RPM 2020 Proxy Statement

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED) See “Other Potential Post-Employment Compensation” for a discussion of additional terms of the employment agreements related to restrictive covenants and potential post-employment compensation. New Form of Employment Agreement In 2016, the Compensation Committee approved a new form of employment agreement that will be used for any new employment agreements with our executives in the future. The new form of employment agreement generally follows the current employment agreements with our named executive officers, except that the new form of employment agreement removes a provision that accelerates equity awards upon a termination of employment following a change in control. Instead, any outstanding equity awards will be subject to the terms of their respective plans and award agreements (for example, equity awards granted under the 2014 Omnibus Plan will follow the double-trigger vesting provisions set forth in the 2014 Omnibus Plan). Further, the new form of employment agreement does not provide for a tax gross-up for excise taxes triggered under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code, but instead includes a “best-net alternative” provision, under which the executive would receive the greater of the total parachute payments, after taxes (including the excise tax) have been paid, or reduced parachute payments equal to the highest amount that may be paid without triggering the excise tax under Section 280G. The definitions of “change in control” and “good reason” were also revised to match the definitions for such terms in the 2014 Omnibus Plan. Policy on Clawback of Executive Compensation In 2012, the Board of Directors adopted a policy regarding the clawback of executive compensation. If, as the result of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any executive officer of the Company, the Company is required to restate all or a portion of its financial statements, the Board of Directors will, to the extent permitted by governing law, require reimbursement of any bonus or incentive compensation awarded to such executive officer or effect the cancellation of unvested restricted or deferred stock awards or stock options previously granted to the executive officer if: • the amount of the bonus, incentive compensation or stock or option award was calculated based upon the achievement of certain financial results that were subsequently the subject of a restatement, • the amount of the bonus, incentive compensation or stock or option award that would have been awarded to the executive officer had the financial results been properly reported would have been lower than the amount actually awarded, and • it is reasonable to do so (e.g., the expense of recovering the compensation does not exceed the amount recovered). Post-Employment Compensation and Change in Control Each of the employment agreements with Messrs. Frank C. Sullivan, Gordon, Moore, Michael H. Sullivan and Ms. Kastner provides for payments and other benefits if the named executive officer’s employment terminates under certain circumstances, such as being terminated without cause within two years of a change in control, which is often referred to as a “double-trigger.” We believe that these payments and other benefits are important to recruiting and retaining our named executive officers, as many of the companies with which we compete for executive talent provide for similar payments to their senior employees. Additional information regarding these payments and other benefits is found under the heading “Other Potential Post-Employment Compensation.” Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code As part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Reform Act”), the ability to rely on the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m) was eliminated, and the limitation on deductibility generally was expanded to include all named executive officers. As a result of the Tax Reform Act, going forward and subject to certain grandfathered provisions, we will no longer be able to deduct any compensation paid to our named executive officers in excess of $1,000,000. The Compensation Committee continues to assess the impact of the amendments to Section 162(m) to determine what adjustments to our executive compensation practices, if any, it considers appropriate. Perks and Other Benefits Our named executive officers participate in various employee benefit plans that are generally available to all employees and on the same terms and conditions as with respect to other similarly situated employees. These include normal and customary programs for life insurance, health insurance, prescription drug insurance, dental insurance, short and long term disability insurance, pension benefits, and matching gifts for charitable contributions. While these benefits are considered to be an important and appropriate employment benefit for all employees, they are not considered to be a material component of a named executive officer’s annual compensation program. Because the named executive officers receive these benefits on the same basis as other employees, these benefits are not established or determined by the Compensation Committee separately for each named executive officer as part of the named executive officer’s annual compensation package. 35