UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C., 20549
(RULE 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN
PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT
TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. )
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ESCO Technologies Inc. 9900A Clayton Road St. Louis, MO 63124 Bryan Sayler Chief Executive Officer and President |
| December 19, 2023 | |
 |
Dear Fellow Shareholders,
I am pleased to invite you to attend our 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of ESCO Technologies Inc., to be held on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at the Renaissance Austin Hotel, 9721 Arboretum Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78759, at 8:00 a.m. Central Time.
The accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement describe the items of business that will be discussed and voted on at the Meeting. We value your input and encourage you to review this material as well as our Annual Report for fiscal 2023 and to vote your shares of common stock. You have a choice of voting online, by telephone, by returning the enclosed proxy card by mail, or at the Meeting.
In fiscal 2023, broad end-market strength enabled us to deliver record-breaking financial results. Robust demand in our commercial aerospace and utility end-markets helped us achieve double digit organic revenue growth. While overall economic constraints have eased in many areas, our teams continued to work diligently throughout the year to navigate the continuing impacts of inflation, labor shortages, and aerospace supply chain constraints. With our commitment to driving operational efficiency and improved returns on invested capital, we leveraged our revenue growth in 2023 to deliver increased profitability.
Our technology-oriented businesses serve a diverse array of thriving end markets with clear momentum and secular growth drivers. Our engineering expertise helps us address some of today’s most difficult technical challenges and has us well-positioned to realize long-term growth. We are excited about the future and our ability to deliver innovative solutions to meet the needs of our customers. We appreciate your investment in ESCO and are committed to driving sustained shareholder value creation as we continue to grow the Company.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and all of us at ESCO, thank you for your ongoing support.
Sincerely,
Bryan Sayler Chief Executive Officer and President |
| Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. | ||
Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders
St. Louis, Missouri
December 19, 2023
To the Shareholders of ESCO Technologies Inc.:
The 2024 Annual Meeting of the shareholders of ESCO Technologies Inc. will be held on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at the Renaissance Austin Hotel, 9721 Arboretum Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78759, beginning at 8:00 a.m. Central Time, for the following purposes:
| 1. | To elect Janice L. Hess and Bryan H. Sayler as directors of the Company to serve for three-year terms expiring in 2027; |
| 2. | An advisory vote to approve the compensation of the Company’s executive officers; and |
| 3. | To ratify the appointment of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 2024 fiscal year. |
| Your Board of Directors recommends that you vote: | ||
| ● | FOR each nominee for director, and | |
| ● | FOR Proposals 2 and 3. | |
Shareholders of record at the close of business on December 1, 2023 are entitled to vote at the Meeting.
Information about each of the above Proposals, as well as instructions for voting and additional relevant information concerning the Company, are set forth in the accompanying Proxy Statement and in the “Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials” sent to all shareholders entitled to vote at the Meeting beginning on or about December 19, 2023.
By Order Of The Board Of Directors,
David M. Schatz
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
| This Notice, the Proxy Statement attached to this Notice and our Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 are available electronically at www.envisionreports.com/ESE and on our website at www.escotechnologies.com. | ||
| Even if you plan to attend the Meeting in person, PLEASE VOTE: | ||
| ● | Electronically via the Internet at www.investorvote.com/ESE; or | |
| ● | By telephone within the United States, U.S. territories or Canada at 1 800 652 VOTE (8683); or | |
| ● | If you requested paper or e-mail copies of the proxy materials, please complete, sign, date and return the proxy card. | |
| Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. | ||
Proxy Statement Table of Contents
| Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. | ||
Proxy Statement Summary
This Proxy Statement relates to the 2024 Annual Meeting of the shareholders of ESCO Technologies Inc., sometimes referred to herein as the Company, we, our or us. Our stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), where our ticker symbol is “ESE”.
This Proxy Statement is provided pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in connection with our Management’s solicitation of votes for the Meeting.
This Summary highlights certain information relating to the Meeting and the items to be voted on at the Meeting. For additional information, including important business, compensation and corporate governance matters, please refer to the following sections of this Proxy Statement and to our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Unless otherwise noted, all references to 2023 in this Proxy Statement refer to our fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.
MEETING INFORMATION
| Date and Time | Location | Record Date | Voting |
| Wednesday,
February 7, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. Central Time |
The
Renaissance Austin Hotel 9721 Arboretum Boulevard Austin, Texas 78759 |
Close of business on December 1, 2023 | Shareholders of record as of the record date are entitled to vote. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote on each of the director nominees and one vote on all other matters to be considered at the Meeting. |
How to Vote:
| Via the Internet | By Telephone | By Mail | At the Meeting |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Go
to www.investorvote.com/ESE |
1-800-652-VOTE
(8563) in the U.S. or Canada |
Follow
the instructions on your proxy card |
Attend
in person and vote by |
PROPOSALS AND BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS
| Proposal | See Page | Required
Vote (See “Voting” on page 5) |
Board’s
Voting Recommendation |
| 1. Election of Directors | 7 | To be elected, a nominee must receive a majority of the votes cast |
FOR each director nominee |
| 2. Say on Pay – Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation | 21 | To be approved, this proposal must receive a majority of the votes cast | FOR |
| 3. Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | 50 | To be approved, this proposal must receive a majority of the votes cast | FOR |
Management is not aware of any other matters that will be presented at the Meeting. However, if any other proposal is properly presented for a vote at the Meeting, other than the election of directors and the other proposals described in this Proxy Statement, the proxy holders will vote on it in their own discretion.
| 1 | Proxy Statement Summary | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR
The following table provides summary information about our director nominees, each of whom is a current director of the Company:
| Nominee | Primary Occupation | Independent | Board Committees | Key Attributes/Qualifications |
| Janice L. Hess | Retired President, Engineered Systems Segment of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (diversified multinational company serving industrial markets requiring advanced technology and high reliability) | Yes | Audit, Governance | Four decades of operational, financial and leadership experience as well as demonstrated performance in growing markets similar to those served by the Company |
| Bryan H. Sayler | Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company | No | Executive | Nearly 30 years of management experience at the Company across several of its core businesses |
DIRECTOR DIVERSITY AND TENURE
Diversity is one of the factors that our Governance Committee considers in identifying the pool of director search candidates. The Board appreciates the benefits diversity brings and strives to assemble a Board with not only a variety of business and professional backgrounds, but also diversity in areas such as race, ethnicity and gender.
COMPANY OVERVIEW AND BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS
We are:
| ● | A global provider of highly engineered filtration and fluid control products and integrated propulsion systems for the aviation, navy, space and process markets worldwide, as well as composite-based products and solutions for navy, defense and industrial customers; |
| ● | An industry leader in radio frequency test and measurement solutions for the wireless, electronics, medical, automotive and defense industries; and |
| ● | A leading provider of diagnostic instruments, software and services for the benefit of industrial power users and the electric utility and renewable energy industries. |
| 2 | Proxy Statement Summary | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
We conduct our business through a number of wholly-owned direct and indirect subsidiaries. Our business is focused on generating predictable and profitable long-term growth through continued innovation and expansion of our product offerings across each of our business segments. Our corporate strategy is centered on a multi-segment approach designed to enhance the strength and sustainability of sales and earnings growth by providing lower risk through diversification
In 2023, strength across our end markets enabled us to achieve record orders and double-digit sales growth. We leveraged that growth to deliver higher profit margins and diluted EPS that increased 13 percent to $3.58 per share. With a solid balance sheet and substantial liquidity, we remain well positioned to fund future product development and capital investments to drive organic growth as well as acquisitions to add to our technology-driven portfolio of products and services.
The following are only selected measures of Company performance. For complete financial information, please see the audited financial statements included in our 2023 Annual Report to Shareholders.
| Net Sales | Net Earnings | Diluted Earnings Per Share | ||
| $956M | $92.5M | $3.58 | ||
| Record
Sales +11% over prior year |
+12% over prior year | +13% over prior year | ||
| Entered Orders | Ending Backlog | Leverage Ratio | ||
| $1,033M | $772M | 0.54X | ||
| Record Orders +8% over prior year |
Record Ending Backlog +11% over prior year |
$640M of liquidity at year end |
GOVERNANCE HIGHLIGHTS
 |
All directors other than the CEO are independent |
|
All committee chairs are independent |
|
Each director attended at least 75% of Board and committee meetings |
|
Independent directors hold executive sessions during each Board meeting |
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Board conducts self-assessments annually |
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The full Board exercises oversight responsibility for material risks, and delegates oversight of other risks to the appropriate committees |
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Three of our eight directors are diverse in gender and/ or ethnicity |
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Robust clawback policy for executive compensation plans |
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Competitive share ownership guidelines for directors and executive officers |
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Executive compensation driven by pay for performance |
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Annual shareholder vote on executive compensation |
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Executive officers and directors may not hedge or pledge company shares |
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Independent directors review CEO performance annually |
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Average tenure of independent directors is 9.9 years |
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Median age of independent directors is 64 years |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION HIGHLIGHTS
Our compensation objective is to develop and maintain an industry-competitive compensation program that attracts, retains, motivates and rewards our executive officers and other senior officers and key executives. The compensation program is designed to emphasize performance-based compensation in alignment with our business strategy.
| 3 | Proxy Statement Summary | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
Our compensation programs are designed to maximize shareholder value by allocating a significant portion of executive compensation to performance-based pay that is dependent on the achievement of our performance goals. Our annual cash incentive program and equity-based Performance Share Unit awards (PSUs) utilize a variety of key strategic and financial performance metrics and are designed to reward positive financial performance and limit unnecessary risk taking. Stock ownership guidelines align the interests of executives and shareholders by ensuring that executives bear the economic risk of share ownership.
For 2023, our Human Resources and Compensation Committee used the performance metrics “Adjusted EPS” and “Cash Flow from Operating Activities,” to determine cash incentive plan compensation earned during fiscal 2023 and thereby incent the participants and align cash incentive compensation with business objectives. Adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP measure, and the factors used in the calculation of the 2023 adjustment differed slightly from those used to calculate the 2022 adjustment; for a detailed description and a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measure, see 2023 Cash Incentive Metrics in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section.
Our long-term equity incentive (LTI) program includes Restricted Share Units (RSUs) which fully vest over a period of 3½ years and, since 2022, PSUs with a three-year performance period, as described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section below.
The following charts summarize the 2023 pay mix for the CEO and the other named executive officers, with 75% of the CEO’s target direct compensation at risk and 63% of the average of the other named executive officers’ target direct compensation at risk. Target direct compensation is defined as the sum of the executive officer’s base salary, annual cash incentive award, and annual long term incentive awards, in each case calculated at the target level approved by the Committee.
| 4 | Proxy Statement Summary | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
Voting
Whether or not you expect to be present in person at the Meeting, please vote in advance using one of the voting methods described in the Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials sent to the shareholders on or about December 19, 2023, which contained instructions on how to access the proxy materials and vote electronically via the Internet, by telephone, by mail, or in person. That Notice also contained instructions on how to request a paper or e-mail copy of the proxy materials, including the Company’s 2023 Annual Report to Shareholders, this Proxy Statement, and a proxy card. The 2023 Annual Report to Shareholders and this Proxy Statement are also available for review on the Company’s website, www.escotechnologies.com.
| ● | You may vote on each proposal, by proxy or by voting in person or via the Internet or by telephone, in which case your shares will be voted in accordance with your choices. |
| ● | You may abstain from voting on any one or more proposals, or withhold authority to vote for any one or more directors, which will have the effect described under Required Vote below. |
| ● | You may return a properly executed proxy form without indicating your preferences, in which case the proxies will vote the shares according to the Board’s recommendations. |
You will have the right to revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted by giving written notice of revocation to the Secretary of the Company, or by duly executing and delivering a proxy bearing a later date, or by attending the Meeting and casting a contrary vote in person.
HOW TO VOTE
| Via the Internet | By Telephone | By Mail | At the Meeting |
| |
|
|
|
| Go
to www.investorvote.com/ESE |
1-800-652-VOTE
(8563) in the U.S. or Canada |
Follow
the instructions on your proxy card |
Attend
in person and vote by |
REQUIRED VOTE
At the Meeting, shareholders will be entitled to cast one vote for each share held by them of record on the record date. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors. The Company has no non-voting shares.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares represented in person or by proxy at the Meeting and entitled to vote on the matter in question will be required to elect directors, to approve each of the individual proposals described in this Proxy Statement, and to approve any other matters properly brought before the Meeting.
The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that an incumbent director who fails to obtain a majority vote must promptly offer his or her resignation to the Chair, and the remaining directors shall meet to consider whether it is in the best interests of the Company to accept the resignation or to permit the incumbent to remain on the Board for such period of time as the Board may determine or until a successor is elected and qualified.
Shares represented by proxies which are marked “Withhold” authority to vote for the election of one or more of the nominees for election as directors or marked “Abstain” on any one or more of the other individual proposals described in this Proxy Statement will be counted for the purpose of determining the number of shares represented by proxy at the Meeting, but proxies so marked will have the same effect as if the shares were voted against such nominee or nominees or such proposals.
| 5 | Voting | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
Under the Rules of the NYSE, the proposal to approve the appointment of independent registered public accountants is considered a “discretionary” item, which means that brokerage firms may vote in their discretion on this matter on behalf of clients who have not furnished voting instructions at least 10 days before the date of the Meeting. In contrast, the election of directors and the other items on the Meeting agenda are “non-discretionary” items, which means that brokerage firms that have not received voting instructions from their clients on these proposals may not vote on them. These so-called “broker non-votes” will, if the underlying shares are otherwise represented at the Meeting, be considered to be present for purposes of determining a quorum, but will be treated as not entitled to vote on such non-discretionary or matters; they will therefore not be considered in determining the number of votes necessary for approval and will have no effect on the outcome of the votes for directors or the other matters to be considered at the Meeting.
If your shares are held by a broker, it is important that you provide voting instructions to your broker so that your votes will be counted.
| 6 | Voting | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
Proposal 1: Election of Directors
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all nominees.
The Board is divided into three classes, with the terms of office of each class ending in successive years. The terms of directors Bryan H. Sayler and James M. Stolze will expire at the Meeting. However, Mr. Stolze has decided to retire from the Board when his current term expires at the 2024 Annual Meeting and is not standing for re-election. In order to rebalance the three classes of directors, and with the consent of director Janice L. Hess, whose current term would not have expired until 2025, the Board reclassified Ms. Hess into the same class as Mr. Sayler and Mr. Stolze, with a term expiring in 2024, and has nominated Ms. Hess and Mr. Sayler for election to new three-year terms expiring at the 2027 Annual Meeting. The Board also decided to reduce the number of directors from eight to seven upon the expiration of Mr. Stolze’s term. As a result, after the 2024 Annual Meeting the Board will have two directors with terms expiring in 2027, three directors with terms expiring in 2026, and two directors with terms expiring in 2025.
If elected, the nominees would serve until the expiration of their terms and until their successors have been elected and qualified. Proxies cannot be voted for more than the number of Board nominees. Should any one or more of the nominees become unable or unwilling to serve (which is not expected), the proxies unless marked to the contrary will be voted for such other person or persons as the Board may recommend.
NOMINEES FOR TERMS ENDING IN 2027
Janice L. Hess
● Age: 64 ● Director since 2022 ● Term
expires 2024 ● Board Committees: Audit, Governance ● Qualifies as an audit committee financial expert under SEC rules |
Ms. Hess’s four decades of operational, financial and leadership experience, commitment to continuous improvement, as well as demonstrated performance in growing traditional, adjacent and emerging markets similar to those served by the Company, make her well-qualified to assist the Board in guiding Company strategy at the highest levels.
Principal Occupation and Business Experience 2014–2022: President, Engineered Systems Segment of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (diversified multinational company providing enabling technologies for industrial growth markets requiring advanced technology and high reliability; the Engineered Systems Segment provides innovative systems engineering and integration and advanced technology development, and is a U.S. Government contractor serving defense, space, energy and maritime markets)
2000–2014: Held a number of other positions with Teledyne, including Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Engineered Systems
1984–2000: Held positions of increasing responsibility with Intergraph Corporation (now Hexagon AB), a multinational corporation, including Vice President, Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer, Computer Systems
Other Experience and Education B.S.B.A. from Auburn University; staff accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP from 1981 to 1983 |
| 7 | Proposal 1 | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
Bryan H. Sayler
|
● Age: 57 ● Director since 2023 ● Board Committees: Executive |
Mr. Sayler’s nearly 30 years of experience at the Company across several of its core businesses as well as his current position as Chief Executive Officer and President make him uniquely qualified to provide the Board of Directors with valuable insights and perspectives concerning all areas of the Company’s business.
Principal Occupation and Business Experience 2023–Present: Chief Executive Officer, President and a director of the Company
1995–2022: Held various positions of increasing responsibility within the Company, including as President of the Utility Solutions Group and Doble Engineering from 2016-2022
Other Experience and Education B.A. in Pre-Seminary from Southeastern College; M.B.A. from Baylor University |
DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE
Patrick M. Dewar
● Age: 63 ● Director since 2017 ● Term expires 2026 ● Board Committees: Audit (Chair), Compensation ● Qualifies as an audit committee financial expert under SEC rules |
Mr. Dewar’s extensive strategic and operational experience in the aerospace and defense markets makes him well-qualified to assist in guiding Company strategy at the highest levels.
Principal Occupation and Business Experience 2016–present: Chief Executive of The Trenton Group, LLC (investment and strategy consulting firm focused on security, aerospace and defense technology companies)
2013–2016: Executive Vice President of Lockheed Martin International and Chairman of Lockheed Martin Global, Inc.
2010–2013: Senior Vice President, Strategy and Business Development for Lockheed Martin Corporation
Prior to 2010: Held various positions with Lockheed Martin and GE Aerospace
Other Public Company Directorships Within Past Five Years 2018–present: Butler America Aerospace, LLC, a subsidiary of HCL Technologies Ltd. (provider of engineering, design IT and support services primarily to US aerospace and defense markets)
Other Experience and Education M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Drexel University; B.S. in Engineering, Swarthmore College. Member of the Council on Foreign Relations; senior adviser to numerous investment firms on aerospace and defense matters |
| 8 | Proposal 1 | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
Vinod M. Khilnani
● Age: 71 ● Director since 2014 ● Term expires 2026 ● Board Committees: Audit, Compensation (Chair) ● Qualifies as an audit committee financial expert under SEC rules |
As a former public company executive, Mr. Khilnani brings to the Board of Directors a wealth of management experience and business knowledge regarding operational, financial and corporate governance issues, as well as extensive international experience with global operations.
Principal Occupation and Business Experience 2013: Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of CTS Corporation (designer, manufacturer and seller of electronic components and sensors)
Other Public Company Directorships Within Past Five Years: 2009–present: Materion Corporation (manufacturer of highly engineered advanced materials, performance alloys and composites, and precision coatings for global markets)
Other Experience and Education M.B.A. from the University of New York at Albany; B.A. in Business Administration from Delhi University |
Leon J. Olivier
● Age: 75 ● Director since 2014 ● Term expires 2025 ● Board Committees: Governance (Chair) |
Mr. Olivier’s broad utilities industry experience in all aspects of strategy and operations, including conventional and nuclear generation, renewable energy development (hydro, wind and solar), electric and gas transmission, distribution and development, and Smart Grid strategy and design, and including his extensive experience in senior leadership and management roles, makes him well qualified to serve on the Board of Directors and to assist in guiding strategy at the highest levels.
Principal Occupation and Business Experience 2014–2020:
Executive Vice President, Enterprise Energy Strategy and Business Development, of Eversource Energy (formerly Northeast Utilities) (public
utility holding company engaged in generation, transmission and distribution of electricity and distribution of natural gas to customers
in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire)
Other Experience and Education M.B.A. from Northeastern University; served in the U.S. Navy submarine service; former director of Essex Financial Services, Essex, CT |
| 9 | Proposal 1 | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
Robert J. Phillippy
● Age: 63 ● Director since 2014 ● Term expires 2026 ● Chair of the Board ● Board Committees: Executive, Compensation, Governance
|
Along with his experience as chief executive officer of a publicly held technology company, Mr. Phillippy brings to the Board of Directors extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions as well as in new product innovation and international business development; and as independent Chair of the Board he provides valuable insights and perspectives regarding all areas of the Company’s business.
Principal Occupation and Business Experience 2016–present: Executive consultant to technology companies on a range of strategic, operational and organizational issues
2007–2016: President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Newport Corporation (developer, manufacturer and supplier of lasers, optics and photonics technologies, products and systems for scientific research, microelectronics, defense and security, life and health sciences and industrial markets worldwide)
2004–2007: President and Chief Operating Officer of Newport Corporation
1996–2004: Held various executive management positions with Newport Corporation
1984–1996: Held various sales and marketing management positions at Square D Company (now Schneider Electric) (electrical equipment manufacturer)
Other Public Company Directorships Within Past Five Years 2018–present:
Materion Corporation (manufacturer of highly engineered advanced materials, performance alloys and composites, and precision coatings
for global markets)
Other Experience and Education M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management; B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin |
| 10 | Proposal 1 | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
Gloria L. Valdez
● Age: 61 ● Director since 2019 ● Term expires 2025 ● Board Committees: Compensation, Governance |
Ms. Valdez’s extensive strategic and operational experience in the defense markets as well as her management and financial expertise allow her to provide valuable assistance to the Board in guiding the Company’s strategy at the highest levels.
Principal Occupation and Business Experience 2021–Present: Member of the Naval Shipbuilding Expert Advisory Panel providing advice to the Commonwealth of Australia on its National Naval Shipbuilding Enterprise
2015–2018: Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (ASN) for Research, Development and Acquisition (executive oversight of all naval shipbuilding programs, major ship conversions, and maintenance, modernization and disposal of in-service ships)
1986–2015: Served in a number of other civilian positions within the Navy Department including as Executive Director for the Program Executive Office for submarines (responsible for civilian management, design, acquisition and construction for submarine platform and undersea systems), Director of the Investment and Development division within the Office of the ASN for Financial Management and Comptroller, and Director for Naval and Commercial Construction in the Office of the ASN for Ship Programs; also served as Budget Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement within the Department of Homeland Security
Other Experience and Education M.S. in management from Florida Institute of Technology; B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Mexico; recipient of the Department of the Navy’s Distinguished, Superior and Meritorious Civilian Service Awards; recipient in 2014 of the Pioneer award from Great Minds in STEM; sponsor of the Virginia Class submarine USS Vermont (SSN 792) commissioned in 2020 |
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Responsibilities
The Company’s Board of Directors is ultimately responsible for the conduct of the business of the Company in accordance with ethical and honorable business practices and applicable laws, to justify the confidence that the shareholders have placed in the Company by their investment in its shares. Among the Board’s core responsibilities are to:
| ● | Oversee the conduct of the Company’s business in order to evaluate whether the business is being properly managed |
| ● | Review and, where appropriate, approve the Company’s major strategic and financial plans and goals, and evaluate results compared to those plans and goals |
| ● | Oversee the Company’s global risk management framework |
| ● | Review and approve significant indebtedness, significant capital allocations including dividends and stock repurchase plans, and significant transactions not arising in the ordinary course of business |
| ● | Review management’s determinations of principal considerations related to the auditing and accounting principles and practices used in the preparation of the Company’s financial statements; review and approve the Company’s financial controls and reporting systems; and review and approve the Company’s financial statements and financial reporting |
| ● | Select individuals for election to the Board and evaluate the performance of the Board and Board committees |
| ● | Select, evaluate and compensate the CEO and monitor the same decisions with respect to other executive officers; approve and evaluate compensation plans for senior management in conjunction with the Compensation Committee |
| ● | Oversee the conduct of the Company’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) program including annually reviewing the Governance Committee’s ESG program assessment |
| 11 | Proposal 1 | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
Composition and Recent Changes
The Board is currently comprised of eight directors divided into three classes, with the terms of office of each class ending in successive years. In anticipation of former director Victor L. Richey’s retirement as Chief Executive Officer and President on December 31, 2022, the Board increased the size of the Board from eight to nine members effective January 1, 2023 and elected Bryan H. Sayler, the Company’s incoming Chief Executive Officer and President, to fill the position thereby created. Upon Mr. Richey’s retirement as a director on June 30, 2023, the Board decreased the size of the Board from nine to eight members, eliminated the position of Lead Director, and elected director Robert J. Phillippy as Chair of the Board. There have been no other changes in the composition of the Board since the beginning of fiscal 2023.
In November, 2023, in anticipation of director James M. Stolze’s retirement upon the expiration of his term at the 2024 Annual Meeting, the Board approved the further changes described on page 7 above.
Independence
Mr. Sayler is the only Board member who is a member of the Company’s management. The Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that none of the other seven, non-management directors has any material relationship with the Company other than in his or her capacity as a director and shareholder, and that therefore all of these directors are, and at all times during their service in fiscal 2023 were, independent as defined under the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and the listing standards of the NYSE.
Meetings
The Board of Directors held four meetings during fiscal 2023. All of the directors attended, either in person or by video conference call, at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and of each of the committees on which they served which were held during their periods of service. The Company’s policy requires that all directors attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, except for absences due to causes beyond the reasonable control of the director. All of the directors attended the 2023 Annual Meeting held in Westlake Village, California.
DIVERSITY AND TENURE
Diversity is one of the factors that the Governance Committee considers in identifying the pool of director search candidates. The Board appreciates the benefits diversity brings and strives to assemble a Board with not only a variety of business and professional backgrounds, but also diversity in areas such as race, ethnicity and gender.
| 12 | Proposal 1 | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
COMMITTEES
The members of the Board of Directors are appointed to various committees. The standing committees of the Board are the Executive Committee, the Audit and Finance Committee (Audit Committee), the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (Governance Committee), and the Human Resources and Compensation Committee (Compensation Committee).
Each Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. The charters are posted on the Company’s website, www.escotechnologies.com, under the Investor Center/Committees & Charters tab, and a copy of each Committee’s charter is available in print to any shareholder who requests it.
Executive Committee
|
CURRENT MEMBERS
● Phillippy ● Sayler
1 meeting in fiscal 2023
|
● | May exercise the powers of the Board between Board meetings, subject to limitations specified in the committee charter | ||
| ● | May not: | |||
| ● | Declare dividends | |||
| ● | Amend the Bylaws | |||
| ● | Approve, propose or recommend for approval any action requiring approval by the shareholders | |||
| ● | Elect directors or fill vacancies on the Board | |||
| ● | Change the membership or composition of committees | |||
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities for the integrity of the Company’s financial statements; the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; the qualifications, independence and performance of the Company’s independent public accounting firm (the Accounting Firm); and the performance of the Company’s internal audit function.
|
CURRENT MEMBERS
● Dewar (Chair) ● Hess ● Khilnani ● Stolze
4 meetings in fiscal 2023
|
● | Appoints, retains and oversees the Accounting Firm and its performance of the annual audit | |
| ● | Annually evaluates the qualifications, independence and performance of the Accounting Firm | ||
| ● | Reviews the scope of the Accounting Firm’s work and approves its annual audit fees and any non-audit service fees | ||
| ● | Reviews the Company’s internal controls with the Accounting Firm and the internal audit executive, and reviews with the Accounting Firm any problems it may have encountered during the annual audit | ||
| ● | Discusses the Company’s Form 10-K and 10-Q reports with management and the Accounting Firm before filing; reviews and discusses earnings press releases | ||
| ● | Discusses major financial risk exposures with management | ||
| ● | Reviews management’s assessment and oversight of information security, cybersecurity and IT risks, breaches (if any), and any preventive or remedial actions taken on a quarterly basis | ||
| ● | Reviews the annual internal audit plan and associated resource allocation | ||
| ● | Retains the outside firm overseeing the Company’s internal audit function and evaluates its performance and the results of the annual internal audit | ||
| ● | Reviews the Company’s reports to shareholders with management and the Accounting Firm and receives certain assurances from management | ||
| ● | Issues the Committee Report required to be included in this Proxy Statement pursuant to the regulations of the SEC (see Audit and Finance Committee Report on page 52) | ||
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The Board of Directors has determined that all members of the Committee are financially literate and have accounting or related financial management expertise, as those terms are defined under the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and the applicable listing standards of the NYSE, and are “audit committee financial experts” within the meaning of Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of SEC Regulation S-K.
Governance Committee
The Governance Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its Corporate Governance responsibilities.
|
CURRENT MEMBERS
● Olivier (Chair) ● Hess ● Phillippy ● Valdez
4 meetings in fiscal 2023
|
● | Identifies individuals qualified to become Board members and recommends them for election to the Board at the Annual Meeting of shareholders or for appointment to fill vacancies occurring between Annual Meetings (see Director Candidates and Nominations below) | |
| ● | Reviews the size of the Board and recommends any appropriate changes to the Board | ||
| ● | Reviews the composition of Board committees and recommends any appropriate changes to the Board | ||
| ● | Develops and recommends to the Board effective corporate governance guidelines | ||
| ● | Reviews the Company’s corporate governance and compliance programs | ||
| ● | Assists the Board in its oversight of the Company’s ESG program and annually provides an assessment of the program for the Board | ||
| ● | Oversees the Company’s ethics programs | ||
| ● | Reviews any conflicts of interest involving Related Persons, and oversees and administers the Company’s policy on Related Person transactions | ||
| ● | Leads the Board in its annual review of the Board’s performance | ||
Director Candidates and Nominations.
To be considered for nomination to the Board, candidates must be persons of the highest integrity, have extensive and varied business experience and have demonstrated their ability to interact effectively with associates and peers. They preferably will also have experience and expertise in business areas related to the Company and its technologies, industries and customers. In addition, the Committee will seek out candidates with the ability to interact constructively with the existing Board membership, in order to enable the Board to act in the long-term interests of the Company’s shareholders. While the Committee has not established specific minimum qualifications for candidates, it may establish specific membership criteria as appropriate from time to time if the Board determines there is a need for specific skills and industry experience.
Although the Committee does not have a formal policy on diversity, it seeks the most qualified candidates without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, disability or sexual orientation. However, the Committee appreciates the benefits that diversity, including gender diversity, brings to a board of directors, and both the Committee and the full Board are committed to requiring the inclusion of women and underrepresented minorities in the initial pool of director search candidates.
The Committee may identify new candidates for nomination based on recommendations from Company management, employees, non-management directors, shareholders and other third parties. It also has the authority to engage third party search firms to identify candidates, and it has done so from time to time. Consideration of a new candidate typically involves the Committee’s review of information pertaining to such candidate and a series of internal discussions, and may proceed to interviews with the candidate. New candidates are evaluated based on the above-described criteria in light of the specific needs of the Board and the Company at the time. Incumbent directors whose terms are set to expire are evaluated based on the above-described criteria, as well as a review of their overall past performance on the Board of Directors.
The Committee will consider director candidates recommended by shareholders, and will evaluate such individuals in the same manner as other candidates proposed to the Committee. All candidates must meet the legal, regulatory and exchange requirements applicable to members of the Board of Directors. Shareholders who wish to recommend individuals for consideration as director candidates for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders should notify the Committee no later than August 31, 2024 in order to allow time for their recommendations to be considered by the Committee. Submissions are to be addressed to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, c/o David M. Schatz, Corporate Secretary, ESCO Technologies Inc., 9900A Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO 63124-1186, which submissions will then be forwarded to the Committee. The Committee is not obligated to nominate any such individual for election.
| 14 | Proposal 1 | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee’s basic responsibility is to assure that the Company’s directors, key executives and other senior officers are compensated in a manner consistent with and in furtherance of Company strategy, competitive practices, and the requirements of the appropriate regulatory bodies.
|
CURRENT MEMBERS
● Khilnani (Chair) ● Dewar ● Phillippy ● Stolze ● Valdez
5 meetings in fiscal 2023 |
● | Reviews and approves corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer; evaluates the Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of these goals and objectives, and determines the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation based upon the evaluation in conjunction with the full Board | |
| ● | Approves and evaluates the compensation plans for senior management | ||
| ● | Reviews, approves and evaluates incentive compensation plans, equity-based plans and other compensation plans, to ensure that they provide compensation and incentives consistent with the strategy of the Company and competitive practice | ||
| ● | Reviews and approves the compensation of the Company’s non-management directors in conjunction with the full Board | ||
| ● | Reviews, approves and evaluates material benefit programs, including material new programs and material changes to existing programs | ||
| ● | Reviews the performance and development of, and succession planning for, Company senior management | ||
| ● | Oversees the Company’s Charitable Contributions Program | ||
| ● | Reviews and discusses with management the Company’s annual Compensation Discussion and Analysis, and recommends its inclusion in the Company’s annual proxy statement and the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC (see Compensation Committee Report on page 22) |
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation.
During fiscal 2023, none of the members of the Compensation Committee (i) was an officer or employee of the Company; (ii) was formerly an officer of the Company; or (iii) had any other relationship requiring disclosure under any paragraph of Item 404 or under Item 407(e)(4) of SEC Regulation S-K. In addition, during fiscal 2023, none of the Company’s executive officers served as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that had one or more executive officers serving as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE INFORMATION
The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight
The Company’s management is responsible for managing the Company’s risks on a day-to-day basis, and has adopted an ongoing enterprise risk management process that it uses to identify and assess Company risks. Management has identified risks in four general areas: Financial and Reporting; Legal and Compliance; Operational; and Strategic. Periodically, management advises the Board and the appropriate Board committee of the risks identified; management’s assessment of those risks at the business unit and corporate levels; its plans for the management of these identified risks or the mitigation of their effects; and the results of the implementation of those plans.
While the Board as a whole has responsibility for and is involved in the oversight of management’s risk management processes, plans and controls, some of the identified risks are given further review by the Board committee most closely associated with the identified risks. For example, the Audit Committee provides additional review of the risks in the areas of accounting and auditing, liquidity, credit, tax, information security and cybersecurity. Similarly, the Compensation Committee provides additional review of risks in the area of compensation and benefits and human resource planning. The Governance Committee devotes additional time to the review of risks associated with corporate governance, ethics, legal and ESG issues.
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Governance Policies and Management Oversight
The Board of Directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines to guide its actions, as well as a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to all of the Company’s directors, officers and employees. Additionally, the Board has adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers applicable to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Controller and persons performing similar duties. These documents are posted on the Company’s web site, www.escotechnologies.com, under the Investor Center/Governance Documents tab, and a copy of any of these documents is also available in print to any shareholder who requests it.
Upon Mr. Richey’s retirement as a director on June 30, 2023 the Board eliminated the position of Lead Director and elected independent director Robert J. Phillippy as Chair of the Board.
Insider Trading and Clawback Policies
In furtherance of the Corporate Governance Guidelines and the Codes of Business Conduct and Ethics, and in coordination with applicable securities-related laws and regulations, the Board of Directors has adopted robust policies regarding Insider Trading, including prohibitions against hedging and (for certain senior Company officials) pledging transactions involving Company stock, and policies permitting the Company to “claw back” all or part of the values of certain Company equity awards to executives or senior personnel in certain cases. Further information about these policies is set forth under Insider Trading Policy; Anti-Hedging and Anti-Pledging Policies and Clawback Policy beginning on page 32.
Cybersecurity
Global information technology security threats and targeted computer crime are increasing in frequency and sophistication. As these risks increase, the Company has enhanced its use of technologies and internal controls to protect our systems, networks and data. The Company’s cybersecurity program includes employee training and testing, information security policies and procedures, third-party monitoring of our networks and systems, and maintenance of backup and other protective systems. Governmental authorities, including the United States government, have increasingly focused on cybersecurity requirements for government contractors. The Company’s subsidiaries that serve in these capacities are increasingly focused on cybersecurity as they seek to comply with the US Department of Defense Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program and related governmental mandates.
The Audit Committee annually reviews the major financial risk exposures including cyber security and policies or controls management has implemented to manage and mitigate risks, and quarterly reviews management’s assessment and oversight of cyber security and information technologies risks and any required remediation actions. The full Board annually reviews the Company’s cybersecurity initiatives.
Succession Planning
The Compensation Committee of the Board conducts an annual review of the Company’s long-term succession plan for the CEO. Having this succession plan in place enabled the Board to name Mr. Sayler as Mr. Richey’s successor promptly after Mr. Richey notified the Board of his decision to retire. Additionally, the Board has in place an emergency succession plan for the CEO in order to minimize the uncertainty associated with an emergency succession event.
Independence and Related Person Determinations
All of the Company’s directors except Mr. Sayler are and will be independent of Company management. Additionally, all of the members of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Governance Committee are independent as defined by the New York Stock Exchange and set forth in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.
The Company has implemented a written policy not only to ensure that all non-management directors meet the independence standards defined under the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and the listing standards of the NYSE but to ensure that all Company transactions in which a “Related Person” has or will have a direct or indirect interest will be at arm’s length and on terms generally available to an unaffiliated third-party under the same or similar circumstances. “Related Persons” include the Company’s directors, director nominees and executive officers, holders of 5% or more of the Company’s stock, and the immediate family members of each. The policy contains procedures requiring Related Persons to notify the
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Company of any such transaction and for the Governance Committee to review the material facts of the proposed transaction and determine whether to approve or disapprove the transaction. The Committee will consider whether the transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third-party under the same or similar circumstances. If advance Committee approval is not feasible or is not obtained, the policy requires submission of the transaction to the Committee after the fact, and the Committee is empowered to approve, ratify, amend, rescind or terminate the transaction. In such event, the Committee will also request the General Counsel to evaluate the Company’s controls and procedures to ascertain whether any changes to the policy are recommended.
The Company has developed and implemented processes and controls to obtain information about Related Person transactions for the purpose of determining, based on the facts and circumstances, whether a Related Person has a direct or indirect material interest in the transaction. Pursuant to these processes and controls, all directors and executive officers must annually complete, sign and submit a Directors’ and Officers’ Questionnaire and a Conflict of Interest Questionnaire that are designed to identify Related Person transactions and both actual and potential conflicts of interest, and are required to update their responses in the event of any changes. Additionally, the holders of 5% or more of the Company’s shares (all of whom are institutional investors), are annually requested to respond to certain questions designed to identify direct or indirect material interests by such 5% or more shareholder in any transactions with the Company.
Based on its review and processes, the Company has determined that there has been no transaction since the beginning of the Company’s 2023 fiscal year, and there is no transaction currently proposed, in which the Company was or is to be a participant and in which any Related Person had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.
Communications with Directors
Interested parties desiring to communicate concerns regarding the Company to the Chair of the Board or to the non management Directors as a group may direct correspondence to: Mr. Robert J. Phillippy, Chair, ESCO Technologies Board of Directors, ESCO Technologies Inc., 9900A Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO 63124-1186. Alternatively, interested parties who wish to communicate with an individual director or any group of directors may write to such director(s) at ESCO Technologies Inc., 9900A Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO 63124-1186, Attn: Secretary. All such letters will be forwarded promptly to the relevant director(s).
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
The responsibilities and the substantial time commitment of a director at a public company require that the Company provide reasonable compensation to incentivize the directors’ performance and ensure their willingness to continue to serve. The Company strives to engage and retain well-qualified directors with significant experience at companies of similar size and complexity. To ensure this is achieved, the Company regularly reviews the compensation provided to its directors. The Company’s non-employee directors are compensated pursuant to the Sub-Plan for Compensation of Non-Employee Directors under the 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the Director Compensation Plan) based upon their respective levels of Board participation and responsibilities. The Compensation Committee obtains competitive market and peer data and periodically retains a compensation consultant to evaluate the competitiveness of its director compensation. The Committee approves the directors’ compensation, but any changes are ratified by the full Board. As an employee of the Company, Mr. Sayler does not receive compensation for his service as a director.
The compensation for non-employee directors is based on a calendar year and is paid or awarded, as the case may be, on and as of the first NYSE trading day after each Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
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Components of 2023 and 2024 Director Compensation
| Cash Compensation1 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Annual Retainer (all non-management directors) | $50,000 | $50,000 |
| Lead Director (through June 2023) | $25,0001 | N/A |
| Chair of the Board (beginning July 2023) | $85,0002 | $85,000 |
| Committee Chairs: | ||
| Audit | $12,5003 | $12,500 |
| Compensation | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| Governance | $8,000 | $8,000 |
| Equity Compensation | 2023 | 2024 |
| Restricted Share Award (all non-management directors)2 | $180,000 | $180,000 |
| 1 | Mr. Stolze received the full Lead Director annual retainer for 2023 in February 2023. |
| 2 | Mr. Phillippy received a prorated Board Chair retainer for the last six months of 2023 in the amount of $42,500. |
| 3 | Mr. Phillippy received the full Audit Committee Chair annual retainer for 2023 in February 2023; Mr. Dewar received a prorated Audit Committee Chair retainer for the last six months of 2023 in the amount of $6,250. |
The annual equity award consists of a number of restricted share units (RSUs) equal to $180,000 divided by the NYSE closing price of the common stock on the award date, rounded to the nearest whole share and vesting one year after the award date. The equity award for calendar 2023 was made on February 6, 2023 and will vest on February 6, 2024. Based on the February 6, 2023 NYSE closing stock price of $99.74 it amounted to 1,805 RSUs per director.
During the vesting period, each director’s RSU account accrues an additional number of unvested RSUs equivalent to the quarterly dividends that would have been paid on a like number of shares of common stock, divided by the NYSE closing price on the dividend date; and on the vesting date the accrued RSUs vest and are converted into a whole number of shares of common stock plus cash equal to the value of any fractional shares, based on the NYSE closing price on the vesting date.
2024 Compensation.
The Compensation Committee reviewed the non-management directors’ annual compensation program in August 2023, and based on its recommendations the Board determined to make no changes in the program for calendar 2024.
Election to Defer Compensation.
Directors may elect in advance to defer receipt of all of their cash compensation and/or all of their stock compensation. If deferral is elected, the deferred amounts are credited to the director’s deferred compensation account in common stock equivalents. If cash compensation is deferred, the number of common stock equivalents credited is equal to the amount deferred divided by the NYSE closing price of the common stock as of the date on which the deferral occurs (or if that is not a trading day, then the last preceding trading day). If stock compensation is deferred, the number of common stock equivalents credited is equal to the number of shares whose receipt is deferred. Common stock equivalents in the director’s deferred compensation account have no voting rights, but earn dividend equivalents on each dividend payment date equal to the dividends payable on a like number of shares of common stock; and the dividend equivalents earned are credited to the director’s deferred compensation account as additional common stock equivalents valued at the NYSE closing price on the dividend date. A director’s deferred compensation account becomes distributable when the director leaves the Board, or at such other date as may be specified by the director consistent with the terms of the Director Compensation Plan; distribution will be accelerated in certain circumstances, including a change in control of the Company. The account is distributable at the election of the director either in cash or in shares; however, any stock portion which has been deferred may only be distributed in shares. During fiscal 2023, Mr. Dewar, Ms. Hess and Mr. Olivier deferred receipt of their cash compensation and stock compensation, as described in the footnotes to the Fiscal 2023 Compensation table below. In addition, Mr. Phillippy’s, Mr. Stolze’s and Ms. Valdez’s stock compensation from certain prior years continued to be deferred pursuant to prior deferral elections which they had terminated as to future compensation.
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Director Stock Ownership Guidelines.
Directors are subject to stock ownership guidelines. Under these guidelines, within five years after their appointment to the Board each non-management director is expected to acquire and hold shares or common stock equivalents having a total cash value equal to at least five times the annual cash retainer. All directors currently exceed the ownership guidelines.
Extended Compensation Plan for Certain Directors.
Under the Company’s Directors’ Extended Compensation Plan, a plan for non-management directors who began Board service prior to April 2001, Mr. Stolze is eligible to receive for life an annual benefit of $20,000 beginning after his service as a director ceases. In the event of his subsequent death, 50% of the benefit will be paid to his surviving spouse for life; if Mr. Stolze dies before retirement, 50% of the benefit, determined as if the director had retired on the date of death, will be paid to his surviving spouse in a lump sum. The plan permits Mr. Stolze to elect to receive the actuarial equivalent of the benefit in a single lump sum after retirement; and in compliance with section 409(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, Mr. Stolze has made this election.
Fiscal 2023 Compensation.
The following table sets forth the compensation of the Company’s non-management directors for fiscal 2023. As executive officers, Mr. Richey and Mr. Sayler did not receive any additional compensation for their services as directors; their compensation is described under Proposal 2: Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation beginning on page 21.
| Change in | |||||||
| Pension | |||||||
| Value and | |||||||
| Nonqualified | |||||||
| Fees Earned | Non-Equity | Deferred | |||||
| or Paid | Stock | Option | Incentive Plan | Compensation | All Other | ||
| Name | in Cash | Awards1 | Awards | Compensation | Earnings2,3 | Compensation | Total |
| Patrick M. Dewar | $ 56,3114 | $ 180,483 | — | — | $ 5,026 | — | $ 241,820 |
| Janice L. Hess | 50,0805 | 180,812 | — | — | 427 | — | 231,319 |
| Vinod M. Khilnani | 60,0616 | 180,483 | — | — | 0 | — | 240,544 |
| Leon J. Olivier | 58,0617 | 180,483 | — | — | 10,214 | — | 248,758 |
| Robert J. Phillippy | 105,0618 | 180,483 | — | — | 6,051 | — | 291,595 |
| James M. Stolze | 75,0619 | 180,483 | — | — | 6,094 | — | 261,638 |
| Gloria L. Valdez | 50,06110 | 180,483 | — | — | 2,364 | — | 232,908 |
| 1 | Dollar amounts represent (i) the aggregate fair values of the 1,805 RSUs awarded to the respective directors on February 6, 2023, based on the NYSE closing price of the underlying common stock of $99.74 on that date; plus (ii) the values of the dividend equivalents accrued on the respective directors’ unvested RSUs held during 2023 as of the respective dividend dates. See Components of 2023 and 2024 Director Compensation above. |
| 2 | Dollar amounts represent the values of the dividend equivalents accrued as of the respective dividend dates during 2023 on the elective deferred stock compensation accounts of Mr. Dewar, Ms. Hess, Mr. Olivier, Mr. Phillippy, Mr. Stolze and Ms. Valdez. See Components of 2023 and 2024 Director Compensation above. |
| 3 | Includes, for Mr. Stolze, the changes in actuarial present value of his accumulated benefits under the Directors’ Extended Compensation Plan, described above, during fiscal 2023. See Extended Compensation Plan for Certain Directors above. For fiscal 2023, overall pension values decreased for Mr. Stolze in the amount of ($17,372), partly due to the effect of changes in actuarial assumptions from the preceding year. The change in pension value for Mr. Stolze due to assumption changes was ($9,550). Pursuant to SEC regulations, the amounts in the table do not include these decreases. Because Mr. Stolze has elected to receive his benefit in the form of a lump sum, the present value has been calculated based on the August 2023 417(e) lump sum segment rates and the 2023 417(e) IRS prescribed mortality table. |
| 4 | Represents cash retainer of $50,000, prorated Audit Committee Chair fee of $6,250 and $61 in exchange for vested fractional RSUs; however, Mr. Dewar elected to defer receipt of his cash compensation and to receive in lieu of cash a total of approximately 566 RSUs having the same aggregate value on their respective issue dates. |
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| 5 | Represents cash retainer of $50,000 and $80 in exchange for vested fractional RSUs; however, Ms. Hess elected to defer receipt of her cash compensation and to receive in lieu of cash a total of approximately 502 RSUs having the same aggregate value on their respective issue dates. |
| 6 | Represents cash retainer of $50,000, committee chair fee of $10,000, and $61 in exchange for vested fractional RSUs. |
| 7 | Represents cash retainer of $50,000, committee chair fee of $8,000, and $61 in exchange for vested fractional RSUs; however, Mr. Olivier elected to defer receipt of his cash compensation and to receive in lieu of cash a total of approximately 582 RSUs having the same aggregate value on their respective issue dates. |
| 8 | Represents cash retainer of $50,000, committee chair fee of $12,500, prorated Board Chair fee of $42,500 and $61 in exchange for vested fractional RSUs. |
| 9 | Represents cash retainer of $50,000, lead director cash retainer of $25,000 and $61 in exchange for vested fractional RSUs. |
| 10 | Represents cash retainer of $50,000 and $61 in exchange for vested fractional RSUs. |
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Proposal 2: Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR this Proposal.
Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Board of Directors is again soliciting an advisory (non-binding) shareholder vote, commonly referred to as “Say-on-Pay”, to approve the compensation of the executive officers whose compensation is disclosed in this Proxy Statement (the named executive officers or NEOs). At our 2023 Annual Meeting, over 99% of the shares represented and entitled to vote on the Say on Pay proposal, and over 92% of all outstanding shares, were voted in support of the Say-on-Pay proposal. Also, based on the preference of over 93% of the votes cast on the frequency of the Say-on-Pay proposals, we plan to continue to hold a Say-on-Pay vote every year.
The Board of Directors strongly endorses our executive compensation program and recommends that the shareholders vote in favor of the following Resolution:
“RESOLVED, that the Company’s shareholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers as disclosed in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders pursuant to the executive compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Summary Compensation Table, and the other related tables and narrative disclosure.”
Shareholders are encouraged to review the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section below as well as the Summary Compensation Table and the other related tables and narrative disclosure referred to in the proposed Resolution, which provide details about our executive compensation program as well as specific information about the compensation of our named executive officers.
This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of the named executive officers as described in this Proxy Statement. Although the vote is non-binding, the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee value the opinions of the shareholders, and to the extent there is a significant vote against the above resolution the Company will consider the shareholders’ concerns and the Committee will evaluate what actions (if any) may be necessary to address those concerns.
SUMMARY OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM
Our executive compensation program is designed to attract, motivate, and retain executive officers who are critical to our success. The Committee believes that the program constitutes a balanced, competitive approach to compensation that supports our compensation objectives through performance-based compensation that aligns the interests of executives with those of our shareholders.
The Compensation Committee reviews our compensation program at least annually to ensure that it achieves the desired goals of aligning our executive compensation structure with shareholders’ interests and current market practices.
| What We Do: | What We Don’t Do: | |||
|
Pay for performance philosophy |  |
No excessive perquisites | |
|
Significant portion of compensation is at-risk | |
No tax gross-ups on perquisites | |
|
Competitive stock ownership guidelines | |
No tax gross-ups on change in control severance | |
|
Robust clawback policy | |
No hedging or pledging of Company stock | |
|
Double-trigger change-in-control equity vesting | |
No repricing or exchange of equity-based awards without shareholder approval | |
|
Independent compensation consultant | |||
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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The Human Resources and Compensation Committee is responsible for determining the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and President as well as other senior officers and key executives of the Company. The Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Company’s disclosures under the section captioned Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning immediately following this Compensation Committee Report.
Based on such review and discussion, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement and incorporated by reference in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Human Resources and Compensation Committee
| ● | Vinod M. Khilnani, Chair |
| ● | Patrick M. Dewar |
| ● | Robert J. Phillippy |
| ● | James M. Stolze |
| ● | Gloria L. Valdez |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis discusses the compensation of the following NEOs.
| ● | Bryan H. Sayler, Chief Executive Officer & President |
| ● | Christopher L. Tucker, Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer |
| ● | David M. Schatz, Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary |
2023 Performance Highlights
| Net Sales | Diluted Earnings Per Share | Entered Orders | ||
| $956M | $3.58 | $1,033M | ||
| Record
Sales +11% over prior year |
+13% over prior year | Record Orders & Ending Backlog Orders +8% / Backlog +11% over prior year |
|
Entered orders exceeded $1 billion for the first time |
|
Record sales increased 11% over the prior year |
|
Leveraged revenue growth to drive higher profit margins |
|
Returned $21 million to shareholders through dividends and the repurchase of outstanding shares of common stock |
2023 Performance Related to Executive Compensation
The Compensation Committee established two performance metrics, “Adjusted EPS” and “Cash Flow from Operating Activities,” to determine incentive plan compensation earned during fiscal 2023 and thereby incent the participants and align cash incentive compensation with business objectives. Adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP measure, and the factors used in the calculation of the 2023 adjustment differed slightly from those used to calculate the 2022 adjustment; for a detailed description and a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measure, see 2023 Cash Incentive Metrics, below.
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Pay for Performance
Our compensation programs are designed to maximize shareholder value by allocating a significant portion of executive compensation to at-risk pay. Our annual cash incentive program and equity-based PSUs utilize a variety of key strategic and financial performance metrics and are designed to reward positive financial performance and limit unnecessary risk taking. Stock ownership guidelines align the interests of executives and shareholders by ensuring that executives bear the economic risk of share ownership.
Compensation Objective
The Compensation Committee’s objective is to develop and maintain industry-competitive compensation packages to attract, retain, motivate and reward our executive officers and other senior officers and key executives. Compensation programs are designed to be consistent with those of other companies engaged in similar industries and/or of similar size with which we are likely to compete for talent to enable us to employ and retain a high-quality management team. The Committee seeks to use performance-based compensation to maximize the alignment of executive compensation with the long-term interests of our shareholders.
The Committee sets compensation levels based on the skills, experience and performance of each executive officer, taking into account the benchmarking described below and compensation recommendations made by the CEO (except with respect to his own position). The Committee’s pay for performance philosophy is reflected in the annual compensation review. The Committee also considers tally sheets which provide, for each executive officer, a recap of each principal element of compensation as well as benefits, perquisites, equity awards, and stock ownership and potential ownership. The tally sheets also reflect the incremental compensation which would be payable as a result of various termination scenarios and each element of pay or benefits impacted. The Committee retains the discretion to adjust all elements of compensation as it deems appropriate, subject to the requirements of shareholder-approved plans.
Executive Compensation Program Highlights
| Pay for performance philosophy | A significant portion of NEO pay is at-risk in order to align pay with business strategy and shareholder interests |
| At-risk annual cash incentive | Based on achievement of specified Company performance metrics |
| Long-term equity incentive compensation (LTI) | Incorporates long-term Company performance metrics, and retention factors such as delayed vesting |
| Limited perquisites | Perquisites are appropriate to the position and not excessive |
| No tax gross-ups | No tax gross-up on any perquisites or severance benefits |
| Competitive stock ownership policy | NEO stock ownership requirement is based on a multiple of base salary |
| Clawback policy | Cash incentive and equity awards may be reclaimed by the Company in case of malfeasance or accounting restatements due to noncompliance with financial reporting requirements |
| No hedging or pledging | NEOs must retain the risks of Company stock ownership |
| Double trigger vesting | NEO change in control agreements and stock awards contain double trigger vesting provisions |
| Independent compensation consultant | The Compensation Committee retains its own independent compensation consultant |
| Strong say-on-pay support | Over 99% of the shares voting at the 2023 Annual Meeting supported the Company’s executive compensation program |
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The following table summarizes the 2023 target direct compensation pay mix for the CEO and other NEOs, with approximately 75% of the CEO’s target direct compensation at risk and 63% of the average of the other NEOs’ target direct compensation at risk. Target direct compensation is defined as the sum of the executive officer’s base salary, annual cash incentive award, and annual long term equity incentive awards, in each case calculated at the target level specified by the Compensation Committee. Because of the Company’s change in CEOs during 2023, the chart for the CEO is based on the compensation of the new CEO, Mr. Sayler.
Compensation Consultant and Benchmarking
The Compensation Committee is authorized by its charter to employ independent compensation and other consultants. The Committee has typically engaged a nationally recognized compensation consulting firm (Compensation Consultant) every other year to assist the Committee in evaluating executive compensation. The Compensation Consultant provides information, research and analysis pertaining to executive compensation as requested by the Committee, including updates on market trends, survey data and analysis for market review. The Committee also from time to time engages our primary outside counsel, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP (BCLP) to advise it on selected executive compensation issues.
The Committee conducts a peer and market review every two years; the most recent review was in 2022, as described below.
2022 Compensation Report (Fiscal 2023 Compensation Review)
In the summer of 2022, the Committee engaged Pay Governance LLC as the Compensation Consultant to provide a compensation report (the 2022 Compensation Report) for the Committee’s fiscal 2023 compensation review. One of the elements of the 2022 Compensation Report was the 2022 Mercer Benchmark Database/Total Remuneration Survey – Executive (the Mercer Survey), a broad-based survey of management compensation, as the primary source for benchmarking its executive compensation levels. A broad market survey provides decision-quality data that is generally reliable and consistent year-over-year. The Company was a participant in the Mercer Survey. A list of all of the participating companies included in the Mercer Survey is attached as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement.
For its 2022 Compensation Report, the Compensation Consultant also provided proxy data from the peer group described below (2022 Peer Group) to be used in conjunction with the Mercer Survey in order to add context to the decision-making process and provide a supplemental perspective on the market. Peer group proxy data provides transparent line-by-line information for each company in the peer group, and provides the ability to review industry trends and compensation design practices as well as pay-for-performance alignment. The 2022 Peer Group was based on the SIC codes assigned to the Company’s subsidiaries and represented companies in the following industries in which the Company participates:
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| ● | Industrial valves |
| ● | General industrial machinery |
| ● | Radio and television communications equipment |
| ● | Printed circuit boards |
| ● | Instruments to measure electricity |
| ● | Services not elsewhere classified |
Companies in the above industries were then filtered for revenue size in order to determine the 2022 Peer Group. The following is a list of the companies in the 2022 Peer Group, with their ticker symbols:
| Ameresco, Inc. (AMRC)* | Kaman Corporation (KAMN) |
| Badger Meter, Inc. (BMI) | MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings Inc. (MTSI) |
| Barnes Group Inc. (B)* | Mueller Water Products, Inc. (MWA) |
| Chart Industries, Inc. (GTLS) | National Instruments Corporation (NATI)* |
| CIRCOR International, Inc. (CIR) | Powell Industries, Inc. (POWL)* |
| Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (CMTL) | SPX Technologies Inc. |
| CTS Corporation (CTS) | Standex International Corporation (SXI) |
| FARO Technologies, Inc. (FARO)* | Tri Mas Corporation (TRS)* |
| Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (FELE) | Viavi Solutions Inc. (VIAV)* |
| Helios Technologies (HLIO) |
* These companies did not report compensation data for the General Counsel position in their proxy materials.
Fiscal 2023 Benchmarking.
For its compensation review for fiscal 2023, the Committee reviewed each principal element of compensation (base salary, cash incentive and LTI), as well as total cash compensation (base salary and cash incentive), and total direct compensation (target cash compensation and LTI) for each of the Company’s executive officer positions, and compared them against the benchmark range from the Compensation Report. For all three of the NEOs, the benchmark range for each element of compensation in the Compensation Report is the median plus or minus 15%. For fiscal 2023, the Committee utilized the benchmark ranges from the Compensation Report in determining the competitiveness of the executives’ compensation. The Committee also compared relative Company performance against the performance of the companies in the 2022 Peer Group to test the overall reasonableness of pay for performance.
The Committee used the Compensation Report described above as a guideline and frame of reference in determining appropriate compensation levels and incentives for the executive officers; however, the Committee does not make its decisions according to a formula, and the Committee exercises considerable judgment and discretion in making them. The complexity and composition of the Company does not lend itself to comparisons with a readily ascertainable peer group, and while matching by SIC codes can provide some measure of comparability, there are wide variations in the type and complexity of these companies. The Committee therefore considers the benchmark ranges to be only a guide, and makes individual determinations of compensation for each of the executive officers based on numerous factors including the comparative responsibilities of the executive officers and the Committee’s assessments of individual and Company performance.
Compensation Consultant Independence.
In August 2023, the Committee assessed the independence of Pay Governance and BCLP in line with the SEC’s compensation consultant independence factors, and determined there were no conflicts of interest. The Committee will continue to review their independence status annually and will keep the compliance letters on file.
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Principal Elements of Compensation Program
The principal elements of the 2023 compensation program for executive officers (base salary, annual cash incentive and long-term equity incentive) are reflected in the Summary Compensation Table on page 34. Each of these elements is described in detail in the corresponding sections below.
| Pay Element | Form | 2023 Metrics | Objectives |
| Base Salary | Cash | Benchmarked to market median, subject to adjustment for individual factors such as experience and performance | Attract and retain qualified executives |
| Annual Incentive Plan (PCP) | Cash | 100% based on financial results: | Drive profitability, growth and progress |
| ● 70% based on Adjusted EPS | against strategy | ||
| ● 30% based on Cash Flow from | |||
| Operating Activities | |||
| Long-Term Equity Incentive (LTI) | Performance Share Units (PSUs) | Awards vest after 3-year | Align NEOs’ efforts with creation of |
| performance period | long-term shareholder value | ||
| ● 60% based on EBITDA growth | |||
| ● 40% based on Return on | |||
| Invested Capital | |||
| ● Potential for modification based | |||
| on rTSR | |||
| Restricted Share Units (RSUs) | 2023 awards vest after 3½ years | Retention, ownership and full alignment with the shareholder experience | |
| Benefits | Consistent with other similarly situated personnel | ||
We do not believe that any risks arising from our compensation policies and practices are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. Any such risk is mitigated by the multiple elements of the compensation programs, including base salary, annual cash incentive programs, and LTI awards which are earned over multiple years. This structure encourages decision-making that is in the best long-term interests of the Company and our shareholders.
Total Direct Compensation.
The executive officers receive total direct compensation consisting of cash compensation (base salary plus annual cash incentive compensation) and long-term equity incentive compensation. Each of these elements is described in detail in the corresponding sections below.
The Committee sets target levels for total direct compensation based on the skills, experience, breadth of their role, and performance of each executive officer, taking into account the benchmarking described above and compensation recommendations made by the CEO (except with respect to his own position). The Committee also considers the Company’s performance. For fiscal 2023, the Committee increased the executive officers’ total direct compensation as described in detail below. Total direct compensation for fiscal 2023 was within the benchmark ranges for Mr. Tucker and Mr. Schatz. Mr. Sayler’s total direct compensation was below the benchmark range, which is typical for a recently promoted CEO.
Base Salaries.
Base salaries are designed to attract, retain, motivate and reward competent, qualified, experienced executives, although we emphasize performance-based compensation for the executive officers.
Fiscal 2023 base salaries for the executive officers other than Mr. Sayler were set by the Committee in the first quarter of fiscal 2023; Mr. Sayler’s base salary was set prior to the commencement of his employment in January 2023. Annual base salaries for the executive officers for fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022 were as follows:
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Base Salaries1
| Officer | FY 2023 Base Salary | FY 2022 Base Salary | Percent Increase from FY 2022 | ||
| Bryan H. Sayler | $ | 715,0002 | $ | N/A | N/A |
| Victor L. Richey | 898,1003 | 898,100 | 0.0% | ||
| Christopher L. Tucker | 570,000 | 522,000 | 9.2% | ||
| David M. Schatz | 394,000 | 357,000 | 10.4% | ||
| 1 | Amounts shown are annualized, and are as of the beginning of fiscal 2023; the actual amounts paid are set forth in the Summary Compensation Table. |
| 2 | Effective January 1, 2023, upon becoming CEO. |
| 3 | Reduced to $650,000 effective January 1, 2023. |
Base Salary Changes for Fiscal 2024.
For fiscal 2024 the Committee determined that increases in base salary of 5.6%, 5% and 3% were warranted for Mr. Sayler, Mr. Tucker and Mr. Schatz, resulting in base salaries of $755,000, $598,500 and $405,800, respectively.
Annual Cash Incentive
The Committee uses annual performance-based cash incentives to compensate the executive officers. The Committee establishes at-risk performance targets for the executive officers using financial and operational goals linking compensation to overall Company performance. The annual cash incentive targets for fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022 were as follows:
Target Cash Incentive Compensation1
| Officer | FY 2023 Target Cash Incentive | FY 2022 Target Cash Incentive | Percent Increase from FY 2022 | ||
| Bryan H. Sayler | $ | 715,0002 | $ | N/A | N/A |
| Victor L. Richey | 959,5003 | $ | 959,500 | 0.0% | |
| Christopher L. Tucker | 373,000 | 348,000 | 7.2% | ||
| David M. Schatz | 176,000 | 153,000 | 15.0% | ||
| 1 | Amounts shown are annual targets and are as of the beginning of fiscal 2023; the actual amounts paid are set forth in the Summary Compensation Table. |
| 2 | Scored based on the performance of the Utility Solutions Group for the first quarter of fiscal 2023 and on total company performance for the remaining three quarters of fiscal 2023. |
| 3 | Prorated for the first quarter of fiscal 2023, then reduced to $487,500 prorated from the beginning of the second quarter of fiscal 2023 until his retirement at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2023. |
The fiscal 2023 cash incentive targets for the executive officers were established pursuant to our Performance Compensation Plan (PCP) authorized under the 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan. This at risk plan closely links the executive officers’ pay to our financial results and provides compensation variability in the form of reduced payments when performance is below targets and higher compensation when performance exceeds targets. The PCP has a fixed target with a payout range based on performance. The Committee has discretion to either increase or decrease the actual cash incentive payouts.
Annual Cash Incentive Changes for Fiscal 2024.
For fiscal 2024, the Committee determined that the cash incentive targets will be set as a percent of base salary in line with market practices. The 2024 cash incentive targets for Mr. Sayler, Mr. Tucker and Mr. Schatz are $755,000 (100% of 2024 base salary), $389,000 (65% of 2024 base salary), and $202,900 (50% of 2024 base salary), respectively. The metrics to be used for determining the amounts of the 2024 cash incentive payouts are described under Fiscal 2024 Changes to Cash Incentive Metrics, below.
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Total Target Cash Compensation
The target percentages of total cash compensation represented by base salary and by the PCP target varied for fiscal 2023 based on the position, as follows:
Target Total Cash Compensation – Fiscal 20231
| Base Salary | Cash Incentive Target (PCP) | |||||||
| Percent of Target | ||||||||
| Officer | Percent
of Target Total Cash Compensation |
Total
Cash Compensation |
Target
Total Cash Compensation | |||||
| Bryan H. Sayler | $ | 715,0002 | 50% | $ | 715,0002 | 50% | $ | 1,430,0002 |
| Victor L. Richey | 898,1002 | 48% | 959,5002 | 52% | 1,857,6002 | |||
| Christopher L. Tucker | 570,000 | 60% | 373,000 | 40% | $943,000 | |||
| David M. Schatz | 394,000 | 69% | 176,000 | 31% | $570,000 | |||
| 1 | Amounts shown are as of the beginning of fiscal 2023; the actual amounts paid are set forth in the Summary Compensation Table. |
| 2 | Amounts shown are as of the beginning of fiscal 2023; for adjustments during the year see “Base Salaries” above. |
The higher at-risk target percentage for the CEO as compared to the other executive officers is based on our at risk philosophy and the greater responsibilities of the CEO. Similarly, the CFO has a higher at-risk percentage as compared to the General Counsel. Near the beginning of each fiscal year, after reviewing our business plans for the fiscal year, the Committee determines the key short-term business metrics on which senior management should focus in order to drive results and approves the cash incentive target for each executive officer. Because of the broad responsibilities of the executive officers, their criteria are tied to Company-wide metrics. The Committee then determines the percentage of the cash incentive target which should be tied to each of the metrics and the performance target for each metric, and approves the threshold and maximum multipliers which will be applied to each of the performance targets to determine the payment under the plan. If performance is below the threshold for a metric, there is no payout for that metric.
2023 Cash Incentive Metrics.
During the first quarter of fiscal 2023 the Committee approved two metrics for achievement of the fiscal 2023 PCP incentive targets, based on the annual operating plan reviewed by the Board of Directors. The first metric in 2023 was “Adjusted EPS,” weighted at 70% of the total PCP target opportunity; Adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP financial measure. Fiscal 2023 Adjusted EPS of $3.70 equaled GAAP diluted EPS of $3.58 excluding $0.12 per share of after-tax charges consisting of executive management transition costs, acquisition inventory step-up charges, restructuring charges, and acquisition related costs.
The second metric in fiscal 2023 was “Cash Flow from Operating Activities,” weighted at 30% of the total PCP target opportunity; Cash Flow from Operating Activities is a GAAP financial measure. Fiscal 2023 Cash Flow from Operating Activities was $76.9 million.
The Committee approved the following targets for the two fiscal 2023 cash incentive metrics. It believes that the selected metrics and the performance benchmarks for each metric, and the threshold and maximum multipliers, provided meaningful incentives for 2023 performance.
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2023 PCP Targets and Results
| 2022 Benchmarks | ||||||
| Weight (% of | Actual Value | Actual % of Payout | ||||
| Metric | Target Incentive) | Threshold | Target | Maximum | Achieved | Earned (unweighted) |
| Adjusted EPS | 70% | $2.98 | $3.50 | $3.85 | $3.70 | 157.1% |
| Cash Flow from Operating Activities (millions) | 30% | $100.6 | $118.3 | $136.0 | $76.9 | 0%1 |
| % of Target Earned | 30%1 | 100% | 200% | |||
| Weighted % of Total Target Earned | 110% | |||||
| 1 | If performance is below the threshold for a metric, there is no payout for that metric. |
The Summary Compensation Table on page 34 reflects the actual payouts to the executive officers under the PCP for fiscal 2023.
Fiscal 2024 Changes to Cash Incentive Metrics.
In line with its practice in recent years, the Committee determined to allocate 100% of the executive officers’ cash incentive compensation opportunity to the PCP, and approved the following performance criteria for fiscal 2024:
| ● | “Adjusted EPS,” weighted at 70% of the total target opportunity and consisting of earnings per share excluding certain defined non-recurring gains and charges expected to be realized or incurred in fiscal 2024 (this is a non-GAAP measure); and |
| ● | “Cash Flow from Operating Activities,” weighted at 30% of the total target opportunity (this is a GAAP measure). |
As in 2023, the potential cash incentive compensation for fiscal 2024 will range from 0 to 2.0 times the target opportunity for both Adjusted EPS and Cash Flow from Operating Activities, depending on actual 2024 performance.
Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation.
The Company’s annual LTI award program consists of a combination of performance-based share unit (PSU) awards (since fiscal 2022) and time-vested restricted share unit (RSU) awards (since fiscal 2021), with each type weighted at 50% of the LTI opportunity. For fiscal 2023, PSU grants were made in the first quarter of the fiscal year to align with the Company’s fiscal year goal-setting process, and RSU grants were made in the third quarter of the fiscal year in line with historic LTI grant timing.
We do not coordinate LTI grants with the release of material non-public information. Company-wide equity grants, including equity grants to our executive officers, are made at regular meetings of the Compensation Committee. We also do not grant stock options or other awards which require a payment by the recipient in order to realize the value of the award.
Restricted Share Units (RSUs).
RSUs are time-vested awards. The terms of the awards are similar to those in recent prior RSU awards, but with the following material changes approved by the Compensation Committee for the 2023 RSU awards:
| ● | The awards will vest in three equal portions approximately 18, 30 and 42 months after the month in which they are granted; for the 2023 awards, vesting will occur on the last NYSE trading days in November 2024, 2025 and 2026, at which time they will be converted into a like number of shares of Company common stock, and such shares will be paid out to the participant (after statutory tax withholdings) on the following business day. |
| ● | On each regular quarterly dividend date occurring from the award date to and including the vesting date, the Company will accrue for the benefit of the recipient an amount equal to the cash dividend which would have been paid on a number of shares of Company common stock equal to the number of unconverted RSUs. The amount accrued with respect to each vested portion of the award will be paid out in cash at the time that portion of the award is distributed; but, if or to the extent the award does not vest or for any reason is not distributed, a like portion of the accrued amount will be canceled and not paid. |
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Performance Share Units (PSUs).
PSUs awarded in fiscal 2023 will vest after a three-year performance period ending with fiscal 2025. If earned, they will be converted into a number of shares of Company common stock based on achievement of the performance goals. The award distribution in shares may be less than or greater than the number of PSUs awarded depending on the degree to which the Company has achieved specified performance goals. Straight-line interpolation will be used to score between threshold, target and maximum performance levels. For the fiscal 2023 PSU awards, the Committee approved further aligning the performance measures with shareholders, by continuing the use of EBITDA as a performance measure, with a 60% weighting, adding Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) as a performance measure, with a 40% weighting, but also adding relative Total Shareholder Return (rTSR) as a modifier:
EBITDA Performance Goals — 60% of PSU award value
| Below Threshold | Threshold | Target | Maximum | |||||
| Cumulative Company EBITDA for the three year performance period1 | Performance Level (in millions) | <$469.1 | $ | 469.1 | $ | 551.9 | $ | 717.5 |
| Payout2 | 0% | 50% | 100% | 200% | ||||
ROIC Performance Goals — 40% of PSU award value
| Below Threshold | Threshold | Target | Maximum | ||
| Company ROIC for 20253 | Performance Level (in percentages) | <8.5% | 8.5% | 10.0% | 13.0% |
| Payout2 | 0% | 50% | 100% | 200% |
| 1 | The EBITDA target was set by the Committee to represent a challenging performance incentive based on annual percentage increases over actual 2022 EBITDA and is not intended as guidance or a prediction of actual results. |
| 2 | Subject to adjustment as described below. |
| 3 | The ROIC target was set by the Committee to represent a challenging performance incentive and is not intended as guidance or a prediction of actual results. |
After applying the above performance metrics, the resulting number of PSUs may be subject to increase or decrease based on the Company’s Total Shareholder Return (TSR) over the performance period compared to the TSR of the companies in a peer group based on the S&P SmallCap 600 Industrials Index. If the Company’s relative TSR (rTSR) is below the 25th percentile or above the 75th percentile, the resulting number of shares will be decreased by 20% or increased by 20%, respectively; if the Company’s rTSR is from the 25th percentile to the 75th percentile, no adjustment will be made. In no event will the award payout be greater than 200% of the target.
For more information about the fiscal 2023 LTI awards, see Grants of Plan-Based Awards on page 36.
LTI Changes for 2024
For the fiscal 2024 LTI awards to Mr. Sayler and the other executive officers, the Committee set the value as a percentage of base salary in line with market practices, resulting in fiscal 2024 target LTI values as of the grant date of $1,510,000 (200% of base salary), $598,500 (100% of base salary) and $304,400 (75% of base salary) for Mr. Sayler, Mr. Tucker and Mr. Schatz, respectively.
The Committee determined that the LTI awards for fiscal 2024 would be provided in the same two forms as in fiscal 2023 and that the grant date target value would be divided equally between PSUs and RSUs as they were in fiscal 2023. The fiscal 2024 PSUs were granted in November 2023 and will vest after a three-year performance period beginning with fiscal 2024, at which time they will be converted into a currently undeterminable number of shares of Company common stock, which may be less than or greater than the number of PSUs awarded, within certain specified threshold and maximum limits, depending on the degree to which the Company has achieved one or more specified performance goals. If the performance is less than the threshold goal for a particular performance measure, there will be no payout of that portion of the PSUs dependent on that measure. The fiscal 2024 RSU awards were also granted in November 2023 and will vest in three equal portions approximately 12, 24 and 36 months after the month in which they are granted; for the 2024 awards, vesting will occur on the last trading days in November of 2024, 2025 and 2026.
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Other Compensation Elements
Perquisites.
The Company also provides limited perquisites to the executive officers, which have historically included country club membership, an annual physical, financial planning and an auto allowance. The Committee annually reviews the types and value of the perquisites provided to the executive officers as part of its overall review of executive compensation. The Committee determined the perquisites paid in fiscal 2023 to be reasonable.
Certain of these perquisites are treated as taxable income. Effective January 1, 2021, we ceased reimbursing our executive officers for the income taxes due on these perquisites (“tax gross-ups”), and effective for fiscal 2023 we ceased providing auto allowances and country club benefits for our executive officers other than country club initiation fee benefits for Mr. Sayler and Mr. Tucker based on their employment terms at hire.
Retirement Benefits.
Like our other employees, the executive officers are eligible for retirement benefits provided through a matched defined contribution (401(k)) program. Our former defined benefit pension plan was terminated in February 2020, and the executive officers received lump sum distributions in liquidation of their plan accounts. Upon his retirement in 2023, Mr. Richey received a lump-sum benefit under our supplemental executive retirement plan (SERP), the accrual of benefits under which had ended in December 2003. See Pension Benefits, below.
Severance Plan.
Severance provisions in the event of a change of control benefit a company by allowing executives who are parties to such arrangements to focus on continuing business operations and the success of a potential business combination rather than seeking alternative employment, thereby providing stability to a corporation during a potentially uncertain period. Accordingly, the Company has adopted a Severance Plan, last amended in November 2020, which prescribes the compensation and benefits to be provided in the event of a change of control to certain executives, including the CEO and the other executive officers.
Our change of control arrangements were designed to provide executives with severance payments and certain other benefits in the event that their employment is terminated in connection with a change of control transaction. The Severance Plan includes a “double trigger,” which means that it provides severance benefits only if there is both (1) a change of control of the Company, and (2) the Company (or any successor) terminates the employee’s employment without cause within 36 months following a change of control, or the employee terminates his or her employment for good reason within 36 months following a change of control, or the Company terminates the employee’s employment within 90 days before a change of control at the request of a third party who, at such time, had taken steps reasonably calculated to effect the change of control.
For purposes of the Severance Plan, “change of control” means any of the following (subject to the specific definitions in the Severance Plan): (i) the acquisition by any person or group of at least 20% of the then-outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock; or (ii) a change in a majority of the members of the Board of Directors that is not approved by the incumbent Board; or (iii) the approval by the shareholders of either a reorganization, merger or consolidation after which the shareholders will not own at least a majority of the Company’s common stock and voting power, or a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or the sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets.
If the Severance Plan is triggered, the executive will be entitled to all accrued but unpaid compensation, a pro rata cash bonus for the year of separation and benefits through the date of separation, as well as a lump sum cash payment which is designed to replicate the cash compensation (base salary and cash incentive), plus certain benefits, that the executive would have received had he or she remained employed for two years. These payments and benefits would only be paid as a result of a double-trigger event. The determination of the appropriate level of payments and benefits to be provided in the event of a change of control termination involved consideration of several factors. The two-year multiple was determined based on a survey of the Company’s peers at the time the Severance Plan was adopted by the Company, and is deemed to be reasonable. The Committee considered that a high-level executive, who is more likely to lose his or her job in connection with a change of control than other employees, may require more time than other employees in order to secure an appropriate new position, and, unless that executive was provided with change of control benefits, he or she may be motivated to start a job search early if a change of control is anticipated, to the detriment of the Company. Thus, the existence of the Severance Plan provides an incentive for the executive to remain with the Company until a change of control actually occurs. In addition, payments are not provided under the Severance Plan unless there has been not only a change of control but also a qualifying termination of employment, thus providing an acquirer the opportunity to retain the Company’s management team during or after a transition period.
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For further information about the Severance Plan, and a sample calculation of the cash compensation and benefits to be provided to our executive officers under the Severance Plan, based on certain stated assumptions, see Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control beginning on page 40.
In addition, pursuant to the executive officers’ severance agreements as well as their LTI award agreements, in the event of a change of control, all LTI awards are to be assumed by the acquirer or successor entity and converted to an equivalent agreement. If for any reason the awards will not or cannot be assumed, they will be paid out in cash.
Employment Agreements.
In 2021, we entered into new employment and compensation agreements with each of our then executive officers, and in December 2022, we entered into a new employment and compensation agreement with Mr. Sayler effective January 1, 2023, consistent with the financial terms of his accepted offer letter and otherwise substantially on the same terms as the current employment agreements with the other executive officers. The agreements provide for payment of an annual base salary, participation in our cash incentive plans, eligibility for participation in our LTI plans and benefit plans and programs applicable to senior executives, and continuance of certain perquisites. For more information about the terms of these agreements, including specifics regarding the cash compensation and benefits provided in the event of a qualifying separation, and for a sample calculation based on certain stated assumptions, see Employment Agreements on page 39, and Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control beginning on page 40.
The Compensation Committee periodically assesses the reasonableness of the executive officers’ employment agreements to consider whether any changes are appropriate.
Limit on Deductibility of Certain Compensation
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code prohibits publicly held companies, including the Company, from deducting salaries and other compensation paid to an executive officer to the extent that the total exceeds $1 million during the tax year. Certain compensation based upon the attainment of performance goals set by the Compensation Committee was formerly able to qualify for an exclusion from this limitation, but this exclusion has been eliminated. However, the Committee intends to continue its practice of utilizing shareholder-approved metrics for our cash incentive plans when appropriate, although it reserves the right to use other award provisions that are tailored to achieving our financial and business objectives if it determines that the awards and performance metrics are appropriate and consistent with our business needs.
Stock Ownership Guidelines
The Compensation Committee has established stock ownership guidelines for the executive officers. The guidelines set the minimum level of ownership at a multiple of annual base salary as follows:
| Title | Multiple of Base Salary |
| CEO and President | 5x |
| Other Executive Officers | 3x |
Executive officers are expected to be in compliance with the ownership guidelines within five years of their appointments, and they are required to hold 100% of all after-tax stock distributions received from compensation awards until the guideline amounts are reached and thereafter as needed to maintain ownership of at least the guideline amounts. Mr. Tucker and Mr. Schatz currently exceed the ownership guidelines, and Mr. Sayler, who became an executive officer in January 2023, is expected to meet the guidelines within the five-year period.
Insider Trading Policy; Anti-Hedging and Anti-Pledging Policies
Our Insider Trading Policy prohibits any employee from trading in Company securities while in possession of material non-public information. In addition, the Insider Trading Policy strictly prohibits our directors, officers and employees from engaging in transactions in Company securities involving puts, calls or other derivative securities on an exchange or in any other organized market, selling Company securities “short”, or entering into hedging or similar arrangements (such as exchange funds) involving Company securities. The Insider Trading Policy also prohibits our directors, officers, corporate office employees, and other designated employees in management positions from pledging Company securities as collateral
| 32 | Proposal 2 | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
for a loan or holding Company securities in a margin account. These policies are intended to ensure that the executive officers, as well as other Company personnel in positions of authority, cannot offset or hedge against declines in the price of the Company stock they own or have a personal interest in the price of their shares which may be different from the interests of other shareholders generally.
Clawback Policy
Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics reaffirms the importance of high standards of business ethics. Adherence to these standards by all employees is the best way to ensure compliance and secure public confidence and support. All employees are responsible for their actions and for conducting themselves with integrity. Any failure on the part of any employee to meet any of the standards embodied in this Code will be subject to disciplinary action, including potential dismissal.
Since 2010, we have had in effect a robust Compensation Recovery Policy (Clawback Policy), and effective in October 2023 we adopted a Supplement to the Clawback Policy designed to comply with the enhanced clawback-related listing standards adopted in 2023 by the NYSE. The Clawback Policy provides that when appropriate, and in accordance with applicable law, the Company may recover any “Recoverable Compensation” received during a prescribed period of up to three years if an executive or other senior officer of the Company or any of our affiliates:
| ● | Engages in intentional misconduct resulting in a financial restatement or in any increase in his or her incentive or equity income, or |
| ● | Engages in activity that competes with the Company or its affiliated companies, or |
| ● | Solicits customers or hires or assists anyone else in soliciting or hiring employees of the Company or its affiliates after termination of employment or engages in the unauthorized disclosure or use of the Company’s confidential information resulting in harm to the Company or its affiliates, in any case in violation of agreements entered into by such employee prohibiting such actions. |
“Recoverable Compensation” is defined to include any equity and incentive compensation received, earned or distributed to or for the benefit of an executive or senior officer, including amounts and shares under any equity or compensation plan or employment agreement. The Clawback Policy specifies that to the extent compensation is recovered from an individual as a result of a financial restatement such amounts will be excluded from “Recoverable Compensation.”
As supplemented, the Clawback Policy also provides in the event the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement of its financial statements due to the Company’s material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the federal securities laws, the Board shall require prompt reimbursement or forfeiture of any excess Incentive-Based Compensation, as defined in the Supplemental Clawback Policy, received by a Company executive during the three completed fiscal years immediately preceding the date on which the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement, in addition to any transition period (that results from any change in the Company’s fiscal year) within or immediately following such three completed fiscal years.
Recoupment and clawback provisions are included in all equity awards and performance compensation plan agreements for certain participants, and these provisions will be added to all new non-base compensation awards. The Clawback Policy does not prevent us from taking other actions as appropriate, if warranted, based on the misconduct outlined above.
The Clawback Policy, including the 2023 Supplement, is set forth as Exhibits 97.1 and 97.2 to our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on November 29, 2023.
During fiscal 2023, there was no financial restatement which would have required action under the Clawback Policy to recover any Recoverable Compensation, and at the end of fiscal 2023 there was no outstanding balance of Recoverable Compensation resulting from a financial restatement in any prior year.
CEO Transition
In anticipation of Mr. Richey’s retirement as an executive officer effective January 1, 2023, in November 2022 the Compensation Committee approved and the Board ratified certain changes in Mr. Richey’s compensation by amendment to Mr. Richey’s Employment Agreement effective December 31, 2022, providing that: (i) Mr. Richey would remain as an employee and director of the Company during a transition period, which ended June 30, 2023; (ii) effective January 1, 2023, Mr. Richey’s base salary would be adjusted to an annual rate of $650,000, prorated over the length of the transition period;
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(iii) Mr. Richey would continue to participate in the PCP until the end of the transition period, with his 2023 cash incentive target remaining at the 2022 figure of $959,500 prorated for the first quarter of fiscal 2023, and then reduced to $487,500 prorated until the end of the transition period; and (iv) Mr. Richey would also receive a one-time award of 17,241 RSUs on January 3, which vested upon his retirement on June 30, 2023 and was distributed in shares on July 3, 2023, subject to a non-compete covenant ending two years after the distribution date and other conditions, including potential clawbacks, similar to those in the Company’s standard RSU awards. These terms are reflected in the fiscal 2023 compensation tables which follow this section.
2023 SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table contains compensation information for fiscal 2023 and the preceding two fiscal years for all services rendered in all capacities to the Company and its subsidiaries by the executive officers. Because Mr. Sayler became an executive officer during 2023, under SEC regulations 2023 was the first year for which his compensation was required to be reported.
| Change in | |||||||||||||||
| Pension | |||||||||||||||
| Value & | |||||||||||||||
| Nonqualified | |||||||||||||||
| Name and | Non-Equity | Deferred | |||||||||||||
| Principal | Fiscal | Incentive Plan | Compensation | All Other | |||||||||||
| Position | Year | Salary | Bonus | Stock Awards1 | Compensation2 | Earnings3 | Compensation4 | Total | |||||||
| Bryan H. | 2023 | $ | 621,1255 | $ | 0 | $ | 1,492,7175 | $ | 947,375 | $ | 0 | $ | 586,424 | $ | 3,647,641 |
| Sayler | N/A | ||||||||||||||
| Chief | N/A | ||||||||||||||
| Executive | |||||||||||||||
| Officer and | |||||||||||||||
| President | |||||||||||||||
| Christopher | 2023 | $ | 570,000 | $ | 0 | $ | 845,059 | $ | 410,300 | $ | 0 | $ | 113,274 | $ | 1,938,633 |
| L. Tucker | 2022 | 522,000 | 0 | 730,600 | 549,840 | 0 | 52,103 | 1,854,543 | |||||||
| Senior Vice | 2021 | 221,1546 | 1,335,0006 | 346,493 | 149,5006 | 0 | 22,187 | 2,074,334 | |||||||
| President | |||||||||||||||
| and Chief | |||||||||||||||
| Financial | |||||||||||||||
| Officer | |||||||||||||||
| David M. | 2023 | $ | 394,000 | $ | 0 | $ | 308,530 | $ | 193,600 | $ | 0 | $ | 33,342 | $ | 929,472 |
| Schatz | 2022 | 357,000 | 0 | 356,259 | 241,740 | 0 | 48,210 | 1,003,209 | |||||||
| Senior Vice | 2021 | 296,7807 | 168,047 | 77,3427 | 0 | 25,412 | 567,581 | ||||||||
| President, | |||||||||||||||
| General | |||||||||||||||
| Counsel and | |||||||||||||||
| Secretary | |||||||||||||||
| Victor L. | 2023 | $ | 549,5258 | $ | 0 | $ | 1,499,9678 | $ | 534,7478 | $ | 30,608 | $ | 62,306 | $ | 2,677,153 |
| Richey | 2022 | 898,100 | 0 | 2,963,694 | 1,516,010 | 0 | 74,911 | 5,452,716 | |||||||
| Former | 2021 | 898,100 | 0 | 2,462,845 | 710,030 | 6,405 | 84,362 | 4,161,742 | |||||||
| Chairman, | |||||||||||||||
| Chief | |||||||||||||||
| Executive | |||||||||||||||
| Officer and | |||||||||||||||
| President | |||||||||||||||
| 1 | Represents the aggregate grant date fair values of equity-based awards based on the fair market value of the underlying Common Stock on the respective grant dates as calculated in accordance with applicable accounting rules. Such amounts do not represent the actual value that will be realized by the executive officers at the time of distribution. Awards shown are grants of time-vested RSUs and performance-based PSUs to Mr. Sayler, Mr. Tucker and Mr. Schatz, and a PARS award granted to Mr. Richey in 2021. For more information, see Principal Elements of Compensation – Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section, and Grants of Plan-Based Awards, below. |
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| 2 | Reflects the performance-based cash awards earned for the fiscal year indicated under the PCP, including cash dividends of $2,759 earned on Mr. Richey’s January 3, 2023 RSU (see Note 8 below). For more information, see Principal Elements of Compensation – Cash Incentive Plans in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section, and Grants of Plan-Based Awards, below. |
| 3 | Amounts represent the changes in actuarial present value of the accumulated pension benefits for Mr. Richey under the Company’s defined benefit pension plan until its termination in 2020 and under the Company’s supplemental executive retirement plan (SERP) for each fiscal year shown. These changes in value include the effects of changes in actuarial assumptions from year to year. For fiscal 2023, Mr. Richey’s SERP value increased, partly due to the effect of changes in actuarial assumptions from the preceding year. The fiscal 2023 change in Mr. Richey’s SERP value due to assumption changes was $15,247. For fiscal 2022, Mr. Richey’s SERP value decreased in the amount of $68,500, due in part to the effect of changes in actuarial assumptions from the preceding year which reduced the value by $93,214. Pursuant to SEC regulations, the amount in the table does not reflect the overall decreases in Mr. Richey’s SERP value. For fiscal 2021, Mr. Richey’s SERP value increased, partly due to the effect of changes in actuarial assumptions from the preceding year. The fiscal 2021 change in Mr. Richey’s SERP value due to assumption changes was $0. For additional information, including the actuarial assumptions used in fiscal 2023 and information about the termination of the Company’s defined benefit pension plan, see Pension Benefits, below. There were no non-qualified deferred compensation earnings. |
| 4 | Comprised of the amounts provided in the table below: |
| Defined | |||||||||
| Contribution | Employee | ||||||||
| Savings Plan | Stock Purchase | ||||||||
| Company | Plan Company | Perquisites and | |||||||
| Name and Principal Position | Fiscal Year | Contributionsa | Contributionsb | Otherc | Total | ||||
| Bryan H. Sayler | 2023 | $ | 14,954 | $ | 1,648 | $ | 569,822 | $ | 586,424 |
| Chief Executive Officer and | N/A | ||||||||
| President | N/A | ||||||||
| Christopher L. Tucker | 2023 | $ | 13,200 | $ | 5,691 | $ | 94,383 | $ | 113,274 |
| Senior Vice President and Chief | 2022 | 12,200 | 5,217 | 34,686 | 52,103 | ||||
| Financial Officer | 2021 | 6,923 | 1,731 | 13,533 | 22,187 | ||||
| David M. Schatz | 2023 | $ | 13,281 | $ | 6,350 | $ | 13,711 | $ | 33,342 |
| Senior Vice President, General | 2022 | 12,497 | 3,567 | 32,146 | 48,210 | ||||
| Counsel and Secretary | 2021 | 8,961 | 3,501 | 12,950 | 25,412 | ||||
| Victor L. Richey | 2023 | $ | 13,000 | $ | 2,267 | $ | 47,039 | $ | 62,306 |
| Former Chairman, Chief Executive | 2022 | 12.200 | 3,592 | 59,119 | 74,911 | ||||
| Officer and President | 2021 | 11,600 | 3,589 | 69,173 | 84,362 |
| a | See Defined Contribution Plan on page 39. |
| b | The Company matches 20% of employees’ contributions to its Employee Stock Purchase plan. |
| c | Includes car allowance, financial planning, Company cost related to the personal use of clubs, and premiums for group variable universal life (GVUL) insurance which the Company offers to a number of senior managers at ESCO and its participating subsidiaries. Mr. Sayler’s figure for 2023 includes compensation of $538,495 for reimbursement of moving expenses related to his transition to CEO, grossed up for taxes, and a country club initiation fee which the Company had agreed to pay at the time Mr. Sayler commenced his employment. Mr. Tucker’s figure for 2023 includes $88,000 as the personal portion of a country club initiation fee which the Company had agreed to pay at the time Mr. Tucker commenced his employment. Mr. Richey’s figure for 2021 also includes an annual tax gross-up of $16,809 for taxable club fees and financial planning; the Company generally discontinued tax gross-ups after December 2020. For more information, see Other Compensation Elements – Perquisites in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section |
| 5 | Upon becoming an executive officer Mr. Sayler, who was previously a management official of the Company, received an increase in his annualized salary from $339,500 to $715,000, prorated based on his days of service in each position. |
| 6 | Mr. Tucker received a salary for 2021 at the annualized rate of $500,000 and a 2021 cash incentive at an annualized target of $325,000, guaranteed at a multiple of at least 1.00x; his actual salary and cash incentive target were prorated based on his period of employment during 2021. At the commencement of his employment he also received a transition bonus of $835,000 plus Company common stock valued at $500,000 on the award date, to partially compensate him for equity opportunities he forfeited upon his departure from his prior employer. |
| 7 | Upon becoming an executive officer Mr. Schatz, who was previously a Vice President and IP Counsel of the Company, received an increase in his annualized salary from $270,700 to $335,000 and an increase in his 2021 cash incentive target from $75,200 to $145,000; his actual salary and cash incentive target were prorated based on his days of service in each position. |
| 35 | Proposal 2 | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
| 8 | As a result of his retirement as an executive officer on December 31, 2022: (i) Mr. Richey’s base salary was reduced from an annual rate of $898,100 to an annual rate of $650,000, prorated over the length of a transition period which ended June 30, 2023; (ii) Mr. Richey continued to participate in the PCP until the end of the transition period, but for the first quarter of fiscal 2023 his 2023 cash incentive target remained at $959,500, prorated for that quarter, and beginning January 1, 2023 his 2023 cash incentive target was reduced to $487,500, prorated from January 1, 2023 until his retirement on June 30, 2023; and (iii) on January 3, 2023, he received a one-time transition RSU award for 17,241 shares, based on a value of $1,500,000 divided by the $87.00 per share NYSE closing price on that date. |
2023 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS
The following table provides information for fiscal 2023 for the executive officers regarding cash incentive awards under our PCP and awards of RSUs and PSUs under the 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan. See Principal Elements of Compensation – Cash Incentive Plans and – Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section.
| All other | |||||||||||||||
| All other | option | ||||||||||||||
| Estimated future payouts under | Estimated future payouts under | stock | awards: | Exercise | Grant date | ||||||||||
| non-equity incentive plan awards1 | equity incentive plan awards2 | awards: | Number of | or base | fair value | ||||||||||
| Number | securities | price of | of stock | ||||||||||||
| of shares | underlying | option | and option | ||||||||||||
| Name | Grant date | Threshold | Target | Maximum | Threshold | Target | Maximum | of stock3 | options | awards | awards4 | ||||
| Bryan H. | 11/16/2022 | $ | 214,500 | $ | 715,000 | $ | 1,430,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Sayler | 11/16/2022 | — | — | — | 4,118 | 8,235 | 16,470 | — | — | — | $ | 779,690 | |||
| 5/2/2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7,489 | — | — | 713,028 | |||||
| Christopher | 11/16/2022 | $ | 111,900 | $ | 373,000 | $ | 746,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| L. Tucker | 11/16/2022 | — | — | — | 1,642 | 3,283 | 6,566 | — | — | — | $ | 310,834 | |||
| 2/2/2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2,507 | — | — | 250,023 | |||||
| 5/2/2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2,985 | — | 284,202 | ||||||
| David M. | 11/16/2022 | $ | 52,800 | $ | 176,000 | $ | 352,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Schatz | 11/16/2022 | — | — | — | 851 | 1,702 | 3,404 | — | — | — | $ | 161,145 | |||
| 5/2/2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1,548 | — | — | 147,385 | |||||
| Victor L. | 11/16/20225 | $ | 287,850 | $ | 959,500 | $ | 1,919,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Richey | 1/3/2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17,241 | — | $ | 1,499,967 | ||||
| 1 | Represent the threshold, target and maximum cash incentive opportunities awarded for fiscal 2023 under the PCP. If performance according to a specific performance measure is less than that necessary to achieve the threshold payout, the payout will be zero for that measure. Actual payouts were made in fiscal 2024 based on fiscal 2023 results and are reported in the column captioned Non Equity Incentive Plan Compensation in the Summary Compensation Table. For more information, see Principal Elements of Compensation – Cash Incentive Plans in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section. |
| 2 | Represent the threshold, target and maximum equity incentive opportunities for the PSUs awarded for fiscal 2023 under the Company’s Long-Term Incentive Compensation program. If performance according to a specific performance measure is less than that necessary to achieve the threshold payout, the payout will be zero for that measure. The actual incentive payout will be in shares of common stock based on Company performance over a three-year performance period and will not be determinable until after the close of the performance period. For more information, see Principal Elements of Compensation – Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section. |
| 3 | For Mr. Sayler, Mr. Tucker and Mr. Schatz, these consist of time-vested RSUs vesting in three equal portions approximately 18, 30 and 42 months after the month in which they are granted. For Mr. Richey, this consists of a time vested RSU which vested upon his retirement on June 30, 2023. For more information, see Principal Elements of Compensation – Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation and CEO Transition in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section. |
| 4 | Based on the fair market value on the grant date of a number of shares of common stock equal to the number of RSUs, or in the case of PSUs, the number of shares corresponding to the Target payout, as calculated in accordance with applicable accounting rules. Such amounts do not represent the actual value that will be realized by the executive officers at the time of distribution. |
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| 5 | Figures for Mr. Richey represent the threshold, target and maximum cash incentive opportunities at the time of the initial grant. However, in view of Mr. Richey’s decision to retire as an executive officer, the Company and Mr. Richey agreed that his 2023 cash incentive target would remain at the original 2022 figure of $959,500 prorated for the first quarter of fiscal 2023, and then be reduced to $487,500 prorated until the end of the transition period, which occurred on June 30, 2023. |
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL 2023 YEAR-END
The following table provides information as of the end of fiscal 2023 for our executive officers regarding outstanding equity awards, consisting of unvested PARS, unvested RSUs, and unvested PSUs. As of the end of fiscal 2023, no executive officer had any outstanding stock option awards, either exercisable or unexercisable.
| Stock Awards | ||||||||
| Number | Market value | Number of | Market value | |||||
| of shares or | of shares or | unearned | of unearned | |||||
| units of stock | units of stock | shares, units or | shares, units or | |||||
| that have not | that have not | other rights that | other rights that | |||||
| Name | Type of award | Grant date | vested | vested1 | have not vested | have not vested1 | ||
| Bryan H. Sayler | PARS | 5/1/2020 | 3,3472 | $ | 349,561 | |||
| RSU | 4/30/2021 | 1,5823 | 165,224 | |||||
| PSU | 11/17/2021 | 1,0894 | $ | 113,7354 | ||||
| RSU | 5/5/2022 | 2,8053 | 292,954 | |||||
| PSU | 11/16/2022 | 4,1184 | 430,0844 | |||||
| RSU | 5/2/2023 | 7,4893 | 782,151 | 1,1985 | ||||
| Christopher L. | RSU | 4/30/2021 | 3,1323 | $ | 327,106 | |||
| Tucker | PSU | 11/17/2021 | 1,9954 | $ | 208,3584 | |||
| RSU | 5/5/2022 | 4,8803 | 509,667 | |||||
| PSU | 11/16/2022 | 1,6424 | 171,4904 | |||||
| RSU | 2/3/2023 | 2,5073 | 261,831 | 4015 | ||||
| RSU | 5/2/2023 | 2,9853 | 311,753 | 4785 | ||||
| David M. Schatz | PARS | 5/1/2020 | 2,0082 | $ | 209,716 | |||
| RSU | 4/30/2021 | 1,5193 | 158,644 | |||||
| PSU | 11/17/2021 | 9724 | $ | 101,5164 | ||||
| RSU | 5/5/2022 | 2,3843 | 248,985 | |||||
| PSU | 11/16/2022 | 8514 | 88,8784 | |||||
| RSU | 5/2/2023 | 1,5483 | 161,673 | 2485 | ||||
| Victor L. Richey | PSU | 11/17/2021 | 4,3124 | $ | 450,3454 | |||
| 1 | Based on the NYSE closing price of the Company’s common stock of $104.44 on September 29, 2023, the last NYSE trading day of the Company’s 2023 fiscal year. |
| 2 | PARS awards have a term of five years, and the award (net of withholding taxes) is distributable to the recipient in shares of Company common stock at the end of the term. However, if the Company achieves target stock price stated in the notice of award during the third or fourth years of the term (PARS Performance Periods), then part or all of the award is accelerated, and the accelerated portion (net of withholding taxes) is distributed in shares six months after the end of the PARS Performance Period in which the criteria are first met, but not later than the end of the fifth year. Distribution of PARS award shares may not occur earlier than 3½ years after the initial award date even if the performance criteria are met, except in cases of death, disability, retirement or certain other special circumstances. In all events, the award recipient must remain continuously employed by the Company until the underlying shares are distributed (except that the Committee may in its discretion waive this requirement if termination of employment is due to death, disability, retirement or other circumstance the Committee deems appropriate). Until the underlying shares are actually distributed, dividends are not paid or accrued on the PARS. With respect to the PARS awards granted to Mr. Sayler and Mr. Schatz on May 1, 2020, the specified stock price targets of $80.31 and $85.92 were achieved on August 29, 2022 and November 28, 2022, based on the average closing stock prices over the preceding thirty consecutive trading days; accordingly these awards were accelerated and vested on November 1, 2023 (less a number of shares having a value equal to the amount of required tax withholdings). For more information, see Principal Elements of Compensation – Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section. |
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| 3 | Each RSU represents the right to receive one share of Company common stock if the recipient remains continuously employed by the Company until the vesting date. RSUs awarded prior to 2023 will vest approximately 3½ years after the effective award date, except that Mr. Tucker’s February 3, 2023 RSUs will vest November 5, 2025. RSUs awarded in 2023 will vest in thirds approximately 18, 30 and 42 months after the effective award date, on the last trading days in November of 2024, 2025 and 2026. Vested shares will be issued to the participant (less a number of shares having a value equal to the amount of required tax withholdings) on the following business day. |
| 4 | Represents the number and value of the shares issuable if Company performance over the three-year performance period meets or exceeds the threshold required to earn a minimum non-zero payout for each of two performance components. However, because performance below either threshold will result in a zero payout for that component, the minimum payout is actually zero. The actual payout will not be determinable or estimable until after the close of the performance period. For more information, see Principal Elements of Compensation – Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section. However, because Mr. Richey was eligible for retirement under the terms of his award, the target number of PSUs in his award was prorated based on his retirement date compared to the performance period, and the final number of shares issuable on payout will be based on the prorated award’s payout multiplier at the close of the award’s performance period. |
| 5 | Represents cash dividend equivalents accrued on RSUs awarded beginning in 2023. On each regular quarterly dividend date occurring from the award date to and including the vesting date, the Company accrues for the benefit of the recipient an amount equal to the cash dividend which would have been paid on a number of shares of Company common stock equal to the number of unconverted RSUs. The amount accrued with respect to each vested portion of the award will be paid out in cash at the time that portion of the award is distributed in shares; but, if or to the extent the award does not vest or for any reason is not distributed, a like portion of the accrued amount will be canceled and not paid. |
2023 OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED
The following table sets forth information for our executive officers regarding their stock-based awards which vested during 2023. We have not awarded stock options to our executive officers since 2006, and no stock options were outstanding or were exercised during 2023.
| Stock Awards | |||
| Executive Officer | Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting1 | Value Realized on Vesting3 | |
| David M. Schatz | 2,0001 | $ | 174,820 |
| Victor L. Richey | 22,4221 | 1,959,907 | |
| 40,5132 | 4,198,362 | ||
| 1 | Shares of Common Stock underlying PARS awards granted to Mr. Schatz and Mr. Richey on May 1, 2019, which vested on November 1, 2022. A number of these shares were withheld in lieu of cash payment of applicable withholding taxes, and the remaining shares were distributed on November 2, 2022. |
| 2 | Shares of Common Stock underlying that portion of PARS and RSU awards granted to Mr. Richey in 2021 and 2022 which vested upon his retirement on June 30, 2023. A number of these shares were withheld in lieu of cash payment of applicable withholding taxes, and the remaining shares were distributed on July 3, 2023. |
| 3 | Fair market value of the shares of Common Stock underlying the vested awards, based on the NYSE closing prices of $87.41 and $103.63 on November 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023, respectively, the values used by the Company for tax and accounting purposes. |
PENSION BENEFITS
Pension Plan and SERP
Beginning in 1990, we had sponsored a defined benefit Pension Plan in which our executive officers as well as other covered employees participated. Because benefits under the Pension Plan were subject to reduction under certain provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, in 1993 we adopted a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) which provides that where such reductions occurred, we would make supplemental post-retirement payments to certain executives, including Mr. Richey.
| 38 | Proposal 2 | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
The SERP was designed to maintain total pension benefits at the formula level of the Pension Plan. Both the Pension Plan and the SERP were frozen at the end of 2003, with no increase in years of credited service or accumulated benefits accruing to participants after that date.
In February 2020, we terminated the Pension Plan and plan assets were distributed to the participants as their choice of either a lump sum payment of their Pension Plan benefits or an annuity issued by a qualified insurance company.
Upon reaching age 65 during 2022, Mr. Richey became eligible to receive benefits under the SERP beginning at the termination of his employment, based on 18 years of credited service. Because Mr. Richey elected to receive his accumulated benefits in a lump sum upon his retirement on June 30, 2023, the present value was calculated based on the August 2022 417(e) lump sum segment rates and the 2022 417(e) IRS prescribed mortality table.
The following table sets forth Mr. Richey’s status under the SERP as of September 30, 2023.
| Number of Years of | Present Value of | Payments During Last | ||
| Name | Plan Name | Credited Service | Accumulated Benefit | Fiscal Year |
| Victor L. Richey | SERP | 18 | $0 | $250,444 |
Defined Contribution Plan
Our Employee Savings Investment Plan (Defined Contribution Plan) is an employee benefit plan under section 401(k) of the Code, which is offered to substantially all United States employees including the executive officers. The Defined Contribution Plan provides for a Company cash match at a rate of 100% of the contributions by each employee up to 3% of the employee’s eligible compensation, and 50% of any additional contributions by the employee up to 5% of the employee’s eligible compensation, subject to Code contribution limits. The amounts of the Company’s cash match for the accounts of the executive officers in fiscal years 2021, 2022 and 2023 are listed in footnote (4) to the Summary Compensation Table, under the heading Defined Contribution Savings Plan Company Contributions.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
In 2021, we entered into new employment and compensation agreements with each of our then executive officers, and in December 2022, we entered into a new employment and compensation agreement with Mr. Sayler effective January 1, 2023, consistent with the financial terms of his accepted offer letter and otherwise substantially on the same terms as the current employment agreements with the other executive officers.
The agreements provide for a base salary, which is subject to annual review by the Compensation Committee but may not be decreased, and an annual cash incentive opportunity in accordance with our cash incentive program. The executive officers are entitled to participate in LTI awards and other compensation programs as determined by the Compensation Committee, as well as in all Company employee benefit programs applicable to senior executives, and the Company agrees to provide certain perquisites, including financial planning and outplacement assistance.
Mr. Tucker’s and Mr. Schatz’s agreements provide for initial terms of one year and 24 months, respectively, which have now elapsed. Mr. Sayler’s agreement provides for an initial term of 24 months, which will elapse at the end of February 2025. The agreements provide that they will automatically renew for successive one-year periods unless a specified notice of non-renewal is given by the Company or the executive.
The agreements give each party certain termination rights, with post-termination compensation and benefits payable to the executive officer, if any, depending on the reasons for the termination, such as whether the termination is with or without Cause, as defined in the agreements. The following section, Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control, describes the compensation and benefits payable to the current executive officers upon termination of their employment for various reasons.
| 39 | Proposal 2 | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
The employment agreements prohibit the executives from disclosing confidential information or trade secrets concerning the Company, and for a period of two years from soliciting employees of the Company and from soliciting customers or distributors of the Company. The agreements also require the executive officers to provide limited consulting services on an as-requested basis following termination.
POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL
Payments/Benefits Upon Change in Control
Severance Plan.
We have established a Severance Plan covering the executive officers. Under the Plan, following an occurrence of a Change of Control as defined in the Severance Plan (see Other Compensation Elements – Severance Plan in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section), each of the executive officers will be entitled to be employed by the Company for a period of three years following the Change of Control, unless terminated earlier in accordance with the Severance Plan. During this employment period the executive officer will: (i) be paid a minimum base salary equal to his or her base salary prior to the Change of Control, (ii) be paid a minimum annual bonus equal to the latest target cash incentive opportunity approved by the Human Resources and Compensation Committee prior to the effective date of the Change of Control (the “Current Cash Incentive Target”), (iii) continue to receive the employee benefits to which he or she was entitled prior to the Change of Control, and (iv) receive annually the value (determined as described under Incentive Plan Awards below) of the last LTI awards issued to him or her prior to the Change of Control, which value may be paid either in cash or in publicly traded stock of the entity which acquired the Company in the Change of Control.
If we terminate the executive officer’s employment during this three-year employment period other than for death, disability or Cause as defined in the Severance Plan, or if the executive officer terminates his or her employment during the employment period following certain specified actions by us (Good Reason), such as materially failing to comply with the provisions of the Severance Plan, a material diminution in his or her authority, duties or responsibilities or base salary, or requiring him or her to relocate, he or she will be entitled to receive, among other things, a cash lump sum equal to the aggregate of (i) any unpaid current base salary, (ii) a bonus equal to the Current Cash Incentive Target, prorated for a partial year, and (iii) an amount calculated by multiplying two times the sum of the current annual base salary and the Current Cash Incentive Target. In addition, he or she will receive the continuation of his or her employee benefits for two years.
We may amend the Severance Plan, but no amendment adverse to the rights of an executive officer will be effective unless we have given the executive officer notice of the amendment at least one year before a Change of Control occurs.
Long-Term Incentive Plan Awards.
The terms of our PARS, RSU and PSU awards in effect at September 30, 2023 provide that upon a Change of Control (defined in the awards substantially the same as in the Severance Plan) the awards will be assumed by the acquirer or successor entity and converted to an equivalent agreement. If for any reason the awards will not or cannot be assumed, they will be paid out in cash.
Payments/Benefits Upon Death or Disability
If the executive officer’s employment were to be terminated because of death or disability, under the executive officer’s employment agreement with the Company the executive officer (or his or her beneficiaries) would receive benefits under the Company’s disability plan or the Company’s life insurance plans, as applicable.
With respect to PARS, RSU and PSU awards in effect at September 30, 2023, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, make full, pro-rata, or no share distributions, as it may determine, to an executive officer in the event of disability, or to the executive officer’s surviving spouse or beneficiary in the event of death.
| 40 | Proposal 2 | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
Payments/Benefits Upon Termination by the Employee With Good Reason or by the Company Without Cause
The executive officers’ employment agreements provide that if we were to terminate the executive officer’s employment prior to a Change of Control other than for cause, death or disability or if the executive officer were to resign following certain actions by us defined in the agreements as “Good Reason,” including our materially failing to comply with the agreement, materially reducing the executive’s responsibilities or requiring the executive to relocate, we would be required to continue to pay the executive officer’s base salary and cash incentive for two years following termination; however, the executive officer could elect to receive each of these payments in a lump sum on or about March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the termination occurs. In addition, certain employee benefits would continue after the termination, the executive officer’s accelerated but unvested PARS, RSU and PSU awards would become fully vested and the underlying shares would be distributed, subject to and in accordance with the terms of the Omnibus Plan. These payments and benefits would be conditioned upon the executive officer not soliciting our employees, customers or distributors for a period of two years after termination. In addition, the executive officer would be required to execute our standard severance agreement and release.
Payments/Benefits Upon Termination by the Employee Without Good Reason
If the executive officer were to resign without Good Reason, the executive officer would not be entitled to payment of continued compensation or benefits, and all outstanding PARS, RSU and PSU awards would be forfeited.
Payments/Benefits Upon Termination by the Company for Cause
If we were to terminate the executive officer’s employment for Cause, under the employment agreement the executive officer would not be entitled to payment of continued compensation or benefits, and all outstanding PARS, RSU and PSU awards would be forfeited.
Incremental Compensation in the Event of Termination as a Result of Certain Events
The following tables reflect the additional compensation and benefits to be provided to the executive officers in the event of a termination of employment at, following, or in connection with a Change of Control or for the other listed reasons. The amounts shown assume that the termination was effective as of the close of business on September 30, 2023, the end of our last fiscal year. No PSU awards were earned or vested as of September 30, 2023. The actual amounts to be paid would be determinable only at the time of the actual termination of employment.
| 41 | Proposal 2 | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
Bryan H. Sayler
| Termination by | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Employee for | Termination | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Good Reason | by Employee | Termination | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in | or by Employer | Without | by Employer | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Pay Element | Control | Death | Disability | Without Cause | Good Reason | for Cause | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cash Compensation: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Base salary | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 178,7501 | $ | 1,430,0002 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Cash incentive | 715,0003 | 0 | 0 | 2,145,0004 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Severance payment | 2,860,0005 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Cash Compensation | $ | 3,575,000 | $ | 0 | $ | 178,750 | $ | 3,575,000 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Long-Term Equity Incentive Awards: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PARS, RSUs and PSUs | 2,710,8286 | 0 | 0 | 349,5617 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Awards | $ | 2,710,828 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 349,561 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Total Direct Compensation | $ | 6,285,828 | $ | 0 | $ | 178,750 | $ | 3,924,561 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Benefits:8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Broad-based benefits | $ | 60,582 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 6,738 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Pension benefits | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other executive benefits/perquisites | 16,000 | 0 | 0 | 23,000 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Benefits | $ | 76,582 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 29,738 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Total Incremental Compensation | $ | 6,362,410 | $ | 0 | $ | 178,750 | $ | 3,954,299 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 |
Christopher L. Tucker
| Termination by | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Employee for | Termination | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Good Reason | by Employee | Termination | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in | or by Employer | Without Good | by Employer | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Pay Element | Control | Death | Disability | Without Cause | Reason | for Cause | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cash Compensation: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Base salary | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 142,5001 | $ | 1,140,0002 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Cash incentive | 373,0003 | 0 | 0 | 1,119,0004 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Severance payment | 1,886,0005 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Cash Compensation | $ | 2,259,000 | $ | 0 | $ | 142,500 | $ | 2,259,000 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Long-Term Equity Incentive Awards: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PARS, RSUs and PSUs | 2,197,0226 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Awards | $ | 2,197,022 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Total Direct Compensation | $ | 4,456,022 | $ | 0 | $ | 142,500 | $ | 2,259,000 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Benefits:8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Broad-based benefits | $ | 78,207 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 10,431 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Pension benefits | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other executive benefits/perquisites | 12,000 | 0 | 0 | 21,000 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Benefits | $ | 90,207 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 31,431 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Total Incremental Compensation | $ | 4,546,229 | $ | 0 | $ | 142,500 | $ | 2,290,431 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 42 | Proposal 2 | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
David M. Schatz
| Termination by | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Employee for | Termination | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Good Reason | by Employee | Termination by | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in | or by Employer | Without Good | Employer for | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Pay Element | Control | Death | Disability | Without Cause | Reason | Cause | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cash Compensation: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Base salary | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 98,5001 | $ | 788,0002 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Cash incentive | 176,0003 | 0 | 0 | 528,0004 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Severance payment | 1,140,0005 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Cash Compensation | $ | 1,316,000 | $ | 0 | $ | 98,500 | $ | 1,316,000 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Long-Term Equity Incentive Awards: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PARS, RSUs and PSUs | 1,174,1706 | 0 | 0 | 209,7167 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Awards | $ | 1,174,170 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 209,716 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Total Direct Compensation | $ | 2,490,170 | $ | 0 | $ | 98,500 | $ | 1,525,716 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Benefits:8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Broad-based benefits | $ | 81,014 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 10,431 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Pension benefits | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other executive benefits/ | 12,000 | 0 | 0 | 21,000 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| perquisites | $ | 93,014 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 31,431 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Total Benefits | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Section 280G Reduction9 | $ | (149,834) | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Total Incremental Compensation After Reduction | $ | 2,433,350 | $ | 0 | $ | 98,500 | $ | 1,557,147 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Represents three months’ base salary, which we have the discretion to provide to the executive officers in order to cover the waiting period under our group long-term disability insurance policy. |
| 2 | As calculated under the terms of the executive officer’s employment agreement. The amount shown represents the annual base salary in effect at September 30, 2023 multiplied by two. |
| 3 | As calculated under the terms of the Severance Plan. The amount shown is in lieu of any annual cash incentive for fiscal 2023 which would have otherwise been paid except for the termination. |
| 4 | As calculated under the terms of the executive officer’s employment agreement. |
| 5 | As calculated under the terms of the Severance Plan. |
| 6 | Represents the value of shares that would be distributed upon the occurrence of a change in control and in the event the awards are not assumed by the successor company, based on the average NYSE closing price of our common stock of $105.743 for the ten trading days preceding and including September 29, 2023, the last trading day of our 2023 fiscal year, pursuant to the Severance Plan and the award agreements. These amounts would become payable to the executive officer even if the officer’s employment were not terminated in connection with the change in control. See Payments/Benefits Upon Change in Control – Long-Term Incentive Plan Awards on page 40. |
| 7 | The amounts shown represent the value of share awards whose payment has been accelerated and which would vest upon termination in this situation pursuant to the named officer’s employment agreement and based on the NYSE closing price our common stock of $104.44 on September 29, 2023. |
| 8 | The amounts shown represent the projected cost to continue benefits in accordance with the executive officer’s employment agreement and the provisions of the Severance Plan. Included in Total Benefits are broad-based benefits (health insurance, life and disability premiums) and financial planning. In the case of “Termination by Employee for Good Reason or by Employer Without Cause,” Total Benefits also include an estimated outplacement fee of $15,000. |
| 43 | Proposal 2 | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
| 9 | Under Internal Revenue Code Section 280G, certain payments made to an executive officer in the event of a Change in Control are subject to a “golden parachute” excise tax under Code section 4999. The Severance Plan provides that if any compensation paid to the executive officer upon a Change in Control causes this excise tax to be imposed, the compensation would be reduced if and to the extent that the reduction would create a more favorable net-after-tax benefit to the executive officer. Based on the calculations prescribed under section 280G as applied to the amounts shown in the table, the executive officer would be subject to this excise tax in the event of a Change in Control, and therefore the officer’s compensation would be reduced by the amount shown. |
PAY RATIO DISCLOSURE
CEO Pay Ratio
Pursuant to Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the implementing regulations of the SEC, we are providing the following information about the relationship between the total annual compensation of our CEO, Mr. Sayler, and the median total annual compensation of our employees.
As reported in the Summary Compensation Table on page 34, Mr. Sayler’s 2023 total annual compensation was $3,647,641, but because Mr. Sayler was not the CEO for the full fiscal year, we annualized his compensation for purposes of determining the 2023 pay ratio. Mr. Sayler’s annualized compensation was $3,580,641. Mr. Sayler’s annualized compensation as CEO is less than that reported in the Summary Compensation Table because the percentage PCP payout for Corporate was considerably less than for the subsidiary in which Mr. Sayler worked for the first quarter of 2023 and which accounted for 25% of his combined PCP payout. The 2023 median total annual compensation of all of our employees who were employed as of August 1, 2023 (the Determination Date), other than Mr. Sayler, was $70,141, resulting in a pay ratio of 51:1.
Calculation Methodology
As of the Determination Date, our total worldwide employee population consisted of 3,218 employees, excluding the CEO. This included all full-time, part-time and temporary employees as well as employees on leaves of absence. Although the SEC regulations permit companies to exclude a limited number of non-U.S. employees, we did not use this exclusion.
The SEC regulations require the identification of the median compensated employee using a “Consistently Applied Compensation Measure” (CACM). The CACM used consisted of base salary or wages, overtime, target bonus and commissions as of the Determination Date. This compensation was annualized to cover the full 2023 fiscal year, as was the compensation of new hires. For international employees, their compensation was converted to U.S. dollars using the applicable foreign exchange rate as of the Determination Date.
After identifying the median compensated employee, that employee’s total annual compensation was calculated consistent with the methodology used for determining the CEO’s total annual compensation for the Summary Compensation Table.
The pay ratio reported above is our reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with SEC regulations and the methodology described above. However, the SEC rules for identifying the median compensated employee and calculating the pay ratio allow companies to adopt a variety of methodologies, to apply exclusions, and to make reasonable estimates and assumptions that reflect their compensation practices and employee populations. Other companies may calculate their pay ratio using a methodology or estimates and assumptions which differ from those we used. Therefore, the pay ratio reported above may not be comparable to the pay ratio reported by other companies, including those in our peer group.
| 44 | Proposal 2 | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
PAY VERSUS PERFORMANCE
Overview
In accordance with the “Pay Versus Performance” rules adopted by the SEC pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, we are providing the following information about the relationship between compensation actually paid to our executive officers and certain Company financial performance metrics for the fiscal years listed below using a methodology that has been prescribed by the SEC.
| Value of Initial Fixed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $100 Investment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Based On: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Summary | Average | Adjusted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Summary | Summary | Compensation | Compensation | Compensation | Total | Earnings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compensation | Compensation | Compensation | Actually Paid | Table Total | Actually Paid | Shareholder | Peer | per Share | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal | Table Total for | Table Total for | Actually Paid | to Second | for Non-PEO | to Non-PEO | Return | Group | Company Net | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year | First PEO1 | Second PEO2 | to First PEO1,4 | PEO2,4 | NEOs3 | NEOs3,4 | (TSR) | TSR5 | Income | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | N/A | $ | N/A | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | N/A | $ | N/A | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 |
| 2 | Victor L. Richey served as the Company’s PEO during fiscal 2021, fiscal 2022 and the first quarter of fiscal 2023. |
| 3 | The Company’s non-PEO executive officers for fiscal 2022 and 2023 were Christopher L. Tucker, Senior VP & CFO, and David M. Schatz, Senior VP, General Counsel & Secretary. In fiscal 2021, Mr. Tucker succeeded Gary E. Muenster as an executive officer, and Mr. Schatz succeeded Alyson S. Barclay as an executive officer. Accordingly, there were two persons serving as executive officers at all times during these years. |
| 4 |
| 45 | Proposal 2 | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
Adjustments to Determine Compensation Actually Paid to Current CEO (PEO 1)
| Current CEO | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| SCT Total Compensation | $ | ||
| Less Equity Award Values Reported in SCT | ($ | ||
| Plus Fair Value at Fiscal Year-End of Outstanding and Unvested Stock Awards Granted in Fiscal Year | $ | ||
| Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Stock Awards Granted in Prior Fiscal Years | $ | ||
| Plus Fair Value at Vesting of Stock Awards Granted in Fiscal Year That Vested During Fiscal Year | $ | ||
| Plus Change in Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Stock Awards Granted in Prior Fiscal Years For Which Applicable Vesting Conditions Were Satisfied During Fiscal Year | $ | ||
| Less Fair Value as of Prior Fiscal Year-End of Stock Awards Granted in Prior Fiscal Years That Failed to Meet Applicable Vesting Conditions During Fiscal Year | $ | ||
| Plus Dividends or Other Earnings Paid on Stock Awards in the Fiscal Year Prior to the Vesting Date that are not otherwise included in the Total Compensation for the Fiscal Year | $ | ||
| Compensation Actually Paid (CAP) | $ |
Adjustments to Determine Compensation Actually Paid to Former CEO (PEO 2)
| Former CEO | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| SCT Total Compensation | $ | $ | $ |
| Less Equity Award Values Reported in SCT | ($ | ($ | ($ |
| Plus Fair Value at Fiscal Year-End of Outstanding and Unvested Stock Awards Granted in Fiscal Year | $ | $ | $ |
| Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Stock Awards Granted in Prior Fiscal Years | ($ | ($ | $ |
| Plus Fair Value at Vesting of Stock Awards Granted in Fiscal Year That Vested During Fiscal Year | $ | $ | $ |
| Change in Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Stock Awards Granted in Prior Fiscal Years For Which Applicable Vesting Conditions Were Satisfied During Fiscal Year | $ | $ | $ |
| Less Fair Value as of Prior Fiscal Year-End of Stock Awards Granted in Prior Fiscal Years That Failed to Meet Applicable Vesting Conditions During Fiscal Year | $ | $ | ($ |
| Plus Dividends or Other Earnings Paid on Stock Awards in the Fiscal Year Prior to the Vesting Date that are not otherwise included in the Total Compensation for the Fiscal Year | $ | $ | $ |
| Compensation Actually Paid (CAP) | $ | $ | $ |
| 46 | Proposal 2 | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
Adjustments to Determine Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs
| Average Compensation | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| SCT Total Compensation | $ | $ | $ |
| Less Equity Award Values Reported in SCT | ($ | ($ | ($ |
| Plus Fair Value at Fiscal Year-End of Outstanding and Unvested Stock Awards Granted in Fiscal Year | $ | $ | $ |
| Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Stock Awards Granted in Prior Fiscal Years | ($ | ($ | $ |
| Plus Fair Value at Vesting of Stock Awards Granted in Fiscal Year That Vested During Fiscal Year | $ | $ | $ |
| Plus Change in Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Stock Awards Granted in Prior Fiscal Years For Which Applicable Vesting Conditions Were Satisfied During Fiscal Year | $ | $ | $ |
| Less Fair Value as of Prior Fiscal Year-End of Stock Awards Granted in Prior Fiscal Years That Failed to Meet Applicable Vesting Conditions During Fiscal Year | $ | $ | $ |
| Plus Dividends or Other Earnings Paid on Stock Awards in the Fiscal Year Prior to the Vesting Date that are not otherwise included in the Total Compensation for the Fiscal Year | $ | $ | $ |
| Compensation Actually Paid (CAP) | $ | $ | $ |
| 5 |
| 6 |
| 47 | Proposal 2 | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
Pay Versus Performance Relationships
CAP vs. Net Income (Loss)
CAP vs. Adjusted EPS
CAP vs. TSR
| 48 | Proposal 2 | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
Tabular List of Most Important Financial Performance Measures
The following table presents the financial performance measures that the Company considers to have been the most important in linking 2023 Compensation Actually Paid to our PEO and the non-PEO NEOs to Company performance, due to their use in the PCP and the PSU awards. More information about each of these measures, including why the Company uses these measures and how they are calculated with respect to applicable compensation plans, is included in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Proxy Statement. The measures in this table are not ranked.
| 49 | Proposal 2 | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
Proposal 3: Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR this Proposal.
The Audit Committee has appointed Grant Thornton LLP (Grant Thornton), an independent registered public accounting firm, as our independent public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023.
Although we are not required to submit the appointment of Grant Thornton to a vote of the shareholders, our Board of Directors believes it is appropriate to request that the shareholders ratify the appointment. If the shareholders do not ratify this appointment by a majority of shares voting at the meeting, the Committee will investigate the reasons for the rejection and will reconsider the appointment. A representative of Grant Thornton is expected to be present at the Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and be available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders.
We first retained Grant Thornton in late 2021 to audit our consolidated financial statements for fiscal 2022. Information about the fiscal 2022 audit, the Committee’s policies relating to the approval of audit and permitted non-audit services performed by Grant Thornton, and the fees we paid to Grant Thornton for fiscal 2022, are set forth in the sections below.
Prior to fiscal 2022, our independent public accounting firm was KPMG LLP or its predecessor firms (KPMG), and KPMG audited our consolidated financial statements for fiscal 2021. Information about the change in our independent public accounting firm and the fees we paid to KPMG for fiscal 2021 are set forth below.
PRE-APPROVAL OF AUDIT AND PERMITTED NON-AUDIT SERVICES
The Audit Committee has adopted pre-approval policies and procedures requiring the Committee to pre approve all audit and permitted non-audit services to be provided by our independent registered public accounting firm. In accordance with this policy, the Committee has pre-approved and has set specific quarterly limitations on fees for the following categories of services: general accounting and SEC consultation, compliance with pertinent legislation, general taxation matters and tax returns. Services which have not received specific pre-approval by the Committee must receive such approval prior to the rendering of the services.
AUDITOR FEES AND SERVICES
We have incurred the following fees to Grant Thornton, our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022, for services rendered for each of those years, respectively. All of these fees were pre approved by the Audit Committee.
| Fee Category | 2023 | 2022 |
| Audit Fees1 | $1,400,000 | $1,190,000 |
| Audit-Related Fees2 | 0 | 0 |
| Tax Fees3 | 0 | 0 |
| All Other Fees4 | $119,899 | $73,089 |
| Total | $1,519,899 | $1,263,089 |
| 50 | Proposal 3 | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
| 1 | Audit Fees primarily represent amounts paid for the audit of our Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report to Shareholders, reviews of the quarterly financial statements included in our SEC Forms 10-Q, the performance of statutory audits for certain of our foreign subsidiaries, and services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings for those fiscal years, including expressing an opinion on our internal control over financial reporting. |
| 2 | Audit-Related Fees represent amounts paid for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of financial statements and which are not included in Audit Fees above. |
| 3 | Tax Fees represent amounts paid for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning services. |
| 4 | All Other Fees includes amounts paid for out-of-pocket expenses in connection with the audit. |
CHANGE IN INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR 2022
In November 2021, the Audit Committee appointed Grant Thornton as our independent public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, replacing KPMG, which audited our consolidated financial statements for fiscal 2021.
On November 18, 2021, we notified KPMG that it was being dismissed as our independent registered public accounting firm, effective upon completion of KPMG’s audit of our fiscal 2021 financial statements and the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting as of September 30, 2021. KPMG’s audit was completed on November 29, 2021. The decision to dismiss KPMG and retain Grant Thornton was at the direction of and approved by the Audit Committee after a competitive proposal process.
KPMG’s reports on the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries as of and for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles, however, KPMG’s report as of and for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020 dated November 30, 2020, contained the below separate paragraph:
“As discussed in Note 1 of the consolidated financial statements, the Company has changed its method of accounting for leases as of October 1, 2019 due to the adoption of ASU No. 2016-062, Leases (ASC Topic 842) and method of accounting for revenue contracts with customers as of October 1, 2018 due to the adoption of ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue with Contracts with Customers (ASC Topic 606).”
KPMG’s reports on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of the Company and its subsidiaries as of September 30, 2021 and 2020 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles, except that KPMG’s report as of and for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021 dated November 29, 2021, indicates that:
| ● | The Company did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2021 because of the effect of a material weakness on the achievement of the objectives of the control criteria and contains an explanatory paragraph that states that a material weakness related to an ineffective risk assessment process resulted in the ineffective design of certain controls over revenue recognition, and the accumulation of inventory costs and the determination of inventory carrying values at a reporting unit has been identified and included in management’s assessment. |
| ● | The Company acquired I.S.A.–Altanova Group (Altanova) on July 29, 2021, and the assets of Phenix Technologies (Phenix) on August 9, 2021, and management excluded from its assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2021, Altanova’s and Phenix’s internal control over financial reporting associated with total assets representing 12.2 percent of consolidated assets, and total sales representing 0.6 percent of consolidated net sales, included in the consolidated financial statements of ESCO Technologies Inc. and subsidiaries as of and for the year ended September 30, 2021. KPMG’s audit of internal control over financial reporting of the Company also excluded an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of Altanova and Phenix. |
During the Company’s fiscal years ended September 30, 2020 and 2021 and the subsequent interim period through November 29, 2021, there were (i) no disagreements between the Company and KPMG within the meaning of Item 304(a) (1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure which, if not resolved to KPMG’s satisfaction, would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its report; and (ii) no “reportable events” within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K with the exception of the material weakness described above.
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During the Company’s fiscal years ended September 30, 2020 and 2021 and the subsequent interim period through November 29, 2021, neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf consulted with Grant Thornton 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 might be rendered on the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, and no written report or oral advice was provided by Grant Thornton to the Company that Grant Thornton concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue, or (ii) any matter that was the subject of either a disagreement (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S K) or a reportable event (as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).
AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT
The Audit and Finance Committee oversees and monitors the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the Company’s system of internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Committee reviewed and discussed with management the audited financial statements to be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2023, including a discussion of the quality and the acceptability of the Company’s financial reporting practices and the internal controls over financial reporting.
The Committee reviewed with Grant Thornton LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm which is responsible for expressing opinions on the conformity of those audited financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, its judgments as to the quality and the acceptability of the Company’s financial reporting and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the Committee under auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, the Committee discussed with Grant Thornton its independence from management and the Company, including the impact of any non-audit-related services provided to the Company, the matters in that firm’s written disclosures and the letter from Grant Thornton to the Committee pursuant to the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) and the SEC regarding the independent accountants’ communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and the other matters required by the PCAOB’s Auditing Standards.
Further, the Committee discussed with both Grant Thornton and RubinBrown LLP, the Company’s internal audit firm, the overall scope and plans for their respective fiscal 2023 audits. The Committee meets periodically with representatives of Grant Thornton and RubinBrown, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their respective examinations, their respective evaluations of the Company’s internal controls (including internal controls over financial reporting), and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting.
In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Committee also appointed Grant Thornton as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2024.
The Audit and Finance Committee
● Patrick M. Dewar, Chair
● Janice L. Hess
● Vinod M. Khilnani
● James M. Stolze
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Other Information
SECURITIES OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the number of shares beneficially owned by our directors and executive officers as of December 1, 2023, the record date for the Meeting. For purposes of this table and the following table, the “beneficial ownership” of shares means the power, either alone or shared with one or more other persons, to vote or direct the voting of the shares, and/or to dispose of or direct the disposition of the shares, and includes any shares with respect to which the named person had the right to acquire beneficial ownership within the next 60 days. Unless otherwise noted, each person had the sole voting and dispositive power over the shares listed.
| Name of Beneficial Owner | Number of Shares Beneficially Owned | Percent of Outstanding Shares1 |
| Patrick M. Dewar | 18,3692 | 3 |
| Janice L. Hess | 4,9392 | 3 |
| Vinod M. Khilnani | 25,9462 | 3 |
| Leon J. Olivier | 35,5232 | 3 |
| Robert J. Phillippy | 27,4452 | 3 |
| Bryan H. Sayler | 14,7694 | 3 |
| David M. Schatz | 18,1834 | 3 |
| James M. Stolze | 45,4442 | 3 |
| Christopher L. Tucker | 4,0894 | 3 |
| Gloria L. Valdez | 9,7292 | 3 |
| All directors and executive officers as a group (10 persons) | 204,436 | 0.8% |
| 1 | Based on 25,805,172 shares outstanding as of December 1, 2023, the record date for the Meeting. |
| 2 | Includes approximately 18,369, 4,939, 1,809, 34,623, 20,773, 20,908,and 9,729 common stock equivalents credited to the deferred compensation accounts of Mr. Dewar, Ms. Hess, Mr. Khilnani, Mr. Olivier, Mr. Phillippy, Mr. Stolze and Ms. Valdez, respectively, under the Compensation Plan for Non Employee Directors. See Director Compensation beginning on page 17. Stock equivalents have been rounded to the nearest whole share. |
| 3 | Less than 0.2%. |
| 4 | Includes shares held in our Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Does not include 19,503, 16,527 and 6,989 unvested RSU award units held by Mr. Sayler, Mr. Schatz and Mr. Tucker, respectively, and a currently indeterminate number of shares issuable upon vesting of PSUs held by the executive officers, as described under Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation on page 29. |
SECURITIES OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to each person known by us as of the dates set forth in the footnotes below to be deemed, pursuant to applicable SEC regulations, to beneficially own more than five percent of our outstanding shares. For this purpose, beneficial ownership of shares is determined in accordance with SEC Rule 13d-3 and includes sole or shared voting and/or dispositive power with respect to such shares.
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| Name and Address of Beneficial Owner | Number of Shares Beneficially Owned | Percent of Outstanding Shares1 |
| BlackRock, Inc | 3,890,4602 | 15.1% |
| 50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001 | ||
| Vanguard Group, Inc. | 2,880,1733 | 11.2% |
| PO Box 2600, V26, Valley Forge, PA 19482 | ||
| T. Rowe Price Investment Management, Inc. | 1,820,8694 | 7.1% |
| 100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 | ||
| Dimensional Fund Advisors, LP | 1,376,1185 | 5.3% |
| 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746 |
| 1 | Based on 25,805,172 shares outstanding as of December 1, 2023, the record date for the Meeting. |
| 2 | Based on information contained in a Form 13F filed with the SEC on November 13, 2023 by BlackRock Inc., which reported that as of September 30, 2023 it and its affiliated investment management companies had sole dispositive power over 3,890,124 of these shares and sole voting power over 3,837,142 of these shares. Although BlackRock Inc. states that it is the parent holding company of certain institutional investment managers and that it does not itself exercise and therefore disclaims investment discretion over any securities positions over which its investment operating subsidiaries exercise such discretion, for purposes of this Proxy Statement it is deemed to be a beneficial owner of these shares. |
| 3 | Based on information contained in a Form 13F filed with the SEC on November 14, 2023 by Vanguard Group, Inc., which reported that as of September 30, 2023 it and its affiliated investment management companies had sole dispositive power over 2,821,594 of these shares, shared dispositive power over 58,579 of these shares, and shared voting power over 34,472 of these shares. For purposes of this Proxy Statement it is deemed to be a beneficial owner of these shares. |
| 4 | Based on information contained in a Form 13F filed with the SEC on November 14, 2023 by T. Rowe Price Investment Management, Inc., which reported that as of September 30, 2023 it had sole dispositive power over these shares and sole voting power over 784,589 of these shares. TRP has previously advised the Company that its reported shares are owned by various individual and institutional investors for which TRP serves as investment adviser with power to direct investments and/or power to vote the shares and has expressly disclaimed that it is in fact the beneficial owner of any of these shares, but has acknowledged that for the purposes of this Proxy Statement it is deemed to be a beneficial owner of these shares. |
| 5 | Based on information contained in a Form 13F filed with the SEC on November 9, 2023 by Dimensional Fund Advisors, LP, which reported that as of September 30, 2023 it and its affiliated investment management companies had sole dispositive power over 1,321,003 of these shares, shared dispositive power over 55,115 of these shares, sole voting power over 1,295,963 of these shares, and shared voting power over 53,949 of these shares. Although Dimensional Fund Advisors has previously notified the Company that it expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of any of these shares, for purposes of this Proxy Statement it is deemed to be a beneficial owner of these shares. |
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
SEC Rule 14a-19 provides, among other things, that a shareholder desiring to solicit proxies in support of one or more director nominees not nominated by the Company must provide notice of such intent containing the information required by the Rule and postmarked or transmitted electronically to the Company at its principal executive office no later than 60 calendar days prior to the anniversary of the previous year’s Annual Meeting; for the Company’s 2025 Annual Meeting this deadline will be December 9, 2024.
The Company’s Articles of Incorporation require that in order for a shareholder of the Company to formally nominate an individual for election as a director or propose other business at an annual meeting of shareholders, written notice of the nomination or proposal must be given to the Company not less than 60 nor more than 90 days before the meeting; provided that if the Company gives less than 50 days’ notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting, then the shareholder must give such notice not later than ten days after notice of the meeting is mailed or other public disclosure of the meeting is made, whichever occurs first. We intend to give public notice of the date of our 2025 Annual Meeting in connection with the release of our financial results for fiscal 2024, which we expect will occur in mid-November of 2024.
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The required advance notice must include certain additional information regarding both the proponent and any prospective nominee useful to the Company in evaluating and responding to the nomination or proposal, and as to proposals other than nominations, a full description of the proposal, including its text, and a description of any agreements or arrangements between the proponent and any other person in connection with the proposal, all as specified in detail in the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. Any prospective director nominees must also complete a questionnaire regarding the background and qualifications of the proposed nominee and any person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, and must represent in writing that the proposed nominee is not, and will not become, a party to any undisclosed voting commitments or compensation arrangements with respect to service as a director, and will comply with all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and stock trading policies and guidelines of the Company.
The Board may reject any nominations or proposals that are not made in accordance with these procedures or that are not a proper subject for shareholder action in accordance with the provisions of applicable law. The foregoing time limits also apply in determining whether notice is timely for purposes of rules adopted by the SEC relating to the exercise of discretionary voting authority.
The above requirements are in addition to, and are separate from, the requirements of SEC Rule 14a-8 relating to the rights of shareholders to request inclusion of proposals in, or of the Company to omit proposals from, the Company’s proxy statement. However, solely with respect to a proposal, other than the nomination of directors, that a shareholder proposes to bring before an annual meeting of shareholders, the notice requirements set forth in the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws will be deemed satisfied by the shareholder if the shareholder has submitted the proposal to the Company in compliance with Rule 14a-8 and the proposal has been included in the Company’s proxy statement for the meeting.
Proposals of shareholders intended to be presented at the 2025 Annual Meeting must be received by the Company not later than August 21, 2024 (120 calendar days before the anniversary of the first mailing of these proxy materials), if the proponent wishes to have them included in the Company’s proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting pursuant to SEC Rule 14a-8. Upon receipt of any such proposal, the Company will determine whether or not to include such proposal in the proxy statement and form of proxy in accordance with SEC regulations governing the solicitation of proxies.
In each case, the notice required to be given to the Company must be directed to the Secretary of the Company, whose address is 9900A Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO 63124-1186. Any shareholder desiring a copy of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws will be furnished one without charge upon written request to the Secretary.
Shareholders may also recommend director candidates to the Governance Committee for consideration as described under Governance Committee on page 14.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements contained in this Proxy Statement regarding future events that reflect or are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, projections or assumptions about the Company’s management, performance and intentions are considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Federal securities laws. These may include, but are not necessarily limited to, statements about proposed or potential future actions, compensation or benefits under the Company’s compensation plans, incentive plans, employee benefit plans or awards, employment, compensation or severance agreements, proposed or anticipated Board or management actions, policies and programs, future meeting or information release dates, and any other statements contained herein which are not strictly historical. Words such as expects, anticipates, targets, goals, projects, intends, plans, believes, variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that such statements are only predictions and speak only as of the date of this Proxy Statement, and the Company undertakes no duty to update them except as may be required by applicable laws or regulations. The Company’s actual results and actions in the future may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties that exist in the Company’s operations and business environment, including but not limited to those described in Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.
| 55 | Other Information | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
Appendix A
PARTICIPANTS IN THE 2022 MERCER BENCHMARK DATABASE/TOTAL REMUNERATION SURVEY — EXECUTIVE
(See Compensation Consultant and Benchmarking on page 24)
|
24 Hour Fitness 3M Company 7-Eleven, Inc. 777 Partners LLC A. O. Smith Corporation AAA Auto Club Group AAA Northern California, Nevada and Utah ABB Abbott Laboratories Abbott Laboratories - Nutrition AbbVie, Inc. Abt Associates Accenture, Inc. ACCO Engineered Systems AccorHotels NA ACH Food Companies, Inc. ACTEGA North America Acumed Acushnet Holdings Corporation Adidas America, Inc. ADT, LLC Adtalem Global Education, Inc. Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Advanced Airfoil Components LLC AdvanSix, Inc. Adventist Health ADVICS North America, Inc. Advisor Group, Inc. Aecon Construction Group Aero Snow Holdings AeroData Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. Aflac, Inc. AFP AGC Biologics Agero, Inc. AgFirst Farm Credit Bank Agilent Technologies, Inc. AGP GLASS USA Agropur, Inc. |
AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corporation Ahold Delhaize - Ahold Delhaize USA, LLC Ahold Delhaize - Delhaize America Supply Chain Services Ahold Delhaize - Food Lion, LLC Ahold Delhaize - Giant of Maryland, LLC Ahold Delhaize - Hannaford Bros. Co., LLC Ahold Delhaize - Peapod Digital Labs, LLC Ahold Delhaize - Retail Business Services, LLC Ahold Delhaize - Stop & Shop Supermarket Company, LLC Ahold Delhaize - The GIANT Company, LLC AIPSO Air Methods Corporation AIT Worldwide Logistics Inc. Akima, LLC Akzo Nobel Coatings Inc. Akzo Nobel Services Inc. Al Fakher Distribution USA, Inc. Alabama Farmers Cooperative Alaska Airlines, Inc. Alcon Aldo (US) AlEn USA, LLC Alex Lee, Inc. Alex Lee, Inc. - Merchants Distributors, LLC Alfasigma USA, Inc. Allegis Group Alliance Data Systems Corporation AllianceRx Walgreens Prime Alliant Energy Corporation Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty Allied Solutions LLC Allina Health System Allina Health System - Mercy Hospital |
Allina Health System - St. Francis Regional Medical Center Allina Health System - United Hospital Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. Allnex USA, Inc. AlloSource Allot Ltd Ally Financial, Inc. Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Alorica Alstom Signaling, Inc. Alstom Transportation Holding Alstom Transportation, Inc. Alterra Mountain Company Alticor - Amway Altra Industrial Motion Corp. Altria Group, Inc. Altus Group US Inc. Alyeska Pipeline Service Company Am-Pat, Inc. (Boot Barn) Amazon.com, Inc. AMBU Amcor Flexibles North America Amedisys, Inc. Amentum - Nuclear Waste Partnership American Academy of Family Physicians American Airlines Group, Inc. American Axle & Manufacturing American Bureau of Shipping American Century Investments American Chemical Society American Enterprise Group, Inc. American Family Insurance American Financial Group, Inc. American Financial Group, Inc. - ABA Insurance Services American Financial Group, Inc. - Great American Insurance Group |
American Financial Group, Inc. - Mid-Continent Casualty Company American Financial Group, Inc. - National Interstate American Financial Group, Inc. - Republic Indemnity American Financial Group, Inc. - Summit Holdings Southeast, Inc. American Financial Group, Inc. - Vanliner American International Group, Inc. American Medical Association American National Insurance American Regent, Inc. American Transmission Company Americas Building Products Americas Materials (AMAT) Ameridrives AmeriHealth Caritas Family of Companies Ameriprise Financial, Inc. AmerisourceBergen Corporation Amerisure Mutual Insurance Company Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. Amgen Amica Mutual Insurance Company Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. AMPAC Fine Chemicals, LLC Amplifon Amplity, Inc. Amrock, Inc. Amy’s Kitchen Anchor Glass Container Corporation Andersen Corporation Andersen Corporation - Andersen Windows, Inc. AngloGold Ashanti North America Inc. Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Ansell Healthcare Products, LLC |
| 56 | Appendix A | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
|
Anthem, Inc. Anuvu Operations Apartment Income REIT Apergy USA, Inc. Apergy USA, Inc. (Digital Corp.) Apex Tool Group APM Terminals Apotex Corp. Appareo Systems LLC AppHarvest, Inc. Apple Bank for Savings Apple Leisure Group Aquity Solutions ARAMARK Corporation Aramsco, Inc. ARB Midstream Arc International US Arc’teryx Equipment ArcBest Arch Capital Services, Inc. Arch Insurance Group, Inc. Arch Reinsurance Company Arch Resources, Inc. Arch US Mortgage Services, Inc. Archrock, Inc. Arctic Slope Regional Corporation - ASRC Federal Holding Company Arctic Wolf Networks Inc. Arete Associates Argo Group US Argonne National Laboratory ARGOS USA LLC Ariston Arizona State University Arkansas Children’s Arkansas Children’s Hospital Arlington County Government Armanino LLP Armstrong Group Arrive Logistics Arrow Electronics, Inc. Arrowhead Engineered Products Artera Services Arthrex, Inc. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Artic Cool Chillers Limited Artivion, Inc. Ascensia Ascension - Borgess - MI Ascension - Columbia/St Mary’s - WI |
Ascension - Genesys - MI Ascension - IN Ascension - MI Ascension - Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital Ascension - Providence - Rochester - MI Ascension - Providence Hospital - Mobile Ascension - Sacred Heart Health System - FL Ascension - Seton Family of Hospitals Ascension - St John Hospital - MI Ascension - St Thomas Health - TN Ascension - St. Agnes Healthcare, Inc. - MD Ascension - St. Johns - OK Ascension - St. Mary’s - MI Ascension - St. Vincent’s Health System - AL Ascension - St. Vincent’s Health System - FL Ascension - Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare Ascension Health Ascension Macomb - Oakland Hospital, Warren Campus Ascent Brands Ascent Resources Management Services, LLC ASCO Sandusky ASICS America Corporation Aspen Technology Inc. Aspire Bakeries, LLC ASSA ABLOY Sales and Marketing Group, Inc. ASSA ABLOY, Inc. Associated Bank, N.A. Association of International Certified Professional Accountants Assurant, Inc. Assured Partners Astellas Pharma US, Inc. Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. AstraZeneca US Asurion AT&T ATI Physical Therapy Atlantic Aviation FBO Holdings Atlas Air, Inc. Atlas Sand Company, LLC Atmos Energy Corporation Atos It Solutions And Services |
Atrium Health Navicent Atrius Health, Inc. Audubon Metals, LLC Aultman Health Foundation - Ohio Auriga Polymers (Nov 2010) Autogrill - HMSHost Autoliv North America, Inc. Automated Control Concepts Automatic Data Processing, Inc. Automobile Club of Southern California AvalonBay Communities, Inc. Avangrid, Inc. Avanir Pharmaceuticals Avanos Medical, Inc. Avantax Wealth Management, Inc. Avantor, Inc. Avenue Living AVEO Oncology Aveva Drug Delivery Systems Avgol America, Inc. AvidXchange, Inc. Avient - Distribution Avient - Global Color, Additives and Inks Avient - Global Specialty Engineered Materials Avient Corporation Avon Research & Development Axalta Coating Systems, LLC Axiom Global, Inc. Axionlog USA Axis Communications, Inc. B. Braun Medical B&H Foto & Electronics Corp. Babson College Babylon Partners Ltd Bacardi Bacardi US Operations BAE Systems, Inc. BAE Systems, Inc. - Electronic Systems BAE Systems, Inc. - Intelligence & Security BAE Systems, Inc. - Platforms & Services Baker Hughes Company Ball Corporation Ball Corporation - Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. Ball Corporation - Beverage Packaging North and Central America Segment |
Banner Health Baptist Health South Florida Bar-S Foods Barrick Gold of North America Barry Callebaut USA, LLC BASF Corporation Bass Pro Shops Basware, Inc. Bath & Body Works, Inc. Battelle Memorial Institute Baxter International BAYADA Home Health Care, Inc. Bayer AG - Bayer Corporation Bayer AG - Consumer Health Division Bayer AG - CropScience Bayer AG - North American Pharmaceutical Division Baylor College of Medicine Baylor Scott & White Health - Dallas, Texas Baystar-Bayport Polymers, LLC BBD Mass Transit Corp. BCS Automotive Interface Solutions US, LLC Beam Suntory Beaumont Health System Beaumont Hospital - Dearborn Beaumont Hospital - Farmington Hills Beaumont Hospital - Grosse Pointe Beaumont Hospital - Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital - Taylor Beaumont Hospital - Trenton Beaumont Hospital - Troy Beaumont Hospital - Wayne Beaumont Medical Group Beaute Prestige International (Miami) Beauty Systems Group (BSG) Bechtel Global Corporation Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc. Beckman Coulter - Diagnostics Beckman Coulter - Life Sciences Beiersdorf, Inc. Bel Brands USA, Inc. Belden, Inc. Belk, Inc. Belmond BentallGreenOak (U.S.) Limited Partnership Berkadia Berkshire Associates |
| 57 | Appendix A | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
|
Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP Berwind United States Best Buy Company, Inc. BevMo! BeyondTrust Corporation BGIS Global Integrated Solutions US LLC BHP Billiton Big Lots BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Bimbo Bakeries USA BioBridge Global Biogen, Inc. BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc. bioMerieux Inc. Bird Rides Birla Carbon USA Bishop Spencer Place-Saint Luke’s Health System BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. BJC HealthCare BJC HealthCare - St. Louis Children’s Hospital Black & Veatch Corporation Black & Veatch Corporation - B&V Special Projects Corp. Black & Veatch Corporation - Black & Veatch Construction, Inc. Black Stone Minerals Company, L.P. Blackberry Limited Blackboard, Inc. Blattner Company Blucora, Inc. Blue Apron Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City Blue Cross of Idaho Health Service, Inc. Blue Racer Midstream, LLC Blue Shield of California BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina BlueFin Services BlueLinx Corporation Bluepeak |
BMW Financial Services NA, LLC BMW of North America, LLC Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP Bobst North America, Inc. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA, Inc. Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Boeing Employees Credit Union (BECU) Boise Cascade Company BOK Financial Bombardier Transit Corp. Bon Secours Mercy Health Bonduelle USA, Inc. Booking Holdings Booking.com Booz Allen Hamilton Bose Corporation Boston College Boston Scientific Corporation Boston University Bounteous Boy Scouts of America Brake Supply, LLC Brandeis University Braswell Family Farms Breakthru Beverage Illinois Breville Bridgestone Americas Bridgestone APM Company Briggs & Stratton Corporation Bright Health Group Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc. Brighthouse Financial BrightSpring Health Services Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Bristow Group, Inc. British American Tobacco Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard Brookfield Properties Retail Group, Inc. Brookfield Residential Properties, Inc. Brooks Sports Brookshire Grocery Company Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company Broward County Government Broward Health |
Brown & Toland Physicians Brown and Caldwell Brown Forman BSH Home Appliances Corporation (Executive) BSN Medical, Inc. BT Holdings USA Inc. Buckeye Partners, L.P. Bulletproof 360 Burlington Stores, Inc. Burns & McDonnell BWX Technologies, Inc. BYK USA BYK-Gardner USA C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc. C110 - Quaker US - Corporate Admin Cable One, Inc. CACI International CAE, Inc. Caerus Operating, LLC California Casualty Management Company California Dental Association California Earthquake Authority California Hospital Association California Resources Corporation Callaway Golf Company CALMAC Corporation Calpine Corporation Cambia Health Solutions Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. Campari America Campbell Meals and Beverages Campbell Soup Company Campbell Soup Company - Global Biscuits & Snacks Canature WaterGroup Canon Virginia, Inc. Canoo, Inc. Canvas Credit Union Capital One Financial Corp. CapitaLand International USA Cardinal Health, Inc. Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Cargill Carhartt, Inc. Carilion Clinic Carlisle Companies, Inc. CarMax Carmeuse Americas |
Carnegie Mellon University Carnival Cruise Lines Carrier Cascade Corporation Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Caterpillar, Inc. CBRE Group, Inc. CDM Smith, Inc. CECO Environmental Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Cello Health Inc. Celulosa Arauco North America CEMEX, Inc. US CenterPoint Energy, Inc. Central California Alliance for Health Central Garden & Pet Co. Central Ohio Primary Care Physicians, Inc. Centro, Inc. Centrus Energy Corp. Centuri Group Inc. Cepheid Cerner CertiK CEVA Animal Health CF Industries Holdings, Inc. CFI Resorts Management CGG Services (US), Inc. CGI Technologies and Solutions, Inc. CH Robinson United States CH2M Hill BWXT West Valley, LLC Champion Petfoods USA, Inc. ChampionX ChampionX USA, Inc. Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. Charter Automotive Charter Dura-Bar Charter Manufacturing Company Charter Steel Charter Wire CHC Helicopter Support Services (US) Inc. Chelan County Public Utility District ChemTreat ChenMed, LLC Chervon North America, Inc. Chesapeake Energy Corporation Chesapeake Utilities Corporation Chewy, Inc. |
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Chicago Cubs Baseball Club, LLC Chicago Public School System Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Children’s Mercy Kansas City Chipotle Mexican Grill Chobani Global Holdings, LLC Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Choice Hotels International, Inc. Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Company UNITED STATES Chr. Hansen, Inc. Christie’s Inc. CHS, Inc. Chubb US Church & Dwight Co., Inc. Church & Dwight Co., Inc. - Specialty Chemicals Division CIGNA Corporation Ciklum Inc. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati Financial Corp. Cipla USA, Inc. Circle K Stores Cirque du Soleil, Lake Buena Vista Citation Oil & Gas Corp. CITGO Petroleum Corporation Citigroup, Inc. Citizens Property Insurance Corporation City Facilities Management (US) City National Bank of Florida City of Detroit City of Dublin City of Greensboro City of Hope City of San Antonio City Storage Systems Civica Rx CivicPlus, LLC CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. Clare Holdings LLC Clarios, LLC Clayton Homes Clean Harbors, Inc. Clearwater Paper Corporation Cleco Corporate Holdings, LLC Clemson University Cleveland Clinic |
Clif Bar & Company Cloud Packaging Solutions, LLC CLOUGH CMA CGM (America) LLC CMC Materials CNA Financial Corporation CNH America, LLC CNO Financial Group, Inc. CNOOC Petroleum U.S.A., Inc. CNSI Coaction Specialty Insurance Coats North America Coca Cola Southwest Beverages Coca-Cola Bottlers’ Sales & Services Company LLC Cochlear Americas Coeur Mining, Inc. Cognite AS Cognosante, LLC Coinstar LLC Colas, Inc. Colgate-Palmolive Company College of American Pathologists Collin County Colonial Group Inc. Colonial Pipeline Company Coloplast Corporation Colorado Public Employees Retirement Association Columbia University Columbus McKinnon Corporation Columbus Regional Airport Authority Comcast Cable Communications, LLC Comerica, Inc. CommentSold, LLC Commercial Metals Company Commonwealth Care Alliance (CCA) Community Health Choice, Inc. Community Health Network (CHN) Commvault Compass Group North America Compass Minerals International, Inc. Compassus Hospice Compeer Financial Conagra Brands Consilio Inc. Consolidated Nuclear Security Y-12 & Pantex Constellation Brands, Inc. |
Consumers Credit Union Consumers Credit Union (www. myconsumers.org) Consumers Energy Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. Continental Properties Company, Inc. Control Components Inc. Convatec, Inc. Cook Children’s Health Care System Cook Medical, Inc. Coolsys Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants CoorsTek, Inc. Corbin Russwin Core and Main CoreBiome, Inc. Corix - Corix Infrastructure Services US Cornell University Cornerstone Building Brands Corning Costa Farms, LLC Coty, Inc. COUNTRY Financial CountryMark Cooperative Holding Corp. Covance, Inc. Covestro, LLC Covetrus COWI Consulting Inc. COWI NA Inc. Cox Enterprises - Cox Automotive, Inc. Cox Enterprises - Cox Communications Cox Enterprises, Inc. CPI Card Group, Inc. CPS Energy Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. Crawford & Company Creative Artists Agency, LLC Credit Acceptance Corporation Credit Central Loans and Taxes Crestron Electronics CRH Americas Crimson Wine Group, Ltd. CROPP Cooperative Crowe, LLP Crowley Maritime Corporation |
Crown Bioscience Crown Castle International Corporation Cryogenic Industries Crystal Mountain, Inc. CSA Group International CSAA Insurance Group CSL Americas CSL Behring CSL Seqirus CSX Transportation, Inc. CTB, Inc. Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. Cummins, Inc. CUNA Mutual Group CURiO Brands Curriculum Associates Curtiss-Wright Corporation Cushman & Wakefield CVR Energy, Inc. CVS Health Corporation Cyclerion Therapeutics, Inc. Cygnus Home Delivery Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Cytel, Inc. Cytiva D.A. Davidson Companies D.R. Horton Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. Daimler Truck Financial Services USA Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. DAK Americas Alpek Dakota Minnesota & Eastern Railroad Corporation Dallas Central Appraisal District Danaher Corporate Danfoss Power Solutions (US) Company Danfoss Power Solutions II, LLC Danfoss Silicon Power US Danfoss, LLC Danone North America Danos & Curole Marine Contractors, LLC Daramic, LLC - Division of Polypore Darden Restaurants, Inc. Darling Ingredients, Inc. Dart Container Corporation DataCore Software Corporation Datavant, Inc. David’s Bridal |
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DaVita, Inc. Dawn Food Products, Inc. Day & Zimmermann Engineering, Construction and Maintenance Day & Zimmermann Group, Inc. Day & Zimmermann Munitions and Defense Day & Zimmermann SOC Day 1 Academies DCP Midstream, LP Deacero USA, Inc. Deckers Outdoor Corporation Deere & Company Del Monte Foods, Inc. DeLaval, Inc. Delaware Supermarkets Delegat USA, Inc. Deloitte, LLP Delta Air Lines, Inc. Delta Air Lines, Inc. - Monroe Energy, LLC Delta Dental Insurance Company Delta Dental of California Delta Dental Of New York Delta Dental Of Pennsylvania Deluxe Corporation Denbury, Inc. Denny’s Corporation Dentaquest Ventures, LLC Denver Health Denver Public Schools Deoleo US DePaul University Desert Financial Credit Union Designer Brands, Inc. Deutsche Lufthansa US Devon Energy Corporation Dexerials America Corporation DexKo Global DHL eCommerce United States (Corporate) DHL Executives United States (Corporate) DHL Express United States (Corporate) DHL Global Business Services United States (Corporate) DHL Supply Chain United States DHL Supply Chain United States (Corporate) Diality Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. Diamondback Energy DICK’S Sporting Goods |
Diebold Nixdorf, Inc. Direct Supply, Inc. DirecTV Group Holdings LLC Discover Financial Services DISH Network Corp. DJO Global, Inc. DNV Energy Insights USA, Inc. Dole Food Company, Inc. Dollar General Corporation Dominion Energy South Carolina Dominion Energy, Inc. Dominium Domino’s Pizza, Inc. Donaldson Company Doosan Bobcat, Inc. Dorsey & Whitney, LLP Doskocil Manufacturing Company, Inc. Dover Corporation DOW Chemicals Dow Jones DPM, LLC Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Inc. Draeger Medical Systems, Inc. Draeger, Inc. Dresser-Rand Group, Inc. Dril-Quip, Inc. Driscoll’s, Inc. Driven Brands Holdings Inc. DriveTime Automotive Group DS Smith Worldwide Dispensers DSM Biomedical DSM Engineering Plastics, Inc. DSM Nutritional Products DSM Services USA, Inc. DTE Energy Duke Clinical Research Institute Duke Energy Corporation Duke Energy Corporation - Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC Duke Energy Corporation - Duke Energy Indiana, Inc. Duke Energy Corporation - Progress Energy, Inc. Duke University Duke University Health System Duquesne Light Holdings Durango Midstream, LLC Duravant, LLC Dyno Nobel, Inc. DYWIDAG-Systems International USA Inc. E.& J. Gallo Winery |
E2OPEN EAB Global, Inc. Eagle Mine, LLC East West Bancorp, Inc. Eastern Bankshares, Inc. Eastman Chemical Company Eaton Corporation (US) eBay, Inc. Echo Global Logistics, Inc. ECKART America Corporation Ecolab, Inc. Ecopetrol America Inc. EDF Renewables Development Inc. Edgewell Personal Care Edlong Dairy Technologies Edward D. Jones & Co. L.P. Edwards Lifesciences, LLC Eisai, Inc. ELANTAS PDG Elbit Systems of America Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. Electrolux Elekta Inc. Elevations Credit Union Eli Lilly & Co. Ellucian Emburse, LLC EMCOR Group, Inc. Emerson Automation Solutions Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc. Emerson Electric Co Empirical Foods Employbridge Employers Mutual Casualty Company Empower Retirement LLC Emulsicoat, Inc. Enbridge, Inc. Encompass Health Corporation Encore Group Encova Insurance Endeavor Endo International, PLC Enel Green Power North America Enerflex Energy Systems Inc. Enerflex Services, Inc. Energizer Holdings, Inc. Energy Transfer LP EnergySolutions |
EnerMech Mechanical Services, Inc. Enerplus Resources (USA) Corporation EnerVest, Ltd. ENGIE North America, Inc. Eni Trading & Shipping, US EnLink Midstream, LLC Enova International, Inc. Ensemble Health Partners Entegris, Inc. Entergy Corporation Entertainment Partners Envision Healthcare Holdings Inc. Envista Enviva Envoy Air Equinix Equinor US Operations, LLC Eramosa International, Inc. ERCO Worldwide, Inc. Ericsson Erie Indemnity Co. Eriks North America ESAB Corporation ESCO Technologies, Inc. Esko Essentia Health Essentra Components Essentra Packaging Essentra PLC (US Shared Services) Essilor of America Essity North America EthosEnergy Everest Re Group Everside Health Eversource Energy Evolve Vacation Rental Network Inc. Evolved By Nature Evonik Industries North America Ewellix (SMT) Exactech, Inc. Exelixis, Inc. EXP U.S. Services, Inc. Explorer Pipeline, Inc. Express, Inc. EyeBuy Direct, Inc. F. Hoffmann La-Roche, Ltd. - Genentech, Inc. F. Hoffmann La-Roche, Ltd. - Roche Diagnostics Corporation |
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F. Hoffmann La-Roche, Ltd. - Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP Fairview Health Services Fameccanica North America, Inc. Fanatics Retail Group Farm Credit Bank of Texas Farmers Insurance Group Fast Retailing USA Inc. FBL Financial Group, Inc. FCA US, LLC FCCI Insurance Group Federal Aviation Administration Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Federated Mutual Insurance Company Fender Musical Instruments Corporation Ferrara Candy Company Ferrellgas Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Ferrovial - Webber, LLC Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS) Fiduciary Counselling, Inc. FieldCore Service Solutions LLC Fifth Third Bancorp FIJI Water Company Financial Accounting Foundation Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Inc. Firmenich, Inc. First American Financial Corporation First Data Hardware Services Inc. First Financial Bancorp First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. First National Bank of Omaha First Orion First Solar, Inc. First Western Financial FirstBank Fisher & Paykel Healthcare |
Flaktgroup SEMCO Flanders Inc. Flashpoint Flavor Producers Florida State University Flowers Foods, Inc. Flowserve Corporation FLSmidth, Inc. Fluor Corporation Fluor Idaho Fluor Marine Propulsion, LLC FM Global FMH Conveyors, LLC FONA International Inc. Fonterra Co-operative Group, Ltd. Formsprag Fortive Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. - Master Lock Company, LLC Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. - MasterBrand Cabinets, Inc. Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. - Therma-Tru Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. Foundation Partners Group, LLC FPT NORTH AMERICA INC. Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy LLP Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Freeport LNG Development, L.P. Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. Freight Handlers Inc. Fresenius Kabi USA Fresh Del Monte Produce United States Fresh US Freudenberg Medical Mis Inc. Friedkin Companies, Inc. Friedkin Companies, Inc. - Gulf States Financial Services Friedkin Companies, Inc. - Gulf States Toyota, Inc. Friedkin Companies, Inc. - US AutoLogistics, LLC Froedtert Health Inc. Frontdoor, Inc. Frontier Airlines Fulton Financial Corporation Funko, Inc. G2O Technologies |
Gables Engineering, Inc. GAF Industries, Inc. Galderma Laboratories L.P. GAN Limited Gap, Inc. Garaga Garmin AT Garmin International Garmin USA Garrett Transportation I, Inc. Gate Gourmet, Inc. Gates Industrial Corp. PLC Gateway Foundation Inc. GATX Corporation GE Appliances, a Haier Company GE Gas Power GE Renewables North America, LLC GE United States Aviation GE United States Healthcare GEA Refrigeration North America Gemological Institute of America GenCure Generac Power Systems Inc. General Atomics General Dynamics Corporation General Dynamics Corporation - Bath Iron Works General Dynamics Corporation - Electric Boat Division General Dynamics Corporation - Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. General Dynamics Corporation - Land Systems General Dynamics Mission Systems Inc. General Motors Company Generali Global Assistance Genesis Energy, LP Genmab USA Inc. Genuine Parts Company GEODIS United States George Koch Sons, LLC George Washington University Georgetown University Georgia System Operations Corporation GeoVera Holdings, Inc. Gerdau USA Inc. Gevo, Inc. GfK US LLC GHD Pty Ltd GHSP Gibbs Die Casting, LLC |
Giesecke+Devrient Currency Technology America Inc. Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security America, Inc. Gildan USA Inc. Gilead Sciences, Inc. Givaudan US GKN America Corporation - GKN Aerospace North America GKN North America Inc. Glass Coatings & Concepts, LLC Glatfelter Corp. Glatfelter Insurance Group GlaxoSmithKline Global Finishing Solutions, LLC Global Health Labs, Inc. Global Indemnity Group, LLC Global Partners LP Globe Life, Inc. GN Audio GN Hearing GOJO Industries, Inc. Golden Hippo Media Golden State Farm Credit Goodnight Midstream, LLC Goodwill NCW GoPro Inc. Gordon Food Service, Inc. GP Strategies Corp. GPG Plumbing Group, LLC Graham Group US, Inc. Graham Packaging Company, L.P. Grand River Dam Authority Grange Mutual Casualty Company Granite Construction Inc. Grayson Mill Energy Great Minds Great River Energy Greater New York Mutual Insurance Co Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association, Inc. (WETA) Green Dot Corporation Greenhouse Software Greenlight Financial Technology, Inc. GreyStone Power Corporation Grundfos Pumps Manufacturing United States Grupo Industrial Lala US GTM International, LLC Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company |
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Guardian Pharmacy Guild Education, Inc. Guinness World Records North America Inc. GXO Logistics, Inc. Gymshark USA, Inc. H-E-B H&M U.S. Hach Haemonetics Corporation Haldor Topsoe, Inc. Halliburton Company Hallmark Cards, Inc. Hallmark Cards, Inc. - Crayola, LLC Halma Holdings US Hammond Power Solutions Hampton Products International Corporation Hanchett Entry Systems, Inc. Hanesbrands, Inc. Hanford Mission Integration Solutions Hannover Re U.S. Hanon Systems USA, LLC Harbison-Fischer, Inc. Harris Health System Hasbro, Inc. Hatch Associates Consultants HAVI Group Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. HCA Healthcare HDR, Inc. Health & Happiness (H&H), Inc. Health Care Service Corporation Healthpartners, Inc. Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. Helen Of Troy - US HELLA, Inc. HELLA, Inc. - HELLA Electronics Corporation (HEC) HelloFresh Helmerich & Payne, Inc. Helzberg’s Diamond Shops, Inc. Henkel Corporation Hennepin County Hennepin County Medical Center Henry Ford Health System Henry Ford Health System - Henry Ford Allegiance Health Henry Ford Health System - West Bloomfield Hospital Henry Schein, Inc. |
Heraeus Electro-Nite Co., LLC Heraeus GMSI, LLC Heraeus Inc. Heraeus Medical Components, LLC Heraeus Medical, LLC Heraeus Metals New York, LLC Heraeus Precious Metals North America Conshohocken, LLC Herbalife Nutrition, Ltd. Heritage Landscape Supply Group, Inc. Herr Foods Inc. HF Management Services LLC Hibbett Sports, Inc. HID Global Corporation Highmark Health Highspot Inc. Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. Hillenbrand, Inc. Hilltop Holdings, Inc. Hilton Grand Vacations Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc. Hitachi Astemo Americas Inc. Hitachi Construction Machinery Loaders America Inc. (HCMA) HM.CLAUSE, INC. HNI Corporation HNTB Corporation Hollister Holman Enterprises Inc. Hologic, Inc. Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies Honeywell International, Inc. Horizon Air Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Hormel Foods Corporation Hoshizaki America, Inc. Hostess Brands Inc. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. Howard Hughes Medical Institute Howden Roots LLC Howden USA Company Hoya Optical Labs of America, Inc. HOYA Surgical Optics, United States Hublot US Humana, Inc. Humane Society of the United States |
Hunter Industries, Inc. Huntington Bancshares, Inc. Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. - Technical Solutions Division Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP Husky Injection Molding Systems, Ltd. (US) Huvis Indorama Advanced Materials Hy Cite Enterprises, LLC Hyatt Hotels Corporation Hycroft Mining Holding Corporation HydraForce, Inc. Hyperion Materials & Technologies, Inc. Hypertherm Hyundai Motor America Hyundai Translead i-Health, Inc. IAT Insurance Group ICL USA ICW Group Idaho National Laboratory Idorsia Pharmaceuticals US, Inc. IDT IES Abroad IFCO Systems IKEA North American Services, LLC IKEA Purchasing Services (US), Inc. Ilitch Holdings, Inc. Illumio IMI Zimmermann & Jansen Impellam Group NA Imricor Medical Systems, Inc. IMT Insurance Company IN-N-OUT BURGER Incyte Corporation Independent Bank Group Inc. Index Exchange Inc. Indiana University Health Inflection Energy, LLC Ingevity Corporation Ingredion, Inc. InnFocus, Inc. Integer Holdings Corporation Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation Intelsat Corporation Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. InterContinental Hotels Group |
Interface, Inc. Intermountain Healthcare, Inc. International Air Transport Association, Inc. International Baccalaureate Organization US International Business Machines Corporation International Paint LLC International Paper Co. International Rescue Committee International SOS International-Matex Tank Terminals (IMTT) Interplex Nascal, Inc. Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. Interstate Gas Supply Inc. Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc. Intradeco Intrawest/Winter Park Operations Corporation ION Geophysical Corporation Ioneer USA Corp. IPG - True North Communications, Inc. IPG GIS US Inc. IPL Plastics - Consumer Packaging Solutions IPL Plastics - Large Format Packaging & Environmental Solutions Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. IQVIA Holdings, Inc. Iron Mountain, Inc. ISO New England Isuzu North America Corporation ITC Holdings Corp. ITG Brands, LLC Itochu International, Inc. North America ITOCHU Prominent USA, LLC ITT, Inc. Ixom Watercare, Inc. J-W Power Company J.Crew Group, Inc. J.D. Irving - Cavendish J.D. Irving - Irving Consumer Products J.Jill, Inc. J.R. Automation Technologies LLC J.S. Held LLC Jabil Circuit, Inc. Jackson Lewis P.C. |
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Jackson National Life Insurance Company, Inc. Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC. Jaguar O&G James Avery Craftsman, Inc. James Hardie Building Products James River Group, Inc. Jason, Inc. JB Hunt Transport Services, Inc. JBG SMITH Properties Jeld-WEN Jet Aviation United States Jet Propulsion Laboratory JetBlue Airways Jockey International, Inc. John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. John Bean Technologies Corporation John Fabick Tractor Company (Fabick CAT) Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Johns Hopkins Health Care System Johns Hopkins University Johns Manville Johnson & Johnson Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Johnson & Johnson Medical Pharma Johnson Controls Inc. Johnson County Community College Johnson Financial Group Johnson Matthey, Inc. Jostens, Inc. JT International USA, Inc. Juice Plus Just Born Inc. JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery JX Nippon Oil Exploration (U.S.A.) Limited Kaiser Permanente Kaiser Permanente - Colorado Region Kaiser Permanente - Georgia Kaiser Permanente - Hawaii Kaiser Permanente - Mid Atlantic Kaiser Permanente - Northern California |
Kaiser Permanente - Northwest Region Kaiser Permanente - Southern California Region Kaiser Permanente - Washington Kamehameha Schools Kansas State University - Manhattan Campus Kao USA, Inc. KAR Auction Services, Inc. KBR (GSUS) KBR, Inc. Kellogg Company Kelsey-Seybold Clinic Kelvion KemPharm, Inc. Kendo Holdings, Inc. Kent PLC US Kentucky Lottery Corporation Kering Americas Kerry, Inc. KeyCorp Kiewit Corporation Kimberly-Clark Corporation Kimberly-Clark Corporation - Consumer Kimberly-Clark Corporation - K-C Professional Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc. Kinder Morgan, Inc. Kinecta Federal Credit Union Kinross Gold Corporation Kirkland & Ellis, LLP Kiva Microfunds Klein Tools, Inc. Knauf Knoxville Utilities Board Koch Air, LLC Koch Enterprises, Inc. Kohl’s Corporation Kohler Company Komatsu Mining Corp. Konecranes Nuclear Equipment & Services Konecranes, Inc. Kontoor Brands, Inc. Koppers Kosmos Energy, LLC Kremers Urban Pharmaceuticals, Inc. KUBRA Kum & Go L.C. KushCo Holdings, Inc. Kwik Trip |
Kyowa Kirin, Inc. Kyriba Corporation L.A. Care Health Plan L.L.Bean, Inc. L’Oreal USA L3Harris Technologies Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings LACC, LLC Land O’Lakes, Inc. Landmark Credit Union Lannett Company, Inc. LANXESS Corporation US Laredo Petroleum, Inc. Latham & Watkins Launch Federal Credit Union Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory LBC Houston LBC US LDC Louis Dreyfus Company Leadiant Biosciences, Inc. Legal & General America LEGO Systems, Inc. Lehigh Hanson, Inc. Lehigh University Leica Biosystems Leica Microsystems Leidos Holdings, Inc. Lend Lease USA Lennox International, Inc. LEO Pharma Leprino Foods Company Les Schwab Tire Centers, Inc. Lesson Nine GmbH (Babbel) Leupold & Stevens, Inc. Levi Strauss & Co, Inc. Lexington Medical Center LG Electronics USA, Inc. Libbey Liberty Mutual Group Liberty Utilities LifeNet Health Liferay, Inc. Lifescan Lifetime Healthcare Companies, Inc. - Excellus BlueCross BlueShield LifeWay Christian Resources Likewize |
Linamar Corporation McLaren Performance Technologies, Inc. Linamar Corporation Skyjack Equipment, Inc. Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. Lincoln National Corporation Linde, Inc. Lineage Logistics Linear Motion, LLC LineDrive Lionbridge Technologies Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. - Ticketmaster, LLC Live Oak Bank LMB Mortgage Services, Inc. Lockheed Martin - Aeronautics Lockheed Martin - Missiles and Fire Control Lockheed Martin - Rotary & Mission Systems Lockheed Martin - Space Lockheed Martin Corporation Loews Corporation Lone Wolf Technologies Lonza LOOP, LLC Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Angeles Community College District LOTTE Chemical Louisiana, LLC LOTTE Chemical USA Corporation Louis Vuitton USA Lowe’s Companies, Inc. Lower Colorado River Authority LS Group Staff LT Apparel Group Lubrizol Lundbeck US LURIN Lutheran Senior Services Luxoft GmbH LVMH - Christian Dior, Inc. LVMH - DFS Group Limited LVMH - Fendi North America, Inc. LVMH - Sephora USA, Inc. LVMH - Starboard Cruise Services, Inc. LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, Inc. LyondellBasell Industries M. A. Mortenson Company M. Holland Company |
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M&T Bank Corporation Macy’s, Inc. Maersk Maersk Drilling USA Maesa LLC Magellan Health, Inc. Magna International of America, Inc. Maine Medical Center - MaineHealth Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals Malvern Panalytical US Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, LLC Mammotome MANA Products Mane USA, Inc. Mann+Hummel (MHUS) Mansfield Energy Corp. ManTech International Corporation MAPCO Express MAPFRE U.S.A. Corp. Maple Leaf Foods, Inc. Maquet Getinge Group Marathon Oil Corporation Marc Jacobs International, LLC Markel Corporation Marken LLP Marlen International, Inc. Marriott International, Inc. Mars Food Mars Global Services Mars Pet Nutrition Mars Pet Nutrition Global Mars Retail Mars Wrigley - Americas Mars Wrigley Global Mars, Inc. Marsh & McLennan Companies Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. - Marsh Marshfield Clinic Health System Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. Mary Kay, Inc. Mary Kay, Inc. - US Division Maryland Procurement Company Masco Corporation Massachusetts Institute of Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology - MIT Lincoln Laboratory |
MassMutual Life Insurance Company Material Materion United States MathWorks Matson, Inc. Matson, Inc. - Matson Logistics Mattel, Inc. Matthews International Corporation Maurices, Inc. MAXIMUS, Inc. Maxion Wheels Sedalia LLC Maxion Wheels U.S.A., LLC Mayer Brown, LLP Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research - Mayo Clinic Arizona Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research - Mayo Clinic Florida McCain Foods USA, Inc. McCormick & Company McCrometer McDermott International, Inc. McDonald’s Corporation McGrath RentCorp McKesson Corporation McNeil & Company, Inc. Mecklenburg County Medallion Midstream, LLC Medela, LLC Medicago USA, Inc. Medical Mutual of Ohio Medifast, Inc. Medline Industries, Inc. MedStar Health Medtronic, PLC Meggitt-USA, Inc. Meijer, Inc. Memorial Health System Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center MemorialCare Health System MemorialCare Health System - Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC Merck & Co., Inc. Merck & Co., Inc. - Animal Health Division |
Mercury Insurance Group Meritage Homes Corporation Meritor, Inc. Merlin Entertainments Mersen US Meso Scale Diagnostics MetaBank National Association Metal Exchange Corporation Mettler-Toledo, LLC - MTI MFS Investment Management Michelin North America, Inc. Michels Corporation Michigan Farm Bureau Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (MAA) Mid-America Conversion Services Midco Midland Cogeneration Venture MillerKnoll Inc. Milliken & Company Milliken & Company - Chemical Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative Minto Communities, LLC Mirum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Mission Produce, Inc. Mission Support and Test Services MiTek USA, Inc. Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas) Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc. Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Americas, Inc. Mitsubishi Motors North America Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. Mitsui E&P USA, LLC MKOX KONE, Inc. MMGY Global, Inc. Mohawk Industries, Inc. Mohawk Valley Health System - Faxton St. Luke’s Hospital Molecular Devices Molina Healthcare, Inc. Molnlycke Health Care US, LLC Molson Coors Beverage Company monday.com Mondelez International, Inc. MongoDB Inc. Monotype Imaging Inc. Monterey Bay Aquarium |
Montrose Environmental Group, Inc. Moore & Van Allen, PLLC Morris Material Handling Motiva Enterprises, LLC Motorola Solutions Motrex LLC Movado Group, Inc. Movado Retail Group Mr. Cooper Group, Inc. msg global solutions, Inc. MTS Systems Corporation Mueller Water Products, Inc. MultiCare Health System Munich Reinsurance America, Inc./HSB Insurance and Inspection Murdochs Ranch and Home Supply Murphy Oil Corporation Mutual of Omaha N-able Technologies Inc. N3B Los Alamos NASSCO Holdings Inc. National CineMedia, LLC National Futures Association National Grid National Louis University National Oilwell Varco, Inc. National Renewable Energy Laboratory National Research Corporation National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (NRUCFC) Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company Nature’s Sunshine Products, Inc. NatureWorks, LLC Navient Navistar USA Navitus Health Solutions, LLC Navy Federal Credit Union NCCI Holdings NCS Multistage, LLC Nearmap NECI Nemak NeoImmuneTech, Inc. Neste US, Inc. Nestle USA - Nespresso USA Nestle USA, Inc. NetJets Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. |
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New Jersey Institute of Technology New Jersey Resources Corp. New Nautical Coatings Inc. New World Medical New York Power Authority New York University Newell Brands, Inc. Newmont Corporation Newpark Drilling Fluids Newpark Mats and Integrated Services Newpark Resources NewRez, LLC Nexan - Amercable Inc. Nexans High Voltage USA, Inc. NextEra Energy, Inc. NexTier Oilfield Solutions NFI Industries Inc. Niagara Bottling NIBCO, Inc. Nidec Motor Corporation Nike, Inc. Nilfisk, Inc. NiSource, Inc. Nitta Corporation of America NMI Holdings, Inc. Noble Corporation Noble Research Institute, LLC Noblis Noblis ESI Noodles & Company Nordstrom, Inc. Norfolk Southern Corporation Norgren, Inc. Norican Group Norris Rods, Inc. (PAT Corp.) Norriseal-Wellmark, Inc. Norsk Hydro North American Science Associates Northeastern University Northrop Grumman Corporation NorthShore University HealthSystem Northwell Health Northwest Bank Northwestern University Norton Door Controls Nouryon NOVA Chemicals Novant Health, Inc. Novartis Corporation |
Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Inc. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation NovaSignal Corporation Novavax Novo Nordisk Pharmaceutical Industries LP Novo Nordisk, Inc. Novocure Novozymes North America, Inc. NOW Health Group, Inc. NRT, LLC NS Pharma Numerica Credit Union NuStar Energy, L.P. Nutrien, Ltd. - US nVenia, LLC nVent (US) NVR, Inc. Nyrstar Netherlands - US O.C. Tanner Company O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. Oak Ridge Associated Universities Oak Ridge National Laboratory Ocado Solutions USA Inc. Ocean Mist Farms Oceaneering International, Inc. Ocwen Financial Corporation Oerlikon Surface Solutions Offerpad Solutions, Inc. Office of Planning and Budget Office of the Comptroller of the Currency OGE Energy Corp. Ohio National Financial Services, Inc. Ohio Transmission Corporation OIA Global Oil Search (Alaska), LLC Oil-Dri Corporation of America Old Dominion Electric Cooperative Old Dominion University Research Foundation Old Republic National Title Insurance Company Oldcastle APG Oldcastle Building Envelope, Inc. Oldcastle Infrastructure Olin Corporation Olympus America, Inc. |
Olympus Corporation of the Americas Olympus Scientific Solutions America Olympus Surgical Technologies America OMNOVA Solutions, Inc. OMRON Healthcare One Call Care Management ONE Gas, Inc. One10 OneBeacon Insurance Group OneSource Virtual Ono Pharma USA OnPoint Group OOCL (USA), Inc. Open Society Foundations Oportun Financial Corp. Orbia United States Organon & Co. Orica USA, Inc. Orlando Health Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Oscar Insurance Corporation OSF Healthcare - Peoria, Illinois Oshkosh Access Equipment Oshkosh Commercial Oshkosh Corporation Oshkosh Defense OSI Industries, LLC Ossur Americas OTR Wheel Engineering Inc. Otsuka America Pharmaceuticals, Inc. OTT HydroMet Otter Products, LLC OU Medicine Owens & Minor Distribution, Inc. Owens Corning Oxford Industries, Inc. P2 Energy Solutions, Inc. PACCAR, Inc. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory PacifiCorp Packaging Corporation of America Packaging Corporation of America - Packaging Packaging Corporation of America - White Paper Pactiv Pall |
Panasonic Corporation of North America Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. Pandora Jewelry, LLC Panduit Corporation Papa John’s International, Inc. Par Pacific Holdings PAREXEL International Corporation Pariveda Solutions, Inc. Parker Hannifin Corporation Parker Hannifin Corporation - Aerospace Group Parkland USA Parkview Health Partners HealthCare Patagonia Works Patterson UTI Drilling Company, LLC Pavement Maintenance Systems, LLC Pax8, Inc. Paychex, Inc. Paycor, Inc. Payoneer, Inc. PayPal Holdings, Inc. PCC Community Markets Peabody Energy Corporation Pedernales Electric Cooperative, Inc. Penn Medicine - Lancaster General Hospital Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company Penn State Health Pennex Aluminum Company, LLC Pennsylvania National Mutual Casualty Insurance Company Penske Corporation Pentair Plc PepsiCo, Inc. Perfection Pet Foods, LLC Perfetti Van Melle USA Perfumes & Cosmetics Perrigo Company, Plc - Perrigo Company (US) Perspecta, Inc. Pet Supplies Plus Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. Petrobras America Inc. Pfizer, Inc. PG&E Corporation Pharmaceutical Product Development, LLC |
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Pharmavite, LLC PharmScript Phenomenex & Agela Philadelphia Insurance Companies Philip Morris International, Inc. Piaggio Group Americas, Inc. Pierce Manufacturing, Inc. Pierre Fabre Dermo Cosmetique North America Pilot Corporation Of America Pilot Flying J Pinnacle West Capital Corporation Pioneer Natural Resources Company Piper Sandler Companies Pivot Bio PJM Interconnection, LLC pladis Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. Plante & Moran, PLLC Platte River Power Authority Pointsbet Australia Pty Ltd Polypore International, LP POM Wonderful Port of Houston Port of Portland Post Holdings, Inc. Post Holdings, Inc. - 8th Avenue Post Holdings, Inc. - Bob Evans Farms, Inc. Post Holdings, Inc. - Michael Foods Post Holdings, Inc. - Post Consumer Brands Postlethwaite & Netterville PPG Industries, Inc. PRA Group, Inc. Precision Drilling Corporation Premera Blue Cross Premier, Inc.. Presbyterian Healthcare Services Prevea Health PriceSmart PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP Primetals Technologies US, LLC Prince International Corporation Princeton University Principal Financial Group, Inc. Procter & Gamble Company PROG Leasing, LLC Progressive Corporation Promega Corporation |
Promethean World Proserv Operations, LLC Providence Health & Services - Providence Health Plans Proximo Spirits PSCU, Inc. PTC Therapeutics, Inc. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc. Publicis Sapient Publix Super Markets, Inc. PulteGroup, Inc. Puratos Corporation Purdue Pharma L.P. Purdue University PureCycle Technologies Pushpay USA, Inc. PVH Corp. QBE Americas, Inc. QC Industries, LLC Qorvo Quaker Houghton - Engineered Custom Lubricants Quaker Houghton - US Fluidcare MW Quaker Houghton - US OPS Qualfon QualTex Laboratories Quantum Health, Inc. Quartzdyne, Inc. Quest Diagnostics QVC, Inc. R&M Materials Handling Radian Group, Inc. Radisson Hotel Group Rahr Corporation Raley’s RAND Corporation Range Resources Corp. Range USA Raytheon Technologies Realogy Holdings Corporation Realty Income Corporation REC Silicon, Inc. Reckitt Benckiser, Inc. Recreational Equipment, Inc. Red Bull Distribution Company, Inc., USA Red Bull North America Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Refrigerated Solutions Group |
Regal Beloit Corporation RegEd, Inc. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Regional Management Corporation Regions Financial Corporation REHAU, Inc. Reinsurance Group of America, Inc. Reiter Affiliated Companies, LLC. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company Remington Hotels Renaissance Lakewood, LLC Renalytix AI, Inc. Renewal by Andersen, LLC RENK Corporation Repsol Services Company Republic Airline, Inc. Republic National Distributing Company (RDNC) Republic Services, Inc. Resideo Technologies, Inc. Restoration Hardware (RH) REVENUE SOLUTIONS Reyes Holdings Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc. Rheem Manufacturing Company, Inc. RHI Magnesita Ria Envia, Inc. Rich Products Corporation Richardson International Rite Aid Corporation Rite-Hite Company LLC RK&K RKT Holdings, LLC Robert Bosch Robertet USA Rochester Institute of Technology Rock Central, LLC Rocket Auto, LLC Rocket Homes Real Estate, LLC Rocket Mortgage, LLC RockLoans Marketplace, LLC Rockwell Automation Roll Forming Corporation Rolls-Royce North America, Inc. ROTOPLAS UNITED STATES Rowan Williams Davies & Irwin (RWDI, LLC) Royal Bank of Canada - City National Bank |
Royal Canin Royal Canin - Americas RR Donnelley & Sons RSM US, LLP RTI International RTSS US Ruan Transportation Management Systems, Inc. Rudolph Foods Company, Inc. Ryan Specialty Group, LLC Ryerson Holding Corp. S.C. Johnson & Sons, Inc. S&C Electric Company SABIC Americas, Inc. Safe-Guard Products International Safelite Sage Natural Resources Sailun Tire Americas Inc. Saint Luke’s Health System Saint Luke’s Health System - Hedrick Medical Center Saint Luke’s Health System - Saint Luke’s East Hospital Saint Luke’s Health System - Saint Luke’s Home Care and Hospice Saint Luke’s Health System - Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City Saint Luke’s Health System - Saint Luke’s North Hospital Saint Luke’s Health System - Saint Luke’s Physicians Group Saint Luke’s Health System - Saint Luke’s South Hospital Saint-Gobain US Saks, Inc. Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. Sally Beauty Supply Saluda Medical Samis Land Company Sammons Financial Group Samsung Electronics America, Inc. Samtec, Inc. Samuel, Son & Co., Inc. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Sandia National Laboratories Sandvik, Inc. SanMar Corp. Sanofi US Santen, Inc. Saputo Cheese USA, Inc. Saputo Dairy Foods USA, LLC |
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Sartorius United States SAS Institute, Inc. Sasol (USA) Corporation Savannah River National Laboratory Savannah River Remediation, LLC Savencia Cheese USA Savers, Inc. Savvas Learning Company LLC Saxx Underwear Co. USA Sazerac Company, Inc. SBA Communications Corporation Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG - Schaeffler Group USA, Inc. Schenker, Inc. Schindler Elevator Corporation Schlumberger Limited - Schlumberger Oilfield Services Schnuck Markets, Inc. SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) Sciex Scooter’s Coffee Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists Scripps Health Scroll Compressors LLC Seaboard Corporation Seadrill Seagen Inc. Seagull Scientific, Inc. SEAKR Engineering Sealed Air Corporation Seashine Financial, LLC Seattle Children’s Hospital Sebia USA Securitas Inc. Seda North America Inc. Select Medical Holdings Corp. Selective Insurance Group, Inc. Sempra Energy Sensia, LLC Sentara Healthcare Sentry Insurance Company Sequa Corporation Servco Pacific, Inc. Service Corporation International SGRE Wind, Gamesa USA Shake Shack, Inc. Sharp Electronics Corporation |
ShawCor (US) Shelf Drilling US, Inc. Shepherd Chemical Company Shepherd Color Company Shiseido Americas Corporation Shiseido Travel Retail Americas SHOES FOR CREWS LLC Shook, Hardy & Bacon, LLP Showa Denko Materials (America), Inc. Shure Inc. Shurtape Technologies LLC Shutterfly, Inc. SI Group, Inc. Sidley Austin, LLP Siegwerk EIC, LLC Siegwerk USA Co. Siemens Corporation Siemens Energy, Inc. Siemens Energy, Inc. - Fossil Products (OPP) Siemens Energy, Inc. - Oil& Gas (PT2) Siemens Energy, Inc. (US) - Dist Gen (PS1) Siemens Field Staffing, Inc. Siemens Financial Services, Inc. Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, Inc. USA Siemens Healthcare Siemens Industry Software Siemens Mobility, Inc. Sierra Nevada Corporation Signature Aviation US Holdings, Inc. Signature Bank Signify North America Corporation Silver Oak Wine Cellars Silverchair SimpliSafe Inc. Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. Sims Metal Management, Ltd. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. Singapore Technologies Engineering SiriusPoint America Insurance Company SitusAMC Skyward Specialty Insurance SMC Corporation of America Smead Manufacturing Smith College Smithfield Foods |
Snow Summit, LLC Snowshoe Mountain, Inc. Society Insurance Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Sodexo USA SoftServe (ISV Tech) SOL-MILLENNIUM Medical Group Solmax Sonepar - Vallen Distribution, Inc. Sonoco Products Sonos Sound Credit Union Sound Transit South Jersey Industries South Texas Blood & Tissue Center South Western Communications, LLC Southeastern Freight Lines Southern California Edison Southern Company - Georgia Power Southern Company - Mississippi Power Company Southern Company - Southern Company GAS Southern Company - Southern Company Services Southern Company - Southern Power Company Southern Company - SouthernLINC Wireless Southern Power Company - Alabama Power Company Southern Ute Indian Tribe - Aka Energy Group, LLC Southern Ute Indian Tribe - Growth Fund Properties Group, LLC Southern Ute Indian Tribe - Red Cedar Gathering Company Southern Ute Indian Tribe - Red Willow Production Company Southern Ute Indian Tribe - Southern Ute Indian Tribe Growth Fund Southern Ute Indian Tribe - Southern Ute Shared Services Southland Industries Southwest Airlines Co. Southwest Gas Corporation Southwest Research Institute Sovos Brands Spark Therapeutics Sparrow Health System |
Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. - Hardware & Home Improvement Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. - Home & Personal Care Appliances Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. - Pet Home & Garden Spectrum Health System Spectrum Retirement Communities, LLC. Spencer Gifts, LLC Spin Master, Ltd. Spirax-Sarco, Inc. Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Spirit Airlines, Inc. SPIRIT Global Energy Solutions, Inc. Spreetail LLC Springfield Clinic, LLP Springworks Therapeutics, Inc. SPX Corporation Squaw Valley Ski Corporation SRS Distribution SSM Health SSR Mining, Inc. St. Charles Health System St. Luke’s Elmore Medical Center St. Luke’s Health System - Saint Luke’s Boise Medical Center St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center St. Luke’s Meridian Medical Center St. Luke’s Nampa Medical Center Stancorp Financial Group Standard Meat Company StandardAero Stanford University Stanford University - Stanford Health Care Stanley Consultants Stantec, Inc. Star Tribune Media Company, LLC Starbucks Corporation Starkey Hearing Technologies, Inc. State Employees’ Credit Union State Farm Insurance State of North Carolina State of North Dakota State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation |
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Stella - Blue Cross Blue Shield Minnesota Stella McCartney US STEP Energy Services (USA) Ltd. Stepan Company Stephen Gould Corporation STERIS, PLC Stewart Title Guaranty Company Stewart Title Insurance Company Stoneridge, Inc. Storck USA L.P. Strategic Education United States Straumann Stride, Inc. Stryker Corporation Styropek USA, Inc. Subaru of America, Inc. Suburban Hospital Suburban Propane Partners, LP Subway FWH, LLC Sulzer Pumps (US), Inc. Sulzer Turbo Services Houston Inc. Sumitomo Electric - Sumitomo Electric U.S.A. Holdings, Inc. Sumitomo Pharma America Holdings Summa Health Sun Life Financial U.S. Sunbelt Rentals, Inc. SunCoke Energy Inc. Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. SunStream Business Services Superior Energy Services, Inc. Supernus Pharmaceuticals Surescripts, LLC SureWerx USA Inc. Surmodics, Inc. Sutherland Global Services Sutter Health Suzuki Marine USA Svendborg Brakes Swagelok Company Swarovski US Swedish Match, US Division Swissport Sylvamo Symetra Financial Corporation Symmetry Energy Solutions Symrise, Inc. syncreon America, Inc. Syneos Health, Inc. |
Synergy Flavors, Inc. Syngenta Synovus Financial Corporation Sysco Corporation T-Mobile US, Inc. T. Marzetti Company T.D. Williamson Tailored Brands Takasago International Corporation (USA) Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. Tallgrass Energy Partners, LP Tanner Medical Center Targa Resources Target Corporation TaskUs, Inc. TaxAct, Inc. Taylor Morrison Home Corporation TBK BANK TC Energy - Energy Group TC Energy - PipeLines TD Bank, N.A. Teacher Retirement System of Texas TECO Energy Tecumseh Products Company Teleflora Telephone & Data Systems, Inc. - TDS Telecommunications Corp. Telephone & Data Systems, Inc. - U. S. Cellular Tellurian, Inc. Telstra USA TELUS International (U.S.) Corporation. Tempur Sealy Tenaris, Inc. USA Tenerity Tenet Healthcare Corporation Ternium USA, Inc. Terracon Consultants, Inc. Terumo Americas Holding, Inc. Terumo BCT, Inc. Terumo Medical Corporation Tetra Pak United States Texas Children’s Hospital System Texas Health Resources, Inc. Texas Life Insurance Company Texas Mutual Insurance Company Textron, Inc. Textron, Inc. - Airborne Solutions Textron, Inc. - Bell |
Textron, Inc. - Kautex Textron, Inc. - Textron Aviation Textron, Inc. - Textron Financial Corporation Textron, Inc. - Textron Specialized Vehicles Textron, Inc. - Textron Systems TGS NOPEC The Aerospace Corporation The Allstate Corporation The American College of Surgeons The Annie E. Casey Foundation The Beck Group The Boeing Company The Boeing Company - Insitu, Inc. The Boyd Group The Capital Group Companies, Inc. The Chamberlain Group, LLC The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Clorox Company The Coca-Cola Company The Commonwealth of Virginia - Department of Accounts The Commonwealth of Virginia - Department of Aviation The Commonwealth of Virginia - Department of Corrections The Commonwealth of Virginia - Department of Health The Commonwealth of Virginia - Department of Motor Vehicles The Commonwealth of Virginia - Department of the Treasury The Commonwealth of Virginia - University of Virginia The Container Store, Inc. The Cooper Companies, Inc. The Cooper Companies, Inc. - CooperVision The Doctors Company The Doe Run Company The E.W. Scripps Company The E.W. Scripps Company - KGUN - Tucson - TV The E.W. Scripps Company - KMGH - TV The E.W. Scripps Company - KMTV - Omaha-TV The E.W. Scripps Company - KNXV-TV |
The E.W. Scripps Company - KSHB-TV The E.W. Scripps Company - KSTU - TV Salt Lake City The E.W. Scripps Company - WEWS-TV The E.W. Scripps Company - WLEX - TV - Lexington The E.W. Scripps Company - WTMJ - Milwaukee - TV The E.W. Scripps Company - WXYZ-TV The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc. The Freeman Company The Fresh Market - Store Support Center The Gilbert Company, LLC The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America The Hartz Mountain Corporation The Heritage Group The Honest Company, Inc. The Irvine Company, LLC The Jackson Laboratory The Johns Hopkins Hospital The Johns Hopkins University - Applied Physics Laboratory The Kraft Heinz Company The Kroger Co. The Methodist Hospital System The Metropolitan Museum of Art The MITRE Corporation The Mosaic Company The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine The New York Public Library (NYPL) The Nielsen Company The North West Company The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) The Prime Group, Inc. The QT Company The Rosewood Corporation The Scripps Research Institute The Sherwin Williams Co - Performance Coatings Grp, Global Packaging, Coating Resins & Colorants The Sherwin Williams Company The Sherwin Williams Company - Consumer Brands Group The Sherwin Williams Company - Consumer Brands |
| 68 | Appendix A | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
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Group, Consumer North America Division The Sherwin Williams Company - Global Supply Chain The Sherwin Williams Company - Performance Coatings Group The Sherwin Williams Company - Performance Coatings Group, General Industrial The Sherwin Williams Company - Performance Coatings Group, Global Packaging The Sherwin Williams Company - Performance Coatings Group, Global Packaging, Coil Coatings Business The Sherwin Williams Company - Performance Coatings Group, Industrial Wood The Sherwin-Williams Company - Performance Coatings Group, Automotive The Sherwin-Williams Company - Performance Coatings Group, Protective & Marine The Sherwin-Williams Company - The Americas Group The Stratton Corporation The Sundt Companies, Inc. The Taubman Company, LLC The TJX Companies, Inc. The Travelers Companies, Inc. The University of Chicago The University of Texas System The University of Texas System - Oil & Gas Division The University of Texas System - The University of Texas at Arlington The University of Texas System - The University of Texas at Dallas The University of Texas System - The University of Texas at El Paso The University of Texas System - The University of Texas at Tyler The University of Texas System - The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston The University of Texas System - The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley The University of Texas System - University of Texas Health Science The University of Texas System - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio The University of Texas System - University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler |
The University of Texas System - University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center The University of Texas System - University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center The Vanguard Group, Inc. The Walt Disney Company The Walt Disney Company - Disney Parks, Experiences & Products The Williams Companies, Inc. The Wonderful Company The Wonderful Company - Roll Law Group Thelios US Thermo King Corporation Thermon Group Holdings, Inc. Third Bridge (US) Thomson Thomson Reuters Thorntons Thrivent Financial ThyssenKrupp AG (US) Tiffany & Co. US Title Nine Title Resource Group TK Elevator United States BU NA TK Elevator United States Corporate B-1 TMEIC Corporation TODO1 Services Inc. Tokai Carbon US Holdings Inc. Tokio Marine Highland Tokyo Electron Toll Global Forwarding (USA), Inc. TOMS Shoes, LLC Torrid, LLC Toshiba America, Inc. Total Quality Logistics TotalEnergies US Tower Hill Insurance Group Toyota Boshoku America, Inc. Toyota North America TPC Group, LLC TPI Composites, Inc. Tractor Supply Company Trane Latin America Trane Technologies Company, LLC Trane Technologies Company, LLC - CFO Trane Technologies Company, LLC - Trane Comfort Specialist |
Trane Technologies Financial Services Corporation Trane U.S., Inc. Transamerica - Life Insurance Company TransCanada Corporation (US) Transcontinental TransMontaigne Partners, LLC Transocean Travel + Leisure Co. Travere Therapeutics, Inc. Treasury Wine Estates Americas Company TreeHouse Foods, Inc. Trelleborg Wheel Systems Americas, Inc. Tri Counties Bank Tri-Arrows Aluminum Inc. Tricon American Homes TriHealth, Inc. Trimble, Inc. TRIMEDX, LLC Trinchero Family Estates dba Sutter Home Winery Trinity Church Wall Street Trinity Health - St. Joseph Mercy - Oakland Trinity Industries Trinseo Triumph Group, Inc. True Partners Consulting, LLC TruGreen Limited Partnership Truist Financial Corporation TSA TTEC Holdings, Inc. TTI Inc. TTM Technologies Tufts Medical Center Inc. Tufts University Tupperware Brands Corporation Turner Construction Company TUV SUD America, Inc. Twin-Star International Tyson Foods, Inc. U.S. Pharmacopeia Convention Uber Technologies, Inc. UCB, Inc. UCHealth UChicago Medicine Ulteig Engineers, Inc. Ultimate Medical Academy, LLC Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical UMB Financial Corporation |
UMUC Ventures Under Armour UniFirst Corporation UNITE HERE HEALTH United Airlines Holdings, Inc. United Launch Alliance United Malt Group United States United Natural Foods, Inc. United Parcel Service, Inc. United Properties Investment, LLC United Rentals, Inc. United States Olympic Committee (USOC) United States Steel Corporation United States Sugar Corporation United Therapeutics Corporation UnitedHealth Group UnitedHealth Group - Surgical Care Affiliates UnityPoint Health Univar Solutions, Inc. Universal Health Services (UHS) Universal Pressure Pumping, Inc. University Health University of California - Berkeley University of California - Davis University of California - Irvine University of California -Los Angeles University of California - Merced University of California - Riverside University of California - San Diego University of California - San Francisco University of California - Santa Barbara University of California - Santa Cruz University of California (UC) University of Central Florida (UCF) University of Colorado Boulder University of Colorado System University of Florida University of Houston-Clear Lake University of Kansas (KU) University of Massachusetts Systems Office University of Michigan University of Minnesota University of Notre Dame |
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University of Pittsburgh University of Wisconsin Credit Union Upfield US, Inc. UPM - Communication Papers UPM - Fibres UPM-Kymmene, Inc. - Raflatac, Inc. UPM-Kymmene, Inc. - Specialty Papers Uponor, Inc. Upsher-Smith Laboratories, LLC Urban Oil & Gas Group Urban Outfitters, Inc. US Foods Holding Corp. US LBM Holdings US Synthetic Corporation US WorldMeds, LLC UW Health Vail Resorts, Inc. Valaris Limited Valent USA, LLC Valero Energy Corporation Vallourec Star, LP Vallourec Tube-Alloy, LLC Vallourec USA Corporation Valmet, Inc. VAM USA, LLC Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Vanderbilt University Vanderbilt University Medical Center Varroc Lighting Systems, Inc. VCU Health System Authority VELUX America, LLC Ventas, Inc. Ventech Solutions Ventura Foods, LLC Veran Medical Technologies Inc. Verathon, Inc. Vericast Veritiv Corporation Versant Health Verso Corporation Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Veryan USA Vestas American Wind Tech Vestas Blades America, Inc. Vestas Nacelles America Vestas Towers America, Inc. VF Corporation - Altra VF Corporation - Icebreaker |
VF Corporation - JanSport VF Corporation - Kipling VF Corporation - Smartwool VF Corporation - The North Face VF Corporation - Timberland VF Corporation - Vans VF Corporation - Williamson-Dickie VF Corporation (VFC) Viatris, Inc. Vicinity Energy Victoria’s Secret & Co. Videojet Vinson & Elkins, LLP Virbac Corporation Virtua Health, Inc. Viskase Companies, Inc. Vistra Corp. Vital Proteins, LLC Vitamix Holdings Co Vitesco Technologies USA LLC Vizient VMware, Inc. Volkswagen Credit, Inc. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. Volvo Group North America Vontier W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. W.R. Grace & Co. W.W. Grainger Wakefern Food Corporation Walgreens Boots Alliance - Walgreen Co. Walmart, Inc. WANdisco WarnerMedia LLC Washington University in St. Louis Waste Management, Inc. Watches & Jewelry (United States) Waters Corporation Watts Water Technologies Wayne Farms, LLC Weatherford International, LLC Webasto Roof Systems Americas Weber-Stephen Products, LLC Webster Financial Corporation Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP Welbilt, Inc. |
Wellmark BlueCross BlueShield Wells Enterprises, Inc. Wells Fargo & Company WellSpan Health WernerCo WESCO International, Inc. West Bend Mutual Insurance Company West Fraser, Inc. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission Western & Southern Financial Group Western Area Power Administration Western Foods, LLC Western Growers Assurance Trust Western Midstream Western Milling, LLC Western National Group Western Union Corporation Westerra Credit Union Westfield Insurance Westfield, LLC Westinghouse Electric Co Westlake Chemical Corporation Westmoreland Mining, LLC Westrock Company Weyerhaeuser / Timberlands Division Weyerhaeuser / Wood Products Divisions Weyerhaeuser Company WGL Holdings, Inc. - Washington Gas Wheels, Inc. Whirlpool Corporation WhiteWater Midstream WideOpenWest, Inc. Wilbur-Ellis Wild Fork Foods William Marsh Rice University, Inc. Willscot Mobile Mini Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, LLP Wilton Brands Winc Inc. Winpak Portion Packaging, Inc. Winsome Truth Wonderful Sales WoodmenLife |
Woodside Electronics Corporation Woodward, Inc. Workiva Inc. World Wide Technology Holding, Inc. World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. Worthington Industries WSP USA WuXi Biologics Wyndham Worldwide - Wyndham Hotels and Resorts X-Rite Xcel Energy, Inc. Xcel Energy, Inc. - Southwestern Public Service Co. Xellia Pharmaceuticals USA XPO Logistics, Inc. Yale-New Haven Hospital Yanfeng US Automotive Interior Systems I, LLC Yanfeng US Automotive Interior Systems II, LLC Yanmar America Corporation Yazaki North America, Inc. YMCA of the North Yoh Young Living Essential Oils Youngers and Sons Manufacturing Zachry Group Zenith American Solutions Ziegler CAT Zim American Integrated Shipping Services Company, Inc. Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. ZimVie Zions Bancorporation Zobele USA, Inc. Zoetis, Inc. ZOLL Medical Corporation Zovio, Inc. Zumiez, Inc. Zurich North America Zurn Water Solutions Corp. Zymeworks |
| 70 | Appendix A | Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting & Proxy Statement // ESCO Technologies Inc. |
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01
- Janice L. Hess 02 - Bryan H. Sayler For Withhold For Withhold 22DV Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this
example. Please do not write outside the designated areas. 03WNLA + + A Proposals — The Board recommends a vote FOR all nominees
and FOR Proposals 2 and 3. 2. An advisory vote to approve the compensation of the Company’s executive officers 3. To ratify the
appointment of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 2024 fiscal year 1. Election of Directors:
For Against Abstain Please sign exactly as your name(s) appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee, guardian, or custodian, please give full title. If signing on behalf of an entity, please sign in entity name
by authorized officer or other authorized person and give full title. Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below. Signature 1
— Please keep signature within the box. Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box. B Authorized Signatures —
This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. — Date and Sign Below q IF VOTING BY MAIL, SIGN, DETACH AND RETURN
THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. q Annual Meeting Proxy Card For Against Abstain You may vote online or by phone instead
of mailing this card. Online Go to www.investorvote.com/ESE or scan the QR code — login details are located in the shaded bar
below. Save paper, time and money! Sign up for electronic delivery at www.investorvote.com/ESE Phone Call toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683)
within the USA, US territories and Canada Votes submitted electronically must be received by 1:00 A.M., Eastern Standard Time, on February
7, 2024. Your vote matters – here’s how to vote!
Small
steps make an impact. Help the environment by consenting to receive electronic delivery, sign up at www.investorvote.com/ESE Notice of
2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders Proxy Solicited by Board of Directors for Annual Meeting — February 7, 2024 Christopher L.
Tucker and David M. Schatz, or either of them, each with the power of substitution, are hereby authorized to represent and vote the shares
of the undersigned, with all the powers which the undersigned would possess if personally present, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
of ESCO Technologies Inc. to be held on February 7, 2024 at the Renaissance Austin Hotel, 9721 Arboretum Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78759,
beginning at 8:00 A.M. Central Standard Time, and at any postponement or adjournment thereof. Shares represented by this proxy will be
voted as indicated hereon by the shareholder. If no such directions are indicated, the Proxies will have authority to vote FOR all nominees
and FOR Proposals 2 and 3. In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before
the meeting. (Items to be voted appear on reverse side) Proxy — ESCO Technologies Inc. q IF VOTING BY MAIL, SIGN, DETACH AND RETURN
THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. q C Non-Voting Items + + Change of Address — Please print new address below. Comments
— Please print your comments below. Meeting Attendance Mark box to the right if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting.
www.investorvote.com/ESE
Step 1: Go to www.investorvote.com/ESE. Step 2: Click on the icon on the right to view meeting materials. Step 3: Return to the investorvote.com
window and follow the instructions on the screen to log in. Online Go to www.investorvote.com/ESE or scan the QR code — login
details are located in the shaded bar below. The Sample Company Shareholder Meeting Notice 03WNNA + + Important Notice Regarding the
Availability of Proxy Materials for the ESCO Technologies Inc. 2024 Annual Shareholder Meeting to be Held on February 7, 2024 Under Securities
and Exchange Commission rules, you are receiving this notice that the proxy materials for the annual shareholders’ meeting are
available on the Internet. Follow the instructions below to view the materials and vote online or request a copy. The items to be voted
on and location of the annual meeting are on the reverse side. Your vote is important! This communication presents only an overview of
the more complete proxy materials that are available to you on the Internet. We encourage you to access and review all of the important
information contained in the proxy materials before voting. The 2023 proxy statement and annual report to shareholders are available
at: Obtaining a Copy of the Proxy Materials – If you want to receive a copy of the proxy materials, you must request one. There
is no charge to you for requesting a copy. Please make your request as instructed on the reverse side on or before January 24, 2024 to
facilitate timely delivery. 2NOT Easy Online Access — View your proxy materials and vote. When you go online, you can also help
the environment by consenting to receive electronic delivery of future materials. Votes submitted electronically must be received by
1:00 a.m., Eastern Standard Time, on February 7, 2024. Step 4: Make your selections as instructed on each screen for your delivery preferences.
Step 5: Vote your shares.
Here’s
how to order a copy of the proxy materials and select delivery preferences: Current and future delivery requests can be submitted using
the options below. If you request an email copy, you will receive an email with a link to the current meeting materials. PLEASE NOTE:
You must use the number in the shaded bar on the reverse side when requesting a copy of the proxy materials. — Internet –
Go to www.investorvote.com/ESE. — Phone – Call us free of charge at 1-866-641-4276. — Email – Send an email
to investorvote@computershare.com with “Proxy Materials ESCO Technologies Inc.” in the subject line. Include your full
name and address, plus the number located in the shaded bar on the reverse side, and state that you want a paper copy of the meeting
materials. To facilitate timely delivery, requests for a paper copy of proxy materials must be received by January 24, 2024. The 2024
Annual Meeting of Shareholders of ESCO Technologies Inc. will be held on February 7, 2024 at the Renaissance Austin Hotel, 9721 Arboretum
Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78759, beginning at 8:00 A.M. Central Standard Time. Proposals to be voted on at the meeting are listed below
along with the Board of Directors’ recommendations. The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all the nominees and FOR Proposals
2 and 3: 1. To elect Janice L. Hess and Bryan H. Sayler as directors of the company to serve for three-year terms expiring in 2027. 2.
An advisory vote to approve the compensation of the Company’s executive officers. 3. To ratify the appointment of the Company’s
independent registered public accounting firm for the 2024 fiscal year. PLEASE NOTE – YOU CANNOT VOTE BY RETURNING THIS NOTICE.
To vote your shares you must go online or request a paper copy of the proxy materials to receive a proxy card. If you wish to attend
and vote at the meeting, please bring this notice with you. Shareholder Meeting Notice