DEF 14A 1 d512196ddef14a.htm DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT Definitive Proxy Statement
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Filed by the Registrant  x

 

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ¨

 

Check the appropriate box:

 

¨

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

x

   Definitive Proxy Statement      

¨

   Definitive Additional Materials      

¨

   Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12      

 

DREAMWORKS ANIMATION SKG, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

N/A

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

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

x No fee required.

 

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

 

  (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

  (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

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

 

 

  (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

 

  (5) Total fee paid:

 

 

 

¨ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

 

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

 

  (1) Amount Previously Paid:

 

 

  (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 

 

  (3) Filing Party:

 

 

  (4) Date Filed:

 

 

 


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LOGO

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held on May 29, 2013

 

To the Stockholders:

 

Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“DreamWorks Animation” or the “Company”), will be held on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at 8:00 a.m., local time, at the Loew’s Hollywood Hotel, 1755 North Highland Avenue, Hollywood, California 90028 for the following purposes:

 

  1. To elect eight directors, all of such directors to serve for the ensuing year or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

 

  2. To ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as DreamWorks Animation’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2013.

 

  3. To conduct an advisory vote to approve named executive officer compensation.

 

  4. To approve the adoption of the 2013 Annual Incentive Plan.

 

  5. To consider a stockholder proposal related to consideration of a recapitalization plan to provide that all of the Company’s outstanding stock have one vote per share.

 

  6. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.

 

The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice.

 

Only holders of record of DreamWorks Animation’s common stock at the close of business on April 2, 2013 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. For 10 days prior to the Annual Meeting, a complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be available at the Corporate Secretary’s office, Campanile Building, 1000 Flower Street, Glendale, California 91201.

 

All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting in person. An admission ticket as well as a form of personal identification are needed to enter the Annual Meeting. Stockholders whose shares are held in street name (the name of a bank, broker or other nominee) should bring with them a legal proxy or recent brokerage statement or letter from the street name holder confirming their beneficial ownership of shares. Any stockholder attending the Annual Meeting may vote in person even if he or she has returned a proxy card.

 

DreamWorks Animation’s Proxy Statement is attached hereto. Financial and other information concerning DreamWorks Animation is contained in its Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2012.

 

Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to authorize your proxy as soon as possible. You may vote by proxy or the Internet or by telephone or, if you received the proxy materials by mail, you may also vote by mail. Your vote will ensure your representation at the Annual Meeting regardless of whether you attend in person.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

LOGO

 

Andrew Chang

General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

 

Glendale, California

April 10, 2013


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

PROCEDURAL MATTERS

     1   

General

     1   

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting to Be Held on May 29, 2013

     1   

Record Date; Stockholders Entitled to Vote

     1   

The Board’s Recommendations

     2   

Proxies; Revocation of Proxies

     2   

Quorum; Abstentions; Broker Non-Votes

     2   

Solicitation of Proxies

     3   

Deadline for Receipt of Stockholder Proposals

     3   

Electronic Access

     4   

PROPOSAL NO. 1—ELECTION OF EIGHT DIRECTORS

     5   

Nominees

     5   

Required Vote

     8   

Recommendation

     8   

Director Independence

     8   

Meetings and Committees

     10   

Board Leadership Structure

     13   

Board of Directors’ Oversight of Risk

     13   

Director Nominations

     14   

Communications with the Board of Directors

     15   

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

     15   

Director Compensation

     15   

Agreements with Roger Enrico

     17   

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

     17   

PROPOSAL NO. 2—RATIFICATION AND APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

     18   

Required Vote

     18   

Recommendation

     18   

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees

     18   

Audit Fees

     18   

Audit-Related Fees

     19   

Tax Fees

     19   

All Other Fees

     19   

Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     19   

Change in Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     19   

PROPOSAL NO. 3—AN ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

     21   

Required Vote

     21   

Recommendation

     21   

PROPOSAL NO. 4—APPROVE ADOPTION OF THE 2013 ANNUAL INCENTIVE PLAN

     22   

General

     22   

Required Vote

     22   

Recommendation

     22   

Summary of the Plan

     22   

Federal Income Tax Consequences

     25   

New Plan Benefits

     25   


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     Page  

PROPOSAL NO. 5—STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL—GIVE EACH SHARE AN EQUAL VOTE

     26   

Company Response to Stockholder Proposal

     27   

Required Vote

     27   

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

     28   

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

     31   

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

     32   

Overview of Compensation Program

     32   

Determining Executive Compensation

     34   

Analysis of Executive Compensation Elements

     37   

2012 Compensation Actions

     40   

Tax Implications

     44   

Compensation Committee Charter

     44   

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

     44   

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION INFORMATION

     45   

Summary Compensation Table

     45   

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

     47   

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

     48   

Options Exercised and Stock Vested

     49   

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

     50   

Estimated Executive Benefits and Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

     51   

Executive Employment Agreements

     53   

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

     57   

Related Party Transaction Policy

     57   

Use of Private Aircraft

     57   

License Agreement with Entities Controlled by Steven Spielberg

     58   

Services from Entities Controlled by Steven Spielberg

     58   

Consulting Agreement with David Geffen

     58   

Agreements Between DreamWorks Studios and DreamWorks Animation

     58   

Vulcan Stockholder Agreement

     60   

Class B Stockholder Agreement

     61   

Registration Rights Agreement

     63   

Tax Receivable Agreement

     63   

Share Withholding Arrangement

     64   

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

     65   

OTHER MATTERS

     66   

ANNEX A—DREAMWORKS ANIMATION SKG, INC. 2013 ANNUAL INCENTIVE PLAN

     A-1   


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DREAMWORKS ANIMATION SKG, INC.

 

 

 

PROXY STATEMENT

FOR

2013 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

 

 

PROCEDURAL MATTERS

 

General

 

DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“DreamWorks Animation”), is providing these proxy materials in connection with the solicitation by its board of directors (the “Board of Directors”) of proxies to be voted at its Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at 8:00 a.m., local time, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof, for the purposes set forth herein and in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Annual Meeting will be held at the Loew’s Hollywood Hotel, 1755 North Highland Avenue, Hollywood, California 90028. DreamWorks Animation’s headquarters is located at 1000 Flower Street, Glendale, California 91201 and the telephone number at that location is (818) 695-5000.

 

This Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy card, together with DreamWorks Animation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, are being mailed to stockholders beginning on or about April 26, 2013. References in this Proxy Statement to the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to DreamWorks Animation.

 

Stockholders are cordially invited to attend DreamWorks Animation’s Annual Meeting. An admission ticket as well as a form of personal identification are needed to enter the Annual Meeting. Stockholders whose shares are held in street name (the name of a bank, broker or other nominee) should bring with them a legal proxy or recent brokerage statement or letter from the street name holder confirming their beneficial ownership of shares.

 

DreamWorks Animation will offer a live audio webcast of the Annual Meeting. Stockholders choosing to listen to the audio webcast may do so by accessing the link on www.DreamWorksAnimation.com/webcast on the morning of the meeting and completing a short registration process. Stockholders listening to the audio webcast will not be able to submit questions or otherwise participate in the Annual Meeting. A webcast replay of the meeting will be available until June 30, 2013 (or such later date that the Company makes the replay available).

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting to Be Held on May 29, 2013

 

This proxy statement and our 2012 Annual Report to Stockholders are available at www.envisionreports.com/dwa.

 

Record Date; Stockholders Entitled to Vote

 

Only holders of record of DreamWorks Animation’s Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Class A Stock”), and Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share the (“Class B Stock” and, together with the Class A Stock, the “Common Stock”), at the close of business on April 2, 2013 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. Each share of Class A Stock entitles the holder to one vote and each share of Class B Stock entitles the holder to 15 votes, in each case with respect to each matter presented to stockholders on which the holders of Common Stock are entitled to vote. The holders of Class A Stock and Class B Stock are not

 

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entitled to cumulate their votes in the election of directors. Except as otherwise provided in DreamWorks Animation’s restated certificate of incorporation or required by law, all matters to be voted on by DreamWorks Animation’s stockholders must be approved by a majority, or in the case of election of directors, by a plurality, of the votes entitled to be cast by all shares of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy, voting together as a single class.

 

As of April 2, 2013, there were approximately 76,122,938 shares (having a total of 76,122,938 votes) of Class A Stock and 7,838,731 shares (having a total of 117,580,965 votes), of Class B Stock outstanding. For information regarding security ownership by management and by the beneficial owners of more than 5% of DreamWorks Animation’s Common Stock, see “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.

 

The Board’s Recommendations

 

If you authorize your proxy electronically or send a properly executed proxy without specific voting instructions, your shares represented by that proxy will be voted as unanimously recommended by the Board of Directors:

 

   

FOR the election of each of the director nominees;

 

   

FOR ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2013;

 

   

FOR the approval, on an advisory basis, of named executive officer compensation as disclosed in these proxy materials;

 

   

FOR the approval of adoption of the Company’s 2013 Annual Incentive Plan; and

 

   

AGAINST the stockholder proposal related to consideration of a recapitalization plan to provide that all of the Company’s outstanding stock have one vote per share.

 

Proxies; Revocation of Proxies

 

All shares entitled to vote and represented by properly executed proxies received prior to the Annual Meeting, and not revoked, will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the instructions indicated on those proxies. If no instructions are indicated on a properly executed proxy, the shares represented by that proxy will be voted as recommended by the Board of Directors. If any other matters are properly presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the enclosed proxy and acting thereunder will vote on those matters in their discretion. DreamWorks Animation does not currently anticipate that any other matters will be raised at the Annual Meeting.

 

A stockholder may revoke any proxy given pursuant to this solicitation at any time before it is voted by delivering to DreamWorks Animation’s Corporate Secretary a written notice of revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a date later than that of the previously submitted proxy, or by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.

 

Quorum; Abstentions; Broker Non-Votes

 

The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by all shares of Common Stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Such stockholders are counted as present at the meeting if they are present at the Annual Meeting or have properly submitted a proxy card.

 

With respect to Proposal Number 1 (the election of directors), stockholders may vote in favor of or withhold their votes for each nominee. While stockholders cannot choose to “abstain” when voting on this proposal, a withhold vote for a nominee is the equivalent of abstaining. The eight nominees receiving the greatest number

 

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of votes cast for the election of directors by shares of Class A and Class B Stock, voting together as a single class, entitled to vote and present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting will be elected directors. With respect to Proposal Numbers 2, 3, 4 and 5, stockholders may vote in favor of or against the proposal, or abstain from voting. Abstentions will be treated as the equivalent of a vote against the proposal for the purpose of determining whether a proposal has been adopted or approved on an advisory basis, as applicable. The affirmative vote of the majority of votes cast by holders of Class A and Class B Stock, voting together as a single class, is required for the adoption of Proposal Numbers 2, 4 and 5 and advisory approval of Proposal Number 3. Although our Board of Directors intends to carefully consider the stockholder votes on Proposal Number 3, those votes will not be binding on the Board of Directors and are advisory in nature.

 

If your shares are held in “street name” (the name of a bank, broker or other nominee), the nominee may require your instructions in order to vote your shares. If you give your nominee instructions, your shares will be voted as directed. If you do not give your nominee instructions and the proposal is considered “routine,” brokers are generally permitted to vote your shares in their discretion. Proposal Number 2 in this Proxy Statement (ratification of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accountants) will be considered routine. For all other proposals, brokers are not permitted to vote your shares in their discretion. Proposal Numbers 1, 3, 4 and 5 will not be considered routine and therefore brokers will not have discretionary authority to vote on them. A “broker non-vote” occurs when a broker holding shares for a beneficial owner has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner and does not have discretionary authority to vote those shares. Shares that constitute broker non-votes will be counted as present at the Annual Meeting for the purpose of determining a quorum, but will not be considered entitled to vote on Proposal Numbers 1, 3, 4 and 5 and will have the same effect as an abstention.

 

Solicitation of Proxies

 

The expense of preparing, printing and mailing the Proxy Statement and the proxies solicited hereby will be borne by DreamWorks Animation. DreamWorks Animation may reimburse brokerage firms and other persons representing beneficial owners of shares for their reasonable expenses in forwarding solicitation materials to such beneficial owners. Proxies may also be solicited by certain of DreamWorks Animation’s directors, officers and regular employees, without additional compensation, personally or by telephone, telegram, letter or facsimile.

 

Proxies and ballots will be received and tabulated by Computershare, DreamWorks Animation’s inspector of elections for the Annual Meeting.

 

Deadline for Receipt of Stockholder Proposals

 

Proposals Pursuant to Rule 14a-8.     Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), stockholders may present proper proposals for inclusion in our Proxy Statement and for consideration at our next annual meeting of stockholders. To be eligible for inclusion in our 2014 Proxy Statement, your proposal must be received by us no later than December 27, 2013, and must otherwise comply with Rule 14a-8. While the Board of Directors will consider stockholder proposals, we reserve the right to omit from our Proxy Statement stockholder proposals that we are not required to include under the Exchange Act, including Rule 14a-8.

 

Proposals and Nominations Pursuant to our Bylaws.    Under our Bylaws, in order to nominate a director or bring any other business before the stockholders at the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, you must comply with the procedures described below. In addition, you must notify us in writing and such notice must be delivered to our Secretary no earlier than January 29, 2014, and no later than February 28, 2014. The Company’s management may exercise discretionary voting authority with respect to any stockholder proposal that is not submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8 for inclusion in the Proxy Statement for the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders if such proposal is not received by the Company within such time period.

 

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Our Bylaws provide that a stockholder’s nomination must contain the following information about the nominee: (1) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act; and (2) such person’s written consent to being named in the Proxy Statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected. We may require any proposed nominee to furnish additional information as we may reasonably require in order to determine such person’s eligibility to serve as a director, including appropriate biographical information to permit the Board of Directors to determine whether such nominee meets the qualification and independence standards adopted by the Board of Directors. Any candidates recommended by stockholders for nomination by the Board of Directors will be evaluated in the same manner that nominees suggested by Board members, management or other parties are evaluated.

 

Our Bylaws provide that a stockholder’s notice of a proposed business item must include: (1) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting; (2) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend our Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendments); (3) the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting; and (4) any material interest of the stockholder making the proposal in such business.

 

In addition, our Bylaws provide that a stockholder giving notice of a nomination or a proposed business item must include the following information in the notice: (1) the name and address of the stockholder; (2) the class and number of shares of our capital stock which are owned beneficially and of record by the stockholder; (3) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of our stock entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such nomination or business item; and (4) a representation whether the stockholder intends to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such nomination or proposed business item.

 

You may write to our Secretary at our principal executive offices, 1000 Flower Street, Glendale, California 91201, to deliver the notices discussed above and for a copy of the relevant Bylaw provisions regarding the requirements for making stockholder proposals and nominating director candidates pursuant to the Bylaws.

 

Electronic Access

 

In addition to the website address listed in the section entitled “Important Notice Regarding Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting to Be Held on May 29, 2013,” this Proxy Statement and DreamWorks Animation’s 2012 Annual Report may be viewed online at www.DreamWorksAnimation.com. Stockholders of record may elect to receive future annual reports and Proxy Statements electronically by following the instructions provided in the enclosed proxy if such stockholder is voting by Internet. Such stockholders’ choice will remain in effect until they notify DreamWorks Animation by mail that they wish to resume mail delivery of these documents. Stockholders holding their Common Stock through a bank, broker or another holder of record should refer to the information provided by that entity for instructions on how to elect this option.

 

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PROPOSAL NO. 1

ELECTION OF EIGHT DIRECTORS

 

Nominees

 

DreamWorks Animation’s restated certificate of incorporation currently authorizes a range of three to 15 directors, currently set at 12, to serve on the Board of Directors. At the Annual Meeting, eight persons will be elected as members of the Board of Directors, each to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until his or her successor is elected and qualified. The Nominating and Governance Committee has nominated, and the Board of Directors has designated, the eight persons listed below for election at the Annual Meeting. Although the maximum number of directors is currently set at 12, the Board of Directors believes that the current number of eight directors allows for easier coordination while still allowing the Company to benefit from the various directors’ different expertise and experience. Stockholders will not be able to vote for a greater number of nominees at the Annual Meeting than eight nominees.

 

In the event that any nominee of DreamWorks Animation is unable or declines to serve as a director at the time of the Annual Meeting, the proxies will be voted for any nominee who shall be designated by the present Board of Directors to fill the vacancy. It is not expected that any nominee will be unable or will decline to serve as a director.

 

On February 21, 2013, Nathan Myhrvold, one of the Company’s current directors, informed us that he will not stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting. On April 9, 2013, Richard Sherman, another of the Company’s directors, informed us that he will also not stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting. We currently expect that Mr. Myhrvold and Mr. Sherman will remain as directors until the date of the Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors has nominated Lucian Grainge and Jason Kilar as new directors of the Company. Each of them was recommended as a nominee by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and by the Nominating and Governance Committee.

 

The name and certain information regarding each nominee are set forth below. There are no family relationships among directors or executive officers of DreamWorks Animation. Ages are as of April 1, 2013.

 

Name

   Age     

Position

Jeffrey Katzenberg

     62       Chief Executive Officer and Director

Mellody Hobson

     43       Chairman of the Board of Directors

Lewis W. Coleman

     71       President, Chief Financial Officer and Director

Harry “Skip” Brittenham

     71       Director

Thomas E. Freston

     67       Director

Michael Montgomery

     58       Director

Lucian Grainge

     53       Proposed Director

Jason Kilar

     41       Proposed Director

 

Jeffrey Katzenberg—Chief Executive Officer and Director.    Mr. Katzenberg has served as our Chief Executive Officer and member of our Board of Directors since October 2004. DreamWorks Animation is the largest animation studio in the world and has released a total of 26 animated feature films, which have enjoyed a number of critical and commercial theatrical successes. These include the franchise properties Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and How to Train Your Dragon. Under Mr. Katzenberg’s leadership, DreamWorks Animation became the first studio to produce all of its feature films in 3D and in 2010 became the first Company to release three CG feature films in 3D in a single year. Mr. Katzenberg co-founded and was a principal member of DreamWorks L.L.C. (“Old DreamWorks Studios”) from its founding in October 1994 until its sale to Paramount in January 2006. Prior to founding Old DreamWorks Studios, Mr. Katzenberg served as chairman of The Walt Disney Studios from 1984 to 1994. As chairman, he was responsible for the worldwide production, marketing and distribution of all Disney filmed entertainment, including motion pictures, television, cable, syndication, home entertainment and interactive entertainment. During his tenure, the studio produced a number of live-action and animated box office hits, including Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King. Prior to joining Disney, Mr. Katzenberg was president of Paramount

 

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Studios. Mr. Katzenberg is Chairman of the Board of The Motion Picture & Television Fund Foundation. He serves as a director of Zynga Inc. He also serves on the boards or as a trustee of the following organizations: AIDS Project Los Angeles, American Museum of the Moving Image, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, California Institute of the Arts, Geffen Playhouse, Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts and The Simon Wiesenthal Center. With over 30 years of experience in the entertainment industry, Mr. Katzenberg brings an unparalleled level of expertise and knowledge of the Company’s core business to the Board. Among the many accomplishments of his lengthy career, he has been responsible for the production of many of the most successful animated films of all time.

 

Mellody Hobson—Chairman of the Board of Directors.    Ms. Hobson became Chairman of the Board in October 2012 and has served as a director since October 2004. Ms. Hobson has served as the president of Ariel Investments, LLC, a Chicago-based investment management firm, since 2004. She also has served as president and a director of its sole managing member, Ariel Capital Management Holdings, Inc. since 2000. She is also the president of Ariel Investment Trust, an open-end management investment company, and has served as a trustee since 1993 and as chairman of the board of trustees since 2006. She previously served as senior vice president and director of marketing at Ariel Capital Management, Inc. from 1994 to 2000, and as vice president of marketing at Ariel Capital Management, Inc. from 1991 to 1994. Ms. Hobson is a graduate of Princeton University where she received a Bachelor of Arts from the Woodrow Wilson School of International Relations and Public Policy. Ms. Hobson works with a variety of civil and professional institutions, including serving as the Chair of After School Matters and as a board member of the Field Museum and the Chicago Public Education Fund. She has also served as a director of Estee Lauder, Groupon and Starbucks since 2004, 2011 and 2005, respectively. In 2002, Esquire Magazine named Ms. Hobson as one of “America’s Best and Brightest” emerging leaders. Ms. Hobson possesses valuable knowledge of corporate governance and similar issues from her service on several public companies’ boards of directors. She also has significant operational and financial expertise as the president of a large investment company.

 

Lewis W. Coleman—President, Chief Financial Officer and Director.    Mr. Coleman has served as our President since December 2005, as Chief Financial Officer since February 2007 and as a member of our Board of Directors since December 2006. He served as Chief Accounting Officer from May 2007 until September 2007. He also previously served as a member of our Board of Directors from October 2004 until his resignation from our Board of Directors in December 2005 to assume his new role as President. Previously, he was the president of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation from its founding in November 2000 to December 2004. Prior to that, Mr. Coleman was employed by Banc of America Securities, formerly known as Montgomery Securities, where he was a senior managing director from 1995 to 1998 and chairman from 1998 to 2000. Before he joined Montgomery Securities, Mr. Coleman spent 10 years at the Bank of America and Bank of America Corporation, where he was head of capital markets, head of the world banking group and vice chairman of the board and chief financial officer. He spent the previous 13 years at Wells Fargo Bank, where his positions included head of international banking, chief personnel officer and chairman of the credit policy committee. Mr. Coleman previously served on the board of directors of Northrop Grumman Corporation (until 2012). Mr. Coleman has vast financial and accounting knowledge and experience gained through his position as the chief financial officer of a large financial services company. Mr. Coleman also possesses extensive knowledge regarding corporate governance matters and other items applicable to public companies through his service on the boards of directors of several other public companies.

 

Harry “Skip” Brittenham—Director.    Mr. Brittenham has served as a member of the Board of Directors since May 2008. He is a senior partner with the entertainment law firm of Ziffren, Brittenham LLP, which was founded in 1978. Mr. Brittenham currently serves on the board of directors of Conservation International. Mr. Brittenham received a B.S. from the United States Air Force Academy and a J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles. Mr. Brittenham possesses unique insight and expertise regarding the entertainment industry gained from his over 30 years of experience representing many of the entertainment industry’s leading talent.

 

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Thomas E. Freston—Director.    Mr. Freston has served as a member of the Board of Directors since September 2007. Since December 2006, Mr. Freston has been a principal with firefly3, a consulting and investment company. Mr. Freston served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Viacom Inc. from January 1, 2006 until his resignation in September 2006. At Viacom, he oversaw Viacom’s cable network properties (which include MTV, Nickelodeon, BET, Comedy Central and many other networks), Paramount Pictures and Famous Music (publishing). He also served on the Board of Viacom from September 2005 until September 2006. Previously, he was Co-President and Co-Chief Operating Officer of Viacom’s predecessor entity since June 2004. Prior to that, Mr. Freston served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MTV Networks since 1987. Mr. Freston joined MTV Networks in 1980 and was one of the founding members of the team that launched MTV: Music Television. Among other things, he created MTV’s classic “I want my MTV” ad campaign. Mr. Freston is an honorary trustee of the American Museum of Natural History. Mr. Freston possesses significant knowledge regarding the entertainment industry as a result of more than 25 years of experience with several media and entertainment companies. His experience includes broad operational responsibilities as the president of a large, diversified media and entertainment business.

 

Michael J. Montgomery—Director.    Mr. Montgomery has served as a director since July 2006. Mr. Montgomery serves as a partner of Montgomery & Co., a media and technology investment banking firm. Prior to joining the predecessor company to Montgomery & Co. in 1999, Mr. Montgomery was the chief executive officer at Sega GameWorks, a joint venture between Sega, Universal Studios and DreamWorks Studios. Before that, Mr. Montgomery was a senior executive at DreamWorks Studios from 1995 until 1999. Before joining DreamWorks Studios, Mr. Montgomery spent approximately eight years with The Walt Disney Company and its affiliates, where he held a number of senior positions including managing director and chief financial officer of EuroDisney and treasurer of Walt Disney Company. Mr. Montgomery is currently a director of Synacor, Inc. He has previously served on the board of directors of Corus Pharma and Pathogenesis, a public pharmaceutical company that was acquired by Chiron Corporation in 2000. Mr. Montgomery received his M.B.A. from the Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth College, where he also received a B.A. degree as Rufus Choate Scholar with magna cum laude honors. Mr. Montgomery’s qualifications for Board service include his experience overseeing a media and entertainment investment banking business. In that position, among other things, Mr. Montgomery has also gained unique experience and valuable insight regarding the Internet and other emerging media businesses. Mr. Montgomery also has prior operational experience with a large media and entertainment business.

 

Lucian Grainge—Proposed Director.    Mr. Grainge is currently the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Music Group, a music company that is comprised of recorded music and music publishing businesses, positions he has held since March 2011 and January 2011, respectively. Prior to that, Mr. Grainge held positions of increasing responsibility within the Universal Music Group organization, including serving as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Music UK from 2001 until 2005 and as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Music Group International from 2005 until February 2010. Mr. Grainge is also a member of the Board of Directors of Activision Blizzard, Inc. As a result of more than 25 years of experience in the music and entertainment businesses, Mr. Grainge brings extensive knowledge of the entertainment industry to the Board. Mr. Grainge is also able to provide the perspective of an active chief executive officer of a large entertainment company with worldwide operations.

 

Jason Kilar—Proposed Director.    From 2007 until April 2013, Mr. Kilar served as the Chief Executive Officer of Hulu, an online television service. From 1997 until 2006, Mr. Kilar served in a variety of key leadership positions with Amazon.com, including as Senior Vice President of Worldwide Application Software and, prior to that, Vice President and General Manager of Amazon.com’s domestic books, music and video businesses. Mr. Kilar graduated from Harvard Business School and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Mr. Kilar’s qualifications for Board service include his experience in building and operating an online television service. As a result, he will be able to provide valuable insight and counsel for the Company’s efforts to exploit its content in new media forms. He also possesses practical operational experience as a result of his positions at Hulu and Amazon.com.

 

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Required Vote

 

The eight nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative votes cast at the Annual Meeting by holders of Class A and Class B Stock entitled to vote on the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be elected as directors.

 

Recommendation

 

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” the election of the nominees listed above.

 

Director Independence

 

The Board of Directors has adopted Director Independence Standards to assist in its determination of director independence. To be considered “independent” for purposes of these standards, the Board of Directors must determine that the director has no material relationship with DreamWorks Animation other than as a director. In each case, the Board of Directors broadly considers all relevant facts and circumstances and applies the following standards. In addition, the Board of Directors applies the independence standards set by the NASDAQ, which are included in the standards set forth below.

 

A director will not be considered “independent” if, within the preceding three years:

 

   

The director was or is an employee, or an immediate family member of the director was or is an executive officer, of DreamWorks Animation; or

 

   

The director, or an immediate family member of the director, received more than $120,000 per year in direct compensation from DreamWorks Animation, other than director fees and committee fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service (provided that such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service with DreamWorks Animation); except that compensation received by an immediate family member of the director for services as a non-executive employee of DreamWorks Animation need not be considered in determining independence under this test; or

 

   

The director was affiliated with or employed by, or an immediate family member of the director was affiliated with or employed in a professional capacity by, a present or former internal or external auditor of DreamWorks Animation; or

 

   

The director, or an immediate family member of the director, was or is employed as an executive officer of another company where any of DreamWorks Animation’s present executives at the same time serves or served on that company’s compensation committee; or

 

   

The director is employed by another company, or an immediate family member of the director is a current executive officer of any such company, that makes payments to, or receives payments from, DreamWorks Animation for property or services in an amount which, in any single fiscal year, exceeds the greater of $200,000 or 5% of such other company’s consolidated gross revenues. In applying this test, both the payments and the consolidated gross revenues to be measured will be those reported in the last completed fiscal year. This test applies solely to the financial relationship between DreamWorks Animation and the director’s (or immediate family member’s) current employer; the former employment of the director or immediate family member need not be considered.

 

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The following relationships will not, by themselves, be considered to be material relationships that would impair a director’s independence:

 

   

Commercial Relationship: If a director of DreamWorks Animation is an executive officer or an employee, or an immediate family member of the director is an executive officer, of another company that makes payments to, or receives payments from, DreamWorks Animation for property or services in an amount which, in any single fiscal year, does not exceed the greater of $200,000 or 5% of such other company’s consolidated gross revenues; or

 

   

Indebtedness Relationship: If a director of DreamWorks Animation is an executive officer of another company that is indebted to DreamWorks Animation, or to which DreamWorks Animation is indebted, and the total amount of either company’s indebtedness to the other is less than 5% of the consolidated assets of the company where the director serves as an executive officer; or

 

   

Equity Relationship: If a director is an executive officer of another company in which DreamWorks Animation owns a common stock interest and the amount of the common stock interest is less than 5% of the total shareholders’ equity of the company where the director serves as an executive officer; or

 

   

Charitable Relationship: If a director, or an immediate family member of the director, serves as a director, officer or trustee of a charitable organization and DreamWorks Animation’s contributions to the organization in any single fiscal year are less than the greater of $200,000 or 5% of that organization’s gross revenues.

 

For relationships not covered above as to which the Board of Directors believes a director may nevertheless be independent, the determination of whether the relationship is material or not, and therefore whether the director would be independent, is made by the directors who satisfy the independence tests set forth above.

 

For the purposes of these standards, an “immediate family member” includes a person’s spouse, parents, children, siblings, mothers- and fathers-in-law, sons- and daughters-in-law, brothers- and sisters-in-law and anyone (other than domestic employees) who shares such person’s home. However, when applying the independence tests described above, the Board of Directors need not consider individuals who are no longer immediate family members as a result of legal separation or divorce, or those who have died or have become incapacitated.

 

The Board of Directors has determined that each of Harry Brittenham, Thomas Freston, Mellody Hobson, Michael Montgomery and Nathan Myhrvold (who is expected to continue as a director until the date of the Annual Meeting) is an independent director. The Board of Directors has also determined that, upon election as a director, each of Lucian Grainge and Jason Kilar will qualify as an independent director. Each of these directors meets the independence requirements adopted by the Board of Directors as set forth above and has no other material relationships with DreamWorks Animation that the Board of Directors, after considering all relevant facts and circumstances, believes would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out such director’s responsibilities.

 

In making its determination that Mr. Grainge will qualify as an independent director, the Board of Directors noted that the Company and Universal Music Group (“UMG”), of which Mr. Grainge is the chief executive officer, from time to time make payments to each other in connection with the licensing of music that is owned by the other company (or for which the other company serves as the music publisher). In addition, the Board of Directors noted that UMG serves as the music publisher for the Company’s Classic Media business (which the Company acquired in August 2012). However, given that the payments that each company made to the other company represented a small amount of the receiving company’s revenues in 2012, the Board of Directors concluded that these relationships did not affect Mr. Grainge’s status as an independent director.

 

 

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In making its determination that Mr. Kilar will qualify as an independent director, the Board of Directors noted that the Company receives payments from Hulu, for which Mr. Kilar served as the chief executive officer until April 2012, for the licensing of certain of the Company’s television properties. However, given that Mr. Kilar is no longer an employee of Hulu and that the payments received by the Company represented a small amount of the Company’s revenues in 2012, the Board of Directors concluded that this relationship did not affect Mr. Kilar’s status as an independent director.

 

Meetings and Committees

 

During 2012, the Board of Directors held a total of six meetings (including regularly scheduled and special meetings). DreamWorks Animation’s Bylaws provide that, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, no director is eligible for re-election unless he or she has attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors and any committees of which he or she is a member that are held during such director’s then-current term. Based upon attendance as of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Company currently expects that every incumbent director will have attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors and any committees of which he or she is a member during the term that began on May 29, 2012, except Harry Brittenham, who will have attended approximately 64% of such meetings. During the calendar year 2012, no incumbent director attended fewer than 75% of the aggregate of (i) the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors and (ii) the total number of meetings held by all committees on which he or she served, other than Harry Brittenham, who attended 70% of such meetings.

 

The Board of Directors has three standing committees: an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Governance Committee. The Board of Directors has approved a charter for each of these committees. Copies of the charters for each committee and DreamWorks Animation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and Director Independence Standards can be found on DreamWorks Animation’s website at http://www.DreamWorksAnimation.com. These materials are also available in print to any stockholder upon request made in writing to DreamWorks Animation, 1000 Flower Street, Glendale, CA 91201, Attention: Corporate Secretary.

 

DreamWorks Animation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that independent directors will regularly meet without the Chief Executive Officer. These meetings are usually led by the Chairman of the Board. The chairs of the Audit and Compensation Committees may chair executive sessions of the independent directors at which the principal items to be considered are within the scope of the committee chair’s authority.

 

DreamWorks Animation invites, but does not require, its directors to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. In 2012, three directors attended the Annual Meeting.

 

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Audit Committee

 

Number of Members:

   2

Members:

  

Michael Montgomery, Chairman

Harry “Skip” Brittenham

Number of Meetings in 2012:

   4

Functions:

  

The Audit Committee is responsible for, among other things:

 

•     overseeing management’s maintenance of the reliability and integrity of DreamWorks Animation’s accounting policies and financial reporting and disclosure practices;

 

•     overseeing management’s establishment and maintenance of processes to assure that an adequate system of internal control is functioning;

  

 

•     overseeing management’s establishment and maintenance of processes to assure DreamWorks Animation’s compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and corporate policy;

 

•     reviewing DreamWorks Animation’s annual and quarterly financial statements prior to their filing and prior to the release of earnings; and

 

•     reviewing the performance and qualifications of DreamWorks Animation’s independent accountants and making recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the appointment or termination of its independent accountants and considering and approving any non-audit services proposed to be performed by the independent accountants.

 

The Board of Directors has determined that each of Mr. Montgomery and Mr. Brittenham qualifies as an audit committee financial expert, as such term is defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in Item 407 of Regulation S-K. Each of these directors has extensive financial and accounting expertise and currently serves, or has previously served, on the board of directors (and, in the case of Mr. Montgomery, the audit committee) of one or more public companies. The Board of Directors has determined that such simultaneous service would not impair such director’s ability to effectively serve on DreamWorks Animation’s Audit Committee. As mentioned above, the Board of Directors has also determined that each of the Audit Committee members is independent under the Company’s Director Independence Standards and under the independence standards set by the NASDAQ. For a further description of the experience and qualifications of our Audit Committee members, see “—Nominees.”

 

As previously disclosed by the Company, due to the resignation of Roger Enrico (who previously served as Chairman of the Board and an Audit Committee member) in October 2012, the Audit Committee is currently comprised of two members. Rule 5605 of the NASDAQ Listing Rules (the “Listing Rules”) generally requires that all listed companies’ audit committees be comprised of three members, although Listing Rule 5605(c)(4)(B) provides a specified cure period to fill any Audit Committee vacancy created by the resignation of an audit committee member. On October 25, 2012, the Company notified the NASDAQ that, as a result of Mr. Enrico’s resignation, there is a vacancy on the Company’s Audit Committee and that the Company intends to avail itself of the cure period provided in Listing Rule 5605(c)(4)(B). On November 2, 2012, the Company received a letter from the NASDAQ acknowledging that the Company no longer complies with the requirement of Listing Rule 5605. The letter also acknowledges that the Listing Rules provide a cure period pursuant to which the Company must regain compliance no later than the earlier of the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders or October 24, 2013 (or, if such meeting is held before April 22, 2013, by April 22, 2013). The Company intends to add a third member to its Audit Committee on or before the date of the Annual Meeting.

 

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Compensation Committee

 

Number of Members:

   3

Members:

  

Mellody Hobson, Chair

Thomas Freston

Nathan Myhrvold (until May 29, 2013)

Number of Meetings in 2012:

   7

Functions:

  

The Compensation Committee is responsible for, among other things:

 

•     reviewing and approving the compensation of our executive officers;

 

•     reviewing key employee compensation policies, plans and programs;

 

•     monitoring performance and compensation of DreamWorks Animation’s employee-directors, officers and other key employees;

 

•     preparing recommendations and periodic reports to the Board of Directors concerning these matters; and

 

•     functioning as a committee of the Board of Directors that administers DreamWorks Animation’s incentive compensation programs.

 

In the section entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” we provide an additional discussion of the Compensation Committee’s role and responsibilities.

 

Nominating and Governance Committee

 

Number of Members

   2

Members:

  

Jeffrey Katzenberg, Chairman

Mellody Hobson

Number of Meetings in 2012:

   1

Functions:

  

The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for, among other things:

 

•     recommending persons to be selected by the Board of Directors as nominees for election as directors and Chief Executive Officer;

 

•     assessing the performance of the Board of Directors and the performance of the members of the Board of Directors;

 

•     recommending director compensation and benefits policies; and

 

•     considering and recommending to the Board of Directors other actions relating to corporate governance.

 

DreamWorks Animation’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that until the earlier of the date that, in the opinion of its counsel, it is required by law or the applicable rules of a securities exchange to have a nominating and corporate governance committee comprised solely of “independent directors” and the date that no shares of Class B Stock remain outstanding, the Nominating and Governance Committee will be composed solely of Jeffrey Katzenberg (or, if he is not DreamWorks Animation’s chief executive officer, then his designee) and a director duly appointed by the Board of Directors. Currently, the Nominating and Governance Committee is composed of Mr. Katzenberg and a Board appointee, Ms. Hobson.

 

Because Jeffrey Katzenberg currently controls approximately 61% of the total voting power of DreamWorks Animation’s Common Stock, DreamWorks Animation relies on the “controlled company” exemption to the NASDAQ rule requiring that director nominees be selected, or recommended for the Board of Directors’ selection, by the independent directors.

 

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Executive Committee

 

The Board of Directors of DreamWorks Animation does not currently have an executive committee. In the event DreamWorks Animation forms an executive committee, Jeffrey Katzenberg (or, if he is not DreamWorks Animation’s chief executive officer, his designee) will be included on the executive committee for so long as the committee exists and such person is entitled to remain on the Board of Directors in accordance with the Vulcan Stockholder Agreement described in “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Vulcan Stockholder Agreement.”

 

Board Leadership Structure

 

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that the Board has the authority to decide whether the offices of the Chairman of the Board (“Chairman”) and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) shall be held by the same or different persons. The Board currently believes that separate individuals should hold the positions of Chairman and CEO, which has been the case since our initial public offering (“IPO”) in October 2004.

 

We believe the current structure described above provides strong leadership for our Board (especially given Ms. Hobson’s extensive corporate board experience), while also positioning our CEO as the leader of the Company for our employees, business partners and investors and the media. We believe that our current structure, which includes a non-executive Chairman, helps ensure independent oversight over the Company. Our current structure further allows the CEO to focus his energies on management of the Company.

 

Our Board currently has five independent members (including Mr. Myhrvold, who will not stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting). A number of our independent Board members are currently serving or have served as directors or as members of senior management of other companies. Our Audit and Compensation Committees are comprised solely of independent directors, each with a different independent director serving as chairperson of the committee. We believe that the number of independent experienced directors that make up our Board, along with the independent oversight of the Board by the non-executive Chairman, benefit our Company and our stockholders.

 

Pursuant to our bylaws and our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our Board determines the best leadership structure for the Company. As part of our annual Board self-evaluation process, the Board evaluates issues such as independence of the Board, communication between directors and management and other matters that may be relevant to our leadership structure.

 

Board of Directors’ Oversight of Risk

 

Our management bears responsibility for the management and assessment of risk at the Company on a daily basis. Management is also responsible for communicating the most material risks to the Board and its committees, who provide oversight over the risk management practices implemented by management. Our full Board provides oversight for risk management, except for the oversight of risks that have been specifically delegated to a committee. Even when the oversight of a specific area of risk has been delegated to a committee, the full Board may maintain oversight over such risks through the receipt of reports from the committee to the full Board. In addition, if a particular risk is material, or where otherwise appropriate, the full Board may assume oversight over a particular risk, even if the risk was initially overseen by a committee. The Board and committee reviews occur principally through the receipt of regular reports from Company management on these areas of risk and discussions with management regarding risk assessment and risk management. Our Board believes that the leadership structure described above under “—Board Leadership Structure” facilitates the Board’s oversight of risk management because it allows the Board, working through its committees, to appropriately participate in the oversight of management’s actions.

 

Full Board. At its regularly scheduled meetings, the Board generally receives a number of reports which include information relating to specific risks faced by the Company. As appropriate, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer or other members of senior management provide operational reports, which include risks

 

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relating to the Company’s core theatrical film and home entertainment business as well as the Company’s new business ventures. The Company’s Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Chief Financial Officer provide regular reports on the Company’s various investments, including its liquid assets, and an analysis of prospective capital sources and uses. The Company’s President and Head of Human Resources also provide periodic reports regarding, and lead the full Board in a discussion of, succession-planning issues. At its regularly scheduled Board meetings, the full Board also receives reports from individual committee chairpersons, which may include a discussion of risks initially overseen by the committees for discussion and input from the full Board. As noted above, in addition to these regular reports, the Board receives reports on specific areas of risk from time to time, such as cyclical or other risks that are not covered in the regular reports given to the Board and described above.

 

Committees. The Audit Committee maintains initial oversight over risks related to the integrity of the Company’s financial statements, internal controls over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures (including the performance of the Company’s internal audit function), the performance of the Company’s independent auditor and the operation of the Company’s ethics program. The Company’s General Counsel provides privileged reports to the Audit Committee on a periodic basis, which reports include information regarding the status of the Company’s litigation and related matters. Under the direction of the Company’s Head of Internal Audit, the Company conducts an annual risk assessment regarding the primary risks facing the Company and the Company’s associated risk-mitigation measures. Following completion of this assessment, the Head of Internal Audit presents a report to the Audit Committee. The Company’s Compensation Committee maintains initial oversight of risks related to the Company’s compensation practices, including practices related to equity programs, other executive or companywide incentive programs and hiring and retention. The Compensation Committee also reviews the Company’s compensation programs periodically for consistency and overall alignment with corporate goals and strategies.

 

Director Nominations

 

The Board of Directors nominates directors for election at each annual meeting of stockholders and elects new directors to fill vacancies when they arise. The Nominating and Governance Committee has the responsibility to identify, evaluate, recruit and recommend qualified candidates to the Board of Directors for nomination or election. The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider director candidates recommended by stockholders.

 

The Nominating and Governance Committee has a policy regarding consideration of director candidates, including director candidates recommended by stockholders. The Nominating and Governance Committee’s assessment of potential candidates for election to the Board of Directors includes, but is not limited to, consideration of (i) roles and contributions valuable to the business community; (ii) personal qualities of leadership, character, judgment and whether the candidate possesses and maintains throughout service on the Board of Directors a reputation in the community at large of integrity, trust, respect, competence and adherence to the highest ethical standards; (iii) relevant knowledge and diversity of background and experience in such things as business, technology, Internet and new media, finance and accounting, marketing, international business, government and the like; and (iv) whether the candidate is free of conflicts and has the time required for preparation, participation and attendance at all meetings.

 

The Nominating and Governance Committee assesses the Board of Directors’ current and anticipated strengths and needs based upon the Board of Directors’ then-current profile and DreamWorks Animation’s current and future needs and screens the slate of candidates to identify the individuals who best fit the criteria listed above and the Board of Directors’ needs. Although the Company does not maintain a separate policy regarding the diversity of the Board, during the director selection process the Nominating and Governance Committee seeks inclusion and diversity within the Board of Directors. Consistent with these principles, both the Nominating and Governance Committee and the full Board look for director nominees with diverse and distinct professional backgrounds, experience and perspectives so that the Board as a whole has the range of skills and viewpoints necessary to fulfill its responsibilities.

 

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Stockholder nominations of candidates for election to the Board of Directors must be made in accordance with the procedures outlined in, and include the information required by, DreamWorks Animation’s Bylaws and must be addressed to: Corporate Secretary, DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc., Campanile Building, 1000 Flower Street, Glendale, California 91201. Stockholders can obtain a copy of DreamWorks Animation’s Bylaws by writing to the Corporate Secretary at this address. See “Procedural Matters—Deadline for Receipt of Stockholder Proposals—Proposals and Nominations Pursuant to Our Bylaws.

 

Communications with the Board of Directors

 

Any stockholders or any other interested parties may submit communications intended for the Board of Directors, any committees of the Board of Directors, the non-employee directors as a group or any individual member or members of the Board of Directors by directing them to DreamWorks Animation’s Corporate Secretary, 1000 Flower Street, Glendale, California 91201, with a request to forward the same to the intended recipient. In general, all communications delivered to the Corporate Secretary for forwarding to the Board of Directors or specified directors will be forwarded in accordance with the sender’s instructions. However, the Corporate Secretary reserves the right not to forward to directors regular business solicitations and any abusive, threatening or otherwise inappropriate materials.

 

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

 

DreamWorks Animation has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, as well as persons performing similar functions. A copy of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics has been filed as an exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 10-K and is also available at http://www.DreamWorksAnimation.com. A copy of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is also available in print to any stockholder upon request. Any amendments to and waivers from any provision of the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions and relating to any element of the code of ethics definition enumerated in Item 406(b) of Regulation S-K will be posted on the Company’s website.

 

Director Compensation

 

The compensation of the Board of Directors is subject to the approval of the Compensation Committee. Directors who are employees of DreamWorks Animation receive no compensation for service as members of either the Board of Directors or board committees. For 2012, other than Roger Enrico, who served as Chairman of the Board until he resigned on October 24, 2012, directors who are not employees of DreamWorks Animation received approximately $200,000 ($225,000 in the case of the chairpersons of the Audit and Compensation Committees) worth of equity awards annually. In recognition of his greater duties as Chairman of the Board, Mr. Enrico received an annual equity grant having a grant-date fair value of approximately $400,000 for 2012. All annual equity awards are paid 100% in the form of restricted stock units (or “RSUs”). The restricted stock units are fully vested at the time of grant and will be settled by the delivery of shares of Class A Stock only at the time the director leaves the Board of Directors. Directors do not receive annual cash retainers or meeting fees.

 

In accordance with the Company’s outside director compensation policy, the Company currently anticipates that all of its outside directors (including any nominees who are newly elected at the Annual Meeting) will receive annual equity grants on the date of the Annual Meeting. We currently expect that any future directors elected other than at an Annual Meeting of Stockholders will receive a pro-rated grant upon joining the Board and will thereafter receive annual grants on the same schedule as other directors.

 

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The table below details the compensation of our directors during 2012.

 

2012 Director Compensation(1)

 

Name

   Stock Awards  ($)(2)      All Other
Compensation
($)
     Total ($)  

Roger Enrico(3)

   $ 399,993       $ —         $ 399,993   

Mellody Hobson (4)

   $ 224,984       $ —         $ 224,984   

Nathan Myhrvold(5)

   $ 199,988       $ —         $ 199,988   

Michael Montgomery(6)

   $ 224,984       $ —         $ 224,984   

Thomas Freston(7)

   $ 199,988       $ —         $ 199,988   

Harry M. (“Skip”) Brittenham (8)

   $ 199,988       $ 60,176       $ 260,164   

Richard Sherman(9)

   $ 199,988       $ —         $ 199,988   

 

(1) 

Compensation information for those members of the Company’s Board of Directors who are also considered named executive officers of DreamWorks Animation is disclosed in the section “Executive Compensation Information—Summary Compensation Table.”

(2) 

The amounts reflected in each column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of the awards made during the year ended December 31, 2012 as computed in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 718 “Compensation-Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”). For a further discussion of the assumptions used in the calculation of the 2012 grant date fair value (for all applicable grants of equity awards) pursuant to ASC 718, please see “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to Financial Statements—Footnote No. 17 Stock-Based Compensation” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

(3) 

Represents the grant date fair value of the award made to Mr. Enrico on May 29, 2012. Mr. Enrico resigned from the Board on October 24, 2012. No equity awards were forfeited upon such event. As a result of such event, a total of 69,028 shares of Class A Stock were issued to Mr. Enrico to settle restricted stock units that had been previously granted in connection with his service as a director. As of December 31, 2012, Mr. Enrico held options to purchase 89,286 shares of Class A Stock and 212,839 stock appreciation rights that will be settled by the delivery of shares of Class A Stock when exercised.

(4) 

Represents the grant date fair value of the award made to Ms. Hobson on May 29, 2012. As of December 31, 2012, Ms Hobson had 44,205 restricted stock units that will be settled only upon her departure from the Board of Directors. As of December 31, 2012, Ms. Hobson held options to purchase 13,393 shares of Class A Stock and 4,075 stock appreciation rights that will be settled by the delivery of shares of Class A Stock when exercised.

(5) 

Represents the grant date fair value of the award made to Mr. Myhrvold on May 29, 2012. In addition, as of December 31, 2012, Mr. Myhrvold had 39,293 restricted stock units that will be settled only upon his departure from the Board of Directors (which is expected to occur on the date of the Annual Meeting). As of December 31, 2012, Mr. Myhrvold held options to purchase 13,393 shares of Class A Stock and 3,622 stock appreciation rights that will be settled by the delivery of shares of Class A Stock when exercised.

(6) 

Represents the grant date fair value of the award made to Mr. Montgomery on May 29, 2012. As of December 31, 2012, Mr. Montgomery had 48,520 restricted stock units that will be settled only upon his departure from the Board of Directors. As of December 31, 2012, Mr. Montgomery held 7,415 stock appreciation rights that will be settled by the delivery of shares of Class A Stock when exercised.

(7) 

Represents the grant date fair value of the award made to Mr. Freston on May 29, 2012. As of December 31, 2012, Mr. Freston had 39,293 restricted stock units that will be settled only upon his departure from the Board of Directors. As of December 31, 2012, Mr. Freston held 3,622 stock appreciation rights that will be settled by the delivery of shares of Class A Stock when exercised.

(8) 

The Stock Awards amount shown represents the grant date fair value of the award made to Mr. Brittenham on May 29, 2012. As of December 31, 2012, Mr. Brittenham had 37,683 restricted stock units that will be settled only upon his departure from the Board of Directors. The amount shown as All Other Compensation reflects (i) $56,101 related to Company-provided aircraft used by Mr. Brittenham (and his guests) following

 

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a Company-related business meeting and (ii) a tax gross-up of $4,075 on income imputed to Mr. Brittenham related to such travel.

(9) 

Represents the grant date fair value of the award made to Mr. Sherman on May 29, 2012. As of December 31, 2012, Mr. Sherman had 34,475 restricted stock units that will be settled only upon his departure from the Board of Directors (which is expected to occur on the date of the Annual Meeting).

 

Pursuant to its policies, the Company reimburses its directors for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, including reimbursement for air travel and hotel expenses. The Company’s outside director travel policy, among other things, authorizes the Company to enter into an aircraft timesharing agreement in instances where a director uses a private aircraft to attend Board meetings and other Company functions. The Company has entered into an aircraft timesharing agreement with an entity controlled by Nathan Myhrvold, one of the Company’s independent directors. Pursuant to Federal Aviation Administration regulations, beginning in October 2010 the Company began reimbursing the entity controlled by Mr. Myhrvold that operates such aircraft for the costs of Mr. Myhrvold’s use of the aircraft to attend Board meetings. During 2012, the Company incurred a total of $68,000 in connection with Mr. Myhrvold’s use of private aircraft to attend Board meetings.

 

Agreements with Roger Enrico

 

At the time of the Company’s IPO in October 2004, we entered into a multi-year employment agreement with Roger Enrico, who was then the Company’s Chairman. This employment agreement provided for an annual base salary of $1 in return for which he was granted certain performance-based equity compensation awards. Under Mr. Enrico’s employment agreement, in addition to the customary duties of the Chairman, he also agreed to perform certain additional functions (such as corporate strategic planning, marketing strategy and management of promotional partnerships) not typically associated with the role of the Chairman of the Board. In July 2008, the Company and Mr. Enrico jointly agreed that he would relinquish his employee duties, although he would remain as the non-executive Chairman of the Board. In connection with Mr. Enrico’s transition to non-executive Chairman status, his employment agreement was terminated. In addition, Mr. Enrico and the Company entered into a letter agreement covering, among other things, the treatment of his then-outstanding equity awards. Among other things, given that a portion of Mr. Enrico’s prior awards reflected compensation for his services as an employee, the Compensation Committee believed it would not be equitable if his transition to non-executive Chairman status caused him to forfeit previously granted awards related to his employee status. The letter agreement generally provided that any then-unvested equity awards would continue to vest in accordance with their terms provided that Mr. Enrico remained a director until October 23, 2009 (the original expiration date of his employment agreement). Because Mr. Enrico remained a director through October 23, 2009, these awards automatically vested as of that date and, with respect to stock appreciation rights (or “SARs”), will remain exercisable for the remainder of the term of the grant. Mr. Enrico resigned from the Board on October 24, 2012. In connection with such resignation, Mr. Enrico did not receive any severance payments. Restricted stock units that had been previously granted to Mr. Enrico in connection with his service as a director were settled and his options and SARs remain outstanding.

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Compensation Committee was composed of Ms. Hobson, Mr. Freston and Mr. Myhrvold. None of these persons has at any time been an officer or employee of the Company or any of our subsidiaries. In addition, no member of the Compensation Committee had any relationship with us requiring disclosure under Item 404 of Regulation S-K adopted by the SEC. During the year ended December 31, 2012, none of the executive officers of the Company served on the board of directors or on the compensation committee of any other entity that has or had executive officers serving as a member of the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee of the Company.

 

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PROPOSAL NO. 2

RATIFICATION AND APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT

REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has selected PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”), independent registered public accounting firm, to audit the financial statements of DreamWorks Animation for the year ending December 31, 2013. A representative of PwC is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement and is expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions. PwC has served as our independent registered public accounting firm since February 24, 2011. Prior to such time, Ernst & Young LLP (“E&Y”) served as our independent registered public accounting firm. See “—Changes in Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” below. The Company does not expect that a representative of E&Y will be present at the Annual Meeting.

 

Required Vote

 

The Audit Committee has conditioned its appointment of DreamWorks Animation’s independent registered public accounting firm upon the receipt of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by all shares of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting, voting together as a single class. In the event that the stockholders do not approve the selection of PwC, the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm will be reconsidered by the Audit Committee.

 

Recommendation

 

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of PwC as DreamWorks Animation’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2013.

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees

 

The Company has entered into an engagement agreement with PwC which sets forth the terms by which PwC will perform audit services for the Company.

 

The following table is a summary of the aggregate fees billed for the indicated services performed by PwC during 2011 and 2012 in their capacity as our independent registered public accounting firm during such years. E&Y also provided services during 2011 but did not serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

     2011      2012  

Audit Fees

   $ 1,501,776       $ 1,879,976   

Audit-Related Fees

     —           50,000   

Tax Fees

     368,415         425,679   

All Other Fees

     6,000         10,300   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,876,191       $ 2,365,955   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Audit Fees

 

Audit fees in 2011 and 2012, provided in the table above under “—Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees,” consisted of fees and expenses billed for professional services rendered for the audit of DreamWorks Animation’s annual consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012 and the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as required under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and review of the interim consolidated financial statements included in quarterly reports.

 

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Audit fees in 2011 and 2012 also consisted of fees billed for services normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements (including audits of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries).

 

Audit-Related Fees

 

Audit-related fees (of which there were none in 2011), provided in the table above under “—Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees,” consist of fees and expenses billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of DreamWorks Animation’s consolidated financial statements and are not reported under “Audit Fees.” These services include attest services that are not required by statute or regulation.

 

Tax Fees

 

Tax fees in 2011 and 2012, provided in the table above under “—Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees,” consist of fees and expenses billed for professional services for tax compliance and tax advice. In 2011 and 2012, tax fees included expatriate employee tax compliance services and assistance with a state income tax audit.

 

All Other Fees

 

In 2011 and 2012, other fees, provided in the table above under “—Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees,” represent fees paid for the use of an on-line accounting research tool and fees for accounting and tax publications.

 

Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

The Audit Committee’s policy is to pre-approve all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm, including fees. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. Pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of services and is generally subject to a specific budget. Since the IPO in October 2004, each new engagement of our independent registered public accounting firm was approved in advance by the Audit Committee, and none of such engagements made use of the de minimis exception to pre-approval contained in the SEC’s rules.

 

Change in Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

As disclosed in the Proxy Statements for our 2011 and 2012 Annual Meetings of Stockholders and as required by SEC rules, we include the following information regarding the change in our accounting firm in 2011.

 

On October 21, 2010, the Audit Committee approved the engagement of PwC as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2011. PwC’s engagement as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm commenced on February 24, 2011. The decision to change auditors was the result of a competitive process that was launched in conjunction with the rotation of the lead E&Y audit partner for the Company’s account pursuant to Rule 2-01(c)(6) of Regulation S-X.

 

On February 24, 2011 the Audit Committee dismissed E&Y as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2010 and through February 24, 2011, neither the Company nor anyone on its behalf has consulted with PwC with respect to either (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that

 

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might be rendered on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, and neither a written report nor oral advice was provided to the Company that PwC concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions to Item 304 of Regulation S-K) or a reportable event (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).

 

The reports of E&Y on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2010 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of an opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2010 and through February 24, 2011, there were no disagreements (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions to Item 304 of Regulation S-K) with E&Y on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of E&Y, would have caused E&Y to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in its reports on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for such years.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2010 and through February 24, 2011, there were no reportable events (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).

 

The Company provided E&Y with a copy of the above disclosures and requested that E&Y furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether or not it agreed with the statements made above. A copy of E&Y’s letter dated February 28, 2011 was attached as Exhibit 16.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 28, 2011.

 

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PROPOSAL NO. 3

AN ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

 

The Board of Directors recognizes the significant interest of stockholders in executive compensation matters. Pursuant to Section 14A of the Exchange Act (which was added by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”)), we are providing our stockholders with an opportunity to cast an advisory vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table and other tables and the related narratives, as well as in the section of this Proxy Statement entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” in accordance with SEC rules.

 

Our compensation philosophy and framework have resulted in compensation for our named executive officers that is commensurate with both the Company’s financial results and the other performance factors described under Compensation Discussion and Analysis.” Our executive compensation programs are designed to attract, motivate and retain executives and professionals of the highest level of quality and effectiveness. These programs focus on rewarding the types of performance that increase stockholder value, link executive compensation to the Company’s long-term strategic objectives and align executive officers’ interests with those of our stockholders. The Company believes that its executive compensation programs, which generally emphasize long-term equity awards and variable compensation, satisfy these goals.

 

As this is an advisory vote, the result will not be binding on our Board of Directors, although our Compensation Committee, which is comprised solely of independent directors, will consider the outcome of the vote when evaluating the effectiveness of our compensation policies and practices. The Board of Directors believes that our current executive compensation program has been effective at directly linking executive compensation to our performance and aligning the interests of our named executive officers with those of our stockholders. We are asking for stockholder approval of the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement in accordance with SEC rules, which disclosures include the disclosures under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “Executive Compensation Information.” This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our named executive officers and the executive compensation policies and practices described in this Proxy Statement.

 

Required Vote

 

The affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting by holders of Class A Stock and Class B Stock entitled to vote, voting together as a single class, is required for the advisory approval of this proposal.

 

Recommendation

 

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that the stockholders vote “FOR” the adoption of the following non-binding resolution:

 

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

 

Unless a proxy is marked to give a different direction, it is the intention of the persons named in the proxy to vote the shares represented thereby in favor of the approval of the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement.

 

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PROPOSAL NO. 4

APPROVE ADOPTION OF THE

2013 ANNUAL INCENTIVE PLAN

 

General

 

On March 27, 2013, the Board of Directors approved, subject to the approval of our stockholders, the DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. 2013 Annual Incentive Plan (the “Annual Incentive Plan”). The purpose of the Annual Incentive Plan is to provide annual performance-based incentive compensation opportunities to eligible employees of DreamWorks Animation and our affiliates who are in a position to contribute materially to the success of DreamWorks Animation and our affiliates. The Annual Incentive Plan provides for the grant of annual incentive awards, including awards that are designed to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Section 162(m) of the Code currently provides that if, in any year, the compensation that is paid to our Chief Executive Officer or to any of our three other most highly compensated executive officers (excluding our Chief Financial Officer) exceeds $1,000,000 per person, any amounts that exceed the $1,000,000 threshold will not be deductible by us for federal income tax purposes, unless the compensation qualifies for an enumerated exception under Section 162(m) of the Code. Compensation that is “performance-based,” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, is not subject to these deduction limits. To qualify as performance-based compensation, among other requirements, the compensation must be paid only upon the attainment of certain performance goals using performance criteria that have been approved by our stockholders.

 

In order for a plan to provide for the payment of compensation that may be considered “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code, the plan (or a successor plan) must generally be approved by stockholders approximately every five years. The Annual Incentive Plan is substantially similar to the DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. 2008 Annual Incentive Plan, which was approved by our stockholders in 2008. The only significant change from the 2008 plan is the maximum award that may be granted to any participant in a plan year has been increased from $10,000,000 to $20,000,000.

 

Set forth below is a summary of the Annual Incentive Plan, which is qualified in its entirety by the specific language of the plan, a copy of which is attached to this Proxy Statement as Annex A.

 

Required Vote

 

The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting by holders of Class A Stock and Class B Stock entitled to vote, voting together as a single class, is required for the adoption of the 2013 Annual Incentive Plan.

 

Recommendation

 

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that the stockholders vote “FOR” the adoption of the 2013 Annual Incentive Plan.

 

Unless a proxy is marked to give a different direction, it is the intention of the persons named in the proxy to vote the shares represented thereby in favor of the adoption of the 2013 Annual Incentive Plan.

 

Summary of the Plan

 

Eligibility.    All present and future employees of DreamWorks Animation and our affiliates would be eligible to receive awards under the Annual Incentive Plan. We currently expect that awards will be generally limited to approximately 20 executive officers and other senior employees.

 

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Administration.    The Annual Incentive Plan would be administered by a committee (the “Committee”) composed of two or more directors, all of whom qualify as “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee would have the authority to (i) designate participants in the Annual Incentive Plan, (ii) determine the type or types of awards to be granted to participants, (iii) determine the terms and conditions of awards, (iv) interpret the Annual Incentive Plan and (iv) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Annual Incentive Plan. Decisions of the Committee would be final, binding and conclusive.

 

Maximum Annual Plan Limit.    The aggregate maximum amount payable under the Annual Incentive Plan to any participant in any calendar year would not exceed $20,000,000.

 

Terms of the Awards.    Each performance period pursuant to the Annual Incentive Plan would be a calendar year. The Committee in its discretion would establish the performance goals for each year and determine the level of payment based on performance.

 

Award Levels; Eligibility for Payment.    The Committee would establish for each participant the amount payable with respect to each award at specified levels of performance. All such determinations regarding the achievement of any performance goals would be made by the Committee. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee in its discretion, in order to be eligible for payment in respect of an award, a participant must be employed on January 1 of the year that follows the plan year for which such award is earned.

 

Form of Payment.    Awards would be payable in cash or in restricted stock, restricted stock units or fully vested shares of equivalent value and would be paid on the terms determined by the Committee in its discretion. Any shares of restricted stock or restricted stock units would be subject to the terms of the Amended and Restated 2008 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan or any successor equity compensation plan and any applicable award agreement. The number of shares of restricted stock, restricted stock units or fully vested shares that is equivalent in value to a particular dollar amount would be determined in accordance with a methodology specified by the Committee within the first 90 days of a plan year (or, if shorter, the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code).

 

Timing of Payment.    Awards would be paid promptly following the Committee’s determination of whether and the extent to which performance goals had been achieved with respect to the immediately preceding plan year, but not later than March 15th of the year following the plan year in which such awards are earned. The Committee would also have the right to allow participants to elect to defer the payment of awards subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine.

 

162(m) Awards.    The Committee would be permitted to designate certain awards granted under the Annual Incentive Plan as awards intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code (such awards, “162(m) Awards”). Awards designated as 162(m) Awards would be subject to the following additional requirements:

 

   

Recipients of 162(m) Awards.    The Committee would, in its sole discretion, designate within the first 90 days of the calendar year the participants who would be eligible to receive 162(m) Awards in respect of such year. The Committee would also determine the types of 162(m) Awards to be issued, the performance criteria that would be used to establish the performance goals, the kinds and levels of performance goals and any performance formula used to determine whether a performance compensation award had been earned for the performance period.

 

   

Performance Criteria Applicable to 162(m) Awards.    The performance criteria that would be used to establish the performance goals for 162(m) Awards would be limited to the following: (1) net income or earnings before or after taxes (including earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), (2) operating income, (3) earnings per share, (4) return on shareholders’ equity, (5) return on investment or capital, (6) return on assets, (7) level or amount of acquisitions, (8) share price, (9) profitability/profit margins, (10) market share (in the aggregate or by segment), (11) revenues or

 

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sales (including specified types or categories thereof) (based on units or dollars), (12) costs (including specified types or categories thereof), (13) cash flow, (14) working capital, (15) completion of production or stages of production within specified time or budget parameters (16) budgeted expenses (operating and capital) and (17) box office results (domestic, international or worldwide) of any of our films. These performance criteria would be permitted to be applied on an absolute basis or be relative to one or more peer companies or indices or any combination thereof or, if applicable, be computed on an accrual or cash accounting basis. The performance goals and periods could vary from participant to participant and from time to time. To the extent required under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee would, within the first 90 days of the applicable performance period (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code), define in an objective manner the method of calculating the performance criteria it selected to use for the performance period.

 

   

Modification of Performance Goals.    The Committee would be permitted to adjust or modify the calculation of performance goals applicable to 162(m) Awards for a performance period in the event of, in anticipation of, or in recognition of, any unusual or extraordinary corporate item, transaction, event or development or any other unusual or nonrecurring events affecting DreamWorks Animation, any of our affiliates, subsidiaries, divisions or operating units (to the extent applicable to such performance goal) or our financial statements or the financial statements of any of our affiliates, or changes in applicable rules, rulings, regulations or other requirements of any governmental body or securities exchange, accounting principles, law or business conditions, so long as that adjustment or modification did not cause the 162(m) Award to fail to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

   

Requirements to Receive Payment for 162(m) Awards.    Except as otherwise permitted by Section 162(m) of the Code, in order to be eligible for payment in respect of a 162(m) Award for a particular performance period, participants would be required to be employed by DreamWorks Animation on the last day of the performance period, the performance goals for such period would be required to be satisfied and certified by the Committee and the performance formula would be required to determine that all or some portion of the performance compensation award had been earned for such period.

 

   

Negative Discretion.    The Committee would be permitted to, in its sole discretion, reduce or eliminate the amount of an Award earned in a particular performance period, even if applicable performance goals had been attained and without regard to any employment agreement between us and a participant.

 

   

Limitations on Committee Discretion.    Except as otherwise permitted by Section 162(m) of the Code, in no event could any discretionary authority granted to the Committee under the Annual Incentive Plan be used to grant or provide payment in respect of performance compensation awards for which performance goals had not been attained, increase a performance compensation award for any participant at any time after the first 90 days of the performance period (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code) or increase a 162(m) Award above the maximum amount payable under the underlying award.

 

Amendment and Termination of the Annual Incentive Plan.    Our Board of Directors would be permitted to amend or terminate the Annual Incentive Plan; provided, however, that no change would be permitted without the approval of our stockholders that (i) would change the performance criteria applicable to 162(m) Awards, (ii) would increase the maximum amount authorized to be paid to any participant in the Annual Incentive Plan during a calendar year or (iii) would require the approval of our stockholders in order to satisfy Section 162(m) of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our Board of Directors would be permitted to (i) amend the Annual Incentive Plan and 162(m) Awards unilaterally as it deemed appropriate to cause such awards to meet the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and (ii) modify the date that awards will be paid in certain circumstances. Subject to certain limited exceptions, no modification, amendment or termination of the Annual Incentive Plan that would materially and adversely affect the rights of a participant with respect to a previously granted award would be effective without the consent of such participant.

 

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Change of Control.    In the event of a change of control of DreamWorks Animation, unless provision were made in connection with such change of control for assumption of awards previously granted under the Annual Incentive Plan, all awards would be paid out as if the date of the change of control were the last day of the applicable calendar year and “target” performance levels had been attained. Such payments would be made not later than 30 days following the date of the change of control.

 

No Limitations on Other Plans.    Nothing contained in the Annual Incentive Plan would be deemed in any way to limit or restrict the ability of DreamWorks Animation or the Committee to make any award or payment to any person under any other plan, agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether now existing or hereafter in effect.

 

Federal Income Tax Consequences

 

Amounts that would be payable pursuant to the Annual Incentive Plan with respect to 162(m) Awards are intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code. Therefore, we believe that under existing federal income tax laws, such amounts would be deductible by DreamWorks Animation when paid to the recipient of a 162(m) Award. Participants would generally be required to recognize ordinary income upon receipt of compensation under the Annual Incentive Plan.

 

New Plan Benefits

 

At its meeting on March 27, 2013, our Compensation Committee approved, subject to the approval of our stockholders, awards to each of our executive officers under the Annual Incentive Plan with respect to the 2013 plan year. The following table sets forth the threshold, target and maximum amount of the award for each of our named executive officers as well as for all of our current executive officers as a group and for the current participants in the Annual Incentive Plan who are not executive officers.

 

Name

   Threshold
Amount ($)
     Target Amount ($)      Maximum Amount ($)  

Jeffrey Katzenberg

     2,000,000         4,000,000         6,000,000   

Lewis W. Coleman

             —           —     

Ann Daly

     750,000         1,500,000         3,000,000   

Anne Globe

     175,000         350,000         700,000   

Michael Francis

     600,000         1,200,000         2,400,000   

All current executive officers as a group

     3,927,500         7,855,000         13,710,000   

All current non-executive officer employees as a group

     1,130,000         2,260,000         4,730,000   

 

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PROPOSAL NO. 5

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL

GIVE EACH SHARE AN EQUAL VOTE

 

James McRitchie, 9295 Yorkship Court, Elk Grove, California 95758, who is the beneficial owner of 100 shares of Class A Stock, has given notice that he intends to present for action at the Annual Meeting the resolution set forth below. In accordance with applicable proxy rules, the proposal and supporting statements, for which the Company accepts no responsibility, are set forth below:

 

RESOLVED: Shareholders request that our Board take steps to adopt a recapitalization plan as soon as practicable for all outstanding stock to have one-vote per share. This would include all practicable steps including encouragement and negotiation with family shareholders to request that they relinquish, for the common good of all shareholders, any preexisting rights. This proposal is not intended to unnecessarily limit our Board’s judgment in crafting the requested change in accordance with applicable laws and existing contracts.

 

By allowing certain stock to have 15-times more voting power than other stock our company takes our public shareholder money but does not let us have an equal voice in our company’s management. Without a voice, shareholders cannot hold management accountable. GMI/The Corporate Library, an independent investment research firm, said we had a controlling shareholder group which owned 69% of our stock.

 

News Corp. is another company like ours. “If you are buying shares in [News Corp.], it’s buyer beware,” says Sydney Finkelstein, a professor at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business. “There is no management or leadership reason to have two classes of stock except to retain control.”

 

The Council of Institutional Investors asked NASDAQ and NYSE to stop listing new companies with dual share classes. This is a new approach to curbing a structure it has criticized for years as unfair and harmful to long-term stock returns.

 

This proposal should also be evaluated in the context of our Company’s overall corporate governance as reported in 2012:

 

GMI rated our company “Very High Concern” in takeover defenses. On top of a 69% controlling shareholder we had requirements of 80% shareholder approval to adopt certain corporate governance improvements.

 

Harry Brittenham, Michael Montgomery and Thomas Freston, 3-members of our 8-member board, apparently did not believe in owning any stock. Richard Sherman apparently disagreed since he owned 100 shares of our $20 stock. Messrs. Brittenham and Montgomery were 100% of our audit committee. Mr. Freston was on our executive pay committee and managed to get our highest negative votes—100-times as many negative votes as two of our other directors.

 

In late 2012 DreamWorks Director and DreamWorks CFO, Lewis Coleman, left his position as an apparent weak Lead Independent Director at Northrop Grumman. At Northrop Mr. Coleman received $5 million related to his security that included his housing and his DreamWorks related travel by corporate jet. GMI said it was difficult to consider Mr. Coleman independent at Northrop when Northrop was so responsible for his VIP travel, security and lifestyle.

 

Mellody Hobson, our Chairman, was potentially overboarded. Ms. Hobson worked as a director at 4 large companies and had a full-time job. Two of these companies, Estee Lauder and Starbucks, were rated “D” in corporate governance by GMI.

 

Please vote to protect shareholder value:

 

Give Each Share An Equal Vote—Proposal No. 5

 

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Company Response to Stockholder Proposal

 

We oppose the proposal because it is not in the best interests of DreamWorks Animation or you.

 

The Company’s current share capital structure, with both Class A and Class B Stock outstanding, has been in place since DreamWorks Animation became a public company in 2004. Each stockholder purchasing a share of our Class A Stock is aware of this capital structure, and many are attracted to the stock by the long-term stability the Class B stockholders provide to the Company. The dual-class voting structure has been adopted by many other companies because it is generally recognized that founding stockholders bring a unique long-term perspective to company performance.

 

In addition, a majority of the members of the Company’s Board of Directors are independent and all of the directors act in the best interests of all stockholders, in accordance with their fiduciary duties under Delaware law and the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Moreover, the Company is operated under sound corporate governance principles. Consequently, the proposal is not in the best interests of the Company or you.

 

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a Vote “AGAINST” Proposal Number 5.

 

Required Vote

 

The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting by holders of Class A Stock and Class B Stock entitled to vote, voting together as a single class, is required for the approval of the stockholder proposal.

 

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

 

The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of DreamWorks Animation’s Common Stock as of March 31, 2013 with respect to:

 

   

each of DreamWorks Animation’s current and proposed directors;

 

   

each of the named executive officers listed in the Summary Compensation Table;

 

   

DreamWorks Animation’s directors and executive officers as a group; and

 

   

persons owning more than 5% of a class of Common Stock.

 

The percentage of beneficial ownership of Common Stock indicated in the following table is based on 76,202,338 shares of Class A Stock and 7,838,731 shares of Class B Stock outstanding. The Class A Stock outstanding includes 110,169 shares of unvested restricted stock, which are subject to time-based vesting conditions. Except as indicated in footnotes to this table, the stockholders named in this table are known to the Company to have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to community property laws where applicable. Shares shown as beneficially owned by any person have been determined in accordance with the requirements of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act. With respect to the stock appreciation rights held by our executive officers and directors, we have treated each stock appreciation right as if it represented upon exercise one full share of Class A Stock, although the actual percentage of a share received upon exercise will depend on the exercise price of such stock appreciation right and the price of the Class A Stock at the time of exercise.

 

Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each of DreamWorks Animation’s directors and named executive officers and each beneficial owner of more than 5% of a class of Common Stock listed in the table below is: c/o DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc., 1000 Flower Street, Glendale, CA 91201.

 

Name and Address of

Beneficial Owner

  Title of
Class
    Shares of
Common
Stock
Beneficially
Owned
    % of Class
Beneficially
Owned(1)
    % of Total
Voting
Power(2)
 

Current and Proposed Directors

       

Jeffrey Katzenberg(3)

    Class A        2,244,315        11.8     61.4
    Class B        7,838,731        100.0     60.3

Lewis W. Coleman(4)

    Class A        985,735        1.3     *   

Harry Brittenham(5)

    Class A        37,683        *        *   

Thomas E. Freston(6)

    Class A        42,915        *        *   

Lucian Grainge

    Class A        —          *        *   

Mellody Hobson(7)

    Class A        79,885        *        *   

Jason Kilar

    Class A        —          *        *   

Michael Montgomery(8)

    Class A        55,935        *        *   

Nathan Myhrvold(9)

    Class A        74,165        *        *   

Richard Sherman(5)

    Class A        34,575        *        *   

Named executive officers who are not directors

       

Ann Daly(10)

    Class A        1,105,439        1.4     *   

Anne Globe(11)

    Class A        448,608        *        *   

Michael Francis

    Class A       
—  
  
    *        *   

Directors and executive officers as a group (17 persons)(12)

    Class A        5,242,004        14.9 %      62.3
    Class B        7,838,731        100.0     60.3

 

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Name and Address of

Beneficial Owner

  Title of
Class
    Shares of
Common
Stock
Beneficially
Owned
    % of Class
Beneficially
Owned(1)
    % of Total
Voting
Power(2)
 

Persons owning more than 5% of a class of our equity securities

       

Wellington Management Company, LLP(13)

    Class A        10,423,561        13.7     5.4

280 Congress Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02210

       

Horizon Kinetics LLC(14),

Horizon Asset Management, LLC and

Kinetics Asset Management, LLC

    Class A        9,086,243        11.9     4.7

470 Park Avenue South, 4th Floor South

New York, New York 10016

       

FMR LLC(15)

    Class A        6,515,387        8.6     3.4

82 Devonshire Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02109

       

T. Rowe Price Associates(16)

    Class A        6,005,000        7.9     3.1

100 E. Pratt Street

Baltimore, Maryland 21202

       

PRIMECAP Management Company(17)

    Class A        8,661,400        11.4     4.5

225 South Lake Avenue, #400

Pasadena, California 91101

       

Capital Research Global Investors(18)

    Class A        4,440,000        5.8     2.3

333 South Hope Street

Los Angeles, California 90071

       

Steven Spielberg(19)

    Class A        5,222,726        6.9     2.7

 

* Less than 1%

 

(1) For purposes of this column, the percentage shown for any person or entity with respect to Class A Stock assumes the conversion of any Class B Stock beneficially owned by such person or entity into Class A Stock on a one-for-one basis.

 

(2) For purposes of this column, the percentage shown for any person or entity (i) with respect to Class A Stock, includes the effect of the super-voting rights of any Class B Stock beneficially owned by such person or entity and (ii) with respect to Class B Stock, excludes the voting rights of any Class A Stock beneficially owned by such person or entity.

 

(3) Shares beneficially owned by Mr. Katzenberg include:

 

   

886,203 shares of Class A Stock;

 

   

Vested options to purchase 423,214 shares of Class A Stock and 934,898 stock appreciation rights that will be settled by the delivery of Class A Stock when exercised;

 

   

7,838,731 shares of Class B Stock owned by entities controlled by Mr. Katzenberg.

 

(4) Includes vested options to purchase 13,393 shares of Class A Stock and 764,711 vested stock appreciation rights that will be settled by the delivery of shares of Class A Stock when exercised.

 

(5) Represents restricted stock units that will be settled in Class A Stock upon the director’s departure from the Board.

 

(6) Represents (i) 3,622 vested stock appreciation rights that will be settled by the delivery of shares of Class A Stock when exercised and (ii) 39,293 restricted stock units that will be settled in Class A Stock upon Mr. Freston’s departure from the Board.

 

(7) Includes (i) vested options to purchase 13,393 shares of Class A Stock and 4,075 vested stock appreciation rights that will be settled by the delivery of shares of Class A Stock when exercised and (ii) 44,205 restricted stock units that will be settled in Class A Stock upon Ms. Hobson’s departure from the Board.

 

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(8) Includes (i) 7,415 vested stock appreciation rights that will be settled by the delivery of Class A Stock when exercised and (ii) 48,250 restricted stock units that will be settled in Class A Stock upon Mr. Montgomery’s departure from the Board.

 

(9) Includes (i) vested options to purchase 13,393 shares of Class A Stock and 3,622 vested stock appreciation rights that will be settled by the delivery of shares of Class A Stock when exercised and (ii) 39,293 restricted stock units that will be settled in Class A Stock upon Mr. Myhrvold’s departure from the Board.

 

(10) Includes vested options to purchase 212,500 shares of Class A Stock and 329,406 vested stock appreciation rights that will be settled by delivery of shares of Class A Stock when exercised.

 

(11) Includes vested options to purchase 868 shares of Class A Stock and 425,541 vested stock appreciation rights that will be settled by the delivery of shares of Class A Stock when exercised.

 

(12) Includes vested options to purchase 708,349 shares of Class A Stock and 2,551,338 vested stock appreciation rights that will be settled by the delivery of shares of Class A Stock when exercised.

 

(13) Based on a Schedule 13G report filed with the SEC prepared as of December 31, 2012. Wellington Management Company, LLP (“Wellington”), an investment adviser, reported that it may be deemed to beneficially own the shares shown that are held of record by its clients who have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the shares. Wellington had shared dispositive power as to all shares and shared voting power as to 7,513,599 shares.

 

(14) Based solely on a Schedule 13G report jointly filed with the SEC and prepared as of December 31, 2012 by Horizon Kinetics LLC, Horizon Asset Management, LLC and Kinetic Asset Management, LLC. Horizon Kinetics LLC reported that it may be deemed to beneficially own and had sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 9,086,243 shares. Horizon Asset Management, LLC reported that it may be deemed to beneficially own and had sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 4,729,482 shares. Kinetics Asset Management, LLC reported that it may be deemed to beneficially own and had sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 4,137,814 shares.

 

(15) Based solely on a Schedule 13G report jointly filed with the SEC and prepared as of December 31, 2012 by FMR LLC and Edward C. Johnson 3d. Each of FMR LLC and Edward C. Johnson 3d reported that they have sole dispositive power with respect to 6,515,387 shares and sole voting power with respect to none of the shares.

 

(16) Based solely on a Schedule 13G report jointly filed with the SEC and prepared as of December 31, 2012 by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (“Price Associates”) and T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Value Fund, Inc. (“Mid-Cap Fund”), for which Price Associates serves as investment advisor with power to direct investments and/or sole power to vote the securities. Price Associates reported that it may be deemed to beneficially own 6,005,000 shares. Price Associates had sole dispositive power as to all shares and sole voting power as to 963,400 shares. Mid-Cap Fund reported that it may be deemed to beneficially own 4,926,700 shares. The Mid-Cap Fund had sole dispositive power as to no shares and sole voting power as to none of the shares.

 

(17) Based solely on a Schedule 13G report filed with the SEC and prepared as of March 31, 2013 by PRIMECAP Management Company. PRIMECAP reported that it may be deemed to beneficially own 8,661,400 shares. PRIMECAP had sole dispositive power as to all shares and sole voting power as to 5,498,300 shares.

 

(18) Based solely on a Schedule 13G report filed with the SEC and prepared as of December 31, 2012 by Capital Research Global Investors. Capital Research Global Investors is a division of Capital Research and Management Company (“CRMC”) and is deemed to be the beneficial owner of such shares as a result of CRMC acting as investment adviser to various investment companies.

 

(19) As reported in a Schedule 13G report filed with the SEC prepared as of December 31, 2011. The shares are owned directly by DW Lips, L.P. and indirectly by DW Subs, Inc., as the general partner of DW Lips, L.P., and Steven Spielberg, as the President of DW Subs, Inc. The address for Mr. Spielberg and the entities controlled by him is c/o Breslauer, Rutman & Anderson, 11400 Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90064.

 

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SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

 

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires DreamWorks Animation’s executive officers and directors and each person who owns more than 10% of DreamWorks Animation’s Common Stock to file initial reports of ownership on Form 3 and changes in ownership on Form 4 or 5 with the SEC and the NASDAQ. Such executive officers, directors and 10% stockholders are also required by SEC rules to furnish DreamWorks Animation with copies of all such forms that they file.

 

Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received by DreamWorks Animation and written representations from certain reporting persons that no Forms 5 were required for such persons, DreamWorks Animation believes that all of its officers, directors and 10% stockholders complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to them with respect to transactions during the year ended December 31, 2012.

 

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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

Overview of Compensation Program

 

The following discussion addresses the compensation during 2012 of our named executive officers, which consist of:

 

   

Jeffrey Katzenberg, our Chief Executive Officer;

 

   

Lewis Coleman, our President and Chief Financial Officer;

 

   

Ann Daly, our Chief Operating Officer;

 

   

Anne Globe, our Chief Marketing Officer; and

 

   

Michael Francis, our Chief Global Brand Officer (who joined the Company in December 2012).

 

We begin, in the first section, by discussing our philosophy and objectives as they relate to executive compensation practices and by describing the various elements of our executive compensation program. In the second section, we describe, among other things, the various participants in our executive compensation process and the analytical tools used by our Compensation Committee and others in this process. In the third section, we discuss how these analyses have affected the various elements of our executive compensation program. In the fourth section, we describe the executive compensation decisions that the Compensation Committee made during 2012 and early 2013. In the remaining sections, we discuss certain miscellaneous items.

 

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

 

The following principles have guided us in developing the various elements of our compensation program and in determining total compensation levels for our named executive officers:

 

   

As a company, we must be prepared to compete with much larger organizations (which have greater resources than ours) for executive talent;

 

   

Our compensation practices should take into account the somewhat volatile nature of our business, which is heavily dependent on the success of two or three motion picture releases per year; and

 

   

Our compensation programs should encourage our executives to increase long-term stockholder value in a manner that appropriately balances short-term growth objectives and does not create undue risk for the Company and its stockholders.

 

Our compensation philosophy is to attract, motivate and retain exceptional directors, officers and employees. The objectives of our compensation program are to:

 

   

Provide competitive compensation, consisting of both cash and equity-based components, that appropriately encourages and rewards performance (as measured against established goals) and the creation of enduring long-term stockholder value;

 

   

Directly link executive compensation to the Company’s long-term strategic objectives; and

 

   

Align executive officers’ interests with stockholder interests through a simple, understandable framework that creates a sense of ownership and shared risk among executives.

 

2012 Say-on-Pay Vote

 

In connection with the Dodd-Frank Act, in 2012 we provided our stockholders with the opportunity to cast an advisory vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in our 2012 Proxy Statement. This process, known as the Advisory Vote to Approved Named Executive Officer Compensation as required under Section 14A of the Exchange Act, is now commonly referred to as “Say-on-Pay.” The

 

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Compensation Committee reviewed the results of the Company’s 2012 Say-on-Pay vote, in which the overwhelming majority of our stockholders voted in favor of our compensation practices (over 97% of votes cast, excluding abstentions and broker non-votes). Accordingly, the Compensation Committee determined not to materially alter such practices for 2012 based on strong stockholder support.

 

Compensation Program Design

 

Our Compensation Committee seeks to achieve its objectives by providing a mix of compensation elements. The principal components of 2012 executive officer compensation and the primary purpose of each element are set forth in the following table:

 

Compensation Element

  

Objectives and Basis

  

Form

Base salary

   Provide current income at a competitive level   

Cash

Annual cash incentive awards

   Incentivize and reward achievement of annual performance goals   

Cash

Long-term equity incentive awards

   Incentivize long-term stockholder-value creation; align executive officers’ and stockholders’ interests    Restricted stock (or restricted stock units (“RSUs”)) and performance compensation awards

Perquisites and other personal benefits

   Provide competitive benefits that are consistent with overall executive compensation program   

Various

Post-termination benefits

   Provide executive officers with certain compensation assurances in the event of employment loss due to unforeseen circumstances; support attraction and retention objectives by providing arrangements common in our industry   

Various

 

Our compensation program is designed to include competitive total compensation ranges. We generally target our program to align total compensation within the range of median peer practices (with adjustments for the Company’s smaller size relative to peer media companies and consumer entertainment content developers) and provide equity-based compensation that both encourages and appropriately rewards superior Company performance.

 

In determining the appropriate mix of compensation elements, we strive to balance the objectives of rewarding recent results and motivating long-term performance. Overall, we believe that our compensation program design appropriately incentivizes our executives toward long-term stockholder value creation. We also believe that our various compensation elements work together in a manner that discourages actions that may lead to unnecessary risk and, thus, are not likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

 

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The chart below illustrates, with respect to our named executive officers (other than Mr. Francis, who joined the Company in December 2012) and the terms of their employment agreements in effect as of December 31, 2012, (i) the average target percentage of fixed compensation in comparison to variable compensation and (ii) the average target percentage of cash compensation in comparison to equity compensation.

 

2012 Executive Compensation—Fixed vs. Variable

Compensation

  

2012 Executive Compensation—Cash vs. Equity

Compensation

LOGO    LOGO

 

Determining Executive Compensation

 

The Compensation Committee is responsible for establishing and implementing the Company’s compensation philosophy and objectives. The Compensation Committee, which is comprised exclusively of independent directors, oversees all compensation and benefit programs and actions that affect our named executive officers. This includes setting salaries for, granting annual and long-term incentive awards to and approving the employment agreements with the named executive officers.

 

The Compensation Committee’s duties include, but are not limited to:

 

   

Reviewing key employee compensation policies, plans and programs (including through the engagement of the Compensation Committee’s independent compensation consultants (currently Exequity LLP (“Exequity”)));

 

   

Monitoring performance and compensation of the Company’s officers and other key employees;

 

   

Preparing recommendations and periodic reports to the Board of Directors concerning these matters;

 

   

Functioning as the committee that administers the Company’s incentive programs; and

 

   

Reviewing this Compensation Discussion and Analysis and recommending to the Board of Directors its inclusion in this Proxy Statement.

 

Role of Independent Compensation Consultants in Compensation Decisions

 

The Compensation Committee has directly engaged Exequity as an independent compensation consultant to advise the Compensation Committee on executive compensation matters. Exequity reports directly to the Compensation Committee on this assignment. A representative of Exequity attends meetings as requested by the Compensation Committee and provides advice directly to the Compensation Committee from time to time. Exequity did not provide other services to the Company in 2012 and we do not currently expect that Exequity will provide other services to the Company while it is serving as the Compensation Committee’s consultant. Exequity has provided the Compensation Committee with a report covering factors specified in SEC rules regarding potential conflicts of interest arising from the consultant’s work. Based on the report and discussions with Exequity, the Company determined that the work of Exequity in 2012 did not raise any conflicts of interest.

 

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Since September 2010, Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. (“FWC”) has been engaged by management on a regular basis to assist in developing the companywide compensation program, including the Company’s equity and cash incentive plans. At the request of and with significant input from management, FWC has presented recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding, among other things, the design and operation of the Company’s long-term incentive compensation plan (including the selection of performance criteria and the setting of performance goals). The Compensation Committee, with the advice and assistance of its independent compensation consultant, has acted upon the recommendations provided to it. FWC has provided the Compensation Committee with a report covering factors specified in SEC rules regarding potential conflicts of interest arising from the consultant’s work. Based on the report and discussions with FWC, the Company determined that the work of FWC in 2012 did not raise any conflicts of interest.

 

Role of Executive Officers in Compensation Decisions

 

Our management provides on-going recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding our compensation programs. The recommendations include executive compensation plans, designs and strategies, performance goals and criteria for both annual and long-term incentive plans and individual compensation actions for management. Our management provides its recommendations in conjunction with, and based on information gathered from, external compensation consultants engaged by management (currently FWC) and general market information as well as from internal resources, with the objective of aligning the design and operation of our compensation programs with our corporate goals and strategies. At the invitation of the Compensation Committee, members of the senior management attend meetings and make presentations to the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee also meets regularly in executive session, without members of management present.

 

Use of Employment Agreements and Competitive Assessments in Compensation Determinations

 

We have entered into multi-year employment agreements with each of our executive officers. These employment agreements serve as the starting point for the Compensation Committee’s compensation-setting processes. We believe that it is in the best interests of the Company to enter into multi-year employment agreements with our executive officers because the agreements foster long-term retention, while still allowing the Compensation Committee to exercise considerable discretion in designing incentive compensation programs and ultimately in setting executive officers’ actual long-term incentive grant values (irrespective of the target amounts provided in employment agreements). In addition, we believe that our use of multi-year employment agreements assists us in our recruiting efforts because such agreements are common at the other entertainment companies with which we compete for executive talent.

 

From time to time, the Company has engaged external compensation consultants (such as FWC) to conduct competitive assessments regarding our executive officers. The purpose of these assessments is to assist us in developing and implementing compensation programs that are generally competitive with those of other companies in the entertainment industry and other companies with which we compete for executive talent. We generally strive for the total compensation packages for our executive officers to provide target opportunities within the middle range of similar organizations (with consideration given to the Company’s smaller size relative to such companies), with potential to earn at an above-target level for superior performance. After determining the appropriate level of compensation for each executive officer, we enter into a multi-year employment agreement with that officer.

 

Each executive’s employment agreement specifies the annual base salary that the executive will be entitled to receive during the term of the agreement, as well as the benefit plans in which the executive will participate and the other perquisites that the executive will receive. In addition, each agreement sets forth, as applicable, the annual and long-term incentive compensation target or ranges that the executive officer will be eligible to receive, subject in all instances to the discretion of the Compensation Committee in granting such awards. Each agreement also specifies the post-termination benefits that will be received by each executive (including the treatment of any unvested equity awards) upon involuntary termination (with or without cause) or constructive

 

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termination, death, disability, change in control of the Company and, in some instances, upon expiration of the employment agreement.

 

In assessing absolute pay levels, determining the allocation among various forms of long-term incentive compensation and evaluating the reasonableness of performance goals, the Compensation Committee generally considers the competitive practices of, and uses the most recent similar information available for, a peer group of selected media companies and consumer entertainment content developers. The Company believes that the compensation practices of these entities are relevant to the Compensation Committee’s determinations because these entities are similar to the Company in a number of respects, such as their business characteristics, pay structures and size. However, the Compensation Committee uses this information as merely one perspective and does not view it as the sole determinant in its decision-making process. In 2012 the peer group consisted of the following 11 companies:

 

Activision Blizzard, Inc.    Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc.
CBS Corporation    Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
Discovery Communications, Inc.    Time Warner Inc.
Electronic Arts Inc.    Viacom Inc.
Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.    The Walt Disney Company
News Corporation   

 

In 2012 and 2013, the Compensation Committee received tally sheets from management and management’s compensation consultant, FWC. For each named executive officer, these tally sheets showed various items, such as (i) targeted value of base salary, annual incentive awards and long-term incentive awards, (ii) actual realized value of each compensation element for the most recent three years, (iii) the amount of unrealized value from prior equity incentive grants and (iv) the amounts that the executive would receive upon various termination scenarios (including in connection with a change in control). Among other things, the tally sheets allow the Compensation Committee to make executive compensation determinations in light of the value of other compensation elements and the individual executive’s compensation mix.

 

Insider Trading Policy (Including Anti-Hedging and Anti-Pledging)

 

Our Insider Trading Policy applies to all transactions in our securities, including common stock, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance compensation awards, stock options, stock appreciation rights and any other securities we may issue from time to time, as well as to derivative securities relating to our stock, whether or not issued by us, such as exchange-traded options.

 

We believe it is improper and inappropriate for any of our directors, officers or employees to engage in short-term or speculative transactions involving Company securities. Accordingly, the Insider Trading Policy prohibits a variety of activities with respect to our securities, including:

 

   

hedging transactions, such as buying puts or calls with respect to our stock;

 

   

purchasing Company securities on margin or pledging Company securities as collateral for loans; and

 

   

short sales.

 

Stock Ownership Guidelines

 

As noted above, an important element of our compensation philosophy is to align the interests of executive officers with those of our stockholders by providing appropriate long-term incentives. In furtherance of this goal, the Compensation Committee adopted stock ownership guidelines in February 2011 that are applicable to the named executive officers. Pursuant to these guidelines, within five years of the adoption of the guidelines (or, if later, of becoming an executive officer) each named executive officer is required to hold shares of Company stock having a value equal to the following percentage of his or her base salary: Chief Executive Officer—600%; President and Chief Operating Officer—300%; and all other named executive officers—200%. For these purposes, any unvested restricted stock units and restricted stock (but not stock options, SARs or unearned performance compensation awards) are treated as held by the officer.

 

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Analysis of Executive Compensation Elements

 

Annual Base Salary

 

We pay base salaries to our named executive officers to compensate them for services rendered during the year and to provide a base level of monthly income that is not subject to performance-related risk. The base salary for each of our named executive officers is specified in his or her respective employment agreement. The Compensation Committee generally reviews the named executive officers’ salaries periodically, such as at the time of a substantial change in responsibilities or upon entering into a new employment agreement. In reviewing an executive’s salary, the Compensation Committee generally considers, among other things:

 

   

market data provided by an external market consultant with respect to comparable positions; and

 

   

the individual executive’s performance, experience and skills.

 

The Compensation Committee adjusts salary levels when it is deemed appropriate in comparison to median peer practice (with adjustments for the Company’s smaller size relative to peer companies) and in relation to the other elements of the executive compensation package. As of December 31, 2012, our named executive officers had the following base salaries (as provided for in their respective employment agreements):

 

Named Executive Officer

   Annual Salary  

Jeffrey Katzenberg

   $ 2,500,000 (1) 

Lewis Coleman

     2,000,000   

Ann Daly

     1,500,000 (2) 

Anne Globe

     862,000   

Michael Francis

     1,200,000   

 

(1) 

Pursuant to Mr. Katzenberg’s new employment agreement, entered into in October 2012 (described in the section entitled “—2012 Compensation Actions”), Mr. Katzenberg’s annual salary increased from $1 to $2,500,000, effective as of October 24, 2012.

(2) 

Pursuant to Ms. Daly’s new employment agreement, entered into in October 2012 (described in the section entitled “—2012 Compensation Actions”), Ms. Daly’s annual salary increased from $1,012,000 to $1,500,000, effective as of October 24, 2012.

 

Annual Incentive Awards

 

During 2012, Ms. Daly and Ms. Globe were eligible to receive annual performance-based incentive compensation under the Company’s 2008 Annual Incentive Plan (the “2008 Annual Incentive Plan”). The Annual Incentive Plan allows for annual incentive bonus awards payable in cash upon the satisfaction of performance goals established by the Compensation Committee. If Proposal Number 4 is adopted at the Annual Meeting, we generally expect that future cash incentive awards will be made under the 2013 Annual Incentive Plan. For a discussion of the material terms and conditions of this plan, please see the section of this Proxy Statement entitled “Proposal No. 4—Approve Adoption of the 2013 Annual Incentive Plan.”

 

Each named executive officer’s employment agreement (other than Mr. Coleman’s) specifies the annual incentive compensation award for which the executive is eligible, subject in all instances to the discretion of the Compensation Committee. For the named executive officers, as of December 31, 2012 their respective employment agreements provided for the following target amounts:

 

Named Executive Officer

   Target  

Jeffrey Katzenberg

   $ 4,000,000 (1) 

Lewis Coleman

       

Ann Daly

     1,500,000 (2) 

Anne Globe

     350,000   

Michael Francis

     1,200,000 (3) 

 

(1) 

Mr. Katzenberg was not eligible to participate in the Company’s annual incentive award program for the 2012 performance year. Pursuant to Mr. Katzenberg’s new employment agreement entered into in October

 

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2012, Mr. Katzenberg is eligible to receive an annual incentive award with a target value of $4,000,000 beginning with the 2013 performance year. See “—2012 Compensation Actions.”

(2) 

Pursuant to Ms. Daly’s new employment agreement entered into in October 2012, Ms. Daly’s target annual incentive award opportunity increased from $750,000 for the 2012 performance year to $1,500,000 beginning with the 2013 performance year. See “—2012 Compensation Actions.”

(3) 

Mr. Francis joined the Company in December 2012 and, as a result, was not eligible to participate in the Company’s annual incentive award program for the 2012 performance year.

 

We provide annual incentive payments to motivate and reward our named executive officers for achievement of our annual performance goals. Through the Company’s practice (or, in the case of Ms. Globe, explicit provision in her employment agreement), the Compensation Committee adopts maximum annual bonus amounts payable to each named executive officer. Generally, this maximum amount is 200% of the target amount specified in the officer’s employment agreement; although in the case of Mr. Katzenberg, based on the Compensation Committee’s analysis of competitive data, the maximum amount is 150% of target. The Compensation Committee generally adopts performance criteria for our annual incentive plans that, at the time of adoption, we believe reflect an appropriately difficult yet achievable level of performance for payouts at “target” level and superior performance for payouts at the maximum level. The range for each named executive officer was determined based on individual considerations and external market data for peer media companies and consumer entertainment content developers. At the end of each calendar year, the Compensation Committee determines the incentive compensation award paid (if any) based upon the achievement of the established performance goals. For a discussion of the 2012 performance targets, see “—2012 Compensation Actions—Annual Incentive Awards.”

 

Long-Term Incentive Compensation

 

The Company’s Amended and Restated 2008 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2008 Plan”) provides the Compensation Committee with flexibility to grant awards to the named executive officers in a variety of forms. These include stock appreciation rights (or “SARs”), stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance compensation awards. Awards may vest depending upon continued service with the Company or the achievement of specified performance criteria. Generally, we have provided long-term incentive grants using a combination of time-vested awards (such as restricted stock or restricted stock units) and awards with performance-based vesting conditions or with value heavily dependent on Company stock performance (such as SARs or performance compensation awards). For a more detailed discussion of actions taken in 2012, please see “—2012 Compensation Actions.” These awards are intended to incentivize executives to increase long-term stockholder value and align executives’ interests with those of other stockholders by promoting equity ownership. We believe that our usual practice of providing grants that combine both time-vested awards and performance-vested awards effectively balances our objective of focusing the named executive officers on delivering long-term stockholder-value creation, with our objective of providing compensation elements that retain and motivate our executive officers. Restricted stock and restricted stock units serve both to reward and retain executives, since they have value as of the grant date, but have a greater value to the extent the stock price increases over the term of the award. Performance compensation awards (which are essentially performance-vested restricted stock units) generally increase in value based on increased operating results and stock-price performance. Performance compensation awards serve to reward and retain executives, although they vest only upon the achievement of specified performance criteria. SARs and stock options are granted at fair-market value on the grant date, which means they only have value to the extent that the price of our stock on the date of exercise exceeds the price on the grant date, and thus provide compensation to our executives only if the stock price increases over the term of the award.

 

Each named executive officer’s employment agreement specifies a target value of the long-term equity incentive compensation award for which the executive is eligible each year, subject to the discretion of the Compensation Committee. The target value was determined based on, among other things, external market data. In making its award determination, the Compensation Committee is permitted to specify the performance goals (if any) applicable to any grant. For the named executive officers, as of December 31, 2012 their respective

 

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employment agreements provided for long-term equity incentive awards with the following target grant-date values (subject in all instances to Compensation Committee discretion):

 

Named Executive Officers

   Target Grant-Date Value  

Jeffrey Katzenberg

   $ 4,500,000   

Lewis Coleman

     1,000,000   

Ann Daly

     3,500,000   

Anne Globe

     1,333,333   

Michael Francis

     2,250,000   

 

In computing the grant-date value of time-vested restricted stock or restricted stock units and performance compensation awards, the Company values each share at the closing price on the date of grant and assumes that performance compensation awards will be earned based on target performance levels.

 

While each named executive officer’s employment agreement specifies the target grant-date value of long-term incentive awards, the actual amount realized from any award by an executive will be dependent upon, among other things, such executive’s continued tenure with the Company, the achievement of applicable performance goals (if any) and the Company’s stock-price performance.

 

Post-Termination Benefits

 

Each named executive officer’s employment agreement provides for specified termination benefits upon the executive’s involuntary termination without cause or for good reason, death or disability, upon the expiration of the agreement (in certain instances) and upon a change in control. None of the named executive officers’ employment agreements provide for benefits based solely upon the occurrence of a change in control (otherwise known as “single-trigger benefits”). These benefits were negotiated on an arm’s-length basis between each of the executives and the Company with reference to general business and entertainment-industry standards. These provisions are intended to provide each named executive officer with compensation and other benefits for some period of time following termination of employment. With respect to the benefits applicable upon a change in control, we believe that the benefits also provide appropriate incentives for the executive to remain with, and focus on, managing the Company in the event of a possible acquisition of the Company.

 

We have provided a detailed discussion of the post-termination benefits set forth in each named executive officer’s employment agreement in the section entitled “Executive Compensation Information—Estimated Executive Benefits and Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” below.

 

Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits

 

Each named executive officer’s employment agreement specifies that the executive will generally be entitled to receive the perquisites provided to the Company’s other senior executives. We also provide a variety of welfare and benefits plans available to other employees in which the named executive officers participate. We believe that the perquisites and other benefits provided are competitive and consistent with our overall executive compensation program and better enable us to attract and retain superior employees for key positions. We also make financial and tax consulting services available to our named executive officers (other than Mr. Katzenberg). We have also agreed (either explicitly in the employment agreement or through Company policy) to reimburse each executive for all costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) in connection with the negotiation of each executive’s employment agreement. Under his employment agreement, Mr. Katzenberg is also entitled to retain reasonable security personnel at the Company’s expense, which the Company began providing to Mr. Katzenberg in March 2012 at Mr. Katzenberg’s request.

 

The Company maintains a deferred compensation plan in which the named executive officers, along with other highly compensated employees, are eligible to participate. The plan was implemented to provide the Company’s senior employees with a means for accumulating tax-deferred savings for retirement and other long-term purposes.

 

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Under the plan, participants may voluntarily elect to defer payment of their salary or bonus, and such deferrals are placed in accounts established for the participants. Each participant’s account under the plan is credited with earnings, at periodic intervals, at a rate equal to the actual rate of return over the relevant period of the investment fund or funds or index or indices selected by the participant from the range of investment vehicles offered under the plan. The investment funds currently offered are generally the same as those offered under the Company’s 401(k) plan. Other than credited earnings on employee deferrals, the Company does not currently make any contributions to the plan. To date, none of named executive officers has elected to participate in the plan.

 

The Summary Compensation Table and All Other Compensation table below provide greater detail regarding the various perquisites provided to the named executive officers during 2012.

 

2012 Compensation Actions

 

The specific analysis regarding the various components of executive compensation for 2012 is described in detail below.

 

Base Salary

 

As described above, the Compensation Committee’s general practice is to review the named executive officers’ salaries periodically, such as at the time of a substantial change in responsibilities or upon entering into a new employment agreement. As described below, the Compensation Committee entered into new employment agreements with Mr. Katzenberg and Ms. Daly in 2012 and made changes to each of their salaries at such time.

 

Annual Incentive Awards

 

As described above under “—Analysis of Executive Compensation Elements—Annual Incentive Awards,” each of our named executive officers’ employment agreements (other than Mr. Coleman’s and, prior to January 1, 2013, Mr. Katzenberg’s) provides for annual incentive compensation payable in cash upon the satisfaction of performance goals established by the Compensation Committee. In February 2012, the Compensation Committee approved an incentive cash bonus plan for calendar year 2012 performance for Ms. Daly and Ms. Globe. The objective in implementing a cash-based annual program was to balance the multi-year aspects of the long-term equity grants with short-term incentive measures developed around annual goals. Pursuant to their employment agreements in effect in February 2012, Mr. Katzenberg and Mr. Coleman were not eligible to participate in the bonus plan for calendar year 2012 performance. Similarly, Mr. Francis joined the Company in 2012 and, therefore, was not eligible to receive a bonus for calendar year 2012 performance.

 

As described above, the bonus targets or ranges for the named executive officers vary according to the terms of their respective employment agreements. For calendar year 2012 performance, the Compensation Committee determined that 100% of the bonus amount for Ms. Daly and Ms. Globe would depend upon the achievement of the Company’s operating income performance goal for the year ended December 31, 2012 as reported in the Company’s audited financial statements. The Compensation Committee believes that operating income is an appropriate measure of short-term performance. The Compensation Committee also selected operating income as the performance metric for Ms. Daly’s and Ms. Globe’s annual cash incentive awards because the Company’s bonus plan applicable to all other employees currently uses operating income as its performance metric. The Compensation Committee selected the target level of performance based upon actual 2011 performance and expected 2012 performance (as reflected in the Company’s internal operating budget). The threshold and maximum performance levels reflect operating income results that are 25% less and 25% greater, respectively, than the target level.

 

The Compensation Committee also provided that no bonuses would be paid to Ms. Daly and Ms. Globe if bonuses were not paid under the Company bonus plan applicable to other employees. In addition, the Compensation Committee retained negative discretion to reduce the bonuses that would be payable to the

 

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executive officers regardless of the Company’s 2012 performance. The table below shows the Company’s operating income actual results for 2012 and the percentage of the target payout resulting from such results. As a result of the Company having a net operating loss of $65.0 million, Ms. Daly and Ms. Globe were not entitled to receive bonuses for calendar year 2012.

 

2012 Annual Incentive Award Program

 

Performance Criteria

   Threshold
(50%
Payout)
     Target
(100%
Payout)
     Maximum
(200%
Payout)
     Actual
Achievement
in 2012
    Calculated
Payout as a
Percentage of
Target
Opportunity
 

Operating income

   $ 81.8 million       $ 109.1 million       $ 136.3 million       $ (65.0 million     0.0

 

Long-Term Incentive Compensation

 

Each named executive officer’s employment agreement provides that the executive is eligible for long-term equity incentive grants having a specified target grant-date value, subject to the Compensation Committee’s discretion.

 

Since the Company’s IPO in 2004, the components of the Company’s long-term incentive program have varied from time to time but have generally been comprised of different combinations of SARs, time-vested restricted stock units and, more recently, performance compensation awards. In October 2011, the Compensation Committee undertook a review of the program in connection with making annual grants to the named executive officers and, based on a recommendation from management, decided to eliminate the SAR component of the program. The Company concluded that, especially in light of current trends in the Company’s business, the accounting impact of granting SARs makes them too costly to the Company in relation to their expected benefits. In considering the October 2012 grants, the Compensation Committee decided that, after evaluating evolving practices among public companies generally, the grants (other than the grants to Mr. Coleman) would be allocated 75% to time-vested restricted stock units and 25% to performance compensation awards in the form of restricted stock units. The October 2012 grant to Mr. Coleman was allocated 100% to time-vested restricted stock. The Compensation Committee believes that these award allocations appropriately reflect the Company’s objective of providing competitive compensation programs, while also tailoring compensation to the roles and specific considerations of individual named executive officers.

 

In October 2012 (in the case of Mr. Francis, December 2012), the Compensation Committee approved the grants shown below to the following named executive officers (which had an intended grant-date fair value (at target performance levels) as shown):

 

Named Executive Officer

   Target Grant-Date
Value of Awards
     Restricted Stock
or RSUs
(# of Shares)
     Performance
Compensation
Awards
(# of Shares)
 
         Target      Maximum  

Jeffrey Katzenberg

   $ 4,500,000         158,674         52,891         79,336   

Lewis Coleman

     1,000,000         47,014         N/A         N/A   

Ann Daly

     3,500,000         123,413         41,137         82,274   

Anne Globe

     1,333,333         47,014         15,671         31,342   

Michael Francis

     2,250,000         100,446         33,482         66,964   

 

The restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards will vest in four equal annual installments on the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the date of grant. The performance compensation awards will vest with respect to some or all of the awards, depending on the achievement of the specified performance criteria for the three-year performance period ending December 31, 2015. In computing the value of the performance compensation awards, the awards were valued at the target number of shares. However, in recognition of the at-

 

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risk nature of the awards, each executive may earn up to a maximum of 200% (in the case of Mr. Katzenberg, 150%) of target, depending upon the achievement of the performance criterion. The performance criterion applicable to these awards is the Company’s average annual return on equity (“ROE”) for the three-year period ending December 31, 2015. The target awards will be earned in the following percentages at the following average annual ROE amounts: 50% at ROE of 4.1%, 100% at ROE of 8.1% and 200% at ROE of 12.2% (or greater). For average annual ROE below 4.1%, none of the awards will be earned. For average annual ROE between any two of the three percentages specified, the amounts earned will be determined by linear interpolation between the two corresponding ROE levels. For purposes of the awards, annual ROE is defined as the Company’s earnings before interest and taxes expressed as a percentage of the average of the Company’s stockholder’s equity at the beginning and end of the year. The computation excludes the effect of share repurchases. The Compensation Committee selected average annual return on equity as the performance metric because the Compensation Committee believes that it is an appropriate measure of long-term performance. The Compensation Committee selected the target level of performance based upon the Company’s current business outlook as well as its outlook over the three-year performance period. The threshold and maximum performance levels reflect average annual return on equity results that are 50% less and 50% more, respectively, than the target level.

 

The Compensation Committee’s current policy is generally to consider equity awards to the named executive officers at the time of a regularly scheduled Compensation Committee meeting, with each grant date occurring during the trading window established for Company insiders following the release of quarterly earnings. In 2012, the grants (other than the grant to Mr. Francis) were made at the Compensation Committee’s regularly scheduled meeting occurring in the fourth calendar quarter. The grant to Mr. Francis was made when Mr. Francis joined the Company in December 2012.

 

New Employment Agreement with Jeffrey Katzenberg

 

On October 23, 2012, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board a new employment agreement with Mr. Katzenberg to retain his services beyond April 22, 2014, which was the expiration date of his prior agreement. On October 24, 2012, the Board (other than Mr. Katzenberg) approved, and the Company subsequently entered into, the new agreement with Mr. Katzenberg. The new employment agreement supersedes and replaces the prior employment agreement and provides for Mr. Katzenberg’s continued employment with the Company until October 23, 2017. In determining the total value and composition of his overall target compensation, the Compensation Committee considered, among other things, the information provided to the Company by FWC regarding the compensation packages currently provided to similarly situated executives at peer media companies and consumer entertainment content developers. The terms and conditions of the new employment agreement were determined through arm’s-length negotiation with Mr. Katzenberg.

 

At the time of the Company’s initial public offering in 2004, Mr. Katzenberg elected to take a $1 annual salary as his sole on-going compensation (other than certain one-time equity grants made at the time of the initial public offering). This was done at Mr. Katzenberg’s request, in part, as a means of conserving the Company’s cash as a newly public company. In connection with entering into a new employment agreement with Mr. Katzenberg in 2009, the Company and Mr. Katzenberg agreed to a compensation package that consisted entirely of equity compensation with a target value of $8,000,000 per year. In October 2012, the Compensation Committee again reviewed Mr. Katzenberg’s total compensation package, both in terms of the amount and form of compensation delivered to Mr. Katzenberg. Upon consideration of, among other things, the Company’s history of being a public company since 2004, the Compensation Committee determined that Mr. Katzenberg should receive a more traditional overall compensation package. Accordingly, under the new employment agreement, Mr. Katzenberg’s total target compensation package is $11,000,000, which the Compensation Committee believes is consistent with the competitive market data, taking into account the Company’s smaller size relative to peer companies. Mr. Katzenberg’s annual cash salary was increased from $1 to $2,500,000, effective as of October 24, 2012. His target annual bonus compensation was increased from $0 to $4,000,000 (with a maximum

 

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of $6,000,000) beginning with the 2013 performance year. As a result of the changes in his salary and annual cash bonus opportunity, Mr. Katzenberg’s target annual long-term incentive compensation was decreased from $8,000,000 to $4,500,000 (with performance-vested awards having a maximum payout of 150%). The Compensation Committee retains ultimate discretion with respect to the amount and form of such awards.

 

The Compensation Committee also decided to make certain other changes to Mr. Katzenberg’s prior employment agreement to make Mr. Katzenberg’s agreement consistent with those of other executive officers. Mr. Katzenberg’s new employment agreement provides that if, within one year following a change in control of the Company, Mr. Katzenberg is involuntarily terminated without cause or terminates for good reason or if Mr. Katzenberg’s employment with the Company terminates following expiration of his employment agreement, Mr. Katzenberg will receive cash severance payments for a period equal to the greater of the remaining term of his employment agreement and two years. The prior employment agreement did not contain a minimum cash severance period following a change in control.

 

New Employment Agreement with Ann Daly

 

On October 24, 2012, the Compensation Committee approved, and the Company subsequently entered into, a new employment agreement with Ms. Daly to retain her services beyond December 31, 2013, which was the expiration date of her prior agreement. The new employment agreement supersedes and replaces the prior employment agreement and provides for Ms. Daly’s continued employment with the Company until October 23, 2017. The terms and conditions of the new employment agreement were determined through arm’s-length negotiation with Ms. Daly.

 

In recognition of her long tenure in her current position and based upon, among other things, review of competitive market data and consideration of internal pay equity, the new employment agreement provides that Ms. Daly’s annual cash salary increased from $1,012,000 (with additional annual equity grants of $500,000 in lieu of additional salary) to $1,500,000. Her target annual bonus was increased from $750,000 to $1,500,000. Her target annual long-term incentive compensation was increased from $2,500,000 to $3,500,000. The Compensation Committee retains ultimate discretion with respect to the amount and form of such awards.

 

The Compensation Committee also decided to amend the treatment of Ms. Daly’s future performance-based equity awards in order to address evolving best practices as well as guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service in 2008 that relates to the deductibility of “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code. Ms. Daly’s prior employment agreement provided that if her employment were terminated involuntarily without cause or by Ms. Daly for good reason, her performance-based equity awards would automatically be paid to her at the target level. Pursuant to Ms. Daly’s new employment agreement, in the event that her employment is terminated involuntarily without cause or by Ms. Daly for good reason at any time other than during the one-year period following a change in control of the Company, the relevant performance goals of any performance-based equity awards granted after the date of the new employment agreement must be achieved in order for her to become entitled to payment. The Compensation Committee concluded that this provision represented an evolving best practice and also allowed the Company to preserve the tax deductibility of the awards under the new Internal Revenue Service guidance.

 

Employment Agreement with Michael Francis

 

On November 30, 2012, the Compensation Committee approved, and the Company subsequently entered into, an employment agreement with Michael Francis, who was hired as the Company’s Chief Global Brand Officer. The employment agreement provides for Mr. Francis’ employment with the Company until December 3, 2015 (or, if the Company exercises its option to extend the term for an additional two years, December 3, 2017). The terms and conditions of the new employment agreement were determined through arm’s-length negotiation with Mr. Francis and are described in greater length in the section entitled “Executive Employment Agreements—Employment Agreements with Other Named Executive Officers.”

 

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Based upon, among other things, review of competitive market data and consideration of internal pay equity, the employment agreement provides that Mr. Francis’ annual cash salary will be $1,200,000 (increased to $1,350,000 during the fourth and fifth years if the Company elects to exercise its option to extend the term). His target annual bonus is $1,200,000 (increased to $1,350,000 during any extended term). His target annual long-term incentive compensation is $2,250,000 (increased to $2,500,000 during any extended term). The Compensation Committee retains ultimate discretion with respect to the amount and form of such awards. Because Mr. Francis will be maintaining his principal residence outside of the Los Angeles area, the Company has also agreed to provide Mr. Francis with furnished housing in the Los Angeles area at a cost not to exceed $10,000 per month.

 

Tax Implications

 

Deductibility of Executive Compensation

 

As part of its role, the Compensation Committee reviews and considers the deductibility of executive compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code. Section 162(m) provides that the Company may not deduct compensation of more than $1,000,000 paid in any year to the Chief Executive Officer or any of the three most highly compensated officers (excluding the Chief Financial Officer), unless the compensation qualifies as “performance based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code. We have considered the potential impact of Section 162(m) on the Company’s compensation plans and have determined that it is the Company’s preference to qualify its executives’ compensation for deductibility under Section 162(m), to the extent the Compensation Committee believes it is consistent with the Company’s best interests. The Company’s compensation plans have generally been designed to permit the Compensation Committee to grant awards that qualify for deductibility under Section 162(m).

 

Compensation Committee Charter

 

The Compensation Committee acts pursuant to a written charter, which the Compensation Committee reviews on an annual basis. From time to time, the Compensation Committee may recommend that the Board of Directors approve revisions to the charter as appropriate to reflect evolving practices or changes in legal or regulatory requirements.

 

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

 

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management and, based on such review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.

 

THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

 

Mellody Hobson, Chair

Thomas Freston

Nathan Myhrvold

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION INFORMATION

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

DreamWorks Animation compensates its executive officers pursuant to their respective employment agreements. For a further discussion of the Company’s underlying compensation policies and decisions, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.” As permitted by SEC rules, the following Summary Compensation Table sets forth summary compensation information for our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer and the three most highly compensated executive officers, other than our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, for the year ended December 31, 2012 (collectively, the “named executive officers”). This Summary Compensation Table is accompanied by an “All Other Compensation” Table, a “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” Table and additional narrative discussion as necessary to assist in the understanding of the information presented in each of such tables.

 

Pursuant to their respective employment agreements, subject to annual approval by the Compensation Committee, certain of the named executive officers were eligible to receive an annual incentive award consisting of a cash bonus. Such amounts are characterized as “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation.” For the annual performance periods ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, the Compensation Committee adopted a cash bonus plan and set performance goals for the applicable period.

 

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

 

Name and Principal Position

  Year     Salary
($)
    Bonus
($)
    Stock
Awards
($)(1)
    Option
Awards
($)(1)
    Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
($)(2)
    All Other
Compensation
($)( 3)
    Total
($)
 

Jeffrey Katzenberg(4) (5)

    2012      $ 365,386      $ —       $ 4,499,988      $ —       $ —       $ 375,331     $ 5,240,705   

Chief Executive Officer

    2011      $ 1      $ —       $ 3,999,997      $ —       $ —       $ —       $ 3,999,998   
    2010      $ 1      $ —       $ 2,399,976      $ 4,327,150      $ —       $ —       $ 6,727,127   

Lewis W. Coleman(5)

    2012      $ 2,000,000      $ 108,333 (6)    $ 999,988      $ —       $ —       $ 46,870      $ 3,155,191   

President and Chief Financial Officer

    2011      $ 1,358,508      $ 108,333 (6)    $ 2,166,642      $ —       $ —       $ 70,962      $ 3,704,445   
    2010      $ 1,262,000      $ —       $ 2,734,529      $ 1,171,924      $ 750,000      $ 34,651      $ 5,953,104   

Ann Daly(7)(8)

    2012      $ 1,083,323      $ —       $ 3,499,979      $ —       $ —       $ 34,681      $ 4,617,983   

Chief Operating Officer

    2011      $ 1,012,000      $ —       $ 1,999,968      $ —       $ —       $ 23,606      $ 3,035,574   
    2010      $ 1,012,000      $ —       $ —       $ —       $ 562,500      $ 23,297      $ 1,597,797   

Anne Globe

    2012      $ 862,000      $ 566,667 (9)    $ 1,333,310      $ —       $ —       $ 24,300      $ 2,786,277   

Chief Marketing Officer

    2011      $ 835,000      $ 66,667 (9)    $ 1,333,312      $ —       $ —       $ 35,908      $ 2,270,887   
    2010      $ 835,000      $ —       $ 2,299,948      $ 618,737      $ 262,500      $ 34,871      $ 4,051,056   

Michael Francis

    2012      $ 13,846      $ —        $ 2,249,991      $ —       $ —       $ 56,131      $ 2,319,968   

Chief Global Brand Officer

               

 

(1) 

The amounts reflected in each respective column represent the aggregate grant-date fair value of the award made during each respective year, as computed in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 718 “Compensation-Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”). For a further discussion of the assumptions used in the calculation of the grant-date fair values for each year (for all applicable grants of equity awards) pursuant to ASC 718, please see “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to Financial Statements—Footnote No. 17 Stock-Based Compensation” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012. For further discussion of grants made in 2012, see the accompanying “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” Table. Each of the named executive officers (other than Mr. Coleman) received awards comprised 25% of performance-based stock awards and 75% of time-vested restricted stock units. The amounts included in the column attributable to the performance-based stock awards represent the “target” level of performance. The value of such awards at the maximum level of performance would be as follows: Jeffrey Katzenberg—$1,687,488; Ann Daly—$1,749,968; Anne Globe—$666,644; and Michael Francis—$1,124,996. Mr. Coleman’s award was comprised entirely of time-vested restricted stock.

(2) 

The amounts reflected in “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column represent amounts earned during each respective year under the Company’s annual performance-based incentive program. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—2012 Compensation Actions – Annual Incentive Awards.

 

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(3) 

The components of “All Other Compensation” for 2012 are detailed below in the “All Other Compensation” Table. The amounts shown do not include life insurance premiums for coverage offered through programs available on a nondiscriminatory basis to substantially all of the Company’s employees (other than those covered by a collective bargaining agreement).

(4) 

On October 24, 2012, Mr. Katzenberg entered into a new five-year employment agreement with the Company pursuant to which Mr. Katzenberg’s annual salary is $2,500,000. See “Executive Employment Agreements—Employment Agreement with Jeffrey Katzenberg” for a discussion of the material terms.

(5) 

Mr. Katzenberg and Mr. Coleman also serve as directors of the Company. Neither Mr. Katzenberg nor Mr. Coleman received any compensation for his role as a director in 2012.

(6) 

In October 2010, Mr. Coleman received a time-vested cash award that has vested or will vest in four equal installments in October 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

(7) 

On October 24, 2012, Ms. Daly entered into a new five-year employment agreement with the Company pursuant to which Ms. Daly’s annual salary is $1,500,000. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—2012 Compensation Actions—Employment Agreement with Ann Daly” for a discussion of the material terms.

(8) 

In accordance with Ms. Daly’s prior employment agreement, she did not receive any equity awards during the year ended December 31, 2010 because, in connection with entering into her prior employment agreement in 2008, the Compensation Committee granted Ms. Daly a performance compensation award of restricted stock units having a grant-date fair value of $9,000,000.

(9) 

In July 2010, Ms. Globe received a time-vested cash award that has vested or will vest in three equal installments of $500,000 in July 2012, 2013 and 2014. In October 2010, Ms. Globe received an additional time-vested cash award that has vested or will vest in four equal installments of $66,667 in October 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

 

In 2012, our named executive officers’ salaries represented the following approximate percentages of their total compensation: Mr. Katzenberg—7%; Mr. Coleman—63%; Ms. Daly—23%; Ms. Globe—31%; and Mr. Francis—1%.

 

The following table outlines the amounts included in “All Other Compensation” in the Summary Compensation Table for our named executive officers in 2012:

 

ALL OTHER COMPENSATION

 

Name

  Tax\Investment
Consulting(1)
    Legal
Services
    Personal
Security
Services
    Other
Personal
Benefits
    Tax
Reimbursements
    Total All
Other
Compensation
 

Jeffrey Katzenberg

  $ —       $ —       $ 370,331 (2)    $ 5,000 (3)    $ —       $ 375,331   

Chief Executive Officer

           

Lewis W. Coleman

  $ 31,645      $ —        $ —        $ 5,523 (4)    $ 9,702 (5)   $ 46,870   

President and Chief

Financial Officer

           

Ann Daly

  $ 19,300      $ 6,992      $ —        $ 5,126 (6)    $ 3,263 (7)   $ 34,681   

Chief Operating Officer

           

Anne Globe

  $ 19,300      $ —       $ —        $ 5,000 (3)    $ —       $ 24,300   

Chief Marketing Officer

           

Michael Francis

  $ —       $ 28,205     $ —        $ 3,693 (8)   $ 24,233 (9)   $ 56,131   

Chief Global Brand Officer

           

 

(1) 

Represents payments made to a third party for professional tax and personal financial consulting services.

(2) 

Represents the aggregate incremental cost to the Company of providing personal security services to Mr. Katzenberg. Since the Company requires this protection under a comprehensive security program and it is not designed to provide a personal benefit (other than the intended security), the Company does not view these security arrangements as compensation to Mr. Katzenberg. However, in accordance with SEC guidance on this issue, the Company reports these security arrangements as perquisites.

(3) 

Represents $5,000 in 401(k) plan employer matching contributions.

(4) 

Reflects $523 for the aggregate incremental cost of personal, spousal or guest travel and entertainment and $5,000 in 401(k) plan employer matching contributions.

 

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(5) 

Represents a tax gross-up on income imputed to Mr. Coleman by another company (while Mr. Coleman served as a director of such company) as a result of Mr. Coleman using such company’s owned aircraft for travel on DreamWorks-related trips.

(6)

Reflects $126 for the aggregate incremental costs of personal, spousal or guest travel and entertainment and $5,000 in 401(k) plan employer matching contributions.

(7)

Reflects a tax gross-up on income related to legal services provided.

(8)

Represents the aggregate incremental cost to the Company of Mr. Francis’ airfare and other expenses related to travel between the Company’s headquarters in Glendale, California and his residence in Minnesota. In accordance with the definition of perquisites contained in Item 402 of Regulation S-K, we have included the aggregate incremental costs of these trips as a perquisite to Mr. Francis.

(9) 

Reflects a tax gross-up on income related to the items shown as “Legal Services” and “Other Personal Benefits.”

 

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

 

The following Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table accompanies the Summary Compensation Table and provides additional detail regarding of grants of equity awards (such as grants of stock appreciation rights and restricted stock units) and under other compensation arrangements made during 2012:

 

GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS

 

Name and

Principal Position

  Approval
Date(1)
    Grant
Date(1)
    Estimated Future Payouts
Under Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Awards
    Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
    All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock or
Units(#)
    All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options(#)
    Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards
($/Sh)
    Grant
Date Fair
Value of
Stock and
Option
Awards(2)
 
      Threshold
($)
    Target
($)
    Maximum
($)
    Threshold
(#)
    Target
(#)
    Maximum
(#)
         

Jeffrey Katzenberg(3)

    10/24/2012        11/6/2012      $ —        $ —        $ —          —          —          —          158,674        —        $ —        $ 3,374,996   

Chief Executive Officer

    10/24/2012        11/6/2012      $ —        $ —        $ —          26,445        52,891        79,336        —          —        $ —        $ 1,124,992   

Lewis W. Coleman(3)

    10/24/2012        11/6/2012      $ —        $ —        $ —          —          —          —          47,014        —        $ —        $ 999,988   

President and Chief Financial Officer

                       

Ann Daly(3)

    10/24/2012        11/6/2012      $ —        $ —        $ —          —          —          —          123,413        —        $ —        $ 2,624,995   

Chief Operating Officer

    10/24/2012        11/6/2012      $ —        $ —        $ —          20,568        41,137        82,274        —          —        $ —        $ 874,984   
    2/21/2012        2/21/2012      $ 375,000      $ 750,000      $ 1,500,000        —          —          —          —          —        $ —        $ —     

Anne Globe(3)

    10/24/2012        11/6/2012      $ —        $ —        $ —          —          —          —          47,014        —        $ —        $ 999,988   

Chief Marketing Officer

    10/24/2012        11/6/2012      $ —        $ —        $ —          7,835        15,671        31,342        —          —        $ —        $ 333,322   
    2/21/2012        2/21/2012      $ 175,000      $ 350,000      $ 700,000        —          —          —          —          —        $ —        $ —     

Michael Francis(3)

    11/30/2012        12/6/2012      $ —        $ —        $ —          —          —          —          100,446        —        $ —        $ 1,687,493   

Chief Global Brand Officer

    11/30/2012        12/6/2012      $ —        $ —        $ —          16,741        33,482        66,964        —          —        $ —        $ 562,498   

 

(1) 

In accordance with our equity grant policy described in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” our current policy is generally to consider equity awards to the named executive officers at the time of regularly scheduled Compensation Committee meetings, with each grant occurring during the trading window established for Company insiders following the release of quarterly earnings. In addition, the Company granted equity awards to Mr. Francis in connection with his hiring on December 3, 2012.

(2) 

Amounts represent the grant-date fair value of equity awards made in 2012, as computed in accordance with ASC 718, and, in the case of performance-based stock awards, represent “target” level performance.

(3) 

Pursuant to each of these named executive officers’ employment agreements, subject to annual approval by the Compensation Committee, the named executive officers are entitled to receive an annual equity incentive award (in such form of equity-based compensation as the Compensation Committee may determine). For a further discussion of terms of these grants, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”

 

All restricted stock units, restricted stock and performance compensation awards shown in the table were granted under the 2008 Plan. The time-vested stock awards consist of restricted stock or restricted stock units that vest in four equal installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date. The performance compensation awards of restricted stock units made in October 2012 and December 2012 are subject to the achievement of certain performance hurdles based on the Company’s return on equity during the three-year period ending December 31, 2015. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—2012 Compensation Actions—Long-Term Incentive Compensation.” The methodology used by the Compensation Committee in making the awards to the named executive officers is discussed in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Analysis of Executive Compensation Elements.” The vesting of awards may, in certain instances, continue following termination of employment or be accelerated upon certain events. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “—Executive Employment Agreements” for a discussion of the principal terms of our named executive officers’ employment agreements.

 

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For a discussion of additional information necessary to understand the Equity Incentive Plan Awards shown in the above table (including a discussion of the performance criteria established and the actual payouts, if applicable, under such awards), please see the section entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—2012 Compensation Actions—Long-Term Incentive Compensation.”

 

All Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards shown in the table were granted under the 2008 Annual Incentive Plan. For a discussion of additional information necessary to understand such awards (including a discussion of the performance criteria established and actual payouts, if applicable, under such awards), please see the section entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—2012 Compensation Actions—Annual Incentive Awards.”

 

We have entered into an employment agreement with each of our named executive officers. For a further discussion of the employment agreements, please see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Determining Executive Compensation— Use of Employment Agreements and Competitive Assessments in Compensation Determinations” and “—Executive Employment Agreements.”

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

 

The following table sets forth the outstanding equity awards for the named executive officers as of December 31, 2012:

 

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END

 

Name

  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
    Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options (#)
    Option
Exercise
Price
($)
    Option
Expiration
Date
    Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested (#)
    Market
Value of
Shares of
Units of
Stock
That
Have Not
Vested
($)
    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 ($)
 

Jeffrey Katzenberg

    423,214        —          —        $ 28.00        10/27/2014        307,780 (1)    $ 5,099,915        86,885 (2)    $ 1,439,684   

Chief Executive Officer

    800,000        —          —          24.28        5/1/2019           
    134,898 (3)      134,898 (3)      —          35.30        10/29/2020           

Lewis W. Coleman

    13,393        —          —        $ 28.00        10/27/2014        102,952 (4)    $ 1,705,915        36,128 (5)    $ 598,641   

President and Chief Financial Officer

    55,332        —          —          24.85        3/20/2016           
    169,270        —          —          28.80        11/28/2016           
    176,594        —          —          31.37        11/2/2017           
    197,144        —          —          28.10        10/31/2018           
    129,837 (6)      43,280 (6)      —          32.00        10/30/2019           
    36,534 (3)      36,535 (3)      —          35.30        10/29/2020           

Ann Daly

    34,821        —          —        $ 32.31        10/27/2014        160,689 (7)    $ 2,662,617        45,419 (8)    $ 752,593   

Chief Operating Officer

    177,679        —          —          28.00        10/27/2014           
    10,146        —          —          24.64        12/30/2015           
    156,250        —          —          28.80        11/28/2016           
    163,010        —          —          31.37        11/2/2017           

Anne Globe

    868        —          —        $ 32.31        10/27/2014        113,531 (9)    $ 1,881,209        30,068 (10)    $ 498,227   

Chief Marketing Officer

    104,166        —          —          28.80        11/28/2016           
    108,673        —          —          31.37        11/2/2017           
    110,319        —          —          28.10        10/31/2018           
    79,900 (6)      26,634 (6)      —          32.00        10/30/2019           
    22,483 (3)      22,483 (3)      —          35.30        10/29/2020           

Michael Francis

    —          —          —          —          —          100,446 (11)    $ 1,664,390        16,741 (12)    $ 277,398   

Chief Global Brand Officer

                 

 

(1) 

Consists of (i) 149,106 restricted stock units that vest ratably at a rate of 33 1/3% per year on October 28, 2013, 2014 and 2015 and (ii) 158,674 restricted stock units that vest with respect to 39,668, 39,669, 39,668 and 39,669 shares on November 6, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively.

(2) 

Consists of restricted stock units that vest on December 31, 2013 and 2015, subject to the satisfaction of certain performance criteria measured over the three-year period ending December 31, 2013, with respect to the awards that vest on December 31, 2013, and over the three-year period ending December 31, 2015, with respect to the awards that vest on December 31, 2015.

(3)

These grants of stock appreciation rights vest ratably at a rate of 25% per year on October 29, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

(4) 

Consists of (i) 6,348 shares of restricted stock that vest on October 30, 2013, (ii) 9,207 shares of restricted stock that vest with respect to 4,603 and 4,604 shares on October 29, 2013 and 2014, respectively, (iii) 40,383 shares of restricted stock that vest ratably at a rate of 33 1/3% per year on October 28, 2013, 2014 and 2015, and (iv) 47,014 that vest with respect to 11,753, 11,754, 11,753, 11,754 shares on November 6, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively.

(5) 

Consists of restricted stock awards that vest on December 31, 2013 and 2014, subject to the satisfaction of certain performance criteria measured over the three-year period ending December 31, 2013, with respect to the awards that vest on December 31, 2013, and over the three-year period ending December 31, 2014, with respect to the awards that vest on December 31, 2014.

 

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(6) 

These grants of stock appreciation rights vest ratably at a rate of 25% per year on October 30, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

(7) 

Consists of (i) 37,276 restricted stock units that will vest ratably at a rate of 33 1/3% per year on October 28, 2013, 2014 and 2015, and (ii) 123,413 restricted stock units that vest ratably at a rate of 25% per year on November 6, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively.

(8) 

Consists of restricted stock units that vest on December 31, 2014 and 2015, subject to the satisfaction of certain performance criteria measured over the three-year period ending December 31, 2014, with respect to the awards that vest on December 31, 2014, and over the three-year period ending December 31, 2015, with respect to the awards that vest on December 31, 2015.

(9) 

Consists of (i) 3,907 restricted stock units that vest on October 30, 2013, (ii) 32,093 restricted stock units which will vest with respect to 16,045 and 16,048 shares on July 30, 2013 and 2014, respectively, (iii) 5,666 restricted stock units that vest ratably at a rate of 50% per year on October 29, 2013 and 2014, respectively, (iv) 24,851 restricted stock units that vest ratably at a rate of 33 1/3% per year on October 28, 2013, 2014 and 2015, and (v) 47,014 restricted stock units that will vest ratably at a rate of 25% on November 6, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

(10) 

Consists of restricted stock units that vest on December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, subject to the satisfaction of certain performance criteria measured over the three-year period ending December 31, 2013, with respect to the awards that vest on December 31, 2013, over the three-year period ending December 31, 2014, with respect to the awards that vest on December 31, 2014, and over the three-year period ending December 31, 2015, with respect to the awards that vest on December 31, 2015.

(11) 

Consists of 100,446 restricted stock units that will vest ratably at a rate of 25% on December 6, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

(12) 

Consists of restricted stock units that vest on December 31, 2015, subject to the satisfaction of certain performance criteria measured over the three-year period ending December 31, 2015.

 

Options Exercised and Stock Vested

 

The following table sets forth the options which were exercised and the restricted stock units and shares of restricted stock that vested for the named executive officers during 2012:

 

OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED

 

     Option Awards      Stock Awards  

Name

   Number of Shares
Acquired on
Exercise (#)
     Value Realized on
Exercise ($)
     Number of Shares
Acquired on
Vesting (#)
     Value Realized
on Vesting ($)
 

Jeffrey Katzenberg

Chief Executive Officer

     —        $           —          499,701       $ 9,247,920 (1) 

Lewis W. Coleman

President and Chief Financial Officer

     —        $ —          31,639       $ 640,307 (2) 

Ann Daly

Chief Operating Officer

     —        $ —          12,425       $ 252,662 (3) 

Anne Globe

Chief Marketing Officer

     —        $ —          35,516       $ 707,250 (4) 

Michael Francis

Chief Global Brand Officer

     —        $ —          —        $ —    

 

(1) 

Amount based on: (i) 450,000 restricted stock units that vested on May 1, 2012 at a price of $18.305 per share and (ii) 49,701 restricted stock units that vested on October 28, 2012 at a price of $20.335 per share.

(2) 

Amount based on: (i) 13,460 shares of restricted stock that vested on October 28, 2012 at a price of $20.335 per share; (ii) 4,603 shares of restricted stock that vested on October 29, 2012 at a price of $20.335 per share; (iii) 6,347 shares of restricted stock that vested on October 30, 2012 at a price of $20.335 per share; and (iv) 7,229 shares of restricted stock that vested on October 31, 2012 at a price of $19.910 per share.

(3) 

Amount based on 12,425 restricted stock units that vested on October 28, 2012 at a price of $20.335 per share.

(4) 

Amount based on: (i) 16,045 restricted stock units that vested on July 30, 2012 at a price of $19.52 per share; (ii) 8,283 restricted stock units that vested on October 28, 2012 at a price of $20.335 per share; (iii) 2,833 restricted stock units that vested on October 29, 2012 at a price of $20.335 per share; (iv) 3,906 restricted stock units that vested on October 30, 2012 at a price of $20.335 per share; and (v) 4,449 restricted stock units that vested on October 31, 2012 at a price of $19.91 per share.

 

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Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

 

The following table provides information about equity-based awards outstanding and shares of Class A Stock available for future awards under all of our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2012.

 

Plan category

   Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights
(a)(1)
     Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights
(b)(2)
     Number of securities
remaining available
for future issuance
under equity
compensation
plans (excluding
securities reflected
in column (a))
(c)(3)
 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

     12,041,290       $ 29.54         11,075,151   

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

     —          —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     12,041,290       $ 29.54         11,075,151   

 

(1) 

Includes 5,011,567 shares subject to restricted stock units (“RSUs”) or performance compensation awards (at maximum performance levels) that entitle each holder to one share of Class A common stock for each unit or award that vests over the holder’s period of continued service (or, in the case of certain awards to outside directors, upon the director’s departure from the Board) and/or the satisfaction or attainment of specified performance criteria. For purposes of this column, each outstanding SAR is assumed to result in the issuance of one share; however, the actual portion of a share issued upon exercise of a SAR will depend on the stock price at the time of exercise.

(2) 

Calculated without taking into account the 5,011,567 shares of Class A common stock subject to the awards described in footnote 1 and that will become issuable following the vesting of those units and awards, without any cash consideration or other payment required for those shares.

(3) 

As of December 31, 2012, 10,275,151 shares of Class A common stock were available for issuance under the 2008 Plan. Such shares may be issued upon the exercise of stock options or stock appreciation rights granted under the 2008 Plan or pursuant to restricted stock issuances, restricted stock unit awards, performance compensation awards, performance units, deferred share units and other equity-based awards under the 2008 Plan. Includes 800,000 shares of Class A common stock available for issuance under our broad-based, stockholder-approved Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”). The ESPP provides employees with the right to purchase shares in an amount and at a price that are not determined until the end of the specified purchase period. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Company has not granted any purchase rights or issued any shares under the ESPP.

 

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Estimated Executive Benefits and Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

 

The following table reflects the amounts of compensation that would be due to each of our named executive officers pursuant to their respective employment agreements upon termination for good reason, involuntary termination without cause, termination for cause, a change in control of the Company, termination following a change in control of the Company and, in the event of incapacity or disability or death of the executive, as if each of such events had occurred on December 31, 2012. For a discussion of the terms of each executive’s employment agreement as in effect on December 31, 2012, please see “—Executive Employment Agreements.” The amounts shown below are estimates of the payments that each executive officer shown would receive in certain instances. The actual amounts payable will only be determined upon the actual occurrence of any such event.

 

Event

  Jeffrey
Katzenberg
    Lewis W.
Coleman
    Ann
Daly
    Anne
Globe
    Michael
Francis
 

Termination for Good Reason / Involuntary Termination without Cause:

         

Cash severance(1)

  $ 31,290,277 (2)    $ 8,000,000      $ 9,383,074      $ 1,068,946      $ 7,020,000 (2) 

Acceleration of equity and cash-based awards(3)

    8,702,863        3,553,197        4,167,802        4,277,663        2,219,187   

Continuation of medical / welfare benefits and
perquisites(4)

    55,361        178,265        144,832        18,262        53,642   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 40,048,501      $ 11,731,462      $ 13,695,708      $ 5,364,871      $ 9,292,829   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Involuntary Termination for Cause:

         

Cash severance(1)

  $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

Acceleration of equity and cash-based awards(3)

    —         —         —         —         —    

Continuation of medical / welfare benefits and
perquisites(4)

    —         —         —         —         —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Incapacity / Disability:

         

Cash severance(1)

  $ 6,017,361      $ 2,000,000      $ 1,500,000      $ 433,394      $ 1,200,000   

Acceleration of equity and cash-based awards(3)

    7,159,059        2,174,576        1,634,977        1,978,155        601,030   

Continuation of medical / welfare benefits and
perquisites(4)

    55,361        44,566        30,086        18,161        18,339   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 13,231,781      $ 4,219,142      $ 3,165,063      $ 2,429,710      $ 1,819,369   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Death:

         

Cash severance(1)

  $ 2,500,000      $ 2,000,000      $ 1,500,000      $ 862,000      $ 1,200,000   

Acceleration of equity and cash-based awards(3)

    7,159,059        2,174,576        1,634,977        1,978,155        601,030   

Continuation of medical / welfare benefits and
perquisites(4)

    11,500        —         —         —         —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 9,670,559      $ 4,174,576      $ 3,134,977      $ 2,840,155      $ 1,801,030   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change in Control and No Termination:

         

Cash severance(1)

  $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

Acceleration of equity and cash-based awards(3)

    —         —         —          —          —    

Continuation of medical / welfare benefits and
perquisites(4)

    —         —         —          —          —     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ —       $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change in Control and Involuntary Termination or Termination for Good Reason:

         

Cash severance(1)

  $ 31,290,277 (2)    $ 8,000,000      $ 9,383,074      $ 2,126,080      $ 7,020,000 (2) 

Acceleration of equity and cash-based awards(3)

    8,702,863        3,553,197        4,167,802        4,277,663        2,219,187   

Continuation of medical / welfare benefits and
perquisites(4)(5)

    55,361        178,265        144,832        36,322        53,642   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 40,048,501      $ 11,731,462      $ 13,695,708      $ 6,440,065      $ 9,292,829   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) 

Amounts shown do not include any amounts that might be due at the time of payment for accrued and unpaid salary, bonuses, vacation or interest on payments (if any) delayed as a result of Section 409A of the Code.

(2)

Pursuant to their respective employment agreements entered into in 2012, Mr. Katzenberg and Mr. Francis are eligible to receive annual target cash bonuses of $4,000,000 and $1,200,000, respectively, beginning with the 2013 performance year. For purposes of the chart, the respective target amounts have been used to calculate the bonus-related portion of each executive’s cash severance payments. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—2012 Compensation Actions—New Employment Agreement with Jeffrey Katzenberg, “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—2012 Compensation Actions—Employment Agreement with

 

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Michael Francis, “—Executive Employment Agreements—Employment Agreement with Jeffrey Katzenberg” and “—Executive Employment Agreements—Employment Agreements with Other Named Executive Officers” for a complete description of the material terms and conditions of Mr. Katzenberg’s and Mr. Francis’ employment agreements.

(3) 

Calculated using the fair market value of unvested restricted stock and restricted stock units and the in-the-money value of unvested options and SARs as of December 31, 2012. Where applicable for awards with performance-based vesting conditions, the amounts shown have been estimated based upon a stock price of $16.57 per share, the Company’s stock price as of December 31, 2012, and the awards are assumed to be earned at the “target” level.

(4) 

For the named executive officers in the table, the amounts shown consist of, for the period specified in each executive’s employment agreement (i) the continued provision of the tax and investment consulting services and 401(k) plan matching contributions listed in the “All Other Compensation” Table at 2012 levels and (ii) the continued provision of certain health and welfare benefits. With respect to continued health and welfare benefits, the amounts shown (i) have been calculated based upon the Company’s current actual costs of providing the benefits and (ii) have not been discounted for the time value of money. The current annual cost of providing the continued health and welfare benefits to each of our eligible named executive officers is as follows: Jeffrey Katzenberg—$11,500; Lewis Coleman—$44,566; Ann Daly—$30,086; Anne Globe—$18,161; and Michael Francis—$18,339.

(5) 

As disclosed below in the section entitled “—Executive Employment Agreements,” in the event that, within one year following a change in control, a named executive officer is involuntarily terminated or he or she terminates for good reason, the named executive officer will be entitled to receive his or her cash severance payments and benefits for a period equal to the greater of the remaining term of his or her employment agreement and two years.

 

Since each named executive officer’s employment agreement generally provides for the continuation of salary and benefits until the end of the original employment period, payments for cash severance and continued benefits and perquisites will generally be made ratably over the remaining period of an executive’s employment agreement (subject to any delays required pursuant to Section 409A of the Code). Depending upon the termination event, equity and cash-based awards will be accelerated either upon termination or upon the completion of the performance period provided for in the original grant.

 

None of the named executive officers is entitled to excise tax gross-up payments; instead, his or her employment agreement provides for a “best net” approach, whereby the payment is limited to the threshold amount under Section 280G of the Code if the net benefit to the named executive officer would otherwise be greater than receiving the full value and paying the excise tax.

 

Each of Mr. Katzenberg’s, Mr. Coleman’s and Ms. Daly’s employment agreements provides for some form of additional vesting of previously granted equity-based and cash-based compensation awards under certain conditions following expiration of the original term of the employment agreement. Under each of their employment agreements, the officer will be entitled to all equity and cash-based compensation that has vested and, if the officer retires from the Company, the officer’s equity and cash-based compensation that has not vested will become vested, provided that any such compensation will continue to be subject to the achievement of any applicable performance goals. All options and other similar awards will remain exercisable for the remaining original term of the grant. The officer will be considered to have retired from the Company if his or her employment with the Company terminates within 30 days following the end of the term of his or her employment agreement and, as of such date, he or she is 55 years old and the sum of his or her age and years of service with the Company is at least 70. Each of Mr. Katzenberg, Mr. Coleman and Ms. Daly currently satisfies these requirements. If the officer does not retire following the end of the term of his or her employment agreement, his or her outstanding equity and cash-based compensation awards will continue to vest during his or her continued employment in accordance with their terms and any new employment agreement between the officer and the Company. All options, stock appreciation rights and other similar awards would remain exercisable for the remaining original term of the grant. For each of our executive officers mentioned in this paragraph, if his or her employment agreement had expired as of December 31, 2012, the provisions described in this paragraph would have resulted in the following benefits (based, among other things, on the closing stock price as of December 31, 2012):

 

J. Katzenberg

  L. Coleman     A. Daly  
$8,702,863   $ 3,553,197      $ 4,167,802   

 

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Executive Employment Agreements

 

Employment Agreement with Jeffrey Katzenberg

 

On October 24, 2012, we entered into a new employment agreement with Mr. Katzenberg, which supersedes and replaces Mr. Katzenberg’s prior employment agreement, and provides for Mr. Katzenberg’s continued employment with the Company until October 23, 2017. Under Mr. Katzenberg’s employment agreement, his professional services are exclusive to the Company. Mr. Katzenberg’s compensation is described in the Summary Compensation Table. The compensation and benefits payable to Mr. Katzenberg under his new employment agreement (and the principal changes from his prior agreement) are described above under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—2012 Compensation Actions—New Employment Agreement with Jeffrey Katzenberg.” In addition to such compensation and customary benefits, Mr. Katzenberg is entitled to reimbursement for business expenses, including those related to private airplane usage in the performance of his duties and security personnel services.

 

Under Mr. Katzenberg’s employment agreement, following the end of the term of his employment agreement (i.e., October 23, 2017) (provided his employment has not already terminated), in the event Mr. Katzenberg retires, he will be entitled to accelerated vesting of all equity-based awards held by him that are subject to time-based vesting criteria. In the event of retirement, any performance-based equity awards will continue to be subject to the achievement of applicable performance goals, and all options and other similar awards will remain exercisable for the remaining original term of the grant. Mr. Katzenberg will be considered to have retired from the Company if his employment with the Company terminates within 30 days following the end of the term of his employment agreement. See “—Estimated Executive Benefits and Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.” In the event that Mr. Katzenberg does not retire at that time and instead remains employed by the Company, his outstanding equity-based compensation awards will continue to vest during his continued employment in accordance with their terms.

 

Mr. Katzenberg’s employment agreement provides that we may terminate Mr. Katzenberg’s employment with or without cause (as defined in the agreement), and Mr. Katzenberg may terminate his employment for good reason (as defined in the agreement), subject to the Company’s 90-day cure period. For purposes of Mr. Katzenberg’s employment agreement, “cause” is generally defined as:

 

   

conviction of a felony, crimes involving moral turpitude, embezzlement or misappropriation of corporate assets; or

 

   

material breach of the exclusivity, confidentiality and service provisions of the agreement.

 

For purposes of Mr. Katzenberg’s employment agreement, “good reason” is generally defined as:

 

   

material breach of the agreement by the Company; or

 

   

material reduction of his title or duties.

 

If we terminate Mr. Katzenberg’s employment other than for cause, medical disability or death or if Mr. Katzenberg terminates his employment for good reason, we will provide Mr. Katzenberg his base salary and benefits until the expiration of the original term of the employment agreement and, to the extent any cash bonuses have been paid, he will be entitled to an annual cash amount equal to the average annual cash bonuses that have previously paid until the expiration of the employment agreement term. If, within one year following a change in control of the Company, he is involuntarily terminated or terminated for good reason (or his employment agreement expires by its terms), he will receive cash severance payments, for a period equal to the greater of the remaining term of the employment agreement and two years. In addition, all equity-based awards that are subject to time-based vesting will accelerate vesting and such awards will remain exercisable for the remainder of the term of the grant. In the event of termination, all performance-based equity awards will continue to be subject to the achievement of applicable performance goals. For purposes of Mr. Katzenberg’s employment agreement, “medical disability” is generally defined as Mr. Katzenberg’s inability to perform a material portion of his duties for 90 consecutive days as a result of his mental or physical incapacity.

 

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If Mr. Katzenberg’s employment is terminated by us for cause, we will have no further obligations to Mr. Katzenberg under the employment agreement, other than with respect to obligations accrued or vested prior to the date of termination.

 

If Mr. Katzenberg’s employment terminates during the term of the employment agreement as a result of his death or medical disability, Mr. Katzenberg (or his estate or beneficiary) will be entitled to retain all grants of equity-based compensation (whether or not vested) made to him prior to the date of his termination of employment but will not be entitled to receive any grants of equity-based compensation after termination. After termination of employment, subject to the attainment of applicable performance goals, the exercisability or settlement of Mr. Katzenberg’s awards that are subject to performance-based vesting conditions will be determined after the end of the performance period specified in each grant as if Mr. Katzenberg had continued to remain employed throughout the performance period. In the event that performance goals have been attained, Mr. Katzenberg (or his estate or beneficiary) will be entitled to receive or exercise a percentage of each award determined based on the length of time he was employed prior to termination, and he will receive credit as if he worked for an additional 50% of the time remaining on the employment agreement term (except, in the case of performance-based awards, only to the extent that applicable performance goals have been attained). The exercisable portion of any award will remain exercisable for the remaining term of the grant. In the case of a termination for medical disability, Mr. Katzenberg will be entitled to receive 50% of his base salary and all medical, dental, life and other benefits for the remainder of the term of the employment agreement.

 

Mr. Katzenberg’s employment agreement provides that his outstanding equity-based compensation will not accelerate vesting in connection with a change in control unless either (i) the successor company refuses to assume his awards or substitute equivalent awards or (ii) within the one-year period following the change in control, Mr. Katzenberg’s employment is involuntarily terminated by the successor company without cause or Mr. Katzenberg voluntarily terminates employment for good reason. In the event Mr. Katzenberg’s equity-based compensation accelerates in connection with a change in control of the Company, any grants having performance-based criteria will vest on the basis that any target goals rather than premium goals have been achieved. Mr. Katzenberg is not entitled to a gross-up for any excise tax imposed on “excess parachute payments.” Instead, Mr. Katzenberg will either be required to pay the excise tax or have his payments reduced if it would be more favorable to him on an after-tax basis.

 

In our executives’ employment agreements, “change in control” is generally defined as:

 

   

during any period of 14 calendar months, our directors on the first day of such period (the “Incumbent Directors”) no longer constitute a majority of our directors (provided that any director elected upon the recommendation of a majority of the Incumbent Directors will be considered an Incumbent Director);

 

   

the completion of a merger, sale of substantially all of the assets of or similar transaction involving the Company (subject to specified exceptions);

 

   

our stockholders approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution; or

 

   

any person or entity becomes the beneficial owner of 40% of the combined voting power of the Company but only if such combined voting power is greater than the voting securities then owned by Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen.

 

We agreed to indemnify Mr. Katzenberg to the fullest extent permitted by law against any claims or losses arising in connection with Mr. Katzenberg’s service to the Company or any affiliate.

 

Mr. Katzenberg agreed to non-solicitation (continuing for one year following Mr. Katzenberg’s employment) and confidentiality provisions in the agreement.

 

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Employment Agreements with Other Named Executive Officers

 

We have also entered into an employment agreement with each of our other named executive officers. The principal terms of the employment agreements with our other named executive officers, as in effect on December 31, 2012, are described below. In October 2012, we entered into a new employment agreement with Ms. Daly. In December 2012, we entered into an employment agreement with Michael Francis upon his joining the Company. For a description of the compensation and benefits payable under the employment agreements with Ms. Daly and Mr. Francis (and, with respect to Ms. Daly, the principal changes from her prior agreement), see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—2012 Compensation Actions.”

 

The employment agreements with Mr. Coleman, Ms. Daly, Ms. Globe and Mr. Francis terminate on December 31, 2016, October 23, 2017, January 1, 2014 (January 1, 2015 if the Company exercises its option to extend the agreement for one year) and December 3, 2015 (December 3, 2017 if the Company exercises its option to extend the agreement for two years), respectively. In addition to the compensation described in the Summary Compensation Table, executive officers are entitled to business expense reimbursement and to participate in the Company’s benefit plans.

 

The employment agreements provide that we may terminate the executive officer’s employment with or without cause and the executive officer may terminate his or her employment for good reason, subject to the Company’s 90-day cure period. For purposes of these executives’ employment agreements, “good reason” is generally defined as:

 

   

material breach of the agreement by the Company;

 

   

diminution in title or reporting obligation (or, in the case of Ms. Daly and Mr. Francis, duties); or

 

   

the Company requiring that the executive’s principal place of business be anywhere other than the Los Angeles area or, in the case of Mr. Francis, the Company requiring that he render his services exclusively anywhere other than the Minneapolis, Minnesota area; and

 

   

in the case of Ms. Globe, failure to be the Company’s most senior marketing executive and, in the case of Mr. Coleman, not remaining a member of the Board of Directors by reason of action or inaction of the Board of Directors.

 

If we terminate employment other than for cause, incapacity or death, or the executive officer terminates employment for good reason, we will generally continue his or her base salary and benefits until the expiration of the original term of the employment agreement and, to the extent any cash bonuses have been paid, the executive officer will be entitled to an annual cash amount equal to the average annual cash bonuses that have been previously paid until the expiration of the employment agreement term. If, within one year following a change in control of the Company, the executive officer is involuntarily terminated or terminates for good reason (or, in the case of Ms. Daly and Mr. Francis, if his or her employment agreement expires by its terms), the executive officer will receive cash severance payments for a period equal to the greater of the remaining term of his or her employment agreement and two years. In addition, all time-vested equity-based compensation held by the executive officer will accelerate vesting and remain exercisable for the remainder of the term of the grant. With respect to equity grants having performance-based vesting criteria, depending on the date of grant the awards will either accelerate vesting on the basis that any target goals have been achieved or the awards will remain outstanding and will vest at the end of the performance period based upon the actual achievement of the applicable performance criteria.

 

If the executive officer’s employment is terminated for cause, the executive officer will be entitled to payment for any unpaid base salary and any additional non-contingent cash compensation earned prior to termination (including any equity-based compensation that has vested).

 

If the executive officer’s employment is terminated during the term of the employment agreement as a result of incapacity, the executive officer will be entitled to receive (i) 50% of the executive officer’s base salary for the

 

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shorter of the remainder of the employment agreement term or two years, (ii) any additional compensation (including equity-based compensation) that is vested on the date of termination, (iii) any other accrued benefits and (iv) continued medical, dental, life insurance and certain other benefits for 12 months following termination of employment. In addition, the executive officer will be entitled to retain all grants of equity-based compensation (whether or not vested) made to the executive officer prior to the date of the termination of employment. After termination of employment, the exercisability or settlement of equity awards subject to the grants will be determined promptly (or, in the case of grants having performance-based vesting criteria, after the end of the performance period specified in each grant as if the executive had continued to remain employed throughout the performance period). The executive officer will be entitled to receive or exercise a percentage of each award determined based on the length of time he or she was employed prior to termination (in the case of awards having performance-based vesting criteria, subject to attainment of the applicable performance goals), and the executive officer will receive credit for the shorter of (A) an additional year of service or (B) 50% of the remaining term of the agreement. The exercisable portion of any award will remain exercisable for the remaining term of the grant.

 

If the executive officer’s employment terminates during the term of the employment agreement as a result of death, the executive officer’s estate or beneficiary will generally be entitled to receive 12 months of additional base salary and equity-based compensation determined as in the case of incapacity above.

 

Following the end of the term of Mr. Coleman’s and Ms. Daly’s respective employment agreements (provided his or her employment has not already terminated), each agreement provides that the executive will be entitled to all equity-based compensation that has vested and, if he or she retires from the Company, his or her equity-based compensation that has not vested will become vested, provided that any such compensation will continue to be subject to the achievement of any applicable performance goals. All options and other similar awards will remain exercisable for the remaining original term of the grant. The executive will be considered to have retired from the Company if his or her employment with the Company terminates within 30 days following the end of the term of the employment agreement and, as of such date, he or she is 55 years old and the sum of his or her age and years of service with the Company is at least 70. Each of Mr. Coleman and Ms. Daly has satisfied this requirement. If the executive does not retire following the end of the term of his or her current employment agreement, his or her outstanding equity-based compensation awards will continue to vest during his or her continued employment in accordance with their terms and any new employment agreement between the executive and the Company. See “—Estimated Executive Benefits and Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”

 

Pursuant to the executive officers’ employment agreements, outstanding equity-based compensation will not accelerate vesting in connection with a change in control unless either (i) the successor company refuses to assume the executive’s awards or substitute equivalent awards or (ii) within the one-year period following the change in control, the executive’s employment is involuntarily terminated by the successor company without cause or the executive voluntarily terminates employment for good reason. In the event such equity-based compensation accelerates in connection with a change in control of the Company, any grants having performance-based vesting criteria will vest on the basis that any target goals rather than premium goals have been achieved.

 

We have agreed to indemnify each executive officer to the fullest extent permitted by law, against any claims or losses arising in connection with such executive officer’s service to the Company or any affiliate.

 

In addition, Mr. Coleman, Ms. Globe and Mr. Francis have each agreed to non-solicitation provisions in their respective agreements for one year following employment and Ms. Daly has agreed to non-solicitation provisions in her agreement for two years following employment and to non-competition provisions for one year following employment. Each executive officer has agreed to confidentiality provisions in his or her agreement.

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

Related Party Transaction Policy

 

Our Board of Directors has adopted a written related party transaction policy, which is administered by the Audit Committee. This policy applies to any transaction or series of transactions in which the Company is a participant, the amount involved exceeds or is expected to exceed $100,000 in any calendar year and any related person has a direct or indirect interest. For purposes of the policy, “related persons” consist of executive officers or directors, any stockholder beneficially owning more than 5% of the Company’s common stock or immediate family members of any such persons. Under the policy, the Audit Committee will review all applicable related party transactions for approval, ratification or other action. In reviewing any related party transaction, the Audit Committee will take into account any factors that it deems appropriate, including whether the transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the related party’s interest in the transaction. The Board of Directors or Audit Committee may refer the evaluation of any related party transaction to the Company’s independent directors (or a special committee comprised of independent directors). No director will participate in any discussion or approval of any transaction in which the director is an interested party. With the exception of the transactions described under “Use of Private Aircraft,” “License Agreement with Entities Controlled by Steven Spielberg,” “Services from Entities Controlled by Steven Spielberg” and “Consulting Agreement with David Geffen,” the related-party transactions discussed below were entered into before adoption of such written policy.

 

Use of Private Aircraft

 

From time to time, the Company uses private aircraft which are owned partially or completely by certain of our executive officers and significant stockholders. We make payments to these individuals (or entities controlled by them) for the cost of using private aircraft while traveling on Company business.

 

In June 2008, we entered into an aircraft sublease agreement (which was subsequently amended and restated in April 2009) with an entity controlled by Mr. Katzenberg for use of an aircraft that such entity leases from the aircraft owner, a company which in 2012 was jointly owned indirectly by Mr. Katzenberg and Steven Spielberg (who beneficially owns more than 5% of the Company’s outstanding Class A Stock). Under this sublease, the Company pays all aircraft operating expenses on Mr. Katzenberg’s Company-related flights. In addition, during 2012 in the event that Mr. Katzenberg used this aircraft for Company-related travel more than a specified number of hours (which was 32 hours beginning as of June 2012), the Company was obligated to pay the subleasing entity a specified hourly rate (depending on the number of passengers traveling on Company business), less the fuel expense and flight attendant costs for those flight hours. The Company paid or reimbursed Mr. Katzenberg an aggregate of approximately $20,058 under the sublease arrangement for flights occurring in 2012.

 

In October 2008, the Company entered into a time sharing agreement for use of an aircraft that is owned indirectly by Steven Spielberg. Under this agreement, if one of the Company’s executives uses the aircraft for Company business, the Company pays an hourly rate equal to two times the fuel cost, plus certain enumerated expenses such as landing fees, crew travel costs and catering. Beginning in 2010, the aircraft is permitted to operate as a standard charter service. As a result, the Company’s use of this aircraft is now generally pursuant to a customary charter arrangement, under which the Company pays an hourly rate as well as certain additional charges, such as crew expenses, catering and landing fees. The Company paid $936,138 to use this aircraft for flights occurring during 2012.

 

From time to time, the Company uses a private aircraft that is owned by David Geffen, a significant stockholder and former director, for Company business. The Company’s use of this aircraft is pursuant to a customary charter arrangement, under which the Company pays an hourly rate as well as certain additional charges, such as crew expenses, catering and landing fees. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Company had paid an aggregate of approximately $659,185 for flights occurring on this aircraft during 2012.

 

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License Agreement with Entities Controlled by Steven Spielberg

 

In August 2009, the Company entered into a License Agreement (the “Spielberg License Agreement”) with a number of entities owned and controlled by Steven Spielberg. Under the Spielberg License Agreement, the Company has granted the entities the exclusive right to use the DreamWorks name and trademark in connection with live-action films and television intended for adult audiences and a nonexclusive right for live-action films intended for family audiences. The Spielberg License Agreement has a term of the earlier of six years or 30 films produced by the entities, although the Company is permitted to terminate the agreement at any time after four years. As part of the Spielberg License Agreement, Mr. Spielberg has agreed that any feature animation projects developed by him will be exclusively offered under the DreamWorks Animation name. The license has been granted on a royalty-free basis to the entities. Among other provisions, the Spielberg License Agreement contains restrictions on the release of films by these entities using the DreamWorks name on the same date as, or near, the release of a DreamWorks Animation film. In August 2010, the Spielberg License Agreement was amended to, among other things, approve one of the entities as a sublicensee under the Spielberg License Agreement in connection with the production, distribution and other exploitation of certain television motion pictures. In December 2011, the Spielberg License Agreement was further amended to, among other things, incorporate a mechanism pursuant to which the Company has the right, but not the obligation, to approve certain exceptions to the limited permitted uses of the Company’s licensed trademarks, service marks and trade names pursuant to the Spielberg License Agreement.

 

Services from Entities Controlled by Steven Spielberg

 

During 2012, the Company received casting and other services from entities controlled by Steven Spielberg. The Company paid approximately $943,873 for the services provided during 2012.

 

Consulting Agreement with David Geffen

 

On July 23, 2010, the Company entered into a consulting agreement with The David Geffen Company, pursuant to which David Geffen provides consulting services to the Company with respect to the Company’s operations, overall direction, projects and strategic matters. Mr. Geffen receives $2.0 million annually for these services and is entitled to be reimbursed for reasonable travel and other expenses in the performance of his duties. The term of the agreement expires in July 2013, although either party may terminate the agreement at any time upon notice to the other party. The Company paid The David Geffen Company an aggregate of $2.0 million for services in 2012 under this agreement.

 

Agreements Between DreamWorks Studios and DreamWorks Animation

 

Prior to October 27, 2004 (the “Separation Date”), we operated as a business division of DreamWorks LLC (“DreamWorks Studios”). On the Separation Date, we entered into a separation agreement (the “Separation Agreement”) for the purpose of establishing us as a separate stand-alone entity (the “Separation”). We also entered into a number of other agreements with DreamWorks Studios establishing the terms of our relationships with DreamWorks Studios.

 

In January 2006, in connection with the acquisition of DreamWorks Studios by Viacom Inc. and certain of its affiliates (“Viacom”) (including Paramount Pictures and its affiliated entities (“Paramount”)), certain agreements and relationships between DreamWorks Animation and DreamWorks Studios were amended, modified or terminated. In general, these amendments, modifications or terminations were effective for periods beginning after January 31, 2006. Where applicable, such changes are noted in the following related-party transaction descriptions.

 

Separation Agreement

 

The Separation Agreement sets forth the agreements among DreamWorks Animation, DreamWorks Studios and DreamWorks Animation L.L.C. regarding the principal transactions required to effect the Separation and other agreements governing DreamWorks Animation’s relationship with DreamWorks Studios.

 

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The Separation.    To effect the Separation, DW Funding, a wholly owned subsidiary of DreamWorks Studios that was formed for the express purpose of purchasing assets used in connection with its securitization facility, transferred to DreamWorks Studios its animation film library and related film assets, free from any encumbrances in connection with the DW Funding film securitization facility. Following such transfer, DreamWorks Studios transferred to DreamWorks Animation L.L.C., among other things:

 

   

its animated theatrical films and direct-to-video films (excluding any animated films released or intended for release under the Go Fish Pictures logo);

 

   

all intellectual property relating to the animated films;

 

   

all contracts, leases, other documents and other assets primarily relating to the animated films; and

 

   

its 99% interest in DreamWorks Post-Production LLC, an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of DreamWorks Studios, formed to establish and maintain certain union affiliations.

 

In return for such transfer, DreamWorks Animation L.L.C. assumed all liabilities primarily related to the animation business, whether arising before, on or after October 27, 2004, as well certain other indebtedness.

 

Except as expressly set forth in any ancillary agreement, all assets were transferred on an “as is,” “where is” basis, and the respective transferees agreed to bear the economic and legal risks that any conveyance was insufficient to vest in the transferee good and marketable title, free and clear of any security interest and that any necessary consents or approvals were not obtained or that requirements of laws or judgments were not complied with.

 

Releases and Indemnification.    The Separation Agreement provides for a full and complete release and discharge of all liabilities between DreamWorks Studios and DreamWorks Animation, and its respective subsidiaries, except as expressly set forth in the Separation Agreement. The liabilities released or discharged include liabilities arising under any contractual agreements or arrangements existing or alleged to exist between or among any such entities on or before the consummation of DreamWorks Animation’s October 2004 IPO.

 

DreamWorks Animation also agreed to indemnify, hold harmless and defend DreamWorks Studios, its members, each of their respective affiliates and each of their respective directors, officers and employees from and against all liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from:

 

   

DreamWorks Animation’s failure or the failure of any of its affiliates (other than DreamWorks Studios or any of its members) or any other person or entity to pay, perform or otherwise promptly discharge any assumed liabilities in accordance with their respective terms;

 

   

any material breach by DreamWorks Animation or any of its affiliates of the Separation Agreement or any of the ancillary agreements (that does not contain its own indemnification provisions); and

 

   

any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated in the registration statement or the prospectus relating to the IPO or necessary to make the statements in the registration statement or the prospectus relating to the IPO not misleading, with respect to all information contained in or incorporated by reference in such registration statement or prospectus or any other document DreamWorks Animation filed with the SEC or otherwise used in connection with the IPO, except for any information exclusively related to DreamWorks Studios supplied in writing by DreamWorks Studios.

 

DreamWorks Studios agreed to indemnify, hold harmless and defend DreamWorks Animation, each of its affiliates and each of its respective directors, officers and employees from and against all liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from:

 

   

the failure of DreamWorks Studios or any affiliate of DreamWorks Studios or any other person or entity to pay, perform or otherwise promptly discharge any excluded liabilities; and

 

   

any material breach by DreamWorks Studios or any of its affiliates of the Separation Agreement or any of the ancillary agreements (that does not contain its own indemnification provisions).

 

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The Separation Agreement also specifies procedures with respect to claims subject to indemnification and related matters.

 

Vulcan Stockholder Agreement

 

DreamWorks Animation has entered into a stockholder agreement with DWA Escrow LLLP (“Holdco”), M&J K B Limited Partnership (a limited partnership controlled by Jeffrey Katzenberg), M&J K Dream Limited Partnership (a limited partnership controlled by Jeffrey Katzenberg), certain of Jeffrey Katzenberg’s estate-planning vehicles, DG-DW, L.P. (a limited partnership controlled by David Geffen), DWI II, Jeffrey Katzenberg, David Geffen and Paul Allen (who was formerly a director and significant stockholder). The Vulcan stockholder agreement covers matters of corporate governance, share transfer restrictions, conversion of Class B Stock and standstill arrangements.

 

Term

 

The Vulcan stockholder agreement will terminate upon the later of the conversion of all outstanding Class B Stock into Class A Stock and October 27, 2009. In addition, the Vulcan stockholder agreement provides that the Vulcan stockholder agreement will terminate with respect to Paul Allen and entities controlled by Paul Allen if Paul Allen and entities controlled by Paul Allen cease to beneficially own in the aggregate at least 5% of DreamWorks Animation’s outstanding Common Stock. The Company was previously informed that Paul Allen and entities controlled by him ceased to own any shares of DreamWorks Animation Stock prior to December 31, 2008. In October 2012, David Geffen and entities controlled by him voluntarily converted all of the shares of Class B Stock that they then held into an equivalent number of shares of Class A Stock. As a result, the rights and obligations of the Vulcan stockholder agreement (including those described below) terminated with respect to Mr. Geffen and such entities as of the time of such conversion.

 

Corporate Governance

 

The Vulcan stockholder agreement provides that the Board of Directors shall consist of a number of directors determined in accordance with DreamWorks Animation’s restated certificate of incorporation and shall be composed of:

 

   

DreamWorks Animation’s Chief Executive Officer;

 

   

one individual designated by Jeffrey Katzenberg or entities controlled by him, for so long as he controls an entity that holds Class B Stock (while Jeffrey Katzenberg is DreamWorks Animation’s Chief Executive Officer, he is deemed to be such designee);

 

   

one individual designated by David Geffen, for so long as he controls an entity that holds Class B Stock; and

 

   

such number of individuals selected by the Nominating and Governance Committee (or as described in the following paragraph) as will bring the total number of directors to the number of directors that constitute the “entire Board” (as defined in DreamWorks Animation’s restated certificate of incorporation).

 

If entities controlled by Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen holding of record shares of Common Stock representing a majority of the total voting power of the Common Stock held of record by entities controlled by Jeffrey Katzenberg or David Geffen so direct, then other entities controlled by Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen will vote all of their Common Stock to remove any director. In the event of any vacancy in the office of director as a result of such a vote, such stockholders will vote all of their Common Stock for the filling of such vacancy as entities controlled by Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen holding of record shares of Common Stock representing a majority of the total voting power of the Common Stock held of record by entities controlled by Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen so direct (but in accordance with the board composition requirements set forth above).

 

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Agreement to Convert

 

The Vulcan stockholder agreement provides that from and after the first date on which the total number of outstanding shares of Class B Stock is less than 50% of the number of shares of Class B Stock outstanding immediately after the final allocation of shares by Holdco (excluding conversions of shares of Class B Stock pledged to secure DreamWorks Studios’ revolving credit facility and excluding conversions by Holdco in connection with the final allocation of shares held by Holdco), if the Class B stockholder group controlled by Jeffrey Katzenberg or the Class B stockholder group controlled by David Geffen ceases to hold at least 50% of the number of shares of Class B Stock held by such group immediately after the final allocation of shares by Holdco, such Class B stockholder will be permitted to transfer its remaining shares of Class B Stock to any other Class B stockholder that continues to hold at least 50% of the number of shares of Class B Stock it held immediately after the final allocation of shares by Holdco, in accordance with the right of first offer procedures described below under “—Class B Stockholder Agreement—Restrictions on Transfer and Conversion—Right of First Offer.” Following compliance with the right of first offer procedures, such Class B stockholder will immediately convert all of its remaining shares of Class B Stock into Class A Stock.

 

Class B Stockholder Agreement

 

Holdco, M&J K B Limited Partnership, M&J K Dream Limited Partnership, certain of Jeffrey Katzenberg’s estate-planning vehicles, DG-DW, L.P., Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen have entered into a stockholder agreement. The Class B stockholder agreement covers restrictions on transfer and conversion of Class B Stock, as described below.

 

Term

 

The Class B stockholder agreement will terminate when all outstanding shares of Class B Stock have been converted to Class A Stock, and the rights and obligations of each party to the Class B stockholder agreement will terminate upon the date on which such party ceases to hold of record any shares of Class B Stock in accordance with the terms of the Class B stockholder agreement. In October 2012, David Geffen and entities controlled by him voluntarily converted all of the shares of Class B Stock that they then held into an equivalent number of shares of Class A Stock. As a result, the rights and obligations of the Class B stockholder agreement (including those described below) terminated with respect to Mr. Geffen and such entities as of the time of such conversion.

 

Restrictions on Transfer and Conversion

 

Generally, without the consent of the Class B stockholders controlled by Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen, each party to the Class B stockholder agreement has agreed not to:

 

   

transfer, other than pursuant to the right of first offer procedures (or special call right procedures, if applicable) described below, any shares of Class B Stock (or shares of Class A Stock into which such shares of Class B Stock have been converted) held of record by such party, other than:

 

   

certain de minimis transfers described below;

 

   

transfers upon foreclosure with respect to of any Common Stock pledged to secure DreamWorks Studios’ credit facility;

 

   

transfers by entities controlled by David Geffen of Class A Stock to a charitable foundation, a charity or a not-for-profit organization;

 

   

transfers to any other holder of Class B Stock that is controlled by Jeffrey Katzenberg or David Geffen;

 

   

transfers to either Jeffrey Katzenberg or David Geffen;

 

   

transfers by entities controlled by Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen to other entities controlled by the relevant principal, including estate-planning vehicles, so long as the transferee becomes a party to the Class B stockholder agreement and the Vulcan stockholder agreement;

 

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transfers pursuant to an agreement providing for a merger, consolidation, share exchange, tender offer or similar transaction involving DreamWorks Animation or any of its subsidiaries which is recommended by the Board of Directors at the time it is entered into, which is available to all holders of DreamWorks Animation’s Common Stock and in which equivalent consideration (as defined in DreamWorks Animation’s restated certificate of incorporation) is offered in respect of each share of Common Stock;

 

   

the pledge of Common Stock to the lenders under DreamWorks Studios’ revolving credit facility; and

 

   

transfers pursuant to a bona fide third-party tender offer or exchange offer which is recommended by the Board of Directors or publicly endorsed by each of Jeffrey Katzenberg or David Geffen (to the extent he controls a holder of Class B Stock at such time), which is made to all holders of Common Stock and in which equivalent consideration (as defined in DreamWorks Animation’s restated certificate of incorporation) is offered in respect of each share of Common Stock; or

 

   

convert any shares of Class B Stock beneficially owned by such party into shares of Class A Stock (other than in connection with the exceptions described above).

 

In addition, entities controlled by David Geffen have agreed for so long as Jeffrey Katzenberg is the chief executive officer not to convert any shares of Class B Stock or transfer any Common Stock without the consent of Jeffrey Katzenberg if such conversion or transfer would result in the total voting power of Jeffrey Katzenberg, David Geffen and entities controlled by them falling below 51% (disregarding any transfers by entities controlled by Jeffrey Katzenberg prior to such time). Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon any permitted conversion or transfer of Common Stock by entities controlled by Jeffrey Katzenberg, entities controlled by David Geffen may convert or transfer Common Stock representing up to the same percentage of total voting power as had been converted or transferred by the Katzenberg entities prior to such time.

 

De Minimis Transfers. Each party to the Class B stockholder agreement is entitled to make one or more transfers of less than 5,000 shares of Class A Stock; provided that with respect to any party, the aggregate number of shares of Class A Stock transferred pursuant to such “de minimis transfers” during any three-month period may not exceed 25,000.

 

Right of First Offer. Generally, any transfer or conversion of Class B Stock, other than the permitted transfers described above under “—Restrictions on Transfer and Conversion” and other than certain involuntary conversions of Class B Stock under DreamWorks Animation’s restated certificate of incorporation that are subject to the special call rights described below, is subject to a right of first offer to each Class B stockholder controlled by Jeffrey Katzenberg or David Geffen. Upon any such transfer, the transferring party must make an irrevocable offer to each Class B stockholder controlled by Jeffrey Katzenberg or David Geffen (if not the transferring party) to sell all (but not less than all) of the Common Stock to be transferred at the price set by the transferring stockholder in the case of a proposed private placement, or the current market value, in all other cases. If the Class B stockholders controlled by Jeffrey Katzenberg or David Geffen do not respond to the offer notice within the required response time period or elect not to purchase the offered Class B Stock, the transferring stockholder is free to transfer the offered Class B Stock in the form of Class A Stock or to convert the Class B Stock, as applicable.

 

Special Call Right. Any conversion of Class B Stock into Class A Stock under DreamWorks Animation’s restated certificate of incorporation as a result of the death of Jeffrey Katzenberg or David Geffen or a judgment of a governmental entity or other involuntary action which results in Jeffrey Katzenberg or David Geffen (as applicable) ceasing to control the relevant holder of Class B Stock (including any such conversion of Class B Stock held by Holdco that the applicable principal would have been entitled to receive pursuant to the Holdco partnership agreement) is subject to a special call right of the remaining holders of Class B Stock that are controlled by the other principal. Following any such involuntary conversion, such remaining holders of Class B Stock will have five days to exercise their right to purchase all or a portion of such shares of Class A Stock at the current market price. If such remaining holders of Class B Stock exercise their special call right, the purchased

 

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shares of Class A Stock will automatically convert back into shares of Class B Stock upon their transfer (within a specified period) to such remaining holders of Class B Stock.

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

Demand Registration Rights.    The registration rights agreement provides that DreamWorks Animation can be required to effect registrations of Class A Stock upon the request of entities controlled by Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg or David Geffen.

 

DreamWorks Animation is required to pay the registration expenses in connection with each demand registration. DreamWorks Animation may decline to honor any of these demand registrations if the size of the offering does not reach a defined threshold or if it has effected a registration within the preceding six months. If DreamWorks Animation furnishes to the stockholder requesting a demand registration a board resolution stating that in the good-faith judgment of the Board of Directors it would be significantly disadvantageous to DreamWorks Animation for a registration statement to be filed or maintained effective, DreamWorks Animation is entitled to withdraw (or decline to file) such registration statement for a period not to exceed 180 days.

 

If a majority of the joint-lead bookrunning underwriters in a demand registration advise DreamWorks Animation that the number of securities offered to the public needs to be reduced, first priority for inclusion in the demand registration is given to the holder requesting the demand registration, then pro rata to other parties to the registration rights agreement who have requested to have their securities included in the registration and then to securities requested by DreamWorks Animation to be included in the registration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all securities of the requesting holder will be included in the applicable demand registration.

 

Piggyback Registration Rights.    In addition to its obligations with respect to demand registrations, if DreamWorks Animation proposes to register any of its securities, other than a registration (1) on Form S-8 or S-4, (2) relating to equity securities in connection with employee benefit plans, (3) in connection with an acquisition by DreamWorks Animation of another entity or (4) pursuant to a demand registration, DreamWorks Animation will give each stockholder party to the registration rights agreement the right to participate in such registration. Expenses relating to these registrations are required to be paid by DreamWorks Animation. If a majority of the joint-lead bookrunning underwriters in a piggyback registration advise DreamWorks Animation that the number of securities offered to the public needs to be reduced, first priority for inclusion in the piggyback registration will be given to DreamWorks Animation and then pro rata to the piggybacking holders.

 

Holdback Agreements.    If any registration of Class A Stock is in connection with an underwritten public offering, each holder of unregistered Class A Stock party to the registration rights agreement will agree not to effect any public sale or distribution of any Class A Stock during the seven days prior to, and during the 90-day period beginning on, the effective date of such registration statement and will also agree to enter into a customary lock-up with the underwriters of such offering (not to exceed six months from the date of consummation of such offering). DreamWorks Animation will enter into a similar agreement, except that it will be permitted to effect a sale or distribution of Class A Stock in connection with a merger or consolidation, in connection with certain acquisitions and in connection with employee stock ownership or other similar benefit plans.

 

Tax Receivable Agreement

 

At the time of the Separation, entities controlled by Paul Allen entered into a series of transactions that resulted in a partial increase in the tax basis of DreamWorks Animation’s tangible and intangible assets (the “Tax Basis Increase”). The Tax Basis Increase is expected to reduce the amount of tax that the Company may pay in the future to the extent we generate taxable income in sufficient amounts in the future. We are obligated to remit to Paul Allen’s affiliate 85% of any such cash savings in U.S. Federal income tax and California franchise tax and certain other related tax benefits, subject to repayment if it is determined that these savings should not have been available to the Company. At the time of the Separation, the Tax Basis Increase was $1.61 billion, resulting in a potential tax benefit to the Company of approximately $595.0 million, that is expected to be realized over 15 years if we generate sufficient taxable income.

 

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The Company made cash payments of $14.2 million (net of refunds) to the stockholder’s affiliate in 2012 related to tax benefits realized in 2012 from the Tax Basis Increase. Accordingly, the Company has recorded a liability to the stockholder’s affiliate of $277.6 million as of December 31, 2012. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Company has paid $26.7 million of such liability and the remainder will become payable over the next several years. To the extent that the Company does not realize all of these tax benefits in future years, this liability to the stockholder’s affiliate may be reduced. While the actual amount and timing of any payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement will vary depending upon a number of factors, DreamWorks Animation expects that, as a result of the size of the increase in the tax basis in its tangible and intangible assets, during the approximately 15-year average amortization period (which in certain circumstances could extend beyond such 15-year period) for such increased basis, the payments that may be made to an entity controlled by Paul Allen could be substantial.

 

Share Withholding Arrangement

 

In connection with the Separation, DreamWorks Animation converted equity-based awards in DreamWorks Studios held by its and DreamWorks Studios’ employees into equity-based awards in Class A Stock, including options, restricted stock and restricted stock units. DreamWorks Studios’ employees incur tax obligations when they exercise or settle their equity-based awards and receive shares of Class A Stock. Pursuant to the Separation Agreement, DreamWorks Studios is responsible for withholding taxes from its employees and remitting the withheld taxes to the government. Such employees can elect to pay the tax due or request DreamWorks Animation to withhold a number of shares equal to the tax owed, with the withheld shares remaining as treasury stock. On March 23, 2005, DreamWorks Animation and DreamWorks Studios entered into an agreement whereby DreamWorks Animation has agreed to pay to DreamWorks Studios an amount of cash equal to its employees’ tax withholding obligations with respect to the exercise or settlement of equity-based awards by DreamWorks Studios employees who elect to have shares withheld by DreamWorks Animation to satisfy their tax obligations.

 

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REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

 

The following report of the Audit Committee does not constitute soliciting material and shall not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any other filing by DreamWorks Animation under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

The Audit Committee provides assistance to the Board of Directors in fulfilling its legal and fiduciary obligations in matters involving DreamWorks Animation’s accounting, auditing, financial reporting, internal control and legal compliance functions by approving the services performed by DreamWorks Animation’s independent registered public accountants and reviewing their reports regarding DreamWorks Animation’s accounting practices and systems of internal accounting controls as set forth in a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. DreamWorks Animation’s management is responsible for preparing DreamWorks Animation’s financial statements and the independent registered public accountants are responsible for auditing those financial statements. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the conduct of these activities by DreamWorks Animation’s management and the independent registered public accountants.

 

In this context, the Audit Committee has met and held discussions with management and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the independent registered public accountants for the year ended December 31, 2012. Management represented to the Audit Committee that DreamWorks Animation’s consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the consolidated financial statements with management and the independent registered public accountants.

 

The Audit Committee has discussed with the independent registered public accountants matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended (AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1. AU section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) in Rule 3200T. The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accountants required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with such accountants their independence. Additionally, the Audit Committee considered whether the provision of non-audit services was compatible with maintaining such accountants’ independence. The Audit Committee has discussed with management the procedures for selection of consultants and the related competitive bidding practices and fully considered whether those services provided by the independent registered public accountants are compatible with maintaining such accountants’ independence.

 

The Audit Committee has discussed with DreamWorks Animation’s independent registered public accountants, with and without management present, their evaluations of DreamWorks Animation’s internal accounting controls and the overall quality of DreamWorks Animation’s financial reporting.

 

In reliance on the reviews and discussions with management and the independent registered public accountants referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board has approved, the inclusion of the audited financial statements in DreamWorks Animation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, for filing with the SEC.

 

THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

 

Michael Montgomery, Chairman

Harry “Skip” Brittenham

 

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OTHER MATTERS

 

DreamWorks Animation knows of no other matters to be submitted to the Annual Meeting. If any other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy to vote the shares they represent in their discretion.

 

It is important that your shares be represented at the Annual Meeting, regardless of the number of shares you hold. You are, therefore, urged to execute and return, at your earliest convenience, the accompanying proxy in the envelope which has been enclosed.

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Glendale, California

April 10, 2013

 

DreamWorks Animation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 is being mailed with this Proxy Statement. DreamWorks Animation will provide copies of the Annual Report on Form 10-K and, for a reasonable fee per page, all exhibits to the Annual Report on Form 10-K to any stockholder requesting them. Stockholders may make such request in writing to DreamWorks Animation at 1000 Flower Street, Glendale, California 91201, Attention: Corporate Secretary. The request must include a representation by the stockholder that, as of April 2, 2013, the stockholder was entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

 

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Annex A

 

DREAMWORKS ANIMATION SKG, INC.

2013 ANNUAL INCENTIVE PLAN

 

SECTION 1. Purpose. The purpose of the DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. 2013 Annual Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is to provide annual performance-based incentive compensation opportunities to eligible employees of the Company (as defined below) and its Affiliates (as defined below) who are in a position to contribute materially to the success of the Company and its Affiliates.

 

SECTION 2. Definitions.

 

(a) “162(m) Award” means an Award intended to qualify as “qualified performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m).

 

(b) “2008 Omnibus Plan” means the DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. 2008 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time.

 

(c) “Affiliate” means (i) any entity that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by, controls or is under common control with, the Company and/or (ii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, in either case as determined by the Committee.

 

(d) “Award” means an award made pursuant to the Plan.

 

(e) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(f) “Change of Control” has the meaning set forth in the 2008 Omnibus Plan.

 

(g) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(h) “Committee” means the compensation committee of the Board, or such other committee of the Board as may be designated by the Board to administer the Plan.

 

(i) “Company” means DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc., together with any successor thereto.

 

(j) “Employee” means an employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates.

 

(k) “Participant” means an Employee selected from time to time by the Committee to participate in the Plan.

 

(l) “Performance Criteria” means the criterion or criteria that the Committee shall select for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal(s) for a Plan Year with respect to any Award under the Plan.

 

(m) “Performance Formula” means, for a Plan Year, one or more objective formulas applied against the relevant Performance Goal to determine, with regard to the Award of a particular Participant, whether all, some portion but less than all, or none of the Award has been earned for the Plan Year.

 

(n) “Performance Goal” means, for a Plan Year, one or more goals established by the Committee for the Plan Year based upon the Performance Criteria.

 

(o) “Plan Year” means any calendar year during which the Plan is in effect.

 

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(p) “Section 162(m)” means Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(q) “Subsidiary” means any entity in which the Company, directly or indirectly, possesses fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of its stock.

 

(r) “Treasury Regulations” means all proposed, temporary and final regulations promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).

 

SECTION 3. Eligibility. All present and future Employees shall be eligible to receive Awards under the Plan.

 

SECTION 4. Provisions Applicable to All Awards. (a) Maximum Annual Plan Limit. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the aggregate maximum amount payable under the Plan to any Participant in any Plan Year shall not exceed $20,000,000.

 

(b) Performance Goals. The Committee shall establish the Performance Goals for the Company and the Participants, as applicable, each Plan Year. The Committee shall also determine the extent to which each applicable Performance Criterion shall be weighted in determining weightings from Participant to Participant, Award to Award and Plan Year to Plan Year.

 

(c) Award Levels; Eligibility for Payment. The Committee shall establish for each Participant the amount payable with respect to each Award at specified levels of performance, based on the Performance Goal for each applicable Performance Criterion and the weighting established for such criterion. All such determinations regarding the achievement of any Performance Goals shall be made by the Committee. The actual amount payable pursuant to each Participant’s Award shall be determined by the Committee. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee in its discretion, in order to be eligible for payment in respect of an Award, a Participant must be an Employee on January 1 of the year that follows the Plan Year for which such Award is earned.

 

(d) Form of Payment. Awards shall be payable, in the discretion of the Committee, in cash or in Restricted Shares, RSUs or fully vested Shares of equivalent value (in each case, within the meaning of the 2008 Omnibus Plan) and shall be paid on such terms as determined by the Committee in its discretion. Any Restricted Shares and RSUs shall be subject to the terms of the 2008 Omnibus Plan (or any successor equity-compensation plan) and any applicable Award Agreement (as defined in the 2008 Omnibus Plan). The number of Restricted Shares, RSUs or Shares that is equivalent in value to a dollar amount shall be determined in accordance with a methodology specified by the Committee within the first 90 days of the relevant Plan Year (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m)). In the event any Awards are paid in RSUs, such RSUs will not be deferred compensation under Section 409A.

 

(e) Timing of Payment. Awards shall be paid promptly following the Committee’s determination of whether and the extent to which Performance Goals have been achieved with respect to the immediately preceding Plan Year, but not later than March 15th of the year following the Plan Year in which such Awards are earned. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 4(e), the Committee shall have the right to allow Participants to elect to defer the payment of Awards subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine; provided, however, that each Participant’s election to defer the payment of an Award complies with the terms of the applicable plan or program of the Company or its Affiliates.

 

(f) Withholding. The Company may deduct and withhold from any amounts payable under the Plan such Federal, state, local, foreign or other taxes as are required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

 

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(g) No Limitations on Other Plans. Nothing contained in the Plan will be deemed in any way to limit or restrict the ability of the Company, any of its Affiliates or the Committee to make any award or payment to any person under any other plan, agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether now existing or hereafter in effect.

 

SECTION 5. 162(m) Awards. (a) Generally. The provisions of this Section 5 shall apply solely to Awards that the Committee designates as 162(m) Awards.

 

(b) Recipients of 162(m) Awards. The Committee shall, in its sole discretion, designate within the first 90 days of a Plan Year (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m)) which Participants will be eligible to receive 162(m) Awards in respect of such Plan Year. However, designation of a Participant as eligible to receive a 162(m) Award hereunder for a Plan Year shall not in any manner entitle such Participant to receive payment in respect of any 162(m) Award for such Plan Year. The determination as to whether such Participant becomes entitled to payment in respect of any 162(m) Award shall be made solely in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5. Moreover, designation of a Participant as eligible to receive a 162(m) Award hereunder for a particular Plan Year shall not require designation of such Participant as eligible to receive a 162(m) Award hereunder in any subsequent Plan Year, and designation of one Employee as a Participant eligible to receive a 162(m) Award hereunder shall not require designation of any other Employee as a Participant eligible to receive a 162(m) Award hereunder in such period or in any other period.

 

(c) Discretion of Committee with Respect to 162(m) Awards. With regard to a particular Plan Year, the Committee shall have full discretion to select (i) the type(s) of 162(m) Awards to be issued, (ii) the Performance Criteria that will be used to establish the Performance Goal(s), (iii) the kind(s) and/or level(s) of the Performance Goals(s) that is (are) to apply to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, Affiliates, divisions or operational units, or any combination of the foregoing, and (iv) the Performance Formula. Within the first 90 days of a Plan Year (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m)), the Committee shall, with regard to the 162(m) Awards to be issued for such Plan Year, exercise its discretion with respect to each of the matters enumerated in the immediately preceding sentence and record the same in writing.

 

(d) Performance Criteria Applicable to 162(m) Awards. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Performance Criteria that will be used to establish the Performance Goal(s) with respect to 162(m) Awards shall be based on the attainment of specific levels of performance of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, Affiliates, divisions or operational units, or any combination of the foregoing, and shall be limited to the following: (i) net income or earnings before or after taxes (including earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), (ii) operating income, (iii) earnings per share, (iv) return on shareholders’ equity, (v) return on investment or capital, (vi) return on assets, (vii) level or amount of acquisitions, (viii) share price, (ix) profitability/profit margins, (x) market share (in the aggregate or by segment), (xi) revenues or sales (including specified types or categories thereof) (based on units and/or dollars), (xii) costs (including specified types or categories thereof), (xiii) cash flow, (xiv) working capital, (xv) completion of production or stages of production within specified time and/or budget parameters, (xvi) budgeted expenses (operating and capital) and (xvii) box office results (domestic, international or worldwide) of any of the Company’s films. Such Performance Criteria may be applied on an absolute basis, be relative to one or more peer companies of the Company or indices or any combination thereof or, if applicable, be computed on an accrual or cash accounting basis. To the extent required under Section 162(m), the Committee shall, within the first 90 days of the applicable Plan Year (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m)), define in an objective manner the method of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for such Plan Year.

 

(e) Modification of Performance Goals. The Committee is authorized at any time during the first 90 days of a Plan Year (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m)), or any time thereafter (but only to the extent the exercise of such authority after such 90-day period (or such shorter period, if applicable) would not cause the 162(m) Awards granted to any Participant for the Plan Year to fail to qualify as “qualified performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m)), in its sole and plenary discretion, to adjust

 

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or modify the calculation of a Performance Goal for such Plan Year to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) (i) in the event of, or in anticipation of, any unusual or extraordinary corporate item, transaction, event or development affecting the Company, or any of its Affiliates, Subsidiaries, divisions or operating units (to the extent applicable to such Performance Goal) or (ii) in recognition of, or in anticipation of, any other unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company or any of its Affiliates, Subsidiaries, divisions or operating units (to the extent applicable to such Performance Goal), or the financial statements of the Company or any of its Affiliates, Subsidiaries, divisions or operating units (to the extent applicable to such Performance Goal), or of changes in applicable rules, rulings, regulations or other requirements of any governmental body or securities exchange, accounting principles, law or business conditions.

 

(f) Payment of 162(m) Awards. (i) Condition to Receipt of Payment. A Participant must be an Employee on the last day of a Plan Year to be eligible for payment in respect of a 162(m) Award for such Plan Year. Notwithstanding the foregoing and to the extent permitted by Section 162(m), in the discretion of the Committee, 162(m) Awards may be paid to Participants who have retired or whose employment has terminated prior to the last day of the Plan Year for which a 162(m) Award is made, or to the designee or estate of a Participant who died prior to the last day of a Plan Year.

 

(ii) Limitation. Except as otherwise permitted by Section 162(m), a Participant shall be eligible to receive payments in respect of a 162(m) Award only to the extent that (A) the Performance Goal(s) for such period are achieved and certified by the Committee in accordance with Section 5(f)(iii) and (B) the Performance Formula as applied against such Performance Goal(s) determines that all or some portion of such Participant’s 162(m) Award has been earned for the Plan Year.

 

(iii) Certification. Following the completion of a Plan Year, the Committee shall meet to review and certify in writing whether, and to what extent, the Performance Goals for the Plan Year have been achieved and, if so, to calculate and certify in writing that amount of the 162(m) Awards earned for the period based upon the Performance Formula. The Committee shall then determine the actual size of each Participant’s 162(m) Award for the Plan Year and, in so doing, may apply negative discretion as authorized by Section 5(f)(iv).

 

(iv) Negative Discretion. In determining the actual size of an individual 162(m) Award for a Plan Year, the Committee may, in its sole and plenary discretion, reduce or eliminate the amount of the 162(m) Award earned in the Plan Year, even if applicable Performance Goals have been attained and without regard to any employment agreement between the Company and a Participant.

 

(v) Discretion. Except as otherwise permitted by Section 162(m), in no event shall any discretionary authority granted to the Committee by the Plan be used to (A) grant or provide payment in respect of 162(m) Awards for a Plan Year if the Performance Goals for such Plan Year have not been attained, (B) increase a 162(m) Award for any Participant at any time after the first 90 days of the Plan Year (or, if shorter, the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m)) or (C) increase a 162(m) Award above the maximum amount payable under Section 4(a) of the Plan.

 

SECTION 6. Administration. (a) Committee Composition. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall be composed of two or more directors, all of whom shall qualify as “outside directors” under Section 162(m).

 

(b) Authority of Committee. Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, and in addition to other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, the Committee shall have sole and plenary authority to administer the Plan, including, but not limited to, the authority to (i) designate Participants, (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant, (iii) determine the terms and conditions of any Awards, (iv) interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any default in and/or supply any omission in, the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan and (v) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.

 

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(c) Committee Decisions. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award shall be within the sole and plenary discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon the Company, its Affiliates and all Participants. The terms and conditions of Awards and the Committee’s determinations and interpretations with respect thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant and may be made selectively among Participants, whether or not such Participants are similarly situated.

 

SECTION 7. Amendment and Termination of the Plan and Awards. The Board may terminate the Plan or may amend the Plan in such respects as it shall deem advisable; provided, however, that no change shall be made without the approval of the Company’s stockholders that (i) changes the Performance Criteria applicable to 162(m) Awards, (ii) increases the maximum amount authorized to be paid to any Participant during a Plan Year, as set forth in Section 4(a), or (iii) would require the approval of the stockholders of the Company in order to satisfy Section 162(m). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may unilaterally (i) amend the Plan and 162(m) Awards as it deems appropriate to cause such Awards to meet the requirements of Section 162(m) and (ii) amend the Plan and any Awards to modify the date that Awards will be paid if by March 15th of the year following the Plan Year in which such Awards are earned it is either not possible for the Committee to determine whether and the extent to which Performance Goals have been achieved or it is not administratively practical to pay Awards by such date. Except as provided in the immediately preceding sentence or in Section 9(d), no modification, amendment or termination of the Plan may materially and adversely affect the rights of a Participant to whom any Award shall theretofore have been granted without the consent of such Participant, unless such action is taken to cause the Plan or any Award to comply with applicable law, tax rules, stock exchange rules or accounting rules and which is made to similarly situated Participants.

 

SECTION 8. Change of Control. In the event of a Change of Control after the date of the adoption of the Plan, unless provision is made in connection with the Change of Control for assumption of Awards previously granted, all Awards shall be paid out as if the date of the Change of Control were the last day of the applicable Plan Year and “target” performance levels had been attained. The determination of whether provision is made for assumption of Awards shall be made by the Committee as constituted immediately prior to the Change of Control in its sole discretion. All payments pursuant to this Section 8 shall be made not later than 30 days following the date of the Change of Control.

 

SECTION 9. Section 409A. (a) It is intended that the provisions of the Plan comply with or are exempt from Section 409A of the Code (“Section 409A”), and all provisions of the Plan shall be construed and interpreted in a manner consistent with the requirements for avoiding taxes or penalties under Section 409A.

 

(b) No Participant and no creditor or beneficiary of any Participant shall have the right to subject any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A) payable under the Plan to any anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment or garnishment. Except as permitted under Section 409A, any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A) payable to a Participant or for a Participant’s benefit under the Plan may not be reduced by, or offset against, any amount owing by such Participant to the Company or any of its Affiliates.

 

(c) If, at the time of a Participant’s separation from service (within the meaning of Section 409A), (i) such Participant shall be a specified employee (within the meaning of Section 409A and using the identification methodology selected by the Company from time to time) and (ii) the Company shall make a good faith determination that an amount payable hereunder constitutes deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A) the payment of which is required to be delayed pursuant to the six-month delay rule set forth in Section 409A in order to avoid taxes or penalties under Section 409A, then the Company shall not pay such amount on the otherwise scheduled payment date but shall instead pay it on the first business day after such six-month period. Such amount shall be paid without interest, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, or as otherwise provided in any applicable employment agreement between the Company and the relevant Participant.

 

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(d) Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Company reserves the right to make amendments to the Plan as the Company deems necessary or desirable to avoid the imposition of taxes or penalties under Section 409A. In any case, Participants are solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may arise in connection with Awards (including any taxes arising under Section 409A), and the Company shall not have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold any Participant harmless from any or all of such taxes or penalties.

 

SECTION 10. No Right to Continued Employment. Nothing contained in the Plan or in any Award Notice (or in any other documents related to the Plan or to any Award or Award Notice) shall confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ or other service of the Company or an Affiliate.

 

SECTION 11. No Trust or Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate, on one hand, and a Participant, on the other. To the extent that any Participant acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or such Affiliate.

 

SECTION 12. Successors. All obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

 

SECTION 13. Governing Law. The validity, construction and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan and any Award hereunder shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.

 

SECTION 14. Headings. Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.

 

SECTION 15. Effective Date of the Plan. The Plan became effective upon its approval by the Board on March 27, 2013 and is effective with respect to Plan Years commencing with 2013. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Award that has been designated as a 162(m) Award shall be payable hereunder unless and until the Plan has been approved by the stockholders of the Company. If the stockholders of the Company do not approve the Plan, all outstanding 162(m) Awards shall be forfeited.

 

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The form of proxy card on the following page will be distributed to all holders of record (as of the record date) of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, voting together as a single class, with respect to (i) the election of eight directors to serve for the ensuing year or until their successors are duly elected and qualified; (ii) the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2013; (iii) the advisory vote to approve named executive officer compensation; (iv) the adoption of the 2013 Annual Incentive Plan; and (v) if properly presented at the Annual Meeting, a stockholder proposal related to consideration of a recapitalization plan to provide that all of the Company’s outstanding stock have one vote per share.


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LOGO

 

 

 

 

Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas.     x

LOGO

Electronic Voting Instructions

 

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

 

Instead of mailing your proxy, you may choose one of the voting methods outlined below to vote your proxy.

 

VALIDATION DETAILS ARE LOCATED BELOW IN THE TITLE BAR.

 

Proxies submitted by the Internet or telephone must be received by 1:00 a.m., Central Time, on May 29, 2013.

LOGO    Vote by Internet
   • Go to www.envisionreports.com/DWA
   • Or scan the QR code with your smartphone
   • Follow the steps outlined on the secure website

 

Vote by telephone
  • Call toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) within the USA, US territories &
    Canada on a touch tone telephone
 

 

• Follow the instructions provided by the recorded message

 

 

LOGO

q IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. q

 

 

 

 A 

  Proposals —   The Board of Directors recommends that you vote for all nominees, “FOR” Proposal Numbers 2, 3 and 4 and
    “AGAINST” Proposal Number 5.
1.   Election of Directors:      For   Withhold      For   Withhold       For      Withhold      +
  01 -Jeffrey Katzenberg      ¨   ¨    02 - Lewis W. Coleman   ¨   ¨    03 - Harry Brittenham    ¨      ¨     
  04 -Thomas E. Freston      ¨   ¨    05 - Lucian Grainge   ¨   ¨    06 - Mellody Hobson    ¨      ¨     
  07 - Jason Kilar      ¨   ¨    08 - Michael Montgomery   ¨   ¨                

 

      For    Against    Abstain          For    Against    Abstain
2.    PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2013.    ¨    ¨    ¨    3.    ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION.    ¨    ¨    ¨
4.    PROPOSAL TO APPROVE THE ADOPTION OF THE 2013 ANNUAL INCENTIVE PLAN.    ¨    ¨    ¨    5.    STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL TO CONSIDER RECAPITALIZATION PLAN TO PROVIDE THAT ALL OF THE COMPANY’S OUTSTANDING STOCK HAVE ONE VOTE PER SHARE.    ¨    ¨    ¨

 

 B 

  Authorized Signatures — This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. — Date and Sign Below
NOTE: Please sign as name appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such..
Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below.     Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box.     Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box.
        /                /                    

IF VOTING BY MAIL, YOU MUST COMPLETE SECTIONS A - C ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS CARD.

 

LOGO


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Important notice regarding the Internet availability of proxy materials for

the DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

The Proxy Statement and the 2012 Annual Report to Stockholders are available at:

http://www.envisionreports.com/DWA

 

q IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. q

 

 

 

LOGO    +

 

 

Proxy — DREAMWORKS ANIMATION SKG, INC.

 

 

Annual Meeting of Stockholders – May 29, 2013

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY

The undersigned hereby appoints Jeffrey Katzenberg and Andrew Chang, and each of them, with power to act without the other and with power of substitution, as proxies and attorneys-in-fact and hereby authorizes them to represent and vote, as provided on the other side, all the shares of DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. Common Stock which the undersigned is entitled to vote, and, in their discretion, to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held May 29, 2013 or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, with all powers which the undersigned would possess if present at the Meeting.

THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED, OR IF NO DIRECTION IS INDICATED, WILL BE VOTED “FOR” THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS, “FOR” ITEMS 2, 3 and 4 and “AGAINST” ITEM 5.

(Continued and to be marked, dated and signed, on the other side)

 

C

   Non-Voting Items   

Change of Address — Please print new address below.

    Comments — Please print your comments below.
   
       

 

¢

  

 

IF VOTING BY MAIL, YOU MUST COMPLETE SECTIONS A - C ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS CARD.

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