| |
Whether or not you plan to attend the virtual meeting, please vote as soon as possible.
|
|
| |
Important notice regarding the availability of proxy materials for the Annual Meeting to be held on May 25, 2023. The proxy statement and annual report to stockholders on Form 10-K are available at: https://investor.equinix.com/news-events/annual-meeting-of-stockholders
|
|
|
Voluntary E-Delivery of Proxy Materials
|
|
| We encourage our stockholders to enroll in electronic delivery of proxy materials. | |
| Electronic delivery offers immediate and convenient access to proxy statements, annual reports and other investor documents. It also helps us preserve the environment and reduce printing and shipping costs. | |
| Visit proxyvote.com to vote your shares and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years. | |
| Compensation policies and practices risk assessment | | | | | 56 | | |
|
Talent, Culture and Compensation Committee interlocks and insider
participation |
| | | | 57 | | |
| Equity compensation plan information | | | | | 58 | | |
| CEO to median employee pay ratio | | | | | 59 | | |
| Pay vs. performance | | | | | 60 | | |
| AUDIT | | | |
|
| | |
|
PROPOSAL 4—Ratification of independent
registered public accountants |
| | | | 66 | | |
| Report of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors | | | | | 67 | | |
| STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL | | | |
|
| | |
| | | |
|
| | ||
| Equinix opposition statement | | | |
|
| | |
| ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | | | |
|
| | |
|
Voting information and attending the
meeting |
| | | | 72 | | |
|
Delivery of documents to stockholders
sharing an address |
| | | | 76 | | |
|
Stockholder proposals for 2024 annual
meeting |
| | | | 76 | | |
| Other matters | | | | | 77 | | |
| | | ||||||||
|
WHEN
Thursday, May 25, 2023
10:00 a.m. PDT |
| | |
VIRTUAL LOCATION
Visit:
www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/EQIX2023 |
| | |
RECORD DATE
Mar. 30, 2023
|
|
|
|
|
|
CORPORATE INFORMATION
|
| |||
|
Stock Symbol
EQIX
|
| |
Registrar & Transfer Agent
Computershare
|
|
|
Stock Exchange
NASDAQ
|
| |
State of Incorporation
Delaware
|
|
|
Common Stock Outstanding
As of Mar. 30, 2023
93,514,672 shares
|
| |
Year of Incorporation
1998
Public Company Since
2000
|
|
|
EQUINIX WEBSITES
|
|
|
CORPORATE WEBSITE
Equinix.com
|
|
|
INVESTOR RELATIONS
investor.equinix.com
|
|
|
2023 ANNUAL MEETING
MATERIALS
https://investor.equinix.com/news-events/annual-meeting-of-stockholders
|
|
|
PUBLIC POLICY
ACTIVITIES
https://investor.equinix.com/board-governance/public-policy-activities
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | |
REGISTERED HOLDERS
(shares are registered in your own name)
|
| | |
BENEFICIAL OWNERS
(shares are held “in street name” in a stock
brokerage account or by a bank, nominee or other holder of record) |
|
|
BY MOBILE DEVICE
|
| | |
|
| | |
Scan the QR code if one is provided by your broker, bank or other nominee
|
|
| BY INTERNET | | | |
Vote your shares online 24/7 at proxyvote.com
|
| | |
Vote your shares online 24/7 if a website is provided by your broker, bank or other nominee
|
|
|
BY TELEPHONE
|
| | |
Call toll-free 24/7 in the U.S., U.S. territories and Canada 1-800-690-6903
|
| | |
Call the toll-free number provided on your voting information form, 24/7
|
|
|
BY MAIL
|
| | |
Complete, date, sign and return your proxy card in the postage-paid envelope
|
| | |
Complete, date, sign and return your voting information form
|
|
| | | |
PROPOSAL
|
| |
BOARD’S
RECOMMENDATION |
| |
SEE PAGE
|
| |||
|
1
|
| |
DIRECTORS: Election of directors
|
| |
|
| |
FOR
each nominee
|
| | | |
|
2
|
| |
COMPENSATION: Advisory vote to approve named executive officer compensation
|
| |
|
| |
FOR
|
| | | |
|
3
|
| |
COMPENSATION: Advisory vote to approve the frequency of the executive compensation vote
|
| |
|
| |
FOR one year
|
| | | |
|
4
|
| |
AUDIT: Ratification of independent registered public accountants
|
| |
|
| |
FOR
|
| | | |
|
5
|
| |
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL: Stockholder proposal related to shareholder ratification of termination pay
|
| |
|
| |
AGAINST
|
| | |
Nanci Caldwell, age 65
|
| | |
Charles Meyers, age 57
|
| | |
Sandra Rivera, age 58
|
| |||||||||
(Independent Director)
|
| | |
(Chief Executive Officer and President)
|
| | |
(Independent Director)
|
| |||||||||
|
| |
Since: 2015
COMMITTEES:
•
Nominating and Governance
•
Talent, Culture and Compensation
|
| | |
|
| |
Since: 2018
COMMITTEE:
•
Stock Award
|
| | |
|
| |
Since: 2019
COMMITTEE:
•
Talent, Culture and Compensation
|
|
Adaire Fox-Martin, age 58
|
| | |
Thomas Olinger, age 56
|
| | |
Fidelma Russo, age 60
|
| |||||||||
(Independent Director)
|
| | |
(Independent Director)
|
| | |
(Independent Director)
|
| |||||||||
|
| |
Since: 2020
COMMITTEE:
•
Nominating and Governance
|
| | |
|
| |
Since: 2023
COMMITTEES:
•
Audit
•
Finance
•
Real Estate
|
| | |
|
| |
Since: 2022
COMMITTEE:
•
Audit
|
|
Ron Guerrier, age 48
|
| | |
Christopher Paisley, age 70
|
| | |
Peter Van Camp, age 67
|
| |||||||||
(Independent Director)
|
| | |
(Lead Independent Director)
|
| | |
(Executive Chairman)
|
| |||||||||
|
| |
Since: 2021
COMMITTEE:
•
Nominating and Governance
|
| | |
|
| |
Since: 2007
COMMITTEES:
•
Audit
•
Finance
•
Real Estate
|
| | |
|
| |
Since: 2021
|
|
Gary Hromadko, age 70
|
| | |
Jeetu Patel, age 51
|
| | | | | |||||||||
(Independent Director)
|
| | |
(Independent Director)
|
| | | | | |||||||||
|
| |
Since: 2003
COMMITTEES:
•
Audit
•
Finance
•
Real Estate
|
| | |
|
| |
Since: 2022
COMMITTEE:
•
Nominating and Governance (until Annual Meeting)
•
Talent Culture and Compensation (post Annual Meeting)
|
| | | | | |
|
|
| | | ||||||||||||
|
9.67 YEARS
Average Tenure of Board Nominees
•
3 new members added in past 12 months
•
3 out of 4 newest members
self-identify as female and/or racially/ethnically diverse
|
| | |
8
Board Meetings in 2022
88%
Average Attendance at
Board and Committee Meetings |
| | |
Board
Committees
•
Audit
•
Finance
•
Nominating and
Governance
•
Real Estate
•
Talent, Culture and
Compensation
|
| | |
2022
Meetings
10
4
5
10
4
|
|
|
|
|
| | | ||||||||||||
|
1 YEAR
Director Term
|
| | |
Majority
Director
Election Standard |
| | |
No
Supermajority
Voting Requirements |
| | |
No
Stockholder
Rights Plan |
|
|
|
|
| | | ||||||||||||
|
Stockholders
Right to Call
Special Meetings
|
| | |
Stockholders
Right to Act
by Written Consent
|
| | |
Stockholders
Proxy Access
Rights |
| | |
Corporate
Governance
Materials |
|
| | |
| | | ||||||||||||
|
100%
Clean and
Renewable Energy Usage Target by 2030 |
| | |
Nominating and Governance
Committee Oversight of Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) Initiatives |
| | |
CEO Focus
on Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Initiatives |
| | |
Nominating and
Governance Oversight of Cybersecurity Program 1x per Quarter; Full Board Oversight at Least 1x per Year |
|
|
|
|
| | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Percentage 2022 Executive Incentive Compensation Performance Based: 100% of Annual and 60% of Long Term
|
| | |
ESG Metrics Used for 2022 Incentive Compensation
|
| | |
No Tax Gross-Ups on Compensation
|
| | |
Stock Ownership Guidelines
|
| | |
Policy Prohibiting Hedging
|
| | |
Recoupment Policy
|
| | |
183:1
CEO Pay Ratio for 2022
|
|
| |
| |
|
| |
The Board recommends that you vote “FOR” the election of each of the following nominees.
|
|
Nanci Caldwell
|
| |
Independent Director / Since December 2015
|
| |||||||||
AGE: 65
COMMITTEES:
•
Nominating and Governance
•
Talent, Culture and Compensation
|
| |
CURRENT ROLE
•
Corporate director (since 2005)
PRIOR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
•
Executive vice president and chief marketing officer, PeopleSoft (2001−2004)
•
Various senior and executive sales and marketing roles in Canada and the U.S., Hewlett-Packard (1982−2001)
CURRENT PUBLIC COMPANY BOARDS
(in addition to Equinix)
•
CIBC
•
Procore Technologies, Inc.
PAST PUBLIC COMPANY BOARDS
•
Talend
•
Tibco Software
•
Deltek
•
Donnelley Financial Solutions
•
Citrix Systems
|
| |
SKILLS & EXPERTISE
•
Executive leadership skills gained as an operating executive at major public companies
•
Deep “go-to-market” experience gained over decades of senior and executive enterprise sales and marketing roles at Hewlett-Packard and PeopleSoft, bringing insight to our strategy as we continue to target the enterprise customer and leverage our channel partner program
•
Global experience as an executive at multinational corporations
•
Experience with public company M&A
•
Risk management experience from prior operating roles as well as oversight expertise from experience gained across multiple boards and governance committees
•
Significant public company board experience across numerous boards
|
|
Adaire Fox-Martin
|
| |
Independent Director / Since January 2020
|
| |||||||||
AGE: 58
COMMITTEE:
•
Nominating and Governance
|
| |
CURRENT ROLE
•
President, Google Cloud Go-to-Market (since 2023) and Head of Google Ireland (since 2021)
PRIOR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
•
EMEA Cloud President, Google Cloud International (2021-2022)
•
Various roles, SAP (2008−Jul. 2021), including executive board member, global customer operations, president, chief operating officer, SVP industry business solutions, and vice president public sector
•
Various management roles, Oracle Corporation (1989−2007), the most recent being vice president government education and healthcare
PAST PUBLIC COMPANY BOARDS
•
SAP SE
|
| |
SKILLS & EXPERTISE
•
Executive leadership skills gained as an operating executive at major public companies
•
Extensive experience in the information technology sector bringing relevant technology expertise to the Board as we evolve our platform
•
Experience in cloud relevant to the Board as Equinix evolves our business model and strategy to meet the needs of our customers in a cloud-first world
•
Global experience as an executive at multinational corporations, and experience and perspective gained from living and working in both the Asia-Pacific and EMEA regions
•
“Go-to-market” experience in serving the enterprise customer, a key segment of our current strategy, as an experienced sales leader
•
Advocacy of social entrepreneurship and workplace inclusivity and fulfilment as founder of SAP One Billion Lives Ventures, relevant to our own ESG initiatives
|
|
Ron Guerrier
|
| |
Independent Director / Since September 2021
|
| |||||||||
AGE: 48
COMMITTEE:
•
Nominating and Governance
|
| |
CURRENT ROLE
•
Global Chief Information Officer (CIO), HP (since 2020)
PRIOR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
•
CIO and Secretary of Innovation & Technology, State of Illinois (Feb. 2019-Sept. 2020)
•
CIO, Express Scripts (2018-2019)
•
CIO, Farmers Insurance (2015-2018)
•
Various roles, Toyota Financial Services International Corporation (1996-2015), including chief technology officer and most recently as vice president and CIO
|
| |
SKILLS & EXPERTISE
•
Executive leadership skills gained as an operating executive at prominent public and private companies and in state government
•
Experience in the field of digital infrastructure services relevant to understanding our offerings and strategy
•
Perspective of an Equinix customer, with a deep understanding of current technologies and trends and implications for our strategic plans and positioning, as a Fortune 500 CIO
•
Global experience as an executive at a multinational corporation
•
Advocate for expansion of STEM opportunities to women and underserved communities through involvement in various organizations, relevant to our own ESG initiatives
|
|
Gary Hromadko
|
| |
Independent Director / Since June 2003
|
| |||||||||
AGE: 70
COMMITTEES:
•Audit
•
Finance
•
Real Estate
|
| |
CURRENT ROLE
•
Private investor
PRIOR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
•
Venture partner, Crosslink Capital, a venture capital firm (2002−2017)
PAST PUBLIC COMPANY BOARDS
•
Carbonite
|
| |
SKILLS & EXPERTISE
•
Experience in the field of digital infrastructure services
•
Deep understanding of current technologies and trends, and implications for our strategic plans and positioning, through experience as an investor in the networking, cloud and infrastructure service sectors
•
Extensive capital markets and corporate finance experience, providing valuable insight to fundraising activities and to decisions regarding investments and allocation of capital
•
Public company board experience across numerous boards and valuable institutional knowledge and perspective gained from long tenure on the Equinix Board
|
|
Charles Meyers
|
| |
Director / Since 2018
|
| |||||||||
AGE: 57
COMMITTEE:
•
Stock Award
|
| |
CURRENT ROLE
•
Chief executive officer and president, Equinix (since 2018)
PRIOR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
•
President, strategy, services and innovation, Equinix (2017-2018)
•
Chief operating officer, Equinix (2013-2017)
•
President, Equinix Americas (2010-2013)
•
Various positions, including group president of messaging and mobile media, and product group executive for the security and communications portfolio, VeriSign, an Internet security company now part of Symantec (2006-2010)
CURRENT PUBLIC COMPANY BOARDS
(in addition to Equinix)
•
Fastly
|
| |
SKILLS & EXPERTISE
•
Executive leadership skills gained as Equinix’s current CEO, and through various prior leadership roles at Equinix and other technology companies
•
Deep experience in the field of digital infrastructure services as well as in the technology and trends shaping Equinix’s current and future strategy
•
Global experience as an executive at multinational corporations
•
“Go-to-market” experience as an experienced sales leader
•
Experience with public company M&A, including multiple transactions while at Equinix
•
As Equinix’s CEO, responsible for setting and driving all aspects of ESG strategy, including award-winning sustainability initiatives and prioritization of DIB as a strategic priority; member of CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion
|
|
Thomas Olinger
|
| |
Independent Director / Since January 2023
|
| |||||||||
AGE: 56
COMMITTEES:
• Audit
•
Finance
•
Real Estate
|
| |
CURRENT ROLE
•
Corporate director (since 2011)
PRIOR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
•
Chief financial officer, Prologis (2012−2022)
•
Chief integration officer, Prologis (2011-2012)
•
Chief financial officer, AMB (2007-2011) now a part of Prologis
•
Vice president, corporate controller, Oracle (2002-2007)
•
Audit partner, Arthur Anderson & Co. (1988-2002)
CURRENT PUBLIC COMPANY BOARDS
(in addition to Equinix)
•
American Assets Trust
|
| |
SKILLS & EXPERTISE
•
Executive leadership skills gained as an operating executive at public companies, including as chief financial officer of Prologis
•
Global experience as an executive at a multinational corporation
•
Extensive capital markets and corporate finance experience providing valuable insight to decisions regarding investments and allocation of capital
•
Extensive experience with REITs and real estate development, including as a chief financial officer at a REIT, which provides valuable insight to discussions of Equinix’s continued expansion and management of our growing real estate portfolio
•
Experience with public company M&A
•
ESG experience through the oversight of financial and tax structuring efforts related to environmental sustainability transactions, and through the issuance and sale of green bonds, while chief financial officer of Prologis
•
Extensive finance and accounting expertise as a former chief financial officer, controller and audit partner
•
Risk management experience from prior operating roles
•
Public company board experience, including on another publicly listed REIT
|
|
Christopher Paisley
|
| |
Independent Director / Since July 2007 (and Lead
Independent Director since Feb. 2012) |
| |||||||||
AGE: 70
COMMITTEES:
• Audit
•
Finance
•
Real Estate
|
| |
CURRENT ROLE
•
Dean’s executive professor of accounting, Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University (since 2001)
PRIOR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
•
Chief financial officer, Enterprise 4.0 Technology Acquisition Corporation (since 2021−2023)
•
Senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer, 3Com (1985−2000)
CURRENT PUBLIC COMPANY BOARDS
(in addition to Equinix)
•
Ambarella
•
Fastly
PAST PUBLIC COMPANY BOARDS
•
Enterprise 4.0 Technology Acquisition Corporation
•
Fitbit
•
Fortinet
|
| |
SKILLS & EXPERTISE
•
Executive leadership skills gained as an operating executive at multiple companies, including as chief financial officer of 3Com
•
Global experience as an executive at a multinational corporation
•
Extensive capital markets experience
•
Extensive experience with public company M&A, including as an operating executive and as a board member
•
Extensive finance and accounting expertise as a former chief financial officer, as a current professor of accounting, and as an audit committee chair for numerous boards
•
Risk management experience from prior operating roles as well as from experience across multiple boards
•
Public company board experience across numerous boards and valuable institutional knowledge and perspective gained from long tenure on the Equinix Board
|
|
Jeetu Patel
|
| |
Independent Director / Since June 2022
|
| |||||||||
AGE: 51
COMMITTEE:
•
Nominating and Governance(1)
|
| |
CURRENT ROLE
•
Executive vice president and general manager of security and collaboration, Cisco (since 2021)
PRIOR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
•
Senior vice president and general manager of security and collaboration, Cisco (2020-2021)
•
Chief product officer and chief strategy officer, Box (2017-2020)
•
Senior vice president of platform and chief strategy officer, Box (2015-2017)
CURRENT PUBLIC COMPANY BOARDS
(in addition to Equinix)
•
JLL
|
| |
SKILLS & EXPERTISE
•
Executive leadership skills gained as an operating executive at major public companies
•
Extensive experience in the technology sector, including SaaS application experience and operating experience managing SaaS, bringing relevant technology expertise to the Board as we execute against our digital transformation strategy
•
Experience in building both digital products through modern software development practices, and platform products with an emphasis on the developer persona, highly relevant to Equinix as we evolve our offerings and our platform to meet the needs of our customers
•
Global experience as an executive at multinational corporations
•
Extensive “go to market” experience including in (i) incubating and scaling non-core products via a core distribution model, (ii) Modern Marketing, and (iii) selling into IT, Security, Developer and Line of Business buying centers
•
Public company board experience across multiple boards
|
|
Sandra Rivera
|
| |
Independent Director / Since Oct. 2019
|
| |||||||||
AGE: 58
COMMITTEES:
•
Talent, Culture & Compensation(2)
|
| |
CURRENT ROLE
•
Executive vice president and general manager of Data Center and AI Group, Intel Corporation (since 2021)
PRIOR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
•
Various roles, Intel Corporation (2000-2021), including leading the network platforms group and more recently as chief people officer
•
General manager of CTI division, Catalyst Telecom (1998-2000)
•
Co-founder and president, The CTI Authority (1996-1998)
|
| |
SKILLS & EXPERTISE
•
Executive leadership skills gained as an operating executive at multiple companies, including Intel
•
Extensive experience in the technology sector, including network infrastructure, 5G, data center, AI and cloud, bringing relevant technology expertise to the Board as Equinix executes against our platform strategy
•
Global experience as an executive at a multinational corporation
•
Human capital and ESG experience, most recently gained as Chief People Officer of Intel, bringing insight to the Talent, Culture and Compensation Committee’s oversight of compensation plans and programs, and to Equinix’s diversity, inclusion and belonging initiatives
|
|
Fidelma Russo
|
| |
Independent Director / Since June 2022
|
| |||||||||
AGE: 59
COMMITTEE:
•
Audit
|
| |
CURRENT ROLE
•
Chief technology officer, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) (since 2021)
PRIOR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
•
Senior vice president and general manager of the Cloud Services business unit, VMware (2020-2021)
•
Various senior leadership roles, Iron Mountain, Inc. (2017-2020), including chief technology officer and executive vice president
CURRENT PUBLIC COMPANY BOARDS
(in addition to Equinix)
•
SBA Communications
|
| |
SKILLS & EXPERTISE
•
Executive leadership skills gained as an operating executive at major public companies
•
Extensive technology experience spanning servers, storage, networking, cloud services, backup, machine learning and analytics, global IT business services and infrastructure, relevant to Equinix’s digital transformation initiatives
•
Perspective of an Equinix customer, with a deep understanding of current technology trends, providing valuable input to our platform and product strategies
•
Global experience as an executive at multinational corporations
•
Human capital experience from leading large and diverse teams
•
Extensive experience bringing technology products to market
•
Experience with REITs as a board member of another publicly traded REIT
•
Public company board experience
|
|
Peter Van Camp
|
| |
Director / Since May 2000
|
| |||||||||
AGE: 67
|
| |
CURRENT ROLE
•
Executive chairman, Equinix (since 2007)
PRIOR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
•
Interim chief executive officer and president, Equinix (Jan. 2018 - Sept. 2018)
•
Chief executive officer, Equinix (2000-2007)
•
President, Equinix (2006-2007)
•
President, UUNET, the internet division of MCI (formerly known as WorldCom) (1997-2000)
PAST PUBLIC COMPANY BOARDS
•
Silver Spring Networks
|
| |
SKILLS & EXPERTISE
•
Executive leadership skills gained as Equinix’s CEO, and through various prior leadership roles
•
Deep experience in the field of digital infrastructure services
•
Global experience as an executive at multinational corporations
•
“Go-to-market” experience as an experienced sales leader
•
Experience with public company M&A, including 27 closed transactions at Equinix
•
Deep understanding of all aspects of ESG at Equinix
•
Public company board experience across numerous boards and valuable institutional knowledge and perspective gained from long tenure on the Equinix Board as Executive Chair, and as years served as Equinix’s CEO
|
|
|
Equinix 2023 PROXY STATEMENT
|
| | |
Governance
|
| | |
13
|
|
|
BOARD TENURE, DIVERSITY
AND REFRESHMENT |
| | |
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Committees
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Director
|
| | |
Independent
|
| | |
Financial
expert |
| | |
Audit
|
| | |
Finance
|
| | |
Nominating
and Governance |
| | |
Real
Estate |
| | |
Stock
Award |
| | |
Talent, Culture
and Compensation |
| ||||
|
Nanci Caldwell
|
| | |
✓
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
|
|
Adaire Fox-Martin
|
| | |
✓
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Ron Guerrier(1)
|
| | |
✓
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Gary Hromadko
|
| | |
✓
|
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
| | |
(8)
|
| | | | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | |
|
Irving Lyons III(2)
|
| | |
✓
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| | | | | | |
|
| | |
|
| | |
|
|
|
Charles Meyers
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| | | | |
|
Thomas Olinger(3)
|
| | |
✓
|
| | | | | | |
|
| | |
|
| | |
|
| | | | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | |
|
Christopher Paisley(4)
|
| | |
✓
|
| | | | | | |
|
| | |
|
| | |
|
| | | | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | |
|
Jeetu Patel(5)
|
| | |
✓
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Sandra Rivera(6)
|
| | |
✓
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
|
|
Fidelma Russo(7)
|
| | |
✓
|
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Peter Van Camp
|
| | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Meetings in 2022 | | | |
Board: 8
|
| | | | | | |
10
|
| | |
4
|
| | |
5
|
| | |
10
|
| | |
0
|
| | |
4
|
|
|
|
| | |
|
| | |
|
| | |
|
| | |
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| | |
Chairperson
|
| | |
|
| | |
Committee Member
|
| | |
|
| | |
Executive Chairman
|
| | |
|
| | |
Lead Independent Director
|
| | |
|
| | |
Audit Committee Financial Expert
|
|
|
Equinix 2023 PROXY STATEMENT
|
| | |
Governance
|
| | |
19
|
|
|
Committee
|
| |
Chairperson
|
| |
Member
|
| ||||||
| Audit | | | | $ | 35,000 | | | | | $ | 15,000 | | |
| Finance | | | | $ | 12,500 | | | | | $ | 5,000 | | |
| Nominating and Governance | | | | $ | 20,000 | | | | | $ | 10,000 | | |
| Real Estate | | | | $ | 25,000 | | | | | $ | 12,500 | | |
| Talent, Culture and Compensation | | | | $ | 25,000 | | | | | $ | 12,500 | | |
|
Committee
|
| |
Chairperson
|
| |
Member
|
| |
Threshold Number
of Meetings |
| |||||||||
| Audit | | | | $ | 5,000 | | | | | $ | 3,000 | | | | | | 12 | | |
| Finance | | | | $ | 5,000 | | | | | $ | 3,000 | | | | | | 6 | | |
| Nominating and Governance | | | | $ | 5,000 | | | | | $ | 3,000 | | | | | | 5 | | |
| Real Estate | | | | $ | 5,000 | | | | | $ | 3,000 | | | | | | 8 | | |
| Talent, Culture and Compensation | | | | $ | 5,000 | | | | | $ | 3,000 | | | | | | 8 | | |
|
Name
|
| |
Fees Earned
or Paid in Cash(1) ($) |
| |
Stock
Awards(2)(3)(4) ($) |
| |
Total
($) |
| |||||||||
| Nanci Caldwell | | | | $ | 107,500 | | | | | $ | 249,897 | | | | | $ | 357,397 | | |
| Adaire Fox-Martin | | | | $ | 85,000 | | | | | $ | 249,897 | | | | | $ | 334,897 | | |
| Ron Guerrier | | | | $ | 83,455 | | | | | $ | 249,897 | | | | | $ | 333,352 | | |
| Gary Hromadko | | | | $ | 134,174 | | | | | $ | 249,897 | | | | | $ | 384,071 | | |
| Irving Lyons III | | | | $ | 135,500 | | | | | $ | 249,897 | | | | | $ | 385,397 | | |
| Christopher Paisley | | | | $ | 167,500 | | | | | $ | 249,897 | | | | | $ | 417,397 | | |
| Jeetu Patel(5) | | | | $ | 47,458 | | | | | $ | 240,323 | | | | | $ | 287,782 | | |
| Sandra Rivera | | | | $ | 87,500 | | | | | $ | 249,897 | | | | | $ | 337,397 | | |
| Fidelma Russo(5) | | | | $ | 50,250 | | | | | $ | 240,323 | | | | | $ | 290,573 | | |
|
Name of Beneficial Owner
|
| |
Number of Shares
|
| |
Percentage of Total
|
| ||||||
| Nanci Caldwell(1) | | | | | 3,158 | | | | | | * | | |
| Mike Campbell | | | | | 14,506 | | | | | | * | | |
| Scott Crenshaw | | | | | 1,563 | | | | | | * | | |
| Adaire Fox-Martin(2) | | | | | 1,091 | | | | | | * | | |
| Ron Guerrier(3) | | | | | 573 | | | | | | * | | |
| Gary Hromadko(4) | | | | | 143,596 | | | | | | * | | |
| Jon Lin | | | | | 7,223 | | | | | | * | | |
| Irving Lyons III(5) | | | | | 16,964 | | | | | | * | | |
| Charles Meyers | | | | | 15,081 | | | | | | * | | |
| Brandi Galvin Morandi | | | | | 20,443 | | | | | | * | | |
| Thomas Olinger(6) | | | | | 123 | | | | | | * | | |
| Christopher Paisley(7) | | | | | 18,911 | | | | | | * | | |
| Jeetu Patel(8) | | | | | 365 | | | | | | * | | |
| Sandra Rivera(9) | | | | | 1,352 | | | | | | * | | |
| Fidelma Russo(10) | | | | | 365 | | | | | | * | | |
| Karl Strohmeyer | | | | | 23,247 | | | | | | * | | |
| Keith Taylor | | | | | 24,177 | | | | | | * | | |
| Peter Van Camp | | | | | 7,748 | | | | | | * | | |
|
The Vanguard Group(11)
100 Vanguard Blvd, Malvern, PA 19355 |
| | | | 12,164,040 | | | | | | 13.01% | | |
|
BlackRock Fund Advisors(12)
Park Avenue Plaza, 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055 |
| | | | 9,418,787 | | | | | | 10.07% | | |
|
State Street Corporation(13)
State Street Financial Center, 1 Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111 |
| | | | 6,091,600 | | | | | | 6.51% | | |
|
All current directors and executive officers as a group (18 persons)(14)
|
| | | | | | | | | | * | | |
|
Equinix 2023 PROXY STATEMENT
|
| | |
Governance
|
| | |
28
|
|
|
Equinix 2023 PROXY STATEMENT
|
| | |
Governance
|
| | |
29
|
|
| | | | |
Mike Campbell
|
| |
|
|
Chief Sales Officer
(since 2016) Age 57 |
| | ||
PRIOR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
•
Senior vice president of sales, Equinix Americas (2015-2016)
•
Various sales management positions, most recently as senior vice president of sales, Symantec (2010-2015)
•
Vice president, sales, Verisign Americas, Verisign, prior to its merger into Symantec (2004-2010)
|
|
| | | | |
Scott Crenshaw
|
| |
|
|
EVP and GM, Digital Services
(since 2022) Age 58 |
| | ||
PRIOR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
•
Various management positions, most recently as president and chief executive officer, Concourse Labs (2019-2022)
•
Various roles including executive vice president and general manager of private cloud, Rackspace (2016-2019)
|
|
| | | | |
Jon Lin
|
| |
|
|
EVP and GM, Data Center Services
(since 2021) Age 46 |
| | ||
PRIOR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
•
Various management positions, most recently as President, Americas, Equinix (2009-2021)
•
Director of Advanced Solutions Group, Tata Communications (2006-2009)
•
Various positions, most recently as senior strategist of security products, Verizon Business (2002-2006)
|
|
| | | | |
Charles Meyers
|
| |
|
|
Chief Executive Officer and President
(since 2018) Age 57 |
| | ||
PRIOR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
•
President, strategy, services and innovation, Equinix (2017-Sept. 2018)
•
Chief operating officer, Equinix (2013-2017)
•
President, Equinix Americas (2010-2013)
•
Various positions, including group president of messaging and mobile media, and product group executive for the security and communications portfolio, VeriSign, an internet security company now part of Symantec (2006-2010)
|
|
| | | | |
Brandi Galvin Morandi
|
| |
|
|
Chief Legal and Human Resources Officer and Corporate Secretary
(since 2019) Age 50 |
| | ||
PRIOR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
•
Chief legal officer, general counsel and secretary, Equinix (2003-2019)
•
Corporate attorney, Gunderson Dettmer (1997-2003)
|
|
| | | | |
Karl Strohmeyer
|
| |
|
|
Chief Customer and Revenue Officer
(since 2019) Age 51 |
| | ||
PRIOR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
•
President, Equinix Americas (2013-2019)
•
Various roles, including group vice president, Level 3 North American enterprise group, Level 3 Communications, a communications services company (2001-2013)
•
Various executive positions, NetRail, an internet services company (1998-2001)
|
|
| | | | |
Keith Taylor
|
| |
|
|
Chief Financial Officer
(since 2005) Age 61 |
| | ||
PRIOR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
•
Various roles, including vice president, finance and chief accounting officer, Equinix (2001-2005)
•
Director of finance and administration, Equinix (1999-2001)
•
Vice president finance and interim chief financial officer, International Wireless Communications, an operator, owner and developer of wireless communications networks (1996-1999)
|
|
| |
|
| |
The Board unanimously recommends a vote FOR proposal 2.
|
|
| |
|
| |
The Board unanimously recommends that you select ONE YEAR as the desired frequency of future Say on Pay votes.
|
|
|
|
I.
How did we perform and what are our practices?
|
| ||||||||
| | | |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION
AND ANALYSIS |
| | |
|
| | |
| | | | | | | | 34 | | | |
| | | | | | | | 35 | | | |
| | | | | | |
|
| | ||
| | | | | | |
|
| | ||
| | | | | | | | 46 | | | |
| | | | TALENT, CULTURE AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT | | | |
|
| | |
|
|
II.
How were our CEO and named executive officers compensated?
|
| ||||||||
| | | | EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION TABLES AND RELATED INFORMATION | | | |
|
| | |
| | | | | | | | 47 | | |
|
Name
|
| | |
Position
|
|
| Charles Meyers | | | | Chief Executive Officer and President | |
| Keith Taylor | | | | Chief Financial Officer | |
| Scott Crenshaw(1) | | | | EVP and GM, Digital Services | |
| Brandi Galvin Morandi | | | | Chief Legal and Human Resources Officer and Corporate Secretary | |
| Karl Strohmeyer | | | | Chief Customer and Revenue Officer | |
| |
•
No increase to base salaries or target bonus amounts. Based on the competitive market, none of the named executive officers received an increase in total cash compensation for 2022. The base salaries and the annual target bonus for all named executive officers did not change from 2021 to 2022.
•
Addition of ESG performance metrics for incentives. In 2022, the Talent, Culture and Compensation Committee approved additional performance metrics for executive incentive compensation including (1) a strategic modifier to annual incentives for senior leaders at the VP level and above based on achievement of digital services revenue goals and attainment of certain ESG objectives across the areas of climate, energy efficiency, support for electric vehicles, and progress on increasing racial and gender diversity in our workforce (the “Strategic Modifier”) and (2) a revenue performance metric related to our digital services business for long-term performance incentives.
•
Bonus paid out at 126% of target. These annual incentives were performance-based and dependent upon annual revenue and adjusted funds from operations per share (“AFFO/Share”) growth, and included the Strategic Modifier discussed above. Equinix funded the 2022 annual incentive plan at 120% and the strong performance against our ESG and digital services targets resulted in senior leaders at the VP level and above, including the named executive officers, receiving 126% of their target opportunity.
|
| |
•
Equity awards 60% performance based. For 2022, we continued to grant a mix of service- vesting restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and performance-vesting RSUs, with 60% of the target value made up of performance-based RSUs. The metrics for the performance based RSUs consisted of a combination of financial goals (annual revenue, digital services revenue and AFFO/Share as described above) and relative total shareholder return (“TSR”) against the IWB Russell 1000 Index Fund (the “Russell 1000”). Our strong performance in 2022 resulted in 127% achievement under the performance RSUs based on revenue, digital services revenue and AFFO/Share for the named executive officers. Our TSR compared to the Russell 1000, over the three-year performance period of 2020-2022, resulted in a payout of 92% of target shares under the performance RSUs based on relative TSR.
•
81% supported Say-on-Pay in 2022. We received over 81% support for last year’s Say-on-Pay proposal (based on shares represented in person or by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter).
•
Annual outreach to stockholders conducted. In late 2022, we reached out to our top holders as part of our annual outreach to discuss our executive compensation program, corporate governance, ESG and other topics. During the meetings that resulted, there were limited questions and/or comments on the current executive compensation program design, but the addition of the Strategic Modifier for annual incentives and the additional digital services revenue metric for long-term performance incentives were positively received.
|
| |
|
Incentive
Compensation Element |
| | |
Weighting
|
| | |
Form of
Payment |
| | |
Performance
Metrics |
| | |
Performance
Period |
| | |
Vesting
|
|
| Annual Incentive | | | |
n/a
|
| | | Shares | | | |
Revenue,
AFFO/Share, and the Strategic Modifier |
| | | 1 year | | | | Shares vest upon certification of financial results and ESG performance at end of one-year performance period | |
| Long-Term Performance Incentive | | | |
40%
|
| | | Shares | | | |
Revenue,
Digital Services Revenue and AFFO/Share |
| | | 1 year | | | | 3 years — earned shares vest 50% after the first year and 25% in each of the two following years (subject to continued service) | |
| Long-Term Service-Based Incentive | | | |
40%
|
| | | Shares | | | | n/a | | | | n/a | | | | 3 years — shares vest in three equal annual increments (subject to continued service) | |
| Long-Term Performance-Based Incentive | | | |
20%
|
| | | Shares | | | | TSR | | | | 3 years | | | | Shares vest upon certification of relative shareholder return after end of three-year performance period | |
|
WHAT WE DO
•
Recoupment policy. We have a policy on recoupment of incentive compensation which applies to those persons who are designated by the Board as “officers” for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder. The policy states that the Board may require the return, repayment or forfeiture of any cash or equity-based incentive compensation payment or award received by any such current or former officer during the three completed fiscal years immediately preceding the date on which we are required to prepare a restatement of our financial statements due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirements under the securities laws and if certain other conditions are met. We intend to amend this policy in 2023 to comply with Exchange Act Rule 10D-1, and the related NASDAQ listing standard in response thereto.
•
Limit on cash severance benefits.In Mar. 2023, our Talent, Culture and Compensation Committee formally resolved to adhere to a practice of limiting any cash severance benefits as a multiple of an executive officer’s annual base salary plus target bonus. As a result, we will not enter into any new employment agreement, severance agreement or similar arrangement (or any related amendment or renewal) with any of our executive officers, or establish any new severance plan or policy covering any of our executive officers, that, in each case, provides for cash severance benefits exceeding 2.99 times the sum of the executive officer’s base salary plus target bonus, without seeking stockholder approval of such agreement, plan, policy or arrangement.
•
Stock ownership guidelines.Our chief executive officer and his direct reports (including the named executive officers) are subject to stock ownership guidelines, at a level of three times and one-time base salary, respectively. We do not count unearned performance awards or unvested awards towards these guidelines.
•
Independent committee.The Talent, Culture and Compensation Committee is comprised solely of independent members of our Board.
•
Independent consultant.An independent compensation consultant, Compensia, is retained directly by the Talent, Culture and Compensation Committee and performs no other work for Equinix.
•
Tally sheets.The Talent, Culture and Compensation Committee reviews tally sheets when making executive compensation decisions.
•
Conducted compensation risk assessment.In March 2023, we conducted a risk assessment of our compensation programs and presented the results to the Talent, Culture and Compensation Committee. The Talent, Culture and Compensation Committee considered the findings of the assessment and agreed with our conclusion that our compensation programs are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on Equinix.
•
Limited tax gross-ups. Named executive officers at Equinix are not offered any tax gross-ups (other than in connection with expenses related to our annual sales reward trip, a relocation or international assignment).
|
| | |
WHAT WE DON’T DO
•
No single trigger vesting. Our named executive officers are not offered single trigger vesting on a change-in-control.
•
No significant perquisites.Named executive officers at Equinix are only eligible to participate in the same employee benefits as all other employees and do not receive any significant perquisites. Equinix does not provide its named executive officers any defined benefit pension plans, nonqualified deferred compensation plans or other executive retirement benefits.
•
No hedging allowed.We have a policy prohibiting all employees, including the named executive officers and members of the Board, from engaging in transactions involving options on Equinix’s securities, such as puts, calls and other derivative securities, whether on an exchange or in any other market, or in hedging transactions, such as collars and forward sale contracts. No categories of hedging transactions are specifically permitted.
•
No pledging allowed absent exception.Our executives (including the named executive officers) and members of the Board are prohibited from holding Equinix securities in a margin account or pledging Equinix securities as collateral for a loan, absent an exception granted by the Talent, Culture and Compensation Committee on a case-by-case basis.
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
•
Activision Blizzard
|
| | |
•
Cerner
|
| | |
•
Electronic Arts
|
| | |
•
ServiceNow
|
|
|
•
Adobe
|
| | |
•
Citrix Systems
|
| | |
•
Intuit
|
| | |
•
Splunk
|
|
|
•
Akamai Technologies
|
| | |
•
Crown Castle Intl.
|
| | |
•
Palo Alto Networks
|
| | |
•
Synopsys
|
|
|
•
American Tower
|
| | |
•
Digital Realty Trust
|
| | |
•
Prologis
|
| | |
•
VMWare
|
|
|
•
Autodesk
|
| | |
•
eBay
|
| | |
•
Salesforce.com
|
| | |
•
Workday
|
|
|
Name
|
| |
2021 Salary
|
| |
2022 Salary
|
| |
Increase
|
| |||||||||
| Charles Meyers | | | | $ | 1,050,000 | | | | | $ | 1,050,000 | | | | | | 0% | | |
| Keith Taylor | | | | $ | 680,000 | | | | | $ | 680,000 | | | | | | 0% | | |
| Scott Crenshaw | | | | | — | | | | | $ | 530,000 | | | | | | — | | |
| Brandi Galvin Morandi | | | | $ | 620,000 | | | | | $ | 620,000 | | | | | | 0% | | |
| Karl Strohmeyer | | | | $ | 635,000 | | | | | $ | 635,000 | | | | | | 0% | | |
|
Metric
|
| |
Weighting
|
| |
Target
|
| |
Reported
Results(1) |
| |
Adjusted
Results(1)(2) |
| |
Attainment
|
| ||||||
| Revenue | | | | | 50% | | | |
$7,306.2 million(3)
|
| |
$7,263 million
|
| |
$7,422.8 million
|
| | | | 101.6% | | |
| AFFO/Share | | | | | 50% | | | |
$29.44/Share(3)
|
| |
$29.55/Share
|
| |
$30.65/Share
|
| | | | 140% | | |
|
ESG & Digital
Services Revenues |
| | | | +/-10% | | | |
SEE STRATEGIC MODIFIER TARGETS & RESULTS BELOW
|
|
|
Element
|
| | |
% of Strategic
Modifier |
| | |
Target
|
| | |
Performance
|
| | |
Modifier Result
|
|
| Environmental Targets | | | | 25% | | | | Renewable energy coverage, improvement in global PUE, and support for electric vehicles | | | | Exceeded targets for renewable energy and global PUE and achieved EV targets | | | | 105% | |
| Social Targets | | | | 25% | | | | Increases in the racial and gender diversity of our workforce | | | | Increased diversity in all measured areas while not achieving our aspirational goals | | | | 95% | |
| Digital Services Revenue | | | | 50% | | | | 2022 digital services revenue target | | | | Exceeded digital services revenue target | | | | 110% | |
|
Name
|
| |
2021 Bonus
Opportunity (% Base Salary) |
| |
2022 Bonus
Opportunity (% Base Salary) |
| |
2022 Bonus
Award Paid (126% of Target)(1) |
| |
Number of
RSUs Awarded(1) |
| ||||||||||||
| Charles Meyers | | | | | 150% | | | | | | 150% | | | | | $ | 1,984,500 | | | | | | 2,859 | | |
| Keith Taylor | | | | | 110% | | | | | | 110% | | | | | $ | 942,480 | | | | | | 1,358 | | |
| Scott Crenshaw(2) | | | | | — | | | | | | 90% | | | | | $ | 251,934 | | | | | | 363 | | |
| Brandi Galvin Morandi | | | | | 100% | | | | | | 100% | | | | | $ | 781,200 | | | | | | 1,125 | | |
| Karl Strohmeyer | | | | | 100% | | | | | | 100% | | | | | $ | 800,100 | | | | | | 1,152 | | |
| | | |
2021 Weighting
|
| |
2022 Weighting
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
|
Equity Award
|
| |
Target
(% of Total) |
| |
Maximum
(% of Target) |
| |
Target
(% of Total) |
| |
Maximum
(% of Target) |
| ||||||||||||
| Financial Performance Award(1) | | | | | 40% | | | | | | 120% | | | | | | 40% | | | | | | 200% | | |
| TSR Performance-Based | | | | | 20% | | | | | | 200% | | | | | | 20% | | | | | | 200% | | |
| Service-Based | | | | | 40% | | | | | | n/a | | | | | | 40% | | | | | | n/a | | |
|
Name
|
| |
Financial
Performance-Based Award (#) |
| |
TSR
Performance-Based Award (#) |
| |
Service-Based
Award (#) |
| |||||||||
| Charles Meyers | | | | | 11,277 | | | | | | 5,638 | | | | | | 11,277 | | |
| Keith Taylor | | | | | 4,511 | | | | | | 2,555 | | | | | | 4,511 | | |
| Scott Crenshaw(1) | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
| Brandi Galvin Morandi | | | | | 3,248 | | | | | | 1,624 | | | | | | 3,247 | | |
| Karl Strohmeyer | | | | | 4,511 | | | | | | 2,555 | | | | | | 4,511 | | |
|
Names
|
| |
Release Date
|
| |
TSR Award Shares Earned for 2020-2022
Performance Period |
| ||||||
| Charles Meyers | | | | | 01/17/2023 | | | | | | 5,259 | | |
| Keith Taylor | | | | | 01/17/2023 | | | | | | 1,825 | | |
| Scott Crenshaw(1) | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
| Brandi Galvin Morandi | | | | | 01/17/2023 | | | | | | 1,220 | | |
| Karl Strohmeyer | | | | | 01/17/2023 | | | | | | 1,571 | | |
|
Name and Principal Position
|
| |
Year
|
| |
Salary(1)
($) |
| |
Bonus
($) |
| |
Stock
Awards(2)(3) ($) |
| |
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation(4) |
| |
All Other
Compensation(5) |
| |
Total
($) |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Charles Meyers
Chief Executive Officer & President |
| | | | 2022 | | | | | | 1,050,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 21,145,956 | | | | | | 297 | | | | | | 86,675(6) | | | | | | 22,282,928 | | |
| | | 2021 | | | | | | 1,050,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 22,150,441 | | | | | | 256 | | | | | | 47,496 | | | | | | 23,248,193 | | | |||
| | | 2020 | | | | | | 1,048,654 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 24,748,074 | | | | | | 605 | | | | | | 38,935 | | | | | | 25,836,268 | | | |||
|
Keith Taylor
Chief Financial Officer |
| | | | 2022 | | | | | | 680,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 8,607,310 | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | 34,517(7) | | | | | | 9,321,828 | | |
| | | 2021 | | | | | | 680,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 8,023,062 | | | | | | 544 | | | | | | 8,550 | | | | | | 8,712,156 | | | |||
| | | 2020 | | | | | | 680,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 8,524,885 | | | | | | 82 | | | | | | 12,045 | | | | | | 9,217,012 | | | |||
|
Scott Crenshaw(8)
EVP and GM, Digital Services |
| | | | 2022 | | | | | | 207,725 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 7,672,608 | | | | | | 5 | | | | | | 14,902 | | | | | | 7,895,240 | | |
|
Brandi Galvin Morandi
Chief Legal & Human Resources Officer |
| | | | 2022 | | | | | | 620,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 6,299,165 | | | | | | 428 | | | | | | 16,575 | | | | | | 6,936,168 | | |
| | | 2021 | | | | | | 619,308 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 6,133,554 | | | | | | 417 | | | | | | 5,948 | | | | | | 6,759,227 | | | |||
| | | 2020 | | | | | | 598,385 | | | | | | | | | | | | 5,835,919 | | | | | | 299 | | | | | | 5,970 | | | | | | 6,440,573 | | | |||
|
Karl Strohmeyer
Chief Customer & Revenue Officer |
| | | | 2022 | | | | | | 635,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 8,464,342 | | | | | | 589 | | | | | | 10,558 | | | | | | 9,110,489 | | |
| | | 2021 | | | | | | 635,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 7,558,726 | | | | | | 581 | | | | | | 8,550 | | | | | | 8,202,857 | | | |||
| | | 2020 | | | | | | 634,058 | | | | | | | | | | | | 7,312,971 | | | | | | 132 | | | | | | 8,800 | | | | | | 7,955,961 | | |
|
Name
|
| |
Grant Date
|
| |
Approval Date
|
| |
Estimated Future
Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards(1) |
| |
Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards |
| |
All Other
Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units (#)(1) |
| |
Grant Date
Fair Value of Stock Awards(2) ($) |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Target/Maximum(1)
($) |
| |
Threshold
(#) |
| |
Target
(#) |
| |
Maximum
(#) |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Charles Meyers
|
| | | | 02/23/2022(3) | | | | | | 02/23/2022 | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | 11,277 | | | | | | 22,553 | | | | | | | | | | | | 7,602,164 | | |
| | | 02/23/2022(4) | | | | | | 02/23/2022 | | | | | | | | | 1,128 | | | | | | 5,638 | | | | | | 11,277 | | | | | | | | | | | | 3,957,425 | | | |||
| | | 02/23/2022(5) | | | | | | 02/23/2022 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11,277 | | | | | | 7,602,164 | | | |||
| | | 03/08/2023(6) | | | | | | 02/14/2023 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2,859 | | | | | | 1,984,203 | | | |||
|
Keith Taylor
|
| | | | 02/23/2022(3) | | | | | | 02/23/2022 | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | 4,511 | | | | | | 9,021 | | | | | | | | | | | | 3,041,000 | | |
| | | 02/23/2022(4) | | | | | | 02/23/2022 | | | | | | | | | 451 | | | | | | 2,255 | | | | | | 4,511 | | | | | | | | | | | | 1,582,830 | | | |||
| | | 02/23/2022(5) | | | | | | 02/23/2022 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4,511 | | | | | | 3,041,000 | | | |||
| | | 03/08/2023(6) | | | | | | 02/14/2023 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1,358 | | | | | | 942,479 | | | |||
|
Scott Crenshaw
|
| | | | 08/01/2022(7) | | | | | | 08/01/2022 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10,686 | | | | | | 7,420,679 | | |
| | | 03/08/2023(6) | | | | | | 02/14/2023 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 363 | | | | | | 251,929 | | | |||
|
Brandi Galvin
Morandi |
| | | | 02/23/2022(3) | | | | | | 02/23/2022 | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | 3,248 | | | | | | 6,495 | | | | | | | | | | | | 2,189,574 | | |
| | | 02/23/2022(4) | | | | | | 02/23/2022 | | | | | | | | | 325 | | | | | | 1,624 | | | | | | 3,248 | | | | | | | | | | | | 1,139,918 | | | |||
| | | 02/23/2022(5) | | | | | | 02/23/2022 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3,247 | | | | | | 2,188,900 | | | |||
| | | 03/08/2023(6) | | | | | | 02/14/2023 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1,125 | | | | | | 780,773 | | | |||
|
Karl Strohmeyer
|
| | | | 02/23/2022(3) | | | | | | 02/23/2022 | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | 4,511 | | | | | | 9,021 | | | | | | | | | | | | 3,041,000 | | |
| | | 02/23/2022(4) | | | | | | 02/23/2022 | | | | | | | | | 451 | | | | | | 2,255 | | | | | | 4,511 | | | | | | | | | | | | 1,582,830 | | | |||
| | | 02/23/2022(5) | | | | | | 02/23/2022 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4,511 | | | | | | 3,041,000 | | | |||
| | | 03/08/2023(6) | | | | | | 02/14/2023 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1,152 | | | | | | 799,511 | | |
| | | |
Stock Awards
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Name
|
| |
Number of Shares
or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) |
| |
Market Value of
Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested(1) ($) |
| |
Equity Incentive
Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) |
| |
Equity Incentive
Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested(1) ($) |
| ||||||||||||
|
Charles Meyers
|
| | | | 2,886(2) | | | | | | 1,990,041 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 6,399(3) | | | | | | 4,344,345 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
| | | 14,321(4) | | | | | | 9,548,469 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
| | | 3,810(5) | | | | | | 2,627,186 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
| | | 7,418(6) | | | | | | 5,036,154 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
| | | 11,277(7) | | | | | | 7,526,608 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
| | | 5,259(8) | | | | | | 3,626,343 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11,129(9) | | | | | | 7,555,589 | | | |||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11,277(10) | | | | | | 7,526,608 | | | |||
| | | 661(11) | | | | | | 455,793 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
|
Keith Taylor
|
| | | | 1,001(2) | | | | | | 690,240 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 2,262(3) | | | | | | 1,535,694 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
| | | 5,728(4) | | | | | | 3,819,121 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
| | | 1,322(5) | | | | | | 911,585 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
| | | 2,623(6) | | | | | | 1,780,781 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
| | | 4,511(7) | | | | | | 3,010,777 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
| | | 1,825(8) | | | | | | 1,258,429 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3,935(9) | | | | | | 2,671,511 | | | |||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4,511(10) | | | | | | 3,010,777 | | | |||
| | | 158(11) | | | | | | 108,949 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
|
Scott Crenshaw
|
| | | | 10,686(12) | | | | | | 7,065,904 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Brandi Galvin Morandi
|
| | | | 669(2) | | | | | | 461,309 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 1,715(3) | | | | | | 1,164,311 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
| | | 4,124(4) | | | | | | 2,749,642 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
| | | 883(5) | | | | | | 608,873 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
| | | 1,988(6) | | | | | | 1,349,673 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
| | | 3,247(7) | | | | | | 2,167,145 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
| | | 1,220(8) | | | | | | 841,251 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2,982(9) | | | | | | 2,024,510 | | | |||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3,248(10) | | | | | | 2,167,813 | | | |||
| | | 132(11) | | | | | | 91,021 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
|
Karl Strohmeyer
|
| | | | 862(2) | | | | | | 594,392 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 2,153(3) | | | | | | 1,461,693 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
| | | 5,728(4) | | | | | | 3,819,121 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
| | | 1,138(5) | | | | | | 784,708 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
| | | 2,496(6) | | | | | | 1,694,559 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
| | | 4,511(7) | | | | | | 3,010,777 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
| | | 1,571(8) | | | | | | 1,083,283 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3,745(9) | | | | | | 2,542,518 | | | |||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4,511(10) | | | | | | 3,010,777 | | | |||
| | | 132(11) | | | | | | 91,021 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
Stock Awards
|
| |||||||||
|
Name
|
| |
Number of Shares
Acquired on Vesting (#) |
| |
Value Realized
on Vesting(1) ($) |
| ||||||
| Charles Meyers | | | | | 38,003 | | | | | | 28,262,736 | | |
| Keith Taylor | | | | | 14,947 | | | | | | 11,137,415 | | |
| Scott Crenshaw | | | | | 0 | | | | | | 0 | | |
| Brandi Galvin Morandi | | | | | 11,541 | | | | | | 8,611,513 | | |
| Karl Strohmeyer | | | | | 14,625 | | | | | | 10,942,567 | | |
|
Equinix 2023 PROXY STATEMENT
|
| | |
Compensation
|
| | |
54
|
|
| | | |
Involuntary Termination Absent
Change-In-Control(1) |
| |
Involuntary Termination Following
Change-In-Control(2) |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Name
|
| |
Base Salary
Severance(3) ($) |
| |
Bonus
Severance(3) ($) |
| |
COBRA
Premiums(4) |
| |
Total
($) |
| |
Base Salary
Severance(3) ($) |
| |
Bonus
Severance(3) ($) |
| |
COBRA
Premiums(5) ($) |
| |
Total
($) |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Charles Meyers | | | | | 1,050,000 | | | | | | 1,575,000 | | | | | | 49,093 | | | | | | 2,674,093 | | | | | | 2,100,000 | | | | | | 3,150,000 | | | | | | 98,186 | | | | | | 5,348,186 | | |
| Keith Taylor | | | | | 680,000 | | | | | | 748,000 | | | | | | 26,257 | | | | | | 1,454,257 | | | | | | 1,360,000 | | | | | | 1,496,000 | | | | | | 52,514 | | | | | | 2,908,514 | | |
| Scott Crenshaw | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1,060,000 | | | | | | 954,000 | | | | | | 95,072 | | | | | | 2,109,072 | | |
|
Brandi Galvin Morandi
|
| | | | 620,000 | | | | | | 620,000 | | | | | | 24,700 | | | | | | 1,264,700 | | | | | | 1,240,000 | | | | | | 1,240,000 | | | | | | 49,400 | | | | | | 2,529,400 | | |
| Karl Strohmeyer | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1,270,000 | | | | | | 1,270,000 | | | | | | 98,186 | | | | | | 2,638,186 | | |
|
Name
|
| |
Vesting Upon
Involuntary Termination Following a CIC(1)(2) ($) |
| |
Vesting if Equity
Awards Not Assumed or Substituted Following a CIC(1)(2) ($) |
| ||||||
| Charles Meyers | | | | | 48,758,468 | | | | | | 48,758,468 | | |
| Keith Taylor | | | | | 18,259,616 | | | | | | 18,259,616 | | |
| Scott Crenshaw | | | | | 6,999,651 | | | | | | 6,999,651 | | |
| Brandi Galvin Morandi | | | | | 13,236,846 | | | | | | 13,236,846 | | |
| Karl Strohmeyer | | | | | 17,585,590 | | | | | | 17,585,590 | | |
| | | |
A
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights |
| |
B
Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights |
| |
C
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans, excluding securities reflected in Column A |
| |||||||||
| Equity compensation plans approved by security holders | | | | | 1,445,692(1) | | | | | $ | 0.0000(2) | | | | | | 5,710,223(3) | | |
| Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
| Total | | | | | 1,445,692 | | | | | $ | 0.0000 | | | | | | 5,710,223 | | |
| Year | | | Summary Compensation Table Total for CEO(1) | | | Compensation Actually Paid to CEO(2) | | | Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-CEO Named Executive Officers(3) | | | Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-CEO Named Executive Officers(4) | | | Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based On: | | | Net Income (millions)(7) | | | (non-GAAP)(8) | | | Supplemental Financial Performance Measure: Revenue(9) | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Shareholder Return(5) | | | Peer Group Total Shareholder Return(6) | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | |||||||||
| 2021 | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | |||||||||
| 2020 | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | |
| Year | | | SCT Total for CEO | | | Value of Equity Awards Reported in SCT(a) | | | Equity Award Adjustments(b) | | | Compensation Actually Paid to CEO(c) | | ||||||||||||
| 2022 | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | ||||
| 2021 | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | ||||
| 2020 | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | |
| Year | | | Year-End Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards Granted in the Applicable Year | | | Year-over- Year Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years | | | Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Equity Awards Granted and Vested in the Applicable Year | | | Year-over- Year Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years that Vested in the Applicable Year | | | Fair Value at the End of the Prior Year of Equity Awards that Failed to Meet Vesting Conditions in the Applicable Year | | | Value of Dividends or other Earnings Paid on Equity Awards not Otherwise Reflected in Fair Value or Total Compensation | | | Total Equity Award Adjustments | | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | | | | $ | | | | | ($ | | | | | | — | | | | | ($ | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | |||||
| 2021 | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | | — | | | | | ($ | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | |||||
| 2020 | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | |
| Year | | | Average SCT Total for Non-CEO Named Executive Officers | | | Average Value of Equity Awards Reported in SCT | | | Average Equity Award Adjustments(a) | | | Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-CEO Named Executive Officers | | ||||||||||||
| 2022 | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | ||||
| 2021 | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | ||||
| 2020 | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | |
| Year | | | Average Year-End Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards Granted in the Applicable Year | | | Year-over- Year Average Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards Granted in the Applicable Year | | | Average Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Equity Awards Granted and Vested in the Applicable Year | | | Year-over- Year Average Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years that Vested in the Applicable Year | | | Average Fair Value at the End of the Prior Year of Equity Awards that Failed to Meet Vesting Conditions in the Applicable Year | | | Average Value of Dividends or other Earnings Paid on Equity Awards not Otherwise Reflected in Fair Value or Total Compensation | | | Total Average Equity Award Adjustments | | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | | | | $ | | | | | ($ | | | | | | — | | | | | ($ | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | |||||
| 2021 | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | | — | | | | | ($ | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | |||||
| 2020 | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | |
| | | |
Dec. 31, 2022 ($)
|
| |
Dec. 31, 2021 ($)
|
| ||||||
| Audit | | | | | 10,300,000 | | | | | | 9,310,000 | | |
| Audit related | | | | | 560,000 | | | | | | 80,000 | | |
| Tax | | | | | 30,000 | | | | | | 95,000 | | |
| Other | | | | | 9,000 | | | | | | 8,000 | | |
| Total | | | | | 10,899,000 | | | | | | 9,493,000 | | |
| |
|
| |
The Board unanimously recommends a vote FOR proposal 4.
|
|
| | EQUINIX’S STATEMENT IN OPPOSITION TO PROPOSAL 5 | | |
| | The Board unanimously recommends a vote “AGAINST” the stockholder proposal. | | |
| | The Board has considered the stockholder proposal and, for the reasons described below, believes that this proposal is not in the best interests of Equinix and its stockholders. | | |
| | As disclosed elsewhere in this proxy statement, we maintain strong pay governance policies and practices with respect to post-termination compensation of executives. The following discussion highlights these policies and practices, including the fact that we already prohibit cash severance payments exceeding 2.99 times base salary plus annual bonus without first seeking stockholder approval. As such, the Board believes the limitations the proposal seeks to impose on Equinix are unnecessary in light of the long-standing policies and practices of the Board and the Talent, Culture and Compensation Committee, and would unduly restrict our ability to design appropriate pay packages and address specific circumstances in the best interests of our stockholders. | | |
| |
Cash severance payments for executive officers are already limited to less than 2.99 times base salary plus target bonus in practice and by policy.
|
| |
| | Equinix’s existing severance agreements, as described in detail in the section of this proxy statement entitled “Compensation — Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-in-Control — Severance Agreements,” were approved by our Talent, Culture and Compensation Committee with the advice of its independent compensation consultant, Compensia. | | |
| | We do not provide cash severance entitlements to executive officers for an amount equal to or greater than 2.99 times base salary plus target bonus. Severance agreements for all executive officers provide for a cash severance payment equal to 200% of the officer’s annual base salary plus target bonus in the event of a qualifying termination after a change-in-control. Additionally, certain executive officers are entitled to 100% of the officer’s annual base salary plus target bonus in the event of a qualifying termination absent a change-in-control. Accordingly, in practice we already limit severance pay to meaningfully less than 2.99 times an executive’s base salary plus target bonus. | | |
| | Beyond our existing practices, the Talent, Culture and Compensation Committee has formally resolved to adhere to a practice of limiting any cash severance benefits as a multiple of an executive officer’s annual base salary plus target bonus. As a result, we will not enter into any new employment agreement, severance agreement or similar arrangement (or any related amendment or renewal) with any of our executive officers or establish any new severance plan or policy covering any of our executive officers, that, in each case, provides for cash severance benefits exceeding 2.99 times the sum of the executive officer’s base salary plus target bonus, without seeking stockholder approval of such agreement, plan, policy or arrangement. | | |
| | The Board believes our current executive compensation policies and practices align the interests of our executives with those of our stockholders and provide appropriate limits on post-termination compensation. | | |
| | Equinix offers executives accelerated vesting of equity awards only in very limited situations which are consistent with market practices. | | |
| | The proposal seeks to restrict the acceleration of vesting of equity awards in connection with a termination of service by including the value of this benefit in the amount of “severance or termination payments” to be applied against the limit. As described in the section of this proxy statement entitled ‘‘Compensation — Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-in-Control — Equity Vesting Acceleration,” the terms of our equity awards provide for accelerated vesting of equity awards in the limited situation of death, or when an executive officer is terminated without cause or for good reason following the event of a change-in-control of Equinix (i.e., a “double-trigger”). We do not offer accelerated vesting of equity awards when termination is without cause or for good reason outside of the change-in-control context. | | |
| | The ability of the Board and the Talent, Culture and Compensation Committee to include these limited acceleration provisions in the equity awards of our executive officers is permitted under the terms of our 2020 | | |
| | Equity Incentive Plan, which was approved by our stockholders at our 2020 annual meeting of stockholders. In addition, these limited acceleration provisions are considered to be appropriate and consistent with market practices. Partial acceleration of vesting upon death is an appropriate market benefit that we offer to our executives and their families in the rare and unfortunate event of the executive’s death (and, in the case of performance RSUs, vesting is first subject to achievement of applicable performance goals). We believe the provision for acceleration of equity awards in connection with employment terminations around a change-in-control protects the stockholders’ interests by encouraging our executive officers to continue to devote their attention to their duties and to facilitate an acquisition with minimized distraction, and by neutralizing any bias the executive officers might have in evaluating acquisition proposals that could result in a loss of equity compensation. | | |
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The proposal would significantly limit our ability to offer these important retention tools to our executives.
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| | The proposal could create misalignment between our executives and our stockholders during a change-in-control transaction leading to increased risk for stockholders. | | |
| | As described above, in the context of a change-in-control, the terms of our equity awards provide for accelerated vesting in the limited circumstance of when an executive officer is terminated without cause or for good reason following the event. Without this incentive, our ability to deliver maximum stockholder value in a change-in-control transaction could be impaired. We may struggle to retain our executive officers, or our executive officers may be unnecessarily distracted by the risk of job loss coupled with a limit on the value realizable from previously granted equity awards. The Board believes that in the context of a change-in-control transaction that is in the best interests of our stockholders, our executive officers should be incented and motivated to fully focus on the transaction, even if a job loss may result. | | |
| | By including long-term equity incentive awards in the calculation of the proposed limit on severance benefits, the proposal could place us at a severe competitive disadvantage by limiting our ability to attract and retain highly qualified executives we believe are key to maximizing stockholder value. | | |
| | We operate in a highly competitive market and industry and in geographic regions that are exceptionally competitive for executive talent. Since the proposal would include the value of outstanding equity awards in the severance multiple, the Board believes the proposal would effectively prevent Equinix from using equity acceleration as a significant component of severance packages used to attract and retain executives. As we would be at a competitive disadvantage against other companies who do not face similar restrictions, this would jeopardize our ability to attract and retain the best talent for Equinix, who we believe would maximize long-term value creation for our stockholders. | | |
| | The proposal would impair the Board’s and the Talent, Culture and Compensation Committee’s flexibility and judgment in setting compensation and determining appropriate post-termination compensation. | | |
| | The Talent, Culture and Compensation Committee assists the Board in overseeing compensation of Equinix’s executives and other employees, including with respect to severance and termination payments. The Talent, Culture and Compensation Committee is comprised solely of independent, non-employee directors and regularly consults with its independent compensation consultant, Compensia. The proposed requirement that Equinix secure stockholder approval of certain severance arrangements could constrain the Talent, Culture and Compensation Committee’s ability to exercise its judgment in structuring compensation arrangements in a timely manner and that it believes are in the stockholders’ best interests. | | |
| | The Board believes the Talent, Culture and Compensation Committee is well qualified to oversee post-termination compensation and should retain the responsibility and flexibility to tailor, assess and approve compensation structures based on its insights into the Company’s needs and its strategic and operational goals, its access to market information and the independent advice from Compensia. | | |
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The proposal is unnecessary because we provide stockholders with a voice on executive pay through the annual say-on-pay vote and our robust, year-round stockholder outreach program.
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| | The Board believes Equinix has a long track record of responsible compensation practices, which include limited termination-related pay. We hold an annual say-on-pay advisory vote giving our stockholders the ability to vote on our executive compensation program each year. We have received strong support for our say-on-pay proposal in every year since its introduction in 2011, indicating stockholders’ favorable view of our executive pay practices. | | |
| | Supplementing this vote, we also have a robust year-round stockholder outreach program. For example, in 2022, we reached out to our top 25 stockholders representing over 55% of our outstanding shares at the time of outreach. Through this outreach, we meet with numerous investors to discuss a range of topics, including our executive compensation program. Feedback from these outreach efforts is considered in evolving our pay program at Equinix. | | |
| | We believe these avenues of communication, along with the annual say-on-pay votes, are the most effective method of providing stockholders with a voice on our executive compensation program. Requiring additional stockholder approval of arbitrary elements of our compensation program is unlikely to provide stockholders with more effective input. As a result, this proposal is unnecessary. | | |
| | For the reasons listed above, the Board unanimously recommends a vote AGAINST the adoption of Proposal 5. | | |
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The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote AGAINST the adoption of Proposal 5.
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| | We provide internet proxy voting to allow you to vote your shares online with procedures designed to ensure the authenticity and correctness of your proxy vote instructions. However, please be aware that you must bear any costs associated with your internet access, such as usage charges from internet access providers and telephone companies. | | |
| | Whether or not you plan to attend the virtual Annual Meeting, please complete, sign, date and promptly return the accompanying proxy in the enclosed postage-paid envelope (if applicable) or follow the instructions above to submit your proxy by telephone or on the internet. You may revoke your proxy at any time prior to the Annual Meeting. If you decide to attend the virtual Annual Meeting and wish to change your proxy vote, you may do so by voting online at the meeting. Please note, however, if your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or other nominee and you wish to vote at the meeting, you must follow the instructions above about attending the meeting as a beneficial owner. | | |
| | Thank you for your attention to this matter. Your prompt response will greatly facilitate arrangements for the Annual Meeting. | | |
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Our Story
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Our Sustainability Approach
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Our Purpose
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Equinix is the world’s digital infrastructure companyTM. Digital leaders harness our trusted platform to bring together and interconnect the foundational infrastructure that powers their success.
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At Equinix, our commitment to sustainability is driven by our resolve to set ambitious targets, measure and report progress transparently, lead with ethics and integrity and engage our numerous stakeholders to drive change. We believe in the future of possibility—a future where our planet is healthy, our global communities thrive and every business leads with purpose. This vision of tomorrow comes first in all we do.
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To be the platform where the world comes together, enabling the innovations that enrich our work, life and planet.
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Equinix encourages stockholders to voluntarily elect to receive all proxy materials electronically. The benefits of eConsent are:
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Our Commitment to the Environment
Amid the challenges brought on by climate change, Equinix is committed to preserving our collective future and addressing pressing environmental challenges to ensure the sustainability and resiliency of our communities, global society and business. By partnering with like-minded companies to advance climate change and low-carbon energy policies, sharing renewable energy-buying knowledge, and encouraging innovation in the design and operation of data centers, we are doing what it takes to protect the planet and create sustainable value for all our stakeholders. Choosing electronic delivery of materials supports our mission to reduce the use of all resources.
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Beneficial Stockholders
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Environmental Impact Statement
By using electronically delivered proxy materials, avoiding the printing of nearly 115,216 documents, we could achieve the following environmental benefits:
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Avoiding the use of 296 U.S. tons of wood, equivalent
to ~1,770 trees |
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Saving 1,580,000 gallons of water, equivalent to
82 swimming pools |
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Avoiding the use of 1,890 million BTUs of energy, or the equivalent amount of energy to 2,250 residential refrigerators operated for one year
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Eliminating 87,200 pounds of solid waste
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Producing 1,330,000 pounds fewer GHG emissions, or the equivalent of avoiding emissions from 121 cars for one year
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Producing 118 pounds fewer of hazardous air pollutants
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| The above are estimated life cycle environment impacts. Actual avoided environmental impacts may differ from what is stated above. Estimates were calculated using the Environmental Paper Network Paper Calculator. For more information visit www.papercalculator.org. FSC® is not responsible for any calculations on saving resources by choosing this paper. | |
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