DEF 14A

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

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   Preliminary Proxy Statement

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   Definitive Proxy Statement

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   Definitive Additional Materials

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   Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12

CORVEL CORPORATION

 

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

          

 

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

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LOGO

June 26, 2015

Dear CorVel Stockholder:

We are pleased to invite you to our 2015 Annual Meeting, which will be held at CorVel’s principal executive offices at 2010 Main Street, Suite 600, Irvine, California 92614, on Thursday, August 6, 2015, at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time. Voting on election of directors and other matters is also scheduled. The items to be voted on at the 2015 Annual Meeting are addressed in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Stockholder Meeting to Be Held on August 6, 2015: The Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Proxy Statement and Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at https://materials.proxyvote.com/221006.

We are pleased to provide proxy materials to our stockholders over the Internet, which we believe will lower the costs of delivering such materials while also reducing the environmental impact of printing and mailing. Consequently, stockholders will not receive paper copies of our proxy materials unless they request them. We will send stockholders a notice with instructions for accessing the proxy materials and voting via the Internet. The notice also provides information on how to receive a paper copy of the Annual Meeting materials, if they so choose.

Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the 2015 Annual Meeting, please vote as soon as possible to ensure that your shares will be represented and voted at the 2015 Annual Meeting. If you later decide to attend the Annual Meeting and wish to change your vote, you may do so simply by voting in person at the meeting. If you are a beneficial owner of our stock and wish to vote at the 2015 Annual Meeting, you will need to obtain a legal proxy from your bank or broker and bring this legal proxy to the meeting. If you hold your shares in the name of a broker, bank or other nominee, your nominee may determine to vote your shares at its own discretion, absent instructions from you. However, due to voting rules that may prevent your bank or broker from voting your uninstructed shares on a discretionary basis in the election of directors and on other non-routine matters, it is important that you cast your vote. Accordingly, please provide appropriate voting instructions to your broker or bank to ensure your vote will count.

We look forward to seeing you at our 2015 Annual Meeting.

Sincerely,

 

 

LOGO

V. Gordon Clemons,

Chairman of the Board


CorVel Corporation

 

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held August 6, 2015

 

 

To the Stockholders of CorVel Corporation:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of CorVel Corporation, a Delaware corporation, will be held at our principal executive offices, at 2010 Main Street, Suite 600, Irvine, California 92614, on Thursday, August 6, 2015, at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time for the following purposes, as more fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice:

 

  1. To elect the six directors named in the attached proxy statement, each to serve until the 2016 annual meeting of stockholders or until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified;

 

  2. To approve the amendment and restatement of our Restated Omnibus Incentive Plan (Formerly The Restated 1988 Executive Stock Option Plan) to extend its expiration date by 10 years;

 

  3. To reapprove the performance goals under our Restated Omnibus Incentive Plan (Formerly The Restated 1988 Executive Stock Option Plan) to preserve our ability to deduct compensation that qualifies as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;

 

  4. To ratify the appointment of Haskell & White LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016; and

 

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

Our Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote FOR all of the Proposals listed above. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on June 15, 2015 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof. A list of stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be available for inspection at our principal executive offices and at our Annual Meeting.

You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting in person. However, to assure your representation at the Annual Meeting, you are urged to vote your shares as soon as possible. As an alternative to voting in person at the Annual Meeting, you may vote via the Internet or, if you receive a paper proxy card in the mail, you also may vote by telephone or by mailing a completed proxy card.

If you are viewing this proxy over the Internet you may vote electronically over the Internet or in person at the Annual Meeting. If you receive a printed proxy card, you may vote over the Internet, by telephone, by mail or in person at the Annual Meeting. Please be aware that if you vote by telephone or over the Internet, you may incur costs such as telephone and Internet access charges for which you will be responsible.

Voting over the Internet. You can vote via the Internet. The website address for Internet voting is provided on your notice of Internet availability of proxy materials or, if you received one, on your proxy card. To vote via the Internet, you will need to use the control number appearing on your notice of Internet availability of proxy materials or, if you received one, on your proxy card. You can use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on August 5, 2015. Internet voting is available 24 hours a day.

Voting by Telephone. If you receive a printed proxy card, you can vote by telephone by calling the toll-free telephone number provided on your proxy card. You will need to use the control number appearing on your proxy card to vote by telephone. You may transmit your voting instructions from any touch-tone telephone up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on August 5, 2015. Telephone voting is available 24 hours a day.

Voting by Mail. If you receive a printed proxy card, you can vote by marking, dating and signing it, and returning it in the postage paid envelope provided. Please promptly mail your proxy card to ensure that it is received prior to the closing of the polls at the Annual Meeting.


Voting in Person at the Meeting. If you attend the Annual Meeting and plan to vote in person, we will provide you with a ballot at the Annual Meeting. If your shares are registered directly in your name, you are considered the stockholder of record and you have the right to vote in person at the Annual Meeting. If your shares are held in the name of your broker or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in street name. As a beneficial owner, if you wish to vote at the Annual Meeting, you will need to bring to the Annual Meeting a legal proxy from your broker or other nominee authorizing you to vote those shares.

You may revoke your proxy at any time prior to the closing of the polls at the Annual Meeting. If you attend the Annual Meeting and you choose to vote in person at the Annual Meeting by ballot, your proxy will be revoked automatically and only your vote at the Annual Meeting will be counted. If you hold your shares in the name of a broker, bank or other nominee, please provide appropriate voting instructions to that nominee. Absent such instructions, your nominee may determine to vote your shares at its own discretion. However, due to voting rules that may prevent your bank or broker from voting your uninstructed shares on a discretionary basis in the election of directors and on other non-routine matters, it is important that you cast your vote. Accordingly, please provide appropriate voting instructions to your broker or bank to ensure your vote will count. If you wish to attend the Annual Meeting and vote shares held for you by a nominee, please be sure to obtain a legal proxy from that nominee allowing you to cast your vote in person.

The holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock entitled to vote must be present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Please vote as soon as possible in order to ensure that a quorum is obtained and to avoid the additional cost to us of adjourning the Annual Meeting until a later time and re-soliciting proxies.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Stockholder Meeting to Be Held on August 6, 2015: The Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Proxy Statement and Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at https://materials.proxyvote.com/221006.

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE READ THE ATTACHED PROXY STATEMENT CAREFULLY.

By order of the Board of Directors,

 

 

LOGO

RICHARD J. SCHWEPPE

Secretary

Irvine, California

June 26, 2015


CorVel Corporation

 

 

PROXY STATEMENT

 

 

Proxies are being solicited on behalf of our Board of Directors for use at the 2015 Annual Meeting of stockholders, which will be held at our principal executive offices located at 2010 Main Street, Suite 600, Irvine, California 92614, on Thursday, August 6, 2015, at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, and at any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof. Stockholders of record at the close of business on June 15, 2015 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) of that meeting. A list of stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be available for inspection at our principal executive offices and at the Annual Meeting.

On June 15, 2015, the record date for determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting, there were 20,065,654 shares of our Common Stock outstanding and approximately 1,057 holders of record according to information provided by our transfer agent. No shares of our preferred stock were outstanding as of June 15, 2015. Each stockholder is entitled to one vote on all matters brought before the Annual Meeting for each share of our Common Stock held by such stockholder on the record date. Stockholders may not cumulate votes in the election of directors.

The presence at the Annual Meeting, either in person or by proxy, of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock entitled to vote will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the election of directors under Proposal One, the six nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative votes shall be elected. Proposals Two and Three will be approved if a majority of the total votes cast on the proposal in person or by proxy are voted in favor of such approval. The affirmative vote of the holders of our Common Stock representing a majority of the voting power present or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote is being sought for approval of Proposal Four.

All votes will be tabulated by our inspector of election appointed for the Annual Meeting, who will separately tabulate affirmative and negative votes, abstentions and broker non-votes (i.e., shares held by a broker, bank or other nominee that are represented at the Annual Meeting, but with respect to which such broker, bank or other nominee is not instructed to vote on a particular proposal and does not have discretionary voting power). Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted as present for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting, but broker non-votes will not be counted for purposes of determining the number of votes cast with respect to the particular proposal on which the broker has expressly not voted. With regard to Proposal One, broker non-votes and votes marked “withheld” will not be counted towards the tabulations of votes cast on such proposal presented to the stockholders, will not have the effect of negative votes, and will not affect the outcome of the election of directors. With regard to Proposals Two and Three, abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted for purposes of determining whether the proposals have been approved, and will not have the same effect as negative votes. With regard to Proposal Four, abstentions will be counted towards the tabulations of votes cast on such proposal presented to the stockholders and will have the same effect as negative votes, whereas broker non-votes will not be counted for purposes of determining whether such proposal has been approved and will not have the effect of negative votes.

If your shares are held by a bank or broker in street name, it is important that you cast your vote if you want it to count in the election of directors and any other non-routine matters proposed in this proxy statement. Voting rules may prevent your bank or broker from voting your uninstructed shares on a discretionary basis in the election of directors and any other non-routine matters. Accordingly, if your shares are held by a bank or broker in street name and you do not instruct your bank or broker how to vote in the election of directors and any other non-routine matters proposed in this proxy statement, no votes will be cast on your behalf. Your bank or broker will, however, continue to have discretion to vote any uninstructed shares on routine matters, such as the ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm and other matters determined by the NYSE to be routine.

 

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If a proxy is properly signed and returned, the shares represented thereby will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the instructions specified thereon. If the proxy does not specify how the shares represented thereby are to be voted, the proxy will be voted FOR the election of the directors in Proposal One unless the authority to vote for the election of such directors is withheld and, if no contrary instructions are given, the proxy will be voted as recommended by our Board of Directors with respect to Proposals Two, Three and Four described in the accompanying Notice and this Proxy Statement. In their discretion, the proxies named on the proxy will be authorized to vote upon any other matter that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof. A proxy may be revoked or changed at or prior to the Annual Meeting by delivery of a written revocation or by presentation of another properly signed proxy with a later date to our Secretary at our principal executive offices at 2010 Main Street, Suite 600, Irvine, California 92614, or by attendance at the Annual Meeting and voting in person by ballot. Your attendance at the Annual Meeting will not automatically revoke your proxy unless you affirmatively indicate at the Annual Meeting your intention to vote your shares in person. Please note, however, that if your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or other nominee and you wish to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you must obtain from the record holder a legal proxy issued in your name.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Stockholder Meeting to Be Held on August 6, 2015: The Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Proxy Statement and Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at https://materials.proxyvote.com/221006.

Notice regarding the Internet availability of these proxy materials was first sent or given on or about June 26, 2015, to stockholders of record on the record date.

While our proxy solicitation materials are available on the Internet, we will provide, without charge, copies of our annual report on Form 10-K to each stockholder of record as of the Record Date that requests a copy in writing. Any exhibits listed in the annual report on Form 10-K report also will be furnished upon request at the actual expense we incur in furnishing such exhibit. Any such requests should be directed to our Secretary at our executive offices set forth above.

INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS

In accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), we are using the Internet as our primary means of furnishing proxy materials to stockholders. Consequently, stockholders will not receive paper copies of our proxy materials unless they request them. We will send stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials with instructions for accessing the proxy materials, including our proxy statement and annual report, and voting via the Internet. The Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials also provides information on how stockholders may obtain paper copies of our proxy materials if they so choose. This makes the proxy distribution process more efficient and less costly, and helps conserve natural resources. If you previously elected to receive our proxy materials electronically, these materials will continue to be sent via email unless you change your election.

Our principal executive offices are located at 2010 Main Street, Suite 600, Irvine, California 92614. Our telephone number is (949) 851-1473.

 

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MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING

PROPOSAL ONE

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Six individuals have been nominated to serve as our directors. Our stockholders are being asked to elect these nominees to the Board at the Annual Meeting. Our Nomination and Governance Committee selected and recommended, and the Board, including its independent directors, approved the nomination of each of the six individuals listed below for election to serve for a one-year term ending on the date of our next annual meeting of stockholders or until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified. The term may be shorter if such individual resigns, becomes disqualified or disabled, or is otherwise removed. If these nominees are elected, the Board will consist of six persons and there will be one vacancy on the Board. The Board may fill such vacancy at any time during the year.

Unless otherwise instructed or unless the proxy is marked “withheld,” the proxy holders will vote the proxies received by them FOR the election of each of the nominees named below. Each such nominee is currently serving as a director and has indicated his or her willingness to continue to serve as a director if elected. In the event that any such nominee becomes unable or declines to serve at the time of the Annual Meeting, the proxy holders may exercise discretionary authority to vote for a substitute person selected and recommended by our Nomination and Governance Committee and approved by the Board.

Director Nominees for Term Ending Upon the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

The names and certain information, as of May 31, 2015, about the nominees for director are set forth below:

 

Name

   Age     

Position

V. Gordon Clemons

     71       Chairman of the Board

Steven J. Hamerslag (1) (3)

     58       Director

Alan R. Hoops (1) (2)

     67       Director

R. Judd Jessup (1)

     67       Director

Jean H. Macino (2)

     72       Director

Jeffrey J. Michael (2) (3)

     58       Director

 

(1) Member of the Audit Committee

 

(2) Member of the Compensation Committee

 

(3) Member of the Nomination and Governance Committee

Mr. Clemons has served as our Chairman of the Board since April 1991. He was reappointed as our Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer in April 2012. He also served as our Chief Executive Officer from January 1988 until August 2007 and as our President from January 1988 until May 2006. Mr. Clemons was President of Caremark, Inc., a home intravenous therapy company, from May 1985 to September 1987, at which time Caremark was purchased by Baxter International, Inc. From 1981 to 1985, Mr. Clemons was President of INTRACORP, a medical management company and subsidiary of CIGNA Corporation. Mr. Clemons has 38 years of experience in the healthcare and insurance industries. Our Board believes Mr. Clemons is qualified to serve as Chairman of the Board given his extensive technology, industry, management and operational experience and his substantial understanding of the Company and its operations resulting from his position as our Chief Executive Officer, President, and Chief Operating Officer currently, and from 1988 until 2007, and our President from 1988 until 2006.

Mr. Hamerslag has served as one of our directors since May 1991. Mr. Hamerslag has been Managing Partner of TVC Capital, a venture capital firm, since April 2006, and Managing Director of Titan Investment Partners, also a venture capital firm, since November 2002. Mr. Hamerslag served as the President and Chief Executive Officer

 

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of J2Global Communications, a publicly held unified communication services company, from June 1999 until January 2001. Mr. Hamerslag served as the CEO of MTI Technology Corporation, a publicly held manufacturer of enterprise storage solutions, from 1987 to 1996. Our Board believes Mr. Hamerslag’s valuable business, leadership and executive management experience, particularly in the technology industry, qualifies him to serve as a director.

Mr. Hoops has served as one of our directors since May 2003. Mr. Hoops has been Executive Chairman of Health Essentials, a physician medical group specializing in hospice care, pharmacy and DME services for medically complex and frail-elderly patients, since 2012. Mr. Hoops was Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of CareMore California Health Plan, a health maintenance organization, from March 2006 to March 2012. Mr. Hoops was Chairman of Benu, Inc., a regional benefits administration/marketing company, from 2000 to March 2006, and Chairman of Enwisen, Inc., a human resources services software company, from 2001 to March 2006. Mr. Hoops was Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Pacificare Health Systems, Inc., a national health consumer services company, from 1993 to 2000. Mr. Hoops has 41 years of experience in the healthcare and managed care industries. Our Board believes Mr. Hoops’ experience as the Chief Executive Officer and Director of Pacificare Health Systems, Inc., combined with his strong operational and strategic background and extensive public company experience, qualifies him to serve as a director.

Mr. Jessup has served as one of our directors since August 1997. Mr. Jessup was Chief Executive Officer of CombiMatrix Corporation, a molecular diagnostics laboratory, from August 2010 to April 2013. Mr. Jessup was Chief Executive Officer of U.S. LABS, a national laboratory which provides cancer diagnostic and genetic testing services, from 2002 to 2005. Mr. Jessup was President of the HMO Division of FHP International Corporation, a diversified health care services company, from 1994 to 1996. From 1987 to 1994, Mr. Jessup was President of TakeCare, Inc., a publicly held HMO operating in California, Colorado, Illinois and Ohio, until it was acquired by FHP. Mr. Jessup has 40 years of experience in the healthcare and managed care industries. Mr. Jessup has been a director of Pathology, Inc., a premier women’s health laboratory since April 2013, a director of CombiMatrix Corporation since August 2010, a director of Xifin, Inc., a laboratory billing systems company, since January 2006, a director of Superior Vision Services, a national managed vision care plan, from December 2007 to March 2013, and a director of Accentcare from October 2005 to February 2011. Our Board believes Mr. Jessup is qualified to serve as a director because he has significant executive experience with the strategic, financial, and operational requirements of large health care services organizations, including serving as an Audit Committee chair, and brings to our Board senior leadership, health industry, and financial experience.

Ms. Macino has served as one of our directors since February 2008. Ms. Macino was a Managing Director of Marsh and McLennan Companies, an insurance broker and strategic risk advisor, from 1980 to 1995, and Office Head of the Newport Beach office of Marsh, Inc. from 1995 to 2005. Ms. Macino has served on the Board of Governors of Chapman University for the past ten years and currently serves as Chairman of the Governorship Committee of Chapman University. Ms. Macino has 38 years of experience in the insurance brokerage industry. Our Board believes Ms. Macino’s executive leadership experience, strong sales and marketing expertise in the insurance brokerage industry qualifies her to serve as a director.

Mr. Michael has served as one of our directors since September 1990. Mr. Michael has been President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Corstar Holdings, Inc., one of our significant stockholders and a holding company owning equity interests in CorVel and an independent provider of data, voice, and video services to multiple dwelling units, since March 1996. Our Board believes Mr. Michael’s experience as the President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Corstar Holdings, Inc., combined with his strong operational and strategic background and extensive public company experience, qualifies him to serve as a director.

There are no family relationships among any of our directors, nominees or executive officers.

 

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Corporate Governance, Board Composition and Board Committees

Independent Directors

The Board has determined that each of our current directors other than Mr. Clemons qualifies as an independent director in accordance with the published listing requirements of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC. The Nasdaq independence definition includes a series of objective tests, such as that the director is not also one of our employees and has not engaged in various types of business dealings with us. In addition, as further required by the Nasdaq rules, the Board has made a subjective determination as to each independent director that no relationships exist which, in the opinion of the Board, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. In making these determinations, our directors reviewed and discussed information provided by us and our directors with regard to each director’s business and personal activities as they may relate to us and our management.

Board Leadership Structure, Risk Oversight and Diversity

The Board does not have a policy regarding the separation of the roles of the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board as the Board believes it is in the best interest of the Company to make that determination based on the position and direction of the Company and the membership of the Board from time to time. The Board has determined that having the Company’s current Chief Executive Officer serve as the Chairman is currently in the best interest of the Company as this structure provides leadership continuity, makes the best use of the Chairman’s extensive knowledge of the Company and its industry, and fosters greater communication between the Company’s management and the Board, while facilitating robust director, Board, and CEO evaluation processes.

In determining that we are best served by having Mr. Clemons serve as Chairman of the Board, our board considered the benefits of having the current Chief Executive Officer serve as a bridge between management and our board, ensuring that both groups act with a common purpose. Our board also considered Mr. Clemons’ knowledge regarding our operations and the industries and markets in which we compete and his ability to promote communication, to synchronize activities between our board and our senior management and to provide consistent leadership to both our board and our company in coordinating the strategic objectives of both groups.

The Company does, however, have a policy that if the Chairman of the Board of the Company does not qualify as an independent director, the independent directors of the Board will select one of the independent directors to be the “Lead Independent Director.” Since the Chairman of the Board/CEO is currently involved in the day-to-day operations of the Company, the Board of Directors has designated Mr. Jessup as the Lead Independent Director. The Lead Independent Director has the following duties and responsibilities: (a) acting as Chair of the meetings of the independent directors; (b) working with the Chairman of the Board/CEO and Corporate Secretary to ensure the Board has adequate resources, especially by way of full, timely and relevant information to support its decision-making requirements; (c) serving as a conduit of information between the independent directors and the Chairman of the Board/CEO and other members of management; (d) reviewing annually the purpose of the Committees of the Board and through the Nomination and Governance Committee, recommending to the Board any changes deemed necessary or desirable to the purpose of the Committees and whether any Committees should be created or discontinued; (e) being available as a resource to consult with other Board members on corporate governance practices and policies; and (f) such other responsibilities and duties as the Board shall designate. The Board believes that this current leadership structure, in which the office of Chairman is held by one individual and an independent director acts as Lead Independent Director, provides for dynamic Board leadership and enhances the Company’s ability to execute its business and strategic plans, while maintaining strong independence for Board decisions and oversight.

Our board oversees an enterprise-wide approach to risk management that is designed to support the achievement of organizational objectives, including strategic objectives, to improve long-term organizational performance and

 

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enhance stockholder value. A fundamental part of risk management is not only understanding the risks a company faces and what steps management is taking to manage those risks, but also understanding what level of risk is appropriate for us. In setting our business strategy, our board assesses the various risks being mitigated by management and determines what constitutes an appropriate level of risk for us.

While our board has the ultimate oversight responsibility for the risk management process, various committees of our board also have responsibility for risk management. In particular, the Audit Committee focuses on financial risk, including internal controls. Risks related to our compensation programs are reviewed by the Compensation Committee and legal and regulatory compliance risks are reviewed by the Nomination and Governance Committee. Our board is advised by the committees of significant risks and management’s response through periodic updates.

We believe that our compensation policies and practices do not create inappropriate or unintended significant risk to the Company as a whole. We also believe that our incentive compensation arrangements provide incentives that do not encourage risk-taking beyond the organization’s ability to effectively identify and manage significant risks; are compatible with effective internal controls and the risk management practices of CorVel; and are supported by the oversight and administration of the Compensation Committee with regard to executive compensation programs.

We believe that our Board as a whole should encompass a range of talent, skill, diversity and expertise enabling it to provide sound guidance with respect to our operations and interests. In addition to considering a candidate’s background and accomplishments, our nomination and governance committee reviews candidates in the context of the current composition of the Board and the evolving needs of our business. Our Board has adopted a formal policy with regard to the consideration of diversity in identifying director nominees and as a result, the nomination and governance committee strives to nominate directors with a variety of complementary skills and backgrounds so that as a group, our Board will possess the appropriate talent, skills, insight and expertise to oversee our business. Our Board assesses its overall effectiveness through an annual evaluation process. This evaluation includes, among other things, an assessment of the overall composition of the Board, including the diversity of its members.

Board Structure and Committees

The Board has established an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nomination and governance committee. The Board and its committees set schedules to meet throughout the year, and also can hold special meetings and act by written consent from time to time as appropriate. The independent directors of the Board also hold separate regularly scheduled executive session meetings at least twice a year at which only independent directors are present. The Board has delegated various responsibilities and authority to its committees as generally described below. The committees regularly report on their activities and actions to the full Board. Each member of each committee of the Board qualifies as an independent director in accordance with the Nasdaq standards described above. Each committee of the Board has a written charter approved by the Board. A copy of each charter is posted on our website at http://www.corvel.com under the Investor Relations section. The inclusion of any website address in this Proxy Statement does not include or incorporate by reference the information on that website into this Proxy Statement or our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Audit Committee

The audit committee of the Board reviews and monitors our corporate financial statements and reporting and our internal and external audits, including, among other things, our internal controls and audit functions, the results and scope of the annual audit and other services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm and our compliance with legal matters that have a significant impact on our financial statements. Our audit committee also consults with our management and our independent registered public accounting firm prior to the presentation of financial statements to stockholders and, as appropriate, initiates inquiries into aspects of our financial affairs.

 

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Our audit committee has established procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, and for the confidential, anonymous submission by our employees of concerns regarding accounting or auditing matters. In addition, our audit committee is directly responsible for the appointment, retention, compensation and oversight of the work of our independent registered public accounting firm, including approving services and fee arrangements. In accordance with the audit committee’s charter and policies regarding transactions with related persons, all related person transactions are approved or ratified by our audit committee. Please see the information set forth under the heading “Policies and Procedures for Related Person Transactions” in this Proxy Statement for additional details about our policies regarding related person transactions. The current members of our audit committee are Messrs. Hamerslag, Hoops and Jessup. The audit committee held four meetings by telephonic conference calls during fiscal 2015.

In addition to qualifying as independent under the Nasdaq rules described above, each member of our audit committee can read and understand fundamental financial statements, and each member currently qualifies as independent under special standards established by the SEC for members of audit committees. Our audit committee includes at least one member who has been determined by the Board to meet the qualifications of an audit committee financial expert in accordance with SEC rules. Mr. Hamerslag is the independent director who has been determined to be an audit committee financial expert. Stockholders should understand that this designation is a disclosure requirement of the SEC related to Mr. Hamerslag’s experience and understanding with respect to certain accounting and auditing matters. In this regard, please refer to the biography of Mr. Hamerslag appearing above. The designation does not impose on Mr. Hamerslag any duties, obligations or liability that are greater than are generally imposed on him as a member of our audit committee and the Board, and his designation as an audit committee financial expert pursuant to this SEC requirement does not affect the duties, obligations or liability of any other member of our audit committee or Board.

Compensation Committee

The compensation committee of the Board reviews and approves our general compensation policies and all forms of compensation to be provided to our executive officers and directors, including, among other things, annual salaries, bonuses, and stock option and other incentive compensation arrangements. In addition, our compensation committee administers the CorVel Corporation 1991 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the CorVel Corporation Restated Omnibus Incentive Plan (Formerly The Restated 1988 Executive Stock Option Plan), including reviewing and granting stock options. Our compensation committee also reviews and approves various other issues related to our compensation policies and matters. The compensation committee may form, and delegate any of its responsibilities to, a subcommittee so long as such subcommittee consists solely of at least two independent members of the compensation committee. The current members of our compensation committee are Messrs. Hoops and Michael and Ms. Macino. The compensation committee held one meeting and acted by unanimous written consent six times during fiscal 2015.

Risk Assessment in Compensation Programs. We have assessed our compensation programs and have concluded that our compensation policies and practices do not create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. Our management assessed the Company’s executive and broad-based compensation and benefits programs to determine if the programs’ provisions and operations create undesired or unintentional risk of a material nature. This risk assessment process included a review of program policies and practices; program analysis to identify risk and risk control related to the programs; and determinations as to the sufficiency of risk identification, the balance of potential risk to potential reward, risk control, and the support of the programs and their risks to Company strategy. Although we reviewed all compensation programs, we focused on the programs with variability of payout, with the ability of a participant to directly affect payout and the controls on participant action and payout. Our egalitarian culture supports the use of base salary, performance-based compensation, and retirement plans that are generally uniform in design and operation throughout the Company and with all levels of employees. In most cases, the compensation policies and practices are centrally designed and administered, and are substantially identical at each business unit. Field sales personnel are paid a base salary and a sales commission, but all of our executive officers are paid under the programs and plans for non-sales employees. Certain internal groups have different or supplemental compensation programs tailored to their specific operations and goals.

 

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Based on the foregoing, we believe that our compensation policies and practices do not create inappropriate or unintended significant risk to the Company as a whole. We also believe that our incentive compensation arrangements provide incentives that do not encourage risk-taking beyond the organization’s ability to effectively identify and manage significant risks; are compatible with effective internal controls and the risk management practices of CorVel; and are supported by the oversight and administration of the Compensation Committee with regard to executive compensation programs.

Nomination and Governance Committee

The nomination and governance committee of the Board reviews and reports to the Board on a periodic basis with regard to matters of corporate governance, and reviews, assesses and makes recommendations on the effectiveness of our corporate governance policies. In addition, the nomination and governance committee reviews and makes recommendations to the Board regarding the size and composition of the Board and the appropriate qualities and skills required of our directors in the context of the then current make-up of the Board. This includes an assessment of each candidate’s independence, personal and professional integrity, diversity, financial literacy or other professional or business experience relevant to an understanding of our business, ability to think and act independently and with sound judgment, and ability to serve us and our stockholders’ long-term interests. These factors, and others as considered useful by our nomination and governance committee, are reviewed in the context of an assessment of the perceived needs of the Board at a particular point in time. As a result, the priorities and emphasis of the nomination and governance committee and of the Board may change from time to time to take into account changes in business and other trends, and the portfolio of skills and experience of current and prospective directors. The nomination and governance committee has a formal policy with respect to diversity in identifying director nominees and, as indicated above, diversity is one factor in the total mix of information our Board considers when evaluating director candidates.

The nomination and governance committee leads the search for and selects, or recommends that the Board select, candidates for election to the Board (subject to legal rights, if any, of third parties to nominate or appoint directors). Consideration of new director candidates typically involves a series of committee discussions, review of information concerning candidates and interviews with selected candidates. Candidates for nomination to the Board typically have been suggested by other members of the Board or by our executive officers. From time to time, the nomination and governance committee may engage the services of a third-party search firm to identify director candidates. Each of the current nominees is standing for re-election at the Annual Meeting. The nomination and governance committee selected these candidates and recommended their nomination to the Board. The nomination and governance committee has not received any nominations from any stockholders in connection with this Annual Meeting. The current members of our nomination and governance committee are Messrs. Hamerslag and Michael. The nomination and governance committee held one meeting during fiscal 2015.

Although the nomination and governance committee does not have a formal policy on stockholder nominations, it will consider candidates proposed by stockholders of any outstanding class of our capital stock entitled to vote for the election of directors, provided such proposal is in accordance with the procedures set forth in Article II, Section 12 of our Bylaws and in the charter of the nomination and governance committee. Nominations by eligible stockholders must be preceded by notification in writing addressed to the Chairman of the nomination and governance committee, care of our Secretary, at 2010 Main Street, Suite 600, Irvine, California 92614, not later than (i) with respect to an election to be held at an annual meeting of stockholders, ninety (90) days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting, or (ii) with respect to the election to be held at a special meeting of stockholders for the election of directors, the close of business on the tenth day following the date on which notice of such meeting is first given to stockholders. Our Bylaws and the charter of the nomination and governance committee require that such notification shall contain the written consent of each proposed nominee to serve as a director if so elected and the following information as to each proposed nominee and as to each person, acting alone or in conjunction with one or more other persons as a partnership, limited partnership, syndicate or other group, who participates or is expected to participate in making such nomination or in organizing, directing or financing such nomination or solicitation of proxies to vote for the nominee: (a) the name

 

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and address of the nominee; (b) the name and address of the stockholder making the nomination; (c) a representation that the nominating stockholder is a stockholder of record of our stock entitled to vote at the next annual meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at such meeting to nominate the person specified in the notice; (d) the nominee’s qualifications for membership on the Board of Directors; (e) all of the information that would be required in a proxy statement soliciting proxies for the election of the nominee as a director pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission; (f) a description of all direct or indirect arrangements or understandings between the nominating stockholder and the nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to whose request the nomination is being made by the stockholder; (g) all other companies to which the nominee is being recommended as a nominee for director; and (h) a signed consent of the nominee to cooperate with reasonable background checks and personal interviews, and to serve as one of our directors, if elected.

All such recommendations will be brought to the attention of our nomination and governance committee. Candidates proposed by stockholders will be evaluated by our nomination and governance committee using the same criteria as for all other candidates.

Board and Committee Meetings

The Board held four meetings in person and acted by unanimous written consent six times during fiscal 2015. Each director attended or participated in 75% or more of the aggregate of (i) the total number of meetings of the Board and (ii) the total number of meetings held by all committees of the Board on which such director served during fiscal 2015. Although we do not have a formal policy regarding attendance by members of the Board at our annual meetings of stockholders, directors are encouraged and expected to attend each of our annual meetings of stockholders in addition to each meeting of the Board and of the committees on which he or she serves, except where the failure to attend is due to unavoidable circumstances or schedule conflicts. All of our directors attended our 2014 annual meeting of stockholders.

Code of Ethics and Business Conduct

The Board has adopted a code of ethics and business conduct that applies to all of our employees, officers and directors. The full text of our code of ethics and business conduct is posted on our web site at http://www.corvel.com under the Investor Relations section. We intend to disclose future amendments to certain provisions of our code of ethics and business conduct, or waivers of such provisions, applicable to our directors and executive officers, at the same location on our web site identified above. The inclusion of any web site address in this proxy statement does not include or incorporate by reference the information on that web site into this proxy statement or our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Communications from Stockholders to the Board

The Board has implemented a process by which stockholders may send written communications to the attention of the Board, any committee of the Board or any individual Board member, care of our Secretary at 2010 Main Street, Suite 600, Irvine, CA 92614. This centralized process assists the Board in reviewing and responding to stockholder communications in an appropriate manner. The name of any specific intended Board recipient should be noted in the communication. Our Secretary, with the assistance of our Director of Legal Services, is primarily responsible for collecting, organizing and monitoring communications from stockholders and, where appropriate depending on the facts and circumstances outlined in the communication, providing copies of such communications to the intended recipients. Communications will be forwarded to directors if they relate to appropriate and important substantive corporate or board matters. Communications that are of a commercial or frivolous nature or otherwise inappropriate for the Board’s consideration will not be forwarded to the Board. Any communications not forwarded to the Board will be retained for a period of three months and made available to any of our independent directors upon their general request to view such communications. There were no changes in this process in fiscal 2015.

 

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Stockholder Approval

Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes present or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote. The six nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative votes cast at the Annual Meeting will be our elected directors.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR EACH OF THE NOMINEES NAMED ABOVE.

 

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PROPOSAL TWO

APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF

THE CORVEL CORPORATION RESTATED OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

(FORMERLY THE RESTATED 1988 EXECUTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN) TO EXTEND ITS

EXPIRATION DATE BY 10 YEARS

Overview

We are seeking stockholder approval to amend and restate our Restated Omnibus Incentive Plan (Formerly The Restated 1988 Executive Stock Option Plan) to extend its expiration date by 10 years to June 30, 2026 (as proposed to be amended, the “Omnibus Plan”). On June 19, 2015, subject to stockholder approval, our Board approved the amendment and restatement of the Omnibus Plan to extend its expiration date by 10 years, and is seeking stockholder approval of the same. We believe that this amendment is necessary in order to attract and retain talented employees and management.

A copy of the Omnibus Plan is attached to this proxy statement as Appendix A and is incorporated herein by reference. The following summary of the material terms of the Omnibus Plan does not purport to be a complete description of the Omnibus Plan and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete copy of the Omnibus Plan in Appendix A.

Structure of the Omnibus Plan

Currently, the Omnibus Plan is divided into two separate components: the Discretionary Option Grant Program and the Other Equity Based Awards Program. Under the Discretionary Option Grant Program and the Other Equity Based Awards Program, options and other equity based awards may be issued to employees, officers, directors, consultants and advisors of the Company (or its parent or subsidiary companies).

The Discretionary Option Grant Program and the Other Equity Based Awards Program are administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Committee”). The Committee has complete discretion (subject to the provisions of the Omnibus Plan) to authorize option grants and other equity based awards and to determine the terms of these options and other equity based awards under these two components of the Omnibus Plan. However, the Board may at any time appoint a secondary committee of two or more Board members to have separate but concurrent authority with the Committee to make option grants and other equity based awards to individuals other than executive officers and non-employee Board members, and only in a manner that would comply with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code. The committee administering the Omnibus Plan will have full power and authority to determine when and to whom awards will be granted, and the type, amount, form of payment and other terms and conditions of each award, consistent with the provisions of the Omnibus Plan. Subject to the provisions of the Omnibus Plan, the committee administering the Omnibus Plan may change the terms and conditions, or accelerate the exercisability, of an outstanding award. The committee administering the Omnibus Plan has authority to interpret the Omnibus Plan, and establish rules and regulations for the administration of the Omnibus Plan. In addition, the Board at any time may exercise the powers of the committee administering the Omnibus Plan.

Purpose of the Omnibus Plan

The Omnibus Plan is designed to serve as a comprehensive equity incentive program to attract and retain the services of individuals essential to the Company’s long-term growth and success, and to encourage such individuals to put forth maximum efforts for the success of the Company’s business. Accordingly, the Company’s officers and other employees, non-employee directors and other consultants and advisors will have the opportunity to acquire a meaningful equity interest, or otherwise increase their equity interest, in the Company through their participation in the Omnibus Plan, thereby aligning the interests of such individuals with the Company’s stockholders.

 

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Shares Subject to the Omnibus Plan

The total number of shares of Common Stock issuable under all equity based awards over the term of the Omnibus Plan may not exceed 19,365,000 shares. All such shares will be made available either from authorized but unissued Common Stock or from Common Stock reacquired by the Company.

For purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code, no award recipient may be granted (i) options or stock appreciation rights with respect to more than 500,000 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate within any fiscal year or (ii) qualified performance based awards which could result in such person receiving more than $1,500,000 in cash or the equivalent fair market value of shares of Common Stock determined at the date of grant for each full or partial fiscal year contained in the performance period of a particular qualified performance based award, subject to certain adjustments as described in more detail below under the heading “Performance Awards.”

Shares subject to any outstanding options or other equity based awards under the Omnibus Plan which expire or otherwise terminate prior to exercise will be available for subsequent issuance. Unvested shares issued under the Omnibus Plan that the Company subsequently purchases, at the option exercise or direct issue price paid per share, pursuant to the Company’s purchase rights under the Omnibus Plan will be added back to the number of shares reserved for issuance under the Omnibus Plan and will accordingly be available for subsequent issuance. However, any shares subject to tandem stock appreciation rights that were exercised under the Omnibus Plan will not be available for reissuance.

In the event any change is made to the outstanding shares of Common Stock by reason of any recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change in corporate structure effected without the Company’s receipt of consideration, appropriate adjustments will be made to the class and number of securities issuable (in the aggregate and to each participant) under the Omnibus Plan and to each outstanding option and other equity based award.

Eligibility

Officers, employees, consultants, advisors, and Board members (including Committee members if this Proposal is approved by stockholders) in the service of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation shall be eligible to participate in the Discretionary Option Grant Program and the Other Equity Based Awards Program. Awards under the Omnibus Plan may only be transferred by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, except that options under the Omnibus Plan may also be transferred without consideration to a family member pursuant to the General Instructions to form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933.

As of May 31, 2015, approximately 170 employees, 2 consultants, 4 executive officers and 5 non-employee Board members are eligible to participate in the Discretionary Option Grant Program and the Other Equity Based Awards Program.

Valuation

For purposes of establishing the option exercise price or the price for other equity based awards, and for all other valuation purposes under the Omnibus Plan, the fair market value per share of Common Stock on any relevant date under the Omnibus Plan is the closing selling price per share on such date, as quoted on the Nasdaq Stock Market and published in The Wall Street Journal. If there is no reported closing selling price for such date, then the closing selling price for the last previous date for which such quotation exists is used as its fair market value. The closing selling price per share of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market on March 31, 2015 was $34.41 per share.

Discretionary Option Grant Program

The Committee has complete discretion under the Discretionary Option Grant Program to determine which eligible individuals are to receive option grants, the time or times when those grants are to be made, the number of shares subject to each such grant, the vesting schedule (if any) to be in effect for the option grant and the

 

12


maximum term for which any granted option is to remain outstanding. Unless otherwise provided in a particular award agreement, the options granted under the Discretionary Option Grant Program generally will have the following terms and conditions:

Price and Exercisability. The exercise price per share for options issued under the Discretionary Option Grant Program may not be less than the fair market value of the Common Stock on the grant date (except in connection with a merger, acquisition or other similar consolidation), and no option may be outstanding for more than ten years. The shares subject to each option will generally vest in one or more installments over a specified period of service measured from the grant date.

Upon cessation of service, the optionee will have a limited period of time in which to exercise any outstanding option for the number of shares which were vested at the time service terminated. The Committee will have complete discretion to extend the period following the optionee’s cessation of service during which his or her outstanding options may be exercised and/or accelerate the exercisability or vesting of such options in whole or in part. Such discretion may be exercised at any time while the options remain outstanding, whether before or after the optionee’s cessation of service.

Acceleration of Options. In the event of an acquisition of the Company by merger or asset sale (“Corporate Transaction”), each option outstanding under the Discretionary Option Grant Program at the time will automatically become exercisable as to all of the option shares immediately prior to the effective date of the Corporate Transaction. However, no acceleration will occur if and to the extent: (i) such option is either to be assumed by the successor corporation or its parent or replaced by a comparable option to purchase shares of the capital stock of the successor corporation or its parent, (ii) such option is to be replaced with a cash incentive program of the successor corporation designed to preserve the difference between the exercise price and the fair market value of the Common Stock at the time of the Corporate Transaction and incorporating the same vesting schedule applicable to the option or (iii) acceleration of such option is subject to other limitations imposed by the Committee at the time of grant. Upon the consummation of any Corporate Transaction, all outstanding options will, to the extent not previously exercised by the optionees or assumed by the successor corporation (or its parent company), terminate and cease to be outstanding.

The Committee will have the discretion to provide for the automatic acceleration of one or more assumed or replaced options which are not otherwise accelerated in connection with the Corporate Transaction, or to provide for automatic vesting of the optionee’s interest in any cash incentive program implemented in replacement of his or her options under the Discretionary Option Grant Program, should the optionee’s employment or service with the successor entity terminate within a designated period following the Corporate Transaction.

The acceleration of options in the event of a Corporate Transaction may be seen as an anti-take-over provision and may have the effect of discouraging a merger proposal, a take-over attempt or other efforts to gain control of the Company.

Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights. At the Committee’s discretion, options granted under the Discretionary Option Grant Program may be granted with tandem stock appreciation rights. Two types of stock appreciation rights are authorized for issuance: (i) tandem stock appreciation rights which require the option holder to elect between the exercise of the underlying option for shares of Common Stock and the surrender of such option for a share distribution and (ii) prior to July 1, 2006, limited stock appreciation rights which are automatically exercised upon the occurrence of a hostile take-over of the Company.

Tandem stock appreciation rights provide the holders with the right to surrender their option for an appreciation distribution from the Company equal in amount to the excess of (i) the fair market value (on the date of surrender) of the shares of Common Stock in which the optionee is at the time vested under the surrendered option over (ii) the aggregate exercise price payable for such shares. Such appreciation distribution shall be made in shares of Common Stock valued at fair market value on the date of surrender.

 

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Prior to July 1, 2006, one or more officers of the Company subject to the short-swing profit restrictions of the Federal securities laws were, in the Committee’s discretion, eligible to be granted a limited stock appreciation right as part of any stock option grant made to such officers. Any option with such a limited stock appreciation right will automatically be canceled upon the occurrence of a hostile take-over, to the extent the option is at such time exercisable for vested shares. In return, the optionee will be entitled to a cash distribution from the Company in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the take-over price per share over (ii) the aggregate exercise price payable for such shares.

Outstanding options granted to executive officers under the Omnibus Plan prior to June 15, 1992 provide such individuals with a different form of limited stock appreciation right in the event of a hostile take-over of the Company. Under this latter right, if the optionee is an officer of the Company at the time of such a hostile take-over, such optionee will have a thirty-day period in which to surrender the underlying option in return for a cash distribution from the Company equal to the excess for the take-over price of the shares subject to the surrendered option over the exercise price payable for such shares.

Other Equity Based Awards Program

Free Standing Stock Appreciation Rights. The holder of a free standing stock appreciation right (“SAR”) is entitled to receive the excess of the fair market value (calculated as of the exercise date or, at the Committee’s discretion, as of any time during a specified period before or after the exercise date) of a specified number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock over the grant price of the SAR, as determined by the Committee, paid in shares of Common Stock. SARs vest and become exercisable in accordance with a vesting schedule established by the Committee.

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. The holder of restricted stock will own shares of the Company’s Common Stock subject to restrictions imposed by the Committee (including, for example, restrictions on transferability or on the right to vote the restricted shares or to receive any dividends with respect to the shares) for a specified time period determined by the Committee. The restrictions, if any, may lapse or be waived separately or collectively, in installments or otherwise, as the Committee may determine. The holder of restricted stock units will have the right, subject to any restrictions imposed by the Committee, to receive shares of the Company’s Common Stock at some future date determined by the Committee. The Committee also may permit accelerated vesting in the case of a participant’s death, disability or retirement, or a change in control. If the participant’s employment or service as a director terminates during the vesting period for any other reason, the restricted stock and restricted stock units will be forfeited, unless the Committee determines that it would be in the Company’s best interest to waive the remaining restrictions.

Performance Awards. Performance awards give participants the right to receive payments in stock or property based solely upon the achievement of certain performance goals during a specified performance period. Subject to the terms of the Omnibus Plan, the performance goals to be achieved during any performance period, the length of any performance period, the amount of any performance award granted, the amount of any payment or transfer to be made pursuant to any performance award and any other terms and conditions of any performance award is determined by the Committee. From time to time, the Committee may designate an award granted pursuant to the Omnibus Plan as an award of qualified performance based compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. Such a qualified performance based award must, to the extent required by Section 162(m), be conditioned solely on the achievement of one or more objective performance goals. The Committee must designate all participants for each performance period, and establish performance goals and target awards for each participant no later than 90 days after the beginning of each performance period within the parameters of Section 162(m) of the Code. Performance goals must be based solely on one or more of the following business criteria: revenue, cash flow, gross profit, earnings before interest and taxes, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and net earnings, earnings per share, margins (including one or more of gross, operating and net income margins), returns (including one or more of return on assets, equity,

 

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investment, capital and revenue and total stockholder return), stock price, economic value added, working capital, market share, cost reductions, workforce satisfaction and diversity goals, employee retention, customer satisfaction, completion of key projects and strategic plan development and implementation.

The measure of performance may be set by reference to an absolute standard or a comparison to specified companies or groups of companies, or other external measures, and may be applied at individual or organizational levels. If the Committee so provides for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code, no person may be granted under the Omnibus Plan qualified performance based awards which could result in such person receiving more than $1,500,000 in cash or the equivalent fair market value of shares of Common Stock determined at the date of grant for each full or partial fiscal year contained in the performance period of a particular qualified performance based award, except that if any other qualified performance based awards are outstanding for such person for a given fiscal year, such dollar limitation shall be reduced for each such fiscal year by the amount that could be received by the person under all such qualified performance based awards, divided, for each such qualified performance based award, by the number of full or partial fiscal years contained in the performance period of each such outstanding qualified performance based award (subject to adjustment in the case of a stock dividend or other distribution, including a stock split, merger or other similar corporate transaction or event, but only to the extent that such adjustment does not affect the status of any award intended to qualify as “performance based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code).

Dividend Equivalents. The holder of a dividend equivalent will be entitled to receive payments in shares of the Company’s Common Stock, other securities or other property equivalent to the amount of cash dividends paid by the Company to its stockholders, with respect to the number of shares determined by the Committee. Dividend equivalents will be subject to other terms and conditions determined by the Committee.

Stock Awards. The Committee may grant unrestricted shares of the Company’s Common Stock, subject to terms and conditions determined by the Committee and the Omnibus Plan limitations.

Acceleration. The Committee may permit accelerated vesting of other equity based awards upon the occurrence of certain events, including a change in control, regardless of whether the award is assumed, substituted or otherwise continued in effect by the successor corporation. The acceleration of vesting in the event of a change in the ownership or control may be seen as an anti-takeover provision and may have the effect of discouraging a merger proposal, a takeover attempt or other efforts to gain control of the Company.

Special Tax Withholding Election

The Committee may provide participants who hold options or other equity based awards with the right to have the Company withhold a portion of the shares otherwise issuable to such individuals in satisfaction of the withholding taxes to which such individuals become subject in connection with the exercise of those options or the vesting of those shares. Alternatively, the Committee may allow such individuals to deliver previously acquired shares of Common Stock in payment of such withholding tax liability. To the extent necessary to avoid adverse accounting treatment, the number of shares that may be withheld for this purpose shall not exceed the minimum number needed to satisfy the applicable income and employment tax withholding rules. If Common Stock is used to satisfy the tax withholding obligations, the stock shall be valued at its fair market value when the tax withholding is required to be made.

Financial Assistance

The Committee may assist any award recipient in the exercise of outstanding options or other equity based awards under the Omnibus Plan by (a) authorizing a full-recourse interest bearing loan from the Company, (b) permitting the award recipient to pay the exercise or purchase price in installments over a period of years or (c) authorizing a guarantee by the Company of a third-party loan to the award recipient, but in any case only to the extent permissible under Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The terms and conditions of any

 

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such loan or installment payment will be established by the Committee in its sole discretion, but in no event may the maximum credit extended to the award recipient exceed the aggregate exercise price payable for the purchased shares (less the par value), plus any Federal and state income or employment taxes incurred in connection with the purchase.

Amendment and Termination of the Omnibus Plan

The Board may amend or modify the Omnibus Plan, subject to any required stockholder approval and certain other limitations. The Board may terminate the Omnibus Plan at any time, but the Omnibus Plan will in all events terminate on the earliest of (i) June 30, 2026, (ii) the date all shares available for issuance under the Omnibus Plan are issued or canceled pursuant to the exercise or surrender of options or other awards granted under the Omnibus Plan or (iii) the date all outstanding awards are terminated in connection with a Corporate Transaction. Any options or other awards outstanding at the time of termination of the Omnibus Plan will remain in force in accordance with the provisions of the instruments evidencing such grants.

Options Granted

The table below shows, as to the Named Executive Officers (as defined under “Executive Compensation”) and the other indicated persons and groups, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to options granted under the Omnibus Plan during the period from April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015, together with the weighted average exercise price per share.

 

Name and Position

   Number of
Option Shares
Granted
4/1/14-3/31/15
     Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
 

V. Gordon Clemons

     —           —     

Chairman of the Board

     

Donald C. McFarlane

     —           —     

Former Chief Information Officer

     

Diane J. Blaha

     7,100         35.47   

Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing

     

Richard J. Schweppe

     4,200         36.74   

Chief Financial Officer

     

Scott R. McCloud

     250         44.86   

Former Chief Financial Officer

     

Steven J. Hamerslag

     3,000         40.57   

Nominee for Election as Director

     

Alan R. Hoops

     3,000         40.57   

Nominee for Election as Director

     

R. Judd Jessup

     3,000         40.57   

Nominee for Election as Director

     

Jean H. Macino

     3,000         40.57   

Nominee for Election as Director

     

Jeffrey J. Michael

     3,000         40.57   

Nominee for Election as Director

     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

All current executive officers as a group (4 persons)

     11,550         36.12   

All current directors (other than executive officers) as a group (5 persons)

     15,000         40.57   

All other employees, including current officers who are not executive officers, as a group (179 persons)

     200,075         38.79   

 

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Plan Benefits

The Committee in its sole discretion will determine the number and types of awards that will be granted under the Discretionary Option Grant Program and, accordingly, it is not possible to determine the benefits that will be received by eligible participants at this time. The Company does not have any specific current plans or commitments for any future awards under the Omnibus Plan.

Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences

The following is a summary of the principal U.S. federal income tax consequences generally applicable to awards under the Omnibus Plan.

Grant of Options and SARs. The grant of a stock option or SAR is not expected to result in any taxable income for the recipient.

Exercise of Options and SARs. Upon exercising a non-qualified stock option, the optionee will recognize ordinary income equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares of the Company’s Common Stock acquired on the date of exercise over the exercise price, and the Company will generally be entitled at that time to an income tax deduction for the same amount. Upon exercising a SAR, the recipient of the SAR will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the fair market value on the exercise date of any shares of the Company’s Common Stock received, and the Company will receive an income tax deduction in the same amount.

Disposition of Shares Acquired Upon Exercise of Options and SARs. The tax consequence upon a disposition of shares acquired through the exercise of an option or SAR will depend on how long the shares have been held and whether the shares were acquired by exercising a non-qualified stock option or SAR. Generally, there will be no tax consequence to the Company in connection with the disposition of shares acquired under an option or SAR.

Awards Other than Options and SARs. As to other awards granted under the Omnibus Plan that are payable in either cash or shares of the Company’s Common Stock that are either transferable or not subject to substantial risk of forfeiture, the holder of the award must recognize ordinary income equal to (a) the amount of cash received or, as applicable, (b) the excess of (i) the fair market value of the shares received (determined as of the date of receipt) over (ii) the amount (if any) paid for the shares by the holder of the award. The Company will generally be entitled at that time to an income tax deduction for the same amount. As to an award that is payable in shares of the Company’s Common Stock that are restricted from transfer and subject to substantial risk of forfeiture, unless a special election is made by the holder of the award under the Code, the holder must recognize ordinary income equal to the excess of (i) the fair market value of the shares received (determined as of the first time the shares become transferable or not subject to substantial risk of forfeiture, whichever occurs earlier) over (ii) the amount (if any) paid for the shares by the holder of the award. The Company will generally be entitled at that time to an income tax deduction for the same amount.

Income Tax Deduction. Subject to the usual rules concerning reasonable compensation, and assuming that, as expected, performance awards paid under the Omnibus Plan are “qualified performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the Company will generally be entitled to a corresponding income tax deduction at the time a participant recognizes ordinary income from awards made under the Omnibus Plan.

Application of Section 16. Special rules may apply to individuals subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In particular, unless a special election is made pursuant to the Code, shares received through the exercise of a stock option or SAR may be treated as restricted as to transferability and subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture for a period of up to six months after the date of exercise. Accordingly, the amount of any ordinary income recognized and the amount of the Company’s income tax deduction will be determined as of the end of that period.

 

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Deductibility of Executive Compensation Under Code Section 162(m). Section 162(m) of the Code generally limits to $1,000,000 the amount that a publicly-held corporation is allowed each year to deduct for the compensation paid to each of the corporation’s chief executive officer and the corporation’s other four most highly compensated executive officers. However, “qualified performance-based qualified compensation” is not subject to the $1,000,000 deduction limit. In general, to qualify as performance-based compensation, the following requirements need to be satisfied: (1) payments must be computed on the basis of an objective, performance-based compensation standard determined by a committee consisting solely of two or more “outside directors,” (2) the material terms under which the compensation is to be paid, including the business criteria upon which the performance goals are based, and a limit on the maximum bonus amount which may be paid to any participant pursuant with respect to any performance period, must be approved by a majority of the Company’s stockholders and (3) the committee must certify that the applicable performance goals were satisfied before payment of any performance-based compensation.

The Omnibus Plan has been designed to permit grants of stock options and SARs issued under the Omnibus Plan to qualify under the performance-based compensation rules so that income attributable to the exercise of a non-qualified stock option or a SAR may be exempt from $1,000,000 deduction limit. Grants of other awards under the Omnibus Plan may not so qualify for this exemption. The Omnibus Plan’s provisions are consistent in form with the performance-based compensation rules, so that if the committee that grants options or SARs consists exclusively of members of the Board who qualify as “outside directors,” and the exercise price (or deemed exercise price, with respect to SARs) is not less than the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock to which such grants relate, the compensation income arising on exercise of those options or SARs should qualify as performance-based compensation which is deductible even if that income would be in excess of the otherwise applicable limits on deductible compensation income under Code Section 162(m).

Accounting Treatment for Stock-Based Compensation

We account for stock-based payments in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation, or ASC 718. For further information regarding ASC 718, refer to Note A in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 11, 2015.

Vote Required

The proposal to amend the Omnibus Plan to extend its expiration date by 10 years will be approved if a majority of the total votes cast on the proposal in person or by proxy are voted in favor of the proposal. Should such stockholder approval not be obtained, the Omnibus Plan will remain in full force and effect as it currently operates.

Recommendation of Our Board

OUR BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE AMENDMENT TO THE OMNIBUS PLAN TO EXTEND ITS EXPIRATION DATE BY 10 YEARS.

 

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PROPOSAL THREE

REAPPROVAL OF PERFORMANCE GOALS UNDER

THE CORVEL CORPORATION RESTATED OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

(FORMERLY THE RESTATED 1988 EXECUTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN)

General

We are asking our stockholders to reapprove the material terms of the performance goals under the CorVel Corporation Restated Omnibus Incentive Plan (Formerly The Restated 1988 Executive Stock Option Plan) (the “Omnibus Plan”) at this time solely for the purpose of preserving our ability to deduct compensation that qualifies as “performance-based” compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Board is not amending or altering nor seeking stockholder approval to amend or alter the Omnibus Plan under this Proposal, and the Omnibus Plan will continue in full force and effect.

Pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Code (“Section 162(m)”), we generally may not deduct for federal income tax purposes compensation paid to our Chief Executive Officer or any of our four other most highly compensated executive officers (within the meaning of Section 162(m)) that exceeds $1 million in any single year. However, if the compensation qualifies as “performance-based” for Section 162(m) purposes, we may generally deduct it for federal income tax purposes even if it exceeds $1 million in a single year. Most awards granted to date under the Omnibus Plan are designed to qualify as “performance-based” compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m). Most awards granted after the Annual Meeting will continue to be designed to qualify as “performance-based” compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) if our stockholders reapprove the material terms of the performance goals under the Omnibus Plan at the Annual Meeting.

For purposes of Section 162(m), the material terms of performance goals we are asking stockholders to reapprove include: revenue, cash flow, gross profit, earnings before interest and taxes, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and net earnings, earnings per share, margins (including one or more of gross, operating and net income margins), returns (including one or more of return on assets, equity, investment, capital and revenue and total stockholder return), stock price, economic value added, working capital, market share, cost reductions, workforce satisfaction and diversity goals, employee retention, customer satisfaction, completion of key projects and strategic plan development and implementation.

We believe that we must retain the flexibility to respond to changes in the market for top executives and offer compensation packages that are competitive with those offered by others in our industry. In the event we are motivated by competitive or other considerations to offer compensation in excess of $1 million to an executive officer, our Board believes it would be in our best interests and those of our stockholders to be able to deduct such compensation for federal income tax purposes.

A copy of the Omnibus Plan is attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendix A and is incorporated herein by reference. A summary of the material terms of the Omnibus Plan is set forth in Proposal Two above and is incorporated into this Proposal by reference. Such summary does not purport to be a complete description of the Omnibus Plan and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete copy of the Omnibus Plan in Appendix A.

Vote Required

The proposal to reapprove the performance goals under the Omnibus Plan to preserve our ability to deduct compensation that qualifies as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) will be approved if a majority of the total votes cast on the proposal in person or by proxy are voted in favor of the proposal.

Recommendation of Our Board

OUR BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE REAPPROVAL OF THE PERFORMANCE GOALS UNDER THE OMNIBUS PLAN TO PRESERVE OUR ABILITY TO DEDUCT COMPENSATION THAT QUALIFIES AS PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION UNDER SECTION 162(M).

 

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PROPOSAL FOUR

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC

ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Audit Committee has appointed Haskell & White LLP to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016, and our stockholders are being asked to ratify this appointment. Stockholder ratification of the appointment of Haskell & White LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm is not required by our Bylaws or other applicable legal requirement. However, the Board is submitting the Audit Committee’s appointment of Haskell & White LLP to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the stockholders fail to ratify the appointment by an affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Common Stock present or represented at the meeting and entitled to vote, the Audit Committee may reconsider whether to retain Haskell & White LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may direct the appointment of a different independent accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interest of us and our stockholders.

Representatives of Haskell & White LLP attended or participated by telephone in all meetings of the Audit Committee held during fiscal 2015. We expect that representatives of Haskell & White LLP will attend the Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and will be available to respond to appropriate questions posed by stockholders.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Audit Fees. Audit fees as of March 31, 2015 include the audit of our annual consolidated financial statements, review of consolidated financial statements included in our Form 10-Q quarterly reports, and services that are normally provided by our independent registered public accounting firm in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for the relevant fiscal years. Audit fees billed by Haskell & White LLP for services rendered to us in the audit of annual consolidated financial statements and the reviews of the consolidated financial statements included in our Form 10-Q quarterly reports were approximately $572,500 for fiscal year 2015 and approximately $504,000 for fiscal year 2014.

Audit-Related Fees. Audit-related fees consist of assurance and related services provided by Haskell & White LLP that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our consolidated financial statements and are not reported above under “Audit Fees”.

 

Fiscal 2015

  

Audit of the financial statements of CorVel Incentive Savings Plan

   $ 17,500   

Fiscal 2014

  

Audit of the financial statements of CorVel Incentive Savings Plan

   $ 17,500   

Tax Fees. Tax fees consist of professional services rendered by our independent registered public accounting firm for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.

 

Fiscal 2015

  

Tax consulting services

   $ 0   

Fiscal 2014

  

Tax consulting services

   $ 0   

All Other Fees. Fees for a retainer, travel and other miscellaneous expenses billed by Haskell & White LLP were $35,229 during fiscal year 2015 and $32,144 during fiscal 2014.

 

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Determination of Independence

The Audit Committee has determined that the provision of the above non-audit services by Haskell & White LLP was compatible with their maintenance of accountant independence.

Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Audit Committee pre-approves and reviews audit and permissible non-audit services performed by its registered public accounting firm as well as the fees charged by our independent registered public accounting firm for such services. In its pre-approval and review of permissible non-audit service fees, the Audit Committee considers, among other factors, the possible effect of the performance of such services on the auditors’ independence. Under certain de minimis circumstances described in the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Audit Committee may approve permissible non-audit services prior to the completion of the audit in lieu of pre-approving such services.

Stockholder Approval

The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of the Common Stock present or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote is being sought for ratification of the appointment of Haskell & White LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF HASKELL & WHITE LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2016.

OTHER MATTERS

Management does not know of any other matters to be brought before the Annual Meeting. If any other matter is properly presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting, it is intended that the proxies will be voted by the persons named therein in accordance with the Board of Directors’ recommendation. Discretionary authority with respect to such other matters is granted by the execution of the enclosed proxy.

 

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AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The information contained in this Audit Committee Report shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” or incorporated by reference into any filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference into a document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

The Audit Committee carries out its responsibilities pursuant to its written charter, and the members of the fiscal year 2015 Audit Committee have prepared and submitted this Audit Committee report. Each Audit Committee member is considered independent because each member satisfies the independence requirements for board members prescribed by the applicable rules of Nasdaq and Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Among other things, the Audit Committee oversees CorVel’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the system of internal control over financial reporting. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with management CorVel’s audited financial statements in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, including a discussion of the quality, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles; the reasonableness of significant judgments; and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements; and management’s assessment of CorVel’s internal control over financial reporting.

The Audit Committee also reviewed and discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm, who are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles, their judgments as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of CorVel’s accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed with audit committees by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, Communication With Audit Committees, as may be amended, modified or supplemented (AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1. AU section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T, as well as the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard No. 16 as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. In addition, the audit committee discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm their independence from management and CorVel, and has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent auditor’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence. Throughout the year and prior to the performance of any such services the Audit Committee also considered the compatibility of potential non-audit services with the auditors’ independence.

The Audit Committee discussed with CorVel’s independent registered public accounting firm their overall approach, scope and plans for the audit. At the conclusion of the audit, the Audit Committee met with the independent registered public accounting firm, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examination, their evaluation of CorVel’s internal control over financial reporting and the overall quality of CorVel’s financial reporting.

In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the audit committee recommended to the board (and the board has approved) that the audited financial statements be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Audit Committee has also recommended the selection of Haskell & White LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016.

AUDIT COMMITTEE

R. Judd Jessup, Chair

Steven J. Hamerslag

Alan R. Hoops

 

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF CORVEL

The following table sets forth certain information regarding our executive officers as of June 15, 2015:

 

Name

  

Age

    

Position

V. Gordon Clemons

     71       Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer

Diane J. Blaha

     60       Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing

Richard J. Schweppe

     60       Chief Financial Officer

Michael G. Combs

     51       Chief Information Officer

The following is a brief description of the capacities in which each of our executive officers who is not also a director has served, and other biographical information. The biography of Mr. Clemons appears earlier in this Proxy Statement under “Proposal One: Election of Directors.”

Ms. Blaha was promoted to Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing on June 3, 2015 and previously was the Senior Vice President, Sales and Account Management since November 2010. From November 2008 to November 2010, Ms. Blaha served as Vice President of Sales. From 1996 to November 2008, Ms. Blaha served as Vice President of Regional Sales. From 1994 to 1996, Ms. Blaha was an Account Executive in the Upper Midwest Region. Ms. Blaha joined CorVel in October 1992 as a Medical Case Manager until she moved into the sales and marketing team in 1994.

Mr. Schweppe was promoted to Chief Financial Officer on June 13, 2014. He has been with the Company for 27 years and was Director of Finance from August 2005 until June 13, 2014. Previously, he was Chief Financial Officer for the Company from June 1991, when the Company completed its initial public offering, until August 2005, when he resigned from that position. From March 1988 to June 1991, he was Director of Finance for the Company. Prior to that, he was Manager, Technical Accounting for Caremark, Inc. from May 1983 until February 1988.

Mr. Combs has served as our Chief Information Officer since Don McFarlane’s retirement in April 2015. Mr. Combs has been with the Company for 23 years, joining the Company as a software engineer in October 1991. His prior positions include Vice President of MedCheck Development and a promotion to Deputy Chief Information Officer in 2014. Mr. Combs holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from San Diego State University and prior to joining CorVel, he was with Science Applications International Corporation as a Software Engineer where he developed software for the Naval Oceans System Center Anti-Submarine Warfare program.

Our executive officers are elected by the Board on an annual basis and serve at the discretion of the Board until their successors have been duly elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal.

Executive Compensation

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

The following discussion and analysis of our compensation practices and related compensation information should be read in conjunction with the Summary Compensation table and other tables included in this proxy statement, as well as our financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015. The following discussion includes statements of judgment and forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, our business, compensation, management’s beliefs, and certain assumptions made by us, all of which are subject to change. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “believes,” “seeks,” “ estimates,” “may,” “will,”

 

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“should,” “would,” “could,” “potential,” “continue,” “ongoing,” similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding projected performance and compensation. Actual results could differ significantly from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including, but not limited to, the risk factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015. We assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or such risk factors.

Introduction

It is the responsibility of the compensation committee of our board of directors to oversee our general compensation policies; to determine the base salary and bonus to be paid each year to each of our executive officers; to oversee our compensation policies and practices as they relate to our risk management; and to determine the compensation to be paid each year to our directors for service on our board of directors and the various committees of our board of directors. In addition, the compensation committee administers our Restated Omnibus Incentive Plan (formerly the Restated 1988 Executive Stock Option Plan) with respect to stock option grants or other equity-based awards. The three broad components of our executive officer compensation are base salary, annual cash incentive awards, and long term equity-based incentive awards. The compensation committee periodically reviews total compensation levels and the allocation of compensation among these three components for each of the executive officers in the context of our overall compensation policy. Additionally, the compensation committee, in conjunction with our board, reviews the relationship of executive compensation to corporate performance and relative stockholder return. The compensation committee believes that our current compensation plans are competitive and reasonable. Below is a description of the general policies and processes that govern the compensation paid to our executive officers, as reflected in the accompanying compensation tables.

General Compensation Philosophy

We operate in the medical cost containment and managed care industry. The compensation committee believes that our compensation programs for executive officers should: (a) be designed to attract, motivate and retain talented executives, (b) be competitive, and (c) reward individuals based on the achievement of designated financial targets, individual contribution, and financial performance relative to that of our competitors and market indices. Our philosophy is to focus more on equity compensation (in particular, to incentivize service within a five year timeframe for time-vesting stock options) than on annual base compensation because we believe that approach more closely aligns the interests of our executive officers with those of our stockholders. Within this philosophy, the compensation committee’s objectives are to:

 

   

Offer a total compensation program that takes into consideration the compensation practices of other managed care companies of similar size with which we compete for executive talent;

 

   

Tie an individual’s total compensation to individual and profit center performance as well as our overall financial success;

 

   

Provide annual cash incentive awards that take into account our overall financial performance in terms of designated corporate objectives; and

 

   

Strengthen the alignment of the interests of our executive officers with those of our stockholders by providing significant equity-based, long-term incentive awards.

Compensation Components and Process

The compensation committee’s conclusions on the compensation levels for our executive officers are based in part on executive compensation data, including cash compensation and long-term incentive compensation, drawn from information available in the public domain, and also the recommendations of our chief executive officer. When evaluating publicly available market data for compensation comparison purposes, the compensation committee seeks to obtain data regarding organizations considered to be comparable to us from a variety of perspectives, such as customer base, annual revenue and general industry, in order to ensure comparisons include both our relevant labor market for talent as well as business competitors.

 

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In general, there are no other publicly-held cost containment and managed care companies within the workers’ compensation market with annual revenue similar to CorVel from which to obtain another data point in determining market levels for total compensation. The compensation committee believes, however, that the combination of published public domain survey data from survey companies such as salary.com and data from executive placement firms such as Spencer Stuart, Korn/Ferry International, and Robert Half International with experience in the cost containment and managed care industry allows us to assess relevant external market pay practices, and to understand the range of pay practices occurring in comparable markets. These external market pay practices help inform us on the competitiveness of our compensation programs.

The compensation committee considered fiscal 2015 executive compensation on May 8, 2014, August 4, 2014, November 10, 2014 and February 5, 2015 and fiscal year 2014 executive compensation on April 1, 2013, May 2, 2013, June 28, 2013, August 1, 2013, November 4, 2013, and February 6, 2014, and fiscal 2013 executive compensation on May 24, 2012, June 1, 2012, August 2, 2012, November 1, 2012, February 7, 2013, and March 1, 2013. The material considered by the compensation committee also included the historical compensation and stock option awards made to each of our executive officers. As described in more detail below, the results of each executive’s annual management by objectives plan, including a comparison of performance and job description relative to achievement and potential, were reviewed and discussed.

 

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Summary Compensation Table

 

Name and Principal Position*

  Fiscal
Year
    Salary
($)
    Bonus
($)
    Stock
Awards
($)
    Option
Awards
($) (1)
    Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation (2)
    Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings ($)
    All Other
Compensation
($) (3)
    Total ($)  

V. Gordon Clemons
Chairman of the Board, CEO,
President and Chief Operating Officer

    2015      $ 400,000      $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ 1,738      $ 401,738   
    2014      $ 393,833      $ —        $ —        $ 1,412,902      $ 150,000      $ —        $ 1,431      $ 1,958,166   
    2013      $ 326,000      $ —        $ —        $ 217,531      $ —        $ —        $ 1,139      $ 544,670   

Scott R. McCloud (4)
Former Chief Financial Officer

    2015      $ 51,686      $ —        $ —        $ 11,215      $ —        $ —        $ 1,005      $ 93,906   
    2014      $ 161,583      $ —        $ —        $ 37,564      $ 32,850      $ —        $ 1,306      $ 233,303   
    2013      $ 157,582      $ —        $ —        $ 10,010      $ 20,080      $ —        $ 1,363      $ 189,035   

Donald C. McFarlane (5)
Former Chief Information Officer

    2015      $ 196,197      $ —        $ —        $ 4,422      $ 54,041      $ —        $ 1,793      $ 256,453   
    2014      $ 196,197      $ —        $ —        $ 116,218      $ 51,011      $ —        $ 1,221      $ 364,647   
    2013      $ 191,698      $ —        $ —        $ 60,057      $ 35,019      $ —        $ 1,176      $ 287,950   

Richard J. Schweppe (6)
Chief Financial Officer

    2015      $ 147,979      $ —        $ —        $ 62,189      $ 34,573      $ —        $ 1,237      $ 245,978   
    2014      $ 132,053      $ —        $ —        $ 186,576      $ 22,682      $ —        $ 1,092      $ 342,403   
    2013      $ 125,571      $ —        $ —        $ 24,240      $ 17,467      $ —        $ 1,061      $ 168,339   

Diane J. Blaha
Senior Vice President, Sales and
Account Management

    2015      $ 304,978      $ —        $ —        $ 105,167      $ 40,250      $ —        $ 2,787      $ 453,182   
    2014      $ 300,847      $ —        $ —        $ 132,642      $ 166,806      $ —        $ 1,957      $ 602,252   
    2013      $ 295,071      $ —        $ —        $ 60,057      $ 31,249      $ —        $ 1,909      $ 388,286   

 

* Each of the individuals listed above are referred to in the Proxy Statement as our “named executive officers.”
(1) Excludes the effect of forfeiture assumptions. The fair value of option awards shown are calculated in accordance with Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation, and represent the aggregate grant date fair value of option awards granted during the year for awards that are not based on performance conditions. The value of performance awards is based on the probable outcome of the performance conditions as of the grant date. Refer to Note B, Stock-Based Compensation, in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed June 11, 2015 for the relevant assumptions used to determine the valuation of our option awards.
(2) See the discussion under Annual Incentive Awards Plan for a description of our cash-based incentive plan awards.
(3) Includes matching contributions by us under our 401(k) savings plan and annual premiums paid by us for the purchase of group term life insurance in an amount equal to each executive officer’s annual salary as follows:

 

     Fiscal Year      CorVel Contribution to
Section 401(k) Plan
     CorVel-Paid Life
Insurance  Premiums
 

V. Gordon Clemons

     2015       $ 1,100       $ 638   
     2014       $ 1,051       $ 380   
     2013       $ 661       $ 478   

Scott R. McCloud

     2015       $ 746       $ 259   
     2014       $ 1,061       $ 245   
     2013       $ 1,138       $ 225   

Donald C. McFarlane

     2015       $ 1,479       $ 314   
     2014       $ 923       $ 298   
     2013       $ 901       $ 275   

Richard J. Schweppe

     2015       $ 1,000       $ 237   
     2014       $ 886       $ 206   
     2013       $ 887       $ 174   

Diane J. Blaha

     2015       $ 2,300       $ 487   
     2014       $ 1,383       $ 574   
     2013       $ 1,365       $ 544   

 

(4) Mr. McCloud resigned effective June 13, 2014.
(5) Mr. McFarlane retired effective April 30, 2015.
(6) Mr. Schweppe was promoted to the Chief Financial Officer position on June 13, 2014.

Principal Elements of Executive Compensation

Base Salary. In determining executive compensation, we take into account overall expense control. Our board of directors approves initial annual base salary for newly hired executive officers based on comparable data for similar positions at peer companies. Our compensation committee reviews all executive officer base salaries annually, taking into account both updated peer group data in the public domain and individual performance during the previous year. We believe that adjustments should be made to base salary both to reflect market changes and to reward high performance within the confines of overall expense control.

 

26


At our 2011 annual meeting of stockholders, our stockholders expressed strong support for our compensation programs and the compensation of our named executive officers, with approximately a 98.8% approval rate for our executive officer Say-on-Pay resolution. In light of this support, the Company’s continued strong performance and the continuing success of our compensation programs, the compensation committee made no significant changes to the overall design of our compensation program during fiscal year 2015. The compensation committee continuously endeavors to ensure that management’s interests are aligned with those of our shareholders and support long-term value creation.

Each of our executive officers, other than our chief executive officer, undergoes an annual performance review with our chief executive officer, and during that review develops an individual performance development plan for the upcoming year. In general, these objectives vary for each named executive officer based on his or her individual responsibilities and the business function of the group that he or she manages, and includes one or more quantitative or qualitative financial or strategic measure, including earnings per share, revenue targets, product development and implementation, customer satisfaction and acceptance, strategic planning and development, operations excellence and efficiency and productivity. In reviewing past performance, the chief executive officer and the executive officer will compare actual performance during the review year to the objectives set at the beginning of the year, taking into account other factors that may not have been anticipated when the objectives were first set. In setting objectives for the upcoming year, the chief executive officer and the executive officer will typically consider not only corporate objectives, but also the executive officer’s short and long term career objectives. To assist our compensation committee in reviewing executive officer performance in fiscal 2014 for fiscal 2015 compensation purposes, fiscal 2013 for fiscal 2014 compensation purposes, and in fiscal 2012 for fiscal 2013 compensation purposes, our chief executive officer provided the compensation committee with his analysis of the performance and potential of each executive officer ranked against each other executive officer, and made recommendations based on how well each executive officer executed on his or her individual performance development plan while also taking into account external market compensation information. The compensation committee then approved the compensation paid to executive officers.

Decisions to adjust base salaries during fiscal 2015 were made by the compensation committee on February 5, 2015, decisions to adjust base salaries during fiscal 2014 were made by the compensation committee on February 6, 2014, decisions to adjust base salaries during fiscal 2013 were made by the compensation committee on March 1, 2013, and all such adjustments took effect on each executive officer’s respective compensation adjustment anniversary date. Our compensation policies with respect to new hires are different as compared to annual adjustments because recruitment requires different consideration than retention. Mr. Clemons’ base salary was decreased by 6.9% effective March 1, 2012 because of his commitment to ongoing expense control. Thereafter, in recognition of his ongoing performance, Mr. Clemons’ base salary was adjusted on May 2, 2013 to $400,000 during fiscal 2014. The other executive officers’ base salaries were held flat for the 2012 fiscal year due to ongoing expense control initiatives, adjusted between 2.0% to 3.0% during the 2013 fiscal year and increased between 1.5% and 2.5% during the 2014 fiscal year and increased between 2.5% to 10% during the 2015 fiscal year. Mr. McFarlane’s base salary and Mr. McCloud’s base salary increased between 2.0% to 3.0% during each of the 2013 and 2014 fiscal years, and Ms. Blaha’s base salary increased between 1.0% to 2.0% during each of the 2013 and 2014 fiscal years. In light of his pending retirement, Mr. McFarlane’s base salary was held flat during the 2015 fiscal year, Mr. Schweppe’s base salary was increased 10% during the 2015 fiscal year due to him reassuming the Chief Financial Officer role, and Ms. Blaha’s base salary was increased 2.5% during the 2015 fiscal year.

Annual Cash Incentive Awards Plan. To reinforce the attainment of our goals, we believe that a substantial portion of the annual compensation of each executive officer should be in the form of variable cash incentive pay. In parallel with its review of base salaries for executive officers, the compensation committee considers the design and structure of the executive officer annual incentive awards plan. We use annual performance-based cash incentive awards to motivate our executives to meet or exceed our company-wide short-term performance objectives. We target the market median for our annual target cash compensation levels, which provides focus on the importance of achieving our annual corporate goals. Cash incentive amounts for each executive officer are

 

27


determined by the compensation committee based on the recommendation of our chief executive officer. Although we have a March 31 fiscal year end, we have calendar year budgets and annual cash incentive plans which are based on the calendar year. Cash incentive awards to the Chief Executive Officer and the other named executive officers are shown in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table above. Annual cash incentive plan awards are designed to reward personal contributions to our success and are earned under a structured formula. Each executive has some portion of his or her annual bonus measured against individual management by objective goals, or MBOs, established for that person, which, depending on the executive officer, include revenue growth, national sales and regional vice president management, implementation, planning and strategy for software development and information technology infrastructure, and adherence to company-wide internal financial reporting and controls. The maximum amount that any executive may earn based on the MBO element is variable, with full achievement of MBOs resulting in an expected 75% payout and increasing up to a 100% payout for achievement exceeding established MBOs. For executive officers with operations responsibilities, this element comprises a lesser percentage of the annual incentive award for the individual, and for executive officers with corporate staff responsibilities, it comprises a greater percentage of the annual incentive award. We expect that the MBO’s for our executive officers will be difficult to achieve. There are no MBOs established for our Chairman of the Board, Gordon Clemons.

The calendar year 2013 MBOs for Mr. McCloud included our overall performance with respect to expanded operations financial reporting and auditing, improving field accounting standards, and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. Mr. McCloud’s bonus opportunity, which was targeted at 25% of his base salary up to a maximum payout of 35% of his base salary, was 30% dependent on our overall financial performance and 70% dependent on his contribution toward improving our compliance with financial reporting requirements and improved field accounting standards. Mr. McCloud attained 100% of his calendar year 2013 bonus opportunity and hence, received a bonus of 25% of his base salary in an amount equal to $38,781.

The calendar year 2014 MBOs for Mr. McCloud included supporting the expansion of field operations metrics reporting, creating automated headcount reporting and analysis, and improving field accounting standards. Mr. McCloud’s bonus opportunity, which was targeted at 25% of his base salary up to a maximum payout of 35% of his base salary, was 30% dependent on our overall financial performance and 70% dependent on his contribution toward improving our compliance with financial reporting requirements and improved field accounting standards. Mr. McCloud resigned as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer effective as of June 13, 2014.

Due to his resignation in June 2014, Mr. McCloud was not eligible and consequently did not receive a calendar year 2014 MBO bonus.

Mr. Schweppe was appointed Chief Financial Officer of the Company on June 13, 2014. The calendar year 2013 MBOs for Mr. Schweppe included an operations metrics project, and improving field accounting standards and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. Mr. Schweppe’s bonus opportunity, which was targeted at 25% of his base salary up to a maximum payout of 35% of his base salary, was 30% dependent on our overall financial performance and 70% dependent on his contribution toward improving our compliance with financial reporting requirements and improving field accounting standards. Mr. Schweppe attained 70% of his calendar year 2013 bonus opportunity and hence, received a bonus of 17.4% of his base salary in an amount equal to $22,682.

The calendar year 2014 MBOs for Mr. Schweppe included expansion of field operations metrics project and creating automated headcount reporting and analysis, and improving field accounting standards. Mr. Schweppe’s bonus opportunity, which was targeted at 25% of his base salary up to a maximum payout of 35% of his base salary, is 30% dependent on our overall financial performance and 70% dependent on his contribution toward improving our compliance with financial reporting requirements and improving field accounting standards. Mr. Schweppe attained 96% of his calendar year 2014 bonus opportunity and hence, received a bonus of 24% of his base salary in an amount equal to $34,573.

The calendar year 2015 MBOs for Mr. Schweppe will include continued expansion of an operations metrics project, supporting an invoicing change for case management product line, improving field accounting standards,

 

28


and working on organizational development within the accounting and finance departments. Mr. Schweppe’s bonus opportunity, which is targeted at 25% of his base salary up to a maximum payout of 35% of his base salary, is 30% dependent on our overall financial performance and 70% dependent on his contribution toward improving our compliance with financial reporting requirements and improving field accounting standards.

The calendar year 2013 MBOs for Mr. McFarlane included the integration of our computer applications, the development and maintenance of our enterprise-wide computer systems, and compensation and performance management and IT organizational development. Mr. McFarlane’s bonus opportunity, which was targeted at 28% of his base salary up to a maximum payout of 40% of his base salary, was 30% dependent on our overall financial performance and 70% dependent on his contribution toward improving our computer systems and overall organizational development. Mr. McFarlane attained 93% of his calendar year 2013 bonus opportunity and hence, received a bonus of 26% of his base salary in an amount equal to $51,720.

The calendar year 2014 MBOs for Mr. McFarlane included continuing to build the company’s business portal, CareMC, strengthening the company’s bill review software, MedCheck, sustaining the prioritization management process, working with the CEO on compensation/performance management, and continuing to evolve senior IT management. Mr. McFarlane’s bonus opportunity, which was targeted at 28% of his base salary up to a maximum payout of 40% of his base salary, was dependent on our overall financial performance and 70% dependent on his contribution toward improving our computer systems and overall organizational development. Mr. McFarlane attained 100% of his calendar year 2014 bonus opportunity and hence, received a bonus of 28% of his base salary in an amount equal to $54,041.

Due to his pending retirement in April 2015, calendar year 2015 MBOs were not established for Mr. McFarlane.

The calendar year 2013 MBOs for Ms. Blaha included improving national sales team performance, refocusing on Network Solutions to the wholesale market and improving the field sales process. Ms. Blaha’s bonus opportunity, which was targeted at 50% of her base salary up to a maximum payout of 70% of her base salary, was 80% dependent on our overall financial performance and 20% dependent on her contribution toward improving our national sales team performance, focus on the wholesale market and field sales process. Ms. Blaha attained 101% of her calendar year 2013 bonus opportunity and hence, received a bonus of 57.57% of her base salary in an amount equal to $166,806.

The calendar year 2014 MBOs for Ms. Blaha included achieving large account sales goals, improving sales management process, achieving wholesale Network Solutions sales and supporting CERiS sales expansion. Ms. Blaha’s bonus opportunity, which was targeted at 50% of her base salary up to a maximum payout of 70% of her base salary, will be 80% dependent on our overall financial performance and 20% dependent on her contribution toward improving our national sales team performance, focusing on the wholesale market and improving the field sales process. Ms. Blaha attained 85% of her calendar year 2014 bonus opportunity and hence, received a bonus of 13% of her base salary in an amount equal to $40,250.

The calendar year 2015 MBOs for Ms. Blaha will include large account sales development, reinvestment in the sale of Network Solutions product line to the wholesale market, and improving the sales management process. Ms. Blaha’s bonus opportunity, which is targeted at 50% of her base salary up to a maximum payout of 70% of her base salary, will be 80% dependent on our overall financial performance and 20% dependent on her contribution toward large account sales development, focusing on the wholesale market, and improving the sales management process.

Long-Term Equity-Based Incentive Awards. The goal of our long- term, equity-based incentive awards is to serve as a long term staff retention vehicle by aligning the interests of our executive officers with our stockholders and providing each executive officer with a significant incentive to manage from the perspective of an owner with an equity stake in the business. The compensation committee administers our equity-based incentive plans for executive officers and determines the size of long-term, equity-based incentives according to each executive’s

 

29


position, and sets a level it considers appropriate to create a meaningful opportunity for stock ownership. In addition, the compensation committee takes into account an individual’s recent performance, his or her potential for future responsibility and promotion, and the number of unvested stock option shares held by each individual at the time of any new grant. However, there is no set formula for determining the size of a stock option award. Our chief executive officer historically has made recommendations to our board of directors and compensation committee regarding the amount of stock options and other compensation to grant to our other named executives based upon his assessment of their performance, and may continue to do so in the future. Our board of directors and compensation committee takes such recommendations into account when it approves stock option grants. Our executive officers, however, do not make any determinations as to when stock options are granted. We do not require a minimum stock ownership by our executive officers, but the compensation committee considers an executive officer’s existing stock holdings relative to performance in determining the size of awards.

Under our Restated Omnibus Incentive Plan (Formerly the Restated 1988 Executive Stock Option Plan), we have the ability to grant different forms of equity compensation, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and restricted stock units, performance awards and other stock-based awards. We have chosen to use stock options exclusively for purposes of providing long-term incentives because we believe they best align with our objectives of providing incentives that are commensurate with total stockholder return and employee retention. Stock options provide actual economic value to the executive officer if he or she remains employed by us during the vesting period, and then only if the market price of our shares appreciates over the option term. The fair value amounts shown for stock options in the summary compensation table are calculated in accordance with Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation, and represent the aggregate grant date fair value of option awards granted during the year for awards that are not based on performance conditions. Upon determination of probable outcome of the performance conditions, we record compensation expense for performance-based stock option awards based on the estimated fair value of the options on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Consequently, stock options motivate executive officers by providing substantial upside compensation even though the entire amount of potential compensation is at risk. In the future, we may choose to grant different forms of equity compensation particularly if the use of such different forms of compensation become more prevalent at companies with which we compete or from which we intend to recruit personnel. Other factors that may lead us to provide different forms of equity compensation include, but are not limited to, the executives’ perceived value of one form of equity compensation over another, the potential effect of stockholder dilution, and the financial statement cost of one form of equity compensation over the other. Under our Restated 1991 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, we also provide eligible employees who work more than 25 hours per week with the ability to purchase shares of common stock, through payroll deduction, at a pre-determined discount to the closing price at the end of a six month purchase period. For fiscal 2015, fiscal 2014, and fiscal 2013, our board of directors set the maximum permitted payroll deduction for the purposes of the Restated 1991 Employee Stock Purchase Plan at 20% of salary, and set the pre-determined discount at 5% of the closing price at the end of the purchase period.

Stock options provided to executive officers are typically granted pursuant to action by unanimous written consent of the compensation committee executed by the compensation committee members in person on the same day as each regularly scheduled quarterly meeting of the board of directors in conjunction with ongoing review of each executive officer’s individual performance, unless the executive officer is a new hire or other individual performance considerations are brought to the attention of our compensation committee during the course of the year. Such meetings are usually scheduled well in advance of the meeting, without regard to earnings or other major announcements by us. We intend to continue this practice of approving stock-based awards concurrently with regularly scheduled meetings, unless earlier approval is required for new hires, new performance considerations or retention purposes, regardless of whether or not our board of directors or compensation committee knows material non-public information on such date. We have not timed, nor do we intend to time, our release of material non-public information for the purpose of affecting the value of executive compensation. The grant date of our stock options is the date our board of directors or compensation committee meets to approve such stock option grants, which also is the date our compensation committee executes its action by unanimous written consent regarding such approval. In accordance with our Restated Omnibus Incentive Plan

 

30


(Formerly The Restated 1988 Executive Stock Option Plan), the exercise price of all options is set at the closing price of our common stock as reported by the Nasdaq Global Select Market on the day of grant.

Material terms of options granted to our named executive officers in fiscal 2015, fiscal 2014, and fiscal 2013 typically included: (a) exercise price equal to the closing market value as quoted by the Nasdaq Global Select Market on the date of grant; (b) vesting of 25% one year from the grant date and then continued vesting in a series of thirty-six (36) equal installments over the remaining balance of the four-year period, contingent on the executive officer’s continued service; (c) a term no longer than five years from the date of grant; and (d) to the extent not already exercisable, the options become exercisable in full on an accelerated basis upon (i) a sale of assets, (ii) a merger in which we do not survive or (iii) a reverse merger in which we survive but ownership of 50% or more of the voting power of our stock is transferred, unless the option is assumed or replaced with a comparable option by the successor corporation. Although stock options granted to our executive officers typically contain time-vesting provisions, on one occasion in each of fiscal 2015, fiscal 2014, and fiscal 2013, our compensation committee awarded stock options with performance vesting provisions to Messrs. McFarlane, McCloud and Schweppe and Ms. Blaha, and on one occasion in fiscal 2013, our compensation committee awarded stock options with performance vesting provisions to Mr. Clemons, all of which will vest based on the achievement of certain performance criteria, approved by our board of directors and compensation committee, relating earnings growth. The unexercised options granted to Mr. McCloud expired three months after his resignation date. The calendar year 2014 EPS target for performance options granted on November 4, 2013 was $1.65. The calendar year 2014 EPS target for performance options granted on March 1, 2013 was $1.38. The calendar year 2014 EPS target for performance options granted on November 3, 2011 was $1.79. We do not publicly disclose the other specific performance target levels and related criteria because they constitute highly confidential commercial or financial information. We believe that disclosing such other target levels and related criteria would provide competitors with insights into our operational strategy and would therefore cause us substantial competitive harm. We decided to grant the performance-based stock options as part of our decision to pursue a new compensation strategy of aligning equity compensation with our earnings and revenue performance.

In fiscal 2015, we granted stock option awards for 226,625 shares to all full-time employees, including 11,300 shares to executive officers or less than 1.1% of our outstanding common stock. In fiscal 2014, we granted stock option awards for 441,550 shares to all full-time employees, including 138,700 shares to executive officers or less than 1.3% of our outstanding common stock. In fiscal 2013, we granted stock option awards for 123,100 shares to all full-time employees, including 17,500 shares to executive officers, or less than 2% of our outstanding common stock. Options granted to executive officers on February 6, 2015, November 10, 2014, August 4, 2014, May 8, 2014, February 6, 2014, May 2, 2013, August 1, 2013, November 4, 2013 were all approved by unanimous written consent of our compensation committee executed by the compensation committee members in person on the same day as the regularly scheduled board meeting on such date. Executive officers received stock option grants in each of fiscal 2015, 2014 and 2013 for incentive purposes.

As part of their ongoing performance reviews, on February 5, 2015, Mr. Schweppe and Ms. Blaha were granted options to purchase 300 shares and 300 shares, respectively, of our common stock at an exercise price of $35.77. These options vest 25% on the first anniversary of the grant date, and the remaining 75% of the shares vest in 36 successive equal monthly installments upon completion of each month of service after the anniversary of the grant date, and terminate five years from grant. The unexercised options granted to Mr. McCloud expired three months after his resignation date.

In November 2011, the compensation committee reviewed its guidelines for long-term incentive awards for all eligible participants and specifically the performance based stock option awards for each of the named executive officers. These awards were granted within general parameters established for executive officer compensation and based on each officer’s respective position and set at a level considered appropriate to create a meaningful opportunity for stock ownership. In addition, the compensation committee takes into account an individual’s recent performance, his or her potential for future responsibility and promotion, and the number of unvested stock option shares held by each individual at the time of any new grant.

 

31


If the board of directors determined that an executive officer has engaged in fraudulent or intentional misconduct, and if the misconduct resulted in a significant restatement of our financial results, we expect that we would, among other disciplinary action, seek reimbursement of any portion of performance-based or incentive compensation paid or awarded to the executive that is greater than would have been paid or awarded if calculated based on the restated financial results. This remedy would be in addition to, and not in lieu of, other disciplinary actions and any actions imposed by law enforcement agencies, regulators or other authorities.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

 

          Estimated Future Payouts
Under Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
    Estimated Future Payouts
under Equity Incentive
Plan Awards (1)
    All  Other
Stock
Awards:

Number
of Shares
of Stock
    All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
    Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
    Grant Date
Fair Value
of Option
 

Name

  Grant
Date
    Threshold
($)
    Target
($)
    Maximum
($)
    Threshold
(#)
    Target
(#)
    Maximum
(#)
    or Units
(#)
    Options
(#)
    Awards
($) (2)
    Awards
($) (2)(3)
 

V. Gordon Clemons,

Chairman of the Board,

CEO, and Chief Operating Officer

    2/6/14      $ —        $ —        $ —          —          —          —          —          20,000      $ 45.55      $ 359,752   
    5/2/13        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          100,000        23.10        1,053,150   
    3/1/13        —          —          —          0        12,000        20,000        —            24.24        200,191   

Richard J. Schweppe (6)

Chief Financial Officer

    2/5/15        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          300      $ 35.77      $ 10,731   
    11/10/14        —          —          —          0        —          2,400        —          —          34.78        83,472   
    11/10/14        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          500        34.78        17,390   
    8/4/14        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          500        40.57        20,285   
    5/8/14        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          500        44.86        22.430   
    2/6/14        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          800        45.55        36,440   
    11/4/13        —          —          —          0        —          2,400        —          —          34.78        96,576   
    11/4/13        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          400        34.78        16,096   
    8/1/13        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          400        34.77        13,908   
    5/2/13        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          1,000        23.10        23,100   
    3/1/13        —          —          —          0        1,200        2,000        —          —          24.24        48,480   

Donald C. McFarlane (4)

Former Chief Information Officer

    2/6/14        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          300      $ 45.55      $ 13,665   
    11/4/13        —          —          —          0        —          4,800        —          —          40.24        193,152   
    11/4/13        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          500        40.24        20,120   
    8/1/13        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          500        34.77        17,385   
    5/2/13        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          1,400        23.10        32,340   
    3/1/13        —          —          —          0        3,600        6,000        —          —          24.24        145,440   

Diane J. Blaha Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing

    2/5/15        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          300      $ 35.77      $ 10,731   
    11/10/14        —          —          —          0        —          6,000        —          —          34.78        208,680   
    8/4/14        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          800        40.57        32,456   
    11/4/13        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          200        40.24        8,048   
    11/4/13        —          —          —          0        —          6,000        —          —          40.24        241,440   
    8/1/13        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          500        34.77        17,385   
    5/2/13        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          2,000        23.10        46,200   
    3/1/13        —          —          —          0        3,600        6,000        —          —          24.24        145,440   

Scott R. McCloud (5)

Former Chief Financial Officer

    2/6/14        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          200      $ 45.55      $ 3,597   
    11/4/13        —          —          —          0        —          1,200        —          —          40.24        20,228   
    11/4/13        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          200        40.24        3,191   
    8/1/13        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          300        34.77        4,167   
    5/2/13        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          600        23.10        6,319   
    3/1/13        —          —          —          0        300        1,000        —          —          24.24        10,009   

 

(1) The target for awards granted on 11/10/14 will not be determinable until the completion of calendar year 2015. The target for awards granted on 3/1/13 represent the shares attained by achieving 105% of the EPS target in calendar year 2014.
(2) See Note B, Stock-Based Compensation, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed June 11, 2015 for the relevant assumptions used to determine the valuation of our option awards.
(3) The exercise price of the option award is equal to the closing price of our common stock as reported by the Nasdaq Global Select Market on the date of grant.
(4) Mr. McFarlane retired on April 30, 2015 and all unexercised options granted to Mr. McFarlane expire three months after he ceases to provide services to the company.
(5) Mr. McCloud resigned effective June 13, 2014.
(6) Mr. Schweppe was promoted to the Chief Financial Officer position on June 13, 2014.

 

32


Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

 

    Option Awards     Stock Awards  

Name

  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable (1)
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
    Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options (#)
    Option
Exercise
Price ($)
    Option
Expiration
Date (2)
    Number
of
Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested

(#)
    Market
Value of
Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested

($)
    Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:

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

(#)
    Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:

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

($)
 

V. Gordon Clemons,

Chairman of the Board, CEO, President and Chief Operating Officer

   

 

 
 
 

5,417

45,833

12,000
2,500
1,667

  

  

  
  
  

   

 

 
 
 

14,583

54,167

20,000
2,042
0

  

  

  
  
  

   

 

 

 

 

0

0

8,000

0

0

  

  

(3) 

  

  

  $

 

 
 
 

45.55

23.10

24.24
21.87
17.60

  

  

  
  
  

   

 

 
 
 

2/6/2019

5/2/2018

3/1/2018
8/4/2016
7/7/2015

  

  

  
  
  

   

 

 

 

 

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

  

  

  

  

  

   

 

 

 

 

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

  

  

  

  

  

   

 

 

 

 

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

  

  

  

  

  

   

 

 

 

 

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

  

  

  

  

  

Donald C. McFarlane

Former Chief Information Officer

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

81

167

0

198

642

3,600

862

719

3,766

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

219

333

3,360

302

758

2,400

0

31

0

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

3,360

0

0

3,600

862

0

0

  

  

(3) 

  

  

(3) 

(3) 

  

  

  $

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

45.55

40.24

40.24

34.77

23.10

24.24

26.38

24.78

23.07

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2/6/2019

11/4/2018

11/4/2018

8/1/2018

5/2/2018

3/1/2018

11/3/2016

5/12/2016

12/6/2015

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Scott R. McCloud (4)

Former Chief Financial Officer

    —          —         
—  
  
  $ —         
—  
  
   
—  
  
   
—  
  
   
—  
  
   
—  
  

Diane J. Blaha
Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

800

64

0

198

917

1,800

862

1,256

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

300

6,000

0

133

4,200

302

1,083

0

0

0

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

6,000

0

0

4,200

0

0

2,400

862

0

  

(3) 

  

  

(3) 

  

  

(3) 

(3) 

  

  $

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

35.77

34.78

40.57

40.24

40.24

34.77

23.10

24.24

26.38

23.07

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2/5/2020

11/10/2019

8/4/2019

11/4/2018

11/4/2018

8/1/2018

5/2/2018

3/1/2018

11/3/2016

12/6/2015

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Richard J. Schweppe

Chief Financial Officer

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

0

500

0

217

133

0

158

458

1,200

617

1,000

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

300

500

0

0

500

586

267

1,680

242

542

800

183

0

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

2,400

0

0

0

0

1,680

0

0

0

0

0

  

  

(3) 

  

  

  

  

(3) 

  

  

  

  

  

  $

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

35.77

34.78

34.78

40.57

44.86

45.55

40.24

40.24

34.77

23.10

24.24

24.64

18.28

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2/5/2020

11/10/2019

11/10/2019

8/4/2019

5/8/2019

2/6/2019

11/4/2018

11/4/2018

8/1/2018

5/2/2018

3/1/2018

2/2/2017

5/14/2015

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

—  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

(1) Options become exercisable for 25% of the option shares one year from the grant date and thereafter the remaining shares become exercisable in 36 equal monthly installments.
(2) The expiration date of each option award is five years after the date of grant.
(3) Options become exercisable based on achievement of certain performance criteria related to earnings growth.
(4) Mr. McCloud resigned effective June 13, 2014 and the unexercised options granted to Mr. McCloud expired three months after his resignation date.

 

33


Perquisites

Our executives are entitled to the same perquisites as all employees and generally do not receive additional perquisites because they hold executive positions. All employees that participate in our 401(k) plan receive a discretionary matching contribution from us in an amount equal to a percentage of the employee’s first 6% of contribution as approved by our board of directors in its sole discretion on an annual basis. All full-time employees are eligible to participate in our Restated 1991 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which in fiscal 2015, fiscal 2014, and fiscal 2013 provided a 5% discount from market price on the last day of the purchase period. Our health and life insurance plans are the same for all employees. We typically offer reimbursement to newly hired executive officers for relocation costs.

Post-Employment Compensation

We do not provide pension arrangements, non-qualified deferred compensation, or post-retirement health coverage for our executives or employees. All full-time employees are eligible to participate in our 401(k) plan. In any plan year, our board of directors in its sole discretion decides whether or not to contribute to each participant’s account a matching contribution equal to a percentage of the first 6% of the participant’s compensation that has been contributed to the plan. All of our executive officers, participated in the plan during fiscal 2015, fiscal 2014, and fiscal 2013.

Employment Contracts, Termination of Employment and Change-In-Control Agreements

Employment Contracts. We do not have employment contracts with any of our named executive officers other than Mr. Clemons. On January 26, 1988, we along with Corstar Holdings, Inc. (formerly North Star) entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Clemons. The agreement became effective on February 15, 1988 and has an indefinite term. The agreement initially provided Mr. Clemons with an annual salary of $250,000, payable in semi-monthly installments. Mr. Clemons may terminate the agreement at any time on four months’ notice and we may terminate the agreement at any time with or without cause. If Mr. Clemons is terminated without cause, we are required to pay Mr. Clemons his salary for one year after such termination, less any other employment compensation received by Mr. Clemons during such one year period. The compensation committee approved an increase in Mr. Clemons’ annual salary to $400,000, effective May 1, 2013.

In the event of a corporate change in control transaction, each outstanding stock option granted under the Discretionary Option Grant Program of our Restated Omnibus Incentive Plan will automatically become exercisable as to all of the option shares immediately prior to the effective date of the corporate change in control transaction. However, no acceleration will occur if and to the extent: (a) such option is either to be assumed by the successor corporation or parent thereof or replaced by a comparable option to purchase shares of the capital stock of the successor corporation or parent thereof, (b) such option is to be replaced with a cash incentive program of the successor corporation designed to preserve the option spread existing at the time of the corporate change in control transaction and incorporating the same vesting schedule applicable to the option or (c) acceleration of such option is subject to other applicable limitations imposed by the compensation committee at the time of grant.

The compensation committee, as the administrator of our Restated Omnibus Incentive Plan, has the authority to provide for accelerated vesting of the shares of common stock subject to any outstanding stock options held by any of our named executive officers in connection with certain changes in control or the subsequent termination of the officer’s employment following a change in control.

Summary Termination Table. The following table summarizes each executive officer’s present estimated entitlement to severance and the potential value of stock option acceleration upon a termination other than for cause, a termination within 60 days after a reduction in salary and a termination following a change in control, as if such termination occurred on March 31, 2015. The potential value of accelerated stock option vesting is based

 

34


on the closing price of our stock on March 31, 2015 and is in addition to the value of vested stock options shown in the “Option Exercises and Stock Vested” table above. These termination provisions were individually negotiated with Mr. Clemons for recruitment and retention purposes.

 

     Termination Other than for
Cause-No Change  of Control
     Termination within 60 days
after Reduction

in Salary
     Termination after a Change
in Control
 
Name    Cash      Value of
Accelerated
Option
Vesting
     Cash      Value of
Accelerated
Option
Vesting
     Cash      Value of
Accelerated
Option
Vesting (1)
     Number of
Shares
Subject to
Accelerated
Vesting
 

V. Gordon Clemons

   $ 400,000       $ —         $ —         $ —         $ —         $ 4,308,442         125,209   

Donald C. McFarlane (2)

     —           —           —           —           —         $ 439,690         12,778   

Scott R. McCloud (3)

     —           —           —           —           —         $ —           —     

Diane J. Blaha

     —           —           —           —           —         $ 286,222         8,318   

Richard J. Schweppe

     —           —           —           —           —         $ 165,168         4,800   

 

(1) Represents the value of “in the money” accelerated options that vest upon termination other than for cause as of March 31, 2015 as if exercised at $34.41, which was the closing price of our stock on that date.
(2) Mr. McFarlane retired on April 30, 2015.
(3) Mr. McCloud resigned on June 13, 2014.

We believe that the payment of compensation and the acceleration of unvested options in these circumstances is a common practice in comparable companies, and is justifiable from both a recruitment and retention perspective. We also believe that the amount of severance is within the range typically seen in comparable companies, and that we would experience difficulties attracting and retaining executives in the absence of severance arrangements that are at least as attractive as those that we offer.

Principal Elements of Director Compensation

Compensation of Directors

Each non-employee director received an amount equal to $3,000 in fiscal 2015 for each board of directors meeting attended in person, as well as reimbursement for all associated travel expenses, and $1,000 for each telephonic board of directors meeting and each in-person or telephonic committee meeting attended provided it was not in conjunction with a duly convened board of directors meeting. Other than the Chairman of the audit committee, who in fiscal 2015 received $1,000 for each audit committee meeting attended and an annual retainer of $4,000 for other services performed in his capacity as Chairman of the audit committee, and Ms. Macino’s consulting fee of $20,000, the directors did not receive fees for any other director services during fiscal 2015. These amounts were determined and approved during a telephonic meeting held on April 24, 2006, by the nomination and governance committee based on their prior experience and ratified by the compensation committee. In the future, any adjustments to director compensation will be approved by the compensation committee.

Pursuant to the change to our Restated Omnibus Incentive Plan approved by stockholders at our 2011 annual stockholders meeting, the Board eliminated the automatic option grant program under the Restated Omnibus Incentive Plan and replaced it with use of the existing discretionary option grant program for non-employee directors because as we repurchase more shares of our common stock under our publicly disclosed share repurchase program the number of shares of common stock underlying the automatic option grants resulted in the grant of a disproportionately higher percentage of our total common stock outstanding. Accordingly, the number of shares granted under the discretionary option program for non-employee directors will be based on how many shares have been repurchased under the Company’s stock repurchase program as of the date of grant. Consequently, during fiscal 2015 each non-employee director, Messrs. Hamerslag, Hoops, Jessup, and Michael and Ms. Macino, received a discretionary stock option grant for 3,000 shares on August 8, 2014 at an exercise

 

35


price equal to the fair market value on such date. Each such grant has a maximum term of ten years measured from the grant date, and becomes exercisable in a series of four equal and successive installments over the optionee’s period of service on the board of directors, with the first such installment to become exercisable twelve months after the grant date. On the date of this year’s annual stockholders meeting, the compensation committee is expected to grant each non-employee director a discretionary stock option to purchase shares of common stock at an exercise price equal to the fair market value on such date and in an amount based upon how many shares have been repurchased under the Company’s stock repurchase program as of the date of grant. Each such grant will have a maximum term of ten years measured from the grant date, and will become exercisable in a series of four equal and successive installments over the optionee’s period of service on the board of directors, with the first such installment to become exercisable twelve months after the grant date.

Director Compensation

 

Name (1)

   Fees
Earned
or Paid
in Cash
($)
     Stock
Awards
($)
     Option
Awards
($) (2) (3)
     Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
     Change in
Pension

Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
     All Other
Compensation

($) (4)
     Total
($)
 

Steven J. Hamerslag

   $ 16,000       $ —         $ 121,710       $ —         $ —         $ —         $ 137,710   

Alan R. Hoops

     19,000         —           121,710         —           —           —           140,710   

R. Judd Jessup

     25,000         —           121,710         —           —           —           146,710   

Jean H. Macino

     35,000         —           121,710         —           —           —           156,710   

Jeffrey J. Michael

     14,000         —           121,710         —           —           —           135,710   

 

(1) V. Gordon Clemons, the chairman of our board of directors, has been omitted from this table as he receives no additional compensation for serving on our board of directors.
(2) The fair value of option awards shown are calculated in accordance with Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation, and represent the aggregate grant date fair value of option awards granted during the year. See Note B, Stock-Based Compensation, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed June 11, 2015, for the relevant assumptions used to determine the valuation of our option awards.
(3) Aggregate option awards outstanding as of March 31, 2015, the last day of our most recent fiscal year that have been granted to each of our non-employee directors are as follows: Mr. Hamerslag- 48,750 shares, Mr. Hoops- 61,124 shares, Mr. Jessup- 56,163 shares, Ms. Macino- 40,500 shares, and Mr. Michael- 64,188 shares.
(4) Amount includes reimbursed travel expenses.

Impact of Accounting and Tax Treatment of Compensation

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code disallows a tax deduction to publicly held companies for compensation paid to certain of their executive officers to the extent that such compensation exceeds $1.0 million per covered officer in any fiscal year. The limitation applies only to compensation that is not considered to be performance-based. Non-performance-based compensation paid to our executive officers during fiscal 2015 did not exceed the $1.0 million limit per officer, and we do not expect the non-performance-based compensation to be paid to our executive officers during fiscal 2015 to exceed that limit. Because it is unlikely that the cash compensation payable to any of our executive officers in the foreseeable future will approach the $1.0 million limit, we do not expect to take any action to limit or restructure the elements of cash compensation payable to our executive officers so as to qualify that compensation as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m). We will reconsider this decision should the individual cash compensation of any executive officer ever approach the $1.0 million level.

 

36


Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Messrs. Hoops and Michael, and Ms. Macino served as members of the compensation committee during fiscal year 2015. Mr. Michael is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Corstar Holdings, Inc., a beneficial owner of more than 10% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. No member of the compensation committee was, during fiscal 2015, an employee or officer of ours or was formerly an officer of ours.

During fiscal 2015, no current executive officer of ours served as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any other entity that has or had one or more executive officers serving as a member of our board of directors or compensation committee.

Report of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors

The compensation committee of the board of directors has reviewed and discussed CorVel’s compensation discussion and analysis with management. Based on this review and discussion, the compensation committee recommended to the board of directors that the compensation discussion and analysis be included in CorVel’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A for its 2015 annual meeting of stockholders, and be incorporated by reference in CorVel’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, each as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The foregoing report was submitted by the compensation committee of the board of directors and shall not be deemed soliciting material or filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Notwithstanding CorVel’s incorporation of the foregoing report by reference into its Annual Report on Form 10-K, the foregoing report shall be deemed furnished in the Annual Report on Form 10-K and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as a result of such furnishing.

Respectfully submitted,

Alan R. Hoops

Jean H. Macino

Jeffrey J. Michael

 

37


SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The following table sets forth certain information known to the us as of March 31, 2015, with respect to beneficial ownership of Common Stock by (i) each person (or group of affiliated persons) who is known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding Common Stock, (ii) each director and/or nominee for director, (iii) each of our named executive officers (named under the heading “Summary Compensation Table” above), and (iv) all current directors and executive officers as a group, together with the approximate percentages of outstanding Common Stock beneficially owned by each of them. The following table is based upon information supplied by directors, executive officers and principal stockholders, and Schedules 13D and 13G/A filed with the SEC. Except as otherwise noted, the persons named in the following table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to community property laws where applicable. Unless otherwise indicated, the principal address of each of the stockholders below is c/o CorVel Corporation, 2010 Main Street, Suite 600, Irvine, California 92614.

 

Name and address of
Beneficial Owner

   Amount of Common
Stock Beneficially Owned
    Percentage of Common
Stock Beneficially Owned (1)
 
Jeffrey J. Michael
10901 Red Circle Drive, Suite 370
Minnetonka, MN 55343
     7,606,949 (2)      37.46
Corstar Holdings, Inc.
10901 Red Circle Drive, Suite 370
Minnetonka, MN 55343
     7,369,134        36.39
V. Gordon Clemons
2010 Main Street, Suite 600
Irvine, CA 92614
     2,009,259 (3)      9.89
Renaissance Technologies Holdings Corporation
800 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
     1,302,000 (4)      6.42
FMR LLC
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
     1,116,002 (5)      5.51

Steven J. Hamerslag

     158,111 (6)       

R. Judd Jessup

     104,727 (7)       

Alan R. Hoops

     73,309 (8)       

Jean H. Macino

     31,313 (9)       

Scott R. McCloud

     18,301 (10)       

Donald C. McFarlane

     14,239 (11)       

Diane J. Blaha

     12,544 (12)       

Richard J. Schweppe

     10,550 (13)       

All current executive officers and directors as a group
(10 individuals)

     10,045,963 (14)      48.84

 

* 

Less than 1%

(1)

Applicable percentage ownership is based on 20,250,669 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 31, 2015. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and

 

38


  Exchange Commission, and generally includes voting power and/or investment power with respect to the securities held. Any securities not outstanding but which are subject to options exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2015 are deemed outstanding and beneficially owned for the purpose of computing the percentage of outstanding Common Stock beneficially owned by any person holding such options but are not deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of Common Stock beneficially owned by any other person.
(2) Includes 7,369,134 shares owned by Corstar, 182,500 shares owned directly by Mr. Michael, a director of ours and of Corstar, and 55,313 shares subject to options held by Mr. Michael that are exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2015. Mr. Michael is the President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Corstar. In addition, Mr. Michael is the trustee of the Michael Family Grantor Trust (formerly Michael Acquisition Corporation Trust), which is the sole shareholder of Corstar. Based on the foregoing, Mr. Michael may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the shares of our Common Stock held by Corstar. Mr. Michael disclaims such beneficial ownership except to the extent of any indirect pecuniary interest therein.
(3) Includes 1,781,805 shares owned by Mr. Clemons directly, 154,751 shares owned by Mr. Clemons indirectly as a result of those shares being gifted by Mr. Clemons to the Clemons Management LLC which then transferred pecuniary interest in the shares in the form of economic units of the LLC without consideration to two irrevocable trusts established for the adult children of Mr. Clemons and his spouse who still retain investment and voting control over the shares but disclaim beneficial ownership over such shares except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein, and 72,834 shares subject to options that are exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2015.
(4) According to the Schedule 13G/A of Renaissance Technologies Holdings Corporation, 800 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022, dated February 12, 2015, Renaissance in its capacity as investment advisor, has sole power to vote and dispose the shares.
(5) According to the Schedule 13G/A of Fidelity Management & Research Company (“Fidelity”), 245 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210, a wholly-owned subsidiary of FMR LLC, dated February 13, 2015, FMR LLC, in its capacity as an investment advisor, Edward C. Johnson and Abigail P. Johnson, through their control of Fidelity each have sole power to dispose of the 79,302 shares owned by FMR LLC, and sole power to vote and dispose with respect to the 1,116,002 shares.
(6) Consists of 118,548 shares owned directly by Mr. Hamerslag and 39,563 shares subject to options that are exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2015.
(7) Includes 62,914 shares owned directly by Mr. Jessup and 41,813 shares subject to options that are exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2015.
(8) Consists of 21,372 shares subject to options held by Mr. Hoops and 51,937 shares that are exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2015.
(9) Consists of 31,313 shares subject to options held by Ms. Macino that are exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2015.
(10) Includes 16,959 shares owned directly by Mr. McCloud and 1,342 shares owned indirectly. Mr. McCloud resigned on June 13, 2014.
(11) Includes 4,060 shares owned directly by Mr. McFarlane and 10,179 shares subject to options that are exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2015.
(12) Consists of 6,532 shares owned directly by Ms. Blaha and 6,012 shares subject to options that are exercisable within 60 days of March, 31, 2015.
(13) Includes 6,000 shares owned directly by Mr. Schweppe and 4,550 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2015.
(14) Includes the information set forth in notes 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 above.

 

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Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table provides information as of March 31, 2015, with respect to the shares of our Common Stock that may be issued under our existing equity compensation plans. We have not assumed any equity compensation plans in connection with any mergers or acquisitions.

 

     A     B      C  
Plan Category    Number of Securities to be
Issued Upon Exercise of
Outstanding Options
    Weighted Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options
     Number of Securities Remaining
Available for Future Issuance
Under Equity Compensation
Plans (Excluding Securities
Reflected in Column A)
 

Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Stockholders (1)

     1,163,179 (2)    $ 27.64         1,211,046 (3) 

Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Stockholders

     —          —           —     

Total

     1,163,179      $ 27.64         1,211,046   

 

(1) Consists solely of the CorVel Corporation Restated Omnibus Incentive Plan (Formerly The Restated 1988 Executive Stock Option Plan) and the Restated 1991 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
(2) Excludes purchase rights accruing under our 1991 Employee Stock Purchase Plan which has a stockholder approved reserve of 410,704 shares. Under the Purchase Plan, each eligible employee may purchase up to 1,000 shares of our Common Stock at semi-annual intervals on the last business day of March and September each year at a purchase price per share equal to 95% of the fair market value of a share of our Common Stock on the last day of the relevant purchase period. For the purchase period ending September 30, 2015, the administrator has set the maximum permitted payroll deduction at 5% of salary and established a purchase price equal to 95% of the fair market value on September 30, 2015.
(3) Includes shares available for future issuance under the 1991 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. As of March 31, 2015, an aggregate of 410,704 shares of our Common Stock were available for issuance under the 1991 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. During the last purchase period ended March 31, 2015, 6,105 shares were purchased and we expect approximately a similar number of shares will be subject to purchase in the current purchase period.

Share issuances under the CorVel Corporation Restated Omnibus Incentive Plan (Formerly The Restated 1988 Executive Stock Option Plan) will not reduce or otherwise affect the number or shares or our Common Stock available for issuance under the 1991 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and share issuances under the 1991 Employee Stock Purchase Plan will not reduce or otherwise affect the number of shares of our Common Stock available for issuance under the CorVel Corporation Restated Omnibus Incentive Plan (Formerly The Restated 1988 Executive Stock Option Plan).

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

Since the beginning of fiscal year 2015, other than as described above and as described under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” there has not been, nor has there been proposed, any transaction, arrangement or relationship or series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships, including those involving indebtedness not in the ordinary course of business, to which we or our subsidiaries were or are a party, or in which we or our subsidiaries were or are a participant, in which the amount involved exceeded or exceeds $120,000 and in which any of our directors, nominees for director, executive officers, beneficial owners of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities, or any member of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest except as described below. Each related person transaction is reviewed and approved or ratified by our Audit Committee.

Policies and Procedures for Related Person Transactions

Under Item 404 of SEC Regulation S-K, a related person transaction is any actual or proposed transaction, arrangement or relationship or series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships, including those involving indebtedness not in the ordinary course of business, since the beginning of our last fiscal year, to which we or our subsidiaries were or are a party, or in which we or our subsidiaries were or are a participant, in which the amount involved exceeded or exceeds $120,000 and in which any of our directors, nominees for director, executive officers, beneficial owners of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities, or any member of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.

Pursuant to its written charter, our Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving all related person transactions and potential conflict of interest situations involving any of our directors, nominees for director, executive officers, beneficial owners of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities, or any member of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons.

Our Audit Committee also has adopted written policies and procedures for related person transactions that require the Audit Committee to review any proposed transaction with related persons to determine if it rises to the level of a related person transaction covered by Item 404 of Regulation S-K and, if it does, then such related person transaction must be approved or ratified by the disinterested members of the Audit Committee. Our management must disclose to the Audit Committee all material information regarding actual and proposed related person transactions known to them that involve our directors, nominees for director, executive officers, persons known to be five percent or greater beneficial owners of our stock, and any member of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons. A related person will not be deemed to have a material interest in a transaction if the interest arises only: (a) from the person’s position as a director of another corporation or organization that is a party to the transaction; or (b) from the direct or indirect ownership by such person and all other related persons, in the aggregate, of less than a ten percent equity interest in another person or entity (other than a partnership) which is a party to the transaction; or (c) from a combination of both (a) and (b); or (d) from the person’s position as a limited partner in a partnership in which the person and all other related persons, have an interest of less than ten percent, and the person is not a general partner of and does not hold another position in the partnership.

Our Audit Committee has determined that the following categories of transactions shall be deemed preapproved by the Audit Committee, notwithstanding the fact that they are related person transactions:

 

   

compensation to executive officers determined by our Compensation Committee;

 

   

compensation to directors determined by our Compensation Committee or our Board; and

 

   

transactions in which all security holders receive proportional benefits.

 

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Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires our officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. Officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

Based solely on our review of the copies of such forms received by us, we believe that, during fiscal year 2015, all transactions required to be reported by our officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial owners were reported in a timely manner, except one Form 4 report relating to Mr. Jessup’s exercise was filed one day late due to technical difficulties.

 

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2015 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K AND STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

FOR THE 2016 ANNUAL MEETING

We filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission an Annual Report on Form 10-K on June 11, 2015. A copy of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 has been made available concurrently with this Proxy Statement to stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting, and is posted at https://materials.proxyvote.com/221006. No separate annual report to the stockholders was prepared. The Annual Report made available to stockholders is not incorporated into this Proxy Statement and is not considered “soliciting material.” Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as certain other reports, proxy statements and other information regarding us, are available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, we will provide without charge a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K to any stockholder upon written request addressed to our corporate Secretary, CorVel Corporation, 2010 Main Street, Suite 600, Irvine, California 92614, and will furnish upon request any exhibits to the Form 10-K upon the payment by the requesting stockholder of our reasonable expenses in furnishing such exhibits.

Stockholders may present proposals for action at a future meeting only if they comply with the requirements of the proxy rules established by the SEC and our Bylaws. Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, some stockholder proposals may be eligible for inclusion in the proxy statement for our 2015 annual meeting. These stockholder proposals, along with proof of ownership of our stock in accordance with Rule 14a-8(b)(2), must be received by us not later than February 29, 2016, which is 120 calendar days prior to the anniversary date of the mailing of notice of this Proxy Statement.

Stockholders are also advised to review our Bylaws which contain additional advance notice requirements, including requirements with respect to advance notice of stockholder proposals (other than non-binding proposals presented under Rule 14a-8) and director nominations. Under our current Bylaws, the deadline for submitting such stockholder proposals or a nomination for director is May 9, 2016, which is 90 days prior to the anniversary date of the 2015 Annual Meeting. If a stockholder gives notice of such proposal after this deadline, the stockholder will not be permitted to present the proposal to the stockholders for a vote at the meeting. All stockholder proposals must be in the form required by our Bylaws. If a stockholder gives notice of a proposal after May 12, 2016, which is the 45th calendar day prior to the anniversary date of the mailing of notice of this year’s proxy materials, our proxy holders will be allowed to use their discretionary voting authority to vote the shares they represent as the Board may recommend, which may include a vote against the stockholder proposal when and if the proposal is raised at our 2016 annual meeting.

We have not been notified by any stockholder of his or her intent to present a stockholder proposal from the floor of the 2015 Annual Meeting. The Proxy grants the proxy holders discretionary authority to vote on any matter properly brought before the 2015 Annual Meeting.

Stockholder proposals must be in writing addressed to our corporate Secretary, CorVel Corporation, 2010 Main Street, Suite 600, Irvine, California 92614. It is recommended that stockholders submitting proposals utilize certified mail, return receipt requested in order to provide proof of timely receipt. All stockholder proposals must be in compliance with applicable laws and regulations and our Bylaws.

 

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COSTS OF SOLICITATION

Proxies will be solicited by mail and by telephone, facsimile, electronic or any other means, by our regular employees without additional remuneration. We will request banks, brokerage houses and other institutions to forward the soliciting material to persons for whom they hold shares. We will reimburse banks, brokerage houses and other institutions for their reasonable expenses in forwarding our proxy materials to beneficial owners of our Common Stock. All costs associated with the solicitation of proxies, including the preparation, printing and mailing of this proxy statement, the proxy and any additional solicitation materials furnished to the stockholders, will be borne by us. We may retain a proxy solicitor to assist in the distribution of proxies and proxy solicitation materials, and in the solicitation of proxies. If so, we will pay the proxy solicitor reasonable and customary fees. Generally, the fee for such services is approximately $15,000 plus expenses. Except as described above, we do not presently intend to solicit proxies other than by mail.

By Order of the Board of Directors

Richard J. Schweppe

Secretary

June 26, 2015

Irvine, California

 

44


APPENDIX A

CORVEL CORPORATION

RESTATED OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

(FORMERLY THE RESTATED 1988 EXECUTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN)

AS AMENDED AND RESTATED THROUGH AUGUST 6, 2015

GENERAL

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

A. The Plan is intended to promote the interests of the Company and its stockholders by providing a method whereby (i) key employees (including officers and directors) of the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary) responsible for the management, growth and financial success of the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary), (ii) the non-employee members of the Board or the board of directors of any Parent or Subsidiary, and (iii) consultants and advisors who provide valuable services to the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary) may be offered various types of equity incentives and rewards intended to encourage such individuals to put forth maximum efforts for the success of the Company’s business and to acquire a proprietary interest, or otherwise increase their proprietary interest, in the Company, thereby aligning the interests of such persons with the Company’s stockholders.

B. For purposes of the Plan, the following definitions shall be in effect:

AFFILIATE: Any entity (i) that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, is controlled by the Company or (ii) in which the Company has a significant equity interest, in each case as determined by the Committee.

AWARD: Any Option, Tandem Right, Limited Right, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Award, Dividend Equivalent, or Other Stock-Based Award granted under the Plan.

AWARD AGREEMENT: Any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing any Award granted under the Plan. Each Award Agreement shall be subject to the applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and any other terms and conditions (not inconsistent with the Plan) determined by the Committee.

BOARD: The Board of Directors of the Company.

CHANGE IN CONTROL: A Change in Control shall be deemed to occur in the event that:

(i) any person or related group of persons (other than the Company or a person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange offer which the Board does not recommend the Company’s stockholders to accept; or

(ii) there is a change in the composition of the Board over a period of twelve (12) consecutive months, such that a majority of the Board members (rounded up to the next whole number) cease, by reason of one or more proxy contests for the election of Board members, to be comprised of individuals who either (a) have been Board members continuously since the beginning of such period or (b) have been elected or nominated for election as Board members during such period by at least two-thirds of the Board members described in clause (a) who were still in office at the time such election or nomination was approved by the Board.

CODE: The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

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COMMON STOCK: The Common Stock issuable under the Plan shall be shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.0001 par value.

COMMITTEE: The Committee shall be a committee designated by the Board to administer the Plan, which initially shall be the compensation committee of the Board. The Committee shall be comprised of at least two Directors but not less than such number of Directors as shall be required to permit Awards granted under the Plan to qualify under Rule 16b-3 and Section 162(m) of the Code, and each member of the Committee shall be a “Non-Employee Director.”

COMPANY: The Company shall mean CorVel Corporation, a Delaware corporation1, or any corporate successor which shall assume the Plan.

CORPORATE TRANSACTION: A Corporate Transaction shall include any of the following transactions for which the approval of the Company’s stockholders is obtained:

(i) a merger or acquisition in which the Company is not the surviving entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the state of the Company’s incorporation,

(ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any entity other than a parent or subsidiary of the Company, or

(iii) any reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving entity but in which fifty percent (50%) or more of the Company’s outstanding voting stock is transferred to holders different from those who held such fifty percent (50%) or greater interest immediately prior to such merger.

DIRECTOR: A member of the Board, including any Non-Employee Director.

DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT: Any right granted under Section IV of Article IV of the Plan.

ELIGIBLE PERSON: (i) Any Employee, officer, consultant, or advisor providing services to the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary), and (ii) any Director or director of any Parent or Subsidiary who is not an employee of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary.

EMPLOYEE: An individual shall be considered to be an Employee for so long as the Company or one or more of its Parent or Subsidiaries reports his or her earnings on a Form W-2.

EXCHANGE ACT: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

FAIR MARKET VALUE: The Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on any relevant date shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions:

(i) If the Common Stock is at the time listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price per share of Common Stock on the date in question, as such price is reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers on the Nasdaq Stock Market and published in The Wall Street Journal.

(ii) If the Common Stock is at the time listed on any stock exchange, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price per share of Common Stock on the date in question on the stock exchange determined by the Committee to be the primary market for the Common Stock, as such price is officially quoted in the composite tape of transactions on such exchange and published in The Wall Street Journal.

 

1  The Company was previously known as FORTIS Corporation and assumed all of the rights and responsibilities of FORTIS Corporation, a Minnesota corporation (“FORTIS Minnesota”), with respect to the Plan pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger by and between the Company and FORTIS Minnesota, effective May 16, 1991, under which FORTIS Minnesota changed its state of incorporation from Minnesota to Delaware by merging with and into the Company which was a wholly owned subsidiary of FORTIS Minnesota.

 

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(iii) If the Common Stock is not listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market or a national securities exchange, the Fair Market Value shall be the average of the closing bid and ask prices of the Common Stock on that day as reported on the over-the-counter market or any comparable system on that day.

(iv) If the Common Stock is not traded included on the over-the-counter market or any comparable system, the Fair Market Value shall be the average of the closing bid and ask prices on that day as furnished by any member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. selected from time to time by the Company for that purpose.

(v) If the date in question is not a trading day, then the Fair Market Value shall be determined based on prices for the trading day prior to the date in question.

HOSTILE TAKE-OVER: A Hostile Take-Over shall be the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any person or related group of persons (other than the Company or a person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made directly to the Company’s stockholders which the Board does not recommend such stockholders to accept.

NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR. Any Director who is not also an employee of the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 and is an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

NON-STATUTORY OPTION: A Non-Statutory Option shall mean an option not intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 422.

OPTION: A Non-Statutory Option.

OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARD: Any right granted under Section V of Article IV of the Plan.

OPTIONEE: Any person to whom an option is granted under the Discretionary Option Grant Program of Article II or the Other Equity Based Awards Program of Article IV of this Plan.

PARENT: A corporation shall be deemed to be a Parent of the Company if it is a corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company, provided each such corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the Company) owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

PARTICIPANT: An Eligible Person granted an Award under the Plan.

PERFORMANCE AWARD: Any right granted under Section III of Article IV of the Plan.

PERFORMANCE GOAL: Performance Goal shall have the meaning set forth in Section III.A.(i) of Article IV of the Plan.

PERMANENT DISABILITY: A permanent disability shall have the meaning assigned to it in Code Section 22(e)(3).

PERSON: Any individual or entity, including a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture or trust.

 

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PLAN: The CorVel Corporation Restated Omnibus Incentive Plan, which was formerly named the Restated 1988 Executive Stock Option Plan, as amended and restated.

QUALIFIED PERFORMANCE BASED AWARD: A Qualified Performance Based Award shall have the meaning set forth in Section III.A. of Article IV of the Plan.

RESTRICTED STOCK: Any Share granted under Section II of Article IV of the Plan.

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT: Any unit granted under Section II of Article IV of the Plan.

RULE 16b-3: Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act or any successor rule or regulation.

SECURITIES ACT: Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

SEC: The SEC shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SECTION 16(b) INSIDER: An individual shall be considered to be a Section 16(b) Insider on any relevant date under the Plan if such individual is at the time subject to the short-swing profit restrictions of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act by reason of his or her affiliation with the Company.

SERVICE PROVIDER: An individual shall be deemed to be a Service Provider for so long as such individual renders service on a periodic basis to the Company, its Parent and/or any of its Subsidiaries as an Employee, a non-Employee member of the board of directors or a consultant or independent advisor.

SHARE OR SHARES: A Share or Shares of Common Stock or such other securities or property as may become subject to Awards pursuant to an adjustment made pursuant to Section V.C. of Article I of the Plan.

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT: Any right granted under Section I of Article IV of the Plan.

SUBSIDIARY: A corporation shall be deemed to be a Subsidiary of the Company if it is one of the corporations (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company, provided each such corporation (other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain) owns, at the time of determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain. For purposes of all Non-Statutory Option grants, all other Awards granted under Article IV of the Plan, and all Corporate Transaction provisions of the Plan, the term “Subsidiary” shall also include any partnership, joint venture or other business entity of which the Company owns, directly or indirectly through another entity, more than a fifty percent (50%) interest in voting power, capital or profits.

TANDEM RIGHT: Any tandem stock appreciation right granted under Section II of Article II of the Plan.

C. Stock option grants made to any Participant under the Discretionary Option Grant Program of Article II and Awards made to any Participant under the Other Equity Based Awards Program of Article IV shall not in any way affect, limit or restrict such individual’s eligibility to participate in any other stock plan or other compensation or benefit plan, arrangement or practice now or hereafter maintained by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary.

D. Stock option grants or other Awards outstanding under the Plan shall in no way affect the right of the Company to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

 

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II. STRUCTURE OF THE PLAN

A. Stock Programs. The Plan shall be divided into two separate components: the Discretionary Option Grant Program specified in Article II and the Other Equity Based Awards Program specified in Article IV. Under the Discretionary Option Grant Program, Eligible Persons may, at the discretion of the Committee, be granted options to purchase shares of Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of Article II. Under the Other Equity Based Awards Program, Eligible Persons may be granted, at the discretion of the Committee, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Awards, Dividend Equivalents or Other Stock-Based Awards in accordance with the provisions of Article IV.

B. General Provisions. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the provisions of Articles I and V shall apply to the Discretionary Option Grant Program, the Other Equity Based Awards Program and any outstanding automatic option grants made prior to August 4, 2011, and shall accordingly govern the interests of all individuals under the Plan. Effective as of August 4, 2011, no further automatic option grants shall be made hereunder.

III. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

A. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. Subject to applicable law, the Committee may delegate its responsibilities to others under such conditions and limitations as it may determine, except that the Committee may not delegate its authority with regard to the making of grants to Section 16(b) Insiders. However, if the grant to a Section 16(b) Insider would not be exempt under SEC Rule 16b-3 if made by the Committee, such grant may be made by the Board. On the other hand, if the grant of an option is intended to be exempt from Code Section 162(m), it must be made by a committee composed exclusively of outside directors, as that term is defined in Code Section 162(m).

B. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan and applicable law, the Committee shall have the sole and exclusive authority with respect to the Discretionary Option Grant Program and the Other Equity Based Awards Program:

(i) to designate Participants and make grants of Awards to any and all Eligible Persons;

(ii) to determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant;

(iii) to determine the number of Shares to be covered by, or the method by which payment or other rights are to be determined in connection with, each Award;

(iv) to determine the terms and conditions of any Award or Award Agreement, consistent with the terms of the Plan;

(v) to determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be exercised in cash, Shares, promissory notes (provided, however, that the par value of any Shares to be issued pursuant to such exercise shall be paid in the form of cash, services rendered, personal property, real property or a combination thereof, and the acceptance of such promissory notes does not conflict with Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), other securities, other awards or other property, or cancelled, forfeited or suspended;

(vi) to interpret the Plan and any Award Agreement, to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to it, and to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable in administering the Discretionary Option Grant Program and the Other Equity Based Awards Program;

(vii) to change the terms and conditions or accelerate the vesting of any outstanding Award or Award Agreement granted pursuant to Article II, and any outstanding Award or Award Agreement granted pursuant to Article IV (except for any Qualified Performance Based Award as defined in Article IV of the Plan to the extent such authority would violate Code Section 162(m)), provided such action does not, without the consent of the holder, adversely affect the rights and obligations such individual may have under the outstanding grant; and

 

A-5


(viii) to make any other determination or take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.

C. Designations, determinations, interpretations and other decisions of the Committee on all matters relating to the Plan and any option grants, stock issuances or any other Awards made hereunder shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time, and shall be final, conclusive and binding on all Persons having any interest in the Plan or any options or Awards granted or shares issued under the Plan.

D. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify each member of the Committee and any secondary committee formed pursuant to Section III.A. of this Article I and every other member of the Board, as well as any other employee with duties under the Plan, against all liabilities and expenses (including any amount paid in settlement or in satisfaction of a judgment) reasonably incurred by the individual in connection with any claims against the individual by reason of the performance of the individual’s duties under the Plan. This indemnity shall not apply, however, if: (i) it is determined in the action, lawsuit, or proceeding that the individual is guilty of gross negligence or intentional misconduct in the performance of those duties; or (ii) the individual fails to assist the Company in defending against any such claim. The Company shall have the right to select counsel and to control the prosecution or defense of the suit. The Company shall not be obligated to indemnify any individual for any amount incurred through any settlement or compromise of any action unless the Company consents in writing to the settlement or compromise.

E. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein (except as provided in Section III.A. of this Article I), the Board may, at any time and from time to time, without any further action of the Committee, exercise the powers and duties of the Committee under the Plan.

IV. ELIGIBILITY

A. The persons eligible to receive option grants under the Discretionary Option Grant Program of Article II and Awards under the Other Equity Based Awards Program of Article IV are Eligible Persons selected by the Committee to receive such options and Awards.

V. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

A. The Common Stock issuable under the Plan shall be made available either from authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or from shares of Common Stock reacquired by the Company on the open market. The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issuable over the term of this Plan shall not exceed 9,682,500 shares. Such share reserve is subject to adjustment from time to time in accordance with Section V.C. of this Article I.

B. Should an option or other Award granted under this Plan expire or terminate for any reason prior to exercise or surrender in full, the shares subject to the portion of the option or other Award not so exercised or surrendered shall be available for subsequent option or other Award grants under this Plan. Furthermore, in the event that a portion of shares subject to a Performance Award (including a Qualified Performance Based Award) does not vest as of the end of an applicable performance period because the applicable performance goals become impossible to meet, such portion of such Performance Award shall immediately be cancelled as of the end of the applicable performance period and the shares subject to such portion of such Performance Award shall be available for subsequent option or other Award grants under this Plan. In addition, unvested shares issued under the Plan and subsequently cancelled or repurchased by the Company, at the original option or Award exercise price paid per share, pursuant to the Company’s repurchase rights under the Plan shall be added back to the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan and shall accordingly be available for reissuance through one or more subsequent option or other Award grants under the Plan. However, shares subject to Tandem Rights exercised in accordance with the provisions of Section II of Article II shall reduce on a share-for-share basis the number of shares of Common Stock available for subsequent option or other Award grants

 

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under this Plan. Should the exercise price of an outstanding option or other Award under the Plan be paid with shares of Common Stock or should shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable under the Plan be withheld by the Company in satisfaction of the withholding taxes incurred in connection with the exercise of an outstanding option or other Award or the vesting of a stock issuance or other Award under the Plan, then the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the gross number of shares for which the option or other Award is exercised or which vest under the stock issuance or other Award, and not by the net number of shares of Common Stock actually issued to the Participant. If an Award entitles the holder thereof to receive or purchase Shares, the number of Shares covered by such Award or to which such Award relates shall be counted on the date of grant of such Award against the aggregate number of Shares available for granting Awards under the Plan. For purposes of determining the number of Shares covered on the date of grant by a Stock Appreciation Right that is to be settled in Shares, the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is to be exercised shall be counted against the number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan (without regard to the number of actual Shares issued upon settlement). Awards that do not entitle the holder thereof to receive or purchase Shares shall not be counted against the aggregate number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan.

C. In the event any change is made to the Common Stock issuable under the Plan by reason of any stock dividend, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, combination of shares, exchange of shares, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Company’s receipt of consideration, then appropriate adjustments shall be made by the Committee to (i) the aggregate number and/or class of securities (or other property) issuable under the Plan, (ii) the maximum number and/or class of securities (or other property) for which any one Participant may be granted stock options, stock appreciation rights or other Awards over the term of the Plan, (iii) the number and/or class of securities (or other property) subject to, and the purchase and/or exercise price per share in effect under, each option, stock appreciation right or other Award outstanding under the Plan, and (iv) the limitations contained in Section V.E. of this Article I, in order to preclude the dilution or enlargement of benefits thereunder. All adjustments made by the Committee pursuant to this Section V.C. shall be final and binding.

D. In the event that (i) the Company is the surviving entity in any Corporate Transaction which does not result in the termination of outstanding options pursuant to the Corporate Transaction provisions of the Plan or (ii) the outstanding options under the Plan are to be assumed in connection with such Corporate Transaction, then each such continuing or assumed option shall, immediately after such Corporate Transaction, be appropriately adjusted to apply and pertain to the number and class of securities which would have been issuable, in consummation of such Corporate Transaction, to an actual holder of the same number of shares of Common Stock as are subject to such option immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction. Appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the exercise price payable per share, provided the aggregate option price shall remain the same. In addition, the number and class of securities which remain issuable under this Plan following the consummation of the Corporate Transaction shall be appropriately adjusted. Adjustments under this section will be made in accordance with Code Section 424 and treasury regulations promulgated thereunder to the extent required, and for purposes of compliance with the provisions of Code Section 409A relating to modification of stock rights, adjustments will be made in accordance with the requirements Code Section 424 and treasury regulations promulgated thereunder as modified by applicable guidance under Code Section 409A.

E. 162(m) Limitation on Awards. From and after January 1, 1994 until June 30, 2006, in no event may any one individual participating in the Plan be granted stock options and/or separately exercisable stock appreciation rights, exceeding 1,600,000 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate over such period, subject to adjustment from time to time in accordance with the provisions of Section V.C. of this Article. From and after approval of the stockholders at the 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan other than Section V.C. of this Article I, no Participant shall be granted: (i) Options or SARs, the value of which are derived solely from the appreciation in the value of Shares after the date of grant, with respect to more than 500,000 Shares in the aggregate within any fiscal year of the Company; or (ii) other Qualified Performance Based Awards under Article IV that do not meet the definition contained in clause (i) above and that could result

 

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in such Participant receiving more than $1,500,000 in cash or the equivalent Fair Market Value of Shares determined at the date of grant for each full or partial fiscal year of the Company contained in the performance period of a particular Qualified Performance Based Award, provided, however, that, if any other Qualified Performance Based Awards are outstanding for such Participant for a given fiscal year, such dollar limitation shall be reduced for each such given fiscal year by the amount that could be received by the Participant under all such Qualified Performance Based Awards, divided, for each such Qualified Performance Based Award, by the number of full or partial fiscal years of the Company contained in the performance period of each such outstanding Qualified Performance Based Award; provided, however, that the limitations set forth in this Section V.E. shall be subject to adjustment under Section V.C. of Article I only to the extent that such adjustment does not affect the status of any Award intended under Article IV to qualify as “performance based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.

ARTICLE II.

DISCRETIONARY OPTION GRANT PROGRAM

I. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS

A. The Committee shall have sole and exclusive authority (subject to the express provisions of the Plan) to determine which Eligible Persons are to be granted options under the Discretionary Option Grant Program, the number of shares to be covered by each such option, the status of the granted option as a Non-Statutory Option, the time or times at which such option is to become exercisable and the maximum term for which the option is to remain outstanding.

B. The granted options shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form as the Committee shall from time to time approve. Unless otherwise provided in a particular Award Agreement, the granted options shall comply with the terms and conditions specified below.

1. Option Price.

a. The option price per share shall be fixed by the Committee, but in no event shall the option price per share be less than the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the date of the option grant except in connection with a merger, acquisition or other similar consolidation.

b. The option price shall become immediately due upon exercise of the option and shall, subject to the loan provisions of Section I of Article V, be payable in one or more of the alternative forms specified below:

i. full payment in cash or check payable to the Company’s order; or

ii. full payment in shares of Common Stock held by the Optionee for the requisite period necessary to avoid a charge to the Company’s reported earnings and valued at Fair Market Value on the Exercise Date (as such term is defined below); or

iii. to the extent the option is exercised for vested shares, full payment through a special sale and remittance procedure pursuant to which the Optionee is to provide irrevocable written instructions (i) to a brokerage firm to effect the immediate sale of the purchased shares and remit to the Company, out of the sale proceeds available on the settlement date, an amount sufficient to cover the aggregate option price payable for the purchased shares plus all applicable Federal and state income and employment taxes required to be withheld by the Company by reason of such purchase and (ii) to the Company to deliver the certificates for the purchased shares directly to such brokerage firm in order to complete the sale transaction; or

c. If payment of the exercise price is made by means of the surrender of shares of Common Stock which are subject to certain restrictions, the number of shares of Common Stock issued upon the exercise of the option equal to the number of shares of restricted stock surrendered shall be subject to the same restrictions as the restricted stock that was surrendered.

 

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d. The Exercise Date shall be the date on which written or electronic notice of the option exercise is delivered to the Company. Except to the extent the sale and remittance procedure specified in clause (iii) of subparagraph b. above is utilized in connection with the option exercise, payment of the option price for the purchased shares must accompany such notice.

2. Term and Exercise of Options.

a. Each option granted under the Discretionary Option Grant Program shall be exercisable in one or more installments as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such option; provided, however, no such option shall have a maximum term in excess of ten (10) years from the date it was granted to the Optionee.

b. During the lifetime of the Optionee, Non-Statutory Options shall be exercisable only by the Optionee and shall not be assignable or transferable other than by will, by the laws of descent and distribution following the Optionee’s death, or to any “Family Member” (as such term is defined in the General Instructions to Form S-8 (or any successor to such Instructions or such Form) under the Securities Act), provided that the Participant may not receive any consideration for such transfer, the Family Member may not make any subsequent transfers other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and the Company receives written notice of such transfer. This assigned portion may only be exercised by the person or persons who acquire a proprietary interest in the option pursuant to the assignment. The terms applicable to the assigned portion shall be the same as those in effect for the option immediately prior to such assignment and shall be set forth in such documents issued to the assignee as the Committee may deem appropriate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionee may also designate one or more persons as the beneficiary or beneficiaries of his or her outstanding Non-Statutory Options under the Plan, and those options shall, in accordance with such designation, automatically be transferred to such beneficiary or beneficiaries upon the Optionee’s death while holding those options. Such beneficiary or beneficiaries shall take the transferred options subject to all the terms and conditions of the applicable agreement evidencing each such transferred option, including (without limitation) the limited time period during which the option may be exercised following the Optionee’s death.

3. Termination of Service.

a. Should an Optionee cease to be a Service Provider for any reason (including death or Permanent Disability) other than due to a termination for the reasons set forth in subparagraph (c) below, then such options shall not be exercisable at any time after the EARLIER of (i) the specified expiration date of the option term or (ii) the expiration of the limited period of time specified by the Committee in the option agreement. Each such option shall, during such period following cessation of Service Provider status, be exercisable only to the extent of the number of shares (if any) in which the Optionee is vested on the date of such cessation of Service Provider status.

b. Any option held by an Optionee under this Article II at the time of his or her death and exercisable in whole or in part at that time may be subsequently exercised, but only to the extent of the number of shares (if any) in which the Optionee is vested on the date the Optionee ceases to be a Service Provider (less any of those shares subsequently purchased by the Optionee prior to death), by the personal representative of the Optionee’s estate, by the person or persons to whom the option is transferred pursuant to the Optionee’s will or the laws of inheritance or by the Optionee’s designated beneficiary or beneficiaries of that option. Any such exercise must occur prior to the EARLIER of (i) the expiration date of the option term or (ii) the first anniversary of the date of the Optionee’s death.

c. If an Optionee’s Service Provider status is terminated for any of the following reasons, then all outstanding options granted the Optionee under this Article II shall immediately terminate and cease to be exercisable immediately upon such termination:

i. the Optionee’s intentional misconduct or continuing gross neglect of duties which materially and adversely affects the business and operations of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary employing the Optionee;

 

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ii. the Optionee’s unauthorized use or disclosure (or attempt thereat) of confidential information or trade secrets of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary; or

iii. the Optionee’s commission of an act involving embezzlement, theft, fraud, falsification of records, destruction of property or commission of a crime or other offense involving money or other property of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary employing the Optionee.

The reasons for termination of an Optionee as a Service Provider set forth in this subparagraph (c) are not intended to be an exclusive list of all acts or omissions which the Company may deem to constitute misconduct or other grounds for terminating the Optionee (or any other individual).

d. The Committee shall have complete discretion, exercisable either at the time the option is granted or at any time while the option remains outstanding, to permit one or more options held by the Optionee under this Article II to be exercised, during the limited period of exercisability following cessation of Service Provider status, not only with respect to the number of shares in which the Optionee is vested at the time of such cessation of Service Provider status but also with respect to one or more subsequent installments of purchasable shares in which the Optionee would otherwise have vested had the Optionee continued as a Service Provider.

e. If the option is granted to an individual who is not an Employee of the Company, then the option agreement evidencing the granted option shall include provisions comparable to those set forth in subparagraphs (a), (b) and (c) above, and may include provisions comparable to subparagraph (d) above, with respect to the Optionee’s termination of service with the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary.

4. Stockholder Rights. An option holder shall have none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to any shares covered by the option until such individual shall have exercised the option, paid the option price and satisfied all other conditions precedent to the issuance of certificates for the purchased shares.

5. Repurchase Rights. The shares of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of any Article II option grant may be subject to one or more repurchase rights of the Company in accordance with the following provisions:

a. The Committee shall have the discretion to authorize the issuance of unvested shares of Common Stock under this Article II. Should the Optionee cease Service Provider status while holding such unvested shares, the Company shall have the right to repurchase any or all of those unvested shares at the option price paid per share. The terms and conditions upon which such repurchase right shall be exercisable (including the period and procedure for exercise and the appropriate vesting schedule for the purchased shares) shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the instrument evidencing such repurchase right.

b. All of the Company’s outstanding repurchase rights shall automatically terminate, and all shares subject to such terminated rights shall immediately vest in full, upon the occurrence of any Corporate Transaction, except to the extent: (i) any such repurchase right is expressly assigned to the successor corporation (or parent thereof) in connection with the Corporate Transaction or (ii) such termination is precluded by other limitations imposed by the Committee at the time the repurchase right is issued.

c. The Committee shall have the discretionary authority, exercisable either before or after the Optionee’s cessation of Service Provider status, to cancel the Company’s outstanding repurchase rights with respect to one or more shares purchased or purchasable by the Optionee under this Article II and thereby accelerate the vesting of such shares in whole or in part at any time.

II. TANDEM RIGHTS AND LIMITED RIGHTS

A. The Committee shall have full power and authority, exercisable in its sole discretion, to grant selected Optionees tandem stock appreciation rights (“Tandem Rights”) pertaining to all or part of the shares of Common Stock subject to one or more of their option grants under this Article II.

 

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B. Tandem Rights may be granted at the same time the underlying option is granted or any time thereafter while the option remains outstanding. The Optionee may exercise such Tandem Right by surrendering the underlying option in whole or in part to the Company, to the extent such option is at the time exercisable for vested shares of Common Stock. In exchange for the surrendered option, the Optionee shall receive a distribution from the Company in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value (on the option surrender date) of the number of shares in which the Optionee is at the time vested under the surrendered option (or surrendered portion) over (ii) the aggregate option price payable for such vested shares. However, the exercise of the Tandem Right shall be effective only if approved by the Committee. If so approved, the distribution to which the Optionee shall accordingly become entitled with respect to the surrendered option shall be made in shares of Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value on the option surrender date.

C. If the surrender of an option is rejected by the Committee, then the Optionee shall retain whatever rights the Optionee had under the surrendered option (or surrendered portion) on the option surrender date and may exercise such rights at any time prior to the last day on which the option is otherwise exercisable in accordance with the terms of the instrument evidencing such option, but in no event may such rights be exercised more than ten (10) years after the date of the option grant.

D. Prior to July 1, 2006, one or more Section 16(b) Insiders may, in the Committee’s sole discretion, be granted limited stock appreciation rights (“Limited Rights”)2 in conjunction with their outstanding options under this Article II. Such Limited Rights shall provide that upon the occurrence of a Hostile Take-Over, each outstanding option with such a Limited Right shall automatically be cancelled, to the extent such option is at the time exercisable for fully-vested shares of Common Stock. The Optionee shall in return be entitled to a cash distribution from the Company in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the Take-Over Price of the vested shares of Common Stock at the time subject to the cancelled option (or cancelled portion of such option) over (ii) the aggregate exercise price payable for such shares. The cash distribution payable upon such cancellation shall be made within five (5) days following the consummation of the Hostile Take-Over. The Committee shall pre-approve, at the time the limited right is granted, the subsequent exercise of that right in accordance with the terms of this Section II.D. Accordingly, no further approval of the Committee or the Board shall be required at the time of the actual option cancellation and cash distribution. The balance of the option (if any) shall continue to remain outstanding and exercisable in accordance with the terms and conditions of the instrument evidencing such option.

III. CORPORATE TRANSACTION

A. Upon the occurrence of a Corporate Transaction, the exercisability of each option outstanding under this Article II shall be automatically accelerated so that each such option shall, immediately prior to the specified effective date for the Corporate Transaction, become fully exercisable with respect to the total number of shares of Common Stock at the time subject to such option, whether or not vested, and may be exercised for all or any portion of such shares. However, an outstanding option under this Article II shall NOT be so accelerated if and to the extent: (i) such option is, in connection with the Corporate Transaction, either to be assumed by the successor corporation or parent thereof or to be replaced with a comparable option to purchase shares of the capital stock of the successor corporation or parent thereof, or (ii) such option is to be replaced with a cash incentive program of the successor corporation which preserves the spread existing at the time of the Corporate Transaction on any shares for which the option is not otherwise at that time exercisable and provides for subsequent payout in

 

2 

Options granted to Section 16(b) Insiders prior to the effective date of the June 15, 1992 Restatement contain a different form of Limited Right. Such right will provide each Section 16(b) Insider with a thirty (30)-day election period, following the successful completion of a hostile tender offer for fifty percent (50%) or more of the Company’s outstanding voting securities, to surrender the underlying option for a cash distribution from the Company in an amount per share of Common Stock in which the Section 16(b) Insider is at the time vested under the surrendered option equal to the excess of the highest price per share paid in effecting such tender offer over the exercise price payable per share under the surrendered option.

 

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accordance with the same exercise/vesting schedule applicable to those option shares, or (iii) the acceleration of such option is subject to other applicable limitations imposed by the Committee at the time of grant. The determination of comparability under clause (i) above shall be made by the Committee, and its determination shall be final and binding.

B. The Committee shall have the discretion, exercisable at any time, to provide (upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate) for either the automatic acceleration of one or more assumed or replaced options which do not accelerate in connection with the Corporate Transaction or for the automatic vesting of any cash incentive programs implemented in replacement of such options, in the event the Optionee’s employment should subsequently terminate within a designated period following the effective date of such Corporate Transaction.

C. Upon the consummation of the Corporate Transaction, all outstanding options under this Article II shall, to the extent not previously exercised or assumed by the successor corporation or its parent company, terminate and cease to be outstanding.

ARTICLE III.

[RESERVED]

ARTICLE IV.

OTHER EQUITY BASED AWARDS PROGRAM

Subject to any limitations contained in the Plan, the Committee shall have sole and exclusive authority (subject to the express provisions of the Plan) to determine which Eligible Persons are to be granted Awards under the Other Equity Based Awards Program, and the terms and conditions of any such Awards. Such Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form as the Committee shall from time to time approve.

I. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

A. The Committee is authorized to grant free-standing Stock Appreciation Rights to Eligible Persons subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement. Each such Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall confer on the holder upon exercise the right to receive a number of Shares equal to the excess of (a) the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise (or, if the Committee shall so determine, at any time during a specified period before or after the date of exercise) over (b) the grant price of the Stock Appreciation Right as determined by the Committee, which grant price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of grant of the Stock Appreciation Right. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the grant price, term, methods of exercise, dates of exercise and any other terms and conditions (including conditions or restrictions on the exercise thereof) of any Stock Appreciation Right shall be as determined by the Committee.

II. RESTRICTED STOCK AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

A. The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units to Eligible Persons with the following terms and conditions and with such additional terms and conditions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as the Committee shall determine:

i. Restrictions. Shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to such restrictions as the Committee may impose (including, without limitation, a restriction on or prohibition against the right to receive any dividend or other right or property with respect thereto), which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times, in such installments or otherwise as the Committee may deem appropriate.

ii. Stock Certificates. Any Restricted Stock granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by the issuance of a stock certificate or certificates, which shall be held by the Company. Such certificate or certificates shall be registered in the name of the Participant and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the applicable Award Agreement and possible forfeiture of such shares of Restricted Stock.

 

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iii. Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, upon a Participant’s termination of employment (as determined under criteria established by the Committee) during the applicable restriction period, all applicable Shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units at such time subject to restriction shall be forfeited and reacquired by the Company; provided, however, that the Committee may, when it finds that a waiver would be in the best interest of the Company, waive in whole or in part any or all remaining restrictions with respect to Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.

III. PERFORMANCE AWARDS

A. The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Performance Awards to Eligible Persons subject to the terms of the Plan. A Performance Award granted under the Plan (a) may be denominated or payable in cash, Shares (including, without limitation, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units), other securities, other Awards or other property and (b) shall confer on the holder thereof the right to receive payments, in whole or in part, upon the achievement of such performance goals during such performance periods as the Committee shall establish. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the performance goals to be achieved during any performance period, the length of any performance period, the amount of any Performance Award granted, the amount of any payment or transfer to be made pursuant to any Performance Award and any other terms and conditions of any Performance Award shall be determined by the Committee. From time to time, the Committee may designate a Performance Award granted hereunder as an award of “qualified performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code (a “Qualified Performance Based Award”), and such awards shall comply with the following requirements.

i. Performance Goals; Timing of Designations. Qualified Performance Based Awards shall, to the extent required by Section 162(m), be conditioned solely on the achievement of one or more objective performance goals, and such performance goals shall be established by the Committee within the time period prescribed by, and shall otherwise comply with the requirements of, Section 162(m) (“Performance Goals”). The Committee shall, not later than 90 days after the beginning of each performance period, (A) designate all Participants for such performance period, and (B) establish the objective Performance Goals for each Participant for that performance period on the basis of one or more of the business criteria set forth in (ii) below.

ii. Business Criteria. Unless and until the Committee proposes for stockholder approval and the Company’s stockholders approve a change in the general business criteria set forth in this section, the attainment of which may determine the amount and/or vesting with respect to Qualified Performance Based Awards, the business criteria to be used for purposes of establishing Performance Goals for Qualified Performance Based Awards shall be selected from the following alternatives. Performance goals may be based upon based upon one or more of the following business criteria, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, applied on a corporate, subsidiary or business unit basis: revenue, cash flow, gross profit, earnings before interest and taxes, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and net earnings, earnings per share, margins (including one or more of gross, operating and net income margins), returns (including one or more of return on assets, equity, investment, capital and revenue and total stockholder return), stock price, economic value added, working capital, market share, cost reductions, workforce satisfaction and diversity goals, employee retention, customer satisfaction, completion of key projects and strategic plan development and implementation. Such Performance Goals may reflect absolute entity or business unit performance or a relative comparison to the performance of a peer group of entities or other external measure of the selected performance criteria. Pursuant to rules and conditions adopted by the Committee on or before the 90th day of the applicable performance period for which Performance Goals are established, the Committee may appropriately adjust any evaluation of performance under such goals to exclude the effect of certain events, including any of the following events: asset write-downs; litigation or claim judgments or settlements; changes in tax law, accounting principles or other such laws or provisions affecting reported results; severance, contract termination and other costs related to exiting certain business activities; and gains or losses from the disposition of businesses or assets or from the early extinguishment of debt.

 

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iii. Payment of Qualified Performance Based Awards. Unless another specified payment date or schedule of payment dates is provided in the applicable Award Agreement, Qualified Performance Based Awards shall be paid within 2  1/2 months after the end of the calendar year in which the applicable performance condition ends. The Committee shall certify in writing that Performance Goals have been met prior to payment of the Qualified Performance Based Awards to the extent required by Section 162(m). The Committee may, in its discretion, reduce the amount of a payout otherwise to be made in connection with a Qualified Performance Based Award, but may not exercise discretion to increase such amount.

iv. Certain Events. If a Participant dies or becomes permanently and totally disabled before the end of a performance period or after the performance period and before a Qualified Performance Based Award is paid, the Committee may, in its discretion, determine that the Participant shall be paid a prorated portion of the award that the Participant would have received but for such death or disability.

v. Stockholder Approval of Plan. Any Qualified Performance Based Award shall be null and void and have no effect whatsoever unless the Plan shall have been approved by the stockholders of the Company at the Company’s 2006 Annual Stockholders Meeting. No Qualified Performance Based Award shall be granted more than five years after the date of such 2006 Annual Stockholders Meeting unless the stockholders have re-approved the Plan to the extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code.

vi. Interpretation. The provisions in this Section III of Article IV, and all of the other terms and conditions of the Plan as it applies to any Qualified Performance Based Award, shall be interpreted in such a fashion as to qualify all compensation paid thereunder as “qualified performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

IV. DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS

The Committee is authorized to grant Dividend Equivalents to Eligible Persons under which the Participant shall be entitled to receive payments (in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property as determined in the discretion of the Committee) equivalent to the amount of cash dividends paid by the Company to holders of Shares with respect to a number of Shares determined by the Committee. Subject to the terms of the Plan, such Dividend Equivalents may have such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine.

V. OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS

The Committee is authorized to grant to Eligible Persons, subject to the terms of the Plan, such other Awards that are denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, Shares (including, without limitation, securities convertible into Shares), as are deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purpose of the Plan. Shares or other securities delivered pursuant to a purchase right granted under this Section V shall be purchased for such consideration, which may be paid by such method or methods and in such form or forms (including, without limitation, cash, Shares, promissory notes, promissory notes (provided, however, that the par value of any Shares to be issued pursuant to such exercise shall be paid in the form of cash, services rendered, personal property, real property or a combination thereof and the acceptance such promissory notes does not conflict with Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), other securities, other Awards or other property or any combination thereof, as the Committee shall determine, the value of which consideration, as established by the Committee, shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such Shares or other securities as of the date such purchase right is granted.

 

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ARTICLE V.

MISCELLANEOUS

I. LOANS OR GUARANTEE OF LOANS

The Committee may assist a Participant (including any officer or director) in the exercise of one or more outstanding options under the Discretionary Option Grant Program or one or more outstanding Awards under the Other Equity Based Awards Program by (a) authorizing the extension of a full-recourse interest-bearing loan to such Optionee from the Company, (b) permitting the Participant to pay the exercise price or other purchase price with respect to such Award in installments over a period of years or (c) authorizing a guarantee by the Company of a third-party loan to the Participant, but in each case only to the extent any such action does not conflict with Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The terms of any loan, installment method of payment or guarantee (including the interest rate and terms of repayment) shall be established by the Committee in its sole discretion. The maximum credit available to the Participant shall not exceed the sum of (i) the aggregate exercise price of the option shares (less the par value) or the aggregate purchase price for the Award plus (ii) any Federal and state income and employment tax liability incurred by the Participant in connection with the exercise of the option or Award.

II. TAX WITHHOLDING

A. The Company’s obligation to deliver shares or cash upon the exercise or surrender of stock options or any Awards granted under the Plan shall be subject to the satisfaction by the Participant of all applicable Federal, state and local income and employment tax withholding requirements.

B. The Committee may, in its discretion and upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate (including the applicable safe-harbor provisions of SEC Rule 16b-3 or any successor rule or regulation) provide any or all holders of outstanding option grants under the Plan (other than grants made to non-Employees) with the election to surrender previously acquired shares of Common Stock or have shares withheld in satisfaction of the tax withholding obligations. To the extent necessary to avoid adverse accounting treatment, the number of shares that may be withheld for this purpose shall not exceed the minimum number needed to satisfy the applicable income and employment tax withholding rules. If Common Stock is used to satisfy the Company’s tax withholding obligations, the stock shall be valued at its Fair Market Value when the tax withholding is required to be made.

III. EXTENSION OF EXERCISE PERIOD

The Committee shall have full power and authority to extend the period of time for which any option granted under the Discretionary Option Grant Program is to remain exercisable following the Optionee’s termination of service from the period set forth in the option agreement to such greater period of time as the Committee shall deem appropriate; provided, however, that in no event shall such extension exceed the limitations set forth by applicable law and regulations under Code Section 409A; and provided further, that in no event shall such option be exercisable after the specified expiration date of the option term.

IV. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN

The Board shall have the complete and exclusive authority to amend, modify, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan; provided, however, that if and to the extent required by Code Section 409A and applicable guidance thereunder, such authority will not include the authority to terminate deferred compensation arrangements in violation of Code Section 409A; and provided further, that no amendment or modification shall, without the consent of the holders, adversely affect rights and obligations with respect to any stock options, stock appreciation rights, or other Awards at the time outstanding under the Plan. In addition, certain amendments, including increasing the number of shares issuable under the Plan or modifying the requirements for eligibility, will require stockholder approval pursuant to applicable laws or regulations.

 

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V. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN

A. The Plan was initially adopted by the Board and approved by the Company’s sole stockholder on August 1, 1988.

B. The Board and sole stockholder amended and restated the Plan effective May 15, 1991 to (i) increase the number of shares issuable pursuant to the Plan, (ii) conform the provisions of the Plan to the SEC rules under Section 16 of the Exchange Act applicable to certain transactions effected under the Plan by Section 16(b) Insiders and (iii) provide for the ability to grant incentive stock options.

C. The Plan was further restated on June 15, 1992 (the “1992 Restatement”) to (i) increase the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Plan by an additional 400,000 shares, (ii) bring the Plan into compliance with revisions to SEC Rule 16b-3 which became effective on September 1, 1993 and would exempt certain officer and director transactions under the Plan from the short-swing liability provisions of the federal securities laws and (iii) effect certain technical revisions to the provisions of the Plan to facilitate plan administration and interpretation. The 1992 Restatement was approved by the Company’s stockholders at the 1992 Annual Meeting.

D. The Plan was further restated and amended by the Board in June 1993 (the “1993 Restatement”) to add the Automatic Option Grant Program. The 1993 Restatement was approved by the Company’s stockholders at the 1993 Annual Meeting.

E. On May 4, 1994, the Board approved an amendment and restatement of the Plan (the “1994 Restatement”) to (i) increase the aggregate number of shares issuable over the term thereof by 400,000 shares to a total of 2,670,000 shares and (ii) impose a limitation of 1,600,000 shares on the maximum number of shares of Common Stock for which any one participant may be granted stock options and separately exercisable stock appreciation rights over the remaining term of the Plan. The 1994 Restatement was approved by the Company’s stockholders at the 1994 Annual Meeting.

F. On June 21, 1996, the Board approved an amendment and restatement of the Plan (the “1996 Restatement”) to (i) increase the aggregate number of shares issuable over the term thereof by 400,000 shares to 3,070,000 shares, and (ii) extend the expiration date of the Plan to June 30, 2006. The 1996 Restatement was approved by the Company’s stockholders at the 1996 Annual Meeting.

G. In June 1997, the Board further amended and restated the Plan (the “1997 Restatement”) to effect the following revisions: (i) increase the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance over the term of the Plan by an additional 400,000 shares to 3,470,000 shares, (ii) render the non-Employee Board members eligible to receive option grants under the Discretionary Option Grant Program, (iii) allow unvested shares issued under the Plan and subsequently repurchased by the Company at the option exercise price paid per share to be reissued under the Plan, (iv) remove certain restrictions on the eligibility of non-Employee Board members to serve as members of the Committee and (v) effect a series of additional changes to the provisions of the Plan in order to take advantage of certain amendments to SEC Rule 16b-3. The 1997 Restatement was approved by the Company’s stockholders at the 1997 Annual Meeting.

H. In February 1999, the Board further amended and restated the Plan to permit optionees under the Discretionary Option Grant and Automatic Option Programs of the Plan to designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to whom their options may be transferred upon their death.

I. On May 10, 2001, the Board further amended and restated the Plan (the “2001 Restatement”) to (i) effect certain technical revisions to the provisions of the Plan in order to facilitate the administration and interpretation of the Plan, (ii) clarify the group of employees who are eligible to participate in the Plan and (iii) increase the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance over the term of the Plan by an additional 500,000 shares to 3,970,000 shares. The 2001 Restatement was approved by the Company’s stockholders at the 2001 Annual Meeting.

 

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J. On June 27, 2006, the Board further amended and restated the Plan (the “2006 Restatement”) to (i) address changes in applicable law and accounting principles, (ii) permit the Committee to make awards of free-standing stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance awards, dividend equivalents, and Other Stock-Based Awards under the Plan, subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee, (iii) extend the term of the Plan until June 30, 2016, (iv) rename the Plan and (v) increase the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance over the term of the Plan by an additional 500,000 shares to 6,455,000 shares. The 2006 Restatement was approved by the Company’s stockholders approval at the 2006 Annual Meeting.

K. All share numbers in the 2006 Restatement reflect (i) the two-for-one split of the Common Stock effected on June 14, 1999 and (ii) the three-for-two split of the Common Stock effected on August 31, 2001, and all share numbers in the 2008 Restatement (defined below) reflect the 3-for-2 split of the Common Stock effected on December 8, 2006, all of which were effected in the form of a stock dividend.

L. On May 6, 2008, the Board further amended and restated the Plan (the “2008 Restatement”) to reduce the number of shares of common stock underlying options to be granted under the automatic option grant program from 11,250 to 7,500 shares for initial automatic option grants to be awarded to a director upon first joining the Board and from 4,500 to 3,000 shares for annual automatic option grants to be awarded to directors on the date of each annual meeting of stockholders. The 2008 Restatement was approved by the Company’s stockholders at the 2008 Annual Meeting.

M. On June 8, 2010, the Board further amended and restated the Plan to provide that in the event that a portion of shares subject to a Performance Award (including a Qualified Performance Based Award) does not vest as of the end of an applicable performance period because the applicable performance goals become impossible to meet, such portion of such Performance Award shall immediately be cancelled as of the end of the applicable performance period and the shares subject to such portion of such Performance Award shall be available for subsequent option or other Award grants under this Plan.

N. On June 21, 2011, the Board further amended and restated the Plan, subject to approval of the Company’s stockholders, to eliminate future automatic option grants and to make members of the Committee eligible to receive Awards under the Discretionary Option Grant Program and the Other Equity Based Awards Program.

O. The provisions of the various restatements of the Plan apply only to stock options, stock appreciation rights, and other Awards granted under the Plan from and after the respective effective dates of such Restatements. All stock options and stock appreciation rights issued and outstanding under the Plan immediately prior to such effective dates of the restatements of the Plan shall continue to be governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan (and the instrument evidencing each such option or stock appreciation right) as in effect on the date each such option or stock appreciation was previously granted, and nothing in the restatements of the Plan shall be deemed to affect or otherwise modify the rights or obligations of the holders of such options or stock appreciation rights with respect to the acquisition of shares of Common Stock thereunder or the exercise of their outstanding stock appreciation rights.

P. The sale and remittance procedure authorized for the exercise of outstanding options shall be available for all options granted under the Plan from and after November 6, 1991 and for all Non-Statutory Options outstanding on such date.

Q. Subject to Section IV of Article V, the Plan shall in all events terminate upon the EARLIEST of (i) June 30, 2026, (ii) the date on which all shares available for issuance under the Plan shall have been issued or cancelled pursuant to the exercise or surrender of stock options, stock appreciation rights or other Awards under the Plan, (iii) the termination of all outstanding Awards in connection with a Corporate Transaction or (iv) termination by the Board. If the date of termination is determined under clause (i) above, then any stock options, stock appreciation rights or other Awards at the time outstanding under the Plan shall continue to have force and effect in accordance with the provisions of the instruments evidencing such grants.

 

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VI. MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

A. Any cash proceeds received by the Company from the issuance of shares hereunder shall be used for any corporate purpose.

B. The implementation of the Plan, the granting of any stock option or other Award , and the issuance of Common Stock or other Award hereunder, shall be subject to the Company’s procurement of all approvals and permits required by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the Plan, and the stock options and other Awards granted under it and the Common Stock issued pursuant to it. The inability of the Company to obtain the requisite approvals shall relieve the Company of any liability with respect to the non-issuance or sale of the Common Stock as to which such approvals shall not have been obtained. The Company, however, shall attempt to obtain all requisite approvals.

C. No shares of Common Stock or other property shall be issued or delivered under the Plan unless and until there shall have been compliance with all applicable requirements of Federal and state securities laws, including the filing and effectiveness of the Form S-8 registration statement for the shares of Common Stock issuable under the Plan, and all applicable listing requirements of any stock exchange on which Common Stock is then listed for trading. No shares of Common Stock or other property shall be issued or delivered under the Plan if doing so would violate any internal policies of the Company.

D. Neither the action of the Company in establishing the Plan, nor any action taken by the Board or the Committee hereunder, nor any provision of the Plan itself shall be construed so as to grant any individual the right to remain in the employ or service of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary for any period of specific duration, and the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary retaining the services of such individual) may terminate such individual’s employment or service at any time and for any reason, with or without cause.

E. Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed to limit the authority of the Company to exercise its corporate rights and powers, including (without limitation) the right of the Company (a) to grant options for corporate purposes otherwise than under this Plan to any Eligible Person or other Person, firm or company or association or (b) to grant options to, or assume the option of, any Person in connection with the acquisition (by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise) of the business and assets (in whole or in part) of any Person, firm, company or association.

F. No Participant will have rights under an Award granted to such Participant unless and until an Award Agreement shall have been duly executed on behalf of the Company and, if requested by the Company, signed by the Participant. In the event that any provision of an Award Agreement conflicts with or is inconsistent in any respect with the terms of the Plan as set forth herein or subsequently amended, the terms of the Plan shall control.

G. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary and an Eligible Person or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or any Affiliate.

H. The Plan is intended to comply in all respects with Rule 16b-3 or any successor provision, as in effect from time to time, and in all events the Plan shall be construed in accordance with the requirements of Rule 16b-3. If any Plan provision does not comply with Rule 16b-3 as hereafter amended or interpreted, the provision shall be deemed inoperative. The Board, in its absolute discretion, may bifurcate the Plan so as to restrict, limit or condition the use of any provision of the Plan with respect to persons who are officers or directors subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act without so restricting, limiting or conditioning the Plan with respect to other Eligible Persons. With respect to Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, the Company intends to have the Plan administered in accordance with the requirements for the award of “qualified performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

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I. No compensation or benefit awarded to or realized by any Participant under the Plan shall be included for the purpose of computing such Participant’s compensation under any compensation-based retirement, disability, or similar plan of the Company unless required by law or otherwise provided by such other plan.

J. Except with respect to Shares of Restricted Stock as to which the Participant has been granted the right to vote, neither a Participant nor the Participant’s legal representative shall be, or have any of the rights and privileges of, a stockholder of the Company with respect to any Shares issuable to such Participant upon the exercise or payment of any Award, in whole or in part, unless and until such Shares have been issued in the name of such Participant or such Participant’s legal representative without restrictions thereto.

K. No Award and no right under any such Award shall be assignable or transferable by a Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution following the Participant’s death; provided, however, that at any time such Participant holds a Non-Statutory Option, such Participant may transfer such Option to any “Family Member” (as such term is defined in the General Instructions to Form S-8 (or any successor to such Instructions or such Form) under the Securities Act), provided that the Participant may not receive any consideration for such transfer, the Family Member may not make any subsequent transfers other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and the Company receives written notice of such transfer. The assigned portion may only be exercised by the person or persons who acquire a proprietary interest in the Award pursuant to the assignment. The terms applicable to the assigned portion shall be the same as those in effect for the Award immediately prior to such assignment and shall be set forth in such documents issued to the assignee as the Committee may deem appropriate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant may also designate one or more persons as the beneficiary or beneficiaries of his or her outstanding Awards under the Plan, and those Awards shall, in accordance with such designation, automatically be transferred to such beneficiary or beneficiaries upon the Participant’s death while holding those Awards. Such beneficiary or beneficiaries shall take the transferred Awards subject to all the terms and conditions of the applicable agreement evidencing each such transferred Award.

L. The validity, construction and effect of the Plan or any Award, and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan or any Award, shall be determined in accordance with the internal laws, and not the law of conflicts, of the State of Delaware.

M. If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws, or if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the purpose or intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction or Award, and the remainder of the Plan or any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.

N. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash shall be paid in lieu of any fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated or otherwise eliminated.

O. Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.

 

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    CORVEL CORPORATION

    ATTN: SHARON O’CONNOR

    2010 MAIN ST., SUITE 600

    IRVINE, CA 92614-7203

  

     LOGO

 

VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com or scan the QR Barcode above

Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.

 

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS

If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by our company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years.

 

VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903

Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.

 

VOTE BY MAIL

Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.

 

TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:

 

   M94827-P67678      KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS   

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DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY

THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.

 

   

 

CORVEL CORPORATION

  For

All

  Withhold

All

  For All

Except

      To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below.                             
      The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following:                             
     

 

1.

 

 

To elect the six directors named in the attached proxy statement, each to serve until the 2016 annual meeting of stockholders or until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified;

 

 

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¨

 

 

¨

   

 

                                                             

                
       

 

Nominees:

                               
       

 

01)

  

 

V. Gordon Clemons

                              
        02)    Steven J. Hamerslag                               
        03)    Alan R. Hoops                               
        04)    R. Judd Jessup                               
        05)    Jean H. Macino                               
        06)    Jeffrey J. Michael                               
                                              
     

 

The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following proposals:

 

  For   Against   Abstain             For   Against   Abstain     
      2.   To approve the amendment and restatement of our Restated Omnibus Incentive Plan (Formerly The Restated 1988 Executive Stock Option Plan) to extend its expiration date by 10 years;   ¨   ¨   ¨   4.   To ratify the appointment of Haskell & White LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016; and         ¨   ¨   ¨     
   
      3.   To reapprove the performance goals under our Restated Omnibus Incentive Plan (Formerly The Restated 1988 Executive Stock Option Plan) to preserve our ability to deduct compensation that qualifies as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;   ¨   ¨   ¨   5.   To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.                 
   
      THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY SIGNED, DATED AND RETURNED, WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED.                 
   
      UNLESS OTHERWISE DIRECTED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES IN PROPOSAL 1 AND “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE MATTERS IN PROPOSALS 2, 3 AND 4, AND AT THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXIES ON ANY OTHER MATTER THAT MAY BE PROPERLY BROUGHT BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENT(S) OR POSTPONEMENT(S) THEREOF.                 
     

 

For address changes and/or comments, please check this box and write them on the back where indicated.

        

 

¨

                    
     

 

Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized officer.

                    
                              
                       
                                                                  
           

Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]

 

 

Date

 

                              

Signature (Joint Owners)

 

              Date             

 


Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:

The Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at www.proxyvote.com.

 

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M94828-P67678

 

 

 

CORVEL CORPORATION

Annual Meeting of Stockholders

August 6, 2015 1:00 P.M. PDT

This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors

 

The undersigned revokes all previous proxies, acknowledges receipt of the notice of the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held August 6, 2015, and the proxy statement, and appoints Richard Schweppe, the proxy of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to vote all shares of common stock of CorVel Corporation (the “Company”) that the undersigned is entitled to vote, either on his or her own behalf or on behalf of any entity or entities, at the Annual Meeting, to be held at the Company’s corporate headquarters, 2010 Main Street, Suite 600, Irvine, California 92614, August 6, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. local time, and at any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof, with the same force and effect as the undersigned might or could do if personally present thereat. The shares represented by this proxy shall be voted in the manner set forth on the reverse side.

 

 
 

 

Address Changes/Comments:                                                                                                                                                     

 
     
                                                                                                                                                                                                        
     
     
   
  (If you noted any Address Changes/Comments above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse side.)  
 

 

Continued and to be signed on reverse side