UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.)
Filed by the Registrant x
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12 |
TeleTech Holdings, Inc. |
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) |
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) |
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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. | |
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April 12, 2016
Dear Stockholders:
It is my pleasure to invite you to join us at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of TeleTech Holdings, Inc., to be held at 9197 South Peoria Street, Englewood, Colorado. The meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 25, 2016, at 1:00 p.m., Mountain Daylight Time. At the meeting, we will report on TeleTechs results for fiscal year 2015 and comment on our expectations for the upcoming year. We hope you are able to attend.
Details regarding admission to the meeting and the business to be conducted at the meeting are provided in the Notice of the Annual Stockholders Meeting and the accompanying Proxy Statement. Together with the Proxy Statement, we are making available a copy of our 2015 Annual Report to Stockholders. We encourage you to read our Annual Report, which includes our audited financial statements and provides detailed information about our business.
We elected to provide access to our proxy materials via the internet under the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commissions internet notice and access rules. In our business, we are focused on improving the engagement between our clients and their customers. Our aspirations are no different about our stockholders. We believe that by making our proxy materials available via the internet, we enhance our stockholders experience in accessing our information and understanding our business and the way in which TeleTech is governed and managed to maximize our stockholder, client and employee value. By providing the proxy materials via the internet, we also reduce the environmental impact of our Annual Meeting. For additional information about the Annual Meeting, please see the Important Information About the Proxy Materials and Voting Your Shares section of this Proxy Statement.
PLEASE VOTE
Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we encourage you to read these materials carefully and promptly vote your shares. There are several ways you can vote: via the internet, by telephone, by mailing the enclosed proxy, or by attending our Annual Stockholders Meeting in person. Please vote as soon as possible to ensure that your vote is recorded promptly. If you hold shares in a brokerage account, your broker will not be able to vote your shares on most matters unless you provide your voting instructions.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and all TeleTech employees, thank you for your continued support of, and confidence in, TeleTech and our business.
Very truly yours, |
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KENNETH D. TUCHMAN |
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Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
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Notice of 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
1:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time
TeleTech Global Headquarters
9197 South Peoria Street
Englewood, Colorado 80112
ITEMS OF BUSINESS:
At the meeting, our stockholders will be asked to:
· Elect eight directors named in the Proxy Statement, for a term of one year;
· Ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2016;
· Approve, on an advisory basis, our executive compensation; and
· Transact such other business, including stockholder proposals, as may properly come before the meeting.
The meeting will also include a report on our financial results for fiscal year 2015, our operations, and our business outlook for 2016.
RECORD DATE:
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 31, 2016, will be entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the 2016 Annual Stockholders Meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors |
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Margaret B. McLean |
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Senior Vice President, Corporate Secretary and General Counsel |
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Englewood, Colorado |
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April 12, 2016 |
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Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting to be held on May 25, 2016: this Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement and the 2015 Annual Report are available at teletech.com.
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REVIEW YOUR PROXY STATEMENT AND VOTE IN ONE OF FOUR WAYS: | |||
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VIA INTERNET |
BY MAIL | ||
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Visit the website listed on your proxy card. |
Sign, date and return your proxy card in the enclosed envelope. | ||
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BY TELEPHONE |
IN PERSON | ||
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Call the telephone number on your proxy card. |
Attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person. | ||
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ELECTION TO RECEIVE ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE ANNUAL MEETING MATERIALS. You can expedite delivery and avoid costly mailings by confirming in advance your preference for electronic delivery. | |||
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Important Information About the Proxy Materials and Voting Your Shares |
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Executive Leadership Team Compensation Approach and Structure |
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Proposal 2: Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
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9197 South Peoria Street
Englewood, Colorado 80112
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ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS | ||
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PROXY STATEMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This summary highlights only selected information contained in this Proxy Statement. We encourage you to read the entire Proxy Statement and TeleTech 2015 Annual Report before voting your shares.
MATTERS TO BE VOTED ON AT 2016 ANNUAL MEETING
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Board Recommendation |
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For more detail, see page: |
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1. Election of directors |
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FOR each Nominee |
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2. Ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2016 |
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3. Advisory vote on executive compensation |
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OUR COMPANY
· Our Company was founded in 1982 and from early days was a pioneer in the customer engagement management industry. Today, we deliver integrated customer consulting, technology, growth and care solutions on a global scale.
· Our portfolio of products and services allows us to design and deliver superior customer experience and engagement across numerous communication channels for clients in the automotive, communications and media, financial services, government, healthcare, technology, transportation and retail industries.
· Our solutions are supported by approximately 44,000 employees delivering services in 24 countries from 67 delivery centers on six continents.
· Our services are value-oriented, outcome-based, and delivered from our four business segments: Customer Management Services (CMS), Customer Growth Services (CGS), Customer Technology Services (CTS) and Customer Strategy Services (CSS).
· TeleTech is committed to the highest ethical, environmental and safety standards everywhere we do business, and, through our TeleTech Community Foundation, TeleTech invests in education and development in communities where we live and work.
2015 PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
In 2015, we had the following performance highlights:
· Our revenue was $1.29 billion, an increase of 3.6 percent over the year ago period. On a non-GAAP constant currency basis1, our 2015 revenue grew 8.8 percent to $1.35 billion over the prior year.
· Income from operations was $90.2 million or 7 percent of revenue, a 6.5 percent decrease year over year. Income from operations on a non-GAAP constant currency basis1, was $115.0 million, or 8.5 percent of adjusted revenue compared to 8.1 percent in the prior year.
· Our net cash provided by operating activities increased to $133.8 million compared to $94.1 million in the prior year. |
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· We booked $470 million in new business, a 7 percent increase over the prior year. The bookings mix was diversified across all business verticals with approximately 80 percent from existing clients, 56 percent from our emerging businesses, and 15 percent outside of the United States.
· Our diluted earnings per share were $1.26 compared to $1.44 in the prior year, and $1.48 compared to $1.43 on a non-GAAP basis1.
· We initiated a semi-annual cash dividend of $0.18 per share totaling $17.4 million for the year.
· We repurchased 686 thousand shares for a total cost of $17.2 million. |
1 TeleTech computes company performance metrics on a constant currency basis in order to compare year-over-year operating performance. To establish a constant currency comparison, actual reported metrics are translated utilizing each underlying exchange rate in effect at the end of the prior year resulting in year-over-year operating performance excluding the impact from currency fluctuations. Additionally, the Company adjusts for non-operating items including, but not limited to, asset impairment and restructuring charges, deconsolidation of subsidiaries, changes in acquisition earn-outs and changes in tax valuation allowances and return to provision adjustments. The same methodology is utilized for other adjusted and non-GAAP constant currency metrics reported in this Proxy Statement. Please review a copy of the 2015 Annual Report and 2015 full year earnings press release for a reconciliation of these non-GAAP adjustments.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE HIGHLIGHTS
Our Board follows sound governance practices.
Independence |
· In 2015, five of seven Board members were independent directors. |
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· All Board committees, except a special purpose Executive Committee, are comprised exclusively of independent directors. · In 2016, six out of eight Board of Directors nominees are independent directors. |
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Executive Sessions |
· The independent directors regularly meet in executive sessions without management. |
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· The independent directors regularly meet with independent auditors, internal audit, and legal executives in executive sessions without management. |
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Board Oversight of Risk Management |
· Our Board understands, oversees and regularly reviews risks inherent to TeleTechs business. |
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· Specifically, the Audit Committee reviews our overall enterprise risk management policies and practices, is actively involved in the oversight of our Enterprise Risk Management program, and reviews risks inherent in our internal controls over our financial reporting; while the Compensation Committee evaluates the risks associated with TeleTechs management and employee compensation plans and the structure of our employee incentives. · In 2015, the Board was particularly focused on risks associated with Strategy Execution, Information Security, Acquisition Integration, Business Continuity Planning, and Internal Controls over Financial Reporting. |
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Stock Ownership Requirements |
· Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer must, within five years of attaining their positions, hold common stock valued at 3x their base salary. |
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· Members of our executive leadership team at the executive vice president level must, within five years of appointment, hold common stock valued at 2.5x their base salary; while executives at the senior vice president level must hold 1.5x their base salary. · Our Board members must, within five years of joining our Board, hold common stock valued at 3x their annual cash retainer fees. |
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Board Practices |
· Our Board annually reviews its overall effectiveness and the effectiveness of its committees. |
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· Nomination priorities are adjusted annually to ensure that our Board, as a whole, continues to reflect the appropriate mix of skills and experience necessary to support TeleTechs strategy. |
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· Our Board committees have access to independent advisors at their sole discretion. |
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· All directors stand for election annually. |
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· Our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer is the controlling stockholder of TeleTech. He controls more than 65 percent of our common stock. |
DIRECTOR EXPERIENCE
The Board and our Nominating and Governance Committee believe that diversity in experience and perspectives is important for achieving sound decisions and driving stockholder value. The following chart reflects the experience of our Board in 2015:
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CEO Experience |
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Global Experience |
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BOARD NOMINEES1
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Kenneth D. Tuchman |
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1994 |
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· Global executive and entrepreneur · Customer experience innovator · TeleTech founder |
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James E. Barlett |
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· Global CEO experience · Public company director experience |
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Tracy L. Bahl |
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· Private equity executive · Healthcare industry · Chief executive of a multi-billion dollar subsidiary of a public company |
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Gregory A. Conley |
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2012 |
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· Global CEO experience · Technology |
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Robert N. Frerichs |
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2012 |
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· Public company director · Public audit experience · Consulting services industry · Technology |
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Marc L. Holtzman |
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2014 |
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· International board experience · Public company director experience · Financial sector experience |
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Shrikant Mehta |
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· Global entrepreneurship experience · Innovation |
Steven J. Anenen |
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· Global CEO experience · Public company director experience · Automotive industry experience · Technology |
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2015 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION HIGHLIGHTS
· Our executive compensation program is designed to reward financial results and effective strategic leadership, which we believe are key to building sustainable value for our stockholders.
· Our executive compensation program utilizes a mix of base salary, and short- and long-term incentives, to attract and retain highly qualified executives and maintain a strong relationship between executive pay and company performance.
· Our executive compensation program places significant weight on ethical and responsible conduct in pursuit of TeleTechs strategic goals.
· Our executive compensation programs place a meaningful portion of compensation at risk by aligning cash incentive payments to performance and by granting equity that vests over four- and five-year periods to ensure that the actual compensation realized by executives aligns with stockholder value over the long term.
· Our executive officers are subject to stock holding requirements that further align their interests with our stockholders.
· We ensure that our rewards are affordable by aligning them to the Companys annual business plan.
· Our stockholders have indicated strong support for our executive compensation program with 99.79 percent voting in favor of the program at our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
The following table reflects the compensation decisions made by the Compensation Committee for TeleTechs named executive officers (NEOs) who continue to serve as TeleTechs executive officers as of the date of this Proxy Statement1.
Named Executive Officers |
Actual Total Direct |
Market TDC |
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Peer Group |
Kenneth D. Tuchman |
$ 11 |
$ 3,281,100 |
$ 4,431,000 |
$ 6,042,000 |
<25th |
Martin F. DeGhetto |
$1,386,893 |
$ 1,111,000 |
$ 1,373,000 |
$ 1,957,000 |
50th |
Charles Keith Gallacher |
$1,647,899 |
$ 1,042,000 |
$ 1,302,000 |
$ 1,740,000 |
70th |
Judi A. Hand |
$1,438,470 |
$ 1,058,000 |
$ 1,308,000 |
$ 1,864,000 |
55th |
Regina M. Paolillo |
$1,382,085 |
$ 1,539,000 |
$ 1,970,000 |
$ 2,265,000 |
<25th |
1 At Mr. Tuchmans request, the Compensation Committee approved Mr. Tuchmans base salary to be $1 per year. Mr. Tuchmans salary has remained at this level since 2012.
This proxy statement (Proxy Statement) is issued in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of TeleTech Holdings, Inc. (TeleTech or the Company) for use at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the Annual Meeting) to be held on May 25, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time, at 9197 South Peoria Street, Englewood, Colorado 80112 and at any adjournment or postponement thereof.
On or about April 12, 2016, we will begin distributing to each stockholder entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting either (1) this Proxy Statement, a proxy card or voting instruction form, and our 2015 Annual Report to Stockholders, which we collectively refer to as the proxy materials, or (2) an email or notice of internet availability of proxy materials, in each case with instructions on how to access electronic copies of our proxy materials.
This Proxy Statement contains important information regarding the Annual Meeting, the proposals on which you are being asked to vote, information about our voting procedures, and information you may find useful in determining how to vote.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROXY MATERIALS AND VOTING YOUR SHARES
Why am I receiving these proxy materials?
The Company is soliciting your proxy in connection with the Annual Meeting. As a stockholder, you are invited to attend the Annual Meeting and are requested to vote on the items of business discussed in this Proxy Statement.
Why did I receive a Notice of Internet Availability of proxy materials?
Under the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, we are using the internet as the primary means of furnishing proxy materials to our stockholders. Most of our stockholders will not receive printed copies of the proxy materials unless they request them. Accordingly, if you received a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the Notice of Internet Availability) by mail, you will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials, unless you request one as instructed in that notice. Instead, the Notice of Internet Availability will instruct you on how you may access and review the proxy materials on the internet, free of charge. This approach to distribution of proxy materials reduces the environmental impact of our Annual Meeting, expedites stockholders receipt of the proxy materials, and lowers our costs. The Notice of Internet Availability also includes instructions allowing stockholders to request to receive future proxy materials in printed form by mail or electronically by email.
How can I vote my shares?
If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote by internet, by telephone or by mail at any time prior to the meeting, or you may vote in person at the meeting, as follows:
· Vote by Internet at www.proxyvote.com. Use the internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on May 24, 2016. Have your proxy card or Notice of Internet Availability in hand when you access the website and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.
· Vote by Phone. Use any telephone to call 1-800-690-6903 to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on May 24, 2016. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions. If you received a Notice of Internet Availability, you may request a proxy card by following the instructions in the notice.
· Vote by Mail. If you received or requested a printed copy of the proxy materials by mail, you may vote by proxy by filling out the proxy card and returning it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or returning it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. If you received a Notice of Internet Availability, you may request a proxy card by following the instructions in the notice.
· Vote at the Meeting. You may vote your shares at the meeting. You will be admitted to the meeting only if you have a ticket. See How can I attend the Annual Meeting? in this Proxy Statement for instructions on obtaining a ticket.
If your shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank or similar organization, you will receive voting instructions from the organization holding your account and you must follow those instructions to vote your shares.
Additional Procedures. Votes cast by proxy prior to the Annual Meeting will be tabulated by an automatic system administered by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. Votes cast by proxy or in person at the Annual Meeting will be counted by the persons we appoint to act as election inspectors for the Annual Meeting. With regard to the election of directors, votes may be cast in favor or withheld; votes that are withheld will be excluded entirely from the tabulation of votes and will have no effect. Cumulative voting is not permitted in the election of directors. Consequently, you are entitled to one vote for each share of our common stock held in your name for as many persons as there are directors to be elected, and for whose election you have the right to vote.
With respect to the other proposals submitted for stockholder approval (other than the election of directors), you may vote for or against the proposal, or you may abstain. Abstentions will have the same effect as a negative vote on the ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm for 2016 but will have no effect on the advisory vote on executive compensation.
If you hold shares beneficially in street name and do not provide your broker with voting instructions, your shares may constitute broker non-votes. Generally, brokerage firms have the authority to vote your shares without your voting instructions on certain routine matters, such as Proposal 2, but not on other non-routine items, such as Proposals 1 and 3. In tabulating the voting result for any particular proposal, shares that constitute broker non-votes are not considered votes cast on that proposal. Thus, broker non-votes will not affect the outcome of any matter being voted on at the meeting, assuming that a quorum is obtained.
For your information, voting via the internet is the least expensive to us, followed by telephone voting, with voting by mail being the most expensive. Also, you may help to save us the expense of a second mailing if you vote promptly.
What are the matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting?
The items of business scheduled to be voted on at the Annual Meeting are:
· Proposal 1: The election of eight directors (see page 35);
· Proposal 2: The ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2016 (see page 39); and
· Proposal 3: The approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation for our executive officers (see page 40).
We will also consider other business that properly comes before the Annual Meeting.
What are my voting choices?
For the election of directors, you may vote FOR or WITHHOLD with respect to each nominee. For the other proposals, you may vote FOR or AGAINST or you may ABSTAIN from voting.
How does the Board recommend that I vote?
Our Board recommends that you vote your shares:
· FOR each of the nominees to our Board;
· FOR the ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2016; and
· FOR the proposal to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation for our named executive officers.
Kenneth D. Tuchman, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and the beneficial owner of more than 65 percent of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock as of the record date (65 percent of the shares entitled to vote, excluding stock options) has indicated that he intends to vote:
· FOR each of the nominees to our Board;
· FOR the ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2016; and
· FOR the proposal to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation for our named executive officers.
Additionally, on April 1, 2011, Mr. Tuchman entered into a Voting Agreement whereby he has agreed to vote shares he beneficially owns FOR the election of Mr. Barlett to our Board through and including December 31, 2017.
How will my shares be voted by proxy?
Valid proxies provided to the Company by telephone, over the internet or by mailed proxy card will be voted at the Annual Meeting as directed by you unless revoked in accordance with the instructions. If you properly execute and submit your proxy, but do not indicate how you want your shares voted, the persons named as your proxies will vote your shares in accordance with the recommendations of our Board of Directors. These recommendations are:
· FOR each of the nominees to our Board;
· FOR the ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2016; and
· FOR the proposal to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation for our named executive officers.
How can I revoke my proxy or change my vote?
You may revoke your proxy or change your vote at any time prior to the taking of the vote at the Annual Meeting. If you are the stockholder of record, you may change your vote by:
· Voting again through the internet or by telephone, or by completing, signing, dating and returning a new proxy card with a later date, all of which automatically revoke the earlier proxy so long as completed prior to the applicable deadline for each method;
· Providing a written notice of revocation to our Corporate Secretary at TeleTech Holdings, Inc., 9197 South Peoria Street, Englewood, Colorado 80112 prior to your shares being voted; or
· Attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. Your attendance at the meeting alone will not cause your previously granted proxy to be revoked unless you specifically so request before the taking of the vote.
For shares you hold beneficially in street name, you may change your vote by submitting new voting instructions to your broker, bank, trustee or nominee following the instructions they provided, or, if you have obtained a legal proxy from your broker, bank, trustee or nominee giving you the right to vote your shares, by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.
Will shares I hold in my brokerage account be voted if I do not provide timely voting instructions?
If your shares are held through a brokerage firm, they will be voted as you instruct on the voting instruction card provided by your broker. If you sign and return your card without giving specific instructions, your shares will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of our Board of Directors.
If you do not provide timely instructions as to how your brokerage shares are to be voted, your broker will have the authority to vote them only on the ratification of our independent registered public accounting firm. Your broker will be prohibited from voting your shares on the election of directors, and the advisory approval of our executive compensation. These broker non-votes will be counted only for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present at the meeting and not as votes cast.
Will shares that I own as a stockholder of record be voted if I do not return my proxy card in a timely manner?
Shares that you own as a stockholder of record will be voted as you instruct on your proxy card. If you sign and return your proxy card without giving specific instructions, they will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of our Board of Directors. If you do not return your proxy card in a timely manner, your shares will not be voted unless you or your proxy holder attends the Annual Meeting and vote in person.
What is required to conduct the business of the Annual Meeting?
In order to conduct business at the Annual Meeting, a quorum of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote as of the record date must be present in person or represented by proxy. Both abstentions and broker non-votes are counted for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum.
How many votes are required to approve each proposal?
Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast. This means that the eight individuals nominated for election to the Board who receive the most FOR votes (among votes properly cast in person, electronically, telephonically or by proxy) will be elected.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote is required to approve the ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm.
The vote on executive compensation is advisory and non-binding, but we will consider stockholders to have approved the compensation of our named executive officers if the number of votes cast FOR the proposal exceeds the number of votes cast AGAINST the proposal.
How are votes counted?
Abstentions will be treated as shares that are present and entitled to vote and will consequently have the effect of a vote AGAINST the particular matter, except in the case of the vote on executive compensation for which an abstention will have no effect. Votes withheld from a director nominee will have no effect on the election of the director from whom votes are withheld. If a broker indicates on the proxy card that it does not have discretionary authority to vote certain shares on a particular matter, it is referred to as a broker non-vote. Broker non-votes will be treated as shares that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum, but will not be considered as voted for the purpose of determining the approval of the particular matter.
If I own or hold shares in a brokerage account, can my broker vote my shares for me?
The election of directors and the executive compensation vote are matters on which brokers do not have discretionary authority to vote. Thus, if your shares are held in a brokerage account and you do not provide instructions as to how your shares are to be voted on these proposals, your broker or other nominee will not be able to vote your shares on these matters. Accordingly, we urge you to provide instructions to your broker or nominee so that your votes may be counted. You should vote your shares by following the instructions provided on the voting instruction card that you receive from your broker.
If I share an address with another stockholder, how will we receive our proxy materials?
For stockholders of record, we have adopted a procedure called householding, which the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has approved. Under this procedure, we are delivering a single copy of the Notice of Availability and, if applicable, this Proxy Statement and the 2015 Annual Report to multiple stockholders who share the same address unless we have received contrary instructions from one or more of the stockholders. This procedure reduces our printing and mailing costs and the impact of printing and mailing these materials on the environment. Stockholders who participate in householding will continue to be able to access and receive separate proxy cards. Upon written or verbal request, we will deliver promptly a separate copy of the Notice of Internet Availability and, if applicable, this Proxy Statement and the 2015 Annual Report to any stockholder at a shared address to which we delivered a single copy of any of these documents. To receive a separate copy of the Notice of Internet Availability and, if applicable, this Proxy Statement or the 2015 Annual Report, or to request delivery of a single copy of these materials if multiple copies are currently being delivered, stockholders may contact us at TeleTech Holdings, Inc., 9197 South Peoria Street, Englewood, Colorado 80112, Attention: Investor Relations, or by calling 1.800.TELETECH (1.800.835.3832). Outside of the U.S., please dial +1.303.397.8100.
Stockholders who hold shares in street name (as described above) may contact their brokerage firm, bank, broker- dealer or other similar organization to request information about householding.
How can I attend the Annual Meeting?
If you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please mark the appropriate box on the proxy card and return the proxy card promptly. The admission ticket for the meeting will be forwarded to you. If you are a stockholder of record and arrive at the Annual Meeting without an admission ticket, we will have to verify your share ownership before you are admitted to the meeting. If you are a beneficial owner, you will only be admitted upon presentation of evidence of your beneficial holdings, such as a bank or brokerage firm account statement.
How can I see the list of stockholders entitled to vote?
A complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be available for examination by any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, at the Annual Meeting and at our principal office located at 9197 South Peoria Street, Englewood, Colorado 80112 during normal business hours for a period of at least 10 days prior to the Annual Meeting.
What happens if additional items of business are presented at the Annual Meeting?
We are not aware of any item that may be voted on at the Annual Meeting that is not described in this Proxy Statement. However, the holders of the proxies that we are soliciting will have the discretion to vote them in accordance with their best judgment on any additional matters that may be voted on, including matters incidental to the conduct of the Annual meeting.
Is my vote confidential?
Stockholders may elect that their identity and individual vote be held confidential by marking the appropriate box on their proxy card or ballot. Confidentiality will not apply to the extent that voting disclosure is required by law or is necessary or appropriate to assert or defend any claim relating to voting. Confidentiality also will not apply with respect to any matter for which votes are solicited in opposition to the director nominees or voting recommendations of our Board of Directors, unless the persons engaging in the opposing solicitation provide stockholders with voting confidentiality comparable to that which we provide.
Where can I find the voting results?
We expect to announce preliminary voting results at the Annual Meeting and to publish final results in a Current Report on Form 8-K that we will file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission within four business days following the meeting. The report will be available on our website at teletech.com under the Investors and SEC Filings tabs.
How may I obtain financial and other information about TeleTech?
Additional financial and other information about the Company is included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and which is available on our website at teletech.com under the Investors and SEC Filings tabs. We will also furnish a copy of our 2015 Annual Report (excluding exhibits, except those that are specifically requested) without charge to any stockholder who so requests by contacting our Investor Relations department at TeleTech Holdings, Inc., 9197 South Peoria Street, Englewood, Colorado, 80112, Attention: Investor Relations, by calling 1.800.TELETECH (1.800.835.3832). Outside of the U.S., please dial +1.303.397.8100, or by emailing investor.relations@teletech.com.
You can also obtain, without charge, a copy of our bylaws, codes of conduct and Board committee charters by contacting the Investor Relations department or you can view these materials on the internet by accessing our website at teletech.com and clicking on the Investors tab, then clicking on the Corporate Governance tab.
Who will conduct and pay for the cost of this proxy solicitation?
We will bear all costs of soliciting proxies, including reimbursement of banks, brokerage firms, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable expenses they incur. Proxies may be solicited personally, by mail, by telephone, or via internet; by our directors, officers or other regular employees without remuneration other than regular compensation. We will request brokers and other fiduciaries to forward proxy materials to the beneficial owners of shares of common stock that are held of record by such brokers and fiduciaries and will reimburse such persons for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
TeleTech is committed to best practices in corporate governance. The Company is governed by our Board of Directors. The role of the Board includes:
· Oversight of the Companys management;
· Appointment of the Chief Executive Officer;
· Goal setting for and overseeing performance of the Companys executive management team;
· Management succession planning;
· Oversight of effective corporate governance, including selecting and recommending for stockholders approval nominees for the Board of Directors;
· Assessment of Board performance;
· Board succession planning;
· Forming and staffing Board committees;
· Review and oversight of the development and implementation of the Companys annual strategic, financial, and operations plans and budgets;
· Assessment and monitoring of Companys risk and risk management practices;
· Review and approval of significant corporate actions;
· Monitoring of processes designed to assure TeleTechs integrity and transparency to its stakeholders, including financial reporting, compliance with legal and regulatory obligations, maintenance of confidential channels to report concerns about violations of laws and policies, and protection against reprisals for those who report such violations;
· Oversight of the relationship between the Company and its stockholders; and
· Support for the Companys commitment to its corporate responsibility and sustainable business.
Our Board is led by TeleTechs founder, Mr. Kenneth D. Tuchman, who serves as the Chairman of the Board. Mr. Tuchman is also TeleTechs Chief Executive Officer. The Board retains the flexibility to determine from time to time whether the position of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chairman of the Board should be combined or separated, whether an independent director should serve as Chairman of the Board, and whether to appoint a lead independent director to serve as a liaison between independent directors and the Chairman.
At present, the Board believes that the Company is best served by having Mr. Tuchman serve as both the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of TeleTech. The Boards view is based on the facts that Mr. Tuchman beneficially owns more than 65 percent of the outstanding equity in the Company, has a unique insight into the Companys customer engagement solutions strategy as an industry innovator and the Company founder, and is intimately involved in the day-to-day strategic direction of the Company.
Since the size of the Companys Board is relatively small and each independent director has unrestricted access to Mr. Tuchman and the Companys management, the independent members of the Board do not currently perceive the need for an appointment of a lead independent director. Our Board also believes that appointing a lead independent director may serve to create a potential conflict among the directors and interfere with the current collaborative environment in the boardroom that permits the Board to leverage the knowledge and experience of each Board member to drive strategic initiatives necessary to support the Companys transformation from a business process outsourcing service provider to an integrated customer consulting, technology, growth and care services company.
With the exception of Mr. Tuchman and Mr. Barlett, who is the Boards executive Vice Chairman, all of our other directors are independent.
The Board is aware of the potential conflicts that may arise in having Mr. Tuchman, the Companys largest and controlling stockholder, serve as the Chairman of the Board, but believes that there are adequate governance safeguards in place to mitigate against such risks. Such safeguards include, but are not limited to,
· The Board and Board committees hold executive sessions comprised entirely of the independent directors.
· During 2015, five of seven directors were independent on our Board.
· Our Compensation Committee, comprised entirely of independent directors, makes all executive management compensation determinations based on the individual managers performance and input from independent compensation consultants.
· Our Compensation Committee retains an independent compensation consultant when it deems it appropriate. |
· Board members have unrestricted access to independent consultants including legal counsel.
· Our Board members and executives have a shareholding guideline consistent with industry best practices.
· Our Board and its committees perform an annual self-assessment and act on the findings.
· Our Board published Corporate Governance Guidelines to communicate to the stockholders and other stakeholders how the Company is governed.
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Although we qualify as a controlled company under the listing rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market, the Company elects not to avail itself of governance exceptions available to controlled companies under these rules. Specifically, a majority of our Board of Directors is independent and our Boards committees, including our Nominating and Governance Committee and our Compensation Committee are comprised solely of independent directors, even though the Company is exempt from these corporate governance requirements as a controlled company.
Lastly, our Board has in the past demonstrated the independence necessary to address potential conflicts of interest through the use of special ad hoc committees to address specific matters when they arise or requesting that the Chairman abstain from deliberations and voting on certain decisions that may represent a conflict with his controlling stockholdings in the Company.
Board Participation in 2015 |
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· Seven Board meetings held in 2015 |
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· Acted by unanimous written consent once |
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· Each director attended at least 75 percent of all Board and relevant committee meetings |
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· Six directors attended our Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2015 |
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While our executive officers are responsible for day-to-day management of TeleTech risk, our Board oversees and monitors our enterprise risk management (ERM) practices in the course of its ongoing review of the Companys strategy, business plans, risk management and risk transfer programs. The Board recognizes that certain risk taking is essential for any company to stay competitive. It is the view of the Board, however, that the risk taking must be reasoned and measured, and must be evaluated and mitigated appropriately. To this end, the Board as a whole and through its Audit Committee actively participates in the oversight of the Companys ERM program.
In 2015, the Boards ERM oversight primarily focused on, but was not limited to, the following areas: (i) the oversight of the Companys strategy and long-term growth plans; (ii) the oversight of acquisition integration; (iii) the oversight of the Companys business continuity planning; (iv) the oversight of the Companys information security preparedness; and (v) the oversight of the Companys internal controls over its financial reporting. The responsibility for managing each of these high priority risks, as identified by the ERM process, was assigned to one or more members of the executive management team. The Board has delegated the oversight of certain categories of risk management to designated Board committees, which report to the Board on matters related to the specific areas of risk they oversee.
Board/Committee |
Primary Areas of Risk Oversight | |
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Full Board |
Enterprise risk management structure; strategic risk associated with TeleTechs business plan; major litigation; significant capital transactions, including M&A, technology investment and divestitures; capital structure risks; and CEO and management succession planning.
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Audit Committee |
Risks of financial reporting and disclosure; major financial exposure risks; significant IT risks, including information security risks; ethics and compliance risks, including regulatory and legal; currency exposure risks; liquidity risks; business continuity planning; and related-party transactions risks.
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Compensation Committee |
Executive recruiting, retention, and succession planning; compensation policies and practices, including incentive compensation; and health and welfare benefits programs. Assessment of the risks associated with compensation policies and practices applicable to TeleTechs employees to determine if such policies and practices are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on TeleTech.
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Nominating and Governance Committee |
Corporate governance risks; effectiveness of Boards and its committees performance; Board succession, Board candidate nomination and succession planning; conflicts of interest; and director independence. | |
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The Board and its committees periodically request and receive comprehensive reports from key Company functions, including finance, treasury, tax, legal, information security, and IT; and have the opportunity to assess risk exposures of the business in these specific functional areas. The Audit Committee, with assistance and input from management, conducts an annual enterprise-wide risk assessment and adopts the Companys annual internal audit plan, designed to test business processes that may represent special risk exposures to the Company. The Audit Committee quarterly reviews the results of completed internal audits and actively monitors the progress of recommended remedial and mitigation plans. In addition to the Companys ERM and internal audit processes, the Board and the Audit Committee monitor and oversee the Companys periodic assessment of the effectiveness of its internal controls over financial reporting.
To ensure that the Companys compensation practices and policies do not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its business, the Compensation Committee annually reviews TeleTechs executive compensation programs for inherent risks and alignment with the Companys objectives. The Committee receives periodic reports from the Companys human capital and legal departments on steps that TeleTech takes to anticipate and mitigate any potential risks in long and short term incentive and performance-based compensation programs. The Compensation Committee believes that executive compensation should be contingent on performance relative to targets and business plans. It expects TeleTech senior executives to achieve these targets in a manner consistent with TeleTechs values, ethical standards and policies. The Board engages in periodic discussions with management on how to maximize executives performance through compensation incentives without creating unreasonable risks to the business. For additional information on TeleTech compensation programs risks, please review section titled Executive Compensation Compensation Discussion and Analysis, in these proxy materials.
The Board established a process for stockholders and other interested parties to communicate with the Board or any directors by requesting that all communication be sent to the following address:
Board of Directors
c/o Corporate Secretary
TeleTech Holdings, Inc.
9197 South Peoria Street
Englewood, Colorado 80112
The following table outlines the composition of each of our Board committees during 2015:
Director
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Audit Committee
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Compensation
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Nominating and
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Executive
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Kenneth D. Tuchman |
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James E. Barlett |
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Chair |
Tracy L. Bahl |
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Chair |
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ü |
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ü |
Gregory A. Conley |
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Chair |
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ü |
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Robert N. Frerichs |
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ü |
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ü |
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Shrikant Mehta |
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Chair |
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ü |
Marc L. Holtzman |
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ü |
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The Audit Committee operates under the Audit Committee charter adopted by our Board and available at teletech.com/investors/corporate-governance/ (Corporate Governance under the Investors tab on our public website teletech.com). It is responsible for, among other things:
· Assisting the Board in its oversight of the integrity of TeleTechs financial statements;
· Overseeing the adequacy of internal controls and the financial reporting and disclosure processes;
· Selecting, evaluating, and appointing the independent registered public accounting firm, including assessing the public accounting firms independence and qualifications;
· Reviewing and approving all non-audit services performed by the independent registered public accounting firm;
· Overseeing the activities and progresses of the TeleTech internal audit department;
· Overseeing TeleTechs ethics program and its confidential hotline process, including reviewing the establishment of and compliance of executives with the Companys employee code of conduct, Ethics Code: How TeleTech Does Business, and the Companys Code of Conduct for Senior Executive and Financial Officers;
· Overseeing investigations into any matters within the Audit Committees scope of responsibility;
· Overseeing our enterprise risk management programs; and
· Reviewing and approving all related-party transactions.
In 2015, the members of the Audit Committee included Gregory A. Conley (Chair), Robert N. Frerichs, and Marc L. Holtzman. Throughout 2015, each Committee member was independent within the meaning of the NASDAQ Stock Market Rules and Rule 10A-3(b)(l) under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Our Board determined that Mr. Conley qualifies as an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules. Mr. Conleys relevant experience includes his experience as a chief executive officer and director of several public and private companies.
The Audit Committee oversees TeleTechs internal disclosure processes, including TeleTechs anonymous and confidential channels available to employees to report concerns about financial reporting. The Committee established procedures for, and oversees receipt and treatment of, confidential (including anonymous) submissions by TeleTech employees of concerns about the Companys accounting, internal control and auditing practices. These processes are established to assure accurate and complete financial reporting and to identify timely any potential issues that could impact TeleTechs accounting, financial reporting and effectiveness of its internal controls. The Audit Committee reviews and assesses the matters raised through these reporting channels and monitors managements response to these reports, engaging when warranted.
The Audit Committee evaluates the independence, qualifications and performance of TeleTechs internal audit function and annually approves the Companys internal audit plan. The Committee also discusses with management TeleTechs risk assessment and management practices, the Companys major financial, operational and regulatory risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and mitigate such exposures to be within the Companys risk tolerance levels.
During 2015, the Audit Committee held four regularly scheduled meetings and four special meetings, and did not approve any matters through unanimous written consent.
The Audit Committee reviews and assesses the adequacy of its charter, and revises it as appropriate, on an annual basis.
The Compensation Committee operates under the Compensation Committee charter adopted by our Board and available at teletech.com/investors/corporate-governance/ (Corporate Governance under the Investors tab on our public website teletech.com). It is responsible for, among other things:
· Reviewing performance goals and approving the annual salary, incentives and all other compensation for each executive officer, including any employment arrangements and change of control agreements with such officers;
· Reviewing and approving compensation programs for independent Board members;
· Reviewing and approving material employee benefit plans (and changes thereto);
· Reviewing and evaluating risks associated with our compensation programs; and
· Adopting and administering various equity-based incentive plans.
In 2015, the members of the Compensation Committee included Tracy L. Bahl (Chair), Gregory A. Conley, and Robert N. Frerichs. Throughout 2015, each member of the Committee was independent, as defined under the NASDAQ Stock
Market Rules, a non-employee director, as defined under U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 16b-3, and an outside director, as defined under section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
During 2015, the Compensation Committee held four regularly scheduled meetings and one special meeting, and approved one matter through unanimous written consent. The Compensation Committee reviews and assesses the adequacy of its charter, and revises it as appropriate, on an annual basis.
Nominating and Governance Committee
The Nominating and Governance Committee operates under the Nominating and Governance Committee charter adopted by our Board and available at teletech.com/investors/corporate-governance/ (Corporate Governance under the Investors tab on our public website teletech.com). It is responsible for, among other things:
· Identifying and recommending to our Board qualified candidates to stand for election to the Board (or be appointed pending the election at the Annual Stockholders Meeting); and
· Overseeing TeleTechs corporate governance, including the evaluation of the Board and its committees performance and processes, and assignment and rotation of Board members to various committees.
During 2015, the members of the Nominating and Governance Committee included Shrikant Mehta (Chair) and Tracy L. Bahl, each of whom satisfies the independence requirements for nominating committee members pursuant to the NASDAQ Stock Market Rules.
During 2015, the Nominating and Governance Committee held four regularly scheduled meetings, no special meetings, and approved no matters through unanimous written consent. The Nominating and Governance Committee reviews and assesses the adequacy of its charter, and revises it as appropriate, on an annual basis.
The Boards Executive Committee is a special standing committee of the Board appointed to take certain action, under a delegation of authority resolution from the Board, between regularly scheduled Board meetings that are otherwise reserved to the Board. All actions taken by the Executive Committee are reported to and reviewed by the full Board at the Board meeting immediately following the action taken. The Executive Committee is authorized to consider and approve, among other things:
· Mergers, acquisitions, and divestiture transactions at a level in excess of managements authority but below a certain specific authority limit designated by the Board, provided that such transactions are not inconsistent with TeleTechs overall strategy as approved by the Board;
· Capital expenditure transactions at a level in excess of managements authority but below a certain specific authority limit designated by the Board, provided that such transactions are consistent with the annual business plan approved by the Board; and
· Funding for the share repurchase program at a level in excess of managements authority but below a certain specific limit designated by the Board.
During 2015, the members of the Executive Committee included James E. Barlett (Chair), Shrikant Mehta, and Tracy L. Bahl.
The Executive Committee did not meet during 2015.
Ethics Code for Senior Executive and Financial Officers
We have adopted an Ethics Code for Senior Executive and Financial Officers. It applies to all of our senior executives and financial officers, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice Presidents leading each of our business segments, General Counsel, Treasurer, Vice President of Finance, and Global Controller, financial directors and controllers of each of our business segments and any person performing similar functions. The Ethics Code for Senior Executive and Financial Officers is available on our website at teletech.com/investors/corporate-governance/ (Corporate Governance under the Investors tab on our public website teletech.com) and we intend to disclose any waiver of, or amendments to, the Ethics Code for Senior Executive and Financial Officers on our website. You may also obtain a copy of the document without charge by writing to:
TeleTech Holdings, Inc.
9197 South Peoria Street
Englewood, Colorado 80112
Attention: Corporate Secretary
In addition to our Ethics Code for Senior Executive and Financial Officers, TeleTech also has a code of business conduct (Ethics Code: How TeleTech Does Business. This document mandates rules of ethical business conduct for all TeleTech employees, members of our Board of Directors, and members of our supply chain, including our executives and financial officers. We maintain a confidential web-based and telephone hotline, where employees can seek guidance or report concerns about violations of laws, our policies, or either of the ethics codes, including any concerns about financial reporting, misconduct, or fraud.
Director Compensation Overview
During 2015, the independent directors compensation was set as follows:
· An annual retainer of $75,000;
· Additional annual retainer fees for Board committee service as follows:
Chair of Audit Committee |
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$27,000 |
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Members of Audit Committee |
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$13,500 |
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Chair of Compensation Committee |
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$20,000 |
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Members of Compensation Committee |
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$10,000 |
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Chair of Nominating and Governance Committee |
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$15,000 |
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Members of Nominating and Governance Committee |
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$ 5,000 |
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· An annual grant of $75,000 of restricted stock units in TeleTech stock, based on the fair market value of our common stock on the grant date; and
· Non-employee directors who join the Board also receive an initial fair market value-grant in the amount of $100,000, based on the fair market value of our common stock on the grant date. The initial restricted stock unit grant vests on the earlier of the first anniversary of the grant date or the date of the succeeding years Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or any change-in-control event (as defined in the relevant restricted stock unit agreement).
The employee directors do not receive additional compensation for their Board service.
The following table summarizes the actual compensation earned by independent directors during 2015:
Name |
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) |
Stock Awards ($) 1,2,3 |
Total ($) |
Tracy L. Bahl |
$100,000 |
$ 74,978 |
$174,978 |
Gregory A. Conley |
$112,000 |
$ 74,978 |
$186,978 |
Robert N. Frerichs |
$ 98,500 |
$ 74,978 |
$173,478 |
Marc L. Holtzman |
$ 88,500 |
$ 74,978 |
$163,478 |
Shrikant Mehta |
$ 90,000 |
$ 74,978 |
$164,978 |
1 Reflects the aggregate dollar amounts recognized for stock awards for financial statement reporting purposes in accordance with the guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, CompensationStock Compensation (FASB ASC Topic 718).
For information regarding assumptions used to compute grant date fair market value with respect to the stock awards, see, Note 20 to our financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.
2 As December 31, 2015, all the independent directors held 2,938 unvested restricted stock unit awards.
3 As of December 31, 2015, Mr. Mehta held 15,000 of outstanding options.
In February of 2016, based on market data, the Compensation Committee approved a recommendation to increase the value of the annual fair market restricted stock unit grant from $75,000 to $100,000. The increase in the size of the fair market value grant coupled with the annual cash retainer, aligns the board compensation with market and increases our ability to attract and retain independent board members.
The TeleTech Audit Committee of the Board (the Audit Committee) is comprised entirely of independent directors who meet the independence requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and NASDAQ Stock Markets Listing Rules. The Audit Committee operates pursuant to a charter that is reviewed annually and updated to comply with the relevant regulatory requirements. The Audit Committee charter is available in the Investor Relations section of our website at teletech.com/sites/default/files/audit_committee_charter.pdf.
In performing its functions, the Audit Committee acts in an oversight capacity: the Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing TeleTechs financial reporting process and internal control structure on behalf of the Companys Board of Directors, while management is responsible for the preparation, presentation, and integrity of the financial statements, and the effectiveness of TeleTechs internal control over financial reporting. TeleTechs independent auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC (PwC), are responsible for auditing TeleTechs financial statements and providing an opinion on the conformity of TeleTechs consolidated financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles and on the effectiveness of TeleTechs internal control over financial reporting.
As part of its oversight function, the Audit Committee reviews TeleTechs quarterly and annual reports on Form 10-Q and Form 10-K prior to their filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and has detailed discussions with
management about the quality and reasonableness of significant accounting judgments and estimates, and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements. In addressing the quality of managements accounting judgments, the Audit Committee asks for managements representations and reviews certifications prepared by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and the Chief Financial Officer that the unaudited quarterly and audited annual consolidated financial statements of the company fairly present, in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of TeleTech. As part of TeleTechs enterprise risk management program, the Audit Committee also periodically reviews the status of TeleTechs key risks and risk mitigation activities, including its cyber security risks and steps that management takes to protect TeleTechs systems and information against possible cyberattacks, business continuity and disaster recovery planning and TeleTechs emergency preparedness and mitigation and recovery planning. The Audit Committee also receives periodic status reports on the effectiveness of the companys treasury function, including its foreign exchange exposure management, tax planning practices, and acquisition integration activities.
In 2015, the Audit Committee held eight meetings. The Audit Committees agenda is set by the Audit Committees chairperson in consultation with TeleTechs Chief Financial Officer. During 2015, at each of its regularly scheduled meetings, the Audit Committee met with the senior members of TeleTechs financial management team, and, when appropriate, had separate private sessions, with TeleTechs Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel, head of internal audit, and PwC, to discuss financial management, legal, accounting, auditing, and internal control issues. Periodically during the year, the Audit Committee also reviewed with senior management and the independent auditors the overall adequacy and effectiveness of the companys legal, regulatory and ethical compliance programs, including the companys code of business conduct (Ethics Code: How TeleTech Does Business), and the Ethics Code for Senior Executive and Senior Financial Officers.
As part of its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee also oversees TeleTechs annual audit by its independent auditors, PwC, including PwCs audit approach and audit plan and whether the provision of minor non-audit services was appropriate given the auditors independence.
Each year, the Audit Committee evaluates the performance of PwC and its senior engagement team as TeleTechs independent auditors, in order to determine whether to re-engage them for the coming year. In doing so, the Audit Committee considers the quality and efficiency of the services provided by the auditors, the auditors global capabilities, the auditors technical expertise, tenure as TeleTechs independent auditors, knowledge of the companys global operations and industry, and the quality of the auditors interactions with the Audit Committee of the Board. Based on this evaluation, the Audit Committee decided to engage PwC as TeleTechs independent auditors for the year ended December 31, 2015. This appointment was ratified by TeleTech stockholders at the 2015 Annual Stockholders Meeting.
Starting in 2015, PwC audit team was led by a new engagement partner after the previous engagement partner rotated off TeleTechs account, as part of a mandatory rotation schedule. Therefore, in 2015, in addition to reviewing PwCs performance overall, the Audit Committee also assessed PwCs new engagement team, and considered its suitability for TeleTechs independent audit needs. As a result of this review, the Audit Committee has worked with PwC to make sure that the PwC audit team, supported by PwCs partners with experience related to TeleTechs operations in key countries where TeleTech does business and other PwC subject matter experts, has the appropriate level of professional expertise to oversee the conduct of the TeleTech annual independent audit.
In 2015, the Audit Committee also considered the fees charged by PwC for the audit services, and determined them to be reasonable and adequate to ensure a comprehensive audit.
The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with management TeleTechs audited annual consolidated financial statements. Based on this review, the discussions referenced above about the quality and reasonableness of managements significant accounting judgments, and in reliance on the reports and opinions of the independent auditors, the Audit Committee unanimously recommended to the TeleTech Board of Directors that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in the companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.
The Audit Committee also discussed with the independent auditors those matters required to be discussed under the rules adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the PCAOB). The Audit Committee received written disclosures from the independent auditors required by applicable PCAOB requirements regarding the independent auditors communication with the Audit Committee concerning their independence.
Although the Audit Committee has the sole authority to appoint the independent auditors, the Audit Committee will continue its long-standing practice of recommending that the Board ask the stockholders, at their annual meeting, to ratify the appointment of the independent auditors (see Proposal 2 beginning on page 39).
Audit Committee | |
Gregory A. Conley, |
Chair |
Robert N. Frerichs |
|
Marc L. Holtzman |
|
STOCK OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS, MANAGEMENT AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
The table below sets forth information, as of March 31, 2016, concerning the beneficial ownership of the following persons and entities:
· Each person or entity known to us to beneficially own more than five percent of our outstanding common stock;
· Each of our directors and nominees for our Board;
· Each of our executive officers, including our named executive officers; and
· All of our current directors and executive officers as a group.
We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION rules. Except as indicated by the footnotes below, we believe, based on the information furnished to us, that the persons and entities named in the table below have sole voting and/or investment power with respect to all shares of common stock that they beneficially own, subject to applicable community property laws.
Applicable percentage ownership is based on 48,231,632 shares of common stock outstanding at March 31, 2016. In computing the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by a person or entity and the percentage ownership of that person or entity in accordance with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules, we deemed outstanding shares of common stock: (1) subject to stock options held by that person that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2016; and (2) issuable upon the vesting of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) within 60 days of March 31, 2016. Also in accordance with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules, we did not deem outstanding these two categories of shares of common stock for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person or entity.
The information provided in the table is based solely on our records, and information filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to the owners of our shares of common stock, except where otherwise noted. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each beneficial owner listed in the table is c/o TeleTech Holdings, Inc., 9197 Peoria Street, Englewood, Colorado 80112.
Stock Ownership of Directors, Management and Certain Beneficial Owners
|
|
Shares Beneficially Owned |
| |||||||||||
Name and Address of the Beneficial Owner |
|
Common Stock |
|
Options Vested and Options and RSUs Vesting Within 60 Days of 3/31/2016 |
|
Total Beneficial Ownership as of 3/31/2016 |
|
Percent of Class |
| |||||
5% Stockholders |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Kenneth D. Tuchman |
|
31,464,707 |
|
- |
|
31,464,7071,6 |
|
65.2% |
| |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Executive Officers and Directors |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Kenneth D. Tuchman |
|
31,464,707 |
|
- |
|
31,464,7071,6 |
|
65.2% |
| |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
James E. Barlett |
|
456,966 |
|
- |
|
456,966 |
|
* |
| |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Tracy L. Bahl |
|
6,889 |
|
2,938 |
|
9,8272 |
|
* |
| |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Gregory A. Conley |
|
4,229 |
|
2,938 |
|
7,1672 |
|
* |
| |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Martin F. DeGhetto |
|
86,942 |
|
2,987 |
|
89,9293 |
|
* |
| |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Robert N. Frerichs |
|
12,104 |
|
2,938 |
|
15,0422 |
|
* |
| |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Charles Keith Gallacher |
|
25,232 |
|
- |
|
25,232 |
|
* |
| |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Judi A. Hand |
|
164,427 |
|
- |
|
164,427 |
|
* |
| |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Marc L. Holtzman |
|
7,523 |
|
2,938 |
|
10,4614 |
|
* |
| |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Robert N. Jimenez |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
* |
| |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Shrikant Mehta |
|
58,571 |
|
17,938 |
|
76,5095 |
|
* |
| |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Margaret B. McLean |
|
10,618 |
|
- |
|
10,618 |
|
* |
| |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Regina M. Paolillo |
|
117,376 |
|
2,987 |
|
120,3633 |
|
* |
| |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Steven C. Pollema |
|
4,808 |
|
- |
|
4,808 |
|
* |
| |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
All directors, director nominees and executive officers as a group (14 persons) |
|
32,420,392 |
|
35,664 |
|
32,456,056 |
|
67.3% |
| |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
*Less than 1 percent.
1 Includes 31,454,707 shares subject to sole voting and investment power, and 10,000 shares with shared voting and investment power. The shares with sole voting and investment power consist of: (i) 6,687,901 shares held by Mr. Tuchman; (ii) 14,766,806 shares held by a limited liability partnership controlled by Mr. Tuchman; and (iii) 10,000,000 shares held by a revocable trust controlled by Mr. Tuchman. The shares with shared voting and investment power consist of 10,000 shares owned by Mr. Tuchmans spouse. Mr. Tuchman is the beneficial owner of approximately 65.2 percent of the shares of common stock entitled to vote at the meeting.
2 Includes 2,938 RSUs scheduled to vest within 60 days after March 31, 2016.
3 Includes 2,987 RSUs scheduled to vest within 60 days after March 31, 2016.
4 Includes 4,223 shares held by Mr. Holtzman directly, 3,300 shares held for Mr. Holtzmans minor children and 2,938 shares scheduled to vest within 60 days after March 31, 2016.
5 Includes 15,000 options exercisable within 60 days after March 31, 2016 and 2,938 RSUs scheduled to vest within 60 days after March 31, 2016.
6 On December 15, 2015, Mr. Tuchman entered into a Security Agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., pursuant to the terms of which he agreed to collateralize a certain personal loan with 2,453,000 shares of TeleTech common stock held in KDT Stock Revocable Trust, controlled by Mr. Tuchman (the Trust). Pursuant to the Security Agreement, Mr. Tuchman may pledge additional TeleTech shares held by the Trust, directly, or through other vehicles to collateralized additional advancements on the personal loan.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires our directors, executive officers and holders of more than 10 percent of our common stock to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reports regarding their ownership and changes in ownership of our equity securities. Based on our review of the Forms 3, 4 and 5 filed, we believe that all our directors, executive officers and 10 percent stockholders filed all Section 16(a) reports on a timely basis during 2015.
In accordance with our written Related Party Transaction Policy, the Audit Committee of the Board is responsible for reviewing and approving transactions required to be disclosed as a related party transaction under applicable law, including U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules (generally, transactions involving amounts in excess of $120,000 in which a related person has a direct or indirect material interest). TeleTech management monitors all related-party transactions and reports on their status to the Audit Committee quarterly. TeleTech executive officers and directors complete a questionnaire during the first quarter of each fiscal year, in which they provide information about the terms of all their related-party transactions (as defined in Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K) that occurred during the prior year and that are expected to occur during the current year. In reviewing related-party transactions, the Audit Committee considers whether these transactions are executed at arms length by reviewing all relevant facts and circumstances, including among others, the commercial reasonableness of the terms, the actual and perceived benefit to the Company, opportunity costs of alternate transactions, the materiality and character of the related partys interest, the actual and apparent conflict of interests, the impact on a directors independence (if the related party is a director, an immediate family member of a director, or an entity controlled by a director) and the terms on which a similar transaction can be secured from unrelated third parties.
During 2015, TeleTech has undertaken the following related-party transactions subject to disclosure:
The Company entered into an agreement under which Avion, LLC (Avion) and Airmax LLC (Airmax) provide certain aviation flight services as requested by the Company. Such services include the use of an aircraft and flight crew. Kenneth D. Tuchman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, has a direct 100 percent beneficial ownership interest in Avion and Airmax. During 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company expensed $1.7 million, $1.0 million and $0.6 million, respectively, to Avion and Airmax for services provided to the Company. There was $120 thousand outstanding to Avion and Airmax as of December 31, 2015.
During 2014, the Company entered into a vendor contract with Convercent Inc. (Convercent) to provide learning management and web and telephony based global helpline solutions. The majority owner of Convercent is a company which is owned and controlled by Kenneth D. Tuchman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. During 2015 and 2014, the Company paid $100 thousand and $20 thousand, respectively, to Convercent and is expecting to spend another $100 thousand during 2016.
During 2015, the Company entered into a vendor contract with Netlink to help the Company develop a key stroke monitoring solution. Shrikant Mehta, a member of the Board of Directors, has an ownership interest in Netlink. During 2015, the Company paid $98 thousand to Netlink for these services.
During 2015, the Company entered into a contract to purchase software from CaféX, which is a company that TeleTech holds a 17.2 equity investment in. During the second quarter of 2015, the Company purchased $0.4 million of software from CaféX.
EXECUTIVES AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following persons are our executive officers:
|
Martin F. DeGhetto, 57, serves as TeleTechs Executive Vice President, Customer Management Services, TeleTechs largest business segment. Mr. DeGhetto joined TeleTech as Executive Vice President of Operations in 2010 and assumed the responsibilities for TeleTechs information technology in 2012. Between 2008 and 2010, Mr. DeGhetto was an executive vice president and chief operations officer commercial division at Connextions, Inc., a privately-held technology and business services company for healthcare industry. Prior to Connextions, Mr. DeGhetto spent almost a decade at Convergys Corporation (NYSE:CVG), a customer management company, where he held various positions of increasing responsibility culminating in his role as a senior vice president, North American/European operations which he held between 2003 and 2008. Prior to Convergys, Mr. DeGhetto was an executive with American Express Company and AT&T/American Transtech. Mr. DeGhetto holds a B.S. Professional Management degree from NOVA Southeastern University. | |
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|
Judi A. Hand, 54, serves as TeleTechs Executive Vice President, Customer Growth Services. She joined TeleTech in 2007 as President and General Manager for Direct Alliance Corporation, a TeleTech wholly owned subsidiary, and between 2011 and 2013 served as TeleTechs Chief Sales Officer. Between 2003 and 2007, Ms. Hand was a senior executive with AT&T (NYSE:ATT), culminating her career there as a senior vice president for enterprise sales. Prior to AT&T, Ms. Hand worked at Qwest, a public global communications company and several of its subsidiaries in sales and marketing roles of increasing responsibility. Ms. Hand is a member of the board of directors of Manitoba Telecom Services, Inc., a Canada corporation. Ms. Hand holds an MBA from Stanford University and a B.S. in Communications degree from University of Nebraska. | |
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|
Charles Keith Gallacher, 48, serves as Executive Vice President Global Markets and Industries. He joined TeleTech in 2013. Between 2007 and 2013, Mr. Gallacher was a partner and managing director for Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN), where he led the North American technology specialized sales teams. Between 2003 and 2006, Mr. Gallacher worked for Cognizant as vice president for North American sales and business development. Between 1997 and 2003, Mr. Gallacher was a partner and managing director for CSC Consulting (Computer Sciences Corp). Mr. Gallacher started his career in technology at EDS (now HP). He holds a B.B.A. in Business from the University of Texas at Arlington. | |
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|
|
Regina M. Paolillo, 57, serves as Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative and Financial Officer. Ms. Paolillo joined TeleTech in 2011. Between 2009 and 2011, Ms. Paolillo was an executive vice president for enterprise services and chief financial officer at Trizetto Group, Inc., a privately held business and professional services company serving the healthcare industry. Between 2007 and 2008, Ms. Paolillo served as a senior vice president, operations group for General Atlantic, a leading global growth equity firm with U.S. $17 billion in capital. Between 2005 and 2007, Ms. Paolillo served as an executive vice president for revenue cycle and mortgage services at Creditek, a Genpact subsidiary, (NYSE:G) a global business process and technology management company. Prior to the Companys acquisition by Genpact, between 2003 and 2005 and 2002 and 2003, Ms. Paolillo was Crediteks chief executive officer and chief financial officer respectively. Prior to Creditek, Ms. Paolillo served as the chief financial officer and executive vice president for corporate services at Gartner, Inc., (NYSE:IT) an information technology research and advisory company. Ms. Paolillo holds a B.S. in Accounting degree from New Haven University. | |
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|
Margaret B. McLean, 52, serves as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Risk Officer. She joined TeleTech in 2013. Between 1998 and 2013, Ms. McLean was a senior executive at CH2M HILL, a global engineering and program management company, serving as the Companys Chief Legal Officer starting in 2007. Ms. McLean was a corporate finance and M&A partner at the law firm of Holme Roberts and Owen (now Bryan Cave), working in its Denver, London, and Moscow offices. Ms. McLean started her career in IT at Hewlett Packard (NYSE:HPQ) and led the application systems department for Science Applications Intl (NYSE:SAIC). She holds a JD from the University of Michigan, an MBA from the University of Colorado, and a B.S. in Management Information Systems and Computer Science from University of Arizona. |
|
Robert N. Jimenez, 44, serves as TeleTechs Executive Vice President, Customer Strategic Services. From 2012 to 2015 Mr. Jimenez was the global vice president, customer services at Genpact (NYSE:G). Between 2011 and 2012, Mr. Jimenez served as managing partner, CIO Advisory of Tatum Consulting; and between 2009 and 2011 Mr. Jimenez served as the North American customer experience partner for EMC Consulting. From 2004 to 2009, Mr. Jimenez was vice president, FS consulting leader of Capgemini Consulting; and from 1999 to 2004 Mr. Jimenez was an associate partner, financial services at IBM Global Business Services. He holds a B.A. in Economics and International Relations from Brown University. | |
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|
|
Steven C. Pollema, 56, serves as the executive in charge of our Customer Technology Services business segment. Mr. Pollema joined TeleTech in 2011 as part of eLoyalty acquisition, where he worked since 2001 and held various senior executive roles including the Chief Financial Officer and SVP, Global Delivery and Operations. Prior to eLoyalty, Mr. Pollema was the President of MarchFirst (fka Whittman-Hart). Mr. Pollema began his professional career at Accenture within the Financial Services/Technology practice. Mr. Pollema holds an MBA in Management Information Systems and a B.S. in Finance from the University of Iowa. |
Information regarding Kenneth D. Tuchman, Chairman and CEO, and James E. Barlett, Vice Chairman, is provided in this section under the heading 2016 Director Nominees.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
In this section, we discuss our compensation philosophy and describe the 2015 compensation program for our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and three additional highest compensated members of our executive leadership team, whom we refer to as our named executive officers (NEOs). We describe compensation earned by each of our named executive officers and explain how our Compensation Committee of the Board determined this compensation, including its rationale for specific 2015 compensation decisions.
2015 TeleTech Performance Highlights
In 2015, we had the following performance highlights:
· Our revenue was $1.29 billion, an increase of 3.6 percent over the year ago period. On a non-GAAP constant currency basis2, our 2015 revenue grew 8.8 percent to $1.35 billion over the prior year.
· Income from operations was $90.2 million or 7 percent of revenue, a 6.5 percent decrease year over year. Income from operations on a non-GAAP constant currency basis2, was $115.0 million, or 8.5 percent of adjusted revenue compared to 8.1 percent in the prior year.
· Our net cash provided by operating activities increased to $133.8 million compared to $94.1 million in the prior year. |
|
· We booked $470 million in new business, a 7 percent increase over the prior year. The bookings mix was diversified across all business verticals with approximately 80 percent from existing clients, 56 percent from our emerging businesses, and 15 percent outside of the United States.
· Our diluted earnings per share were $1.26 compared to $1.44 in the prior year, and $1.48 compared to $1.43 on a non-GAAP basis2.
· We initiated a semi-annual cash dividend of $0.18 per share totaling $17.4 million for the year.
· We repurchased 686 thousand shares for a total cost of $17.2 million. |
2 TeleTech computes company performance metrics on a constant currency basis in order to compare year-over-year operating performance. To establish a constant currency comparison, actual reported metrics are translated utilizing each underlying exchange rate in effect at the end of the prior year resulting in year-over-year operating performance excluding the impact from currency fluctuations. Additionally, the Company adjusts for non-operating items including, but not limited to, asset impairment and restructuring charges, deconsolidation of subsidiaries, changes in acquisition earn-outs and changes in tax valuation allowances and return to provision adjustments. The same methodology is utilized for other adjusted and non-GAAP constant currency metrics reported in this Proxy Statement. Please review a copy of the 2015 Annual Report and 2015 full year earnings press release for a reconciliation of these non-GAAP adjustments.
· Kenneth D. Tuchman, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
|
· Judi A. Hand, Executive Vice President, Customer Growth Services |
· Martin F. DeGhetto, Executive Vice President, Customer Management Services · Charles Keith Gallacher, Executive Vice President, Global Markets and Industries |
· Regina M. Paolillo, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative and Financial Officer. |
2015 Executive Compensation Summary
Our executive compensation program is designed to reward financial results and effective strategic leadership, which we believe are key elements in building sustainable value for stockholders. Our compensation programs performance metrics align the interests of our stockholders and senior executives by correlating the timing and amount of actual pay to the Companys short- and long-term performance goals. Our compensation program encourages ethical and responsible conduct in pursuit of these goals and the alignment of our leaders with TeleTechs vision, mission and values.
We carefully benchmark our compensation decisions against a relevant group of peer companies all of which are our potential competitors for the caliber of executive talent required to manage a global and complex business like TeleTech.
Our executive compensation program includes three principle elements:
Compensation Element |
Purpose |
· Base Salary |
· Provides competitive fixed dollar compensation aligned to the median of our peer group. |
|
|
· Annual Performance-Based Cash Incentive Awards |
· Provides at risk annual variable cash consideration that aligns executive compensation to the Company and individual achievements of short-term (annual) performance objectives, as established by the Board of Directors. This short-term variable cash compensation element is targeted at the 75th percentile of our peer group. |
|
|
· Annual Equity Grants |
· Provides at risk long-term variable compensation opportunity. Awarded annually, this incentive compensation is based on the individuals performance and the Companys performance in the year granted, but links directly to the Companys performance over time as equity vests. This long-term variable compensation element is targeted at the 75th percentile of our peer group. |
In 2015, we paid the following to our Named Executive Officers:
Named Executive Officers |
Actual Total Direct |
Market TDC at 25th |
Market TDC at 50th |
Market TDC at 75th |
Percentile |
Kenneth D. Tuchman |
$ 11 |
$ 3,281,100 |
$ 4,431,000 |
$ 6,042,000 |
<25th |
Martin F. DeGhetto |
$1,386,893 |
$ 1,111,000 |
$ 1,373,000 |
$ 1,957,000 |
50th |
Charles "Keith" Gallacher |
$1,647,899 |
$ 1,042,000 |
$ 1,302,000 |
$ 1,740,000 |
70th |
Judi A. Hand |
$1,438,470 |
$ 1,058,000 |
$ 1,308,000 |
$ 1,864,000 |
55th |
Regina M. Paolillo |
$1,382,085 |
$ 1,539,000 |
$ 1,970,000 |
$ 2,265,000 |
<25th |
1 As previously disclosed, at Mr. Tuchmans request, the Compensation Committee approved Mr. Tuchmans base salary to be $1 per year.
The mix of base and variable, at risk, compensation for 2015 was as follows:
CONSIDERATION OF LAST YEARS SAY-ON-PAY VOTE
At our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, 99.79 percent of the votes cast in our stockholder advisory vote (our say-on-pay vote) approved the compensation of our named executive officers. In light of this stockholder support, the Compensation Committee made no significant changes to the overall design of our compensation programs during 2015. They did, however, make a modification to the distribution of the funded incentive pool; allocating more dollars based on segment performance, further aligning bonuses to personal performance. The Compensation Committee will continue to consider the outcome of the Companys say-on-pay votes when making future compensation decisions for our named executive officers.
The Compensation Committee considered, and will continue to consider, refinements and supplements to the current executive compensation structure to stay current on compensation market trends and to make sure that TeleTechs executive compensation aligns the interest of the executive leadership team with the interests of the Companys stockholders.
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM COMPENSATION APPROACH AND STRUCTURE
Our Approach to Executive Leadership Compensation
We structure our executive compensation to attract and retain executive talent who can maximize our performance results. Our compensation program is designed to motivate our executive leadership team to remain focused on delivering superior performance that creates long-term investor value. Our executive compensation program also places significant weight on how our leaders align their conduct with TeleTechs vision, mission and values, as they achieve their personal goals and the Companys performance goals.
Our Compensation Practices Include:
|
Pay for Performance. We encourage a results-oriented culture through pay-for-performance compensation, and annually review executive compensation against Company performance and its annual goals. |
|
Competitive Compensation Targets. We target executive base compensation at the median of our peer group, and the at risk variable compensation opportunities at 75th percentile of compensation offered by our competitors. |
|
Rigorous Performance Metrics. The Compensation Committee annually reviews and re-sets executive performance targets to assure that they appropriately reflect the goals of the business and are challenging, but achievable. |
|
Stockholder Alignment. Through our compensation practices, we align the interests of our named executive officers and our stockholders to maximize long-term performance goals of the Company. |
|
Affordability of Rewards. We ensure that our rewards are affordable by aligning them to the Companys results of operation as they compare to our annual business plan. |
|
Significant at risk Component. We structure our compensation programs with a significant portion of variable at risk component to ensure that the actual compensation realized by named executive officers directly and demonstrably links to individual and companywide performance. |
|
Share Ownership Guidelines. Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer are expected to hold TeleTech equity in the amount of at least 3 times their base compensation; while other members of the executive leadership team, including all NEOs, are expected to hold equity equal to 2.5 times their base compensation. |
|
Restrictive Covenants. Members of our executive leadership team are subject to market appropriate restrictive covenants, effective on separation from TeleTech. These restrictive covenants include non-competition, client and employee non-solicitation, and non-disclosure obligations. |
|
Individual Accountability. Our compensation program is designed to ensure that our named executive officers remain focused on individual operational and financial goals to build the foundation for our long-term success. |
|
Review of Compensation Peer Group. Our Compensation Committee reviews our compensation peer group annually and adjusts, when necessary, to make sure that it remains relevant and appropriate as a comparison for our executive compensation program. |
|
Executive Leadership Team Compensation Structure
To achieve its overarching objectives, our executive compensation program consists of the following three principle elements:
Compensation Element |
Characteristics |
Purpose |
Philosophy |
|
|
|
|
Base salary
|
Fixed annual compensation that provides a competitive level of base compensation. |
Compensate senior executives for their level of experience and responsibility. |
We believe base salary should be competitive, and we target it at the 50th percentile of our peer group. |
Annual performance-based cash incentive awards
|
Variable annual cash compensation opportunity funded based on objective Company performance targets (revenue and operating income) and paid based on subjective measures of individual performance. |
Motivate and reward senior executive for performance against short-term Company goals. |
We believe in providing appropriate incentive to drive the Companys short-term financial and operational objectives. This incentive opportunity is targeted at the 75th percentile of our peer group. |
Equity awards
|
Variable equity compensation granted annually, usually, in the form of restricted stock units (RSUs) or stock options. While the awards are based on the individual performance and the Companys performance in the year granted, the incentive links directly to the Companys performance over time as equity vests. |
Motivate and retain senior executives during the multi-year vesting period and focus them on longer term performance objectives by aligning their interests with those of our stockholders through the vesting period. |
We believe that equity grants that vest over multiple years encourage the executive management team to focus on the long-term stock value appreciation. The incentive provides a market competitive equity grant targeted at 75th percentile of our peer group. |
In addition to these primary components of compensation, our senior executives are also eligible to participate in our general health and welfare programs, 401(k) plan, life insurance program and other employee benefit programs. Although to be competitive, we pay as perquisites all or a portion of certain named executive officers healthcare premiums, we believe that perquisites should be limited in scope and value, and, historically, they have not constituted a significant portion of executive compensation.
OVERSIGHT OF OUR EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM
Role of the Compensation Committee
Our Compensation Committee determines all compensation for members of our executive leadership team, including our named executive officers, on an annual basis. In doing so, the Compensation Committee:
· Evaluates the compensation received during the year by each executive, and considers the Companys performance, the individual performance of each executive and his/her skills, experience and responsibilities to determine if any change in the executives compensation is appropriate. · Reviews with the Chief Executive Officer the performance of the other named executive officers. · Reviews peer group data and the advice of the compensation consultant as a measure of the competitive market for executive talent in our industry. · Considers the executives contribution to the Companys overall operating effectiveness, strategic success and profitability, and considers the quality of the executives decision-making.
|
· Considers the executives role in developing and maintaining key client relationships. · Considers the Companys financial results for the year and how the executive contributed to these results, but does not adhere to strict formulas to determine the mix of base salary, equity grants, and cash incentives. · Evaluates the level of responsibility, scope, and complexity of such executives position relative to other Company executives. · Determines the composition and amount of compensation for each named executive officer and uses its subjective judgment in determining the amount of each compensation element in order to retain and motivate current executives. · Assesses the executives leadership growth and management development over the past year. |
The Compensation Committee utilizes these subjective factors because it believes they are critical to increasing stockholder value. These factors are not quantified or weighted for importance; and the Compensation Committees use of these factors is tied directly to the individual role and the responsibilities of each executive officer. For example, greater weight may be given to the role of developing and maintaining key client relationships for the Executive Vice President, Global Markets and Industries due to his responsibilities for overseeing sales operations, while greater weight will be given to contribution to our overall operating effectiveness, strategic success and profitability, and completion of strategic projects, among other factors, for the Chief Financial Officer, given her responsibilities relating to our financial performance and growth.
Funding for performance-based cash incentives and our equity grants are based on objective Company performance targets set at the beginning of each year. As a result, there is uncertainty with respect to the achievement of these funding targets at the time they are set. The Compensation Committee has the authority to modify the funding for these variable incentives, in its sole discretion, when material changes in the business warrant it.
Our ability to achieve the funding target is heavily dependent not only on factors within our control, but also on current economic conditions, foreign exchange rate movements, weather events, and other performance variables outside of our control. In measuring our performance against pre-determined performance targets, the Compensation Committee may make (and over the years has made) adjustments to these targets for items outside of the executive leadership teams control.
In addition to its discretion with respect to the performance-based cash incentives and equity grants, the Compensation Committee may from time to time determine that funding should be provided outside of the objective Company performance criteria to fund discretionary bonuses and equity awards to retain or to reward executive officers for their exceptional efforts (measured on an individual, subjective basis) during those years in which our actual performance resulted in a lower than anticipated level of funding for the variable incentives. Although the Compensation Committee has this discretion, it utilizes it infrequently to maintain the integrity of the Companys compensation structure and philosophy.
Because they include material subjective components, our performance-based cash incentives do not meet the requirements for exempt performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. In the future, the Compensation Committee will continue to consider whether to make awards that satisfy the qualified performance-based compensation requirements of Section 162(m) in order to maximize tax deductibility of executive compensation, while balancing the interests of our stockholders and the most appropriate methods and approaches for the design and delivery of compensation to our named executive officers.
How We Use Compensation Consultants
From time to time, and as needed, the Compensation Committee retains services of compensation consultants, law firms, and other professionals to act as independent advisors to the Compensation Committee. In selecting its consultants, the Compensation Committee takes measures to assure that no member of our Board or any named executive officer has any affiliations with such consultants. The Compensation Committee requires that all off its consultants provide it with annual certification of their independence.
Although the Compensation Committee did not use services of compensation advisors in 2015, Compensia, Inc., an executive compensation consulting firm (Compensia), was available to the Compensation Committee as directed by the Committee chair.
Compensia
At least every other year, Compensia provides the Compensation Committee with independent compensation advice on various aspects of executive compensation, including:
· A periodic review of our compensation practices, trends and philosophy; |
· A review of our equity award and cash incentive programs; and |
· A competitive assessment of our executive compensation levels and pay-for-performance linkage; |
· Assistance in developing recommendations for compensation for our executive officers, including our named executive officers. |
· An analysis of peer group companies that compete with us and that follow similar compensation models, along with benchmark compensation and benefits data for the peer group; |
|
When asked to provide advice to the Compensation Committee, Compensia takes its direction solely from, and provides reports to, the Compensation Committee, or members of our in-house human capital department at the direction and on behalf of the Compensation Committee. All costs of Compensias services are paid by the Company at the direction of the Compensation Committee chair. Although Compensia provides recommendations on the structure of our compensation programs, Compensia does not determine the amount or form of compensation for any of our named executive officers. From time to time, Compensia also provides advice to the Company.
In those years when Compensia is not utilized by the Compensation Committee of our Board, similar compensation analysis is performed by members of our in-house human capital department who have special expertise in executive compensation.
How We Use Peer Group, Survey and Benchmark Data
Each year, the Compensation Committee reviews the competitiveness of our compensation program. For 2015, the Compensation Committee, with the assistance of our human capital department, identified a peer group of companies for 2015. The peer group for 2015 included:
· Acxiom Corporation · Constant Contact · Convergys Corporation · CSG Systems |
· DST Systems · ExlService Holdings · Fair Isaac · FTI Consulting, Inc. |
· Genpact Ltd. · Sykes Enterprises Incorporated · Syntel
|
The Compensation Committee selected this peer group because the companies in the group are in the same or similar industries, compete with us for executive talent, follow similar compensation models and are of a similar size. The Compensation Committee reviews the compensation practices of this peer group to effectively design compensation arrangements to attract new executives in our highly competitive, rapidly changing markets and to confirm proper levels of compensation for our named executive officers.
This peer group data for executive officers performing the same or similar roles is one factor the Compensation Committee uses in establishing named executive officer base salaries (which, in 2015, the Compensation Committee targeted at the 50th percentile of the peer group), and performance-based cash incentive and equity grants (which, in 2015, the Compensation Committee targeted at the 75th percentile of the peer group), and in otherwise determining the overall mix of equity grants, cash incentives, and base salaries for executive compensation. The Compensation Committee does not adhere to strict formulas, benchmarking in its review of this peer group data to determine the mix of our executives compensation elements. The peer group data is instructive but it is neither binding nor a dispositive factor in how the Compensation Committees makes its compensation decisions for the Company.
Mr. Tuchman, our Chief Executive Officer, beneficially owns more than 65 percent of the Company. His interest in the Companys performance, therefore, is very closely and personally aligned with that of our other stockholders. Mr. Tuchman believes that compensation for his services should be in the form of a return on his investment in the Company. At Mr. Tuchmans request, the Compensation Committee approved Mr. Tuchmans base salary to be $1 for 2015. Mr. Tuchmans salary has remained at this level since 2012. Prior to the Committees determination of any incentive awards for 2015, Mr. Tuchman advised the Compensation Committee that he did not desire to receive any cash incentives or equity grants.
2015 BASE SALARY COMPENSATION FOR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The Compensation Committee analyzed benchmarks for competitive base salaries using the peer group as described above, targeting the 50th percentile overall as the guide for executive leadership teams base salary. Based on these benchmarks, in 2015, the Compensation Committee approved a base salary increase for Regina M. Paolillo from $375,000 to $400,000. The Committee determined that the base salaries for other named executive officers were in line with targets, with the exception of Mr. Tuchmans base salary which has been set at $1 based on Mr. Tuchmans request. Base salaries for our named executive officers during 2014, 2015 and as of this filing for 2016 have been as follows:
Executive |
Base Salary |
Considerations for Base Salary Determination | ||
|
2016 |
2015 |
2014 |
|
Kenneth D. Tuchman |
$ 1 |
$ 1 |
$ 1 |
As requested by Mr. Tuchman |
Martin F. DeGhetto |
$400,000 |
$400,000 |
$400,000 |
Based on the role, the scope of responsibilities, and market benchmarks |
Charles Keith Gallacher |
$400,000 |
$400,000 |
$400,000 |
Based on the market benchmarks, and compensation level required to attract Mr. Gallacher to join TeleTech |
Judi A. Hand |
$350,000 |
$350,000 |
$350,000 |
Based on the role, the size of the business segment that Ms. Hand oversees and performance |
Regina M. Paolillo |
$400,000 |
$400,000 |
$375,000 |
Based on complexity of the role and market benchmarks |
2015 PERFORMANCE-BASED CASH INCENTIVE AWARD
Performance-Based Cash Incentives Funding Criteria
The Compensation Committee of the Board resets the variable cash incentive award funding targets at the beginning of each year. In 2015, the Compensation Committee selected revenue and operating income in setting our variable incentive funding targets because these targets are consistent with the Companys long-term growth objectives and align the interests of management with the interests of our stockholders. As part of its compensation philosophy, the Compensation Committee set reasonable stretch targets that are difficult to achieve, but which it believes were achievable.
For purposes of cash incentives paid in 2015 for 2014 performance, the Compensation Committee approved the award of $1.09 million to the then named executive officers, based on the revenue and operating income levels achieved in 2014 against the annual targets, as shown in the table below. Achievement at the 100 percent of annual revenue and operating income targets in 2014 would have resulted in the funding of the cash incentives for the then named executive officers at $3.15 million. The failure to achieve minimum annual revenue and operating income targets in 2014 would have resulted in zero funding of the cash incentives in 2015.
The equitable adjustments to the 2014 actual results were determined by the Compensation Committee by factoring in the strong performance of the overall business adjusted for the considerable challenges in the Customer Technology Services (CTS) business segment which significantly missed its 2014 operating income targets due to execution and market factors. The Committee wished to balance the Companys commitment to use objective and pre-determined funding criteria with the positive momentum in the remaining business segments of the Company and the importance of rewarding and retaining high performing, critical talent while maintaining operating income performance consistent with the Companys guidance.
The adjusted 2014 revenue and operating income results measured against the targets were as follows:
Performance-Based Cash |
2014 Target |
2014 Performance |
Adjusted 2014 |
Total 2015 Performance-Based Cash |
Annual Revenue |
$1.24 $1.26 billion |
$ 1.24 billion |
$ 1.24 billion |
|
Operating Income |
$108 $131 million |
$96.4 million |
$110.2 million |
$9.7 million |
With respect to cash incentives paid in 2016 for 2015 performance, the Compensation Committee approved the award of $0.87 million to named executive officers, based on their performance against 2015 revenue and operating income targets, as adjusted. Achievement at the 100 percent of annual revenue and operating income targets in 2015 would have resulted in the funding of the cash incentives for named executive officers at $3.1 million. The failure to achieve minimum annual revenue and operating income targets in 2015 would have resulted in zero funding of the cash incentives in 2016.
The only adjustment that the Compensation Committee made to the 2015 results of operation for purposes of determining 2015 cash incentive awards were due to foreign exchange fluctuations, which are not reasonably capable of being hedged. The Compensation Committee determined that such adjustments were appropriate because these events were outside of direct control of the Company and the management team.
The adjusted 2015 revenue and operating income results measured against the targets as follows:
Performance-Based Cash |
2015 Target |
2015 Performance |
Adjusted 2015 |
Total 2016 Performance-Based Cash |
Annual Revenue |
$1.325 billion |
$1.29 billion |
$1.351 billion |
|
Operating Income |
$111 million |
$90.2 million |
$117.6 million |
$12.76 million |
Individual Performance Targets and Awards for Performance-Based Cash Incentives
If and when any cash incentives are available, based on the overall performance of the Company, how the funds are allocated to each named executive officer is determined by the Compensation Committee, at its discretion, based on the recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer, and based on the Compensation Committees view of the executives contribution to the execution of the Companys strategic priorities as set forth below:
Strategic Priorities |
Performance Objectives |
· Deliver profitable top-line growth
· Continuously innovate customer experience
· Drive market adoption of emerging solutions
· Execute strategic and accretive acquisitions
· Enhance the TeleTech client and employee experiences |
· New business signed and revenue growth
· Improved Operating Income and free cash flow
· Client satisfaction and retention
· Employee satisfaction and retention
· Overhead efficiency |
There is no formulaic tie between the Companys financial results and the amount of the cash incentives payable to individual executives under the variable cash incentive plan, once the minimum target levels of financial performance necessary to fund the plan, as determined by the Compensation Committee, are achieved by the Company.
Our cash incentives do not provide for the adjustment or recovery of amounts paid to a named executive officer if the results in a previous year are subsequently restated or adjusted in a manner that would have originally resulted in a smaller award.
In 2015, the Compensation Committee awarded cash incentives to the named executive officers for 2014 performance as follows:
Named Executive |
Target Cash |
Cash Incentives Paid in |
Basis for Cash Incentive Award |
|
Target |
Actual |
|
Kenneth D. Tuchman |
0%1 |
|
N/A |
Martin F. DeGhetto |
200% |
$370,000 |
Based on Mr. DeGhettos contribution to the revenue growth and operating income improvements resulting from the Customer Management Services business segments 2014 performance. |
Charles Keith Gallacher |
200% |
$370,000 |
Based on Mr. Gallachers contribution to TeleTechs performance through sales execution and increased bookings. |
Judi A. Hand |
200% |
$325,000 |
Based on Ms. Hands contribution to TeleTechs performance through the Customer Growth Services segments 2014 performance. |
Regina M. Paolillo |
200% |
$392,066 |
Based on Ms. Paolillos significant contribution to strategy execution and overhead efficiencies. |
1 As noted elsewhere in these Proxy materials, Mr. Tuchman has elected to forego participation in the Companys discretionary cash incentive awards program.
Cash Incentives Paid in 2016 With Respect to 2015 Performance
In February 2016, the Compensation Committee awarded cash incentives to the named executive officers for 2015 performance as follows:
Named Executive |
Target Cash |
Cash Incentives Paid in |
Basis for Cash Incentive Award |
|
Target |
Actual |
|
Kenneth D. Tuchman |
0%1 |
|
N/A |
Martin F. DeGhetto |
200% |
$221,500 |
Based on Mr. DeGhettos contribution to TeleTechs overall performance in 2015. The year over year decrease is due to Customer Management Services segment not meeting its 2015 revenue and operating income targets. |
Charles Keith Gallacher |
200% |
$100,000 |
Based on Mr. Gallachers contribution to TeleTechs performance in 2015. The year over year decrease is due to the fact that while revenue bookings grew year over year, they did not meet 2015 targets as set by the Company. |
Judi A. Hand |
200% |
$325,000 |
Based on Ms. Hands contribution to TeleTech performance in 2015. The year over year increase is due to significant revenue growth in the Customer Growth Services segment in 2015. |
Regina M. Paolillo |
200% |
$221,500 |
Based on Ms. Paolillos significant contribution to TeleTech strategy execution. The year over year decrease is due to the fact that the Company did not meet its 2015 financial targets. |
1 As noted elsewhere in these Proxy materials, Mr. Tuchman has elected to forego participation in the Companys discretionary cash incentive awards program.
In 2015, the Compensation Committee considered whether equity awards were warranted in light of the Companys performance, peer company benchmarks and each individual named executive officers performance. Based on this review, the Compensation Committee determined to make restricted stock unit (RSU) grants to our named executive officers. The primary characteristics of the RSUs being granted were:
· Annual RSU grants vest in four-year increments with 25 percent of the award vesting on each of the award anniversary dates. · Executive officer must remain employed by the Company through the vesting date for each portion of the grant to vest. · The awards are structured to have a strong retention value and align executives interests to stockholders interest over a longer term. |
· RSUs provide a long-term incentive to balance shorter-term incentives provided by cash awards and base salaries. · Vesting of RSUs may be affected by a change of control, as discussed below under Executive Compensation Tables - Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control. |
In 2015, the Compensation Committee made the following RSU grants to Mr. DeGhetto, Mr. Gallacher, Ms. Hand, and Ms. Paolillo. These grants vest in four equal installments on each anniversary date of the grant through 2019, subject to continued employment with the Company.
Named Executive Officer |
FMV 2015 |
2015 RSU Grant |
Considerations for 2015 Determination |
Kenneth D. Tuchman |
$0 |
0 Shares |
Mr. Tuchman requested that the Compensation Committee provide no equity grant for him in 2015. |
Martin F. DeGhetto |
$ 750,008 |
27,696 Shares |
Mr. DeGhettos equity grant made in 2015, for 2014 performance, was based on the overall company results. |
Charles Keith Gallacher |
$1,132,514 |
43,959 Shares |
Mr. Gallacher received two equity grants in 2015, both with respect to his 2014 performance. He received 16,263 shares in early 2015 based on strong progress made in revenue bookings in 2014. He also received an annual grant of 27,696 shares for 2014 performance based on the overall company results. |
Judi A. Hand |
$ 750,008 |
27,696 Shares |
Ms. Hands equity grant made in 2015, for 2014 performance, was based on the overall company results. |
Regina M. Paolillo |
$ 750,008 |
27,696 Shares |
Ms. Paolillos equity grant made in 2015, for 2014 performance, was based on the overall company results. |
From time to time, we have entered into employment agreements with senior executive officers, including three of our named executive officers: Messrs. Tuchman, Gallacher and Ms. Paolillo. As a matter of policy, the Company does not enter into employment agreements, except in circumstance when required to do so by law or in special circumstances when management believes that such agreements are necessary to attract an executive or retain an executive in light of market conditions. The Compensation Committee reviews, but is not required to approve, employment agreements with senior executive officers, except our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. The primary compensation terms of our employment agreements with those named executive officers who have the agreements are summarized below.
Tuchman Agreement · TeleTech entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Tuchman in 2001. · Base Salary and Incentives. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, Mr. Tuchman is entitled to base salary, annual cash and equity incentives. But beginning in 2012, Mr. Tuchman requested that the Compensation Committee limit his base compensation to $1, and awarded him no annual cash or equity incentives. · Benefits. Mr. Tuchman and members of his family are entitled to participate in all TeleTech employee benefits at the Companys expense. · Life Insurance. The Company agreed to provide Mr. Tuchman with $4,000,000 term life insurance policy, premiums fully paid by the company. The policy is owned by Mr. Tuchman and may continue post termination of employment, subject to Mr. Tuchman paying all the premiums. · Severance. Subject to customary releases, Mr. Tuchman is entitled to severance in the amount of 24 months of base pay, if he is terminated without cause or terminates his employment for good reason. · Change in Control Provisions. The employment agreement provides for change in control provisions that result in accelerated vesting of all unvested equity awarded to Mr. Tuchman, subject to certain conditions that have been superseded by change in control provisions of specific equity grant documents (see, Executive Compensation Tables - Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control section of the Proxy Statement). · Non-Disparagement. The agreement provides that on separation of affiliation, whatever the reason, TeleTech will refrain from any comments regarding Mr. Tuchman and his affiliation with TeleTech. A breach of this provision provides for a $200,000 liquidated damages payment. |
Paolillo Agreement · TeleTech entered into an employment agreement with Ms. Paolillo in 2011. · Base Salary. Entitled to receive base salary of at least $400,000 amended from time to time at the Companys discretion. · Annual Cash Incentives. Guaranteed cash bonus during 2012, with the right to participate in the annual incentive plan starting in 2013 (for 2012 performance) and every year thereafter, with a target of 100% of base salary and an opportunity to a higher bonus as determined by the Compensation Committee based on the Companys performance and the executives performance. The agreement provides no cap on the bonus potential but states that the amount payable may be zero. In 2014, the Compensation Committee approved a 200% target for all members of TeleTechs senior executive team, including Ms. Paolillo. · Equity Grants. The agreement provides for a time-based RSU grant in the amount of 100,000 shares vesting over four years with the first tranche vesting on the second anniversary of the grant (in 2013) and remainder vesting in 2014 and 2015 on the grant anniversary dates. The agreement also provides for a performance-based RSU grant in the amount of 100,000 units that vests based on targeted revenue and operating margin by the end of 2014. (The metrics with respect to this grant were not achieved and the grant was forfeited). Also, the agreement provides for the grant of 150,000 stock options vesting over a four-year period based on performance metrics tied to TeleTechs stock price (The metrics for this grant have not been met to date). · Benefits. Employee is entitled to participate in all customary benefits; provided however that the Company will pay for $4,000,000 of life insurance for the duration of Ms. Paolillos employment with the company. · Severance. Subject to customary releases, Ms. Paolillo is entitled to severance in the amount of 12 months of base pay if she is terminated without cause. |
Gallacher Agreement · TeleTech entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Gallacher in 2013. · Base Salary. Entitled to receive base salary of at least $400,000 amended from time to time at the Companys discretion. · Annual Cash Incentives. Guaranteed cash bonus payable March 2014 of at least $350,000 with right to participate in the Companys annual incentive Plan beginning in 2013, with a target of 200% of base salary. · Equity Grants. The agreement provides for a time-based RSU grant in the amount of 75,000 shares vesting over four years with the first tranche vesting on the second anniversary date of the grant (in 2015) and remainder vesting in 2016, 2017 and 2018 on the grant anniversary date. Mr. Gallacher is also eligible to receive fair market value equity grants with a cash value of up to two times his base salary beginning in 2014. The fair market value of such grants will be based on a variety of performance criteria including, but not limited to the Companys annual revenue, operating income, bookings, client net promoter score and individual goals. · Benefits. Mr. Gallacher is entitled to participate in all customary benefits for executives at TeleTech; no additional benefits or perquisites are included. · Severance. Subject to customary releases, Mr. Gallacher is entitled to severance in the amount of 12 months of base pay if he is terminated without cause. |
Provisions in our named executive officers employment agreements relating to severance, termination and change in control are discussed in greater detail in the under section below entitled Executive Compensation Tables - Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.
Compensation Risk Assessment
As discussed above under the heading Boards Role in Our Risk Management, we conduct an annual assessment of our compensation policies and practices for all employees. We review and discuss the results of this assessment with the Compensation Committee. Based upon this assessment, review and discussion, we believe that our compensation policies and practices do not create unreasonable risk to the business.
TAX AND ACCOUNTING CONSIDERATIONS
Limitations on the Deductibility of Compensation
Under Section 162(m) of the Code, unless certain exceptions apply, no tax deduction is allowed for annual compensation in excess of $1 million paid to our principal executive officer, our principal financial officer and three other most highly compensated executive officers unless it qualifies as performance- based compensation, based upon performance criteria that have been disclosed to and approved by stockholders before the payment of such compensation is made. Performance-based compensation qualifying under Section 162(m), among other requirements, must be payable only upon attainment of pre-established, objective performance goals that were established by a Board or its committee that consists of outside directors only.
Section 409A of the Code imposes additional income taxes on executive officers for certain types of deferred compensation that do not comply with Section 409A of the Code. In 2008, we revised several of our compensation plans and agreements with technical changes designed to cause any nonqualified deferred compensation payable under such plans and agreements to comply with, or be exempt from, Section 409A. We did so because we provide certain executives, including our named executive officers, with the opportunity to contribute up to 75 percent of their salaries or cash incentives to a deferred compensation plan. We do not provide deferred compensation to the named executive officers in excess of their individual contributions.
Accounting Considerations
The Compensation Committee also considers the accounting and cash flow implications of our executive compensation program. In our financial statements, we record salaries and cash incentives as expenses in the amount paid, or to be paid, to the named executive officers. Accounting rules also require us to record equity awards as an expense in our financial statements even though equity awards are not paid as cash to employees. The accounting expense of equity awards to employees is calculated in accordance with the guidance in FASB ASC Topic 718. The Compensation Committee believes, however, that the advantages of equity compensation programs, as discussed above, outweigh the non-cash compensation expense associated with them.
Summary Compensation Table for 2015
The following table sets forth the compensation for the services in all capacities to us and our subsidiary companies for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 of our Named Executive Officers:
Name and Principal Position |
|
Year |
|
Salary |
|
Bonus |
|
Stock |
|
Option |
|
Non-Equity |
|
Change in |
|
All Other |
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kenneth D. Tuchman |
|
2015 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
29,374 |
|
61,610 |
|
90,985 |
|
|
2014 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
99,503 |
|
61,720 |
|
161,224 |
| |
|
2013 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
301,856 |
|
58,747 |
|
360,604 |
| |
Martin F. DeGhetto |
|
2015 |
|
415,385 |
|
|
|
750,008 |
|
|
|
370,000 |
|
|
|
43,528 |
|
1,578,921 |
|
|
2014 |
|
392,692 |
|
|
|
999,990 |
|
|
|
500,000 |
|
|
|
38,942 |
|
1,931,624 |
| |
|
2013 |
|
370,481 |
|
|
|
317,497 |
|
|
|
315,000 |
|
|
|
52,463 |
|
1,055,441 |
| |
Charles Keith Gallacher |
|
2015 |
|
415,385 |
|
|
|
1,132,514 |
|
|
|
370,000 |
|
588 |
|
3,669 |
|
1,922,156 |
|
|
2014 |
|
400,000 |
|
85,000 |
|
299,991 |
|
|
|
350,000 |
|
|
|
3,039 |
|
1,138,030 |
| |
|
2013 |
|
215,385 |
|
85,000 |
|
1,785,750 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,812 |
|
2,088,947 |
| |
Judi A. Hand |
|
2015 |
|
363,462 |
|
|
|
750,008 |
|
|
|
325,000 |
|
|
|
37,646 |
|
1,476,116 |
|
|
2014 |
|
350,000 |
|
|
|
999,9907 |
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
65,180 |
|
1,565,170 |
| |
|
2013 |
|
350,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
175,000 |
|
|
|
26,321 |
|
551,321 |
| |
Regina M. Paolillo |
|
2015 |
|
410,577 |
|
|
|
750,008 |
|
|
|
392,066 |
|
3,150 |
|
15,639 |
|
1,571,440 |
|
|
2014 |
|
375,000 |
|
|
|
1,640,250 |
|
|
|
400,000 |
|
88,404 |
|
12,106 |
|
2,515,760 |
| |
|
2013 |
|
375,000 |
|
|
|
317,497 |
|
|
|
315,000 |
|
202,896 |
|
16,022 |
|
1,226,415 |
|
1 Based on TeleTechs bi-weekly pay practice, the 2015 salaries shown above reflect 27 pay periods versus the customary 26, resulting in 2015 salaries reported that are greater than the annual base salaries.
2 Amounts are discretionary cash bonus payments and sign-on bonus payments outside of the discretionary performance-based cash incentive awards that are not subject to pre-established and communicated performance measures. Discretionary bonuses are paid in the first quarter of the year following the year for which such bonus was awarded and sign-on bonuses are generally paid at the time of hire.
3 Amounts were calculated pursuant the guidance in FASB ASC Topic 718. We calculate the fair value for RSUs based on the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant multiplied by the number of shares granted and assume with regard to performance vesting RSUs, if any, achievement of the maximum performance targets.
4 Amounts are annual discretionary performance-based cash incentive awards payments that are awarded based upon the Compensation Committees subjective assessment of each named executive officers performance under pre-established and communicated performance measures (specifically, the success factors described above in the section entitled Compensation Discussion and Analysis under the headings How We Determine Executive CompensationCompensation Committee Determines All Executive Compensation and How We Determine Executive Compensation2015 Cash Incentives-Strategic Objectives) and were paid during the first quarter of 2015 based on prior year performance.
5 Amounts are summarized below in the section entitled Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table. Pursuant to Instruction 3 to Item 402(c)(viii) of Regulation S-K, negative amounts are disclosed in the Non-qualified Deferred Compensation table below, but are excluded from the Summary Compensation Table.
6 Amounts are summarized below under the heading All Other Compensation Table.
7 In 2014, Ms. Hand was awarded a performance equity grant contingent on specific revenue and operating income targets for the Customer Growth Services business segment, which she leads. Based on the business segments actual revenue and operating income performance in 2014, Ms. Hand earned 8,394 shares, valued at $247,238 of the $999,990.
The Summary Compensation Table should be read in conjunction with additional tables and narrative descriptions that follow. The Grants of Plan-Based Awards table, and the accompanying description of the material terms of the RSU awards granted in 2015, provides information regarding the long-term equity incentives awarded to Named Executive Officers in 2015. The Outstanding Equity Awards at Year-End and Option Exercises and Stock Vested tables provide further information on the Named Executive Officers potential realizable value and actual value realized with respect to their equity awards.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table
Name |
|
Executive |
|
Registrant |
|
Aggregate |
|
Aggregate Withdrawals/ |
|
Aggregate Balance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kenneth D. Tuchman |
|
|
|
|
|
29,374 |
|
|
|
1,973,623 |
Martin F. DeGhetto |
|
7,776 |
|
|
|
(390) |
|
|
|
7,386 |
Charles Keith Gallacher |
|
25,914 |
|
|
|
588 |
|
|
|
26,502 |
Judi A. Hand |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Regina M. Paolillo |
|
488,840 |
|
|
|
3,150 |
|
|
|
1,950,270 |
1 Amounts set forth in this column are included in Salary, Bonus and/or Non-Equity Incentive Plan compensation columns of the Summary Compensation Table above for the named executive officers.
2 With the exception of a negative amount for Mr. DeGhetto, amounts set forth in this column are included in the Change in Pension Value and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings column of the Summary Compensation Table above for the named executive officers.
3 Amounts set forth in this column were reported as compensation to the named executive officers in the Summary Compensation Table for 2015 and previous years.
The following table describes the perquisites and other compensation received by the named executive officers during 2015:
Perquisite |
|
Mr. Tuchman |
|
Mr. DeGhetto |
|
Mr. Gallacher |
|
Mrs. Hand |
|
Ms. Paolillo |
Use of Aircraft |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Automobile |
|
$35,258 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive Health/Dental/Vision Premiums |
|
$ 21,266 |
|
$24,776 |
|
|
|
$24,776 |
|
$ 6,885 |
Group Term/Executive Life Premiums |
|
$ 804 |
|
$10,802 |
|
$ 280 |
|
$ 3,708 |
|
$ 804 |
Deferred Death Benefit |
|
$ 4,282 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
401(k) Plan Matching Contributions |
|
|
|
$ 7,950 |
|
$3,389 |
|
$ 9,162 |
|
$ 7,950 |
Total |
|
$61,610 |
|
$43,528 |
|
$3,669 |
|
$37,646 |
|
$15,639 |
Each of the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards reported in this Grants of Plan-Based Awards table refers to discretionary performance-based cash incentive award payments. The material terms of these incentive awards are described in the section entitled Compensation Discussion and Analysis. The following table sets forth information about the discretionary performance-based cash incentive awards or discretionary cash bonuses for the named executive officers in 2015 and the RSU stock awards to each named executive officer during 2015:
|
|
|
|
Estimated Future Payouts Under |
|
Estimated Future Payouts Under |
|
All Other |
|
All Other Option |
|
Exercise or |
|
Grant Date | ||||||||
Name |
|
Grant
|
|
Threshold
|
|
Target
|
|
Maximum
|
|
Threshold
|
|
Target
|
|
Maximum
|
|
Shares of Stock
|
|
Underlying
|
|
of Option
|
|
and Option
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kenneth D. Tuchman |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Martin F. DeGhetto |
|
7/1/2015 |
|
0 |
|
800,000 |
|
No Maximum |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27,696 |
|
|
|
27.08 |
|
750,008 |
Charles Keith Gallacher |
|
1/2/2015 |
|
0 |
|
800,000 |
|
No Maximum |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,263 |
|
|
|
23.52 |
|
382,506 |
|
7/1/2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27,696 |
|
|
|
27.08 |
|
750,008 | |
Judi A. Hand |
|
7/1/2015 |
|
0 |
|
700,000 |
|
No Maximum |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27,696 |
|
|
|
27.08 |
|
750,008 |
Regina M. Paolillo |
|
7/1/2015 |
|
0 |
|
800,000 |
|
No Maximum |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27,696 |
|
|
|
27.08 |
|
750,008 |
1 Amounts set forth in these columns are based on estimated future payouts for 2015 discretionary performance-based cash incentive awards. Mr. Tuchman has elected not to participate in prior year discretionary performance-based cash incentive awards and he again elected not to receive such awards for 2015. However, on December 31, 2015, Mr. Tuchman was still eligible to receive payments for such awards.
2 Amounts set forth in this column represent the number of shares underlying time-in-service based RSU awards.
3 Amounts set forth in this column represent the grant date fair value as determined pursuant to the guidance in FASB ASC Topic 718. We calculate the fair value for RSUs based on the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant multiplied by the number of shares granted.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Year-End
The following table presents information regarding the outstanding equity awards held by each of the named executive officers as of December 31, 2015, including the vesting dates for the portions of these awards that had not vested as of that date. All equity awards listed below were issued from our Equity Incentive Plans.
|
|
|
|
Options Awards |
|
Stock Awards | ||||||||||||
Name |
|
Grant |
|
Number of |
|
Number of |
|
Option |
|
Option |
|
Number |
|
Market Value of |
|
Equity Incentive |
|
Equity Incentive |
Kenneth D. Tuchman |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Martin F. DeGhetto |
|
3/5/2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,0002 |
|
279,100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
4/1/2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,9613 |
|
250,102 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
7/1/2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,4584 |
|
710,533 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
7/1/2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27,6965 |
|
772,995 |
|
|
|
|
Charles Keith Gallacher |
|
6/7/2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
45,0006 |
|
1,255,950 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
7/1/2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,6384 |
|
213,177 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1/2/2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,2637 |
|
453,900 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
7/1/2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27,6965 |
|
772,995 |
|
|
|
|
Judi A. Hand |
|
7/1/2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,2958 |
|
175,693 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
7/1/2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27,6965 |
|
772,995 |
|
|
|
|
Regina M. Paolillo |
|
11/1/2011 |
|
|
|
133,3339 |
|
17.31 |
|
11/15/2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|