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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ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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Notice of 2014 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders
and Proxy Statement
Thursday, June 5, 2014
at 9:00 a.m., Pacific Daylight Time
3100 Ocean Park Boulevard
Santa Monica, California 90405
Dear Fellow Stockholders:
I cordially invite you to join me and Activision Blizzard, Inc.’s Board of Directors at our 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. This proxy statement contains information about the meeting and will serve as your guide to the matters on which you will be asked to vote.
Your vote is very important to us and to our business and it is important that your shares be represented at the annual meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, I encourage you to promptly vote your shares by proxy by following the instructions beginning on page 8 of the enclosed proxy statement. If you are able to attend the meeting and wish to vote in person, you may withdraw your proxy at that time.
We think that the communication, participation and input of our stockholders are essential to Activision’s continued success. This meeting is an opportunity for you to find out more about developments at the Company and, more importantly, to express your opinions and play a part in Activision’s future, regardless of the number of shares you own.
Thank you for your continued support of Activision Blizzard. I look forward to seeing you at the meeting.
Sincerely,
Robert A. Kotick
President and Chief Executive Officer
April __, 2014
[The proxy statement and our 2013 annual
report to stockholders are each available at:
http://www.cstproxyvote.com/activision/2014]
3100 Ocean Park Boulevard
Santa Monica, California 90405
Notice of 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders |
Thursday, June 5, 2014
9:00 a.m.
3200 Ocean Park Boulevard, Santa Monica, California 90405
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held at the Equity Office facilities at 3200 Ocean Park Boulevard, Santa Monica, California 90405 on Thursday, June 5, 2014, at 9:00 a.m., Pacific Daylight Time.
The purposes of this year’s annual meeting are to:
1. | elect eight directors for a one-year term; | ||
2. | request approval of a new incentive plan; | ||
3. | request approval and adoption of an amendment and restatement of the Company’s certificate of incorporation, consisting of the following subproposals: |
• | a proposal to amend provisions related to the Company’s relationship with Vivendi, S.A.; | ||
• | a proposal to amend provisions related to the ability to amend our certificate of incorporation; and | ||
• | a proposal to amend provisions related to the ability to amend our bylaws; |
4. | request advisory approval of our executive compensation; and | ||
5. | ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2014. |
The Activision Blizzard, Inc. Board of Directors has fixed April 7, 2014 as the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Jeffrey A. Brown
Corporate Secretary
April __, 2014
Proxy Summary
This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this proxy statement. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider and you should read the entire proxy statement before voting. For more complete information regarding the Company’s 2013 performance, please review the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Voting Matters and Board Recommendations
Our Board’s Recommendations
Election of Directors (page [12]) | FOR each Director Nominee | |
Approve a New Incentive Plan (page [16]) | FOR | |
Approve and Adopt Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (page [34]), including: | ||
• | Amending Provisions Related to the Company’s Relationship with Vivendi, S.A. | FOR |
• | Amending Provisions Related to the Ability to Amend our Certificate of Incorporation | FOR |
• | Amending Provisions Related to the Ability to Amend our Bylaws | FOR |
Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation (page [77]) | FOR | |
Ratify the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (page [89]) | FOR |
2013 Financial and Business Highlights
2013 was a transformational year for the Company and for our industry. The significant reduction in Vivendi’s ownership returned the Company to independence (see “2008 Combination of Activision and Vivendi Games and 2013 Vivendi Share Repurchase Transaction” below). Meanwhile, amidst the turbulence of a console transition in our industry, we still achieved strong financial performance. For example:
• | We generated GAAP revenues of $4.58 billion and non-GAAP revenues of $4.34 billion. |
• | Our non-GAAP net revenues from digital channels(1) accounted for a record 36% of our total non-GAAP net revenues. |
• | Our 2013 GAAP operating margin was 30% and our non-GAAP operating margin was 31%. |
• | We delivered GAAP and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $0.95 and $0.94, respectively. |
• | We generated operating cash flow of over $1.26 billion. |
• | For 2013, we delivered total shareholder return (i.e., TSR) (through stock price appreciation and dividend payments) of over 70% and significantly outperformed the NASDAQ Composite for the same time period (which, inclusive of dividend reinvestment, was 40%). |
Our financial performance was driven by our operational execution during 2013, including(2):
• | In North America and Europe combined, Activision Publishing was the #1 console and handheld publisher for the calendar year with the #2 and #3 best-selling franchises—Call of Duty® and Skylanders®, including toys and accessories. |
• | In North America and Europe combined, including toys and accessories, Activision Publishing had four of the top 10 titles overall. |
• | For the fourth quarter, in aggregate across all platforms in the U.S. and Europe combined, Activision Publishing’s Call of Duty: Ghosts™ was the #1 best-selling title in both units and dollars and the #1 best-selling game on the next generation PS4 and Xbox One console platforms in both units and dollars. Additionally, for the calendar year, Call of Duty: Black Ops II was the #9 best-selling title in both units and dollars. |
• | In North America and Europe combined, Skylanders Giants™, including toys and accessories, was the #4 best-selling handheld and console game in dollars overall and Skylanders SWAP Force™, including toys and accessories, was the #6 best-selling handheld and console game in dollars overall. |
• | As of December 31, 2013, the Skylanders franchise had generated, life to date, more than $2 billion in worldwide retail sales, including toys and accessories, and Activision had sold approximately 175 million Skylanders toys worldwide. |
• | In North America, Blizzard Entertainment’s StarCraft® II: Heart of the Swarm® was the #1 best-selling PC game. |
• | As of December 31, 2013, Blizzard Entertainment’s World of Warcraft® remained the #1 subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game (i.e., MMORPG) in the world, with approximately 7.8 million subscribers(3). |
This exceptional performance is a direct result of the focused and disciplined approach followed by our top leadership prior to and during 2013, including continued investment in our established franchises, like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft, selectively introducing new concepts, like Skylanders and Hearthstone™, and managing our costs prudently.
(1) | Net revenues from digital online channels represents revenues from subscriptions and memberships, licensing royalties, value-added services, downloadable content, digitally distributed products and wireless devices. |
(2) | According to The NPD Group, with respect to North America, GfK Chart-Track, with respect to Europe, and Activision Blizzard internal estimates, as the case may be. |
(3) | World of Warcraft subscribers include individuals who have paid a subscription fee or have an active prepaid card to play World of Warcraft, as well as those who have purchased the game and are within their free month of access. Internet Game Room players who have accessed the game over the last thirty days are also counted as subscribers. The above definition excludes all players under free promotional subscriptions, expired or cancelled subscriptions, and expired prepaid cards. Subscribers in licensees’ territories are defined along the same rules. |
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 5
2008 Combination of Activision and Vivendi Games and 2013 Vivendi Share Repurchase Transaction
On July 9, 2008, a business combination (the “Combination”) by and among Activision, Inc., Sego Merger Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision, Inc., Vivendi S.A. (“Vivendi”), VGAC LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vivendi (“VGAC”), and Vivendi Games, Inc. (“Vivendi Games”), a wholly owned subsidiary of VGAC, was consummated.
On October 11, 2013, we repurchased approximately 429 million shares of our Common Stock, pursuant to a stock purchase agreement (the “Vivendi Share Purchase Agreement”) we entered into on July 25, 2013, with Vivendi and ASAC II LP (“ASAC”), an exempted limited partnership established under the laws of the Cayman Islands, acting by its general partner, ASAC II LLC. Pursuant to the terms of the Vivendi Share Purchase Agreement, we acquired all of the capital stock of Amber Holding Subsidiary Co., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Vivendi (“New VH”), which was the direct owner of approximately 429 million shares of our Common Stock, for a cash payment of $5.83 billion, or $13.60 per share, before taking into account the benefit to the Company of certain tax attributes of New VH assumed in the transaction (collectively, the “Vivendi Share Repurchase Transaction”).
Pursuant to the Vivendi Share Purchase Agreement, on October 11, 2013, immediately following the completion of the Vivendi Share Repurchase Transaction, ASAC, acting by its general partner, ASAC II LLC, purchased 172 million shares of our Common Stock from Vivendi for a cash payment of $2.34 billion (the “ASAC Private Sale”).
As a consequence, we ceased to be a controlled company and, as of April 7, 2014, we had ___ million shares of our common stock issued and outstanding, of which (1) the public held approximately ___%, (2) Vivendi held ___ million shares, or approximately ___%, and (3) ASAC held ___ million shares, or approximately ___%.
As a result of the consummation of the transactions described in the Vivendi Share Purchase Agreement, we are seeking your approval and adoption of an amendment and restatement of our Certificate of Incorporation, as well as seeking your approval of a new incentive plan for our employees.
Director Nominees
The following table sets forth the name, age and principal occupation of each of the nominees.
Name of Nominee | Age | Principal Occupation | Director Since |
Robert J. Corti | 64 | Chairman of the Avon Foundation | 2003 |
Brian G. Kelly | 51 | Chairman of the Board of Activision Blizzard | 1995 |
Robert A. Kotick | 51 | President and Chief Executive Officer of Activision Blizzard | 1991 |
Barry Meyer | 70 | Former Chairman and CEO of Warner Brothers Entertainment | 2014 |
Robert J. Morgado | 71 | Former Chairman and CEO of Warner Music Group | 1997 |
Peter Nolan | 55 | Managing Partner of Leonard Green & Partners | 2013 |
Richard Sarnoff | 55 | Senior Advisor to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. | 2005 |
Elaine Wynn | 72 | Director of Wynn Resorts | 2013 |
Executive Compensation Highlights
Our employees are our most valuable asset. Our industry is intensely competitive and constantly evolving. Our executives and many of our highly skilled employees are often sought after by our competitors, both established and new. As such, it is necessary for us to offer highly competitive total compensation, including equity awards, to attract, retain and motivate our employees.
Our compensation philosophy, including our use of equity awards, has allowed us to recruit, retain and motivate the best talent in our industry, as evidenced by our performance. We aim to incentivize our executives to drive corporate financial performance by basing a significant portion of their compensation on achieving financial and individual strategic targets. Our executive compensation program, designed to be consistent with that philosophy, has three primary components: (1) base salary; (2) annual cash incentives; and (3) equity awards, including stock options and time- and performance-based vesting restricted share units.
Consistent with the foregoing:
• | In order to secure long-term commitments from our executives in support of our multi-year business growth strategy, we offer our executives employment agreements which provide one-time, “upfront” long-term incentive awards with target values based upon the term of the agreements. Our named executive officers do not generally receive annual grants of equity, although Mr. Morhaime’s employment agreement provides for annual equity grants, consistent with the equity plan in which he participated at Vivendi Games prior to the Combination. Our practice of using upfront grants in lieu of annual awards may result in the equity-based compensation and, as such, the total compensation reported for each executive to differ significantly from year to year, depending on whether he or she entered into an employment agreement (or amendment thereof), and therefore received an equity award, in a given year. |
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 6
The Company views the value of these upfront equity grants on an annualized basis over the life of the employment agreement when evaluating an executive’s total compensation.
• | For our executives, we generally target total compensation at the 75th percentile of our peer group. | |
• | From time to time, our executives may receive special bonuses for extraordinary contributions to the Company. |
The following table sets forth certain summarized 2013 compensation information for the named executives. For the complete Summary Compensation Table, including the notes which accompany it along with compensation for prior years, please see page [56].
Non-Equity | ||||||||||||||
Stock | Option | Incentive Plan | All Other | |||||||||||
Salary | Bonus | Awards | Awards | Compensation | Compensation | Total | ||||||||
Name and Principal Position | ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | |||||||
Robert A. Kotick | 2,108,077 | — | — | — | 7,849,190 | 88,169 | 10,045,436 | |||||||
President and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||||||||
Dennis Durkin | 679,625 | 627,353 | — | — | 765,008 | 30,540 | 2,102,526 | |||||||
Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||||||||
Thomas Tippl | 1,001,258 | 627,353 | — | — | 1,325,400 | 87,220 | 3,041,231 | |||||||
Chief Operating Officer | ||||||||||||||
Michael Morhaime | 861,076 | 319,449 | 1,240,400 | 1,014,666 | 2,065,678 | 61,794 | 5,563,063 | |||||||
President and Chief Executive Officer, | ||||||||||||||
Blizzard Entertainment | ||||||||||||||
Chris B. Walther | 610,832 | 627,353 | 3,546,000 | — | 493,259 | 16,416 | 5,293,860 | |||||||
Chief Legal Officer |
Corporate Governance Highlights
The Company is committed to adopting and following good corporate governance practices that benefit all of our stakeholders. We believe that a foundation of good corporate governance creates an environment of accountability for our Board and senior management and otherwise promotes the long-term interests of our stakeholders. Our Board continues to monitor emerging best practices in governance and adopts measures where it determines them to be in the best interests of our stakeholders. Highlights of our corporate governance include:
• | We elect all directors on an annual basis |
• | 75% of our Board members are independent |
• | All of our standing Board committees are composed entirely of independent directors |
• | We have a separate chairman and CEO |
• | Our independent directors meet in executive session at least four times a year |
• | We maintain director and executive stock ownership guidelines |
• | We prohibit hedging of company stock by our employees and directors |
• | Our Board actively participates in CEO succession planning |
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 7
PROXY STATEMENT
Purpose of this Proxy Statement
This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Activision Blizzard, Inc., a Delaware corporation, of proxies from holders of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.000001 per share (“Common Stock”) of Activision Blizzard, Inc. The proxies being solicited will be used at the annual meeting of our stockholders to be held on Thursday, June 5, 2014, at the Equity Office facilities at 3200 Ocean Park Boulevard, Santa Monica, California 90405, at 9:00 a.m., Pacific Daylight Time, and at any adjournment or postponement of the meeting (the “Annual Meeting”).
Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials
We will be mailing a notice regarding the Internet availability of these proxy materials (containing instructions on how to access the proxy materials and vote shares through the Internet) to stockholders on or about April ___, 2014.
Other General Information
All financial metrics used in this proxy statement are not presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (i.e., are non-GAAP), unless explicitly identified as GAAP (i.e., presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles). For information on the calculation and reconciliation of GAAP measures to non-GAAP measures, please see Appendix A attached to this proxy statement. Internally, management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing our operating results, as well as in planning and forecasting. In particular, the measures facilitate comparison of operating performance between periods and help investors to better understand the operating results of Activision Blizzard by excluding certain items that may not be indicative of the Company’s core business, operating results or future outlook. As such, the performance of our executive officers is generally measured by reference to non-GAAP financial measures. Further, management believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures provides investors with additional useful information to measure Activision Blizzard's financial and operating performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are not intended to be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or as more important than, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. In addition, these non-GAAP measures have limitations in that they do not reflect all of the items associated with the Company’s results of operations as determined in accordance with GAAP. In the future, Activision Blizzard may also consider whether other significant non-recurring items should also be excluded in calculating the non-GAAP financial measures used by the Company.
All references in this proxy statement to “the Company”, “we”, “us”, “our”, and “Activision Blizzard” refer to Activision Blizzard, Inc.
Who may vote at the Annual Meeting?
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 7, 2014, are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. There were ___ shares of our Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote on the record date.
A list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be available for examination by any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the Annual Meeting, at the Annual Meeting and during ordinary business hours at our offices at 3100 Ocean Park Blvd., Santa Monica, California 90405 for the 10 days prior to the Annual Meeting.
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 8
How many votes may I cast?
Each such share of our Common Stock is entitled to one vote on each matter presented for action at the Annual Meeting.
How many votes must be present in order for business to be conducted?
In order for business to be conducted at the Annual Meeting, a quorum must be present. A majority of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock entitled to vote at the meeting must be present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting in order for a quorum to be present.
Proxies representing abstentions and “broker non-votes” will be included for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting. A “broker non-vote” occurs when a broker, bank or other nominee who holds shares for a beneficial owner to be represented at a meeting does not vote on a particular proposal because the broker, bank or other nominee does not have discretionary voting power with respect to that item and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner.
In what manner can I cast my vote with respect to each proposal?
In the election of directors (proposal 1), you can vote “for” or “against”, or “abstain” from voting with respect to, each nominee. Similarly, you may vote “for” or “against”, or “abstain” from voting with respect to, the approval of a new incentive plan (proposal 2), the approval of each of the subproposals relating to the amendment and restatement of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (i.e., subproposals 3A, 3B and 3C), the advisory approval of the Company’s executive compensation, as disclosed in this proxy statement (proposal 4) and the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2014 (proposal 5).
How many votes are required to approve each proposal?
Election of any nominee as a director (proposal 1) and the approval of proposals 2, 4 and 5 each require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Accordingly, shares not present and broker non-votes will not have any effect on the voting outcome with respect to the election of directors or proposals 2, 4 or 5. Shares present but not voted for any such proposal (either because of an express abstention or because the vote is otherwise not cast) will have the same effect as a vote “against” a director nominee or the relevant proposal, as applicable.
Approval of each of subproposals 3A, 3B and 3C requires the affirmative vote of the holders of: (1) at least 66⅔% of a majority of the shares entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting; and (2) a majority of the shares entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting not held by Vivendi or its affiliates. As such, shares not present, broker non-votes and shares present but not voted for subproposal 3A, 3B or 3C (either because of an express abstention or because the vote is otherwise not cast) will have the same effect as a vote “against” the subproposal. Further, because we consider all of the proposed revisions to our Certificate of Incorporation to be interrelated, the approval of each of these subproposals is conditioned on the approval of all three subproposals. Please see “Proposal 3—Approval of the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Activision Blizzard, Inc.” below for more information.
How can I vote?
Stockholders at the close of business on April 7, 2014, can vote at the Annual Meeting in person or via proxy in the manner described herein. Stockholders who hold shares in “street name” through a broker, bank or other nominee will receive separate instructions from their broker, bank or other nominee, describing the procedure for voting their shares.
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 9
How do I vote in person at the Annual Meeting?
Stockholders who wish to vote in person at the Annual Meeting must request a ballot at the meeting. Street-name holders who wish to vote in person at the Annual Meeting will need to obtain a proxy from the broker, bank or other nominee that is the record holder of their shares in order to cast a ballot at the meeting.
What does it mean to vote by proxy? Who represents my shares at the Annual Meeting?
A vote via proxy authorizes Robert A. Kotick (our chief executive officer), Thomas Tippl (our chief operating officer) and Dennis Durkin (our chief financial officer), and each of them, with full power of substitution, to vote and otherwise represents all of the shares that you are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, in accordance with your instructions, with the same effect as if you were present at the meeting and voting such shares.
How do I vote by proxy?
Stockholders of record may vote by proxy in three ways:
• | Vote by Internet. Record holders can vote online prior to 4:00 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time, on June 4, 2014. Go to www.cstproxyvote.com, which is available 24 hours a day until the deadline. You will need your “company ID”, “proxy number” and “account number”, all of which appear on the notice of internet availability of proxy materials or proxy card you received. |
• | Vote by Telephone. Record holders can vote by phone prior to 4:00 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time, on June 4, 2014. Call (866) 894-0537, which is available 24 hours a day until the deadline. You will need your “company ID”, “proxy number” and “account number”, all of which appear on the notice of internet availability of proxy materials or proxy card you received. |
• | Vote by Mail. Record holders can vote by mail if they received a printed copy of the proxy card. Complete and return that proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. If you are a stockholder of record and you choose to vote by mail, your vote will be counted so long as it is received prior to the closing of the polls at the meeting, but we urge you to complete, sign, date and return the proxy card as soon as possible. |
You need only vote in one way (so that, if you vote by internet or telephone, you need not return the proxy card).
What if I vote by proxy but do not provide specific instructions by some or all of the items?
The shares of our Common Stock represented by all valid proxies we receive prior to the Annual Meeting that are not properly revoked prior to being voted at the Annual Meeting will be voted at the Annual Meeting as directed. If no directions are specified, those proxies will be voted FOR each of the eight director nominees named in this proxy statement (proposal 1), FOR the approval of a new incentive plan (proposal 2), FOR each of the subproposals relating to the approval and adoption of the amendment and restatement of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (i.e., subproposals 3A, 3B and 3C), FOR the advisory approval of the Company’s executive compensation, as disclosed in this proxy statement (proposal 4), and FOR the ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2014 (proposal 5).
If I have voted by proxy, can I change my vote?
Any stockholder of record may revoke or change that stockholder’s proxy at any time before the proxy is voted at the Annual Meeting by (1) sending a written notice of revocation of the proxy to our Corporate Secretary at Activision Blizzard, Inc., 3100 Ocean Park Blvd., Santa Monica, California 90405, (2) properly delivering a subsequently dated proxy, or (3) voting in person at the Annual Meeting.
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 10
What if I hold my shares through a broker?
If you are a street name stockholder, your broker, bank or other nominee will send you separate instructions describing the procedure for voting your shares. That nominee, as the record holder of the shares, is required to vote those shares in accordance with your instructions.
Can my broker vote without my instructions?
If you do not give instructions to the broker, bank or other nominee, the broker will be entitled to vote your shares with respect to “discretionary” items, but will not be permitted to vote your shares with respect to “non-discretionary” items, resulting in a “broker non-vote” with respect to those items (and, as such, those shares will not count as present or represented at the meeting for those items). The election of directors (proposal 1), the approval of a new incentive plan (proposal 2), the approval of each of the subproposals relating to the amendment and restatement of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (i.e., subproposals 3A, 3B and 3C) and the advisory approval of the Company’s executive compensation (proposal 4) are each non-discretionary items. Only the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered accounting firm for 2014 (proposal 5) is a proposal with respect to which your broker or nominee has discretionary authority to vote your shares in the absence of any instructions from you.
What do I need to do if I want to attend the Annual Meeting?
You should be prepared to present a valid form of photo identification, such as a driver’s license, state-issued ID card or passport, to gain admittance to the Annual Meeting. In addition, if you are a stockholder of record, your ownership as of the record date must be verified by reference to our records prior to admittance into the Annual Meeting. If you hold shares in street name through a broker, bank or other nominee, you must provide proof of beneficial ownership as of the record date, such as a brokerage account statement or similar evidence of ownership. If you do not provide valid photo identification and otherwise comply with the procedures outlined above, you may not be admitted to the Annual Meeting. Directions to the Annual Meeting can be obtained by contacting our Investor Relations department by calling (310) 255-2000 or by emailing ir@activision.com.
Will I have dissenters’ rights in connection with the business being considered?
Stockholders have no dissenters’ rights or rights of appraisal under Delaware law, our Certificate of Incorporation, or our Bylaws in connection with the election of directors (proposal 1), proposals 2, 4 or 5 or subproposals 3A, 3B or 3C.
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 11
PROPOSAL 1 | ELECTION OF DIRECTORS |
General
Stockholders will elect eight directors at the Annual Meeting. Those elected will serve one-year terms and until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified or until the earlier of their death, resignation or removal. Except where otherwise instructed, proxies solicited by this proxy statement will be voted for the election of each nominee. However, if any nominee becomes unable to stand for election as a director at the Annual Meeting, the proxy may be voted for a substitute designated in accordance with our Bylaws.
Director Nominees
In order to have a knowledgeable Board comprised of individuals with distinguished records of leadership and success, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has established criteria and assessed each director nominee’s capabilities to identify the contributions he or she can make to our Board. As a company with a global customer base in the entertainment software industry, we consider leadership abilities gained from senior roles as executive officers or board members of large, global corporations in the entertainment field to be particularly relevant to the business of the Company and believe that our directors bring to our Board the practical wisdom and strong professional characteristics, judgment and leadership abilities to keep our Company performing competitively in the market. For the qualifications we require our directors (and director nominees) to have, see “Corporate Governance Matters—Board of Directors and Committees—Experience, Skills and other Characteristics of our Director Candidates” below.
The following are biographical summaries of our director nominees, which describe their noteworthy experience. Also described below are certain of the individual qualifications and skills of each of our directors that we believe contribute to our Board’s effectiveness and success. For information regarding each nominee’s current Board committee membership, see “Corporate Governance Matters—Board of Directors and Committees—Board Committees” below.
Robert J. Corti
Chairman of the Avon
Foundation
Director since 2003
Age 64
Mr. Corti has been a director of Activision Blizzard since December 2003 and serves as the chairperson of our Audit Committee. Mr. Corti has more than 25 years of experience at Avon Products, a global manufacturer and marketer of beauty and related products. Mr. Corti joined Avon Products’ tax department as a tax associate in 1976 and held positions of increasing responsibility in the company’s finance department throughout his tenure there, including serving as an executive vice president and the chief financial officer of Avon Products from 1998 until he retired from the chief financial officer role in November 2005 and as an executive vice president in March 2006. Mr. Corti has served on the board of directors of Bacardi Limited, a wine and spirits group, since June 2006. In addition, Mr. Corti has served as a member of the board of directors of the Avon Foundation since 1998 and its chairman since 2006 and as a member of the Manhattan Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation since January 2012, where he serves as the vice president of the board. In addition, he was a director of ING Direct, then a U.S. subsidiary of the Dutch insurance conglomerate, the ING Groep, from January 2008 until January 2012. Mr. Corti holds a B.A. degree in accounting from Queens College and an M.B.A. degree in taxation from St. John’s University. Mr. Corti is also a certified public accountant.
Mr. Corti’s qualifications for election to our Board include his financial expertise, in particular his wealth of accounting and tax experience, gleaned in part from his long tenure in Avon’s finance department. Having served Avon for more than 25 years and worked his way up to increasingly senior roles within that organization, Mr. Corti offers the unique perspective of having helped to guide a large public company with international operations through the changing economic and competitive landscape for over two and a half decades. From his tenure at Avon, Mr. Corti also brings experience in the consumer products industry. Mr. Corti qualifies as an audit committee financial expert (as defined in the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)) and is financially sophisticated within the meaning of the NASDAQ Rules.
Brian G. Kelly
Chairman of the Board of Activision
Blizzard
Director since 1995
Age 51
Mr. Kelly has held various positions of responsibility with Activision Blizzard since 1991, including serving as a director of the Company since July 1995, the co-chairman of our Board from October 1998 until the consummation of the Vivendi Share Repurchase Transaction, and as chairman of our Board since that time. Mr. Kelly holds a B.A. degree in accounting from Rutgers University and a J.D. degree from Fordham University School of Law.
Mr. Kelly’s qualifications for election to our Board include the depth of institutional knowledge and understanding of our organization he possesses by virtue of his service as an executive of the Company from 1991 until the Combination and as a director for more than 18 years. During that time, he has demonstrated his superior leadership skills, his devotion to the Company and his commitment to helping to ensure our ongoing success.
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 12
Robert A. Kotick
President and Chief Executive Officer
of Activision Blizzard
Director since 1991
Age 51
Mr. Kotick has been a director of Activision Blizzard since February 1991, following his purchase of a significant interest in the company, which was then on the verge of insolvency. Mr. Kotick was our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from February 1991 until July 2008, when he became our President and Chief Executive Officer in connection with the Combination. Mr. Kotick is also a member of the board of directors of The Coca-Cola Company, a multinational beverage corporation, and the boards of trustees for The Center for Early Education and the Harvard Westlake School. He is also vice chairman of the board and chairman of the committee of trustees of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. In addition, Mr. Kotick is the founder and co-chairman of the Call of Duty Endowment, a nonprofit, public benefit corporation that seeks to help organizations that provide job placement and training services for veterans. Additionally, he served on the board of directors of Yahoo!, Inc., an Internet content and service provider, from 2003 until 2008.
Mr. Kotick’s qualifications for election to our Board include the depth of institutional knowledge and understanding of our organization, as well as the practical experience in a chief executive officer role, that he possesses by virtue of his two decades of service to the Company, including as our President, our Chief Executive Officer and chairman of our Board. Mr. Kotick also brings to the Company his perspective as a board member at a variety of other organizations and his experience in helping those organizations achieve their diverse goals and overcome a wide range of challenges through changing economic and social times.
Barry Meyer
Former Chairman and CEO of Warner Brothers
Entertainment
Director Since 2014
Age 70
Mr. Meyer joined our Board in January 2014. At the end of 2013, Mr. Meyer retired as the chairman of Warner Brothers Entertainment Inc., an American producer of film, television, and music entertainment. He joined Warner Brothers as a director of business affairs in 1971 and held positions of increasing responsibility throughout his tenure there, eventually serving as Warner Brothers’ chief executive officer and chairman from October 1999 until March 2013 and as chairman through December 2013. Mr. Meyer co-founded the consulting firm North Ten Mile Associates, LLC following his retirement from Warner Brothers, and currently serves as the manager and co-chief executive officer of that firm. Mr. Meyer is a member of the board of councilors of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, a member of the board of directors of the Paley Center, a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, a member and former governor of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and a member and former director of the Hollywood Radio and Television Society. He also serves on the board of directors of Human Rights Watch and on the advisory board of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Mr. Meyer holds a B.A. degree in English from the University of Rochester and a J.D. degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
Mr. Meyer’s qualifications for election to our Board include over 40 years of leadership and managerial experience in one of the largest entertainment production companies in the world, including serving as its chief executive officer. Mr. Meyer possesses in-depth knowledge of both the business and creative aspects of the entertainment industry, both from his years at Warner Brothers and the leadership positions he held in various cultural institutions dedicated to visual and cinematic arts. Mr. Meyer brings with him a wealth of experience in nearly every facet of the entertainment industry, as well as a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by large, multinational public companies.
Robert J. Morgado
Former Chairman and CEO of Warner Music
Group
Director Since 1997
Age 71
Mr. Morgado has been a director of Activision Blizzard since February 1997. Mr. Morgado is chairman of Maroley Media Group, a media entertainment investment company he established in 1995. He previously served as the chairman and the chief executive officer of Warner Music Group, a music content company comprised of recorded music and music publishing businesses, from 1985 to 1995. Mr. Morgado serves on the board of directors of the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. He is also a member of the board of managers of Nest Top, the controlling shareholder of Nest Family and Nest Learning Systems, a children’s entertainment company, and Kaanapali Kai, a real estate investment company, where he serves as its chairman. Mr. Morgado holds a B.A. degree in history and philosophy from Chaminade University of Honolulu and an M.P.A. degree from The State University of New York.
Mr. Morgado’s qualifications for election to our Board include his extensive experience as a chief executive officer and a director at a variety of media and entertainment companies and his perspective as the creator and chairman of a media entertainment investment company. Mr. Morgado qualifies as financially literate within the meaning of the NASDAQ Rules.
Peter Nolan
Managing Partner of Leonard Green &
Partners
Director Since 2013
Age 55
Mr. Nolan became a director of Activision Blizzard in October 2013. Mr. Nolan is the managing partner of Leonard Green & Partners, L.P., a private equity firm and one of the limited partners of ASAC. Prior to becoming a partner at Leonard Green & Partners in 1997, Mr. Nolan served as a managing director and the co-head of Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette’s Los Angeles Investment Banking Division from 1990 to 1997, as a first vice president in corporate finance at Drexel Burnham Lambert from 1986 to 1990, and as a vice president at Prudential Securities, Inc. from 1982 to 1986. Prior to 1982, Mr. Nolan was an associate at Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company. Mr. Nolan currently serves on the board of directors of AerSale Holdings, Inc., Aspen Dental Management, Inc., Motorsport Aftermarket Group, The Palms Hotel and Casino, and Scitor Corporation, all of which are companies in which Leonard Green & Partners has an ownership interest. Mr. Nolan served on the Company’s Board from December 2003 until July 2008, when he resigned in connection with the consummation of the Combination. Mr. Nolan holds a B.S. degree in agricultural economics and finance and an M.B.A. degree, both from Cornell University.
Mr. Nolan’s qualifications for election to our Board include his extensive experience in corporate finance and investment banking, including leadership roles at large international corporations with worldwide operations. His extensive and wide-ranging experience is demonstrated by his current directorships in five other companies operating in various industries. Mr. Nolan also brings with him a depth of institutional knowledge about the Company from his service on our Board from 2003 to 2008.
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 13
Richard Sarnoff
Senior Advisor to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
Director Since 2005
Age 54
Mr. Sarnoff has been a director of Activision Blizzard since August 2005. He has served as a senior advisor to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., a private equity firm, since January 2011. Previously, he was employed by Bertelsmann AG, a diversified media and services company, where he served as the co-chairman of Bertelsmann, Inc. and the president of Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments from 2008 until January 2011. Prior to those roles, Mr. Sarnoff served as an executive vice president and the chief financial officer of Random House, Inc., a general trade book publisher and a subsidiary of Bertelsmann. Mr. Sarnoff also served as a member of the supervisory board of Bertelsmann AG from 2002 to 2008 and was a director of the Princeton Review, an educational preparation company, from 2000 to 2009, a director of Audible, Inc., a provider of spoken audio entertainment, information and educational programming, from 2001 to 2008, and a director of Amdocs, Inc., a provider of software and services to the telecommunications industry, from 2009 to 2011. During the period from 2005 to 2009, he was also the vice-chairman and, then, the chairman of the board of the American Association of Publishers. Mr. Sarnoff currently serves on the board of directors of Ipreo Holdings, LLC, an information services company owned by KKR, Weld North, LLC, an investment affiliate of KKR, and Chegg, Inc., an educational services company. Mr. Sarnoff holds a B.A. degree in art history from Princeton University and an M.B.A. degree from Harvard Business School.
Mr. Sarnoff’s qualifications for election to our Board include his experience serving as a chief financial officer and in a variety of other senior leadership roles both inside and outside of the media, entertainment and digital technology industries. He also brings to the Company strong leadership skills and business acumen, gained in part through his years of service on the boards of large, international public companies competing in diverse markets. Mr. Sarnoff qualifies as financially literate within the meaning of the NASDAQ Rules.
Elaine Wynn
Director of Wynn Resorts
Director Since
2013
Age 72
Ms. Wynn became a director of Activision Blizzard in October 2013. Ms. Wynn is a director of Wynn Resorts, a developer and operator of high-end hotels and casinos, and has served in that capacity since 2000. Prior to her current position, Ms. Wynn served in a similar capacity as director of Mirage Resorts from 1976 to 2000. Ms. Wynn is the co-chair of the Greater Las Vegas After-School All Stars, the founding chairman of Communities in Schools of Nevada and the chairman of the national board of Communities in Schools. In addition, Ms. Wynn is president of the Nevada State Board of Education. She is also on the board of trustees of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the board of trustees of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the board of the Library of Congress Trust Fund and the board of governors of the Basketball Hall of Fame. Ms. Wynn holds a B.A. in political science from George Washington University.
Ms. Wynn’s qualifications for election to our Board include her extensive experience in the entertainment field, stemming from her fourteen-year service as director of one of the top resort and casino companies in the world. Ms. Wynn also possesses strong leadership skills, illustrated by her numerous chairmanships in state and national-level organizations dedicated to educational reform, where she received numerous accolades for her service. Ms. Wynn’s strong and practical leadership experience, as well as her in-depth knowledge about the operation of a large, international public company, demonstrates her aptitude for serving as director of the Company.
Required Vote and Board Recommendation
Each director is elected by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
Mr. Kotick, our chief executive officer, and Mr. Kelly, the chairman of our board, may direct the voting of the shares held by ASAC II LP (i.e., ASAC), an exempted limited partnership established under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and acting by ASAC II LLC, its general partner. Messrs. Kotick and Kelly may also direct the voting of shares they beneficially own at their discretion, except they have agreed to vote any such shares which, when aggregated with ASAC’s shares, represent shares of our Common Stock in excess of 24.9% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock either in a manner proportionally consistent with the vote of the shares of Common Stock not owned by them or ASAC or in accordance with the recommendation, if any, of a majority of the members of our Board not affiliated with ASAC. As of April 7, 2014, ASAC and Messrs. Kotick and Kelly collectively held shares representing ___% of our issued and outstanding Common Stock. Messrs. Kotick and Kelly are expected to vote the shares over which they have discretion FOR the election of each of the director nominees. Moreover, the shares over which they do not have discretion are also expected to be voted FOR the election of each of the director nominees based on the unanimous recommendation of the independent directors. For more information see “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Relationships and Transactions with ASAC—ASAC Stockholders Agreement” below.
Similarly, at the Annual Meeting, Vivendi has agreed to vote any shares it holds which represent shares of our Common Stock in excess of 9.9% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock either in a manner proportionally consistent with the vote of the shares of Common Stock not owned by Vivendi or in accordance with the recommendation, if any, of a majority of the directors who are “independent” under the NASDAQ Rules and who are otherwise not ineligible nominees within the meaning of our amended and restated investor agreement with Vivendi. Vivendi may otherwise direct the voting of its shares at its discretion. For more information see “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Relationships and Transactions with Vivendi and its Affiliates—Amended and Restated Investor Agreement” below. As of April 7, 2014, Vivendi held shares representing ___% of our issued and outstanding Common Stock.
The Board unanimously recommends that you vote FOR the election of each nominee for director. |
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 14
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The following table sets forth information, as of December 31, 2013, with respect to shares of our Common Stock that may be issued under our existing equity compensation plans.
Plan Category | Number of shares of Common Stock to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights(1) (#) | Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights(2) ($) | Number of shares of Common Stock remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (#) | |||||||||
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders: | ||||||||||||
Activision, Inc. 2001 Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2001 Plan”) | 166,050 | 8.84 | — | (3) | ||||||||
Activision, Inc. 2003 Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2003 Plan”) | 4,139,434 | 8.00 | — | (3) | ||||||||
Activision, Inc. 2007 Incentive Plan (the “2007 Plan”) | 11,606,853 | 14.76 | — | (3) | ||||||||
Activision Blizzard, Inc. 2008 Incentive Plan, as amended and restated (the “2008 Plan”)(4) | 44,930,284 | 12.53 | 34,371,598 | (5) | ||||||||
All stockholder approved plans | 60,842,621 | 12.70 | 34,371,598 | |||||||||
Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders: | ||||||||||||
Activision, Inc. 1999 Incentive Plan, as amended (the “1999 Plan”)(6) | 54,444 | 6.81 | — | (3) | ||||||||
Activision, Inc. 2002 Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2002 Plan”)(7) | 374,410 | 6.26 | — | (3) | ||||||||
All non-stockholder approved plans | 428,854 | 6.33 | — | |||||||||
TOTAL | 61,271,475 | 12.63 | 34,371,598 |
(1) | Reflects options to purchase shares of our Common Stock and, in the case of the 2008 Plan, 17,451,318 restricted share units and 5,019,089 performance shares, each reflecting the right to receive a share of our Common Stock. |
(2) | As there is no exercise price for restricted share units or performance shares, the values in this column represent the weighted average exercise price of any outstanding stock options under the relevant plan. |
(3) | Upon adoption of the 2008 Plan, pursuant to the terms thereof, we ceased making awards under each of the following plans (collectively referred to herein as the “Rolled Up Plans”), although each of the Rolled Up Plans remains in effect and continues to govern outstanding awards thereunder: the 2001 Plan; the 2003 Plan; the 2007 Plan; the 1999 Plan; and the 2002 Plan. |
(4) | The 2008 Plan permits the granting of non-qualified stock options, incentive stock options (“ISO”s), stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), restricted shares, restricted share units, performance shares, performance units and any other equity-based awards to our and any of our subsidiaries’ directors, officers and other employees and consultants. |
(5) | The number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2008 Plan may be increased from time to time by: (X) the number of shares relating to awards outstanding under any Rolled Up Plan that: (a) expire, or are forfeited, terminated or canceled, without the issuance of shares; (b) are settled in cash in lieu of shares; or (c) are exchanged, prior to the issuance of shares of our Common Stock, for awards not involving our Common Stock; and (Y) if the exercise price of any stock option outstanding under any Rolled Up Plan is, or the tax withholding requirements with respect to any award outstanding under any Rolled Up Plan are, satisfied by withholding shares otherwise then deliverable in respect of the award or the actual or constructive transfer to the Company of shares already owned, the number of shares equal to the withheld or transferred shares. |
(6) | On April 26, 1999, our Board approved the 1999 Plan. The 1999 Plan permitted the granting of non-qualified stock options, ISOs, SARs, restricted stock awards, deferred share awards and other equity-based awards to our or any of our subsidiaries’ directors, officers, key employees, consultants, representatives and other agents, but only non-qualified stock options have been granted thereunder. All stock options granted under the 1999 Plan have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of a share of our Common Stock on the date of grant and a term of 10 years and they generally vest on a pro rata basis over a specified period of time or vest in their entirety on an anniversary of the date of grant (subject to possible earlier vesting if certain performance objectives are satisfied). The 1999 Plan expired on May 31, 2009; however, we ceased making awards under the 1999 Plan upon adoption of the 2007 Plan. |
(7) | On April 4, 2002, our Board approved the 2002 Plan. The 2002 Plan permitted the granting of non-qualified stock options, ISOs, SARs, restricted stock awards, deferred share awards and other equity-based awards to our or any of our subsidiaries’ or affiliates’ officers (other than executive officers), employees, consultants and advisors, but only non-qualified stock options have been granted thereunder. All stock options granted under the 2002 Plan have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of a share of our Common Stock on the date of grant and a term of 10 years and they generally vest on a pro rata basis over a specified period of time or vest in their entirety on an anniversary of the date of grant (subject to possible earlier vesting if certain performance objectives are satisfied). The 2002 Plan expired on April 3, 2012; however, we ceased making awards under the 2002 Plan upon adoption of the 2007 Plan. |
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 15
PROPOSAL 2 | APPROVAL OF THE ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. 2014 INCENTIVE PLAN |
General
For over twenty years, equity-based compensation has been an integral component of our overall compensation program. Our Board believes that our use of equity-based compensation has been a significant factor in our ability to recruit, retain and motivate the exceptional employees who have enabled us to achieve our financial and operational goals and enhance stockholder value. With the completion of the transactions described in the Vivendi Share Purchase Agreement and in advance of the 2018 expiration date of the current plan, a new incentive plan will allow us to continue our use of equity-based compensation as a meaningful component of our compensation programs without interruption. Without a new incentive plan, our ability to effectively attract and retain executive, creative and technical talent may compromise our ability to continue to drive shareholder value creation. Accordingly, based on the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, on April 7, 2014, the Board adopted the Activision Blizzard 2014 Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”), subject to stockholder approval.
Importance of Equity-Based Compensation to the Company
Adopting the 2014 Plan will allow us to continue to motivate employees via awards of equity-based compensation. As of April 1, 2014, we had 34.6 million shares available for grant under the 2008 Plan, only 19.3 of which were available to grant as “full-value awards” (i.e., restricted share units, restricted shares and performance shares). If the 2014 Plan is not approved, we will only be able to make equity awards under the 2008 Plan, and we believe that the remaining number of shares available for grant under the 2008 Plan may not be sufficient for us to make the grants we anticipate making, particularly given our increased focus on performance-vesting full-value awards.
For the following reasons, among others, we believe that the ability to make further equity awards as a meaningful component of our compensation programs is critically important for our continued success.
• | Alignment with Stockholder Interests. Our ability to use equity-based compensation gives us the most effective means to align the interests of employees with those of our stockholders, because equity-based compensation directly links the employee’s compensation to an increase in the value of our Common Stock. |
• | Attraction and Retention. Our ability to use equity-based compensation is vital for us to attract and retain executive, creative and technical talent and other key employees. In particular, the market for creative and technical talent is extremely competitive in the gaming and entertainment and leisure industries and, in general, equity-based compensation is a significant element of the compensation of employees in those industries. As such, equity awards are crucial to supporting our philosophy of targeting competitive compensation when compared to our peer group and other applicable benchmarks. |
• | Motivation. Our ability to use equity-based compensation is fundamental to our ability to motivate our employees to achieve our financial and strategic objectives. |
Highlights of the 2014 Plan
The 2014 Plan authorizes the Compensation Committee to provide equity-based compensation in the form of stock options, SARs, restricted shares, restricted share units, performance shares, performance units and other performance- or value-based awards structured by the Compensation Committee within parameters set forth in the 2014 Plan (“custom awards”), including custom awards that are denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, shares of our Common Stock or factors that may influence the value of our Common Stock or that are valued based on the performance of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or business units or other factors designated by the Compensation Committee. The 2014 Plan also authorizes payments of incentive bonuses for the purpose of providing the Company’s directors, officers, employees and consultants incentives and rewards for superior performance. Some of the key features of the 2014 Plan that reflect the Company’s commitment to effective management of incentive compensation are as follows:
• | Limitations on Individual Grants. The 2014 Plan contains the grant limitations described under “—Summary of the 2014 Plan—Limits on Grants Under the 2014 Plan” below. |
• | No Repricing or Replacement of Stock Options. The 2014 Plan prohibits the amendment of stock options to reduce the exercise price or the |
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 16
replacement of stock options with stock options having a lower exercise price without stockholder approval. | |
• | No In-the-Money Stock Option or SAR Grants. The 2014 Plan prohibits the grant of stock options or SARs with an exercise or base price that is less than the fair market value of our Common Stock on the date of grant. |
• | Section 162(m) Qualification. The 2014 Plan is designed to allow awards made under the 2014 Plan, including cash incentive bonuses, to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) (“Section 162(m)”) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”). |
• | Independent Administration. The Compensation Committee, which consists solely of independent directors, will administer the 2014 Plan if it is approved by our stockholders. |
We currently anticipate that our equity-based compensation program will primarily utilize a combination of restricted share units, including restricted share units with performance-based vesting, and stock options. Awards made in connection with the initial entry into an employment agreement or an amendment to that agreement are expected to generally vest over the term of the agreement, subject to continued service or the achievement of one or more performance metrics. Other awards are expected to generally vest over, or at the end of, a three-year period. However, the Compensation Committee will use its judgment to determine the appropriate amount and form of equity-based compensation necessary to recruit, retain and motivate our employees and, as such, may modify our granting practices from time to time.
Equity Dilution
As of April 1, 2014, there were 49,965,037 shares subject to awards outstanding under the 2008 Plan and the Rolled Up Plans. These shares could potentially become available for awards under the 2014 Plan, if, and only if, the outstanding awards become Returned Shares (i.e., (1) they expire, or are forfeited, terminated or cancelled, without the issuance of shares, are settled in cash in lieu of shares or are exchanged, prior to the issuance of shares of our Common Stock, for awards not involving our Common Stock, in which case the shares underlying the award become Returned Shares; (2) if the exercise price of any stock option is, or the tax withholding requirements with respect to any award outstanding are, satisfied by withholding shares otherwise then deliverable in respect of the award or the actual or constructive transfer to us of shares already owned, in which case the withheld or transferred shares become Returned Shares; or (3) if a SAR is exercised and settled in shares, in which case a number of shares equal to the difference between the total number of shares with respect to which the award is exercised and the number of shares actually issued or transferred become Returned Shares).
The following table illustrates the maximum number of shares of our Common Stock that could be available for issuance under the 2014 Plan and the resulting equity dilution rate (as measured by the shares available as a percentage of the shares of our Common Stock outstanding). If every award outstanding under the 2008 Plan and the Rolled Up Plans became a Returned Share (an event which is highly unlikely), the resulting dilution rate would be 13.4%. Alternatively, if none of the awards outstanding under the 2008 Plan and the Rolled Up Plans became a Returned Share (an event that is also highly unlikely), the resulting dilution rate would be 6.4%.
(Numbers as of April 1, 2014 and, except number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding, in millions) | Total Shares | Dilution Rate(1) | ||||||
Existing equity awards outstanding under the 2008 Plan and the Rolled Up Plans(2) | ||||||||
Stock options issued and outstanding | 29.1 | 4.1 | % | |||||
Full-value awards issued and outstanding | 20.8 | 2.9 | % | |||||
Total awards issued and outstanding which could be Returned Shares | 50.0 | 7.0 | % | |||||
Total 2008 Plan shares available for grant(3) | 34.6 | 4.8 | % | |||||
Proposed actions under the 2014 Plan | ||||||||
Cancellation of 2008 Plan shares available | (34.6 | ) | n/a | |||||
New share authorization requested | 46.0 | 6.4 | % | |||||
Total shares potentially available for grant under the 2014 Plan | 96.0 | 13.4 | % | |||||
Shares of our Common Stock outstanding | 714,797,124 |
(1) | Dilution rate determined based upon the total shares shown as a percent of shares of our Common Stock outstanding. |
(2) | Upon adoption of the 2008 Plan, pursuant to the terms thereof, we ceased making awards under each of the Rolled Up Plans, although each of the Rolled Up Plans remains in effect and continues to govern outstanding awards thereunder. |
(3) | The 2008 Plan has a sub-limit restricting us from granting full-value awards with respect to more than 50 million shares. As such, only 19.3 million of the 34.6 million shares remain available to grant as full-value awards. |
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 17
Historical Equity Usage
We recognize the importance of keeping the usage of equity-based compensation within a reasonable range and, as such, strive to maintain a low share usage rate when compared to the companies with which we compete. As illustrated in the following table, during the most recent three-year period, we have maintained an annual adjusted run rate from equity awards of no more than 3.9% (as measured for any particular year by the number of shares of our Common Stock issued as, or issuable in respect of, grants made in such year, where full-value awards are given 2.5 times the weight of options, in an effort to approximate the impact to the run rate of such awards as compared to stock options).
(Numbers in millions) | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 3-year Average | ||||||||||||
Stock option awards granted | 4.1 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 4.0 | ||||||||||||
Full-value awards granted(1) | 4.9 | 15.5 | 5.5 | 8.6 | ||||||||||||
Total awards granted | 9.0 | 19.8 | 9.0 | 12.6 | ||||||||||||
Shares of our Common Stock outstanding | 1,122.9 | 1,113.7 | 712.4 | n/a | ||||||||||||
Shares of our Common Stock outstanding effective date | 2/16/2012 | 2/15/2013 | 2/24/2014 | |||||||||||||
Unadjusted Run Rate(2) | 0.8 | % | 1.8 | % | 1.3 | % | 1.3 | % | ||||||||
Adjusted Run Rate(3) | 1.5 | % | 3.9 | % | 2.4 | % | 2.6 | % |
(1) | Full-value awards consist of restricted share units, restricted shares and performance shares. |
(2) | Unadjusted run rate for a given year is defined as all option awards and full-value awards granted in a fiscal year, as a percentage of the total number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding as of the stated effective date. |
(3) | Adjusted run rate for a given year is defined as all option awards and full-value awards granted in a fiscal year, using a 2.5x multiple for full-value awards (which multiple is, consistent with the methodology used by shareholder advisory firms, based upon a stock price volatility as of December 31, 2013), as a percentage of the total number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding .as of the stated effective date. |
Our three-year average adjusted run rate of 2.6% is significantly below the three-year average cap of 7.25% for Russell 3000 companies in the GICS 4510 (Software & Services) industry group (the industry group to which we are assigned) for 2014, as published by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. on December 19, 2013.
Requested Shares
There will be 46 million shares of our Common Stock available for issuance under the 2014 Plan, subject to its approval by our stockholders.The number of shares available for issuance under the 2014 Plan was recommended by our Compensation Committee based on careful consideration of the equity compensation needs of the Company, including assessing the number of shares likely to be needed for future grants. Our Compensation Committee also considered the cost of the equity plan to our stockholders, or the expected shareowner value transfer (calculated as the total value of stock options and full-value awards outstanding as a percentage of market capitalization), as well as the potential dilution to our stockholders that would result from their approval of the 2014 Plan.
Based on shares of our Common Stock outstanding as of April 1, 2014, the proposal to reserve 46 million shares under the 2014 Plan would result in a shareholder value transfer of approximately 11%. We feel that targeting this shareholder value transfer is reasonable and appropriate for the following reasons:
• | shareholders most recently approved an amendment to our 2008 Plan in 2010 that increased the number of authorized shares under that plan by 56 million, and the Company has diligently managed share usage over the last four years to remain within this amount; |
• | on a three-year average basis (i.e., 2011-2013), our adjusted burn rate ranks in the bottom one-third of our peer group; and |
• | it will allow us to continue to effectively incent and motivate executive, creative and technical talent to drive shareholder value creation. |
Further, our dilution rate ranks the lowest amongst our peers. Approval of the 2014 Plan would result in a maximum potential dilution of 13.4%. Please see “— Equity Dilution” above.
If the 2014 Plan is approved by our stockholders, we anticipate that we will have sufficient shares to meet our needs through at least three years, although those expectations could change in response to extraordinary circumstances, such as acquisitions.
Stockholder Approval Required by NASDAQ
Stockholder approval of the 2014 Plan is necessary for us to meet the stockholder approval requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market (“NASDAQ”). If our stockholders do not approve the 2014 Plan, any future equity awards will be made under the 2008 Plan, for so long as available shares remain.
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 18
Summary of the 2014 Plan
The following summary of the principal terms and provisions of the 2014 Plan is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the 2014 Plan, which is included as Appendix B attached to this proxy statement and incorporated herein by reference.
Shares Available for Awards
If the 2014 Plan is approved by our stockholders, we will cease to grant awards under the 2008 Plan, although the 2008 Plan, along with each of the Rolled Up Plans, will remain in effect and continue to govern outstanding awards. Shares available for grant under the 2008 Plan will not be made available for issuance under the 2014 Plan.
There will be 46 million shares of our Common Stock available for issuance under the 2014 Plan, subject to its approval by our stockholders. The number of shares available for issuance under the 2014 Plan will be adjusted in the event of stock splits, stock dividends, the issuance of rights and certain other events (see “—Adjustments” below). As noted above, in addition, the number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2014 Plan will be further increased from time to time by the number of shares relating to awards outstanding under the 2008 Plan or any of the Rolled Up Plans as of the date the 2014 Plan is effective that become Returned Shares.
Similarly, under the 2014 Plan:
• | shares relating to awards that expire, or are forfeited, terminated or cancelled, without the issuance of shares, awards that are settled in cash in lieu of shares and awards that are exchanged, with the Compensation Committee’s permission, prior to the issuance of shares of our Common Stock, for awards not involving our Common Stock, will again be available for issuance or transfer under the 2014 Plan; |
• | if the exercise price of any stock option is, or the tax withholding requirements with respect to any award are, satisfied by withholding shares otherwise then deliverable in respect of the award or the actual or constructive transfer to us of shares already owned, a number of shares equal to the withheld or transferred shares will again be available for issuance or transfer under the 2014 Plan; and |
• | if a SAR is exercised and settled in shares, a number of shares equal to the difference between the total number of shares with respect to which the award is exercised and the number of shares actually issued or transferred will again be available for issuance or transfer under the 2014 Plan, with the result being that only the number of shares actually issued or transferred upon exercise of the SAR are counted against the maximum number of shares of our Common Stock available for issuance or transfer under the 2014 Plan. |
Shares utilized under the 2014 Plan may be newly issued shares, treasury shares or a combination of both.
The NASDAQ Official Closing Price of our Common Stock on April 1, 2014, was $20.69.
Limits on Grants under the 2014 Plan
The 2014 Plan contains the following aggregate and individual annual grant limitations:
• | Limits on Aggregate ISOs. The number of shares that we may issue or transfer upon the exercise of ISOs may not exceed 46 million in the aggregate; |
• | Limits on Stock Options and SARs. The number of shares issuable or transferable in respect of stock options or SARs granted to any one participant in a single fiscal year may not exceed 4 million in the aggregate; |
• | Limits on Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units. The number of (1) restricted shares granted to any one participant in a single fiscal year and (2) shares issuable or transferable in respect of restricted share units granted to that participant in that year, may not exceed 3 million in the aggregate; |
• | Limits on Performance Shares. The number of performance shares granted to any one participant in a single fiscal year may not exceed 6 million in the aggregate; |
• | Limits on Performance Units. The value of performance units granted to any one participant in a single fiscal year may not exceed $6,000,000 in the aggregate (with the value of any such grant to be determined as of the date of the grant); |
• | Limits on Incentive Bonuses. The amount of any senior executive plan bonuses paid under the 2014 Plan to any one participant for a single fiscal year may not exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate; and |
• | Limits on Custom Awards. The number of shares issuable or transferable in respect of custom awards (i.e., awards not explicitly contemplated by the 2014 Plan that are denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to shares of our Common Stock or factors that may influence the value of our Common Stock or that are valued based on the performance of Activision Blizzard or any of our subsidiaries or business units or other factors designated by the Compensation Committee (which may, but need not, include the achievement of management objectives (as described below)) granted to any one participant in a single fiscal year may not exceed 3 million in the aggregate and the value of any custom award that does not involve the issuance or transfer of shares may not exceed $6,000,000 in the aggregate (with the value of any such award to be determined as of the date of the award). |
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 19
Eligibility
Directors, officers and other employees of, and consultants to, Activision Blizzard and our subsidiaries are eligible to participate in the 2014 Plan. As of March 31, 2014, all of our approximately 6,900 employees were eligible to be selected by the Compensation Committee to receive awards under the 2014 Plan, including our eight executive officers and our seven non-executive directors.
Types of Awards Authorized
The 2014 Plan provides for the granting of stock options, SARs (both freestanding SARs and SARs granted in tandem with stock options), restricted shares, restricted share units, performance shares, performance units, and custom awards. Awards granted under the 2014 Plan will be granted upon whatever terms are approved by the Compensation Committee and set forth in an award agreement or other evidence of an award, provided that (a) the exercise price per share of stock options, and the price per share of freestanding SARs, granted under the 2014 Plan will be not less than the “market value per share” (defined as (i) the closing price per share of our Common Stock as reported on the principal securities exchange, association or quotation system on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted (currently, NASDAQ) or (ii) if clause (i) does not apply, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by the Compensation Committee), and (b) no stock option or freestanding SAR granted under the 2014 Plan may be exercised more than 10 years from the date of grant. An award will contain those terms and provisions, consistent with the 2014 Plan, which the Compensation Committee approves, including provisions for the acceleration of vesting or the lapse, expiration or termination of restrictions or other conditions upon the occurrence of certain events, including change of control events. Restricted shares, restricted share units and performance shares may, but are not required to, receive dividend equivalents, on a current, deferred or contingent basis. The 2014 Plan also gives the Compensation Committee authority to pay senior executive plan bonuses to participant who are “covered employees” (defined for purposes of the 2014 Plan as “executive officers” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 3b-7 under Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), which incentive cash compensation will become payable upon the achievement of specified management objectives, as described below. The payment of a senior executive plan bonus under the 2014 Plan may be made in cash, in shares of our Common Stock or a combination of both, as determined by the Compensation Committee.
Management Objectives
The 2014 Plan contemplates that the Compensation Committee will establish “management objectives” for purposes of any grants of incentive bonuses. Under the 2014 Plan, the Compensation Committee may also establish management objectives in connection with grants of stock options, SARs, restricted shares, restricted share units, performance shares, performance units and custom awards. For example, the Compensation Committee may specify management objectives that must be achieved as a condition to exercising stock options or SARs, to result in termination or early termination of the restrictions applicable to restricted shares or restricted share units or to result in the vesting of performance shares or performance units.
Subject to the limits described below, management objectives may be described in terms of either Activision Blizzard-wide objectives or objectives that are related to the performance of the individual participant or a subsidiary, division, department, region or function. The Compensation Committee may provide, in connection with the setting of management objectives, that any evaluation of financial performance may include or exclude certain items, including, without limitation, asset write downs, litigation or claim judgments or settlements, the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles or other laws or provisions affecting reported results, any reorganization and restructuring programs, extraordinary non-recurring items, acquisitions or divestitures and foreign exchange gains and losses. Financial objectives need not be determined in accordance with GAAP.
Management objectives applicable to any award to a participant who is an executive officer that is intended to be deductible under Section 162(m) will be limited to measurable and specified levels of performance or relative peer company performance in any one or more of the following objectives, or any combination of any of them, as determined by the Compensation Committee at its sole discretion: adjusted net earnings; appreciation in or maintenance of the price of our Common Stock (or any other publicly traded securities of Activision Blizzard), including, without limitation, comparisons with various stock market indices; attainment of strategic and operational initiatives; budget; cash flow (including, without limitation, free cash flow); cost of capital; cost reduction; earnings and earnings growth (including, without limitation, earnings per share, earning before taxes, earnings before interest and taxes and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization); gross profits; market share; market value added; net income; net sales; operating profit and operating income; pretax income before allocation of corporate overhead and bonus; quality; recruitment and development of associates; maintenance of internal control over financial reporting and corporate governance practices; reductions in costs; return on assets and return on net assets; return on equity; return on invested capital; sales and sales growth; successful acquisition/divestiture; and total stockholder return and improvement of stockholder return.
If the Compensation Committee determines that a change in our business, operations, corporate structure or capital structure, or the manner in which we conduct our business, or other events or circumstances, render previously established management objectives unsuitable, the Compensation Committee may, at its discretion, modify those management objectives or the minimum acceptable level of achievement of those objectives, in whole or in part, as the Compensation Committee deems appropriate and equitable.
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 20
Administration and Amendments
The 2014 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee has sole discretion to interpret any provision of the 2014 Plan or an award thereunder, make any determination necessary or advisable for the administration of the 2014 Plan and awards thereunder, and waive any condition or right of the Company under an award or discontinue or terminate an award. Further, any decision or determination made by the Compensation Committee with respect to the 2014 Plan or an award thereunder will be made by the Compensation Committee in its sole and absolute discretion, subject to the terms of the 2014 Plan. The interpretation and construction by the Compensation Committee of any provision of the 2014 Plan or of any award, and any determination by the Compensation Committee pursuant to any provision of the 2014 Plan or of any award, will be final and conclusive.
The Compensation Committee may amend the 2014 Plan from time to time without further approval by stockholders, except where the amendment must be approved by stockholders in order to comply with applicable legal requirements or the requirements of the principal securities exchange, association or quotation system on which our Common Stock is listed or quoted (currently, NASDAQ). Further, if an amendment to the 2014 Plan would increase the number of shares of our Common Stock that may be issued or transferred upon the exercise of ISOs, then that amendment will be subject to stockholder approval and will not be effective unless and until that approval has been obtained.
Subject to the following limitations, the Compensation Committee may amend the terms of any award granted under the 2014 Plan prospectively or retroactively. The Compensation Committee may not amend the terms of an award if doing so would materially and adversely affect the rights of any participant taken as a whole without his or her consent.
Change of Control
Awards under the 2014 Plan may provide that, upon a change of control of Activision Blizzard, those awards will become vested or earned, in whole or in part. For example, an award of stock options or SARs may provide that unvested stock options or SARs will become vested and immediately exercisable, either in whole or in part, upon a change of control. Similarly, awards of restricted shares, restricted share units, performance shares, performance units, custom awards and incentive bonuses may provide that the restrictions or other conditions prescribed by the Compensation Committee, if any, with respect thereto will automatically lapse, expire and terminate, and those awards will be deemed to be earned, in whole or in part, upon a change of control.
Transferability
The 2014 Plan expressly provides that, with the Company’s consent, which may be granted or withheld at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, a participant may transfer an award for estate planning purposes or pursuant to a domestic relations order, provided the transferee executes an agreement, in form satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and conditions of the 2014 Plan and the award being transferred. Unless otherwise permitted by the Compensation Committee, except as described in the immediately preceding sentence (1) no award or other derivative security granted under the 2014 Plan is transferable by a participant except, upon death, by will or the laws of descent and distribution and (2) stock options and SARs are exercisable during the optionee’s lifetime only by him or her or by his or her guardian or legal representative.
Adjustments
The number of shares authorized under the 2014 Plan, the number of, and, if applicable, amounts payable for, shares subject to outstanding awards and the various limits contained in the 2014 Plan will be adjusted in the event of stock dividends, extraordinary dividends, stock splits, combinations of shares, recapitalizations, mergers, consolidations, spin-offs, split-offs, spin-outs, split-ups, reorganizations, liquidations, issuances of rights or warrants, and similar events. In the event of any such transaction or event or in the event of a change of control, the Compensation Committee, at its discretion, may provide in substitution for any or all outstanding awards under the 2014 Plan whatever alternative consideration (including cash), if any, that the Compensation Committee, in good faith, determines to be equitable under the circumstances and may require the surrender of all awards so replaced. The Compensation Committee will also make or provide for such adjustments in the number of shares available under the 2014 Plan and the other limitations contained in the 2014 Plan as is appropriate to reflect any transaction or event described above. Further, in the event that we issue warrants or other rights to acquire common shares on a pro-rata basis to all stockholders, the Compensation Committee will make those adjustments in the number of shares authorized under the 2014 Plan and in the limits contained in the 2014 Plan as it determines are equitable, including proportionately increasing the number of authorized shares or any such limit.
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 21
Withholding Taxes
To the extent that we or any of our subsidiaries are required to withhold federal, state, local or foreign taxes in connection with any payment made to, or benefit realized by, a participant or other person under the 2014 Plan and the amounts available to us or our subsidiary for that withholding are insufficient, it will be a condition to the receipt of the payment or the realization of the benefit that the participant or other person make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for payment of the balance of the taxes required to be withheld, which arrangements (at the discretion of the Compensation Committee) may include relinquishment of a portion of such benefit.
Termination
No award will be made under the 2014 Plan after June 5, 2024, but all awards made on or prior to June 5, 2024 will continue in effect thereafter subject to the terms of those awards and of the 2014 Plan.
Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following discussion of the principal U.S. federal income tax consequences with respect to awards under the 2014 Plan is based on statutory authority and judicial and administrative interpretations as of the date of this proxy statement, which are subject to change at any time (possibly with retroactive effect) and may vary in individual circumstances. Therefore, the following discussion is designed to provide a general understanding of the federal income tax consequences, but not to provide you with the specific tax consequences to you with respect to your awards. Further, state, local and other tax consequences are not addressed below, nor is the Medicare tax on net investment income. This discussion assumes that awards granted under the 2014 Plan are exempt from, or comply with, the provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. This discussion is limited to the U.S. federal income tax consequences to individuals who are citizens or residents of the U.S. The U.S. federal income tax law is technical and complex and the discussion below represents only a general summary.
Non-Qualified Stock Options
In general, no income will be recognized by an optionee at the time a non-qualified stock option is granted. At the time of exercise of a non-qualified stock option, ordinary income will be recognized by the optionee in an amount equal to the difference between the exercise price paid for the shares and the fair market value of the shares, if unrestricted, on the date of exercise. At the time of sale of shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of a non-qualified stock option, appreciation (or depreciation) in value of the shares after the date of exercise will be treated as either short-term or long-term capital gain (or loss) depending on how long the shares have been held.
Incentive Stock Options
No income generally will be recognized by an optionee upon the grant or exercise of an ISO. The exercise of an ISO, however, may result in alternative minimum tax liability. If shares are issued to the optionee pursuant to the exercise of an ISO and no disqualifying disposition of those shares is made by the optionee within two years after the date of grant or within one year after the transfer of those shares to the optionee, then upon sale of those shares any amount realized in excess of the exercise price will be taxed to the optionee as a capital gain and any loss sustained will be a capital loss. If shares acquired upon the exercise of an ISO are disposed of prior to the expiration of either holding period described above, the optionee generally will recognize ordinary income in the year of disposition in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the fair market value of those shares at the time of exercise (or, if less, the amount realized on the disposition of those shares if a sale or exchange) over the exercise price paid for the shares. Any further gain (or loss) realized by the participant generally will be taxed as capital gain (or loss).
Stock Appreciation Rights
Generally, no income will be recognized by a participant in connection with the grant of a SAR. When the SAR is exercised, the participant normally will be required to include as taxable ordinary income in the year of exercise an amount equal to the amount of cash received and the fair market value of any unrestricted shares received on the exercise.
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Restricted Shares
A recipient of restricted shares generally will be subject to tax at ordinary income rates on the fair market value of the restricted shares (reduced by any amount paid by the participant for the restricted shares) at the time the shares are no longer subject to forfeiture or restrictions on transfer for purposes of Section 83 of the Internal Revenue Code. However, a recipient who makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code within 30 days of the date of grant of the shares will have taxable ordinary income on the date of grant of the shares equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares (determined without regard to the restrictions) over the purchase price, if any, of the restricted shares. If a Section 83(b) election has not been made, any dividends received with respect to restricted shares that are subject to the restrictions generally will be treated as compensation that is taxable as ordinary income to the participant.
Restricted Share Units
No income generally will be recognized upon the award of restricted share units. The recipient of a restricted share unit award generally will be subject to tax at ordinary income rates on the fair market value of unrestricted shares on the date that the shares are transferred to the participant under the award (reduced by any amount paid by the participant for the restricted share units).
Performance Shares and Performance Units
No income generally will be recognized upon the grant of performance shares or performance units. Upon payment in respect of the vesting or payment in respect of performance shares or performance units, as the case may be, the recipient generally will be required to include as taxable ordinary income in the year of receipt an amount equal to the amount of any cash received and the fair market value of any unrestricted shares received.
Senior Executive Plan Bonuses
The participant generally will be required to include as ordinary income in the year of receipt an amount equal to the amount of any cash received and the fair market value of any non-restricted shares of our Common Stock received as payment of a bonus.
Tax Consequences to Activision Blizzard or Subsidiary
To the extent that a participant recognizes ordinary income in the circumstances described above, we or the subsidiary of ours for which the participant performs services will be entitled to a corresponding deduction provided that, among other things, the amount of compensation is reasonable within the meaning of the federal tax principles, is an ordinary and necessary business expense, and is not an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code. Further, any such deduction with respect to compensation paid to “covered employees” within the meaning of Section 162(m) (generally, the chief executive officer and the three other highest paid officers other than the chief financial officer) is subject to limitation thereunder unless that compensation is qualified performance-based compensation.
Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code
To the extent that any award granted under the 2014 Plan constitutes a deferral of compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, the Compensation Committee intends to cause the award to comply with the requirements of Section 409A. If an award does not comply with the requirements of Section 409A, penalty taxes and interest may be imposed on the participant receiving the award.
New Plan Benefits
Awards under the 2014 Plan are discretionary. As a consequence, we cannot currently determine the number or type of awards that may be granted under the 2014 Plan. However, Mr. Morhaime and a limited number of other employees at Blizzard Entertainment, consistent with the equity plan in which they participated at Vivendi Games prior to the Combination, have employment agreements with us that provide that we will recommend to the Compensation Committee that they receive certain equity awards each year, to the extent awards are being made to our other senior executives during that year. As such, Mr. Morhaime’s employment agreement with us provides that, during the term of his agreement, which continues through December 31, 2016, we will recommend annually that he receive a grant of options to purchase 200,000 shares of our Common Stock and a grant of 70,000 restricted share units. Please see “Executive Compensation—Employment Agreements—Michael Morhaime” below.
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 23
Required Vote and Board Recommendation
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required for the approval of proposal 2.
Mr. Kotick, our chief executive officer, and Mr. Kelly, the chairman of our board, may direct the voting of the shares held by ASAC II LP (i.e., ASAC), an exempted limited partnership established under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and acting by ASAC II LLC, its general partner. Messrs. Kotick and Kelly may also direct the voting of shares they beneficially own at their discretion, except they have agreed to vote any such shares which, when aggregated with ASAC’s shares, represent shares of our Common Stock in excess of 24.9% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock either in a manner proportionally consistent with the vote of the shares of Common Stock not owned by them or ASAC or in accordance with the recommendation, if any, of a majority of the members of our Board not affiliated with ASAC. As of April 7, 2014, ASAC and Messrs. Kotick and Kelly collectively held shares representing ___% of our issued and outstanding Common Stock. Messrs. Kotick and Kelly are expected to vote the shares over which they have discretion FOR proposal 2. Moreover, the shares over which they do not have discretion are also expected to be voted FOR proposal 2 based on the unanimous recommendation of the independent directors. For more information see “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Relationships and Transactions with ASAC—ASAC Stockholders Agreement” below.
Similarly, at the Annual Meeting, Vivendi has agreed to vote any shares it holds which represent shares of our Common Stock in excess of 9.9% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock either in a manner proportionally consistent with the vote of the shares of Common Stock not owned by Vivendi or in accordance with the recommendation, if any, of a majority of the directors who are “independent” under the NASDAQ Rules and who are otherwise not ineligible nominees within the meaning of our amended and restated investor agreement with Vivendi. Vivendi may otherwise direct the voting of its shares at its discretion. For more information see “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Relationships and Transactions with Vivendi and its Affiliates—Amended and Restated Investor Agreement” below. As of April 7, 2014, Vivendi held shares representing ___% of our issued and outstanding Common Stock.
The Board unanimously recommends that you vote FOR the Activision Blizzard, Inc. 2014 Incentive Plan.
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 24
Overview
Our Board has long adhered to governance principles designed to assure its continued vitality and excellence in the execution of its duties. Our Board has responsibility for management oversight and providing strategic guidance to the Company. Our Board believes that it must remain well-informed about the issues, risks and opportunities facing the Company so that our Board members can exercise their fiduciary responsibilities to all of our stockholders. Our Board recognizes the importance of constantly improving our corporate governance practices and is committed to regularly reviewing the specific elements of our corporate governance framework and making changes to them when the Board deems them to be in the best interests of the Company and stockholders.
Board of Directors and Committees
Board Composition
Controlled Company Exemption and the Impact of the 2013 Vivendi Share Repurchase Transaction
Until the consummation of the transactions described in the Vivendi Share Purchase Agreement, Vivendi, through its subsidiary VGAC, held more than 50% of the voting power for the election of our directors. Accordingly, we qualified as a “controlled company” under Rule 5615(c)(1) of the NASDAQ Rules. As a controlled company, under Rule 5615(c)(2) of the NASDAQ Rules, we were exempt from the requirements to have:
• | a majority of directors who qualify as “independent directors” pursuant to Rule 5605(a)(2) of the NASDAQ Rules; |
• | the compensation of our executive officers determined by a majority of independent directors or a compensation committee composed solely of independent directors; and |
• | our director nominees selected, or recommended for our Board’s selection, by either a majority of the independent directors or a nominating committee composed solely of independent directors. |
While the NASDAQ Rules permit companies ceasing to be controlled to “phase in” compliance with these rules, we currently satisfy each of them.
Impact of our Bylaws on our Board and Board Committee Composition
From the time of the Combination until the consummation of the transactions described in the Vivendi Share Purchase Agreement, our Board consisted of 11 directors, including six directors nominated by Vivendi. In connection with the consummation of the Vivendi Share Repurchase Transaction, the Vivendi designees—Philippe G. H. Capron, Frédéric R. Crépin, Jean-Yves Charlier, Jean-François Dubos, Lucian Grainge and Régis Turrini—each resigned from our Board.
Immediately following the consummation of those transactions, our Bylaws were amended to change the size of our Board from 11 to not less than five and not more than 11 directors, with the exact size to be fixed by our Board, and Elaine Wynn and Peter Nolan were each elected to our Board.
Pursuant to provisions of our Bylaws which can only be amended with stockholder consent, until the first occurrence of Vivendi’s ownership falling and remaining below 50% for a period of 90 consecutive days (i.e., a Triggering Event), our Board maintained three subcommittees composed of members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee—the Vivendi Nominating Committee, the Independent Nominating Committee and the Executive Nominating Committee (collectively, the “Special Nominating Subcommittees”). Our Board also consisted of a specified number of directors nominated by the Special Nominating Subcommittees, as follows:
• | Six Vivendi designees, nominated by the Vivendi Nominating Committee (which, in turn, consisted of Vivendi designees) (i.e., the Vivendi designees); |
• | Two executive directors, who were executive officers of the Company and nominated by the Executive Nominating Committee (which, in turn, consisted of two Vivendi designees and two independent directors) (i.e., the Executive Directors); and |
• | Three directors who qualified as “independent” under the NASDAQ Rules and were nominated by the Independent Nominating Committee (which, in turn, consisted of independent directors) (i.e., the Independent Directors). |
To satisfy these requirements, in connection with the consummation of the Vivendi Share Repurchase Transaction, Messrs. Corti, Morgado, Nolan and Sarnoff and Ms. Wynn were each designated as Vivendi designees, in replacement of the resigning Vivendi designees. In addition, Messrs. Corti and Morgado were appointed to the Vivendi Nominating Committee.
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As permitted by our Bylaws, after the first occurrence of a Triggering Event, the Executive Nominating Committee was dissolved. In addition, each director other than Mr. Morgado, who remained as the sole member of the Vivendi Nominating Committee, resigned from his or her capacity as a Vivendi designee.
We are required to maintain the Vivendi Nominating Committee and the Independent Nominating Committee until Vivendi’s voting interest falls and remains below 10% for a period of more than 90 days (i.e. the first occurrence of a “Termination Event”) or until the requirements are otherwise removed from our Bylaws. Further, until that time, our Board must include a number of Vivendi designees that is proportional to Vivendi’s voting interest, although Vivendi agreed not to exercise any rights with respect to the nomination of those directors and, as such, the Vivendi designees, if any, will be selected by the independent director on the Vivendi Nominating Committee (i.e., Mr. Morgado).
Independence Determinations
In making its determination regarding director independence, our Board reviews and discusses all relevant information regarding each director’s relationships, transactions or arrangements, as required by the independence guidelines of the NASDAQ Rules, including current and prior relationships that each director or any of his or her family members has with the Company, our executive management and our independent accounting firm. To assist our Board in making these determinations, each director is required to complete a questionnaire on an annual basis.
Based on the information provided by each director concerning his or her background, employment and affiliations, our Board affirmatively determined that each of Messrs. Corti, Meyer, Morgado, Nolan and Sarnoff and Ms. Wynn is an independent director under the NASDAQ standards. Accordingly, the Board believes there are no such relationships or activities between the Company and any of them that require further review by the Board or that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director, as none of these directors has a direct or indirect material relationship with the Company.
Board Committees
Our Board has three standing committees, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, each of which operates under a written charter approved by our Board. In addition, until such time as the Compensation Committee was comprised solely of non-employee directors within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, there was a subcommittee of the Compensation Committee—the Section 16 Subcommittee (see “—Compensation Subcommittee for the Approval of Certain Equity Awards” below). Further, in accordance with our Bylaws there are two subcommittees composed of members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee—the Vivendi Nominating Committee and the Independent Nominating Committee—and, until January 2014, there was an additional such subcommittee—the Executive Nominating Committee (see Board Composition—Impact of our Bylaws on our Board and Board Committee Composition” above).
In addition, from time to time, our Board may form special or ad hoc committees to which the Board delegates authority to administer certain of its duties. A special committee of independent directors, consisting of Messrs. Corti, Morgado and Sarnoff, was formed and re-formed to represent the Company in negotiating and evaluating the transactions described in the Vivendi Share Purchase Agreement and its ancillary agreements.
The following table shows the membership of our Board’s standing committees and the subcommittees of those committees between January 1, 2013 and October 11, 2013 (i.e., the date on which the Vivendi Share Repurchase Transaction was consummated):
Name | Audit Committee | Compensation Committee | Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee | |||||||||
Philippe G. H. Capron | (1)(2) | |||||||||||
Jean-Yves Charlier | ||||||||||||
Robert J. Corti | (3) | |||||||||||
Frédéric R. Crépin | (1)(2) | |||||||||||
Jean-François Dubos | ||||||||||||
Lucian Grainge | ||||||||||||
Brian G. Kelly | ||||||||||||
Robert A. Kotick | ||||||||||||
Robert J. Morgado | (3) | (2)(4) | ||||||||||
Richard Sarnoff | (2)(4) | |||||||||||
Régis Turrini |
Chairperson | |
(1) | Member of the Vivendi Nominating Committee |
(2) | Member of the Executive Nominating Committee |
(3) | Member of the Section 16 Subcommittee |
(4) | Member of the Independent Nominating Committee |
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The following table shows the membership of our Board’s standing committees and the subcommittees of those committees between October 11, 2013 (i.e., the date on which the Vivendi Share Repurchase Transaction was consummated) and December 31, 2013:
Name | Audit Committee | Compensation Committee | Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee | |||||||||
Robert J. Corti | (1)(2) | |||||||||||
Brian G. Kelly | ||||||||||||
Robert A. Kotick | ||||||||||||
Robert J. Morgado | (1)(2)(3) | |||||||||||
Peter Nolan | ||||||||||||
Richard Sarnoff | (2)(3) | |||||||||||
Elaine Wynn |
Chairperson | |
(1) | Member of the Vivendi Nominating Committee |
(2) | Member of the Independent Nominating Committee |
(3) | Member of the Executive Nominating Committee |
The following table shows the current membership of our Board’s standing committees and the subcommittees of those committees:
Name | Audit Committee | Compensation Committee | Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee | |||||||||
Robert J. Corti | ||||||||||||
Brian G. Kelly | ||||||||||||
Robert A. Kotick | ||||||||||||
Barry Meyer | ||||||||||||
Robert J. Morgado | (1)(2) | |||||||||||
Peter Nolan | ||||||||||||
Richard Sarnoff | ||||||||||||
Elaine Wynn |
Chairperson | |
(1) | Member of the Vivendi Nominating Committee |
(2) | Member of the Independent Nominating Committee |
Audit Committee
You can access the written charter that describes the Audit Committee’s composition and responsibilities on our website at http://investor.activision.com/documents.cfm.
With respect to membership on the Audit Committee, the charter currently provides that the committee must have at least three members and that:
• | all Audit Committee members must be determined by the Board to be independent directors under the NASDAQ Rules and the rules of the SEC and otherwise satisfy the NASDAQ Rules with respect to audit committee membership; |
• | no director may serve as a member of the Audit Committee if that director serves on the audit committees of more than two other public companies, unless our Board determines that the simultaneous service would not impair the ability of that director to effectively serve on the Audit Committee; |
• | all Audit Committee members must understand fundamental financial statements; |
• | at least one Audit Committee member must be designated by the Board as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in the applicable rules of the SEC; and |
• | no Audit Committee member can have participated in the preparation of the financial statements of Activision Blizzard or any of our current subsidiaries at any time during the three years prior to the proposed appointment of that Audit Committee member. |
Further, the NASDAQ Rules require that at least one Audit Committee member meets the financial sophistication requirements set forth in those rules.
The current members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Corti, Morgado and Sarnoff. Based upon information provided by each director concerning his background, employment and affiliations, our Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is an independent director under the NASDAQ Rules and the rules of the SEC and that each otherwise satisfies the NASDAQ requirements for audit committee membership (including that each meets the independence criteria set forth in Exchange Act Rule 10A-3 and is able to read and understand fundamental financial statements). Our Board has also determined that Mr. Corti is an audit committee financial expert as
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defined in the applicable rules of the SEC and that he is financially sophisticated within the meaning of the NASDAQ Rules.
The purpose of the Audit Committee is to oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes of Activision Blizzard and our subsidiaries and the audits of our financial statements and internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee’s responsibilities include:
• | selecting, evaluating and overseeing our independent registered public accounting firm, including determining that firm’s compensation and evaluating that firm’s independence; | |
• | overseeing our annual audit and quarterly reviews; | |
• | overseeing our financial reporting process and internal controls, including: | |
– | reviewing and discussing with the independent auditors the results of the annual audit of our financial statements, including any comments or recommendations of our independent registered public accounting firm, and, based on that review and discussions and other considerations, recommending to our Board whether our financial statements should be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K; and | |
– | discussing with our management the Company’s process for assessing and managing our exposure to risk; | |
• | overseeing policies regarding hiring employees from our independent registered public accounting firm and establishing procedures for the receipt and retention of accounting-related complaints and concerns; and | |
• | overseeing our policies relating to the ethical handling of conflicts of interest, including related party transactions. |
Our independent registered public accounting firm reports directly to the Audit Committee.
Before we or any of our subsidiaries engage our independent registered public accounting firm to render audit or non-audit services, the Audit Committee must pre-approve the engagement. See “Audit-Related Matters—Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures” below for further detail. The Audit Committee’s charter authorizes it to engage independent counsel or other consultants or advisors, as it deems appropriate.
In accordance with our Corporate Governance Principles and Policies, the Audit Committee must meet at least quarterly. The Audit Committee met six times during 2013, including at least once quarterly.
Compensation Committee
You can access the written charter that describes the Compensation Committee’s composition and responsibilities on our website at http://investor.activision.com/documents.cfm.
With respect to membership on the Compensation Committee, the charter currently provides that the committee must have at least two members, both of whom must be:
• | “non-employee directors” as defined in Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act; |
• | “outside directors” as defined under Section 162(m); and |
• | determined by the Board to be independent directors under the NASDAQ Rules. |
The current members of the Compensation Committee are Mr. Corti, Mr. Morgado and Ms. Wynn. Based upon information provided by each director concerning his or her background, employment and affiliations, our Board has determined that each member of the Compensation Committee is an outside director as defined under Section 162(m), a non-employee director as defined in Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and an independent director under the NASDAQ Rules. Our Board has also determined that none of the members of the Compensation Committee has a relationship to the Company that is material to such director’s ability to be independent from management in connection with the duties of a compensation committee member.
The Compensation Committee discharges our Board’s responsibilities relating to compensation paid to our directors and executive officers and evaluates and makes recommendations to our Board regarding compensation under our equity incentive plans and other compensation policies, programs, agreements and arrangements. Please see “Executive Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Decision-Making Approach to Compensation for Executive Officers—Scope of Authority of the Compensation Committee” and “—Compensation Risk Management” below for a description of such responsibilities. The Compensation Committee is also responsible for:
• | reviewing and discussing compensation-related disclosure with our management, included our proxy statement and annual report; and |
• | overseeing any proposals we submit to our stockholders on matters relating to executive compensation, including advisory votes on compensation and the frequency of such votes and approval of compensatory plans and any amendments to such plans. |
The Compensation Committee may delegate its authority and duties to subcommittees, individual committee members or management, as it deems appropriate, in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, provided that no subcommittee may consist of fewer than two members. Please see “—Compensation Subcommittee for the Approval of Certain Equity Awards” below for a description of the subcommittee previously maintained by the Compensation Committee. As further described in “Executive Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Decision-Making Approach to Compensation for Executive Officers”, the Compensation Committee consults with our management in formulating compensation plans, but ultimately the Compensation Committee exercises independent judgment in establishing our executive compensation program.
The Compensation Committee’s charter authorizes it to engage independent counsel or other consultants or advisors, including compensation consultants, to advise the Compensation Committee with respect to compensation and benefits for our directors and our executives and other employees.
In accordance with our Corporate Governance Principles and Policies, the Compensation Committee must meet at least four times annually. The Compensation Committee met eight times during 2013.
For additional information regarding the Compensation Committee, including its use of consultants, see “Executive Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis” below.
Compensation Subcommittee for the Approval of Certain Equity Awards
In order to exempt the grant of equity awards to individuals subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act (and transactions related to such awards, such as the exercise of stock options) from certain provisions of Section 16, the grant must be approved by our entire Board or a
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committee composed solely of non-employee directors within the meaning of Section 16. The Section 16 Subcommittee, which consisted of non-employee directors Messrs. Corti and Morgado throughout its existence, was established in February 2009 and most recently re-designated in March 2013. The Section 16 Subcommittee’s duties consisted of reviewing and approving all proposed grants of equity awards to individuals subject to Section 16, but it did not have the authority to act without the prior recommendation of the entire Compensation Committee. Since the consummation of the Vivendi Share Repurchase Transaction, the Compensation Committee has been comprised solely of non-employee directors, and, accordingly, the Compensation Committee did not re-designate the Section 16 Subcommittee in 2014.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
You can access the written charter that describes the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s composition and responsibilities on our website at http://investor.activision.com/documents.cfm.
The charter currently provides that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee must consist of at least three directors.
The current members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are Messrs. Meyer, Morgado and Nolan. Based upon information provided by each director concerning his background, employment and affiliations, our Board has determined that each of member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is an independent director under the NASDAQ Rules.
In accordance with our Bylaws, we maintain two subcommittees of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (i.e., the Special Nominating Subcommittees) whose primary function is to nominate Board candidates in accordance with our Bylaws. Please see “Board Composition—Impact of our Bylaws on our Board and Board Committee Composition” above.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s other responsibilities include:
• | periodically evaluating the size of our Board and recommending to the Board any appropriate increase or decrease; |
• | making recommendations to our Board regarding the size and composition of each standing committee of the Board; |
• | reviewing our Certificate of Incorporation and our Bylaws as they relate to corporate governance matters and recommending changes to our Board; |
• | overseeing the evaluation of our Board and its committees; and |
• | determining the appropriate engagement with shareholder groups and proxy advisory firms on our submissions to our stockholders (which, in the case of matters relating to executive compensation, will be done in conjunction with the Compensation Committee). |
In accordance with our Corporate Governance Principles and Policies, our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is also responsible for evaluating any stockholder proposals submitted to us for inclusion in any proxy statement for, and consideration at, any meeting of our stockholders.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s charter authorizes it to engage independent counsel or other consultants or advisors as it deems appropriate, including a search firm to assist in the identification of director candidates.
In accordance with our Corporate Governance Principles and Policies, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee must meet at least twice annually. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met three times during 2013.
Board Meetings
In accordance with our Corporate Governance Principles and Policies, a copy of which can be accessed on our website at http://investor.activision. com/documents.cfm, our Board must meet at least quarterly and in conjunction with the annual meeting of our stockholders. Our Board met nine times during 2013, including at least once per quarter and in conjunction with the 2013 annual meeting of our stockholders. Each person who served on our Board during 2013 attended at least 80% of the aggregate of (1) the total number of meetings held by our Board during the period for which he or she was a director and (2) the total number of meetings held by each committee on which he or she served during the period in which he or she so served during the year.
Our Corporate Governance Principles and Policies also require that the Independent Directors meet in executive session outside of the presence of management at least two times per year. Those directors met in executive session five times during 2013.
All directors are expected to attend the Annual Meeting. All persons serving as directors at the time attended the 2013 annual meeting of stockholders, with the exception of Mr. Charlier.
Identification of Candidates for Election to our Board
Pursuant to our Corporate Governance Principles and Policies and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s charter, the committee identifies and evaluates potential candidates to serve as members of our Board. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may consider candidates suggested by its members, other directors, senior management or stockholders and may, at the Company’s expense, retain search firms, consultants and other advisors to identify, screen and/or evaluate candidates. Candidates may be interviewed in person by directors and management.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider nominating persons who qualify as independent under the NASDAQ Rules who are submitted by stockholders, as described below under “—Stockholder Recommendation of Director Candidates”. In addition, stockholders may nominate independent directors in accordance with procedures set forth in our Bylaws, as described below under “Director Nominations and Other Stockholder Proposals for 2015 Annual Meeting; Communicating with the Board”.
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Stockholder Recommendation of Director Candidates
In accordance with our Corporate Governance Principles and Policies, our stockholders may nominate persons who qualify as independent under the NASDAQ Rules to serve as directors. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will review the qualifications of, and make recommendations to our Board regarding, any such nomination which is submitted to us in writing and includes the following information:
• | the name, address, phone number and email address of the stockholder and evidence of the stockholder’s ownership of our Common Stock, including the number of shares beneficially owned by such person and the length of time of ownership; |
• | the name of the director candidate, the candidate’s address, phone number and email address, the candidate’s resume or a list of his or her qualifications to be a director of Activision Blizzard and the candidate’s consent to be named a director if nominated; and |
• | a description of any arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and the director candidate and any other persons (including those persons’ names), pursuant to which the recommendation is made. |
In addition, stockholders may submit candidates for election as directors in accordance with our Bylaws, as described under “Director Nominations and Other Stockholder Proposals for 2015 Annual Meeting; Communicating with the Board” below.
Experience, Skills and Other Characteristics of our Director Candidates
In accordance with our Corporate Governance Principles and Policies, all director nominees, whether or not they are incumbent directors, should have the appropriate experience, skills and other characteristics required of Board members, assessed in the context of the perceived needs of our Board at the time.
In accordance with the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s charter, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, in its selection of director candidates, consider the following attributes, among others: experience, knowledge, skills, expertise, personal and professional integrity, character, business judgment, time availability in light of other commitments, dedication and independence. The committee evaluates each director nominee’s experience, skills and other characteristics to ensure that they are consistent with the interests of our stockholders and complementary with the existing Board’s composition and needs. In doing so, it considers whether the nominee has experience or skills in the areas of entertainment, international operations, strategic planning, corporate governance, accounting and finance, law or other areas that are relevant to the Company’s activities and Board’s effectiveness. It also takes diversity into account, seeking to ensure a representation of diverse perspectives and experience, although the Company’s nominating procedures and policies do not prescribe specific standards for diversity.
Additionally, in accordance with its charter, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee annually oversees evaluations of our Board, the Board’s committees and individual directors that assess the experience, skills, qualifications, diversity and contributions of each individual director, each standing committee of the Board and of the Board as a whole.
Other Directorates
Pursuant to our Corporate Governance Principles and Policies, our directors must obtain the approval of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee before accepting any board membership at another publicly held company and in no case can any director serve on the boards of more than four other publicly held companies.
Offer of Resignation Upon Change in Professional Role
Pursuant to our Corporate Governance Principles and Policies, unless the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee determines otherwise, if an independent director retires, changes employment or otherwise has a significant change in his or her professional role or responsibilities that may reasonably be seen as affecting his or her ability to serve, he or she must offer to resign from our Board. Similarly, unless our Board or the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee determines otherwise, or he or she has an agreement with us to the contrary, if an employee director retires, resigns or otherwise has a significant change in his or her professional role or responsibilities, he or she must offer his or her resignation from our Board.
Our Board or, at our Board’s discretion, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider whether the continued service of any director so offering to resign is appropriate in light of that change and, if our Board or the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee determines that the director continues to contribute significantly to us, his or her membership on our Board may continue.
Board Leadership Structure
Our Board of Directors is led by the chairman of our Board, and that person does not also serve as our chief executive officer. The Board feels that this division is appropriate because our chief executive officer is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Company, while the primary responsibility of our Board is to oversee the chief executive officer’s performance of his or her function. Having different individuals serve
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as the chairman and the chief executive officer allows the chief executive officer to focus on his or her operational responsibilities, while keeping a measure of independence between the oversight function of our Board and those operating decisions. If our Board were to select our chief executive officer to serve as chairman, the independent directors would, in accordance with our Corporate Governance Principles and Policies, consider the appointment of a lead independent director.
The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight
It is the responsibility of our senior management to develop and implement the Company’s financial, operating and strategic plans, and identify, evaluate, manage and mitigate the risks inherent in those plans. It is our Board’s responsibility to understand and oversee those plans, the associated risks and the steps that senior management is taking to manage and mitigate those risks. The Board and its standing committees exercise the risk oversight function in a variety of ways, including:
Board of Directors | Annually reviews the conclusions and recommendations of our management with respect to current and future potential strategic enterprise-level risks and strategies used to mitigate such risks | |
Annually reviews succession plans for our senior-most officers | ||
Communicates regularly with our management about these matters | ||
Remains informed of each committee’s risk oversight and other activities via reports from committee chairpersons | ||
Delegates certain risk management oversight functions to standing committees, each of which regularly reports to our Board | ||
Audit Committee | Plays a key role in overseeing risk mitigation on behalf of our Board | |
Oversees compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and the overall risk management process | ||
Regularly receives reports on significant internal controls, compliance risks and potential legal and regulatory risks, along with our management’s plans for mitigating such risks | ||
Meets privately on a regular basis with our chief audit executive and representatives of our independent auditor | ||
Has access to management and the ability to engage independent advisors | ||
Receives regular guidance and feedback from representatives of the Company’s independent auditor | ||
Compensation Committee | Oversees risks that may be created by our compensation programs | |
Annually reviews our incentive
plans to determine if they encourage excessive risk (see “–Compensation Risk Management” below) | ||
Has access to management and the ability to engage independent advisors | ||
Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee |
Oversees risks associated with overall governance and succession planning | |
Has access to management and the ability to engage independent advisors |
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Compensation Risk Management
The Compensation Committee, together with legal counsel and members of our human resources team, reviews the Company’s incentive compensation plans annually to determine if they encourage employees to take inappropriate risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. During 2013, and again in 2014, this review consisted of an analysis of each of our incentive compensation programs for our executives and other employees, including eligibility, performance measures, payment targets and maximum payments, performance measurement, payment timing and governance (including the applicable approval process).
The incentive compensation plans in which our employees are eligible to participate are designed to encourage achievement of high levels of performance against challenging targets that are tied to achievement of the overall corporate strategy, while mitigating potential risks. The following factors help mitigate risk:
• | performance measures are designed to focus executive performance on long-term stockholder value creation and do not encourage taking short-term risks at the expense of long-term results, balancing between financial, operational and qualitative targets and short- and long-term time horizons for achievement; |
• | although bonuses to our executives and our corporate employees under our Corporate Annual Incentive Plan (“the CAIP”) are based on the achievement of annual target goals: (1) they represent just one element of our employees’ total compensation; (2) payments in respect of financial performance measures are capped at 150% to 200% of target, depending on the specific metric, and payments in respect of individual performance measures are capped at 120% of target; and (3) the Compensation Committee has discretion under the plan to reduce or eliminate payments based on individual performance; |
• | although bonuses to employees of our development studios are based on the achievement of targets relating to performance of the games being developed: (1) they represent just one element of our employees’ total compensation; (2) aggregate payments to each studio are subject to certain caps; and (3) the Company has discretion under each plan to reduce or eliminate payments; |
• | long-term incentive awards, which are in the form of equity-based awards and which represent a meaningful portion of the compensation paid to our executives, are subject to a multi-year vesting schedule and vesting in respect of performance measures that, for our executive officers, are capped at 100% to 200% of target, aligning the recipients’ interests with those of our stockholders; |
• | incentive awards generally require at least two levels of approval (including, in the case of any award to one of our executive officers, Compensation Committee approval and, for any executive other than the chief executive officer, the CEO’s approval); and |
• | equity awards are generally made in accordance with guidelines approved by the Compensation Committee intended to ensure, among other things, a cap on awards to any one employee and all equity awards to any employee require Compensation Committee approval. |
We also have a number of governance policies in place which may also mitigate compensation-related risk, including:
• | our clawback policy, pursuant to which performance-based compensation may be recovered in the event of an earnings restatement, if the amounts paid were in excess of what would have been paid had the restated numbers been used to determine payments; |
• | provisions in our equity award agreements pursuant to which, should a named executive officer breach his or her employment agreement with the Company, including his or her post-termination obligations, realized gain in respect of his or her awards may be recovered; |
• | stock ownership guidelines for our executive officers, which require each executive to obtain and maintain equity ownership with a value equal to a specified multiple of his or her base salary (which guidelines are expected to be satisfied within five years of the policy’s 2012 adoption or, if later, the executive officer’s election); |
• | our insider trading policies, which prohibit “shorting” our securities, engaging in “puts”, “calls” or other hedging transactions involving our securities, or using margin accounts with our securities; and |
• | our Code of Conduct, compliance with which must be certified by every employee on an annual basis. |
Political Activities
Pursuant to our Code of Conduct, Company resources may not be used for employees’ personal political activities, and lobbying activities are permitted only in compliance with applicable law and by individuals designated to represent the Company in such capacity.
Trade associations of which the Company is a member may take a stance on legislative matters or engage in lobbying on specific issues.
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Code of Conduct
We have a code of ethics, our Code of Conduct, which applies to all of our directors and employees worldwide, including our chairman, chief executive officer and chief financial officer. We also have a chief compliance officer, who administers our ethics and compliance program. You can access a copy of our Code of Conduct on our website at http://investor.activision.com/documents.cfm. Furthermore, we will post any amendments to, or waivers of, the Code of Conduct that apply to our chairman, chief executive officer or chief financial officer, and any other related information, on our website at http://investor.activision. com/documents.cfm.
Additional Corporate Governance Documentation
In addition to finding our Corporate Governance Principles and Policies, Audit Committee Charter, Compensation Committee Charter, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter and Code of Conduct on our website at http://investor.activision.com/documents.cfm, you can also find: our Certificate of Incorporation; our Bylaws; our Policy for the Reporting of Questionable Accounting, Internal Accounting Control, Financial Reporting or Other Auditing Matters; our Reporting and Non-Retaliation Policy; and our Vendor Code of Conduct.
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PROPOSAL 3 | APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. |
In July 2008, in connection with the Combination, our stockholders approved a number of changes to our Certificate of Incorporation. These changes resulted from agreements reached during the negotiation of the Combination and were generally intended to reflect Vivendi’s position as our controlling stockholder and to establish an appropriate system of governance and allocation of rights and responsibilities between Vivendi and the Company in light of Vivendi’s position as our controlling stockholder.
As previously described, the transactions described in the Vivendi Share Purchase Agreement were completed in October 2013, which resulted in Vivendi’s stock ownership in the Company falling below 35% and the resignation of all Vivendi designees from our Board. As a result, we are asking our stockholders to consider and vote on proposals to approve and adopt our Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Although the Certificate of Incorporation, as it is proposed to be amended and restated, is one document, we are presenting the amendments as three separate subproposals—nos. 3A, 3B and 3C—for your approval. Because we consider all of the proposed revisions to our Certificate of Incorporation to be interrelated, the approval of each of the subproposals is conditioned on the approval of all three subproposals. Accordingly, either all of the proposed changes or none of the proposed changes will be made to our Certificate of Incorporation. If our stockholders approve and adopt all of the proposed amendments to our Certificate of Incorporation, we will file the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Delaware Secretary of State promptly following the Annual Meeting.
The following summary of the Certificate of Incorporation, as it is proposed to be amended and restated, describes the material changes to the terms of our Certificate of Incorporation that our Board has approved, subject to stockholder approval. However, the description below may not contain all of the information that is important to you and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which is set forth in Appendix C and is marked to show the proposed amendments compared to our current Certificate of Incorporation. In conjunction with this summary description, we encourage you to read the Certificate of Incorporation, as it is proposed to be amended and restated, carefully and in its entirety.
Subproposal 3A—Proposal to Amend Provisions Related to the Relationship with Vivendi
Our current Certificate of Incorporation contains the following provisions regulating the relationship between the Company and Vivendi that were originally put into place in connection with the Combination and were the result of negotiations between the Company and Vivendi.
Article VIII of our Current Certificate of Incorporation—the Relationship with Vivendi. Article VIII of our current Certificate of Incorporation provides, among other things that:
1. | Neither Vivendi nor any of its “controlled affiliates” (defined as an affiliate of Vivendi within the meaning of the Exchange Act that is controlled, directly or indirectly, by Vivendi) is under an obligation to refrain from engaging in the same or similar activities or lines of business as the Company other than a competing businesses (i.e., developing and/or publishing interactive games for video game consoles or personal computers or MMORPGs) immediately prior to the closing of the Combination and neither Vivendi nor any of its officers or directors will be liable for any breach of fiduciary duty by reason of any such activities. |
2. | In the event that Vivendi acquires knowledge of a potential corporate opportunity for both Vivendi and the Company, Vivendi will have no duty to communicate or offer the corporate opportunity to the Company and will not be liable for any breach of fiduciary duty by reason of the fact that Vivendi acquires or seeks to acquire such opportunity for itself, directs the corporate opportunity to another person or entity, or otherwise does not communicate information regarding such opportunity to the Company. |
3. | If a director or officer of the Company who is also a director or officer of Vivendi acts in a manner consistent with the policy set forth in the following sentence with respect to the allocation of a potential corporate opportunity for both the Company and Vivendi about which such director acquires knowledge, he or she will have fully satisfied his or her fiduciary duty with respect to such corporate opportunity. Such policy provides that a potential corporate opportunity for both the Company and Vivendi offered to any such person will belong to Vivendi unless such corporate opportunity was expressly offered |
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to such person in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Company, in which case it shall not be pursued by Vivendi. | |
4. | In the event Vivendi’s ownership interest in the Company equals or exceeds 90%, then within 60 days, either the Company or Vivendi is required to commence a tender offer to acquire all of the shares of our Common Stock not owned by Vivendi at a floor price determined pursuant to a specified formula or commence a squeeze out transaction in which the minority stockholders receive at least such floor price. |
5. | The expiration, amendment or repeal of any provision in Article VIII will not eliminate or reduce the effect of Article VIII with respect to any act or omission which occurred prior to such amendment or repeal. |
Pursuant to our current Certificate of Incorporation, the foregoing provisions of Article VIII terminate immediately on the earliest date when Vivendi’s ownership interest drops below 10% and no Vivendi officer or employee serves on our Board.
Article IX of our Current Certificate of Incorporation—the Relationship with Vivendi. Article IX of our current Certificate of Incorporation provides that:
1. | No contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction between the Company and Vivendi or its controlled affiliates shall be void or voidable solely due to that fact that Vivendi or its controlled affiliates is a party to such contract or solely as a result of a Vivendi designee’s participation in a meeting of our Board or committee which authorized such contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction. |
2. | Unless Vivendi’s voting interest equals or exceeds 90% or is less than 35%, any merger, business combination or similar transaction involving the Company or its subsidiaries and Vivendi or its controlled affiliates requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the non-Vivendi shares present and entitled to vote at a meeting called for that purpose. |
3. | Vivendi designees on our Board may be counted for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board or a committee that authorizes any contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction; and Vivendi shares may be counted for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of stockholders that authorizes or approves any such contract agreement, arrangement or transaction. |
4. | To the fullest extent of the law, neither Vivendi, its controlled affiliates, nor any of their respective officers or directors shall be liable for breach of any fiduciary duty or duty of loyalty or failure to act in the best interests of the Company or the derivation of any improper personal benefit by reason of the fact that any of them in good faith takes any action pursuant to any agreement or contract between the Company and Vivendi or its controlled affiliates. |
5. | The expiration, amendment or repeal of any provision in Article IX will not eliminate or reduce the effect of Article IX with respect to any act or omission which occurred prior to such amendment or repeal. |
Article X of our Current Certificate of Incorporation—the Relationship with Vivendi. Article X of our current Certificate of Incorporation contains defined terms, most of which are relevant to the specific provisions of our current Certificate of Incorporation related to Vivendi, its controlling interest in the Company and it designees on our Board.
Impact of Approval of Subproposal 3A on Articles VIII, IX and X of our Certificate of Incorporation. If approved, subproposal 3A would delete from our current Certificate of Incorporation all of the provisions set forth in Articles VIII, IX and X.
The current provisions in Articles VIII, IX and X regulating the relationship between the Company and Vivendi were put into place in connection with the Combination and were the result of negotiations between the Company and Vivendi. These provisions were generally designed to provide assurances to Vivendi that it would have control over the Company’s affairs and have reasonable limits on potential liabilities when interacting with the Company, while at the same time, providing the Company and minority stockholders with certain protections in light of Vivendi’s controlling position. In the absence of Vivendi as a controlling stockholder and in the absence of Vivendi designees on our Board, we believe the provisions of Articles VIII, IX and X are no longer required to protect our stockholders’ best interests. Moreover, certain of these provisions on their face are no longer operative by virtue of Vivendi’s share ownership falling below 35% in connection with the transactions described in the Vivendi Share Purchase Agreement and the existence of the standstill provisions which prohibit Vivendi from acquiring additional shares of the Company, as well as the other protective provisions found in our amended and restated investor agreement with Vivendi (see “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Relationships and Transactions with Vivendi and its Affiliates—Amended and Restated Investor Agreement” below).
Approval and adoption of this subproposal 3A will also constitute approval and adoption of the amendment and restatement of the deletion from our current Certificate of Incorporation of the following provisions that are no longer operative because a Triggering Event (i.e., Vivendi’s ownership falling and remaining below 50% for a period of 90 consecutive days) has already occurred:
1. | Section 5.1(b) required, prior to the first occurrence of a Triggering Event, for a quorum to be established at any committee meeting of our Board (other than the Special Nominating Subcommittees and the Audit Committee), the presence of a majority of the directors serving on that committee, including the presence of at least one independent director serving on that committee. |
2. | Article VIII provided that, prior to the first occurrence of a Triggering Event, Vivendi designees to our Board possessed extraordinary voting power so that regardless of actual attendance at a meeting of our board or any of its committees (other than Special Nominating Subcommittees and the Audit Committee), the Vivendi designees retained the majority of the outstanding voting power. |
In addition, under Section 5.2(c) of our Certificate of Incorporation, the power of our Board is subject to bylaws adopted by our stockholders from time to time. The Certificate of Incorporation, as it is proposed to be amended and restated, would eliminate that limitation.
Approval and adoption of this subproposal 3A will also constitute approval and adoption of the other conforming and clarifying changes to our Certificate of Incorporation, as reflected in Appendix C, and of the amendment and restatement of our Certificate of Incorporation to reflect the various amendments approved and adopted by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting.
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Subproposal 3B—Proposal to Amend Provisions Related to the Ability to Amend our Certificate of Incorporation
Sections of our Current Certificate of Incorporation Related to the Ability to Amend our Certificate of Incorporation. Since a Triggering Event has already occurred, our current Certificate of Incorporation imposes the following super-majority or special voting requirements for the following amendments to our current Certificate of Incorporation:
1. | Amendment of the following provisions of our current Certificate of Incorporation requires an affirmative vote of at least 66 ⅔% of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon: | |
a. | Section 5.1(b), which required that, prior to the first occurrence of a Triggering Event, for a quorum to be established at any committee meeting of our Board (other than the Special Nominating Subcommittees and the Audit Committee), the presence of a majority of the directors serving on that committee, including the presence of at least one independent director serving on that committee; | |
b. | Section 5.3(a)(i), which requires majority stockholder approval to amend Sections 2.4, 2.6(a), 2.14 and, as it relates to the foregoing Sections 8.4 of our Bylaws; | |
c. | Section 5.3(a)(ii), which requires 66 ⅔% stockholder approval to amend Sections 3.3 and, as it relates to the foregoing Section, 8.4 of our Bylaws; | |
d. | Section 5.3(a)(iii), which requires 66 ⅔% stockholder approval to amend Sections 3.2(b), 3.4(b), 3.6, 3.10(c), 3.10(d), 3.10(f) and, as it relates to the foregoing Sections 8.4 of our Bylaws; and | |
e. | Section 5.3(c), which permits stockholders to amend our Bylaws, subject to certain specified limitations. | |
2. | Amendment of the following provisions of our current Certificate of Incorporation requires an affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon, plus a majority of the non-Vivendi outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon: | |
a. | Section 5.3(a)(iv), which requires stockholder approval (including the approval of the non-Vivendi stockholders) to amend Sections 2.3 and, as it relates to the foregoing Section, 8.4 of our Bylaws; | |
b. | Section 5.3(a)(v), which allows stockholder approval, if it is coupled with non-Vivendi stockholder approval, to amend Sections 3.12 , 4.3 and, as it relates to the foregoing Sections 8.4 of our Bylaws; | |
c. | Section 5.3(b), which requires stockholder approval to amend certain definitions in Section 3.3 of our Bylaws or any Bylaw in a manner that would be beneficial to Vivendi and its controlled affiliates in their capacities as stockholders, other than amendments that affect the rights of all stockholders in the same manner; | |
d. | Section 8.2, which prohibits Vivendi from engaging in a “Competing Business” (as described in subproposal 3A above), subject to limitations set forth therein; | |
e. | Section 8.3, which sets forth procedures for handling “Corporate Opportunities” (as described in subproposal 3A above); | |
f. | Section 8.5, which sets forth a requirement on the Company or Vivendi to initiate a tender offer or for Vivendi to commence a squeeze out transaction at a specified price and pursuant to specified mechanics, if Vivendi’s ownership exceeds 90% (as described in subproposal 3A above); and | |
g. | Section 9.1(b), which requires a vote of the non-Vivendi stockholders for approval of a merger, business combination or similar transaction between the Company and Vivendi if Vivendi’s ownership interest is below 90%, but is at or above 35% (as described in subproposal 3A above). |
Please see “Subproposal 3C—Proposal to Amend Provisions Related to the Ability to Amend our Bylaws” below for a summary description of Sections 2.3, 2.4, 2.6(a), 2.14, 3.2(b), 3.3, 3.4(b), 3.6, 3.10(c), 3.10(d), 3.10(f), 3.12, 4.3 and 8.4 of our Bylaws.
Impact of Approval of Subproposal 3B on the Sections of Current Certificate of Incorporation Related to the Ability to Amend our Certificate of Incorporation. If approved, subproposal 3B would replace the current supermajority and special voting requirements for amendment of these provisions in our current Certificate of Incorporation with the default vote standard applicable under Delaware law for amendments of a certificate of incorporation, which is generally the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting power entitled to vote thereon.
The current supermajority and special voting requirements were put into place in connection with the Combination and were the result of negotiations between Vivendi and the Company. These provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation were generally designed to provide assurances to Vivendi that it would have control over the Company’s affairs, while providing minority stockholders with certain protections in light of Vivendi’s controlling position. In the absence of Vivendi as a controlling stockholder and in the absence of Vivendi designees on our Board, we believe the elimination of these supermajority and special voting requirements is warranted and appropriate. Moreover, we believe the proposed approach is typical for similarly situated companies and is consistent with the requirements for amending our Certificate of Incorporation prior to the Combination. We also believe the proposed voting standard is responsive to the will of stockholders, who generally favor the elimination of supermajority voting provisions. Given the limitation on Vivendi’s voting power for its share ownership above 9.9% of the Company and the standstill provision which prohibits Vivendi from acquiring additional shares of the Company, as well as the other protective provisions found in our amended and restated investor agreement with Vivendi (see “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Relationships and Transactions with Vivendi and its Affiliates—Amended and Restated Investor Agreement” below), we do not believe it is in the stockholders’ best interests to require a separate majority vote of the non-Vivendi shares for approval of the amendments identified above.
Approval and adoption of this subproposal 3B will also constitute approval and adoption of the other conforming and clarifying changes to our Certificate of Incorporation, as reflected in Appendix C, and of the amendment and restatement of our Certificate of Incorporation to reflect the various amendments approved and adopted by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting.
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Subproposal 3C—Proposal to Amend Provisions Related to the Ability to Amend our Bylaws
Sections of Current Certificate of Incorporation Related to the Ability to Amend our Bylaws. Our current Certificate of Incorporation states that our Board has the power to amend our Bylaws, except that:
1. | The following provisions of our Bylaws may only be amended by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon: | |
a. | Section 2.4, which provides that only the Board is permitted to call a special meeting of stockholders or to require that such a meeting occur and that the only business that may occur at a special meeting of the stockholders is that which is permitted by our Board; | |
b. | Section 2.6(a), which provides that the presence of a majority of outstanding shares at a meeting of stockholders constitutes a quorum; | |
c. | Section 2.14, which sets forth the requirements for stockholders to bring business or nominations before the annual meeting of stockholders; and | |
d. | Section 8.4, which provides the voting standard for amending the foregoing sections of our Bylaws. | |
2. | The following provisions of our Bylaws may only be amended by the affirmative vote of at least 66 ⅔% of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon: | |
a. | Section 3.2(b), which, prior to the first occurrence of a Triggering Event, established an 11 member board of directors divided among different classifications of directors (i.e., Vivendi, Executive and Independent); | |
b. | Section 3.3, which provides Vivendi with the right to proportionate representation on our Board following the first occurrence of a Triggering Event; | |
c. | Section 3.4(b), which establishes procedures for filling vacancies on our Board, including by action of the various nominating subcommittees; | |
d. | Section 3.6, which establishes quorum and voting requirements for meetings of our Board with respect to the periods both before and after the first occurrence of a Triggering Event; | |
e. | Section 3.10(c), which establishes three nominating subcommittees for the nomination of different classifications of directors (i.e., Vivendi, Executive and Independent); | |
f. | Section 3.10(d) which establishes committee membership requirements for the Vivendi and Independent directors; | |
g. | Section 3.10(f) which establishes quorum requirements for Board and committee meetings; and | |
h. | Section 8.4 which provides the voting standard for amending the foregoing sections of our Bylaws. | |
3. | The following provisions of our Bylaws may only be amended by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon, plus an affirmative vote of the majority of the non-Vivendi outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon: | |
a. | Section 2.3 which provides that our directors will be elected at annual meetings in accordance with the nominating procedures of the nominating subcommittees, unless elections occur via written consent; | |
b. | Section 3.3(b) which sets forth definitions for certain terms, including Triggering Event and Termination Event; | |
c. | Section 3.12 which provided for special approval requirements for certain actions, but has already expired pursuant to its terms; | |
d. | Section 4.3 which provides for certain express grants of, and limitations on the, authority of the chief executive officer; | |
e. | Section 8.4 which provides the voting standard for amending the foregoing sections of our Bylaws; and | |
f. | Any amendment to any of our Bylaws that would be beneficial to Vivendi and its controlled affiliates, in their capacities as stockholders, other than amendments that affect the rights of all stockholders in the same manner. |
Impact of Approval of Subproposal 3C on the Sections of Current Certificate of Incorporation Related to the Ability to Amend our Bylaws. If approved, subproposal 3C would replace the stockholder, supermajority and special voting requirements for amendment of our Bylaws with concurrent authority to amend our Bylaws vested in our Board, by the vote of a majority of the quorum, as well as in our stockholders, by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote thereon. The current stockholder, supermajority and special voting requirements were generally put into place in connection with the Combination and were the result of negotiations between Vivendi and the Company. These provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation were generally designed to provide assurances to Vivendi that it would have control over the Company’s affairs, while providing minority stockholders with certain protections in light of Vivendi’s controlling position. In the absence of Vivendi as a controlling stockholder and in the absence of Vivendi designees on our Board, we believe that it is appropriate for our Board to have concurrent authority with the stockholders to amend our Bylaws and that the elimination of these voting requirements is in our stockholders’ best interest because it provides our Board with the flexibility to modify its governance structures and other procedures while taking into account changes in our ownership structure and board composition over time. In addition, as noted above, certain of the underlying provisions are no longer operative due to Vivendi’s stock ownership in the Company falling below 35% as a result of the consummation of the transactions described in the Vivendi Share Purchase Agreement. Moreover, we believe the proposed approach, with both our Board and stockholders having concurrent authority to amend the bylaws, is typical for similarly situated companies.
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In addition, under Section 5.2(c) of our Certificate of Incorporation, the power of our Board is subject to bylaws adopted by our stockholders from time to time. The Certificate of Incorporation, as it is proposed to be amended and restated, would eliminate that limitation.
Approval and adoption of this subproposal 3C will also constitute approval and adoption of the other conforming and clarifying changes to our Certificate of Incorporation, as reflected in Appendix C, and of the amendment and restatement of our Certificate of Incorporation to reflect the various amendments approved and adopted by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting.
Required Vote and Board Recommendation
The approval of each of subproposals 3A, 3B and 3C requires the affirmative vote of both: (1) at least 66 ⅔% of the outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting; and (2) a majority of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting not held by Vivendi or its affiliates. Further, because we consider all of the proposed revisions to our Certificate of Incorporation to be interrelated, the approval of each of the subproposals is conditioned on the approval of all three subproposals.
Mr. Kotick, our chief executive officer, and Mr. Kelly, the chairman of our board, may direct the voting of the shares held by ASAC II LP (i.e., ASAC), an exempted limited partnership established under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and acting by ASAC II LLC, its general partner. Messrs. Kotick and Kelly may also direct the voting of shares they beneficially own at their discretion, except they have agreed to vote any such shares which, when aggregated with ASAC’s shares, represent shares of our Common Stock in excess of 24.9% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock either in a manner proportionally consistent with the vote of the shares of Common Stock not owned by them or ASAC or in accordance with the recommendation, if any, of a majority of the members of our Board not affiliated with ASAC. As of April 7, 2014, ASAC and Messrs. Kotick and Kelly collectively held shares representing ___% of our issued and outstanding Common Stock. Messrs. Kotick and Kelly are expected to vote the shares over which they have discretion FOR subproposals 3A, 3B and 3C. Moreover, the shares over which they do not have discretion are also expected to be voted FOR subproposals 3A, 3B and 3C based on the unanimous recommendation of the independent directors. For more information see “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Relationships and Transactions with ASAC—ASAC Stockholders Agreement” below.
Similarly, at the Annual Meeting, Vivendi has agreed to vote any shares it holds which represent shares of our Common Stock in excess of 9.9% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock either in a manner proportionally consistent with the vote of the shares of Common Stock not owned by Vivendi or in accordance with the recommendation, if any, of a majority of the directors who are “independent” under the NASDAQ Rules and who are otherwise not ineligible nominees within the meaning of our amended and restated investor agreement with Vivendi. Vivendi may otherwise direct the voting of its shares at its discretion. For more information see “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Relationships and Transactions with Vivendi and its Affiliates—Amended and Restated Investor Agreement” below. As of April 7, 2014, Vivendi held shares representing ___% of our issued and outstanding Common Stock.
The Board unanimously recommends that you vote FOR the approval and adoption of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (i.e., FOR subproposals 3A, 3B and 3C).
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The following are biographical summaries of our executive officers other than Mr. Kotick, for whom a biographical summary is set forth under “Proposal 1—Election of Directors” above.
Dennis Durkin
Chief Financial Officer of Activision Blizzard
Age 43
Dennis Durkin became our Chief Financial Officer in March 2012. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Durkin held a number of positions of increasing responsibility at Microsoft Corporation, a computing hardware and software manufacturer, most recently serving as the corporate vice president and chief operating and financial officer of Microsoft Corporation’s interactive entertainment business, which includes the Xbox console business. Prior to joining Microsoft Corporation’s interactive entertainment business in 2006, Mr. Durkin worked on Microsoft Corporation’s corporate development and strategy team, including two years where he was based in London, England driving pan-European activity. Before joining Microsoft Corporation, Mr. Durkin was a financial analyst at Alex. Brown and Company. Mr. Durkin holds a B.A. degree in government from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. degree from Harvard University.
Eric Hirshberg
Chief Executive Officer of Activision Publishing, Inc.
Age 45
Eric Hirshberg became the Chief Executive Officer of Activision Publishing, Inc. (“Activision Publishing”), a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard and one of our two principal operating units, in September 2010. Prior to joining us, Mr. Hirshberg served in positions of increasing responsibility with Deutsch LA, a marketing and advertising agency, most recently serving as its co-chief executive officer and its chief creative officer. Prior to working at Deutsch LA, Mr. Hirshberg worked at Fattal & Collins, a marketing and advertising agency. Mr. Hirshberg holds a B.F.A. degree from the University of California at Los Angeles.
Brian Hodous
Chief Customer Officer of Activision Blizzard
Age 50
Brian Hodous became our Chief Customer Officer in July 2008 in connection with the Combination and was the Chief Customer Officer of Activision Publishing from the time he joined the Company in November 2006 until the consummation of the Combination. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Hodous was employed by Cadbury Schweppes, an international confectionery and beverage company, where he was the group director and the executive vice president of global sales from 1999 to 2006. Prior to working at Cadbury Schweppes, Mr. Hodous served in various sales and senior management positions of increasing responsibility with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceutical company, Pillsbury, a food products company, Drackett Products, a homecare products producer, and GlaxoSmithKline, a pharmaceutical manufacturer. Mr. Hodous holds a B.A. degree in marketing and management from Marquette University.
Michael Morhaime
President and Chief Executive Officer
of Blizzard
Entertainment, Inc.
Age 46
Michael Morhaime became Chief Executive Officer of Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (“Blizzard Entertainment”) and an executive officer of Activision Blizzard in July 2008 in connection with the Combination. In February 1991, Mr. Morhaime co-founded Blizzard Entertainment, now a subsidiary and one of our two principal operating units, and transitioned to the role of Blizzard Entertainment’s President in April 1998. Mr. Morhaime served on the executive committee of Vivendi Games from January 1999, when Blizzard Entertainment became a subsidiary of Vivendi Games, until the consummation of the Combination. Mr. Morhaime holds a B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the University of California at Los Angeles.
Humam Sakhnini
Chief Strategy and Talent Officer of
Activision Blizzard
Age 45
Humam Sakhnini became our Chief Strategy and Talent Officer in February 2012. Prior to that, he served as our Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Business Development from July 2009 until February 2012. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Sakhnini was a partner with McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm, in its global media and entertainment practice. Prior to McKinsey & Company, Mr. Sakhnini founded and co-led ISGroup, a financial technology firm that provided technology solutions to mutual funds and hedge funds. Prior to that, Mr. Sakhnini held a number of positions at BMO Nesbitt Burns, Canada’s largest investment bank and brokerage firm, and the Ministry of Finance in Canada, where he worked on a variety of fiscal and monetary policies. Mr. Sakhnini holds a B.A. degree in economics from the University of Western Ontario, an M.A. degree in economics from Queen’s University at Kingston, and an M.B.A. degree from Yale University School of Management.
Thomas Tippl
Chief Operating Officer of Activision Blizzard
Age 47
Thomas Tippl became our Chief Operating Officer in March 2010. Prior to that, he served as our Chief Corporate Officer from March 2009 until March 2010. In addition, Mr. Tippl served as our Chief Financial Officer from July 2008 until February 2012. Mr. Tippl joined the Company as the Chief Financial Officer of Activision Publishing in October 2005. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Tippl served as the head of investor relations and shareholder services at The Procter & Gamble Company, a manufacturer of consumer goods products, from 2004 to 2005. Mr. Tippl also served as the finance director of Procter & Gamble’s Baby Care, Europe division and as a member of the board of directors of the joint venture between Procter & Gamble and Fater in Italy from 2001 to 2003. Mr. Tippl co-founded Procter & Gamble’s Equity Venture Fund in 1999 and also served as the associate director of acquisitions and divestitures for Procter & Gamble from 1999 to 2001. Prior to 1999, Mr. Tippl served in various financial executive positions for Procter & Gamble in Europe, China and Japan. Mr. Tippl holds a master’s degree in economics and social sciences from the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration.
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Chris B. Walther
Chief Legal Officer of Activision Blizzard
Age 47
Chris B. Walther became our Chief Legal Officer in November 2009 and served as our Secretary from February 2010 until February 2011. Prior to joining us, Mr. Walther held a number of positions of increasing responsibility within the legal department of The Procter & Gamble Company from 1992 to 2009, including serving as the general counsel for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, general counsel for Northeast Asia and, most recently, as general counsel for Western Europe. Mr. Walther also led Procter & Gamble’s corporate and securities and mergers and acquisitions practices. Before joining Procter & Gamble, Mr. Walther served as a law clerk for Senior Judge Harry W. Wellford of the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Walther holds a B.A. degree in history and Spanish from Centre College and a J.D. degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law.
None of our executive officers are related to any other of our executive officers or our directors and each executive officer holds office at the discretion of our Board and subject to the terms of that executive officer’s employment agreement.
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The following discussion and tables set forth information with regard to compensation for services rendered by the named executive officers included in the “Summary Compensation Table” below (collectively, our “named executive officers”) in all capacities to us and our subsidiaries during 2013.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes the material elements of our executive compensation program and the rationale for the program elements and decisions, through:
• | describing the business environment in which we operate and the resulting requirements for talent; |
• | summarizing our compensation philosophy and objectives; |
• | outlining our decision-making approach related to executive compensation; and |
• | describing the elements and rationale behind our compensation programs and awards for 2013, as well as additional enhancements for 2014. |
Overview
The Compensation Committee oversees Activision Blizzard’s compensation plans and policies, approves compensation for our executive officers and administers our stock compensation plans. This Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes our executive compensation philosophy and programs during 2013, as well as compensation-related actions taken during the year for our named executive officers:
• | Robert A. Kotick, our President and Chief Executive Officer; |
• | Dennis Durkin, our Chief Financial Officer; |
• | Thomas Tippl, our Chief Operating Officer; |
• | Michael Morhaime, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Blizzard Entertainment, one of our two principal operating units; and |
• | Chris B. Walther, our Chief Legal Officer. |
Financial Highlights
2013 was a transformational year for the Company and for our industry. The significant reduction in Vivendi’s ownership returned the Company to independence (see “2008 Combination of Activision and Vivendi Games and 2013 Vivendi Share Repurchase Transaction” below). Meanwhile, amidst the turbulence of a console transition in our industry, we still achieved strong financial performance. For example:
• | We generated GAAP revenues of $4.58 billion and non-GAAP revenues of $4.34 billion. |
• | Our non-GAAP net revenues from digital channels(1) accounted for a record 36% of our total non-GAAP net revenues. |
• | Our 2013 GAAP operating margin was 30% and our non-GAAP operating margin was 31%. |
• | We delivered GAAP and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $0.95 and $0.94, respectively. |
• | We generated operating cash flow of over $1.26 billion. |
• | For 2013, we delivered TSR (through stock price appreciation and dividend payments) of over 70% and significantly outperformed the NASDAQ Composite for the same time period (which, inclusive of dividend reinvestment, was 40%). |
(1) | Net revenues from digital online channel represents revenues from subscriptions and memberships, licensing royalties, value-added services, downloadable content, digitally distributed products and wireless devices. |
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Business Highlights
Our strong financial performance was driven by our operational execution during 2013, including(1):
• | In North America and Europe combined, Activision Publishing was the #1 console and handheld publisher for the calendar year with the #2 and #3 best-selling franchises—Call of Duty and Skylanders, including toys and accessories. |
• | In North America and Europe combined, including toys and accessories, Activision Publishing had four of the top 10 titles overall. |
• | For the fourth quarter, in aggregate across all platforms in the U.S. and Europe combined, Activision Publishing’s Call of Duty: Ghosts was the #1 best-selling title in both units and dollars and the #1 best-selling game on the next generation PS4 and Xbox One console platforms in both units and dollars. Additionally, for the calendar year, Call of Duty: Black Ops II was the #9 best-selling title in both units and dollars. |
• | In North America and Europe combined, Skylanders Giants, including toys and accessories, was the #4 best-selling handheld and console game in dollars overall and Skylanders SWAP Force, including toys and accessories, was the #6 best-selling handheld and console game in dollars overall. |
• | As of December 31, 2013, the Skylanders franchise had generated, life to date, more than $2 billion in worldwide retail sales, including toys and accessories, and Activision had sold approximately 175 million Skylanders toys worldwide. |
• | In North America, Blizzard Entertainment’s StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm was the #1 best-selling PC game. |
• | As of December 31, 2013, Blizzard Entertainment’s World of Warcraft remained the #1 subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game (i.e., MMORPG) in the world, with approximately 7.8 million subscribers(2). |
In addition, the transactions described in the Vivendi Share Purchase Agreement were consummated on October 11, 2013. As of December 31, 2013, approximately 64% of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock were publicly held.
(1) | According to The NPD Group, GfK Chart-Track and Activision Blizzard internal estimates, as the case may be. |
(2) | World of Warcraft subscribers include individuals who have paid a subscription fee or have an active prepaid card to play World of Warcraft, as well as those who have purchased the game and are within their free month of access. Internet Game Room players who have accessed the game over the last thirty days are also counted as subscribers. The above definition excludes all players under free promotional subscriptions, expired or cancelled subscriptions, and expired prepaid cards. Subscribers in licensees' territories are defined along the same rules. |
Three-Year Financial Performance Metrics
(1) | For information on the calculation and reconciliation of GAAP measures to non-GAAP measures, see Appendix A attached to this proxy statement. Non-GAAP measures exclude, as applicable: the impact of the change in deferred net revenues and related cost of sales with respect to certain of our online-enabled games; expenses related to stock-based compensation; expenses related to restructuring; the amortization of intangibles and impairment of intangible assets and goodwill from purchase price accounting; fees and other expenses related to the Vivendi Share Repurchase Transaction and related debt financings; and the tax adjustments associated with any of the aforementioned items. |
(2) | Free cash flow represents operating cash flow minus capital expenditures. |
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Rewarding Exceptional Performance
Our exceptional performance during 2013 is a direct result of the focused and disciplined approach followed by our top leadership prior to and during the year, including continued investment in our established franchises, like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft, selectively introducing new concepts, like Skylanders and Hearthstone, and managing our costs prudently.
The following illustrates the directional relationship between the Company’s 2013 performance, as measured by three of our key financial metrics, and the 2013 CAIP payments awarded to our executive officers, as compared to the range of potential payments:
(1) | Maximum payout potential as a percent of target as shown above represents the maximum bonus an executive may receive under the CAIP. The total maximum payable under the 2008 Plan is $10,000,000 per executive. |
(2) | For purposes of determining payments under the CAIP for 2013 in respect of the free cash flow measure, the actual achievement was capped at 150% of target. |
(3) | The actual payout potential as a percent of target shown above for our chief executive officer, Mr. Kotick, represents the amount of his bonus specifically related to performance measured against his 2013 CAIP opportunity. In recognition of the Company’s strong performance during 2013 and Mr. Kotick’s significant contributions to the Company during the year, the Compensation Committee awarded an additional $3,250,000 to Mr. Kotick under the 2008 Plan, resulting in a total bonus payment to him that represented 187% of his CAIP target. |
Executive Compensation Program Summary
Our employees are our most valuable asset. Our industry is intensely competitive and constantly evolving. Our executives and many of our highly skilled employees are often sought after by our competitors, both established and new. As such, it is necessary for us to offer highly competitive total compensation, including equity awards, to attract, retain and motivate our employees.
Our compensation philosophy, including our use of equity awards, has allowed us to recruit, retain and motivate the best talent in our industry, as evidenced by our performance. We aim to incentivize our executives to drive corporate financial performance by basing a significant portion of their compensation on achieving financial and individual strategic targets. Our executive compensation program, designed to be consistent with that philosophy, has three primary components: (1) base salary; (2) annual cash incentives; and (3) equity awards, including stock options and time- and performance-based vesting restricted share units. Please see “—Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program for 2013” below. Highlights of our executive compensation program for 2013 are as follows:
• | Base Salary. Base salary levels for our named executive officers were increased by 4.0% to 5.0% during the 2013 annual review of executive base salaries, reflecting individual performance and the Compensation Committee’s assessment of the competitive market. In addition, Messrs. Tippl and Walther each received a base salary increase in December and June, respectively, in connection with an extension of the term of his employment agreement, Please see “—Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program for 2013—Salary” below. | |
• | Annual Cash Incentives and Other Performance-Based Bonuses. | |
– | Annual cash incentives under our Corporate Annual Incentive Plan (i.e., the CAIP) paid to our named executive officers for the year ranged between 93% and 113% of target as a result of performance measured against the goals established by the Compensation Committee. For each of our named executive officers, 60% of his target opportunity under the CAIP was weighted based on financial measures (specifically, operating income, earnings per share and/ or free cash flow) and 40% of his target opportunity was based on individual measures that the Compensation Committee believed supported the overall Company strategy and the officer’s business unit objectives for the year. Please see “—Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program for 2013—Corporate Annual Incentive Plan and Other Performance-Based Bonuses” below. | |
– | In accordance with his employment agreement, Mr. Morhaime received an award for 2013 under the Morhaime Profit Sharing Plan. Please see “—Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program for 2013—Corporate Annual Incentive Plan and Other Performance-Based Bonuses” below. | |
– | In addition to the amount of Mr. Kotick’s bonus specifically related to his performance measured against his 2013 CAIP opportunity, in recognition of the Company’s strong performance during 2013 and Mr. Kotick’s significant contributions to the Company during the year, the Compensation Committee elected to pay him an additional performance-based bonus of $3,250,000, resulting in an aggregate bonus payment to him under the 2008 Plan of $7,849,190. Please |
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see “—Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program for 2013—Other Cash Bonus Programs or Awards for 2013” below. |
• | Additional Bonuses. In accordance with his employment agreement, Mr. Morhaime also received an award for 2013 under the Blizzard Bonus Plan. In addition, for 2013, the Compensation Committee awarded each of Messrs. Durkin, Tippl and Walther a special bonus in recognition of work undertaken in connection with the transactions described in the Vivendi Share Purchase Agreement and its ancillary agreements. |
• | Long-Term Incentive Awards. By providing one-time, “upfront” equity grants with target values based upon the term of the executive’s employment agreement, we intend to secure long-term commitments from our executives in support of our multi-year business growth strategy. In determining the estimated grant value of these equity grants, values are typically targeted such that, when combined with base salary and annual cash incentives, annualized total compensation approximates the 75th percentile when compared to our peer group and other applicable benchmarks. Please see “—Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program for 2013—Long-Term Incentives” and “—Decision-Making Approach to Compensation for Executive Officers—Use of Compensation Surveys and Peer Company Data” below. Consistent with those principles, Mr. Walther received equity awards during 2013 in conjunction with his amended employment agreement. Our named executive officers do not generally receive annual grants of equity, with the exception of Mr. Morhaime, whose employment agreement provides for such grants, consistent with the equity plan in which he participated at Vivendi Games prior to the Combination. Please see “—Employment Agreements” below. The Company views the value of these upfront equity grants on an annualized basis over the life of the employment agreement when evaluating an executive’s total compensation. |
Compensation Best Practices
We continue to implement and maintain best practices in our executive compensation programs and policies. These practices include:
• | Performance-Based Vesting—We generally include performance-based vesting conditions for a significant portion of the equity awards granted to our senior officers. |
• | Multi-Year Vesting of Equity Awards—We grant equity awards to our executive officers that vest over multiple years. |
• | No Guaranteed Incentive Bonuses—The Compensation Committee exercises discretion in determining final award payments under the CAIP, and no bonuses are paid if a minimum financial objective is not achieved. |
• | Balanced Incentive Goals—We use short-term incentives that generally include both financial and strategic targets. |
• | Two-Tier Approval for Incentive Awards—We generally require at least two levels of approval for incentive awards (i.e., management and our Compensation Committee). |
• | Stock Ownership Guidelines—We have stock ownership guidelines for our executive officers. |
• | Formal Risk Management Programs—We maintain strong internal controls, governance and review structures, as well as formal risk-management programs. |
• | No Hedging of Company Stock—We prohibit our employees from directly or indirectly “shorting” our securities, engaging in “put” or “call” or other “hedging” transactions involving our stock or establishing or using a margin account with a broker-dealer to trade our securities (although we waived that prohibition for Messrs. Kotick and Kelly for the limited purpose of the acquisition, holding and pledge of any shares acquired in connection with the ASAC Private Sale). |
• | Clawback Policy on Variable Pay—In the event of an earnings restatement, we may “claw back” performance-based compensation (including both annual and long-term incentive awards) paid to executives. |
• | No Stock Option Repricing—The 2008 Plan and 2014 Plan both prohibit the repricing of “underwater” equity awards. |
• | Independent Consultant Reporting Directly to Compensation Committee—The Compensation Committee engages the services of an independent executive compensation consultant that has no other relationship with the Company or its management. |
• | Peer Group Review—The Compensation Committee frequently monitors our peer group to ensure it continues to reflect an appropriate mix of the industry segments in which we compete, or plan to compete, for key talent. |
Business Environment and Associated Talent Requirements
We operate in the entertainment software industry, which sits at the convergence of the entertainment and leisure, technology and consumer packaged goods sectors. Our industry features a number of characteristics, including:
• | a dependence on a relatively small number of titles for a disproportionate level of revenues and profits relative to other games sold; |
• | rising costs of development, partially due to increasingly complex technological requirements; |
• | an increasing importance on building and growing key franchises with sustained game quality; and |
• | a global consumer base that wants entertainment content delivered through an increasingly varied range of distribution channels, including digital. |
We believe our success in this fast-changing business environment requires executive talent with the following characteristics:
• | significant global experience managing complex brands and franchises; |
• | an in-depth knowledge of sophisticated strategies and operational models in the digital and entertainment segments; and |
• | an aptitude for, and experience in, managing entertainment and technology products and talent in a rapidly changing, high-risk environment. |
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Finding top executives with these characteristics requires recruitment of executives from a variety of industries, including larger and more mature industries, as well as entertainment and leisure, technology and consumer packaged goods companies.
Compensation Philosophy and Objectives
To respond to these requirements for top executive talent, the Compensation Committee has established the following philosophy and objectives for the compensation of our executive officers:
What We Do | |
Focus on Pay for Performance—Annual and long-term incentive awards should be linked to financial performance of the Company, incentivizing executives to drive corporate performance. | |
Create Clearly Defined Short- and Long-Term Goals Aligned with Our Strategy—Performance goals, both short- and long-term, should be clearly defined to provide clear alignment between our business strategy, financial results and incentive payments. | |
Align Compensation with Stockholder Interests—A substantial portion of the compensation opportunity should be variable, linked to performance that is intended to increase stockholder value, and be payable in stock, so that executive compensation is aligned with the interests of stockholders. | |
Use Publicly Available Data in Computing Compensation—Only publicly reported metrics should be utilized in the assessment of short- and long-term financial performance goals, to ensure a fair and accurate assessment of those goals. | |
Use Employment Agreements to Attract and Retain Key Executive Talent—Employment agreements are an important element of attracting and retaining executive talent. | |
Offer Competitive Total Compensation—Compensation should reflect the competitive talent market from which we recruit. For executives, total direct compensation is targeted at approximately the 75th percentile of the applicable market data, including our peer group, to attract, retain and motivate the highest caliber talent, as well as to reward outstanding performance. | |
Recognize Exceptional Company and Individual Performance—Our Compensation Committee should retain the discretion to award one-time awards to executives for recognition of exceptional Company and individual performance. | |
Use an Independent Compensation Consultant—Our Compensation Committee should receive advice and analysis regarding executive compensation from a consultant that is independent and performs no other work for the Company. | |
Maximize the Tax Deductibility of Compensation—We should generally strive to preserve the tax deductibility of the compensation paid to our executives. |
What We Don’t Do | |
Frequently Replace Management Team—Entering into employment agreements with each of our executive officers encourages long-term and invested relationships between them and the Company. | |
Put Our Executives Before Our Stockholders—Executive compensation that is variably linked to the performance of the Company helps to align the goals and interests of executive officers and stockholders. | |
Incentivize Excessive Risk Taking—Performance goals linked to our executive compensation do not encourage or incentivize excessive risk taking or risk exposure. | |
Use Arbitrary Performance Metrics—We do not use arbitrary or unreliable measurements of performance in assessing performance-based executive compensation. | |
Make Biased Compensation Decisions—Reviewing our executive and director compensation plans with an independent consultant introduces an unbiased and professional perspective on executive compensation. |
As noted above, we believe that having employment agreements with our named executive officers is critical in enabling us to attract and retain talent in a highly competitive industry and, as such, we have entered into an employment agreement with each of them. The employment agreements specify base salary, any minimum annual salary increase, annual incentive targets and long-term incentive awards, and include provisions regarding the consequences of termination of employment and restrictive covenants, including non-competition and non-solicitation provisions. The terms of each of these agreements have been approved by the Compensation Committee, which utilized its judgment to determine the appropriate amount and form of compensation and other terms of employment necessary to recruit, retain and motivate the executive, based in part upon the negotiations with the executive. Please see “—Employment Agreements” below for further information about these agreements.
Our named executive officers receive one-time “upfront” equity grants in connection with their hire and with a promotion or any contract amendment or renewal. The Company views the value of these upfront equity grants on an annualized basis over the life of the employment agreement when evaluating an executive’s total compensation. The annualized value of each such equity grant is, when combined with base salary and target annual incentives, intended to provide a total compensation package that generally targets the 75th percentile versus our peer group and any applicable survey data. These equity grants generally vest ratably over the contract term or upon attainment of specified performance objectives, which we believe provides our executives with a more significant equity position up front, enhancing retention and allowing the executives to benefit from any stock price appreciation throughout their tenure. Our named executive officers do not generally receive additional grants of equity, although Mr. Morhaime’s employment agreement provides for annual equity grants, consistent with the equity plan in which he participated at Vivendi Games prior to the Combination. Please see “—Employment Agreements” below for further information about these equity awards.
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Decision-Making Approach to Compensation for Executive Officers
Decisions regarding compensation for our executive officers are generally at the sole discretion of our Compensation Committee. To help inform these decisions, the Compensation Committee regularly reviews materials and advice provided by our management and external compensation consultants.
Scope of Authority of the Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee’s responsibilities include:
• | reviewing and approving our compensation philosophy and all compensation programs applicable to executive officers who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act and employees whose targeted annual cash compensation exceeds $2,000,000 per year; | |
• | establishing and evaluating the Company’s long-term strategy for employee compensation; | |
• | reviewing and approving our Chief Executive Officer’s corporate goals, evaluating his or her performance and determining his or her compensation; | |
• | annually reviewing the compensation payable to our Board of Directors; | |
• | administering our long-term incentive and equity incentive plans, including: | |
– | participating in the establishment of equity grant guidelines and overall pool size; and | |
– | approving all equity awards; | |
• | reviewing and approving executive officer employment and severance agreements; and | |
• | reviewing our potential risk related to compensation programs and policies. |
For additional information regarding the Compensation Committee, see “Corporate Governance Matters—Board of Directors and Committees—Compensation Committee” above.
Role of Executive Officers in Compensation Decisions
While the Compensation Committee has the ultimate authority to determine our compensation philosophy, it regularly consults with our senior management, both with respect to our business strategies and operational goals and plans and with respect to specific compensation decisions. As such, topics of discussion between management and the Compensation Committee typically include, but are not limited to, recommendations on effective types of incentive rewards and the individual performance of our executives. For 2013, the Compensation Committee consulted with our named executive officers, as well our Chief Strategy and Talent Officer, Mr. Sakhnini, and our Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary, Jeffrey Brown, in formulating compensation programs and plans.
Role of Compensation Consultants in Compensation Decisions
Pursuant to the Compensation Committee’s charter, the Compensation Committee may engage compensation consultants to help formulate director and executive compensation, and to assist the Compensation Committee in performing its other responsibilities. The retention and, where appropriate, termination of any such consultant is at the Compensation Committee’s sole discretion, and such decisions are made without the participation of any executive officer. The Compensation Committee retained Frederic W. Cook & Co. Inc. (“Cook”) from 2009 until the consummation of the transactions described in the Vivendi Share Purchase Agreement. Since the Vivendi Share Repurchase Transaction, the Compensation Committee has retained the firm which provided advice to the special committee of our Board formed in connection with that transaction—Exequity LLP (“Exequity” and, together with Cook, the “Compensation Consultants”). The Compensation Committee engages its Compensation Consultants for advice on the appropriateness and competitiveness of our executive and director compensation programs.
In connection with the engagement of each Compensation Consultant, the Committee assessed whether any potential conflicts of interest existed with the Compensation Consultant, using the following factors: other services, if any, the Compensation Consultant provided to us; the significance of the fees paid by us as a percentage of the Compensation Consultant’s total revenue; the Compensation Consultant’s policies and procedures designed to prevent conflicts of interest; any business or personal relationships between the Compensation Consultant’s professionals engaged to advise our Compensation Committee and the members of our Compensation Committee; ownership of any Company stock by the Compensation Consultant professionals engaged to advise the Company; and any business or personal relationships between the Compensation Consultant professionals engaged to advise our Compensation Committee and our executive officers. Based on the evaluation of these factors, including information received from the Compensation Consultant addressing these factors, the Committee concluded that each of Cook’s and Exequity’s service to the Committee did not raise any conflicts of interest.
The Compensation Consultant professionals engaged to advise the Company report directly to the Compensation Committee and regularly attend Compensation Committee meetings. In addition, those professionals frequently meet, and consult, with the members of the Compensation Committee, both individually and as a group, outside of formal committee meetings and without the participation of management. Further, at the Compensation Committee’s direction, those professionals interact with our management from time to time in order to obtain information the Compensation Consultant deems necessary for it to form its recommendations to the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Consultant’s work includes presenting third-party data and providing advice and expertise on such issues as director and executive compensation trends, pay programs and pay levels and other emerging “best practices” relating to such compensation. Exequity also analyzes materials provided by management to the Compensation Committee to ensure that they are consistent with the Company’s director and executive compensation philosophies. The Compensation Committee considers the Compensation Consultant’s analyses, along with information and analyses provided by management and its own judgment and experience, in deciding on director and executive compensation matters.
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Factors Considered in Making Compensation Decisions
In general, our senior management and the Compensation Committee evaluate a variety of factors when making compensation decisions for our executive officers, including:
• | the executive’s skill set, experience, historical performance and expected future contributions to the Company; |
• | the potential effect of an executive’s departure if he or she were to leave the Company; |
• | as a reference for internal pay equity, the level of total compensation for our other senior executives; and |
• | to provide a general market reference, compensation data from our peer group and published surveys. |
The Compensation Committee uses the information provided by management and the outside advisors described above to be better informed about Activision Blizzard and the market practices of similar companies. Compensation plans and policies are put into practice through individual agreements with each of our named executive officers, which are approved by the Compensation Committee prior to the underlying hire, renewal or extension. The Compensation Committee generally targets total direct compensation for our executive officers at the 75th percentile of the peer group and relevant survey data at inception of an employment agreement, believing that doing so best enables us to attract, retain and motivate the highest caliber talent. The terms of the employment agreement with each of our named executive officers reflect that philosophy, as well as the Compensation Committee’s independent judgment as to the amount and form of compensation necessary to recruit, retain and motivate that individual given the highly competitive market for executive talent in which we compete.
Use of Compensation Surveys and Peer Company Data
In reviewing the compensation of our executive officers, we annually consult third-party surveys prepared by compensation specialists with respect to companies with comparable revenues, market capitalization, industry focus, number of employees and other similar business-related factors in order to discern broader compensation trends in the market.
During 2013, the surveys we referenced included ones published by Croner and Radford. In addition, we utilized compensation data obtained from SEC filings made by companies among our peer group, discussed in more detail below, including compensation elements of the named executive officers of those companies, company-wide equity usage rates and potential dilution from employee stock awards and stock option grants.
The surveys and peer group data help us understand the industries in which we compete for talent, including, without limitation, gaming, entertainment and leisure, technology and consumer products sectors.
Benchmarking our executive compensation programs and policies against the unique video and computer gaming industry is challenging given the limited number of direct competitors, particularly those which are publicly traded, U.S.-based publishers with respect to which there is information available regarding their executive compensation programs and policies. Additionally, we frequently compete for executive talent with other industries. Therefore, the Compensation Committee has selected a 17-company peer group from across the four industry segments we believe best represent our business model and potential executive talent pool:
• | Gaming—Our core business, the video and computer gaming industry is a niche market in which we directly compete for consumer market share and talent; |
• | Entertainment and Leisure—Generally multinational in nature, the entertainment and leisure industry is one in which we compete for talent and increasingly compete for consumer market share through digital content delivery; |
• | Technology—Generally multinational in nature, the technology industry is one in which we compete for talent; and |
• | Consumer Packaged Goods—Generally multinational in nature, the consumer packaged goods industry is one in which we compete for talent. |
Our peer group represents a diversified yet targeted collection of companies which, like us, operate both in the United States and internationally. In general, our peer group consists of companies with similar levels of annual revenue, but it includes some companies whose revenue levels we have surpassed in recent years and some we strive to surpass in the future. GAAP revenue, in billions, as reported by each such company for its most recently ended fiscal year is shown below:
Gaming | Entertainment and Leisure | Technology | Consumer Packaged Goods | |||
Electronic Arts, Inc. ($3.8) | CBS Corporation ($15.3) | Adobe Systems, Inc. ($4.1) | The Clorox Company ($5.6) | |||
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. ($1.2) | Discovery Communications, Inc. ($5.5) | CA, Inc. ($4.6) | ||||
Zynga, Inc. ($0.9) | Hasbro, Inc. ($4.1) | eBay, Inc. ($16.0) | ||||
Mattel, Inc. ($6.5) | Intuit, Inc. ($4.2) | |||||
Netflix, Inc. ($4.4) | Salesforce.com, Inc. ($4.1) | |||||
Viacom, Inc. ($13.8) | Symantec Corporation ($6.9) | |||||
Yahoo! Inc. ($4.7) | ||||||
Segment Average: $2.0 | Segment Average: $8.3 | Segment Average: $6.4 | Segment Average: $5.6 |
Our 2013 GAAP revenues of $4.6 billion approximate the 50th percentile among these peer group companies.
Our management and Compensation Committee continue to monitor our peer group as our business model and potential talent pool evolves, to ensure the companies to which we reference continue to reflect an appropriate mix of the industry segments in which we compete, or plan to compete, for key talent. The most recent change to the peer group was during March 2012, in which the decision was made to include Zynga, Inc. following its initial public offering in December 2011. Prior to that, the peer group we had utilized since December 2008
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was revised in November 2011 to decrease the focus on consumer packaged goods companies and increase the focus on technology and entertainment and leisure companies. Our peer group was selected with the assistance of, and is reviewed by, the Compensation Committee’s independent compensation consultant.
While the peer group provides the Compensation Committee with an important frame of reference, the Compensation Committee, as it determines appropriate, considers the compensation practices of other companies with which we compete directly for executive talent. Furthermore, we evaluate broader industry trends and practices to determine the appropriate elements of compensation and the effective design of each element.
2013 Advisory Vote to Approve the Company’s Executive Compensation
At our 2013 annual meeting of stockholders, approximately 74% of the votes cast were cast FOR the advisory approved of the compensation of our executive officers named in the “Summary Compensation Table” in the proxy statement for that meeting. We attribute this support to the best practices we maintain as part of our executive compensation programs and policies, including those described under “—Overview—Compensation Best Practices”. Although our annual say-on-pay stockholder vote is advisory, rather than binding, the Compensation Committee values this constructive feedback from our stockholders. We considered the outcome of the 2013 vote when making compensation decisions for our executive officers, and will continue to consider that vote and the outcome of future advisory votes, as well as other feedback received from our stockholders throughout the year, when making such decisions in the future.
Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program for 2013
An overview of the elements of our executive compensation program and their purpose is summarized below. Not all of these elements are applicable to all named executive officers.
Compensation Element | Purpose | Principal Actions for 2013 | ||
Salary | Compensate for day-to-day responsibilities. | Salaries increased 4%-5% as a result of the annual review process. | ||
Annual bonus—e.g., Corporate Annual Incentive Plan | Drive annual corporate and business unit financial results, as well as individual contributions toward strategic initiatives. | Financial metrics for NEOs included profitability and free cash flow measures. NEOs received CAIP-related payouts ranging between 93% and 113% of target. | ||
Long-term incentives (stock options and restricted share awards) | Create alignment with stockholders, drive long-term stockholder value and promote employee retention. | None of our NEOs received an equity grant, except for Mr. Walther, who received a one-time “upfront grant” in connection with the extension of his employment agreement and Mr. Morhaime who also receives annual grants of equity, consistent with the equity plan in which he participated at Vivendi Games prior to the Combination. | ||
Health and welfare benefits; perquisites | Provide modest supplemental benefits to attract key talent. | NEOs participated in generally the same benefits programs we make available to all of our employees and received limited perquisites. | ||
Retirement payments/benefits | Provide modest supplemental post-retirement benefits to attract key talent. | NEOs participated in the 401(k) plan we offer to all other employees | ||
Limited change of control and termination of employment payments/benefits | Ensure balanced assessment of, and contribution to, merger and acquisition activity and fair treatment in the event of termination. | No actions triggered a termination payment for any NEOs. No NEOs other than Mr. Kotick have change of control protection; Mr. Kotick waived any rights to payments, benefits and equity vesting in relation to the Vivendi Share Repurchase Transaction in 2013. |
Collectively, salary compensation and annual bonuses are generally referred to as “cash compensation”, while cash compensation plus the annualized value of long-term incentive awards are generally referred to as “total direct compensation”.
In addition to the compensation elements described above, Mr. Morhaime also participates in the Blizzard Bonus Plan and a Blizzard profit-sharing program under the 2008 Plan (the “Morhaime Profit Sharing Plan”), each of which are described in more detail below. The Blizzard Bonus Plan provides Mr. Morhaime with an annual discretionary payment and the Morhaime Profit Sharing Plan provides Mr. Morhaime with a share of Blizzard Entertainment’s operating profit, and each thereby provide him with a meaningful incentive to continue to drive the profitability of the Blizzard Entertainment operating unit. Further, to reward his or her exceptional performance, our Compensation Committee may award an executive officer an additional bonus. As described below, for 2013 the Committee awarded Mr. Kotick an additional performance-based bonus under the 2008 Plan and awarded discretionary bonuses to Messrs. Durkin, Tippl and Walther.
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Salary
As noted above, each of our named executive officers is party to an employment agreement with us which specifies, among other things, such executive’s initial salary and any guaranteed minimum annual salary increase. Aside from any guaranteed minimum requirements, salary increases are generally only provided to executive officers upon:
• | hire or entry into a new or revised employment agreement with the Company or one if its subsidiaries, or |
• | in connection with our annual review of executive base salaries, where increases are determined based on performance during the previous fiscal year, with reference to competitive market data and salaries of our other executives for internal pay equity purposes. |
As it does each year, in March 2014, the Compensation Committee reviewed a competitive target compensation assessment for each executive officer using our peer group and survey data to evaluate the competitiveness of our executive compensation program and potential base salary increases for 2014. For information about our peer group, see “—Use of Compensation Surveys and Peer Company Data” above. After considering each executive’s performance during 2013 and the target total compensation for each of our senior executives vis-à-vis the market data, the Compensation Committee established 2014 annual base salary rates for our named executive officers. The table below reflects the salaries approved for 2014, along with the salaries during 2013 and any increases to which the executives are entitled under their contracts:
Salary | Salary | Increase per | ||||||||||||||||
Salary on | as Adjusted | Approved | 2014 Annual | |||||||||||||||
Name | 1/1/2013 | During 2013(1) | for 2014(1) | Review(1) | Contractual Entitlement | |||||||||||||
Robert A. Kotick | $ | 2,100,000 | (2) | — | (2) | $ | 2,188,200 (eff. 1/1/14) | (2) | 4.2 | % | Minimum of avg. increase of executive team (excluding increases in connection with promotions and contract guarantees) | |||||||
Dennis Durkin | $ | 650,000 | $ | 682,500 | $ | 716,625 | 5.0 | % | Not less than 5% per year | |||||||||
Thomas Tippl | $ | 937,125 | $ $ | 983,981 (eff. 2/15/13) 1,250,000 (eff. 12/5/13) | (3) (4) | $ | 1,250,000 (eff. 12/5/13) | (4) | n/a | Minimum of avg. increase of executive team (excluding increases in connection with promotions and contract guarantees) | ||||||||
Michael Morhaime | $ | 830,168 | $ | 863,375 | $ | 887,118 | 2.75 | % | None | |||||||||
Chris B. Walther | $ | 561,750 | $ | 589,838 | $ | 648,270 | (6) | 2.9 | %(6) | None | ||||||||
$ | 630,000 | |||||||||||||||||
(eff. 6/1/13) | (5) |
(1) | Except as otherwise noted for Messrs. Kotick, Tippl and Walther, the increases to base salary for all other named executive officers for 2013 were each effective on March 3, 2013 and for 2014 were each effective on March 2, 2014, in each case following our annual review of executive base salaries. |
(2) | Mr. Kotick’s annual base salary for any year is determined in March, in connection with our annual review of executive base salaries, but, in accordance with his employment agreement, the increases to that base salary are retroactively effective to January 1st of the year. |
(3) | Mr. Tippl’s annual base salary was determined in March, in connection with our annual review of executive base salaries, but, in accordance with his employment agreement, the increase to that base salary was retroactively effective to February 15th. |
(4) | In accordance with his employment agreement, as amended in December 2013, Mr. Tippl’s annual base salary was increased by 27% effective as of December 5, 2013 and, beginning in 2015, will be increased in connection with the annual review of executive base salaries. |
(5) | Mr. Walther’s base salary was increased by 6.8% effective June 1, 2013 in accordance with the July 2013 amendment of his employment agreement. |
(6) | Mr. Walther received a 2.9% increase in connection with our annual review of executive base salaries, which was intended to represent a 5.0% increase, pro-rated to account for the contractual increase he received effective June 1, 2013. |
The Compensation Committee may, at its discretion, further adjust the salary of any of our named executive officers at any time.
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Corporate Annual Incentive Plan (i.e., the CAIP) and Other Performance-Based Bonuses
2013 Incentive Opportunities under the CAIP. For 2013, the Compensation Committee established the following minimum, target and maximum payment opportunities for each of our named executive officers under the CAIP. In setting the target levels, the Compensation Committee considered any requirements set forth in the applicable employment agreements, competitive market data, our desired pay mix and the compensation levels of our other senior executives. If a named executive officer satisfied (but did not exceed) all performance goals, the executive officer was eligible to receive a payment equal to his target payment, although the Compensation Committee retained the discretion to reduce award payments. While payments under the CAIP are based upon actual performance and earnings for the year, for 2013 they could have ranged as follows:
2013 Corporate Annual Incentive Plan Payout Opportunity (% of Salary) | ||||||||||||
Name | Minimum | Target(1) | Maximum(2) | |||||||||
Robert A. Kotick | 0 | % | 200 | % | 311 | % | ||||||
Dennis Durkin | 0 | % | 100 | % | 156 | % | ||||||
Thomas Tippl | 0 | % | 122 | %(3) | 190 | % | ||||||
Michael Morhaime | 0 | % | 27 | %(4) | 43 | % | ||||||
Chris B. Walther | 0 | % | 75 | % | 118 | % |
(1) | To qualify the payments to our executives under the CAIP for 2013 for tax deductibility, while retaining flexibility to make downward adjustments to reflect each executive’s actual performance, the awards were structured so that there was a single performance objective which, if met or exceeded, would result in the payment of a bonus to each executive of the maximum allowed under the 2008 Plan, subject to the Compensation Committee’s use of negative discretion. That is, if our 2013 operating income was at least 75% of the target operating income for the year set forth in the annual operating plan approved by our Board for that year (such plan for any given year, the “AOP”), the bonus to be paid to each executive would be $10,000,000 less the amount of any other “senior executive plan bonus” within the meaning of the 2008 Plan that was paid or to be paid to that person for 2013, subject to the Compensation Committee’s use of negative discretion to reduce or eliminate that bonus. The Compensation Committee, when approving the 2013 CAIP opportunities, expressed an intent to reduce or eliminate all such bonuses if our 2013 operating income was not 85% or more of the target operating income for the year set forth in the 2013 AOP and to reduce the bonus for any executive officer to the amount to which he or she would be entitled under the CAIP given the relative achievement of the financial and individual strategic goals established with respect to his bonus under the CAIP. |
(2) | The maximum percentages of salary vary for each executive based on the target opportunity as a percent of salary, mix of measures, weightings and maximum payment with respect to each performance measure under the 2013 CAIP. Maximum payment under the CAIP as a percent of target for each measure is shown in the tables below; the maximum payment under the 2008 Plan for each executive is $10,000,000. |
(3) | Mr. Tippl’s target CAIP opportunity for 2013 of 122% of his salary represents the weighted average of the 120% target he had prior to December 5, 2013 and the 150% target he had thereafter pursuant to the December 2013 amendment to his employment agreement. Please see “—Employment Agreements—Thomas Tippl—Employment Agreement” below. |
(4) | In accordance with his employment agreement, Mr. Morhaime’s target CAIP opportunity is 27% of his salary. In addition to being eligible for a CAIP bonus, Mr. Morhaime is also eligible to participate in the Blizzard Bonus Plan and the Morhaime Profit Sharing Plan, both of which are discussed in more detail below (see “—Other Cash Bonus Programs or Awards for 2013” below). |
2013 Performance Goals. Our Compensation Committee established the financial and individual strategic performance goals based on the 2013 AOP. For our named executive officers, 60% of their target opportunity under the CAIP for 2013 was weighted on measures of profitability and free cash flow. We believe that profitability and free cash flow are robust indicators of our overall performance, capturing fluctuations in sales as well as operating costs, and, as such, provide incentives to our executives to achieve goals that contribute to increasing stockholder value. Other measures we considered but excluded when initially designing the CAIP included revenue, excluded because it does not capture operating costs, and TSR, excluded because it is already a focus of our long-term incentive plan. Forty percent of the target opportunity for each named executive officer under the CAIP for 2013 was based on individual measures that supported our overall strategy and the officer’s business unit’s objectives for the year, such as successful product launches, controlling costs and strategic hiring decisions, as well as good corporate citizenship. These performance goals were reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee based on each named executive officer’s responsibilities and oversight. We believe that the specific goals chosen required significant profitability, demanded superior performance from our management team and were selected to drive accountability for Activision Blizzard and/or applicable business units for each executive. We believe that disclosing specific, non-quantitative corporate objectives for the year could affect us adversely by, for example, providing confidential information on business operations and forward-looking strategic plans to our customers and competitors that could result in substantial competitive harm. Therefore, a brief description and the weighting of each goal for each of our named executive officers for 2013 are shown herein (see “—Resulting 2013 Payments” below).
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Achievement of Metrics Underlying 2013 Financial Goals. The achievement of the financial performance goals relevant to the bonuses of our named executive officers under the CAIP for 2013 are set forth below:
Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures(1) | Performance Goals and Actual Results | |||||||||||
(dollars in millions, except share-based amounts) | Goal(2) | Actual Results | Achievement | |||||||||
Activision Blizzard Operating Income | $ | 1,278.9 | $ | 1,355.0 | 106 | % | ||||||
Activision Blizzard Diluted Earnings Per Share(3) | $ | 0.80 | $ | 0.94 | 118 | % | ||||||
Activision Blizzard Free Cash Flow(4) | $ | 798.0 | $ | 1,248.0 | 156 | (5)% | ||||||
Blizzard Entertainment Adjusted Operating Income(6) | $ | 482.3 | $ | 375.7 | 78 | % |
(1) | The corporate performance measures used in the CAIP are non-GAAP financial measures. An explanation of how these measures were calculated is provided in the following footnotes. Non-GAAP operating income measures exclude, as applicable: the impact of the change in deferred net revenues and related cost of sales with respect to certain of our online-enabled games; expenses related to stock-based payments; expenses related to restructuring; the amortization of intangibles and impairment of intangible assets and goodwill; and the tax benefits adjustments associated with any of the aforementioned items. For additional information on the reconciliation of GAAP measures to non-GAAP measures, see Appendix A attached to this proxy statement. |
(2) | For purposes of determining CAIP performance, financial goals may, at the discretion of the Compensation Committee, exclude the impact of any extraordinary transaction (i.e., non-recurring corporate transaction or legal expense matter which results in expenses exceeding $10,000,000 for the year). No such adjustments were made for 2013. |
(3) | Activision Blizzard diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing non-GAAP net income by weighted average diluted shares. |
(4) | Activision Blizzard free cash flow is an internal measure calculated by subtracting year-over-year cash changes related to working capital (excluding certain one-time items for the period) and capital expenditures from the Company’s non-GAAP net income (excluding the after-tax effect of interest and other income/expense). |
(5) | For purposes of determining payments under the CAIP for 2013 in respect of the free cash flow measure, the maximum payment that could be achieved was 150% of target. |
(6) | Blizzard Entertainment adjusted operating income represents an internal measure calculated by adding back to the Blizzard Entertainment operating income (as disclosed in Note 14 in our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 filed with the SEC on March 3, 2014 (our “2013 10-K”)) certain corporate costs allocated to the Blizzard Entertainment segment. |
Resulting 2013 Payments under the CAIP. For 2013, the threshold level of 85% of target Activision Blizzard operating income required to fund the CAIP was attained and, as such, our named executive officers were each eligible for a bonus based on his performance. The following table shows the weighting, expressed as a percentage, assigned to each of the performance measures underlying each named executive officer’s bonus opportunity under the CAIP for 2013 and the maximum and actual payment as a percentage of the target.
Maximum | Resulting CAIP | |||||||||||
CAIP Payment | Performance | |||||||||||
Name/Measure | Weight | (As Percentage of Target) | (As Percentage of Target) | |||||||||
Robert A. Kotick | ||||||||||||
Activision Blizzard Diluted Earnings Per Share | 35 | % | 200 | % | 118 | % | ||||||
Activision Blizzard Free Cash Flow | 25 | 150 | 150 | |||||||||
Focus on Franchises | 35 | 120 | 71 | |||||||||
Corporate Sustainability | 5 | 120 | 120 | |||||||||
TOTAL | 100 | % | 156 | % | 110 | % | ||||||
Dennis Durkin | ||||||||||||
Activision Blizzard Diluted Earnings Per Share | 35 | % | 200 | % | 118 | % | ||||||
Activision Blizzard Free Cash Flow | 25 | 150 | 150 | |||||||||
Focus on Franchises | 10 | 120 | 0 | |||||||||
Risk Management and Cost Savings | 20 | 120 | 115 | |||||||||
Organizational Development | 5 | 120 | 110 | |||||||||
Corporate Sustainability | 5 | 120 | 120 | |||||||||
TOTAL | 100 | % | 156 | % | 113 | % | ||||||
Thomas Tippl | ||||||||||||
Activision Blizzard Diluted Earnings Per Share | 35 | % | 200 | % | 118 | % | ||||||
Activision Blizzard Free Cash Flow | 25 | 150 | 150 | |||||||||
Focus on Franchises | 35 | 120 | 71 | |||||||||
Corporate Sustainability | 5 | 120 | 120 | |||||||||
TOTAL | 100 | % | 156 | % | 110 | % | ||||||
Michael Morhaime | ||||||||||||
Blizzard Entertainment Adjusted Operating Income | 40 | % | 200 | % | 78 | % | ||||||
Activision Blizzard Free Cash Flow | 20 | 150 | 150 | |||||||||
Organizational Development | 10 | 120 | 110 | |||||||||
Focus on Franchises | 25 | 120 | 60 | |||||||||
Corporate Sustainability | 5 | 120 | 120 | |||||||||
TOTAL | 100 | % | 158 | % | 93 | % |
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 51
Maximum | Resulting CAIP | |||||||||||
CAIP Payment | Performance | |||||||||||
Name/Measure | Weight | (As Percentage of Target) | (As Percentage of Target) | |||||||||
Chris B. Walther | ||||||||||||
Activision Blizzard Operating Income | 40 | % | 200 | % | 106 | % | ||||||
Activision Blizzard Free Cash Flow | 20 | 150 | 150 | |||||||||
Patents | 10 | 120 | 0 | |||||||||
Risk Management and Public Policy | 25 | 120 | 120 | |||||||||
Corporate Sustainability | 5 | 120 | 120 | |||||||||
TOTAL | 100 | % | 158 | % | 108 | % |
All CAIP payments were based on actual eligible earnings and the achievement of specified Company and individual performance measures and the weighting thereof.
Target Payment | Actual Payment | Actual Payment | ||||||||||
Name | ($ value) | (as % of target) | ($ value) | |||||||||
Robert A. Kotick | $ | 4,195,385 | 110 | % | $ | 4,599,190 | ||||||
Dennis Durkin | $ | 676,250 | 113 | % | $ | 765,008 | ||||||
Thomas Tippl | $ | 1,209,029 | (1) | 110 | % | $ | 1,325,400 | |||||
Michael Morhaime | $ | 231,387 | 93 | % | $ | 215,558 | ||||||
Chris B. Walther | $ | 455,126 | 108 | % | $ | 493,259 |
(1) | Mr. Tippl’s target payment represents the sum of (a) the 120% target he had prior to December 5, 2013 multiplied by his 2013 earnings through that date and (b) the 150% target he had after December 5, 2013, pursuant to the December 2013 amendment to his employment agreement, multiplied by his 2013 earnings after that date. |
Morhaime Profit Sharing Plan. In addition to the CAIP discussed above, in accordance with his employment agreement, Mr. Morhaime received payments for 2013 under the Morhaime Profit Sharing Plan. The Morhaime Profit Sharing Plan is comparable to the Blizzard Profit Sharing Plan, a program that predates the Combination and provides employees of Blizzard Entertainment with the opportunity to share in the earnings generated by Blizzard Entertainment. In order to maximize the deductibility of those payments as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m), rather than participating directly in the Blizzard Profit Sharing Plan, Mr. Morhaime’s opportunity to receive profit sharing payments is under the 2008 Plan (and is, therefore, known as the “Morhaime Profit Sharing Plan”). The Compensation Committee made the decision to retain a profit sharing component in Mr. Morhaime’s compensation following the Combination due to Mr. Morhaime’s position, as well as our strategic focus on profitability, the prevalent market practice of profit sharing programs in the gaming industry, contractual obligations and our desire to incentivize and reward his contribution to Blizzard Entertainment and Activision Blizzard profits. Under the Morhaime Profit Sharing Plan, Mr. Morhaime is entitled to up to 6% of the “profit sharing pool” established pursuant to the Blizzard Entertainment Profit Sharing Plan. However, the Compensation Committee may exercise negative discretion with respect to his actual annual percentage interest in the pool, subject to a specified minimum percentage. For 2013, Mr. Morhaime received the minimum payment under the Morhaime Profit Sharing Plan.
Other Performance-Based Bonuses for 2013. Since we exceeded the single performance objective established for 2013 bonus awards under the 2008 Plan, each of our named executives officers, including Mr. Kotick, was eligible to receive a bonus of $10,000,000, subject to the Compensation Committee’s use of negative discretion to reduce or eliminate that bonus. The amount of Mr. Kotick’s bonus under the 2008 Plan that was specifically related to his performance measured against his 2013 CAIP opportunity was $4,599,190. In addition, in recognition of the Company’s strong performance during 2013 and Mr. Kotick’s significant contributions to the Company during the year, the Compensation Committee elected to pay him an additional performance-based bonus of $3,250,000 under the 2008 Plan for 2013, resulting in an aggregate bonus payment to Mr. Kotick under the 2008 Plan for the year of $7,849,190. In order to qualify the incremental payment to Mr. Kotick for tax deductibility, the Compensation Committee used its discretion to reduce the bonus payable to Mr. Kotick under the 2008 Plan by a lesser degree.
Other Cash Bonus Programs or Awards for 2013
Special Performance Bonuses. The Compensation Committee awarded a special performance bonus to each of Messrs. Durkin, Tippl and Walther in recognition of his significant contributions to the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions described in the Vivendi Share Purchase Agreement and its ancillary agreements.
Blizzard Bonus Plan. In addition to the CAIP and the Morhaime Profit Sharing Plan discussed above, in accordance with his employment agreement, Mr. Morhaime received payments for 2013 under the Blizzard Bonus Plan. Under the Blizzard Bonus Plan, a Blizzard Entertainment program that, like the Morhaime Profit Sharing Plan, predates the Combination, Mr. Morhaime is eligible to receive an end-of-year bonus, the target amount of which is 37% of his base salary, the minimum of which is 18.5% of his base salary and the actual amount of which is otherwise based on a subjective determination by the Compensation Committee.
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 52
Long-Term Incentives
Philosophy. Our long-term incentive program is intended to drive long-term value creation, create alignment with stockholders’ interests and to encourage retention of key executives. The program consists of stock options, restricted stock and restricted share units (together with restricted stock, referred to as “restricted share awards”). In granting equity to executive officers, we generally target delivering a defined value. Specifically, in determining the estimated grant value of upfront long-term incentive grants to executive officers, we target values such that, when combined with base salary and target annual incentives, annualized total compensation generally targets the 75th percentile when compared to our peer companies or applicable survey data. We may also provide supplemental long-term incentive grants to our executive officers during the term of their employment agreement, if there are particular circumstances that warrant doing so.
We utilize a mix of time-based vesting stock options and both time-and performance-based vesting restricted share awards. Stock options provide value only in the event of stock price appreciation from the time of grant, consistent with stockholder objectives. Restricted share awards provide an ownership interest in the Company, further aligning the interests of our executives with those of stockholders, and serve as a retention vehicle, since these grants generally vest in whole or in part based on continued employment. Performance-based vesting restricted share awards also provide alignment with specific performance objectives and incentivize executives to achieve the specific metrics. We believe a combination of stock options and restricted share awards promotes long-term value creation critical to driving TSR and appropriately balances the objectives of the long-term incentive program.
Use of Employment Agreements and Their Impact on Reported Compensation. As discussed above (see “—Business Environment and Associated Talent Requirements—Compensation Philosophy and Objectives” above), we believe that entering into employment agreements with our executives is an important element to attract and retain top talent. When we make a long-term incentive grant to an executive officer, it is typically done in connection with the initial entry into an employment agreement, the renewal of that agreement or an amendment to that agreement in connection with a promotion or other assumption of new responsibilities. By providing one-time “upfront” grants, with target values that are based upon the length of the term of the agreement, rather than annual awards, we intend to secure long-term commitments from our executives in support of our multi-year business growth strategy.
Our practice of using upfront grants in lieu of annual awards may result in the equity-based compensation and, as such, the total compensation reported for each executive to differ significantly from year to year, depending on whether he or she entered into an employment agreement (or amendment thereof), and therefore received an equity award, in a given year. The Company views the value of these upfront equity grants on an annualized basis over the life of the employment agreement when evaluating an executive’s total compensation.
During 2013, we provided one-time, upfront long-term incentive awards to Mr. Walther in conjunction with the July 2013 amendment to extend the term of his employment agreement. Please see “—Employment Agreements—Chris B. Walther” below.
Annual and Other Equity Awards. We do not generally grant equity awards to our executive officers on an annual basis, although Mr. Morhaime’s employment agreement provides for annual equity grants, consistent with the equity plan in which he participated at Vivendi Games prior to the Combination. Please see “—Employment Agreements—Michael Morhaime” below. Accordingly, during 2013 we granted long-term incentive awards to Mr. Morhaime but did not grant any additional equity awards to our named executive officers.
Use of Performance-Based Equity Awards. The Compensation Committee believes that, in general, equity awards made in connection with a new or amended employment agreement with an executive officer should include an award with performance-based vesting. Consistent with that philosophy, certain restricted share awards granted during or prior to 2013 to Messrs. Kotick, Durkin, Tippl and Walther have been made with vesting that is contingent on the achievement of specified profitability-focused performance objectives (as well as, in the case of awards to Mr. Kotick, relative shareholder return). The Committee chooses performance objectives that it believes relate to measures of overall Company performance on which our executives have direct impact. For the outstanding performance awards to Mr. Kotick, vesting is based on our earnings per share, free cash flow and relative TSR. For Messrs. Durkin and Tippl, vesting is based on our diluted earnings per share. For Mr. Walther, vesting is based on our adjusted operating income. Please see “—Employment Agreements” below for further details about each award. Based on Company performance during 2013, performance-vested awards to our named executive officers vested as follows:
• | Mr. Kotick: 819,941 performance shares vested, based on our 2012 and 2013 diluted earnings per share and free cash flow and our relative TSR for the periods from July 1, 2011 through December 31, 2013 and January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2013; |
• | Mr. Durkin: 90,000 restricted share units vested, based on our 2013 diluted earnings per share; and |
• | Mr. Tippl: restrictions lapsed with respect to 56,250 restricted shares, based on 2013 diluted earnings per share. |
In addition, 85,833 of Mr. Kotick’s performance shares were forfeited for the failure to meet performance objectives for the period January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2013.
Award Terms. Stock options have an exercise price equal to the NASDAQ Official Closing Price of our Common Stock as reported on Nasdaq. com on the effective date of the grant. The equity awards will generally cease to vest upon the termination of the holder’s employment, and stock options will generally remain exercisable for thirty days after the termination date. Further, restricted share awards, including those made to executive officers, are generally entitled to dividends or dividend equivalents, as the case may be, if and when we pay dividends on our Common Stock, even while such awards are restricted, although Mr. Kotick will only receive dividend equivalents with respect to his performance shares if and when those performance shares vest and, similarly, Mr. Tippl will only receive dividend equivalents with respect to the restricted share units with vesting tied to performance awarded to him in 2014 pursuant to the December 2013 amendment to his employment agreement if and when those performance-based vesting restricted share units vest.
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 53
Incentive Plan Limitations on Equity Awards. Under our incentive plan, we cannot grant anyone, including our executive officers, options to purchase more than four million shares of our Common Stock in a single year. We are further currently restricted from granting anyone restricted share awards with respect to more than three million shares in a single year or from granting anyone more than six million performance shares in a single year.
Health and Welfare Benefits
Our named executive officers are eligible to participate in our medical, vision and dental insurance programs. With the exception of Mr. Morhaime, our named executed officers are offered the same terms as the broad employee population. Pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Morhaime is entitled to health and welfare benefits that are, in the aggregate, on terms and conditions no less favorable than those made available to him prior to the Combination. As such, we cover the full cost of Mr. Morhaime’s health/medical insurance and the plan in which he participates pays for the full amount of covered medical expenses. Please see the “Summary Compensation Table” below for further details.
Our named executive officers may also receive Company-paid life and disability insurance and/or participate in insurance programs only available to our senior employees. In addition, pursuant to the provisions of his employment agreement referenced in the prior paragraph, if Mr. Morhaime were to receive short-term disability insurance benefits, we will provide him with the difference between the amount he receives under the insurance and his base salary.
Retirement Arrangements
We offer a 401(k) plan to all employees in the United States, including our named executive officers, and we match a certain percentage of each employee’s contributions to our 401(k) plan (which, for Mr. Morhaime is, consistent with the benefits to which he was entitled prior to the Combination, a higher percentage than our other named executive officers). Please see the “Summary Compensation Table” below for further details.
We do not maintain other retirement benefit plans for our employees, including our named executive officers, such as a qualified pension plan or a special non-qualified or supplemental deferred compensation plan. We believe that retirement arrangements are particular to, and should remain the responsibility of, each individual officer. The emphasis on minimal retirement arrangements ensures that a substantial portion of our named executive officers’ long-term wealth accumulation depends on the achievement of Activision Blizzard profitability targets and the appreciation of our Common Stock.
Employment and Change-of-Control Arrangements
To attract and retain talented executives, we provide severance benefits under certain conditions, which are negotiated with each executive officer in connection with a new or renewed employment agreement. In addition, Mr. Kotick has been provided certain change-of-control protection. The Compensation Committee believes these arrangements will incentivize the relevant individuals to maintain objectivity in the context of, and contribute to, a potential change-of-control transaction. These benefits for each of our named executive officers are described under “—Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control” below.
Perquisites
We provide limited perquisites to our named executive officers, although our named executive officers are eligible to participate in a number of broad-based benefits programs that are available to all of our employees (e.g., they are entitled to relocation assistance). Further, we may provide equipment to an executive officer for use in his or her home office. Also, as part of an overall focus on increased executive security, during 2013 we paid for certain repairs and upgrades to Mr. Kotick’s home security system. See the “Summary Compensation Table” below for further details.
Stock Ownership Guidelines
In order to align the interests of our management with those of our stockholders, we believe that each of our executive officers should maintain a meaningful ownership stake in the Company. Accordingly, effective March 1, 2012, the Compensation Committee established stock ownership guidelines for our senior officers. After a competitive assessment conducted with Cook’s assistance, the Committee adopted guidelines providing that our chief executive officer should beneficially own shares of our Common Stock with a value equal to at least three times his or her then-current annual base salary and that each other executive officer should beneficially own shares of our Common Stock with a value equal to at least his or her then-current annual base salary. Our executive officers are expected to accumulate the required stock within five years (so that anyone who is an executive officer of the Company as of the date on which these guidelines were adopted has five years from the adoption date and anyone who subsequently becomes an executive officer of the Company has five years from the date on which he or she becomes an executive). Further, if an executive officer does not satisfy these guidelines within the five year period, until he or she satisfies the guidelines, he or she will be required to hold 50% of the net shares received in connection with a grant of unrestricted shares, upon exercise of stock options or upon the vesting of restricted share awards received, provided such shares received are under equity awards made after the adoption of the ownership guidelines and that such awards are specifically subject to the ownership guidelines.
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 54
Impact of Tax and Accounting Considerations
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code
In structuring compensation programs, setting individual compensation levels and awarding bonuses and incentive plan payments, the Compensation Committee considers the potential impact of Section 162(m). Section 162(m) generally prevents a publicly held corporation from taking a tax deduction when compensation paid to a covered employee (generally, the chief executive officer and any of the corporation’s three other highest paid officers other than the chief financial officer) exceeds $1.0 million in any taxable year unless:
• | the compensation is payable solely on account of the attainment of pre-established objective performance goals; |
• | a committee of two or more outside directors determines the performance goals; |
• | our stockholders approve the material terms of the performance goals; and |
• | the committee certifies that the employee has met the performance goals. |
The tax deductibility of compensation paid to other executives is not subject to these limitations.
We generally attempt to preserve the deductibility of elements of our performance-based incentives. However, we believe it is important that we retain the flexibility to structure compensation arrangements necessary to attract, retain and motivate the best executive talent, even though such elements may not be fully deductible under Section 162(m).
During 2013, the base salary for each of our covered employees, with the exception of Messrs. Kotick and Tippl, was less than $1.0 million. Therefore, we may deduct the full amount of the salary paid to each of those employees and $1.0 million of the amount paid to Messrs. Kotick and Tippl. Further, payments under the CAIP and the Morhaime Profit Sharing Plan, each described above, are structured to be performance-based incentives within the meaning of the 2008 Plan and, therefore, deductible up to the $10 million limit on the payment of such awards to any one person for a single year under the 2008 Plan. For further detail on the CAIP structure, see “—Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program for 2013—Corporate Annual Incentive Plan and Other Performance-Based Bonuses—2013 Incentive Opportunities”, and for further detail on the Morhaime Profit Sharing Plan structure, see “—Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program for 2013—Other Annual Incentive Plans and Bonus Programs or Awards for 2013” above. Section 162(m) prevents us from deducting the discretionary bonus paid to each of Messrs. Tippl and Walther for 2013. It also prevents us from deducting the incremental amount by which the sum of Mr. Morhaime’s base salary and payment under the Blizzard Bonus Plan for 2013 exceeds $1.0 million. As noted above, the entire bonus paid to Mr. Kotick for 2013 was structured to be a performance-based incentive within the meaning of the 2008 Plan and, therefore, deductible.
As our chief financial officer, the deduction of Mr. Durkin’s compensation is not limited by Section 162(m).
Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code
To the extent that any compensation paid or committed to any of our named executive officers constitutes a deferral of compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, the Compensation Committee intends to cause that compensation to comply with the requirements of Section 409A and to avoid the imposition of penalty taxes and interest upon the person receiving the compensation.
Accounting Considerations
The Compensation Committee also takes accounting considerations, including the impact of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 718, into account in structuring compensation programs and determining the form and amount of compensation awarded.
Compensation Committee Report
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis included under “Executive Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above. Based on that review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to our Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement and also be incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2013.
Members of the Compensation Committee
Robert J. Morgado (Chairperson), Robert J. Corti and Elaine Wynn
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 55
Summary Compensation Table
The table below presents compensation information for each of our named executive officers earned during the periods indicated.
As previously discussed, we believe that entering into employment agreements with our executives is important to attracting and retaining top talent. When we make a long-term equity grant to an executive officer, it is typically done in connection with the initial entry into an employment agreement, the renewal of that agreement or an amendment to that agreement in connection with a promotion or other assumption of new responsibilities. The target value of any such equity grant is based upon the term of the agreement and such grants are typically the only equity grants made to our executive officers (other than Mr. Morhaime, who also receives annual grants of equity, consistent with the equity plan in which he participated at Vivendi Games prior to the Combination). Further, the Company views the value of these upfront equity grants on an annualized basis over the life of the employment agreement when evaluating an executive’s total compensation. As the amounts shown in the Stock Awards and Option Awards columns in the table below include the value of any one-time, “upfront” awards made in connection with the entry into, renewal of or amendment of an employment agreement, the equity-based compensation and, as such, the total compensation shown for each executive may differ significantly from year to year, depending on whether he or she entered into an employment agreement (or amendment thereof), and therefore received an equity award, in a given year. Please see “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program for 2013—Long-Term Incentives” above for further information about our equity granting practices.
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary ($) | Bonus(1) ($) | Stock Awards(2) ($) | Option Awards(2) ($) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation(3) ($) | All Other Compensation ($) | Total ($) | ||||||||||||||||
Robert A. Kotick | 2013 | 2,108,077 | — | — | — | 7,849,190 | 88,169 | (4) | 10,045,436 | |||||||||||||||
President and Chief Executive | 2012 | 2,006,127 | 2,500,000 | 55,915,738 | (5) | — | 4,454,291 | 66,150 | (4) | 64,942,306 | ||||||||||||||
Officer | 2011 | 1,057,350 | 4,471,325 | — | — | 2,773,047 | 26,918 | 8,328,640 | ||||||||||||||||
Dennis Durkin(6) | 2013 | 679,625 | 627,353 | — | — | 765,008 | 30,540 | (4) | 2,102,526 | |||||||||||||||
Chief Financial Officer | 2012 | 545,000 | 1,250,000 | 9,384,000 | (7) | 1,469,396 | 590,653 | 236,059 | 13,475,108 | |||||||||||||||
Thomas Tippl | 2013 | 1,001,258 | 627,353 | — | — | 1,325,400 | 87,220 | (4) | 3,041,231 | |||||||||||||||
Chief Operating Officer | 2012 | 935,237 | 1,000,000 | — | — | 1,245,900 | 20,830 | 3,201,967 | ||||||||||||||||
2011 | 887,433 | 3,000,000 | — | — | 1,189,524 | 10,335 | 5,087,292 | |||||||||||||||||
Michael Morhaime | 2013 | 861,076 | 319,449 | 1,240,400 | 1,014,666 | 2,065,678 | 61,794 | (4) | 5,563,063 | |||||||||||||||
President and Chief Executive | 2012 | 828,502 | 307,162 | 746,200 | 803,333 | 6,326,871 | 56,366 | 9,068,434 | ||||||||||||||||
Officer, Blizzard Entertainment | 2011 | 795,484 | 296,775 | 908,600 | 1,114,000 | 4,296,170 | 47,128 | 7,458,157 | ||||||||||||||||
Chris B. Walther | 2013 | 610,832 | 627,353 | 3,546,000 | (7) | — | 493,259 | 16,416 | (4) | 5,293,860 | ||||||||||||||
Chief Legal Officer | 2012 | 559,281 | 100,000 | 856,500 | — | 453,869 | 39,541 | 2,009,191 | ||||||||||||||||
2011 | 530,673 | 80,000 | — | — | 363,500 | 9,995 | 984,168 |
(1) | The amount paid to Mr. Kotick for 2012 represents a signing bonus paid to him as inducement to enter into his current employment agreement with us (the “Kotick Employment Agreement”) (see “—Employment Agreements—Robert A. Kotick” below). The amount paid to Mr. Kotick for 2011 consists of a $4,000,000 special performance award he received in recognition of his significant contributions to the Company during the year, including his critical role in enabling us to exceed our financial goals for 2011, and a $471,325 lump sum payment in respect of a salary increase which was retroactively effective to July 1, 2011. The amount paid to Mr. Durkin for 2013 represents a special performance award he received in recognition of his significant contributions to the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions described in the Vivendi Share Purchase Agreement and its ancillary agreements. The amount paid to Mr. Durkin for 2012 represents a signing bonus paid to him as inducement to enter into his employment agreement with us (the “Durkin Employment Agreement”) (see “—Employment Agreements—Dennis Durkin” below). The amount paid to Mr. Tippl for 2013 represents a special performance award he received in recognition of his significant contributions to the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions described in the Vivendi Share Purchase Agreement and its ancillary agreements. The amount paid to Mr. Tippl for 2012 represents one-third of a special performance award he received in recognition of his significant contributions to the Company’s financial performance for the year, the remaining two-thirds of which was paid in January 2014 pursuant to the December 2013 amendment to his employment agreement with the Company (see “—Employment Agreements—Thomas Tippl” below). The amount paid to Mr. Tippl for 2011 represents a special performance award he received in recognition of his significant contributions to the Company during the year, including service as both our Chief Operating Officer and interim Chief Financial Officer throughout the year, and his critical role in enabling us to exceed our financial goals for 2011, one-half of which was deemed earned as of the payment date and one-half of which will be deemed earned as of March 14, 2015, provided his employment is not terminated by us for cause or by him without good reason prior to that date (see “—Employment Agreements—Thomas Tippl—Bonus Agreement” below). The amounts paid to Mr. Morhaime for 2013, 2012 and 2011 consists of a bonus paid to him pursuant to the Blizzard Bonus Plan (see “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program for 2013—Other Cash Bonus Programs or Awards for 2013” above). The amount paid to Mr. Walther for 2013 represents a special performance award he received in recognition of his significant contributions to the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions described in the Vivendi Share Purchase Agreement and its ancillary agreements. The amount paid to Mr. Walther for 2012 and 2011 each represents a special performance award he received in recognition of his significant contributions to the Company during that year. |
(2) | The amounts in the Stock Awards and Option Awards columns represent the aggregate grant date fair value of stock awards and stock option awards granted in the period (in each case, computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718, other than as discussed in footnotes (5) and (7) below). As such, in a year of grant, the full aggregate grant date fair value appears, rather than the portion being expensed for financial statement reporting purposes in that year. |
Assumptions and key variables used in the calculation of the grant date fair values: | ||
• | for 2013, are discussed in footnote 15 to our audited financial statements included in our 2013 10-K; | |
• | for 2012, are discussed in footnote 18 to our audited financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on February 27, 2013; and | |
• | for 2011, are discussed in footnote 18 to our audited financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 filed with the SEC on February 28, 2012. |
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 56
(3) | The amounts in this column for the named executive officers represent cash incentives paid under the CAIP and, for Mr. Morhaime, amounts paid to him pursuant to the Morhaime Profit Sharing Plan. The amount paid to Mr. Kotick for 2013 also represents an additional performance-based bonus of $3,250,000 paid to him under the 2008 Plan in recognition of the Company’s strong performance during 2013 and Mr. Kotick’s significant contributions to the Company during the year. For a discussion of non-equity incentive plans, see “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program for 2013—Corporate Annual Incentive Plan and Other Performance-Based Bonuses” and “—Other Annual Incentive Plan and Bonus Programs or Awards for 2013” above. |
(4) | The “all other compensation” for 2013 consists of the following: |
Name | Perquisites, gifts and awards | Taxable income reimbursement | Company 401(k) plan “matching” contributions | Life, disability or medical insurance premiums | Total | |||||||||||||||
Robert A. Kotick | $ | 35,733 | (a) | $ | — | $ | 3,500 | $ | 48,936 | $ | 88,169 | |||||||||
Dennis Durkin | $ | 10,617 | (b) | $ | 11,257 | (c) | $ | 3,500 | $ | 5,166 | $ | 30,540 | ||||||||
Thomas Tippl | $ | 36,696 | (d) | $ | 40,042 | (e) | $ | 3,500 | $ | 6,982 | $ | 87,220 | ||||||||
Michael Morhaime | $ | — | $ | 1,149 | (f) | $ | 9,180 | $ | 51,465 | $ | 61,794 | |||||||||
Chris B. Walther | $ | 3,000 | (g) | $ | 3,274 | (h) | $ | 3,500 | $ | 6,642 | $ | 16,416 |
(a) | This amount represents $30,909 in upgrades and repairs to Mr. Kotick’s home security system and upgrades to Mr. Kotick’s home office. | |
(b) | This amount represents $7,617 of expenses incurred in connection with Mr. Durkin’s and his family’s relocation to the Los Angeles area and a gift certificate provided by the Company as a reward for Mr. Durkin’s contributions in connection with the transactions described in the Vivendi Share Purchase Agreement and its ancillary agreements. | |
(c) | This amount represents a reimbursement for taxes Mr. Durkin incurred on the compensation referenced in footnote (b). | |
(d) | This amount represents tickets for a sporting event provided by the Company as a reward for Mr. Tippl’s performance, a gift certificate provided by the Company as a reward for Mr. Tippl’s contributions in connection with the transactions described in the Vivendi Share Purchase Agreement and its ancillary agreements and $30,946 of expenses incurred in connection with a family vacation provided by the Company as a reward for Mr. Tippl’s performance. | |
(e) | This amount represents a reimbursement for taxes Mr. Tippl incurred on the compensation referenced in footnote (d). | |
(f) | This amount represents a reimbursement for taxes Mr. Morhaime incurred on merchandise he received from Blizzard Entertainment. The value of the merchandise is not included as it was provided as part of a broad-based program for employees of Blizzard Entertainment. | |
(g) | This amount represents a gift certificate provided by the Company as a reward for Mr. Walther’s contributions in connection with the transactions described in the Vivendi Share Purchase Agreement and its ancillary agreements. | |
(h) | This amount represents a reimbursement for taxes Mr. Walther incurred on the compensation referenced in footnote (g). |
(5) | As reported last year in our Summary Compensation Table for 2012 and our Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table for 2012, this amount reflects the value of the following two one-time “upfront” awards made to Mr. Kotick in 2012 in connection with the entry into the Kotick Employment Agreement, which were intended to incentivize and recognize performance throughout the term of his multi-year agreement—restricted share units with a reported grant date fair value of $25,680,135 and performance shares with a reported grant date fair value of $30,235,603. The value of the award of restricted share units was computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718. The value of the award of performance shares, however, was based on the closing market price of our Common Stock on the date of grant (i.e., March 15, 2012) and our assessment on that date of the probable outcome of the performance conditions. More specifically: (1) the grant date fair value of the portion of the performance shares subject to market-based conditions was computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718 using a “Monte Carlo” valuation methodology, which incorporates into the valuation the possibility of the achievement of the market condition; (2) the grant date fair value of the portion of the performance shares subject to non-market conditions for which the metrics were established at the time of grant (i.e., for the 2011-2012, 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 performance periods) was computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718; and (3) the grant date fair value of the portion of the performance shares subject to non-market conditions for which the metrics were not established at the time of grant (i.e., for the 2014-2015 performance period) was calculated by multiplying (a) the number of shares underlying that portion of the award, assuming a target level of performance under the performance conditions to be established for that performance period, by (b) the closing price of our Common Stock on the grant date of the performance shares. Based upon this same methodology and assuming achievement of the maximum outcome of the performance conditions, the grant date fair value for the performance shares was $46,250,004. On March 5, 2014, the Compensation Committee established the metrics for the 2014-2015 performance period and a grant date fair value for that portion of the award was established for financial reporting purposes in accordance with ASC 718 (which amount was greater than the amount reported in 2012 by $2,733,920, assuming target performance, and by $5,467,840, assuming maximum performance, due to share price appreciation between March 15, 2012 and March 5, 2014). |
(6) | Mr. Durkin’s date of hire was March 1, 2012. |
(7) | The amount includes the estimated value of a performance-based restricted stock award on the grant date determined by the Compensation Committee in connection with the entry, renewal or amendment of an employment agreement, calculated by multiplying (a) the number of shares underlying the award, assuming the highest level of performance under the performance conditions to be established each year during the term of the award, by (b) the closing price of our Common Stock on such grant date. |
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 57
Grants of Plan-Based Awards for 2013
The table below provides information regarding the grants of plan-based awards made to each of our named executive officers during 2013:
Estimated Possible Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards | ||||||||||||||||||
Name | Grant Type | Grant Date | Approval Date | Threshold ($) | Target ($) | Maximum ($) | ||||||||||||
Robert A. Kotick | 2008 Plan/CAIP | (2) | 3/6/2013 | 0 | 4,200,000 | 10,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Dennis Durkin | 2008 Plan/CAIP | (2) | 3/6/2013 | 0 | 676,975 | 10,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Thomas Tippl | 2008 Plan/CAIP | (2) | 3/6/2013 | 0 | 1,180,777 | 10,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Michael Morhaime | 2008 Plan/CAIP | (2) | 3/6/2013 | 0 | 231,587 | 8,149,880 | (3) | |||||||||||
MPSP | (4) | 0 | 6,077,593 | — | ||||||||||||||
2008 Plan/LTIP | 11/15/2013 | 10/28/2013 | (5) | |||||||||||||||
2008 Plan/LTIP | 11/15/2013 | 10/28/2013 | (5) | |||||||||||||||
Chris B. Walther | 2008 Plan/CAIP | (2) | 3/6/2013 | 0 | 438,797 | 10,000,000 | ||||||||||||
2008 Plan/LTIP | 8/5/2013 | (8) | 7/25/2013 | (5) | ||||||||||||||
2008 Plan/LTIP | 8/5/2013 | (8) | 7/25/2013 | (5) |
(1) | Other than as discussed in footnote (10) below, the grant date fair value of the stock and stock option awards is computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718. Please see footnote (2) to the Summary Compensation Table for information about the assumptions and key variables used in the calculation of the grant date fair values. All stock options granted have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of a share of our Common Stock on the date of grant. |
(2) | Each of our named executive officers had an opportunity to earn a bonus for his 2013 performance under the 2008 Plan. None were entitled to a minimum amount thereunder. To qualify the payments to our executives under the CAIP for 2013 for tax deductibility, while retaining flexibility to make downward adjustments to reflect each executive’s actual performance, the awards were structured so that there was a single performance objective which, if met or exceeded, would result in the payment of a bonus to each executive of the maximum allowed under the 2008 Plan, subject to the Compensation Committee’s use of negative discretion. That is, if our 2013 operating income was at least 75% of the target operating income for the year set forth in the annual operating plan approved by our Board for that year (such plan for any given year, the “AOP”), the bonus to be paid to each executive would be $10 million less the amount of any other “senior executive plan bonus” within the meaning of the 2008 Plan that was paid or to be paid to that person for 2013, subject to the Compensation Committee’s use of negative discretion to reduce or eliminate that bonus. The Compensation Committee, when approving the 2013 CAIP opportunities, expressed an intent to reduce or eliminate all such bonuses if our 2013 operating income was not 85% or more of the target operating income for the year set forth in the 2013 AOP and to reduce the bonus for any executive officer to the amount to which he or she would be entitled given the relative achievement of the financial and individual strategic goals established with respect to his bonus under the CAIP. The target bonus for each named executive officer was based on his base salary rate in effect at the time the opportunity was approved by our Compensation Committee and assumes 100% performance for the relevant financial and individual strategic goals established under the CAIP. For more information about the CAIP and the opportunities for each of our named executive officers thereunder, please see “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program for 2013—Corporate Annual Incentive Plan and Other Performance-Based Bonuses” above. |
(3) | As discussed in footnote (4) below, Mr. Morhaime participates in the Morhaime Profit Sharing Plan. As the amount paid to Mr. Morhaime under the Morhaime Profit Sharing Plan is a “senior executive plan bonus” within the meaning of the 2008 Plan, the maximum bonus Mr. Morhaime was eligible to earn under the CAIP for 2013 was reduced by the payment he received under the Morhaime Profit Sharing Plan for the year. |
(4) | Pursuant to his employment agreement with us (the “Morhaime Employment Agreement”), Mr. Morhaime participates in the Morhaime Profit Sharing Plan (see “—Employment Agreements—Michael Morhaime” below). In accordance therewith, Mr. Morhaime is entitled to share in an annual profit sharing pool, the aggregate amount of which depends upon Blizzard Entertainment’s earnings for that year. While Mr. Morhaime is entitled to an amount equal to up to 6% of the pool, because the amount of the pool cannot be known at the beginning of a year, no target amount is determinable and the target amount shown is a representative amount equal to the amount Mr. Morhaime received under the Morhaime Profit Sharing Plan with respect to 2012. Further, while Mr. Morhaime is entitled to receive an amount equal to a minimum specified percentage of that pool, because there is no certainty there will be a pool, there is no minimum or maximum amount to which he is entitled. For more information about the Morhaime Profit Sharing Plan, see “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program for 2013—Other Annual Incentive Plan and Bonus Programs or Awards for 2013” above. |
(5) | These equity awards were approved during a “trading blackout” as described in our insider trading and pre-clearance policies, so, in accordance with our equity granting procedures, the effective date of the awards was delayed until after the first trading day after that trading blackout period was no longer in effect. |
(6) | This represents restricted share units, each representing the conditional right to receive one share of our Common Stock, that were granted to Mr. Morhaime pursuant to the Morhaime Employment Agreement as part of our annual equity award process. One-third of these restricted share units will vest on each of November 14, 2014, 2015 and 2016, subject to Mr. Morhaime’s continued employment through such date. If dividends are declared on our Common Stock, Mr. Morhaime will receive a cash dividend equivalent payment in an amount equal to the dividend to which he would have been entitled had the restricted share units been issued and outstanding Common Stock as of the record date for such dividend. |
(7) | These options to purchase our Common Stock were granted to Mr. Morhaime pursuant to the Morhaime Employment Agreement as part of our annual equity award process. One-third of these stock options will vest on each of November 14, 2014, 2015 and 2016, subject to Mr. Morhaime’s continued employment through such date. |
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 58
Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards | All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of |
All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities |
Exercise or Base Price of Option |
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and |
||||||||||||||
Threshold (#) | Target (#) | Maximum (#) | Stock or Units (#) | Underlying Options (#) | Awards ($/Sh) | Option Awards(1) ($) | ||||||||||||
70,000 | (6) | 1,240,400 | ||||||||||||||||
200,000 | (7) | 17.72 | 1,014,666 | |||||||||||||||
0 | 120,000 | (9) | — | 2,127,600 | (10) | |||||||||||||
80,000 | (11) | 1,418,400 |
(8) | The date shown represents the effective date of the equity awards as determined by the Compensation Committee in connection with the approval of those awards (rather than the date utilized to calculate the expense for financial statement reporting purposes). |
(9) | This represents restricted share units, each representing the conditional right to receive one share of our Common Stock, with vesting tied to performance, that were granted to Mr. Walther in connection with the extension of his employment with us until March 31, 2016. One-half of these restricted share units will vest on each of March 30, 2014 and 2015, in each case only if the Compensation Committee determines that the operating income objective for the Company set forth in our AOP for the prior year has been met or exceeded and subject to Mr. Walther’s continued employment through such date. If dividends are declared on our Common Stock, Mr. Walther will receive a cash dividend equivalent payment in an amount equal to the dividend to which he would have been entitled had the restricted share units been issued and outstanding Common Stock as of the record date for such dividend. |
(10) | The estimated grant date fair value is calculated by multiplying (a) the number of shares underlying the award, assuming the highest level of performance under the performance conditions to be established each year during the term of the award by (b) the closing price of our Common Stock on such grant date. |
(11) | This represents restricted share units, each representing the conditional right to receive one share of our Common Stock, that were granted to Mr. Walther in connection with the extension of his employment with us until March 31, 2016. One-half of these restricted share units will vest on each of December 31, 2014 and 2015, subject to Mr. Walther’s continued employment through such date. If dividends are declared on our Common Stock, Mr. Walther will receive a cash dividend equivalent payment in an amount equal to the dividend to which he would have been entitled had the restricted share units been issued and outstanding Common Stock as of the record date for such dividend. |
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 59
Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2013
The table below sets forth the outstanding equity awards for each of our named executive officers as of December 31, 2013:
Option Awards | Stock Awards | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Exercisable(1) (#) | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Unexercisable (#) | Option Exercise Price ($) | Option Expiration Date | Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) | Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested(2) ($) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested(2) ($) | |||||||||||||||
Robert A. Kotick | 1,545,752 | (3)(4) | 27,560,758 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||
1,064,850 | (3)(6) | 18,986,276 | |||||||||||||||||||||
14,181 | (3)(7) | — | 3.87 | 4/29/2014 | |||||||||||||||||||
262,998 | (3) | — | 9.57 | 6/15/2017 | |||||||||||||||||||
3,700,000 | (3) | — | 13.29 | 12/1/2017 | |||||||||||||||||||
Dennis Durkin | 360,000 | (3)(8) | 6,418,800 | ||||||||||||||||||||
350,000 | (3)(9) | 6,240,500 | |||||||||||||||||||||
— | (3) | 300,000 | (10) | 11.73 | 3/6/2022 | ||||||||||||||||||
Thomas Tippl(11) | 56,250 | (12)(13) | 1,002,938 | ||||||||||||||||||||
30,000 | (3)(14) | 534,900 | |||||||||||||||||||||
87,500 | (3)(15) | 1,560,125 | |||||||||||||||||||||
960,000 | (3) | 240,000 | (16) | 11.50 | 5/11/2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
393,750 | (3) | 131,250 | (16) | 10.89 | 5/10/2020 | ||||||||||||||||||
Michael Morhaime | 199,999 | (12)(17) | 3,565,982 | ||||||||||||||||||||
23,333 | (12)(18) | 416,027 | |||||||||||||||||||||
46,666 | (12)(19) | 832,055 | |||||||||||||||||||||
70,000 | (12)(20) | 1,248,100 | |||||||||||||||||||||
600,000 | (12) | — | 15.04 | 7/9/2018 | |||||||||||||||||||
50,000 | (12) | 150,000 | (21) | 11.88 | 11/8/2020 | ||||||||||||||||||
— | (12) | 66,666 | (22) | 12.98 | 11/10/2021 | ||||||||||||||||||
— | (12) | 133,333 | (23) | 10.66 | 11/9/2022 | ||||||||||||||||||
— | (12) | 200,000 | (24) | 17.72 | 11/15/2023 | ||||||||||||||||||
Chris B. Walther(25) | 120,000 | (12)(26) | 2,139,600 | ||||||||||||||||||||
80,000 | (12)(27) | 1,426,400 | |||||||||||||||||||||
100,000 | (12) | — | 11.54 | 11/09/2019 |
(1) | All exercisable stock options are currently vested. |
(2) | Calculated using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price of $17.83 per share of our Common Stock on December 31, 2013, the last trading day in 2013. |
(3) | The impact of the termination of the executive’s employment on this equity award is addressed in the executive’s employment agreement. Please see “—Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control” below. |
(4) | The number of performance shares reflected in the table is the target amount for the three remaining performance periods; the maximum number of performance shares subject to the award at December 31, 2013 was 3,313,246 and include 221,738 performance shares from the first performance period that are eligible to vest at the end of subsequent performance periods. These performance shares vest in accordance with the Kotick Employment Agreement. Please see “—Employment Agreements—Robert A. Kotick” below. On March 31, 2014, 819,941 of the performance shares vested. |
(5) | If the highest level of performance is assumed, the market value of the unvested performance shares, calculated in the manner described in footnote (2), would be $59,075,176. |
(6) | One-sixtieth of the award vests on the first day of each month, with the exception of the final tranche, which will vest on June 30, 2016. In accordance with that vesting schedule, 34,350 of these restricted share units vested on each of January 1, February 1, March 1 and April 1, 2014. |
(7) | As a result of Mr. Kotick’s transfer by gift, these stock options are held by the 45121I Trust, a trust for the benefit of Mr. Kotick’s minor children, over which Mr. Kotick does not exercise voting or investment power and as to which he disclaims beneficial ownership. |
(8) | One-fourth of these restricted share units vest on each of March 14, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, in each case only if the Compensation Committee determines that the earnings per share objective for the Company set forth in our AOP for the prior year has been met or exceeded. The performance metric related to 2013 was satisfied and, on March 14, 2014, 90,000 of these restricted share units vested. |
(9) | One-fourth of these restricted share units vested on March 14, 2014 and one-fourth will vest on each of March 14, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. |
(10) | One-fourth of these stock options vested on March 14, 2014 and one-fourth will vest on each of March 14, 2015, 2016 and 2017. |
(11) | As a result of Mr. Tippl’s transfer by gift, all of his outstanding equity awards are held in the name of the Thomas and Laura Tippl Family Trust. Mr. Tippl and his wife, Laura Tippl, are co-trustees of the trust and share voting and investment power with respect to those securities. |
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 60
(12) | The impact of the termination of the executive’s employment on this equity award is not addressed in the executive’s employment agreement and, instead, is consistent with our standard form of award agreement. Please see “—Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control” below. |
(13) | Restrictions lapse with respect to these restricted shares with vesting tied to performance in accordance with Mr. Tippl’s employment agreement with us. The performance metric related to 2013 was satisfied and, on February 15, 2014, these restricted shares were vested in full. Please see “—Employment Agreements—Thomas Tippl” below. |
(14) | Restrictions lapsed with respect to these restricted shares on February 15, 2014. |
(15) | These restricted share units vested on February 15, 2014. |
(16) | These stock options vested on February 15, 2014. |
(17) | One-third of these restricted share units vest on each of December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016. |
(18) | These restricted share units vest on November 9, 2014. |
(19) | One-half of these restricted share units vest on each of November 8, 2014 and 2015. |
(20) | One-third of these restricted share units vest on each of November 14, 2014, 2015 and 2016. |
(21) | One-third of these stock options vest on each of December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016. |
(22) | These stock options vest on November 9, 2014. |
(23) | One-half of these stock options vest on each of November 8, 2014 and 2015. |
(24) | One-third of these stock options vest on each of November 14, 2014, 2015 and 2016. |
(25) | As a result of Mr. Walther’s transfer by gift, all of his outstanding equity awards are held in the name of the Walther-Stockton 2013 Family Trust. Mr. Walther and his wife, Susan Stockton, are co-trustees of the trust and share voting and investment power with respect to those securities. |
(26) | One-half of these restricted share units vest on each of March 30, 2014 and 2015, in each case only if the Compensation Committee determines that the operating income objective for the Company set forth in our AOP for the prior year has been met or exceeded. |
(27) | One-half of these restricted share units vest on each of December 31, 2014 and 2015. |
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Option Exercises and Stock Vested for 2013
The table below sets forth details with respect to the stock options exercised by, and the restricted shares and restricted share units that vested for, or were otherwise transferred for value by, our named executive officers in 2013:
Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||
Name | Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) | Value Realized on Exercise ($)(1) | Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) | Value Realized on Vesting ($)(2) | ||||||||
Robert A. Kotick | — | — | 1,804,922 | 25,902,775 | (3) | |||||||
Dennis Durkin | — | — | 90,000 | 1,352,700 | ||||||||
Thomas Tippl(4) | 1,111,112 | 10,949,445 | 173,750 | 2,496,788 | ||||||||
Michael Morhaime(5) | 700,001 | 4,027,672 | 136,667 | 2,378,043 | ||||||||
Chris B. Walther(6) | 200,000 | 1,138,220 | 75,000 | 1,335,000 |
(1) | As each of these transactions involved a same-day sale, the “Value Realized on Exercise” is computed by multiplying the number of shares exercised by the difference between sale price of the shares and the exercise price of the underlying stock options. |
(2) | Other than as discussed in footnote (3) below, the “Value Realized on Vesting” is computed by multiplying the number of shares of stock or units by the closing price of our Common Stock as quoted on the NASDAQ National Market on the vesting date (or if that date is not a trading date, the immediately preceding trading date). |
(3) | This amount includes: (a) $466,300 received by Mr. Kotick in connection with the transfer of 34,350 restricted share units to the 45121I Trust on March 31, 2013 (which restricted share units subsequently vested on April 1, 2013, with a value received on vesting of $496,014, computed in the manner described in footnote (2) above); (b) $10,977,900 received by Mr. Kotick in connection with the transfer of 808,766 performance shares to the 45121I Trust on March 31, 2013 (which performance shares subsequently vested on that date, with a value received on vesting of $11,783,721, computed in the manner described in footnote (2) above); (c) $238,400 received by Mr. Kotick in connection with the transfer of 17,175 restricted share units to the 45121I Trust on April 26, 2013 (which restricted share units subsequently vested on May 1, 2013, with a value received on vesting of $253,160, computed in the manner described in footnote (2) above); and (d) $238,400 received by Mr. Kotick in connection with the transfer of 17,175 restricted share units to the 8986C Trust on April 26, 2013 (which restricted share units subsequently vested on May 1, 2013, with a value received on vesting of $253,160, computed in the manner described in footnote (2) above). The 45121I Trust is a trust for the benefit of Mr. Kotick’s minor children, over which Mr. Kotick does not exercise voting or investment power and as to which he disclaims beneficial ownership, and the 8986C Trust is an irrevocable trust for the benefit of Mr. Kotick’s minor children, over which Mr. Kotick does not exercise voting or investment power and as to which he disclaims beneficial ownership. |
(4) | These awards were held by the Thomas and Laura Tippl Family Trust at the time of exercise or vesting, as the case may be. |
(5) | In addition, Mr. Morhaime received $296,596 upon the exercise of 47,261 cash-settled options granted to him by Vivendi which we paid, in accordance with our investor agreement with Vivendi entered into in connection with the Combination. For more information about our obligation, see “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions–Relationships and Transactions with Vivendi and its Affiliates–Amended and Restated Investor Agreement” below. |
(6) | These awards were held by the Walther-Stockton 2013 Family Trust at the time of exercise or vesting, as the case may be. |
Employment Agreements
As previously discussed, we believe that entering into employment agreements with our executives is important to attracting and retaining the executive talent necessary to lead us. The following is a summary of the material terms regarding compensation set forth in the employment agreement we have entered into with each of our named executive officers. Certain provisions regarding payments and benefits upon termination or a change of control, which are described under “—Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control” below, are not included in the following summary.
Robert A. Kotick
Robert A. Kotick is party to an employment agreement with us, dated as of March 15, 2012 (i.e., the Kotick Employment Agreement), pursuant to which he serves as our President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Kotick’s term of employment under the Kotick Employment Agreement began on March 15, 2012, and continues through June 30, 2016.
Pursuant to the Kotick Employment Agreement, Mr. Kotick’s annual base salary was increased to $2,000,000, retroactive to July 1, 2011. Beginning in 2013, Mr. Kotick’s annual base salary was and will be increased as of January 1st of each year during the term in an amount at least equal to the average percentage increase approved by the Compensation Committee for members of the executive leadership team with respect to that year (excluding any increase guaranteed to any such person by contract or due to such person’s promotion or other significant modification in duties). For more information about Mr. Kotick’s base salary, see “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program for 2013—Salary” above.
Mr. Kotick is also entitled to receive an annual bonus under the CAIP, with a target amount of 200% of his base salary. The actual amount of any bonus Mr. Kotick may receive under the CAIP is determined by the Compensation Committee based on his achievement of mutually agreed objectives, his overall performance and the Company’s financial performance. The form of any such bonus is determined by the Compensation Committee at its sole discretion. For more information about performance-based bonuses, see “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program for 2013—Corporate Annual Incentive Plan and Other Performance-Based Bonuses” above. In addition, Mr. Kotick received a one-time cash signing bonus payment of $2,500,000 in connection with his entering into the Kotick Employment Agreement. Further, the
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 62
Compensation Committee, at its sole discretion, may award Mr. Kotick a performance bonus at any time in an amount and form determined by the Compensation Committee. Mr. Kotick is also entitled to participate in all benefit plans generally available to our senior executive officers and we are required to maintain a supplemental term life insurance policy in the amount of $18 million for the benefit of his estate until March 14, 2022.
As an inducement to enter into the Kotick Employment Agreement, in 2012 Mr. Kotick received a grant of 2,061,006 restricted share units, the number of which was based on a fair market value on the date of grant (i.e., March 15, 2012) approximately equal to $25,000,000. As the Company’s “gross profit” for 2012 (as determined in accordance with the Kotick Employment Agreement) was greater than or equal to $500,000,000, on March 15, 2013, the restricted share units vested with respect to one-third of the award (representing the twenty month-long vesting tranches between August 1, 2011 and March 1, 2013) and thereafter one-sixtieth of the award vested and will vest, as the case may be, on the first day of each month, with the exception of the final tranche, which will vest on the expiration date of the Kotick Employment Agreement.
As further inducement to enter into the Kotick Employment Agreement, in 2012 Mr. Kotick received a grant of 4,122,012 performance shares, each representing the right to receive one share of our Common Stock, the number of which assumes maximum performance and was based on a fair market value on the date of grant (i.e., March 15, 2012) approximately equal to $50,000,000; target performance would result in a release of 2,061,006 shares. The overall value of those equity awards is intended to incentivize and recognize performance throughout the term of the contract, and as such, a significant portion will vest contingent on financial performance over a five-year period assessed by four overlapping two-year performance periods. Specifically, seventy percent of the performance shares are subject to vesting conditions based upon our operating performance in overlapping two-year periods (i.e., 2011-2012, 2012-2013, 2013-2014 and 2014-2015). With respect to 65% of those shares, our operating performance will be measured by reference to the Company’s diluted earnings per share over the relevant two-year period and, with respect to 35% of those shares, our operating performance will be measured by reference to the Company’s free cash flow over the relevant two-year period. In each case: (1) if actual performance is below 75% of target, no shares subject to the operating performance criteria will be earned; (2) if actual performance is 75% of target, 75% of the target shares subject to the relevant operating performance criteria will be earned; (3) if actual performance is 100% of target, 100% of the target shares subject to the operating performance criteria will be earned; (4) if actual performance is 125% of target or above, all of the shares (i.e., 200% of the target shares) subject to the operating performance criteria will be earned; and (5) if actual performance falls between two thresholds, the number of shares subject to the operating performance criteria that will be earned will be determined using straight-line interpolation. The remaining 30% of the performance shares also vest in overlapping two-year periods, other than the performance period for 2011-2012, which was measured from July 1, 2011 through December 31, 2012, based on our compound annual TSR between the average closing price of our Common Stock during the 30 days immediately preceding the commencement of the applicable performance period and the average closing price of our Common Stock during the 30 days immediately preceding the end of the applicable performance period, as compared to the TSR of the NASDAQ Composite measured over the same 30-day periods in such performance period and calculated in an analogous manner. For each performance period, if our TSR is 20 percentage points or more below the TSR of the NASDAQ Composite, no shares subject to the TSR performance criteria will be earned; if our TSR is 10 percentage points below the TSR of the NASDAQ Composite, 50% of the target shares subject to the TSR performance criteria will be earned; if our TSR equals the TSR of the NASDAQ Composite, all of the target shares subject to the TSR performance criteria will be earned; if our TSR is 10 percentage points more than the TSR of the NASDAQ Composite, 150% of the target shares subject to the TSR performance criteria will be earned; and if our TSR is 20 percentage points more than the TSR of the NASDAQ Composite, all (200% of the target) of the performance shares subject to the TSR performance criteria will be earned. If actual performance falls between two thresholds, the number of shares subject to the TSR performance criteria that will be earned will be determined using straight-line interpolation. In addition, to the extent that not all of the shares are earned, those missed shares may vest at the end of subsequent performance periods based on relative achievement of TSR measures, where the beginning average price of our Common Stock is measured by reference to the 30-day period beginning 30 days prior to the commencement of the performance period with respect to which such shares were missed. Further, the vesting of the performance shares for the performance period for 2011-2012 was also contingent upon the Company’s “gross profit” for 2012 (as determined in accordance with the Kotick Employment Agreement) being greater than or equal to $500,000,000. Please see “—Grants of Plan-Based Awards for 2013” above for further information.
Pursuant to the Kotick Employment Agreement, if there is a change of control during the term of his employment under the Kotick Employment Agreement, Mr. Kotick will be entitled to a cash bonus payable within 10 days of such change of control in an amount of at least $30,000,000, which may be increased up to $45,000,000 at the good faith discretion of the Compensation Committee. Mr. Kotick will also receive that bonus if he is terminated without cause (as defined in the Kotick Employment Agreement) and a change of control is consummated within the six months after his termination (in which case the bonus will be paid on the date which is six months after his termination date). Please see “—Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control” below for the definition of change of control used in the Kotick Employment Agreement. Although the transactions described in the Vivendi Share Purchase Agreement could have been deemed to constitute a change of control as defined in his employment agreement, Mr. Kotick voluntarily waived any rights he had to payments, benefits and vesting upon a change of control under his agreement in connection therewith. Please see “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Relationships with Our Directors and Executive Officers—Waiver and Acknowledgement Letters” below for further information on the waiver.
Pursuant to the Kotick Employment Agreement, until the second anniversary of the expiration of the term of his employment under the agreement, Mr. Kotick is restricted from soliciting the employment of anyone then-employed by us or our affiliates (or anyone who was employed by us or them during the then-most recent six-month period). In addition, Mr. Kotick is prohibited from competing with us during the term of his employment under the Kotick Employment Agreement.
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 63
Dennis Durkin
Dennis Durkin is party to an employment agreement with us, dated as of February 29, 2012, (i.e., Durkin Employment Agreement), pursuant to which he serves as our Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Durkin’s term of employment under the Durkin Employment Agreement began on March 1, 2012 and continues through March 15, 2017.
Pursuant to the Durkin Employment Agreement, Mr. Durkin’s annual base salary was $650,000 as of March 1, 2012 and was and will be increased by at least 5% annually. For more information about Mr. Durkin’s base salary, see “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program for 2013—Salary” above.
Mr. Durkin is also eligible for an annual bonus under the CAIP with a target amount of 100% of his base salary, the actual amount of which is determined at the Company’s sole discretion based on his overall performance and the Company’s performance. For more information about performance-based bonuses, see “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program for 2013—Corporate Annual Incentive Plan and Other Performance-Based Bonuses” above. Mr. Durkin is also entitled to participate in all benefit plans generally available to our executive officers and we are required to maintain a $3 million supplemental term life insurance policy for the benefit of his estate throughout the term of his employment.
As an inducement to enter into the employment agreement, in 2012 Mr. Durkin was (1) paid a signing bonus of $1,250,000, (2) granted an option to purchase 300,000 shares of our Common Stock, which vested or will vest, as the case may be, in four equal installments on each of March 14, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, (3) granted 350,000 restricted share units, which vested or will vest, as the case may be, in four equal installments on each of March 14, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, and (4) granted 450,000 restricted share units with vesting tied to performance, (A) one-fifth of which vested on each of March 14, 2013 and 2014, in each case following the Compensation Committee’s determination that the earnings per share objective for the Company set forth in our AOP for the prior year had been met or exceeded and (B) one-fifth of which will vest on each of March 14, 2015, 2016 and 2017, in each case, only if the Compensation Committee determines that the earnings per share objective for the Company set forth in our AOP for the prior year has been met or exceeded.
Pursuant to the Durkin Employment Agreement, until the second anniversary of the expiration of the term of his employment, Mr. Durkin is restricted from soliciting the employment of anyone then employed by us or our subsidiaries (or anyone who was employed by us or them during his final 90 days of employment). Mr. Durkin is also restricted from inducing any of our business partners to alter its relationship with us while he is our employee. Mr. Durkin is also generally not permitted to negotiate for other employment before the final six months of the term of his employment under the Durkin Employment Agreement. In addition, Mr. Durkin is prohibited from competing with us during the term of his employment under the Durkin Employment Agreement.
Thomas Tippl
Employment Agreement
Thomas Tippl is party to an employment agreement with us, dated as of September 9, 2005, amended as of December 15, 2008, April 15, 2009, March 23, 2010, and December 5, 2013, and assigned to us by Activision Publishing on April 15, 2009 (as so amended and assigned, the “Tippl Employment Agreement”), pursuant to which he served as the Chief Financial Officer of Activision Publishing until the consummation of the Combination, as our Chief Financial Officer from the consummation of the Combination until February 2009, as our Chief Corporate Officer and Chief Financial Officer from February 2009 until March 2010 and, since March 2010 serves as our Chief Operating Officer (as well as continuing to serve as our Chief Financial Officer until a replacement was hired in March 2012). Mr. Tippl’s term of employment under the Tippl Employment Agreement began on October 1, 2005 and continues through April 30, 2016.
Pursuant to the Tippl Employment Agreement, Mr. Tippl’s annual base salary was increased to $1,250,000 as of December 5, 2013, and beginning in 2015, will be increased by an amount at least equal to the average percentage increase approved by the Compensation Committee for members of the executive leadership team with respect to that year (excluding any increase guaranteed to any such person by contract or due to such person’s significant promotion or modification in duties). For more information about Mr. Tippl’s base salary, see “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program for 2013—Salary” above.
Pursuant to the Tippl Employment Agreement, Mr. Tippl is also eligible for an annual bonus under the CAIP which, as of December 5, 2013, was increased to a target amount of 150% of his base salary the actual amount of which is determined at the Company’s sole discretion based on his overall performance and the Company’s performance. For more information about performance-based bonuses, see “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program for 2013—Corporate Annual Incentive Plan and Other Performance-Based Bonuses” above. Mr. Tippl is also entitled to participate in all benefit plans generally available to our executive officers and we are required to maintain a $9,375,000 supplemental term life insurance policy for the benefit of his estate throughout the term of his employment.
As an inducement to enter into the Tippl Employment Agreement, in 2005 Mr. Tippl was (1) paid a signing bonus of $100,000 and (2) granted an option to purchase 1,600,000 shares of our Common Stock, (A) one-third of which vested in five annual installments beginning on October 3, 2006, (B) (i) one-ninth of which vested on May 15, 2007, following the Compensation Committee’s determination that the operating income objective for the Company set forth in our fiscal 2006 AOP had been met or exceeded, (ii) one-ninth of which vested on May 15, 2008, following the Compensation Committee’s determination that the operating income objective for the Company set forth in our fiscal 2007 AOP had been met or exceeded, and (iii) one-ninth of which vested on May 11, 2009, following the Compensation Committee’s determination that the operating income objective for the Company set forth in our fiscal 2008 AOP had been met or exceeded,
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 64
and (C) one-third of which vested on October 3, 2010. In addition, in consideration for abandoning certain long-term compensation, pension benefits and related equity participations with his prior employer when he joined the Company, Mr. Tippl was granted 193,424 restricted shares of our Common Stock, which vested in three equal installments on each of October 3, 2008, 2009 and 2010. As an inducement to enter into the February 2009 amendment to the Tippl Employment Agreement pursuant to which he was promoted from Chief Financial Officer to Chief Corporate Officer and Chief Financial Officer and the term of his employment was extended until April 2014, in 2009 Mr. Tippl was granted (1) an option to purchase 1,200,000 shares of our Common Stock, which vested in five equal installments on each of February 15, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, (2) 150,000 restricted shares, which vested in five equal installments on each of February 15, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, and (3) 80,000 restricted shares of our Common Stock, which vested on February 15, 2010 (upon our attainment of a diluted earnings per share target of in excess of $0.68). As an inducement to enter into the March 2010 amendment to the Tippl Employment Agreement pursuant to which he was promoted to Chief Operating Officer and continued to serve as our Chief Financial Officer until a replacement was hired (thereby simultaneously filling multiple leadership roles during a time of significant organizational transition), in 2010 Mr. Tippl was granted (1) an option to purchase 525,000 shares, which vested in four equal installments on each of February 15, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, (2) 350,000 restricted share units, each representing the right to receive one share of the Company’s Common Stock, which vested in four equal installments on each of February 15, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, and (3) 225,000 restricted shares of our Common Stock, one-fourth of which vested on each of February 15, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, following the Compensation Committee’s determination that the earnings per share objective for the Company set forth in our AOP for the prior year had been met or exceeded.
As an inducement to enter into the December 2013 amendment to the Tippl Employment Agreement, which was executed on January 15, 2014 and pursuant to which, among other things, the term of his employment was extended until April 2016, in February 2014, Mr. Tippl was granted 309,917 restricted share units, the number of which was based on a total grant value of approximately $6,000,000 and one-third of which will vest on each of March 31, 2015, 2016, and 2017. As further inducement to enter into that amendment, in February 2014, Mr. Tippl received a grant of 1,022,728 restricted share units, the number of which was based on a total grant value of approximately $19,800,000 and assumes maximum performance; target performance would result in the vesting of 681,817 restricted share units. One-third of these restricted share units will vest on each of March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, in each case only if the Compensation Committee determines that the relevant performance measure has been met or exceeded. With respect to approximately 45% of these restricted share units (i.e., restricted share units with a total grant value of approximately $9,000,000, assuming maximum performance), performance will be measured by reference to the earnings per share objective for the Company set forth in our AOP for the prior year. With respect to approximately 27% of these restricted share units (i.e., restricted share units with a total grant value of approximately $5,400,000, assuming maximum performance), performance will be measured by reference to the free cash flow objective for the Company set forth in our AOP for the prior year. With respect to the remaining restricted share units (i.e., restricted share units with a total grant value of approximately $5,400,000, assuming maximum performance), performance will be measured with respect to the operating income objective for Blizzard Entertainment set forth in our AOP for the prior year. In each case: (1) if actual performance is below 75% of target, no shares subject to the performance criteria will be earned; (2) if actual performance is 100% of target, 100% of the target shares subject to the operating performance criteria will be earned; (3) if actual performance is 150% of target or above, all of the shares (i.e., 150% of the target shares) subject to the operating performance criteria will be earned; and (4) if actual performance falls between two thresholds, the number of shares subject to the operating performance criteria that will be earned will be determined using straight-line interpolation.
In addition, Mr. Tippl received full payment of the remaining $2,000,000 portion of the discretionary bonus previously awarded to him by the Compensation Committee on March 6, 2013 (one-half of which would otherwise have been paid in each of June 2014 and June 2015).
Pursuant to the Tippl Employment Agreement, until the second anniversary of the termination of his employment, Mr. Tippl is restricted from soliciting the employment of anyone who was employed by us or our affiliates during the term of his employment and from inducing any of our business partners to alter its relationship with us. Mr. Tippl is also generally not permitted to seek or negotiate for other employment before the final six months of the term of his employment under the Tippl Employment Agreement. In addition, Mr. Tippl is prohibited from competing with us during the term of his employment under the Tippl Employment Agreement.
Bonus Agreement
In recognition of his significant contributions to the Company during 2011, including service as both our Chief Operating Officer and interim Chief Financial Officer throughout the year and his critical role in enabling the Company to exceed its financial goals for the year, we awarded Mr. Tippl a one-time bonus of $3 million, which was paid on March 15, 2012.
Pursuant to the agreement, dated as of March 12, 2012, between Mr. Tippl and us, half of that bonus (i.e., $1.5 million) was deemed earned as of the date paid and the remaining $1.5 million will be deemed earned as of March 14, 2015. If Mr. Tippl’s employment is terminated prior to March 14, 2015 by the Company for cause or by him without good reason, in each case within the meaning of the Tippl Employment Agreement (see “—Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control” below), he has agreed to repay to us 50% of the net bonus paid to him on March 15, 2012 (i.e., half of the amount paid to him after all applicable taxes and withholdings), within 120 days of the termination of his employment.
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 65
Michael Morhaime
Michael Morhaime is party to an employment agreement with us, dated as of December 1, 2007 and amended as of December 15, 2008, March 31, 2009, November 4, 2009 and October 16, 2010 (i.e., the Morhaime Employment Agreement), pursuant to which he serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Blizzard Entertainment. Mr. Morhaime’s term of employment under the Morhaime Employment Agreement began on July 9, 2008 and continues through December 31, 2016.
Pursuant to the Morhaime Employment Agreement, Mr. Morhaime’s annual base salary was increased to $763,900 as of August 31, 2010 and was and will be reviewed annually. It may be increased at our discretion and any higher base salary paid to Mr. Morhaime will then be deemed to be the annual rate for purposes of the Morhaime Employment Agreement. For more information about Mr. Morhaime’s base salary, see “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program for 2013—Salary” above.
Mr. Morhaime is also eligible for an annual bonus under the CAIP with a target amount of 27% of his base salary, 10% of which will be based on the Company’s financial performance and 90% of which will be based on his performance and Blizzard Entertainment’s financial performance. The actual amount of any such bonus paid to him is determined at the Company’s discretion. For more information about performance-based bonuses, see “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program for 2013—Corporate Annual Incentive Plan and Other Performance-Based Bonuses” above.
Mr. Morhaime is also eligible for additional annual performance-based cash compensation based upon Blizzard Entertainment’s earnings under the Morhaime Profit Sharing Plan. Specifically, Mr. Morhaime is entitled to an amount equal to up to 6% of the profit sharing pool created pursuant to the Blizzard Profit Sharing Plan. (The Compensation Committee may exercise negative discretion with respect to his actual annual percentage interest in the pool, subject to a specified minimum percentage). Prior to October 2010, Mr. Morhaime was entitled to an amount equal to up to 5% of that pool. For more information about the Morhaime Profit Sharing Plan, see “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program for 2013—Other Annual Incentive Plans and Bonus Programs or Awards for 2013” above.
Mr. Morhaime is also eligible for an annual bonus under the Blizzard Bonus Plan. The target amount of such bonus is 37% of his base salary, but is otherwise at our Chief Executive Officer’s discretion. For more information about the Blizzard Bonus Plan, see “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program for 2013—Other Cash Bonus Programs or Awards for 2013” above.
Mr. Morhaime is also entitled to participate in all benefit plans generally available to Blizzard Entertainment’s senior executive officers (provided that in any case his benefits are in the aggregate at least as favorable to him as those provided to him by Blizzard Entertainment as of October 15, 2007). Mr. Morhaime was entitled to reimbursement of any legal fees he incurred in connection with the negotiation of the Morhaime Employment Agreement.
As an inducement to enter into the Morhaime Employment Agreement, upon the consummation of the Combination, Mr. Morhaime was granted an option to purchase 600,000 shares of our Common Stock, which vested in 60 equal installments on the 9th day of each month in the five years following the date of grant, commencing with August 9, 2008. As an inducement to enter into the October 2010 amendment to the Morhaime Employment Agreement, pursuant to which, among other things, the term of his employment was extended until December 2016, in 2010 Mr. Morhaime was granted (1) an option to purchase 300,000 shares of our Common Stock, one-sixth of which vested or will vest, as the case may be, on each of December 31, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, and (2) 400,000 restricted share units, one-sixth of which vested or will vest, as the case may be, on each of December 31, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. In addition, the Morhaime Employment Agreement provides that we will recommend to the Compensation Committee that Mr. Morhaime be granted an option to purchase 200,000 shares of our Common Stock and 70,000 restricted share units once per year during the term of the agreement to the extent awards are being made to our other senior executives during that year. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee, upon our recommendation, granted Mr. Morhaime: (1) in 2010, an option to purchase 200,000 shares of our Common Stock and 70,000 restricted share units, one-third of each of which vested on each of November 7, 2011, 2012 and 2013; (2) in 2011, an option to purchase 200,000 shares of our Common Stock and 70,000 restricted share units, one-third of each of which vested or will vest, as the case may be, on each of November 9, 2012, 2013 and 2014; (3) in 2012, an option to purchase 200,000 shares of our Common Stock and 70,000 restricted share units, one-third of each of which vested or will vest, as the case may be, on each of November 8, 2013, 2014 and 2015; and (4) in 2013, an option to purchase 200,000 shares of our Common Stock and 70,000 restricted share units, one-third of each of will vest on each of November 14, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Pursuant to the Morhaime Employment Agreement, while he is our employee and during any period following the termination of his employment in which he is receiving severance from us (as well as for any period corresponding to any lump-sum severance payment he receives from us), Mr. Morhaime is restricted from soliciting the employment of anyone then-employed by us or Blizzard Entertainment and from inducing any of our business partners or Blizzard Entertainment’s business partners to terminate its relationship with us or them. In addition, Mr. Morhaime is prohibited from competing with us while he is our employee. Further, during any period in which he is receiving severance from us (as well as for any period corresponding to any lump-sum severance payment he receives from us), he must make himself reasonably available to us to provide any information or other assistance we may reasonably request with respect to matters relating to Blizzard Entertainment’s business about which he has knowledge as a result of his employment. For information about the severance Mr. Morhaime may receive, see “—Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control” below.
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 66
Chris B. Walther
Chris B. Walther is party to an employment agreement with us, dated as of August 31, 2009, amended as of July 15, 2013 and assigned to us by Activision Publishing as of January 1, 2012 (as so amended and assigned, the “Walther Employment Agreement”), pursuant to which he serves as our Chief Legal Officer.
Mr. Walther’s term of employment under the Walther Employment Agreement began on October 26, 2009 and continues through March 31, 2016, subject to our option to extend the term by up to one additional year if the gross cumulative value of the equity awarded to Mr. Walther in 2013 pursuant to the Walther Employment Agreement, described below, exceeds $4.2 million as of March 31, 2016.
Pursuant to the Walther Employment Agreement, Mr. Walther’s annual base salary was increased to $630,000 as of June 1, 2013 and was and will be reviewed periodically. For more information about Mr. Walther’s base salary, see “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program for 2013—Salary” above.
Mr. Walther is also eligible for an annual bonus under the CAIP with a target amount of 75% of his base salary, the actual amount of which is determined at the Company’s sole discretion based on his overall performance and the Company’s performance. For more information about performance-based bonuses, see “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program for 2013—Corporate Annual Incentive Plan and Other Performance-Based Bonuses” above. Mr. Walther is also entitled to participate in all benefit plans generally available to our executive officers and we are required to maintain a $2 million supplemental term life insurance policy for the benefit of his estate through the term of his employment.
As an inducement to enter into the employment agreement, in 2009 Mr. Walther was (1) paid a signing bonus of $350,000, (2) granted an option to purchase 300,000 shares of our Common Stock, one-third of which vested on each of December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, and (3) granted 75,000 restricted share units, one-third of which vested on each of December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012. As an inducement to enter into the July 2013 amendment to the Walther Employment Agreement, pursuant to which the term of his employment was extended until March 2016, in 2013 Mr. Walther was granted (1) 80,000 restricted share units, one-half of which will vest on each of December 31, 2014 and 2015 and (2) 120,000 restricted share units, one-half of which will vest on each of March 30, 2015 and 2016, in each case only if the Compensation Committee determines that the operating income objective for the Company set forth in our AOP for the prior year has been met or exceeded.
Pursuant to the Walther Employment Agreement, until the second anniversary of the expiration of the term of his employment, Mr. Walther is restricted from soliciting the employment of anyone then employed by us or our subsidiaries (or anyone who was employed by us or them during his final 90 days of employment). Mr. Walther is also restricted from inducing any of our business partners to alter its relationship with us while he is our employee. Mr. Walther is also generally not permitted to negotiate for other employment before the final six months of the term of his employment under the Walther Employment Agreement. In addition, Mr. Walther is prohibited from competing with us during the term of his employment under the Walther Employment Agreement.
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 67
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control
The table below outlines the potential payments to our named executive officers upon the occurrence of certain termination events or a change of control. The calculations assume that each of these events occurred on December 31, 2013. As such, while Mr. Tippl’s employment agreement was most recently amended effective as of December 5, 2013, because that amendment was not executed until January 15, 2014, the calculations reflect the agreement in place at the end of 2013. For more information about Mr. Tippl’s employment agreement, see “—Employment Agreements—Thomas Tippl—Employment Agreement” above for more information.
Name and Type of Payment/Benefit | Death(1)(2) ($) | Disability(1)(2) ($) | Termination by Activision Blizzard For Cause or Performance Termination(1)(3) ($) | Termination by Activision Blizzard Without Cause or Termination by Employee for Good Reason(1)(4) ($) | Change of Control Without Termination(5) ($) | Termination by Activision Blizzard Without Cause or Termination by Employee for Good Reason Following a Change of Control(4)(5) ($) |
|||||||
Robert A. Kotick | |||||||||||||
Bonus severance | 4,454,291 | 4,454,291 | — | 4,599,190 | — | 4,454,291 | |||||||
Severance payment | — | 2,100,000 | — | 12,590,769 | — | 18,886,154 | |||||||
Benefits continuation(6) | 38,308 | 378,781 | 357,895 | 378,781 | — | 378,781 | |||||||
Value of accelerated equity awards(7) | 38,505,525 | 38,505,525 | 0 | 38,505,525 | 18,373,868 | 37,360,144 | |||||||
Excise tax gross-up | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||||||
Change of control payment | — | — | — | — | 30,000,000 | 30,000,000 | |||||||
TOTAL | 42,998,124 | 45,438,597 | 357,895 | 56,074,265 | 48,373,868 | 91,079,370 | |||||||
Dennis Durkin | |||||||||||||
Bonus severance | 765,008 | 765,008 | — | 765,008 | — | 765,008 | |||||||
Lump-sum payment | 1,365,000 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
Salary continuation | — | 2,184,000 | — | 2,184,000 | — | 2,184,000 | |||||||
Benefits continuation(6) | 10,443 | 16,128 | — | 16,128 | — | 16,128 | |||||||
TOTAL | 2,140,451 | 2,965,136 | 0 | 2,965,136 | 0 | 2,965,136 | |||||||
Thomas Tippl | |||||||||||||
Bonus severance | 1,325,400 | 1,325,400 | — | 1,325,400 | — | 1,325,400 | |||||||
Lump-sum payment | 2,805,711 | 2,805,711 | — | — | — | — | |||||||
Salary continuation | — | — | — | 280,367 | — | 280,367 | |||||||
Benefits continuation(6) | 14,687 | 22,845 | — | — | — | — | |||||||
Value of continued vesting of equity awards(7) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
TOTAL | 4,145,798 | 4,153,956 | 0 | 1,605,767 | 0 | 1,605,767 | |||||||
Michael Morhaime | |||||||||||||
Bonus severance | 2,385,127 | 2,385,127 | — | 2,385,127 | — | 2,385,127 | |||||||
Lump-sum payment | — | — | — | 18,677,377 | — | 18,677,377 | |||||||
TOTAL | 2,385,127 | 2,385,127 | 0 | 21,062,504 | 0 | 21,062,504 | |||||||
Chris B. Walther | |||||||||||||
Bonus severance | 493,259 | 493,259 | — | 493,259 | — | 493,259 | |||||||
Lump-sum payment | 1,260,000 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
Salary continuation | — | 1,415,342 | — | 1,415,342 | — | 1,415,342 | |||||||
TOTAL | 1,753,259 | 1,908,601 | 0 | 1,908,601 | 0 | 1,908,601 |
Footnotes for this table can be found on the pages immediately following (pages [69-76]).
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. - 2014 Proxy Statement 68
(1) Bonus Payments upon Termination
In the event of a termination of employment by us without cause or by the employee for good reason, or in the event of a termination of employment due to death or disability, (or in the event of a termination of Mr. Kotick’s employment for any of the aforementioned reasons during the 12-month period following a change of control), on December 31, 2013, each of our named executive officers would have received any earned but unpaid bonuses for prior years (of which there were none as of December 31, 2013), as well as a pro rata bonus for the year in which the termination occurred as follows:
(a) Mr. Kotick would have received:
• | in the event of his termination due to death or disability or in the event of the termination of his employment by us without cause or by him for good reason during the 12-month period following a change of control, and subject to his execution of an effective and irrevocable release (other than in the event of a termination of his employment due to death), a lump-sum payment equal to the annual bonus earned for the year immediately preceding the year in which the termination occurred, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days worked during the year in which the termination occurred and the denominator of which is 365; or | |
• | in the event of the termination of his employment by us without cause or by him for good reason other than such a termination during the 12-month period following a change of control and subject to his execution of an effective and irrevocable release, a lump-sum payment equal to the annual bonus earned for the year in which the termination occurred, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days worked during the year in which the termination occurred and the denominator of which is 365. |
(b) Messrs. Tippl, Durkin and Walther would have each received, to the extent the bonus was earned and subject to his execution of an effective and irrevocable release (other than in the event of a termination of his employment due to death):
• | a lump-sum payment equal to the annual bonus for the year in which the termination occurred (where all goals would have been measured by actual performance), multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number corresponding to the month in which the termination occurred and the denominator of which is 12. |
(c) Mr. Morhaime would have received, to the extent the bonus was earned:
• | a lump-sum payment equal to any amounts he would have received under the CAIP, Morhaime Profit Sharing Plan and Blizzard Bonus Plan for the year in which the termination occurred (where all goals would have been measured by actual performance), multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days prior to and including his termination date in the year in which the termination occurred and the denominator of which is 365. |
None of our named executive officers is entitled to a bonus with respect to the year of termination of his employment in connection with a termination for cause or performance termination. Mr. Kotick would have received any earned but unpaid bonus for prior years in the event of a termination of his employment for cause and Mr. Tippl would have received any earned but unpaid bonus for prior years in the event of a performance termination.
(2) Termination of Employment due to Death or Disability
In the event of a termination of employment due to death or disability on December 31, 2013, each of our named executive officers or his estate would have received, in addition to any amounts to which he was entitled under applicable law, such as earned but unpaid salary, accrued but unpaid vacation, unreimbursed business expenses and any amounts then due under our benefit plans, programs or policies (collectively, “basic severance”) (which for purposes of this table, are assumed to have been paid or reimbursed in full as of December 31, 2013), the following:
(a) | Mr. Kotick would have received: |
• | in the event of his termination due to disability, subject to his execution of an effective and irrevocable release, an amount equal to 100% of his annual base salary in effect on his termination date, which amount would have been paid to him in equal installments over the 12-month period following his termination date; | |
• | in the event of his termination due to death or disability, continuation of health/medical insurance benefits for him and his then-current spouse and minor children, as applicable, for a period of two years following his termination date; and | |
• | in the event of his termination due to disability, continuation of his supplemental life insurance benefits through March 15, 2022. |
(b) | Mr. Durkin would have received: |
• | in the event of his termination due to death, a lump-sum payment equal to 200% of his annual base salary in effect on his termination date, less any payments received or to which he became entitled under company-provided life insurance, if any (which payments, for purposes of this table, are assumed to be zero); | |
• | in the event of his termination due to disability, subject to his or his legal representative’s execution of an effective and irrevocable release, salary continuation through the expiration date of his employment agreement in an amount equal to 100% of the base salary (at the rate in effect on his termination date) that would have been payable to him through that date, less any payments received or to which he became entitled under company-provided long-term disability insurance, if any (which payments, for purposes of this table, are assumed to be zero); and | |
• | in the event of his termination due to death or disability, subject to his or his legal representative’s execution of an effective and irrevocable release, continuation of health/medical insurance benefits for him and his then-current spouse and minor children, as applicable, for a period of one year following his termination date, provided that he does not become eligible for another company’s group health/medical insurance or coverage program, in which case he would cease to be eligible for continuation of health/medical insurance benefits. |
(c) | Mr. Tippl would have received, subject to his or his legal representative’s execution of an effective and irrevocable release: |
• | a lump-sum payment equal to 300% of the base salary paid or payable to him for the most recent year immediately prior to termination; and |
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• | continuation of health/medical insurance benefits for him and his then-current spouse and minor children, as applicable, for a period of two years following his termination date. |
(d) | Mr. Walther would have received: |
• | in the event of his termination due to death, a lump-sum payment equal to 200% of his annual base salary in effect on his termination date, less any payments received or to which he became entitled under company-provided life insurance, if any (which payments, for purposes of this table, are assumed to be zero); and | |
• | in the event of his termination due to disability, subject to his or his legal representative’s execution of an effective and irrevocable release, salary continuation through the expiration date of his employment agreement in an amount equal to 100% of the base salary (at the rate in effect on his termination date) that would have been payable to him through that date, less any payments received or to which he became entitled under company-provided long-term disability insurance, if any (which payments, for purposes of this table, are assumed to be zero). |
With the exception of a payment in respect of a bonus, discussed in footnote (1), Mr. Morhaime would not have received anything other than basic severance in connection with his termination due to death or disability.
Except as otherwise indicated, the amounts reflected in the table are in addition to any proceeds from company-provided insurance the executive or his estate would have received upon death or disability, as the case may be.
Any payment in respect of a bonus which any of our named executive officers would have received in connection with a termination of employment due to death or disability is discussed in footnote (1). The effects of a termination of employment due to death or disability on outstanding equity awards are discussed in footnote (7).
(3) Termination for Cause
The employment of each of our named executive officers may be terminated for “cause” if any of the following occur:
• | For Mr. Kotick: subject to his right to cure, a determination by our Board that he (1) engaged in an act of fraud or embezzlement in respect of us or our funds, properties or assets, (2) was convicted of a felony relating to his actions as our executive under the laws of the United States or any state thereof (provided that all rights of appeal have been exercised or have lapsed), unless such acts were committed in the reasonable, good faith belief that his actions were in our best interests and the best interests of our stockholders and would not violate criminal law, (3) engaged in willful misconduct or gross negligence in connection with the performance of his duties that has caused or is highly likely to cause us severe harm, or (4) was intentionally dishonest in the performance of his duties under his employment agreement and such dishonesty had a material adverse effect on us; | |
• | For Mr. Durkin: our good faith determination that he (1) engaged in willful, reckless or gross misconduct that caused, or is reasonably likely to cause, harm to us or our subsidiaries, (2) subject to his right to cure, was grossly negligent in the performance of his duties or willfully and continuously failed or refused to perform any duties reasonably requested in the course of his employment, (3) engaged in fraud or dishonesty that caused, or is likely to cause, severe harm to us or our subsidiaries, including our business or reputation, (4) subject to his right to cure, violated any of our lawful and reasonable directives or policies or any applicable laws, rules or regulations in connection with the performance of his duties that caused, or is reasonably likely to cause, harm to us or our subsidiaries, (5) subject to his right to cure, materially breached his employment agreement, (6) subject to his right to cure, materially breached any proprietary information or confidentiality agreement with us or our subsidiaries, (7) was convicted of, or pled guilty or no contest to, a felony or crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude, or (8) subject to his right to cure, breached his fiduciary duties to us or our subsidiaries; | |
• | For Mr. Tippl: that he (1) engaged in willful, reckless or gross misconduct, (2) subject to his right to cure, materially breached his employment agreement, (3) was convicted of, or pled no contest to, a felony or crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude, (4) breached his duty of loyalty to us, or (5) violated our corporate governance policies; in addition, for Mr. Tippl, a “performance termination” occurs if we terminate his employment by reason of his failure to perform the functions of his position at the appropriate level; | |
• | For Mr. Walther: that he (1) subject to his right to cure, engaged in gross negligence in the performance of his duties or willfully and continuously failed or refused to perform any duties reasonably requested in the course of his employment, (2) subject to his right to cure, engaged in fraud, dishonesty, or any other serious misconduct that causes or has the potential to cause, harm to us or our subsidiaries, including our business or reputation, (3) subject to his right to cure, materially violated any of our lawful directives or policies or any applicable laws, rules or regulations, (4) subject to his right to cure, materially breached his employment agreement, (5) subject to his right to cure, materially breached any proprietary information or confidentiality agreement with us or our subsidiaries, (6) was convicted of, or pled guilty or no contest to, a felony or crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude, or (7) subject to his right to cure, materially breached his fiduciary duties to us or our subsidiaries; and | |
• | For Mr. Morhaime: that he (1) subject to his right to cure, failed to perform his primary duties or breached his employment agreement, in either case resulting in material and demonstrable damage to us or our affiliates, (2) subject to his right to cure, intentionally and materially failed to comply with our material policies of which he had been provided written notice and the terms of which are equally and uniformly applied to all of our executive employees, or (3) was convicted of a felony or other crime involving dishonesty or fraud or that results or would reasonably be expected to result in our becoming subject to public reprimand or sanction. |
Each of our named executive officers would have received basic severance in connection with a performance termination or a termination for cause on December 31, 2013 and none of them would have received any salary-related severance or bonus with respect to the year of termination in connection with a performance termination or a termination for cause.
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In addition, in the event of a termination of employment by us for cause, Mr. Kotick would have received:
• | any earned but unpaid bonuses for prior years; and | |
• | continuation of his supplemental life insurance benefits through March 15, 2022; |
and, in the event of a performance termination, Mr. Tippl would have received any earned but unpaid bonuses for prior years.
The effects of a termination of employment in connection with a performance termination or a termination for cause on outstanding equity awards are discussed in footnote (7).
(4) Termination Without Cause or for Good Reason
As described below, each named executive officer may terminate his employment for “good reason” upon the occurrence of any of the following without his consent:
• | For Mr. Kotick: (1) a reduction in his base salary, (2) a material reduction in certain benefits to which he is contractually entitled, (3) the assignment to him of any duties inconsistent with his position, duties, responsibilities, authority or status with us or a change in his reporting responsibilities, titles or offices as in effect prior to such assignment or change, (4) his failure to be nominated for election, or failure to be re-elected, as a member of our Board, (5) our material breach or failure to perform, when due, any of our obligations under his employment agreement, (6) any purported termination of his employment in contravention of his employment agreement or in violation of our Bylaws, or (7) a good faith determination by him that he is not able to discharge his duties effectively by reason of directives from our Board requiring him to perform duties not directly related to our operations; | |
• | For Mr. Durkin, subject to our right to cure: (1) a relocation of his principal place of business to a location more than 50 miles from our current headquarters that materially and adversely affects his commute or (2) his being assigned to serve in a position that results in a material diminution of his responsibilities, duties or title; | |
• | For Mr. Tippl, subject to our right to cure: our relocation to a location more than 25 miles from Los Angeles County which is materially adverse to him; | |
• | For Mr. Walther, subject to our right to cure: a relocation of his principal place of business to a location more than 50 miles from our current headquarters that materially and adversely affects his commute; and | |
• | For Mr. Morhaime, subject to our right to cure: (1) a reduction in his base salary or any contractually guaranteed minimum bonuses or bonus opportunities, (2) a material reduction in certain benefits to which he is contractually entitled, (3) any change to the CAIP, the Blizzard Bonus Plan or the Morhaime Profit Sharing Plan that materially reduces his opportunity to earn compensation under those plans, when taken as a whole, (4) any change to the Blizzard Profit Sharing Plan that materially reduces the aggregate compensation opportunities available to Blizzard Entertainment’s employees under that plan, (5) a material default by us in paying or providing him with any compensation or benefits required or any material obligations owed to him under his employment agreement, (6) our termination without cause of any member of Blizzard Entertainment’s management team, (7) a change in location of his primary place of employment to a location more than 15 miles from Blizzard Entertainment’s existing office in Irvine, California, (8) a change in title that conveys lesser responsibility or lower status, or the imposition of any restriction or constraint upon him or the undertaking of any other act which materially diminishes his position, office, responsibility, duties or authority, (9) a change in his reporting structure and responsibilities as set forth in his employment agreement, (10) a change of control of Blizzard Entertainment, or (11) subject to certain exceptions and limitations on his authority, our engaging in conduct with respect to the operations or activities of Blizzard Entertainment which, taken individually or as a whole, prevent or materially interfere with him having authority, ability, accountability and control over the conduct of Blizzard Entertainment’s strategic, operational and daily business activities, or otherwise prevent him from effectively acting as Blizzard Entertainment’s chief executive officer. |
Upon a termination of the employment of one of our named executive officers by us without “cause” or by one of our named executive officers for good reason on December 31, 2013 (including the termination of Mr. Kotick by us without cause or by Mr. Kotick for good reason during the 12-month period following a change of control), that named executive officer would have received, in addition to any basic severance, the following:
(a) | Mr. Kotick: |
• | subject to his execution of an effective and irrevocable release, an amount equal to 200% of the sum of his base salary in effect on his termination date and the target annual bonus for the year in which the termination occurred (unless such termination is during the 12-month period following a change of control, in which case the amount would have been equal to 300% of that sum), which amount would have been paid to him in equal installments over the 12-month period following his termination date; | |
• | continuation of health/medical insurance benefits for him and his then-current spouse and minor children for a period of two years following his termination date; and | |
• | continuation of his supplemental life insurance benefits through March 15, 2022. |
(b) | Mr. Durkin: |
• | subject to his execution of an effective and irrevocable release, salary continuation through the expiration date of his employment agreement in an amount equal to 100% of the base salary (at the rate in effect on his termination date) that would have been payable to him through that date; and | |
• | subject to his execution of an effective and irrevocable release, continuation of health/medical insurance benefits for him and his then-current spouse and minor children for a period of one year following his termination date, provided that he does not become eligible for another company’s group health/medical insurance or coverage program, in which case he would cease to be eligible for continuation of health/medical insurance benefits. |
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(c) | Mr. Tippl: |
• | subject to his execution of an effective and irrevocable release, salary continuation through the expiration date of his employment agreement in an amount equal to 100% of the base salary that would have been payable to him through that date (taking into account the automatic increases in base salary under his employment agreement, which increases are not reflected in this table because the amount thereof cannot be determined, as they are based upon increases approved for other members of the executive leadership team for the year in question). |
(Mr. Tippl would also receive these amounts if his employment is terminated as a result of his loss of immigration status and legal ability to work for us in the United States, unless such loss results from his action or inaction.)
Mr. Tippl would have been entitled to salary continuation in the amount of $2,859,589 under the Tippl Employment Agreement following the amendment to the agreement that was effective as of December 5, 2013 yet not executed until January 15, 2014.
(d) | Mr. Walther: |
• | subject to his execution of an effective and irrevocable release, salary continuation through the expiration date of his employment agreement in an amount equal to 100% of the base salary (at the rate in effect on his termination date) that would have been payable to him through that date. |
(e) | Mr. Morhaime: |
• | a lump-sum payment equal to the sum of: |
– | 100% of the base salary (at the rate in effect on his termination date) that would have been payable to him through the expiration date of his employment agreement; | |
– | the sum of the following components for each year remaining through the expiration date of his employment agreement (i.e., three years as of December 31, 2013): |
- an amount equal to the actual annual bonus paid under each of the CAIP and Blizzard Bonus Plan for the year immediately preceding the year of termination; and
- the value of his health/medical insurance, life insurance and disability insurance benefits based upon his coverage as of December 31, 2013;
- 200% of the actual annual bonus compensation paid to Mr. Morhaime under the Morhaime Profit Sharing Plan for the year immediately prior to termination; and
– | had his termination date been December 31, 2013, (a) $1,500,000 if his employment was terminated without cause and (b) $1,200,000 if his employment was terminated by him for good reason. |
The lump-sum payment in the table represents the amount Mr. Morhaime would have received had he been terminated without cause. Had he terminated his employment for good reason, the lump-sum payment would have been $18,377,377 (and, as such, the total amount he would have received would have been $20,762,504, including the bonus earned).
Any payment in respect of a bonus which any of our named executive officers would have received in connection with a termination of employment by us without cause or by that named executive officer for good reason is discussed in footnote (1). The effects of a termination of the employment of one of our named executive officers by us without cause or by that named executive officer for good reason on outstanding equity awards are discussed in footnote (7).
Pursuant to the terms of Messrs. Durkin’s or Walther’s employment agreements, all benefits to which each is otherwise entitled upon a termination of employment by us without cause or by him for good reason, with the exception of the basic severance, would cease if he breaches the post-termination non-solicitation provisions of his employment agreement. Please see, respectively, “—Employment Agreements—Dennis Durkin” and “—Employment Agreements—Chris B. Walther” above for a description of those obligations.
In addition, if Mr. Durkin or Mr. Walther obtains any subsequent employment, any severance payable to him in the form of salary continuation would be offset by the amount of his salary from his then-current employer (which payments, for the purposes of this table, are assumed to be zero).
(5) Change of Control
For Mr. Kotick, in the event of a change of control:
(a) As noted in footnotes (1) and (4), upon a subsequent termination of employment by us without cause or by Mr. Kotick for good reason during the 12-month period following the effective date of that change of control, he would have received, in addition to any basic severance, the following:
• | subject to his execution of an effective and irrevocable release, a lump-sum payment equal to the annual bonus earned for the year immediately preceding the year in which the termination occurred, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days worked during the year in which the termination occurred and the denominator of which is 365; | |
• | subject to his execution of an effective and irrevocable release, an amount equal to 300% of the sum of his base salary in effect on his termination date and the target annual bonus for the year in which the termination occurred, which amount would have been paid to him in equal installments over the 12-month period following his termination date; | |
• | continuation of health/medical insurance benefits for him and his then-current spouse and minor children, as applicable, for a period of two years following his termination date; and | |
• | continuation of his supplemental life insurance benefits through March 15, 2022. |
(b) If there is a change of control during the term of Mr. Kotick’s employment or Mr. Kotick is terminated without cause and a change in control is consummated during the six months after his termination, Mr. Kotick will be entitled to a cash bonus payable upon such change of control in an amount of at least $30,000,000, which may be increased up to $45,000,000 at the good faith discretion of the Compensation Committee. For purposes of this table, the payment has been assumed to be $30,000,000.
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(c) The amounts shown represent the value of any restricted shares, restricted share units or performance shares which vest or as to which the restrictions would have lapsed, as the case may be, upon Mr. Kotick’s termination, measured as the NASDAQ Official Closing Price of $17.83 per share of our Common Stock on December 31, 2013.
(d) If there had been a change of control on December 31, 2013 (whether or not he was subsequently terminated):
• | the stock options granted to him on or prior to June 15, 2007 would have remained exercisable until their original expiration date; and | |
• | the target number of performance shares granted to him thereunder on March 15, 2012 for each performance period or periods (which, for each period, is 25% of the total number of performance shares granted to him) in which the change of control occurred would have vested, and the remaining performance shares would have been cancelled. |
In addition, if the NASDAQ Official Closing Price of our Common Stock on the date of the change of control was greater than the exercise price of any of his vested stock options, Mr. Kotick would have had the right to forfeit the stock options in exchange for a cash payment equal in value to the number of shares of our Common Stock underlying those stock options multiplied by the amount that the NASDAQ Official Closing Price exceeded the exercise price of the stock options. For purposes of this table, no value is attributed to this provision of his employment agreement, as Mr. Kotick could have obtained the same value by exercising those stock options and selling the shares purchased upon exercise in the open market.
If, following a change of change of control, he had been terminated due to his death, as discussed in footnote (7):
• | all the stock options granted to him on December 5, 2007 would have remained exercisable until their original expiration date. |
Further, in the event of his termination due to death or disability or in the event of the termination of his employment by us without cause or by him for good reason during the 12-month period following a change of control:
• | those restricted share units granted to him thereunder on March 15, 2012 that would have vested had he remained employed for the 36 months following his termination date (and had such termination not been during the 12-month period following a change of control, the number of restricted share units that would have vested would be those that would have vested had he remained employed for the 24 months following his termination date, rather than the 36 months). |
Other than as described in this footnote (5), Mr. Kotick’s termination following a change of control, whether or not in the 12-month period thereafter, would have no impact on his outstanding equity awards.
(e) Pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Kotick is entitled to be grossed-up in respect of any excise taxes for which he is responsible in respect of payments by us to him as a result of a change of control. Assuming that a change of control occurred on December 31, 2013, any payment owed to him under the employment agreement as a result of that change of control would not have exceeded the necessary safe harbor cap under the Internal Revenue Code to trigger a gross-up payment for him.
For purposes of Mr. Kotick’s employment agreement, a change of control is defined to include: (a) the acquisition of 25% or more of our outstanding voting stock (except if, after that acquisition, the person or group which acquired that stock beneficially owns fewer shares than Vivendi and its affiliates in the aggregate and does not have, by virtue of that beneficial ownership or by contract the right to elect a majority of the Board), (b) the failure of the directors who constituted the Board at the time of the Combination (or replacements who are approved by a majority of such directors) to constitute a majority of the Board, or (c) a consolidation, merger or sale of all or substantially all of our assets in which our stockholders do not retain in excess of 65% of the combined voting power of the corporation or other person or entity resulting from that transaction in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the voting securities of Activision Blizzard immediately before the transaction. No change of control will be deemed to have occurred upon the acquisition of additional control of Activision Blizzard by Vivendi or by any one person or more than one person acting as a group that beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of our total outstanding voting stock. Although the transactions described in the Vivendi Share Purchase Agreement could have been deemed to constitute a change of control as defined in his employment agreement, Mr. Kotick voluntarily waived any rights he had to payments, benefits and vesting upon a change of control under his agreement in connection therewith. Please see “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Relationships with Our Directors and Executive Officers—Waiver and Acknowledgement Letters” below for further information on the waiver.
(6) Continuation of Insurance Benefits
The amounts shown represent the estimated cost to us for continuation of health/medical insurance benefits and, if applicable, life insurance benefits for the required period, based on the cost to us of providing those benefits as of December 31, 2013. Please see footnotes (2), (3), (4) and (5) for a description of the termination scenarios for which these amounts are relevant.
(7) Treatment of Equity Awards
The amounts shown represent the value of any restricted shares, restricted share units or performance shares which vest or as to which the restrictions would have lapsed upon termination, measured as the NASDAQ Official Closing Price of $17.83 per share of our Common Stock on December 31, 2013.
With the exception of certain awards granted to Mr. Tippl, the outstanding equity awards that would have continued to vest in accordance with their vesting schedules do not have any additional value attributed to them in this table over the value based on the $17.83 stock price on December 31, 2013 because the market price of our Common Stock at the time of vesting cannot be determined.
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The effects of termination as of December 31, 2013 on the outstanding equity awards held by each named executive officer on that date are as follows:
(a) For Mr. Kotick, with respect to equity awards addressed in his employment agreement, on the date of termination:
• | in the event of a termination of his employment due to death or disability or in the event of a termination of his employment by us without cause or by Mr. Kotick for good reason, subject to his execution of an effective and irrevocable release (other than in the event of a termination of his employment due to death): |
– | the stock options granted to him prior to January 1, 2007 would remain exercisable until the earlier of the fifth anniversary of his termination date and their original expiration date and the stock options granted to him on June 15, 2007 and December 15, 2007 would remain exercisable until their original expiration date; | |
– | those restricted share units granted to him on March 15, 2012 that would have vested had he remained employed for the 24 months following his termination date would have vested (unless such termination had been during the 12-month period following a change of control, in which case it would have been those restricted share units that would have vested had he remained employed for the 36 months following his termination date rather than the 24 months thereafter); | |
– | if the performance condition for a relevant period (i.e., the periods ending December 31, 2013 and 2014) is met or exceeded, the performance shares would vest at the end of the period (and, for purposes of this table, the amount shown is based upon actual performance for the first performance period (i.e., January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2013) and target performance for the second performance period (i.e., January 1, 2013 – December 31, 2014). |
For the effects of a change of control and any subsequent termination on Mr. Kotick’s equity awards, see footnote (5).
• | in the event of a termination of employment by us for cause: |
– | his stock options, whether or not vested, would have been canceled; | |
– | the unvested portion of his restricted shares with vesting tied to performance would have been canceled; and | |
– | the performance shares would have been canceled. |
• | in the event of a termination of employment for any other reason: |
– | his stock options would have ceased to vest and, to the extent vested, would have generally remained exercisable for 30 days; | |
– | the unvested portion of his restricted shares with vesting tied to performance would have been canceled; and | |
– | the performance shares would have been canceled. |
As of December 31, 2013, the outstanding equity awards addressed in Mr. Kotick’s employment agreement were as follows: (1) vested options to purchase 3,977,179 shares of our Common Stock, (2) 1,064,850 restricted share units, and (3) 3,313,246 performance shares. Please see “—Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2013” above for further details about these awards.
For the effects of a change of control and any subsequent termination on Mr. Kotick’s outstanding equity awards, see footnote (5).
(b) For Mr. Durkin, with respect to equity awards addressed in his employment agreement:
• | in the event of a termination of employment due to death, on the date of termination: |
– | his stock options would have ceased to vest and, to the extent vested, would have generally remained exercisable for one year; and |
– | his unvested restricted share units would have been canceled. |
• | in the event of a termination of employment by us for cause, on the date of termination: |
– | his stock options, whether or not vested, would have been canceled; and | |
– | his unvested restricted share units would have been canceled. |
• | in the event of a termination of employment for any other reason, on the date of termination: |
– | his stock options would have ceased to vest and, to the extent vested, would have generally remained exercisable for 30 days; and | |
– | his unvested restricted share units would have been canceled. |
As of December 31, 2013, the outstanding equity awards addressed in Mr. Durkin’s employment agreement were as follows: (1) unvested options to purchase 300,000 shares of our Common Stock and (2) 710,000 unvested restricted share units (360,000 of which shares have vesting tied to performance). Please see “—Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2013” above for further details about these awards.
(c) For Mr. Tippl, with respect to equity awards addressed in his employment agreement, the accelerated equity award amounts in the table above are calculated based on the Tippl Employment Agreement the amendment to the agreement that was effective as of December 5, 2013 yet not executed until January 15, 2014.
Pursuant to the Tippl Employment Agreement, the effects of termination on Mr. Tippl’s outstanding equity awards are as follows:
• | in the event of a termination of employment due to death or disability, on the date of termination: |
– | his stock options would have ceased to vest; and, to the extent vested, would have generally remained exercisable for 30 days; and | |
– | his unvested restricted shares (other than those with vesting tied to performance) and the unvested restricted share units granted to him pursuant to his agreement would have vested such that the value of the aggregate number of shares he received upon the vesting of his restricted shares and restricted share units but had yet to sell, if any, and the newly-vested shares and units (based on the fair market value of the shares or shares underlying the units, as the case may be, on the date of termination) would be equal to $1,500,000 less the amount, if any, of the after-tax proceeds of any such shares already sold by him as of the date of termination, and the remainder of his restricted shares and restricted share units (including those with vesting tied to performance) would have been canceled, and: |
- based on the NASDAQ Official Closing Price of $17.83 per share of our Common Stock on December 31, 2013, if he had been terminated on that date, all of his unvested restricted shares and restricted share units (including those with vesting tied to performance) would have been canceled; and
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- if the December 2013 amendment to his employment agreement had been in place as of December 31, 2013, in lieu of the foregoing, all of his unvested restricted shares and restricted share units (including those with vesting tied to performance) would have ceased to vest.
• | in the event of a termination of employment by us for cause or as a result of a performance termination, on the date of termination: |
– | his stock options, whether or not vested, would have been canceled; and | |
– | because he abandoned certain long-term compensation, pension benefits and related equity participations with his prior employer when he joined us, his unvested restricted shares (other than those with vesting tied to performance) and the unvested restricted share units granted to him pursuant to his agreement would have vested such that the value of the aggregate number of shares he received upon the vesting of his restricted shares and restricted share units but had yet to sell, if any, and the newly-vested shares and units (based on the fair market value of the shares or shares underlying the units, as the case may be, on the date of termination) would be equal to $1,500,000 less the amount, if any, of the after-tax proceeds of any such shares already sold by him as of the date of termination, and the remainder of his restricted shares and restricted share units (including those with vesting tied to performance) would have been canceled, and: |
- | based on the NASDAQ Official Closing Price of $17.83 per share of our Common Stock on December 31, 2013, all of his unvested restricted shares and restricted share units (including those with vesting tied to performance) would have been canceled; and | |
- | if the December 2013 amendment to his employment agreement had been in place as of December 31, 2013, in lieu of the foregoing, all of his unvested restricted shares and restricted share units (including those with vesting tied to performance) would have ceased to vest. |
• | in the event of a termination of employment by us without cause or by Mr. Tippl for good reason (or as a result of his loss of immigration status and legal ability to work for us in the United States, unless such loss results from his action or inaction): |
– | if his aggregate earned value (defined as the aggregate of the value of restricted shares (other than those with vesting tied to performance) and restricted share units granted to him pursuant to his agreement vested prior to termination (as determined by reference to the NASDAQ Official Closing Price on the vesting date) and the value of exercised stock options (where all stock options are deemed to have been exercised upon vesting)) had been equal to or exceeds the valuation limit determined by multiplying (x) the number that is equal to the sum of his initial base salary and target annual bonus multiplied by 2.5 ($1,968,750) by (y) the number of full and partial years worked as of the date of termination (eight) (i.e.; $15,750,000), Mr. Tippl’s remaining unvested restricted shares, restricted share units and stock options would have been canceled; otherwise, Mr. Tippl’s restricted shares (other than those with vesting tied to performance, which would have been canceled), the restricted share units granted to him pursuant to his agreement and his stock options would have continued to vest until his aggregate earned value in respect of that equity exceeded the valuation limit (or he begins to compete with us, in which case the vesting would cease as of the day he began the competitive activity and any stock options which are then vested would have generally remained exercisable for 30 days), and: |
- | assuming a December 31, 2013 termination date, Mr. Tippl’s aggregate earned value would have been above the valuation limit, resulting in (1) all of his unvested restricted shares and restricted share units (including those with vesting tied to performance) ceasing to vest; and (2) his stock options ceasing to vest; and, to the extent vested, generally remaining exercisable for 30 days; and | |
- | if the December 2013 amendment to his employment agreement had been in place as of December 31, 2013, the result would have been the same (i.e., (1) all of his unvested restricted shares and restricted share units (including those with vesting tied to performance) would have ceased to vest; and (2) his stock options would have ceased to vest; and, to the extent vested, would have generally remained exercisable for 30 days). |
• | in the event of a termination of employment for any other reason, on the date of termination: |
– | his stock options, whether or not vested, would have been canceled (if the December 2013 amendment to his employment agreement had been in place as of December 31, 2013, in lieu of the foregoing, to the extent vested, the stock options would have generally remained exercisable for 30 days). | |
– | his unvested restricted shares and restricted share units would have been canceled. |
As of December 31, 2013, the outstanding equity awards addressed in Mr. Tippl’s employment agreement were as follows: (1) vested options to purchase 1,353,750 shares of our Common Stock, (2) unvested options to purchase 371,250 shares of our Common Stock, (3) 86,250 restricted shares (56,250 of which have vesting tied to performance), and (4) 87,500 restricted share units. Please see “—Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2013” above for further details about these awards.
(d) For Mr. Walther, with respect to equity awards addressed in his employment agreement:
• | in the event of a termination of employment due to death, on the date of termination: |
– | his stock options would have ceased to vest and, to the extent vested, would have generally remained exercisable for one year; and | |
– | his unvested restricted share units would have been canceled. |
• | in the event of a termination of employment by us for cause, on the date of termination: |
– | his stock options, whether or not vested, would have been canceled; and | |
– | his unvested restricted share units would have been canceled. |
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• | in the event of a termination of employment for any other reason, on the date of termination: |
– | his stock options would have ceased to vest and, to the extent vested, would have generally remained exercisable for 30 days; and | |
– | his unvested restricted share units would have been canceled. |
As of December 31, 2013, the outstanding equity awards addressed in Mr. Walther’s employment agreement were as follows: (1) vested options to purchase 100,000 of our Common Stock; and (2) 200,000 unvested restricted share units (120,000 of which shares have vesting tied to performance). Please see “—Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2013” above for further details about these awards.
(e) Awards Not Addressed in Employment Agreements. As of December 31, 2013, certain of our named executive officers held certain equity awards that were not addressed in the executive’s employment agreement and, instead, were consistent with our standard form of award agreement. Specifically:
• | Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units held by Messrs. Tippl and Morhaime. Each of Messrs. Tippl and Morhaime were granted restricted shares and/or restricted share units which, in the event his employment agreement had terminated for any reason prior to the date on which those awards had vested, on the date of termination of employment: |
– | would have been canceled on the date of termination. |
As of December 31, 2013, the outstanding restricted share awards with such terms were as follows:
– | 56,250 unvested restricted shares with vesting tied to performance held by Mr. Tippl; and | |
– | 339,998 unvested restricted share units granted to Mr. Morhaime. |
• | Stock options held by Mr. Morhaime. Mr. Morhaime was granted stock options which, on the date of termination of employment: |
– | in the event of his termination due to death or disability, would have ceased to vest and, to the extent vested, would have generally remained exercisable for one year; | |
– | in the event of a termination of employment by us for cause, whether or not vested, would have been canceled immediately; and | |
– | in the event of a termination of employment for any other reason, would have ceased to vest and, to the extent vested, would have generally remained exercisable for 30 days. |
As of December 31, 2013, the outstanding stock options with such terms were as follows:
– | vested options to purchase 650,000 shares of our Common Stock and unvested options to purchase 549,999 shares of our Common Stock granted to Mr. Morhaime. |
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PROPOSAL 4 | ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE THE COMPANY’S EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
General
Our stockholders are being provided the opportunity to cast a non-binding, advisory vote (commonly known as a “say on pay”) on the compensation of the executive officers named in the “Summary Compensation Table” above (i.e., the named executive officers). This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our named executive officers and the executive compensation policies and practices described in this proxy statement, through consideration of the following non-binding advisory resolution:
“Resolved, that the stockholders advise that they approve the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and the compensation tables and related narrative discussion.”
Please see “Executive Compensation” above for the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and the accompanying compensation tables and related narrative discussion relating to compensation paid to our named executive officers, including detail about how our executive compensation policies and practices operate and are designed to achieve our compensation objectives.
Our Compensation Committee and Board believe that the compensation policies and practices articulated in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” are effective in enabling us to achieve our financial, operational and strategic goals and that the compensation paid to our named executive officers has allowed, and will continue to allow, us to attract and retain the key managerial talent responsible for our recent and long-term success.
Required Vote and Board Recommendation
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required for the approval of proposal 4. While our Board and its Compensation Committee believe that the views of the Company’s stockholders are of utmost importance and will carefully consider the outcome of the vote expressed by our stockholders when making future executive compensation decisions, the vote will not be binding upon them. The Board ultimat