|
Item 11.
|
Executive Compensation
|
Overview
Our “Named Executive Officers”
for the year ended December 31, 2017 include Kevin Akeroyd, our Chief Executive Officer, and Whitney Benner and Jason Edelboim,
our two most highly compensated executive officers who were serving as executive officers as of December 31, 2017 (collectively,
the “Named Executive Officers”).
Our compensation policies and philosophies
are designed to align compensation with business objectives and the creation of stockholder value, while also enabling us to attract,
motivate and retain individuals who contribute to our long-term success. We believe our executive compensation program must be
competitive in order to attract and retain executive officers. We seek to implement compensation policies and philosophies by linking
a significant portion of executive officers’ cash compensation to performance objectives and have historically provided a
portion of their compensation as long-term incentive compensation in the form of equity awards in Cision Owner.
To date, the compensation of our Named
Executive Officers has consisted of a base salary, an annual cash incentive bonus, equity compensation in Cision Owner and health
and welfare benefits. Pursuant to their employment agreements, the Named Executive Officers are also eligible to receive certain
payments and benefits upon a termination of employment under certain circumstances. Each of our executive officers, along with
certain other members of our management, have been given the opportunity to receive grants of equity in Cision Owner pursuant to
the Agreement of Exempted Limited Partnership of Cision Owner (as amended from time to time, the “Cision Owner Partnership
Agreement.” GTCR established the Cision Owner Partnership Agreement to align the interests of our executive officers and
management investors with those of our other equity investors and to encourage our executive officers and management investors
to continue to operate the business in a manner that enhances our equity value.
Cision Owner has historically determined
all of the components of compensation of our executive officers. As a publicly-traded company, our compensation committee is responsible
for making compensation decisions and evaluating our compensation program as circumstances require. As part of our ongoing evaluation,
it is expected that the compensation committee will apply Cision’s policies and philosophies described above.
Compensation Tables
The following table presents summary information
regarding the total compensation for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 for the Named Executive Officers.
Summary Compensation Table
Name and Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary ($)
|
|
|
Bonus ($)
|
|
|
Stock
Awards ($)
(1)
|
|
|
Nonequity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
|
|
|
All Other
Compensation
($)
(2)
|
|
|
Total ($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kevin Akeroyd
|
|
2017
|
|
|
475,000
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
311,838
|
|
|
|
9,628
|
|
|
|
796,466
|
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
2016
|
|
|
197,954
|
(3)
|
|
|
370,000
|
(4)
|
|
|
3,478,790
|
(5)
|
|
|
98,959
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
4,145,703
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Whitney Benner
|
|
2017
|
|
|
243,338
|
|
|
|
173,813
|
(6)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
63,900
|
|
|
|
8,736
|
|
|
|
489,786
|
|
Chief Human Resources Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jason Edelboim
|
|
2017
|
|
|
315,000
|
|
|
|
680,912
|
(6)
|
|
|
528,449
|
(7)
|
|
|
103,477
|
|
|
|
5,861
|
|
|
|
1,633,699
|
|
President, Americas
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Represents the grant date
fair value of such awards as determined in accordance with ASC Topic 718. For a discussion of the assumptions underlying these
amounts, see Note 7 to our audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017 included in the Original Filing.
|
|
(2)
|
Represents all other compensation
paid to or earned by the Named Executive Officers. Other compensation includes group term life insurance contributions, matching
401k contributions and certain other fringe benefits.
|
|
(3)
|
Represents salary from August
1, 2016, Mr. Akeroyd’s start date, to December 31, 2016.
|
|
(4)
|
Represents a one-time cash
signing bonus paid to Mr. Akeroyd.
|
|
(5)
|
Consists of (i) 3,091,679
Class C Units with a grant date fair market value of $ 3,108,790 and (ii) 3,700 Class A Units with a grant date fair market value
of $370,000 included as part of Mr. Akeroyd’s signing bonus.
|
|
(6)
|
Represents a retention bonus
paid in connection with our acquisition of PR Newswire.
|
|
(7)
|
Consists of 82,500 stock
options to acquire Ordinary Shares of Cision.
|
Salaries
The Named Executive Officers receive a
base salary to compensate them for services rendered to our company. The base salary payable to each Named Executive Officer is
intended to provide a fixed component of compensation reflecting the executive’s skill set, experience, position and responsibilities.
Non-Equity Incentive Bonuses
Pursuant to the terms of their employment
agreements, our Named Executive Officers are eligible to receive cash bonuses based on their performance and the performance of
the company and its subsidiaries. Although we do not have a formal plan in place, the board sets performance targets at the beginning
of each fiscal year and communicates these targets to our Named Executive Officers. Each Named Executive Officer’s performance
bonus for the year ended December 31, 2017 was determined based on achievement of Corporate and Global Revenue goals and EBITDA
goals.
Incentive Unit Awards
Prior to the formation of Cision, Cision
Owner granted newly-hired Named Executive Officers an interest in Cision Owner by awarding Class C Units of Cision Owner (“Class
C Units”) pursuant to the Cision Owner Partnership Agreement. The Class C Units were reserved for issuance by Cision Owner
for incentive purposes at the discretion of the general partner of Cision Owner, subject to certain approvals.
Class C Units were awarded to the Named
Executive Officers in 2016, 2015 and 2014 for no consideration and are subject to a participation threshold determined by the general
partner of Cision Owner. The Class C Units are subject to the terms of the respective agreements with the executives, but generally
vest over a four-year period in annual or quarterly increments following the date of grant, contingent on the individual continuing
to provide services to the company. These awards have a fixed-dollar threshold as stated in the respective award agreements that
provides the holder an interest only in the appreciation in value of the company over this stated amount (a “Participation
Threshold”).
Upon termination of employment of the respective
holder, the unvested Class C Units are forfeited and the vested Class C Units are subject to repurchase by Cision Owner at a price
equal to the fair market value of the award on the date of repurchase.
We believe that overall business success
creates meaningful value to both unit holders and, through their equity holdings, Cision’s executives. The Class C Units
are designed as “profits interests” within the meaning of Revenue Procedures 93-27 and 2001-43, and provide an immediate
and significant alignment between our Named Executive Officers and Cision’s business. Prior to the Business Combination,
Cision Owner followed the practice of awarding Class C Units at or near the time of hire and when deemed appropriate to further
demonstrate commitment and reinforcement of value creation. The number of Class C Units granted to each of Cision’s Named
Executive Officers was not determined pursuant to any formulaic equation or benchmarking to any peer groups; rather, the number
of Class C Units was determined by the general partner of Cision Owner in its sole discretion, after taking into account discussions
with the Cision management team and overall retention goals.
As profits interests, the Class C Units
have no value for tax purposes on the date of grant, but instead are designed to gain value only after Cision Owner has realized
a certain level of returns for the holders of its “Class A Units” (as defined in Cision Owner Partnership Agreement).
Distributions will be made first to holders of Class A Units until those holders have received a full return on their capital contributions
to Cision Owner plus a specified yield calculated in accordance with the Cision Owner Partnership Agreement. Once Class A Unit
holders have received these amounts, the holders of Class C Units are generally entitled to participate in any distributions together
with the holders of Cision Owner’s “Class B Units” (as defined in the Cision Owner Partnership Agreement) in
the proportions set forth in the Cision Owner Partnership Agreement, provided that no Class C Unit is entitled to any portion of
a distribution until the Participation Threshold with respect to such unit has been realized. The threshold value of each Class
C Unit is based on the liquidation value of the equity of Cision Owner at the date of the grant.
2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan
Our shareholders adopted and approved an
omnibus incentive plan (the “2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan”) in connection with the Business Combination. During the
year ended December 31, 2017, Jason Edelboim was our only Named Executive Officer who received grants under the 2017 Omnibus Incentive
Plan.
Outstanding Equity Awards At Fiscal Year End – Interests
in Cision Owner
The following table summarizes, for each
of the Named Executive Officers, the number of Class C Units of Cision Owner held as of December 31, 2017.
Name and Principal
Position
|
|
# Shares or Units of
Stock that have
not vested (#)
(1)
|
|
|
Market Value
# Share or Units of
Stock that have not
vested ($)
(2)
|
|
|
# Unearned Shares,
Units or Other
Rights that have
not vested
(#)
|
|
|
Payout Value of
Unearned Shares,
Units or other
Rights that have
not vested
($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kevin Akeroyd,
CEO
|
|
|
1,932,299
|
(3)
|
|
|
5,352,468
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Whitney Benner
Chief Human Resources Officer
|
|
|
168,750
|
(4)
|
|
|
467,438
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jason Edelboim
President, Americas
|
|
|
168,750
|
(4)
|
|
|
467,438
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
(1)
|
Represents unvested Class
C Units of Cision Owner.
|
|
(2)
|
There is no established public
trading market for the Class C Units of Cision Owner. The value of the Class C Units at December 31, 2016 was $2.77 per Class
C Unit based on a valuation analysis of the Fair Market Value of such units. For each Named Executive Officer, the participation
threshold at which such units will participate in distributions has not been deducted from the fair market value of the applicable
units. Mr. Akeroyd’s participation threshold for all his Class C Units is $3.09. The participation threshold for all of
the Class C Units held by Ms. Benner and Mr. Edelboim is $4.25. See “—Incentive Unit Awards” above. These values
may not reflect the value actually realized by the Named Executive Officers upon vesting.
|
|
(3)
|
Mr. Akeroyd’s Class
C Units vest over a four-year period at quarterly intervals beginning on September 30, 2016.
|
|
(4)
|
Each of Ms. Benner’s
and Mr. Edelboim’s Class C Units vest over a four-year period at yearly intervals beginning on June 30, 2017.
|
Outstanding Equity Awards At Fiscal
Year End – Cision Ltd. Equity Awards
The following table summarizes, for each
of the Named Executive Officers, the number of Cision Ltd. equity awards held as of December 31, 2017.
Name and Principal
Position
|
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
|
|
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
|
|
|
Equity Incentive Plan
Awards: Number Of
Securities Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned Options (#)
|
|
|
Option
Exercise Price
($)
|
|
|
Option
Expiration
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kevin Akeroyd,
CEO
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Whitney Benner
Chief Human Resources Officer
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jason Edelboim
President, Americas
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
82,500
|
(1)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
12.78
|
|
|
|
September 22, 2027
|
|
|
(1)
|
Mr Edelboim’s options
become exercisable in four equal annual installments beginning August 31, 2018.
|
Post-Retirement Benefits Cision US
Inc. Retirement Plan
We maintain a tax-qualified defined contribution
plan meeting the requirements of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, commonly called a 401(k) plan, for substantially
all of our U.S. employees through Fidelity. The 401(k) plan is available on the same terms to all of our U.S. employees, including
the Named Executive Officers. Each participant can elect to contribute from 0% to 100% of his or her base salary to the 401(k)
plan, subject to Internal Revenue Service and ERISA limitations. We also make matching 401(k) contributions up to a specified portion
of each employee’s salary. The deferred amount is invested in accordance with the election of the participant in a variety
of investment choices.
Employment Agreements
Each of the Named Executive Officers is
a party to an employment agreement. Mr. Akeroyd’s employment agreement is between himself and Cision US Inc. (“Cision
US”). Ms. Benner’s employment agreement is between herself and PR Newswire Association, LLC (“PR Newswire”).
Mr. Edelboim’s employment agreement is between himself and PR Newswire. The following summary sets forth the material terms
of the Named Executive Officer’s existing employment agreements.
Kevin Akeroyd
The employment agreement with Kevin Akeroyd
provides that Mr. Akeroyd will serve as the Chief Executive Officer of Cision US. The term of Mr. Akeroyd’s employment commenced
on August 1, 2016 and will continue until (i) Mr. Akeroyd’s resignation, death or disability or (ii) Cision terminates his
employment with or without Cause. On June 29, 2017, in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination, Cision US
entered into an amended employment agreement with Mr. Akeroyd in order to remove Cision Owner as a party to Mr. Akeroyd’s
employment agreement. The terms of Mr. Akeroyd’s employment were not substantially modified by such amendment. Mr. Akeroyd’s
base salary is set at $475,000 per year and is subject to annual increase as approved by Cision’s board of directors.
Subject to continued employment, Mr. Akeroyd
will be eligible to receive an annual bonus in an amount up to 100% of his base salary, as determined by Cision’s board of
directors based upon Mr. Akeroyd’s performance and the performance of Cision, Cision US and the other subsidiaries of Cision
relative to financial, operating and other objectives mutually agreed upon by Cision’s board of directors and Mr. Akeroyd.
In addition, Mr. Akeroyd is entitled to such other benefits as are approved by Cision’s board of directors and made generally
available to all senior management of Cision and Cision US.
If Mr. Akeroyd’s employment is terminated
for any reason, Mr. Akeroyd is entitled to receive:
|
·
|
any earned but unpaid portion
of his base salary through the date of such termination, subject to withholding and other appropriate deductions;
|
|
·
|
reimbursement for expenses
accrued during employment, subject to and in accordance with, Cision US’s expense reimbursement policy;
|
|
·
|
any earned but unpaid annual
bonus relating to any prior period; and
|
|
·
|
any vested benefits (including
vacation) accrued through the date of such termination in accordance with applicable law or the governing agreement, plan or policy
rules (together, the “Akeroyd Accrued Obligations”).
|
If Mr. Akeroyd’s employment is terminated
by resignation with Good Reason or by Cision’s board of directors without Cause, then, in addition to the Akeroyd Accrued
Obligations, during the 12-month period commencing on the date of termination (the “Akeroyd Severance Period”), (x)
Cision US shall pay to Mr. Akeroyd an aggregate amount equal to 100% of his annual base salary, and (y) Cision US shall pay the
premiums for Mr. Akeroyd’s continued coverage under Cision US’s health benefit plan during the Akeroyd Severance Period
(subject to certain limitations).
In the event of Mr. Akeroyd’s resignation,
if at the time of such resignation Cision US had the right to terminate Mr. Akeroyd’s employment with Cause, then Cision
US may elect to treat such resignation as a termination of Mr. Akeroyd’s employment by Cision US with Cause.
Mr. Akeroyd’s employment agreement
also contains provisions relating to obligations to maintain confidentiality, ownership of property developed during employment,
third-party information, use of information of prior employers and non-solicitation of Cision US’s employees for a period
of 12 months.
For purposes of Mr. Akeroyd’s employment
agreement:
“Cause” means (i) (a) the conviction
or plea of no contest for or indictment on a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude or (b) the commission of any other act
or omission involving (x) dishonesty that is reasonably likely to materially and adversely affect Cision or any of its subsidiaries
or (y) fraud, in either case, with respect to Parent, Cision US or any of their respective subsidiaries or any of their customers,
vendors or employees, (ii) substantial and repeated failure to perform duties of the office held by Mr. Akeroyd as reasonably and
expressly directed by Cision’s board of directors, provided that Mr. Akeroyd shall have the opportunity to address Cision’s
board of directors before a termination pursuant to this clause (ii) becomes effective, (iii) gross negligence or willful misconduct
with respect to the Cision, Cision US or any of their respective subsidiaries or any of their customers, vendors or employees,
(iv) conduct which could reasonably be expected to bring Cision, Cision US or any of their respective subsidiaries into substantial
public disgrace or disrepute, (v) any breach by Mr. Akeroyd of the confidentiality or non-solicitation provisions of his agreement
and/or (vi) a failure to observe Cision’s, Cision US’s or any of their respective subsidiaries’ policies or standards
regarding employment practices (including, without limitation, nondiscrimination and sexual harassment policies) as approved by
Cision’s board of directors from time to time.
“Good Reason” means (i) a material
reduction in Mr. Akeroyd’s then effective annual base salary, (ii) a material diminution in Mr. Akeroyd’s title, (iii)
the assignment of duties to Mr. Akeroyd materially inconsistent with his position or (iv) the relocation by Cision US of Mr. Akeroyd’s
principal office to a location which is more than 50 miles outside of the San Jose metropolitan area, in each case, without the
prior written consent of Mr. Akeroyd.
Whitney Benner
The employment agreement with Whitney Benner
provides that Ms. Benner will serve as the Chief Human Resources Officer of PR Newswire. The term of Ms. Benner’s employment
will continue until (i) Ms. Benner’s resignation (upon 30 days’ prior written notice to PR Newswire), death or disability
or (ii) PR Newswire terminates her employment with or without Cause. On January 9, 2018, PR Newswire entered into an amended employment
agreement with Ms. Benner in order to remove Cision Owner as a party to Ms. Benner’s employment agreement. The terms of Ms.
Benner’s employment were not substantially modified by such amendment.
For each fiscal year beginning in 2017,
subject to continued employment through the last day of such fiscal year, Ms. Benner will be eligible to receive an annual bonus
in an amount up to 40% of her base salary, as determined by PR Newswire based upon Ms. Benner’s performance and the performance
of PR Newswire and its subsidiaries relative to financial, operating and other objectives set by PR Newswire. In addition, Ms.
Benner is entitled to such other benefits as are approved by PR Newswire and made generally available to all senior management
of PR Newswire.
If Ms. Benner’s employment is terminated
for any reason, Ms. Benner is entitled to receive:
|
·
|
any earned but unpaid portion
of her base salary through the date of such termination, subject to withholding and other appropriate deductions;
|
|
·
|
reimbursement for reasonable
and documents expenses accrued during employment, subject to and in accordance with, PR Newswire’s expense reimbursement
policy;
|
|
·
|
any earned but unpaid annual
bonus relating to any prior fiscal year; and
|
|
·
|
any vested benefits (including
vacation, but excluding severance-type benefits) accrued through the date of such termination in accordance with applicable law
or the governing agreement, plan or policy rules (together, the “Benner Accrued Obligations”).
|
If Ms. Benner’s employment is terminated
by PR Newswire without Cause, then, in addition to the Benner Accrued Obligations, (1) PR Newswire will give Ms. Benner three months
prior notice of such termination, during which period Ms. Benner will assist as reasonably required by PR Newswire to transition
her duties and train any successor, and during which period PR Newswire may, in its absolute discretion, (A) place Ms. Benner on
garden leave and require Ms. Benner not to come into the office, or (B) elect to provide Ms. Benner payment of her base salary
and premiums for continued coverage under PR Newswire’s health benefit plans in lieu of all or any portion of such three
month notice period, which payment shall be made in installments on PR Newswire’s regular payroll dates unless otherwise
agreed between Ms. Benner and PR Newswire and during which time no bonus eligibility will accrue; (2) during the nine month period
commencing on the date of termination, PR Newswire shall continue to pay Ms. Benner at her base salary rate, payable in equal installments
on PR Newswire’s regular salary payment dates as in effect on the date of the separation (the “Benner Severance Payments”
and any period during which the Benner Severance Payments are payable, each a “Benner Severance Period”); and (3) PR
Newswire shall pay the premiums for Ms. Benner’s continued coverage under PR Newswire’s health benefit plans during
the Benner Severance Period (subject to certain limitations, the “Benner Severance Benefits”). In addition, PR Newswire
shall have the option, by delivering written notice to Ms. Benner at least 60 days prior to the end of the then applicable Benner
Severance Period, to extend the Benner Severance Period for up to two additional six month periods (i.e., through the 21 month
anniversary of the date of separation) during which period PR Newswire shall continue to pay the Benner Severance Payments at the
same annual rate (pro-rated as applicable) and provide the Benner Severance Benefits.
Ms. Benner’s employment agreement
also contains provisions relating to obligations to maintain confidentiality, ownership of property developed during employment,
third-party information and use of information of prior employers, as well as non-competition and non-solicitation covenants which
remain in effect during the term of Ms. Benner’s employment plus either (i) the Benner Severance Period, if she is terminated
without Cause, or (ii) the 12-month period immediately following Ms. Benner’s termination, if she is terminated under any
other circumstance.
For purposes of Ms. Benner’s employment
agreement:
“Cause” means (i) the commission
of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude or the commission of any other act or omission involving dishonesty or fraud with
respect to PR Newswire, Cision or any of their respective subsidiaries or any of their customers, vendors or employees, (ii) substantial
and repeated failure to perform duties of the office held by Ms. Benner as reasonably directed by an executive to whom Ms. Benner
directly or indirectly reports or by PR Newswire, (iii) gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to PR Newswire, Cision
or any of their respective subsidiaries or any of their customers, vendors or employees, (iv) conduct which could reasonably be
expected to bring PR Newswire, Cision or any of their respective subsidiaries into substantial public disgrace or disrepute, (v)
any breach by Ms. Benner of the confidentiality, non-competition or non-solicitation provisions of her agreement and/or (vi) a
failure to observe policies or standards regarding employment practices (including, without limitation, nondiscrimination and sexual
harassment policies) as approved by PR Newswire from time to time.
Jason Edelboim
The employment agreement with Jason Edelboim
provides that Mr. Edelboim will serve as the President, PRN Americas, of PR Newswire. The term of Mr. Edelboim’s employment
will continue until (i) Mr. Edelboim’s resignation (upon 30 days’ prior written notice to PR Newswire), death or disability
or (ii) PR Newswire terminates his employment with or without Cause. On October 3, 2017, PR Newswire entered into an amended employment
agreement with Mr. Edelboim in order to remove Cision Owner as a party to Mr. Edelboim’s employment agreement. The terms
of Mr. Edelboim’s employment were not substantially modified by such amendment.
For fiscal year 2016, subject in its entirety
without pro-ration to continued employment through the last day of 2016, Mr. Edelboim was eligible for an annual bonus in an amount
up $165,006. For each fiscal year beginning in 2017, subject to continued employment through the last day of such fiscal year,
Mr. Edelboim will be eligible to receive an annual bonus in an amount up to 50% of his base salary, as determined by PR Newswire
based upon Mr. Edelboim’s performance and the performance of PR Newswire and its subsidiaries relative to financial, operating
and other objectives set by PR Newswire. On June 16, 2018 (the “Retention Bonus Date”), Mr. Edelboim will also receive
(i) a one-time cash bonus in an amount of $150,000 (such bonus, the “Time Based Component”) and (ii) a one-time cash
bonus in the amount of $150,000 (such amount, the “Performance Based Component”), in recognition of having achieved
the management best case performance for revenue and EBITDA as disclosed to Cision US in connection with the sale of PR Newswire
to Cision US; in each case subject to Mr. Edelboim’s continued employment with PR Newswire through and on the Retention Bonus
Date. If PR Newswire terminates Mr. Edelboim without Cause prior to the Retention Bonus Date, Mr. Edelboim will receive (i) a pro-rated
portion, to the extent earned, of the Time Based Component, and (ii) 100% of the Performance Based Component, in each case, as
a lump sum payment payable within 30 days of such without Cause termination. In addition, Mr. Edelboim is entitled to such other
benefits as are approved by PR Newswire and made generally available to all senior management of PR Newswire.
If Mr. Edelboim’s employment is terminated
for any reason, Mr. Edelboim is entitled to receive:
|
·
|
any earned but unpaid portion
of his base salary through the date of such termination, subject to withholding and other appropriate deductions;
|
|
·
|
reimbursement for reasonable
and documents expenses accrued during employment, subject to and in accordance with, PR Newswire’s expense reimbursement
policy;
|
|
·
|
any earned but unpaid annual
bonus relating to any prior fiscal year; and
|
|
·
|
any vested benefits (including
vacation, but excluding severance-type benefits) accrued through the date of such termination in accordance with applicable law
or the governing agreement, plan or policy rules (together, the “Edelboim Accrued Obligations”).
|
If Mr. Edelboim’s employment is terminated
by PR Newswire without Cause, then, in addition to the Edelboim Accrued Obligations, (1) PR Newswire will give Mr. Edelboim three
months prior notice of such termination, during which period Mr. Edelboim will assist as reasonably required by PR Newswire to
transition his duties and train any successor, and during which period (x) PR Newswire will continue to pay Mr. Edelboim’s
base salary and premiums for continued coverage under PR Newswire’s health benefit plans (which payment shall be made in
installments on PR Newswire’s regular payroll dates unless otherwise agreed between Mr. Edelboim and PR Newswire), (y) no
bonus eligibility will accrue for the entire calendar year in which Mr. Edelboim has been terminated and (z) PR Newswire may, in
its absolute discretion, place Mr. Edelboim on garden leave and require Mr. Edelboim not to come into the office; (2) during the
nine month period commencing on the date of termination, PR Newswire shall continue to pay Mr. Edelboim at his base salary rate,
payable in equal installments on PR Newswire’s regular salary payment dates as in effect on the date of the separation (the
“Edelboim Severance Payments” and any period during which the Edelboim Severance Payments are payable, each a “Edelboim
Severance Period”); (3) PR Newswire shall pay the premiums for Mr. Edelboim’s continued coverage under PR Newswire’s
health benefit plans during the Edelboim Severance Period (subject to certain limitations, the Edelboim Severance Benefits”);
and (4) PR Newswire shall provide reimbursement of Mr. Edelboim’s reasonable documented costs for outplacement, career search,
executive coaching or similar services, comparable to what has been customarily provided to similarly situated executives of PR
Newswire, and such reimbursement shall be made to Mr. Edelboim by PR Newswire within 30 days after presentation of such costs,
in accordance with PR Newswire’s company policy, to PR Newswire. In addition, PR Newswire shall have the option, by delivering
written notice to Mr. Edelboim at least 60 days prior to the end of the then applicable Edelboim Severance Period, to extend the
Edelboim Severance Period for up to two additional six month periods (i.e., through the 21 month anniversary of the date of separation)
during which period PR Newswire shall continue to pay the Edelboim Severance Payments at the same annual rate (pro-rated as applicable)
and provide the Edelboim Severance Benefits.
Mr. Edelboim’s employment agreement
also contains provisions relating to obligations to maintain confidentiality, ownership of property developed during employment,
third-party information and use of information of prior employers, as well as non-competition and non-solicitation covenants which
remain in effect during the term of Mr. Edelboim’s employment plus either (i) the Edelboim Severance Period, if he is terminated
without Cause, or (ii) the 12-month period immediately following Mr. Edelboim’s termination if he is terminated under any
other circumstance.
The definition of “Cause” in
Mr. Edelboim’s employment agreement is substantially identical to the definition of “Cause” in Ms. Benner’s
employment agreement, described above.
Director Compensation
None of our directors received any compensation
for the year ended December 31, 2016. The following table presents summary information regarding the total compensation awarded
to, earned by, and paid to directors for the year ended December 31, 2017. Directors who are employees of Cision or who are affiliates
of Cision Owner or former affiliates of Capitol Acquisition Corp. III have not received compensation for their service as director.
Name
|
|
Fees Earned
or Paid in Cash
($)
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
($)
|
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
Stuart Yarbrough
|
|
$
|
35,000
|
|
|
$
|
139,518
|
(1)
|
|
$
|
174,518
|
|
|
(1)
|
Consists of 11,945 RSUs which vest in four equal annual
installments beginning on November 27, 2018. Represents the grant date fair value of such awards as determined in accordance with
ASC Topic 718.
|
Director Compensation Structure
We compensate our directors who are
not employees of Cision or affiliates of Cision Owner or former affiliates of Capitol Acquisition Corp. III according to
the following structure:
Description
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
Quarterly retainer
|
|
$10,000
|
|
|
|
Additional retainer for committee members
|
|
$2,500 per committee per quarter
|
|
|
|
Restricted Stock Unit Grants
|
|
Issue restricted stock units in the Company on an annual basis with then-current fair market value equal to 2x annual cash compensation
|
|
|
|
Additional retainer for chair of committee
|
|
$5,000 for the chairs of any standing committee per quarter
|
The restricted stock units (“RSUs”)
vest 25% per year, commencing on the first anniversary of issuance, so long as the recipient remains on the board of directors
as of each vesting date. Any unvested RSUs would vest immediately upon a change in control of the Company. Any unvested RSUs will
be automatically forfeited upon such person’s resignation or removal from the board of directors with or without cause.
Directors are also reimbursed for their
reasonable expenses to attend meetings of our board of directors and related committees and otherwise attend to our business. Our
directors enter into our standard form of director indemnification agreement.