there is no assumption, substitution or continuation of equity awards pursuant to a merger, acquisition, reorganization or similar transaction, the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”) in its discretion may provide that some or all Dr. Lu’s equity awards shall vest and become exercisable as of immediately before such change in control. The Compensation Committee may also in its discretion include in an applicable equity award agreement that accelerated vesting of an equity award will be provided if Dr. Lu’s service is terminated without cause by the Company (or its acquirer) within a specified period of time on or after a change in control. The Compensation Committee may also in its discretion include in an applicable equity award agreement a requirement that, under certain circumstances, acceleration of vesting (or compensation payable) with respect to such equity award shall be reduced (or eliminated) to the extent that such reduction (or elimination) would, after taking into account any other payments in the nature of compensation to which Dr. Lu would have a right to receive from the Company and any other person contingent upon the occurrence of a change in control, prevent the occurrence of a “parachute payment” as defined under Code Section 280G.

A change in control, as currently defined in both the 2001 Incentive Plan and the 2013 Plan, means the occurrence of any one (or more) of the following:

any person, including a group as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, as amended, becoming the beneficial owner of stock of the Company which entitles such holder to cast 25% or more of the total number of votes for the election of the Board;

any person, including a group as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, as amended, becoming the beneficial owner of stock of the Company which entitles such holder to cast 25% or more of the total number of votes for the election of the Board;

a cash tender offer, exchange offer, merger or other business combination, sale of assets or contested election, or combination of the foregoing, in which the directors of the Company immediately prior to such event cease to be a majority of the Board;

a cash tender offer, exchange offer, merger or other business combination, sale of assets or contested election, or combination of the foregoing, in which the directors of the Company immediately prior to such event cease to be a majority of the Board;

the Company ceases to be an independent publicly owned company or a sale or other disposition is completed for all or substantially all the assets of the Company; or

the Company ceases to be an independent publicly owned company or a sale or other disposition is completed for all or substantially all the assets of the Company; or

a tender offer or exchange offer (other than one made by the Company) in which the shares of the Company’s stock are acquired.

a tender offer or exchange offer (other than one made by the Company) in which the shares of the Company’s stock are acquired.

6065 Diodes Incorporated


Payment Upon Retirement

Dr. Lu’s employment agreement does not specifically provide for a cash payment to him in the event of his retirement.

Both the 2013 Plan and the 2001 Incentive Plan and forms of option and stock award agreements generally provide that upon retirement, the unvested stock options will be exercisable until the earlier of (1) the expiration date of the option (not to exceed ten years under the 2001 Plan and not to exceed eight years under the 2013 Plan, as restated and amended) or stock award, or (2) for three months after the termination date of the executive.

Assuming Dr. Lu’s employment was terminated due to his retirement on December 31, 2019,2020, Dr. Lu would only be entitled to exercise his vested stock options.

Brett R. Whitmire, Richard D. White, Julie Holland, Francis Tang and Emily Yang

Payment Upon Termination

Mr. White voluntarily retired as Chief Financial Officer of the Company effective March 1, 2019 and entered into a letter agreement specifying his continuing duties and benefits, which letter agreement, as subsequently amended, was included as Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on April 1, 2019.  Prior to the date of such letter agreement, Mr. White did not have an employment agreement with the Company. Mr. Whitmire, Mr. Tang, Ms. Holland and Ms. Yang do not have employment agreements with the Company, and payments upon termination under any circumstance for them are governed by their respective equity award agreements, the 2013 Plan, the 2001 Incentive Plan and Company’s general policies for termination of employees as specified in the Company’s employee handbook. Please refer to the tables below in this Proxy Statement for further discussion of Mr. Whitmire’s, Mr. White’s, Mr. Tang’s, Ms. Holland’s and Ms. Yang’s payments upon termination on December 31, 2019,2020, under any circumstance.

NEO Payments Upon Termination Events and Change In Control

The following tables assume (i) the triggering event took place on December 31, 2019;2020; (ii) the price per share used to calculate the value of equity awards was $56.37,$70.50, the closing price per share on December 31, 2019,2020, the last trading day of 2019;2020; (iii) the intrinsic value of nonqualified stock option acceleration is calculated by multiplying the difference between the respective exercise prices of any unvested nonqualified stock option shares that would have been subject to acceleration and $56.37$70.50 by the number of shares underlying the unvested nonqualified stock options that would have been subject to acceleration; (iv) the value of RSUs and Modified Awards acceleration is calculated by multiplying $56.37$70.50 by the number of RSUs and Modified Awards that would have been subject to acceleration; and (v) a performance incentive bonus was earned for 20192020 at the level set forth in the “Summary Compensation Table.”

 

Name

 

Voluntary Termination

or Termination

With Cause

($) (1)

 

Termination

Due to Disability

or Death

($) (1) (2) (4)

 

Termination

Without

Cause

($) (1) (3)

 

Change in

Control

($) (1) (4)

 

Voluntary Termination

or Termination

With Cause

($) (1)

 

Termination

Due to Disability

or Death

($) (1) (2) (4)

 

Termination

Without

Cause

($) (1) (3)

 

Change in

Control

($) (1) (4)

Keh-Shew Lu

 

12,882,004

 

32,617,592

 

13,630,392

 

31,079,188

 

10,052,625

 

33,065,729

 

10,802,374

 

31,542,504

Brett R. Whitmire

 

331,887

 

1,910,247

 

331,887

 

1,578,360

 

325,123

 

2,704,498

 

325,123

 

2,379,375

Richard D. White

 

2,164,600

 

5,337,780

 

2,164,600

 

5,312,780

Julie Holland

 

467,369

 

4,735,931

 

467,369

 

4,268,562

 

467,909

 

6,296,779

 

467,909

 

5,828,870

Francis Tang

 

433,518

 

5,835,005

 

433,518

 

5,401,486

 

452,099

 

6,931,331

 

452,099

 

6,479,232

Emily Yang

 

330,911

 

3,425,624

 

330,911

 

3,094,713

 

340,376

 

4,210,826

 

340,376

 

3,870,450

 

(1) Includes amounts in the table below that could be realized upon exercising vested stock options.  For Mr. White, does not include a cash severance payment of $422,000 plus vesting of unvested equity compensation awards (with a current estimated value of $5,337,780) in connection with a qualifying termination of employment under Mr. White’s letter agreement, as amended, described above.

(2) Such amounts do not include a $700,000 benefit for each NEO paid by the Company's life insurance policy upon death and do not include short- and long-term disability payments for the first year and long-term disability payments for the second year paid by disability insurance policies.

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(3) Reflects the estimate of the payments and benefits that each NEO would receive assuming the NEO's employment was terminated without "cause" (and for Dr. Lu if he terminated his employment with “good reason”) on December 31, 2019.2020. These disclosed amounts are estimates only and do not necessarily reflect the actual amounts that would be paid to the NEOs, which would only be known at the time they become eligible for such payments.

(4) Represents the value of the continued vesting of the following shares underlying options, RSUs, and PRSAs upon a death or disability on December 31, 2019.2020.

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The table below sets forth the amount that could be realized upon the exercise of vested stock options:

Name

 

Amount

($) (1)

Keh-Shew Lu

 

11,343,6008,529,400

Brett R. Whitmire

 

Richard D. White

2,139,600

Julie Holland

 

Francis Tang

 

Emily Yang

 

 

(1) Amounts assume that all vested stock options as of December 31, 20192020 are exercised as of December 31, 2019,2020, and are calculated by multiplying the number of vested stock options by the difference between the exercise price and the closing price of the Company's Common Stock on December 31, 2019.2020.

The following table reflects the estimate of the payments and benefits that each NEO would receive assuming the NEO's employment was terminated without "cause" (and for Dr. Lu if he terminated his employment for good reason) on December 31, 2019.2020. These disclosed amounts are estimates only and do not necessarily reflect the actual amounts that would be paid to the NEOs, which would only be known at the time they become eligible for such payments.

 

Name

(a)

 

Base

Salary

($)

(b)

 

Bonus

($)

(c)

 

Paid

Vacation

($)

(d)

 

Medical

Benefits

($)

(e)

 

Life Insurance,

Disability

and AD&D

Benefits

($)

(f)

 

Continued

Vesting

of Share-based

Compensation

($)

(g)

 

Total

($)

(h)

 

Base

Salary

($)

(b)

 

Bonus

($)

(c)

 

Paid

Vacation

($)

(d)

 

Medical

Benefits

($)

(e)

 

Life Insurance,

Disability

and AD&D

Benefits

($)

(f)

 

Continued

Vesting

of Share-based

Compensation

($)

(g)

 

Total

($)

(h)

Keh-Shew Lu

 

728,250

 

1,479,584

 

58,820

 

20,138

 

 

 

2,286,792

 

728,250

 

1,453,201

 

70,024

 

21,499

 

 

 

2,272,974

Brett R. Whitmire

 

 

312,502

 

19,385

 

 

 

 

331,887

 

 

305,738

 

19,385

 

 

 

 

325,123

Richard D. White

 

 

25,000

 

 

 

 

 

25,000

Julie Holland

 

 

435,829

 

31,540

 

 

 

 

467,369

 

 

436,369

 

31,540

 

 

 

 

467,909

Francis Tang

 

 

401,978

 

31,540

 

 

 

 

433,518

 

 

414,551

 

37,548

 

 

 

 

452,099

Emily Yang

 

 

302,642

 

28,269

 

 

 

 

330,911

 

 

312,107

 

28,269

 

 

 

 

340,376

 

(b) For purposes of determining this amount, Dr. Lu would receive his current base salary for one-year following the termination.  

(c) Any bonus amount would be prorated based on days employed in 20192020 and calculated using actual 2019 results per the performance criteria in accordance with the Company's executive bonus plan.

(d) Reflects the estimated lump sum value of 18-month accrual of paid vacations.

(e) Reflects the estimated lump sum value of premiums to be paid on behalf of the executive under the medical benefit plans for 18 months for Dr. Lu.

(f) In the event of termination without cause, the Company does not continue to provide benefits under the life, disability, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance plans.

(g) Dr. Lu's employment agreement provided certain payments and benefits if his employment was terminated with "cause."  Because Messrs. Whitmire and Tang and Ms. Holland and Ms. Yang do not have employment agreements with the Company, no estimates of payments or benefits are reflected in the above table.   

 


62 Diodes Incorporated


The table below details the number of RSUs and PSUs, currently unvested, that would vest upon a change in control:

 

Name

 

Stock

Options

(#)

 

RSUs

(#)

 

PSU

(#)

 

Total

(#)

 

Stock

Options

(#)

 

RSUs

(#)

 

PSU

(#)

 

Total

(#)

Keh-Shew Lu

 

 

165,203

 

184,905

 

350,108

 

 

151,327

 

175,100

 

326,427

Brett R. Whitmire

 

 

16,000

 

12,000

 

28,000

 

 

21,750

 

12,000

 

33,750

Richard D. White

 

 

16,431

 

39,861

 

56,292

Julie Holland

 

 

34,408

 

41,316

 

75,724

 

 

37,379

 

45,300

 

82,679

Francis Tang

 

 

42,608

 

53,214

 

95,822

 

 

41,604

 

50,300

 

91,904

Emily Yang

 

 

31,900

 

23,000

 

54,900

 

 

31,900

 

23,000

 

54,900

 

  

 

 

6367 Diodes Incorporated


PROPOSAL THREE

RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The firm of Moss Adams LLP has been the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm since 1993 and has been selected by the Board, upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee, to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.2021. Professional services rendered by Moss Adams LLP for 20192020 consisted of an audit of the Company’s annual financial statements (including services incurred with rendering an opinion under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) and review of quarterly financial statements, services related to filings with the SEC and meetings with the Company’s Audit Committee. All professional services rendered by Moss Adams LLP during 20192020 were furnished at customary rates and terms. Representatives of Moss Adams LLP are expected to be present at the Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement, if they so desire, and respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.

AUDIT FEES, AUDIT-RELATED FEES, TAX FEES AND ALL OTHER FEES

1ForFor the fiscal years ended December 31, 20192020 and 2018,2019, fees for the services provided by Moss Adams LLP were approximately as follows:

 

Description

 

2019

 

2018

 

2020

 

2019

Audit fees (1)

 

$1,309,161

 

$1,427,001

 

$1,588,150

 

$1,309,161

Audit-related fees (2)

 

 

 

  1,302,775

 

Tax fees, professional services related to income tax

 

 

 

 

All other fees, not included above

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$1,309,161

 

$1,427,001

 

$2,890,925

 

$1,309,161

 

(1) Includes fees for professional services necessary to perform an audit or review in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, including services rendered for the audit of the Company’s financial statements (including services incurred with rendering an opinion under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K and review of financial statements included in the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

(2) Includes assurance and related services, mostly relate to the LSC acquisition that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s financial statements and are not reported under Audit Fees of this section.

The Audit Committee administers the Company’s engagement of Moss Adams LLP and pre-approves all audit and permissible non-audit services on a case-by-case basis. In approving non-audit services, the Audit Committee considers whether the engagement could compromise the independence of Moss Adams LLP, and whether for reasons of efficiency or convenience it is in the best interest of the Company to engage its independent registered public accounting firm to perform the services.

Moss Adams LLP has advised the Company that neither the firm, nor any member of the firm, has any financial interest, direct or indirect, in any capacity in the Company or its subsidiaries. The Audit Committee, in reliance on the independent registered public accounting firm, determined that the provision of these services is compatible with maintaining the independence of Moss Adams LLP.

68 Diodes Incorporated


Prior to engagement, the Audit Committee pre-approves all independent registered public accounting firm services. The fees are budgeted, and the Audit Committee may require the independent registered public accounting firm and management to report actual fees versus the budget periodically throughout the year by category of service. During the year, circumstances may arise when it may become necessary to engage the independent registered public accounting firm for additional services not contemplated in the original pre-approved categories. In those instances, the Audit

64 Diodes Incorporated


Committee is required to specifically pre-approve such additional services before engaging the independent registered public accounting firm.

The Audit Committee has delegated pre-approval authority to each of its members. Each member must report, for informational purposes only, any pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.

Although the appointment of Moss Adams LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 20202021 is not required to be submitted to a vote of stockholders, the Audit Committee believes that it is appropriate as a matter of policy to request that the stockholders ratify the appointment. If the stockholders do not ratify the appointment, which requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock present, in person via internetthe Internet or by proxy, and entitled to vote on the proposal at the Meeting, the Board will consider the selection of another independent registered public accounting firm.

THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF MOSS ADAMS LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2020.2021.

 

 

6569 Diodes Incorporated


 

PROPOSALS OF STOCKHOLDERS AND STOCKHOLDERSTOCKHOLDER NOMINATIONS FOR 20212022 ANNUAL MEETING

Under certain circumstances, stockholders are entitled to present proposals at stockholder meetings. Currently, the 20212022 annual meeting of stockholders is expected to be held on or about June 1, 2021.May 25, 2022.

SEC Rule 14a-8 provides that any stockholder proposal to be included in the proxy statement for the Company’s 20212022 annual meeting must be received by the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s office at 4949 Hedgcoxe Road, Suite 200, Plano, Texas 75024 on or before December 9, 2020,15, 2021, in a form that complies with applicable regulations. If the date of the 20212022 annual meeting is advanced or delayed more than 30 days from the date of the 20202021 annual meeting, stockholder proposals intended to be included in the proxy statement for the 20212022 annual meeting must be received by the Company within a reasonable time before the Company begins to print and mail the proxy statement for the 20212022 annual meeting. Upon any determination that the date of the 20212022 annual meeting will be advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the date of the 20202021 annual meeting, the Company will disclose the change in the earliest practicable Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

In addition, the Company’s Bylaws require advance written notice of nominations or other matters that stockholders wish to present for action at an annual meeting other than those to be included in our proxy statement under Rule 14a-8.  The Company must receive written notice of such nominations or other proposals to be presented at the 20212022 annual meeting, at the address stated in the preceding paragraph, no earlier than the close of business on Monday, January 18, 202124, 2022 and no later than the close of business on Sunday,Wednesday, February 17, 2021.23, 2022.  If written notice of such nominations or other matters is not received within the time set forth in the Company’s Bylaws, the proxies solicited by the Board for the 20212022 annual meeting of stockholders will confer authority on the proxyholders to vote the shares in accordance with the recommendations of the Board if the proposal is presented at the 20212022 annual meeting of stockholders without any discussion of the proposal in the proxy statement for such meeting. If the date of the 20212022 annual meeting is advanced or delayed more than 30 days from the anniversary date of the 20202021 annual meeting, then if the stockholder proposal has not been submitted to the Company within a reasonable time before the Company mails the proxy statement for the 20212022 annual meeting, the proxies will confer the authority set out in the preceding sentence.

Stockholders may suggest candidates for the Board. Stockholders who wish to request that the Governance Committee consider a candidate for election at the 20212022 annual meeting should submit information about the candidate to the Governance Committee a reasonable time before the Company begins to print and mail the proxy statement for the 20212022 annual meeting. The requesting stockholder should provide sufficient biographical information about the proposed candidate to satisfy the requirements of the SEC for inclusion in the proxy statement and to permit the Governance Committee to evaluate the proposed candidate in light of the criteria described in “Corporate Governance – Nominating Procedures and Criteria and Board Diversity.” The request should also provide the full name, address and telephone number of the requesting stockholder and sufficient information to verify that the requesting stockholder is eligible to vote at the 20212022 annual meeting. Additional information and certifications by the requesting stockholder and the proposed candidate may be required before the Governance Committee can make its evaluation.

 

 

6670 Diodes Incorporated


 

ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K

The Company’s annual report to stockholders for the year ended December 31, 20192020 accompanies or has preceded this Proxy Statement. The annual report contains consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and the report thereon of Moss Adams LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 2018 and 2017.2018.

STOCKHOLDERS MAY OBTAIN, WITHOUT CHARGE, A COPY OF THE COMPANY’S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K, INCLUDING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS REQUIRED TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE ACT, FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 20192020 BY WRITING TO THE COMPANY, ATTENTION: INVESTOR RELATIONS, 4949 HEDGCOXE ROAD, SUITE 200, PLANO, TEXAS 75024, OR EMAIL THE REQUEST TO DIODES-FIN@DIODES.COM. THE INFORMATION IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE COMPANY’S WEBSITE AT WWW.DIODES.COM AND THE SEC’S WEBSITE AT WWW.SEC.GOV.

Dated at Plano, Texas, this eighth14th day of April, 2020.2021.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

DIODES INCORPORATED

Richard D. White,

Secretary 

 

 

 

 

6771 Diodes Incorporated


MEETINGLOCATION

 

www.proxydocs.com/DIOD

 

 

 


 

e

Logo YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT! PLEASE VOTE BY: Diodes Incorporated Annual Meeting of Stockholders For Stockholders as of record on March 29, 2021 TIME: Monday, May 24, 2021 07:00 PM, Central Time PLACE: Annual meeting to be held live via the Internet Please visit www.proxydocs.com/DIOD for more details. This proxy is being solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors The undersigned hereby appoints Keh-Shew Lu and Brett R. Whitmore, and each or either of them, as the true and lawful attorneys of the undersigned, with full power of substitution and revocation, and authorizes them, and each of them, to vote all the shares of capital stock of Diodes Incorporated which the undersigned is entitled to vote at said meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof upon the matters specified and upon such other matters as may be properly brought before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, conferring authority upon such true and lawful attorneys to vote in their discretion on such other matters as may properly come before the meeting and revoking any proxy heretofore given. THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, SHARES WILL BE VOTED IDENTICAL TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDATION. This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein. In their discretion, the Named Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other matters that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. You are encouraged to specify your choice by marking the appropriate box (SEE REVERSE SIDE) but you need not mark any box if you wish to vote in accordance with the Board of Directors’ recommendation. The Named Proxies cannot vote your shares unless you sign (on the reverse side) and return this card. PLEASE BE SURE TO SIGN AND DATE THIS PROXY CARD AND MARK ON THE REVERSE SIDE P.O. BOX 8016, CARY, NC 27512-9903 INTERNET Go To: www.proxypush.com/DIOD • Cast your vote online • Have your Proxy Card ready • Follow the simple instructions to record your vote PHONE Call 1-855-686-4804 • Use any touch-tone telephone • Have your Proxy Card ready • Follow the simple recorded instructions MAIL • Mark, sign and date your Proxy Card • Fold and return your Proxy Card in the postage-paid envelope provided


Diodes Incorporated Annual Meeting of Stockholders Please make your marks like this: X Use dark black pencil or pen only THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE: FOR ON PROPOSALS 1, 2 AND 3 PROPOSAL YOUR VOTE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS 1. Election of Directors FOR WITHHOLD 1.01 Angie Chen Button #P2# #P2# FOR 1.02 C.H. Chen #P3# #P3# FOR 1.03 Warren Chen #P4# #P4# FOR 1.04 Michael R. Giordano #P5# #P5# FOR 1.05 Keh-Shew Lu #P6# #P6# FOR 1.06 Peter M. Menard #P7# #P7# FOR 1.07 Christina Wen-Chi Sung #P8# #P8# FOR 1.08 Michael K.C. Tsai #P9# #P9# FOR FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN 2. Approval of Executive Compensation. To approve, on an advisory basis, the Company's executive compensation. #P10# #P10# #P10# FOR 3. Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. To Ratify the appointment of Moss Adams LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2021. #P11# #P11# #P11# FOR 4. To transact such other business as properly may come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. You must pre-register to attend the meeting online and/or participate at www.proxydocs.com/DIOD. Authorized Signatures - Must be completed for your instructions to be executed. Please sign exactly as your name(s) appears on your account. If held in joint tenancy, all persons should sign. Trustees, administrators, etc., should include title and authority. Corporations should provide full name of corporation and title of authorized officer signing the proxy. Proxy/Vote Form. Signature (and Title if applicable) Proposal_Page - VIFL Date Signature (if held jointly) Date