¨ | Preliminary Proxy Statement | |
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ý | Definitive Proxy Statement | |
¨ | Definitive Additional Materials | |
¨ | Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-12 |
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¨ | Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. | ||||
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2017 | Proxy Statement |
1. | Elect four Class II directors to hold office for a three-year term expiring in 2020 and one Class III director to hold office for a one-year term expiring in 2018; |
2. | Ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as Kforce’s independent registered public accountants for 2017; |
3. | Conduct an advisory vote on executive compensation; |
4. | Conduct an advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation; |
5. | Approve the Kforce Inc. 2017 Stock Incentive Plan; and |
6. | Attend to other business properly presented at the meeting. |
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to be Held on April 18, 2017. This proxy statement and our 2016 Annual Report to Shareholders are available at http://investor.kforce.com/annuals.cfm. |
David L. Dunkel Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | Ralph Struzziero Lead Independent Director |
Class | Age | Position | Director Since | Current Term Expires | Expiration of Term for Which Nominated | Independent | Audit Comm | Comp. Comm | Nomin. Comm | Corp. Gov. Comm | Exec. Comm | |
Directors with Terms Expiring at the Annual Meeting/Nominees | ||||||||||||
John N. Allred | II | 70 | Director | 1998 | 2017 | 2020 | ü | |||||
Richard M. Cocchiaro | II | 62 | Director | 1994 | 2017 | 2020 | ||||||
Ann E. Dunwoody | II | 64 | Director | 2016 | 2017 | 2020 | ü | |||||
A. Gordon Tunstall | II | 73 | Director | 1995 | 2017 | 2020 | ü | |||||
Randall A. Mehl | III | 49 | Director | 2017 | 2017 | 2018 | ü | |||||
Continuing Directors | ||||||||||||
David L. Dunkel | III | 63 | Chairman, CEO Director | 1994 | 2018 | N/A | ||||||
Mark F. Furlong | III | 59 | Director | 2001 | 2018 | N/A | ü | |||||
N. John Simmons | III | 61 | Director | 2014 | 2018 | N/A | ü | |||||
Elaine D. Rosen | I | 64 | Director | 2003 | 2019 | N/A | ü | |||||
Ralph E. Struzziero (1) | I | 72 | Director | 2000 | 2019 | N/A | þ | |||||
Howard W. Sutter | I | 68 | Director | 1994 | 2019 | N/A |
Legend: | þ | Lead Independent Director | Chair | Member | Financial Expert |
John N. Allred | Director Since: | 1998 | Age: | 70 | ||
(Independent) | Kforce Committees: | Audit; Nomination (Chair); Corporate Governance | ||||
Other Current Public Boards: | None | |||||
Mr. Allred has served as President of A.R.G., Inc., a provider of temporary and permanent physicians located in the Kansas City area since January 1994. He was a director at Source Services Corporation (Source) prior to its merger with Kforce in 1998 and served in various capacities with Source from 1976 to 1993 including Vice President (1987-1993), Regional Vice President (1983-1987) and Kansas City Branch Manager (1976-1983). Mr. Allred has extensive experience in the staffing industry. He is particularly knowledgeable in the area of healthcare, which is an important part of Kforce’s business. His staffing industry experience (other than his directorship in Kforce) is with companies other than Kforce, which allows him to address operational issues with a different perspective. | ||||||
Richard M. Cocchiaro | Director Since: | 1994 | Age: | 62 | ||
Kforce Committees: | Executive | |||||
Other Current Public Boards: | None | |||||
Mr. Cocchiaro served as a Vice Chairman of Kforce from 2004 through his retirement in January 2016, during which time he oversaw our Customer First Customer Loyalty Program and served on both Kforce’s internal executive committee and innovation council. Previously, Mr. Cocchiaro served as Vice President of Strategic Accounts for Kforce (2000–2004), Vice President of Strategic Alliances for Kforce.com Interactive (1999) and National Director of Strategic Solutions within Kforce’s emerging technologies group (1994-1999). Mr. Cocchiaro has extensive experience with Kforce’s field operations on a national basis, bringing an important perspective to the Board. He has served in numerous leadership roles within Kforce including, among others, the financial services group, leading the Chicago market, the emerging technologies group, strategic alliances, national accounts and most recently leading the Customer First Customer Loyalty Program. | ||||||
Ann E. Dunwoody | Director Since: | 2016 | Age: | 64 | ||
(Independent) | Kforce Committees: | Corporate Governance | ||||
Other Current Public Boards: | Republic Services Inc. (NYSE: RSG); L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL) | |||||
General (Ret.) Dunwoody was the first woman in U.S. military history to achieve the rank of four-star general. From 2008 until her retirement in 2012, she led and ran the largest global logistics command in the Army comprising 69,000 military and civilian individuals, located in all 50 states and over 140 countries with a budget of $60 billion dollars. General (Ret.) Dunwoody also served as a strategic planner for the Chief of Staff of the Army. During her 38-year military career, she was decorated for distinguished service and has received many major military and honorary awards. General (Ret.) Dunwoody currently serves on the Board of Directors of Republic Services Inc., L-3 Communications and Logistics Management Institute. She also serves on the Council of Trustees for the Association of the United States Army and the Board of Trustees for the Florida Institute of Technology and she is the president of First 2 Four LLC, a leadership mentoring and strategic advisory services company that offers visionary insights for managing large organizations to posture them for the future. She has recently authored “A Higher Standard” Leadership Strategies from the First Female Four Star General and is a recipient of The Ellis Island Medal of Honor. General (Ret.) Dunwoody brings to the Board extensive military and management experience, including managing over 50% of the United States Army’s budget as Commanding General, U.S. Army Materiel Command. She also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of several other publicly traded companies and is engaged in numerous charitable and civic activities, which the Board believes allows her to provide valuable and varied perspective. General (Ret.) Dunwoody is also certified as an NACD Governance Fellow. |
A. Gordon Tunstall | Director Since: | 1995 | Age: | 73 | ||
(Independent) | Kforce Committees: | Nomination; Corporate Governance; Executive | ||||
Other Current Public Boards: | None | |||||
Mr. Tunstall is the founder, and for more than 30 years has served as President, of Tunstall Consulting, Inc., a provider of strategic consulting and financial planning services. He has also served as a director of Tabula Rasa Healthcare, Inc., a medication risk management and distribution pharmacy, since March 2012. Mr. Tunstall previously served as a director for JLM Industries, Inc., Orthodontics Center of America, Inc., Discount Auto Parts, Inc., Advanced Lighting Technologies Inc., Health Insurance Innovations, Horizon Medical Products Inc., and L.A.T. Sportswear. Mr. Tunstall provides the Board a unique point of view regarding strategy given his background as a successful strategic consultant for over 30 years advising a large number of companies in a variety of industries. He also qualifies as an Audit Committee financial expert and stands willing to assume this role if for any reason the current Audit Committee financial experts cease to serve on the Board. |
Randall A. Mehl | Director Since: | 2017 | Age: | 49 | ||
(Independent) | Kforce Committees: | Corporate Governance | ||||
Other Current Public Boards: | None | |||||
Mr. Mehl is President and Chief Investment Officer of Stewardship Capital Advisors, LLC, which manages an equity fund focused on making investments in business and technology services. He previously served as a Managing Director and a partner with Baird Capital, a middle market private equity group, and led a team focused on the business and technology services sector from 2005 until the end of 2016. From 1996 to 2005, Mr. Mehl was a senior equity research analyst with Robert W. Baird & Company, covering various areas within the broader business and technology services sector, including staffing. Mr. Mehl has previously served on various boards of directors, including Workforce Insight LLC, Myelin Communications, Vitalyst LLC, MedData, LLC, now a subsidiary of MEDNAX, American Auto Auction, LLC, Accume Partners, Inc, and Harris Research Inc. Mr. Mehl has previously served on the investment committee for several funds, and has expertise analyzing, acquiring and selling businesses. He also qualifies as an Audit Committee financial expert and stands willing to assume this role if for any reason the current Audit Committee financial experts cease to serve on the Board. |
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR PROPOSAL 1. |
David L. Dunkel | Director Since: | 1994 | Age: | 63 | ||
Kforce Committees: | Executive (Chair) | |||||
Other Current Public Boards: | None | |||||
Mr. Dunkel has served as Kforce’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and a director since its incorporation in 1994. Prior to August 1994, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Romac-FMA, one of Kforce’s predecessors, for 14 years. | ||||||
Mark F. Furlong | Director Since: | 2001 | Age: | 59 | ||
(Independent) | Kforce Committees: | Audit (Chair); Compensation; Corporate Governance | ||||
Other Current Public Boards: | Boston Private Financial Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BPFH) | |||||
Mr. Furlong has served as a director of Boston Private Financial Holdings, Inc., a provider of wealth management, trust and private banking services, since September 2016 and of Antares Capital, a provider of financing solutions for middle market, private equity-backed transactions, since December 2015. He served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of BMO Harris Bank, N.A. from July 2011 to June 2015. Mr. Furlong served as a director of BMO Harris Bank, N.A. and BMO Financial Corporation from July 2011 to June 2015. Prior to its acquisition by BMO Harris Bank, N.A. in 2011, he served as Chairman of Marshall & Ilsley Corporation from October 2010, Chief Executive Officer from April 2007 and as President from July 2004. He also served as Chief Financial Officer of Marshall & Ilsley Corporation from April 2001 to October 2004. Mr. Furlong’s prior experience also includes service as an audit partner with Deloitte & Touche LLP. Mr. Furlong is an Audit Committee financial expert. Kforce believes his considerable expertise, including his experience as President and Chief Executive Officer of BMO Harris Bank, N.A., the former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Marshall & Ilsley Corporation and a former audit partner with Deloitte & Touche LLP, brings unique insight to the Board concerning capital allocation strategies and banking issues, in addition to his overall management and financial expertise. | ||||||
N. John Simmons | Director Since: | 2014 | Age: | 61 | ||
(Independent) | Kforce Committees: | Audit; Corporate Governance | ||||
Other Current Public Boards: | None | |||||
Mr. Simmons is the Chief Executive Officer of Growth Advisors, LLC, a provider of C-level advisory services to high-growth companies. He has served on various boards of directors, including Bonds.com Group, Inc. from 2013 to 2014, Loyola University New Orleans as Chairman of the Audit Committee, Executive Committee and Board of Trustees member from 2009 to 2015, Technology Research Corporation as Chairman of the Compensation Committee from 2010 to 2011 and as Lead Director and Chairman of the Governance & Nominating Committee from 2009 to 2010, Medquist, Inc. as Chairman of the Audit Committee from 2005 to 2007, and SRI Surgical Express, Inc. as Lead Director, then Chairman of the Board from 2001 to 2008. From 2001 to 2012, Mr. Simmons was a Board member of Lifestyle Family Fitness, Inc. and served as its CEO and President from 2008 to 2012. Mr. Simmons’ prior experience also includes service as President of New Homes Realty, a Florida-based residential real estate company operating in 35 states for two years, President of Quantum Capital Partners, a privately held venture capital firm for 14 years, Vice President and Controller for Eckerd Corporation for three years, Chief Financial Officer of Checkers Drive-In Restaurants for two years and as an audit partner with KPMG Peat Marwick. Mr. Simmons is an Audit Committee financial expert. Mr. Simmons has extensive financial, accounting, management and director experience in several different industries. As a result, the Board believes that he brings valuable insight due to his extensive and varied experiences as a chief executive officer, chief financial officer, audit partner and director. |
Elaine D. Rosen | Director Since: | 2003 | Age: | 64 | ||
(Independent) | Kforce Committees: | Compensation (Chair); Nomination; Corporate Governance | ||||
Other Current Public Boards: | Assurant, Inc. (NYSE: AIZ) | |||||
Ms. Rosen has served as a director of Assurant, Inc., a provider of specialized insurance and insurance-related products and services since March 2009 and became non-executive Chair of the Board in November 2010. Ms. Rosen has also served as the Chair of the Board of The Kresge Foundation since January 2007. Ms. Rosen serves as trustee or director of several non-profit organizations, is a past Chair of the Board of Preble Street, a homeless collaborative in Portland, Maine, and has served as a trustee of the Foundation for Maine’s Community Colleges since 2008. Ms. Rosen was a director of the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation from 2008 to 2012 and Downeast Energy Corp., a privately-held company that provides heating products and building supplies, from 2003 until its sale in April 2012. From 1975 to March 2001, Ms. Rosen held a number of positions with Unum Life Insurance Company of America, including President. Ms. Rosen has extensive experience as a senior executive in the insurance industry and as a director of companies, as well as substantial experience with charitable organizations, particularly as the Chair of the Board of one of the largest private foundations in the country. Through this background, as well as her experience as Chair of the Compensation Committee of Kforce and her experience on the Board of Assurant, Inc., where she currently serves as the non-executive Chair and serves on the compensation committee, she has considerable expertise in, among other things, executive compensation, a subject matter that is undergoing dynamic change. | ||||||
Ralph E. Struzziero | Director Since: | 2000 | Age: | 72 | ||
(Independent) | Kforce Committees: | Compensation; Corporate Governance (Chair) | ||||
Other Current Public Boards: | None | |||||
Since 1995, Mr. Struzziero has operated an independent business consulting practice, providing interim executive-level advisory and professional services to a variety of organizations. In addition, he served as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern Maine from 1997 to 2006. Mr. Struzziero previously served as Chairman (1990-1994) and President (1980-1994) of Romac & Associates, Inc., one of Kforce’s predecessors. Mr. Struzziero is also currently a director of Automobile Club of Southern California, a travel club and property and casualty insurer in California, AAA of Northern New England, a travel club serving Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, and Auto Club Enterprise, a holding company of these two companies. Mr. Struzziero previously served on the Board of Directors of Prism Medical Ltd., a publicly traded corporation on the TSX Venture Exchange in Canada and manufacturer and distributor of moving and handling equipment for the mobility challenged, from July 2011 until its sale in August 2016, and Downeast Energy Corp., a privately-held company that provides heating products and building supplies, from January 2001 until its sale in April 2012. Mr. Struzziero has extensive experience in the staffing industry. The Board believes this gives Mr. Struzziero, in his capacity as lead independent director, a unique insight among the non-employee directors relating to Kforce’s business and operations. | ||||||
Howard W. Sutter | Director Since: | 1994 | Age: | 68 | ||
Kforce Committees: | Executive | |||||
Other Current Public Boards: | None | |||||
Mr. Sutter has served as a Vice Chairman of Kforce since 2005 and oversees Kforce’s mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. Prior to August 1994, Mr. Sutter served as Vice President of Romac-FMA (1984-1994) and Division President of Romac-FMA’s South Florida location (1982-1994). Mr. Sutter has led Kforce’s merger, acquisition, and divestiture efforts for the past 18 years and, over this time, has led the effort on a significant number of acquisitions, including those of two public companies, and several divestitures. The Board believes that Mr. Sutter’s knowledge of the staffing industry, and more specifically the mergers and acquisition market, brings an important expertise to the Board. Mr. Sutter also has extensive experience in staffing operations. |
• | oversee management performance on behalf of our shareholders; |
• | advocate on behalf of the long-term interests of our shareholders; |
• | discuss and consider the Firm’s strategic and executive succession planning; |
• | be actively involved in the oversight of risk that could affect Kforce; |
• | promote the exercise of sound corporate governance; and |
• | carry out other duties and responsibilities as may be required by state and federal laws, as well as the NASDAQ Rules. |
At each Board meeting our Board receives: | On a monthly basis our Board receives: | ||
l | an executive summary that includes, among other items, a risk factors section; | l | a description of certain significant events and risk factors that have occurred in each period; |
l | Kforce’s financial and operational performance; | l | a financial update from management; and |
l | management’s assessment of the current state of the capital markets and macro-economic environment; | l | any other necessary items requiring the attention of the full Board. |
l | management’s analysis on the current state of the staffing industry; corporate development activities; | ||
l | a claims, litigation and ethics hotline summary; | ||
l | a report on the Firm’s risk and enterprise risk management program; and | ||
l | reports on other matters that may arise from time to time, that require reporting to the Board. |
Audit Committee | |
Members: | Roles and Responsibilities of the Committee: |
Mark F. Furlong (Chair) | The Audit Committee oversees the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Firm and the audits of the Firm’s financial statements. In discharging this oversight role, the Audit Committee is empowered to investigate any matter brought to its attention, with full access to all books, records, facilities and personnel of Kforce, and the power to retain outside counsel or other experts. This committee also has the responsibility for selecting, compensating, and monitoring the independence of the Firm’s independent auditors, reviewing and approving related party transactions and overseeing the Firm’s internal audit function and Enterprise Risk Management Program. The Audit Committee engages in periodic reviews of how cyber security risk is assessed and mitigated by the company. These reviews include discussions with third party experts that have been engaged by Management to perform various cyber security testing and assessments. At each quarterly meeting, and more frequently as needed, the members of the Audit Committee meet in executive session. The Audit Committee also meets regularly in separate executive sessions with the Firm’s Director of Internal Audit, Chief Legal & Compliance Officer and Deloitte & Touche LLP, our independent registered public accountants. The Board has determined that each Mr. Furlong and Mr. Simmons, who are both members of the Audit Committee, as well as each Mr. Tunstall and Mr. Mehl is an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined by SEC Rules. |
John N. Allred | |
N. John Simmons | |
Number of Meetings: | |
6 |
Compensation Committee | |
Members: | Roles and Responsibilities of the Committee: |
Elaine D. Rosen (Chair) | The Compensation Committee is responsible for development of the compensation principles to guide design of the Firm’s executive compensation program. It is also responsible for reviewing and approving the overall compensation and fringe benefit policies and practices of the Firm, approving any new or amended employment agreements for executive management including grants or awards to executive management under the Firm’s long-term incentive program and preparing an annual report on the Firm’s executive compensation policies and practices as required by SEC Rules. In the discharge of its duties the Compensation Committee has the authority to select and retain legal counsel, accountants, consultants, financial experts and advisors, including, without limitation, a compensation consultant to assist in the evaluation of director and executive officer compensation. |
Mark F. Furlong | |
Ralph E. Struzziero | |
Number of Meetings: | |
6 |
Nomination Committee | |
Members: | Roles and Responsibilities of the Committee: |
John N. Allred (Chair) | The Nomination Committee is responsible for providing assistance to the Board in the selection of director candidates for election. In addition to identifying and recommending candidates for election to the Board, this committee also makes recommendations to the Board regarding the size and composition of the Board, establishes procedures for the nomination process and recommends candidates for election to our Board. The Nomination Committee has the authority to retain a search firm to be used to identify director candidates and to approve the search firm’s fees and other retention terms. The Nomination Committee has not established “minimum qualifications” for director nominees because it is the view of this committee that the establishment of rigid “minimum qualifications” might preclude the consideration of otherwise desirable candidates for election to the Board. The Nomination Committee will consider director candidates recommended by shareholders. Please see the section titled “Shareholder Communications, Proposals and Other Matters” below. |
Elaine D. Rosen | |
A. Gordon Tunstall | |
Number of Meetings: | |
5 |
Corporate Governance Committee | |
Members: | Roles and Responsibilities of the Committee: |
Ralph E. Struzziero (Chair) | The functions of the Corporate Governance Committee are to: encourage and enhance communication among independent directors; provide a forum for independent directors to meet separately from management; provide leadership and oversight related to ethical standards; and provide a channel for communication with the CEO. The Corporate Governance Committee also coordinates a formal, written annual evaluation of the performance of the Board of Directors and each of its committees. Each member of the Board who is independent within the meaning of these rules serves on the Corporate Governance Committee. This committee is designed to fulfill the requirements of NASDAQ Rule 5605(b)(2) (i.e., through the meetings of this committee, our “independent” directors (as determined under the NASDAQ Rules) meet at least once annually in executive session without any of our management present). The Firm’s lead independent director serves as the Chair of the Corporate Governance Committee. |
John N. Allred | |
Ann E. Dunwoody | |
Mark F. Furlong | |
Randall A. Mehl | |
Elaine D. Rosen | |
N. John Simmons | |
A. Gordon Tunstall | |
Number of Meetings: | |
4 |
Executive Committee | |
Members: | Roles and Responsibilities of the Committee: |
David L. Dunkel (Chair) | The Executive Committee has the authority to act in place of the Board on all matters that would otherwise come before the Board, except for such matters that are required by law or by our Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws to be acted upon exclusively by the Board. |
Richard M. Cocchiaro | |
Howard W. Sutter | |
A. Gordon Tunstall | |
Number of Meetings: | |
None |
Audit | Compensation | Nomination | Corporate Governance | ||||
l | Monitors risk relating to the Firm’s financial statements, systems, reporting process and compliance | l | Oversees executive compensation risk | l | Oversees director succession risk | l | Leadership and oversight of ethical standards |
l | Responsible for the Firm’s risk assessment and ERM program | l | Responsible for preparation and required disclosures regarding compensation practices | l | Establishes procedures for the Board’s nomination process | l | Provides a forum for Board independent directors to meet separately from management |
l | Reviews and approves related party transactions and relationships involving directors and executive officers | l | Responsible for review of the overall compensation and fringe benefits policies and practices of the Firm including determining whether such policies and practices are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Firm | l | Recommends candidates for election to the Board | l | Reviews and recommends to the Board any changes to the corporate governance guidelines |
l | Monitors and receives reports on the Firm’s cybersecurity risks |
Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)(1)(2) | Stock Awards ($)(3) | All Other Compensation ($)(4)(5) | Total ($) | Aggregate Number of Unvested Restricted Stock Awards Held (6) | Aggregate Number of Unexercised Options Held (6) | ||||||||||
John N. Allred | $ | 97,000 | $ | 99,993 | $ | 2,769 | $ | 199,762 | 5,355 | — | ||||||
Richard M. Cocchiaro | $ | 70,000 | $ | 99,993 | $ | 1,913 | $ | 171,906 | 5,355 | — | ||||||
Ann E. Dunwoody | $ | 44,000 | $ | 99,993 | $ | 1,913 | $ | 145,906 | 5,355 | — | ||||||
A. Gordon Tunstall | $ | 67,000 | $ | 99,993 | $ | 2,769 | $ | 169,762 | 5,355 | — | ||||||
Mark F. Furlong | $ | 97,000 | $ | 99,993 | $ | 2,769 | $ | 199,762 | 5,355 | — | ||||||
N. John Simmons | $ | 67,000 | $ | 99,993 | $ | 3,087 | $ | 170,080 | 5,355 | — | ||||||
Elaine D. Rosen | $ | 97,000 | $ | 99,993 | $ | 2,769 | $ | 199,762 | 5,355 | — | ||||||
Ralph E. Struzziero | $ | 82,000 | $ | 99,993 | $ | 2,769 | $ | 184,762 | 5,355 | 5,000 | ||||||
Howard W. Sutter | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 406,725 | $ | 406,725 | — | — |
(1) | Fees earned or paid in cash consisted of: (a) annual retainer for each director of $20,000; (b) annual retainers for each committee chairperson of $15,000; (c) quarterly fees for each quarter of board service of $5,000; and (d) quarterly fees for each quarter of committee service of $3,750 for each of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nomination Committee and $3,000 for the Corporate Governance Committee. |
(2) | For Mr. Cocchiaro, this amount includes cash compensation of $30,000 related to a pro-rated annual retainer and annual stock award for the first quarter of 2016 as a result of his retirement from Kforce in January 2016. |
(3) | Stock Awards included a grant of 5,260 shares of restricted stock to each director, except for Mr. Sutter. The closing stock price on the grant date was $19.01 and the amounts in this column represent the aggregate grant date fair value in accordance with FASB ASC 718. |
(4) | The amounts reported in this column for all directors except Mr. Sutter reflect the dollar value of dividend equivalents credited on unvested restricted stock in the form of additional shares of restricted stock. |
(5) | During 2016, Mr. Sutter was employed by us and the amount reported in this column represents his compensation, which consisted of: $300,000 in salary, $105,000 in bonus, and $1,725 in matching contributions made by Kforce attributable to defined contribution plans. Mr. Sutter was not compensated for his service on the Board. |
(6) | The beneficial ownership of common shares as of the Record Date for each of our directors is presented below under the heading of “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.” |
David L. Dunkel | Age: | 63 | |
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | Mr. Dunkel has served as Kforce’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and a director since its incorporation in 1994. He previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Romac-FMA, one of Kforce’s predecessors, for 14 years. | ||
Peter M. Alonso | Age: | 55 | |
Chief Talent Officer | Mr. Alonso has served as Kforce’s Chief Talent Officer since January 2009. Mr. Alonso previously served as President of Health & Life Sciences and President of Technology Staffing, both former subsidiaries of Kforce, and has held several other positions of increasing responsibility within Kforce since 1985. Before joining Kforce, Mr. Alonso held positions at Zenith Electronics Corporation. | ||
Michael R. Blackman | Age: | 62 | |
Chief Corporate Development Officer | Mr. Blackman has served as Kforce’s Chief Corporate Development Officer since December 2009, prior to which he served as the Firm’s Senior Vice President of Investor Relations from 1999 to 2009 and Director of Selection and Senior Consultant in the healthcare services specialty from 1992 to 1999. | ||
Robert W. Edmund | Age: | 43 | |
Chief Legal & Compliance Officer | Mr. Edmund has served as Kforce’s Chief Legal Officer since February 2014 and as Chief Compliance Officer since July 2015. From 2009 to 2014, Mr. Edmund served as an attorney in the legal department at PetSmart, Inc., most recently as Vice President, Legal - Business Operations. He also previously served as a partner in the labor and employment department of Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur from 2006 to 2008 and as Director of External Affairs and General Counsel for the Ohio Business Roundtable from 2008 to 2009. | ||
Jeffrey B. Hackman | Age: | 38 | |
SVP, Finance & Accounting | Mr. Hackman has served as Kforce’s Principal Accounting Officer since October 2015 and as Senior Vice President, Finance & Accounting since March 2015. He previously served as the Firm’s Chief Accounting Officer and Principal Accounting Officer from February 2009 until September 2013 and as Kforce’s SEC Reporting Director from September 2007 to February 2009. Mr. Hackman served as the Global Chief Accounting Officer of Cunningham Lindsey from September 2013 until he rejoined Kforce in March 2015. Prior to 2007 he was an Audit Senior Manager with Grant Thornton LLP. | ||
David M. Kelly | Age: | 51 | |
Chief Financial Officer | Mr. Kelly has served as Kforce’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since January 2013 and Corporate Secretary since February 2013. Mr. Kelly joined Kforce in 2000 and has served as Senior Vice President, Finance and Accounting from February 2009 to December 2012, Corporate Assistant Secretary from October 2010 to February 2013, Vice President, Finance from January 2005 to February 2009, Chief Accounting Officer from November 2000 to January 2005 and Group Financial Officer from January 2000 to November 2000. Before joining Kforce, Mr. Kelly served in various roles with different companies that included treasury director, vice president, and controller. | ||
Joseph J. Liberatore | Age: | 53 | |
President | Mr. Liberatore has served as Kforce’s President since January 2013. He previously served as Corporate Secretary from February 2007 to February 2013, Chief Financial Officer from October 2004 to December 2012, Executive Vice President from July 2008 to December 2012, Senior Vice President from 2000 to July 2008, Chief Talent Officer from 2001 to 2004 and Chief Sales Officer from September 2000 to August 2001. Mr. Liberatore has served in various other roles in Kforce (and its predecessors) since he joined the Firm in 1988. | ||
Kye L. Mitchell | Age: | 47 | |
Chief Operations Officer | Ms. Mitchell has served as Kforce’s Chief Operations Officer since March 2016. Before her appointment as Chief Operations Officer, Ms. Mitchell served as Chief Operations Officer for the East Region from January 2013 to March 2016, Field President from January 2009 through December 2012, Market President from February 2006 to December 2008, and Market Vice President from February 2005 through January 2006. Ms. Mitchell joined Kforce in 2005 when Kforce acquired VistaRMS where she served as President. |
Fee Type | 2016 | 2015 | |||||
Audit Fees (1) | $ | 748,019 | $ | 759,679 | |||
Audit-Related Fees (2) | $ | 11,500 | $ | 11,500 | |||
Tax Fees (3) | $ | — | $ | 23,400 | |||
All Other Fees (4) | $ | 2,895 | $ | 2,000 |
(1) | Represents fees associated with the annual audit and the review of our financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. |
(2) | Includes assurance and related services by the independent auditors that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements, or other filings that are not captured under “Audit Fees” above. These services included consultations as to the accounting or disclosure treatment of transactions or events and/or the actual or potential impact of final or proposed rules, standards or interpretations by the SEC, FASB, and other regulatory or standard-setting bodies; internal control reviews, including consultation, under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; due diligence services and audits and accounting consultations related to dispositions. |
(3) | Includes fees related to tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. |
(4) | Represents fees for an annual subscription to a Deloitte & Touche LLP research database and continuing education courses. The Audit Committee considered whether Deloitte & Touche LLP’s provision of the above non-audit services is compatible with maintaining such firm’s independence and satisfied itself as to Deloitte & Touche LLP’s independence. |
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR PROPOSAL 2. |
1. | The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated financial statements with Kforce Inc.’s management; |
2. | The Audit Committee has discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Auditing Standard 1301; |
3. | The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent auditors required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent auditor’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence, and has discussed with the independent auditors the independent auditors’ independence; and |
4. | Based on the review and discussion referred to in the above paragraphs, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in Kforce Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, for filing with the SEC. The Audit Committee has also selected Deloitte & Touche LLP, subject to ratification by shareholders, to audit our consolidated financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2017, and to provide review services for each of the quarters in the year ending December 31, 2017. |
Compensation Committee Report The Compensation Committee of Kforce (the Committee) has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (CD&A) required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management and based on such review and discussions, the Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement and incorporated into Kforce’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. Submitted by the Compensation Committee Elaine D. Rosen (Chair) ¦ Mark F. Furlong ¦ Ralph E. Struzziero |
• | David L. Dunkel, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
• | Joseph J. Liberatore, President |
• | David M. Kelly, Chief Financial Officer |
• | Kye L. Mitchell, Chief Operations Officer |
• | Peter M. Alonso, Chief Talent Officer |
• | Did not achieve threshold levels of performance for our revenue and earnings per share annual incentive metrics. |
• | Achieved above target levels of performance for our long-term incentive (LTI) metric; Kforce’s relative total shareholder return (TSR) over the past three years (January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2016) ranked in 4th place versus our industry peer group of 8 direct competitors. |
• | No annual incentive payouts for Messrs. Dunkel and Liberatore and significantly lower payouts than 2015 for the other Active NEOs, based solely on the achievement of individual performance objectives. |
• | LTI payouts somewhat lower than 2015 based on a relative TSR ranking drop of one place versus our industry peer group. |
What We Do | What We Don’t Do | |||
l | Target Annual NEO Compensation at Market Median | l | Define Market Median by Comparison to Larger Companies | |
l | Ensure Performance-Based Compensation is the Largest Part of Total Compensation | l | Set Easy Financial Targets for Incentive Plans | |
l | Ensure Equity-Based LTI Compensation is the Largest Component of Performance-Based Compensation | l | Allow Repricing or Cash Buyouts of Previous Equity-Based LTI Grants | |
l | Provide Pay-for-Performance by Paying Higher Compensation for Above Median Performance and Lower Compensation for Below Median Performance | l | Allow Hedging or Pledging or Other Related Activities | |
l | Require Share Ownership | l | Create New Excise Tax Gross-ups | |
l | Maintain a Significant Clawback Policy | l | Provide Excessive Perquisites | |
l | Consider Tax Deductibility in Compensation Plan Design |
Attract and Retain Key Executives | Attracting and retaining key executive talent is critical to the success of a staffing firm in which people represent the true “assets” of such a company. Understanding competitive market pay levels is essential to hiring and retaining qualified executives able to drive our long-term profitable growth. The Committee further believes it is important to be knowledgeable concerning best practices and how comparable organizations compensate their executives. The Committee reviews compensation data from several independent sources. Our competitive market for executive talent is primarily staffing organizations; however, the Committee also reviews pay data for other professional service and consulting organizations that we believe are of comparable size and with similar business models. |
Target Annual NEO Compensation at Market Median | The Committee believes executive compensation should be aligned with our financial and TSR performance. For the 2016 compensation program, we targeted the total pay level for our NEOs at the median of comparable companies. In addition, we believe the design of our pay programs provides a significant incentive to our NEOs to exceed targeted performance. |
Ensure Performance-Based Compensation is the Largest Part of Total Compensation | The Committee designs the compensation framework with significant emphasis on performance-based compensation over fixed compensation, such as salaries, to motivate our NEOs to drive operational performance without encouraging unreasonable risk. Target performance-based compensation comprised 67-74% of target total direct compensation for our Active NEOs in 2016. |
Ensure Equity-Based LTI Compensation is the Largest Component of Performance-Based Compensation | The Committee further believes equity-based LTI compensation should be the largest component of performance-based compensation to further focus executive efforts on long-term shareholder returns. Target equity LTI ranged from 60%-75% of target total performance-based compensation for our Active NEOs in 2016. We believe the opportunity to earn the designated equity LTI performance objectives motivates the achievement of higher relative TSR and to retain our executives for the long-term, given the denomination of earned Equity LTIs as time-based restricted stock with a five-year vesting period beginning upon grant. |
Provide Pay-for-Performance by Paying Higher Compensation for Above Median Performance and Lower Compensation for Below Median Performance | The Committee believes our compensation programs should provide superior cash and equity compensation opportunities for superior performance. The Committee believes this structure results in significant relative shareholder value creation, while also creating a positive perception of Kforce in the highly competitive market for executive talent. The Committee also believes the opposite should be true by providing lower compensation for below median performance. |
Require Share Ownership | The Committee believes our executives should have a personal financial stake in Kforce’s ongoing future success. Accordingly, equity-based LTIs play a significant role in our executive compensation program. In addition, all employees, including the NEOs, are eligible to purchase stock through the Kforce Inc. 2009 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. To further align the interests of executives and long-term shareholders, our Board has adopted formal ownership guidelines (see below). |
Consider Tax Deductibility in Compensation Plan Design | We consider possible tax consequences in the design of our executive compensation programs. However, tax consequences, including tax deductibility, are subject to many factors beyond our control. In addition, we believe it is important to retain maximum flexibility in designing compensation programs to meet stated corporate objectives. While we consider tax deductibility as one of the factors in designing our compensation programs, we do not limit compensation to those levels or types of compensation that will be fully deductible to Kforce. We will consider alternative forms of compensation, consistent with our compensation goals that preserve deductibility. |
Set Challenging Performance Objectives | We work to set difficult but attainable financial performance objectives for our NEOs in the context of the annual incentive plan. This is particularly illustrated in 2016, a year in which threshold financial performance objectives were not attained and no payouts were made to the NEOs for financial performance within the annual incentive plan. |
Minimum Stock Ownership | Our Corporate Governance Guidelines include a stock ownership policy for our directors and executives. The minimum level of holdings for each position is as follows: | |||||
Target Holding Level (Lesser Of) | ||||||
Position | Base Salary / Annual Retainer | Shares | ||||
Director | 3x | 5,000 | ||||
Chief Executive Officer | 5x | 200,000 | ||||
President | 3x | 100,000 | ||||
Chief Financial Officer | 2x | 50,000 | ||||
Chief Operations Officer | 2x | 30,000 | ||||
Other members of Kforce’s Executive Leadership Team | 0.5x | 10,000 | ||||
As of the Record Date, all Directors, NEOs and other members of our executive leadership were in compliance with the policy. In accordance with the policy, Directors have three years from the effective date of joining the Board to attain the ownership level; therefore, Mr. Mehl is deemed to be in compliance, even though his ownership level is not yet at the levels as described above. |
Clawback Policy | Our Corporate Governance Guidelines includes a clawback policy applicable to all executive officers. Accordingly, in the event of a restatement of our financial statements as a result of the material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirements under the federal securities laws, the Board will, if determined appropriate, recover from current executives any incentive-based compensation paid for relevant performance periods beginning after March 30, 2012. |
Equity Plan Features | None of our Stock Incentive Plans (as approved by shareholders in 2006, 2013 and 2016 and pending approval of Proposal 5 in 2017) permit repricing or cash buyouts of underwater options or stock appreciation rights without shareholder approval. The Committee believes the Plans are structured to avoid problematic pay practices and do not contain features that could be detrimental to shareholder interests. |
Insider Trading, Anti-Pledging and Anti-Hedging | Our Insider Trading Policy governs the trading in our securities by directors, officers and employees and other persons who have or may have access to material, nonpublic information. The policy has the following restrictions: | ||
s | No trading while in the possession of material, nonpublic information | ||
s | No trading during designated black-out periods | ||
s | No trading without pre-approval (certain insiders) | ||
s | No margin accounts | ||
s | No pledging | ||
s | No hedging (including prepaid variable forwards, equity swaps, collars and exchange funds) | ||
s | No trading in any interest or position relating to future stock price , such as a puts, calls or short sales |
Elimination of Excise Tax Gross-Up | In 2009, the Committee resolved to not enter into any new employment agreements, or materially amend any existing employment agreements with its executives that contain excise tax gross-up provisions in the event of a change-in-control event going forward. Since the Committee’s resolution, all new or amended executive employment agreements have excluded excise tax gross-up provisions; as a result, the only remaining employment agreements which continue to include excise tax gross-up provisions are with Messrs. Dunkel and Liberatore. |
• | staying informed of current issues and emerging trends; |
• | ensuring Kforce’s executive compensation program remains aligned with best practices and are in the best interest of the shareholders; and |
• | establishing and maintaining a pay-for-performance executive compensation program consistent with our shareholders’ interests while providing appropriate incentives to our executives. |
CDI Corporation | ManpowerGroup Inc. | Robert Half International Inc. |
Computer Task Group, Inc. | On Assignment, Inc. | TrueBlue, Inc. |
Kelly Services, Inc. | Resources Connection, Inc. |
Revenue | Market Capitalization | |||||||
25th Percentile | $ | 835,333 | $ | 463,647 | ||||
Median | $ | 2,595,527 | $ | 957,530 | ||||
75th Percentile | $ | 5,256,999 | $ | 3,233,853 | ||||
Kforce Inc. | $ | 1,319,706 | $ | 619,057 | ||||
Percentile Rank | 37 | 37 |
Barrett Business Services, Inc. | Huron Consulting Group Inc. | On Assignment, Inc. |
CDI Corporation | ICF International, Inc. | Resources Connection, Inc. |
CEB Inc. | Insperity, Inc. | TrueBlue, Inc. |
FTI Consulting, Inc. | Korn/Ferry International | Volt Information Sciences, Inc. |
Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. | Navigant Consulting, Inc. |
Revenue | Market Capitalization | |||||||
25th Percentile | $ | 839,191 | $ | 491,284 | ||||
Median | $ | 1,109,789 | $ | 1,074,989 | ||||
75th Percentile | $ | 1,738,210 | $ | 1,640,382 | ||||
Kforce Inc. | $ | 1,319,706 | $ | 619,057 | ||||
Percentile Rank | 57 | 36 |
*Net service revenues for 2014 excludes HIM given its disposition in August 2014. | **EPS for 2014 excludes earnings and the gain on sale related to HIM, given its disposition in August 2014. |
• | The annual incentive compensation is primarily based on revenue and EPS financial targets, which we believe serve to drive shareholder returns, and, to a lesser extent, also based on individual performance objectives. |
• | The LTI compensation is based on Kforce’s TSR performance over a three-year measurement period relative to the specified peer groups. |
2016 COMPENSATION AT TARGET |
• | The payment of lower than target annual incentive levels, as a result of not meeting the threshold performance levels for our revenue and EPS financial goals for 2016. |
• | The payment of above median LTIs, representing above median relative TSR for the 2014-2016 measurement period. |
2016 ACTUAL COMPENSATION PAYOUTS |
Name | 2015 Salary | 2016 Salary | 2017 Salary | ||||||
David L. Dunkel | $ | 800,000 | $ | 800,000 | $ | 800,000 | |||
Joseph J. Liberatore | $ | 600,000 | $ | 600,000 | $ | 600,000 | |||
David M. Kelly | $ | 375,000 | $ | 480,000 | $ | 480,000 | |||
Kye L. Mitchell | $ | 350,000 | $ | 480,000 | $ | 480,000 | |||
Peter M. Alonso | N/A | $ | 375,000 | $ | 375,000 | ||||
Jeffrey T. Neal (1) | $ | 350,000 | $ | 425,000 | N/A |
(1) | Mr. Neal did not receive a full annual salary due to his resignation effective August 31, 2016. |
1. | A performance-based incentive which is structured pursuant to the Kforce Inc. Amended and Restated Performance Incentive Plan previously approved by our shareholders (the Performance Incentive). The 2016 Performance Incentive represented 80% of the total target incentive award and required achievement of annual revenue (40%) and EPS (40%) performance goals based on year-over-year growth rates. |
2. | An objectives-based incentive based on individual accomplishments and management business objectives (the MBO Incentive). The MBO Incentive represented 20% of the total target incentive award. |
2016 Target Annual Incentive | 2016 Target Annual Incentive Allocations | |||||||||||||||||||
Name | 2016 Salary | % | $ | Revenue (40%) | EPS (40%) | MBO (20%) | ||||||||||||||
David L. Dunkel | $ | 800,000 | 100 | % | $ | 800,000 | $ | 320,000 | $ | 320,000 | $ | 160,000 | ||||||||
Joseph J. Liberatore | $ | 600,000 | 90 | % | $ | 540,000 | $ | 216,000 | $ | 216,000 | $ | 108,000 | ||||||||
David M. Kelly | $ | 480,000 | 90 | % | $ | 432,000 | $ | 172,800 | $ | 172,800 | $ | 86,400 | ||||||||
Kye L. Mitchell | $ | 480,000 | 90 | % | $ | 432,000 | $ | 172,800 | $ | 172,800 | $ | 86,400 | ||||||||
Peter M. Alonso | $ | 375,000 | 50 | % | $ | 187,500 | $ | 75,000 | $ | 75,000 | $ | 37,500 | ||||||||
Jeffrey T. Neal | $ | 425,000 | 85 | % | $ | 361,250 | $ | 144,500 | $ | 144,500 | $ | 72,250 |
Total Annual Revenue (in millions) | Payout % of Target | Diluted EPS | Payout % of Target | |||
Threshold | $1,385 | 25% | $1.67 | 25% | ||
Target | $1,425 | 100% | $1.75 | 100% | ||
Maximum | $1,478 | 200% | $1.90 | 200% |
2016 Achievement as a % of Target | 2016 Incentive Payouts | ||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Target Annual Incentive | Revenue (40%) | EPS (40%) | MBO (20%) | Revenue | EPS | MBO | Total | |||||||||||||
David L. Dunkel | $ | 800,000 | —% | —% | —% | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||
Joseph J. Liberatore | $ | 540,000 | —% | —% | —% | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||
David M. Kelly | $ | 432,000 | —% | —% | 200% | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 172,800 | $ | 172,800 | ||||||||
Kye L. Mitchell | $ | 432,000 | —% | —% | 200% | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 172,800 | $ | 172,800 | ||||||||
Peter M. Alonso | $ | 187,500 | —% | —% | 200% | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 75,000 | $ | 75,000 | ||||||||
Jeffrey T. Neal (1) | $ | 361,250 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
(1) | Mr. Neal’s annual incentive was not applicable as a result of his resignation effective August 31, 2016. |
1. | For all NEOs, LTI performance objectives are based on Kforce’s TSR performance over a three-year measurement period relative to the Industry Peer Group; |
2. | For only the CEO and the President, LTI performance objectives are also based on Kforce’s TSR performance over a three-year measurement period relative to the Separately Designated Peer Group. |
1. | Awards earned in 2015 related to the three-year measurement period January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2015, which were granted on January 4, 2016 and previously discussed in our 2016 proxy statement; and |
2. | Awards earned in 2016 related to the three-year measurement period January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2016. |
Industry Peer Group Relative TSR Rank: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6-8 | 9 |
Industry Peer Group Relative TSR Percentile Ranking : | 100 | 87 | 75 | 62 | 50 | 37-12 | 0 |
Total Value of LTI Pool ($ in Millions): | $13 | $12 | $11 | $10 | $9 | $8 | None |
% of LTI Pool Based on TSR Rank/Percentile Ranking | |||||||
David L. Dunkel | 16.7% | 16.7% | 16.7% | 16.7% | 16.7% | 15.0% | —% |
Joseph J. Liberatore | 13.3% | 13.3% | 13.3% | 13.3% | 13.3% | 12.0% | —% |
David M. Kelly | |||||||
2013-2015 Measurement Period | 7.5% | 7.3% | 7.0% | 6.6% | 6.2% | 5.6% | —% |
2014-2016 Measurement Period | 8.3% | 8.2% | 8.2% | 8.1% | 8.1% | 7.5% | —% |
Kye L. Mitchell | |||||||
2013-2015 Measurement Period | 7.5% | 7.3% | 7.0% | 6.6% | 6.2% | 5.6% | —% |
2014-2016 Measurement Period | 8.1% | 7.9% | 7.7% | 7.5% | 7.2% | 6.6% | —% |
Peter M. Alonso | 7.5% | 7.3% | 7.0% | 6.6% | 6.2% | 5.6% | —% |
Jeffrey T. Neal | 7.5% | 7.3% | 7.0% | 6.6% | 6.2% | 5.6% | —% |
Separately Designated Peer Group Relative TSR Percentile Ranking | CEO Performance Multiplier | President Performance Multiplier | LTI Compensation Impact | |||
0-25 | 0% | 0% | No Payout of Restricted Stock Award | |||
26-50 | 50% | 75% | Reduction in Restricted Stock Award | |||
51-75 | 100% | 100% | No Change in Restricted Stock Award | |||
76-100 | 150% | 125% | Additional Cash LTI Payout |
Measurement Period | TSR Performance | Industry Peer Group Relative TSR Rank | Separately Designated Peer Group Relative TSR Percentile Ranking | Resulting LTI Pool | Total Dollar Value of Pool Utilized | Grant Date of Restricted Stock Award | Grant Date Closing Stock Price |
2013-2015 | 84% | 3rd | 81st | $11 million | $11 million | January 4, 2016 | $23.91 |
2014-2016 | 20% | 4th | 57th | $10 million | $9.2 million | December 31, 2016 | $23.10 |
2013-2015 Measurement Period Awards (Granted January 4, 2016) | |||||||
Name | # of Shares | Grant Date Fair Value | |||||
David L. Dunkel | 76,746 | $ | 1,834,997 | ||||
Joseph J. Liberatore | 61,202 | $ | 1,463,340 | ||||
David M. Kelly | 32,100 | $ | 767,511 | ||||
Kye L. Mitchell | 32,100 | $ | 767,511 | ||||
Peter M. Alonso | 32,100 | $ | 767,511 | ||||
Jeffrey T. Neal | 32,100 | $ | 767,511 |
2014-2016 Measurement Period Awards (Granted December 31, 2016) | |||||||
Name | # of Shares | Grant Date Fair Value | |||||
David L. Dunkel | 72,294 | $ | 1,669,991 | ||||
Joseph J. Liberatore | 57,792 | $ | 1,334,995 | ||||
David M. Kelly | 35,173 | $ | 812,496 | ||||
Kye L. Mitchell | 32,468 | $ | 750,011 | ||||
Peter M. Alonso | 28,571 | $ | 659,990 | ||||
Jeffrey T. Neal (1) | N/A | N/A |
(1) | Mr. Neal received no award for the 2014-2016 measurement period as a result of his resignation effective August 31, 2016 |
• | The LTI restricted stock grants historically occurring on the first business day of each fiscal year were based on our relative TSR performance for a measurement period ending in the prior year. As a result, the value of the awards are reflected as compensation in the SCT in the year of grant rather than in the performance year the award is earned. |
• | The values from pension and other compensation columns of the SCT are not performance-based and change based on factors unrelated to performance such as changes in long-term interest rates (a key factor in calculating pension values). |
Earned Compensation for Corresponding Year of Performance | Financial and Shareholder Performance | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary | Annual Incentive (1) | Long-term Incentive (2) | Total Direct Compensation (3) | (Adjusted) Revenue (4) | (Adjusted) EPS (4) | 3 Year TSR Performance | TSR Rank in Industry Peer Group | |||||||||||||||
David L. Dunkel, | 2016 | $ | 800,000 | $ | — | $ | 1,669,991 | $ | 2,469,991 | $ | 1,319,706 | $ | 1.25 | 20.0 | % | 4th | ||||||||
Chief Executive Officer | 2015 | $ | 800,000 | $ | 940,000 | $ | 2,752,497 | $ | 4,492,497 | $ | 1,319,238 | $ | 1.52 | 84.0 | % | 3rd | ||||||||
2014 | $ | 800,000 | $ | 3,258,000 | $ | 2,360,001 | $ | 6,418,001 | $ | 1,319,937 | $ | 1.24 | 116.4 | % | 3rd | |||||||||
Joseph J. Liberatore, | 2016 | $ | 600,000 | $ | — | $ | 1,334,995 | $ | 1,934,995 | $ | 1,319,706 | $ | 1.25 | 20.0 | % | 4th | ||||||||
President | 2015 | $ | 600,000 | $ | 634,500 | $ | 1,829,173 | $ | 3,063,673 | $ | 1,319,238 | $ | 1.52 | 84.0 | % | 3rd | ||||||||
2014 | $ | 600,000 | $ | 2,152,400 | $ | 2,079,993 | $ | 4,832,393 | $ | 1,319,937 | $ | 1.24 | 116.4 | % | 3rd | |||||||||
David M. Kelly, | 2016 | $ | 480,000 | $ | 172,800 | $ | 812,496 | $ | 1,465,296 | $ | 1,319,706 | $ | 1.25 | 20.0 | % | 4th | ||||||||
Chief Financial Officer | 2015 | $ | 375,000 | $ | 330,469 | $ | 767,511 | $ | 1,472,980 | $ | 1,319,238 | $ | 1.52 | 84.0 | % | 3rd | ||||||||
2014 | $ | 375,000 | $ | 1,247,750 | $ | 1,451,498 | $ | 3,074,248 | $ | 1,319,937 | $ | 1.24 | 116.4 | % | 3rd | |||||||||
Kye L. Mitchell, | 2016 | $ | 480,000 | $ | 172,800 | $ | 750,011 | $ | 1,402,811 | $ | 1,319,706 | $ | 1.25 | 20.0 | % | 4th | ||||||||
Chief Operations Officer | 2015 | $ | 350,000 | $ | 257,344 | $ | 767,511 | $ | 1,374,855 | $ | 1,319,238 | $ | 1.52 | 84.0 | % | 3rd | ||||||||
2014 | $ | 350,000 | $ | 370,625 | $ | 1,451,498 | $ | 2,172,123 | $ | 1,319,937 | $ | 1.24 | 116.4 | % | 3rd | |||||||||
Peter M. Alonso, | 2016 | $ | 375,000 | $ | 75,000 | $ | 659,990 | $ | 1,109,990 | $ | 1,319,706 | $ | 1.25 | 20.0 | % | 4th | ||||||||
Chief Talent Officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jeffrey T. Neal, (5) | 2016 | $ | 283,333 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 283,333 | $ | 1,319,706 | $ | 1.25 | 20.0 | % | 4th | ||||||||
Chief Marketing Officer | 2015 | $ | 350,000 | $ | 496,344 | $ | 767,511 | $ | 1,613,855 | $ | 1,319,238 | $ | 1.52 | 84.0 | % | 3rd | ||||||||
2014 | $ | 350,000 | $ | 783,125 | $ | 1,451,498 | $ | 2,584,623 | $ | 1,319,937 | $ | 1.24 | 116.4 | % | 3rd |
(1) | For 2014, this value includes amounts earned by Messrs. Dunkel, Liberatore and Kelly related to a transaction-related bonus for the sale of our HIM segment as approved by the Committee in August 2014 of $1,710,000, $1,110,000 and $684,000, respectively. |
(2) | Reflects a realignment of equity LTI awards to the corresponding year of performance. Historical grants of equity LTI awards made on the first business day of a particular year are reflected in the immediately preceding year, which corresponds to the performance period for those awards. However, the restricted stock grant made on December 31, 2016 is reflected in 2016, as it relates to the 2016 performance period. |
(3) | Total direct compensation is the sum of salary, annual incentive and LTI earned for the corresponding year of performance. |
(4) | Revenue presented in thousands ($000s). Adjusted revenue for fiscal year 2014 includes actual and forecasted revenue for HIM given its disposition in August 2014. Revenue from continuing operations (excluding HIM) for fiscal year 2014 was $1,217,331. Adjusted EPS for fiscal year 2014 includes non-GAAP annualized adjusted earnings from HIM, but excludes the gain from the disposition of HIM. EPS from continuing operations (excluding HIM) for fiscal year 2014 was $0.93. |
(5) | Mr. Neal resigned effective August 31, 2016. |
Kforce Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan | Kforce maintains a nonqualified deferred compensation plan in which eligible management and highly compensated key employees, as defined by IRS regulations, may elect to defer all or part of their compensation to later years. Amounts deferred are indexed to investment options selected by the eligible employees and increase or decrease in value based upon the performance of the selected investments. Eligible employees are permitted to change investment options and scheduled distributions annually. Kforce has insured the lives of certain participants in the deferred compensation plan to assist in the funding of the deferred compensation liability. Employer matching contributions to the nonqualified deferred compensation plan are discretionary and are funded annually as approved by the Board. Only Mr. Neal contributed to the deferred compensation plan during 2016 and received a matching contribution as shown in the Summary Compensation Table and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table. |
Kforce Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan | During 2006, Kforce adopted a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) for all NEOs. Of the Active NEOs, only Messrs. Dunkel and Liberatore participate in the SERP. The Committee previously determined to not allow any additional participants into the SERP. The primary goals of the SERP are to create an additional wealth accumulation opportunity, restore lost qualified pension benefits due to government limitations and retain our covered executive officers. The SERP will be funded entirely by Kforce, and benefits are taxable to the executive officer upon receipt and deductible by Kforce when paid. Benefits payable under the SERP upon the occurrence of a qualifying distribution event, as defined, are targeted at 45% of the covered executive officers’ average salary and annual incentive, as defined, from the three years in which the covered executive officer earned the highest salary and annual incentive during the last 10 years of employment, which is subject to adjustment for retirement prior to the normal retirement age and the participant’s vesting percentage. Benefits under the SERP are based on the lump sum present value but may be paid over the life of the covered executive officer or 10-year annuity, as elected by the covered executive officer upon commencement of participation in the SERP. Normal retirement age under the SERP is defined as age 65. Vesting under the plan is defined as 100% upon a participant’s attainment of age 55 and 10 years of service and 0% prior to a participant’s attainment of age 55 and 10 years of service. Full vesting also occurs if a participant with five years or more of service is involuntarily terminated by Kforce without cause or upon death, disability or a change in control. Certain conditions allow for early retirement as early as age 55. The benefits under the SERP are reduced for a participant who has not either reached age 62 and 10 years of service or age 55 and 25 years of service with a percentage reduction up to the normal retirement age. The NEOs were not credited with any years of service prior to December 31, 2006, the effective date of the plan. On each anniversary of the effective date, each NEO is credited with a year of service. The Committee believes the SERP provides significant retention benefits for the participants. |
Kforce Supplemental Executive Retirement Health Plan | During 2007, Kforce adopted a Supplemental Executive Retirement Health Plan (SERHP) for all NEOs. The primary goal of the SERHP was to provide postretirement health and welfare benefits to all NEOs, if qualified and elected. The vesting and eligibility requirements mirrored that of the SERP and no advance funding was required by Kforce or the participants. During 2014, the Committee determined that as a result of increasing costs and risks associated with the SERHP, as well as the changing healthcare environment, the Firm should no longer offer retiree benefits to retired executives pursuant to the SERHP. The Firm settled and satisfied all obligations related to the SERHP by making a lump sum payment to all participants based upon actuarial valuations of the present value of the currently anticipated future obligation. |
Employment, Severance and Change in Control Agreements | Kforce has employment agreements with each of its NEOs, which provide for severance payments under certain termination circumstances, including termination following a change in control, as defined in the employment agreements. The Committee has determined it is in Kforce’s and its shareholders’ best interests to recognize the contributions of the NEOs to Kforce’s business and to retain the NEOs’ services. These agreements have been amended from time to time, most recently in December 2008 for purposes of bringing them into compliance with the applicable provisions of Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and interpretive guidance issued thereunder. The specific amounts the NEOs would receive under the employment agreements are described in the “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” section below. The Committee believes the employment agreements are an essential component of the executive compensation program and are helpful in attracting and retaining executive talent in a competitive market. The Committee periodically reviews the benefits provided under the employment agreements to determine that they continue to serve Kforce’s interests in providing significant retention benefits to these key executives, are consistent with market practice and are reasonable. In 2009, the Committee resolved to not enter into any new employment agreements, or materially amend any existing employment agreements, with its executives that contain excise tax gross-up provisions going forward. |
Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits | Kforce does not provide any perquisites or other personal benefits to its NEOs. |
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary ($)(1) | Bonus ($)(2) | Stock Awards ($)(3) | Option Awards ($) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)(4) | Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($)(5)(6) | All Other Compensation ($)(7) | Total ($) | ||||||||||||||||
David L. Dunkel | 2016 | $ | 800,000 | $ | — | $ | 3,504,988 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 1,450,087 | $ | 67,289 | $ | 5,822,364 | ||||||||
Chief Executive Officer | 2015 | $ | 800,000 | $ | — | $ | 1,835,001 | $ | — | $ | 1,857,500 | $ | 1,181,046 | $ | 34,471 | $ | 5,708,018 | ||||||||
2014 | $ | 800,000 | $ | 1,710,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 2,073,000 | $ | 1,907,904 | $ | 328,274 | $ | 6,819,178 | |||||||||
Joseph J. Liberatore | 2016 | $ | 600,000 | $ | — | $ | 2,798,335 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 197,109 | $ | 88,151 | $ | 3,683,595 | ||||||||
President | 2015 | $ | 600,000 | $ | — | $ | 1,469,993 | $ | — | $ | 1,000,333 | $ | 313,855 | $ | 71,746 | $ | 3,455,927 | ||||||||
2014 | $ | 600,000 | $ | 1,110,000 | $ | 1,090,003 | $ | — | $ | 1,042,400 | $ | 583,175 | $ | 539,025 | $ | 4,964,603 | |||||||||
David M. Kelly | 2016 | $ | 480,000 | $ | — | $ | 1,580,007 | $ | — | $ | 172,800 | $ | — | $ | 50,220 | $ | 2,283,027 | ||||||||
Chief Financial Officer | 2015 | $ | 375,000 | $ | — | $ | 767,498 | $ | — | $ | 330,469 | $ | — | $ | 41,148 | $ | 1,514,115 | ||||||||
2014 | $ | 375,000 | $ | 684,000 | $ | 964,010 | $ | — | $ | 563,750 | $ | — | $ | 21,292 | $ | 2,608,052 | |||||||||
Kye L. Mitchell | 2016 | $ | 480,000 | $ | — | $ | 1,517,522 | $ | — | $ | 172,800 | $ | — | $ | 50,220 | $ | 2,220,542 | ||||||||
Chief Operations Officer | 2015 | $ | 350,000 | $ | — | $ | 767,498 | $ | — | $ | 257,344 | $ | — | $ | 41,148 | $ | 1,415,990 | ||||||||
2014 | $ | 350,000 | $ | — | $ | 964,010 | $ | — | $ | 370,625 | $ | — | $ | 21,292 | $ | 1,705,927 | |||||||||
Peter M. Alonso | 2016 | $ | 375,000 | $ | — | $ | 1,427,501 | $ | — | $ | 75,000 | $ | — | $ | 48,420 | $ | 1,925,921 | ||||||||
Chief Talent Officer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jeffrey T. Neal | 2016 | $ | 283,333 | $ | — | $ | 767,511 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 1,377,849 | $ | 2,428,693 | ||||||||
Chief Marketing Officer | 2015 | $ | 350,000 | $ | — | $ | 767,498 | $ | — | $ | 496,344 | $ | 5,370 | $ | 41,148 | $ | 1,660,360 | ||||||||
2014 | $ | 350,000 | $ | — | $ | 964,010 | $ | — | $ | 783,125 | $ | 6,471 | $ | 21,292 | $ | 2,124,898 |
(1) | Represents each NEO’s salary earned during the respective year. |
(2) | For 2014, represents transaction-related bonuses for the sale of our HIM segment for Messrs. Dunkel, Liberatore and Kelly, which were awarded in the form of cash for Mr. Dunkel and common stock for Messrs. Liberatore and Kelly. |
(3) | As discussed in the CD&A above, the amounts reported for 2016 include two years’ worth of LTI restricted stock awards due to an administrative change in the timing of the annual grant date. The amounts for 2015 and 2014 reflect LTI restricted stock awards granted in these fiscal years, which does not correlate to the related period of performance. |
(4) | Represents annual incentive compensation earned by the NEOs during each of 2016, 2015 and 2014; this column also includes the cash LTI for Messrs. Dunkel and Liberatore in 2015, and for Mr. Dunkel in 2014. |
(5) | For Messrs. Dunkel and Liberatore, the amounts in this column represent the aggregate change in the accumulated benefit obligation for the SERP using the same measurement dates used for financial reporting purposes with respect to Kforce’s consolidated financial statements for fiscal 2016, 2015 and 2014. See the Pension Benefits table below for more detail and discussion. The significant increases to the accumulated benefit obligation were primarily related to a decrease in interest rates from prior years and the related impact on the discount rate utilized in the valuation; there were no changes made to the plan during the year and no increases to the benefits provided to the NEOs. |
(6) | For Mr. Neal, the amount in this column represents the matching contribution made by Kforce to the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan for 2015 and 2014. Of the NEOs, Messrs. Dunkel and Neal are the only current participants in Kforce’s Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan. There were no above-market or preferential earnings generated during 2016, 2015 or 2014, thus, there are no amounts included in the All Other Compensation column related to nonqualified deferred compensation earnings. See the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table below for more detail on the activity during 2016 and balances maintained as of December 31, 2016. |
(7) | The “All Other Compensation” column includes: |
Name | Year | Dividends (a) | Defined Contribution Plans (b) | One-Time Payouts (c)(d) | Total | |||||||||||||
David L. Dunkel | 2016 | $ | 67,289 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 67,289 | |||||||||
2015 | $ | 34,471 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 34,471 | ||||||||||
2014 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 328,274 | $ | 328,274 | ||||||||||
Joseph J. Liberatore | 2016 | $ | 88,151 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 88,151 | |||||||||
2015 | $ | 71,746 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 71,746 | ||||||||||
2014 | $ | 43,208 | $ | — | $ | 495,817 | $ | 539,025 | ||||||||||
David M. Kelly | 2016 | $ | 48,420 | $ | 1,800 | $ | — | $ | 50,220 | |||||||||
2015 | $ | 39,348 | $ | 1,800 | $ | — | $ | 41,148 | ||||||||||
2014 | $ | 19,542 | $ | 1,750 | $ | — | $ | 21,292 | ||||||||||
Kye L. Mitchell | 2016 | $ | 48,420 | $ | 1,800 | $ | — | $ | 50,220 | |||||||||
2015 | $ | 39,348 | $ | 1,800 | $ | — | $ | 41,148 | ||||||||||
2014 | $ | 19,542 | $ | 1,750 | $ | — | $ | 21,292 | ||||||||||
Peter M. Alonso | 2016 | $ | 48,420 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 48,420 | |||||||||
Jeffrey T. Neal | 2016 | $ | 24,939 | $ | — | $ | 1,352,910 | $ | 1,377,849 | |||||||||
2015 | $ | 39,348 | $ | 1,800 | $ | — | $ | 41,148 | ||||||||||
2014 | $ | 19,542 | $ | 1,750 | $ | — | $ | 21,292 |
(a) | The amounts reported in this column reflect the dollar value of dividend equivalents credited on unvested restricted stock in the form of additional shares of restricted stock. The amounts shown in this column for 2014 should have been reflected in the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table for our proxy statement covering 2014 but were inadvertently omitted. |
(b) | The amounts reported in this column reflect the dollar value of matching contributions made by Kforce each respective year attributable to our defined contribution 401(k) plan. |
(c) | For 2014, the amounts reflected in this column for Messrs. Dunkel and Liberatore are the payments received as a settlement of the SERHP in excess of the accumulated benefit obligation as of December 31, 2013. |
(d) | The amount included for Mr. Neal for 2016 represents severance (as described in Section 9 of his employment agreement) in the amount of $1,264,735 as well as $88,175 related to an accrued PTO balance as of August 31, 2016. |
Name | Type of Award | Grant Date | Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards | All Other Stock Awards Number of Shares of Stock | Grant Date Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||
Threshold ($) | Target ($) | Maximum ($) | |||||||||||||||||||
David L. Dunkel | Annual Incentive (1) | 2/5/2016; 12/31/2016 | $ | 200,000 | $ | 800,000 | $ | 1,600,000 | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
Equity LTI (2) | 1/4/2016 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | 76,746 | $ | 1,834,997 | |||||||||||
Equity LTI (3) | 12/31/2016 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | 72,294 | $ | 1,669,991 | |||||||||||
Cash LTI (4) | 2/5/2016; 12/31/2016 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 1,085,000 | — | $ | — | |||||||||||
Joseph J. Liberatore | Annual Incentive (1) | 2/5/2016; 12/31/2016 | $ | 135,000 | $ | 540,000 | $ | 1,080,000 | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
Equity LTI (2) | 1/4/2016 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | 61,202 | $ | 1,463,340 | |||||||||||
Equity LTI (3) | 12/31/2016 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | 57,792 | $ | 1,334,995 | |||||||||||
Cash LTI (4) | 2/5/2016; 12/31/2016 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 435,000 | — | $ | — | |||||||||||
David M. Kelly | Annual Incentive (1) | 2/5/2016; 12/31/2016 | $ | 108,000 | $ | 432,000 | $ | 864,000 | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
Equity LTI (2) | 1/4/2016 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | 32,100 | $ | 767,511 | |||||||||||
Equity LTI (3) | 12/31/2016 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | 35,173 | $ | 812,496 | |||||||||||
Kye L. Mitchell | Annual Incentive (1) | 2/5/2016; 12/31/2016 |