ora20140319_def14a.htm

SCHEDULE 14A

 

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934

 

Filed by the Registrant

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant

 

Check the appropriate box:

 

Preliminary Proxy Statement

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

Definitive Proxy Statement

Definitive Additional Materials

Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

 

ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

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

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

No fee required.

Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

 

 

(1)

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

(2)

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

(3)

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

 

 

(4)

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

 

(5)

Total fee paid:

 

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

 

(1)

Amount Previously Paid:

 

 

(2)

Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 

 

(3)

Filing Party:

 

 

(4)

Date Filed:

 

 

 

 

 

NOTICE OF 2014 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held May 8, 2014

 

To Our Stockholders:

 

We cordially invite you to attend the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Ormat Technologies, Inc. The meeting will take place at the offices of Chadbourne & Parke LLP, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112 on Thursday, May 8, 2014, at 1:30 P.M. local time. We look forward to your attendance either in person or by proxy.

 

The purpose of the meeting is to: 

 

 

1.

Elect the three directors named in the attached Proxy Statement, each for a term of three years;

 

 

2.

Hold an advisory vote on executive compensation (the “Say-on-Pay” vote);

 

 

3.

Approve the amendment to the Company’s 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan to increase the total number of shares underlying options, SARs or other awards that may be granted to newly-hired executive officers;

 

 

4.

Ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Ormat Technologies, Inc.’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2014; and

 

 

5.

Transact any other business that may properly come before the meeting or any postponements or adjournments of the meeting.

 

 

By order of the Board of Directors,

 

/s/ Yehudit Bronicki

Yehudit Bronicki
Chief Executive Officer

  

March 27, 2014

 

Your vote is important to us regardless of whether or not you plan to attend the meeting.  We encourage you to submit a proxy to vote your shares either (i) on the internet, (ii) by telephone, or (iii) by signing and dating a proxy card and returning it to the Company.

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting To Be Held on Thursday, May 8, 2014.

 

  This Proxy Statement, the proxy card form, the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials and our Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at http://materials.proxyvote.com/686688 by clicking on the proxy link.
     

 

You will need your assigned control number to vote your shares. Your control number can be found on your proxy card or voting instruction form.

 

 

The time and location of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders are noted above.

 

 
 

 

 

ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 2014 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING AND PROXY STATEMENT

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Page

 

  

NOTICE OF 2014 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS 

2014 PROXY STATEMENT

1

Questions and Answers about the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

2

PROPOSAL 1 – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

6

Current Nominees

6

Continuing Directors

8

INFORMATION REGARDING BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES

9

Board Leadership Structure

10

Board Committees

10

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

12

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

12

Corporate Governance Guidelines

12

Executive Sessions

13

Stockholder Communications with the Board of Directors

13

Board's Role in Risk Oversight

13

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

14

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

16

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

18

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

20

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

24

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

25

Summary Compensation Table

25

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

27

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

30

Option Exercises

31

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

31

Estimated Payments and Benefits upon Termination

33

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

34

PROPOSAL 2 – ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

35

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

36

 

 

 

 

TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS

36

REVIEW, APPROVAL OR RATIFICATION OF TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS

40

PROPOSAL 3 - APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY’S 2012 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN TO INCREASE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SHARES UNDERLYING OPTIONS, SARS OR OTHER AWARDS THAT MAY BE GRANTED TO NEWLY-HIRED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS 

41

Amended and Restated 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan

41

Equity Compensation Plan Information

46

PROPOSAL 4 — RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

47

Appointment of Registered Public Accounting Firm

47

Audit and Non-Audit Fees

47

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Procedures for Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

47

OTHER MATTERS

48

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

48

Householding of Proxies

48

Additional Filings

48

Proxy Solicitation

48

Stockholder Proposals for 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

49

Appendix A – Amended and Restated Ormat Technologies, Inc. 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan

50

 

 
ii 

 

 

ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
6225 Neil Road,
Reno, Nevada 89511

 

2014 PROXY STATEMENT

 

The Board of Directors of Ormat Technologies, Inc. (“Ormat”, “we”, “us”, “the Company” or “our Company”) is making this proxy statement available to you in connection with the solicitation of proxies on its behalf for the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The meeting will take place at the offices of Chadbourne & Parke LLP, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112 on Thursday, May 8, 2014, at 1:30 P.M. local time. At the meeting, stockholders will (i) vote on the election of the three directors named in this proxy statement, (ii) hold an advisory vote on executive compensation (the "Say-on-Pay" vote), (iii) vote on the approval of the amendment to the Company's 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan to increase the total number of shares underlying options, stock appreciation rights (SARs) or other awards that may be granted to newly-hired executive officers, and (iv) vote on the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Ormat’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2014, and will transact any other business that may properly come before the meeting although we know of no other business to be presented.

 

The record date for the meeting is March 18, 2014. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on that date are entitled to vote at the meeting.

 

We are taking advantage of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rule that allows companies to furnish proxy materials to their stockholders over the Internet. As a result, we are mailing to most of our stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the "Notice") instead of a paper copy of this proxy statement and our 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K. We believe that this process allows us to provide our stockholders with the information they need in a timelier manner, while reducing the environmental impact and lowering the costs of printing and distributing our proxy materials. The Notice contains instructions on how to access those documents over the Internet. The Notice also contains instructions on how to vote online or by telephone and how to request a paper copy of our proxy materials, including this proxy statement, our 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and a proxy card form or voting instruction card.

 

By submitting your proxy (by signing and returning the proxy card, or processing your proxy online, or by phone), you authorize each of Yehudit Bronicki, Chief Executive Officer of Ormat, and Etty Rosner, Senior Vice President and Corporate Secretary of Ormat, to represent you and vote your shares at the meeting in accordance with your instructions. Either one of them may also vote your shares to adjourn the meeting and will be authorized to vote your shares at any postponements or adjournments of the meeting.

 

Ormat’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2013, which includes Ormat’s audited financial statements, is being made available to stockholders together with this proxy statement. Except to the extent that we specifically incorporate information by reference, our Annual Report on Form 10-K does not constitute a part of the proxy solicitation materials and is not incorporated by reference into this proxy statement.

 

We are first making available this proxy statement and accompanying materials to stockholders on or about March 27, 2014.

 

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE PROMPTLY SUBMIT YOUR PROXY VIA THE INTERNET, BY PHONE OR BY SIGNING AND DATING A PROXY CARD AND RETURNING IT TO US IN THE ENVELOPE THAT WE WILL SEND YOU ON REQUEST.

 

 
1

 

 

Questions and Answers about the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

 

What is the purpose of the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders?

 

At the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the stockholders will be asked to:

 

1.  Elect the three directors named in this proxy statement, each for a term of three years (Proposal 1);

 

2.  Hold an advisory vote on executive compensation (the “Say-on-Pay” vote) (Proposal 2);

 

3. Approve the amendment to the Company’s 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan to increase the total number of shares underlying options, SARs or other awards that may be granted to newly-hired executive officers (Proposal 3); and

 

4.  Ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Ormat’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2014 (Proposal 4).

 

Stockholders also will transact any other business that may properly come before the meeting. Members of Ormat’s management team and a representative of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Ormat’s independent registered public accounting firm, will be present at the meeting to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.

 

Who is entitled to vote?

 

The record date for the meeting is March 18, 2014. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on that date are entitled to vote at the meeting. The only class of stock entitled to be voted at the meeting is Ormat’s Common Stock. Each outstanding share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote for all matters before the meeting. At the close of business on the record date there were 45,460,653 shares of Ormat Common Stock outstanding.

 

What is the difference between being a “record holder” and holding shares in “street name”?

 

A record holder holds shares in his or her name. Shares held in “street name” means shares that are held in the name of a bank or broker on a person’s behalf.

 

Am I entitled to vote if my shares are held in “street name”?

 

If your shares are held by a bank or a brokerage firm, you are considered the “beneficial owner” of shares held in “street name”. If your shares are held in street name, the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials is being forwarded to you by your bank or brokerage firm (the “record holder”), along with a voting instruction card. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your record holder how to vote your shares, and the record holder is required to vote your shares in accordance with your instructions.

 

Under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), if you do not give instructions to your bank or brokerage firm, it may vote on matters that the NYSE determines to be “routine”, but will not be permitted to vote your shares with respect to “non-routine” items. Under the NYSE rules, the ratification of appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm (Proposal 4) is a routine matter, but the election of Directors (Proposal 1), the Say-on-Pay vote (Proposal 2), and the approval of the amendment to the Company’s 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan to increase the total number of shares underlying options, SARs or other awards that may be granted to newly-hired executive officers (Proposal 3) are not considered to be routine matters. When a broker or bank has not received instructions from the beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote and the broker or bank cannot vote on a particular matter because it is not routine, then there is a “broker non-vote” on that matter. Broker non-votes do not count as votes for or against any proposal.

 

As the beneficial owner of shares, you are invited to attend the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. If you are a beneficial owner, however, you may not vote your shares in person at the meeting unless you obtain a proxy form from the record holder of your shares.

 

 
2

 

 

How many shares must be present to hold the meeting?

 

A quorum must be present at the meeting for any business to be conducted. The presence at the meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock outstanding on the record date will constitute a quorum.

 

Who can attend the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders?

 

All Ormat stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 18, 2014 may attend the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

 

What if a quorum is not present at the meeting?

 

If a quorum is not present at the scheduled time of the meeting, a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote represented may adjourn the meeting.

 

What does it mean if I receive more than one Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials?

 

It means that your shares are held in more than one account at the transfer agent and/or with banks or brokers. Please vote all of your shares. To ensure that all of your shares are voted, please vote for each account in which your shares are held.

 

How do I vote?

 

You may vote by submitting your proxy either (i) on the internet, (ii) by telephone, or (iii) by signing and dating a proxy card and returning it to the Company.

 

The Notice of Internet Availability we (or the bank or brokerage firm that holds your shares in street name) sent to you explains how you can:

 

 

vote by internet or by telephone and how you can receive a paper or email copy of a proxy card if you are a record holder of shares; or

 

 

give voting instructions to your bank or brokerage firm if your shares are held in street name.

 

The return envelope that we will send you if you request a paper proxy card requires no additional postage if mailed in either the United States or Canada.

 

If you are a record stockholder and attend the meeting, you may deliver your completed proxy card in person. Additionally, we will pass out written ballots to record stockholders who wish to vote in person at the meeting. Beneficial owners of shares held in street name who wish to vote at the meeting will need to obtain a proxy form from their record holder.

 

Can I change my vote after I submit my proxy?

 

If you are a record holder of shares, you may revoke your proxy and change your vote at any time before it is actually voted:

 

 

by signing and delivering another proxy with a later date;

 

 

by giving written notice of such revocation to the Corporate Secretary of Ormat prior to or at the meeting; or

 

 

by voting in person at the meeting.

 

 
3

 

 

If you are a beneficial owner of shares, you may submit new voting instructions by contacting your bank, broker or other record holder, or, if you have obtained a legal proxy from your bank, broker or other record holder giving you the right to vote your shares, by attending the meeting and voting in person. Your attendance at the meeting itself will not revoke your proxy unless you give written notice of revocation to the Corporate Secretary before your proxy is voted or you vote in person at the meeting.

 

Who will count the votes?

 

Ormat’s transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, will tabulate and certify the votes. A representative of the transfer agent may serve as an inspector of election.

 

How does the Board of Directors recommend I vote on the proposals?

 

Your Board recommends that you vote FOR:

 

 

The election of the three nominees named in this proxy statement to the Board of Directors;

 

 

The approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers;

 

 

The approval of the amendment to the Company’s 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan to increase the total number of shares underlying options, SARs or other awards that may be granted to newly-hired executive officers; and

 

 

The ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Ormat’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2014.

 

 What if I do not specify how my shares are to be voted?

 

If you submit a proxy but do not indicate any voting instructions, the persons named as proxies will vote in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors as described above.

 

Will any other business be conducted at the meeting?

 

We know of no other business that will be presented at the meeting. If any other matter properly comes before the stockholders for a vote at the meeting, however, the proxy holders will vote your shares in accordance with their best judgment.

 

How many votes are required to elect the director nominees?

 

The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present at the meeting in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote is required to elect each of the three nominees named in this proxy statement as directors.

 

How many votes are required to approve the Say-on-Pay proposal?

 

An affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of our shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter is necessary to approve on an advisory basis the compensation of our named executive officers, although such vote will not be binding on us.

 

How many votes are required to approve the amendment of the Company’s 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan to increase the total number of shares underlying options, SARs or other awards that may be granted to newly-hired executive officers?

 

Approval of the amendment to the Company’s 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan requires an affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of our shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter, provided that the total votes cast represent over 50% in interest of all securities entitled to vote on the proposal.

 

 
4

 

 

How many votes are required to ratify the appointment of Ormat’s independent registered public accounting firm?

 

The ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Ormat’s independent registered public accounting firm requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present at the meeting in person or by proxy and entitled to vote.

 

What is an abstention and how will abstentions be treated?

 

An “abstention” represents a stockholder’s affirmative choice to decline to vote on a proposal other than the election of directors (for directors, the choice is limited to “For” or “Withhold”). Under Delaware law, abstained shares are treated as shares present for quorum and entitled to vote, so they will have the same practical effect as votes against a proposal except for the proposal for the election of directors.

 

How will broker non-votes be treated?

 

Broker non-votes will be treated as shares present for quorum purposes, but not considered entitled to vote on that matter. Therefore, broker non-votes do not count as votes for or against any proposal.

 

Where can I find the voting results of the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders?

 

We plan to announce preliminary voting results at the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and to publish final results in a Current Report on Form 8-K  to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) within four business days of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

 

 
5

 

 

PROPOSAL 1 – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

Board Composition

 

Our Board of Directors is now composed of eight members, including six independent directors, Dan Falk, Robert F. Clarke, Gillon Beck, Ami Boehm, David Granot, and Robert E. Joyal.  Our Board of Directors is classified into three classes of directors serving staggered, three-year terms as indicated:

 

Class I Directors (term expiring upon the annual stockholders meeting in 2014)
Yoram Bronicki
David Granot

Robert E. Joyal

 

Class II Directors (term expiring upon the annual stockholders meeting in 2015)

Yehudit Bronicki
Robert F. Clarke

Ami Boehm

 

Class III Directors (term expiring upon the annual stockholders meeting in 2016)
Gillon Beck
Dan Falk

 

Current Nominees

 

As mentioned above, directors in each of the three classes are elected to serve for three-year terms that expire in successive years. The terms of Class I Directors will expire at the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Board of Directors has nominated Yoram Bronicki, David Granot, and Robert E. Joyal as Class I Directors for three-year terms expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2017 and until their successors are elected and qualified. Each nominee currently serves as a Class I Director.

 

Each nominee has consented to being named in this proxy statement and has agreed to serve if elected. If a nominee is unable to stand for election, the Board of Directors may either reduce the number of directors to be elected or select a substitute nominee. If a substitute nominee is selected, the proxy holders will vote your shares for the substitute nominee, unless you have withheld authority.

 

The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present at the meeting in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote is required to elect each of the three nominees named in this proxy statement as directors. This means that these three nominees will be elected if they receive a majority of the votes cast.

 

YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE THREE NOMINEES NAMED ABOVE.

  

 
6

 

 

The following sets forth, with respect to each nominee, the nominee's name, age, principal occupation and employment during the past five years, the year in which the nominee first became a director of Ormat Technologies, Inc. and directorships held in other public companies.

 

Nominees for Election as Class I Directors for a Three-Year Term Expiring at the 2017 Annual Meeting

 

Yoram Bronicki. Yoram Bronicki has been a member of our Board of Directors since November 12, 2004, and has been our President and Chief Operating Officer since September 20, 2007. From July 1, 2004 to September 20, 2007, Mr. Bronicki served as our Chief Operating Officer, North America. Mr. Bronicki was also a member of the Board of Directors of Ormat Industries Ltd. from 2001 to May 2012. From 1999 to 2001, Mr. Bronicki was Project Manager of Ormat Industries Ltd. and Ormat International Inc.; from 1996 to 1999, he was Project Manager of Ormat Industries Ltd.; and from 1995 to 1996, he was Project Engineer of Ormat Industries Ltd.  Mr. Bronicki is the son of Lucien and Yehudit Bronicki. Mr. Bronicki obtained a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Tel Aviv University in 1989 and a Certificate from the Technion Institute of Management Senior Executives Program.  Mr. Bronicki is 47 years old. See also "Board Leadership Structure" below.

 

The Board has concluded that Mr. Bronicki should serve as director of the Company because of his experience as the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer, his over 15 years of experience in the power industry, and his in-depth knowledge of the Company’s business.

 

David Granot. David Granot has been a member of our Board of Directors since May 22, 2012. From 2007 to January 1, 2014, Mr. Granot served as Chairman of Scorpio Real Estate, a non-US public company. Mr. Granot is currently a member of the Board of the following non-U.S. public companies: Harel Insurance Investments and Financial Services Ltd., Alrov Israel, and Tempo Beverages Ltd. He also serves on the Board of G.D. Goren Management and Consultation Ltd., a private company. During the past five years, Mr. Granot served as a member of the Board of Directors of the following non-U.S. public companies, for which he no longer serves as a Director: Bateman Litwin N.V. and Ham-Let, a member of the IDB Group. From 2001 through 2007, Mr. Granot served as the Chief Executive Officer of the First International Bank of Israel Ltd. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Master of Business Administration from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Mr. Granot is 67 years old.

 

The Board has concluded that Mr. Granot should serve as a director of the Company because of his extensive management, banking and financial experience, and his overall business knowledge.

 

Robert E. Joyal. Robert E. Joyal has been a member of our Board of Directors since May 22, 2012. Since 2006, Mr. Joyal has served as a Director of Jefferies Group, Inc., which had been a public company until 2013, and since 2013 has served as a Director of Leucadia National Corporation, a public company that became the parent company of Jefferies Group, Inc. Since 2003, Mr. Joyal has served as a Member of the Board of Trustees of the following investment funds: MassMutual Funds, Babson Capital Corporate Investors, and Babson Capital Participation Investors, and since 2013 has served as a Director of Barings Asset Management Korea. Mr. Joyal also serves as a Director of FIMI 2001 Ltd. and FITE 2004 Ltd., and is a member of the investment committee of various funds sponsored by FIMI. He has also been a Director of Kimco Insurance Company since 2007, and a Member of the Board of Trustees of First Israel Mezzanine Investors since 2003. During the past five years, Mr. Joyal served as a member of the Board of Directors of the following public companies, for which he no longer serves as a Director: Alabama Aircraft Industries Inc. and Scottish Re Group Ltd. Mr. Joyal is a Chartered Financial Analyst. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from St. Michael's College and a Master of Business Administration from Western New England College. Mr. Joyal is 69 years old.

 

The Board has concluded that Mr. Joyal should serve as a director of the Company because of his extensive investment and financing experience, and his overall business knowledge.

 

 
7

 

 

Continuing Directors

 

Class II Directors Continuing in Office Whose Terms Expire at the 2015 Annual Meeting

 

Yehudit “Dita” Bronicki. Yehudit Bronicki has been our Chief Executive Officer since July 1, 2004, and is also a member of our Board of Directors. From July 1, 2004 to September 20, 2007, Mrs. Bronicki also served as our President. Mrs. Bronicki was a co-founder of Ormat Turbines Ltd. and is a member of the Board of Directors and the General Manager (a CEO-equivalent position) of Ormat Industries Ltd., the publicly-traded successor to Ormat Turbines Ltd., and several of its subsidiaries. From 1992 to June 2005, Mrs. Bronicki was a director of Bet Shemesh Engines, a manufacturer of jet engines. In addition, since 2000 Mrs. Bronicki has been a member of the Board of Orbotech Ltd., a NASDAQ-listed manufacturer of equipment for inspecting and imaging circuit boards and display panels. From 1994 to 2001, Mrs. Bronicki was on the Advisory Board of the Bank of Israel. Mrs. Bronicki has worked in the power industry since 1965. Yehudit Bronicki and Lucien Bronicki are married and are the parents of Yoram Bronicki. Mrs. Bronicki obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from Hebrew University in 1965. In 2007, she received a PhD. Honoris Causa from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. Mrs. Bronicki is 72 years old. See also "Board Leadership Structure" below.

 

The Board has concluded that Mrs. Bronicki should serve as director of the Company because of her experience as the Company’s co-founder, her experience as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, her work in the power industry since 1965, and her extensive knowledge of the Company’s business.

 

Robert F. Clarke. Robert F. Clarke has been a member of our Board of Directors since February 27, 2007.  Mr. Clarke was Chairman (since September 1998) and President and Chief Executive Officer (since January 1991) of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HEI), from which he retired effective May 2006. Since June 1, 2006, Mr. Clarke has been Executive in Residence at the Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaii. In addition, Mr. Clarke serves as an advisory director to Oceanic Cable Hawaii, and as a member of the advisory boards of the Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaii, Sennet Capital, and Aina Koa Pono, a Hawaii based privately held company exploring renewable energy projects in converting biomass into fuels. Mr. Clarke joined HEI in February 1987 as Vice President of Strategic Planning and was in charge of implementing the Company's diversification strategy. Mr. Clarke was named HEI Group Vice President - Diversified Companies in May 1988. He was made a director of HEI in 1989. Prior to joining HEI, Mr. Clarke served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Alexander & Baldwin and as Controller of Dillingham Corporation. Prior to that, he worked for the Ford Motor Company and for the Singer Company. He received his Bachelor's degree in Economics in 1965 and his Master's degree in Finance in 1966 from the University of California at Berkeley. Honors include Phi Beta Kappa in 1965. Mr. Clarke is 71 years old.  

 

The Board has concluded that Mr. Clarke should serve as director of the Company because of his 25 years of experience in the power/energy industry, his extensive management experience, and his overall business and financial knowledge

 

Ami Boehm.  Ami Boehm has been a member of our Board of Directors since May 22, 2012.  Since 2004, Mr. Boehm has been a Partner at FIMI Opportunity Funds, as well as Managing Partner and CEO of FITE GP (2004). In addition, Mr. Boehm currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd., a NASDAQ publicly-traded company, and of Ham-Let (Israel-Canada) Ltd., a non-U.S. public company. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Pharm-up Ltd., a private company. During the past five years, Mr. Boehm formerly served as a member of the Board of Directors of the following non-U.S. public companies: Scope Metal Trading, Ltd., Inter Industries, Ltd., Global Wire Ltd. and Telkoor Telecom Ltd. From 1999 to 2004, Mr. Boehm served as Head of Research at Discount Capital Markets, the investment arm of Israel Discount Bank, and from 1998 to 1999, he worked in the Office of the Attorney General in the Israeli Ministry of Justice. Mr. Boehm received a Bachelor of Law degree in 1997 from Tel Aviv University, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics in 1998 from Tel Aviv University, and a Master of Business Administration in Finance in 2004 jointly from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Business and Tel Aviv University. Mr. Boehm is 42 years old.  

 

The Board has concluded that Mr. Boehm should serve as a director of the Company because of his extensive experience in finance and strategic initiatives, and his overall management and business knowledge.

 

 
8

 

 

Class III Directors Continuing in Office Whose Terms Expire at the 2016 Annual Meeting

 

Dan Falk. Dan Falk has been a member of our Board of Directors since November 12, 2004. Mr. Falk also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Orad Hi-Tech Systems Ltd., a public non-U.S. company.  He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Orbotech Ltd., Nice Systems Ltd., Attunity Ltd., and Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd., all NASDAQ publicly-traded companies. In addition, Mr. Falk serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Compvision, a private non-US company.  During the past five years, Mr. Falk served as a member of the Board of Directors of the following public companies, for which he no longer serves as a Director: AVT Ltd., Clicksoftware Technologies Ltd., Dmatek Ltd., Jacada Ltd., Oridion Medical Ltd., Amiad Water Systems Ltd., and Plastopil Ltd.  From 2001 to 2004, Mr. Falk was a business consultant to several public and private companies. From 1999 to 2000, Mr. Falk was Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Sapiens International N.V. From 1995 to 1999, Mr. Falk was an Executive Vice President of Orbotech Ltd. From 1985 to 1995, Mr. Falk was Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Orbot Systems Ltd. and Orbotech Ltd. Mr. Falk obtained a Master of Business Administration from Hebrew University in 1972 and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from Hebrew University in 1968. Mr. Falk is the Chair of our Audit Committee. Our Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Falk qualifies as an Audit Committee “financial expert” under Section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K, and is independent as that term is used in Item 407(d)(5)(i)(B) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Mr. Falk is 69 years old.

 

The Board has concluded that Mr. Falk should serve as director of the Company because of his qualification as a “financial expert,” his experience related to service on the audit committee, his financial reporting expertise, and his general financial and business knowledge.

 

Gillon Beck. Gillon Beck has been a member of our Board of Directors since May 22, 2012, and currently serves as the Chairman of our Board of Directors. Since 2003, Mr. Beck has been a Senior Partner at FIMI Opportunity Funds, as well as a Director of the FIMI Opportunity Funds' General Partners and SPV companies. In addition, Mr. Beck currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Ham-Let (Israel-Canada) Ltd., a company publicly-traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, and of Inrom Industries, Ltd., H.R. Givon Ltd., and Overseas Commerce Ltd. all three of which are private companies. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Nirlat Paints, Ltd. and Alony Ltd., companies which had been public companies but which have since become non-public companies. During the past five years, Mr. Beck formerly served as a member of the Board of Directors of the following public companies: Merhav Ceramic and Building Materials Center, Ltd., Retalix Ltd., and Orian C.M. Ltd. From 1999 to 2003, Mr. Beck served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Arad Ltd., a publicly-traded water measurement and automatic meter reading company, and from 1995 to 1999, he served as Chief Operating Officer of Arad Ltd. Mr. Beck received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering in 1990 from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, and a Master of Business Administration in Finance in 1992 from Bar-Ilan University. Mr. Beck is 52 years old. See also "Board Leadership Structure" below.

 

The Board has concluded that Mr. Beck should serve as director of the Company because of his extensive management experience and overall business and financial knowledge.

 

INFORMATION REGARDING BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES

 

As required by the rules of the NYSE, the Board of Directors evaluates the independence of Board members at least annually and when a change in circumstances could potentially impact the independence of one or more directors.

 

On May 7, 2013, the Company held its 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. All of the Company’s Board members were present at the meeting.

 

Our Board of Directors consists of eight members, six of whom have been determined by our Board to be independent directors, in accordance with the above requirements of the NYSE. Our six independent directors are Dan Falk, Robert F. Clarke, Gillon Beck, Ami Boehm, David Granot, and Robert E. Joyal. 

 

During fiscal year 2013, the Board of Directors held six meetings. None of the directors attended less than 75% of the meetings of the Board and the Committees on which he or she serves.

 

The Company relies on the “controlled company” exemption to the Board of Directors committee composition requirements under the rules of the NYSE. The “controlled company” exemption does not modify the independence requirements for the Audit Committee, and we comply with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the NYSE rules which require that our Audit Committee be composed of at least three independent directors.

 

 
9

 

 

Board Leadership Structure

 

The Company has separated the Chief Executive Officer and Board Chairman positions.  The Company believes that this Board leadership structure is the most appropriate for the Company since each of Gillon Beck, a Senior Partner at the FIMI Opportunity Funds, and Dita Bronicki, a co-founder of the Company, has unique skills and talents to contribute to the Company.  Mr. Beck serves as our Chairman of the Board and provides the Company with the benefit of his strategic vision, and his wide-ranging business and management knowledge and experience.  Mrs. Bronicki serves as our Chief Executive Officer and provides the Company with the benefit of her extensive knowledge of the Company’s operations, an understanding of the day-to-day challenges faced by companies in the power industry, and her distinctive business and financial know-how. 

 

On November 5, 2013, Gillon Beck advised the Board of Directors that he intended to step down from his position as Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective June 30, 2014, but continue as a Director of the Company.   In addition, on November 5, 2013, the Board of Directors elected Yoram Bronicki to replace Mr. Beck as Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective June 30, 2014 when Mr. Beck steps down from his position as Chairman.

 

Also on November 5, 2013, Mrs. Bronicki advised the Board of Directors that she intends to step down from her position as Chief Executive Officer, effective June 30, 2014, but will continue as a Director of the Company. On February 11, 2014, the Company announced that its Board of Directors has named Mr. Isaac Angel as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective July 1, 2014. Mr. Angel will commence service as an officer of the Company on April 1, 2014, and will assume the position of Chief Executive Officer on July 1, 2014.

 

Board Committees

 

Our Board of Directors has the authority to appoint committees to perform certain management and administrative functions. Our Board of Directors has established, among others, an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. As of March 18, 2014, Ormat Industries Ltd. beneficially owned approximately 59.85% of our outstanding Common Stock. As a controlled company, we have relied on certain exemptions from the director independence requirements applicable to Compensation Committees and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees under the rules of the NYSE.

 

Audit Committee. The Company has a separately designated standing Audit Committee established in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Audit Committee consists of four members, Dan Falk, Robert F. Clarke, David Granot, and Robert E. Joyal, all of whom are independent as defined by the listing standards of the NYSE and the SEC.  The Board has determined that Mr. Falk, the Chair of the Audit Committee, qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” under the rules of the SEC and that each member of the Audit Committee is financially literate. Mr. Falk also serves on the audit committees of four other companies publicly-traded in the U.S. Our Board has determined that Mr. Falk's simultaneous service on these audit committees does not impair his ability to serve effectively on our Audit Committee.

 

The Audit Committee selects, on behalf of our Board of Directors, an independent public accounting firm to be engaged to audit our financial statements, discusses with the independent registered public accounting firm its independence, reviews and discusses the audited financial statements with the independent registered public accounting firm and manages and reviews our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements with respect to accounting policies, internal controls and financial reporting.

 

In fiscal year 2013, the Audit Committee continued its oversight of a procedure established by the Company for receiving and addressing anonymous complaints regarding financial or accounting irregularities, among other things. In 2005, the Audit Committee set up an ethics and compliance hotline managed by an independent third party and accessible both through the Internet and by telephone.  The information received by the hotline is treated as confidential and anonymous and is both received and retained by an agent of the Audit Committee before all relevant non-compliance information is periodically reported to the Audit Committee.

 

The Audit Committee held six meetings in fiscal year 2013. Further information concerning the Audit Committee is set forth below under the heading “Audit Committee Report”. The charter of the Audit Committee is available on the Company’s website at www.ormat.com. The content of our website, however, is not part of this proxy statement.

 

 
10

 

 

Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee consists of three members, Yehudit Bronicki, our CEO, and Dan Falk and Ami Boehm, both of whom are independent directors.  Mrs. Bronicki, who is our CEO and who is not an independent director, is the Chair of the Compensation Committee.

 

The Compensation Committee reviews and either approves, on behalf of our Board of Directors, or recommends to the Board of Directors for approval, (1) the annual salaries and other compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and certain other executive officers and (2) equity awards. The Compensation Committee also reviews and approves the compensation program applicable to our senior management. Our CEO and our President are currently covered by employment agreements which fix the amount of their salary and annual bonus.  See "Executive Compensation" below.  The Compensation Committee also provides recommendations with respect to our compensation policies and practices and incentive compensation plans and equity plans.  As described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis below, our Compensation Committee determines the basket of bonuses and equity awards that may be awarded on a company-wide basis and our CEO and our President determine the particular bonuses and equity awards to be made to our personnel, except that the Compensation Committee grants awards to our executive officers.  Our CEO and our President also determine whether and to what degree to award salary increases to any of the other members of our management team.  

 

The Compensation Committee operates pursuant to a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors, which includes evaluation of the performance of the Chief Executive Officer, review and approval of the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and review of the compensation of all other executive officers of the Company, and recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding non-CEO compensation, incentive-compensation plans and equity-based plans.

 

The Compensation Committee duties and responsibilities also include:

 

 

making recommendations to the Board as to changes in Ormat’s general compensation philosophy;

 

 

overseeing the development and implementation of compensation programs;

 

 

reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of the CEO, and evaluating the performance of the CEO in light of those goals and objectives; and

 

 

reviewing and approving the annual compensation of the CEO and Ormat’s five other most highly compensated executive officers who receive total compensation in excess of $1 million per year.

 

The Compensation Committee is authorized to establish subcommittees for the purpose of evaluating special or unique matters and may delegate its authority to a subcommittee or subcommittees. 

 

In 2013, the Compensation Committee did not retain any compensation consultants in determining or recommending the amount or form of executive and director compensation.

 

The Compensation Committee held four meetings in the year 2013. The charter of the Compensation Committee is available on the Company’s website at www.ormat.com. The content of our website, however, is not part of this proxy statement.

 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.  The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consists of three members, Yoram Bronicki, our President and COO, Gillon Beck, and Dan Falk. Messrs. Beck and Falk are independent directors.  Mr. Beck is the Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

 

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee assists our Board of Directors in fulfilling its responsibilities by identifying and approving individuals qualified to serve as members of our Board of Directors, selecting director nominees for our annual meetings of stockholders, and developing and recommending to our Board of Directors corporate governance guidelines and oversight with respect to corporate governance and ethical conduct.

 

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers the appropriate size of the Board of Directors and whether any vacancies on the Board of Directors are expected due to retirement or otherwise. In the event that vacancies are anticipated, or otherwise arise, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers various potential candidates for director. Candidates may come to the attention of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee through current Board members, professional search firms, stockholders or other persons. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for conducting appropriate inquiries into the backgrounds and qualifications of possible candidates.

 

 
11

 

 

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee adopted a policy regarding consideration of any director candidates as of November 7, 2006.  This policy provides guidelines for the identification and evaluation of candidates for positions on the Board of Directors of the Company. According to the policy, candidates must satisfy certain minimum criteria, including an academic degree and business experience to the satisfaction of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. In addition, independent director nominees must satisfy the independence requirements as determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and the NYSE, as applicable. The policy provides for the Committee to interview and select final candidates for evaluation, and then evaluate the final candidates to determine their qualification for the position as well as compatibility with the Company, its philosophy and its then-current Board of Directors and management.  The Committee does not consider diversity in identifying nominees for director.

 

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider director candidates recommended by stockholders in the same manner in which the Committee evaluates any other candidate.

 

The Company’s by-laws provide that nominations of candidates to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders by any stockholder who was a stockholder of record at the time of giving notice of the proposed nomination, is entitled to vote at the meeting and follows the notice procedures. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice for the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must have been delivered to the Corporate Secretary at 6225 Neil Road, Reno, Nevada 89511, not earlier than the close of business on January 7, 2014 and no later than the close of business on February 6, 2014.

 

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held two meetings in 2013. The charter of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is available on the Company’s website at www.ormat.com. The content of our website, however, is not part of this proxy statement.

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

The Compensation Committee is composed of Yehudit Bronicki, Dan Falk and Ami Boehm. Mrs. Bronicki serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. In addition, Mrs. Bronicki, together with Lucien Bronicki, our Chief Technology Officer, and Yoram Bronicki, our President and Chief Operating Officer, and other members of their family, indirectly owned approximately 17.76% of the ordinary shares of Ormat Industries Ltd. as of March 18, 2014. Ami Boehm is a partner at FIMI Opportunity Funds, which indirectly owned approximately 24.22% of the ordinary shares of Ormat Industries Ltd. as of March 18, 2014. See “Transactions with Related Persons”.

 

None of our executive officers served during 2013 as a member of the board of directors or as a member of a compensation committee of any other company that has an executive officer serving as a member of our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee.

 

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

 

Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available on our website at www.ormat.com for downloading, free of charge. The content of our website, however, is not part of this proxy statement. You may also request a printed copy of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics free of charge, by writing to the Company address appearing in this Proxy Statement or by telephoning us at: (775) 356-9029.

 

Corporate Governance Guidelines

 

The Board of Directors of the Company has adopted the Corporate Governance Guidelines, which are available on the Company’s website at www.ormat.com. The content of our website, however, is not part of this proxy statement. You may also request a printed copy of our Corporate Governance Guidelines free of charge, by writing to the Company address appearing in this Proxy Statement or by telephoning us at: (775) 356-9029.

 

 
12

 

 

Executive Sessions

 

As required by the NYSE rules, the non-management directors of the Company meet in executive sessions of the Board of Directors without management at regular intervals. The Chair of the Audit Committee presides at the executive sessions of the non-management directors.

 

Stockholder Communications with the Board of Directors

 

Stockholders and other interested parties may communicate with the Board of Directors or a specific director or directors by writing c/o the Corporate Secretary, Ormat Technologies, Inc., 6225 Neil Road, Reno, Nevada 89511. Communications received from stockholders are forwarded directly to Board members. Stockholders and other interested parties who would like to communicate with the non-management directors or any individual non-management director may do so by sending a letter to the Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in care of the Corporate Secretary, Ormat Technologies, Inc., 6225 Neil Road, Reno, Nevada 89511.

 

Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

 

As part of the Board’s quarterly meetings, the Board assesses on an ongoing basis the risks faced by the Company in executing its business plan.  These risks include financial, industrial, technological, competitive, and operational risks, both from a global perspective and on a power plant-by-power plant basis.  The Board dedicates time at each of its meetings to review and consider the relevant risks that need to be addressed at the time of each Board meeting.  The CEO and COO of the Company present reports at each meeting outlining the progress of each power plant and the challenges faced by the Company, and they bring the relevant risks to the attention of the Board.  Similarly, at each Board meeting, the relevant financial risks faced by the Company are presented by the CFO.  In addition, the Company’s Audit Committee plays an important role in the oversight of the Company’s policies with respect to financial risk assessment and risk management, as well as assessing the Company’s major financial risk exposures.  The Board's role in risk oversight of the Company is consistent with the Company's leadership structure, with the CEO and other members of senior management having responsibility for assessing and managing the Company's risk exposure, and the Board and its committees providing oversight in connection with those efforts.

  

 
13

 

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

 

The Audit Committee is composed of independent directors only, as required by and in compliance with the listing standards of the NYSE. The Audit Committee operates pursuant to a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

The Audit Committee is responsible for assisting the Board of Directors in its oversight responsibilities related to accounting policies, internal controls, financial reporting and legal and regulatory compliance. Management of the Company has the primary responsibility for the Company’s financial reporting process, principles and internal controls as well as the preparation of its financial statements. The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an audit of the Company’s financial statements and expressing an opinion as to the conformity of such financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

 

The Audit Committee reviewed management’s report on its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013 and the report from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013. Based upon the Audit Committee’s reviews and discussions with management, the Company’s internal auditors, and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Audit Committee approved the inclusion of management’s report on its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013 and the report of the independent auditors in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 filed with the SEC.

 

The Committee also received and reviewed the periodic internal audit reports from its internal auditor.   The Committee also reviewed the Internal Audit Plan for the year 2014 and approved its main target subjects. The Audit Committee discussed with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm the overall scope and plans for their respective audits, and has met with them, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations and their evaluations of the Company’s internal controls.  In addition, the Committee evaluated the performance of the independent registered public accounting firm.

 

In 2012, following FIMI’s acquisition of approximately 22.5% of the shares of our parent, Ormat Industries Ltd., the Committee reviewed the framework of the pre-existing business relationships between Ormat Systems Ltd., our wholly-owned subsidiary, and certain suppliers controlled by FIMI to determine whether these pre-existing business relationships are consistent with arms-length transactions of a similar nature according to prevailing market terms and conditions. The Committee concluded that the current terms are fair and that it would review these business relationships on an annual basis going forward. On August 6, 2013, the Committee reviewed these business relationships and pre-approved an annual purchase of goods valued at up to $2 million from each entity controlled by FIMI for the year ending December 31, 2014.

 

The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the Company’s audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2013 with management and the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed under auditing standards generally accepted in the United States, including those matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communications with Audit Committees), as amended. The independent registered public accounting firm has provided to the Audit Committee the written disclosures and the letter required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) regarding the independent registered public accounting firm's communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, as currently in effect, and the Audit Committee has discussed with the auditors their independence from the Company. The Audit Committee has also considered whether the independent registered public accounting firm’s provision of tax services to the Company is compatible with maintaining the registered public accounting firm’s independence. The Audit Committee has concluded that the independent registered public accounting firm is independent from the Company and its management.

 

Based on the review and discussions described above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Company’s audited financial statements be included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, for filing with the SEC.

 

 
14

 

 

Submitted on February 25, 2014 by the Audit Committee of Ormat Technologies, Inc.’s Board of Directors.

 

Dan Falk, Chair
Robert F. Clarke
David Granot

Robert E. Joyal

 

The foregoing Report of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors shall not be deemed to be soliciting material or be incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this proxy statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), except to the extent Ormat specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed to be filed with the SEC under such Acts.

 

 
15

 

 

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

The following table sets forth the name, age and position(s) of each of our executive officers and persons who are executive officers of certain of our subsidiaries who perform policy-making functions for us:

 

Name

 

Age

 

Position

  

 

  

 

  

Yehudit Bronicki1

 

72

 

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Lucien Bronicki1

 

79

 

Chief Technology Officer

Yoram Bronicki2

 

47

 

President, Chief Operating Officer and Director

Isaac Angel3

 

57

 

Chief Executive Officer (beginning July 1, 2014)

Doron Blachar

 

46

 

Chief Financial Officer*

Nadav Amir

 

63

 

Executive Vice President—Operations*

Zvi Reiss

 

63

 

Executive Vice President—Project Management*

Shimon Hatzir

 

52

 

Senior Vice President—Engineering*

Zvi Krieger

 

58

 

Executive Vice President—Geothermal Resource*

Etty Rosner

 

58

 

Senior Vice President—Contract Management; Corporate Secretary*

Nir Wolf

 

48

 

Executive Vice President for Business Development — Marketing and Sales, Rest of the World* 

 

*

Performs the functions described in the table, but is employed by Ormat Systems Ltd., a subsidiary of the Company.

 

 

1

Mrs. Yehudit Bronicki will retire as the Company's CEO, effective June 30, 2014, and Mr. Lucien Bronicki will retire as the Company's Chief Technology Officer, effective June 30, 2014.

 

2

Mr. Yoram Bronicki will resign from his position as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Corporation, effective June 30, 2014, and assume the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors.

 

3

Mr. Isaac Angel will commence serving as an officer of the Company on April 1, 2014, and will assume the position of the Company's Chief Executive Officer on July 1, 2014.

 

Lucien Y. Bronicki. Lucien Y. Bronicki has been our Chief Technology Officer since July 1, 2004. Mr. Bronicki co-founded Ormat Turbines Ltd. in 1965 and is a member of the Board of Directors of Ormat Industries Ltd., the publicly-traded successor to Ormat Turbines Ltd. Mr. Bronicki served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company until May 22, 2012, and served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ormat Industries Ltd. and several of its subsidiaries until September 15, 2011. From 1992 to May 2006, Mr. Bronicki was the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bet Shemesh Engines, a manufacturer of jet engines, and from 1997 to May 2006, Mr. Bronicki was the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bet Shemesh Holdings.  Mr. Bronicki was also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Orad Hi-Tec Systems Ltd., a manufacturer of image processing systems, until the end of 2005, and was the Co-Chairman of Orbotech Ltd., a NASDAQ-listed manufacturer of equipment for inspecting and imaging circuit boards and display panels. From 1957 until 1958, Mr. Bronicki worked in the Nuclear Research Center in Saclay (France) designing equipment for elementary particle research at CERN. He went on to join the National Physical Laboratory of Israel and develop solar-powered turbines, which evolved into geothermal power plants. Mr. Bronicki has worked in the power industry since 1958. He is a member of the Executive Council of the Weizmann Institute of Science and was the Chairman of the Israeli Committee of the World Energy Council. Mr. Bronicki was also a member of the Studies Committee “Energy for Tomorrow's World Commission” of the World Energy Council. Yehudit Bronicki and Lucien Bronicki are married and are the parents of Yoram Bronicki. Mr. Bronicki obtained a postgraduate degree in Nuclear Engineering from Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, a Master of Science in Physics from Université de Paris and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from École Nationale Supérieure d’Ingenieurs Arts et Métiers. He received a Ph.D. Honoris Causa in 2005 from the Ben-Gurion University, in 2006 from the Weizmann Institute of Science, and in 2007 from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. Mr. Bronicki has received the Pioneers Award from the Geothermal Resources Council, and the Italian Geothermal Union Centenary Award.

 

Isaac Angel.   Isaac Angel will commence serving as an officer of the Company on April 1, 2014, and will assume the position of Chief Executive Officer as of July 1, 2014. From February 1999 to November 2006, he served in various positions at Lipman Electronic Engineering Ltd., including as its President and CEO. After the acquisition of Lipman Electronic Engineering Ltd. by VeriFone in 2006, Mr. Angel served as Executive Vice President, Global Operations of VeriFone from 2006 to 2008. From 2008 to 2009, Mr. Angel served as Executive Chairman of LeadCom Integrated Solutions Ltd. Since 2008, Mr. Angel has served as a director of Frutarom Industries Ltd., and from 2012 until 2013, he served as a director of Retalix Ltd.

 

 
16

 

 

Doron Blachar.     Doron Blachar has served as our Chief Financial Officer since April 2, 2013. From 2009 to 2013, he was the CFO of Shikun & Binui Ltd. From 2005 to 2009, he served as the Vice President – Finance of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. From 1998 to 2005, he served in a number of positions at Amdocs Limited, including as Vice President – Finance from 2002 to 2005. Mr. Blachar obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and Economics and a Master of Business Administration from Tel Aviv University. He is also a Certified Public Accountant in Israel.      

 

Nadav Amir.     Nadav Amir has served as our Executive Vice President of Operations since November 4, 2009. From July 1, 2004 to November 3, 2009, Mr. Amir was our Executive Vice President of Engineering; from 2001 to June 30, 2004, he was Executive Vice President of Engineering of Ormat Industries Ltd.; from 1993 to 2001, he was Vice President of Engineering of Ormat Industries Ltd.; from 1988 to 1993, he was Manager of Engineering of Ormat Industries Ltd.; from 1984 to 1988, he was Manager of Product Engineering of Ormat Industries Ltd.; and from 1983 to 1984, he was Manager of Research and Development of Ormat Industries Ltd. Mr. Amir obtained a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology in 1972.

 

Zvi Reiss.     Zvi Reiss has served as our Executive Vice President of Project Management since July 1, 2004. From 2001 to June 30, 2004, Mr. Reiss was the Executive Vice President of Project Management of Ormat Industries Ltd.; from 1995 to 2000, he was Vice President of Project Management of Ormat Industries Ltd.; and from 1993 to 1994, he was Director of Projects of Ormat Industries Ltd. Mr. Reiss obtained a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Ben-Gurion University in 1975.

 

Shimon Hatzir.     Shimon Hatzir has served as our Senior Vice President of Engineering since November 4, 2009. From September 20, 2007 to November 3, 2009, Mr. Hatzir was our Senior Vice President of Electrical and Conceptual Engineering, and from July 1, 2004 to September 20, 2007, he was our Vice President of Electrical and Conceptual Engineering. From 2002 to June 30, 2004, Mr. Hatzir was the Vice President of Electrical and Conceptual Engineering of Ormat Industries Ltd; from 1996 to 2001, Mr. Hatzir was Manager of Electrical and Conceptual Engineering of Ormat Industries Ltd.; and from 1989 to 1995, he was a Project Engineer in the Engineering Division of Ormat Industries Ltd.  Mr. Hatzir obtained a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Tel Aviv University in 1988 and a Certificate from the Technion Israel Institute of Management, Senior Executive Program.

 

Zvi Krieger.     Zvi Krieger has served as our Executive Vice President of Geothermal Resource since November 4, 2009. From September 20, 2007 to November 4, 2009, Mr. Krieger was our Senior Vice President of Geothermal Engineering; from July 1, 2004 to September 20, 2007, he was our Vice President of Geothermal Engineering; and from 2001 to June 30, 2004, he was the Vice President of Geothermal Engineering of Ormat Industries Ltd. Mr. Krieger has been with Ormat Industries Ltd. since 1981 and served as Application Engineer, Manager of System Engineering, Director of New Technologies Business Development and Vice President of Geothermal Engineering. Mr. Krieger obtained a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology in 1980.

 

Etty Rosner.     Etty Rosner has served as our Corporate Secretary since October 21, 2004. Ms. Rosner is also the Corporate Secretary of Ormat Industries Ltd., a position she has held since 1991. Ms. Rosner is also our Senior Vice President of Contract Management since September 20, 2007. From July 1, 2004 to September 20, 2007, Ms. Rosner was our Vice President of Contract Management; and from 1999 to June 30, 2004, she was the Vice President of Contract Management of Ormat Industries Ltd. From 1991 to 1999, Ms. Rosner was Contract Administration Manager and Corporate Secretary of Ormat Industries; and from 1981 to 1991, she was the Manager of the Export Department and Office Administrative Manager of Ormat Industries. Ms. Rosner obtained a Diploma in General Management from Tel Aviv University in 1990.

 

Nir Wolf.    Nir Wolf has served as our Executive Vice President for Business Development — Marketing and Sales, Rest of the World since January 1, 2010. From December 2005 to December 31, 2009, Mr. Wolf served as our Vice President Distributed Power, responsible for the marketing, sales, engineering and after sales activities of the Remote Power Units. From December 1999 to December 2005, he was Business Development Manager in the Marketing and Sales Department. Mr. Wolf joined the Company on January 14, 1994, and worked in the Project Management Department as a Budget and Schedule Controller and later as a Project Manager. Mr. Wolf graduated the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology in February 1991 with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering, cum laude. In 1995, he obtained a Master of Business Administration degree from Bar Ilan University. Mr. Wolf has also participated in the Technion Institute of Management Senior Executive Program.

 

 
17

 

 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

 

The following table shows information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock as of March 18, 2014 for:

 

 

each person, or group of affiliated persons, known to us to own beneficially 5% or more of our outstanding Common Stock;

 

 

each of our directors;

 

 

 

 

each of our Named Executive Officers (as defined under Compensation Discussion and Analysis below); and

 

 

 

 

all of our directors and executive officers as a group.

 

Percentage ownership is based on 45,460,653 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 18, 2014. Except as indicated by footnote and subject to community property laws where applicable, to our knowledge, the persons named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by them.

 

 

Shares of
Ormat Technologies, Inc.
Common Stock
Beneficially Owned

Shares of
Ormat Industries Ltd.
Common Stock
Beneficially Owned

 

Number

Percent

Number

Percent

Principal Stockholder:

  

  

  

  

Ormat Industries Ltd.

27,206,580(1)

59.85%

 

 

Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd. 

3,680,759

8.1%

  

  

Directors and Named Executive Officers

  

  

  

  

Yehudit Bronicki

20,697,203(2)

17.76%

Lucien Bronicki

20,697,203(2)

17.76%

Yoram Bronicki

20,697,203(2)

17.76%

Gillon Beck††

15,000(4)

28,218,049(3)

24.22%

Ami Boehm††

15,000(5)

28,218,049(3)

24.22%

Dan Falk††

45,000(6)

*

Robert F. Clarke††

47,000(7)

*

David Granot††

11,250(8)

__

__

Robert E. Joyal††

15,000(9)

__

__

Doron Blachar

25,000(10)

*

Nadav Amir

140,700(11)

*

Zvi Reiss

140,700(12)

*

Nir Wolf

69,000(13)

*

Directors and Named Executive Officers as a group

523,650(14)

*

48,915,252

41.98%

__________

 

c/o Ormat Industries Ltd., Industrial Area, P.O. Box 68 Yavne 81100, Israel

 

 

††

c/o Ormat Technologies, Inc., 6225 Neil Road, Reno, Nevada 8951

 

 

48 Menachem Begin Road, Tel Aviv 66180, Israel. The information provided for Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd. ("Clal") is based on Clal's Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 14, 2014. Clal reported shared voting and dispositive power with regard to all of the 3,680,759 shares beneficially held by Clal.

 

 

*

Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.

 

 

(1)

The Board of Directors of Ormat Industries Ltd. has voting power and investment power over approximately 59.85% of our outstanding Common Stock. The directors of Ormat Industries Ltd. include Lucien Bronicki, Yehudit Bronicki and Yoram Bronicki, who, collectively with other members of their family, beneficially owned approximately 17.76% of the ordinary shares of Ormat Industries Ltd. through their holdings in Bronicki Investment Ltd. as of March 18, 2014. FIMI ENRG Limited Partnership and FIMI ENRG L.P., both of which are controlled by FIMI Opportunity IV L.P., currently have voting power and investment power over approximately 24.22% of the ordinary shares of Ormat Industries Ltd. as of March 18, 2014. Gillon Beck, a partner of FIMI Opportunity Funds, also serves as a director of Ormat Industries Ltd.

 

 
18

 

 

(2)

These shares are beneficially owned by Bronicki Investment Ltd.  Lucien Bronicki and Yehudit Bronicki are directors of Bronicki Investment Ltd. and have voting control of the shares of Ormat Industries Ltd. held by Bronicki Investment Ltd. Each of Lucien Bronicki, Yehudit Bronicki and Yoram Bronicki also beneficially own 20% of Bronicki Investment Ltd. Accordingly, they may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the shares of Ormat Industries Ltd. held by Bronicki Investment Ltd. Each of Lucien Bronicki, Yehudit Bronicki and Yoram Bronicki disclaim beneficial ownership of all such shares, except to the extent of his or her 20% ownership of Bronicki Investment Ltd.

 

(3)

These shares are beneficially owned by FIMI Opportunity Funds. Gillon Beck and Ami Boehm are partners of FIMI Opportunity Funds and have voting control of the shares of Ormat Industries Ltd. held by FIMI Opportunity Funds. Accordingly, they may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the shares of Ormat Industries Ltd. held by FIMI Opportunity Funds. Each of Gillon Beck and Ami Boehm disclaim beneficial ownership of all such shares. FIMI Opportunity Funds pledged all of its Ordinary Shares of Ormat Industries Ltd. in favor of Bank Hapoalim BM as collateral for Bronicki Investment Ltd.'s 2007 loan from Bank Hapoalim.

 

(4)

Includes 15,000 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Beck upon the exercise of options that are exercisable within 60 days of March 18, 2014.

 

 

(5)

Includes 15,000 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Boehm upon the exercise of options that are exercisable within 60 days of March 18, 2014

 

 

(6)

Includes 45,000 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Falk upon the exercise of options that are exercisable within 60 days of March 18, 2014. 

 

 

(7)

Includes 45,000 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Clarke upon the exercise of options that are exercisable within 60 days of March 18, 2014.

 

 

(8)

Includes 11,250 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Granot upon the exercise of options that are exercisable within 60 days of March 18, 2014.

 

 

(9)

Includes 15,000 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Joyal upon the exercise of options that are exercisable within 60 days of March 18, 2014

 

 

(10)

Includes 25,000 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Blachar upon the exercise of options that are exercisable within 60 days of March 18, 2014. On April 2, 2013, we issued to Mr. Blachar stock options to purchase 120,000 shares of Common Stock pursuant to our 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan. However, we subsequently determined that stock options to purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock (the "Excess Stock Options") were not validly granted under the plan because they exceeded the limit on the number of stock options that any participant may receive in one calendar year pursuant to the then-current terms of the plan. Accordingly, the attempted grant of these Excess Stock Options was ineffective, and they were never granted to Mr. Blachar. The number set forth for Mr. Blachar in the table excludes the Excess Stock Options.

 

(11)

Includes 140,700 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Amir upon the exercise of options that are exercisable within 60 days of March 18, 2014.

 

(12)

Includes140,700 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Reiss upon the exercise of options that are exercisable within 60 days of March 18, 2014.

 

(13)

Includes 69,000 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Wolf upon the exercise of options that are exercisable within 60 days of March 18, 2014.

 

(14)

This number includes options of the Company exercisable within 60 days of March 18, 2014. The amounts of exercisable options for each named Executive Officer are set forth in the Outstanding Equity Awards Table below.

  

 
19

 

 

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

Overview

 

Lucien and Yehudit Bronicki founded our parent company’s predecessor, Ormat Turbines Ltd., in 1965 and, together with their son, Yoram Bronicki, continue to have a substantial economic interest in our parent, Ormat Industries Ltd. (Ormat Industries), which, in turn, owns approximately 59.85% of our outstanding Common Stock.  Our Named Executive Officers (NEOs) may, therefore, be classified into two distinct groups. Group I is comprised of Lucien Bronicki, our Chief Technology Officer, Yehudit Bronicki, our Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and Yoram Bronicki, our President and Chief Operating Officer.  Group II is comprised of Doron Blachar, our Chief Financial Officer; Nadav Amir, our Executive Vice President of Operations; Zvi Reiss, our Executive Vice President of Project Management; and Nir Wolf, our Executive Vice President for Business Development — Marketing and Sales, Rest of the World.  None of the members of Group II owns a controlling interest in the shares of the Company or our parent.

 

Effective June 30, 2014 Yehudit Bronicki will retire from her position as CEO of the Company (although she will continue to serve as a member of the Board of Directors), Lucien Bronicki will retire from his position as Chief Technology Officer of the Company, and Yoram Bronicki will retire from his position as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company and assume the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors. These changes do not affect the compensation of our NEOs for the year ending December 31, 2013; however, as of July 1, 2014, we will no longer have two distinct groups of executive officers, as none of our executive officers will own a controlling interest in the shares of the Company or our parent.    

 

Objectives

 

The overall objective of our executive compensation policies and procedures is to offer short-term, medium-term and long-term compensation components that enable us to attract, motivate and retain talented executives who contribute to our continued success. Equally important to us is to align the interests of our executives with those of our stockholders. As described below, the short-term component of our executive compensation packages consists of annual salary, the medium-term component consists of an annual bonus, and the long-term component consists of equity awards. The members of Group I of our executive team, however, do not receive equity awards, or their equivalent, as part of their compensation package. We believe that their long-term interests are nevertheless aligned with those of our stockholders through their substantial economic interest in our parent.

 

We aim to design executive compensation packages, like our general compensation policies, that meet or exceed competitive compensation averages for executives with similar responsibilities at companies with similar financial, operating and industry characteristics in similar locations. In most cases, we do not benchmark to a particular industry or companies, but we informally consider published data, such as labor indices, in formulating our executive compensation packages. Despite our intention to compensate our executives at or above the market average for their peers, the compensation packages of members of Group I of our executive team are, at their choosing, well below average market compensation for similar positions.

 

Elements of Compensation

 

Our compensation program consists of three elements, namely, annual salary, annual bonus, and equity awards:

 

 

1.

Annual salary, which is paid bi-monthly, is intended to provide an annual income at a level consistent with individual contributions.

 

 

2.

Annual bonuses, which are paid semi-annually for our Group II executives, are intended to link our executive officers’ compensation to the Company’s overall performance, as well as, in most cases, their individual achievements.

 

 

3.

Equity awards are designed to promote long-term leadership and align the interests of our executives in Group II with those of our stockholders, while the vesting schedule assists us in retaining our executives in our employ. Equity awards typically begin to vest following two years from the date of grant, with 25% vesting on each of the second and third anniversaries of the date of grant and the remaining 50% on the fourth anniversary of the date of grant. All employees and consultants of the Company are eligible to receive equity awards pursuant to the Company's incentive compensation plan; however, our Group I executives do not receive equity awards. The term of our equity awards typically ranges from six to ten years from the date of grant; as to our current Group II executives, with the exception of one of our current NEOs, there is no provision that provides for accelerated vesting upon a change in control; and there is no holding period for vested options.

 

 
20

 

 

Each element is determined individually, based on the relevant criteria described in this discussion.

 

In addition to these main compensation components, executives who are residents in Israel receive, as a function of their salary payments, the standard social benefits (i.e., severance pay, defined contribution plan, and disability) paid to all of our employees who are based in Israel. These social benefits are fixed as a percentage of the employee’s salary and are not subject to discretionary adjustments. Executives who are residents in the United States participate in a defined contribution plan (401(k) plan) and receive health insurance benefits, in addition to social security. We do not cover any tax payments or otherwise “gross-up” any part of the compensation packages of our executive officers regardless of their location.

 

Determination of Amounts and Formulas for Compensation

 

Annual Salary

 

Our Group I executives have employment agreements that fix the amount of their salary.

 

Consistent with our objectives with regard to Group II executives, the Compensation Committee provides guidance in setting base salaries for the Company’s executive officers annually at levels that reflect the Compensation Committee’s interpretation of competitive compensation averages for individuals with similar responsibilities at companies with similar financial, operating and industry characteristics, in similar locations.  The Compensation Committee does not undertake or commission a formal study or survey to benchmark compensation to a particular industry or to particular companies.  Rather, the members of the Compensation Committee evaluate the executive compensation using their accumulated individual knowledge and industry experience.  The Compensation Committee takes into account publicly available compensation information with respect to companies that have a similar market cap or similar annual revenues, and that operate under a business structure similar to ours (although not necessarily in the same industry segment).  In addition, the Compensation Committee takes into consideration the performance of the Company, individual performance of each executive, and the executive’s scope of responsibility in relation to other officers and key executives within the Company.  Annual salaries reflect current practices within a named executive officer's specific geographic region and among executives holding similar positions.  In addition to these factors, the annual salary for a Group II NEO depends on a number of more subjective factors, including our evaluation of the executive’s leadership role, professional contribution, experience and sustained performance.

 

Following publication of the prior year’s audited financial statements, the CEO and the President, in consultation with the Chairman of the Board, determine whether and to what degree to award salary increases to any of the Group II NEOs. Factors that are considered include the net income of the Company during the prior year, the need for a salary adjustment to remain competitive with compensation averages for executives in similar positions, and the particular NEO’s effectiveness in supporting the Company’s long-term goals. We also consider the executive’s department’s contribution to our success as well as our general achievements during the preceding year.  All salary increases are awarded retroactive to January 1.  Salaries are paid on a bi-monthly basis, and with one exception, each of our current Group II NEOs has a standard employment agreement that is based on a format used company-wide.

 

Annual Bonus

 

The manner in which we determine and pay annual bonus payments to Group I and Group II executives are distinct and are therefore addressed separately below.

 

Group I

 

We pay annual bonuses to each of our executive officers in Group I according to the following contractual formula that is linked to our performance during the preceding year: 

 

Each of the employment agreements of Yehudit Bronicki and Lucien Bronicki provide for an annual bonus that is equal to (a) 0.75% of the Company’s annual consolidated profits (after tax) above $2,000,000, and (b) 0.75% of Ormat Industries’ annual consolidated profits (after tax), after deducting the Company’s annual consolidated profits (after tax). The term "annual consolidated profits (after tax)" is the same metric as "net income" that the Company reports in accordance with GAAP. In no event, however, may the aggregate annual bonus exceed six times the annual base salary of the executive. The Audit Committee and/or the Board of Directors of Ormat Industries has the right, considering Ormat Industries’ financial condition and/or its financial results, to reduce the bonus or resolve that no bonus will be paid with respect to any particular year. The contracts provide for payment of the bonus within 45 days of the publication of our audited financial statements for the prior year. The portion of the bonus linked to Ormat Industries’ net income is paid by Ormat Industries. In addition, the portion of the bonus that is to be paid by Ormat Industries is subject to the annual approval of the shareholders of Ormat Industries.

 

 
21

 

 

The employment agreement of Yoram Bronicki provides for an annual bonus for 2013 that is equal to 0.75% of the Company’s annual consolidated profits (after tax) above $2,000,000. In no event, however, may the bonus exceed six times Mr. Bronicki’s annual base salary. In accordance with the terms of the employment agreement, the bonus is paid within 45 days of the publication of our audited financial statements for the prior year.   

 

On December 10, 2013, the Company entered into an amendment to Yoram Bronicki's employment agreement, that, among other changes, reduced his annual bonus effective as of June 30, 2014 from 0.75% to 0.50% of the Company’s annual consolidated profits (after tax) above $2,000,000 up to a maximum of six times his annual base salary. 

 

Group II

 

Our Board of Directors has determined that up to 20% of our annual profits may be distributed by the Company as bonuses to employees. Each year, following publication of our financial statements for the preceding year, our Compensation Committee determines the basket of bonuses that may be awarded on a company-wide basis for the prior year and our CEO and President determine the particular bonuses to be awarded to each Group II executive.

 

The determination of the amount of the annual bonus paid to each Group II executive is based on a number of factors, including specific results of our performance, such as revenue growth and profitability, together with individual performance criteria, such as meeting budget objectives and achieving business goals related to their responsibilities. In addition, a subjective evaluation of each NEO's performance and contribution to the Company's financial results is made by the CEO and President.  The annual bonuses awarded to our Group II executives are forward-looking in that, although they relate to past performance, they are applied to and paid in two installments (in April and September) during the year following the publication of our financial statements for the preceding year, and paid only to executives who are employed by the Company at the time each bonus installment is scheduled to be paid. This is consistent with our objective of providing a medium-term incentive for our executives.

 

Equity Awards

 

Our Group I executives do not receive equity awards as part of their compensation packages. As described above, our Group I executives hold a significant portion of our equity by virtue of their substantial economic interest in our parent, and as such their interests are already aligned with those of our stockholders. Accordingly, we do not have stock ownership guidelines with regard to the acquisition or disposition of our Group I executives' shareholdings in the Company. With the exception of our Group I executives, we are committed to long-term incentive programs for executives that promote the long-term growth of the Company and align the interests of executives with those of our stockholders. The determination of the overall basket of equity awards that may be awarded to our employees each year is determined in a similar manner to our annual incentive bonuses. Once a year, following the publication of our financial results for the preceding year, our Compensation Committee determines the annual basket of equity awards that may be made to all of our employees. This basket is typically calculated as up to 1.5% of the outstanding shares of the Company. Our CEO together with our President then recommend to the Compensation Committee the particular amount of equity awards to be made to each Group II executive considering the Company’s performance and relative stockholder return, the expected contribution of the NEO to the Company’s growth and success, and awards given to the executive officers of the Company in past years. As our CEO and our President are intimately involved in our day-to-day activities and work closely with our officers, they have the knowledge to make a subjective determination of the individual executive's contribution to our growth and success.  No specific criteria are used in making these determinations. This process is typically completed within one month from the determination of the basket of awards for the year. The equity awards that we grant to our Group II executives are subject to the same pricing, vesting, and exercise terms that govern the grant of equity awards to all of our employees. Historically, we granted our Group II executives stock options as the long-term component of their compensation.  In 2011, 2012, and 2013, our Compensation Committee decided to grant our Group II executives SARs instead of stock options because the Compensation Committee determined that SARs provide comparable long-term incentives while utilizing fewer shares of Common Stock.  In addition, we grant stock options to newly hired executives upon their commencement of employment. Until our initial public offering, our parent granted options to our executives and employees. Following our initial public offering, our executives no longer receive any option awards from our parent. 

 

 
22

 

 

In 2012, the Board adopted, and our stockholders approved, a new 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan. See also Proposal No. 3 in this proxy statement.

 

Tax Considerations

 

Our Compensation Committee considers the potential impact of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 162(m)”). Section 162(m) disallows a tax deduction for any publicly held corporation for individual compensation exceeding $1 million in any taxable year for the Chief Executive Officer and our other NEOs (except the Chief Financial Officer), other than compensation that is performance-based under a plan that is approved by the stockholders of the corporation and that meets certain other technical requirements. Based on these requirements, since none of the NEOs who are employed by the Company received compensation in excess of $1 million, the Compensation Committee has determined that Section 162(m) will not prevent us from receiving a tax deduction for any of the compensation paid to our executive officers.

 

At our 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, approximately 97% of the shares voted at the meeting voted to approve on an advisory basis the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers. Based on this endorsement, the Compensation Committee has not implemented any changes in our executive compensation program as a result of such vote. A say-on-pay vote will be taking place at the Company's 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Compensation Committee will continue to consider the outcome of the Company's say-on-pay votes when making future compensation decisions for its named executive officers.

  

 
23

 

 

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

 

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management and based on the review and discussions, it has recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K and Proxy Statement.

 

Submitted on February 25, 2014 by the members of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Ormat Technologies, Inc.

 

 

Yehudit Bronicki, Chair
Dan Falk
Ami Boehm

 

The foregoing Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation and compensation-related disclosures set forth in the proxy statement shall not be deemed to be soliciting material or be incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this proxy statement into any filing under the Securities Act or under the Exchange Act except to the extent the Company specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts.

 

 
24

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Summary Compensation Table 

 

The following table sets forth the total compensation earned by each NEO during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011:

 

Name and Principal Position

Year

 

Salary($)

 

 

Bonus($)

 

Option

Awards

($) (2)

 

 

All Other

Compensation

($)

Total ($)

Lucien Y. Bronicki,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chief Technology Officer

2013

 

 

124,000

 

 

 

294,285

(1)

 

None

 

 

 

37,669

(3) 

 

 

455,954

 

 

2012

 

 

124,000

 

 

 

----

 

 

None

 

 

 

49,230

 

 

 

173,230

 

 

2011

 

 

124,000

 

 

 

----

 

 

None

 

 

 

54,652

 

 

 

178,652

 

Yehudit Bronicki,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chief Executive Officer, and Director

2013

 

 

150,000

 

 

 

294,285

(1)

 

None

 

 

 

63,356

(4) 

 

 

507,641

 

 

2012

 

 

150,000

 

 

 

----

 

 

None

 

 

 

62,025

 

 

 

212,025

 

 

2011

 

 

150,000

 

 

 

----

 

 

None

 

 

 

74,936

 

 

 

224,936

 

Yoram Bronicki,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

President, Chief Operating Officer

2013

 

 

168,000

 

 

 

294,285

(1)

 

None

 

 

 

66,103

(5) 

 

 

528,388

 

and Director

2012

 

 

168,000

 

 

 

----

 

 

None

 

 

 

78,472

 

 

 

246,472

 

 

2011

 

 

168,000

 

 

 

----

 

 

None

 

 

 

81,080

 

 

 

249,080

 

Doron Blachar,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

2013

 

 

263,470

 

 

 

----

 

 

 

564,000

 

 

 

63,756

(6) 

 

 

891,226

 

Nadav Amir,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Vice President - Operations

2013

 

 

286,476

 

 

 

----

 

 

 

337,500

 

 

 

88,641

(7) 

 

 

712,617

 

 

2012

 

 

263,901

 

 

 

----

 

 

 

175,560

 

 

 

77,380

 

 

 

516,841

 

 

2011

 

 

278,498

 

 

 

55,412

 

 

 

235,680

 

 

 

80,635

 

 

 

650,225

 

Zvi Reiss,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Vice President -

2013

 

 

227,225

 

 

 

----

 

 

 

337,500

 

 

 

64,586

(8) 

 

 

629,311

 

Construction Management

2012

 

 

208,789

 

 

 

----

 

 

 

175,560

 

 

 

59,865

 

 

 

444,214

 

 

2011

 

 

279,034

 

 

 

7,700

 

 

 

235,680

 

 

 

78,362

 

 

 

600,776

 

Nir Wolf,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Vice President for Business

2013

 

 

214,257

 

 

 

----

 

 

 

337,500

 

 

 

62,849

(9) 

 

 

614,606

 

Development-Marketing and sales,

2012

 

 

201,172

 

 

 

----

 

 

 

175,560

 

 

 

57,348

 

 

 

434,080

 

Rest of the World

2011

 

 

206,755

 

 

 

59,675

 

 

 

235,680

 

 

 

68,785

 

 

 

570,895

 

 

(1)

Represents annual bonus for each of Mr. Lucien Bronicki, Mrs. Yehudit Bronicki, and Mr. Yoram Bronicki from the Company, based on formulas set forth in their employment agreements, which are described below.

 

(2)

Represents the grant date fair value in accordance with accounting guidance for stock compensation. The awards were Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs).  Each NEO is entitled to receive shares of Common Stock equal to the amount by which the market value of the shares in respect of which the SAR is exercised exceeds the grant price set forth in the SAR, multiplied by the number of shares in respect of which the SAR is exercised. For a discussion of the assumptions used in reaching this valuation, see Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.   

 

(3)

Includes payments of auto-related expenses in the amount of $11,651; Israel National Insurance in the amount of $1,626; health insurance in the amount of $230; convalescence pay in the amount of $1,767; Defined Contribution Plan in the amount of $18,284; Education Fund in the amount of $2,357; and perquisites amounting to $1,754.

 

(4)

Includes payments of auto-related expenses in the amount of $12,788; Israel National Insurance in the amount of $1,264; U.S. Social Security in the amount of $5,228; health insurance in the amount of $230; convalescence pay in the amount of $1,767; Defined Contribution Plan in the amount of $29,667; Education Fund in the amount of $2,357; vacation redemption of $8,337; and perquisites amounting to $1,718.

 

 
25

 

 

(5)

Includes payments of auto-related expenses in the amount of $14,220; Israel National Insurance in the amount of $8,005; U.S. Social Security in the amount of $3,574; health insurance in the amount of $14,795; convalescence pay in the amount of $1,767; 401(k) Plan matching contribution in the amount of $1,008; Defined Contribution Plan in the amount of $18,983; Education Fund in the amount of $2,357; and perquisites amounting to $1,394.

 

(6)

Includes payments of auto-related expenses in the amount of $14,730; Israel National Insurance in the amount of $6,549; health insurance in the amount of $38; Defined Contribution Plan in the amount of $38,469; Education Fund in the amount of $2,972; and perquisites amounting to $998.

 

(7)

Includes payments of auto-related expenses in the amount of $14,337; Israel National Insurance in the amount of $8,658; health insurance in the amount of $230; convalescence pay in the amount of $1,767; Defined Contribution Plan in the amount of $44,670; Education Fund in the amount of $3,929; vacation redemption of $12,781; and perquisites amounting to $2,269.

 

(8)

Includes payments of auto-related expenses in the amount of $14,913; Israel National Insurance in the amount of $8,658; health insurance in the amount of $51; convalescence pay in the amount of $1,767; Defined Contribution Plan in the amount of $34,407; Education Fund in the amount of $3,929; and perquisites amounting to $861.

 

(9)

Includes payments of auto-related expenses in the amount of $15,827; Israel National Insurance in the amount of $8,658; health insurance in the amount of $51; convalescence pay in the amount of $1,767; Defined Contribution Plan in the amount of $30,633; Education Fund in the amount of $3,929; and perquisites amounting to $1,984.

 

 
26

 

 

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

 

The following table sets forth grants of plan-based awards to each NEO during the year ended December 31, 2013:

 

Name

Grant Date

All Other Option

Awards: Number

of Securities

Underlying

Options

 

Exercise

Price of

Option

Awards

($/Sh)

 

 

Grant Date

Fair Value

of Option

Awards

($) (3)

 

Lucien Y. Bronicki

None

 

None

 

 

N/A

 

 

N/A

 

Yehudit Bronicki

None

 

None

 

 

N/A

 

 

N/A

 

Yoram Bronicki

None

 

None

 

 

N/A

 

 

N/A

 

Doron Blachar

April 2, 2013

 

 

100,000

(1)

 

 

20.54

 

 

 

564,000

 

Nadav Amir

June 4, 2013

 

 

50,000

(2)

 

 

23.34

 

 

 

337,500

 

Zvi Reiss

June 4, 2013

 

 

50,000

(2)

 

 

23.34

 

 

 

337,500

 

Nir Wolf

June 4, 2013

 

 

50,000

(2)

 

 

23.34

 

 

 

337,500

 

 

(1)  

These grants were stock options which will vest in four equal annual installments, commencing on the first anniversary date of the grant date (April 2, 2013). The stock options will become completely exercisable in April 2017. The number set forth in the table excludes the Excess Stock Options.

  

  

(2)    

These grants were Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs), and each NEO is entitled to receive shares of Common Stock equal to the amount by which the market value of the shares in respect of which the SAR is exercised exceeds the grant price set forth in the SAR, multiplied by the number of shares in respect of which the SAR is exercised.  These SARs begin to vest following two years from the date of grant (June 1, 2013), with 25% of the SARs vesting on each of the second and third anniversaries of the grant date and the remaining 50% on the fourth anniversary of the grant date. The SARs will become completely exercisable in June l, 2017. 

 

 

(3)    

These amounts are the grant date fair value of each award, computed in accordance with accounting guidance for stock compensation.

   

The following are descriptions of the material terms of our NEOs’ employment agreements, as well as other factors that may help with an understanding of the data disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table and the Grants of Plan-Based Awards table:

 

Our Group I Executives

 

Lucien Bronicki

 

We have entered into an executive employment agreement with Lucien Bronicki, as our Chief Technology Officer, effective as of July 1, 2004. The employment agreement had an initial four-year term expiring on June 30, 2008, and automatically renewed for one additional four-year term expiring on June 30, 2012. The employment agreement has been renewed for an additional two-year term and will expire on June 30, 2014, unless terminated earlier by either us or Mr. Bronicki pursuant to the terms of the agreement. There is no further automatic renewal provision in Mr. Bronicki’s employment agreement.

 

Mr. Bronicki will retire from his position as Chief Technology Officer of the Company, effective June 30, 2014, the current expiration date under his employment agreement.

 

The employment agreement provides for a monthly base salary of $10,333. As described above, the agreement also provides for the payment of an annual bonus as a percentage of our and our parent’s net after-tax profit. The Board of Directors or the Audit Committee of our parent has the discretion to reduce or to resolve not to pay the bonus component based on our parent’s performance, its financial condition, or its financial results for the prior year. In addition, payment of the bonus component that is based on our parent's performance is subject to the annual approval of the shareholders of our parent.

 

 
27

 

 

In accordance with the terms of the bonus provision in his employment agreement, the bonus approved for Mr. Bronicki and to be paid by the Company for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $294,285, representing 0.75% of the Company's annual consolidated profits (after tax) above $2,000,000. As Mr. Bronicki is entitled to the annual bonus in accordance with the terms of his employment contract, no additional factors were taken into account in determining the amount of the bonus. Mr. Bronicki did not receive a bonus from Ormat Industries for the year ended December 31, 2013.   

 

Yehudit Bronicki

 

We have entered into an executive employment agreement with Yehudit Bronicki, as our Chief Executive Officer, effective as of July 1, 2004. The employment agreement had an initial four-year term expiring on June 30, 2008, and automatically renewed for one additional four-year term expiring on June 30, 2012. The employment agreement has been renewed for an additional two-year term and will expire on June 30, 2014, unless terminated earlier by either us or Mrs. Bronicki pursuant to the terms of the agreement. There is no further automatic renewal provision in Mrs. Bronicki’s employment agreement.

 

On November 5, 2013, Mrs. Bronicki informed the Board of Directors of the Company that she intended to retire from her position as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective June 30, 2014, the current expiration date under her employment agreement. Mrs. Bronicki will, however, continue to serve as a member of the Board of Directors, in a non-executive capacity.

 

The employment agreement provides for a monthly base salary of $12,500.  As described above, the agreement also provides for the payment of an annual bonus as a percentage of our and our parent’s net after-tax profit. The Board of Directors or the Audit Committee of our parent has the discretion to reduce or to resolve not to pay the bonus component based on our parent’s performance, its financial condition, or its financial results for the prior year. In addition, payment of the bonus component that is based on our parent's performance is subject to the annual approval of the shareholders of our parent.

 

In accordance with the terms of the bonus provision in her employment agreement, the bonus approved for Mrs. Bronicki and to be paid by the Company for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $294,285, representing 0.75% of the Company's annual consolidated profits (after tax) above $2,000,000. As Mrs. Bronicki is entitled to such annual bonus in accordance with the terms of her employment contract, no additional factors were taken into account in determining the amount of the bonus. Mrs. Bronicki did not receive a bonus from Ormat Industries for the year ended December 31, 2013. 

 

Yoram Bronicki

 

We have entered into an executive employment agreement with Mr. Yoram Bronicki, as our President and Chief Operating Officer, effective as of July 1, 2004. The employment agreement had an initial four-year term expiring on June 30, 2008, and is automatically extended for additional two-year terms, unless terminated earlier by either us or Mr. Bronicki in accordance with its terms.

 

The employment agreement provides for a monthly base salary of $14,000.  As described above, the employment agreement, as modified, also provides for the payment of an annual bonus as a percentage of our net after-tax profit.      

 

In accordance with the terms of the bonus provision in his employment agreement, the bonus approved for Mr. Bronicki and to be paid by the Company for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $294,285, representing 0.75% of the Company's annual consolidated profits (after tax) above $2,000,000. As Mr. Bronicki is entitled to such annual bonus in accordance with the terms of his employment contract, no additional factors were taken into account in determining the amount of the bonus.

 

On December 10, 2013, the Company entered into an amendment to Mr. Bronicki's employment agreement, whereby (i) as of June 30, 2014, Mr. Bronicki will resign from his position of President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company and assume the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company; (ii) Mr. Bronicki will need to devote only a majority of his time in such new position and that, subject to his confidentiality and non-compete obligations, he will be entitled to devote the remainder of his time to other pursuits; and (iii) as of June 30, 2014, Mr. Bronicki's annual bonus will be reduced from 0.75% to 0.50% of the Company’s annual consolidated profits (after tax) above $2,000,000 up to a maximum of six times his annual base salary.

 

 
28

 

 

Our Group II Executives

 

Doron Blachar is employed by Ormat Systems, one of our subsidiaries and by us, and serves as our Chief Financial Officer.  Nadav Amir is employed by Ormat Systems and serves as our Executive Vice President of Operations; and Zvi Reiss is employed by Ormat Systems and serves as our Executive Vice President of Project Management; and Nir Wolf is employed by Ormat Systems and serves as our Executive Vice President for Business Development - Marketing and Sales, Rest of the World.

 

Each of Messrs. Blachar, Amir, Reiss, and Wolf is party to an employment agreement with Ormat Systems that sets forth their respective terms of employment, which terms are generally applicable to all of Ormat Systems’ employees, covering matters such as vacation, health, and other benefits. Under the employment agreements of Messrs. Amir, Reiss, and Wolf either party may terminate the employment relationship upon thirty days prior written notice, while Mr. Blachar's agreement provides for one hundred twenty days prior written notice. However, termination for cause does not require any prior notice. An employee who is terminated for cause is not entitled to any subsequent payments.

 

The actual salary and other compensation arrangements of Messrs. Blachar, Amir, Reiss, and Wolf are agreed separately with each employee. Each of these individuals is also covered by Ormat Systems’ management insurance plan, to which Ormat Systems contributes a percentage of such individual’s salary, and which covers any compensation that such individual may be entitled to receive upon termination, such as severance pay pursuant to Israeli law for Israel-based employees.  In addition, each of the individuals has the benefit of the use of a company-leased car.

 

In 2013, we did not pay any bonuses to our Group II executives because the Company did not realize a profit in 2012.

 

 
29

 

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 

 

The following table sets forth the outstanding equity awards of our NEOs as of December 31, 2013:

 

 

 

Option Awards

Name

 

Number of

Securities

Underlying

Unexercised

Options (#)

Exercisable

 

Number of

Securities

Underlying

Unexercised

Options (#)

Unexercisable

 

Option

Exercise

Price ($)

 

Option

Expiration

Date

Lucien Y. Bronicki

 

None

 

 

None

 

 

N/A

 

N/A

Yehudit Bronicki

 

None

 

 

None

 

 

N/A

 

N/A

Yoram Bronicki

 

None

 

 

None

 

 

N/A

 

N/A

Doron Blachar

 

None

 

 

 

100,000

(1)

 

 

20.54

 

April 2, 2019

Nadav Amir

 

 

20,000

 

 

None

 

 

 

34.13

 

April 7, 2016

 

 

 

24,000

 

 

None

 

 

 

42.08

 

March 29, 2014

 

 

 

24,000

 

 

None

 

 

 

45.78

 

April 8, 2015

 

 

 

31,200

 

 

None

 

 

 

26.84

 

March 18, 2016

 

 

 

12,000

 

 

 

12,000

(2)

 

 

29.95

 

April 16, 2017

 

 

 

6,000

 

 

 

18,000

(3)

 

 

25.65

 

March 31, 2018

 

 

None

 

 

 

22,000

(4)

 

 

20.13

 

April 2, 2019

 

 

None 

 

 

 

50,000

(5)

 

 

23.34

 

June 4, 2019

Zvi Reiss

 

 

20,000

 

 

None

 

 

 

34.13

 

April 7, 2016

 

 

 

24,000

 

 

None

 

 

 

42.08

 

March 29, 2014

 

 

 

24,000

 

 

None

 

 

 

45.78

 

April 8, 2015

 

 

 

31,200

 

 

None

 

 

 

26.84

 

March 18, 2016

 

 

 

12,000

 

 

 

12,000

(2)

 

 

29.95

 

April 16, 2017

 

 

 

6,000

 

 

 

18,000

(3)

 

 

25.65

 

March 31, 2018

 

 

None

 

 

 

22,000

(4)

 

 

20.13

 

April 2, 2019

 

 

None 

 

 

 

50,000

(5)

 

 

23.34

 

June 4, 2019

Nir Wolf

 

 

3,500

 

 

None

 

 

 

34.13

 

April 7, 2016

 

 

 

7,500

 

 

None

 

 

 

42.08

 

March 29, 2014

 

 

 

7,500

 

 

None

 

 

 

45.78

 

April 8, 2015

 

 

 

9,000

 

 

None

 

 

 

26.84

 

March 18, 2016

 

 

 

12,000

 

 

 

12,000

(2)

 

 

29.95

 

April 16, 2017

 

 

 

6,000

 

 

 

18,000

(3)

 

 

25.65

 

March 31, 2018

 

 

None

 

 

 

22,000

(4)

 

 

20.13

 

April 2, 2019

 

 

None

 

 

 

50,000

(5)

 

 

23.34

 

June 4, 2019

  

(1)

These are stock options which began to vest one year after the April 2013 grant date, with 25% of the stock options vesting on each of the first, second, third, and fourth anniversaries of the grant date. The stock options will become completely exercisable in April 2017.

 

(2)

These are SARs which began to vest two years after the April 2010 grant date, with 25% of the SARs vesting on each of the second and third anniversaries of the grant date, and the remaining 50% on the fourth anniversary of the grant date. The SARs will become completely exercisable in April 2014. Each NEO is entitled to receive shares of Common Stock equal to the amount by which the market value of the shares in respect of which the SAR is exercised exceeds the grant price set forth in the SAR, multiplied by the number of shares in respect of which the SAR is exercised.

 

(3)

These are SARs which begin to vest two years after the March 2011 grant date, with 25% of the SARs vesting on each of the second and third anniversaries of the grant date, and the remaining 50% on the fourth anniversary of the grant date. The SARs will become completely exercisable in March 2015. Each NEO is entitled to receive shares of Common Stock equal to the amount by which the market value of the shares in respect of which the SAR is exercised exceeds the grant price set forth in the SAR, multiplied by the number of shares in respect of which the SAR is exercised.

 

 
30

 

 

(4)

These are SARs which begin to vest two years after the April 2012 grant date, with 25% of the SARs vesting on each of the second and third anniversaries of the grant date, and the remaining 50% on the fourth anniversary of the grant date. The SARs will become completely exercisable in April 2016. Each NEO is entitled to receive shares of Common Stock equal to the amount by which the market value of the shares in respect of which the SAR is exercised exceeds the grant price set forth in the SAR, multiplied by the number of shares in respect of which the SAR is exercised.

 

(5)

These are SARs which begin to vest two years after the June 2013 grant date, with 25% of the SARs vesting on each of the second and third anniversaries of the grant date, and the remaining 50% on the fourth anniversary of the grant date. The SARs will become completely exercisable in June 2017. Each NEO is entitled to receive shares of Common Stock equal to the amount by which the market value of the shares in respect of which the SAR is exercised exceeds the grant price set forth in the SAR, multiplied by the number of shares in respect of which the SAR is exercised.

 

Option Exercises

 

Our NEOs exercised 1,500 options during the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

 

The employment agreements of our Group I executives contain the following terms regarding post-termination and change in control payments:

 

Pursuant to the terms of Lucien Bronicki’s, Yehudit Bronicki’s, and Yoram Bronicki’s employment agreements, if the Company or the respective Group I executive officer terminates his or her employment agreement for any reason other than for cause, the respective executive officer will be entitled to his or her salary, bonus and other benefits for the applicable notice period. The notice period in the employment agreements of Lucien and Yehudit Bronicki is 180 days and the notice period in the employment agreement of Yoram Bronicki is 120 days. In the event of termination other than for cause, the executive officer will also be entitled to an assignment of his or her “executive manager’s insurance policy” and monies accumulated under such policy based on deductions from his or her base salary, and a payment of the difference, if any, between the sums accumulated under such policy on account of his or her severance pay, and the amount of severance pay to which he or she is entitled based on the monthly base salary at the time of termination multiplied by the number of years he or she has been employed by us or Ormat Industries.

 

Each of Lucien, Yehudit, and Yoram Bronicki is also entitled to change in control payments if (a) within three years following the occurrence of a change in control, the respective executive officer’s employment is terminated by the Company other than for disability or cause, (b) within 180 days following a change in control, the respective executive officer terminates his or her employment agreement for any reason with 90 days’ prior written notice or (c) within three years following the occurrence of a change in control, the respective executive officer terminates his or her employment agreement for good reason. In any such event, we will be required to pay him or her a lump sum equal to (1) his or her full unpaid and accrued base salary through the date of termination; (2) his or her monthly base salary at the time of the change in control including any increases therein for 24 months; (3) bonus payments for the next two years calculated as the average of the annual bonus paid to him or her for the two years immediately preceding the change in control; (4) a portion of the annual bonus for the year in which the termination of employment occurs with the amount thereof multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the relevant year through the date of termination and the denominator of which is 365; and (5) any unpaid annual bonus for any completed year. In the case of Yoram Bronicki, he would be entitled as well to the amount of the annual matching contribution that would be made by the Company to his 401(k) plan assuming his maximum contribution under the plan, multiplied by two.  In addition, the executive officer will also be entitled to all employee health, accident, life insurance, disability and other employee welfare benefits for a two-year period following his or her last day worked, or until he or she obtains new employment, whichever is earlier. “Cause” means an employee’s conviction of a criminal offense constituting an act of moral turpitude.

 

 
31

 

 

A “change in control” for these purposes will be deemed to occur if:

 

 

●  

any person holds or becomes the holder of 50% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Company or of Ormat Industries, excluding any acquisition directly from the Company or from Ormat Industries or any acquisition by the Company;

 

 

 

 

●  

more than 50% of the current members of the Board of Directors or directors nominated by the current members of the Board no longer serve as directors;

 

 

 

 

●  

the Company merges or is consolidated with, or, in any transaction or series of transactions, substantially all of the business or assets of the Company are sold or otherwise acquired by, another corporation or entity; or

 

 

 

 

●    

the stockholders of the Company or of Ormat Industries approve a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or Ormat Industries.

 

“Good reason” for these purposes means:

 

 

● 

a reduction by the Company in the respective executive officer’s base salary or bonus as in effect at the time of a change in control, or a change in the manner of computation of such officer’s bonus that is adverse to him or her;

 

 

 

 

●  

the assignment to the respective executive officer of any duties inconsistent with his or her position, duties, responsibilities and status with the Company at the time of the change in control, or any material reduction in authority or responsibilities from those assigned at the time of the change in control, or a change in such officer’s title or offices as in effect at the time of the change in control, or any removal of such officer from, or any failure to re-elect such officer to, any of such positions, except in connection with the termination of such officer’s employment by reason of disability or for cause; or

 

 

 

 

●  

the relocation of the respective executive officer’s office to a location more than 60 miles from its location at the time of a change in control.

 

If Lucien, Yehudit, or Yoram Bronicki’s employment is terminated by the Company other than for disability or cause, and a change in control (as defined in Internal Revenue Code Section 409A) occurs within six months thereafter, the respective executive officer will be entitled to the payments described above.

 

Except as described below, each of Lucien, Yehudit and Yoram Bronicki will be restricted for a period of one year following his or her termination of employment from accepting employment with or advising certain companies in competition with us; or soliciting any of our employees to leave our employ.

 

These restrictions will not apply if (i) any of Lucien, Yehudit and Yoram Bronicki terminates his or her employment for good reason following a change in control; or (ii) the Company terminates any of Lucien, Yehudit and Yoram Bronicki’s employment for a reason other than cause or a material violation of his or her employment agreement.

 

In addition, he or she will be prohibited from disclosing any confidential information about the Company for a period of three years following his or her termination of employment.

 

In May 2012, in conjunction with FIMI’s acquisition of approximately 22.5% of the shares of our parent, Ormat Industries Ltd. (the "FIMI Transaction"), each of Lucien Bronicki, Yehudit Bronicki, and Yoram Bronicki waived any change-in-control payment rights that may have been triggered as a result of the FIMI Transaction and agreed that the FIMI Transaction did not constitute a "change in control" transaction.

 

Furthermore, each of Lucien Bronicki, Yehudit Bronicki, and Yoram Bronicki executed new non-compete undertakings pursuant to which each of Lucien Bronicki, Yehudit Bronicki, and Yoram Bronicki undertook not to compete with the Company for an extended period following the later of (i) such officer's termination from the Company or (ii) the termination of the services of the last of Lucien Bronicki, Yehudit Bronicki, and Yoram Bronicki. The extended non-compete period for Lucien Bronicki and Yehudit Bronicki is four years, and the extended non-compete period for Yoram Bronicki is two years.

 

 
32

 

 

We believe that the change in control provisions in the employment agreements for our Group I executives are appropriate in order to help ensure that, if the possibility of a change in control occurs, our Group I executives can act in the best interest of all our stockholders without concern for the uncertainty and without the distraction that would result from the obvious effects a change in control could have on their personal situations.  We believe the purpose of the change in control provision is to protect the Group I NEO against a loss of employment that frequently occurs upon a change in control rather than to provide a payment when the change in control occurs even though the Group I NEO's employment is continued.  We also believe that the level of post-termination payments for our NEOs is competitive and appropriate.

 

Our Group II executives do not have specific change in control payment provisions in their employment agreements.  All of our Group II executives are entitled to salary and other compensation payments during the relevant notice period. Our Group II executives are based in Israel on a full-time or part-time basis, and thus are also entitled to lump sum severance pay amounting to their last monthly salary multiplied by the number of years of their service for the Company.  Our Group II executives are also entitled to payments under our defined contribution plan.  The employment agreements of our current Group II executive officers do not include non-compete or non-solicitation provisions, with the exception of the employment agreement of Doron Blachar.

 

Estimated Payments and Benefits upon Termination

 

The amount of compensation and benefits payable to each of our NEOs in the event of termination without cause or as a consequence of a change in control has been estimated in the table below. The Company does not provide excise tax gross-ups for change in control payments. There is no distinction in the calculation of the termination payments due to our Group II Executives in the event of termination without cause or termination upon a change in control. The amounts have been calculated based on the assumption that the termination occurred on December 31, 2013.

 

Name

 

Termination

without Cause ($)

 

 

Change in Control

($)

 

Lucien Y. Bronicki

 

 

746,269

 

 

 

1,363,892

 

Yehudit Bronicki

 

 

880,830

 

 

 

1,601,827

 

Yoram Bronicki

 

 

306,796

 

 

 

1,069,286

 

Doron Blachar

 

 

145,434

 

 

 

145,434

 

Nadav Amir

 

 

994,399

 

 

 

994,399

 

Zvi Reiss

 

 

568,456

 

 

 

568,456

 

Nir Wolf

 

 

397,562

 

 

 

397,562

 

   

 
33

 

 

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

 

The following table sets forth the total compensation paid to each member of our Board of Directors during the year ended December 31, 2013. Our executive officers who are members of our Board of Directors do not receive additional compensation for their service as Board members.

 

Name

 

Fee Earned or Paid

in Cash ($)

 

 

Options Awards

($) (1) (2)

 

 

Total

($)

 

Gillon Beck

 

 

59,000

 

 

 

52,575

 

 

 

111,575

 

Ami Boehm

 

 

63,500

 

 

 

52,575

 

 

 

116,075

 

Dan Falk

 

 

77,500

 

 

 

52,575

 

 

 

130,075

 

Robert F. Clarke

 

 

62,500

 

 

 

52,575

 

 

 

115,075

 

David Granot

 

 

65,500

 

 

 

52,575

 

 

 

118,075

 

Robert E. Joyal

 

 

62,500

 

 

 

52,575

 

 

 

115,075

 

 

 

(1)

Represents the grant date fair value in accordance with accounting guidance for stock compensation. For a discussion of the assumptions used in reaching this valuation, see Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

 

(2)

At fiscal year end, each non-management director held the following aggregate number of option awards:  (i) Mr. Beck held options to purchase 22,500 shares; (ii) Mr. Boehm held options to purchase 22,500 shares; (iii) Mr. Granot held options to purchase 18,750 shares; (iv) Mr. Joyal held options to purchase 22,500 shares; (v) Mr. Falk held options to purchase 52,500 shares; and (vi) Mr. Clarke held options to purchase 60,000 shares.

 

Cash Compensation

 

The cash compensation of our non-employee directors is as follows:

 

 

1.

Base annual retainer of $40,000 as fees related to their service on our Board of Directors.

 

 

2.

Board meeting fees of $2,500 per day for each in-person meeting attended; $500 per day for each telephonic meeting attended; and $1,000 per day for telephonic participation in an in-person meeting.

 

 

3.

Committee meeting fees of $1,500 per day for each in-person meeting attended and $500 per day for each telephonic meeting attended.

 

 

4.

Any non-employee director who also serves as Chair of the Audit Committee receives an annual retainer of $7,500. Chairs of our other committees do not receive an annual retainer.

 

 

5.

We promptly reimburse all directors for transportation and lodging expenses actually incurred to attend meetings of our Board of Directors or committees.

 

Equity Compensation

 

Each newly appointed non-employee director receives an initial grant of options to purchase 7,500 shares of the Common Stock of the Company at an exercise price equal to the NYSE closing price on the date of the grant.  Each non-employee director receives annually from the second year of service options to purchase 7,500 shares of the Common Stock of the Company at an exercise price equal to the NYSE closing price on the date of the grant, unless the Company’s results are released on that day and then the exercise price is the NYSE closing price on the following day. The Company customarily grants the annual award of options to its non-employee directors in November of each year.   The Company does not have stock ownership guidelines for its directors.

  

 
34

 

 

PROPOSAL 2 – ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (“SAY-ON-PAY”)

 

Three years have passed since we had our advisory stockholders vote regarding compensation of our named executive officers. Under Section 14A of the Exchange Act and SEC rules, we must have an advisory stockholder vote on this issue at least every three years, and, as approved by our stockholders at our annual meeting of stockholders held on May 4, 2011, we will hold this advisory stockholder vote every three years. This Say-on-Pay vote addresses the compensation information described under the headings “Executive Compensation” and “Compensation Discussion and Analysis”.

 

This Say-on-Pay vote is advisory and not binding on the Company, the Board or the Compensation Committee. However, it is another way for our stockholders to convey their views about our executive compensation programs and policies. The Board and the Compensation Committee value stockholder input on these and other matters and will consider the results of this Say-on-Pay vote among other things in making future decisions about executive compensation for our named executive officers.

 

In considering this Say-on-Pay vote, we encourage you to review both:

 

 

The tables, narrative discussion and other information in the “Executive Compensation” section of this proxy statement, which describes how we have compensated our named executive officers; and

 

 

The information in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section of this proxy statement, which describes our compensation objectives and the various elements of our compensation program for our named executive officers.

 

We believe that our executive compensation program directly links executive compensation to our performance and aligns the interest of our executive officers with that of our stockholders. Our Group II executive officers generally receive stock appreciation rights linked to the appreciation in our stock, except for one of our current executive officers who received options to purchase Common Stock upon being hired. Our Group II executive officers also receive an annual bonus based on a number of factors, including specific results of our performance, such as revenue growth, profitability, and the attainment of specific strategic business goals. This performance-based pay constitutes a significant portion of their compensation. The annual bonus of our Group I executive officers is also based on our performance. This direct link between incentive payments and achievement of business goals and increased stockholder value drives Company performance and provides payments to executives only if stockholders also benefit.

 

Accordingly, we ask our stockholders to vote on the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:

 

“RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion, is hereby APPROVED.”

 

 

YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AS DISCLOSED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO ITEM 402 OF REGULATION S-K.

 

 
35

 

 

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

 

We believe, based upon a review of the forms filed and written confirmation provided by our officers, directors, and greater than ten percent beneficial owners, that during 2013 all of our officers, directors, and greater than ten percent beneficial owners filed on a timely basis the reports required by Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. 

 

TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS 

 

We, and one of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, Ormat Systems, have a number of agreements with our parent, Ormat Industries.  Our parent beneficially owns approximately 59.85% of our Common Stock, and certain of our directors and named executive officers, namely, Yehudit Bronicki, Lucien Bronicki, and Yoram Bronicki, beneficially own approximately 17.76% of the Common Stock of our parent, in each case as of March 18, 2014, as described in "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management."

 

These agreements involve transactions with related persons as defined in SEC regulations and are described below.  Each of the related party transactions discussed below is on terms that we believe are at least as favorable to us as would have been obtained in an arm's length transaction.

 

Guarantee Fee Agreement between the Company and Ormat Industries  

 

On January 1, 1999, we entered into a guarantee fee agreement with Ormat Industries, pursuant to which Ormat Industries agreed to issue certain standby letters of credit and guarantees on our behalf to certain customers of ours, as well as guarantees with respect to our bank credit lines.

 

Such agreement establishes a fee, calculated quarterly, equal to 1% per annum of all amounts guaranteed or subject to an outstanding letter of credit during the relevant quarter, plus out of pocket expenses. Such payment is due quarterly in arrears and is payable against the receipt of an invoice from Ormat Industries.

 

As of the end of the second quarter of 2006, all guarantees provided by Ormat Industries were assigned to Ormat Systems. As of December 31, 2013, there were no outstanding letters of credit or guarantees provided under the guarantee fee agreement.

 

Reimbursement Agreement between the Company and Ormat Industries

 

On July 15, 2004, we entered into a reimbursement agreement with Ormat Industries, pursuant to which we agreed to reimburse Ormat Industries for any draws made on any standby letter of credit subject to the guarantee fee agreement between us and Ormat Industries described above, and for any payments made under any guarantee provided by Ormat Industries subject to such guarantee fee agreement. Interest on any amounts owing pursuant to the reimbursement agreement is paid at a rate per annum equal to Ormat Industries’ average effective cost of funds plus 0.3% in U.S. dollars. There are no amounts currently owing to Ormat Industries pursuant to the reimbursement agreement.

 

Sublease Agreements between Ormat Systems and Ormat Industries

 

Ormat Systems, our subsidiary, entered into a sublease, effective as of July 1, 2004, with Ormat Industries for real estate leased by Ormat Industries from the Israel Land Administration on which production and manufacturing facilities are located. The term of the sublease, which originally was due to expire on June 1, 2008, has been extended by a consent of the Israel Land Administration for a period that is the shorter of (1) 25 years (including the initial term) or (2) the remaining period of the underlying lease agreements with the Israel Land Administration (which terminate between 2018 and 2047).

 

Pursuant to the sublease, Ormat Systems agreed to pay rent, in advance, on a monthly basis, equal to $52,250 (plus VAT) per month. Payment will be adjusted every year to reflect increases in the Israeli Consumer Price Index, but will in no event be lower than the rent paid during the previous year. Pursuant to the sublease, Ormat Systems has also agreed to pay taxes and other compulsory charges, to make other required payments, and to indemnify Ormat Industries for taxes (other than income taxes) imposed in connection with the subleased real estate. During the course of the year ended December 31, 2013, Ormat Systems paid approximately $760,000 to Ormat Industries pursuant to the sublease. The approximate aggregate value of future lease payments under the sublease is $12.0 million.

 

 
36

 

 

In January 2010, Ormat Systems entered into an additional sublease agreement with Ormat Industries, effective as of April 1, 2009, for the sublease of an additional lot of approximately 23.8 dunam (5.88 acres) that is contiguous to the current lot sub-leased by Ormat Systems from Ormat Industries. Ormat Industries has erected a specialized industrial building on the new lot and is subleasing the lot and the building to Ormat Systems pursuant to the long-term sublease agreement. The term of the sublease will end on July 12, 2029, which is the same expiration date as the previous sublease agreement entered into in July 2004. 

 

Pursuant to the sub-lease agreement, Ormat Systems pays a monthly rental fee of $77,000, on a quarterly basis, representing, on an annual basis, 8.5% of Ormat Industries’ total expenditure with regard to the property (plus VAT). Payment will be adjusted every year to reflect increases in the Israeli Consumer Price Index, but will in no event be lower than the rent paid during the previous year. Ormat Systems also pays taxes and other compulsory charges and indemnifies Ormat Industries for taxes (other than income taxes) imposed in connection with the subleased real estate. Ormat Systems commenced rental payments under the new sublease in January 2010. During the course of the year ended December 31, 2013, Ormat Systems paid approximately $1,028,000 to Ormat Industries pursuant to the sublease. The approximate aggregate value of future lease payments under the new sublease is $16.3 million.

 

In January 2012, Ormat Systems and Ormat Industries amended the sublease agreements to exclude the rooftops of the leased property subleased by Ormat Systems from Ormat Industries (the "Rooftops") from the existing sublease agreements. The financial terms of the sublease agreements were not revised. As part of this amendment, Ormat Industries sublet the Rooftops to ORSOL Energy 1 LPC ("ORSOL"), an entity under the control of Ormat Systems, for use in connection with solar PV systems. Pursuant to the sublease, ORSOL agreed to pay rent, quarterly in advance, at a monthly rate equal to NIS 21,000 (plus VAT) per each one (1) megawatt of electricity that ORSOL is permitted to produce, pursuant to its production license, from its facility on the subleased premises. Payment was to be adjusted every year to reflect increases in the Israeli Consumer Price Index, but will in no event be lower than the rent paid during the previous year. Pursuant to the sublease, ORSOL also agreed to pay taxes and other compulsory charges, and to make other required payments, imposed in connection with the subleased premises. The amendment, including the sublease, was subject to the fulfillment by ORSOL of certain conditions subsequent within 24 months from entering into the agreement, such as receiving a building permit and a conditional license to operate its solar PV system. If such conditions subsequent were not fulfilled within the given time, the amendment, including the sublease, would become null and void. In January 2014, the amendment, including the sublease, was terminated since the conditions subsequent were not fulfilled.

 

License Agreement between Ormat Systems and Ormat Industries

 

On July 15, 2004, Ormat Systems entered into a patents and trademarks license agreement, effective as of July 1, 2004, pursuant to which Ormat Industries granted a world-wide royalty-free license to Ormat Systems (which is exclusive with respect to the patents and certain of the trademarks) to internally copy, use, and create derivatives of certain patents and trademarks. The license survives sales and/or transfers of the patents and trademarks and Ormat Systems owns the derivatives created from the licensed patents. The term of the license agreement continues until the patents or trademarks expire or are assigned to Ormat Systems (which are intended to be assigned, subject to tax and other considerations) and the agreement may be terminated if either party becomes insolvent.

 

Service Agreement between Ormat Systems and Ormat Industries

 

On July 15, 2004, Ormat Systems entered into a service agreement with Ormat Industries, pursuant to which Ormat Systems agreed to provide, as an independent contractor, certain corporate, financial, secretarial and administrative services to Ormat Industries. At the request of Ormat Industries, Ormat Systems may also provide certain engineering services.

 

Ormat Industries is required to pay $10,000 per month for all services (other than engineering services) rendered pursuant to such service agreement plus all out-of-pocket expenses of Ormat Systems. For engineering services, Ormat Industries is required to pay a fee equal to the cost of such services plus 10.0%, as well as all out-of-pocket expenses of Ormat Systems. On each anniversary of such services agreement, such monthly fees are adjusted in accordance with the Israeli Consumer Price Index during the previous twelve-month period. During the course of the year ended December 31, 2013, Ormat Industries paid Ormat Systems approximately $148,000 pursuant to the service agreement.

 

 
37

 

 

Service Agreement between Ormat Systems and Ormat Industries

 

 Effective January 1, 2008, Ormat Systems entered into a service agreement with Ormat Industries, pursuant to which Ormat Systems agreed to provide, as an independent contractor, certain research and development services relating to biodiesel activity to Ormat Industries or to its wholly owned subsidiary.

 

 Ormat Industries or its wholly owned subsidiary is required to pay a fee equal to the cost of such services plus 10%, as well as all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Ormat Systems.  No payments were made by Ormat Industries to Ormat Systems in the year ended December 31, 2013 pursuant to the service agreement, and as of January 1, 2014, the service agreement was terminated.

 

Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and Ormat Industries

 

 On November 10, 2004, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement with Ormat Industries. Under this agreement, Ormat Industries may require us on one occasion to register our Common Stock for sale on Form S-1 under the Securities Act if we are not eligible to use Form S-3 under that Act. Ormat Industries may require us on unlimited occasions to register our Common Stock for sale on Form S-3. In addition, we will be required to file a registration statement on Form S-3 to register for sale shares of our Common Stock that are or have been acquired by directors, officers and employees of Ormat Industries upon the exercise of options granted to them by Ormat Industries. Ormat Industries will also have an unlimited number of piggyback registration rights. This means that any time we register our Common Stock for sale, Ormat Industries may require us to include shares of our Common Stock held by it or its directors, officers and employees in that offering and sale, subject to certain allocation procedures set forth in the registration rights agreement.

 

 We have agreed to pay all expenses that result from the registration of our Common Stock under the registration rights agreement, other than underwriting commissions for such shares and taxes. We have also agreed to indemnify Ormat Industries, its directors, officers and employees against liabilities that may result from their sale of our Common Stock, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

Agreement with Tersus Software and Consulting Agreements

 

 Effective April 15, 2005, the Company entered into an agreement with Tersus Software Ltd. (“Tersus”) for the licensing of software that will be used in the development of several applications, including an Enterprise Resource Planning ("ERP") solution and the monitoring of performance of the power plants. The price paid to Tersus under the agreement was $100,000. One of Tersus’ founders and stockholders (with a 29% share ownership on a fully diluted basis) is Youval Bronicki, son of Yehudit Bronicki, CEO of our Company, and Lucien Bronicki, Chief Technology Officer of our Company. During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company did not make any payments to Tersus for services relating to maintenance of the ERP solution pursuant to a maintenance agreement which is effective as of January 1, 2010.

 

 Youval Bronicki was also retained as a consultant to the Company to assist with the development of the ERP solution. Pursuant to the consulting agreement, Youval Bronicki is compensated at an hourly rate for services performed. In July 2011, the Company extended the consulting agreement with Youval Bronicki, at a rate of $100 per hour, with the services to be provided through Tersus Inc. During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company paid an aggregate amount of $14,920 to Mr. Bronicki for such consulting services.

 

Share Purchase and Shareholder Rights Agreements between Bronicki Investments and FIMI

 

As noted above, Lucien Bronicki, Yehudit Bronicki and Yoram Bronicki, among other members of the Bronicki family, currently are beneficial owners of approximately 17.76% of our parent’s ordinary shares through Bronicki Investments Ltd., a company organized under the laws of Israel (“Bronicki Investments”). On March 16, 2012, Bronicki Investments entered into agreements with the following affiliated investment funds (collectively “FIMI”):

 

 

FIMI ENRG Limited Partnership, a newly formed Israeli limited partnership (the “Israeli Fund”).

 

 

FIMI ENRG L.P., a newly formed Delaware limited partnership (the “Foreign Fund”).

 

 

FIMI Opportunity IV, L.P., a limited partnership formed under the laws of the State of Delaware and FIMI Israel Opportunity IV, Limited Partnership, a limited partnership formed under the laws of Israel, both of which control the Israeli Fund and the Foreign Fund.

 

 
38

 

 

Certain of the agreements between Bronicki Investments and FIMI relate to and affect both our parent and us, although neither we nor our parent are parties to those agreements or have contractual obligations under those agreements. These include:

 

 

Share Purchase Agreement dated as of March 16, 2012 among (i) Bronicki Investments and (ii) the Foreign Fund and the Israeli Fund (collectively, the “Buyers”), which is described below (the “Bronicki Investments Sale Agreement”).

 

 

Shareholder Rights Agreement among (i) Bronicki Investments and (ii) the Buyers, which is described below (the “Bronicki Investments FIMI Shareholder Agreement”).

 

Copies of these agreements were furnished by Bronicki Investments to our parent and to us. 

 

Bronicki Investments Sale Agreement

 

Pursuant to the Bronicki Investments Sale Agreement, Bronicki Investments sold to the Buyers 13,715,934 ordinary shares of our parent. The Bronicki Investments Sale Agreement also required Bronicki Investments to sell to third parties approximately 1.75 million ordinary shares of our parent. As a result of those sales, and the ownership of other shares of our parent held by the Buyers, each of Bronicki Investments and the Buyers initially owned approximately 22.5% of our parent’s outstanding ordinary shares. The Bronicki Investments Sale Agreement also gives the Buyers the right to acquire additional ordinary shares of our parent held by Bronicki Investments on certain terms and conditions set forth in the agreement. This includes:

 

 

● 

a call option (exercisable during the two-month period following the fifth anniversary of the closing of the Bronicki Investments Sale Agreement) for the Buyers to purchase up to 9 million shares (less the number of shares otherwise sold by Bronicki Investments prior to the option exercise);

 

 

a right for the Buyers to receive for no additional consideration up to 2 million shares if certain post-closing financial tests are not satisfied; and

 

 

a right of Bronicki Investments to assign to the Buyers the balance of its loan up to a maximum amount of NIS 183 million against a transfer to the Buyers of 9 million shares (representing a price of NIS 20.33 per share).

 

Since the post-closing financial tests referred to in the second bullet point above were not satisfied, Bronicki Investments transferred to the Buyers an additional 2 million shares of our parent for no additional consideration. Accordingly, as of March 18, 2014, Bronicki Investments owns approximately 17.76% of our parent’s outstanding ordinary shares, and the Buyers collectively own approximately 24.22% of our parent's outstanding shares.

 

Bronicki Investments FIMI Shareholder Agreement

 

The Bronicki Investments FIMI Shareholder Agreement contains various provisions governing matters such as:

 

 

voting and transfers of the ordinary shares of our parent held by Bronicki Investments and the Buyers;

 

 

 

 

the composition of the board of directors of our parent and its active subsidiaries (including us and our active subsidiaries); and

 

 

agreements concerning various corporate policies and governance matters relating to our parent and its subsidiaries, to the extent subject to a vote of our parent’s shareholders.

 

The principal impact of the Bronicki Investments FIMI Shareholder Agreement on us (as opposed to our parent) has been its effect on the election of our directors and the directors of our subsidiaries and the continued service of two of our named executive officers. The Bronicki Investments FIMI Shareholder Agreement provides that, subject to certain exceptions, Bronicki Investments and the Buyers will:

 

 

subject to any applicable law and fiduciary duties, use their reasonable efforts to cause an equal number of designees of Bronicki Investments and the Buyers to be elected or appointed to our Board and to the boards of all active subsidiaries of our parent (including our subsidiaries). In the case of our Board, the Buyers and Bronicki Investments each have the right to designate four members. The number of directors that Bronicki Investments and the Buyers may designate is subject to staged adjustments if either Buyers or Bronicki Investments or both cease to own specified minimum amounts of our parent’s ordinary shares, within various ranges specified in the Bronicki Investments FIMI Shareholder Agreement.

 

 
39

 

 

 

subject to any applicable law, use their best efforts to cause (subject to continued holding of certain minimum amounts of our parent’s ordinary shares):

 

 

the continued service of Yehudit Bronicki as our Chief Executive Officer and of Yoram Bronicki as our President and Chief Operations Officer, in each case for a service period set forth in the Bronicki Investments FIMI Shareholder Agreement. If either Yehudit Bronicki or Yoram Bronicki is unable to fulfill these positions, Bronicki Investments is entitled to appoint to the applicable position another designee.

 

 

the appointment of FIMI’s designee to serve as our Chairman of the Board for a service period set forth in the Bronicki Investments FIMI Shareholder Agreement.

 

 

after the expiration of the service periods referred to above, the nomination of Bronicki Investments’ designee as our Chief Executive Officer or Chairman of the Board (as Bronicki Investments may decide in its sole discretion), and the appointment of FIMI’s designee as our Chairman of the Board (if Bronicki Investments’ designee serves as Chief Executive Officer) or our Chief Executive Officer (if Bronicki Investments’ designee serves as Chairman of the Board).

 

REVIEW, APPROVAL OR RATIFICATION OF TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS

 

The Company recognizes that transactions between the Company and any of its executives, directors, or beneficial holders of more than 5% of our capital stock or their respective family members, may present potential or actual conflicts of interest or may create the appearance that Company decisions are based on considerations other than the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Therefore, as a general matter, and in conformance with the Company’s (a) Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and (b) Financial Reporting Procedures, transactions with related persons are consummated only if the requisite approvals are obtained and only if the terms of the transaction are determined to be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

 

The Company has adopted a formal written policy which requires the executive or director initiating a related party transaction to prepare (1) a memorandum summarizing the terms and conditions of the proposed transaction, including pricing and market conditions, and (2) a preliminary draft agreement, which are then provided to the Company’s Disclosure Committee for review.  The Disclosure Committee, comprised of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Secretary, VP and Corporate Controller, and VP Corporate Finance and Investor Relations, reviews the business terms of the transaction, materiality, and applicable corporate laws and regulations, and determines whether the transaction is required to be reviewed and approved by the Audit Committee, the Board, and/or the stockholders. In accordance with the determination of the Disclosure Committee, the proposed transaction is then reviewed by the Audit Committee, the Board, and/or the stockholders, as applicable.  A related party transaction will only be approved or ratified if the transaction is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, as the Audit Committee, the Board, and/or the stockholders determine in good faith.  In addition, the fairness of each related party transaction is evaluated to ensure that the terms are consistent with arms length transactions of a similar nature according to prevailing market terms and conditions, where such comparisons are available and appropriate.

 

 
40

 

 

PROPOSAL 3 - APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO
THE COMPANY’S 2012 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN TO INCREASE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SHARES UNDERLYING OPTIONS, SARS OR OTHER AWARDS THAT MAY BE GRANTED TO NEWLY-HIRED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

  

On March 20, 2012, our Board of Directors adopted the Ormat Technologies, Inc. 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan (the "2012 Plan"), which was subsequently approved by our stockholders at the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 8, 2012. The 2012 Plan provides for the grant of the following types of awards (each an award): incentive stock options, within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (which we refer to as the Code), non-qualified stock options, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights, stock units, performance awards, phantom stock, incentive bonuses and other possible related dividend equivalents. All of the awards may be granted to our employees, directors and independent contractors (whom we refer to as the eligible individuals), provided that incentive stock options may be granted only to our employees. The number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the 2012 Plan is 4,000,000. For details on the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance, see below under "Equity Compensation Plan Information".

 

On February 10, 2014, our Board of Directors approved amendments to the 2012 Plan. The key amendments were to (i) increase the total number of shares underlying options, SARs or other awards that may be granted to newly-hired executive officers and (ii) provide for accelerated vesting of options upon the occurrence of a change of control, as more fully described below.

 

 

Increase of Grant Limit to Newly-Hired Executive Officers: Section 15(a) of the 2012 Plan was amended to allow the grant of up to 400,000 shares of common stock of the Company (rather than 100,000 shares) with respect to the initial grant of an equity award to newly hired executive officers in any calendar year. This amendment shall become void if not adopted by our stockholders before May 31, 2014.

 

 

Acceleration of Vesting: Section 15(l) of the 2012 Plan was amended to clarify the ability of the Company to provide in the applicable award agreement that vesting of the award may be accelerated (in whole or in part) upon the occurrence of certain predetermined events and/or conditions such as a "change in control" (as defined in the 2012 Plan, as amended).

 

The amendment to increase the total number of shares underlying options, SARs or other awards that may be granted to newly-hired executive officers is being submitted to our stockholders for approval at the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

 

Amended and Restated 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan

 

The following is a summary of certain material features of the Amended and Restated 2012 Plan (the "Amended 2012 Plan"), which is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete terms of the Amended 2012 Plan which is attached hereto as Appendix A (with the amendment being voted on underlined to show changes). The following description gives effect to the recent amendments to the Amended 2012 Plan, as described above.

 

Eligible Participants. Employees, non-employee directors and independent contractors of Ormat and our subsidiaries are eligible to receive awards, provided that incentive stock options may be granted only to our employees.

 

Administration of the Plan. The Compensation Committee administers the Amended 2012 Plan. The Compensation Committee determines the eligible individuals who will be granted awards, the terms of the awards, including the exercise price, the number of shares subject to each award, the exercisability of the awards and the form of consideration payable upon exercise. The Compensation Committee may delegate to the Chief Executive Officer the right to designate eligible participants to receive awards and to determine the amount of awards to individual participants. With respect to the grant of performance awards to covered employees under Section 162(m) of the Code (the Chief Executive Officer and the three next most highly compensated executive officers other than the Chief Financial Officer), however, in order that we may be eligible to receive a tax deduction for performance-based compensation to these covered employees in excess of $1 million for any year performance awards are granted solely by a sub-committee of the Compensation Committee, called the Grant Committee, that consists of two or more “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m).

 

 
41

 

 

Available Shares. There are four million shares available for issuance under the Amended 2012 Plan. No single participant may receive options, stock appreciation rights or other awards of more than 100,000 shares (400,000 shares with respect to the initial grant to an Eligible Individual who is a newly hired executive officer) under the Amended 2012 Plan in any calendar year. The maximum number of shares, both in total and in respect of any one participant, will be reduced as follows: (i) for grants of stock options or stock appreciation rights by each share subject to an award and (ii) for grants of any award of restricted stock, stock units or other awards, by 2.46 multiplied by each share subject to an award.

 

Shares covered by the unexercised or undistributed portion of any terminated, expired or forfeited award under the Amended 2012 Plan will be made available again for further awards under the Amended 2012 Plan; provided, however, that shares that are withheld or delivered for tax withholding or in connection with the exercise price or net share entitlement of an option or stock appreciation right will not be made available again.

 

In the event any change in or affecting our outstanding shares occurs by reason of a stock dividend or split, merger of consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization, combination or exchange of shares or other similar corporate changes, we will make appropriate adjustments to the Amended 2012 Plan and/or to outstanding awards, which may include changes in the number of remaining shares under the Amended 2012 Plan, the number of remaining shares subject to outstanding awards, and the maximum number of shares that may be granted or delivered to any single participant, and may accelerate the vesting of outstanding awards.

 

Awards may be granted through the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted to individuals who become employees of the Company as a result of a merger, consolidation, acquisition or other corporate transaction involving the Company in which event the assumption or substitution shall be accomplished in a manner permitting the award to be exempt under Section 409A of the Code.

 

Awards

 

The following awards may be made under the Amended 2012 Plan.

 

Options. A stock option is the right to purchase shares of our Common Stock at a fixed exercise price for a fixed period of time. The Compensation Committee will determine the exercise price of options granted under our Amended 2012 Plan, which will be at least equal to the fair market value of our Common Stock on the date of grant. The aggregate fair market value, determined as of the date the option is granted, of the shares of our Common Stock for which any employee may be granted incentive stock options which are exercisable for the first time in any calendar year may not exceed $100,000. Stock options generally may not be exercised after ten years from the date of the grant thereof, unless a shorter period is specified in the grant agreement. At the relevant time of exercise, the option price must be paid in full in cash or if permitted in the award agreement in shares of our Common Stock with a fair market value on the date of exercise equal to the option price or in a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock whose fair market value on the date of exercise thereof together with such cash will equal the option price. After termination of any of our employees, directors or independent contractors, unless the Compensation Committee determines otherwise, an unvested option typically will be subject to forfeiture, and a vested option will be exercisable for the period of time stated in the option agreement. If termination is due to death or retirement, the option generally will remain exercisable for one year following such termination. In all other cases, the option generally will remain exercisable for three months. However, an option may never be exercised later than the expiration of its term.

 

Stock Appreciation Rights. A stock appreciation right is the right to receive the appreciation in the fair market value of our Common Stock between the exercise date and the date of grant, for that number of shares of our Common Stock with respect to which the stock appreciation right is exercised. A stock appreciation right may be granted in conjunction with an option or alone. We may pay the appreciation in either cash, in shares of our Common Stock with equivalent value, or in some combination, as determined by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee determines the exercise price of stock appreciation rights, the vesting schedule and other terms and conditions of stock appreciation rights; however, stock appreciation rights expire under the same rules that apply to stock options.

 

 
42

 

 

 

Restricted Stock. Restricted stock awards are awards of shares of our Common Stock that vest in accordance with terms and conditions established by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee may impose whatever conditions to vesting it determines to be appropriate. The Compensation Committee will determine the number of shares of restricted stock granted to any employee. Unless the Compensation Committee determines otherwise, shares that do not vest typically will be subject to forfeiture to the extent the vesting schedule and/or specified performance or other criteria have not been satisfied, or upon the termination of the employee, director or independent contractor for any reason including death or retirement.

 

Stock Units. Stock units are rights to receive shares of our Common Stock at a future date. The Compensation Committee determines the terms and conditions of stock units.

 

Phantom Stock. Phantom stock are rights to receive an amount of cash equal to the fair market value of a share of our Common Stock at a specified date. The Compensation Committee determines the terms and conditions of phantom stock.

 

Incentive Bonuses. Incentive bonuses are rights to receive cash or shares of our Common Stock. The Compensation Committee determines the terms and conditions of such incentive bonuses. The Board has determined that up to 20% of the annual profits available for distribution by the Company may, at any time from time to time, be distributed to the employees of the Company by way of cash incentive bonuses to employees, pursuant and subject to the provisions of the Amended 2012 Plan and at the discretion of the Board. In determining whether there are annual profits available for distribution as cash incentive bonuses, our Board of Directors will take into account our business plan and current and expected obligations, and no such distribution will be made that in the judgment of our Board of Directors would prevent the Company from meeting such business plan or obligations.

 

Any such distribution will only be made when, as and if approved by our Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor. The actual amount and timing of any such distribution will depend upon our financial condition, results of operations, business prospects and such other matters as the Board may deem relevant from time to time. Even if profits are available for such distribution, the Board could determine that such profits should be retained for an extended period of time, used for working capital purposes, expansion or acquisition of businesses or any other appropriate purpose.

 

Performance Awards. Performance awards are awards of options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, stock units, phantom stock, and incentive bonus awards that will result in a payment to a key employee only if performance goals established by the Compensation Committee or the Grant Committee are achieved. The Compensation Committee or the Grant Committee will establish performance goals in its discretion, which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the number and/or the value of performance units and performance shares to be paid out to key employees. The performance goals may be based upon the achievement of company-wide, divisional or individual goals as determined by the Compensation Committee or the Grant Committee. The performance goals set forth in the Amended 2012 Plan are: sales; gross margin; operating income; income before or after interest, taxes, depreciation or amortization; net income; basic or diluted earnings per share; return on capital; return on equity; return on assets; cash flow; working capital; stock price; total shareowner return; pretax income before allocation of corporate overhead and bonus; market share; budget and expense management; gross profits; and/or reductions in costs. These goals may be adjusted at the time the award is made to omit the effects of extraordinary items, gain or loss on the disposal of a business segment, unusual or infrequently occurring events and transactions and cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles. Under the Amended Plan, no person will receive, in any one fiscal year, grants of performance awards for more than 500,000 shares of our Common Stock for performance awards of options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, stock units and phantom stock. The maximum dollar amount of any performance award of incentive bonuses that may be paid to any key employee in any fiscal year may not exceed $10 million.

 

Other types of stock-based awards may also be granted, either alone or in tandem with any other award, so long as they are consistent with the purpose of the Amended 2012 Plan. Special terms may apply for awards to participants who are foreign nationals, or who are employed outside of the United States, as the Compensation Committee considers necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom.

 

Dividend Equivalents. Any award (other than options, stock appreciation rights and bonuses) under the Amended 2012 Plan may, in the discretion of the Compensation Committee, earn dividend equivalents.

 

 
43

 

 

Transferability of Awards. Unless the Compensation Committee determines otherwise, no award or portion of an award will be transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, except that an option and tandem stock appreciation right may be transferred pursuant to a domestic relations order or by gift to a family member of the holder to the extent permitted in the applicable award. A tandem stock appreciation right may never be transferred except to the transferee of the related option. Only the participant may exercise an award during his or her lifetime.

 

Amendment and Termination of the Amended 2012 Plan. The Amended 2012 Plan will automatically terminate in 2022, unless we terminate it earlier. In addition, our Board of Directors has the authority to amend, suspend or terminate the Amended 2012 Plan, provided that such amendment does not adversely affect any award previously granted under the Amended 2012 Plan, unless the Board of Directors determines that an amendment is desired or appropriate to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. The Board may not, however, without the approval of stockholders, change the class of eligible individuals who may become participants, nor increase the maximum number of shares of Common Stock authorized for the Amended 2012 Plan, nor reduce the basis upon which the minimum option price is determined, nor extend the period within which awards under the Amended 2012 Plan may be granted, nor provide for an option or stock appreciation right that is exercisable more than ten years from the date it is granted unless the participant dies, nor amend the prohibition against repricing.

 

Burn Rate

 

The following table sets forth information regarding award grants, the burn rate for each of the last three years, and the average burn rate over the last three years. The burn rate has been calculated as the quotient of (i) the sum of all options and SARs granted in such year, divided by (ii) the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding at the end of such year.

 

BURN RATE

(Shares in thousands)

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

2013

 

 

2012

 

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

Options & SARs granted

 

 

1,303

 

 

 

687

 

 

 

624

 

 

 

3-Year 

 

Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding

 

 

45,431

 

 

 

45,431

 

 

 

45,440

 

 

 

Average 

 

Burn rate

 

 

     2.87%

 

 

 

    1.51%

 

 

 

   1.37%

 

 

 

1.92%

 

 

Repricings Prohibited

 

Repricings of stock options and stock appreciation rights are not permitted under the Amended 2012 Plan. A “repricing” means reducing the exercise price, any other action that is treated as a "repricing" under generally accepted accounting principles (unless it occurs in connection with a corporate change, divestiture or plan termination described in Section 17 of the Amended 2012 Plan in which case such cancellation and exchange would be considered a “repricing” regardless of whether it is treated as a “repricing” under generally accepted accounting principles and regardless of whether it is voluntary on the part of the award recipient), canceling the award and granting replacement awards at a time when the option or stock appreciation price is less than or equal to the fair market value of the underlying stock, or repurchasing the award for cash at a time when the price is less than or equal to the fair market value of the underlying stock.

 

 
44

 

 

Change in Control

 

 According to the Amended 2012 Plan, the Company may provide in the applicable award agreement that the vesting of the applicable award may be accelerated (in whole or in part) upon the occurrence of certain predetermined events and/or conditions such as a "change in control". “Change in control” is defined in the Amended 2012 Plan as any of the following events, unless otherwise defined in the applicable award agreement:

 

 

if any person or group is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of our then outstanding securities;

 

 

during any twelve-month period, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors and any new directors whose election by the Board of Directors or nomination for election by our stockholders was approved by at least a majority of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof;

 

 

our stockholders approve a merger or consolidation of us with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation (A) which would result in all or a portion of our voting securities outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of our voting securities or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation or (B) by which our corporate existence is not affected and following which our chief executive officer and directors retain their positions with us (and constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors) and such merger or consolidation is consummated; or

 

 

our stockholders approve an agreement for the sale or disposition by us of all or substantially all our assets and such sale or disposition is consummated.

 

Vote Required

 

Approval of the amendment to the Company’s 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of our shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter, provided that the total votes cast represent over 50% in interest of all securities entitled to vote on the proposal.

 

YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY’S 2012 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN TO INCREASE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SHARES UNDERLYING OPTIONS, SARS OR OTHER AWARDS THAT MAY BE GRANTED TO NEWLY-HIRED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.

  

 
45

 

 

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

The following table summarizes share and exercise price information about the Company’s equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2013.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

 

 

Number of
Securities

to be
Issued Upon

Exercise of

Outstanding

Options,

Warrants
and Rights

 

 

Weighted

Average
Exercise

Price of
Outstanding

Options,
Warrants and

Rights

 

 

Number of

Securities
Remaining

Available for
Future

Issuance

Under
Equity

Compensation

Plans

 

Equity Compensation plans approved by security holders

 

4,710,389*

 

 

$

28.25

 

 

2,591,900†

 

Equity Compensation plans not approved by security holders

 

 

--

 

 

N/A

 

 

 

--

 

Total

 

 

4,710,389*

 

 

$

28.25

 

 

2,591,900†

 

___________

   

*

Stock options to be issued pursuant to our 2004 Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended, and our 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended, and our Registration Statement on Form S-8 covering 1,250,000 shares filed with the SEC on November 9, 2005

 

 

On May 8, 2012, at the Company’s 2012 annual meeting of shareholders, the Company’s shareholders approved the Ormat Technologies, Inc. 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan, which the Board of Directors of the Company had adopted on March 20, 2012. No further awards will be granted under the 2004 Incentive Compensation Plan. On May 18, 2012, the Company filed a post-effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-8 whereby the Company removed from registration 51,149 unissued shares that had remained available for grant under the 2004 Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended.

 

 
46

 

 

PROPOSAL 4 — RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Appointment of Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

The stockholders are asked to ratify the appointment by the Audit Committee of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2014. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP audited Ormat Technologies, Inc.’s annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013. A representative of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP will be present at the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to respond to appropriate questions and to make a statement if the representative so desires.

 

Audit and Non-Audit Fees

 

The following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed to us for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP:

 

 

2013

 

 

2012

 

Audit Fees(1) 

 

$

2,136,400

 

 

$

1,767,000

 

Audit-Related Fees(2)

 

$

11,000

 

 

$

18,100

 

Tax Fees(3)

 

$

164,900

 

 

$

91,200

 

All Other Fees(4) 

 

$

5,200

 

 

$

5,200

 

Total:

 

$

2,317,500

 

 

$

1,881,500

 

  

(1)

Audit Fees represent the aggregate fees billed for the audits of the annual financial statements and the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; for review of the financial statements included in the Company’s Form 10-Q filings; for the audits and reviews of certain of our subsidiaries; and for services that are normally provided by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with statutory and regulatory filings.  

  

(2)

Audit-Related Fees represent the aggregate fees billed for services related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (1) above.

  

(3)

Tax Fees represent the aggregate fees billed for international tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning services.

  

(4)

All Other Fees represent annual software license fees.

 

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Procedures for Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

The Audit Committee has set a pre-approval procedure, and thus all auditors’ engagements are handled in accordance with such procedures, as follows:

 

A limited authority was delegated to the Chair of the Audit Committee to approve audit, audit-related and tax services in an amount of up to $50,000, provided such approval is reported to the Audit Committee at its next meeting.

 

Non-audit services may only be approved by the full Audit Committee.

 

Vote Required for Ratification

 

The Audit Committee is solely responsible for selecting Ormat Technologies, Inc.’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2014. Accordingly, stockholder approval is not required to appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2014. The Board of Directors believes, however, that submitting the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to the stockholders for ratification is a matter of good corporate governance. If the stockholders do not ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee will review its future selection of an independent registered public accounting firm.

 

The ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Ormat Technologies, Inc.’s independent registered public accounting firm requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present at the meeting in person or by proxy and entitled to vote.

 

YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM.

 

 
47

 

 

OTHER MATTERS

 

We know of no other business that will be presented at the meeting. If any other matter properly comes before the stockholders for a vote at the meeting, however, the proxy holders will vote your shares in accordance with their best judgment. This discretionary authority is granted by the execution of the form of proxy.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

Householding of Proxies

 

Under rules adopted by the SEC, we are permitted to deliver a single Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials to any household at which two or more stockholders reside if we believe the stockholders are members of the same family. This process, called householding, allows us to reduce the number of copies of these materials we must print and mail. Even if householding is used, each stockholder will continue to be entitled to submit a separate proxy or voting instruction.

 

The Company is not householding this year for those stockholders who own their shares directly in their own name. If you share the same last name and address with another Company stockholder who also holds his or her shares directly, and you would each like to start householding for the Company’s annual reports and proxy statements, please contact us at Ormat Technologies, Inc., 6225 Neil Road, Reno, Nevada 89511, Attention: Corporate Secretary, telephone (775) 356-9029.

 

This year, some brokers and nominees who hold Company shares on behalf of stockholders may be participating in the practice of householding proxy statements and annual reports for those stockholders. If your household receives a single Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for this year, but you would like to receive your own copy, please contact us as stated above, and we will promptly send you a copy. If a broker or nominee holds Company shares on your behalf and you share the same last name and address with another stockholder for whom a broker or nominee holds Company shares, and together both of you would like to receive only a single set of the Company’s disclosure documents, please contact your broker or nominee as described in the voter instruction card or other information you received from your broker or nominee.

 

If you consent to householding, your election will remain in effect until you revoke it. Should you later revoke your consent, you will be sent separate copies of those documents that are mailed at least 30 days or more after receipt of your revocation.

 

Additional Filings

 

The Company’s reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and all amendments to those reports are available without charge through the Company’s website, www.ormat.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, Code of Ethics Applicable to Senior Executives, Audit Committee Charter, Corporate Governance Guidelines, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter, Compensation Committee Charter, Insider Trading Policy, and amendments thereof are also available at our website address mentioned above. If we make any amendments to our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics or Code of Ethics Applicable to Senior Executives or grant any waiver, including any implicit waiver, from a provision of either code applicable to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or principal accounting officer requiring disclosure under applicable SEC rules, we intend to disclose the nature of such amendment or waiver on our website. The content of our website, however, is not part of this proxy statement.

 

You may request a copy of our SEC filings, as well as the foregoing corporate documents, at no cost to you, by writing to the Company address appearing in this proxy statement or by calling us at (775) 356-9029.

 

Proxy Solicitation

 

Ormat will bear the entire cost of this proxy solicitation. In addition to soliciting proxies, we expect that our directors, officers and regularly engaged employees may solicit proxies personally or by mail, facsimile, telephone, or other electronic means, for which solicitation they will not receive any additional compensation. Ormat will reimburse brokerage firms, custodians, fiduciaries and other nominees for their out-of-pocket expenses in forwarding solicitation materials to beneficial owners upon our request.

 

 
48

 

 

Stockholder Proposals for 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

 

Stockholders of the Company may submit proposals that they believe should be voted upon at the Company’s Annual Meetings of Stockholders or nominate persons for election to the Board of Directors. Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, some stockholder proposals may be eligible for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement for the Company’s 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. To be eligible for inclusion in the Company’s 2015 proxy statement, any such stockholder proposals must be submitted in writing to the Secretary of the Company no later than November 27, 2014, in addition to complying with certain rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC. The submission of a stockholder proposal does not guarantee that it will be included in the Company’s proxy statement.

 

Alternatively, stockholders seeking to present a stockholder proposal or nomination at the Company’s 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, without having it included in the Company’s proxy statement, must timely submit notice of such proposal or nomination. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal offices of the Company not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, unless the date of the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is advanced by more than 30 days or delayed (other than as a result of adjournment) by more than 60 days from the anniversary of the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. For the Company’s 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, this means that any such proposal or nomination must be submitted no earlier than January 8, 2015 and no later than February 7, 2015. If the date of the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is advanced by more than 30 days or delayed (other than as a result of adjournment) by more than 60 days from the anniversary of the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the stockholder must submit any such proposal or nomination no earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or if the first public announcement of the date of the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is less than 100 days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the 10th day following the day on which the public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made.

 

Notices of any proposals or nominations for the Company’s 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders should be sent to Ormat Technologies, Inc., Corporate Secretary, 6225 Neil Road, Reno, Nevada 89511.

 

 

By order of the Board of Directors,

 

 

 

/s/ YEHUDIT BRONICKI

Yehudit Bronicki
Chief Executive Officer

 

 
49

 

 

Appendix A

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
2012 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

 

1.      Purpose of Plan

 

The purpose of the Ormat Technologies, Inc. 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan (as amended and restated, the “Plan”) is to assist Ormat Technologies, Inc. and its Subsidiaries (the “Corporation”) in securing and retaining Eligible Individuals of outstanding ability by making it possible to offer them increased incentives, which may include a proprietary interest in the Corporation, to join or continue in the service of the Corporation and to increase their efforts for its welfare.

 

2.      Definitions

 

As used in the Plan, the following words have the following meanings:

 

(a)     “Award” means an award or grant made to a Participant pursuant to the Plan, including, without limitation, an award or grant of an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Stock Units, Phantom Stock, Other Stock-Based Awards, Incentive Bonuses, Performance Awards, Dividend Equivalents or any combination of such types of Awards.

 

(b)     “Award Agreement” means any written agreement pursuant to which the Corporation makes any Award under the Plan.

 

(c)     “Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of Ormat.

 

(d)     “Cause” means (i) the commission of, or plea of guilty or no contest to, a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude; (ii) conduct that results in or is reasonably likely to result in, harm to the reputation or business of the Corporation; or (iii) the failure or refusal by the Participant to perform his or her normal duties (other than any such failure resulting from the Participant’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness), which has not ceased within ten (10) days after a demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Participant by the Corporation, which demand identifies the manner in which the Corporation believes that the Participant has not performed such duties; provided, however, if a Participant is a party to an employment or service agreement with the Corporation, “Cause” shall have the meaning set forth in such agreement. The Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine whether a Participant has been discharged for Cause.

 

(e)     “Change in Control” means, unless otherwise defined in any Award Agreement, (i) if any "person" or "group" as those terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act or any successors thereto, is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act or any successor thereto), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Corporation representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Corporation's then outstanding securities, provided, that the acquisition of additional securities by any person or group that owns 50% or more of the voting power prior to such acquisition of additional securities shall not be a Change in Control; or (ii) during any twelve-month period, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors and any new directors whose election by the Board of Directors or nomination for election by the Corporation's stockholders was approved by at least a majority of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or (iii) the stockholders of the Corporation approve a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation (A) which would result in all or a portion of the voting securities of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Corporation or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation or (B) by which the corporate existence of the Corporation is not affected and following which the Corporation's chief executive officer and directors retain their positions with the Corporation (and constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors) and such merger or consolidation is consummated; or (iv) the stockholders of the Corporation approve an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Corporation of all or substantially all the Corporation's assets and such sale or disposition is consummated.

 

 
50

 

 

(f)     “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

(g)    “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.

 

(h)    “Common Stock” means the common stock of Ormat, par value $.001.

 

(i)     “Corporation” means Ormat and its Subsidiaries.

 

(j)     “Covered Employee” means a covered employee within the meaning of Code Section 162(m).

 

(k)    “Effective Date” means the date specified in Section 21 of the Plan.

 

(l)     “Eligible Individual” means an employee, a member of the Board of Directors or an independent contractor of the Corporation.

 

(m)   “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

(n)    “Fair Market Value” means the closing price of a share of Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange composite tape (or if the Common Stock is not then traded on the New York Stock Exchange, on the stock exchange or over-the-counter market on which the Common Stock is principally trading) on the date of measurement and if there were no trades on the measurement date, on the day on which a trade occurred next preceding such measurement date; provided, however, that if the measurement date is a Sunday, and the following Monday is a day on which trades occur, the closing price of a share of Common Stock on such Monday shall be used.

 

(o)    “Grant Committee” means the Committee, excluding those members of the Committee who are not at the time of the grant of the Award both “outside directors” as defined for purposes of Code Section 162(m) and the regulations under such section of the Code and “Non-Employee Directors” as defined in Rule 16b-3(b)(3)(i) under the Exchange Act, for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules under the Exchange Act.

 

(p)    “Incentive Bonus” means an Award of a right to receive cash or shares of Common Stock, whether or not subject to performance goals and performance periods.

 

(q)    “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option to purchase shares of Common Stock which is intended to qualify as an incentive stock option as defined in Code Section 422.

 

(r)     “Nonqualified Stock Option” means an Option to purchase shares of Common Stock which is not intended to qualify as an incentive stock option as defined in Code Section 422.

 

(s)    “Option” means an Award of the right to purchase a specified number of shares of Common Stock at a specified price for a specified period. Two types of Options may be awarded under the Plan: (i) Incentive Stock Options; and (ii) Nonqualified Stock Options.

 

(t)     “Ormat” means Ormat Technologies, Inc.

 

(u)    “Participant” means an Eligible Individual to whom one or more Awards have been granted that have not all been forfeited or terminated under the Plan.

 

(v)    “Performance Award” means an Award granted pursuant to Section 11 of the Plan.

 

(w)   “Phantom Stock” means an Award of a right to receive an amount in cash equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock at a specified date.

 

(x)     “Plan” means this Ormat Technologies, Inc. 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan.

 

(y)    “Restricted Stock” means an Award of shares of Common Stock that is subject to restrictions on transfer for a specified period.

 

 
51

 

 

(z)     “Retirement” means Separation from Service upon attainment of the applicable retirement age in those countries in which the law determines the retirement age and age 65 in other countries.

 

(aa)   “Separation from Service” has the meaning set forth in Code Section 409A.

 

(bb)  “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means an Award of a right to receive, upon exercise, an amount payable in cash or shares equal to the number of shares subject to the Stock Appreciation Right that is being exercised multiplied by the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the Award is exercised, over (ii) the exercise price specified in the Stock Appreciation Right Award.

 

(cc)   “Stock Unit” means an Award of the right to receive a fixed number of shares of Common Stock at a future date.

 

(dd)  “Subsidiary” means any (i) corporation or entity, other than Ormat, in an unbroken chain of corporations or other entities beginning with Ormat if each of the corporations, or other entities other than the last corporation or entity in the unbroken chain owns 50% or more of the voting stock in one of the other corporations in such chain and (ii) any corporation or other entity in which Ormat has a significant equity interest and which the Committee has determined to be a Subsidiary for purposes of the Plan, except that with respect to Incentive Stock Options, “Subsidiary” means “subsidiary corporation” as defined in Code Section 424(f).

 

3.      Administration of Plan

 

The Plan will be administered by the Committee consisting of at least three members of the Board of Directors. The Committee will determine the aggregate amount of shares of Common Stock to be the subject of Awards granted under the Plan each year to all Eligible Individuals and will make any adjustments under Section 17 of the Plan. The Committee will also determine the amount of any Awards granted to Eligible Individuals and the terms of such Awards, except that Performance Awards to Covered Employees under Section 11 of the Plan will only be granted by the Grant Committee, in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and Awards granted to executive officers and directors subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall only be granted by the Grant Committee. With respect to other Eligible Individuals, the Committee may delegate to the Chief Executive Officer of Ormat (the “CEO”) the right to designate Eligible Individuals (other than the CEO) to receive Awards and to determine the amount of any Awards granted to such Eligible Individuals and the terms of such Awards. The Committee may adopt its own rules of procedure, and the action of a majority of the Committee members (or the Grant Committee, as the case may be), taken at a meeting, or taken without a meeting by unanimous written consent of the members of the Committee or otherwise in accordance with the Committee’s charter, will constitute action by the Committee. The Committee (or the Grant Committee, as the case may be), in its sole and absolute discretion and authority, will determine the amount, timing and restrictions on the Awards and will administer, construe and interpret the Plan, make rules for carrying out the Plan and make changes to such rules. Any such determination, interpretation or change by the Committee (or the Grant Committee, as the case may be) will be final, conclusive and binding on all parties, including the Corporation and each Participant.

 

4.      Awards

 

Awards may be made from time to time under the Plan to such Eligible Individuals and in such form and having such terms, conditions and limitations as the Committee or the Grant Committee or the CEO pursuant to the power delegated to the CEO under Section 3 may determine. Awards may be granted singly, in combination or in tandem. The amount of each Award granted under the Plan and the terms, conditions and limitations of each such Award will be set forth in writing on a form approved by the Committee (or the Grant Committee, as the case may be), consistent, however, with the terms and conditions of the Plan. The provisions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant. In case of any discrepancy between the terms in any Award and the Plan, the Plan will govern.

 

 
52

 

 

5.      Awards of Options

 

The terms and conditions with respect to each Award of Options under the Plan will be consistent with the following:

 

(a)     Option Price. The Option price per share will not be less than the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock at the date of grant (or the day following if the Corporation’s earnings results are released on the date of grant), unless the Option was granted through the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted to individuals who become employees of the Corporation as a result of merger, consolidation, acquisition or other corporate transaction involving the Corporation (in which case the assumption or substitution shall be accomplished in a manner that permits the Option to be exempt from Code Section 409A).

 

(b)     Incentive Stock Options. Awards of Incentive Stock Options will be granted only to employees.

 

(c)     Exercise Period. The exercise of an Award may be conditioned upon completion of all or a part of a vesting schedule specified in the Award and/or the satisfaction of performance or other criteria as specified in the Award, provided that no Option shall be exercisable earlier than one year from the date of grant. The Award will be exercisable, in whole or in part, from time to time beginning as stated in the Award and ending at the expiration of ten years from the date of grant of the Award, unless an earlier expiration date will be stated in the Award or the Option expires because of the exercise of a tandem SAR, whether granted under this Plan or another Plan of the Corporation.

 

(d)     Limit on Incentive Stock Options. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of shares of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable, whether granted under this Plan or another Plan of the Corporation, for the first time by any Participant during any calendar year exceeds $100,000, such Options will be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options. This subclause (d) will be applied by taking Options into account in the order in which they were granted. For purposes of this subclause (d), the Fair Market Value of any share of Common Stock will be determined at the time of the Award. If this subclause (d) results in a portion of an Incentive Stock Option exceeding the $100,000 limitation, only such excess will be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option. In addition, any person who owns (or is deemed to own pursuant to Code Section 424(d)) stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of Ormat or any of its affiliates shall not be granted an Incentive Stock Option unless the exercise price is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant and the Option is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date of grant.

 

(e)     Payment for Shares of Common Stock. Payment in full of the Option price must be made upon exercise of each Option and may be made (i) in cash, (ii) to the extent provided in the Award, by the delivery (either actual delivery or by attestation procedures established by Ormat) of shares of Common Stock with a Fair Market Value determined as of the date of exercise equal to the Option price, (iii) by reduction in the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable upon exercise of the Option with a Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate exercise price at the time of exercise or (iv) in a combination of any of the foregoing. The Committee may also permit Participants, either on a selective or aggregate basis, simultaneously to exercise Options and to sell the shares of Common Stock thereby acquired pursuant to a brokerage or similar arrangement, approved in advance by the Committee and to use the proceeds from such sale as payment of the purchase price of such shares of Common Stock subject to the Option.

 

(f)     Substitute Options. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, any Option issued in substitution for an option previously issued by another entity, which substitution occurs in connection with a transaction to which Code Section 424(a) is applicable, may provide for an exercise price computed in accordance with Code Section 424(a) and the regulations thereunder and may contain such other terms and conditions as the Committee may prescribe to cause such substitute Option to contain as nearly as possible the same terms and conditions (including the applicable vesting and termination provision) as those contained in the previously issued option being replaced thereby.

 

(g)     Repricing. Repricing of Options and SARs shall not be permitted. For this purpose, a “repricing” means any of the following (or any action that has the same effect as any of the following): (A) changing the terms of an Option or SAR to lower its exercise price; (B) any other action that is treated as a “repricing” under generally accepted accounting principles; (C) canceling an Option or SAR at a time when its price is equal to or less than the Fair Market Value of the underlying stock in exchange for another Option, SAR or other equity award; and (D) repurchasing for cash an Option or SAR at a time when its price is equal to or less than the Fair Market Value of the underlying stock, unless the change, other action or cancellation, exchange or repurchase occurs in connection with an event set forth in Section 17. Such cancellation and exchange would be considered a “repricing” regardless of whether it is treated as a “repricing” under generally accepted accounting principles and regardless of whether it is voluntary on the part of the Participant.

 

 
53

 

 

6.     Awards of Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)

 

The terms and conditions with respect to each Award of SARs under the Plan will be consistent with the following:

 

(a)     Awards of SARs. The grant price of a SAR will not be less than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the SAR is granted, unless the SAR was granted through the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted to individuals who became employees of the Corporation as a result of a merger, consolidation, acquisition or other corporate transaction involving the Corporation (in which case the assumption or substitution shall be accomplished in a manner that permits the SAR to be exempt from Code Section 409A). SARs may be (i) freestanding SARs or (ii) tandem SARs granted in conjunction with an Option, either at the time of grant of the Option or at a later date, and exercisable at the Participant’s election instead of all or part of the related Option. To the extent an Option is exercised in whole or in part, any tandem SAR granted in conjunction with such Option (or part thereof) shall terminate and cease to be exercisable. To the extent a tandem SAR is exercised in whole or in part, the Option (or part thereof) in conjunction with which such tandem SAR was granted shall terminate and cease to be exercisable. The payment to which the Participant is entitled on exercise of a SAR may be in cash, in Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise or partly in cash and partly in Stock, as provided in the Award or, in the absence of such provision as the Committee may determine. A SAR shall have such vesting and other provisions as set forth in the Award consistent with the terms of the Plan, provided that no SAR may be exercised earlier than one year from the date of grant nor may be exercisable more than 10 years from the date of grant.

 

(b)     Payment. When the vesting schedule and/or specified performance or other criteria have been satisfied, the Participant will be paid in accordance with the terms of the Award an amount in cash or in shares of Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise or a combination thereof.

 

7.      Awards of Restricted Stock

 

The terms and conditions with respect to each Award of Restricted Stock under the Plan will be consistent with the following:

 

(a)     Terms. The Award may specify a vesting schedule which must be at least one year from the date of grant and performance or other criteria for each Award. The Restricted Stock will be forfeited to the extent the vesting schedule and/or specified performance or other criteria have not been satisfied, except as otherwise provided in the Plan or the Award.

 

(b)     Book-Entry Accounts. Restricted Stock will be held in book-entry accounts subject to the direction of Ormat (or if Ormat elects, certificates may be issued in the Participant’s name but delivered to and held by Ormat). Unless the Committee determines otherwise at the time of the Award, any dividends that may be paid in cash or otherwise on the Restricted Stock will be delivered to and held by Ormat on the book-entry accounts or reinvested in Restricted Stock, at the discretion of the Committee, so long as the Restricted Stock remains subject to the restrictions of the vesting schedule and/or specified performance or other criteria.

 

(c)     Payment. When the vesting schedule and/or specified performance or other criteria have been satisfied, the Participant will have the right to direct the transfer of such Restricted Stock. In addition, the book-entry accounts will reflect that the Restricted Stock has been released. Certificates will be issued for the Restricted Stock (as Common Stock) and any dividends held by Ormat will also be delivered to the Participant. The Participant may be paid interest on the amount of cash dividends so delivered computed at the same rate and in the same manner as interest is credited from time to time on Ormat’s corporate cash balances, as determined by the Committee.

 

 
54

 

 

8.     Awards of Stock Units

 

The terms and conditions with respect to each Award of Stock Units under the Plan will be consistent with the following:

 

(a)     Terms. The Award entitles the Participant to receive at a specified future date, payment of an amount equal to all or a portion of the Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares of Common Stock at the end of a specified period. The Award may specify a vesting schedule which must be at least one year from the date of grant and performance or other criteria for each Award. No payment will be made under the Award to the extent the vesting schedule and/or specified performance or other criteria have not been satisfied, except as otherwise provided in the Plan or the Award. Stock Units containing performance criteria, or other restrictions, including but not limited to the continued employment or service of the Participant with the Corporation during a period set forth in the Award, may be designated as “Restricted Stock Units”.

 

(b)     Payment. Stock Units will be credited to an account to be maintained on behalf of the Participant. When the vesting schedule and/or specified performance or other criteria have been satisfied, the Participant will be paid in accordance with the terms of the Award in shares of Common Stock, valued at Fair Market Value on the date of settlement, or cash. The earned portion of an Award may be paid currently or on a deferred basis and may be credited with interest or an earnings equivalent as specified in the Award or as determined by the Committee.

 

9.      Awards of Phantom Stock

 

The terms and conditions with respect to each Award of Phantom Stock under the Plan will be consistent with the following:

 

(a)     Terms. The Award may specify a vesting schedule which must be at least one year from the date of grant and performance or other criteria for each Award. No payment will be made under the Award to the extent the vesting schedule and/or specified performance or other criteria have not been satisfied, except as otherwise provided in the Plan or the Award.

 

(b)     Payment. Phantom Stock will be credited to an account to be maintained on behalf of the Participant. When the vesting schedule and/or specified performance or other criteria have been satisfied, the Participant will be paid in accordance with the terms of the Award an amount in cash equal to the Fair Market Value of such Phantom Stock at such time. The earned portion of an Award may be paid currently or on a deferred basis and may be credited with interest or an earnings equivalent as specified in the Award or as determined by the Committee.

 

10.   Awards of Incentive Bonuses

 

The terms and conditions with respect to each Award of an Incentive Bonus under the Plan will be consistent with the following:

 

(a)     Terms. Incentive Bonuses will be credited to an account to be maintained on behalf of the Participant. The Award may specify a vesting schedule and performance or other criteria for each Award. No payment will be made under the Award to the extent the vesting schedule and/or specified performance or other criteria have not been satisfied, except as otherwise provided in the Plan or the Award.

 

(b)     Payment. When the vesting schedule and/or specified performance or other criteria have been satisfied, the Participant will be paid in accordance with the terms of the Award an amount in cash or in shares of Common Stock (or Restricted Stock) valued at Fair Market Value. The earned portion of an Award may be paid currently or on a deferred basis and may be credited with interest or an earnings equivalent as specified in the Award or as determined by the Committee.

 

 
55

 

 

 

11.   Performance Awards

 

The terms and conditions with respect to each Performance Award made by the Grant Committee to Covered Employees will be consistent with the following:

 

(a)     Description of Performance Award. The Committee or the Grant Committee (and in the case of Awards to Covered Employees, directors or officers subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, only the Grant Committee) may, from time to time, make Awards under this Section 11 of the Plan of Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Stock Units, Other Stock-Based Awards, Phantom Stock, and Incentive Bonus Awards (“Performance Awards”) to key employees in such form and having such terms, conditions and limitations as the Committee or the Grant Committee, as the case may be, may determine in order that such Performance Award constitutes qualified performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m). Performance Awards may be granted singly, in combination or in tandem.

 

(b)     Performance Goals. Pursuant to this Section 11 of the Plan, for each Award of Restricted Stock, Stock Units, Phantom Stock and Incentive Bonus Awards, the Committee or the Grant Committee, as the case may be, will (on or before the 90th day of the applicable performance period) establish, in writing, a performance period, applicable performance goals and the performance objectives to be used in determining whether and to what extent Performance Awards will be deemed to be earned. The performance goals will be based on one or more of the following objective performance criteria selected by the Committee or the Grant Committee, as the case may be, to measure the performance of the Corporation: sales; gross margin; operating income; income before or after interest, taxes, depreciation or amortization; net income; basic or diluted earnings per share; return on capital; return on equity; return on assets; cash flow; working capital; stock price; total shareowner return; pretax income before allocation of corporate overhead and bonus; market share; budget and expense management; gross profits; and/or reductions in costs. Such performance goals and performance objectives also may be based solely on the Corporation’s performance or based on the relative performance of other companies or upon comparisons of any of the indicators of performance relative to other companies. Each such performance criterion will be determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as consistently applied by the Corporation and, if so determined by the Committee or the Grant Committee, as the case may be, at the time the Performance Award is made, and to the extent permitted under Code Section 162(m), adjusted to omit the effects of extraordinary items, gain or loss on the disposal of a business segment, unusual or infrequently occurring events and transactions and cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles. Once established for a performance period, Performance Award performance goals will not be amended or otherwise modified if and to the extent such amendment or modification would cause the compensation payable pursuant to the Award to fail to constitute qualified performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m).

 

(c)     Determination of Award Earned. A Participant will be eligible to receive payment in respect of a Performance Award only to the extent that the performance goals for that Performance Award are achieved. As soon as practicable after the close of each performance period, the Committee or the Grant Committee, as the case may be, will review and determine in writing whether, and to what extent, the performance goals for the performance period have been achieved and, if so, determine the amount of the Performance Award earned by the Participant for such performance period. The Committee or the Grant Committee, as the case may be, will then determine the actual amount of the Performance Award to be paid to the Participant and, in so doing, may in its sole discretion decrease, but not increase, the amount of the Performance Award otherwise payable to the Participant based upon such performance.

 

(d)     Payment. Performance Awards will be paid as provided in the Plan (but in no event later than two and one-half months after the end of the year during which the performance period is completed), according to payment rules provided under each type of Award. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award, a Participant must be employed by the Corporation on the last day of a performance period to be eligible for payment in respect of a Performance Award for such performance period.

 

(e)     Performance Award Limitations. The shares of Common Stock underlying Performance Awards of Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Stock Units, Other Stock-Based Awards, Phantom Stock and Incentive Bonuses made pursuant to this Section 11 of the Plan to any key employee in any calendar year may not exceed 500,000, as increased or decreased by the provisions of the Plan, which limitation will be applied in a manner consistent with the requirements of Code Section 162(m). The maximum dollar amount of any Award granted pursuant to this Section 11 of the Plan that may be paid to any key employee in any calendar year may not exceed $10 million.

 

 
56

 

 

12.   Dividend Equivalents

 

Any Awards (other than Awards of Options, SARs and Restricted Stock) under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, earn dividend equivalents. In respect of any such Award which is outstanding on a dividend record date for Common Stock, the Participant may be credited with an amount equal to the cash or stock dividends or other distributions that would have been paid on the shares of Common Stock covered by such Award had such covered shares of Common Stock been issued and outstanding on such dividend record date. The Committee will establish such rules and procedures governing the crediting of dividend equivalents, including the timing, form of payment and payment contingencies of such dividend equivalents, as it deems are appropriate or necessary. Dividend equivalents shall not be paid with respect to forfeitable Awards but may be accumulated and paid upon payment of the vested and earned Awards.

 

13.   Other Stock-Based Awards

 

The Committee may grant other Awards under the Plan pursuant to which shares of Common Stock are or may be acquired in the future. Such Other Stock-Based Awards may be granted alone, in addition to or in tandem with any Award of any type granted under the Plan and must be consistent with the purpose of the Plan.

 

14.   Effect of Separation from Service

 

(a)     Separation from Service Upon Death or Retirement and Exercise of Award. If a Participant incurs a Separation from Service by reason of death or because of Retirement and the Participant (or a permitted transferee) holds an outstanding Award, such Participant will immediately forfeit any portion of the Award which has not yet vested, unless otherwise provided in the terms of the Award. The portion of the Award that has not yet been exercised, if applicable, may be exercised from and after the date of the death or date of Retirement of the Participant for a period of one year (or until the expiration date specified in the Award if earlier) and only to the extent the Participant (or a permitted transferee) was entitled to exercise the Award at the time of the death or Retirement, unless otherwise provided in the terms of the Award, provided that an Incentive Stock Option must be exercised no later than the expiration date set forth in the Award or, if earlier, three months after Separation from Service.

 

(b)     Separation from Service For Any Other Reason and Exercise of Award. If a Participant incurs a Separation from Service before the end of a vesting schedule for any reason other than death or Retirement, such Participant will immediately forfeit any portion of the Award which has not yet vested, unless otherwise provided in the terms of the Award. The portion of the Award that has not yet been exercised, if applicable, may be exercised only within three months after the Separation from Service (or until the expiration date specified in the Award if earlier) and only to the extent the Participant (or a permitted transferee) was entitled to exercise the Award at the time of the Separation from Service, unless otherwise provided in the terms of the Award, provided that an Incentive Stock Option must be exercised no later than the expiration date set forth in the Award or, if earlier, three months after Separation from Service.

 

(c)     Six-Month Wait for Specified Employees. To the extent that any Award is subject to the rules of Code Section 409A and is to be paid out as a result of a Separation from Service, and to the extent that the Participant is deemed to be a “specified employee” (as that term is defined in Code Section 409A and pursuant to procedures established by Ormat) on the Separation from Service date, then, notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan or any Award to the contrary, such payment will not be made to the Participant during the six-month period immediately following his or her Separation from Service date. Instead, on the first day of the seventh month following such Separation from Service date, all amounts that otherwise would have been paid to the Participant during that six-month period, but were not due to this Section 14(c), will be paid to the Participant at such time in a single lump sum (without any interest with respect to that six-month period). This six-month delay will cease to be applicable if the Participant separates from service due to death or if he or she dies before the six-month period has elapsed.

 

 
57

 

 

15.    Limitations and Conditions

 

(a)     Maximum Shares of Common Stock Available Under Plan As Awards. Subject to the adjustment provisions of Section 17, the total number of shares of Common Stock that may be made subject to Awards under the Plan is 4,000,000 shares of Common Stock. No more than 100,000 shares (400,000 shares with respect to the initial grant to an Eligible Individual who is a newly hired executive officer) may be made subject to Options, SARs or other Awards to any one Eligible Individual in any calendar year, which limitation shall be applied in a manner consistent with Code Section 162(m). However, the maximum number of shares, both in total and in respect of any one Eligible Individual shall be reduced as follows: (i) in the case of the grant of an Option or SAR, by each share of Common Stock subject to such an Award and (ii) in the case of an Award payable in shares of Common Stock other than an Option or SAR by 2.46 multiplied by each share of Common Stock subject to such an Award. If the Corporation makes an acquisition or is a party to a merger or consolidation and the Corporation assumes the options or other awards consistent with the purpose of the plan of the company acquired, merged or consolidated which are administered pursuant to the Plan, shares of Common Stock subject to the assumed options or other awards will not count as part of the total number of shares of Common Stock that may be made subject to Awards under the Plan.

 

(b)     Reuse of Shares of Common Stock. Any shares of Common Stock attributable to the nonvested, unpaid, unexercised, unconverted or otherwise unsettled portion of any Award granted under the Plan that is forfeited or cancelled or expires or terminates for any reason without becoming vested, paid, exercised, converted or otherwise settled in full shall become available again for purposes of the Plan. Any shares of Common Stock attributable to a portion of any Award granted under the Plan that is settled in cash in lieu of shares of Common Stock shall become available again for purposes of the Plan. Any shares of Common Stock delivered to, or withheld by, Ormat in payment of the exercise price of, or through net share settlement of, an Option or SAR or in respect of taxes required to be withheld by the Corporation upon exercise or settlement of an Option, SAR or other Award, shall not become available again for purposes of the Plan

 

(c)     Maximum Period. No Awards will be made under the Plan after May 1, 2022, but the terms of Awards granted on or before the expiration date may extend beyond such expiration date. At the time an Award is granted or amended or the terms or conditions of an Award are changed, the Committee may provide for limitations or conditions on such Award.

 

(d)     Transferability. No Award or portion of the Award will be transferable by a Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, except that a Nonqualified Stock Option and tandem SAR may be transferred pursuant to a domestic relations order or by gift to a family member of the holder to the extent permitted in the applicable Award. A tandem SAR may never be transferred except to the transferee of the related Option. During the lifetime of the Participant, an Award will be exercisable only by the Participant unless a Nonqualified Stock Option has been transferred to a family member of the holder, in which case it will be exercisable only by such transferee. For the purpose of this provision, a “family member” has the meaning set forth in the General Instructions to Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

(e)     No Rights as Shareholder. No person who receives an Award under the Plan which includes shares of Common Stock or the right to acquire shares of Common Stock (which may include shares of Restricted Stock pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan) will have any rights of a stockholder: (i) as to shares of Common Stock under Option until, after proper exercise of the Option, such shares of Common Stock have been recorded on Ormat’s official stockholder records as having been issued or transferred; (ii) as to shares of Common Stock to be delivered following exercise of a SAR until, after proper exercise of the SAR and determination by the Committee to make payment for the SAR in shares of Common Stock, such shares of Common Stock will have been recorded on Ormat’s official stockholder records as having been issued or transferred; or (iii) as to shares of Common Stock included in Awards of Restricted Stock, Stock Units, other Stock-Based Awards or Incentive Bonuses, until such shares of Common Stock will have been recorded on Ormat’s official stockholder records as having been issued or transferred, except for any dividend equivalent rights provided in Section 12 of the Plan.

 

(f)     Ormat’s Obligations. Ormat will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock until they have been listed (or authorized for listing upon official notice of issuance) upon each stock exchange upon which outstanding shares of Common Stock at the time are listed or until there has been compliance with such laws or regulations as Ormat may deem applicable. Ormat will use its best efforts to effect such listing and compliance. No fractional shares of Common Stock will be delivered.

 

 
58

 

 

(g)     No Rights to Continue Status. Nothing contained in the Plan will affect the right of the Corporation to cause the Participant to incur a Separation from Service at any time or for any reason.

 

(h)     ERISA. Notwithstanding any language in the Plan to the contrary, no deferral will be permitted under the Plan if it will result in the Plan becoming an “employee benefit plan” under Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”). The Plan is not intended to constitute an employee benefit plan subject to ERISA.

 

(i)     Clawback. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Plan, any Award which is subject to recovery under any law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement, will be subject to such deductions and clawback as may be required to be made under any such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement or any policy adopted by Ormat pursuant to any such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement. This provision shall become effective upon promulgation by the New York Stock Exchange of clawback rules as mandated by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

 

(j)     Compliance with Laws. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, Ormat shall not be required to sell, issue or deliver shares of Common Stock hereunder or thereunder if the sale, issuance or delivery thereof would constitute a violation by the Participant or the Corporation of any provision of any law or regulation of any governmental authority (including the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) or any national securities exchange; and as a condition of any sale or issuance Ormat may require such agreements or undertakings, if any, as it may deem necessary or advisable to assure compliance with any such law or regulation, including but not limited to Code Section 409A.

 

(k)     Forfeiture Events. Any Award held by a Participant whose Separation from Service is due to a discharge for Cause shall be forfeited. The Committee may specify in an Award that a Participant’s rights, payments and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, forfeiture or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain other events (in addition to applicable vesting conditions of an Award). Such events may include, without limitation, breach of non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality, or other restrictive covenants that are contained in the Award or otherwise applicable to the Participant, or other conduct by the Participant that is detrimental to the business or reputation of the Corporation.

 

(l)     Acceleration of Exercisability and Vesting. The Committee, or the Grant Committee, as applicable, shall have the power to accelerate the time at which an Award may first be exercised or the time during which an Award or any part thereof will vest in accordance with the Plan, notwithstanding the provisions in the Award stating the time at which it may first be exercised or the time during which it will vest. For the sake of clarity, the Committee, or the Grant Committee, may provide in the applicable Award Agreement that part and/or all of the Award shall be accelerated upon the occurrence of certain pre-determined events and/or conditions, such as a Change in Control.

 

(m)     Governing Law. The law of the State of New York (without regard to its conflict of law rules) shall govern all questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of the Plan.

 

16.   Transfers and Leaves of Absence

 

For purposes of the Plan: (a) a transfer of a Participant’s employment, transfer as a director or transfer as an independent contractor without an intervening period from Ormat to a Subsidiary or another entity in which Ormat owns, directly or indirectly, an equity interest or vice versa, or from one Subsidiary or another entity in which Ormat owns, directly or indirectly, an equity interest to another, or vice versa, will not be deemed a Separation from Service and such Participant will be deemed to remain in the employ of the Corporation, to remain a director of the Corporation or to remain an independent contractor of the Corporation, and (b) a Participant who is granted in writing a leave of absence will be deemed to have remained in the employ of the Corporation, remained as a director of the Corporation, or remained as an independent contractor to the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that an Award is subject to the rules of Code Section 409A and such award is payable upon a Separation from Service, then, except as otherwise provided by the Committee in the applicable Award, a Separation from Service will be deemed to have occurred with respect to a Participant when such Participant incurs a “separation from service” as that term is defined in Code Section 409A. For this purpose, Ormat is making an election under Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(h)(3) such that a “separation from service” will not be deemed to occur to the extent that Ormat owns, directly or indirectly, an equity interest (or vice versa) of at least 20% in such Subsidiary or other entity to which the Participant is transferred (as determined pursuant to Code Sections 414(b), 414(c), and 1563(a), and Treasury Regulation § 1.414(c)-2)).

 

 
59

 

 

17.    Corporate Changes, Divestitures and Plan Termination

 

(a)     Corporate Changes. If there is a merger, consolidation, stock or other non-cash dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, split-up, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares, reorganization or recapitalization or change in capitalization, or any other similar corporate event, the Committee shall make such equitable adjustments and take such actions as applicable under the circumstances. Such equitable adjustments as they relate to outstanding Awards shall be required to ensure that the intrinsic value of each outstanding Award immediately after any of the adjustments in, or affecting the shares of Common Stock, is equal to the intrinsic value of each outstanding Award immediately prior to any of the adjustments. Such adjustments and actions shall include, as applicable, changes in: (i) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Plan and the number of shares of Common Stock that may be made subject to Awards to any individual Participant as well as the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be made subject to any type of Award; (ii) the number and kind of shares of Common Stock that are subject to any Option (including any Option outstanding after Separation from Service) and the Option price per share without any change in the aggregate Option price to be paid for the Option upon exercise of the Option; (iii) the number and kind of SARs granted or that may be granted under the Plan; (iv) the number and kind of shares of outstanding Restricted Stock; (v) the number and kind of shares of Common Stock covered by Stock Units, Performance Awards, Other Stock-Based Awards or Phantom Stock; and (vi) the number of outstanding dividend equivalents, as the Committee will deem appropriate in the circumstances. The determination by the Committee as to the terms of any such adjustments will be final, conclusive and binding.

 

(b)     Divestitures. In the case of a Participant whose principal employer is a Subsidiary, he or she serves as a director on a Subsidiary’s board of directors or he or she provides services to a Subsidiary as an independent contractor, then such Participant will be deemed to have incurred a Separation from Service for purposes of Awards as of the date on which such Subsidiary ceases to be a Subsidiary (the “Divestiture Date”) and, except to the extent otherwise determined by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Award, with respect to Awards held by such Participant, the vesting schedule will be deemed satisfied as of the Divestiture Date, but only as to that portion of such Award as is equivalent to the portion of the vesting schedule applicable to the Award that has been satisfied as of the Divestiture Date without regard to this Section 17(b); as of the Divestiture Date, the portion of the Award as to which the vesting schedule is deemed satisfied pursuant to this Section 17(b) will become nonforfeitable and the other portion of the Award as to which the vesting schedule has not been satisfied will be forfeited. Payments under Awards, if any, will be determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 14 of the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that an Award is subject to the rules of Code Section 409A, then, except as otherwise provided by the Committee in the applicable Award, the Award shall not become payable on the Divestiture Date unless the divestiture of the applicable Subsidiary separately satisfies the definition of a “change in control event” (as defined in Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-3(i)(5)(i), and as set forth in Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-3(i)(5)(v)- (vii), applying the default rules and percentages set forth in such regulation) with respect to that Subsidiary.

 

(c)     Plan Termination. If the Plan terminates, then each Participant will be deemed to have incurred a Separation from Service solely for purposes of the Award as of the date of such termination of the Plan and, except to the extent otherwise determined by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Award, the provisions of Section 17(c) of the Plan will apply to such Participant’s Award with the same effect as if the date of such termination of the Plan were a Divestiture Date. Payments under Awards, if any, will be determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 14 of the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors at the time of Plan termination, Awards that are subject to the rules of Code Section 409A will not be paid out due to such Plan termination and Participants, with respect to such Awards only, will not be deemed to have incurred a Separation from Service. Instead, unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors at the time of Plan termination, such Awards will continue to be paid out in accordance with their terms then in effect.

 

 
60

 

 

18.   Amendment and Termination

 

(a)     Amendment. The Board of Directors has the power to amend the Plan, including the power to change the amount of the aggregate Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock subject to Incentive Stock Options first exercisable in any calendar year under Section 5 of the Plan to the extent provided in Code Section 422, or any successor Code provision. The Board of Directors will not, however, except as otherwise provided in the Plan, without approval of the stockholders of Ormat, change the class of Eligible Individuals, nor increase the maximum number of shares of Common Stock authorized for the Plan, nor reduce the basis upon which the minimum Option price is determined, nor extend the period within which Awards under the Plan may be granted, nor provide for an Option or SAR that is exercisable more than ten years from the date it is granted except if the Participant dies, nor amend Section 5(g). The Board of Directors will have no power to change the terms of any Award previously granted under the Plan so as to impair the rights of a Participant without the consent of the Participant whose rights would be affected by such change except to the extent, if any, provided in the Plan or in the Award or except to the extent that the Board of Directors determines that such amendment is desirable or appropriate to comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A.

 

(b)     Termination. The Board of Directors may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. No such suspension or termination will affect Awards then outstanding

 

(c)     Successor Corporations. The obligations of the Corporation under the Plan shall be binding upon any successor corporation or organization resulting from the merger, consolidation or other reorganization of the Corporation, or upon any successor corporation or organization succeeding to all or substantially all of the assets and business of the Corporation.

 

19.    Foreign Participants

 

In order to facilitate the making of any Award under the Plan, the Committee may provide for such special terms for Awards to Eligible Individuals who are nationals and/or tax residents of a jurisdiction other than the United States of America, or who are employed outside the United States of America, as the Committee may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom of a jurisdiction outside of the United States of America.

 

20.   Withholding Taxes

 

The Corporation will have the right to deduct from any cash payment made under the Plan any federal, state or local income or other taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such payment. It will be a condition to the obligation of Ormat to deliver payment of Awards that upon such payment, exercise or settlement the Participant pay to the Corporation such amount as may be requested by the Corporation for the purpose of satisfying any liability for such withholding taxes. Any Award may provide that the Participant may elect, in accordance with any conditions set forth in such Award to pay any required withholding taxes in shares of Common Stock.

 

21.   Effective Date

 

The Plan will be effective as of May 8, 2012 upon approval of the stockholders of Ormat.

 

 
61