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TABLE OF CONTENTS
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
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Information Services Group, Inc.
Two Stamford Plaza
281 Tresser Boulevard
Stamford, Connecticut 06901
(203) 517-3100
March 18, 2016
TO
THE STOCKHOLDERS OF
Information Services Group, Inc.:
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Information Services Group, Inc. (the "Company") on April 28, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, which will be held at the offices of the Company, Two Stamford Plaza, 281 Tresser Boulevard, Stamford, Connecticut.
Details of business to be conducted at the Annual Meeting are given in the attached Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement.
Accompanying this Proxy Statement is the Company's 2015 Annual Report to Stockholders.
We hope that you will attend the Annual Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend, you can ensure that your shares are represented at the meeting by promptly voting and submitting your proxy by completing, signing, dating and returning your proxy form in the enclosed envelope.
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Sincerely yours, |
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YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, we urge you to vote and submit your proxy by mail in order to ensure the presence of a quorum. If you attend the meeting and do not hold your shares through an account with a brokerage firm, bank or other nominee, you will have the right to revoke the proxy and vote your shares in person. If you hold your shares through an account with a brokerage firm, bank or other nominee, please follow the instructions you receive from them to vote your shares and revoke your vote, if necessary.
Information Services Group, Inc.
Two Stamford Plaza
281 Tresser Boulevard
Stamford, Connecticut 06901
(203) 517-3100
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held April 28, 2016
TO
THE STOCKHOLDERS OF
Information Services Group, Inc.:
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Information Services Group, Inc. (the "Company") will be held at the Company's offices, Two Stamford Plaza, 281 Tresser Boulevard, Stamford, Connecticut on April 28, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, for the following purposes:
1. To elect two directors to serve for a three-year term and until their successors have been elected and qualified.
2. To ratify the engagement of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016.
3. To approve, in a non-binding advisory vote, the compensation paid to our named executive officers as described herein.
4. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
Stockholders of record at the close of business on March 14, 2016 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof. Beginning on or about March 18, 2016, this Notice and this Proxy Statement are being sent to stockholders of record.
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By Order of the Board of Directors, |
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Stamford,
Connecticut
March 18, 2016
IMPORTANT: Your vote is important. Proxy voting permits stockholders unable to attend the Annual Meeting to vote their shares through a proxy. Most stockholders are unable to attend the Annual Meeting. By appointing a proxy your shares will be represented and voted in accordance with your instructions. If you submit a proxy but do not provide specific instructions on how to vote, the proxies will vote as recommended by the Board of Directors. You can vote your shares by completing and returning your proxy card. You can change your voting instructions or revoke your proxy at any time prior to the Annual Meeting by following the instructions on the proxy card. If you hold your shares through an account with a brokerage firm, bank or other nominee, please follow the instructions you receive from them to vote your shares.
If you have any questions regarding how to vote, please contact our proxy solicitor, Innisfree M&A Incorporated, toll-free at (888) 750- 5834. (Banks and brokers may call collect at (212) 750-5833.)
PROXY STATEMENT FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
The accompanying proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of Information Services Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("ISG," the "Company," "we," "us," and "our"), for use at its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 28, 2016 (the "Annual Meeting"), or any adjournment or postponement thereof, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. This Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy are being mailed to stockholders on or about March 18, 2016.
Pursuant to e-proxy rules promulgated by the SEC, we are providing access to this Proxy Statement and our 2015 Annual Report to Stockholders (collectively, "proxy materials") both by sending you this full set of proxy materials as well as a proxy card and by notifying you of the availability of our proxy materials on the Internet. SEC rules allow companies to avoid sending to their stockholders paper copies of their proxy materials if, instead, they furnish the proxy materials over the Internet and mail to their stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials. Companies, however, are not required to use e-proxy and, in lieu of doing so, may continue to send to stockholders a full set of their proxy materials. We have chosen to follow this latter approach, but are still obligated to provide you with the following notice:
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials
for the Stockholder Meeting to Be Held on April 28, 2016
The Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Proxy Statement and 2015 Annual Report to Stockholders are available free of charge at www.isg-one.com.
Only stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 14, 2016 will be entitled to vote at the meeting and any postponement or adjournment thereof. As of March 14, 2016, we had 37,393,647 shares of common stock outstanding and expected to be entitled to vote with respect to all matters to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting. Each stockholder of record as of March 14, 2016 is entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held by him or her. Our Bylaws require that a quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. A quorum will be present if the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote are present in person or by proxy. Shares will be counted towards the quorum only if the stockholder submits a valid proxy (or one is submitted on his behalf by his broker, bank or other nominee) or if the stockholder votes in person at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted towards the quorum requirement. If there is no quorum, a majority of the votes present at the Annual Meeting may adjourn the Annual Meeting until a quorum is present.
The proxy accompanying this proxy statement is solicited on behalf of our Board of Directors for use at the Annual Meeting and any postponements or adjournments of the Annual Meeting, and the expenses of solicitation of proxies will be borne by us. The solicitation will be made primarily by mail, but our officers and regular employees may also solicit proxies by telephone, facsimile, via the Internet or in person. We also have retained Innisfree M&A Incorporated ("Innisfree") to assist in soliciting proxies. ISG expects to pay Innisfree approximately $10,000 plus expenses in connection with its solicitation of proxies.
Stockholders whose shares are registered in their own names may vote by returning a proxy card. Please complete, sign and return the proxy card in the self-addressed, postage paid envelope provided. If you hold your shares through an account with a brokerage firm, bank or other nominee, please follow the instructions you receive from them to vote your shares.
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All valid proxies received before the meeting will be exercised. All shares represented by a proxy will be voted, and where a proxy specifies a stockholder's choice with respect to any matter to be acted upon, the shares will be voted in accordance with that specification. If no choice is indicated on the proxy, the shares will be voted for the election of the nominees named in this Proxy Statement and in favor of the proposals described in this Proxy Statement. A stockholder whose shares are registered in their own name has the power to revoke his or her proxy at any time before it is exercised by delivering to the Chief Financial Officer of the Company a written instrument revoking the proxy or a duly executed proxy with a later date, or by attending the meeting and voting in person. If you hold shares in street name, through a bank, broker or other nominee, please contact the bank, broker or other nominee to revoke your proxy.
If you have any questions regarding how to vote, please contact our proxy solicitor, Innisfree M&A Incorporated, toll-free at (888) 750-5834. (Banks and brokers may call collect at (212) 750-5833.)
PROPOSAL NO. 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the Board of Directors of the Company is divided into three classes with one class of directors being elected each year and each class serving a three-year term. Michael P. Connors and Christine Putur constitute a class with a term that expires at this Annual Meeting (the "Class III Directors"); Neil G. Budnick and Gerald S. Hobbs constitute a class with a term that expires at the annual meeting in 2017 (the "Class I Directors"); and Kalpana Raina and Donald C. Waite III constitute a class with a term that expires at the 2018 annual meeting (the "Class II Directors").
The Board of Directors has considered and nominated the following Class III nominees for a three-year term expiring in 2019: Michael P. Connors and Christine Putur. Action will be taken at the Annual Meeting for the election of these Class III nominees. Set forth below is information regarding the nominees to the Board of Directors for election as directors.
It is intended that the proxies delivered pursuant to this solicitation will be voted in favor of the election of Michael P. Connors and Christine Putur, unless otherwise directed by the person validly executing the proxy. The nominees have agreed to be named in this Proxy Statement and to serve if elected. If the nominees decline to serve or become unavailable for any reason, or if a vacancy occurs before the election (although we know of no reason to anticipate that this will occur), the proxies may be voted for such substitute nominee(s) as we may designate.
If a quorum is present and voting, the nominees receiving a plurality of votes cast will be elected. Proxies cannot be voted for more than two nominees. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the vote.
The nominees to the Board of Directors to serve until the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election and until their successors have been elected and qualified are:
Name
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Age | Director Since | |||||
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Michael P. Connors |
60 | 2006 | |||||
Christine Putur |
54 | 2014 |
The principal occupations and qualifications of the nominees for director are as follows. There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.
Michael P. Connors has served as our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since our inception. Mr. Connors also served as our Secretary and Treasurer from the date of our inception until December 2006. Mr. Connors served as Chairman and CEO of VNU's Media Measurement and Information (MMI) Group from its creation in 2001 until his resignation in 2005. VNU is a leading
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global information and media company. Mr. Connors was instrumental in creating the MMI Group, which comprises VNU's media information, entertainment, software and internet businesses, including Nielsen Media Research, Nielsen Entertainment and NetRatings. In addition to leading the MMI Group, Mr. Connors served as chairman of VNU World Directories from 2003 to 2004, which included VNU's Yellow Pages and directory businesses operating in seven countries. Mr. Connors also served as a member of the VNU Executive Board. Prior to joining VNU, Mr. Connors was Vice Chairman of ACNielsen Corporation, one of the world's largest marketing information services companies, commencing November 1996. Prior to that, as Senior Vice President of The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation (D&B), Mr. Connors played a key role in the breakup of D&B into three separate, publicly traded companies, including ACNielsen. Mr. Connors currently serves as a director of both Eastman Chemical Company and Chubb, Ltd.
Christine Putur has served as our Director since March 2014. Ms. Putur is the Chief Information Officer of Coach, Inc., a leading New York design house of modern luxury accessories. Previously, Ms. Putur was a senior executive for Staples, Inc., a leading office supply retailer. She joined Staples in 1999 and held a variety of leadership positions, most recently as the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer. Prior to that, she worked at Digital Equipment Corporation, a vendor of computer systems, for 15 years and participated in its merger with Compaq Computer Corporation, a developer and seller of computers and related products and services. Ms. Putur holds a B.A. in Administrative Science and Math from Colby College and a M.S. in Management Information Systems from the Boston University Graduate School of Management.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" EACH OF THE NOMINEES NAMED ABOVE
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Responsibilities of the Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors directs the management of our business and affairs, as provided by Delaware law, and conducts its business through meetings of the Board of Directors and three standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. In addition, from time to time, special committees may be established under the direction of the Board of Directors when necessary to address specific issues.
Leadership Structure
The Board of Directors determined that combining the CEO and Chairman positions, coupled with a Lead Independent Director position, strengthens the Company's governance structure and is the appropriate leadership model for the Company at this time. The Board of Directors believes that "one-size" does not fit all, and the decision of whether to combine or separate the positions of CEO and Chairman will vary from company to company, depend upon a company's particular circumstances at a given point in time and may change from time to time. Accordingly, the Board of Directors carefully considers from time to time whether the CEO and Chairman positions should be combined based on what the Board believes is best for the Company and its stockholders.
Board structures vary greatly among U.S. public corporations. The Board of Directors does not believe that any one leadership structure is more effective at creating long-term stockholder value. The Board of Directors believes that an effective leadership structure could be achieved either by combining or separating the CEO and Chairman positions so long as the structure encourages the free and open dialogue of competing views and provides for strong checks and balances. Specifically, an effective governance structure must balance the powers of the CEO and the independent directors and ensure that the independent directors are fully informed, able to discuss and debate the issues that they deem important, and able to provide effective oversight of management.
Since March 2014, Mr. Gerald S. Hobbs has served as the Lead Independent Director. In addition to presiding at executive sessions of the independent directors, the responsibilities of the Lead Independent Director also include:
The Board of Directors believes that the responsibilities delegated to the Lead Independent Director are substantially similar to many of the functions typically fulfilled by a board chairman. The Board of Directors believes that its Lead Independent Director position balances the need for effective and independent oversight of management with the need for strong, unified leadership.
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The Board of Directors believes that this structure is in the best interests of the Company at this time as it will allow for a balance of power between the CEO and the independent directors and will provide an environment in which its independent directors are fully informed, have significant input into the content of Board meeting agendas and are able to provide objective and thoughtful oversight of management.
Board Composition
The Board of Directors seeks to ensure that the Board is composed of members whose particular experience, qualifications, attributes and skills, when taken together, will allow the Board to satisfy its oversight responsibilities effectively. In that regard, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for recommending candidates for all directorships to be filled by the Board or by the stockholders at an annual or special meeting. In identifying candidates for membership on the Board of Directors, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee takes into account (1) minimum individual qualifications, such as strength of character, mature judgment, industry knowledge or experience and an ability to work collegially with the other members of the Board of Directors and (2) all other factors it considers appropriate. In addition, although the Board does not have a policy with regard to the consideration of diversity in identifying director nominees, among the many factors that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee carefully considers are the benefits to the Company of diversity, including gender and racial diversity, in board composition.
After conducting an initial evaluation of a candidate, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will interview that candidate if it believes the candidate might be suitable to be a director and may also ask the candidate to meet with other directors and management. If the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes a candidate would be a valuable addition to the Board of Directors, it will recommend to the full Board of Directors that candidate's election.
When considering whether the Board's directors and nominees have the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills, taken as a whole, to enable the Board to satisfy its oversight responsibilities effectively in light of the Company's business and structure, the Board focused primarily on the information discussed in each of the Board members' or nominees' biographical information set forth on pages 16 to 18. In particular, with regards to Mr. Connors, the Board considered his extensive knowledge of the Company's business and his position as Chief Executive Officer of the Company with the responsibility for the day-to-day oversight of the Company's business operations. With regards to Messrs. Budnick, Hobbs and Waite and Mses. Putur and Raina, the Board considered their significant experience, expertise and background with regard to business, accounting and financial matters. With regards to Mr. Budnick, the Board of Directors considered his extensive experience as Managing Director at Channel Rock Partners, a management consulting firm, and as Chief Financial Officer of MBIA Insurance Corporation, a major financial services Company. With regards to Mr. Hobbs, the Board of Directors considered his extensive experience as the Chairman and CEO of various information and media companies, including VNU, Inc. With regards to Ms. Putur, the Board of Directors considered her extensive experience in information technology obtained at global corporations in the high tech, retail and fashion sectors, including in her current role as Chief Information Officer of Coach, Inc. With regards to Ms. Raina, the Board of Directors considered her role as a senior executive with The Bank of New York and her service on the Audit Committee of RealNetworks. With regards to Mr. Waite, the Board considered his extensive experience in management consulting as a Managing Director with McKinsey & Company and his service as one of three members of McKinsey's Office of the Managing Director. In addition, in connection with the nomination of Mr. Connors and Ms. Putur for election as directors at this Annual Meeting, the Board considered their valuable contributions to the Company's success during their years of Board service.
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Director Independence
Our Board of Directors currently has six directors. The Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that all of the directors, other than Mr. Connors, including those who serve on the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are "independent" for purposes of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC ("NASDAQ") listing standards and federal securities laws. In the course of the Board of Directors' determination regarding the independence of each non-management director, it considered any transactions, relationships and arrangements as required by the applicable NASDAQ rules and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
Executive Sessions
Our independent directors hold regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
Meeting Attendance
Directors are expected to attend Board meetings and meetings of the committees on which they serve and to spend the time needed, and meet as frequently as necessary, in order to properly discharge their responsibilities. The Board of Directors held 5 meetings during 2015. Each of the standing committees of the Board of Directors held the number of meetings indicated in the table below. Each of our directors serving during 2015 attended 100% of the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors and all of the committees of the Board of Directors on which such director served during that period.
This Annual Meeting will be our ninth annual stockholder meeting. ISG's policy is to invite each director to attend the Company's annual meeting of stockholders, but does not require attendance by all directors. ISG periodically monitors and reassesses this policy to ensure the Board remains open and available for stockholder communications.
Committees of the Board of Directors
The Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees each operate under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors, and each committee of the Board of Directors reviews and assesses the adequacy of its charter on at least an annual basis. Copies of these charters are available on our website (www.isg-one.com/governance).
The following table sets forth the three standing committees of the Board of Directors, the members of each committee during the last fiscal year and the number of meetings held by each committee during the last fiscal year:
Name of Director
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Audit | Compensation | Nominating and Corporate Governance |
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Michael P. Connors |
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Neil G. Budnick |
Chairman | Member | Member | |||
Gerald S. Hobbs |
Member | Chairman | Member | |||
Christine Putur |
Member | Member | Member | |||
Kalpana Raina |
Member | Member | Member | |||
Donald C. Waite III |
Member | Member | Chairman | |||
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4 Meetings | 3 Meetings | 1 Meeting |
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Audit Committee
Our Audit Committee currently consists of Mr. Budnick, as Chairman, Mr. Hobbs, Ms. Putur, Ms. Raina and Mr. Waite. The Audit Committee is responsible for, among other things:
In accordance with applicable federal securities laws and the rules of NASDAQ, we have adopted an Audit Committee charter that incorporates these duties and responsibilities.
The Audit Committee is, and will at all times be, composed exclusively of "independent directors," as determined in accordance with NASDAQ's independence standards, who are able to read and understand fundamental financial statements. In addition, pursuant to the rules of NASDAQ, ISG must have at least one member of the Audit Committee who has past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting, or any other comparable experience or background which results in the individual's financial sophistication. The Board of Directors has determined that each of the Audit Committee members satisfies NASDAQ's definition of financial sophistication and that Mr. Budnick, Mr. Hobbs, Ms. Raina and Mr. Waite each qualify as an "audit committee financial expert," as defined under the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Additional information regarding the Audit Committee is set forth in the Report of the Audit Committee immediately following Proposal No. 2.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee currently consists of Mr. Hobbs, as Chairman, Mr. Budnick, Ms. Putur, Ms. Raina and Mr. Waite. The Compensation Committee is responsible for overseeing the compensation and employee benefit plans and practices of the Company, including administering the Amended and Restated 2007 Equity and Incentive Award Plan and the Amended and Restated 2007
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Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The Compensation Committee is also responsible for, among other things:
For more information on the Compensation Committee's role in determining executive compensation, see "Executive Compensation" beginning on page 19.
In accordance with applicable federal securities laws and the rules of NASDAQ, ISG has adopted a Compensation Committee charter that delineates these duties and responsibilities.
The Board of Directors has determined that all of the members of the Compensation Committee meet the independence requirements mandated by NASDAQ, the rules of the SEC and the Internal Revenue Service, in each case as they are applicable to serving on the Compensation Committee.
The Compensation Committee has retained Steven Hall & Partners ("SH&P") to advise it in connection with fulfilling its responsibilities with respect to the Company's executive and Board of Directors compensation programs. For a discussion of the nature and scope of SH&P's assignment, and the material elements of the instructions or directions given to SH&P with respect to the performance of their duties under the engagement, please see "Use of Third Party Advisors" beginning on page 19. SH&P maintains no other direct or indirect business relationships with the Company.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee currently consists of Mr. Waite, as Chairman, Mr. Budnick, Mr. Hobbs, Ms. Putur and Ms. Raina. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for, among other things:
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In accordance with applicable federal securities laws and the rules of NASDAQ, ISG has adopted a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee charter that delineates these duties and responsibilities.
The Board of Directors has determined that all of the members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee meet the independence requirements mandated by NASDAQ, the rules of the SEC, in each case as they are applicable to serving on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and our standards of independence.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider candidates for nomination as a director recommended by stockholders, directors, officers, third party search firms and other sources. In identifying candidates for membership on the Board of Directors, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee takes into account, without limitation, factors such as judgment, skill, diversity, character, integrity, collegiality, willingness to act upon and be accountable for majority Board decisions, experience (particularly with businesses and other organizations of comparable size and within similar or related industries) and how that experience interplays with that of the other Board members, independence from management, and the ability of the candidate to attend Board and Committee meetings regularly and to devote an appropriate amount of time and effort in preparation for those meetings. In assessing stockholder recommendations, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider the same criteria utilized for other candidates, but will also consider whether the candidate can serve the best interests of all stockholders of the Company and not be beholden to the sponsoring person or group. A stockholder must provide notice to the Chief Financial Officer that must include the name, address, and number of shares owned by the stockholder making such recommendation; the name, age, business address, residence address and principal occupation of the nominee; and the number of shares beneficially owned by the nominee. It must also include the information that would be required to be disclosed in the solicitation of proxies for election of directors under the federal securities laws. You must submit the nominee's consent to be elected and to serve. ISG may require any nominee to furnish any other information, within reason, that may be needed to determine the eligibility of the nominee. The notice must be delivered to the Chief Financial Officer, who will forward the notice to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for consideration. Ultimately, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will nominate those individuals who it believes will, in conjunction with other members of the Board, best collectively serve the long-term interests of the Company's stockholders.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
During the year ended December 31, 2015, members who served on our Compensation Committee included Mr. Hobbs, as Chairman, Mr. Budnick, Ms. Putur, Ms. Raina and Mr. Waite. No member of our Compensation Committee during 2015 was an employee or officer or former employee or officer of the Company or had any relationships requiring disclosure under Item 404 of Regulation S-K. None of our executive officers has served on the board of directors or compensation committee of any other entity that has or has had one or more executive officers who served as a member of our Board or the Compensation Committee during 2015.
Oversight of Risk Management
On behalf of the Board of Directors, the Audit Committee is responsible for oversight of the Company's risk management policies and procedures. The Company is exposed to a number of risks including financial risks, operational risks and risks relating to regulatory and legal compliance. The Audit Committee discusses with management the Company's major financial risk exposures and the
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steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures, including the guidelines and policies to govern the process by which risk assessment and risk management are undertaken. The Company's Chief Financial Officer is responsible for the Company's risk management function and regularly works closely with the Company's senior executives to identify risks material to the Company. The Chief Financial Officer reports regularly to the Chief Executive Officer and the Company's Audit Committee regarding the Company's risk management policies and procedures. In that regard, the Company's Chief Financial Officer meets with the Audit Committee at least four times a year to discuss the risks facing the Company, highlighting any new risks that may have arisen since they last met. The Audit Committee also reports to the Board on a regular basis to apprise the Board of their discussions with the Chief Financial Officer regarding the Company's risk management efforts.
With respect to risks related to compensation matters, the Compensation Committee considers, in establishing and reviewing the Company's executive compensation program, whether the program encourages unnecessary or excessive risk taking. The compensation programs generally are not believed to encourage risks that are reasonably likely to have material adverse effect on the Company.
Code of Ethics
We have adopted a code of ethics and business conduct applicable to our directors, officers and employees in accordance with applicable federal securities laws and the rules of NASDAQ. You may obtain a copy of ISG's code of ethics and business conduct, free of charge, by contacting our Chief Financial Officer. You can also find a link to the code on our website (www.isg-one.com). ISG intends to disclose any amendments to or waivers from a required provision of its code of ethics and business conduct on its website (www.isg-one.com),
Corporate Governance Guidelines
The Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines to assist the Board and its committees in the exercise of their responsibilities. The Corporate Governance Guidelines, which are available on our website (www.isg-one.com/governance), set forth guiding principles and provide a flexible framework for the governance of the Company. The Corporate Governance Guidelines address, among other things, Board functions and responsibilities, management succession, Board membership and independence, Board meetings and Board committees, access to management, employees and outside advisors, director orientation and continuing education. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee regularly reviews and provides recommendations to the Board on the Corporate Governance Guidelines, and the full Board approves changes as it deems appropriate.
Certain Relationships and Transactions with Related Parties
On March 9, 2016, the Board of Directors adopted the Company's Policy and Procedures with respect to Related Party Transactions (the "Policy") whereby all transactions required to be reported pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K are reviewed and approved. The Policy calls for the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of our Board of Directors (the "Governance Committee"), or the Chair of the Governance Committee in exigent circumstances (who will possess delegated authority to act between Governance Committee meetings), to review each related party transaction (as defined below) and determine whether to approve that transaction. Any Governance Committee member who has any interest (actual or perceived) will not be involved in the consideration of the Audit Committee. In determining whether a related party transaction will be approved, the Governance Committee or Chair of the Governance Committee, as applicable in accordance with the Policy, will consider a multitude of factors including (a) the benefits to the Company; (b) the impact on a director's independence in the event the related party is a director, an immediate family member of a director or an entity in which a director is a partner, shareholder or executive officer; (c) the
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availability of other sources for comparable products or services; (d) the terms of the transaction; and (e) the terms available to unrelated third parties or to employees generally.
For purposes of the policy, a "related party transaction" is, subject to certain limited exceptions, any transaction, arrangement or relationship in which we are a participant and the amount involved exceeds $120,000, and the related party (defined below) had, has or will have a direct or indirect material interest. "Related party" includes (a) any person who is or was (at any time during the last fiscal year) an executive officer, director or nominee for election as a director; (b) any person or group who is a beneficial owner of more than 5% of our voting securities; (c) any immediate family member of a person described in provisions (a) or (b) of this sentence; or (d) any entity in which any of the foregoing persons is employed, is a director, executive officer or partner or is in a similar position, or in which such person, together with all other "related parties," have in the aggregate 5% or greater beneficial ownership interest.
Prior to adoption of the Policy, ISG's policy was to require that any transaction with a related party required to be reported under applicable SEC rules, other than compensation-related matters, be reviewed and approved or ratified by a majority of independent, disinterested directors. Notwithstanding the Policy, all compensation-related matters must be approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors or recommended by the Compensation Committee to the Board of Directors for its approval.
During 2015, we did not enter into any transactions with related parties that required review, approval or ratification by the Board of Directors as described above.
Stockholder Communications with Directors
Stockholders may communicate with any and all members of our Board of Directors by transmitting correspondence by mail or facsimile addressed to one or more directors by name (or to the Chairman, for a communication addressed to the entire Board of Directors) at the following address and fax number:
Name
of the Director(s)
c/o Chief Financial Officer
Information Services Group, Inc.
Two Stamford Plaza
281 Tresser Boulevard
Stamford, Connecticut 06901
Fax: (203) 517-3199
Communications from our stockholders to one or more directors will be collected and organized by our Chief Financial Officer under procedures approved by our independent directors. The Chief Financial Officer will forward all communications to the Chairman of the Board of Directors or to the identified director(s) as soon as practicable, although communications that are abusive, in bad taste or that present safety or security concerns may be handled differently. If multiple communications are received on a similar topic, the Chief Financial Officer may, in his or her discretion, forward only representative correspondence.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors will determine whether any communication addressed to the entire Board of Directors should be properly addressed by the entire Board of Directors or a committee thereof. If a communication is sent to the Board of Directors or a committee, the Chairman of the Board or the Chairman of that committee, as the case may be, will determine whether a response to the communication is warranted. If a response to the communication is warranted, the content and method of the response will be coordinated with our Chief Financial Officer.
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PROPOSAL NO. 2
RATIFICATION OF ENGAGEMENT OF INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
On March 9, 2016, the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to continue in its capacity as independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016. Stockholders will be asked at the Annual Meeting to ratify the engagement of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as its independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016.
Although the engagement of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is not required to be submitted to a vote of the stockholders, the Board of Directors believes it is appropriate as a matter of policy to request that the stockholders ratify the selection of its independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016. If the stockholders fail to ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors will consider it as a direction to select other auditors for the subsequent year. Even if the selection is ratified, the Board of Directors or the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if the Board of Directors or Audit Committee feels that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders.
The Company anticipates that a representative of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting. Such representative will be given the opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires to do so, and is expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions at the meeting.
The following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed to the Company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP:
|
Fiscal Years | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
December 31, 2015 |
December 31, 2014 |
|||||
Audit Fees(1) |
$ | 1,363,500 | $ | 1,196,500 | |||
Audit-Related Fees(2) |
54,000 | 30,000 | |||||
Tax Fees(3) |
71,509 | 75,000 | |||||
All Other Fees(4) |
1,919 | 1,919 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Total Fees |
$ | 1,490,928 | $ | 1,303,419 | |||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
The Audit Committee has considered whether the provisions of services described in the table above are compatible with maintaining auditor independence. Before the independent auditor is engaged by the Company or its subsidiaries to render audit or non-audit services, the Audit Committee shall pre-approve the engagement. Audit Committee pre-approval of audit and non-audit services will not be required if the engagement for the services is entered into pursuant to pre-approval policies and
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procedures established by the Audit Committee regarding the Company's engagement of the independent auditor, provided the policies and procedures are detailed as to the particular service, the Audit Committee is informed of each service provided and such policies and procedures do not include delegation of the Audit Committee's responsibilities under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, to the Company's management. All of the fees described above under Audit Fees, Audit-Related Fees and Tax Fees were pre-approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to its pre-approval policies and procedures.
Approval of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by holders of shares of ISG common stock represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of this proposal.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE ENGAGEMENT OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2016
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The directors who serve on the Audit Committee are all "independent" in accordance with NASDAQ requirements and the applicable SEC rules and regulations. We have reviewed and discussed with management the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, which includes the Company's integrated audit of the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015 and management's report on internal control over financial reporting using the criteria set forth in the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013).
During 2015, the Audit Committee fulfilled all of its responsibilities under its charter that was effective during 2015. As part of the Company's governance practices, the Audit Committee reviews its charter on an annual basis and, when appropriate, recommends to the Board of Directors changes to its charter. The Board of Directors adopted changes to the Audit Committee charter in May 2013. The revised Audit Committee charter can be obtained through our website (www.isg-one.com).
We have discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the matters required to be discussed by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Auditing Standard No. 16, and reviewed the results of the independent registered public accounting firm's integrated audit of the consolidated financial statements.
We have received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant's communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and have discussed with the registered public accounting firm their independence.
Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, we recommended to the Company's Board of Directors that the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
During 2015, directors Neil G. Budnick, Gerald S. Hobbs, Christine Putur, Kalpana Raina and Donald C. Waite III served as members of the Audit Committee.
SUBMITTED BY THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
||
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE Mr. Neil G. Budnick (Chairman) Mr. Gerald S. Hobbs Ms. Christine Putur Ms. Kalpana Raina Mr. Donald C. Waite III |
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PROPOSAL NO. 3
NON-BINDING ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
We are including in this Proxy Statement a separate resolution subject to stockholder vote to approve, in a non-binding advisory vote, the compensation paid to our Named Executive Officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to the rules of the SEC on pages 19 to 34. The language of the resolution is as follows:
RESOLVED, THAT THE COMPENSATION PAID TO THE COMPANY'S NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AS DISCLOSED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO THE RULES OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, INCLUDING THE COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, COMPENSATION TABLES AND ANY RELATED NARRATIVE DISCUSSION, IS HEREBY APPROVED.
This item is commonly referred to as a "say-on-pay" proposal. At our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, our stockholders approved the say-on-pay proposal by a vote of 98% in favor to 2% against.
In considering your vote, you may wish to review the information on the Company's compensation policies and decisions regarding the Named Executive Officers presented in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis on pages 20 to 30, as well as the discussion regarding the Compensation Committee beginning on page 7.
In particular, stockholders should note the following:
Because this vote is advisory and non-binding on the Board of Directors, the Board and the Compensation Committee will review and consider the voting results, as well as other communications from stockholders relating to our compensation practices, and take them into account in future determinations concerning our executive compensation programs.
Approval of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by holders of shares of ISG common stock represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of this proposal.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" APPROVAL OF THE COMPENSATION PAID TO OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.
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The following table sets forth certain information concerning each of our executive officers and directors:
Name
|
Age | Position | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Michael P. Connors | 60 | Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer | |||
David E. Berger | 59 | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
R. James Cravens | 52 | Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources & Communications Officer | |||
Neil G. Budnick | 62 | Director | |||
Gerald S. Hobbs | 74 | Director | |||
Christine Putur | 54 | Director | |||
Kalpana Raina | 60 | Director | |||
Donald C. Waite III | 74 | Director |
Management
Michael P. Connors has served as our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since our inception. Mr. Connors also served as our Secretary and Treasurer from the date of our inception until December 2006. Mr. Connors served as Chairman and CEO of VNU's Media Measurement and Information (MMI) Group from its creation in 2001 until his resignation in 2005. VNU is a leading global information and media company. Mr. Connors was instrumental in creating the MMI Group, which comprises VNU's media information, entertainment, software and internet businesses, including Nielsen Media Research, Nielsen Entertainment and NetRatings. In addition to leading the MMI Group, Mr. Connors served as chairman of VNU World Directories from 2003 to 2004, which included VNU's Yellow Pages and directory businesses operating in seven countries. Mr. Connors also served as a member of the VNU Executive Board. Prior to joining VNU, Mr. Connors was Vice Chairman of ACNielsen Corporation, one of the world's largest marketing information services companies, commencing November 1996. Prior to that, as Senior Vice President of The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation (D&B), Mr. Connors played a key role in the breakup of D&B into three separate, publicly traded companies, including ACNielsen. Mr. Connors currently serves as a director of both Eastman Chemical Company and Chubb, Ltd.
David E. Berger has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since October 2009. Prior to joining ISG, Mr. Berger was Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller and Investor Relations with The Nielsen Company where he spent more than eight years. Prior to joining Nielsen in 2001 he had been employed for almost ten years at Simon & Schuster and Viacom in varying senior management capacities leaving as Senior Vice President, Finance and Development. Prior to his tenure at Simon & Schuster/Viacom, Mr. Berger worked at American National Can Company where he was Chief Financial Officer of one of its largest divisions. Mr. Berger started his professional career with the public accounting firm of Touche Ross and Company. Mr. Berger is a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and earned his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Chicago.
R. James Cravens has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources and Communications Officer since January 2014. Previously, Mr. Cravens was most recently Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources of Vision Critical, a global software and services firm, where he spent almost two years. Prior to Vision Critical, Mr. Cravens was Senior Vice President, Human Resources North America with Synovate, a global research services firm, where he spent almost one year prior to its sale to Ipsos. Prior to Synovate, from 2004-2010, Mr. Cravens was Global Head of Human Resources and Corporate Communications with Kinetic Concepts, Inc., a medical technology
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firm. Mr. Cravens is a graduate of Kenyon College, the University of Chicago Law School and Stanford University's Inter-University Center for Advanced Japanese Language Studies in Yokohama, Japan.
Directors
Neil G. Budnick has served as our Director since June 2011. Mr. Budnick is currently the Managing Director at Channel Rock Partners, a management consulting firm that provides business strategy and opportunity analysis, operations improvement and risk management for corporations. Until April 2007, Mr. Budnick was President of MBIA Insurance Corporation, a major financial services company. During his 23 years at MBIA, Mr. Budnick held increasingly important positions including: Vice Chairman; Chief Financial Officer; President, Public and Corporate Finance Division; and Senior Vice President, Head of Municipal and Structure Finance. Earlier in his career, Mr. Budnick was also Vice President of the Public Finance Department of Standard & Poor's Corporation. He is a Board Member and Chair of the Audit Committee of RHR International, a management firm that specializes in executive development. Following an appointment by the Governor of Connecticut in 2012, he served from 2012-2013 as Chairman of the Investment Advisory Council (IAC), the state body responsible for working with the State Treasurer in overseeing the investments of the Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds. Mr. Budnick holds a B.A. in Political Science from Boston College and an M.P.A. in Public Administration from the University of Colorado.
Gerald S. Hobbs has served as our Director since January 2008. Mr. Hobbs is a managing director and an operating partner at BV Investments, LLC. Previously, Mr. Hobbs was the Chairman and CEO of VNU, Inc., now The Nielsen Company, and Vice-Chairman of the Executive Board of VNU N.V. until his retirement in April 2003. Mr. Hobbs has served as Chairman, and Director of the American Business Media, BPA International and the Advertising Council, Inc. He recently retired from The Nielsen Company and BNA, Inc. boards of directors. He was a member of the Audit Committee at both companies.
Christine Putur has served as our Director since March 2014. Ms. Putur is the Chief Information Officer of Coach, Inc., a leading New York design house of modern luxury accessories. Previously, Ms. Putur was a senior executive for Staples, Inc., a leading office supply retailer. She joined Staples in 1999 and held a variety of leadership positions, most recently as the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer. Prior to that, she worked at Digital Equipment Corporation, a vendor of computer systems, for 15 years and participated in its merger with Compaq Computer Corporation, a developer and seller of computers and related products and services. Ms. Putur holds a B.A. in Administrative Science and Math from Colby College and a M.S. in Management Information Systems from the Boston University Graduate School of Management.
Kalpana Raina has served as our Director since August 2009. Ms. Raina is the managing partner of 252 Solutions, LLC, an advisory firm that specializes in strategic development and implementation. Previously, Ms. Raina was a senior executive with The Bank of New York, a global financial services company. She joined the Bank in 1989 and held a variety of leadership positions, most recently Executive Vice President and Head of European Country Management and Corporate Banking. Prior to that, she served in Mumbai, India as the bank's Executive Vice President, International. During her eighteen-year career with the bank she had responsibility for clients in the Media, Telecommunications, Healthcare, Retailing, Hotels and Leisure and Financial services industries in Asia, Europe, and the United States. Ms. Raina also is a director of John Wiley & Son (NYSE: JWa and JWb), where she chairs the Compensation Committee, and Yellow Pages Limited (TSX: YLO). Until October 2013, Ms. Raina was also a director of RealNetworks (NASDAQ: RNWK), where she served on the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. She is a member of Women Corporate Directors and The National Association of Corporate Directors and a past member of The U.S.-India Business Council.
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Donald C. Waite III has served as our Director since January 2008. Mr. Waite is an adjunct professor at Columbia Graduate School of Business. Mr. Waite retired from McKinsey & Company, the international management consulting firm, in February 2002 after 36 years of service. From 1996 to 2002, he was one of three members of the Firm's Office of the Managing Director, and Chairman of the Firm's Investment Committee and Compensation Committee. Mr. Waite is a Director Emeritus of McKinsey & Company and sits on the McKinsey Investment Committee. Mr. Waite sits on the Board of Overseers of the Columbia Graduate School of Business and serves on the Board of Directors of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, where he is Lead Director and member of the Human Resources & Governance Committee and Products & Distribution Committee. Also, in the prior five years, Mr. Waite served as a member of the Board of Directors of Presstek, Inc.
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Background
This discussion addresses compensation as it relates to ISG's three named executive officers for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015: Michael P. Connors, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; David E. Berger, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; and R. James Cravens, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources & Communications Officer (the "Named Executive Officers").
Oversight of Compensation
The Compensation Committee is responsible for overseeing the compensation and employee benefit plans and practices of the Company. The Compensation Committee is comprised entirely of independent directors. The Compensation Committee approves all executive compensation arrangements. The Compensation Committee charter sets forth the purpose of and other matters pertaining to the Compensation Committee. See pages 7 to 8 for further details regarding the duties and responsibilities of the Compensation Committee.
Use of Third Party Advisors
Pursuant to its charter, the Compensation Committee has the authority to retain, as needed, any independent counsel, compensation and benefits consultants and other outside experts or advisors as the Compensation Committee believes to be necessary or appropriate. The Compensation Committee has retained the firm of Steven Hall & Partners ("SH&P") as its independent compensation consultant to report and advise on matters related to executive and director compensation and related corporate governance concerns. The Compensation Committee has assessed the independence of SH&P pursuant to the SEC's and NASDAQ's rules and concluded that the work SH&P has performed does not raise any conflict of interest.
SH&P was engaged by and reports directly to the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee is responsible for approving payments to the consultant, and the Compensation Committee is solely responsible for engagement and termination of the consultant. While conducting assignments, the Compensation Committee anticipates that SH&P will interact with the Company's management when appropriate to gather internal perspectives and relevant company and compensation data. In addition, SH&P may seek feedback from the Compensation Committee Chairman, other members of the Compensation Committee or the Board of Directors, or the Chairman of the Board of Directors in developing recommendations for the Compensation Committee's consideration.
The Compensation Committee calls upon SH&P, as appropriate, to attend Compensation Committee meetings, meet with the Compensation Committee without management present and provide third-party data, advice and expertise on proposed executive compensation levels, programs and plan designs and implementation, and on other matters within the scope of the Compensation Committee's responsibilities. The Compensation Committee may also ask SH&P to review and provide advice relating to proposals prepared by management, including evaluating the consistency of such proposals with the Compensation Committee's compensation philosophy and in comparison to programs at other companies, to provide information and advice regarding compensation of our non-employee directors, and to review disclosures relating to executive and director compensation.
SH&P provides only consulting services relating to executive and director compensation to us, and does not provide other services such as employee benefits administration or actuarial services. SH&P interacts from time to time with members of our management team in carrying out its assignments.
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Role of Management in Compensation Decisions
In determining compensation for the executive officers, the Compensation Committee may consult with the Company's executive officers at various times during the year to provide the Compensation Committee with information with which the Compensation Committee performs its own assessment of the individual performance of each executive officer. The Compensation Committee may also request input from the Chief Executive Officer, other members of the Board and the other committees of the Board as part of the Compensation Committee's evaluation of the executive officers and other key Company employees and their achievement of performance objectives. At the Compensation Committee's request, the Chief Executive Officer will review and discuss the performance and compensation of the Company's other Named Executive Officers. Executive officers, including the Chief Executive Officer, are not present for the discussions or discretionary decisions regarding their own compensation. The Compensation Committee is assisted in the administration of its decisions by the Company's Chief Human Resources Officer. Notwithstanding this input, the Compensation Committee retains full discretion to approve the compensation of the Company's executive officers.
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Overview of 2015 Performance
ISG made great progress in 2015 and improved in a number of areas over 2014. Highlights include:
The Compensation Committee recognized that this strong performance was a result of management's effective execution of our business strategy. The Compensation Committee's determinations regarding compensation of our Named Executive Officers for 2015 reflected this view. The Compensation Committee believes that our executive compensation program contributed to the good results achieved by management in 2015, and the resulting compensation to our senior management team was appropriate in light of ISG's operational performance.
Objectives and Philosophies
It is the Company's intent that its executive compensation programs achieve three fundamental objectives: (1) attract, motivate, retain and reward qualified executives; (2) hold executives accountable for performance; and (3) align executives' interests with the interests of our stockholders. In structuring
20
the Company's executive compensation programs, we intend to be guided by the following basic philosophies:
Elements of Compensation
As described in more detail below, the material elements of our executive compensation program include a mix of the following, at the discretion of the Compensation Committee: base salary, an annual cash incentive opportunity and an equity component. We believe that these elements of our executive compensation program are critical in helping us achieve our business objectives.
These compensation elements are intended to create a total compensation package for each executive that we believe will achieve the Company's objectives and provide fair and competitive opportunities. We evaluate competitiveness based on data provided by SH&P with respect to market compensation practices as further described below.
Say-on-Pay Results
The Compensation Committee considered the result of the 2015 advisory, non-binding say-on-pay vote in connection with the discharge of its responsibilities. A substantial majority of our stockholdersapproximately 98% of the votes castapproved our 2015 compensation program as described in our proxy statement for the 2015 Annual Meeting. The Compensation Committee has reviewed the voting results and considered whether any adjustments were warranted based on these results and other feedback from stockholders and leading stockholder advisory firms. Our policy is to hold say-on-pay votes on an annual basis.
21
Base Salary
Base salary is cash compensation that provides a fixed level of cash payments throughout the year that take into account job responsibilities, experience level, competencies and competitive market data. The Compensation Committee reviews and approves base salaries for executives, including Named Executive Officers, annually and in connection with promotions or other changes in responsibilities. The Compensation Committee considers market data, individual compensation history, pay in relation to other executives at the Company ("internal pay equity"), tax deductibility, individual job performance and future potential, as well as evaluations and recommendations by senior management in determining base salary. The weight given to each of these factors may differ from individual to individual, as the Compensation Committee deems appropriate.
Actual salaries earned by and paid to the Named Executive Officers in 2015 are reflected in the Salary column of the Summary Compensation Table on page 31. The following table reflects the annual base salaries of our Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.
Named Executive Officer
|
2015 Ending Base Salary ($) |
2014 Ending Base Salary ($) |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Michael P. Connors |
$ | 780,000 | $ | 780,000 | |||
David E. Berger |
550,000 | 550,000 | |||||
R. James Cravens |
340,000 | 325,000 |
Base salaries for Messrs. Connors and Berger remained the same in 2015 as compared to 2014. On December 15, 2014, the Compensation Committee approved an increase to Mr.Cravens' base salary to $340,000 from $325,000 effective as of April 1, 2015.
In reviewing and establishing the 2015 base salaries for the Named Executive Officers, the Compensation Committee referred to a variety of data provided by SH&P for background information and took into account other information regarding the individuals. In considering which companies should be included in the Company's peer group, the Committee considers many criteria, including the following:
Based on the above, the Company considered compensation levels and practices from the following peer companies: Advisory Board Co., Computer Task Group, Inc., comScore, Inc., CRA International, Inc., Exponent, Inc., Forrester Research, Inc., and Hackett Group, Inc. The data provided by SH&P was used for general reference and for perspective on market compensation practices, and not to specifically benchmark Named Executive Officer salary levels to any percentile or to within a range of percentiles derived from the background data.
Individual factors considered by the Compensation Committee in reviewing and establishing the 2015 base salaries for the Named Executive Officers, included:
22
of acquiring, integrating and managing additional businesses under the leadership of an experienced manager who has achieved previous business success; (iv) the absence of any compensation for his services to ISG prior to July 2009; (v) the absence of certain standard elements of compensation customarily provided to executive officers in comparable positions at other companies; and (vi) Mr. Connors' performance in his role as Chief Executive Officer to date.
In making its determinations on base salaries, the Compensation Committee took into account the fact that ISG evaluated each Named Executive Officer's overall job performance as highly satisfactory. In addition, in keeping the base salary of Mr.Connors the same for 2015 as 2014, the Compensation Committee considered that Mr. Connors received an increase in 2014 after several years without an increase to base salary. The Compensation Committee's decision on base salaries represented an exercise of its judgment based on the considerations described above, without assigning a specific weighting to separate factors.
Annual Bonus and Incentive Awards
Prior to 2014, each of the Named Executive Officers had a target, and in some instances a maximum, cash incentive opportunity expressed as a percentage of base salary. The Compensation Committee would then award the target bonuses, or greater or lesser amounts, to the Named Executive Officers depending upon the financial results of the Company, including achieving certain levels of operating results, and the executive's contribution to such results based on the Compensation Committee's assessment of the Company's profitable growth and strategic progress, as well as the executive's own performance.
At the 2014 Annual Meeting, the Company's stockholders approved the Amended and Restated 2007 Equity and Incentive Award Plan (the "Plan") authorizing the grant of "incentive awards" by the Compensation Committee. These incentive awards provide the Named Executive Officers with the opportunity to earn specified cash amounts (i.e., the award is denominated in cash rather than in shares) by achievement of specific performance goals. Under the Plan, the Compensation Committee is permitted to specify that all or a portion of the cash amount earned or earnable under an incentive award could be converted to shares or an equity award at a specified date. By adding these incentive awards under the Plan, cash incentives, such as annual bonuses, can be qualified as "performance-based compensation" under Internal Revenue Section 162(m), which would enable the Company to claim tax deductions for compensation to certain senior executive officers without limitation under Section 162(m)'s $1 million deductibility cap (discussed further below under "Section 162(m) Policy").
For 2015, the Compensation Committee authorized annual incentive awards to the Named Executive Officers under the Plan with target and maximum payout amounts. For such awards, the Compensation Committee specified that the Company must have achieved positive adjusted EBITDA as a requirement in order for any annual incentive award to be paid. Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial metric, is defined as net income plus income taxes, net interest income/expense, depreciation, foreign currency transaction gains/losses, gain on extinguishment of debt, amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and non-cash stock compensation and impairment charges for
23
goodwill and intangible assets). Achievement of this performance goal is intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 162(m), which should enable the Company to deduct up to the maximum authorized annual incentive amount for the named executive officer without limitation under Section 162(m). Target and maximum payout levels set forth in the table below were set by the Compensation Committee at levels meant to be competitive, based on survey and other information considered by the Committee.
In addition to the requirement of positive adjusted EBITDA for 2015 imposed to preserve tax deductibility, the Compensation Committee based its award of 2015 bonuses for each Named Executive Office on the Committee's assessment of ISG performance and the executive's individual performance. In determining bonus payments for the Named Executive Officers for fiscal 2015, the Compensation Committee took into account the fact that ISG's results were favorable and its assessment of each Named Executive Officer's contribution in achieving those results. The Compensation Committee believes that this structure, which allows the Committee to make subjective assessments of performance and payouts, is appropriate based on the rapid development of ISG as a comparatively young company operating in a dynamic international business environment.
Based on the Company's performance and individual performance, the Compensation Committee approved bonuses payable in a combination of cash and restricted stock units as follows: (i) for Mr. Connors, equal to his target amount, payable with a cash amount of $156,000 and a grant of restricted stock units on March 15, 2016 with a value on the grant date equal to $624,000, (ii) for Mr. Berger slightly less than his target amount, payable with a cash amount of $63,000 and a grant of restricted stock units on March 15, 2016 with a value on the grant date equal to $252,000 and (iii) for Mr. Cravens less than his target amount, payable with a cash amount of $20,000 and a grant of restricted stock units on March 15, 2016 with a value on the grant date equal to $80,000. These equity awards are shown in the Summary Compensation Table as 2015 compensation, in the "Stock Awards" column.
Name and Position
|
Maximum Dollar Value of Annual Incentive Earnable for 2015 |
Target Dollar Value of Annual Incentive Earnable for 2015 |
Actual Dollar Value of Annual Incentive Earned for 2015 |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Michael P. Connors |
$ | 1,560,000 | $ | 780,000 | $ | 780,000 | ||||
David E. Berger |
$ |
700,000 |
$ |
350,000 |
$ |
315,000 |
||||
R. James Cravens |
$ |
300,000 |
$ |
150,000 |
$ |
100,000 |
Long-Term Equity Incentive Awards
The Compensation Committee has the authority to grant stock options, restricted stock units and other equity awards under the Plan to executive officers, including the Named Executive Officers, and other key employees. The purpose of the Plan is to provide equity as a component of executive compensation to assure competitiveness of total compensation, to motivate executive officers and key employees to focus on long-term Company performance, to align executive compensation with stockholder interests and to retain the services of the executives during the vesting period because, in most instances, the awards will be forfeited if the recipient voluntarily leaves the employ of the Company before the award vests.
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The Compensation Committee believes that the executives' long-term compensation should be directly linked to the Company's strategic progress and creation of stockholder value. At its discretion, the Compensation Committee periodically has made awards intended to create a meaningful stock incentive in light of the executive's current position with the Company, personal performance, potential impact and contributions to the growth of the enterprise, marketplace practice and the terms of any individual employment agreements. An additional key consideration in making these awards also is to promote retention of the grantee and long-term service to the Company. Similarly, the Compensation Committee uses long-term equity awards granted to new executives as a means to induce such persons to join the Company.
On June 1, 2015, the Company granted 195,313 restricted stock units to Mr. Connors, 72,917 restricted stock units to Mr. Berger and 32,552 restricted stock units to Mr. Cravens. These restricted stock units will vest in four equal annual installments on the anniversaries of the grant date. The Compensation Committee granted the restricted stock units in order to enhance retention of the Named Executive Officers and provide a long-term incentive for advancing the Company's business strategy and creating stockholder value.
As discussed above under "Annual Bonus and Incentive Awards," for fiscal 2015, the Compensation Committee approved bonuses payable in a combination of cash and restricted stock units. The restricted stock units granted on March 15, 2016 vest in full on the first anniversary of the grant date. Upon vesting, the restricted stock units will be settled in shares of common stock. The Compensation Committee determined to pay a portion of the annual incentive as restricted stock units in order to enhance retention of Named Executive Officers and provide greater alignment of executive officers with interests of stockholders.
Other Compensation
The Company sponsors a tax-qualified 401(k) plan with a profit sharing feature (the "Savings Plan"). The Savings Plan provides retirement benefits for participating employees. Participating employees can contribute a portion of their eligible salary on a pre-tax basis up to a maximum amount set by the Internal Revenue Code. For 2015, the maximum pre-tax contribution by an employee into the Savings Plan was $18,000, except for specified catch-up contributions permitted by participants who are age 50 or older. The Company provides a 3% annual contribution on behalf of each employee based on the employee's cash compensation, regardless of whether the employee contributes to the Savings Plan and subject to a cap of $7,950 in 2015. The Company's contributions to Named Executive Officers under the Savings Plan can be found in the All Other Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table on page 31.
The Company provides limited amounts of perquisites and other personal benefits to the Named Executive Officers from time to time, at levels intended to be reasonable and consistent with our overall compensation program. Perquisites and other personal benefits provided to the Named Executive Officers in 2015 are reflected in the All Other Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table on page 31 and the corresponding footnotes. For 2015, the only significant perquisite was reimbursement of expenses for spousal travel in connection with an annual corporate recognition event, including a tax gross-up relating to the reimbursement.
Severance and Other Benefits Upon Termination of Employment
In determining whether to enter into an agreement with an executive officer that provides for severance payments if the executive officer is involuntarily terminated, the Compensation Committee considers the significance of the executive officer's position with the Company, its ability to attract and retain talent as a result of executive management changes and the amount of time it potentially would take the executive to locate another position. The Compensation Committee believes that offering severance commitments is necessary and appropriate in order to attract executives and retain them to provide long-term service to the Company.
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On December 16, 2011, Mr. Connors entered into the Connors Employment Agreement, which was amended subsequently on December 10, 2013 to extend the term until December 31, 2017. Mr. Connors has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since the Company's inception. Prior to entering into the Connors Employment Agreement, Mr. Connors' employment with the Company was at-will. Mr. Connors' Change in Control Agreement with the Company as described below continues to apply pursuant to its terms. The terms of the Connors Employment Agreement relating to salary, bonus and benefits are described below under the caption "Employment Agreements and Employment Letters." The Connors Employment Agreement also provides for severance and other compensation upon termination of Mr. Connors' employment in specified circumstances. Subject to Mr. Connors executing a release of claims agreement in favor of the Company, in the event Mr. Connors is terminated by the Company without "Cause" or resigns for "Good Reason" (each as defined in the Connors Employment Agreement), the Company will provide him with two times his then applicable base salary plus two times his annual target bonus, payable over the 24-month period following his termination (but the Company may, in its sole discretion, pay this amount in a single lump sum, to the extent permitted under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code). In addition, the Company will also provide Mr. Connors with a pro-rated annual bonus for the year in which he is terminated based on the Company's actual performance for such year. The pro-rated bonus will be payable at the time Mr. Connors' annual bonus would have otherwise been paid if his employment had not been terminated. If Mr. Connors is terminated without Cause or resigns for Good Reason at any time during the 24-month period following a Change in Control or within 60 days prior to a Change in Control, provided such termination is at the request of an acquirer or otherwise in anticipation of a Change in Control, Mr. Connors' severance payments will be governed by his Change in Control Agreement described below.
In connection with the hiring of Mr. Berger in 2009, the Company entered into an agreement with him on October 5, 2009 (the "Berger Severance Agreement") that provides that, in the event of certain terminations of his employment, subject to Mr. Berger executing a release of claims agreement in favor of the Company, he will receive a lump sum severance payment in an amount equal to his then applicable base salary plus his target bonus for the applicable year. These severance obligations will be triggered if Mr. Berger is terminated by ISG without "Cause" or if Mr. Berger resigns for "Good Reason" (each as defined in the Berger Severance Agreement). If Mr. Berger is terminated without Cause or resigns for Good Reason at any time during the 24-month period following a Change in Control or within 60 days prior to a Change in Control, provided such termination is at the request of an acquirer or otherwise in anticipation of a Change in Control, Mr. Berger's severance payments will be governed by his Change in Control Agreement described below.
The Compensation Committee believes that the provisions in the Connors Employment Agreement, Whitmore Severance Agreement and Berger Severance Agreement governing termination and severance arrangements are consistent with ISG's compensation objectives to attract, motivate and retain highly talented executive officers in a competitive environment.
Change in Control Arrangements
To preserve morale and productivity and encourage retention in the face of the disruptive impact of an actual or rumored change in control, the Company entered into Change in Control Agreements with Messrs. Connors and Berger on January 7, 2011, which became effective immediately (collectively, the "Change in Control Agreements"). In addition, in connection with the hiring of Mr. Cravens, the Company entered a Change in Control Agreement with him, which became effective on January 15, 2014. The Change in Control Agreements are intended to align executive and stockholder interests by enabling each Named Executive Officer to consider corporate transactions that are in the best interests of the Company, its stockholders and other constituents without undue concern over whether the transactions may jeopardize the Named Executive Officer's own employment.
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The Change in Control Agreements provide for an initial term of two years from the effective date, but this term is automatically extended for successive one-year terms unless a notice of non-renewal is given at least one year before the then scheduled expiration of the term. These agreements provide for a lump sum severance payment as a result of a termination of employment by the Company without "Cause" or by the executive for "Good Reason" (each as defined in the applicable Change in Control Agreement) during the two-year period following a Change in Control (as defined in the applicable Change in Control Agreement), plus protection for pre-change in control terminations that occur in the 60 days prior to a Change in Control at the request of an acquirer or otherwise in anticipation of a Change in Control. The severance payment for each Named Executive Officer is equal to the sum of: (i) a lump-sum cash payment equal to a multiple of two (for Mr. Connors) or one (for Messrs. Berger and Cravens) times the sum of the Named Executive Officer's then current base salary plus the greater of the annual target bonus for the year in which notice of termination is given or the year in which the Change in Control occurs; (ii) a lump-sum cash payment of (a) any accrued but unpaid base salary, (b) any unpaid bonus for the year prior to the year of termination that would have been paid if the executive had remained employed through the determination date of such bonus, (c) a pro rata portion of the target bonus for the year of termination, and (d) any accrued vacation pay; and (iii) a cash payment equal to the cost, on an after-tax basis, of continuation coverage for medical, dental and vision plans during the applicable COBRA continuation coverage period, less the portion of such cost the Named Executive Officer would have been required to contribute had he remained employed with the Company. Based in part upon information provided by SH&P, the Compensation Committee believes that the benefits and terms under the Change in Control Agreements are appropriate.
Pursuant to the terms of the Plan, the Compensation Committee has broad discretion to determine the treatment of equity awards in the event of a Change in Control as follows: (i) if determined by the Compensation Committee and specified in the applicable award agreement or otherwise, any outstanding awards then held by participants which are unexercisable or otherwise unvested or subject to lapse and/or performance restrictions will automatically be deemed exercisable or otherwise vested or no longer subject to lapse and/or performance restrictions, as the case may be, immediately prior to such change in control and (ii) the Compensation Committee may, but will not be obligated to, (A) accelerate, vest or cause the restrictions to lapse with respect to all or any portion of an award, (B) cancel such awards for fair market value (as determined in the sole discretion of the compensation committee) which, in the case of options and stock appreciation rights, may equal the excess, if any, of value of the consideration to be paid in the change in control transaction to holders of the same number of shares subject to such options or stock appreciation rights (or, if no consideration is paid in any such transaction, the fair market value of the shares subject to such options or stock appreciation rights) over the aggregate exercise price of such options or stock appreciation rights, (C) provide for the issuance of substitute awards that will substantially preserve the otherwise applicable terms of any affected awards previously granted hereunder as determined by the compensation committee in its sole discretion or (D) provide that for a period of at least ten business days prior to the change in control, such options or stock appreciation rights will be exercisable as to all shares subject thereto and that, upon the occurrence of the change in control, such options or stock appreciation rights will terminate and be of no further force and effect.
Employment Agreements and Employment Letters
As discussed above, on December 16, 2011, Mr. Connors entered into the Connors Employment Agreement with the Company, as amended on December 10, 2013 to extend the term until December 31, 2017. The Connors Employment Agreement provides for a base salary of $700,000 per year (the Compensation Committee raised this to $780,000 in 2014) and a target bonus opportunity between 100% and 200% of base salary, and provides that Mr. Connors is eligible to receive equity grants from the Company. The other compensation provided under the Connors Employment
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Agreement is discussed above. In connection with a grant of restricted stock units in January 2011, Mr. Connors executed the Company's form of restrictive covenant agreement (the "Restrictive Covenant Agreement") requiring him not to disclose confidential information of the Company at any time, and for the period during which he is employed by the Company and the 24-month period thereafter, not to compete with us, not to interfere with our business, and not to solicit nor hire our employees or customers. The Compensation Committee believes that entering into the Connors Employment Agreement and the related commitments was advisable and appropriate in order for ISG to induce Mr. Connors to remain Chief Executive Officer and to encourage his long-term service to the Company.
Pursuant to the Berger Employment Letter, Mr. Berger receives an annual base salary of $550,000 and is eligible to receive equity grants and discretionary bonuses from the Company. In connection with a grant of restricted stock units in January 2011, Mr. Berger entered into the Restrictive Covenant Agreement with the Company. Also, pursuant to the Berger Employment Letter, Mr. Berger was required to purchase 125,000 shares of ISG common stock, which he purchased on November 12, 2009. The Compensation Committee believes that entering into the Berger Employment Letter and the related commitments was advisable and appropriate in order for ISG to induce Mr. Berger to become an executive officer and to encourage his long-term service to the Company.
Pursuant to the Cravens Employment Letter, Mr. Cravens commenced his employment with the Company on January 15, 2014 and received a base salary of $325,000, had a target bonus opportunity equal to $150,000 for 2014 and is eligible to receive equity grants from the Company. In connection with a grant of restricted stock units in February 2014, Mr. Cravens entered into the Restrictive Covenant Agreement with the Company. On December 15, 2014, the Compensation Committee approved an increase to Mr.Cravens' base salary to $340,000 from $325,000 effective as of April 1, 2015. Also, pursuant to the Cravens Employment Letter, Mr. Cravens was required to purchase up to 25,000 shares of ISG common stock. Pursuant to the Cravens Employment Letter, the Company agreed to match his purchase 1:1 with a grant of restricted stock units provided his open market purchases were completed by March 31, 2014. Mr. Cravens purchased 25,000 shares in December 2013, and on February 3, 2014, the Company granted Mr. Cravens 25,000 restricted stock units, which vested in full on February 1, 2015. In addition, on February 3, 2014, the Company granted Mr. Cravens 50,000 restricted stock units, which will vest in four equal annual installments on each of the first four anniversaries of the grant date. To assist with his transition, the Company provided a one-time transition payment of $25,000 to Mr. Cravens. The Compensation Committee believes that entering into the Cravens Employment Letter and the related commitments was advisable and appropriate in order for ISG to induce Mr. Cravens to become an executive officer and to encourage his long-term service to the Company.
Stock Ownership Guidelines
The Company has instituted stock ownership guidelines effective January 1, 2014 for all of its directors and executive officers to better align their own financial interests with the interests of the Company's stockholders. Non-employee directors are expected to hold an amount of stock equal to five times their annual cash retainer. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer is expected to hold an amount of stock equal to six times his annual base salary. The other Named Executive Officers are expected to hold an amount of stock equal to three times their annual base salary, and other key executives of the Company are expected to hold an amount of stock equal to two times their annual base salary. Directors and executive officers are required to achieve the applicable stock ownership threshold within five years of becoming subject to the guidelines. All shares and share equivalents, including unvested restricted stock, unvested restricted stock units and shares held are considered in determining compliance with this requirement. Stock options are not considered, but shares acquired upon stock option exercises count towards the satisfaction of share ownership guidelines. The
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Compensation Committee reviews compliance with the guidelines on an annual basis, and has the discretion to suspend, reevaluate and revise the guidelines from time to time. All Directors and Named Executive Officers, with the exception of one Named Executive Officer who is within the permitted phase-in period, are in compliance with the stock ownership guidelines as of March 14, 2016.
Insider Trading Policy
Our insider trading policy permits directors, Named Executive Officers and other key employees to trade our securities only during limited window periods following earnings releases and only after they have pre-cleared transactions with the Chief Financial Officer, but, in no event, while in possession of material, non-public information. The insider trading policy also prohibits directors, Named Executive Officers and other key employees from buying or selling puts, calls, options or similar derivative securities based on the value of ISG securities, including for hedging purposes.
Section 162(m) Policy
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code disallows a tax deduction to publicly-held companies for compensation paid to certain executive officers, to the extent that compensation exceeds $1 million per officer in any year. The limitation applies only to compensation which is not considered to be performance-based. The Plan authorizes the Compensation Committee to grant awards of stock options, equity awards and incentive awards denominated in cash, including annual incentives, with performance goals that can qualify for tax deductibility without limitation under Section 162(m), although some forms of awards under the Plan do not qualify as performance-based. The Compensation Committee considers the anticipated tax treatment to the Company and our executive officers when determining executive compensation and establishing our compensation programs. In this regard, the Committee intends that annual incentives payable to Named Executive Officers covered by Section 162(m), including any portion paid out as restricted stock units and restricted stock units not granted as annual incentive payouts, will qualify as performance-based compensation that remains fully deductible by ISG, but there can be no assurance that the requirements for tax deductibility are met in all cases.
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REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
The Compensation Committee has submitted the following report for inclusion in this Proxy Statement:
Our Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis contained in this Proxy Statement with management. Based on our Committee's review of and the discussions with management with respect to the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, our Committee recommended to ISG's Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.
During 2015, Mr. Gerald S. Hobbs (Chairman), Mr. Neil G. Budnick, Ms. Christine Putur, Ms. Kalpana Raina and Mr. Donald C. Waite III served as members of the Compensation Committee..
The foregoing report is provided by the following directors, who constitute the Committee:
THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE Mr. Gerald S. Hobbs (Chairman) Mr. Neil G. Budnick Ms. Christine Putur Ms. Kalpana Raina Mr. Donald C. Waite III |
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The "Summary Compensation Table" below quantifies the value of the different forms of compensation earned by or awarded to our three Named Executive Officers in 2015, 2014 and 2013. The primary elements of each Named Executive Officer's total compensation reported in the table are base salary, annual incentive awards and stock awards, as further described in the footnotes to the table identified therein.
Name and Principal Position
|
Year | Salary ($) |
Bonus ($) |
Stock Awards ($)(2) |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)(3) |
All Other Compensation ($)(4) |
Total ($) |
|||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Michael P. Connors |
2015 | $ | 780,000 | $ | | $ | 1,374,002 | $ | 156,000 | $ | 28,411 | (5) | $ | 2,338,413 | ||||||||
Chairman and Chief |
2014 | $ | 733,333 | $ | | $ | 2,129,999 | $ | 200,000 | $ | 29,941 | $ | 3,093,273 | |||||||||
Executive Officer |
2013 | $ | 700,000 | $ | 525,000 | $ | 555,000 | $ | | $ | 16,323 | $ | 1,796,323 | |||||||||
David E. Berger |
2015 |
$ |
550,000 |
$ |
|
$ |
532,001 |
$ |
63,000 |
$ |
7,950 |
$ |
1,152,951 |
|||||||||
Executive Vice President |
2014 | $ | 550,000 | $ | | $ | 395,000 | $ | 150,000 | $ | 8,312 | $ | 1,103,312 | |||||||||
and Chief Financial Officer |
2013 | $ | 550,000 | $ | 225,000 | $ | 198,500 | $ | | $ | 7,650 | $ | 981,150 | |||||||||
R. James Cravens(1) |
2015 |
$ |
336,250 |
(1) |
$ |
|
$ |
205,000 |
$ |
20,000 |
$ |
30,461 |
(5) |
$ |
591,711 |
|||||||
Executive Vice President |
2014 | $ | 312,708 | $ | | $ | 480,000 | $ | 25,000 | $ | 32,800 | $ | 850,508 | |||||||||
Chief Human Resources & Communications Officer |
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The following table summarizes each grant of an award made to the Named Executive Officers during 2015.
Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Date on which the Compensation Committee Took Action |
Estimated Future Payouts under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Award(1) |
All Other Stock Awards Number of Shares of Stock or Units |
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards(4) |
|||||||||||||||||
|
Grant Date |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Name
|
Threshold | Target | Maximum | |||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Connors |
$ | 0 | $ | 780,000 | $ | 1,560,00 | ||||||||||||||||
|
6/1/2015 | 12/15/2014 | 195,313 | (2) | $ | 750,000 | ||||||||||||||||
|
3/15/2016 | 12/15/2015 | 167,292 | (3) | $ | 624,000 | ||||||||||||||||
Mr. Berger |
$ |
0 |
$ |
350,000 |
$ |
700,000 |
||||||||||||||||
|
6/1/2015 | 12/15/2014 | 72,917 | (2) | $ | 280,000 | ||||||||||||||||
|
3/15/2016 | 12/15/2015 | 67,560 | (3) | $ | 252,000 | ||||||||||||||||
Mr. Cravens |
$ |
0 |
$ |
150,000 |
$ |
300,000 |
||||||||||||||||
|
6/1/2015 | 12/15/2014 | 32,552 | (2) | $ | 125,000 | ||||||||||||||||
|
3/15/2016 | 12/15/2015 | 21,448 | (3) | $ | 80,000 |
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OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT 2015 FISCAL YEAR-END
The following table summarizes the unvested restricted stock units outstanding as of December 31, 2015 for the Named Executive Officers.
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2015 Fiscal Year-End | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Stock Awards | |||||||||
Name
|
Date of Grant |
Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested(1) |
Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested(2) |
|||||||
Mr. Connors |
1/2/2014 | 146,341 | $ | 529,754 | ||||||
|
7/1/2014 | 116,944 | $ | 423,337 | ||||||
|
3/13/2015 | 150,649 | $ | 545,349 | ||||||
|
6/1/2015 | 195,313 | $ | 707,033 | ||||||
Mr. Berger |
7/1/2014 |
43,659 |
$ |
158,046 |
||||||
|
3/13/2015 | 29,870 | $ | 108,129 | ||||||
|
6/1/2015 | 72,917 | $ | 263,960 | ||||||
Mr. Cravens |
2/3/2014 |
37,500 |
$ |
135,750 |
||||||
|
3/13/2015 | 19,481 | $ | 70,521 | ||||||
|
6/1/2015 | 32,552 | $ | 117,838 |
The following table sets forth the actual value realized by the Named Executive Officers upon the vesting of restricted stock units in 2015.
Restricted Stock Units Vested in 2015 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Stock Awards | ||||||
Name
|
Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) |
Value Realized on Vesting ($)(1) |
|||||
Mr. Connors |
173,116 | $ | 724,716 | ||||
Mr. Berger |
48,455 | $ | 202,109 | ||||
Mr. Cravens |
37,500 | $ | 150,750 |
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POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL
Pursuant to the Connors Employment Agreement, if at December 31, 2015, ISG had terminated Mr. Connors' employment without Cause or he had terminated his employment for Good Reason, ISG would have been obligated to pay him a severance amount equal to $3,120,000. For further details, please see the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement.
Pursuant to the Berger Severance Agreement, if at December 31, 2015, ISG had terminated Mr. Berger's employment without Cause or he had terminated his employment for Good Reason, ISG would have been obligated to pay him a severance amount equal to $900,000. For further details, please see the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement.
Pursuant to the Change in Control Agreements, if at December 31, 2015, a Change in Control occurred and the employment of the Named Executive Officers was terminated without Cause or for Good Reason, ISG would have been obligated to pay Messrs. Connors, Berger and Cravens amounts equal to $3,120,000, $900,000 and $490,000, respectively (these payments would have been in lieu of severance amounts payable as described above for certain terminations not relating to a Change in Control). Such agreements provide also for a payment of pro rata annual incentive actually earned for the fiscal year. The amounts payable under the Change in Control Agreements would be subject to reduction if aggregate payments to the executive in connection with the Change in Control would trigger a golden parachute excise tax on the executive and the effect of a reduction would be to provide a greater after-tax benefit to the executive. No gross-up for golden parachute excise taxes is payable by ISG. For further details, please see the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement.
As described under "Compensation Discussion and AnalysisChange in Control Arrangements" above, pursuant to the terms of the Plan, in the event of a change in control, the Compensation Committee may accelerate the vesting of outstanding awards then held by participants.
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The compensation for ISG's non-employee directors is determined by the Board of Directors. The objectives of the compensation program are to attract and retain highly qualified directors, and to compensate them in a manner that aligns their interests with those of our stockholders. The following table presents information regarding compensation for our non-employee directors during 2015. Our non-employee directors received no other compensation for their services. Our non-employee director compensation program for 2015 consisted of an annual cash retainer of $40,000 and a grant of restricted stock units ("RSUs") with a fixed dollar value of $110,000 based on the fair market value of ISG common stock on the grant date, for service on the Board of Directors for the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2016. On December 15, 2015, 31,977 RSUs were granted to each non-employee director. The RSUs vest over a three-year period subject to accelerated vesting in the event of a change in control or the death or disability of the non-employee director.
Name
|
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) |
Stock Awards ($)(1) |
All Other Compensation ($) |
Total ($) |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Neil G. Budnick |
$ | 40,000 | $ | 110,000 | $ | | $ | 150,000 | |||||
Gerald S. Hobbs |
$ | 40,000 | $ | 110,000 | $ | | $ | 150,000 | |||||
Christine Putur |
$ | 40,000 | $ | 110,000 | $ | | $ | 150,000 | |||||
Kalpana Raina |
$ | 40,000 | $ | 110,000 | $ | | $ | 150,000 | |||||
Donald C. Waite III |
$ | 40,000 | $ | 110,000 | $ | | $ | 150,000 |
As of December 31, 2015, our non-employee directors had outstanding the following unvested restricted stock units.
Name
|
Unvested Restricted Stock Units |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
Neil G. Budnick |
62,024 | |||
Gerald S. Hobbs |
62,024 | |||
Christine Putur |
81,469 | |||
Kalpana Raina |
62,024 | |||
Donald C. Waite III |
62,024 |
Messrs. Budnick, Hobbs and Waite and Ms. Raina were each awarded 35,000 restricted stock units on December 10, 2013, which vest in three equal installments on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of December 10, 2013. Messrs. Budnick, Hobbs and Waite and Ms. Putur and Ms. Raina were each awarded 27,569 restricted stock units on December 15, 2014, which vest in three equal installments on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of December 15, 2014. As discussed above, Messrs. Budnick, Hobbs and Waite and Ms. Putur and Ms. Raina were each awarded 31,977 restricted stock units on December 17, 2015, which vest in three equal installments on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of December 17, 2015.
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of ISG common stock as of March 14, 2016 by:
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC. Except as otherwise indicated, each person or entity named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of our common stock shown as beneficially owned, subject to applicable community property laws. As of March 14, 2016, 37,393,647 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding. The number of shares reported as beneficially owned is as of March 14, 2016, unless otherwise indicated. Percentages are calculated based on the number of shares outstanding at March 14, 2016.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1)
|
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership |
Approximate Percentage of Outstanding Common Stock |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stockholders Beneficially Owning More Than 5%. |
|||||||
Chartwell Investment Partners(2) |
3,290,312 | 8.8 | % | ||||
Chevrillon & Associés(3) |
2,687,495 | 7.2 | % | ||||
Marek Gumienny(4) |
2,653,136 | 7.1 | % | ||||
Thomson Hortsmann & Bryant, Inc.(5) |
2,101,567 | 5.6 | % | ||||
Vanguard Explorer Fund(6) |
2,022,107 | 5.4 | % | ||||
Directors and Executive Officers |
|||||||
Michael P. Connors(7)(8) |
3,313,027 | 8.9 | % | ||||
David E. Berger(9) |
382,873 | 1.0 | % | ||||
R. James Cravens(10) |
68,848 | * | |||||
Neil G. Budnick(8)(11) |
157,522 | * | |||||
Gerald S. Hobbs(8)(11) |
251,966 | * | |||||
Christine Putur(8)(11) |
40,300 | * | |||||
Kalpana Raina(8)(11) |
213,522 | * | |||||
Donald C. Waite III(8)(11) |
251,966 | * | |||||
All directors and executive officers as a group (8 individuals) |
4,680,024 | 12.5 | % |
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SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, ISG's directors and executive officers, and any persons holding 10% or more of its common stock, are required to report their beneficial ownership and any changes therein to the SEC. Specific due dates for those reports have been established, and ISG is required to report herein any failure to file such reports by those due dates. Based on ISG's review of Forms 3, 4 and 5 filed by such persons and representations of directors and officers provided to ISG, it believes that during the year ended December 31, 2015, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to such persons were met in a timely manner.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND NOMINATIONS
Any stockholder desiring to submit a proposal to be presented for consideration in our 2017 Proxy Statement must submit such proposal, including proposals with respect to recommending director candidates, to us no later than the close of business on November 18, 2016. Under Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, a stockholder submitting a proposal is required to be a record or beneficial owner of at least 1% or $2,000 in market value of the common stock and to have held such stock for at least one year prior to the date of submission of the proposal, and he or she must continue to own such securities through the date on which the meeting is held.
In addition, under our Bylaws, any stockholder intending to nominate a candidate for election to the Board or to propose any business at our 2017 Annual Meeting must give timely written notice to our Chief Financial Officer at the address set forth below. A nomination or proposal for the 2017 Annual Meeting will be considered timely if it is received no earlier than November 29, 2016 and no later than January 28, 2017. If the date of the 2017 Annual Meeting is advanced by more than 30 days or is delayed by more than 70 days from April 28, 2017, then to be timely, the nomination or proposal must be received by the Company no later than the close of business on the 15th day following the day
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on which public announcement of the date of the 2017 Annual Meeting is first made. The notice of nomination or proposal must detail the information specified in the Company's Bylaws. We will not entertain any proposals or nominations at the 2017 Annual Meeting that do not meet the requirements set forth in our Bylaws. Our Bylaws have been filed with the SEC and you may obtain a copy of the Bylaws as filed with the SEC free of charge from our website at www.isg-one.com/investors. To make a submission or to request a copy of our Bylaws, stockholders should contact our Chief Financial Officer at c/o Information Services Group, Inc., Two Stamford Plaza, 281 Tresser Boulevard, Stamford CT 06901.
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At the date of this Proxy Statement, the Board of Directors knows of no other business that will be conducted at the 2016 Annual Meeting other than as described in this Proxy Statement. If any other matter or matters are properly brought before the meeting, or any adjournment or postponement of the meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy to vote the proxy on such matters in accordance with their best judgment.
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By Order of the Board of Directors, |
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March 18,
2016
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YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE VOTE TODAY. INFORMATION SERVICES GROUP, INC. 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders April 28, 2016 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time This Proxy is Solicited On Behalf Of The Board Of Directors FOLD HERE DO NOT SEPARATE INSERT IN ENVELOPE PROVIDED PROXY THE DIRECTORS RECOMMEND A VOTE FOR THE NOMINEES AND FOR ITEMS 2 AND 3. Please mark your votes like this Vote on Directors 3. Proposal to approve, in a non-binding, advisory vote, the compensation paid to the Companys named executive officers. FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN 1. To elect as Directors of Information Services Group, Inc. the nominees listed below: Note: The proxies are hereby authorized to vote in their discretion upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. Nominees FOR WITHHOLD (01) Michael P. Connors The shares represented by this proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned Stockholder(s). If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR the election of the nominees and items 2 and 3. FOR WITHHOLD (02) Christine Putur 2. Proposal to ratify the PricewaterhouseCoopers selection of LLP as the FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN Companys independent registered public accounting firm. COMPANY ID: PROXY NUMBER: ACCOUNT NUMBER: Signature Signature Date , 2016. Note: Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. When shares are held by joint owners, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, or corporate officer, please give title as such. X Please Be Sure To Mark, Sign, Date and Return Your Proxy Card in the Envelope Provided
FOLD HERE DO NOT SEPARATE INSERT IN ENVELOPE PROVIDED PROXY INFORMATION SERVICES GROUP, INC. THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS APRIL 28, 2016 The stockholder(s) hereby appoint David E. Berger and R. James Cravens, or either of them, as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, revoking any proxies previously given and hereby authorize them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side, all of the shares of Common Stock of Information Services Group, Inc. that the stockholder(s) is/are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on April 28, 2016, at the offices of the Company, Two Stamford Plaza, 281 Tresser Boulevard, Stamford, Connecticut and any adjournment or postponement thereof. The stockholder(s) hereby further authorize such proxies to vote in their discretion upon such other matters as may properly come before such Annual Meeting of Stockholders and at any adjournment or postponement thereof. THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED BY THE STOCKHOLDER(S). IF NO SUCH DIRECTIONS ARE MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES LISTED ON THE REVERSE SIDE FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND FOR PROPOSALS TWO AND THREE. PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED REPLY ENVELOPE. (Continued and to be marked, dated and signed, on the other side)