DEF 14A
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.    )

 

 

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

Check the appropriate box:

 

¨   Preliminary Proxy Statement
¨   Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
þ   Definitive Proxy Statement
¨   Definitive Additional Materials
¨   Soliciting Material Under Rule Pursuant to § 240.14a-12

FAIR ISAAC CORPORATION

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

þ   No fee required.
¨   Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
  1)  

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

     

  2)  

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

     

  3)  

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

 

     

  4)  

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

     

  5)  

Total fee paid:

 

     

¨   Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:
¨   Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.
  1)  

Amount previously paid:

 

     

  2)  

Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 

     

  3)  

Filing Party:

 

     

  4)  

Date Filed:

 

     

 

 

 


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LOGO

FAIR ISAAC CORPORATION

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD FEBRUARY 24, 2016,

AND PROXY STATEMENT

 

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

Please take notice that the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of Fair Isaac Corporation (“Annual Meeting”) will be held at the time and place and for the purposes indicated below.

 

TIME

9:30 A.M., local time, on February 24, 2016

 

PLACE

Offices of Fair Isaac Corporation:

181 Metro Drive, Suite 600

San Jose, California

 

ITEMS OF BUSINESS

1.

To elect eight directors to serve until the 2017 Annual Meeting and thereafter until their successors are elected and qualified;

 

  2.

To approve and ratify amendments to the 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan;

 

  3.

To approve the advisory (non-binding) resolution relating to the named executive officer compensation as disclosed in this proxy statement;

 

  4.

To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016; and

 

  5.

To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

 

 

All of the above matters are more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement.

 

RECORD DATE

You can vote if you were a stockholder of record at the close of business on December 29, 2015. A complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the Annual Meeting, during ordinary business hours for at least ten days prior to the Annual Meeting at our offices at 181 Metro Drive, Suite 700, San Jose, California 95110.

 

ANNUAL REPORT

Our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K accompanies this proxy statement.

 

VOTING

Your Vote Is Important. We invite all stockholders to attend the meeting in person. However, to assure your representation at the meeting, you are urged to mark, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card as promptly as possible in the postage-prepaid envelope enclosed for that purpose or follow the Internet or telephone voting instructions on the proxy card. Any registered stockholder attending the meeting may vote in person even if he or she returned a proxy card.


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ADMITTANCE TO MEETING

Admittance to the Annual Meeting will be limited to stockholders. If you are a stockholder of record and plan to attend, please detach the admission ticket from your proxy card and bring it with you to the Annual Meeting. Stockholders who arrive at the Annual Meeting without an admission ticket will be required to present identification matching the corresponding stockholder account name at the registration table located outside the meeting room. If you are a stockholder whose shares are held by a bank, broker or other nominee, you will be asked to certify to such ownership at the registration table prior to the Annual Meeting.

 

LOGO

Mark R. Scadina

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

January 20, 2016


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Table of Contents

 

PROXY SUMMARY

     1   

2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

     1   

Voting Methods

     1   

Voting Matters

     2   

Our Director Nominees

     2   

Our Corporate Governance Facts

     3   

Our Compensation Facts

     4   

2015 Elements of Compensation

     5   

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

     6   

PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

     8   

Annual Elections

     8   

Majority Voting Standard

     8   

Director Nominee Selection Process

     8   

Stockholder-Recommended Director Candidates

     8   

Director Nominees

     9   

PROPOSAL 2: APPROVAL AND RATIFICATION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE 2012 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

     13   

Background

     13   

Determination of Share Increase

     14   

Description of the 2012 LTIP as Proposed to Be Amended

     15   

Incentive Awards Under the 2012 LTIP

     22   

PROPOSAL 3: ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

     23   

PROPOSAL 4: RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

     24   

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

     26   

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSONS TRANSACTIONS

     27   

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

     28   

Board Leadership Structure

     28   

Board Risk Oversight Role

     28   

Attendance at Board Meetings

     28   

Annual Board Self-Evaluations

     28   

Board Committees

     28   

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION FOR FISCAL 2015

     31   

Non-Employee Director Compensation

     32   

Director Stock Ownership Guidelines

     33   

Director and Officer Liability Insurance Policies

     33   

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     34   

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

     34   

Leadership Development and Compensation Committee Report

     47   

Leadership Development and Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

     47   

Compensation Policies and Practices in Relation to Risk Management

     47   

Compensation Consultant Conflict of Interest Analysis

     48   

Summary Compensation Table

     49   

All Other Compensation Table

     50   

Grants of Plan-Based Awards for Fiscal 2015

     51   

Letter Agreements

     52   

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal 2015 Year End

     54   

Fiscal 2015 Option Exercises and Stock Vested

     55   


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Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation for Fiscal 2015

     55   

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

     57   

Executive Officer Management Agreements

     57   

Severance Arrangements

     58   

Equity Awards

     58   

Insurance Benefits

     58   

Estimated Payments That Would Have Been Made to the Named Executive Officers

     58   

Equity Compensation Plan Information

     65   

HELPFUL INFORMATION AND ONLINE RESOURCES

     66   

OTHER INFORMATION

     70   


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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 are advised to read the entire proxy statement carefully before voting.

2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

 

Date and Time:

  

9:30 A.M., local time, on February 24, 2016

Place:

  

Fair Isaac Corporation’s offices located at 181 Metro Drive, Suite 600, San Jose, California

Record Date:

  

December 29, 2015

Voting Methods

 

By Internet

www.proxyvote.com

  

Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the meeting date. The availability of Internet voting for beneficial owners will depend on the voting processes of your broker, bank or nominee. We recommend that you follow the voting instructions in the materials you receive.

By telephone

1-800-690-6903

  

Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the meeting date. The availability of telephone voting for beneficial owners will depend on the voting processes of your broker, bank or nominee. We recommend that you follow the voting instructions in the materials you receive.

By mail

  

Be sure to complete, sign and date the card and return it in the prepaid envelope. If you are a stockholder of record and you return your signed proxy card without indicating your voting preferences, the persons named in the proxy card will vote FOR the election of directors, FOR the approval and ratification of amendments to the 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan, FOR the approval of the advisory (non-binding) resolution relating to the named executive officer compensation as disclosed in this proxy statement, and FOR the ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2016.

In person at the Annual Meeting

  

All stockholders may vote in person at the Annual Meeting. If you are a beneficial owner of shares, you must obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or nominee and present it to the inspector of election with your ballot when you vote at the meeting.

 

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Voting Matters

Stockholders are being asked to vote on the following matters at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Please see the corresponding page numbers for additional information regarding each proposal.

 

Proposals    Vote
Required
     Board
Recommendation
   Page Number for
Additional
Information
1.   Election of Directors      Majority       FOR    8
2.   Approval and Ratification of Amendments to 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan      Majority       FOR    13
3.   Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation      Majority       FOR    23
4.   Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm      Majority       FOR    24

Our Director Nominees

 

Name

  Age     Years as
Director
 

Principal Occupation

  Independent   Committee
Memberships
    Other
Current
Public
Boards
                      AC     GNEC     LDCC      

A. George Battle

    72      19   Former Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Ask Jeeves, Incorporated   Yes       LOGO          LOGO        4

Greg R. Gianforte

    54      3   Managing Director of Bozeman Technology Incubator   Yes     LOGO           

Braden R. Kelly

    45      3   Partner of Health Evolution Partners   Yes       LOGO          LOGO       

James D. Kirsner

    72      9   Former Chief Financial Officer and head of Barra Ventures at Barra, Inc.   Yes     LOGO          LOGO         

William J. Lansing

    57      10   Chief Executive Officer of Fair Isaac Corporation   No        

Marc F. McMorris

    47      >1   Managing Director and Co-Founder of Carrick Capital Partners, LLC   Yes        

Joanna Rees

    54      1   Managing Director of Soda Rock Partners   Yes         LOGO       

David A. Rey

    65      5   Former Executive Vice President and Chief Client Relationship Officer of UnitedHealth Group   Yes     LOGO           

AC = Audit Committee     LDCC = Leadership Development and Compensation Committee

GNEC = Governance, Nominating and Executive Committee

LOGO   = Member       LOGO   = Chair

 

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Our Corporate Governance Facts

 

Board and Committee Summary

  

Current Size of Board

   9

Current Number of Independent Directors

   8

Board Committees Consist Entirely of Independent Directors

   Yes

All Directors Attended at least 75% of Meetings Held

   Yes

Annual Election of All Directors

   Yes

Majority Voting for Directors

   Yes

Plurality Carveout for Contested Elections

   Yes

Director Resignation Policy

   Yes

Separate Chairman and CEO

   Yes

Chairman is Independent Director

   Yes

Independent Directors Meet Regularly in Executive Session

   Yes

Annual Board and Committee Self-Evaluations

   Yes

Risk Oversight by Full Board and Committees

   Yes

Annual Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

   Yes

Prohibit Hedging and Short Sales of FICO Securities

   Yes

Stock Ownership Requirements for Directors and Executive Officers

   Yes

Executive Compensation Recovery Policy

   Yes

Stockholder Rights Summary

  

Controlled Company

   No

Classified Board

   No

Vote Standard for Mergers/Acquisitions

   Majority

Vote Standard for Charter or Bylaw Amendment

   66.67%

Stockholder Ability to Call Special Meetings

   No

Stockholder Ability to Act by Written Consent

   Yes

Cumulative Voting

   No

Board Ability to Issue Blank-Check Preferred Stock

   Yes

Poison Pill

   No

 

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Our Compensation Facts

As administered by our Leadership Development and Compensation Committee (the “Committee”), our compensation program seeks to closely link the financial interests of our Company’s executives with those of our stockholders. In making compensation decisions at the outset of fiscal 2015 and throughout the year, the Committee sought to reinforce the linkage between Company performance and executive compensation. In keeping with this objective, base salaries for executive officers in fiscal 2015 remained largely flat, with a continued emphasis on long-term incentives and performance-based cash incentives and equity.

The Committee uses the following guidelines in our compensation program to help achieve this overarching goal.

 

    

What We Do:

     

What We Do Not Do:

LOGO  

We closely link performance-based rewards with the achievement of performance goals.

  LOGO  

Our compensation plans do not have minimum guaranteed payout levels.

LOGO  

We cap payouts under our plans to discourage excessive or inappropriate risk taking by our executives.

  LOGO  

We do not permit hedging and short sales of our stock.

LOGO  

Two-thirds of our long-term incentives are performance-based.

  LOGO  

We do not permit repricing of underwater stock options without stockholder approval.

LOGO  

We emphasize long-term incentives to align executives’ interests with those of our stockholders.

  LOGO  

We do not provide tax gross-ups for our executives (other than with respect to relocation benefits and required spousal travel).

LOGO

 

We have double-trigger change in control provisions.

  LOGO  

We do not provide material perquisites.

LOGO  

We have stock ownership guidelines that encourage ownership and further align our executives’ interests with those of our stockholders.

   

LOGO

 

We have a representative and relevant peer group.

   

LOGO

 

Our Committee retains an independent compensation consultant.

   

LOGO

 

We hold an annual advisory vote on executive compensation.

   

LOGO

 

We seek feedback on executive compensation through stockholder engagement.

   
LOGO  

We have adopted a compensation recovery, or “clawback,” policy pertaining to both cash and equity incentive-based compensation.

   

LOGO

 

We have a mandatory minimum vesting period of one year for equity awards.

   
LOGO  

We limited the aggregate fair value of equity awards granted in any calendar year to any outside director to no more than $800,000.

   

LOGO

 

We cap payouts under our severance policies.

   

 

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2015 Elements of Compensation

 

Element

 

Purpose and Philosophy

Base Salary

 

•      Provides executive officers with financial stability and predictable cash flow; and

 

•      Determined by evaluating the executive’s role within the Company, experience, performance, and potential for development, as well as base salaries of comparable roles within peer group companies and the broader marketplace.

Short-Term Cash Incentives  

•      Rewards the achievement of annual Company and individual performance goals;

 

•      Expressed as a targeted percentage of base salary determined with reference to the peer group companies and the broader marketplace; and

 

•      Participant may earn between zero and 250% of target, depending both upon Company and individual performance.

Long-Term Incentives

 

•      Directly links a significant portion of total executive officer compensation to the market value of Company stock, while promoting retention through multi-year vesting;

 

•      Performance Share Units (PSUs) are earned based upon the extent to which annual Company financial targets are achieved with as few as zero and as many as 200% of targeted PSUs possible. Earned units are then subject to multi-year vesting, promoting continued linkage to Company stock price while also promoting retention;

 

•      Market Share Units (MSUs) use a performance measure that is based on relative total shareholder return over one-, two- and three-year periods instead of annual financial performance metrics to integrate a longer, multi-year performance period into the Company’s equity compensation program; and

 

•      Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) represent a more stable equity-based compensation vehicle, ensuring linkage to Company stock price performance while promoting retention over a multi-year vesting period.

 

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

Except as otherwise indicated, the following table and accompanying footnotes show information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of the record date by:

 

   

each person who is known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of our common stock;

 

   

each current director and nominee for director;

 

   

each named executive officer; and

 

   

all directors and executive officers as a group.

As of the dates indicated in footnotes (3) through (6) below, publicly available information indicated that certain stockholders were beneficial owners of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. The information in the table below is as reported in their filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The percentages noted in the table are as provided by such beneficial owners as of the date of their filing and not as of December 29, 2015. We are not aware of any other beneficial owner of more than five percent of our common stock.

Shares of common stock underlying options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days are considered outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding the options for the purposes of computing the percentage ownership of that person, but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. As of the record date, 31,367,895 shares of common stock were outstanding.

 

Directors, Nominees, Executive Officers

and 5% Stockholders

   Beneficial Ownership(1)  
   Number      Percent(2)  

Eaton Vance Management(3)

     3,439,997         10.7 %

2 International Place, Boston, MA 02110

     

BlackRock, Inc.(4)

     2,714,604         8.5 %

55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022

     

Vanguard Group, Inc.(5)

     2,027,772         6.3 %

100 Vanguard Blvd., Malvern, PA 19355

     

Royce & Associates(6)

     1,771,257         5.5 %

745 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10151

     

William Lansing(7)

     480,926         1.5 %

James Wehmann (8)

     169,741         *   

Michael Pung(9)

     143,356         *   

James Kirsner(10)

     109,397         *   

Stuart Wells (11)

     93,498         *   

A. George Battle (12)

     86,580         *   

David Rey(13)

     57,382         *   

Duane White(14)

     49,324         *   

Braden Kelly(15)

     46,486         *   

Greg Gianforte(16)

     43,708         *   

Wayne Huyard

     11,736         *   

Joanna Rees(17)

     4,102         *   

Marc McMorris

               

All directors, nominees and executive officers as a group (16 persons)(18)

     1,630,532         5.2 %

 

*

Represents holdings of less than 1%.

 

(1) 

To the Company’s knowledge, the persons named in the table have sole voting and sole dispositive power with respect to all shares shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to community property laws where applicable and the information contained in the footnotes to this table.

 

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(2) 

If the named person holds stock options exercisable on or prior to February 27, 2016, or restricted stock units that will vest on or prior to February 27, 2016, the shares underlying those options or restricted stock units are included in the number for such person. Shares deemed issued to a holder of stock options or restricted stock units pursuant to the preceding sentence are not deemed issued and outstanding for purposes of the percentage calculation with respect to any other stockholder.

 

(3) 

Information as to this person is based on the report on the Schedule 13G/A filed by this person as of January 13, 2015.

 

(4) 

Information as to this person (including affiliated entities) is based on the report on the Schedule 13G/A filed by this person as of January 23, 2015. BlackRock, Inc. has sole voting power as to 2,641,643 shares and sole dispositive powers as to 2,714,604 shares.

 

(5) 

Information as to this person is based on the report on the Schedule 13G/A filed by this person as of February 11, 2015. The Vanguard Group has sole voting power as to 43,504 shares, sole dispositive power as to 1,987,268 shares and shared dispositive power as to 40,504 shares.

 

(6) 

Information as to this person is based on the report on the Schedule 13G/A filed by this person as of January 8, 2015.

 

(7) 

Includes options to purchase 285,648 shares and restricted stock units representing 12,500 shares.

 

(8) 

Includes options to purchase 118,996 shares.

 

(9) 

Includes options to purchase 60,496 shares. Mr. Pung holds 3.6937 shares directly through the Company’s ESPP and the Michael and Debora Pung 2014 Living Trust holds 82,857 shares.

 

(10) 

Includes options to purchase 92,126 shares and restricted stock units representing 3,214 shares. 14,057 of Mr. Kirsner’s shares are held by the Kirsner Family Trust.

 

(11) 

Includes options to purchase 56,452 shares.

 

(12) 

Includes options to purchase 46,937 shares and restricted stock units representing 3,214 shares. Mr. Battle holds 16,827 shares directly, the A. George Battle 2011 Separate Property Trust holds 9,602 shares, and Treehouse Vineyards LLC holds 10,000 shares.

 

(13) 

Includes options to purchase 51,587 shares.

 

(14) 

Includes options to purchase 41,287 shares and restricted stock units representing 2,974 shares. 2,063 of Mr. White’s shares are held by the Duane E. White Revocable Trust.

 

(15) 

Includes options to purchase 39,528 shares and restricted stock units representing 1,666 shares.

 

(16) 

Includes options to purchase 25,478 shares. Mr. Gianforte holds 2,730 shares directly and the Greg Gianforte Revocable Trust and Susan Gianforte Revocable Trust TIC holds 15,500 shares.

 

(17) 

Includes options to purchase 3,107 shares and restricted stock units representing 995 shares.

 

(18) 

Includes the shares in footnotes 7 through 17, including a total of 1,073,827 shares subject to options exercisable or restricted stock units scheduled to vest on or prior to February 27, 2016, by all the persons in the group.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Directors and persons who are considered “officers” of the Company for purposes of Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and greater than 10% stockholders are required to file reports with the SEC showing their holdings of and transactions in the Company’s securities. Our employees generally prepare these reports on the basis of information obtained from each director and officer. Based on the information available to us, we believe that all reports required by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act to be filed by the Company’s directors, executive officers, and greater than 10% owners during the last fiscal year were filed on time.

 

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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Annual Elections

Directors are elected each year at our Annual Meeting of Stockholders to hold office until our next annual meeting or until a qualified replacement is duly elected. Our Bylaws specify that the Board of Directors will establish by vote how many directors will serve on the Board. The Board of Directors has currently set the number of directors at nine, to be reduced to eight as of the Annual Meeting, as further discussed below.

Majority Voting Standard

To be elected, the number of votes cast “FOR” a director nominee must exceed the number of votes cast “AGAINST” that nominee. The Company requires that all nominees submit an irrevocable letter of resignation as a condition to being named as a nominee, which resignation will be effective if (i) the nominee fails to receive a sufficient number of votes to be elected and (ii) the Board accepts such resignation. Cumulative voting for the election of directors is not permitted.

Director Nominee Selection Process

Our Governance, Nominating and Executive Committee selects nominees on the basis of recognized achievements and their ability to bring various skills and experience to the deliberations of the Board, as described in more detail in the Corporate Governance Guidelines available on the “Investors” page of our website at www.fico.com. The Governance, Nominating and Executive Committee also strongly values diversity and seeks opportunities to promote diversity within the Company’s leadership. This viewpoint is reflected in our Corporate Governance Guidelines and our Governance, Nominating and Executive Committee Charter, both of which include diversity as a consideration the Governance, Nominating and Executive Committee takes into account when assessing our incumbents and candidates.

One of our current directors, Duane White, will be retiring from service on the Board effective immediately after the Annual Meeting and will, accordingly, not stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting. Based on the recommendation of the Governance, Nominating and Executive Committee, the Board has determined not to fill the resulting vacancy and has accordingly fixed the number of directors to be elected at the Annual Meeting at eight.

All of the current nominees to the Board were recommended as nominees by the Governance, Nominating and Executive Committee, and the full Board voted unanimously to designate them as nominees for election at the Annual Meeting. All of the nominees are presently serving on our Board and all have been previously elected by our stockholders except for Mr. McMorris.

Stockholder-Recommended Director Candidates

Our Governance, Nominating and Executive Committee considers director candidates recommended by stockholders who are entitled to vote for the election of directors at the Annual Meeting and comply with the notice procedures described below. A stockholder who wishes to nominate a candidate must send a written notice to the FICO Corporate Secretary. Each notice must include the following information about the nominee:

 

   

Name, age, and business and residence addresses;

 

   

Principal occupation or employment;

 

   

Class, series and number of shares of FICO beneficially owned, and additional detailed “ownership information” regarding derivatives, voting arrangements, dividend interests, and related matters (as described in detail in our Bylaws);

 

   

A statement of the person’s citizenship; and

 

   

Any other information that must be disclosed about nominees in proxy solicitations pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including the nominee’s written consent to be named as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected).

 

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Each notice must also include the following information about the nominating stockholder and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made:

 

   

The name and address, as they appear in our records;

 

   

The class, series and number of shares of FICO beneficially owned, and additional detailed “ownership information” regarding derivatives, voting arrangements, dividend interests, and related matters (as described in detail in our Bylaws);

 

   

A description of all agreements pursuant to which the nomination is being made, and any material interest of such stockholder or beneficial owner, or any affiliates or associates of such person, in such nomination;

 

   

A representation that the stockholder giving notice intends to appear in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting to nominate the persons named in its notice;

 

   

A representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner intends, or is part of a group that intends, to deliver a proxy statement or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of FICO’s outstanding shares required to elect the nominee or otherwise solicit proxies from stockholders in support of the nomination; and

 

   

Any other information relating to the person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations for proxies for election of directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

We may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by us to determine the eligibility of the proposed nominee to serve as a director.

Our Corporate Secretary must receive this information not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding Annual Meeting. In the case of an Annual Meeting which is held more than 25 days before or after such anniversary date, in order for notice by the stockholder to be considered timely, it must be received no later than the close of business on the 10th day following the date of the first public announcement of the date of the Annual Meeting.

Director Nominees

Set forth below is biographical information for each director nominee, as well as information regarding the particular experience, qualifications, attributes or skills of the nominees that led the Governance, Nominating and Executive Committee to conclude that they should serve as members of the Board. Each of these nominees is currently serving as a member of the Board.

Our Board of Directors has determined that Messrs. Battle, Gianforte, Kelly, Kirsner, McMorris and Rey and Ms. Rees meet its independence standards, which are set forth in the Corporate Governance Guidelines on the “Investors” page of our website at www.fico.com. The Board defines an independent director as one who has no material relationship with the Company and its subsidiaries either directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company. In addition, independent directors must meet the requirements to be considered independent directors as defined under the current rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). Mr. Lansing is not independent, as he is employed by us as our CEO.

Each of the nominees has consented to being named in the proxy statement and to serve if elected. If any nominee becomes unavailable to serve, however, the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy intend to vote the shares represented by the proxy for the election of such other person or persons as may be nominated or designated by the Board of Directors, unless either they are directed by the proxy to do otherwise or the Board of Directors instead reduces the number of directors.

 

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A. George Battle.    Director since 1996 and Chairman of the Board of Directors since 2002; Chair of the Governance, Nominating and Executive Committee; Member of the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee; Age 72.

From January 2004 to August 2005, Mr. Battle served as Executive Chairman at Ask Jeeves, Inc., a provider of information search and retrieval services. From December 2000 until January 2004, Mr. Battle served as Chief Executive Officer at Ask Jeeves. From 1968 until his retirement in 1995, Mr. Battle was an employee and then partner at Arthur Andersen LLP and Andersen Consulting (now known as Accenture Ltd.), global accounting and consulting firms. Mr. Battle’s last position at Andersen Consulting was Managing Partner, Market Development, responsible for Andersen Consulting’s worldwide industry activities, its Change Management and Strategic Services offerings, and worldwide marketing and advertising. Mr. Battle is a director at the following public companies in addition to FICO: Netflix, Inc., LinkedIn Corporation, Expedia, Inc., and Workday, Inc. Within the last five years, Mr. Battle served on the board of Advent Software, Inc. and Opentable, Inc., each public companies, and also served as a director of the Masters Select family of funds. Mr. Battle received an undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from the Stanford University Business School.

Mr. Battle brings strong leadership, seasoned business acumen, and a long career of diverse experience to the Board of Directors. He is our longest serving director, has in the past sat on all of our standing Board committees, and has extensive historical knowledge about the Company’s business units, technologies, and culture. We value his more than 25 years as a business consultant with a national consulting firm and his prior experience as a chief executive officer. He also serves on a number of other public and private company boards, which provides us with important perspectives on corporate governance and other matters, as well as best practices enacted at other companies.

Greg R. Gianforte.    Director since 2013; Member of the Audit Committee; Age 54.

Since January 2012, Mr. Gianforte has served as Managing Director of Bozeman Technology Incubator, an organization dedicated to mentoring entrepreneurs in the technology industry. Mr. Gianforte founded RightNow Technologies, Inc., a cloud-based customer service and support solutions company, in 1997 and was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of RightNow Technologies until it was acquired by Oracle Corporation in January 2012. RightNow Technologies was Mr. Gianforte’s fifth software start-up business. He began his career at AT&T Bell Laboratories. Within the last five years, Mr. Gianforte served on the board of the following public company: RightNow Technologies, Inc. Mr. Gianforte holds an undergraduate and master’s degree from Stevens Institute of Technology.

Mr. Gianforte brings to the Board of Directors more than 25 years of experience as an innovator in the software industry, with a particular focus on cloud-based solutions and the customer experience. He also contributes the operations, leadership, financial and strategic skills he acquired as the Chief Executive Officer of a public company in our industry. Mr. Gianforte’s financial background also qualifies him as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined under SEC guidelines, and as such, he serves on the Company’s Audit Committee.

Braden R. Kelly.    Director since 2013; Chair of the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee; Member of the Governance, Nominating and Executive Committee; Age 45.

Mr. Kelly has been a Partner at Health Evolution Partners, a private equity investment firm focused on the health care industry, since January 2015 and has served in various positions at Health Evolution Partners, including Investment Partner from June 2013 to December 2014 and Senior Advisor from August 2008 to May 2013. From August 1995 to December 2006, Mr. Kelly was an employee and then Partner and Managing Director at General Atlantic Partners LLC, a global private equity investment firm focused on technology growth investing. Prior to joining General Atlantic Partners, Mr. Kelly worked in the investment banking division of Morgan Stanley & Co. as a member of the mergers, acquisitions and restructuring department. Within the last five years, Mr. Kelly served on the board of the following public company: InfoSpace, Inc. Mr. Kelly earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame.

 

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Mr. Kelly has a deep financial background and contributes a critical business and corporate development perspective to the Board of Directors through his extensive experience with strategic mergers and acquisitions, a key growth opportunity for the Company. Mr. Kelly’s extensive analysis of the technology and health care industries through his work as a private equity investor provides him with valuable insight into the business environments in which our Company and the companies in some of our key markets operate. The Board also benefits from Mr. Kelly’s significant experience as a strategic advisor to companies and his global experience working with growth companies in the United States, Europe and India.

James D. Kirsner.    Director since 2007; Chair of the Audit Committee; Member of the Governance, Nominating and Executive Committee; Age 72.

In 2001, Mr. Kirsner served as a consultant and interim Chief Operating Officer at Tukman Capital Management, an equity management firm. From 1993 until 2001, Mr. Kirsner was the Chief Financial Officer and head of Barra Ventures at Barra, Inc., an investment risk management services company. From 1967 until 1993, Mr. Kirsner was an audit professional with Arthur Andersen LLP, an international accounting and consulting firm. Mr. Kirsner was a partner in the firm from 1977 until his retirement in 1993. Within the last five years, Mr. Kirsner served on the board of the following public company: Advent Software, Inc. Mr. Kirsner received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Kirsner brings extensive financial and accounting expertise to the Board of Directors. He serves as Chair of the Company’s Audit Committee and is qualified as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined under SEC guidelines. His significant public accounting, public company CFO, investment, and audit committee experience provide Mr. Kirsner with the financial acumen and leadership skills necessary to serve as Chair of our Audit Committee. He has also served on the board of another publicly traded company in the software industry, which provides us with additional valuable perspectives on our industry and on issues affecting similarly situated publicly traded companies.

William J. Lansing.    Director since 2006; Age 57.

Since January 2012, Mr. Lansing has served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. From February 2009 to November 2010, Mr. Lansing served as Chief Executive Officer and President at Infospace, Inc. From 2004 until 2007, Mr. Lansing served as Chief Executive Officer and President at ValueVision Media, Inc. From 2001 to 2003, he served as a General Partner at General Atlantic LLC, a global private equity firm. From 2000 to 2001, he was Chief Executive Officer at NBC Internet, Inc., an integrated Internet media company. From 1998 to 2000, he served as President, then as Chief Executive Officer at Fingerhut Companies, Inc., a direct marketing company. From 1996 to 1998, he was Vice President, Corporate Business Development at General Electric Company. In 1996, he was Chief Operating Officer/Executive Vice President at Prodigy, Inc. From 1986 through 1995, Mr. Lansing worked with McKinsey & Company, Inc. Within the past five years, Mr. Lansing served on the board of the following public companies: RightNow Technologies, Inc., Digital River, Inc., and InfoSpace, Inc. He holds an undergraduate degree from Wesleyan University and a J.D. from Georgetown University.

Mr. Lansing is the only member of management who serves on our Board of Directors. As our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Lansing has extensive, first-hand knowledge of our corporate strategy, business units, operations, and employees, as well as the opportunities, risks, and challenges faced by our Company. Mr. Lansing brings to his roles as an executive officer and director an extensive background in management through his past chief executive officer and other senior management positions held at various companies. His experience in the technology industry, particularly in the areas of the Internet and e-commerce, provides significant value across several of our business units.

Marc F. McMorris.    Director since October 2015; Age 47.

Mr. McMorris has been Managing Director at Carrick Capital Partners, a private equity investment firm that he co-founded, since January 2012. From September 1999 to December 2011, Mr. McMorris served in various leadership positions at General Atlantic, LLC, a global private equity investment firm focused on

 

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technology growth investing, including Managing Director from 2003 to December 2011. Within the last five years, Mr. McMorris served on the board of the following public company: ServiceSource International, Inc. Mr. McMorris earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. McMorris’ extensive experience in evaluating companies in the financial services and technology industries, together with his mergers and acquisitions experience, provides a strong complement to our Board. He currently provides guidance to technology companies in several different areas, including software as a service (SaaS), an area of strong focus for the Company moving forward.

Joanna Rees.    Director since 2015; Member of the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee; Age 54.

Since 2012, Ms. Rees has been a Managing Director of Soda Rock Partners, an investment and consulting firm, where she serves as an investor, board member and senior advisor to several private high-growth companies. In 1996, Ms. Rees founded VSP Capital, a San Francisco-based venture capital firm, where she served as Managing Partner until 2011. During her tenure with VSP Capital, Ms. Rees served on the board of more than 25 private, venture-backed companies across a broad range of industries. From 1995 to 1996, Ms. Rees worked at Vrolyk & Company, a boutique merchant bank, and from 1993 to 1995, Ms. Rees worked at Banc of America Securities, an investment banking subsidiary of Bank of America focused on private placements and mergers & acquisitions for retail, restaurant and branded consumer companies. Ms. Rees spent her early career in advertising and brand management. From 1984 to 1989, she oversaw multiple brands at Groupe Danone, a world leader in the food industry, and also was head of new product development in the US. In 1983, she started her career at Benton & Bowels (now DMB&B), an advertising agency, working on multiple consumer brands. Ms. Rees was the co-creator of the Build Brand Value CEO forum, which she led from 1997 to 2003. Within the last five years, Ms. Rees served on the board of the following public company: Leapfrog Enterprises. Ms. Rees earned her M.B.A. from Columbia University and a B.S. from Duke University.

Ms. Rees’s leadership and experience in investing in, advising and building leading growth companies are valuable to the Company as it seeks to continue to grow its business and broaden its portfolio with innovative new product categories. Ms. Rees has deep connections across a wide range of industries, including the technology and education industries, and access to thought leaders worldwide through her work with Soda Rock Partners.

David A. Rey.    Director since 2011; Member of the Audit Committee; Age 65.

From December 2008 to May 2011, Mr. Rey served as Executive Vice President and Chief Client Relationship Officer of UnitedHealth Group. From 1972 until 2008, Mr. Rey was an employee and then partner at Accenture (previously Andersen Consulting and Arthur Andersen & Co.), a global consulting firm. Mr. Rey served as both the Global Managing Partner of the healthcare industry practice and, as a Senior Managing Partner, led Accenture’s large client relationship development program. Mr. Rey does not serve on any other public board in addition to FICO nor has he served on any public boards in the past five years. Mr. Rey holds an undergraduate degree from the University of California.

Mr. Rey brings financial reporting and accounting expertise to the Board of Directors, as well as global, cross-industry experience in developing and sustaining the kind of large client relationships that increasingly drive our Company’s business growth. Mr. Rey’s strong financial background qualifies him as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined under SEC guidelines, and as such, he serves on the Company’s Audit Committee. He has particular expertise with respect to analytic and other needs of the health care industry, which represents a key market opportunity for our Company.

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES LISTED ABOVE.

 

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PROPOSAL 2: APPROVAL AND RATIFICATION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE 2012 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

Background

On November 30, 2011, our Board of Directors adopted the Fair Isaac Corporation 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan (as amended, the “2012 LTIP”), subject to stockholder approval. Our stockholders approved the 2012 LTIP at the annual meeting held on February 7, 2012. As adopted, the 2012 LTIP authorized the issuance of up to 6,000,000 shares of our common stock pursuant to awards granted thereunder. On December 17, 2013, our Board of Directors adopted an amendment to increase the number of shares of our common stock authorized for issuance under the 2012 LTIP by an additional 4,100,000, which our stockholders approved at the annual meeting held on February 11, 2014. Consequently, the 2012 LTIP currently authorizes the issuance of up to 10,100,000 shares of our common stock pursuant to awards granted thereunder. Neither unused shares from predecessor equity plans nor any shares subject to awards made under predecessor equity awards that are forfeited or otherwise do not result in the issuance of shares are available for grants under the 2012 LTIP.

As of December 15, 2015, there were 1,107,848 shares of our common stock remaining available for awards under the 2012 LTIP, which is the only plan under which equity awards can currently be made to our employees and non-employee directors. Because of the importance we attach to providing competitive levels of equity-based compensation to our employees, and in light of our pattern of share usage during recent years, we believe that the shares remaining under the 2012 LTIP make it necessary to seek stockholder approval to increase the number of shares authorized under the plan at this time.

As a result, the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) recommended, and on January 7, 2016 our Board of Directors adopted, subject to stockholder approval, an amendment to increase the aggregate number of shares of our common stock authorized for issuance under the 2012 LTIP by an additional 2,500,000, to an aggregate of 12,600,000 shares (the “Share Increase Amendment”).

The Committee also recommended, and on December 8, 2015 our Board of Directors adopted, two amendments to the 2012 LTIP in order to incorporate two additional compensation best practices: imposing a minimum one-year vesting period for awards generally and a maximum fair value limit of $800,000 on annual equity awards that may be granted to any non-employee director. Although both of these two amendments are effective, the Board of Directors is nevertheless requesting as part of this proposal that our stockholders also ratify the limit on annual equity awards to our non-employee directors (the “Director Compensation Amendment,” and together with the Share Increase Amendment, the “Amendments”).

Apart from the three amendments described above, the 2012 LTIP has not been modified in any other respect. The Board believes that the changes to the 2012 LTIP reflected in the three amendments are in the best interest of our stockholders.

Stockholder approval of the Share Increase Amendment is being sought in order to (i) satisfy the stockholder approval requirements of the New York Stock Exchange, (ii) obtain stockholder re-approval of the material terms of awards under the 2012 LTIP that are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), including the business criteria on which performance goals may be based and the maximum awards that may be made to any individual, and (iii) obtain stockholder approval of the increased number of shares that may be subject to incentive stock options under Code Section 422. Stockholder ratification of the Director Compensation Amendment is being sought for purposes of Delaware corporate law as a stockholder action bearing specifically on the magnitude of compensation that may be provided to non-employee directors.

If our stockholders do not approve the Share Increase Amendment and ratify the Director Compensation Amendment, the 2012 LTIP will remain subject to its existing 10,100,000 share reserve, of which 1,107,848 shares remain available for grant as of December 15, 2015. The limit on annual equity compensation to directors will remain in place.

 

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Determination of Share Increase

The following table summarizes information regarding equity awards outstanding and available for future grant after taking into account the annual equity awards granted and vested on December 8, 2015 and equity awards vested on December 13, 2015:

 

      Shares Subject to
Options Outstanding(1)
     Full-Value Awards
Outstanding(1)
     Shares Remaining
Available for
Future Grant(2)
 
     2,000,701         1,832,088         1,107,848   
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of Options
   $ 39.86         
Weighted-Average
Remaining Term of Options
     4.16         

 

(1) 

Represents awards made under the 2012 LTIP and predecessor plan (1992 Long-term Incentive Plan).

 

(2) 

The 2012 LTIP is currently the only plan with shares available for grant to employees and non-employee directors at FICO.

In making its recommendation to the Board of Directors to increase the 2012 LTIP’s share reserve by 2,500,000 shares through the Amendments, the Committee considered the factors discussed below.

Importance of Long-Term Equity Incentives.    Long-term equity incentives play a critical role in our executive compensation program, motivating executives to make decisions that focus on creating long-term value for our stockholders, aligning executives’ interests with the interests of stockholders and serving as an effective employment inducement and retention device. The Committee considers our ability to continue to provide a competitive level of long-term equity incentives to be critical to our success.

Historical Burn Rate.    The Company is committed to managing its use of equity incentives prudently to balance the benefits equity compensation brings to our compensation program with the dilution it causes our stockholders. As part of its analysis when considering adoption of the Amendments, the Committee considered our “burn rate,” or the number of shares subject to equity awards granted in each of the past three fiscal years expressed as a percentage of the weighted average number of shares outstanding for each of those fiscal years.

The Committee noted that our three-year average burn rate percentage is below the suggested burn-rate benchmark published by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc., a leading proxy advisory service (“ISS”), for our industry classification. The Committee believes that our equity grant practices during those years have been in the Company’s and our stockholders’ best interests, noting in particular that our active share repurchase program has elevated our burn rate percentage over the past several years. Over the course of fiscal 2014 and 2015, we have repurchased approximately 5.4 million shares of our common stock from the market (not counting shares delivered by employees in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations). Importantly, these share repurchases have returned value to our stockholders and have mitigated the dilutive effect of our equity grants. However, the repurchases have increased our burn rate percentage by shrinking the number of shares outstanding (the denominator in the burn rate calculation) by approximately 11%. The Committee believes that the share repurchase activity has been beneficial to our Company and its stockholders and that the benefits outweigh the inflation of our burn rate numbers.

Shareholder Value Transfer Test.    When deciding on an appropriate number of shares to add to the 2012 LTIP’s share reserve, the Committee engaged Compensia, Inc. to estimate the shareholder value transfer of the request. Compensia evaluated the value of available shares and plan awards as a percentage of the Company’s market capitalization and determined that the addition of 2,500,000 shares to the 2012 LTIP share reserve was reasonable.

Expected Duration.    The Committee expects that the shares available for future awards, including the additional shares if the Share Increase Amendment is approved, will be sufficient for currently anticipated awards under the 2012 LTIP at least through the next annual meeting of stockholders. Expectations regarding future

 

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share usage under the 2012 LTIP are based on a number of assumptions such as future growth in the population of eligible participants, including the need to make sizable inducement grants for hires made in the executive ranks and the consequences of acquiring other companies; the rate of future compensation increases; the rate at which shares are returned to the 2012 LTIP reserve upon awards’ expiration, forfeiture or cash settlement; the level at which performance-based awards pay out; and the future performance of our stock price. While the Committee believes that the assumptions it used are reasonable, future share usage will differ from current expectations to the extent that actual events differ from the assumptions utilized.

Description of the 2012 LTIP as Proposed to Be Amended

The major features of the 2012 LTIP as recently amended and as proposed to be amended are summarized below, and references to the “2012 LTIP” in the following discussion assume that the Share Increase Amendment has been approved by our stockholders and becomes effective. The summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2012 LTIP, a copy of which is filed herewith as Exhibit A. A stockholder may also obtain a copy of the 2012 LTIP from the Company upon request.

Compensation Best Practices

The 2012 LTIP incorporates a range of compensation best practices, including the following key features:

 

   

No Repricing or Replacement of Underwater Options or Stock Appreciation Rights.    The 2012 LTIP prohibits, without stockholder approval, actions to reprice, replace or repurchase options or SARs when the exercise price per share of an option or SAR exceeds the fair market value of the underlying shares.

 

   

No In-the-Money Option or Stock Appreciation Right Grants.    The 2012 LTIP prohibits the grant of options or SARs with an exercise price less than the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant (except in the limited case of “substitute awards” as described below).

 

   

No Single-Trigger Accelerated Vesting/Payment Following a Change in Control.    The 2012 LTIP provides that payment for outstanding awards in connection with a merger or acquisition in which the Company is not the surviving entity will only be made if and to the extent that the successor entity does not continue, assume or replace such awards. The 2012 LTIP does not provide for automatic acceleration of vesting under any change in control situation.

 

   

No Liberal Share Counting.    Shares delivered or withheld to pay the exercise price or satisfy a tax withholding obligation in connection with any award, shares repurchased by the Company using option exercise proceeds, and any shares subject to a SAR that are not issued in connection with the stock settlement of the SAR upon its exercise, may not be used again for new grants.

 

   

Independent Administration.    The Leadership Development and Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors, which consists of only independent directors, has overall administrative authority over the 2012 LTIP, and only this committee (or our Board acting as a whole) may make awards to executive officers and directors.

 

   

One-Year Minimum Vesting Period.    Service-based awards under the 2012 LTIP are subject to a minimum initial vesting period of one year. Awards under the 2012 LTIP whose vesting is subject to satisfying performance goals are subject to a minimum performance period of one year.

 

   

Limit on Awards to Non-Employee Directors.    The aggregate grant date fair value of awards granted during any calendar year to any non-employee member of our Board of Directors (excluding awards granted in lieu of compensation otherwise payable in cash) may not exceed $800,000.

 

   

Dividend Restrictions.    Any dividends, distributions or dividend equivalents payable with respect to the unvested portion of a performance-based award will be subject to the same restrictions applicable to the underlying shares, units or share equivalents.

 

   

Compensation Recovery Policy.    Incentive-based compensation under the 2012 LTIP is subject to the Executive Officer Incentive Compensation Recovery Policy adopted by the Board of Directors and

 

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described in this proxy statement under “Executive Compensation — Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Executive Officer Incentive Compensation Recovery Policy.” The Committee may also provide that awards under the 2012 LTIP shall also be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recovery upon the occurrence of participant misconduct.

Eligible Participants

All employees, consultants and advisors of our Company or any subsidiary, as well as all non-employee directors of the Company, will be eligible to receive awards under the 2012 LTIP. As of December 8, 2015, there were approximately 2,800 persons employed by our Company and its subsidiaries, approximately 250 persons providing service to our Company and its subsidiaries as contractors, and eight non-employee members of our Board of Directors, all of whom would be eligible to receive awards under the 2012 LTIP.

Administration

The 2012 LTIP is administered by the Committee. To the extent consistent with applicable law or stock exchange rules, the Committee may delegate its duties, power and authority under the 2012 LTIP to any of its members, to officers of the Company with respect to awards to participants who are not directors or executive officers of the Company or, in connection with non-discretionary administrative duties, to one or more agents or advisors.

The Committee has the authority to determine the persons to whom awards will be granted; the timing and size of any cash incentive award; the timing, type and number of shares covered by each equity award; and the terms and conditions of the awards. The Committee may also establish and modify rules to administer the 2012 LTIP, interpret the 2012 LTIP and any related award agreement, cancel or suspend an award or the exercisability of an award, or modify the terms of outstanding awards to the extent permitted under the 2012 LTIP. Unless an amendment to the terms of an award is necessary to comply with applicable laws or stock exchange rules, a participant who would be adversely affected by such an amendment must consent to it.

Except in connection with equity restructurings and other situations in which share adjustments are specifically authorized, the 2012 LTIP also prohibits the Committee from repricing any outstanding “underwater” option or SAR without prior approval of the Company’s stockholders. For these purposes, “repricing” includes amending the terms of an underwater option or SAR to lower the exercise price, canceling an underwater option or SAR and granting in exchange replacement options or SARs having a lower exercise price or other forms of awards, or repurchasing the underwater option or SAR.

Subject to certain limits in the 2012 LTIP, the Committee may also establish subplans or modify the terms of awards under the 2012 LTIP with respect to participants residing outside of the United States or employed by a non-U.S. subsidiary in order to comply with local legal requirements or meet the objectives of the 2012 LTIP.

Available Shares and Limitations on Awards

A maximum of 12,600,000 shares of common stock are available for issuance under the 2012 LTIP, any or all of which may be the subject of incentive stock option awards. The shares of common stock to be issued under the 2012 LTIP are either authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares. Under the terms of the 2012 LTIP, the number of shares of common stock subject to options or SARs granted to any one participant during a calendar year may not exceed 1,000,000, and the number of shares subject to performance-based awards other than options or SARs granted to any one participant during any calendar year may not exceed 1,000,000. Further, the aggregate grant date fair value of awards granted during any calendar year to any non-employee member of our Board of Directors (excluding awards granted at the election of such non-employee member in lieu of all or any portion of retainers and fees otherwise payable in cash) may not exceed $800,000. These share limitations are subject to adjustment for changes in the corporate structure or shares of the Company, as described below. Payouts of performance-based awards denominated in cash may not exceed $6,000,000 to any one participant during any calendar year.

 

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Shares of common stock that are issued under the 2012 LTIP or that are potentially issuable pursuant to outstanding awards will reduce the maximum number of shares remaining available for issuance under the 2012 LTIP by one share for each share issued or issuable pursuant to an option or SAR award, and by 2.17 shares for each share issued or issuable pursuant to an award other than an option or SAR.

Any shares of common stock subject to an award under the 2012 LTIP that expires, is forfeited, is settled or paid in cash or otherwise does not result in the issuance of all or a portion of such shares will, to the extent of such expiration, forfeiture, settlement or non-issuance, automatically again become available for issuance under the 2012 LTIP. Each share that again becomes available for issuance will be added back as (i) one share if the share was subject to an option or SAR granted under the 2012 LTIP, or (ii) as 2.17 shares if the share was subject to an award other than an option or SAR granted under the 2012 LTIP. However, any shares tendered or withheld to pay the exercise price or satisfy a tax withholding obligation in connection with any award, any shares repurchased by the Company using option exercise proceeds and any shares subject to a SAR that are not issued in connection with the stock settlement of the SAR on its exercise may not be used again for new grants.

Awards granted under the 2012 LTIP upon the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding equity awards previously granted by an entity acquired by our Company or any of its subsidiaries (referred to as “substitute awards”) will not reduce the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2012 LTIP. Additionally, if a company acquired by our Company or any of its subsidiaries has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of that pre-existing plan may be used for awards under the 2012 LTIP and will not reduce the shares authorized for issuance under the 2012 LTIP, but only if the awards are made to individuals who were not employed by or providing services to our Company or any of its subsidiaries immediately prior to such acquisition.

Share Adjustment Provisions

If certain transactions with the Company’s stockholders occur that cause the per share value of the common stock to change, such as stock splits, spin-offs, stock dividends or certain recapitalizations (referred to as “equity restructurings”), the Committee will equitably adjust (i) the class of shares issuable and the maximum number and kind of shares subject to the 2012 LTIP, (ii) outstanding awards as to the class, number of shares and price per share, and (iii) award limitations prescribed by the 2012 LTIP. Other types of transactions may also affect the common stock, such as reorganizations, mergers or consolidations. If there is such a transaction and the Committee determines that adjustments of the type previously described in connection with equity restructurings would be appropriate to prevent any dilution or enlargement of benefits under the 2012 LTIP, the Committee will make such adjustments as it may deem equitable.

Types of Awards

The 2012 LTIP allows the Company to award eligible recipients stock options, SARs, restricted stock awards, stock unit awards, other stock-based awards and cash incentive awards. These types of awards are described in more detail below.

Options.    Employees of our Company or any subsidiary may be awarded options to purchase common stock that qualify as “incentive stock options” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), and any eligible recipient may be awarded options to purchase common stock that do not qualify as incentive stock options, referred to as “non-statutory options.” The exercise price to be paid by a participant at the time an option is exercised may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of one share of common stock on the date of grant, unless the option is granted as a substitute award as described earlier. “Fair market value” under the 2012 LTIP as of any date means the closing sale price for a share of common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on that date. On December 8, 2015, the closing sale price of a share of common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $91.91.

The total purchase price of the shares to be purchased upon exercise of an option will be paid by the participant in cash unless the Committee allows exercise payments to be made, in whole or in part, (i) by means of a

 

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broker-assisted sale and remittance program, (ii) by delivery to the Company (or attestation as to ownership) of shares of common stock already owned by the participant, or (iii) by a “net exercise” of the option in which a portion of the shares otherwise issuable upon exercise of the option are withheld by the Company. Any shares delivered or withheld in payment of an exercise price will be valued at their fair market value on the exercise date.

An option will vest and become exercisable at such time, in such installments and subject to such conditions as may be determined by the Committee, and no option may have a term greater than 10 years from its date of grant.

The aggregate fair market value of shares of common stock with respect to which incentive stock options granted to any participant may first become exercisable during any calendar year may not exceed $100,000. Any incentive stock options that become exercisable in excess of this amount will be treated as non-statutory options.

Stock Appreciation Rights.    A SAR is the right to receive a payment from the Company, in the form of shares of common stock, cash or a combination of both, equal to the difference between (i) the fair market value of a specified number of shares of common stock on the date of exercise of the SAR, and (ii) the aggregate exercise price under the SAR of that number of shares. SARs will be subject to such terms and conditions, consistent with the other provisions of the 2012 LTIP, as may be determined by the Committee. The Committee will have the sole discretion to determine the form in which payment of SARs will be made to a participant.

The exercise price per share of a SAR will be determined by the Committee, but may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of one share of common stock on the date of grant, unless the SAR is granted as a substitute award as described earlier. A SAR will vest and become exercisable at such time, in such installments and subject to such conditions as may be determined by the Committee, and no SAR may have a term greater than 10 years from its date of grant.

Restricted Stock Awards.    A restricted stock award is an award of common stock that vests at such times and in such installments as may be determined by the Committee. Until it vests, the shares subject to the award are subject to restrictions on transferability and the possibility of forfeiture. The Committee may impose such restrictions or conditions to the vesting of restricted stock awards as it deems appropriate, including that the participant remain continuously employed by, or in the service of, the Company or a subsidiary for a certain period or that the participant or the Company (or any subsidiary or business unit of the Company) satisfy specified performance criteria. Unless otherwise specified by the Committee, a participant who receives a restricted stock award will have all of the rights of a stockholder, including the right to vote the shares of restricted stock.

Stock Unit Awards. A stock unit award is a right to receive the fair market value of one or more shares of common stock, payable in cash, shares of common stock, or a combination of both, that vests at such times and in such installments as may be determined by the Committee. Until it vests, a stock unit award is subject to restrictions on transferability and the possibility of forfeiture. Stock unit awards will be subject to such terms and conditions, consistent with the other provisions of the 2012 LTIP, as may be determined by the Committee.

Other Stock-Based Awards.    The Committee may grant awards of common stock and other awards that are valued by reference to and/or payable in common stock under the 2012 LTIP. The Committee has complete discretion in determining the terms and conditions of such awards.

Cash Incentive Awards.    The Committee may grant performance-based awards that are settled in cash or other forms of awards under the 2012 LTIP or a combination thereof. The Committee has complete discretion in determining the amount, terms and conditions of such awards.

Expiration and Vesting

Each award agreement will set forth the date of expiration of each award, which may not be more than 10 years from the grant date.

Awards that vest based solely on service-based vesting conditions will be subject to a vesting period of not less than one year from the grant date and awards with vesting subject to satisfaction of performance goals over a

 

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performance period will be subject to a performance period of not less than one year. These minimum vesting and performance periods will not, however, apply in connection with (a) a change in control, (b) termination of service due to death or disability, (c) a substitute award that does not reduce the vesting period of the award being replaced, (d) awards made to non-employee members of our Board of Directors who elect to receive awards in exchange for cash compensation to which they would otherwise be or become entitled, and (e) awards involving an aggregate number of shares not in excess of 5% of the share reserve of 12,600,000.

Dividends and Dividend Equivalents

No dividends are payable on options or SARs. Any dividends or distributions paid with respect to unvested shares of restricted stock will be subject to the same restrictions as the shares to which such dividends or distributions relate, except for regular cash dividends on shares that are subject only to service-based vesting conditions. The Committee may provide that a recipient of a stock unit award or other stock-based award will be entitled to receive dividend equivalents on the units or other share equivalents subject to the award based on dividends actually declared on our outstanding common stock. Any dividend equivalents paid with respect to unvested units or share equivalents that are subject to performance-based vesting will be subject to the same restrictions as the units or share equivalents to which such dividend equivalents relate.

Term and Amendment of the 2012 LTIP

Unless terminated earlier, the 2012 LTIP will terminate on November 30, 2021. Awards outstanding under the 2012 LTIP at the time it is terminated may continue to be exercised, earned or become free of restriction, according to their terms. The Board of Directors may suspend or terminate the 2012 LTIP or any portion of it at any time. The Board of Directors may amend the 2012 LTIP from time to time, but no amendments to the 2012 LTIP will be effective without stockholder approval if such approval is required under applicable laws or regulations or under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, including stockholder approval for any amendment that seeks to modify the prohibition on underwater option repricing discussed above.

Termination, suspension or amendment of the 2012 LTIP will not adversely affect any outstanding award without the consent of the affected participant, except for amendments necessary to comply with applicable laws or stock exchange rules.

Transferability of Awards

In general, no right or interest in any award under the 2012 LTIP may be assigned, transferred or encumbered by a participant, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution. However, the Committee may provide that an award (other than an incentive stock option) may be transferable by gift to a participant’s family member or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order. Any permitted transferee of such an award will remain subject to all the terms and conditions of the award applicable to the participant.

Performance-Based Compensation Under Section 162(m)

The Committee may grant restricted stock, stock unit, other stock-based awards or cash incentive awards under the 2012 LTIP to employees who are or may be “covered employees” that are intended to be “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code in order to preserve the deductibility of those awards for federal income tax purposes. Under current IRS interpretations, “covered employees” of a company are its chief executive officer and any other executive officer (other than the chief financial officer) who is among the three other most highly compensated executive officers employed by the company at a year end. Participants are entitled to receive payment for a Section 162(m) performance-based award for any given performance period only to the extent that pre-established performance goals set by the Committee for the performance period are satisfied. Options and SARs granted under the 2012 LTIP need not be conditioned upon the achievement of performance goals in order to constitute performance-based compensation for Section 162(m) purposes.

The pre-established performance goals set by the Committee must be based on one or more of the following performance criteria specified in the 2012 LTIP: revenue or net sales; gross profit; operating profit; net income;

 

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earnings before income taxes; earnings before one or more of interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and other adjustments; profitability as measured by return ratios (including, but not limited to, return on assets, return on equity, return on investment and return on revenues or gross profit) or by the degree to which any of the foregoing earnings measures exceed a percentage of revenues or gross profit; cash flow; market share; margins (including one or more of gross, operating and net earnings margins); stock price; total stockholder return; asset quality; non-performing assets; operating assets; operating expenses; balance of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities; improvement in or attainment of expense levels or cost savings; operating asset turnover; accounts receivable levels (including measured in terms of days sales outstanding); economic value added; improvement in or attainment of working capital levels; employee retention; customer satisfaction; implementation or completion of critical projects; and growth in customer base.

The Committee may select one criterion or multiple criteria for measuring performance, and the measurement may be expressed in absolute amounts, on a per share basis (basic or diluted), relative to one or more other performance measures, as a growth rate or change from preceding periods, or as a comparison to the performance of specified companies or a published or special index or other external measures, and may relate to one or any combination of Company, subsidiary, business unit or individual performance. The Committee will define in an objective fashion the manner of calculating the performance goals based on the performance criteria it selects to use in any performance period and will establish such performance goals within the time period prescribed by, and will otherwise comply with the requirements of, Section 162(m). In determining the actual amount to be paid with respect to an individual performance-based award for a performance period, the Committee may reduce (but not increase) the amount that would otherwise be payable as a result of satisfying the applicable performance goals.

Approval of the Share Increase Amendment at the Annual Meeting will be deemed to include, among other things, approval of the continued eligibility of executive officers and other employees to participate in the 2012 LTIP, the performance criteria upon which awards intended to be “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) may be made, and the qualification of options and SARs granted under the 2012 LTIP as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Section 162(m).

Change in Control of the Company

For purposes of the 2012 LTIP, a “change in control” of our Company generally occurs if (i) a person or group acquires 30% or more of our Company’s outstanding stock, (ii) certain changes occur in the composition of the Board of Directors, or (iii) a reorganization, merger or consolidation of our Company, or a sale or disposition of all or substantially all of our Company’s assets, is consummated (unless our Company’s outstanding stock immediately prior to the transaction continues to represent over 70% of the outstanding stock of our Company or the surviving entity immediately after the transaction).

If a change in control of our Company occurs as a result of which our Company does not survive as an operating company or survives only as a subsidiary of another entity, then the consequences will be as described in this paragraph unless the Committee provides otherwise in an applicable award agreement. If any outstanding award is not continued, assumed or replaced by the successor entity in connection with such a change in control, the award will be canceled in exchange for a payment with respect to such award in an amount equal to the excess, if any, between the fair market value of the consideration to be received in the change in control for the number of shares remaining subject to the award over the aggregate exercise price (if any) for the shares remaining subject to such award (or, if there is no excess, such award may be canceled without payment). In the case of performance-based awards, the number of shares remaining subject to an award or the settlement amount of a cash incentive award will be calculated by deeming all performance measures to have been satisfied at targeted performance. If any outstanding award is continued, assumed or replaced by the successor entity in connection with such a change in control, the Committee may provide that such award will become fully vested and exercisable upon the involuntary termination of the participant without cause within a specified amount of time following the change in control.

In the event of a change in control of our Company other than as described in the previous paragraph, the Committee may provide that (i) any award will become fully vested and exercisable upon the change in control

 

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or upon the involuntary termination of the participant without cause within a specified amount of time following the change in control, (ii) any option or SAR will remain exercisable during all or some portion of its remaining term, or (iii) awards will be canceled in exchange for payments in a similar manner as described above with respect to a change in control as a result of which our Company does not survive as an operating company or survives only as a subsidiary of another entity.

Effect of Termination of Employment or Other Services

If a participant ceases to be employed by or provide other services for our Company and all subsidiaries, awards under the 2012 LTIP then held by the participant will be treated as set forth below unless provided otherwise in the applicable award agreement.

Upon termination for any reason other than death or disability, all unvested and unexercisable portions of any outstanding awards shall be immediately forfeited, and the currently vested and exercisable portions of options and SARs may be exercised for 90 days after such termination. However, if a participant is 65 or more years old or is 55 or more years old and has been an employee of or provider of other services to our Company for at least 10 years, then the currently vested and exercisable portions of options and SARs may be exercised for one year after such termination.

Upon termination due to death or disability, all outstanding options and SARs will become fully exercisable and will remain exercisable for one year after such termination, and all other awards will fully vest immediately.

U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences

The following is a summary of the principal United States federal income tax consequences to the Company and to participants subject to U.S. taxation with respect to awards granted under the 2012 LTIP. This summary is not intended to be exhaustive and does not discuss the income tax laws of any city, state or foreign jurisdiction in which a participant may reside.

Non-Statutory Options.    If a participant is granted a non-statutory option under the 2012 LTIP, the participant will not recognize taxable income upon the grant of the option. Generally, the participant will recognize ordinary income at the time of exercise in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the shares acquired at the time of exercise and the exercise price paid. The participant’s basis in the common stock for purposes of determining gain or loss on a subsequent sale or disposition of such shares generally will be the fair market value of our common stock on the date the option was exercised. Any subsequent gain or loss will be taxable as a capital gain or loss. The Company will generally be entitled to a federal income tax deduction at the time and for the same amount as the participant recognizes ordinary income.

Incentive Stock Options.    If a participant is granted an incentive stock option under the 2012 LTIP, the participant will not recognize taxable income upon grant of the option. Additionally, if applicable holding period requirements (a minimum of two years from the date of grant and one year from the date of exercise) are met, the participant will not recognize taxable income at the time of exercise. However, the excess of the fair market value of the shares acquired at the time of exercise over the aggregate exercise price is an item of tax preference income potentially subject to the alternative minimum tax. If shares acquired upon exercise of an incentive stock option are held for the holding period described above, the gain or loss (in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value on the date of sale and the exercise price) upon disposition of the shares will be treated as a long-term capital gain or loss, and the Company will not be entitled to any deduction. If the holding period requirements are not met, the incentive stock option will be treated as one that does not meet the requirements of the Code for incentive stock options and the tax consequences described above for non-statutory options will apply.

Other Awards.    The current federal income tax consequences of other awards authorized under the 2012 LTIP generally follow certain basic patterns. SARs are taxed and deductible in substantially the same manner as non-statutory options. An award of nontransferable restricted stock subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture results in income recognition by a participant in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares received (determined as if the shares were not subject to any risk of forfeiture) at the time the restrictions lapse and the

 

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shares vest, unless the participant elects under Section 83(b) of the Code to accelerate income recognition and the taxability of the award to the date of grant. Stock unit awards and cash incentive awards generally result in income recognition by a participant at the time payment of such an award is made in an amount equal to the amount paid in cash or the then-current fair market value of the shares received, as applicable. In each of the foregoing cases, the Company will generally have a corresponding deduction at the time the participant recognizes income, subject to Section 162(m) of the Code with respect to covered employees.

Section 162(m) of the Code.    Section 162(m) of the Code denies a deduction to any publicly held corporation for compensation paid to certain “covered employees” in a taxable year to the extent that compensation to the covered employee exceeds $1,000,000, unless, among other exceptions, the compensation qualifies as “performance-based compensation.” The 2012 LTIP is designed to meet the requirements of Section 162(m), but awards other than options and SARs granted under the 2012 LTIP will only be treated as qualified performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) if the awards and the procedures associated with them comply with all other requirements of Section 162(m), including that the maximum amount of compensation a covered employee may receive is based on the satisfaction of pre-established performance goals.

Section 409A of the Code.    The foregoing discussion of tax consequences of awards under the 2012 LTIP assumes that the award discussed is either not considered a “deferred compensation arrangement” subject to Section 409A of the Code, or has been structured to comply with its requirements. If an award is considered a deferred compensation arrangement subject to Section 409A but fails to comply, in operation or form, with the requirements of Section 409A, the affected participant would generally be required to include in income when the award vests the amount deemed “deferred,” would be required to pay an additional 20% income tax, and would be required to pay interest on the tax that would have been paid but for the deferral. The 2012 LTIP will be administered in a manner intended to comply with Section  409A.

Incentive Awards Under the 2012 LTIP

As of the date of this proxy statement, the Committee has not approved any awards in excess of the current share reserve under the 2012 LTIP and therefore has not approved awards in reliance on the Share Increase Amendment, nor has it approved any equity awards to non-employee directors in excess of the limit established in the Director Compensation Amendment. Because all awards under the 2012 Plan are granted under the discretion of the Committee, neither the number nor type of future 2012 LTIP awards to be received by or allocated to particular participants or groups of participants is presently determinable. Information regarding awards made to named executive officers under the 2012 LTIP during fiscal 2015 is provided under the caption “Grants of Plan-Based Awards for Fiscal 2015” of this proxy statement.

Required Vote

The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of our common stock present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on this proposal at the Annual Meeting is required to approve the Share Increase Amendment and ratify the Director Compensation Amendment. If stockholder approval is not obtained, then the Share Increase Amendment to the 2012 LTIP will not become effective.

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL OF THE SHARE INCREASE AMENDMENT AND RATIFICATION OF THE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION AMENDMENT TO THE FAIR ISAAC CORPORATION 2012 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN.

 

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PROPOSAL 3: ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

Pursuant to Section 14A of the Exchange Act, the Company seeks a non-binding advisory vote from its stockholders to approve the compensation of our named executive officers as described under “Executive Compensation — Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and the tabular disclosure regarding named executive officer compensation (together with the accompanying narrative disclosure) in this proxy statement.

This proposal gives our stockholders the opportunity to express their views on the Company’s executive officer compensation. Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding upon the Board of Directors. However, the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee will take into account the outcome of the vote when making future executive officer compensation decisions.

As we discuss below in our Compensation Discussion and Analysis, we believe that our compensation policies and decisions are designed to deliver a performance-based pay philosophy, are aligned with the long-term interests of our stockholders and are competitive. The Company’s principal compensation policies, which enable the Company to attract, motivate and retain talented executive officers to lead the Company in the achievement of our business objectives, include:

 

   

We make annual cash compensation decisions based on assessment of the Company’s performance against measurable financial goals, as well as each executive’s individual performance.

 

   

We emphasize long-term incentive compensation awards that collectively reward executive officers based on individual performance, external and internal peer equity compensation practices, and the performance of the Company’s stock.

 

   

We delivered approximately two-thirds of the targeted annual long-term award value to top executives for fiscal 2015 in the form of performance-based incentives.

 

   

We require stock ownership by our senior executive officers.

As a result, we are presenting this proposal, which gives you as a stockholder the opportunity to approve our executive officer compensation as disclosed in this proxy statement by voting for or against the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the stockholders approve the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables, and the related disclosure contained in the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 2016 Annual Meeting.

We have decided to hold an advisory vote on executive compensation annually until the next vote is held regarding the frequency of stockholder votes on executive compensation. The next advisory vote on executive compensation will be held at our 2017 Annual Meeting.

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BELIEVES THAT THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS IS APPROPRIATE AND RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION AS DISCLOSED IN THE COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS AND THE COMPENSATION TABLES AND OTHERWISE IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT.

 

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PROPOSAL 4: RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

It is the responsibility of the Audit Committee to select and retain independent auditors. Our Audit Committee has appointed Deloitte as our independent auditors for the Company’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2016. Although stockholder ratification of the Audit Committee’s selection of independent auditors is not required by our Bylaws or otherwise, we are submitting the selection of Deloitte to stockholder ratification so that our stockholders may participate in this important corporate decision. If not ratified, the Audit Committee will reconsider the selection, although the Audit Committee will not be required to select different independent auditors for the Company.

Representatives of Deloitte will be present at the Annual Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement and respond to questions from stockholders present at the meeting.

Audit and Non-Audit Fees

The following table presents fees for professional audit services rendered by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014, for the audit of our annual financial statements and fees for other services rendered by the firm during those respective periods.

 

     2015      2014  

Audit Fees

   $ 2,290,000       $ 2,246,000   

Audit-Related Fees

     556,000         477,000   

Tax Fees

     461,000         245,000   

All Other Fees

     2,000         2,000   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 3,309,000       $ 2,970,000   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Audit Fees.    Audit fees consisted of fees for services rendered in connection with the annual audit of our consolidated financial statements, quarterly reviews of financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and the audit of internal control over financial reporting. Audit fees also consisted of services provided in connection with statutory audits, consultation on accounting matters and SEC registration statement services.

Audit-Related Fees.    Audit-related fees consisted principally of fees for audits of financial statements of employee benefit plans, vendor compliance audits, due diligence related to acquisitions, and fees related to financial and non-financial attestation services (Service Organization Control).

Tax Fees.    Tax services consisted of fees for tax consultation and tax compliance services.

All Other Fees.    All other fees consisted of fees for access to an online library of accounting and financial reporting literature.

Our Audit Committee considers whether the provision of services other than for audit fees is compatible with maintaining our independent auditor’s independence, and has determined that these services for fiscal 2015 and 2014 were compatible. The services described above were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act.

Policy on Audit Committee Preapproval of Audit and Non-Audit Services of Independent Auditors

Our Audit Committee is responsible for appointing, setting compensation, and overseeing the work of the independent auditors. The Audit Committee has established a policy regarding preapproval of all audit and permitted non-audit services provided by the independent auditors. On an ongoing basis, management communicates specific projects and categories of service for which it requests the advance approval of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee reviews these requests and advises management if the Audit Committee approves the engagement of the independent auditors. On a periodic basis, management reports to the Audit

 

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Committee regarding the actual spending for such projects and services compared to the approved amounts. The Audit Committee may also delegate the ability to preapprove audit and permitted non-audit services to a subcommittee consisting of one or more members, provided that any such preapprovals are reported on at the next Audit Committee meeting.

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2016.

 

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REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Audit Committee selects and retains an independent registered public accounting firm as the Company’s independent auditor and assists the Board in overseeing (1) the integrity of the Company’s financial statements, (2) the independent auditor’s qualifications and independence, (3) the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and independent auditor, and (4) the compliance by the Company with legal and regulatory requirements related to financial affairs and reporting. The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee that addresses the responsibilities of the Audit Committee. This charter is available on the “Investors” page of our website at www.fico.com.

While the Audit Committee has the responsibilities and powers set forth in its charter, it is not the duty of the Audit Committee to plan or conduct audits or to determine that the Company’s financial statements and disclosures are complete and accurate and are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and applicable legal and other requirements. These are the responsibilities of management and the independent auditor. Additionally, in performing its oversight function, the Audit Committee necessarily relies on the work and assurances of, and information provided by, management and the independent auditor.

Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”) served as the Company’s independent auditor for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015. In fiscal 2015, the Audit Committee met and held discussions with management and Deloitte on numerous occasions. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with management and Deloitte the Company’s quarterly consolidated financial statements prior to the filing of each Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015. The Audit Committee discussed with Deloitte matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard No. 16, Communications with Audit Committees. Deloitte also provided to the Audit Committee the written disclosures required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and the Audit Committee discussed with Deloitte the firm’s independence.

Based upon the Audit Committee’s discussions with management and the independent auditor, and the Audit Committee’s review of the representations of management and the report of the independent auditor to the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, as filed with the SEC.

Submitted by the Audit Committee:

James D. Kirsner, Chair

Greg R. Gianforte

David A. Rey

Duane E. White

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSONS TRANSACTIONS

We maintain a written policy for the approval of any related person transactions. A “Related Person,” for purposes of our policy, means:

 

   

Any person who is, or at any time since the beginning of our last fiscal year was, a director or executive officer or a nominee for director;

 

   

Any person known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common stock; or

 

   

Any immediate family member of the foregoing persons.

“Immediate family members” include children, stepchildren, parents, stepparents, spouses, siblings, mothers- and fathers-in-law, sons- and daughters-in-law, brothers- and sisters-in-law and any other person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of one of these individuals.

Under the Related Persons Transaction Policy, any transaction, arrangement or relationship between us and a Related Person (a “Related Persons Transaction”) must be reviewed by the Audit Committee, except that the following transactions, arrangements or relationships are exempt under the policy:

 

   

Payment of compensation by the Company to a director or executive officer of the Company for such person’s service to the Company in that capacity;

 

   

Transactions available to all employees or all stockholders of the Company on the same terms; and

 

   

Transactions that, when aggregated with the amount of all other transactions between the Company and the Related Person or any entity in which the Related Person has an interest, involve less than $120,000 in a fiscal year.

In determining whether to approve a Related Persons Transaction, the Audit Committee will consider the following:

 

   

Whether the terms are fair to the Company;

 

   

Whether the transaction is material to the Company;

 

   

The importance of the Related Persons Transaction to the Related Person;

 

   

The role the Related Person has played in arranging the Related Persons Transaction;

 

   

The structure of the Related Persons Transaction; and

 

   

The interests of all Related Persons in the Related Persons Transaction.

We will only enter into a Related Persons Transaction if the Audit Committee determines that the Related Persons Transaction is beneficial to the Company, and the terms of the Related Persons Transaction are fair to the Company. No Related Persons Transactions occurred during fiscal 2015.

 

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Board Leadership Structure

The Board of Directors does not have a policy with respect to the separation of the offices of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. The Board of Directors believes that it is in the best interests of the Company for the Board of Directors to make a determination on this matter when it appoints a new Chief Executive Officer or Chairman. The Board of Directors has determined that, currently, the most effective leadership structure is to have a separate Chairman of the Board, a position held by Mr. Battle since 2002, and Chief Executive Officer, a position held by Mr. Lansing since January 2012, as it provides us the best access to the judgments and experience of both individuals while providing a mechanism for the Board’s independent oversight of management. As a result, the Chairman presides over the meetings of the Board of Directors and the stockholders, and the Chief Executive Officer is allowed more time to focus energies on the management of the Company’s business.

Board Risk Oversight Role

Our management is responsible for identifying the various risks facing the Company, formulating risk management policies and procedures, and managing the Company’s risk exposures. Our Board of Directors’ responsibility is to monitor the Company’s risk management processes by informing itself concerning our material risks and evaluating whether management has reasonable controls in place to address the material risks. The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has been monitoring management’s responsibility in the area of risk oversight. Accordingly, our internal risk management team regularly reports to the Audit Committee on our major risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures, including our risk assessment and risk management policies. The Audit Committee, in turn, reports on the matters discussed at the committee level to the full Board of Directors.

Attendance at Board Meetings

During fiscal 2015, the Board of Directors met five times. Each director attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors and the total number of meetings held by all committees of the Board on which he served. Health permitting, all Board members are expected to attend our Annual Meeting. All directors serving on the Board at the time attended the 2015 Annual Meeting, with the exception of Rahul Merchant, who did not stand for re-election at the 2015 Annual Meeting.

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that independent directors will meet in executive session without the Chief Executive Officer or other management present at each regular Board meeting. A. George Battle, the Chairman of the Board, is independent and presides at executive sessions held in accordance with our Corporate Governance Guidelines.

Annual Board Self-Evaluations

The Board of Directors and committees conduct annual self-evaluations to assess the qualifications, attributes, skills and experience represented on the Board and to determine whether the Board and its committees are functioning effectively.

Board Committees

Our Board has three standing committees: Audit; Leadership Development and Compensation; and Governance, Nominating and Executive. All of the members of the committees are independent directors under the applicable SEC rules and NYSE listing standards. Each committee’s charter expressly provides that the committee has the sole discretion to retain, compensate, and terminate its advisors. Current copies of the charters of the three committees are available on the “Investors” page of our website at www.fico.com. The following sets forth membership of each of our committees as of January 20, 2016.

 

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Audit Committee

         

Primary Responsibilities:

2015 Meetings: 8

James D. Kirsner (Chair)

Greg R. Gianforte

David A. Rey

Duane E. White

       

Assists the Board in overseeing the integrity of our financial statements;

  

 

    

 

Oversees the qualifications and independence of our independent auditor;

  

 

    

 

Oversees performance of our internal audit function and independent auditor;

  

 

    

 

Oversees our company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements related to financial affairs and reporting;

  

 

    

 

Appoints, retains, compensates, and replaces the independent auditor; and

  

 

    

 

Reviews the audited financial statements with management, and on an annual basis it provides an Audit Committee Report wherein it states that it recommends to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

       

 

Independence:

  

 

    

 

Each member of the Audit Committee is independent as defined in Rule 10A-3 adopted pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and in the NYSE listing rules.

  

 

    

 

The Board determined that all members of the Audit Committee are “audit committee financial experts” under the SEC regulations and financially literate under NYSE listing rules.

Leadership Development and
Compensation Committee

         

Primary Responsibilities:

2015 Meetings: 8

Braden R. Kelly (Chair)

A. George Battle

Joanna Rees

       

Overall oversight responsibility for the directors’ and executive officers’ compensation plans and the compensation policies and programs of the Company;

  

 

    

 

Reviews and approves the level and terms of the executive officers’ annual and long-term compensation;

  

 

    

 

Administers the 2012 LTIP, as well as makes recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the adoption of other incentive plans;

  

 

    

 

Makes recommendations to the Governance, Nominating and Executive Committee with respect to the form and amount of director compensation, and, jointly with the Governance, Nominating and Executive Committee, recommends changes in director compensation to the Board; and

  

 

    

 

Monitors compliance by directors and officers with the Company’s stock ownership guidelines.

       

 

Independence:

  

 

    

 

Each member of the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee is independent as required by the NYSE listing rules.

 

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Governance, Nominating and Executive
Committee

         

Primary Responsibilities:

2015 Meetings: 4

A. George Battle (Chair)

Braden R. Kelly

James D. Kirsner

       

Reviews annually with the Board the composition of the Board, the requisite skills and characteristics of new Board members, and the performance and continued tenure of incumbent Board members;

  

 

    

 

Seeks individuals qualified to become Board members for recommendation to the Board;

       

Develops and recommends to the Board the criteria for identifying and evaluating director candidates, and recommends candidates for election or reelection to the Board;

       

Establishes the agenda for each Board meeting in cooperation with the CEO and appropriate senior management;

       

Recommends the membership of the Audit and Leadership Development and Compensation Committees;

       

Reviews and assesses the adequacy of the Corporate Governance Guidelines and recommends any proposed changes to the Board for approval;

       

Receives recommendations of the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee with respect to the form and amount of director compensation, and, jointly with the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee, recommends changes in director compensation to the Board;

       

Takes action between meetings, subject to defined limits, with respect to investment, budget, and capital and exploratory expenditure matters arising in the normal course of the Company’s business; and

       

Takes action between meetings, subject to defined limits, to sell, lease, pledge, mortgage or otherwise dispose of property or assets of the Company.

        Independence:
       

Each member of the Governance, Nominating and Executive Committee is independent as required by the NYSE listing rules.

 

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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION FOR FISCAL 2015

The table below summarizes the compensation paid by the Company to each non-employee director for the year ended September 30, 2015.

 

Name (a)

   Fees
Earned or
Paid in
Cash ($)
(b)(1)
    Stock
Awards
($)(11), (12)
(c)
     Option
Awards
($)(11), (13)
(d)
     Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
(e)
     Change in
Pension
Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
(f)
     All Other
Compensation
($)
(g)
    Total
($)
(h)
 

A. George Battle

     185,000 (2)     267,405                                        452,405   

Greg R. Gianforte

     60,000 (3)             254,902                                314,902   

Braden R. Kelly

     85,000 (4)             275,414                                360,414   

James D. Kirsner

     85,000 (5)     267,405                                        352,405   

Rahul Merchant

     30,000 (6)                                     4,360 (7)      34,360   

Joanna Rees

     30,000 (8)     247,887         254,902                                532,789   

David A. Rey

     90,000 (9)             254,902                                344,902   

Duane E. White

     72,500 (10)     247,437                                        319,937   

 

(1) 

All fees under this column represent fees paid to the directors under the Compensation Program for Non-Employee Directors last adopted February 11, 2014 (the “Program”) (described below). The Program anticipates fees commencing with the directors’ election year (February to February) whereby the compensation reported in this table is that paid during our fiscal year (October through September).

 

(2) 

Represents an annual board retainer, annual independent chairman of the board retainer and committee chair retainer for the Governance, Nominating and Executive Committee paid quarterly to Chairman during the fiscal year.

 

(3) 

Mr. Gianforte’s “Fees Earned or Paid in Cash” represent the $60,000 annual retainer fees payable upon his re-election foregone by Mr. Gianforte to instead receive 2,432 stock options. The amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes in fiscal 2015 with respect to such options, which was $66,515, is excluded from the “Option Awards” column.

 

(4) 

Mr. Kelly’s “Fees Earned or Paid in Cash” represent the $60,000 annual board and the $25,000 Leadership Development and Compensation Committee retainer fees payable upon his re-election foregone by Mr. Kelly to instead receive 3,445 stock options. The amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes in fiscal 2015 with respect to such options, which was $94,221, is excluded from the “Option Awards” column.

 

(5) 

Represents annual board and Audit Committee chair retainers paid quarterly to Mr. Kirsner during fiscal 2015.

 

(6) 

Represents a pro rata annual board retainer paid through to Mr. Merchant’s retirement from the Board in February 2015.

 

(7) 

Amount represents a retirement gift given in recognition of Mr. Merchant’s long-standing tenure on the Board.

 

(8) 

Represents a pro rata annual board retainer paid quarterly to Ms. Rees during fiscal 2015. Ms. Rees joined the Board in February 2015.

 

(9) 

Mr. Rey’s “Fees Earned or Paid in Cash” include the $30,000 annual retainer fees paid quarterly in the first and second quarter of fiscal 2015 and the $60,000 annual retainer fees payable upon his re-election foregone by Mr. Rey to instead receive 2,432 stock options. The amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes in fiscal 2015 with respect to such options, which was $66,515, is excluded from the “Option Awards” column.

 

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(10) 

Represents the annual board retainer and the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee chair retainers paid to Mr. White for the first two quarters of fiscal 2015.

 

(11) 

The amounts in this column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of each award computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For information on the assumptions used to calculate the value of the awards, refer to Note 14 of the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, as filed with the SEC.

 

(12) 

As of September 30, 2015, the restricted stock unit awards outstanding for each director are as follows: Mr. Battle — 3,214; Mr. Gianforte — 2,729; Mr. Kelly — 1,666; Mr. Kirsner — 3,214; Ms. Rees — 2,983; Mr. Rey — 0; Mr. White — 2,974.

 

(13) 

As of September 30, 2015, the option awards outstanding for each director are as follows: Mr. Battle — 46,937; Mr. Gianforte — 29,922; Mr. Kelly — 39,528; Mr. Kirsner — 92,126; Ms. Rees — 9,320; Mr. Rey — 57,587; Mr. White — 52,817.

Non-Employee Director Compensation

The following compensation components are paid to our non-employee directors:

 

   

Annual retainer fees;

 

   

An equity grant upon initial election to the Board; and

 

   

An annual equity grant.

Our Program is as described below. For a description of our compensation program in effect prior to this date, see last year’s proxy statement.

Under the Program, each non-employee director was entitled to receive annual retainer fees in the amounts set forth below and were paid in cash quarterly in arrears during their annual term commencing upon their election or re-election at each Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Such amounts were pro-rated for appointments made to the Board of Directors, Chair of the standing Board committee or Chairman of the Board between Annual Meetings.

 

   

Annual retainer fee payable to all non-employee directors

   $ 60,000    
   

Additional annual retainer fee payable to Chairs of the Board’s Audit Committee and Leadership Development and Compensation Committee

   $ 25,000    
   

Additional annual retainer fee payable to Chair of the Board’s Governance, Nominating and Executive Committee (GNEC)

   $ 5,000    
   

Additional annual retainer fee payable to Independent Chairman of the Board

   $ 120,000    

The stock price used for purposes of all calculations made under the Program equaled the average closing price of a share of the Company’s stock for the trading days within the 30-calendar-day period that ended on the eleventh calendar day before the date of grant.

Each non-employee director had the right, prior to the Annual Meeting, to elect to receive some or all of these annual retainer fees in the form of fully vested nonqualified stock options instead of cash. A director who elected to receive some or all of these annual retainer fees in the form of a stock option received an option to purchase a number of shares equal to the amount of the retainer or portion of the retainer being converted divided by the Black Scholes value of an option.

Upon initial election to the Board, each non-employee director was entitled to receive a number of nonqualified stock options subject to three-year ratable vesting equal to $460,000 divided by the Black Scholes value of a nonqualified stock option. The director was able to elect to convert either 50% or 100% of these stock options to restricted stock units subject to three-year ratable vesting. The number of restricted stock units was determined by dividing the aggregate Black Scholes value of the nonqualified stock options being exchanged by the value of a restricted stock unit.

 

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Annual equity grants made to non-employee directors who were re-elected at the 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders after serving on the Board at least since the previous Annual Meeting were in the form of stock options subject to one-year cliff vesting equal to $230,000 divided by the Black Scholes value of a nonqualified stock option, and each committee chair received an additional 750 nonqualified stock options annually. Each director was able to elect to convert either 50% or 100% of these stock options to restricted stock units subject to one-year cliff vesting. The number of restricted stock units was determined by dividing the aggregate Black Scholes value of the nonqualified stock options being exchanged by the value of a restricted stock unit. Equity awards granted upon an Annual Meeting that are subject to vesting will vest upon the dates of successive Annual Meetings.

Director Stock Ownership Guidelines

Our policy requires non-employee directors to hold 10,000 shares within five years of beginning service on the Board. All of the directors currently meet the stock ownership guidelines or are making acceptable progress to their applicable level.

Director and Officer Liability Insurance Policies

Directors are covered under our director and officer liability insurance policies for claims alleged in connection with their service as directors. We have entered into indemnification agreements with all of our directors agreeing to indemnify them to the fullest extent permitted by law for claims alleged in connection with their service as directors.

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Overview of Company Performance in Fiscal 2015

During fiscal 2015, we continued to generate significant free cash flow used to enhance shareholder value through investments in long-term growth initiatives, acquisitions of relevant technologies and products that strengthen our portfolio and competitive position, and our share repurchase program.

We continued to invest in growth initiatives that expand our addressable markets. Our full suite of applications available through the FICO® Analytic Cloud provide product offerings in our Applications and Tools segments to provide growth opportunities with customers that can benefit from the affordability and simplicity of cloud-based solutions. For our Scores segment, the FICO® Score Open Access program continued its expansion during the current year. We have more than 100 million consumers with access to their free FICO® Score through the FICO® Score Open Access program, which allows our participating clients to provide their customers with a free FICO® Score along with materials to help them understand what affects their score. In addition, during fiscal 2015, we launched a partnership program with Experian, a leading global information services provider, making the FICO® Score available to consumers, who can now go to Experian.com to access the credit score lenders use most when determining applicant eligibility for new credit cards, car loans, mortgages or other lines of credit.

We continued to make acquisitions that deliver solutions to the financial services industry and adjacent vertical industries. Our acquisition of TONBELLER addresses the rapidly growing demand for integrated, enterprise-class financial crime and compliance solutions. We integrated this financial crime and compliance technology with our existing fraud detection and analytics to provide broader, more responsive fraud solutions for our customers.

With our strong portfolio of products now in place, we are shifting some of our resources to distribution in our expanded market. This fiscal year, we incurred severance charges to reallocate expenses from building out products to our distribution and go-to-market functions for both the Applications and Tools segments, which includes significant sales enablement and increasing sales resources to reach new market segments.

We also returned significant cash to shareholders through our stock repurchase program. During fiscal 2015, we repurchased approximately 1.7 million shares for a total cost of $130.7 million.

Fiscal 2015 was also a good year from the perspective of our stockholders, with continued strong returns illustrated by the chart below for the past three fiscal years and the period from October 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015.

FICO vs. Russell 3000 3-Year Indexed Total Shareholder Return

(10/1/12 through 12/31/15)

 

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Overview of Fiscal 2015 Compensation Program

As administered by our Leadership Development and Compensation Committee (the “Committee”), our compensation program seeks to closely link the financial interests of our Company’s executives with those of our stockholders. The Committee uses the following guidelines in our compensation program to help achieve this overarching goal.

 

Emphasis on Pay for Performance        

Base salaries for executive officers remained largely flat;

 

       

Variable short-term cash compensation plan funding based upon Company performance, with individual awards linked closely to individual performance; and

 

       

Emphasis on long-term incentives to align executives’ interests with those of our stockholders with two-thirds weighting of targeted long-term incentive value continuing to be placed on performance-based vehicles, the value of which depends on meeting the Company’s financial performance targets and our stock price performance.

 

Quality Pay Practices and Policies        

No single-trigger accelerated vesting or payment for equity awards upon a change in control;

 

       

Executive stock ownership guidelines that encourage ownership and further align our executives’ interests with those of our stockholders;

 

       

Prohibition on hedging of Company stock;

 

       

Adoption of a compensation recovery, or “clawback,” policy pertaining to both cash and equity incentive-based compensation;

 

       

Mandatory minimum vesting period of one year for equity awards;

 

       

Annual peer group review with appropriate adjustments to ensure valid comparisons;

 

       

No tax gross-ups allowed except with respect to relocation benefits and required spousal travel; and

 

       

Independent compensation consultant engaged by the Committee does not provide any other services to the Company.

 

In making compensation decisions at the outset of fiscal 2015 and throughout the year, the Committee sought to reinforce the linkage between Company performance and executive compensation. In keeping with this objective, base salaries for executive officers in fiscal 2015 continued to remain largely flat as part of the continued focus on prominently featuring performance-based cash incentives and equity.

While the targeted level of short-term cash incentive awards for each executive officer, expressed as a percentage of annual base salary, remained unchanged, actual short-term cash incentive award levels decreased in fiscal 2015 compared to fiscal 2014. At the beginning of the fiscal year, our Board of Directors approved an Adjusted Revenue target of $825 million and an Adjusted EBITDA target of $242.5 million. These performance metrics were used by the Committee to determine funding of the fiscal 2015 cash incentive pool and to drive sustainable top- and bottom-line growth, balancing both short and longer term considerations. Our fiscal 2015 result of $827.6 million in Adjusted Revenue exceeded target, while our $237.5 million in Adjusted EBITDA fell below target, resulting in funding under both the Broad-Based and Management Incentive Plans at 79.1% of budgeted target. “Adjusted Revenue” means the Company’s GAAP Revenue adjusted at the Committee’s discretion to remove the impact of revenues related to acquisitions or events deemed by the Committee to have been out of Management’s control and occurring in the measurement year. “Adjusted EBITDA” means earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”) as adjusted for stock-based compensation

 

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expense, restructuring and acquisition-related charges, and other items reflected in the Regulation G schedule published by the Company as an attachment to its quarterly earnings releases, and further adjusted for such adjustments as may be applicable. In selecting these two financial metrics, both of which are used to determine short-term cash incentive funding and Performance Share Unit (PSU) earnings, the Committee relied on the fact that the Company is making significant investments in technology infrastructure, solution innovation and distribution which tend to sacrifice short-term performance on certain other metrics (e.g., earnings-per share) in favor of enabling longer-term shareholder value creation.

To align executive interests with the creation of stockholder value, equity-based incentive compensation represents a substantial portion of total compensation, and we have continued to maintain a diverse mix of equity award types which favor those that are performance based instead of simply time vested. This mix of long-term incentive vehicles helps ensure the Company’s executive compensation program operates effectively across a wide variety of business scenarios.

Long-term incentive awards to executive officers in fiscal 2015 were granted in December 2014 as part of the Company’s annual year-end performance review and compensation planning process. Two-thirds of the annual long-term incentives were performance based, with only one-third time based. Specifically, the Committee granted one-third of the targeted annual long-term award value to top executives in the form of Performance Share Units (“PSUs”), which were designed to reward the achievement of established Adjusted Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA goals. Based on Company performance with respect to those metrics, 92.17% of targeted PSUs granted in fiscal 2015 were earned. The Committee granted another one-third of targeted annual long-term award value in the form of Market Share Units, or MSUs. MSUs are earned based on the Company’s total shareholder return relative to the Russell 3000 index over performance periods of one, two and three years. Based on our one year total shareholder return from December 1, 2014 to November 30, 2015, 200% of the target awards for the first performance period in the MSUs granted in fiscal 2015 were earned. Based on our two year total shareholder return from December 1, 2013 to November 30, 2015, 200% of the target awards for the second performance period in the MSUs granted in fiscal 2014 were earned. The remaining one-third of targeted annual long-term award value took the form of time-vested restricted stock units (“RSUs”) designed to promote stable retention value. In addition to the mix of annual long-term incentive awards, in December 2014, the Committee made special one-time long-term incentive awards to certain executive officers due to exceptional performance contributions in fiscal 2014.

Our strong linkage of pay and performance is illustrated in the chart below. The dollar amounts shown for targeted total direct compensation figures reflect value at grant. The dollar amounts shown for realized total direct compensation figures reflect FY15 realized PSUs at 92.17% of targeted earnings and FY15 MSUs at 200% of first performance period target earnings with second and third performance periods earnings reflected at target.

Target v. Realized Compensation for Named Executive Officers in FY15

 

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Preview of Fiscal 2016 Compensation Program

The Committee’s decisions made at the outset of fiscal 2016 reflect a continuation of the philosophy employed during fiscal 2015. Specifically, no executive officer received a base salary increase in the December 2015 annual review cycle and the long-term incentive program continues to reflect a strong emphasis on performance-based vehicles. As described more fully below, and as was the case in fiscal 2015, two-thirds of the value of the annual equity awards made to executive officers in fiscal 2016 is tied to performance-based vehicles.

Named Executive Officers

Our named executive officers for fiscal 2015 consist of the following persons:

 

   

William Lansing, Chief Executive Officer,

 

   

Michael Pung, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer,

 

   

Wayne Huyard, Executive Vice President, Sales, Services and Marketing,

 

   

James Wehmann, Executive Vice President, Scores, and

 

   

Stuart Wells, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer.

Determination of Compensation

Committee Process

Members of executive management participate in the Committee’s meetings at the Committee’s request. Management’s role is to contribute input and analysis, which the Committee considers in making its decisions. The Committee is not bound by management’s recommendations, but the Committee relies on the insights of our CEO and Chief Human Resources Officer in determining compensation for the executive officers, other than the CEO. The Committee also consults with its outside compensation consultant during its review of executive officer compensation. Prior to making decisions impacting executive compensation, the Committee refers to comprehensive statements and reports prepared by its consultant and management that reflect the amount and elements of each executive’s total compensation.

The Committee leads an annual performance review of the CEO in connection with the determination of his compensation. As part of this process, one or more Committee members and/or the Chairman of the Board meet with each senior executive to discuss the CEO’s performance using a structured interview approach. In addition, each Board member completes a written evaluation form for the CEO and submits it to the Committee. Based on these interviews and written evaluations, as well as on its own determinations regarding the CEO’s performance, the Committee prepares a final performance review for the CEO. The Committee then submits a recommendation for the CEO’s compensation to the Board for discussion. Following such discussion, the Committee finalizes its determination of the CEO’s compensation and informs the CEO of such determination, together with the final performance review.

Peer Group Analysis

In connection with our fiscal 2015 executive compensation program, the Committee reviewed summary reports prepared by its consultant and by management reflecting current and proposed base salary, cash incentive and equity award levels for our executives. Each element was analyzed relative to the Company’s compensation peer group. The peer group consisted of 19 companies that were selected as being similar in size to the Company and operating in the application software, data processing and outsourced services sub-industries within the Global Industry Classification Standard taxonomy.

 

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The 19 peer companies that were considered when the Committee set compensation for fiscal 2015 are as follows:

 

ACI Worldwide

   Jack Henry & Associates

Advent Software

   Manhattan Associates

ANSYS

   Mentor Graphics

Blackbaud

   MicroStrategy

Cadence Design Systems

   NetScout Systems

Compuware

   Nuance Communications

Concur Technologies

   Pegasystems

CSG Systems

   PTC

FactSet Research Systems

   TIBCO Software

Informatica

  

The composition of the peer group is reviewed annually, with adjustments made that the Committee, with the assistance of its compensation consultants, believes are appropriate to maintain comparability within the employment marketplace and to reflect any mergers or acquisitions among the subject companies. In February 2015, FICO removed Advent Software, Compuware, Concur Technologies, and TIBCO Software from the peer group, as all had either been or were in the process of being acquired. The Committee replaced those removals with the following companies: CoreLogic, Qlik Technologies, Splunk and Verint Systems.

Specific information with respect to relative position follows, using values available at the time the compensation levels were being determined in December 2014:

 

    

Revenue

($ in millions)

   

Market Capitalization

($ in millions)

   

Operating Income

($ in millions)

   

Net Income

($ in millions)

 

75th percentile of peer group

  $ 1,133      $ 4,726      $ 223      $ 138   

50th percentile of peer group

  $ 896      $ 2,492      $ 130      $ 62   

25th percentile of peer group

  $ 573      $ 1,827      $ 80      $ 40   

Company

  $ 758      $ 1,816      $ 165      $ 87   

Percentile rank

    45 %     22 %     58 %     64 %

The Committee considered the peer group information in addition to the factors described above when setting the compensation levels for our executives for fiscal 2015. The Committee does not benchmark total compensation or individual elements of compensation to particular percentiles but aims to create competitive pay packages that are generally above market median if long-term equity incentives pay out at or above target based on challenging required levels of performance.

Use of Consultants

The Committee uses outside compensation consultants to assist it in analyzing our Company’s compensation programs and assessing market levels of compensation. For fiscal 2015, the Committee engaged Compensia, Inc. to provide competitive practice and market compensation data, advice regarding the design of compensation programs for outside directors and executive officers, input regarding specific compensation actions for executive officers, analysis of the constitution of our peer group, and analysis concerning the structure of and any needed amendments to our 2012 LTIP.

Stockholder Vote

At our last Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on February 24, 2015, we asked our stockholders to approve, by advisory vote, the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables, and the related disclosures contained in our proxy statement for that Annual Meeting. The proposal was approved by our stockholders with approximately 98.6% of the votes

 

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cast being “for” approval. In light of the overwhelming approval of our executive compensation practices by our stockholders, the Committee has largely maintained those practices over the past year. The Committee continues to evaluate and adjust the Company’s compensation practices as it deems appropriate to advance the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

Elements of Compensation

The fiscal 2015 executive compensation program consisted of three key elements: (1) base salary; (2) short-term cash incentives; and (3) long-term incentives in the form of PSUs, MSUs and RSUs.

 

Compensation Element

         

Purpose and Philosophy

Base Salary

       

Provides executive officers with financial stability and predictable cash flow; and

 

       

Determined by evaluating the executive’s role within the Company, experience, performance, and potential for development, as well as base salaries of comparable roles within peer group companies and the broader marketplace.

 

Short-Term Cash Incentives

       

Rewards the achievement of annual Company and individual performance goals;

 

       

Expressed as a targeted percentage of base salary determined with reference to the peer group companies and the broader marketplace; and

 

       

Participant may earn between zero and 250% of target, depending both upon Company and individual performance.

Long-Term Incentives

       

Directly links a significant portion of total executive officer compensation to the market value of Company stock, while promoting retention through multi-year vesting;

 

       

Performance Share Units (“PSUs”) are earned based upon the extent to which annual Company financial targets are achieved with as few as zero and as many as 200% of targeted PSUs possible. Earned units are then subject to multi-year vesting, promoting continued linkage to Company stock price while also promoting retention;

 

       

Market Share Units (“MSUs”) use a performance measure that is based on relative total shareholder return over one-, two- and three-year periods instead of annual financial performance metrics to integrate a longer, multi-year performance period into the Company’s equity compensation program; and

 

       

Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) represent a more stable equity-based compensation vehicle, ensuring linkage to Company stock price performance while promoting retention over a multi-year vesting period.

Base Salary in Fiscal 2015

Only one of our named executive officers experienced an increase in base salary for fiscal 2015 as part of the Company’s annual year-end performance review and compensation process in November 2014. Mr. Wehmann, our Executive Vice President, Scores, received an increase of 12.5%, related to market competitive analysis in light of his strong fiscal 2014 performance. This conservative approach reflects the Committee’s continued commitment to favor incentive compensation elements directly linked to the achievement of targeted financial goals and the creation of stockholder value.

 

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Short-Term Cash Incentives in Fiscal 2015

We offer a short-term incentive opportunity in the form of cash incentive awards to all of our executive officers. These incentive awards are paid from a single, centralized pool that supports short-term cash incentive payments made to our executive officers under our Management Incentive Plan and to other eligible employees under our Broad-Based Incentive Plan.

Cash incentives paid to our named executive officers under the Management Incentive Plan are intended to be qualified performance-based compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. For that purpose, the Committee establishes a formula to determine a maximum amount that may be paid to each of our named executive officers. The Committee has the discretion to pay amounts to the named executive officers under the Management Incentive Plan that are less than the maximum Section 162(m) payouts.

In fiscal 2015, the Committee determined the named executive officers’ cash incentive payouts using the framework set forth below (which was the same for the named executive officers as for all other participants in the Management Incentive Plan and Broad-Based Incentive Plan):

 

LOGO

 

     

  Company Budget and Performance Factor

   =     

A value ranging from 0 to 125%, which is equal to the amount of the budgeted level of bonus pool funding in the fiscal year’s operating plan divided by the aggregate amount of plan participants’ target-level awards multiplied by the extent to which Company Adjusted Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA targets are achieved. Fiscal year 2015 = 62%

   

  Participant Performance Factor

   =     

A value ranging from 0 to 200% reflecting the extent to which individual participant performance goals were achieved.

   

  Participant Target %

   =     

The percentage of each participant’s annual base salary that represents a target cash incentive payout amount.

As an illustrative example, a participant with an annual base salary of $400,000, a Participant Target % of 50% of base salary, and a Participant Performance Factor of 100% would have had an allocated cash incentive amount of $124,000 for fiscal 2015 (compared to a target payout of $200,000).

The Committee establishes the size of the cash incentive pool by determining the Company Budget and Performance Factor, which is equal to the amount of the budgeted level of bonus pool funding in the fiscal year’s operating plan divided by the aggregate amount of plan participants’ target-level awards multiplied by the extent to which Adjusted Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA targets are achieved. The table below illustrates this calculation for fiscal 2015. While the Adjusted Revenue performance metric ramps upward from “target,” the Committee designed the Adjusted EBITDA metric to be constant above target in order to promote strategic business investments throughout the year aimed at fueling future growth. A set of actions totaling $20 million and targeting specified investments in Scores infrastructure, strategic partner enablement, expansion of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) capabilities and incremental sales resources was established at the beginning of the fiscal year.

 

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Using this model, Adjusted Revenue performance above target would only yield above target plan funding to the extent that these strategic investments were effectively executed.

 

Financial Metric
(Weighting)
  Threshold 
Funding Level
       Targeted 
Funding Level
       Maximum 
Funding Level
  Actual 
Performance*

Adjusted Revenue (50%)

  $789.0 million   $805.0 million   $825.0 million   $830.0 million   $850.0 million   $827.6 million

Adjusted EBITDA (50%)

  $234.2 million   $236.5 million   $242.5 million   $242.5 million   $242.5 million   $237.5 million

Company Budget and Performance Factor

  0%   40.0%   80.0%   90.0%   100.0%   62%

 

*

When calculating the financial results, the Committee excluded the impact of the TONBELLER acquisition from both Adjusted Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA.

In accordance with this calculation, a Company Budget and Performance Factor of 62% was applied to the cash incentive pool and uniformly affected payouts made to all participants in the Management Incentive Plan and Broad-Based Incentive Plan. This fiscal 2015 Company Budget and Performance Factor was lower than in fiscal 2014, when above-target Company performance yielded a multiplier of 88.3%.

The Participant Performance Factor is a function of the extent to which individual performance goals are achieved. These goals can include Company-wide metrics as well as business unit metrics and goals that are highly specific to the functions over which the individual has primary responsibility. The CEO’s goals are established by the Committee after considering input from each outside director, and the CEO’s individual performance evaluation is completed annually by the Committee. Individual performance goals for the executive officers other than the CEO are established by the CEO, and evaluations for those executives are completed annually by the CEO and discussed with the Committee. If an executive receives the lowest performance rating on a three-point scale (“Improvement Needed”), his award will generally be reduced to zero. Conversely, if an executive receives the highest overall performance rating (“Outstanding”), his Participant Performance Factor could be as high as 200%. Distribution guidelines applicable to these performance ratings ensure that participants in the short-term cash incentive program are not all rated on the high or low end of the scale, but are instead distributed above and below the target levels. Discretion can be exercised to make adjustments within the performance scale.

The Participant Performance Factor values for the named executive officers in fiscal 2015, along with key factors considered by the Committee and the CEO, as applicable, in making these valuations, were as follows:

 

Named Executive
Officer
  Participant
Performance
Factor
  Key Factors

William Lansing

  126%  

•    successfully targeted and integrated acquired companies

•    drove investment in innovation

•    developed and motivated a talented executive team

Michael Pung

  111%  

•    showed effective management of the operating expense budget

•    built rapport with key investors

Wayne Huyard

  130%  

•    repositioned global sales, services and marketing teams, enhancing our ability to best
address market opportunities

•    delivered strong FY15 revenue results

James Wehmann

  132%  

•    drove innovation in the business-to-consumer Scores business, which led to
accelerating revenue growth

•    leveraged bureau partners relationships to open up new growth opportunities

Stuart Wells

  132%  

•    oversaw important technology innovation, including our FICO® Decision
Management Suite and the FICO® Analytic Cloud

•    continued to build-out SaaS-based delivery capabilities for major applications

 

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The Participant Target % for each participant in the Management Incentive Plan is based on market-competitive levels for executives in comparable roles. As provided in their respective employment agreements, Mr. Lansing’s Participant Target % is 100% of annual base salary, and the other named executive officers each have a Participant Target % of 50% of annual base salary.

The combined effect of these inputs led to the following payouts for the named executive officers under the Management Incentive Plan for fiscal 2015 performance, shown along with the target payout levels:

 

Named Executive Officer    Target Payout
for Fiscal 2015
     Actual Payout
for Fiscal  2015
 

William Lansing

   $ 675,000       $ 515,000   

Michael Pung

   $ 200,000       $ 135,000   

Wayne Huyard

   $ 210,000       $ 150,000   

James Wehmann

   $ 225,000       $ 180,000   

Stuart Wells

   $ 250,000       $ 200,000   

Totals

   $ 1,560,000       $ 1,180,000   

Long-Term Incentives in Fiscal 2015

The third key element of our executive compensation program for fiscal 2015 was long-term incentive equity awards. This component of compensation is used to drive achievement of the Company’s financial targets while linking compensation to the market value of our Company’s common stock. The value of core annual awards received by the named executive officers in fiscal 2015 consisted of a one third split of PSUs, MSUs and RSUs.

In determining the value of annual awards for fiscal 2015, the Committee considered market data and analysis provided by its outside compensation consultant and described above under “Determination of Compensation — Peer Group Analysis,” the individual performance of each executive, the need to reinforce positive levels of collaboration and teamwork across members of the executive team following significant changes to the team occurring in the prior fiscal year, and the importance of retention.

Additionally, in December 2014, the Committee approved special one-time long-term incentive awards to certain executives in addition to the core annual long-term incentive grants. Those special awards are described further below.

The proportion of each type of equity award in fiscal 2015 is broken down as follows:

 

Core Annual Awards

   Special One-Time
Awards

Performance Share Units 1/3

   Market Share Units
1/3
   Restricted Stock Units
1/3
   Restricted Stock Units
Varies

Performance Share Units. For fiscal 2015, PSUs represented one-third of the targeted annual equity grants made in December 2014 to the Company’s executive officers. The PSUs granted in fiscal 2015 were earned on the basis of a one-year performance period but vest over the three years following the date of grant. The Committee used a one-year performance period because market uncertainties make it difficult to accurately forecast Adjusted Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA beyond that point. The Committee believes the complexity of our major products, along with the complexity of our major customers, yields a very long selling cycle, which in turn contributes significant uncertainty into our revenue stream and resulting EBITDA. Using a one-year performance period allows the Committee to reward performance for a time period over which the Company has better visibility instead of creating goals over a longer term that are more likely to be off the mark. In addition, distributing the payout over an additional two years creates long-term alignment with stockholders and retention incentives.

The compensation associated with PSU awards is intended to be deductible under Section 162(m), and the maximum number of PSUs that could have been earned over the performance period of fiscal 2015 by each named executive officer was specified in the applicable award agreement. In each case, the named executive

 

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officer could earn 200% of the target payout if the Company’s Adjusted Revenue for fiscal 2015, calculated in accordance with GAAP, equaled or exceeded the threshold amount of $740 million. The Committee had discretion to determine a lesser number of PSUs that would be earned and established the earnings model below when the awards were granted to inform its exercise of this negative discretion:

 

Financial Metric (Weighting)   Threshold 
Performance
       Target
Performance
       Maximum 
Performance

Adjusted Revenue (50%)

  $789.0 million   $805.0 million   $825.0 million   $830.0 million   $850.0 million

Adjusted EBITDA (50%)

  $234.2 million   $236.5 million   $242.5 million   $242.5 million   $242.5 million

PSUs Earned (as percent of target)

  0%   50%   100%   150%   200%

The Company’s above-target performance on the Adjusted Revenue and below-target performance on the Adjusted EBITDA metrics in fiscal 2015 generated a multiplier of 92.17% of targeted PSUs. As noted previously, above target performance on Adjusted Revenue (50% of total weight) was rewarded in accordance with the above model because the Committee determined that strategic investments established at the beginning of the fiscal year, and designed to drive future growth, had been effectively executed. Because performance fell below Adjusted EBITDA target, the below target portion of the above scale was used to determine funding impact (50% of total weight) for that metric.

The target number of PSUs and the number earned by each named executive officer for fiscal 2015 performance are as follows:

 

Named Executive Officer    Target Number
of PSUs
Granted for
Fiscal 2015
     Actual Number
of PSUs
Earned for
Fiscal 2015
 

William Lansing

     23,160         21,347   

Michael Pung

     8,676         7,997   

Wayne Huyard

     10,000         9,217   

James Wehmann

     8,676         7,997   

Stuart Wells

     8,954         8,253   

Market Share Units. For fiscal 2015, MSUs represented one-third of the targeted annual equity grants made in December 2014 to the Company’s executive officers. The MSUs granted in fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014 are earned based on the Company’s total shareholder return relative to the Russell 3000 index over performance periods of one, two and three years. The Committee used three performance periods to integrate a longer, multi-year performance period into the Company’s equity compensation program.

The compensation associated with MSU awards is intended to be deductible under Section 162(m). The amount of MSUs earned by a named executive officer in each of the one- and two-year performance periods is determined by taking one-third of the target units in the applicable award agreement multiplied by the relative return factor for the relevant performance period. The amount of MSUs earned by a named executive officer in the three-year performance period is determined by taking the total number of the target units in the applicable award agreement multiplied by the relative return factor for the relevant performance period, and then subtracting any shares earned in the one- and two-year performance periods from the result. The total number of shares earned in the one- and two-year periods is not adjusted if the foregoing calculation results in a negative number. The relative return factor for each performance period is calculated as follows:

 

Relative TSR Performance    Relative Return Factor  

+33.33% or greater

     200 %

+16.67%

     150 %

0%

     100 %

-12.5%

     50 %

-25% or less

     0 %

 

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The relative TSR performance generally means the difference between our total stockholder return minus the Russell 3000 index’s total stockholder return for the relevant performance period. Importantly, the MSU earnings slope for below-target performance is steeper than the slope for above-target performance, meaning that the penalty for under-performance is higher than the premium for over-performance.

Based on our total shareholder return, 200% of the MSUs granted in fiscal 2015 were earned at the conclusion of the first performance period and 200% of the MSUs granted in fiscal 2014 were earned at the conclusion of the second performance period. The target number of MSUs and the number earned by each named executive officer for fiscal 2015 performance are as follows:

 

Named Executive Officer   

Target Number

of FY15 MSUs

Subject to One-
Year Performance

    

Actual Number

of MSUs

Earned

 

William Lansing

     7,720         15,440   

Michael Pung

     2,892         5,784   

Wayne Huyard

     3,334         6,668   

James Wehmann

     2,892         5,784   

Stuart Wells

     2,985         5,970   

 

Named Executive Officer   

Target Number

of FY14 MSUs

Subject to Two-
Year Performance

    

Actual Number

of MSUs

Earned

 

William Lansing

     8,626         17,252   

Michael Pung

     2,908         5,816   

Wayne Huyard

               

James Wehmann

     3,249         6,498   

Stuart Wells

     3,249         6,498   

Restricted Stock Units. For fiscal 2015, RSUs represented the final one-third of the targeted annual equity grants made in December 2014 to the Company’s executive officers. The RSUs provide a link to performance of the Company’s stock price, as well as promote retention over a multi-year vesting period. RSUs granted by the Committee generally vest in four equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date.

In designing the 2015 long-term incentive approach, the Committee permitted executives to exchange up to 100% of annual time-vested RSUs for non-qualified stock options (“NQSOs”) on an economically equivalent basis, while maintaining the existing four-year vesting schedule. The ratio constituting an economically equivalent basis was determined as follows:

 

     

  Value of One “Whole” Share

   =     

Determine the average closing stock price during the 30 calendar days ending 11 days before the grant date

   

  Value of One “Option” Share

   =     

Calculate using Black-Scholes valuation as of the grant date, with the value of one “whole” share as the basis

   

  Exchange Ratio for RSUs to NQSOs

   =     

Divide value of one “whole” share by value of one “option” share

In fiscal 2015, the value of one “whole” share was determined to be $68.28, with the resulting value of one “option” share calculation resulting in a value of $18.52. The resulting ratio was 3.6868 “option” shares for each “whole” share, meaning executives could exchange one time-vested RSU for 3.6868 NQSOs in fiscal 2015.

In connection with the implementation of this flexibility, the Committee considered that NQSOs provide attractive leverage to the recipient and permit the holder to determine when taxable income events occur via a

 

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decision to complete an exercise. In fiscal 2015, all executives took full or partial advantage of this equity exchange opportunity.

Special One-Time Long-Term Incentive Awards. In December 2014, the Committee approved special one-time long-term incentive awards to certain executives in addition to the annual long-term incentive grants outlined above, due to the Company’s extraordinary performance and financial results in fiscal 2014 combined with the particularly strong personal performance of the executives receiving these awards. The Committee did not, and does not, intend for these awards to necessarily recur annually, and grants were limited to those executives whose contributions most strongly correlated to the Company’s very strong fiscal 2014 results. These awards were made under the 2012 LTIP and vest in four equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date. The Committee allowed executives to select any combination of RSUs and NQSOs, on an economically equivalent basis as discussed in “Restricted Stock Units” above, for the mix of these one-time awards.

The special one-time awards granted to each named executive officer for fiscal 2015 are as follows:

 

Named Executive Officer    RSUs      NQSOs  

William Lansing

             97,193   

Michael Pung

     N/A         N/A   

Wayne Huyard

     N/A         N/A   

James Wehmann

             53,996   

Stuart Wells

     6,591         24,299   

Continued Developments in Long-Term Incentive Program

The charts below depict the evolution of our long-term incentive program over the last several years to increasingly emphasize performance-based vehicles over those based solely on time vesting. The values reflected assume that all executives (i) elected to convert the maximum allowable portion of their annual stock option grants in fiscal 2013 and earlier to RSUs, which was the typical pattern, and (ii) depicts PSUs and MSUs at target level. The fiscal 2015 chart reflects RSUs, though executives may have elected to convert those RSUs to stock options on an economically equivalent basis, as detailed above. The fiscal 2015 chart also does not reflect the special one-time long-term incentive grants made to certain executives, which are described above. The fiscal 2013 chart reflects the annual grants made to named executive officers other than the CEO, who received an additional 70,000 stock options that were not convertible into RSUs and are not reflected below.

 

LOGO

 

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Retirement Arrangements

We offer a 401(k) plan for all eligible employees. Under this program, our executive officers (like all of our eligible employees) can receive a Company matching contribution on amounts they contribute to the 401(k) plan as follows: 100% match of the first 3% of eligible compensation contributed by the executive officer, followed by a 50% match of the next 2% of eligible compensation contributed by the executive officer. Our executive retirement and savings plan allows our vice presidents and more senior officers to defer up to 25% of their base salary and 75% of their cash incentive awards into an investment account. Amounts in this account are payable upon certain termination events as specified in the plan.

Other Compensation Arrangements

Each of our current named executive officers is party to a Letter Agreement that, among other things, provides for pay and benefits in the event of termination of employment by the Company without cause or by the executive for good reason, and a Management Agreement that provides for pay and benefits in the event of such a termination in connection with a change in control. These agreements are described in detail later in this proxy statement. The Committee believes that these severance and change-in-control arrangements are meaningful recruitment and retention devices, are important components in a competitive compensation package for the named executive officers, and will mitigate concerns that the executives may have regarding their continued employment prior to or following a change in control, thereby allowing them to focus their undivided attention on advancing the interests of the Company and its stockholders.

Our executive officers participate in our general employee benefit plans and programs, including health and dental benefits, on the same terms as all of our other full-time employees. We also pay the premiums for group life, accidental death and dismemberment, and business travel accident insurance for all eligible employees, including executive officers, in a coverage amount based upon their base salary.

Equity Award Grant Processes

Equity awards granted to named executive officers in fiscal 2015 were granted under the 2012 LTIP. Equity awards for all executive officers are approved by the Committee. The Committee has delegated authority to our CEO to approve the granting of equity awards to employees who are not executive officers, subject to certain parameters approved by the Committee. The exercise price of stock options is set at fair market value on the date of grant, with annual equity awards generally granted by the Committee on a pre-determined day in December of each fiscal year.

Executive Stock Ownership Guidelines

Our Board of Directors has adopted stock ownership guidelines for the Company’s executive officers. The stock ownership guidelines are expressed as a fixed number of shares, varying by role, pegged to a particular level of underlying value. For the Chief Executive Officer, the target is 100,000 shares. For Executive Vice Presidents, the target is 50,000 shares. For Senior Vice Presidents, the target is 25,000 shares. The guidelines provide that executive officers should achieve the stated target within five years of appointment. As of the end of fiscal 2015, all executive officers had met the targeted stock ownership level applicable to their role or were making acceptable progress to their target level.

Executive Officer Incentive Compensation Recovery Policy

In November 2015, our Board of Directors adopted an Executive Officer Incentive Compensation Recovery Policy that governs cash and equity incentive-based compensation to our executive officers, including our named executive officers. Under the policy, the Company will, in the appropriate circumstances as determined by the Committee and to the extent permitted by applicable law, require reimbursement or forfeiture of such compensation from an executive officer in the event that the Company materially restates its consolidated financial statements due to material non-compliance with applicable financial reporting requirements if such executive officer engaged in fraud or intentional misconduct that was a significant contributing factor to the restatement. In each

 

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such instance, the Company will seek to recover or cancel the amount by which such executive officer’s incentive-based compensation that was granted, vested or earned during the preceding three-year period exceeds the amount that would have been granted, vested or earned based on the restated financial results, net of taxes paid or payable by the executive officer with respect to the recovered compensation. The Committee will consider relevant facts and circumstances in determining whether to require reimbursement, cancellation or recovery of such incentive-based compensation.

Consideration of Tax Matters

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally precludes a public corporation from taking a federal income tax deduction for compensation paid in excess of one million dollars per year to certain covered officers. Under this section, compensation that qualifies as performance-based is excludable in determining what compensation amount shall qualify for tax deductibility.

The Committee considers the Company’s ability to fully deduct compensation in accordance with the limitations of Section 162(m) in structuring our compensation programs. However, the Committee retains the authority to authorize the payment of compensation that may not be deductible if it believes such payments would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. The Committee will continue to consider ways to maximize the deductibility of executive compensation while retaining the flexibility to compensate executive officers in a manner deemed appropriate relative to their performance and to competitive compensation levels and practices at other companies.

Leadership Development and Compensation Committee Report

The Committee has discussed and reviewed the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” with management. Based upon this review and discussion, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” be included in this proxy statement and incorporated by reference in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Submitted by the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee:

Braden R. Kelly, Chair

A. George Battle

Joanna Rees

Leadership Development and Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

No member of the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee serves or has served as an officer of the Company. No executive officer serves, or in the past has served, as a member of the Board of Directors or compensation committee of any entity that has any of its executive officers serving as a member of our Board of Directors or Leadership Development and Compensation Committee.

Compensation Policies and Practices in Relation to Risk Management

The Company’s management and Leadership Development and Compensation Committee are committed to continually assessing the structure of the Company’s compensation programs in the context of recognized best practices. Total compensation consists of a mix of fixed and variable elements, and among our officers a significant component of total compensation comes in the form of long-term equity incentives that vest over several years. The stock ownership guidelines in place for our executive officers also work to align our executives’ long-term interests with those of our stockholders.

Our cash incentive program applicable to both executives and other employees is structured to reward achievement of diverse goals, some of which are tied to Company-wide performance and some of which are tied to business unit performance, but all of which are designed to benefit the Company and its stockholders on a

 

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long-term basis. In addition, the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee retains discretion to adjust awards under the cash incentive program if a payout determined under the formula is not appropriate in the circumstances, and maximum award levels are in place to limit windfalls. Finally, our system of internal controls places a strong focus on avoiding undue financial risk through rigorous review processes.

In light of the risk-limiting features of its compensation policies and practices, the Company has concluded that any risks arising from its compensation policies and practices for its employees are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Compensation Consultant Conflict of Interest Analysis

The Leadership Development and Compensation Committee has considered the relationships that the compensation consultants it engaged in fiscal 2015 have had with the Company, the members of the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee and our executive officers, as well as the policies that the consultants have in place to maintain their independence and objectivity, and has determined that no conflicts of interest arose from the work performed by such consultants.

 

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SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

The following table summarizes all compensation earned in fiscal 2015, 2014 and 2013 by our named executive officers.

 

Name and Principal Position (a)

  Fiscal
Year
(b)
    Salary
($)(1)
(c)
    Bonus
($)
(d)
    Stock
Awards
($)(2)(3)
(e)
    Option
Awards
($)(2)
(f)
    Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
($)(4)
(g)
    Change in
Pension Value
and Non-
Qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
(h)
    All Other
Compensation
($)(5)
(i)
    Total
($)
(j)
 

William Lansing

    2015        675,000          4,023,047        3,837,811        515,000               42,953        9,093,811   

Chief Executive Officer

    2014        675,000          4,702,827               800,000               26,525        6,204,352   
    2013        675,000          2,078,000        1,476,025        325,000               32,835        4,586,860   

Michael Pung

    2015        400,000          1,507,079        672,304        135,000               13,040        2,727,423   

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

    2014        400,000          1,585,236               200,000               9,564        2,194,800   
    2013        400,000          1,246,800        369,000        85,000               46,137        2,146,937   
                 

Wayne Huyard(6)

    2015        360,231        250,000        4,174,267               150,000               3,249        4,937,747   

Executive Vice President, Sales Services and Marketing

                 

James Wehmann

    2015        440,385          1,507,079        1,807,300        180,000               10,561        3,945,325   

Executive Vice President, Scores

    2014        400,000          1,771,330               300,000               10,416        2,481,746   
    2013        400,000          1,246,800        369,000        120,000               20,139        2,155,939   

Stuart Wells

    2015        500,000          2,350,162        857,700        200,000               12,926        3,920,788   

Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer

    2014        500,000          1,771,330               320,000               10,470        2,601,800   
    2013        500,000          1,246,800        369,000        150,000               11,808        2,277,608   
                 

 

(1) 

Annualized base salaries for fiscal 2015 for the named executive officers were as follows: Mr. Lansing — $675,000; Mr. Pung — $400,000; Mr. Huyard — 420,000; Mr. Wehmann — $450,000; Dr. Wells — $500,000.

 

(2) 

The amounts in the “Stock Awards” and “Option Awards” columns represent the aggregate grant date fair value of each award granted during the fiscal year, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, and do not reflect whether the named executive officer has actually realized a financial benefit from the award. For information on the assumptions used to calculate the value of the awards, refer to Note 14 of the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, as filed with the SEC.

 

(3) 

Stock Awards include the grant date fair value of time-based RSU awards, the PSU and MSU awards granted December 8, 2014 under the 2012 LTIP.

 

  

The PSUs were tied to the achievement of certain performance goals during fiscal 2015, and the named executive officer must be an employee on the vesting dates of December 8th of 2015, 2016 and 2017 in order to realize earned PSU value. The values included in the table for the PSUs are at target value, representing the probable outcome of the performance conditions as calculated at the time of grant. The maximum value of the award on the grant date, assuming the highest level of performance conditions achieved, would be $3,328,556 vs. target of $1,664,278 for Mr. Lansing; $1,246,914 vs. target of $623,457 for Mr. Pung; $1,437,200 vs. target of $718,600 for Mr. Huyard; $1,246,914 vs. target of $623,457 for Mr. Wehmann; $1,286,868 vs. target of $643,434 for Dr. Wells. The named executive officers earned 92.17% of their respective target award, resulting in 21,347 units for Mr. Lansing, 7,997 units for Mr. Pung, 9,217 units for Mr. Huyard, 7,997 units for Mr. Wehmann, and 8,253 units for Dr. Wells.

 

  

The MSUs were tied to the achievement of certain performance goals over three performance periods ending on November 30, 2015, 2016 and 2017. The named executive officers must be employed on the vesting dates of December 8th of 2015, 2016 and 2017 in order to realize the earned MSU value. The values included in the table for the MSUs are at target value, representing the probable outcome of the performance conditions as calculated at the

 

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time of grant. The maximum value of the award on the grant date, assuming the highest level of performance conditions achieved, would be $4,717,538 vs. target of $2,358,769 for Mr. Lansing; $1,767,244 vs. target of $883,622 for Mr. Pung; $2,036,934 vs. target of $1,018,467 for Mr. Huyard; $1,767,244 vs. target of $883,622 for Mr. Wehmann; $1,823,870 vs. target of $911,935 for Dr. Wells.

 

(4) 

Represents amounts paid in the first quarter of fiscal 2016 based on performance during fiscal 2015 under our Management Incentive Plan.

 

(5) 

The amounts shown for fiscal 2015 are detailed in the supplemental table below entitled “All Other Compensation Table.”

 

(6)

Mr. Huyard joined the Company on November 5, 2014 and therefore he does not have compensation data included in this table for fiscal 2014 and 2013.

All Other Compensation Table

 

Elements of All Other Compensation

   William
Lansing
    Michael
Pung
     Wayne
Huyard
     James
Wehmann
     Stuart
Wells
 

401(k) Match($)(1)

     10,600        10,400                 10,323         10,464   

Life Insurance Premium($)(2)

     365        216         195         238         270   

Spousal Travel(3)

     12,792        1,601         2,036                 391   

Tax Gross Ups($)(4)

     12,071        823         1,018                 201   

Other($)

     7,125 (5)                             1,600 (6)

Total($)

     42,953        13,040         3,249         10,561         12,926   

 

(1) 

Represents the aggregate value of the Company’s cash contribution under the FICO 401(k) Plan during fiscal 2015.

 

(2) 

Represents the aggregate incremental cost for the named executive officer’s basic life insurance premium, which is offered to all employees at one times current salary.

 

(3) 

Represents amounts spent on commercial aircraft of the named executive officers’ spouses who were expected by the Company to attend certain Company events.

 

(4) 

Represents gross-up payments to offset imputed income for the cost of spousal travel. Company policy allows gross-ups only for required spousal travel and Company-paid relocation costs, when applicable.

 

(5) 

Represents tax preparation fees incurred by Mr. Lansing, as provided in his Letter Agreement.

 

(6) 

Represents an award granted to Dr. Wells as a co-inventor of two patent applications under the Company’s Patent Reward Program in effect since January 1, 2007.

 

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GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS FOR FISCAL 2015

The following table summarizes grants of plan-based compensation awards made during fiscal 2015 to our named executive officers.

 

                                                     All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number
of
Shares

of Stock
or Units
(#)

(i)
    All Other
Option
Awards:
Number
of
Securities

Underlying
Options
(#)

(j)
    Exercise
or Base
Price of

Option
Awards
($/SH)

(k)
    Grant
Date Fair
Value of
Stock
and

Option
Awards
($)

(l)(7) 
 

Name

(a)

  Grant
Date
(b)
    Approval
Date
    Estimated Possible Payouts
Under Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards(1)
    Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
         
      Threshold
($)
(c)
    Target
($)
(d)
    Maximum
($)
(e)
    Threshold
(#)
(f)
    Target
(#)
(g)
    Maximum
(#)
(h)
         

William Lansing

        0        675,000        1,687,500                 
    12/8/2014        12/8/2014              0 (3)      23,160 (3)      46,320 (3)            2,358,769   
    12/8/2014        12/8/2014              0 (4)      23,160 (4)      46,320 (4)            1,664,278   
    12/8/2014        12/8/2014                      182,579 (6)     72.06        3,837,811   

Michael Pung

        0        200,000        500,000                 
    12/8/2014        12/8/2014              0 (3)      8,676 (3)      17,352 (3)            883,622   
    12/8/2014        12/8/2014              0 (4)      8,676 (4)      17,352 (4)            623,457   
    12/8/2014        12/8/2014                      31,984 (6)     72.06        672,304   

Wayne Huyard

        0        210,000        525,000                 
    12/8/2014        11/5/2014 (2)            0 (3)      10,000 (3)      20,000 (3)            1,018,467   
    12/8/2014        11/5/2014 (2)            0 (4)      10,000 (4)      20,000 (4)            718,600   
    11/5/2014        11/5/2014                    40,000 (5)          2,437,200   

James Wehmann

        0        225,000        562,500                 
    12/8/2014        12/8/2014              0 (3)      8,676 (3)      17,352 (3)            883,622   
    12/8/2014        12/8/2014              0 (4)      8,676 (4)      17,352 (4)            623,457   
    12/8/2014        12/8/2014                      85,980 (6)     72.06        1,807,300   

Stuart Wells

        0        250,000        625,000                 
    12/8/2014        12/8/2014              0 (3)      8,954 (3)      17,908 (3)            911,935   
    12/8/2014        12/8/2014              0 (4)      8,954 (4))      17,908 (4)            643,434   
    12/8/2014        12/8/2014                    11,068 (5)          794,793   
    12/8/2014        12/8/2014                      40,804 (6)     72.06        857,700   

 

(1) 

The amounts shown in these columns represent the estimated threshold (or minimum), target, and maximum possible cash incentive awards for each of the named executive officers. Under our Management Incentive Plan, Mr. Lansing’s target amount is equal to 100% of his base salary and the target amount for each of the other named executive officers is equal to 50% of his base salary. The maximum amount in each case equals 2.5 times the target amount, which would result if the Company Performance Factor were 125% and the Participant Performance Factor were 200%. Additional detail regarding the determination of cash incentives to executives for fiscal 2015 is included above under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.” Actual payments are set forth in the “Summary Compensation Table” above.

 

(2) 

The “Approval Date” is the date on which the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee approved the compensation package, including the equity awards, to be provided to Mr. Huyard upon commencement of his employment and for the annual PSUs and MSUs granted in December.

 

(3) 

Amounts shown reflect MSUs that were granted under our 2012 LTIP and were subject to the achievement of specific performance goals related to the Company’s total shareholder return relative to the Russell 3000 index over performance periods of one, two and three years, approved by the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee. For all named executive officers, 200% of the target awards for the first performance period were earned and vested on December 8, 2015 and the remaining portion of the target awards may be earned subject to achievement of specific performance goals for the two and three year performance periods and then subsequently vest subject to the named executive officers’ continued employment with the Company through December 8, 2016 and December 8, 2017 respectively.

 

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(4) 

Amounts shown reflect PSUs that were granted under our 2012 LTIP and were subject to the achievement of specific performance goals related to revenue and net income metrics approved by the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee. For all named executive officers, 92.17% of the target awards were earned, one-third of the earned units vested on December 8, 2015 and the remaining two-thirds are scheduled to vest in annual installments beginning December 8, 2016 (subject to the named executive officers’ continued employment with the Company through each applicable vesting date).

 

(5) 

These RSUs vest in four equal increments on the first four anniversaries of the grant date. These awards do not pay dividend equivalents.

 

(6) 

These stock option awards vest in four equal increments on the first four anniversaries of the grant date and expire seven years after the grant date.

 

(7) 

Represents the grant date fair value of each MSU, PSU, or RSU, as applicable, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The values included in the table for the MSU and PSUs are at target value, representing the probable outcome of the performance conditions as calculated at the time of grant.

Letter Agreements

The Company is a party to Letter Agreements with each of the named executive officers. The material provisions of such Letter Agreements related to the executive officers’ ongoing compensation arrangements are described below.

William Lansing

For each full fiscal year of the Company during the term of his Letter Agreement, Mr. Lansing will be eligible to receive a cash incentive award with a target equal to 100% of his annual base salary at the rate in effect at the end of such fiscal year, pursuant to the Company’s Management Incentive Plan and the terms and conditions established by the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee from time to time.

If Mr. Lansing’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or if he voluntary resigns for Good Reason (both as defined below) prior to the expiration of the term of the Letter Agreement, Mr. Lansing will be entitled to the following severance pay and benefits pursuant to the Letter Agreement: (i) a cash payment in an amount equal to two times the sum of (a) his annual base salary in effect on the last day of his employment (but in no event less than $675,000), plus (b) the annual cash incentive payment last paid to him before the termination of his employment, such cash payment to be made in a lump sum on the 70th day following Mr. Lansing’s separation from service, and (ii) continuation of certain benefits pursuant to COBRA for 18 months. Mr. Lansing’s receipt of these severance pay and benefits would be conditioned on his execution of a release of claims against the Company, his compliance with the terms of any agreements in effect between him and the Company, his cooperation in the transition of his duties, and his agreement not to disparage the Company.

Mr. Lansing’s Letter Agreement also provides that the Company will reimburse him annually up to $25,000 related to financial planning and/or personal income tax preparation and accounting services.

Other Named Executive Officers

For each full fiscal year of the Company during the term of each executive officer’s Letter Agreement, the executive officer will be eligible to receive a cash incentive award with a target equal to 50% of his annual base salary at the rate in effect at the end of such fiscal year, pursuant to the Company’s Management Incentive Plan and the terms and conditions established by the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee from time to time.

If an executive officer’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or if he voluntary resigns for Good Reason (both as defined below) prior to the expiration of the term of his Letter Agreement, he will be entitled to the following severance pay and benefits pursuant to the Letter Agreement: (1) a cash payment in an amount equal to one times the sum of (a) his annual base salary in effect on the last day of his employment, plus

 

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(b) the annual cash incentive payment last paid to him before the termination of his employment, such cash payment to be made in a lump sum on the 70th day following his separation from service (subject to certain exceptions), and (2) continuation of certain benefits pursuant to COBRA for 12 months. The executive officer’s receipt of these severance pay and benefits would be conditioned on his release of claims against the Company, his compliance with the terms of any agreements in effect between him and the Company, his cooperation in the transition of his duties, and his agreement not to disparage the Company.

Definitions

In all of the Letter Agreements, “Cause” generally means a good faith determination by the Company of one or more of the following: (i) commission by the executive officer of a felony, (ii) an intentional act of fraud or material dishonesty connected with the executive officer’s employment with the Company or otherwise likely to cause the Company material harm, (iii) the executive officer’s willful failure or refusal to perform in all material respects his duties, or (iv) a material breach by the executive officer of the Company’s policies or codes of conduct or of another written agreement between the Company and the executive officer.

In Mr. Lansing’s Letter Agreement, “Good Reason” generally means that one of the following conditions occurs without his consent and the Company does not cure the condition after receiving notice of it: (i) a material diminution in Mr. Lansing’s status or position as Chief Executive Officer, (ii) a requirement that Mr. Lansing relocate to an office located more than 50 miles away from his current office location, (iii) a material breach by the Company of the terms of the Letter Agreement, or (iv) a failure by the Company to obtain agreement from any successor to assume the Letter Agreement.

In the other named executive officers’ Letter Agreements, “Good Reason” generally means that one of the following conditions occurs without the executive officer’s consent and the Company does not cure the condition after receiving notice of it: (i) a material reduction in the executive officer’s base salary, (ii) a material reduction in the executive officer’s annual cash incentive target expressed as a percentage of base salary, (iii) a requirement that the executive officer relocate to an office located more than 50 miles away from his current office location, (iv) a material breach by the Company of the terms of the Letter Agreement, or (v) a failure by the Company to obtain agreement from any successor to assume the Letter Agreement.

 

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OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL 2015 YEAR END

 

Name

(a)

                                      Stock Awards  
 

 

Option Awards

    Grant
Date
    Number
of
Shares
or
Units
of  Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested
(#)
(g)
    Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
($)(1)
(h)
    Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That
Have
Not
Vested
(#)
(i)
    Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market or
Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested
($)(1)
(j)
 
  Grant
Date
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Exercisable
(b)
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Unexercisable
(c)
    Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number
of  Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options
(#)
(d)
    Option
Exercise
Price
($)
(e)
    Option
Expiration
Date
(f)
           

William Lansing

    1/27/2012        112,500        37,500 (2)             36.01        1/26/2019        1/27/2012        12,500 (3)      1,056,250                 
    12/13/2012        60,002        60,000 (2)             41.89        12/12/2019        1/27/2012        20,000 (4)      1,690,000                 
    12/8/2014               85,386 (2)             72.06        12/7/2021        12/13/2012        8,332 (3)      704,054                 
    12/8/2014               97,193 (2)             72.06        12/7/2021        12/13/2012        13,334 (5)      1,126,723                 
                                              12/13/2013        19,408 (3)      1,639,976                 
                                              12/13/2013        34,504 (6)      2,915,588                 
                                              12/13/2013                      17,943 (8)      1,516,184   
                                              12/8/2014        21,347 (7)      1,803,822                 
                                              12/8/2014                      23,160 (9)      1,957,020   

Michael Pung

    11/18/2010        25,000                      23.84        11/17/2017        12/13/2011        2,083 (3)      176,014                 
    12/13/2011        6,250        6,250 (2)             35.99        12/12/2018        12/13/2011        2,500 (3)      211,250                 
    12/13/2012        7,500        15,000 (2)             41.89        12/12/2019        12/13/2011        6,667 (4)      563,362                 
    12/8/2014               31,984 (2)             72.06        12/7/2021        12/13/2012        5,000 (3)      422,500                 
                                              12/13/2012        8,000 (5)      676,000                 
                                              12/13/2013        6,542 (3)      552,799                 
                                              12/13/2013        11,630 (6)      982,735                 
                                              12/13/2013                      6,048 (8)     511,056   
                                              12/8/2014        7,997 (7)      675,747                 
                                              12/8/2014                      8,676 (9)      733,122   

Wayne Huyard

                                              11/5/2014        40,000 (3)      3,380,000                 
                                              12/8/2014        9,217 (7)      778,837                 
                                              12/8/2014                      10,000 (9)      845,000   

James Wehmann

    4/1/2012        75,001        25,000 (2)             43.90        3/31/2019        4/1/2012        8,333 (3)      704,139                 
    12/13/2012        15,000        15,000 (2)             41.89        12/12/2019        4/1/2012        4,000 (4)      338,000                 
    12/8/2014               31,984 (2)             72.06        12/7/2021        12/13/2012        5,000 (3)      422,500                 
    12/8/2014               53,996 (2)             72.06        12/7/2021        12/13/2012        8,000 (5)      676,000                 
                               12/13/2013        7,310 (3)      617,695                 
                                              12/13/2013        12,996 (6)      1,098,162                 
                                              12/13/2013                      6,758 (8)      571,051   
                                              12/8/2014        7,997 (7)      675,747                 
                                              12/8/2014                      8,676 (9)      733,122   

Stuart Wells

    4/25/2012        31,250        31,250 (2)             43.05        4/24/2019        4/25/2012        10,416 (3)      880,152                 
    12/13/2012        7,500        15,000 (2)             41.89        12/12/2019        4/25/2012        6,000 (4)      507,000                 
    12/8/2014               16,505 (2)             72.06        12/7/2021        12/13/2012        5,000 (3)      422,500                 
    12/8/2014               24,299 (2)             72.06        12/7/2021        12/13/2012        8,000 (5)      676,000                 
                                              12/13/2013        7,310 (3)      617,695                 
                                              12/13/2013        12,996 (6)      1,098,162                 
                                              12/13/2013                      6,758 (8)      571,051   
                                              12/8/2014        4,477 (3)      378,307                 
                                              12/8/2014        6,591 (3)      556,940                 
                                              12/8/2014        8,253 (7)      697,379                 
                                              12/8/2014                      8,954 (9)      756,613   

 

(1) 

The market value of stock awards that have not vested was determined by multiplying the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on September 30, 2015 ($84.50) by the number of stock awards.

 

(2) 

These stock options vest in four equal increments on the first four anniversaries of the grant date, subject to the named executive officer’s continued employment.

 

(3) 

These RSUs vest in shares in four equal increments on the first four anniversaries of the grant date, subject to the named executive officer’s continued employment.

 

(4) 

These earned PSUs vest in shares in four equal increments on the 13th of December in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, subject to the named executive officer’s continued employment.

 

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(5) 

These earned PSUs vest in shares in four equal increments on the 13th of December in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, subject to the named executive officer’s continued employment.

 

(6) 

These earned PSUs vest in shares in three equal increments on the 13th of December in 2014, 2015, and 2016, subject to the named executive officer’s continued employment.

 

(7) 

These earned PSUs vest in shares in three equal increments on the 8th of December in 2015, 2016, and 2017, subject to the named executive officer’s continued employment.

 

(8) 

These MSUs are earned upon achievement of performance goals related to the Company’s total shareholder return relative to the Russell 3000 index over performance periods of one, two and three years and then vest on the 13th of December in 2014, 2015, and 2016 subject to the named executive officer’s continued employment.

 

(9) 

These MSUs are earned upon achievement of performance goals related to the Company’s total shareholder return relative to the Russell 3000 index over performance periods of one, two and three years and then vest on the 8th of December in 2015, 2016, and 2017 subject to the named executive officer’s continued employment.

FISCAL 2015 OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED

 

     Option Awards            Stock Awards  

Name

(a)

   Number of
Shares
Acquired
on Exercise
(#)
(b)
     Value
Realized
on Exercise
($)(1)
(c)
           Number of
Shares Acquired
on Vesting
(#)
(d)
     Value Realized
On Vesting
($)(2)
(e)
 

William Lansing

     64,645         2,648,969              74,991         5,437,860   

Michael Pung

                          28,422         2,022,510   

Wayne Huyard

                                    

James Wehmann

                          30,757         2,349,495   

Stuart Wells

                          34,840         2,715,553   

 

(1) 

Equal to the number of shares acquired on exercise multiplied by the difference between the closing price of a share of the Company’s common stock on the date of exercise and the exercise price of the options.

 

(2) 

Equal to the number of shares vested multiplied by the closing price of a share of the Company’s common stock on the date of vesting.

NON-QUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION FOR FISCAL 2015

 

Name

(a)

   Executive
Contributions in
Last FY
($)
(b)
     Registrant
Contributions in
Last FY
($)
(c)
     Aggregate Earnings
in Last FY
($)(1)
(d)
    Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions
($)
(e)
     Aggregate Balance
at Last FYE
($)
(f)
 

William Lansing

     0                 (6,869 )             463,634 (2)

Michael Pung

                                      

Wayne Huyard

                                      

James Wehmann

                                      

Stuart Wells

                                      

 

(1) 

The amount reported in this column was not reported in the Summary Compensation Table as part of the individual’s compensation for the most recent fiscal year because none of the earnings are considered to be “above market” or “preferential.”

 

(2) 

Of the amounts shown in this column, the following amounts were previously reported as compensation in the Summary Compensation Table: $123,317 for fiscal 2013 and $289,182 for fiscal 2014.

 

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This plan is intended for a select group of employees of the Company who are in the highest salary band. Employees can defer up to 25% of base salary and up to 75% of incentive award compensation into the plan. These elections are irrevocable and stay in place for the entire calendar year. The Company does not make any employer contributions to this plan, and employees are always 100% vested in their contributions. Employees make their own investment election decisions from a select group of investment choices designated by the Company.

Participating employees also make an irrevocable election for distributions from the plan at retirement. If they terminate employment prior to retirement, then participating employees will receive their distribution on the first day of the seventh calendar month following separation from service due to any reason.

 

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POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL

The information below describes the compensation that would become payable under existing plans and arrangements if a named executive officer’s employment terminates under certain circumstances or if a change in control of the Company occurs.

Executive Officer Management Agreements

Each of our executive officers is a party to a Management Agreement, as amended (the “Management Agreement”) with the Company. The Management Agreements are for a fixed term with automatic one-year extensions. Except in the case of Mr. Lansing, if during the term of the Management Agreements a change of control Event occurs, and if the executive officer’s employment is terminated within 60 days before or two years following the Event due to an involuntary termination by the Company without Cause or for Good Reason by the executive (as defined below), the executive will be entitled to the following pay and benefits: (i) a cash payment in an amount equal to one times the sum of (a) his annual base salary in effect on the last day of his employment, plus (b) the annual cash incentive payment last paid to him before the termination of his employment, such cash payment to be made in a lump sum on the 70th day following his separation from service (subject to certain exceptions), and (ii) continuation of certain benefits pursuant to COBRA for 12 months. In addition, all of such officer’s unvested stock options, restricted stock units and performance share units will vest in full, subject to certain limitations specified in the Management Agreement. The officer’s receipt of these severance amounts is conditioned on the officer’s delivery of a release of claims and agreement not to solicit Company employees for one year following termination of employment.

Mr. Lansing’s Management Agreement provides the same general provisions in the case of a termination of employment in connection with or following a change of control Event, except that Mr. Lansing’s severance will be in the amount of three times the sum of base salary and the incentive payment for the prior fiscal year, and he is entitled to 18 months of continued benefits pursuant to COBRA.

In all of the Management Agreements, an “Event” generally means (i) the acquisition by a person of 30% or more the shares of our Company’s common stock, (ii) continuing directors no longer represent a majority of the members of the Board, (iii) the consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company or a statutory share exchange unless immediately following such transaction, all or substantially all of the persons who were the beneficial owners of the Company’s stock before the transaction own more than 70% of the common stock of the resulting corporation, or (iv) approval by the Company’s stockholders of a complete liquidation or dissolution or the sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets unless the sale is made to a corporation more than 70% of whose shares are held by persons who were the beneficial owners of the Company’s stock before the transaction.

In all of the Management Agreements, “Cause” generally means (i) willful and gross neglect by the executive officer of his duties, or (ii) a felony committed by the executive officer that is substantially detrimental to the Company.

In all of the Management Agreements, “Good Reason” generally means that one of the following conditions occurs without the executive officer’s consent and the Company does not cure the condition after receiving notice of it: (i) a material reduction in the executive officer’s authority, duty or responsibilities, (ii) a material reduction in the executive officer’s annual base salary or target incentive, (iii) a material reduction in the aggregate benefits the executive officer enjoys under the Company’s wellness and compensatory programs, (iv) a requirement that the executive officer relocate to an office located more than 50 miles away from his current office location, or (iv) a failure by the Company to obtain agreement from any successor to assume the Letter Agreement.

If an executive officer receives any payment or benefit under his management agreement following termination of employment, he will not be entitled to receive severance benefits under his Letter Agreement.

 

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Severance Arrangements

See the description of the named executive officers’ Letter Agreements above for information about severance pay and benefits.

Equity Awards

Under the stock option and RSU agreements entered into pursuant to the Company’s 1992 Long-term Incentive Plan (the “1992 LTIP”), those equity awards will vest in full upon an award recipient’s death or disability. The 2012 LTIP also provides for full vesting of equity awards granted under that plan, including stock options and RSUs, in the event of a recipient’s death or disability. In addition, the award agreements for the PSUs granted to executive officers under the 2012 LTIP provide that 50% of the number of units subject to those awards will vest upon the death or disability of the award recipient or upon a change in control in which the Company does not survive as an operating company or only survives as a subsidiary of another entity; if the death or disability or change in control occurs during the performance period, the target number of units will be deemed earned and will vest in full, and if the death or disability or change in control occurs after the units have been earned but before they are fully vested, the number of earned units will vest in full.

The award agreements for the MSUs granted to executive officers under the 2012 LTIP provide that upon a change in control in which the Company does not survive as an operating company or only survives as a subsidiary of another entity (i) each performance period is truncated to end on the day of such change in control; (ii) the units earned at the end of each adjusted performance period are calculated with a modified calculation of the relative return factor; (iii) a portion of these adjusted period earned units vest immediately (determined by multiplying the adjusted period earned units by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the adjusted performance period and the denominator of which is the days in the performance period before adjustment; and (iv) the unvested units after the previous calculation will vest monthly. Furthermore, if the award recipient is terminated for reasons other than Cause all unvested units described in the preceding sentence will vest in full. Except upon an award recipient’s death or disability after the final performance period in the applicable award agreement for an MSU (where only earned units will vest in full), all units will vest in full upon an award recipient’s death or disability.

Insurance Benefits

All FICO employees are covered under our Short and Long Term Disability Policies. For the first six months of a disability, the employee receives 60% of base salary under the Short Term Disability Policy. After six months of disability, the employee becomes eligible to receive 50% of base salary (up to a maximum of $5,000 per month) under the Long Term Disability Policy. These payments continue for the first five years as long as the employee cannot perform the essential functions of his or her own occupation. If after five years the employee is still unable to perform the essential functions of his or her own occupation, he or she can receive benefits until he or she reaches the age of 65. Supplemental disability insurance can also be purchased by employees to increase the percentage of base salary to which they are entitled under the policies.

All employees are also covered by a Company-provided life insurance policy, which provides for the lump sum payment of one times the employee’s base salary in the event of death, or two times base salary in the event of accidental death. Additional amounts may be payable under a Company-provided business travel accident insurance policy.

Estimated Payments That Would Have Been Made to the Named Executive Officers

The tables below quantify the estimated payments and benefits that would have been provided to our named executive officers in connection with the termination of their employment under the circumstances indicated. In all cases, the information assumes that the triggering event occurred on the last day of fiscal 2015, and the price per share of our common stock is the closing market price on that day (which was $84.50). Benefits payable

 

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under our Short and Long Term Disability Policies and Company-provided life insurance policy are not reflected in the following tables.

William Lansing

 

Payment or Benefit

  Voluntary
Termination
by NEO
($)
    Termination
by Us for
Cause
($)
    Termination
by Us
Without
Cause or by
NEO with
Good
Reason
($)
    Termination
by Us
Without
Cause in
Connection
with a
Change in
Control or
by the NEO
with Good
Reason in
Connection
with a
Change in
Control
($)
    Retirement
($)
    Disability
($)
    Death
($)
 

Value of Cash Severance(1)

                  2,950,000        4,425,000                        

Value of Benefits(2)

                  27,337        27,337                        

Market Value of Accelerated Stock Option Awards(3)

                         23,666,676               23,666,676        23,666,676   

Market Value of Accelerated Restricted Stock Unit Awards(4)

                         3,400,280               3,400,280        3,400,280   

Market Value of Accelerated Performance Share Unit Awards(5)

                         7,536,133               7,536,133        7,536,133   

Market Value of Accelerated Market Share Unit Awards(6)

                         3,473,204               3,473,204        3,473,204   

Total

                  2,977,337        42,528,630               38,076,293        38,076,293   

 

(1) 

Pursuant to Mr. Lansing’s Letter Agreement, he is entitled to a lump sum payment equal to two times the sum of his current base salary plus the annual incentive award last paid to him if his employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by him for good reason. Mr. Lansing’s Management Agreement provides for the same payments in the event his employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by Mr. Lansing for good reason within 60 days before or two years following a change in control, except that the lump sum payment is calculated as three times the sum of his base salary plus annual incentive award.

 

(2) 

Pursuant to Mr. Lansing’s Letter Agreement, the Company is obligated to provide benefits to Mr. Lansing at existing levels for 18 months post-termination if his employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by Mr. Lansing for good reason. Mr. Lansing’s Management Agreement provides for the same benefits in the event his employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by Mr. Lansing for good reason within 60 days before or two years following a change in control. The amounts shown represent the total cost of COBRA premiums for continuing such benefits over the applicable time period.

 

(3) 

The amounts shown represent the in-the-money value of unexercisable stock options that would immediately become exercisable upon the applicable triggering event, based on the Company’s closing stock price on September 30, 2015, of $84.50. Mr. Lansing’s Management Agreement provides for such acceleration upon a termination of employment in connection with a change in control, and the terms of the equity awards provide for such acceleration upon death or disability.

 

(4) 

The amounts shown represent the restricted stock units that would immediately vest upon the applicable triggering event, based on the Company’s closing stock price on September 30, 2015, of $84.50. Mr. Lansing’s Management Agreement provides for such acceleration upon a termination of employment in connection with a change in control, and the terms of the equity awards provide for such acceleration upon death or disability.

 

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(5) 

The amounts shown represent the earned performance share units that would immediately vest upon the applicable triggering event, based on the Company’s closing stock price on September 30, 2015, of $84.50. Mr. Lansing’s Management Agreement and the terms of the equity award provide for such acceleration upon a termination of employment in connection with a change in control, and the terms of the equity award provides for such acceleration upon death or disability.

 

(6) 

The amounts shown represent the unearned market share units that would immediately be earned and vest upon the applicable triggering event, based on the Company’s closing stock price on September 30, 2015, of $84.50 and a relative total stockholder return performance of 0% in the adjusted performance period. The terms of the equity award provide for such acceleration upon a termination of employment for reasons other than Cause in connection with a change in control, and the terms of the equity award provides for such acceleration upon death or disability.

Michael Pung

 

Payment or Benefit

  Voluntary
Termination
by NEO
($)
    Termination
by Us For
Cause
($)
    Termination
by Us
Without
Cause or by
NEO with
Good
Reason
($)
    Termination
by Us
Without
Cause
in Connection
with a
Change in
Control or
by the NEO
with Good
Reason
in Connection
with a
Change in
Control
($)
    Retirement
($)
    Disability
($)
    Death
($)
 

Value of Cash Severance(1)

                  600,000        600,000                        

Value of Benefits(2)

                  5,237        5,237                        

Market Value of Accelerated Stock Option Awards(3)

                         4,498,273               4,498,273        4,498,273   

Market Value of Accelerated Restricted Stock Unit Awards(4)

                         1,362,563               1,362,563        1,362,563   

Market Value of Accelerated Performance Share Unit Awards(5)

                         2,897,843               2,897,843        2,897,843   

Market Value of Accelerated Market Share Unit Awards(6)

                         1,244,178               1,244,178        1,244,178   

Total

                  605,237        10,608,094               10,002,857        10,002,857   

 

(1) 

Pursuant to Mr. Pung’s Letter Agreement, he is entitled to a lump sum payment equal to one times the sum of his current base salary plus the annual incentive award last paid to him if his employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by Mr. Pung for good reason. Mr. Pung’s Management Agreement provides for the same payments in the event his employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by Mr. Pung for good reason within 60 days before or two years following a change in control.

 

(2) 

Pursuant to Mr. Pung’s Letter Agreement, the Company is obligated to provide benefits to Mr. Pung at existing levels for 12 months post-termination if his employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by Mr. Pung for good reason. Mr. Pung’s Management Agreement provides for the same benefits in the event his employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by Mr. Pung for good reason within 60 days before or two years following a change in control. The amounts shown represent the total cost of COBRA premiums for continuing such benefits over the applicable time period.

 

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(3) 

The amounts shown represent the in-the-money value of unexercisable stock options that would immediately become exercisable upon the applicable triggering event, based on the Company’s closing stock price on September 30, 2015, of $84.50. Mr. Pung’s Management Agreement provides for such acceleration upon a termination of employment in connection with a change