United States
Securities and Exchange
Commission
Washington, D.C.
20549
Schedule 14A
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange
Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
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by the Registrant
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Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant
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Check the appropriate
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Preliminary Proxy Statement
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CONFIDENTIAL, FOR USE OF THE COMMISSION ONLY (AS
PERMITTED BY RULE 14a-6(e)(2))
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Definitive Proxy Statement
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Definitive Additional Materials
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to
ss.240.14a-12
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as
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Dear Stockholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation (the “Company”) to be held on Thursday, April
30, 2020, at 8:00 a.m., Central Time, in our offices, located at 840 Gessner Road, Suite 1400, Houston, Texas 77024.
The attached Notice of Annual Meeting of
Stockholders and Proxy Statement cover the formal business of the meeting. To better acquaint you with the directors, the Proxy
Statement contains biographical information on each nominee for director. Directors and officers of the Company will be present
at the meeting to respond to your questions.
Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual
Meeting, it is important that your shares be represented. Please complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card in the
postage-paid envelope provided, or if your proxy card or voting instructions form so indicates, vote electronically via the internet
or telephone.
If you plan to attend the Annual Meeting,
please bring a valid government-issued photo identification. If your shares are held in the name of a broker or other nominee,
please bring with you a letter (and a legal proxy if you wish to vote your shares) from your broker or nominee confirming your
ownership as of the record date.
These materials were first sent or made available to stockholders
on March 17, 2020.
Sincerely,
Dan O. Dinges
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
March 17, 2020
Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders
April 30, 2020
8:00 a.m., Central Time
840 Gessner Road, Suite 1400, Houston,
Texas 77024
Purpose of the Meeting:
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1.
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To elect each of the nine persons named in the attached Proxy Statement to the Board of Directors of
the Company for a one-year term.
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2.
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To ratify the appointment of the firm PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm
for the Company for its 2020 fiscal year.
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3.
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To approve, by non-binding advisory vote, the compensation of our named executive officers.
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4.
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To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
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Each of these items is fully described
in the attached Proxy Statement, which is made a part of this Notice.
Record Date:
Only holders of record of our common stock
on March 4, 2020 will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting.
Voting Procedures:
Please vote your shares as promptly as
possible, even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, by one of the following methods:
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By internet, using the instructions on the proxy card or voting instruction form received from your
broker or bank;
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By telephone, using the instructions on the proxy card or voting instruction form received from your broker or bank (if
available); or
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By mail, by completing and returning the enclosed proxy card or voting instruction form in the postage-paid envelope provided.
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You may also vote in person if you attend
the Annual Meeting.
If you plan to attend the Annual Meeting:
Registered stockholders will be asked to present a valid government-issued photo identification. If your shares are held in the
name of your broker, bank or other nominee, you must bring to the meeting a valid government-issued photo identification and an
account statement or letter (and a legal proxy if you wish to vote your shares) from the nominee indicating that you beneficially
owned the shares on the record date for voting. For safety and security reasons, photography and audio or video recordings are
prohibited and large bags, briefcases and packages may be subject to search.
March 17, 2020
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Deidre L. Shearer
Vice President, Administration
and Corporate Secretary
Table of Contents
PROXY SUMMARY
This summary highlights information described in other parts of this
Proxy Statement and does not contain all of the information you should consider in voting. Please read the entire Proxy Statement
before voting. For more complete information regarding our 2019 financial and operating performance, please review our Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, which accompanies this Proxy Statement.
Annual Meeting Information
Date and Time
April 30, 2020
8:00 a.m. Central Time
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Place
840 Gessner Road, Suite 1400
Houston, Texas 77024
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Record Date
March 4, 2020
Shares Outstanding: 398,575,510
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Voting
Only holders of record of our common stock will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting.
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Voting Methods
Method
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Instruction
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In person
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you may attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person;
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By internet
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log onto www.proxyvote.com and use the instructions
on the proxy card or voting instruction form received from your broker or bank;
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By telephone
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dial 1.800.690.6903 and use the instructions on the
proxy card or voting instruction form received from your broker or bank (if available); or
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By mail
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complete and return the enclosed proxy card or voting
instruction form in the postage-paid envelope provided (for stockholders receiving paper copies only).
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Matters to be Voted on and Recommendation
Proposal
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Matter
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Board Vote
Recommendation
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Page
Reference
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1.
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The election of the nine director candidates named herein.
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FOR
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13
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2.
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Ratification of the appointment of the firm PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting
firm for the Company for its 2020 fiscal year.
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FOR
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64
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3.
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The approval on an advisory basis of executive compensation.
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FOR
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64
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- 2020 Proxy Statement
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8
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Director Nominees
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DAN O. DINGES
Chairman, President and CEO of Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation
Age 66
Years Served 18
Other public company boards: 1
• United States Steel Corporation
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DOROTHY M. ABLES
Former Chief Administrative Officer of Spectra Energy Corp
Age 62
Years Served 4
Other public company boards: 1
• Martin Marietta Materials Inc.
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RHYS J. BEST
Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of MRC Global Inc.
Age 73
Years Served 11
Other public company boards: 3
• Arcosa, Inc.
• MRC Global Inc.
• Commercial Metals Company
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ROBERT S. BOSWEL
Chairman and CEO of Laramie Energy, LLC
Age 70
Years Served 4
Other public company boards: 1
• Enerflex Ltd. (Canadian)
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AMANDA M. BROCK
COO and Chief Commercial Officer of Solaris Midstream
Age 59
Years Served 2
Other public company boards: 1
• Macquarie Infrastructure Corporation
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PETER B. DELANEY
Former Chairman, President and CEO of OGE Energy Corporation
Age 66
Years Served 1
Other public company boards: 1
• Panhandle Oil & Gas
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BOB KELLEY
Retired Chairman and former President and CEO of Noble Affiliates, Inc. (Now Noble Energy Inc.)
Age 74
Years Served 16
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W. MATT RALLS
Former Chairman, CEO and President of Rowan Companies plc
Age 70
Years Served 8
Other public company boards: 3
• Pacific Drilling S.A.
• NCS Multistage Holdings, Inc.
• Superior Energy Services, Inc.
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MARCUS A. WATTS
President of The Friedkin Group
Age 60
Years Served 2
Other public company boards: 1
• Service Corporation International
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- 2020 Proxy Statement
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9
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ESG Highlights
Environmental
100%
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NO
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100%
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domestic,
onshore, natural gas
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venting
and flaring of methane
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recycled
water
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Produce 100% clean-burning, lower-carbon, affordable natural gas, which is primarily responsible
for the U.S. significantly reducing its carbon emissions over the last decade, from one county in Northeastern Pennsylvania
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Eliminated all venting and flaring of methane from development wells
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Recycle 100% of the water recovered in our drilling, completion and production operations
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Charter member of The Environmental Partnership—devoted to improving the natural gas and oil
industry’s environmental performance
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Further reduction of methane emissions through the use of low/no-bleed pneumatic controls
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Use multi-well pads to minimize impacts to land and communities
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Perform ongoing “leak detection and repair” inspections on new wells and voluntarily on wells not mandated
for inspections to further reduce methane emissions
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Utilize CNG and natural gas pipelines to fuel drilling rig operations to reduce diesel fuel consumption
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Social
$1.5MILLION
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NEW
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25MONTHS
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pledged
to end hunger
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driver
training for local workforce
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with
no OSHA recordables
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Pledged an aggregate of $1.5 million
over the next six years to the Pennsylvania Neighborhood Assistance Program to aid their efforts in ending hunger in Northeastern
Pennsylvania
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Invested in local workforce vocational development by leading
the effort to construct a new training facility for commercial truck drivers in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, where we
conduct all of our operations
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No OSHA recordables for 25 straight months in 2017-2019
and achieved 1 million work hours without an OSHA recordable in August 2019
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Invested in local educational development through the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit
Program, which resulted in funding 273 scholarships for students in Pennsylvania
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Provided education in STEM and energy industry career paths for school children in fifth through eighth grades by bringing
a hands-on learning experience in the form of a “Mobil Oilfield Learning Unit,” to schools across Pennsylvania
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Emergency 24-hour public reporting hotline for any concerns on our locations and remote shutdown capability for all wells
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Employee benefits consistently ranking at or near the top of our compensation private benchmarking peer group of 31 energy
companies, including majors
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100% of contractors verified through ISNetworld’s industry-leading safety conformance verification program, allowing
us to choose contractors based on their safety records in relation to their peers
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- 2020 Proxy Statement
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10
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Governance
25%
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>50%
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100%
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independent
directors are female
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independent
directors’ tenure is 4 years or less
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stock
retention required for directors
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Women hold 25% of independent Board
seats and Audit Committee Chairmanship
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Board refreshment resulting in over
half of independent directors serving 4 years or less
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100% stock retention required for directors
and top executive stock ownership is well in excess of ownership guidelines
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Separate Board committee devoted entirely to environment, health and safety matters
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Board comprised entirely of independent directors other than our CEO
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Annual election of directors and majority voting with a resignation policy
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Director orientation and continuing education
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Proxy access for stockholders
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An independent lead director chairs executive sessions of independent directors at each regular Board meeting
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Stockholders may act by written consent
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Board oversight of all political contributions and website disclosures of amounts contributed
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No poison pill
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2019 Financial and Operational Highlights
2019 was another record year for Cabot on many fronts. We delivered
on our consistent strategy of maximizing returns on capital by developing our Marcellus shale assets within available cash flow.
Due to this disciplined investment strategy, Cabot achieved significant growth in Return on Capital Employed (“ROCE”)(1)
to 22.2%—a new record for the Company, driven by a competitive price environment in the first half of the year, which
carried overall commodity prices realizations—along with further reducing unit costs to a record low of $1.44 per Mcfe. These
achievements preserve Cabot’s historical position of being one of the lowest-cost, highest-returns producers in the industry,
year after year. Consistent with our prior commitment, we also returned significant amounts of capital to our shareholders. Highlights
of our accomplishments in 2019 include:
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Free Cash Flow: Generated free cash flow for the fourth consecutive year with 2019
free cash flow of $563.1 million.(1)
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Returns to Shareholders: Returned over $665 million to shareholders through share repurchases
and cash dividends.
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Return on Capital Employed: Reached a new record ROCE(1) of 22.2%, up from
15.9% in 2018.
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Production and Reserves Per Share Growth: Grew production per share by 26.9% and increased
total proved reserves to a record 12.9 Tcfe, up 19.8% per share over 2018.
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Lowest Operating Costs: Further reduced already record low operating costs to $1.44
per Mcfe from $1.76 per Mcfe in 2018. Finding cost for all sources remained low at $0.36 per Mcfe.(1)
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Low Leverage: Reduced net debt to EBITDAX(1) to 0.7x at year end 2019, one
of the lowest levels in the industry.
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(1)
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ROCE, free cash flow, finding costs for all sources, and “net debt to EBITDAX” are not
measures calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Please see Appendix A for additional
information.
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- 2020 Proxy Statement
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11
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These achievements translated into top tier operating performance
for the period. As illustrated below, during a five-year period, our total shareholder return (TSR) outpaced an index of our compensation
peer group.
*Antero Resources Corp., Chesapeake Energy Corp., Cimarex Energy Company, Concho Resources Inc., Continental Resources
Inc., Devon Energy Corp., Encana Corp., EQT Corp., Marathon Oil Corp., Murphy Oil Corp., Newfield Exploration Company, Noble
Energy Inc., Pioneer Natural Resources Company, QEP Resources Inc., Range Resources Corp., Southwestern Energy Company.
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**Antero Resources Corp., Apache Corp., Chesapeake Energy Corp., Cimarex Energy Company, Concho Resources Inc., Continental
Resources Inc., Devon Energy Corp., Encana Corp., EQT Corp., Marathon Oil Corp., Murphy Oil Corp., Noble Energy Inc., Pioneer
Natural Resources Company, Range Resources Corp., Southwestern Energy Company, WPX Energy Inc.
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Link to our long-term incentive program
• Due to our third-place ranking among our peer group
over the period from 2017 through 2019, performance shares granted to our executives in 2017 with vesting contingent upon
our relative three-year TSR, vested at 185% of target.
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Executive Compensation Highlights
What we
do:
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What we
don’t do:
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Emphasis
on long-term, performance-based equity compensation (p.33)
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No
hedging or pledging of company stock by executive officers or directors
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Short-term
incentive compensation based on disclosed performance metrics (with payout caps) (p.40)
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No
excise tax gross-ups for executive officers appointed after 2010
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Substantial
stock ownership and retention requirements for executive officers and directors (p.46)
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No
vesting of equity awards after retirement if competing with Company
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Provide
for “double trigger” cash payouts in change-of-control agreements (p.56)
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No
re-pricing or discounting of options or SARs
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Clawback
policy (p.44)
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No
performance metrics that would encourage excessive risk-taking
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Hold
annual advisory “say-on-pay” vote (p.64)
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No
dividend equivalents paid to executive officers on unvested equity awards until vested
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Only
independent directors on Compensation Committee (p.30)
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Use
an independent compensation consultant (p.38)
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- 2020 Proxy Statement
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12
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PROPOSAL 1 ELECTION OF
DIRECTORS
The size of our Board of Directors (the “Board
of Directors” or “Board”) is currently set at nine members, each of whose term expires in 2020. The Board of
Directors has nominated nine directors to be elected at the 2020 Annual Meeting. Each of the nominees is currently a director and
has been nominated to hold office until the expiration of his or her term in 2021 and until his or her successor shall have been
elected and shall have qualified. The business experience of each nominee as well as the qualifications that led our Board to select
each nominee for election to the Board is discussed below.
The Board believes that the combination of
the various qualifications, skills and experiences of the 2020 director nominees would contribute to an effective and well-functioning
Board. Whether nominated by a shareholder or through the activities of the Committee, the Governance and Social Responsibility
(“GSR”) Committee seeks to select candidates who have:
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personal and professional integrity;
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a record of achievement, and a position of leadership in his/her field with the interest and intellect to be able to address energy industry challenges and opportunities;
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the ability to think strategically and the insight to assist management in placing the Company in a competitive position within the industry; and
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the time to attend Board meetings and the commitment to devote any reasonable required additional time to deal with Company business.
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The Board and the GSR Committee believe that,
individually and as a whole, the Board possesses the necessary qualifications, varied tenure and independence to provide effective
oversight of the business and quality advice and counsel to the Company’s management.
The persons named in the enclosed form of
proxy intend to vote such proxies FOR the election of each of the nominees for terms of one year. If any one of the nominees
is not available at the time of the Annual Meeting to serve, proxies received will be voted for substitute nominees to be designated
by the Board of Directors or, in the event no such designation is made by the Board, proxies will be voted for a lesser number
of nominees. In no event will the proxies be voted for more than the number of nominees set forth above.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS
THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
Certain Information Regarding Nominees
Set forth below, as of March 1, 2020, for
each nominee for election as a director of the Company, is biographical information and information regarding the business experience,
qualifications and skills of each director nominee that led the Board to conclude that the director nominee is qualified to serve
on our Board. Mr. Dinges, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, is the only employee or former employee of the Company
on the Board of Directors.
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- 2020 Proxy Statement
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13
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Dorothy M. Ables
Age: 62
Director Since:
2015
Committee Memberships:
Audit (Chairman); Compensation
Business Experience:
• Spectra
Energy Corp
- Chief Administrative Officer
– 2008
to 2017
- Vice President, Audit Services and
Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer
– 2007 to 2008
• Duke
Energy Corporation
- Vice President, Audit Services
– 2004 to 2006
• Duke
Energy Gas Transmission
- Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
– 1998 to 2004
Other Directorships:
• Martin
Marietta Materials Inc.
– November 2018 to present
• Spectra
Energy Partners GP, LLC
– 2013 to February 2017
Key Skills, Attributes and
Qualifications:
Ms. Ables brings a depth of experience in
the natural gas transportation and marketing aspects of our industry, having served in positions of leadership with Spectra Energy
Corp and its predecessor companies for over 30 years, as well as extensive financial expertise to our Board. The Board considered
Ms. Ables’ extensive experience in the pipeline, processing and midstream business as adding value to our stockholders at
a time in our business when transportation is crucial to our strategy. Ms. Ables’ financial expertise acquired through serving
as Chief Financial Officer of Duke Energy Gas Transmission and later as Vice President of Audit Services of both Spectra Energy
Corp and Duke Energy was also a key attribute leading to her appointment and to her February 2019 appointment as the Chairman of
our Audit Committee. Most recently, Ms. Ables gained executive experience as the Chief Administrative Officer of Spectra Energy
Corp, from 2008 until her February 2017 retirement effective upon Spectra’s merger with Enbridge Inc. While serving in that
role, Ms. Ables had responsibility for human resources, information technology, community relations and support services. Ms. Ables
has prior governance experience gained from prior service on the Board of Directors for Spectra Energy Corp’s publicly traded
master limited partnership, Spectra Energy Partners, LP, and has served on the Board of Directors of BJ Services, Inc. since July
2017 and Martin Marietta Materials Inc. since November 2018. Ms. Ables is also very active in community and charitable endeavors,
including serving on the Board of Trustees of United Way of Greater Houston from 2008 to April 2016 and was re-appointed to the
Board of Trustees in April 2018. This diversity of background and leadership experience make her a valuable contributor to our
Board and to the Audit and Compensation Committees of our Board.
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- 2020 Proxy Statement
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14
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Rhys J. Best
Age: 73
Director Since:
2008
Committee Memberships:
Compensation (Chairman); Governance and Social Responsibility
Business Experience:
• Arcosa,
Inc.
- Non-Executive Chairman of the Board
– November 2018 to present
• MRC
Global Inc.
- Non-Executive Chairman of the Board
– 2016 to present
• Austin
Industries, Inc.
- Non-Executive Chairman of the Board
(Retired)
– 2012 to 2017
Other Directorships:
• Arcosa,
Inc.
– November 2018 to present
• MRC
Global Inc.
– 2008 to present
• Commercial
Metals Company
– 2010 to present
• Trinity
Industries, Inc.
– 2005 to 2018
Key Skills, Attributes and
Qualifications:
Mr. Best brings decades of significant management,
leadership, transactional and financial experience to our Board. Mr. Best currently serves as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board
of Arcosa, Inc., a provider of infrastructure-related products and solutions with leading positions in construction, energy and
transportation markets, which was established as an independent company in November of 2018 in a spin-off from Trinity Industries,
Inc. Mr. Best also currently serves as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of MRC Global Inc., the largest global distributor,
based on sales, of pipe, valves and fittings and related products and services to the energy industry. Prior to his appointment
to this position with MRC Global in 2016, Mr. Best served as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Crosstex Energy L.P., a large
publicly traded midstream company, from 2009 through its combination with the midstream assets of Devon Energy Corporation in 2014
to create EnLink Midstream Partners, LP, one of the largest midstream companies in the United States. This tremendous experience
enables him to provide valuable insights into the transportation aspects of our business and enhances the overall strategic oversight
capabilities of our Board. Mr. Best’s distinguished career includes serving as Chairman and CEO of Lone Star Technologies,
Inc., a former publicly traded company servicing the oil and natural gas industry, and holding positions of leadership in the banking
industry. In addition to his considerable management and financial expertise, Mr. Best brings to bear an extensive corporate governance
background from his current and former service on public company boards and the Board of the National Association of Corporate
Directors, North Texas Chapter. This diverse experience enables Mr. Best to bring unique and valuable perspectives to the Board
and makes him particularly qualified to serve as the Chairman of the Compensation Committee and a member of the Governance and
Social Responsibility Committee of the Board.
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- 2020 Proxy Statement
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15
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Robert S. Boswell
Age: 70
Director Since:
2015
Committee Memberships:
Environment, Health & Safety (Chairman); Audit; Governance and Social Responsibility
Business Experience:
• Laramie
Energy LLC
- Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive
Officer
– 2007 to present
• Laramie
Energy I, LLC
- Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive
Officer
– 2004 to 2007
• Forest
Oil Corporation
- Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
– 1989 to 2003
Other Directorships:
• Enerflex
Ltd.
- 2011 to present
Key Skills, Attributes and
Qualifications:
Mr. Boswell has management and operating
experience as an executive in the upstream industry and brings an extensive technical understanding of the development of oil and
gas reserves, as well as financial expertise to our Board. Mr. Boswell’s distinguished career includes serving as Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of exploration and production companies for over 30 years, including overseeing the turnaround of Forest
Oil Corporation, a mid-sized public exploration and production company, and the sale of Laramie Energy I, a private company which
he founded, for over $1 billion. Throughout his career, Mr. Boswell has successfully led a number of upstream companies through
the life cycle of capital-raising: growing reserves, production and profitability through both acquisitions and development of
existing properties, and sale or merger and acquisition transactions. His most recent success with private companies Laramie Energy
I and his current venture, Laramie Energy LLC, operating in the Piceance Basin, has provided him with tremendous experience in
unconventional resource plays, which is relevant to the Company’s operations in the Marcellus Shale. He also brings extensive
financial expertise gained through both acting as Chief Financial Officer of public and private companies and supervising them
as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Boswell is currently serving as a director of Enerflex Ltd., a Canadian public company that manufactures
and sells natural gas transmission and process equipment worldwide. Mr. Boswell’s management, technical and financial expertise
are a tremendous asset to our Board and the committees on which he serves, and his operations experience is invaluable to his service
as Chairman of the Environment, Health & Safety Committee.
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- 2020 Proxy Statement
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16
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Amanda M. Brock
Age: 59
Director Since:
2017
Committee Memberships:
Audit; Environment, Health & Safety
Business Experience:
• Solaris
Midstream
- Chief Operating Officer
– July 2018 to present
- Chief Commercial Officer
– February 2018 to present
• Water
Standard
- Chief Executive Officer
– 2009 to 2017
• Azurix
- Executive Director and President,
Americas – 1999 to 2000
Other Directorships:
• Macquarie
Infrastructure Corporation
- August 2018 to present
Key Skills, Attributes and
Qualifications:
Ms. Brock was appointed in August 2017,
adding to our Board her diverse experience and background, which she gained from her distinguished career building and managing
global infrastructure businesses in the oil and gas, water and power industries. Ms. Brock is currently an investor in and the
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Commercial Officer of Solaris Midstream, a private, growth-oriented midstream company that owns,
operates and designs crucial water midstream assets across key unconventional U.S. basins. Ms. Brock joined Solaris in 2017 as
the Senior Commercial Advisor and assumed her current positions in July and February 2018, respectively. Prior to that, Ms. Brock
served as Chief Executive Officer of Water Standard, a water treatment company focused on water-based enhanced oil recovery,
recycling and reuse of water and produced water treatment from 2009, and she remains as a strategic advisor and board member. Prior
to her appointment at Water Standard, Ms. Brock served as Executive Director and President, Americas, of Azurix, a global water
treatment and services company and subsidiary of Enron Corp., from 1999 to 2002, and for Enron Corp. in various other capacities
from 1991, including President of a division responsible for the management of power plants, related assets and joint ventures
worldwide. Her expertise and depth of knowledge in the water management aspects of the oil and gas industry, as well as her global
perspective, executive management and financial expertise, were considered by our Board as key attributes leading to her appointment.
Ms. Brock has received numerous professional awards throughout her career, including being named one of the top 25 people globally
in water and wastewater in 2016 by Water and Wastewater International, being named as a Houston Business Journal honoree for Women
in Energy in 2016, and being inducted into the 2017 Greater Houston Women’s Hall of Fame. Ms. Brock obtained her law degree
from Louisiana State University, where she was a member of the Law Review, after completing her undergraduate studies in South
Africa.
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Peter B. Delaney
Age: 66
Director Since:
2018
Committee Memberships:
Audit; Environment, Health & Safety
Business Experience:
• OGE
Energy Corporation
- Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer
– 2007 to 2015
- Chief Operating Officer
– 2004
to 2007
- Executive Vice President,
Corporate Planning & Strategy
– 2002
to 2004
- Chief Executive Officer, Enogex
(midstream
subsidiary)
– 2002 to 2013
• Enable
Midstream Partners, LP
- Interim CEO
– May 2015 to December 2015
Other Directorships:
• Panhandle
Oil & Gas
- March 2018 to present
• Enable
Midstream Partners, LP
- 2013 to February 2016 (Chairman 2013-2015)
• OGE
Energy Corporation
- 2007 to 2015
Key Skills, Attributes and
Qualifications:
Mr. Delaney is the newest member of our
Board, appointed in August 2018 as the result of a succession planning process to identify a candidate with chief executive experience
in the upstream or related industry. Mr. Delaney has a long and distinguished career in the energy and power industries, having
retired in 2015 as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of OGE Energy Corporation, where he served in various
capacities since 2002. During his eight-year tenure as Chairman and CEO, OGE Energy Corporation received numerous industry awards,
among them the 2012 Utility of the Year and the 2013 Edison Award, the industry’s highest honor. Mr. Delaney also served
as CEO of Enogex, OGE Energy Corporation’s natural gas midstream subsidiary, from 2002 to 2013, and in 2013, served as Chairman
of its Board and later as interim CEO of its successor, Enable Midstream Partners, LP, until December 2015. Prior to his career
at OGE Energy Corporation, Mr. Delaney completed a 16-year Wall Street investment banking career, most recently serving as Managing
Director of UBS, Inc. from 1997 to 2001. This depth of leadership experience in the industry, as well as his financial expertise,
were key aspects of his appointment to our Board and make him a valuable member of our Audit and Environment, Health & Safety
Committees. Mr. Delaney also currently serves on the Board of Directors of Panhandle Oil & Gas and several private companies
in unrelated industries, as well as several charitable and community organizations. Mr. Delaney has been hailed for his exemplary
service to his industry and his community with several prestigious awards, including the Arthritis Foundation Tribute to Excellence
(2015), the United Way Lifetime Achievement Award (2014), Energy Biz magazine’s Utility CEO of the Year (2013) and the Journal
Record Most Admired CEO of the Year (2012).
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Dan O. Dinges
Age: 66
Director Since:
2001
Committee Memberships:
Executive
Position: Chairman,
President and Chief Executive Officer
Business Experience:
• Cabot
Oil & Gas Corporation
- Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
– May 2002 to present
Other Directorships:
• United
States Steel Corporation
– 2010 to present
Key Skills, Attributes and
Qualifications:
Mr. Dinges brings to the Board over 36 years
of executive management experience in the oil and gas exploration and production business, and as our Chief Executive Officer for
the last 18 years, a deep knowledge of our business, operations, culture and long-term strategy and goals. Mr. Dinges joined the
Company in September 2001, after a successful 20 year career in various management positions with the predecessor to Noble Energy,
Inc., and has overseen an era of tremendous growth for the Company. His steadfast leadership as Chairman of the Board provides
the Board with extensive institutional knowledge and continuity, as well creating a vital link between management and the Board.
Mr. Dinges also possesses a diversity of corporate governance experience gained from service on the Board of United States Steel
Corporation and several charitable and industry organizations, including American Petroleum Institute since 2017, American Exploration
Production Council since 2002, Spitzer Industries, Inc. (private company) since 2006, and Houston Methodist Hospital Research Institute
from 2014 to January 2020.
|
|
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Robert Kelley
Age: 74
Director Since:
2003
Committee Memberships:
Audit; Executive (Chairman); Governance and Social Responsibility
Position: Lead Director
Business Experience:
• Kellco
Investments, Inc.
(private investment company)
- President
– 2001 to present
• Noble
Affiliates, Inc. (now Noble Energy Inc.)
- Chairman of the Board
– 1992 to 2001
- President and CEO
– 1986 to 2000
Other Directorships:
• OGE
Energy Corporation
– 1996 to 2016
Key Skills, Attributes and
Qualifications:
Mr. Kelley’s extensive experience
in the financial, accounting and executive management of public energy companies, as well as corporate governance experience as
a director of several public energy companies, makes him particularly valuable as a member of our Board and as our Audit Committee
Chairman from 2008 to February 2019. Mr. Kelley’s experience as President and CEO and later Chairman of the Board of Noble
Energy Inc. provides him with valuable operational, leadership and management experience. Mr. Kelley’s accounting and finance
background gained while serving industry clients as a CPA for a national public accounting firm and while serving in positions
of senior leadership in accounting and finance roles at a predecessor to Noble Energy Inc. also brings vital financial expertise
to our Audit Committee. Mr. Kelley’s 16 years of service to our Board provides a continuity of leadership and an understanding
of our business and strategy that is crucial to the effective functioning of our Board. This depth of experience with Cabot is
especially valuable in his role as our Lead Director.
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W. Matt Ralls
Age: 70
Director Since:
2011
Committee Memberships:
Governance and Social Responsibility (Chairman); Compensation; Executive
Business Experience:
• Rowan
Companies plc
- Executive Chairman
– 2014 to 2016
- Chief Executive Officer
– 2013 to 2014
- President and Chief Executive Officer
– 2009 to 2013
Other Directorships:
• Pacific
Drilling S.A.
– 2018 to present
• NCS
Multistage Holdings, Inc.
– April 2017 to present
• Superior
Energy Services, Inc.
– 2012 to present
• Rowan
Companies plc
– 2009 to 2016
Key Skills, Attributes and
Qualifications:
Mr. Ralls’ diverse operational, financial
and executive management experience in various roles in the oil and gas industry, including most recently within the drilling segment
of the industry, provides the Board with a wealth of expertise from which to draw. Mr. Ralls’ recent service as President
and Chief Executive Officer of Rowan Companies plc, and his combined 15 years’ executive management experience at Rowan Companies
plc and GlobalSanteFe Corporation, both international contract drilling companies, provides valuable management and financial expertise
and insight into an aspect of our business that represents a significant portion of our capital expenditure budget. Prior
to his drilling industry experience, Mr. Ralls served as Executive Vice President of a public upstream oil and gas company, which
gave him a thorough understanding of our core business. In his service to the Board, Mr. Ralls is also able to draw from his 17
years of experience in various banking management positions with three large Texas-based commercial lenders to the energy industry.
Mr. Ralls’ extensive public company board experience makes him an invaluable member of the Governance and Social Responsibility
Committee and Chairman since 2015. His effectiveness chairing such committee is enhanced by his positions of leadership on the
boards of several industry trade associations, including the International Association of Drilling Contractors and the American
Petroleum Institute.
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Marcus A. Watts
Age: 61
Director Since:
2017
Committee Memberships:
Compensation; Environment, Health & Safety
Business Experience:
• The
Friedkin Group
- President – 2011 to present
• Locke
Lord LLP – 1984 to 2010
- Managing Partner, Houston
- Vice-Chairman (Executive Committee)
Other Directorships:
• Service
Corporation International
– 2012 to present
Key Skills, Attributes and
Qualifications:
Mr. Watts joined our Board in August 2017,
adding a wealth of legal, transactional and management expertise from both the oil and gas industry and other industries to our
Board. Mr. Watts has served as President of The Friedkin Group, an umbrella company overseeing various business interests that
are principally automotive-related, since 2011, after over 26 years of legal experience with the international law firm of Locke
Lord LLP. In his prior experience with Locke Lord LLP, Mr. Watts focused on corporate and securities law, governance and related
matters and served as the Managing Partner of the Houston, Texas office and Vice-Chairman of the firm-wide Executive Committee.
Mr. Watts’ combination of legal and management talent is unique on our Board and he offers a fresh perspective from an industry
other than our own, as well as years of experience representing oil and gas companies in his private law practice. This industry
experience, as well as his legal and regulatory background, is particularly valuable to our Compensation and Environment, Health & Safety Committees of the Board, on which he serves. Mr. Watts served as a director of Complete Production Services until
its merger with Superior Energy Services in 2012 and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Service Corporation International.
He has also served on the boards of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas-Houston Branch since 2014 and the Greater Houston Partnership
since 2012 and is the former Chairman of both organizations. Mr. Watts holds a law degree from Harvard Law School and a B.S. degree
in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University.
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP
Principal Stockholders
The following table reports beneficial ownership
of the Company’s common stock (“Common Stock”) by holders of more than five percent of the Company’s Common
Stock. Unless otherwise noted, all ownership information is based upon filings made by such persons with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”).
Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner
|
|
Number of Shares
of Common Stock
Owned
|
|
Percent of
Class
|
The Vanguard Group
|
|
|
46,049,179
|
(1)
|
|
|
11.28
|
%
|
BlackRock, Inc.
|
|
|
31,262,837
|
(2)
|
|
|
7.70
|
%
|
Aristotle Capital Management, LLC
|
|
|
28,009,678
|
(3)
|
|
|
6.87
|
%
|
State Street Corporation
|
|
|
23,922,571
|
(4)
|
|
|
5.86
|
%
|
(1)
|
According to Amendment No. 10 to a Schedule 13G, dated February 10, 2020, filed
with the SEC by The Vanguard Group (100 Vanguard Blvd., Malvern, PA 19355), it has sole voting power over 612,931 of these
shares, shared voting power over 180,538 of these shares, shared dispositive power over 769,137 of these shares and sole dispositive
power over 45,280,042 of these shares.
|
(2)
|
According to Amendment No. 10 to a Schedule 13G, dated February 4, 2020, filed with the
SEC by BlackRock, Inc. (55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055), it has sole voting power over 27,238,418 shares and sole
dispositive power over all 31,262,837 of these shares.
|
(3)
|
According to Schedule 13G, dated February 14, 2020, filed with the SEC by Aristotle Capital
Management, LLC (11100 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 1700, Los Angeles, CA 90025), it has sole voting power over 17,688,948 of
these shares and sole dispositive power over 28,009,678 of these shares.
|
(4)
|
According to Schedule 13G, dated February 14, 2020, filed with the SEC by State Street
Corporation (One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111), it has shared voting power over 21,198,958 and shared dispositive power
over 23,889,239 of these shares.
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Directors and Executive Officers
The following table reports, as of February
1, 2020, beneficial ownership of Common Stock by each director and nominee for director, by each named executive officer listed
in the “Summary Compensation Table” below and by all directors, nominees and executive officers as a group. Unless
otherwise indicated, the persons below have sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares of Common Stock showed
as beneficially owned by them.
Name of Beneficial Owner
|
|
Number of Outstanding
Shares of Common
Stock Held
|
|
Number of Shares of Common
Stock Beneficially Owned
|
|
Percent of Class
|
Dorothy M. Ables
|
|
|
5,000
|
(1)
|
|
|
48,608
|
(1)(2)
|
|
|
*
|
|
Rhys J. Best
|
|
|
22,500
|
|
|
|
147,880
|
(2)
|
|
|
*
|
|
Robert S. Boswell
|
|
|
5,000
|
|
|
|
50,086
|
(2)
|
|
|
*
|
|
Amanda M. Brock
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
22,220
|
(2)
|
|
|
*
|
|
Peter B. Delaney
|
|
|
9,054
|
|
|
|
25,850
|
(2)
|
|
|
*
|
|
Robert Kelley
|
|
|
489,652
|
|
|
|
699,890
|
(2)
|
|
|
*
|
|
W. Matt Ralls
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
91,925
|
(2)
|
|
|
*
|
|
Marcus A. Watts
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
22,220
|
(2)
|
|
|
*
|
|
Dan O. Dinges
|
|
|
4,104,969
|
(5)
|
|
|
4,232,186
|
(3)(5)
|
|
|
*
|
|
Scott C. Schroeder
|
|
|
1,541,793
|
|
|
|
1,599,624
|
(3)
|
|
|
*
|
|
Jeffrey W. Hutton
|
|
|
519,251
|
|
|
|
535,441
|
(3)(4)
|
|
|
*
|
|
Phillip L. Stalnaker
|
|
|
289,665
|
|
|
|
305,855
|
(3)(4)
|
|
|
*
|
|
Steven W. Lindeman
|
|
|
199,917
|
|
|
|
216,107
|
(3)(4)
|
|
|
*
|
|
All directors, nominees and executive officers as a group (20 individuals)
|
8,482,942
|
(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)
|
|
|
2.1
|
%(6)
|
*
|
Represents less than 1% of the outstanding Common Stock.
|
(1)
|
Includes 5,000 shares held by an immediate family member, with respect
to which Ms. Ables has shared voting and investment power.
|
(2)
|
Includes the following restricted stock units held as of February
1, 2020, as to which the restrictions lapse upon the holders’ retirement from the Board of Directors: Ms. Ables, 43,608;
Mr. Best, 125,380; Mr. Boswell, 45,086; Ms. Brock 22,220; Mr. Delaney 16,796; Mr. Kelley, 210,238; Mr. Ralls, 91,925; and
Mr. Watts, 22,220 and all directors, nominees and executive officers as a group, 577,473. No executive officers hold restricted
stock units.
|
(3)
|
Includes the following shares awarded pursuant to the hybrid performance
share awards granted in 2017, 2018 and 2019 that vested in February 2020, as a result of 2019 operating results meeting the
performance criteria established on the date of grant: Mr. Dinges, 127,217; Mr. Schroeder, 57,831; Mr. Hutton, 16,190; Mr.
Stalnaker, 16,190; Mr. Lindeman, 16,190; and all directors, nominees and executive officers as a group, 295,649. No nonemployee
directors or director nominees hold hybrid performance shares. For more information on the hybrid performance shares see “Long-Term
Incentives” in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” below.
|
(4)
|
Includes the following shares held in the Company’s Savings
Investment Plan as of December 31, 2019, as to which the reporting person shares voting power with the trustee of the plan:
Mr. Hutton, 7,022; Mr. Lindeman, 24,813; Mr. Stalnaker, 17,077; and all directors, nominees and executive officers as a group,
91,009.
|
(5)
|
Includes 875,405 shares held in trust for the benefit of an immediate
family member, with respect to which Mr. Dinges has shared voting and investment power.
|
(6)
|
There were 398,168,783 shares outstanding on February 1, 2020.
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- 2020 Proxy Statement
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
MATTERS
Board of Directors Independence
The Company’s Corporate Governance
Guidelines require that at least a majority of the Company’s directors be independent under the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”)
listing standards and all other applicable legal requirements. Additionally, all members of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee
and Governance and Social Responsibility Committee are required to be independent. The NYSE listing standards include objective
tests that can disqualify a director from being treated as independent, as well as a subjective element, under which the Board
must affirmatively determine that each independent director has no material relationship with the Company or management. In making
its independence determinations, the Board considered all material relationships with each director, and all transactions since
the start of 2017 between the Company and each director nominee, members of their immediate families or entities associated with
them.
The Board has adopted categorical standards
to assist it in making independence determinations. A relationship falls within these categorical standards if it:
•
|
Is a type of relationship addressed in Section 303A.02 (b) of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, but under
those rules does not preclude a determination of independence;
|
•
|
Is a type of relationship or transaction addressed in Item 404 of Regulation S-K, but under that regulation does not require
disclosure; or
|
•
|
Consists of charitable contributions by the Company to an organization where a director is an executive officer which
do not exceed the greater of $1 million or 2% of the organization’s gross revenue in any of the last three years.
|
The Board of Directors has determined
that each director’s relationship with the Company, with the exception of Mr. Dinges, the Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), falls within the categorical standards and that all directors, with the
exception of Mr. Dinges, are independent. In making its subjective determination that each nonemployee director is
independent, the Board reviewed and discussed additional information provided by the directors and the Company with regard to
each director’s business and personal activities as they may relate to the Company and the Company’s management.
The Board considered the transactions in the context of the NYSE’s objective listing standards, the categorical
standards noted above, the additional standards established for members of audit committees, and the SEC, U.S. Internal
Revenue Service and NYSE standards for compensation committee members. Some members of the Company’s Board also serve
as directors of other entities with which the Company does business. Each of these relationships is reviewed by the
Board, which examines the amount of business done by the Company and the other entities and the gross revenue for each of the
other entities. This review is for each of the last three fiscal years for which financial data is available.
This review applied to Ms. Ables and Messrs.
Best and Ralls, due to their service on boards of directors of companies with which we have done business in the last three years.
Based on all the foregoing, the Board made a subjective determination that, because of the nature of the transaction, the director’s
relationship with the other entity and/or the amount involved, no relationships exist that, in the opinion of the Board, would
impair the director’s independence. Further, the Board of Directors has determined that all members of the Audit Committee,
Compensation Committee and Governance and Social Responsibility Committee are independent.
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Director Nominations and Qualifications
Under its charter, the GSR Committee seeks
out and evaluates qualified candidates to serve as Board members as necessary to fill vacancies or the additional needs of the
Board, and considers candidates recommended by shareholders and management of the Company. The GSR Committee identifies nominees
through a number of methods, which may include retention of professional executive search firms, use of publicly available director
databases or referral services and recommendations made by incumbent directors. A resume is reviewed and, if merited, an interview
follows. Any shareholder desiring to propose a nominee to the Board of Directors should submit such proposed nominee for consideration
by the GSR Committee, including the proposed nominee’s qualifications, to: Corporate Secretary, Cabot Oil & Gas
Corporation, 840 Gessner Road, Suite 1400, Houston, Texas 77024. Shareholders who meet certain requirements specified in our bylaws
may also nominate candidates for inclusion in our proxy materials for an annual meeting as described in “General Information.”
There are no differences in the manner in which the GSR Committee evaluates nominees for director based on whether the nominee
is recommended by a shareholder or the incumbent directors.
Whether nominated by a shareholder or through
the activities of the Committee, the GSR Committee seeks to select candidates who have personal and professional integrity, who
have demonstrated exceptional ability and judgment and who will be most effective, in conjunction with the other nominees and Board
members, in collectively serving the long-term interests of the Company and its shareholders. The GSR Committee’s assessment
of candidates will include, but not be limited to, considerations of character, judgment, diversity, age, expertise, industry experience,
independence, other board commitments and the ability and willingness to devote the time and effort necessary to be an effective
board member. The GSR Committee has adopted minimum criteria for Board membership that include (i) a strong commitment to his/her
fiduciary responsibilities to the Company’s shareholders, with no actual or perceived conflict of interest that would interfere
with his/her responsibilities to or relationships with the Company’s shareholders, employees, suppliers, and customers; (ii)
the ability to think strategically and the insight to assist management in placing the Company in a competitive position within
the industry; (iii) a record of achievement, and a position of leadership in his/her field, with the interest and intellect to
be able to address energy industry challenges and opportunities; and (iv) the time to attend Board meetings and the commitment
to devote any reasonable required additional time to deal with Company business.
Board of Directors Diversity
The Board of Directors encourages a diversity
of backgrounds, including with respect to race, gender and national origin, among its members. The Board considers candidates with
significant direct or indirect energy industry experience that will provide the Board as a whole the talents, skills, diversity
and expertise to serve the long-term interests of the Company and its shareholders. For more information on specific minimum qualifications
that the GSR Committee has established for board candidates, see “Director Nominations and Qualifications” above.
Board of Directors Orientation and Continuing
Education
Each new director appointed to fill a vacancy
or elected at the annual meeting of stockholders undergoes an orientation program immediately upon joining the Board. The program
adopted by the Company includes in-person meetings with the Chairman and CEO and other key officers to discuss Company business
and strategy, review of a comprehensive director handbook that encompasses all Board policies and procedures and corporate documents,
access to the Board’s portal containing
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all past board meeting materials and a briefing
by the Corporate Secretary as to the legal requirements and obligations of Board membership. New directors will typically attend
all Board committee meetings for at least the first year of membership, to familiarize them with the areas of responsibility of
each committee.
All of our directors are encouraged to pursue
continuing education opportunities for directors of public companies, generally, and the Company will reimburse directors for reasonable
expenses incurred in connection with one such continuing education program each year.
Board of Directors Leadership Structure
Mr. Dinges serves as the Chairman of
the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. We believe that our Board of Directors is best served by combining
the roles of Chairman and CEO and that Mr. Dinges is highly qualified to serve in this role.
The Chairman and CEO is responsible to the
Board for the overall management and functioning of the Company. The Chairman is joined in the leadership of the Board by our Lead
Director, who is nominated by the GSR Committee and elected by the non-management directors. Mr. Kelley has served as the
Lead Director since February 2015. Mr. Kelley has significant board experience and has served on the Company’s Board
since 2003 and on other public company boards, as well as serving as the Company’s Audit Committee Chairman from 2008 to
February 2019. Mr. Kelley performs an important role in the leadership of the Board by presiding at executive sessions of
the non-management directors, which are held at each regular Board meeting, and setting the agenda for these sessions. Mr. Kelley
also serves as a mentor to Mr. Dinges and as a liaison between Mr. Dinges and the other independent directors. Mr. Kelley’s
longevity on the Board enhances this leadership role and provides for continuity among the nonemployee directors.
Our Corporate Governance Guidelines also
contain strong checks and balances regarding the combined role of CEO and Chairman. Those provisions include the requirement that
only non-management directors serve on committees of the Board (other than the Executive Committee), and the requirement that a
substantial majority of the directors be independent, as discussed above under “Board of Directors Independence.” All
of our directors, other than Mr. Dinges, are independent.
Our Board of Directors has determined that
its current leadership structure is appropriate. The Board believes that Mr. Dinges, acting in his capacity as CEO of the
Company, is well positioned to facilitate communications with the Board of Directors about our business. Mr. Dinges has served
in this capacity since May 2002, during which time the Company’s business has undergone signification changes. None of the
returning independent directors was serving at that time, so Mr. Dinges provides continuity and historical perspective to
the Board. Under Mr. Dinges’ leadership, the Company has grown from an equity market capitalization of approximately
$800.0 million with operations in onshore Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast, the Rocky Mountains, the Anadarko Basin and Appalachia
to a $7.1 billion market capitalization company as of December 31, 2019, with all of its reserves in the Marcellus Shale area
in northeast Pennsylvania. Mr. Dinges has the full confidence of the Board. For all these reasons, the Board has determined
that the most appropriate form of leadership for the Board of Directors currently is for the CEO, who is responsible for the day-to-day
operations of the Company, to serve as Chairman, with strong and independent oversight by the Lead Director and the other non-management
directors.
Board of Directors Oversight of Risk
The Board of Directors considers risk oversight
to be an integral part of its role, and discussions regarding risks faced by the Company are part of its meetings and deliberations
throughout the year. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that the Board is responsible for assessing major risks facing
the Company and reviewing options for their mitigation. At the direction of the Board, management is responsible for implementing
an enterprise risk management process and reporting to the Board at least annually regarding its assessment of risks that could
have a significant impact on the
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- 2020 Proxy Statement
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26
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Company and the strategies for their mitigation. Additionally, at
each regular quarterly meeting of the Board, management presents an in-depth analysis of one of the top risks identified in the
annual enterprise risk management process. In this way, the Board is engaged in risk oversight at the enterprise level.
The Board is also engaged in risk oversight through regular reports
from the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is charged with reviewing with management and the Company’s internal auditors
the Company’s major financial exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control those exposures. The Audit
Committee receives periodic reports from management on these areas of potential exposure, including litigation, commodity price
hedging, liquidity and capital resources, financial reporting and disclosures and regulatory risks, among others. The Audit Committee
also receives reports from management regarding compliance with our Code of Business Conduct. The Audit Committee reviews at least
annually the Company’s policies and guidelines concerning financial risk assessment and financial risk management, with the
assistance of the Company’s internal auditors, KPMG LLP. KPMG LLP conducts a process of assessing major risks, including
management interviews, and presents and discusses with the Audit Committee its conclusions regarding the Company’s major
risks. From this process, areas of concern are identified and considered and the internal audit plan is developed. Results of these
reviews and audits are presented to the Audit Committee throughout the year. At each regular Board meeting, the Audit Committee
Chairman reports to the Board regarding the activities of the Committee.
Board of Directors Oversight of Environmental, Social and Governance
(ESG) Matters
Our Board of Directors has always been engaged in the oversight of
Company environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) risks, policies and practices through its Safety and Environmental
Affairs (“S&EA”) Committee, which is devoted solely to health, safety and environmental oversight, and its Corporate
Governance and Nominations (“CGN”) Committee. Through regular quarterly meetings, the Board has received reports from
those Committees and also acted collectively as a Board to review risks in these areas through the enterprise risk management process
discussed above at “Board of Directors Oversight of Risk.”
In February of 2020, however, the Board elected to empower those two
committees to take additional authority and responsibility for ESG oversight, in order to provide further support for the Company’s
overall ESG efforts and strengthen its governance of ESG challenges and opportunities. As a result of this increased focus on ESG
oversight, the Board of Directors approved amendments to the charters of the two committees to add additional duties and responsibilities
to each of the committees. Additionally, the Board renamed each committee to more accurately reflect the scope of those new duties.
The S&EA Committee was renamed the “Environment, Health & Safety Committee” and the CGN Committee was
renamed the “Governance and Social Responsibility Committee.”
The Environment, Health & Safety (“EHS”) Committee
was given the additional duty to oversee the Company’s climate change and sustainability policies and programs and provide
recommendations on the reporting and public disclosure of the same. The EHS Committee was also charged with monitoring and reviewing
environmental matters and trends in such matters that affect the Company’s activities and performance, including the efficient
use of resources, energy sustainability, climate change and environmental protection.
The Governance and Social Responsibility (“GSR”) Committee
maintains its current focus on governance, but was also given the responsibility to oversee the Company’s policies, programs
and initiatives that relate to issues of public concern, which include socially responsible business conduct, human rights, the
promotion of diversity and the support of charitable organizations and community affairs. The GSR Committee is also responsible
for monitoring the Company’s corporate reputation and supporting the Company’s actions to be a good and welcome citizen
in the communities in which it operates, while furthering the Company’s long-term business objectives. Both the EHS and the
GSR Committees will report to the Board on these new matters at each regular Board meeting.
With these committee changes, our Board is further supporting the
Company’s commitment to elevate sustainability in our business model and to further increase transparency and effective governance
of ESG matters.
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
27
|
Corporate Governance Guidelines
Our Corporate Governance Guidelines outline the functions and responsibilities
of the Board, director qualifications, and various processes and procedures designed to ensure effective and responsive governance.
The guidelines are reviewed annually and revised as appropriate to reflect changing regulatory requirements and best practices.
The full text of the Corporate Governance Guidelines can be found on the Company’s website at www.cabotog.com, under the
“Governance” section of “About Cabot.”
Code of Business Conduct
All employees, officers and directors are required to comply with
the Company’s Code of Business Conduct to help ensure that the Company’s business is conducted in accordance with the
highest standards of moral and ethical behavior. The Code of Business Conduct covers all areas of professional conduct, including
conflicts of interest, customer relationships, insider trading, financial disclosure, intellectual property and confidential information,
as well as requiring strict adherence to all laws and regulations applicable to the Company’s business.
Employees, officers and directors are required annually to reply to
a Code of Conduct Questionnaire, which is designed to elicit information related to any known or possible violation of the Code.
The full text of the Code of Business Conduct can be found on the Company’s website at www.cabotog.com, under the “Governance”
section of “About Cabot.” The Company will satisfy the requirement to disclose any amendments to or waivers from certain
provisions of its Code of Business Conduct by posting such information on the website at that location.
Attendance at Board Meetings and Annual Meetings
The Board of Directors held six meetings during 2019. All directors
attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board of Directors and of the committees on which they served.
The Company’s policy is that it expects all members of the Board
of Directors to attend the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders. In 2019, all of the continuing members of the Board
attended the annual meeting.
Director Compensation
Directors who are employees of the Company receive no additional compensation
for their duties as directors. During 2019, nonemployee directors’ annual compensation included an annual retainer fee of
$75,000 each, payable quarterly, for their service on the Company’s Board of Directors and its committees. The Lead Director
received an additional $25,000 annual retainer, the Audit Committee Chairman and Compensation Committee Chairman each received
an additional $20,000 annual retainer, the Executive Committee Chairman received an additional $5,000 annual retainer and the remaining
committee chairmen received an additional $15,000 annual retainer, each payable quarterly, for this additional service. Additionally,
each nonemployee director will receive $2,000 for each Board of Directors meeting attended in excess of six in-person meetings
per year. The directors did not receive additional meeting fees in 2019.
In 2019, nonemployee directors were also entitled to an annual award
of restricted stock units under the 2014 Incentive Plan, the restrictions on which lapse the date the nonemployee director leaves
the Board of Directors, with a targeted award value at grant date of $230,000. The restricted stock units are paid cash dividend
equivalents in the amount of the cash dividend paid on our outstanding Common Stock from the date of grant through the date the
restrictions lapse. In 2019, these directors each received 9,220 restricted stock units.
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
28
|
Board members may participate in the Nonemployee Director Deferred
Compensation Plan, which provides each nonemployee director an opportunity to elect each year to take any, or all, of the director’s
annual cash retainer and additional fees for serving as lead director or as a committee chairman in restricted stock units, valued
at the closing price of the Common Stock on the date specified in the plan, in lieu of a quarterly cash payment of such amounts.
The terms of the restricted stock units are the same as those issued annually. All directors were also reimbursed for travel expenses
incurred for attending Board and committee meetings. For more information on director compensation, see “Director Compensation
Table” below.
Director Compensation Table
The table below summarizes the total compensation paid to each of
the nonemployee directors of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.
Name
|
|
Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash*
($)
|
|
Stock Awards
($)(1)
|
|
Option Awards
($)
|
|
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
|
|
Change
in
Pension
Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
|
|
All
Other
Compensation
($)(2)
|
|
Total
($)
|
Dorothy
M. Ables
|
|
$
|
90,000
|
|
|
$
|
230,039
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
16,265
|
|
|
$
|
336,304
|
Rhys J. Best
|
|
$
|
95,000
|
|
|
$
|
230,039
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
43,238
|
|
|
$
|
368,277
|
Robert S. Boswell
|
|
$
|
90,000
|
|
|
$
|
230,039
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
16,044
|
|
|
$
|
336,083
|
Amanda M. Brock
|
|
$
|
75,000
|
|
|
$
|
230,039
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
8,649
|
|
|
$
|
313,688
|
Peter B. Delaney
|
|
$
|
75,000
|
|
|
$
|
230,039
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
4,416
|
|
|
$
|
309,455
|
Robert Kelley
|
|
$
|
110,500
|
|
|
$
|
230,039
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
72,935
|
|
|
$
|
412,974
|
W. Matt Ralls
|
|
$
|
90,000
|
|
|
$
|
230,039
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
32,880
|
|
|
$
|
352,919
|
Marcus
A. Watts
|
|
$
|
75,000
|
|
|
$
|
230,039
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
8,641
|
|
|
$
|
313,680
|
*
|
Restricted stock units were issued pursuant to the Company’s
Nonemployee Director Deferred Compensation Plan in lieu of quarterly cash retainer and leadership fees totaling $45,000 for
Mr. Boswell, $75,000 for Mr. Delaney and $110,000 for Mr. Kelley.
|
(1)
|
The amounts in this column reflect the grant date fair value with respect to restricted
stock units in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification
(“ASC”) Topic 718 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts
are included in Note 14 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the “Form 10-K”). In February 2019, each nonemployee
director received a grant of 9,220 restricted stock units, with a grant date fair value of $230,000 based on the closing price
of the Common Stock on the February 20, 2019 grant date. The restricted stock units vest on the grant date, but are not payable
by the Company in shares of Common Stock until the date the nonemployee director ceases to be a director of the Company. The
aggregate number of restricted stock units outstanding at December 31, 2019, including those issued in lieu of quarterly cash
retainer and leadership fees, held by each nonemployee director is as follows:
|
|
Name
|
Total RSUs
|
|
Dorothy M. Ables
|
43,608
|
|
Rhys J. Best
|
125,380
|
|
Robert S. Boswell
|
44,437
|
|
Amanda M. Brock
|
22,220
|
|
Peter B. Delaney
|
15,714
|
|
Robert Kelley
|
208,724
|
|
W. Matt Ralls
|
91,925
|
|
Marcus A. Watts
|
22,220
|
(2)
|
The amounts in this column for each director include quarterly cash dividend
equivalents paid on the restricted stock units.
|
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
29
|
Director Succession
Our GSR Committee engages in regular succession planning as part of
its duty to oversee the composition and effectiveness of the Board and its committees. Regular succession planning allows the GSR
Committee to nominate qualified candidates for annual stockholder elections and to fill vacancies created upon the planned or unplanned
departure of sitting directors or upon increasing the size of the Board to meet additional needs of the Board. In its succession
planning activities, the GSR Committee reviews annual Board and committee self-assessments, reviews a Board skills matrix of identified
skills for each director and for the effective functioning of the Board, tracks director tenure and expected director departures
and engages in various director recruitment activities.
For many years the Board has had a director retirement policy, which
most recently provided that a director was obligated to retire at the annual meeting following his or her 73rd birthday
and that a retiring CEO shall simultaneously retire from service on the Board, unless the Board determined otherwise. Due, in part,
to this retirement policy, and in part to strategic additions to the Board, the current Board is comprised of a majority of directors
(other than the CEO) that have served four years or less. This recent robust Board refreshment, the current composition of the
Board and the need for consistent leadership during the current challenged state of our industry, as well as the outlook for continued
uncertainty in our industry, were all key factors considered by the GSR Committee during its February 2020 director succession
planning and nomination process. As a result of this process, the GSR Committee recommended, and the Board approved, the elimination
of the retirement policy for directors from our Corporate Governance Guidelines. The GSR Committee will continue its regular succession
planning activities throughout the year to ensure that the Board is comprised of directors who will be most effective in collectively
serving the long-term interests of the Company and its stockholders.
Information on Standing Committees of the Board of Directors
Information on each of the Board’s standing committees as of
the date hereof is discussed below. The charters of each of the Board committees can be found on the Company’s website at
www.cabotog.com, under the “Governance” section of “About Cabot.”
|
|
2019
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Committees
|
Independent?
|
Meetings
|
Dinges
|
Ables
|
Best
|
Boswell
|
Brock
|
Delaney
|
Kelley
|
Ralls
|
Watts
|
Governance & Social Responsibility
|
Yes
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audit
|
Yes
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compensation
|
Yes
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Environment, Health & Safety
|
Yes
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive
|
No
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
– Chairman of committee and designated “audit committee financial expert”
|
|
|
|
– Member of committee
|
Governance and Social Responsibility
Committee. The function of the GSR Committee is to assist the Board in fulfilling its responsibility to the stockholders by:
•
|
Overseeing, and assisting the Board with, the Company’s efforts for socially responsible
operations, programs and initiatives not otherwise delegated to another committee of the Board and the reporting or public
disclosure of such efforts by the Company;
|
|
|
•
|
Identifying qualified individuals to become Board members and assisting the Board in determining
the composition of the Board and its committees;
|
|
|
•
|
Assessing Board and committee effectiveness;
|
|
|
•
|
Developing and implementing the Company’s corporate governance guidelines; and
|
|
|
•
|
Taking a leadership role in shaping the corporate governance of the Company.
|
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
30
|
In accordance with its charter, the GSR Committee has adopted minimum
criteria for Board membership, which are discussed in more detail at “Director Nominations and Qualifications” above.
Audit Committee. The function
of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in overseeing:
•
|
The integrity of the financial statements of the Company;
|
|
|
•
|
The compliance by the Company with legal and regulatory requirements;
|
|
|
•
|
The independence, qualifications, performance and compensation of the Company’s independent auditors; and
|
|
|
•
|
The performance of the Company’s internal audit function.
|
It is the policy of the Audit Committee to pre-approve all audit,
review or attest engagements and permissible non-audit services, including the fees and terms thereof, to be performed by the independent
auditors, subject to, and in compliance with, the de minimis exception for non-audit services described in Section 10A(i)(1)(B)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC. The Audit Committee has delegated to
each member of the Audit Committee authority to pre-approve permissible services to be performed by the independent auditors. Decisions
of a member to pre-approve permissible services must be reported to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
Each member of the Audit Committee satisfies the financial literacy
and independence requirements of the NYSE listing standards. The Board has determined that Ms. Ables meets the requirements of
an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the SEC.
Compensation Committee. The
function of the Compensation Committee is to:
•
|
Review and approve corporate goals and objectives relevant to the CEO’s compensation,
evaluate the CEO’s performance in light of those goals and objectives, and determine, subject to ratification by the
Board, the CEO’s compensation level based on this evaluation;
|
|
|
•
|
Provide counsel and oversight of the evaluation and compensation of management of the Company,
including base salaries, incentive compensation and equity-based compensation;
|
|
|
•
|
Discharge any duties imposed on the Compensation Committee by the Company’s incentive
compensation and equity-based compensation plans, including making grants;
|
|
|
•
|
Evaluate the independence of, and retain or replace any compensation consultant engaged to
assist in evaluating the compensation of the Company’s directors, CEO and other officers and to approve such consultant’s
fees and other terms of retention; and
|
|
|
•
|
Review the annual compensation of the directors.
|
Compensation Committee Interlocks
and Insider Participation. During 2019, no member of the Compensation Committee was an officer or employee of the Company
or any of its subsidiaries, or formerly an officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. During 2019, the Company had no compensation
committee interlocks.
Environment, Health & Safety
Committee. The function of the Environment, Health & Safety (“EHS”) Committee is to assist the
Board in providing oversight and support of the Company’s policies programs and initiatives on the environment, health and
safety. Among other things, the EHS Committee oversees the Company’s climate change and sustainability policies and programs
and the reporting and public disclosure thereon, monitors environmental matters and trends in such matters that affect the Company’s
activities and performance, reviews the Company’s compliance with environmental, health and safety laws and regulations,
and, as needed, consults with the Board and internal and external advisors regarding the management of the Company’s health,
safety and environmental programs.
Executive Committee. The
function of the Executive Committee is to exercise all power and authority of the Board of Directors in the event action is needed
between regularly scheduled Board meetings and a meeting of the full Board is deemed unnecessary, except as limited by the Company’s
bylaws or applicable law. The Executive Committee did not meet during 2019.
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
31
|
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Executive Summary
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis
(“CD&A”) provides stockholders with an understanding of our compensation philosophy, objectives, policies and practices
in place during 2019, as well as the factors considered by our Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”)
in making compensation decisions for 2019. This CD&A focuses on the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, our Chief
Financial Officer and our three other most highly compensated officers for 2019 (the “NEOs”), namely:
Dan O. Dinges
|
Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer
|
Scott C. Schroeder
|
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
|
Jeffrey W. Hutton
|
Senior Vice President, Marketing
|
Phillip L. Stalnaker
|
Senior Vice President, Operations
|
Steven W. Lindeman
|
Senior Vice President, EHS and Engineering
|
Our compensation plans and practices are
designed to align the financial interests of our NEOs with the financial interests of our shareholders. To that end, we provide
our NEOs with a competitive base salary, an annual cash bonus opportunity based on the achievement of specific goals aligned with
shareholder value creation and long-term incentives tied to long-term total shareholder return and annual cash flow attainment.
For the NEOs, in 2019 the level of at-risk pay ranged from 80% to 92% of the total annual compensation opportunity, with the CEO
having the highest level of at-risk pay.
2019 Financial and Operational Highlights
2019 was another record year for Cabot on
many fronts. We delivered on our consistent strategy of maximizing returns on capital by developing our Marcellus shale assets
within available cash flow. Due to this disciplined investment strategy, Cabot achieved significant growth in Return on Capital
Employed (“ROCE”)(1) to 22.2%—a new record for the Company, driven by a competitive price environment
in the first half of the year, which carried overall commodity price realizations—along with further reducing unit costs
to a record low of $1.44 per Mcfe. These achievements preserve Cabot’s historical position of being one of the lowest-cost,
highest-returns producers in the industry, year after year. Consistent with our prior commitment, we also returned significant
amounts of capital to our shareholders. Highlights of our accomplishments in 2019 include:
•
|
Free Cash Flow: Generated free cash flow for the fourth consecutive year with 2019 free cash flow of $563.1 million.(1)
|
|
|
•
|
Returns to Shareholders: Returned over $665 million to shareholders through share repurchases and cash dividends.
|
|
|
•
|
Return on Capital Employed: Reached a new record ROCE(1) of 22.2%, up from 15.9% in 2018.
|
|
|
•
|
Production and Reserves Per Share Growth: Grew production per share by 26.9% and increased total proved reserves to a record 12.9 Tcfe, up 19.8% per share over 2018.
|
|
|
•
|
Lowest Operating Costs: Further reduced already record low operating costs to $1.44 per Mcfe from $1.76 per Mcfe in 2018. Finding cost for all sources remained low at $0.36 per Mcfe.(1)
|
|
|
•
|
Low Leverage: Reduced net debt to EBITDAX(1) to 0.7x at year end 2019, one of the lowest levels in the industry.
|
(1)
|
ROCE, free cash flow, finding costs for all sources and “net
debt to EBITDAX” are not measures calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Please
see Appendix A for additional information.
|
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
32
|
2019 Compensation Highlights
The following compensation outcomes in 2019
rewarded important near-term operating successes while aligning executives with the same stock price performance results experienced
by our long-term stockholders:
•
|
Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) Performance Awards vested at 185% of target. Due to our third-place ranking among our compensation peer group, performance shares granted to our executives in 2017 with vesting contingent upon our relative three-year TSR vested at 185% of target. The two peer companies that performed better than Cabot over the most recent performance period are considered oil companies by the investment community as they produce primarily oil, which experienced a more robust commodity price over the period than natural gas, whereas Cabot produces only natural gas.
|
|
|
•
|
Annual cash bonus for NEOs paid out at 135% of target. All five performance metrics for the 2019 annual cash incentive awards, including ROCE, met or exceeded targets. Taking into account these results, together with the overall market sentiment for the industry, the Committee approved a payout to the NEOs of 135% of target, which represents the formulaic calculation on all of the performance metrics, except that the Committee awarded nothing for the discretionary strategic component.
|
|
|
•
|
Performance awards based on operating cash flow met target. Our performance target for our hybrid performance shares of achieving at least $100 million of operating cash flow in 2019 was met, resulting in the annual vesting of hybrid performance shares granted to executives over the last three years.
|
|
|
•
|
Over 97% of shares voted approved executive compensation. At our most recent annual meeting in May 2019, over 97% of the votes cast supported our executive compensation practices. Due to this high level of support, and our performance in 2019, the Committee continued our 2019 compensation practices substantially unchanged in 2020.
|
Our Pay for Performance Alignment
We have maintained consistent and disciplined
performance-based compensation programs for all of our executives. For many years, the Committee has awarded compensation opportunities
to our CEO and other executives that require meaningful relative stock price and absolute financial performance to deliver targeted
realized compensation levels. The allocation of 2019 compensation among salary, short-term incentives and long-term incentives
for our CEO and the other NEOs, on a weighted average basis, reflects this guiding principle, as show below:
Long-Term Incentives
In 2019, the Committee awarded 65% of the
CEO and CFO’s, and 60% of each other executive’s, long-term incentive opportunity in the form of performance shares
payable solely on the basis of our total shareholder return relative to our industry peer group over a three-year performance period
(“TSR performance shares”). This metric directly aligns the interests of our management team with those of our shareholders.
Our TSR performance over the past three years relative to our peers generated above-target payments for executives from the TSR
performance shares. The CEO’s award and the relative performance achieved for the most recently completed performance period
are as follows:
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
33
|
CEO TSR PERFORMANCE SHARE AWARDS
|
Target Value Awarded
|
Peer Rank Achieved
|
Percentage of Target
Achieved
|
Earned Award Value
|
Performance Period Achieved(1)
|
|
|
|
|
2017–2019
|
$4,200,007
|
3rd of 16
|
185%
|
$5,985,660
|
(1)
|
This performance period ended December 31, 2019. Target value awarded
is based on the number of performance shares awarded multiplied by the closing stock price of the Company’s Common Stock
on the date of grant, which was $24.95. The earned award value is based on the closing stock price of the Company’s
Common Stock on December 31, 2019, which was $17.41, and the percentage of target achieved, based on the Company’s total
shareholder return, relative to its peers, over the three year performance period.
|
In 2019, we awarded 35% of the CEO’s
and CFO’s, and 40% of each other executive’s, long-term incentive value through hybrid performance shares that require
threshold achievement based on a financial metric (see “Hybrid Performance Shares” below). The hybrid performance shares
vest on a three-year graduated schedule, with 25% of the award vesting on each of the first two anniversaries of the date of grant
and 50% vesting on the third anniversary. To date, all the CEO’s hybrid performance share awards have satisfied the required
performance criteria at their scheduled vesting date.
Short-Term Incentive
In 2019, the Company’s short-term incentive
program emphasized financial returns by pairing growth metrics on a “debt-adjusted”(1) basis, with cost
metrics, as well as ROCE, a financial returns metric. We utilize four key performance metrics for our annual cash bonus that we
believe align with the primary value drivers for an exploration and production company and that we believe can be most directly
impacted by executives. The performance metrics are reserve growth per debt-adjusted share, finding costs, production growth per
debt-adjusted share, and unit costs. These metrics were chosen by the Committee because we believe that reserve and production
growth targets, when combined with goals for lowering finding and unit costs, have a high correlation to increases in stock prices
over the long-term, even with volatility in commodity prices in the short-term. The “debt-adjusted per share” modifiers
on the growth metrics also serve to reward disciplined capital spending. The combination of operating metrics and financial metrics
is designed to produce a focus on economic growth that produces returns to shareholders. By linking the underlying costs with the
related growth metrics, per debt-adjusted share, the Company promotes a focus on returns on investment and disincentivizes growth
without regard to costs and returns. In this way, executives are rewarded in the short-term for creating long-term value for shareholders.
Effects of Say on Pay and Shareholder Outreach
In setting 2019 executive compensation, the Committee considered
the outcome of the say-on-pay vote at the three most recent annual meetings as strongly supportive of our pay practices and incentive
programs. Those results were as follows:
•
|
95% in favor of the 2017 annual meeting;
|
|
|
•
|
98% in favor of the 2018 annual meeting; and
|
|
|
•
|
97% in favor of the 2019 annual meeting.
|
Furthermore, our shareholders have supported
our compensation programs since the imposition of the say-on-pay vote, with approval rates of 95% or above since the first vote
in 2011. As a result, the Committee concluded that the 2019 compensation paid to our NEOs and our overall pay practices were well-aligned
with shareholders’ interests and Company performance.
(1)
|
Production per debt-adjusted share is defined as total production
for the year divided by debt-adjusted share count. Reserves per debt-adjusted share is defined as year-end proved reserves
divided by debt-adjusted share count. Debt-adjusted share count is defined as the annual weighted average shares outstanding
plus average total debt divided by the average annual share price (share price is normalized between comparison years).
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Overview of Our Compensation Program
Philosophy and Objectives of Our Compensation Program
The Committee oversees an executive compensation
program designed to attract, retain, and engage highly qualified executives and to capture value for shareholders. The primary
objectives of our compensation program are:
•
|
To align executive compensation with our business strategy;
|
|
|
•
|
To encourage management to create sustained value for the shareholders while managing inherent business risks;
|
|
|
•
|
To attract, retain, and engage talented executives; and
|
|
|
•
|
To support a long-term performance-based culture throughout the Company.
|
We achieve these objectives by:
•
|
Assigning in excess of 80% of NEO compensation to at-risk, performance-based incentive opportunities;
|
|
|
•
|
Tying incentive plan metrics and goals to shareholder value principles; and
|
|
|
•
|
Having balanced, open and objective reviews of goals and performance.
|
The Committee believes that each of these objectives carries an
equal amount of importance in our compensation program.
Our Compensation Practices
The following practices and policies ensure that our executives’
compensation is aligned with shareholders’ interests.
What we do:
|
|
What we don’t do:
|
|
Emphasis on long-term, performance-based equity compensation
|
|
|
No hedging or pledging of company stock by executive officers or directors
|
|
Short-term incentive compensation based on disclosed performance metrics (with payout caps)
|
|
|
No excise tax gross-ups for executive officers appointed after 2010
|
|
Substantial stock ownership and retention requirements for executive officers and directors
|
|
|
No vesting of equity awards after retirement if competing with Company
|
|
Provide for “double trigger” cash payouts in change-of-control agreements
|
|
|
No re-pricing or discounting of options or stock appreciation rights (“SARs”)
|
|
Clawback policy
|
|
|
No performance metrics that would encourage excessive risk-taking
|
|
Hold annual advisory “say-on-pay” vote
|
|
|
No dividend equivalents paid to executive officers on unvested equity awards until vested
|
|
Only independent directors on Compensation Committee
|
|
|
|
|
Use an independent compensation consultant
|
|
|
|
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Elements of Our Compensation Program
We use various components of executive compensation,
with an emphasis on variable compensation and long-term incentives. The components of executive compensation are presented in the
table below and discussed in more detail later in this section of the Proxy Statement.
Compensation
Component
|
|
Form/Timing
of Payout
|
|
Purpose
|
|
How We Determine Amount
|
Base Salary
|
|
Paid in cash throughout the year
|
|
Compensate fairly for position, experience, expertise and competencies.
|
|
Base salaries are targeted to approximate the compensation peer group median, taking into account the competitive environment, as well as the experience and accomplishments of each executive.
|
Annual Cash Incentive Bonus
|
|
Paid in cash after the year has ended and performance has been measured
|
|
Motivate and reward performance achievement against a set of business
and individual goals:
• Financial goals
(unit costs, finding costs, ROCE);
• Operational goals
(specific objectives tied to production growth and reserve growth on a per debt-adjusted share basis);
• Discretionary
objectives aligned with corporate strategy; and
• Qualitative performance
evaluated by the Committee
|
|
Annual bonus opportunities are established as a percentage of
base salary and are targeted to approximate average industry bonus percentage levels for comparable executive positions.
Annual payout is determined by comparing actual performance during
prior year to established thresholds and a strategic component. The Committee retains authority to exercise negative discretion
in determining the total bonus pool.
|
Long-Term Incentives
|
|
60%-65% TSR performance shares payable in stock (and cash for
achievement over target)
Cliff vest three years from the grant date
35%-40% hybrid performance shares payable in stock
Vest over three years (25% / 25% / 50%)
|
|
Promote alignment of executive decisions with shareholder interests
through performance awards where value varies with Company stock performance relative to a peer group over a three-year performance
period.
Encourage executives to achieve multi-year strategic and financial
objectives. Annual vesting contingent upon operating cash flow exceeding $100 million.
|
|
The value of equity awards is generally targeted above the median
of the peer group, although other individual and Company circumstances influence the award amounts. Payout at target levels for
TSRs at median of peer group and up to 200% for top performance.
The value of equity awards is generally targeted above the median
of the peer group, although other individual and Company circumstances influence the award amounts. Annual vesting at target level
for achievement of performance goal in prior year and no vesting if not achieved.
|
2019 Executive Compensation
We believe the following executive compensation
policies and programs effectively serve the interests of the shareholders and the Company. The Committee has worked over the years
to devise, manage and provide an executive compensation program that is designed to meet its intended objectives and contribute
to the Company’s overall success.
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2019 Committee Activity
During 2019, the Committee held three regular
meetings, one in each of February, July and October. In addition, the Committee held a meeting in early January 2019 for the purpose
of certifying the results for the TSR performance share awards with a performance period of 2016–2018 that vested on December
31, 2018.
At the time the 2019 awards were granted
and periodically throughout the year, the Committee referenced the Fall 2018 competitive market study of the peer group by Meridian
Compensation Partners, LLC (“Meridian”), the Committee’s independent compensation consultant. Based on the study
and the CEO’s recommendations with respect to the other Company officers, the Committee determined 2019 salaries, bonus
payouts for 2018 performance, certified the 2018 results for payouts of a portion of each of the hybrid performance shares granted
from 2016 to 2018, and the annual grant of long-term incentive awards for our officers. A detailed discussion of each item of
compensation can be found below under “2019 Compensation Decisions.”
Also at the February 2019 meeting and prior to
making any compensation decisions, the Committee reviewed a detailed analysis of stock ownership and retention levels for each
NEO. Over the course of the year, the Committee reviews each element of compensation for the NEOs, including elements of total
direct compensation and payments upon severance or change of control, as well as other benefits and perquisites. Lastly, at the
February 2019 meeting, the Committee and the Board of Directors discussed and approved the 2019 performance criteria for the 2019
cash bonus plan.
During 2019, the Committee reviewed an analysis
prepared by Meridian of 2018 executive compensation reported by our peer group. From the available 2018 survey information, the
Committee evaluated its compensation decisions relative to our peer group. The Committee also reviewed an analysis prepared and
presented by Meridian of current compensation issues and trends, including a 2019 competitive market study of executive compensation
among the peer companies. This analysis, along with other data and reports, is utilized in the Committee’s review of all
components of compensation in the following February meeting.
Industry Peer Group
We use one peer group for both compensation
competitive analysis and to measure the relative performance of our TSR performance shares. The Committee chose these companies
because they represent our direct competitors of similar size and scope in the exploration and production sector of the energy
industry, and include several companies that compete in our core areas of operation for both business opportunities and executive
talent. The peer group changes from time to time due to organic changes in the Company or its peers, business combinations, asset
sales and other types of transactions that cause peer companies to no longer exist or to no longer be comparable. The Committee
approves all revisions to the peer group. Based on 2019 year-end closing market prices, the market capitalization of companies
in our industry peer group ranged from approximately $0.86 billion to $25.1 billion. Our market capitalization at 2019 year-end
was approximately $7.1 billion.
The peer group for the TSR performance cycle that began in 2019
is as follows:
Antero Resources Corporation
|
Marathon Oil Corporation
|
Apache Corporation
|
Murphy Oil Corporation
|
Chesapeake Energy Company
|
Noble Energy Inc.
|
Cimarex Energy Company
|
Ovintiv Inc. (formerly, Encana Corporation)
|
Concho Resources Inc.
|
Pioneer Natural Resources Company
|
Continental Resources Inc.
|
Range Resources Corporation
|
Devon Energy Corporation
|
Southwestern Energy Company
|
EQT Corporation
|
WPX Energy, Inc.
|
In February 2020, the Committee affirmed
the application of the current peer group to the 2020-2022 performance cycle.
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|
Role of the Compensation Consultant
The Committee employs the services of an
executive compensation consultant. In 2019, the Committee engaged Meridian as its independent consultant, and Meridian has also
been retained by the Committee for 2020. Meridian is responsible for preparing and presenting a comprehensive competitive market
study of the compensation levels and practices for a group of industry peers. The Committee-approved industry peer group is listed
and described in more detail above at “Industry Peer Group.” Meridian is also responsible for preparing and presenting
an outside director compensation study using the same industry peer group. The Committee relies on Meridian for input on pay philosophy,
current market trends, legal and regulatory considerations and prevalence of benefit and perquisite programs. A representative
of Meridian attends all regular meetings of the Committee and participates in most executive sessions.
In October 2019, the Committee reviewed
the independence of Meridian, and found it to be independent and without conflicts of interest in providing services to the Committee.
In making such determination, the Committee considered the six factors established by the NYSE. Fees paid by the Company to Meridian
account for less than 1% of Meridian’s total annual revenues. The Committee reviewed Meridian’s policies and procedures
designed to prevent conflicts of interest. To the knowledge of Meridian, there are no personal relationships among Meridian partners,
consultants or employees and members of the Committee or the Company’s management. To the knowledge of Meridian, none of
the Meridian partners, consultants or employees providing services the Committee owns Company stock. Meridian works exclusively
for the Committee and performs no services directly for management. Management does not retain the services of a compensation
consultant.
Role of Executives in Establishing Compensation
Our Chairman, President and CEO makes recommendations
at least annually, and as new officers are hired, to the Committee with respect to salary, bonus and long-term incentive awards
for all other executive officers. In making recommendations, our CEO considers input from Meridian’s independent competitive
market study, internal pay equity issues, individual performance and Company performance. The CEO’s recommendations are
just one of the factors considered by the Committee, in conjunction with the other factors discussed in this CD&A, in setting
compensation for all executive officers. The Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), who is
ultimately responsible for human resources administration, provides the Committee with survey data from a wider group of companies
in the energy sector than the industry peer group described above, which the Committee uses for evaluation of non-executive compensation
trends, and general administrative support implementing the Committee’s decisions. The CEO and CFO also provide recommendations
to the Committee regarding appropriate bonus metrics, taking into account current industry drivers and Company strategic objectives,
as well as appropriate performance targets for each year. The CFO and his staff assist the Committee in determining bonus payouts
by providing the calculations of bonus metric achievement, which the Committee takes into account in determining the ultimate
bonus payout pool each year. The CEO and CFO, along with the Vice President, Administration and Corporate Secretary, attend the
Committee meetings; however, the officers are excused from the meetings to enable the Committee to meet privately in executive
session, both with and without the compensation consultant also being present. The executives listed above prepare materials and
agendas for the Committee meetings and prepare the long-term equity plans and award agreements, as directed by the Committee,
for approval. The terms of all award agreements and the specific individual awards for executives, however, are all approved by
the Committee and, as needed, by the Board of Directors.
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2019 Compensation Decisions
There are three major elements of the executive
in-service compensation program: (1) base salary, (2) annual cash incentive bonus and (3) long-term incentive equity awards. Company
perquisites are a minor element of the executive compensation program. This design generally mirrors the pay practices of the
exploration and production industry generally and our selected industry peer group. Our compensation is intentionally weighted
toward long-term equity-based compensation. Each element is described below.
Mr. Dinges, our Chairman, President and
CEO, has a significantly broader scope of responsibilities than the other named executive officers. The difference in compensation
for Mr. Dinges described below primarily reflects these differing responsibilities and, except as described below, does not result
from the application of different policies or decisions with respect to Mr. Dinges.
Base Salary
The Committee believes base salary is a
critical element of executive compensation because it provides executives with a base level of monthly income. The base salary
of each executive, including the NEOs, is reviewed and approved annually by the Committee. The CEO’s salary is established
by the Committee (and ratified by the Board of Directors) and the other executives’ salaries are established jointly by
the CEO and the Committee. Base salary is targeted for all executive positions near the median level of the peer group. Individual
salaries take into account our established salary policies and our current salary budget; the individual’s levels of responsibility,
contribution and value to the Company; individual performance; prior relevant experience; breadth of knowledge; and internal and
external pay equity issues. Base salary increases from 2018 to 2019 for the NEOs were six percent or less.
Name
|
|
Title
|
|
2018 Base Salary
|
|
|
2019 Base Salary
|
Mr. Dinges
|
|
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
$
|
1,050,000
|
|
|
$
|
1,100,000
|
|
Mr. Schroeder
|
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
|
$
|
600,000
|
|
|
$
|
629,000
|
|
Mr. Hutton
|
|
Senior Vice President, Marketing
|
|
$
|
420,000
|
|
|
$
|
445,000
|
|
Mr. Stalnaker
|
|
Senior Vice President, Operations
|
|
$
|
420,000
|
|
|
$
|
445,000
|
|
Mr. Lindeman
|
|
Senior Vice President, EHS and Engineering
|
|
$
|
420,000
|
|
|
$
|
445,000
|
|
In 2019, the Committee reviewed two competitive
market studies for compensation of the peer group prepared by our independent consultant. The Committee noted that Mr. Dinges’
2019 base salary of $1,100,000 was near the 50th percentile of the industry peer group for the 2019 competitive data.
The Committee views the CEO salary level as consistent with its philosophy of delivering a relatively higher percentage of CEO
compensation through long-term incentives. The base salary of the CFO was between the 50th and 75th percentile
and the base salaries of the other NEOs exceeded the 75th percentile of the peer group, due to individual experience
in each role and differences in peer organization management structures relative to ours. The Committee views these salary levels
as consistent with its compensation philosophy, given the long tenure of the current NEOs in their positions and the breadth of
responsibility borne by each of the NEOs relative to their most comparable positions at most of the peer companies. The Committee
took no additional action to revise base salaries during the year.
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- 2020 Proxy Statement
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Annual Cash Incentive Bonus
The annual cash incentive bonus opportunity
provides the NEOs, as well as other executives and key employees, with an incentive in the form of an annual cash bonus to achieve
overall business goals. The bonus opportunity is stated as a percentage of base salary and is set using the Committee’s
philosophy to target bonus levels (as a percentage of base salary) consistent with the competitive market for executives in similar
positions. Annual bonus opportunities are based on metrics and performance goals that are of primary importance to the Company
during the coming year and motivate executives to achieve those goals.
2019 Performance Metrics and Goals
The bonus plan was designed to emphasize
value-generating metrics, to link related metrics together to take into account the interrelated impacts of such metrics on value
creation, and to increase the overall payout potential for a breakout year, while reducing overall discretion. In 2018, our Committee
undertook an initiative to add a financial returns metric of Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) to our annual cash incentive bonus,
weighted at 10%, and to reduce the weighting of the two operating growth metrics accordingly. Additionally, a “per debt-adjusted
share” modifier was added to the reserve and production growth metrics to further incentivize and reward disciplined, economic
growth. The 2019 bonus opportunity metrics and weighting is as follows:
|
|
Performance
Achievement Range
|
|
X
|
|
Conditional Multiplier
of 1.5x
|
|
X
|
|
Weighting
Factor
|
=
|
Bonus
Achievement Range
(% of Target)
|
Reserve Growth Per
Debt-Adjusted Share
Finding Cost
|
|
|
|
|
|
Applies if both metrics greater
than 100% achievement (subject to 275% maximum)
|
|
|
|
20%
15%
|
|
0–55%
0–41.25%
|
Production Growth Per
Debt-Adjusted Share
Unit Cost
|
|
0-275%
|
|
|
|
Applies if both metrics greater
than 100% achievement (subject to 275% maximum)
|
|
|
|
20%
15%
|
|
0–55%
0–41.25%
|
Return on Capital
Employed (ROCE)
Strategic Evaluation
|
|
|
|
|
|
No multiplier
|
|
|
|
10%
20%
|
|
0–27.5%
0–55%
|
Total Bonus Achievement
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0–275%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maximum Bonus Payout 250%
|
At the start of each year the bonus metrics
and performance goals are established with the target level of performance (100%) based on the operating budget approved by the
Board of Directors. The performance goals for no payout (0%) and a payout at 200% of target for each metric are also created at
this time. The bonus plan places a cap on the performance achievement for each metric at 275% of target, which allows for some
additional benefit for above-range performance, but removes the potential of one metric creating a disproportionate payout. Additional
parameters for the 2019 annual cash incentive bonus plan include a weighting multiplier of 1.5 times for each of two grouped metrics
if actual performance on each of the grouped metrics is at target (100%) or above, up to the 275% maximum performance achievement
per metric. The grouped metrics are (1) reserve growth per debt-adjusted share and finding costs, and (2) production growth per
debt-adjusted share and unit costs. The Committee established the weighting multiplier on the grouped metrics to encourage a balanced
approach to achieving operational goals and to discourage over-achievement of one metric in a manner that adversely affects the
grouped metric. For example, excessive spending on a development program could help achieve the reserve growth per debt-adjusted
share metric at levels above target levels, but cause finding costs to increase to unacceptable levels. By grouping the reserve
growth per debt-adjusted share and finding costs metrics together, and using a weighting multiplier of 1.5
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- 2020 Proxy Statement
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40
|
for achieving target or above on both metrics,
the Committee is rewarding not only growth, but also efficiency in operations, which we believe creates long-term shareholder
value.
With respect to the strategic evaluation
metric, the Committee evaluates key influences on Company performance not taken into account in the other metrics. These may include
the management of capital spending, rates of return on our capital program, environmental and safety performance, net income performance,
organizational leadership and other factors the Committee deems to have been important in the prior year’s performance,
and may vary from year to year. The Committee follows no set performance targets relating to these factors. In general, the Committee
expects to award the target (100%) level of performance of the strategic evaluation metric in years when the Company meets internal
and external performance expectations with respect to these factors, but could assign no achievement to this metric (0%) up to
the maximum level of 275% of achievement of this metric. The strategic evaluation metric is not a grouped metric so there is no
additional weighting multiplier of 1.5 times on this metric.
The bonus plan has a maximum award payout
of 250% of target in the aggregate.
Determination of Bonus Payout
Upon completion of each fiscal year, the
bonus formula established for the bonus plan for that year, as described above, is calculated using the actual achievement for
each of the bonus metrics from the prior year, and the Committee’s assessment of the strategic evaluation component. The
formula yields a potential overall bonus pool payout, stated as a percentage of target. The CEO makes recommendations to the Committee
for annual bonuses to be paid to each executive officer (other than the CEO), based on the formulaic output for the total bonus
pool, with individual performance adjustments recommended by the CEO. The Committee references both the CEO’s recommendations
and the formula output in determining the bonuses to be paid to the NEOs other than the CEO. The Committee also retains discretion
to take into account the effect on the bonus metrics of unanticipated factors, such as acquisitions and divestitures, which are
not part of establishing the target metrics because the Company cannot budget these activities, when arriving at the approved
total bonus pool. When acquisition or divestiture activity occurs, for example, the Committee assesses its impact and exercises
its discretion to adjust for the impact on the overall bonus pool. The Committee will determine the total bonus pool payout, but
individual awards can vary from the payout, at the discretion of the Committee. The Committee will also take into account the
formulaic output in determining the CEO’s bonus payout, along with Company and individual performance, as discussed further
below.
2019 Bonus Opportunity
During 2019, the bonus opportunity for the NEOs was as follows:
Executive
|
|
Title
|
|
Target Bonus (% of Salary)
|
|
Target Bonus Value
|
Mr. Dinges
|
|
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
130
|
%
|
|
$
|
1,430,000
|
|
Mr. Schroeder
|
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
110
|
%
|
|
$
|
691,900
|
|
Mr. Hutton
|
|
Senior Vice President, Marketing
|
|
|
80
|
%
|
|
$
|
356,000
|
|
Mr. Stalnaker
|
|
Senior Vice President, Operations
|
|
|
80
|
%
|
|
$
|
356,000
|
|
Mr. Lindeman
|
|
Senior Vice President, EHS and Engineering
|
|
|
80
|
%
|
|
$
|
356,000
|
|
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- 2020 Proxy Statement
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41
|
In 2019, actual performance under the bonus metrics compared to the
performance goals was as follows:
*
|
ROCE is not a measure calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles (GAAP). Please see Appendix A for additional information.
|
The strategic results from our operating plan for the full year
2019 included adding over 2.2 Tcfe of new proved reserves, partially offset by record levels of production totaling 865.3
Bcfe. The net effect from our operations is that we added 1.3 Tcfe to our asset base, bringing our proved reserves to 12.9
Tcfe. These reserves were added at a very economic all sources finding cost of $0.36 per Mcfe. These achievements, combined
with record low unit costs of $1.44 and a record high Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) of 22.2% positioned the Company
for successful financial performance in 2019, even while experiencing historically low natural gas prices. These operational
and financial achievements have allowed the Company to continue to generate the free cash flow and afforded us the ability to
consistently return capital to shareholders. In determining the strategic evaluation component of the bonus metrics, the
Committee also took into account the macro market for our industry, including supply and demand dynamics, capital market
sentiment and declines in investor confidence in the industry. The result of this analysis was a decision to award the
formulaic result on all the bonus metrics, except there was no award for the discretionary strategic evaluation metric,
generating a 2019 bonus payout of 135%.
2019 CEO Bonus Payout
Upon completion of each fiscal year, the Committee determines the
CEO’s annual cash incentive bonus based on Company performance, the results of the bonus plan formula described above and
the Board’s annual CEO performance evaluation. The independent directors of the Board discuss and ratify the CEO’s
annual cash incentive bonus payment, considering the factors stated above and any factors relating to performance that were particularly
significant in the year in question.
For 2019, the Committee noted in particular:
•
|
the Company’s record operational and financial
achievements, including record production and reserve levels, record low unit costs, and one of the highest “Returns on
Capital Employed” in the industry;
|
|
|
•
|
the generation of $563.1 million in free cash
flow for the year, more than the previous three years combined;
|
|
|
•
|
the continued financial strength of the Company, allowing the return of approximately $665 million to the shareholders;
|
|
|
•
|
the reduction of net debt to EBITDAX to 0.7x at year-end 2019; and
|
|
|
•
|
the overall efficiency of the organization, which has become one of the lowest cost producers in the industry with one of the
lowest headcounts, highest capital efficiency and lowest capital intensity in the industry.
|
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|
The Committee evaluated these factors and concluded that they provide
Cabot a solid foundation for 2019 and beyond. However, even with the positive results achieved this year, the Committee exercised
its discretion to award nothing for the strategic evaluation metric, given the 2019 stock price performance and lackluster
investor interest due to the depressed commodity price environment.
The formulaic bonus calculation on the remaining metrics resulted
in the Committee approving the CEO’s bonus payout for 2019 at 135% of target. The bonus payout for the other NEOs was also
135% of target. See “Executive Compensation–Summary Compensation Table” below for actual bonuses paid to the
NEOs.
Long-Term Incentive Awards
In 2018, the Committee continued its established practice of awarding
two types of performance shares—TSR performance shares and hybrid performance shares—to provide long-term incentives
to our NEOs.
The award allocation to the NEOs in 2019 is designed to provide
60-65% of the targeted grant-date value from TSR performance shares and 35-40% from hybrid performance shares, which are
time-vested, subject to a performance condition. The total size of the long-term incentive awards is based on a number of
factors, including peer group and related industry competitive practice, which is used as a point of reference to gauge
appropriate total compensation levels for a company of our size, business complexity and growth profile. The Committee does
not typically consider prior period long-term incentive awards, such as the amount of equity previously granted and
outstanding, or the number of shares owned, when determining annual long-term incentive awards.
All long-term incentives awarded to our NEOs in 2019 were granted
under the 2014 Incentive Plan.
TSR Performance Shares
The Committee believes performance shares based on the
Company’s total shareholder return relative to that of its peers provides a strong link between the performance of the
executives and their pay, whereas other types of equity awards, such as stock options, may not. The Committee also believes
that a relative comparison of performance against peers over a three-year period, as opposed to a single year, provides a
better evaluation of how management performed under changing economic conditions. For these reasons, the Committee believes
that our TSR performance share awards are a good measure of performance versus the peer group and appropriately link stock
performance and compensation. To allow for payouts in excess of target without excessive dilution or the need to reserve
shares in excess of target, all payouts in excess of 100% of target are paid in the cash value of the shares, based on the
closing trading price of our Common Stock on the last day of the performance period. For additional information about
the TSR performance shares, see the table “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” below.
Hybrid Performance Shares
Due to restricted stock share limitations under the 2014
Incentive Plan and consistent with its focus on performance, in 2019 the Committee again awarded hybrid performance shares
instead of restricted stock. The hybrid performance shares vest over a three-year period from the date of grant, with 25%
vesting in each of the first two years and 50% vesting in the third year, provided the Company has $100 million or more
operating cash flow in the fiscal year prior to the vesting date. Hybrid performance shares have less underlying volatility
than traditional performance shares, and therefore help manage attrition risk by creating a more sustained forfeitable stake
in the Company. For additional information about the hybrid performance shares, see the table “Grants of Plan-Based
Awards” below.
Personal Benefits and Perquisites
We provide the NEOs with limited perquisites and other personal
benefits that the Company and the Committee believe are reasonable and consistent with the overall compensation program to
better enable us to attract and retain superior employees for key positions. The Committee periodically reviews the level of
perquisites and other personal benefits provided to the NEOs. In an effort to promote physical and financial health of
the NEOs, they are provided with club membership dues, a
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Company-paid physical examination for the
NEO and his or her spouse, a financial and tax planning stipend of up to $3,000 annually, life insurance, and spouse travel
to certain business meetings. The NEOs are reimbursed for these expenses only if they are incurred. The aggregate cost to the
Company of the perquisites and personal benefits described above for the NEOs for 2019 are included under “All Other
Compensation” in the Summary Compensation Table below.
Other Compensation Policies
We offer all our employees, including the
NEOs, industry competitive benefits including medical and dental reimbursement, short-term and long-term disability plans,
basic life and accident insurance and an employee assistance program. We offer a retirement program consisting of both
qualified and nonqualified defined contribution savings plans. See “Elements of Post-Termination Compensation”
below for further descriptions of these programs.
Impact of Regulatory Requirements
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue
Code, as amended by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Act”) in December 2017, imposes a $1 million limit on the
amount that we may deduct for compensation paid to our CEO, our CFO and our three other most highly compensated executive
officers for the taxable year (other than our CEO and CFO) (collectively the “covered employees”). The group of
covered employees also includes certain employees once considered a covered employee who continues to receive compensation
from the Company. The Tax Act provides that for certain grandfathered arrangements in effect as of November 2, 2017, this
limitation does not apply to compensation that is paid only if the covered employee’s performance meets pre-established
objective goals based on performance criteria approved by stockholders, referred to as “qualified performance based
compensation” (as defined under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code prior to amendment by the Tax Act). Our
performance shares, both TSR and hybrid, granted prior to November 2, 2017, were intended to constitute qualified performance
based compensation. The effect of that qualification is that compensation in excess of $1 million paid to our covered
employees pursuant to the TSR performance shares and hybrid performance shares granted prior to November 2, 2017 should
remain fully deductible.
Due to the elimination of the qualified performance based compensation
exemption under Section 162(m) by the Tax Act; other than for grandfathered arrangements as discussed above, beginning with awards
made after 2017, the compensation in excess of $1 million per employee paid to our covered employees pursuant to the TSR performance
shares, the hybrid performance shares and our annual cash bonus is no longer deductible by the Company. Although the deductibility
of compensation is a consideration evaluated by the Compensation Committee, the Compensation Committee believes that the lost deduction
on compensation payable in excess of the $1 million limitation is not material relative to the benefit of being able to attract
and retain talented management. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee will continue to retain the discretion to pay compensation
that is subject to the $1 million deductibility limit.
Clawback Policy
The Company has adopted a
“clawback” policy to allow the Company to recoup paid compensation from current or former executive officers in
the event of a material financial statement restatement if the executive’s intentional misconduct caused, in whole or
in part, the restatement. The amount of compensation recouped would be that which the executive would not have received if
the financials had been properly reported at the time of first public release or filing with the SEC. Both cash and all types
of equity compensation are covered by the policy. Our 2014 Incentive Plan makes any award pursuant to the plan subject to any
clawback policy adopted by the Committee, so by accepting any award under that plan, each executive agrees to be bound by the
policy. The Committee believes that this clawback policy furthers the interests of the Company and shareholders in preventing
an executive from being unjustly enriched through misconduct that results in a financial restatement that harms all
shareholders. The Committee will continue to monitor
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
44
|
the actions of the SEC with regard to the
proposed regulations implementing the clawback provisions of Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Consumer Protection
Act and will take action to amend the policy to comply with any such regulations, as necessary, when they are finalized.
Elements of Post-Termination Compensation
Savings Investment Plan
The savings investment plan is a tax-qualified retirement savings
plan, or 401(k) plan, in which all employees, including the NEOs, may participate. It allows participants to contribute the lesser
of up to 50% of their annual salary, or the limit prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service, on a pre-tax basis. We match 100%
of the first six percent of a participant’s eligible pre-tax contribution. Participants are 100% vested in the Company’s
contributions after three years of service, vesting 33% in the first year, 66% in the second year and 100% in the third year.
During 2019, the Company contributed 10% of salary and bonus of all
eligible employees, including all eligible NEOs, into the 401(k) plan (or into the nonqualified deferred compensation plan to the
extent in excess of the qualified plan limits). Participants are 100% vested in the contributions after three years of service,
vesting 33% in the first year, 66% in the second year and 100% in the third year. The Company’s contribution is approved
annually by the Board of Directors.
Deferred Compensation Plan
The nonqualified deferred compensation
plan provides supplemental retirement income benefits for our NEOs, other officers and other key employees, through voluntary
deferrals of salary, bonus and certain long-term incentives. It also allows for the Company to provide its full six percent
match and 10% non-elective contribution when contributions of the matching amount cannot be made to our 401(k) plan due to
federal income tax limitations. The plan allows the officers to defer the receipt and taxation of income until retirement
from the Company. We make no additional contributions to, nor do we pay in excess of market interest rates on, the deferred
compensation plan. Amounts deferred by an officer under the deferred compensation plan are held and invested by the Company
in various mutual funds and other investment options selected by the officer at the time of deferral. For additional
information about the deferred compensation plan, including the investment options and the manner of distributions, see
“Nonqualified Deferred Compensation” below.
Retiree Medical Coverage
NEOs are eligible for certain health
benefits for retired employees, including their spouses, eligible dependents and surviving spouses. The health care plans are
contributory with participants’ contributions adjusted annually. Employees become eligible for this benefit if they
meet certain age and service requirements at retirement.
Change in Control Agreements
We have change in control agreements with
the NEOs and the other executive officers that provide for cash payments and certain other benefits in the event that the
employee is actually or constructively terminated within two years of a change in control event. The agreements also provide
for accelerated vesting of all equity awards immediately upon a change in control, subject, in the case of the TSR
performance shares, to the level of the Company’s TSR performance relative to its peers as of the last day of the month
immediately preceding the month in which the change in control event occurs. When approving the plan, the Committee reviewed
data regarding similar plans within the peer group and the Company’s industry generally and applied its judgment to
determine whether triggering events and benefit levels under these agreements were necessary to meet the Committee’s
objectives of encouraging such employees to remain with the Company in the event of a change in control during circumstances
suggesting a change in control might occur. The Committee believes this program is important in recruiting and retaining
strong leadership and to encourage retention in these situations and that the “double-trigger” for cash payouts
meets the stockholders’ expectations
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
45
|
that employees not be unjustly enriched upon a change in control.
The cash payments include three times the
sum of base salary and the highest bonus paid in the last three years or targeted to be paid in the year of termination.
Benefits include continued eligibility for medical, dental and life insurance for three years, provided the employee pays the
premiums, three years’ service credit in retirement plans, limited outplacement assistance and tax gross-up on
excise taxes for agreements that were in place prior to 2010. In 2010, the Committee adopted a policy to exclude excise tax
gross-up provisions for change in control agreements adopted after that date.
The Committee generally views the potential payments and benefits
under the change in control agreements as a separate compensation element because such payments and benefits are not expected to
be paid in a particular year and serve a different purpose for the executive other than elements of compensation. Accordingly,
those payments and benefits do not significantly affect decisions regarding other elements of compensation.
Stock Ownership Guidelines
The GSR Committee and the Board of Directors have adopted stock ownership
guidelines for our officers and directors. Under those guidelines, nonemployee directors must hold 100% of their restricted stock
units until they cease to be a director. The Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President
are expected to hold shares of Cabot Common Stock with a market value equal to a minimum of eight times their annual base salary.
All Senior Vice Presidents are expected to hold shares of Cabot Common Stock with a market value equal to a minimum of five times
their annual base salary. All other executive officers are expected to hold shares of Cabot Common Stock with a market value equal
to a minimum of two times their annual base salary.
No sales will be approved if such sale would cause the executive officer’s
holdings to go below the minimum required shares and the required minimum level of ownership is expected to be maintained at all
times. For newly-appointed or promoted executive officers, there is a five year phase-in period, during which time they are expected
to hold all hybrid performance share vestings and 50% of value, in shares, of the after-tax shares received upon the vesting of
the TSR awards until such time as they have accumulated the required multiple of their base salaries for their respective positions.
Executive officers are required to maintain the required level of ownership, once achieved.
Each of our NEOs exceeds the stock ownership required by the guidelines,
as illustrated by the following graph:
(1) Based on the closing price of our common stock on February 3, 2020 of $14.16
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- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
46
|
Anti-Hedging Policy
We have a policy prohibiting directors and
officers from speculative trading in Company securities, including hedging transactions, short selling, and trading in put
options, call options, swaps or collars. To our knowledge, all directors and executive officers are in compliance with the
policy. The Company’s policy also strongly discourages all other employees from engaging in hedging activities in our
stock and any such transaction requires notice and pre-approval, and will only be considered with a valid justification. We
are not aware of any hedging activities by our employees in 2019.
Executive Compensation Business Risk Review
The ownership stake in the Company
provided by our equity-based compensation, the extended vesting of these awards and our stock ownership guidelines are
designed to align the interests of our NEOs with our shareholders, maximize performance and promote executive retention. At
the same time, the Committee believes, with the concurrence of our independent consultant, that our executive compensation
program does not encourage management to take unreasonable risks related to the Company’s business. The factors that
support this conclusion are our focus on long-term incentive compensation, our use of balanced long-term incentives, metric
diversification and capped opportunities in our annual bonus plan and long-term incentives and our stock ownership
guidelines.
Compensation Committee Report
The following report of the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC or subject to the
SEC’s proxy rules, except for the required disclosure in this Proxy Statement, or subject to the liabilities of Section 18
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”), and the information shall not be deemed to be incorporated
by reference into any filing made by the company under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act.
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has reviewed
and discussed with management the above Compensation Discussion and Analysis. Based on such review and discussions, the Compensation
Committee recommended to the Board 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 December 31, 2019 for filing with the
SEC.
The Compensation Committee
Rhys J. Best (Chairman)
Dorothy M. Ables
W. Matt Ralls
Marcus A. Watts
February 18, 2020
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- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
47
|
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table
The table below summarizes the total compensation paid to
or earned by each of the CEO, the CFO and the next three most highly compensated executive officers (“NEOs”) for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. Cash bonus amounts paid under the Company’s 2014 Incentive Plan, which are
listed in the column titled “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation,” were determined by the Committee at its
February 2020 meeting for 2019 performance and, to the extent not deferred by the executive, were paid out shortly
thereafter. For additional information about non-equity incentive plan compensation, see “Annual Cash Incentive
Bonus” above.
Name and
Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary
($)
|
|
Bonus
($)(1)
|
|
Stock
Awards
($)(2)
|
|
Option
Awards
($)
|
|
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)(3)
|
|
Change
in
Pension Value
and Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
|
|
All
Other
Compensation
($)(4)
|
|
Total
($)
|
Dan
O. Dinges
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
2019
|
|
1,090,392
|
|
|
-
|
|
10,441,509
|
|
|
-
|
|
1,930,500
|
|
|
-
|
|
368,525
|
|
13,830,926
|
|
2018
|
|
1,035,581
|
|
|
-
|
|
9,546,325
|
|
|
-
|
|
2,100,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
368,414
|
|
13,050,320
|
|
2017
|
|
960,580
|
|
|
-
|
|
8,709,748
|
|
|
-
|
|
2,437,500
|
|
|
-
|
|
293,205
|
|
12,401,033
|
Scott C. Schroeder
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
|
2019
|
|
623,437
|
|
|
-
|
|
4,746,113
|
|
|
-
|
|
934,065
|
|
|
-
|
|
212,467
|
|
6,516,082
|
|
2018
|
|
590,402
|
|
|
-
|
|
4,295,827
|
|
|
-
|
|
960,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
196,616
|
|
6,042,845
|
|
2017
|
|
535,590
|
|
|
-
|
|
3,981,597
|
|
|
-
|
|
1,100,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
165,258
|
|
5,782,445
|
Jeffrey W. Hutton
Senior Vice President, Marketing
|
|
2019
|
|
440,208
|
|
|
-
|
|
1,406,618
|
|
|
-
|
|
480,600
|
|
|
-
|
|
132,487
|
|
2,459,913
|
|
2018
|
|
413,282
|
|
|
-
|
|
1,193,269
|
|
|
-
|
|
504,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
113,319
|
|
2,223,870
|
|
2017
|
|
379,240
|
|
|
-
|
|
995,393
|
|
|
-
|
|
577,500
|
|
|
-
|
|
106,461
|
|
2,058,594
|
Phillip L. Stalnaker
Senior Vice President, Operations
|
|
2019
|
|
440,208
|
|
|
-
|
|
1,406,618
|
|
|
-
|
|
480,600
|
|
|
-
|
|
105,816
|
|
2,433,242
|
|
2018
|
|
413,282
|
|
|
-
|
|
1,193,269
|
|
|
-
|
|
504,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
91,505
|
|
2,202,056
|
|
2017
|
|
378,276
|
|
|
-
|
|
995,393
|
|
|
-
|
|
577,500
|
|
|
-
|
|
91,580
|
|
2,042,749
|
Steven W. Lindeman
Senior Vice President, EHS and Engineering
|
|
2019
|
|
440,208
|
|
|
-
|
|
1,406,618
|
|
|
-
|
|
480,600
|
|
|
-
|
|
125,550
|
|
2,452,976
|
|
2018
|
|
413,282
|
|
|
-
|
|
1,193,269
|
|
|
-
|
|
504,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
99,940
|
|
2,210,491
|
|
2017
|
|
378,276
|
|
|
-
|
|
995,393
|
|
|
-
|
|
577,500
|
|
|
-
|
|
96,847
|
|
2,048,016
|
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
48
|
(1)
|
Cash bonuses paid pursuant to the 2014 Incentive Plan for 2019, 2018 and 2017
annual performance are listed under the column “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation.”
|
|
|
(2)
|
The amounts in this column reflect the grant date fair value with respect to both the TSR
and the hybrid performance share awards for the relevant fiscal year in accordance with the FASB ASC Topic 718. The grant
date fair value of the hybrid performance share awards was the closing stock trading price on the date of grant. The grant
date fair values per share used to compute the amounts in this column for the two types of performance shares are as follows:
|
|
Grant Date
|
Grant Date Fair Value per Share (Hybrid)
|
Grant Date Fair Value per Share (TSR)
|
|
February 22, 2017
|
$22.60
|
$31.80
|
|
February 21, 2018
|
$23.25
|
$30.74
|
|
February 20, 2019
|
$24.95
|
$32.11
|
|
The TSR performance shares, including the liability component for cash payments
over 100% of target, were valued using a Monte Carlo model. Assumptions used in the Monte Carlo model for the TSR performance
share awards, as well as additional information regarding accounting for performance share awards, are included in Note 14
of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the years shown. The Monte
Carlo model values for the TSR performance share awards are used solely for financial reporting purposes and are not used
by the Compensation Committee of our Board when determining grants. The Committee used closing stock price on the date of
grant to set the target TSR performance share awards for each of the NEOs for 2019. The total target stock awards for 2019
at grant date as awarded by the Committee was as follows: Mr. Dinges, $8,800,000; Mr. Schroeder, $4,000,000; Mr. Hutton, $1,200,000;
Mr. Stalnaker, $1,200,000; and Mr. Lindeman, $1,200,000.
|
|
|
(3)
|
The amounts in this column reflect cash incentive awards to the NEOs under the 2014 Incentive
Plan, which is discussed in detail above under “Annual Cash Incentive Bonus.”
|
|
|
(4)
|
The amounts in this column include the Company’s matching contribution to the Savings
Investment Plan (401(k) plan), which is discussed above under “Elements of Post-Termination Compensation-Savings Investment
Plan.” For 2019, such contribution totaled $16,800 for each NEO. The amounts also include the 10% Company retirement
contribution to the 401(k) plan or to the deferred compensation plan, to the extent in excess of the 401(k) plan limits.
Such contribution for 2019 totaled $298,839 for Mr. Dinges; $138,144 for Mr. Schroeder; $74,221 for Mr. Hutton; $57,219 for
Mr. Stalnaker and $74,221 for Mr. Lindeman. The amounts also include for each NEO some or all of the following:
|
|
•
|
Premiums paid on executive term life insurance;
|
|
•
|
Club dues;
|
|
•
|
Executive physical examination for the NEOs and their spouses; and
|
|
•
|
A financial and tax planning stipend of up to $3,000 per year.
|
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
49
|
CEO Pay Ratio
The table below sets forth comparative information regarding:
•
|
the annual total compensation of our CEO, Mr. Dinges, for the year ended
December 31, 2019, determined using the amount reported in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table
above;
|
|
|
•
|
the median of the annual total compensation of all employees of the Company and its consolidated
subsidiaries, excluding our CEO, for the year ended December 31, 2019, determined on the basis described below; and
|
|
|
•
|
a ratio comparison of those two amounts, each as determined in accordance with rules prescribed
by the SEC.
|
For purposes of determining the median of
the annual total compensation of all employees of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, excluding our CEO, for the year
ended December 31, 2019, the applicable SEC rules require us to identify the median employee, by using either annual total compensation
for all such employees or another consistently applied compensation measure. In identifying the median employee, we:
•
|
used total taxable earnings reported on each employees’ W-2, as determined
from the Company’s payroll records for the period from January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019 as our consistently
applied compensation measure;
|
|
|
•
|
included equity-based incentive compensation awards, but, because those awards are not widely
distributed to our employees, those awards did not impact the determination of the median employee;
|
|
|
•
|
included all employees of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of December 31,
2019 whether employed on a full-time, part-time or seasonal basis;
|
|
|
•
|
did not make any assumptions, adjustments, or estimates with respect to total taxable earnings;
|
|
|
•
|
did not annualize the compensation for any permanent employees that were not employed by us
for all of 2019; and
|
|
|
•
|
did not use statistical sampling or include any cost of living adjustments.
|
After identifying the median employee, based
on the process described above, we calculated annual total compensation for that employee using the same methodology we used for
determining total compensation for 2019 for our named executive officers as set forth in the Summary Compensation Table.
CEO annual total compensation (A)
|
|
$
|
13,830,926
|
|
Median annual total compensation of all employees (excluding CEO) (B)
|
|
$
|
74,070
|
|
Ratio of (A) to (B)
|
|
|
187:1
|
|
The Company believes that the CEO pay ratio above is a reasonable
estimate calculated in a manner consistent with rules prescribed by the SEC.
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
50
|
2019 Grants of Plan-Based Awards
The table below reports all grants of plan-based
awards made during 2019. All grants of awards were made under the Company’s 2014 Incentive Plan.
|
|
|
|
Estimated Possible Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards
|
|
Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive Plan
Awards
|
|
All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number
of Shares
|
|
All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
|
|
Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards
|
|
Grant Date
Fair Value
of Stock
and Option
Awards
|
Name
|
|
Grant Date
|
|
Threshold
($)
|
|
Target
($)
|
|
Maximum
($)(1)
|
|
Threshold
(#)
|
|
Target
(#)(2)
|
|
Maximum
(#)(3)
|
|
(#)
|
|
(#)
|
|
($/Sh)
|
|
($)(4)
|
Dan O.
|
|
02/20/2019
|
|
0
|
|
1,430,000
|
|
3,575,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dinges
|
|
02/20/2019
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
229,259
|
|
458,518
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,361,506
|
|
|
02/20/2019
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
123,447
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,080,003
|
Scott C.
|
|
02/20/2019
|
|
0
|
|
691,900
|
|
1,729,750
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Schroeder
|
|
02/20/2019
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
104,208
|
|
208,416
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,346,119
|
|
|
02/20/2019
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
56,112
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,399,994
|
Jeffrey W.
|
|
02/20/2019
|
|
0
|
|
356,000
|
|
890,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hutton
|
|
02/20/2019
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
28,858
|
|
57,716
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
926,630
|
|
|
02/20/2019
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,238
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
479,988
|
Phillip L.
|
|
02/20/2019
|
|
0
|
|
356,000
|
|
890,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stalnaker
|
|
02/20/2019
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
28,858
|
|
57,716
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
926,630
|
|
|
02/20/2019
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,238
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
479,988
|
Steven W.
|
|
02/20/2019
|
|
0
|
|
356,000
|
|
890,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lindeman
|
|
02/20/2019
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
28,858
|
|
57,716
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
926,630
|
|
|
02/20/2019
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,238
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
479,988
|
(1)
|
Amounts in this column represent a bonus payout of 250% of target. See discussion of the bonus factor applicable to the 2019 annual cash incentive bonus in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above under “Annual Cash Incentive Bonus.” See also the actual bonus awards for 2019 in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column of the “2019 Summary Compensation Table” above.
|
(2)
|
The first amount in this column for each NEO represents 100% of TSR performance shares, which will be paid out based on the relative total shareholder return on the Company’s stock over the three-year period from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021, if the Company’s total shareholder return ranks 9th or higher out of its peer group of seventeen companies, including the Company. The second amount in this column for each NEO represents 100% of hybrid performance shares, which vest 25% on each of the first and second anniversaries of the date of grant and 50% on the third anniversary of the date of grant, provided the Company has $100 million or more operating cash flow in the fiscal year prior to the vesting date.
|
(3)
|
Amounts in this column represent 200% of the targeted TSR performance shares, although amounts earned in excess of 100% up to 200% are paid in cash, rather than shares, based on the closing trading prices of a share of Common Stock on the last day of the performance period. See discussion of the additional terms of the TSR performance shares below.
|
(4)
|
The amounts in this column reflect the grant date fair value of the TSR performance shares and the hybrid performance shares granted in 2019, as computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718. The TSR performance share awards were valued using a Monte Carlo model and the grant date fair value per share used for financial reporting purposes was $32.11. The hybrid performance share awards were valued using the Company’s closing stock trading price on the date of grant, which was $24.95. Additional assumptions used in the Monte Carlo model for TSR performance shares and other assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts, are included in Note 14 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2019.
|
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
51
|
TSR Performance Shares
The TSR performance shares awarded in 2019
have a three-year performance period, which commenced January 1, 2019 and ends December 31, 2021. Each TSR performance share represents
the right to receive, after the end of the performance period, from 0% to 200% of a share of Common Stock (with amounts over 100%
paid in cash), based on the Company’s performance. The performance criteria that determines the payout per performance share
is the relative total shareholder return on the Company’s Common Stock as compared to the total shareholder return on the
common equity of each company in a comparator group. For this purpose, total shareholder return is expressed as a percentage equal
to common stock price appreciation as averaged for the first and last month of the performance period, plus dividends (on a cumulative
reinvested basis).
The comparator group consists of the companies
listed above under “Industry Peer Group.” If any member of the comparator group ceases to have publicly traded common
stock or if as a result of other business transactions becomes incomparable, it may be removed from the comparator group and a
replacement company added by the Compensation Committee, or the Committee may decide to reduce the peer group to the remaining
companies.
After the end of the performance period,
the Company will issue shares of Common Stock and pay cash in respect of each TSR performance share based on the relative ranking
of the Company versus the comparator group for total shareholder return during the performance period using the following scale:
Company Relative Placement
|
|
Percent Performance Shares
|
|
Value Consideration
|
1–2 (highest)
|
|
200%
|
|
100% stock / 100% cash
|
3
|
|
185%
|
|
100% stock / 85% cash
|
4
|
|
170%
|
|
100% stock / 70% cash
|
5
|
|
155%
|
|
100% stock / 55% cash
|
6
|
|
140%
|
|
100% stock / 40% cash
|
7
|
|
125%
|
|
100% stock / 25% cash
|
8
|
|
110%
|
|
100% stock / 10% cash
|
9
|
|
100%
|
|
Stock
|
10
|
|
90%
|
|
Stock
|
11
|
|
75%
|
|
Stock
|
12
|
|
60%
|
|
Stock
|
13
|
|
45%
|
|
Stock
|
14
|
|
30%
|
|
Stock
|
15
|
|
15%
|
|
Stock
|
16–17 (lowest)
|
|
0%
|
|
|
As noted above, in the event of a relative
ranking of 1 through 8, corresponding to a percentage payout above 100%, a share of TSR performance stock will entitle the participant
to receive one full share of Common Stock with respect to the first 100% of the payout and the balance of the payout in cash, in
an amount based on the fair market value of a share of Common Stock at the end of the performance period. The Committee certifies
the Company’s relative placement and the resulting level of achievement of the performance share awards prior to the issuance
of Common Stock and cash, if any.
If a participant is not an employee on the
last day of the performance period due to death, disability or retirement, Common Stock will be issued on the original performance
period schedule and the level of payout will be determined as with all other participants, except that (i) if the participant retires
and thereafter accepts an offer of employment from a competitor at any time prior to the receipt of Common Stock, the participant
will forfeit the right to receive such Common Stock and (ii) in the case of a retirement, the participant must be an employee on
December 31st of the year the award is granted in order to continue vesting in the award. If a participant is not an
employee on the date the Compensation Committee certifies the Company’s achievement level with respect to the TSR performance
shares due to any other voluntary or involuntary termination, no Common Stock or cash will be issued in respect of the participant’s
TSR performance share award unless otherwise
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
52
|
determined by the Compensation Committee.
Prior to the issuance of shares of Common Stock in respect of a TSR performance share award, the participant will have no right
to vote or receive dividends on the shares. The TSR performance share award may not be assigned or transferred except by will or
the laws of descent and distribution. In the event of a Change In Control (as defined) all unvested TSR performance shares shall
vest to the extent of actual performance as of the Change In Control.
Actual performance as of the Change In Control
is based on the greater of (i) total shareholder return through the end of the month prior to the Change In Control or (ii) total
shareholder return through the end of the month prior to the Change In Control calculated using the value realized by shareholders
in the Change In Control event. In the event the Company ceases to have publicly traded Common Stock as a result of a business
combination or other extraordinary transaction, the performance period will be terminated effective upon the date of such cessation.
For additional information about the treatment
of certain of Mr. Dinges’ awards in the event of an employment termination, see “Potential Payments Upon Termination
or Change In Control” below.
Hybrid Performance Shares
The hybrid performance shares awarded in
2019 vest 25% on each of the first two anniversaries of the date of grant and 50% on the third anniversary of the date of grant,
provided the Company has $100 million or more operating cash flow in the fiscal year prior to the vesting date. If the performance
metric is not met in any given year, then the respective tranche of hybrid performance shares will be forfeited. Unvested hybrid
performance shares will be forfeited if, during the three-year vesting period, the executive voluntarily leaves the Company. In
the event of an involuntary termination by the Company, the Compensation Committee will determine whether the unvested hybrid performance
shares will be forfeited. In the event of an employment termination due to death, disability or retirement, all unvested hybrid
performance shares will vest in accordance with the original vesting schedule except that (i) if the participant retires and thereafter
accepts an offer of employment from a competitor at any time prior to the receipt of hybrid performance shares, the participant
will lose the right to receive such hybrid performance shares and (ii) in the case of a retirement, the participant must be an
employee on December 31st of the year the award is granted in order to continue vesting in the award. Prior to vesting,
the participant has no right to vote or receive dividends on such shares but the unvested shares accrue dividends that are paid
in cash upon vesting. Accrued dividends are forfeited if the shares never vest. The hybrid performance shares may not be assigned
or transferred except by will or the laws of descent and distribution. In the event of a Change In Control (as defined), the unvested
hybrid performance shares will vest.
In the event of any merger, reorganization,
recapitalization, separation, liquidation, stock dividend, share combination or other change in the corporate structure of the
Company affecting the performance shares, the number of performance shares will be equitably adjusted by the Compensation Committee
to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights.
For additional information about the treatment
of certain of Mr. Dinges’ awards in the event of an employment termination, see “Potential Payments Upon Termination
or Change In Control” below.
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
53
|
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 2019
The table below reports for each NEO outstanding equity awards
at December 31, 2019.
|
Option Awards
|
|
Stock Awards
|
Name
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Exercisable
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Unexercisable
|
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options
(#)
|
Option
Exercise
Price
($)
|
Option
Expiration
Date
|
|
Number
of Shares
or
Units
of Stock
That
Have Not
Vested
(#)
|
Market
Value of
Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have Not Vested
($)
|
Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned Shares,
Units or Other
Rights That Have
Not Vested
(#)(1)
|
Equity Incentive
Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($)(2)
|
Dan
O. Dinges
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
435,711
|
|
7,585,729
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
288,620
|
|
5,024,874
|
|
Scott C. Schroeder
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
197,111
|
|
3,431,703
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
130,883
|
|
2,278,673
|
|
Jeffrey W. Hutton
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
54,664
|
|
951,700
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
39,221
|
|
682,838
|
|
Phillip L. Stalnaker
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
54,664
|
|
951,700
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
39,221
|
|
682,838
|
|
Steven W. Lindeman
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
54,664
|
|
951,700
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
39,221
|
|
682,838
|
|
(1)
|
The first amount in this column for each NEO is TSR performance share awards. The terms and conditions of the TSR performance share awards are described in the narrative following the “2019 Grants of Plan-Based Awards” table above. The TSR performance shares vest, if at all, for each executive as follows (assuming 100% payout):
|
|
Date
|
Dan O. Dinges
|
Scott C. Schroeder
|
Jeffrey W. Hutton
|
Phillip L. Stalnaker
|
Steven W. Lindeman
|
|
12/31/2020
|
206,452
|
92,903
|
25,806
|
25,806
|
25,806
|
|
12/31/2021
|
229,259
|
104,208
|
28,858
|
28,858
|
28,858
|
The second amount in this column for each
NEO is hybrid performance shares. The terms and conditions of the hybrid performance share awards are described in the narrative
following the “2019 Grants of Plan-Based Awards” table above. The hybrid performance shares vest, if at all, for each
executive as follows:
|
Date
|
Dan O. Dinges
|
Scott C. Schroeder
|
Jeffrey W. Hutton
|
Phillip L. Stalnaker
|
Steven W. Lindeman
|
|
2/20/2020
|
30,861
|
14,028
|
4,809
|
4,809
|
4,809
|
|
2/20/2021
|
30,862
|
14,028
|
4,810
|
4,810
|
4,810
|
|
2/20/2022
|
61,724
|
28,056
|
9,619
|
9,619
|
9,619
|
|
2/21/2020
|
34,409
|
15,484
|
4,301
|
4,301
|
4,301
|
|
2/21/2021
|
68,817
|
30,968
|
8,602
|
8,602
|
8,602
|
|
2/22/2020
|
61,947
|
28,319
|
7,080
|
7,080
|
7,080
|
(2)
|
Market value is based on the $17.41 per share closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on December 31, 2019.
|
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
54
|
2019 Option Exercises and Stock Vested
The table below reports stock options that were exercised and
performance shares that vested during 2019.
|
|
Option Awards
|
|
Stock Awards
|
Name
|
|
Number of Shares
Acquired on Exercise
(#)
|
|
Value Realized
on Exercise
($)
|
|
Number of Shares
Acquired on Vesting
(#)
|
|
Value Realized
on Vesting
($)
|
Dan O. Dinges
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
314,669
|
(1)
|
|
|
6,479,381
|
(1)(3)
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,750,168
|
(2)
|
Scott C. Schroeder
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
143,881
|
(1)
|
|
|
2,962,815
|
(1)(3)
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,257,221
|
(2)
|
Jeffrey W. Hutton
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
36,547
|
(1)
|
|
|
755,226
|
(1)(3)
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
314,305
|
(2)
|
Phillip L. Stalnaker
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
36,401
|
(1)
|
|
|
751,550
|
(1)(3)
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
314,305
|
(2)
|
Steven W. Lindeman
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
36,401
|
(1)
|
|
|
751,550
|
(1)(3)
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
314,305
|
(2)
|
(1)
|
Represents the number of shares and value realized for: (a) TSR performance shares, the performance period for which was January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2019 and which paid out at 185% of target upon the Compensation Committee’s certification of the results on January 3, 2020, and (b) hybrid performance shares that vested in February 2019, upon the Compensation Committee’s certification of the performance metric of achieving at least $100 million of operating cash flow in 2018.
|
(2)
|
Represents the cash portion of the TSR performance share award for performance in excess of 100% of target.
|
(3)
|
These amounts represent the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the vesting dates multiplied by the number of shares acquired and do not indicate that there was a sale of these shares by the NEO.
|
2019 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
The table below reports NEO contributions, Company contributions,
earnings, and aggregate balances in the Company’s deferred compensation plan for 2019.
Name
|
|
Executive
Contributions in Last
FY ($)(1)
|
|
Registrant
Contributions in Last
FY ($)(2)
|
|
Aggregate
Earnings in
Last FY ($)(3)
|
|
Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions ($)(4)
|
|
Aggregate
Balance at
Last FYE ($)(5)
|
Dan O. Dinges
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
298,839
|
|
|
$
|
301,693
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
12,411,761
|
|
Scott C. Schroeder
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
138,144
|
|
|
|
(627,982
|
)
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
6,373,243
|
|
Jeffrey W. Hutton
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
74,221
|
|
|
|
23,097
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
1,239,552
|
|
Phillip L. Stalnaker
|
|
|
170,021
|
|
|
|
57,219
|
|
|
|
237,596
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
1,366,079
|
|
Steven W. Lindeman
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
74,221
|
|
|
|
125,656
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
647,484
|
|
(1)
|
Amounts reported in this column are included in the Summary Compensation
Table as salary and non-equity incentive plan compensation, as applicable.
|
(2)
|
Amounts reported in this column are included in the Summary Compensation
Table as all other compensation.
|
(3)
|
Amounts reported in this column
are not included in the Summary Compensation Table.
|
(4)
|
Distribution pursuant to election by the NEO.
|
(5)
|
Of the aggregate deferred compensation balances in this column, the following
amounts represent cumulative executive contributions for all years: Mr. Dinges, $4,833,437; Mr. Schroeder, $2,592,540;
Mr. Hutton, $553,350; Mr. Stalnaker, $581,320; and Mr. Lindeman, $2,875.
|
Up to 100% of salary and annual cash incentive
bonus are permitted to be deferred into the deferred compensation plan, subject to payment of social security, Medicare, incomes
taxes (on compensation not deferred) and employee benefit plan withholding requirements. Prior to June 1, 2008, TSR performance
shares were permitted to be deferred into the deferred compensation plan. The Company also makes contributions to make up for certain
matching and profit-sharing contributions which, due to U.S. Internal Revenue Service limitations, cannot be contributed to the
Company’s tax-qualified 401(k) plan. Earnings on the deferred balances are determined by the executive’s investment
selections at the time of deferral. The Company holds deferred amounts and earnings thereon as corporate assets, which are invested
as elected by the executive. For 2019, the investment options and their respective rates of return follow:
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
55
|
Fund
Name
|
|
Rate of Return
|
|
Fund Name
|
|
Rate of Return
|
Cabot Oil &
Gas Common Stock
|
|
|
-20.78
|
%
|
|
Fidelity® Mid Cap Index Fund
|
|
|
30.51
|
%
|
Carillon Scout Mid Cap Class R-6
|
|
|
20.84
|
%
|
|
Fidelity® 500 Index Fund
|
|
|
31.47
|
%
|
Davis NY Venture Fund Class Y
|
|
|
31.26
|
%
|
|
Fidelity® Capital Appreciation Fund Class K
|
|
|
30.14
|
%
|
Fidelity Freedom®
K 2005
|
|
|
12.33
|
%
|
|
Fidelity® Global ex U.S. Index Fund
|
|
|
21.34
|
%
|
Fidelity Freedom®
K 2010
|
|
|
14.41
|
%
|
|
Fidelity® International Discovery Fund Class K
|
|
|
27.64
|
%
|
Fidelity Freedom®
K 2015
|
|
|
16.37
|
%
|
|
Fidelity® Real Estate Index Fund
|
|
|
23.02
|
%
|
Fidelity Freedom®
K 2020
|
|
|
18.14
|
%
|
|
Fidelity® Retirement Money Market Fund
|
|
|
1.95
|
%
|
Fidelity Freedom®
K 2025
|
|
|
19.57
|
%
|
|
Fidelity® Small Cap Index Fund
|
|
|
25.71
|
%
|
Fidelity Freedom®
K 2030
|
|
|
21.87
|
%
|
|
Fidelity® U.S. Bond Index Fund
|
|
|
8.48
|
%
|
Fidelity Freedom®
K 2035
|
|
|
24.55
|
%
|
|
Glenmede Small Cap Equity Portfolio IS Class
|
|
|
21.33
|
%
|
Fidelity Freedom®
K 2040
|
|
|
25.49
|
%
|
|
John Hancock Disciplined Value Fund Class R6
|
|
|
22.79
|
%
|
Fidelity Freedom®
K 2045
|
|
|
25.54
|
%
|
|
Lord Abbett Mid Cap Stock Fund Class I(1)
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
Fidelity Freedom®
K 2050
|
|
|
25.48
|
%
|
|
Oakmark Equity & Income Fund Investor Class
|
|
|
19.31
|
%
|
Fidelity Freedom®
K 2055
|
|
|
25.57
|
%
|
|
Oakmark Fund Investor Class
|
|
|
26.98
|
%
|
Fidelity Freedom®
K 2060
|
|
|
25.44
|
%
|
|
T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth Fund I Class
|
|
|
30.13
|
%
|
Fidelity
Freedom® K Income Fund Class K
|
|
|
10.74
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Lord Abbett Mid Cap Stock was replaced by Carillon Scout Mid Cap Fund Class R-6.
|
Distributions from the deferred compensation
plan are based on the executive’s election at the time of deferral. Distribution elections may be modified, provided that
the modification is made at least one year prior to the original time elected and the new election is moved out at least five years
past the original time-based distribution election. Distribution elections can only be delayed not accelerated.
Potential Payments Upon Termination or
Change in Control
Change in Control Benefits
The Company has entered into change in control
agreements with each NEO and certain other officers of the Company. The Committee believes that these agreements encourage these
executives to remain employed and to carry out their duties with the Company in the event of a change in control of the Company
and during circumstances suggesting a change in control might occur. The Committee believes this program is important to maintaining
strong leadership in those situations.
In the agreements, a “change in control”
is generally defined to include:
•
|
any person or group becoming the beneficial owner of 35% or more of either the Company’s Common Stock or the combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding voting securities, with certain exceptions;
|
•
|
specified changes in a majority of the members of the Board of Directors;
|
•
|
a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of substantially all of the Company’s assets being consummated, unless, following the transaction:
|
|
-
|
the persons who were the beneficial owners of the Company prior to the transaction continue to own at least 50% of the Common Stock or other securities entitled to vote in the election of directors of the resulting entity in substantially the same proportions as prior to the transaction,
|
|
-
|
no individual or entity (other than an entity resulting from the transaction) beneficially owns 35% or more of the common equity or voting power of the entity resulting from the transaction, except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the transaction, and
|
|
-
|
at least a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the entity resulting from the transaction were members of the Company’s Board at the time the transaction was approved or entered into; and
|
•
|
a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
|
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
56
|
The agreements provide that, in the event
of a change in control or upon an occurrence deemed to be in anticipation of a change in control, the executives will receive certain
benefits, provided that their employment is terminated within two years of such event. The executive will receive these benefits
unless termination is:
•
|
for cause;
|
•
|
voluntary on the part of the executive (but not a constructive termination without cause); or
|
•
|
due to death or disability.
|
Benefits under the change in control agreements
generally include:
•
|
a lump-sum cash payment equal to three times the sum of:
|
|
-
|
the executive’s base salary in effect immediately prior to the change in control or the executive’s termination, whichever is greater, and
|
|
-
|
the greater of (1) the executive’s target bonus for the year during which the change in control occurred or, if greater, the year during which the executive’s termination occurred, or (2) the executive’s actual bonus paid in any of the three fiscal years immediately preceding the change in control or, if termination of employment occurs prior to a change in control, termination of employment;
|
•
|
three years of continued medical, dental and life insurance coverage at the premium rate applicable to active executives; and
|
•
|
outplacement assistance in an amount up to 15% of the executive’s base salary.
|
Beginning in 2010, the Company ceased entering
into agreements containing tax gross-up payments on payments to executives by the Company upon a change in control. The agreements
in place prior to that time with all of the NEOs provide that in the event that excise taxes apply to payments to the executives
by the Company upon a change in control, the Company will make an additional tax gross-up payment to the executive in an amount
necessary to leave the executive “whole,” as if no excise tax had applied. No payments have been made to any of the
NEOs under these agreements.
The award agreements for all of the NEOs’
long-term equity awards also include provisions for the immediate vesting of all unvested awards upon the change in control event,
as follows:
•
|
payment with respect to traditional performance shares based on performance through the change in control event as more fully described above under “Grants of Plan-Based Awards;”
|
•
|
immediate vesting and exercisability of all of the executive’s stock options and SAR awards, with exercisability extended for the full term of the award;
|
•
|
immediate vesting and lapse of restrictions on any outstanding restricted stock grants; and
|
•
|
immediate vesting of any outstanding hybrid performance shares.
|
For a more detailed discussion of the terms
of these awards, see above under “Grants of Plan-Based Awards.”
CEO Employment Agreement
In addition to a change in control agreement,
we have entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Dinges. Under the terms of Mr. Dinges’ employment agreement,
in the event of a change in control, Mr. Dinges will receive the more generous of the benefits and payments, as determined
on a benefit-by-benefit basis, under either his change in control agreement or his employment agreement, but not both. The employment
agreement provides that if Mr. Dinges terminates his employment for good reason (as defined) or if the Company terminates
his employment other than for cause (as defined), Mr. Dinges will receive:
•
|
a lump-sum cash payment equal to two times his annual base salary plus two times his annual target bonus;
|
•
|
a 24-month continuation of medical and life insurance programs at the premium rate applicable to active executives;
|
•
|
full vesting of all of his restricted stock awards;
|
•
|
full vesting of all of his stock option awards and SAR awards, with exercisability extending for 36 months following termination (or the expiration of the original term, if earlier); and
|
•
|
full vesting of all of his performance shares, subject to the payout provisions in the underlying award agreements.
|
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
57
|
Potential Payments to NEOs
The tables below reflect the compensation payable
to each NEO upon voluntary termination, retirement, involuntary not-for-cause termination, for cause termination, termination following
a change in control and in the event of disability or death of the executive. The table reflects the amounts that would have been
paid to each NEO assuming the event occurred on December 31, 2019. The actual amounts to be paid out can only be determined at
the time of such executive’s separation from the Company.
DAN O. DINGES, CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Executive Benefit
and Payments
Upon Separation
|
|
Voluntary
Termination
for Good
Reason
|
|
Voluntary
Termination
|
|
Retirement(1)
|
|
Involuntary
Not For
Cause
Termination
|
|
For Cause
Termination
|
|
Change In
Control(2)
|
|
Disability
|
|
Death
|
Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Multiple of Salary
(0x, 2x or 3x)
|
|
$
|
2,200,000
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
$
|
2,200,000
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
$
|
3,300,000
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
Multiple of Bonus
(-x, 2x or 3x)
|
|
$
|
4,875,000
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
$
|
4,875,000
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
$
|
7,312,500
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
Long-Term Incentive Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Performance Share Vesting(3)
|
|
$
|
12,610,603
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
$
|
12,610,603
|
|
|
$
|
12,610,603
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
$
|
12,610,603
|
|
|
$
|
12,610,603
|
|
|
$
|
12,610,603
|
|
Benefits & Perquisites
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payout of Deferred Compensation(4)
|
|
$
|
12,411,761
|
|
|
$
|
12,411,761
|
|
|
$
|
12,411,761
|
|
|
$
|
12,411,761
|
|
|
$
|
12,411,761
|
|
|
$
|
12,411,761
|
|
|
$
|
12,411,761
|
|
|
$
|
12,411,761
|
|
Health, Life, and Welfare Benefits Continuation
|
|
$
|
65,962
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
$
|
65,962
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
$
|
65,962
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
Excise Tax & Gross-Up
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
Outplacement Services
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
$
|
135,000
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
Earned Vacation
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
32,163,326
|
|
|
$
|
12,411,761
|
|
|
$
|
25,022,364
|
|
|
$
|
32,163,326
|
|
|
$
|
12,411,761
|
|
|
$
|
35,835,826
|
|
|
$
|
25,022,364
|
|
|
$
|
25,022,236
|
|
(1)
|
Mr. Dinges was retirement eligible on December 31,
2019.
|
(2)
|
Amounts in this column represent accelerated vesting of long-term
incentive compensation, which will occur immediately upon the change in control event, pursuant to the terms of the awards.
|
(3)
|
The amounts set forth in this row represent a payout at achievement
of 100% of pre-established performance objectives. Under normal conditions, the actual payout of the TSR performance awards
will occur at the end of the relevant performance period, and may be higher or lower than 100% (up to a maximum of 200%) depending
on the Company’s actual TSR ranking for the performance period. However, in the event of a change in control, the performance
period will be shortened and payout will occur immediately following the change in control based on the greater of (i) TSR
through the end of the month prior to the change in control, or (ii) TSR through the end of the month prior to the change
in control using the value realized by shareholders in the change in control event. For hybrid performance shares, receipt
of the full payout will occur at the original vesting dates set forth in the award agreements only if the relevant operating
income targets are achieved, except in the case of a change in control, in which case full payout will be made immediately
upon the change in control. These values were computed using the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on December
31, 2019 of $17.41.
|
(4)
|
Amounts in this row represent earned compensation voluntarily deferred
by the NEO under the terms of the deferred compensation plan. For more information, see “2019 Nonqualified Deferred
Compensation” above. For termination of employment due to retirement, payment of the deferred compensation is based
upon the NEO’s election at the time of deferral. For all other terminations of employment, payment of the deferred compensation
is in a lump sum six months from the date of termination.
|
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
58
|
SCOTT C. SCHROEDER, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CFO
Executive
Benefit
and Payments
Upon Separation
|
|
Voluntary
Termination
|
|
Retirement(1)
|
|
Involuntary
Not For Cause
Termination
|
|
For
Cause
Termination
|
|
Change
In
Control(2)
|
|
Disability
|
|
Death
|
Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Multiple of Salary (0x or 3x)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
1,887,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Multiple of Bonus (0x or 3x)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
3,300,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Long-Term Incentive Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Performance Share Vesting(3)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
5,710,376
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
5,710,376
|
|
|
$
|
5,710,376
|
|
|
$
|
5,710,376
|
|
Benefits & Perquisites
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payout of Deferred Compensation(4)
|
|
$
|
6,373,243
|
|
|
$
|
6,373,243
|
|
|
$
|
6,373,243
|
|
|
$
|
6,373,243
|
|
|
$
|
6,373,243
|
|
|
$
|
6,373,243
|
|
|
$
|
6,373,243
|
|
Health, Life, and Welfare Benefits Continuation
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
103,531
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Excise Tax & Gross-Up
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Outplacement Services
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
71,250
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Earned Vacation
|
|
$
|
19,774
|
|
|
$
|
19,774
|
|
|
$
|
19,774
|
|
|
$
|
19,774
|
|
|
$
|
19,774
|
|
|
$
|
19,774
|
|
|
$
|
19,774
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
6,393,017
|
|
|
$
|
12,103,393
|
|
|
$
|
6,393,017
|
|
|
$
|
6,393,017
|
|
|
$
|
17,465,174
|
|
|
$
|
12,103,393
|
|
|
$
|
12,103,393
|
|
(1)
|
Mr. Schroeder was retirement eligible on December 31, 2019.
|
(2)
|
Amounts in this column represent accelerated vesting of long-term
incentive compensation, which will occur immediately upon the change in control event, pursuant to the terms of the awards.
|
(3)
|
The amounts set forth in this row represent a payout at achievement
of 100% of pre-established performance objectives. Under normal conditions, the actual payout of the TSR performance awards
will occur at the end of the relevant performance period, and may be higher or lower than 100% (up to a maximum of 200%) depending
on the Company’s actual TSR ranking for the performance period. However, in the event of a change in control, the performance
period will be shortened and payout will occur immediately following the change in control based on the greater of (i) TSR
through the end of the month prior to the change in control, or (ii) TSR through the end of the month prior to the change
in control using the value realized by shareholders in the change in control event. For hybrid performance shares, receipt
of the full payout will occur at the original vesting dates set forth in the award agreements only if the relevant operating
income targets are achieved, except in the case of a change in control, in which case full payout will be made immediately
upon the change in control. These values were computed using the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on December
31, 2019 of $17.41.
|
(4)
|
Amounts in this row represent earned compensation voluntarily deferred
by the NEO under the terms of the deferred compensation plan. For more information, see “2019 Nonqualified Deferred
Compensation” above. For termination of employment due to retirement, payment of the deferred compensation is based
upon the NEO’s election at the time of deferral. For all other terminations of employment, payment of the deferred compensation
is in a lump sum six months from the date of termination.
|
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
59
|
JEFFREY W. HUTTON, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING
Executive Benefit
and Payments
Upon Separation
|
|
Voluntary
Termination
|
|
Retirement(1)
|
|
Involuntary
Not For Cause
Termination
|
|
For Cause
Termination
|
|
Change In
Control(2)
|
|
Disability
|
|
Death
|
Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Multiple of Salary (0x or 3x)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
1,335,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Multiple of Bonus (0x or 3x)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
1,732,500
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Long-Term Incentive Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Performance Share Vesting(3)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
1,634,538
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
1,634,538
|
|
|
$
|
1,634,538
|
|
|
$
|
1,634,538
|
|
Benefits & Perquisites
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payout of Deferred Compensation(4)
|
|
$
|
1,239,552
|
|
|
$
|
1,239,552
|
|
|
$
|
1,239,552
|
|
|
$
|
1,239,552
|
|
|
$
|
1,239,552
|
|
|
$
|
1,239,552
|
|
|
$
|
1,239,552
|
|
Health, Life, and Welfare Benefits Continuation
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
54,654
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Excise Tax & Gross-Up
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Outplacement Services
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
53,250
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Earned Vacation
|
|
$
|
23,403
|
|
|
$
|
23,403
|
|
|
$
|
23,403
|
|
|
$
|
23,403
|
|
|
$
|
23,403
|
|
|
$
|
23,403
|
|
|
$
|
23,403
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
1,262,955
|
|
|
$
|
2,897,493
|
|
|
$
|
1,262,955
|
|
|
$
|
1,262,955
|
|
|
$
|
6,072,897
|
|
|
$
|
2,897,493
|
|
|
$
|
2,897,493
|
|
(1)
|
Mr. Hutton was retirement eligible on December 31, 2019.
|
(2)
|
Amounts in this column represent accelerated vesting of long-term
incentive compensation, which will occur immediately upon the change in control event, pursuant to the terms of the awards.
|
(3)
|
The amounts set forth in this row represent a payout at achievement
of 100% of pre-established performance objectives. Under normal conditions, the actual payout of the TSR performance awards
will occur at the end of the relevant performance period, and may be higher or lower than 100% (up to a maximum of 200%) depending
on the Company’s actual TSR ranking for the performance period. However, in the event of a change in control, the performance
period will be shortened and payout will occur immediately following the change in control based on the greater of (i) TSR
through the end of the month prior to the change in control, or (ii) TSR through the end of the month prior to the change
in control using the value realized by shareholders in the change in control event. For hybrid performance shares, receipt
of the full payout will occur at the original vesting dates set forth in the award agreements only if the relevant operating
income targets are achieved, except in the case of a change in control, in which case full payout will be made immediately
upon the change in control. These values were computed using the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on December
31, 2019 of $17.41.
|
(4)
|
Amounts in this row represent earned compensation voluntarily deferred
by the NEO under the terms of the deferred compensation plan. For more information, see “2019 Nonqualified Deferred
Compensation” above. For termination of employment due to retirement, payment of the deferred compensation is based
upon the NEO’s election at the time of deferral. For all other terminations of employment, payment of the deferred compensation
is in a lump sum six months from the date of termination.
|
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
60
|
PHILLIP L. STALNAKER, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS
Executive Benefit
and Payments
Upon Separation
|
|
Voluntary
Termination
|
|
Retirement(1)
|
|
Involuntary
Not For Cause
Termination
|
|
For Cause
Termination
|
|
Change In
Control(2)
|
|
Disability
|
|
Death
|
Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Multiple of Salary (0x or 3x)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
1,335,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Multiple of Bonus (0x or 3x)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
1,732,500
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Long-Term Incentive Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Performance Share Vesting(3)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
1,634,538
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
1,634,538
|
|
|
$
|
1,634,538
|
|
|
$
|
1,634,538
|
|
Benefits & Perquisites
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payout of Deferred Compensation(4)
|
|
$
|
1,366,079
|
|
|
$
|
1,366,079
|
|
|
$
|
1,366,079
|
|
|
$
|
1,366,079
|
|
|
$
|
1,366,079
|
|
|
$
|
1,366,079
|
|
|
$
|
1,366,079
|
|
Health, Life, and Welfare Benefits Continuation
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
69,548
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Excise Tax & Gross-Up
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
1,871,053
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Outplacement Services
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
52,500
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Earned Vacation
|
|
$
|
6,288
|
|
|
$
|
6,288
|
|
|
$
|
6,288
|
|
|
$
|
6,288
|
|
|
$
|
6,288
|
|
|
$
|
6,288
|
|
|
$
|
6,288
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
1,372,367
|
|
|
$
|
3,006,905
|
|
|
$
|
1,372,367
|
|
|
$
|
1,372,367
|
|
|
$
|
8,067,506
|
|
|
$
|
3,006,905
|
|
|
$
|
3,006,905
|
|
(1)
|
Mr. Stalnaker was retirement eligible on December 31, 2019.
|
(2)
|
Amounts in this column represent accelerated vesting of long-term
incentive compensation, which will occur immediately upon the change in control event, pursuant to the terms of the awards.
|
(3)
|
The amounts set forth in this row represent a payout at achievement
of 100% of pre-established performance objectives. Under normal conditions, the actual payout of the TSR performance awards
will occur at the end of the relevant performance period, and may be higher or lower than 100% (up to a maximum of 200%) depending
on the Company’s actual TSR ranking for the performance period. However, in the event of a change in control, the performance
period will be shortened and payout will occur immediately following the change in control based on the greater of (i) TSR
through the end of the month prior to the change in control, or (ii) TSR through the end of the month prior to the change
in control using the value realized by shareholders in the change in control event. For hybrid performance shares, receipt
of the full payout will occur at the original vesting dates set forth in the award agreements only if the relevant operating
income targets are achieved, except in the case of a change in control, in which case full payout will be made immediately
upon the change in control. These values were computed using the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on December
31, 2019 of $17.41.
|
(4)
|
Amounts in this row represent earned compensation voluntarily deferred
by the NEO under the terms of the deferred compensation plan. For more information, see “2019 Nonqualified Deferred
Compensation” above. For termination of employment due to retirement, payment of the deferred compensation is based
upon the NEO’s election at the time of deferral. For all other terminations of employment, payment of the deferred compensation
is in a lump sum six months from the date of termination.
|
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
61
|
STEVEN W. LINDEMAN, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, EHS AND ENGINEERING
Executive Benefit
and Payments
Upon Separation
|
|
Voluntary
Termination
|
|
Retirement(1)
|
|
Involuntary
Not For Cause
Termination
|
|
For Cause
Termination
|
|
Change In
Control(2)
|
|
Disability
|
|
Death
|
Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Multiple of Salary (0x or 3x)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
1,335,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Multiple of Bonus (0x or 3x)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
1,732,500
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Long-Term Incentive Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Performance Share Vesting(3)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
1,634,538
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
1,634,538
|
|
|
$
|
1,634,538
|
|
|
$
|
1,634,538
|
|
Benefits & Perquisites
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payout of Deferred Compensation
|
|
$
|
647,484
|
|
|
$
|
647,484
|
|
|
$
|
647,484
|
|
|
$
|
647,484
|
|
|
$
|
647,484
|
|
|
$
|
647,484
|
|
|
$
|
647,484
|
|
Health, Life, and Welfare Benefits Continuation
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
73,197
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Excise Tax & Gross-Up(4)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Outplacement Services
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
52,500
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Earned Vacation
|
|
$
|
511
|
|
|
$
|
511
|
|
|
$
|
511
|
|
|
$
|
511
|
|
|
$
|
511
|
|
|
$
|
511
|
|
|
$
|
511
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
647,995
|
|
|
$
|
2,282,533
|
|
|
$
|
647,995
|
|
|
$
|
647,995
|
|
|
$
|
5,475,730
|
|
|
$
|
2,282,533
|
|
|
$
|
2,282,533
|
|
(1)
|
Mr. Lindeman was retirement eligible on December 31, 2019.
|
(2)
|
Amounts in this column represent accelerated vesting of long-term incentive compensation,
which will occur immediately upon the change in control event, pursuant to the terms of the awards.
|
(3)
|
The amounts set forth in this row represent a payout at achievement of 100% of pre-established
performance objectives. Under normal conditions, the actual payout of the TSR performance awards will occur at the end of
the relevant performance period, and may be higher or lower than 100% (up to a maximum of 200%) depending on the Company’s
actual TSR ranking for the performance period. However, in the event of a change in control, the performance period will be
shortened and payout will occur immediately following the change in control based on the greater of (i) TSR through the end
of the month prior to the change in control, or (ii) TSR through the end of the month prior to the change in control using
the value realized by shareholders in the change in control event. For hybrid performance shares, receipt of the full payout
will occur at the original vesting dates set forth in the award agreements only if the relevant operating income targets are
achieved, except in the case of a change in control, in which case full payout will be made immediately upon the change in
control. These values were computed using the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on December 31, 2019 of $17.41.
For more information, see “2019 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation” above. For termination of employment due to
retirement, payment of the deferred compensation is based upon the NEO’s election at the time of deferral. For all other
terminations of employment, payment of the deferred compensation is in a lump sum six months from the date of termination.
|
(4)
|
Mr. Lindeman became an officer in 2011, after we eliminated excise tax gross-ups for
new officers, so this benefit does not apply to him.
|
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
62
|
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The Audit Committee is composed of five independent,
nonemployee directors. The Board of Directors has made a determination that the members of the Audit Committee satisfy the requirements
of the NYSE listing standards as to independence, financial literacy and experience. The Board determined that at least one of
the members of the Audit Committee, Ms. Ables, is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by rules of the
SEC. The responsibilities of the Audit Committee are set forth in the Audit Committee Charter, as amended from time to time by
the Board of Directors, which is included on the Company’s website. The function of the Audit Committee is to review and
report to the Board of Directors with respect to various auditing and accounting matters, including overseeing the integrity of
the financial statements of the Company, the compliance by the Company with legal and regulatory requirements, the selection, independence,
qualifications, performance and compensation of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and the performance
of the Company’s internal audit function. The Audit Committee also reviews its charter annually. This is a report on the
Audit Committee’s activities relating to 2019.
Review of Audited Financial Statements with Management
The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the
audited financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results
of operations with the management of the Company.
Review of Financial Statements and Other Matters with Independent
Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Audit Committee discussed with the independent
registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed as described in Statement on Auditing Standards (“SAS”)
No. 16 - Communication with Audit Committees. The Audit Committee has received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter
from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PWC”), the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, required
by applicable Public Company Accounting Oversight Board requirements regarding the firm’s communications with the Audit Committee
concerning independence and has discussed with PWC the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence. These
discussions included a review of all audit and non-audit services (including tax services) provided by PWC to the Company.
Recommendation that Financial Statements be Included in the
Annual Report
Based on the reviews and discussions referred
to above, the Audit 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 year ended December 31, 2019 and filed with the SEC.
Audit Committee
Dorothy M. Ables (Chairman)
Robert S. Boswell
Amanda M. Brock
Peter B. Delaney
Robert Kelley
February 18, 2020
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
63
|
FEES BILLED BY INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR
SERVICES IN 2019 AND 2018
Fee Type*
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2018
|
|
Audit Fees(1)
|
|
$
|
1,755,000
|
|
|
$
|
2,326,000
|
|
Audit Related Fees(2)
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
150,000
|
|
Tax Fees(3)
|
|
$
|
123,516
|
|
|
$
|
116,911
|
|
All
Other Fees(4)
|
|
$
|
3,000
|
|
|
$
|
3,000
|
|
*
|
No pre-approved requirements were waived under the de minimis exception.
|
(1)
|
Consists of fees associated with the audits of our consolidated financial statements and reviews
of our quarterly condensed consolidated financial statements within such years.
|
(2)
|
Consists of fees associated with our adoption of Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases
(Topic 842).
|
(3)
|
Consists of federal and state tax compliance and tax planning advice.
|
(4)
|
Consists of fees associated with an accounting research software license.
|
PROPOSAL 2
|
APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
|
The Audit Committee has approved and recommended
the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm to examine the Company’s
financial statements for 2020. The persons named in the accompanying proxy will vote in accordance with the choice specified thereon,
or, if no choice is properly indicated, in favor of the ratification of the firm PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent
registered public accounting firm for the Company. A representative of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is not expected to be in attendance
at the Annual Meeting.
See “Audit Committee Report” above for further information.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS
THAT YOU VOTE FOR RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FIRM OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS
LLP AS THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE COMPANY FOR ITS 2019 FISCAL YEAR.
PROPOSAL 3
|
TO APPROVE, BY NON-BINDING ADVISORY VOTE, THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS
|
In accordance with Section 14A of the Exchange
Act and the related rules of the SEC, the shareholders of the Company are entitled to cast an annual advisory vote at the Annual
Meeting to approve the compensation of the Company’s NEOs, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement. The shareholder vote on
executive compensation is an advisory vote only, and it is not binding on the Company or the Board of Directors. Although the vote
is non-binding, the Compensation Committee and the Board value the opinions of the shareholders and will consider the outcome of
the vote when making future compensation decisions. It is expected that the next say on pay vote will occur at the 2021 annual
meeting of stockholders.
As described more fully in the Compensation Discussion
and Analysis section of this Proxy Statement, the Company’s executive compensation program is designed to:
•
|
Align executive compensation with our business strategy;
|
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
64
|
•
|
Encourage management to create sustained value for the shareholders while managing inherent business
risks;
|
•
|
Attract, retain, and engage talented executives; and
|
•
|
Support a long-term performance-based culture throughout the Company.
|
The executive compensation program seeks to align
executive compensation with shareholder value on an annual and long-term basis through a combination of base pay, annual cash incentive
bonus and long-term equity award incentives. The annual cash incentive bonus is based on Company-wide performance for year-over-year
oil and natural gas reserve and production growth, on a “per debt-adjusted share” basis, along with absolute levels
for finding costs and unit costs, ROCE and a discretionary strategic component. For 2019, the aggregate bonus award pool for the
annual cash incentive bonus paid to the NEOs was 135% of the target bonus, which included no award for the discretionary strategic
evaluation metric.
In addition, in 2019 long-term incentive awards
were comprised of (i) TSR performance shares, which are based on total shareholder return relative to an industry peer group over
a three-year performance period, and (ii) hybrid performance shares, which are based on annual operating cash flow and vest over
a three-year period.
At-risk compensation for the Chief Executive
Officer in 2019 was targeted at 92% and for the other NEOs was targeted at an average of 85%. The Company also has several governance
programs in place to align executive compensation with shareholder interests. These programs include: an annual advisory vote on
executive compensation, stock ownership guidelines, a clawback policy, an anti-hedging policy, limited perquisites and the use
of wealth accumulation spreadsheets. For information on the Company’s 2019 operational and financial accomplishments, see
“Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above.
The advisory vote regarding the compensation
of the NEOs described in this Proposal 3 will be approved if a majority of the shares present in person or by proxy at the meeting
and entitled to vote on the proposal vote in favor of the proposal. Abstentions will have the same effect as votes against the
proposal, but broker non-votes will not affect the outcome of the voting on the proposal.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS
A VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE COMPENSATION PAID TO OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND RELATED PERSON POLICIES
Under our Code of Business Conduct, directors,
officers and employees are required to avoid situations that present a potential conflict between their personal interests and
the interests of the Company. The Code requires that, at all times, directors, officers and employees make a prompt disclosure
in writing to the Company’s Corporate Secretary of any fact or circumstance that may involve an actual or potential conflict
of interest, as well as any information necessary to determine the existence or likely development of conflicts of interest. This
specifically includes any material transaction or relationship that could reasonably be expected to give rise to a conflict of
interest. This requirement includes situations that create even the appearance of a conflict of interest.
For executive officers of the Company other than
the CEO, the Corporate Secretary reviews the written disclosure described above with the CEO, and a determination is made whether
to approve the transaction resulting in the conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest. The CEO and the Corporate Secretary
may refer the matter to our Board of Directors as circumstances require. If the transaction involves the CEO or a member of the
Board of Directors, the matter is referred to the full Board of Directors for review and approval. In each case the standard applied
in approving the transaction is the best interests of the Company without regard to the interests of the individual officer or
director involved in the transaction. These procedures for reviewing and approving conflict of interest transactions are based
on the Company’s past practice and are not contained in any written policy.
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
65
|
GENERAL INFORMATION
Why did I receive these proxy materials?
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection
with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation (the “Company”) of proxies
for use at its 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be held at the Company’s offices, 840 Gessner Road, Suite 1400, Houston,
Texas 77024 on Thursday, April 30, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. Central Time, or any adjournment or postponement thereof (the “Annual
Meeting”). The purposes of the meeting, and information about the Company’s governance and executive compensation,
are set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Please review these materials carefully before casting
your vote. We are asking that you vote on three proposals.
Who is entitled to vote?
Only holders of record of the Company’s
Common Stock as of the close of business on March 4, 2020, are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. As of that date, the Company
had outstanding and entitled to vote 398,575,510 shares of Common Stock. Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote per share.
There is no provision for cumulative voting.
What am I being asked to vote on, and what are the recommendations
of the Board?
At the Annual Meeting, stockholders will be asked
to consider and act upon the following matters discussed in the attached proxy statement. Proxies delivered by record stockholders
without voting instructions marked will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the Board. Proxies will be voted in
the best judgment of the proxy holders on any other matters that may properly come before the meeting.
Proposal
|
|
|
|
Board
Recommendation
|
PROPOSAL 1
|
|
The election of nine director candidates named herein.
|
|
FOR
|
PROPOSAL 2
|
|
Ratification of the appointment of the firm PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for its 2020 fiscal year.
|
|
FOR
|
PROPOSAL 3
|
|
The approval on an advisory basis of executive compensation.
|
|
FOR
|
How do I vote?
On or about March 13, 2020, we mailed a notice
to our stockholders who have not elected otherwise advising them that our materials for this meeting are available on the internet.
Certain other stockholders who elected to receive paper copies have received these materials by U.S. mail. In either case, you
may vote your shares:
•
|
In person: you may vote in person at the Annual Meeting;
|
•
|
By internet: log onto www.proxyvote.com and use the instructions on the proxy card
or voting instruction form received from your broker or bank;
|
•
|
By telephone: dial 1.800.690.6903 and use the instructions on the proxy card or voting
instruction form received from your broker or bank (if available); or
|
•
|
By mail: by completing and returning the enclosed proxy card or voting instruction
form in the postage-paid envelope provided (for those receiving paper copies only).
|
|
|
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
66
|
What is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder
of record and as a beneficial owner?
If your shares are registered directly in your
name with Cabot’s registrar and transfer agent, Equiniti Trust Company, you are a stockholder of record with respect to these
shares. If, as is more typical, your shares are held in a brokerage account or by your bank, broker or other third party, you are
the beneficial owner of these shares. Because a beneficial owner is not the stockholder of record, you may not vote these shares
in person at the meeting unless you obtain a proxy from the broker, trustee or nominee that holds your shares, giving you the right
to vote the shares at the meeting. Your broker, trustee or nominee has enclosed or provided voting instructions for you to use
in directing the broker, trustee or nominee how to vote your shares.
What if I hold my shares through a broker and do not give voting
instructions to my broker?
Brokers holding shares must vote according to
specific instructions they receive from the beneficial owners of those shares. If brokers do not receive specific instructions,
brokers may in some cases vote the shares in their discretion. However, the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) precludes
brokers from exercising voting discretion on certain proposals without specific instructions from the beneficial owner. Under NYSE
rules, at our Annual Meeting brokers will have discretion to vote only on Proposal 2 (ratification of appointment of auditor).
Brokers cannot vote on any of the other proposals to be presented at our Annual Meeting without instructions from the beneficial
owners. If you do not instruct your broker how to vote on each of the other proposals, your broker will not vote for you. Your
shares will be considered “broker non-votes.”
What constitutes a quorum of shareholders?
We must have a quorum to conduct the meeting.
A quorum is the presence at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes
entitled to be cast as of the record date. Because there were 398,575,510 shares of Common Stock outstanding on March 4, 2020,
the record date, the quorum for the Annual Meeting requires the presence at the meeting in person or by proxy of stockholders entitled
to vote at least 199,287,756 shares. Broker non-votes, abstentions and withhold-authority votes COUNT for purposes of determining
a quorum.
What are my voting options and what is the voting requirement for
each of the proposals?
For each matter to be presented at the Annual
Meeting, you may choose to vote “for,” “against” or “abstain,” except as stated below.
Proposal No. 1 – Election of Directors:
You will be allowed to vote “for all,” “withhold all” or “for all except” and in the
latter case, an opportunity to withhold on each director nominee. Any nominee who receives a greater number of votes cast “for”
his or her election than votes “withheld” from his or her election will be elected to the Board. Shares not represented
in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting, abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the election of directors.
Proposal No. 2 – Ratification of
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm: The affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares properly represented
at the meeting, either in person or by proxy, on Proposal No. 2 is required to ratify the appointment of the firm PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm. Therefore, abstentions will have the same effect as a vote “against.”
Brokers generally have discretionary authority to vote on the ratification of our independent registered public accounting firm.
Therefore, we do not expect any broker non-votes on this proposal.
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- 2020 Proxy Statement
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67
|
Proposal No. 3 – An Advisory Vote
to Approve Our Executive Compensation: Because Proposal No. 3 is an advisory vote, there is no minimum vote that constitutes
approval of this proposal. We will consider this proposal approved if a majority of the votes properly cast are “for”
this proposal. Therefore, abstentions will have the same effect as a vote “against” this proposal. Broker non-votes
will have no effect on the outcome of this proposal.
How will my shares be voted on other matters raised at the meeting?
We do not know of any matters to be presented
at the Annual Meeting other than those listed above. However, if any other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting, the
persons named on your proxy card or voting instruction form from your broker will vote in accordance with their best judgment.
The persons named on the Company’s form of proxy are members of Cabot’s management.
What can I do if I change my mind after I vote my shares?
Stockholders attending the Annual Meeting may
vote their shares in person even though they have already executed a proxy. Properly executed proxies not revoked will be voted
in accordance with the specifications thereon at the Annual Meeting and at any adjournment or postponement thereof. You may revoke
your proxy at any time prior to the Annual Meeting by a written communication to the Corporate Secretary of the Company, or by
a duly executed proxy bearing a later date.
When will Cabot announce the voting results?
We will announce the preliminary voting results
at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. We will report the final results in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC within
a few days of the meeting.
How are proxies solicited, and what is the cost?
The cost of soliciting proxies in the enclosed
form will be borne by the Company. In addition to solicitation by mail, officers, employees or agents of the Company may solicit
proxies personally. The Company may request banks and brokers or other similar agents or fiduciaries to transmit the proxy material
to the beneficial owners for their voting instructions and will reimburse them for their expenses in so doing.
What is householding?
As permitted by the SEC rules, only one copy
of this Proxy Statement is being delivered to stockholders residing at the same address, unless the stockholders have notified
the Company of their desires to receive multiple copies of the Proxy Statement. This is known as “householding.” This
procedure reduces the environmental impact of our annual meetings and reduces the Company’s printing and mailing costs. Upon
oral or written request, we will promptly deliver a separate copy of the Proxy Statement to any stockholder residing at an address
to which only one copy was mailed. You may direct requests for additional copies for the current year or future years to our Corporate
Secretary or our Investor Relations team at the following physical address, phone number or email address:
Corporate Secretary
or Investor Relations
840 Gessner Road, Suite 1400
Houston, Texas 77024
Phone: (281) 589-4600
Fax: (281) 589-4808
Email (Corporate
Secretary): Deidre.Shearer@ cabotog.com
Email (Investor Relations): Cabot-IR@cabotog.com
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- 2020 Proxy Statement
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|
You may direct requests for additional copies for the current year
or future years to our Corporate Secretary or our Investor Relations team. Stockholders of record residing at the same address
and currently receiving multiple copies of the Proxy Statement may contact our registrar and transfer agent, Equiniti Trust Company,
at EQ Shareowner Services, P.O.Box 64874, St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0874, or 1-800-401-1957, to request a single copy be mailed
in the future. Beneficial owners should contact their broker or bank.
How can I communicate with Cabot’s Board of Directors or
individual directors?
You can address communications to the “Board of Directors,”
a specified committee of the Board, an individual director (including the Lead Director) or the “Non-management Directors”
in care of:
Corporate Secretary
Corporate Legal Department
840 Gessner Road, Suite 1400
Houston, Texas 77024
OR
Phone: (281) 589-4600
Fax: (281) 589-4808
OR
Email: Deidre.Shearer@cabotog.com
All communications received as described above will be relayed to
the appropriate directors.
How do I submit a stockholder proposal for action at the 2021 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders?
You may send any stockholder proposal intended
for inclusion in the proxy statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company and otherwise eligible, to: Corporate
Secretary, Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation, 840 Gessner Road, Suite 1400, Houston, Texas 77024. A notice of stockholder proposal
to be presented at the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received by November 13, 2020.
How do I nominate a director or present other items for action
at the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders?
The bylaws of the Company require timely advance
written notice of stockholder nominations of director candidates (other than proxy access nominations, which are discussed below)
and of any other business to be presented by a stockholder at an annual meeting of stockholders. To be timely, the bylaws require
advance written notice be delivered to the Company’s Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not later
than the close of business on the 90th day, nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day, prior
to the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (with certain exceptions if the date of the annual meeting is different
by more than specified amounts from the anniversary date). The deadline for submission for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
is currently January 29, 2021. To be valid, a notice must set forth certain information specified in the bylaws. You also must
attend the meeting and present the nomination or other item of business.
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- 2020 Proxy Statement
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|
How do I nominate a director for inclusion in the Company’s
proxy statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders?
The bylaws of the Company currently permit any
stockholder or group of not more than 20 stockholders that have continuously held at least 3% of our outstanding Common Stock for
at least three years to nominate candidates for up to 20% of the available Board seats and have such candidates included in the
proxy statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company. To be timely, the bylaws require advance written notice
to be delivered to the Company’s Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not later than the close of
business on the 120th day, nor earlier than the close of business on the 150th day, prior to the anniversary
of the date on which the Company first mailed proxy materials for the preceding year’s annual meeting. The deadline for submission
for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is currently November 13, 2020. To be valid, a notice must set forth certain information
specified in the bylaws and the stockholder or group of stockholders providing such a notice must comply with the eligibility and
other requirements specified in the bylaws.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Deidre L. Shearer
Vice President, Administration
and Corporate Secretary
March 17, 2020
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- 2020 Proxy Statement
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|
APPENDIX A
|
EXPLANATION AND RECONCILIATION
OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
|
Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted Net Income
Adjusted Net Income is presented based on our belief that this
non-GAAP measure enables a user of the financial information to understand the impact of these items on reported results. Additionally,
this presentation provides a beneficial comparison to the similarly adjusted measurement of prior periods. Adjusted Net Income
is defined as net income plus gain and loss on sale of assets, gain and loss on derivative instruments, gain on sale of equity
method investment, stock-based compensation expense, severance expense, interest expense related to income tax reserves and tax
effect on selected items. Adjusted Net Income is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered
as an alternative to net income, as defined by GAAP.
|
|
Year Ended
December 31,
|
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
|
|
2019
|
|
2018
|
As reported - net income
|
|
$
|
681,070
|
|
|
$
|
557,043
|
|
Reversal of selected items:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Gain) loss on sale of assets
|
|
|
1,462
|
|
|
|
16,327
|
|
(Gain) loss on derivative instruments(1)
|
|
|
57,642
|
|
|
|
(86,063
|
)
|
Gain on sale of equity method investment(2)
|
|
|
(66,412
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
Stock-based compensation expense
|
|
|
30,780
|
|
|
|
33,147
|
|
Severance expense
|
|
|
2,521
|
|
|
|
28
|
|
Interest expense related to income tax reserves
|
|
|
(3,052
|
)
|
|
|
3,116
|
|
Tax effect on selected items
|
|
|
(5,233
|
)
|
|
|
7,637
|
|
Adjusted net income
|
|
$
|
698,778
|
|
|
$
|
531,235
|
|
(1)
|
This amount represents the non-cash mark-to-market changes of our commodity derivative instruments
recorded in Gain (loss) on derivative instruments in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations included in the Company’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the “Form 10-K”).
|
(2)
|
This amount represents the gain on the sale of our investment in Meade Pipeline Co LLC recorded in Earnings on equity
method investments in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations in the Form 10-K.
|
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
71
|
Return on Capital Employed
Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) is
defined as Adjusted Net Income (defined above) plus after-tax net interest expense divided by average capital employed, which
is defined as total debt plus stockholders’ equity. ROCE is presented based on our belief that this non-GAAP measure is
useful information to investors when evaluating our profitability and the efficiency with which we have employed capital over
time. ROCE is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered an alternative to net
income.
|
|
Year Ended
December 31,
|
(In thousands)
|
|
2019
|
|
2018
|
Interest expense, net
|
|
$
|
54,952
|
|
|
$
|
73,201
|
|
Interest expense related to income tax reserves(1)
|
|
|
3,052
|
|
|
|
(3,116
|
)
|
Tax benefit
|
|
|
(13,241
|
)
|
|
|
(16,004
|
)
|
After-tax interest expense, net (A)
|
|
|
44,763
|
|
|
|
54,081
|
|
As reported - net income
|
|
|
681,070
|
|
|
|
557,043
|
|
Adjustments to as reported - net income, net of tax
|
|
|
17,708
|
|
|
|
(25,808
|
)
|
Adjusted net income (B)
|
|
|
698,778
|
|
|
|
531,235
|
|
Adjusted net income before interest expense, net (A + B)
|
|
$
|
743,541
|
|
|
$
|
585,316
|
|
Total debt - beginning
|
|
$
|
1,226,104
|
|
|
$
|
1,521,891
|
|
Stockholders’ equity - beginning
|
|
|
2,088,159
|
|
|
|
2,523,905
|
|
Capital employed - beginning
|
|
|
3,314,263
|
|
|
|
4,045,796
|
|
Total debt - ending
|
|
|
1,220,025
|
|
|
|
1,226,104
|
|
Stockholders’ equity - ending
|
|
|
2,151,487
|
|
|
|
2,088,159
|
|
Capital employed - ending
|
|
|
3,371,512
|
|
|
|
3,314,263
|
|
Average capital employed (C)
|
|
$
|
3,342,888
|
|
|
$
|
3,680,030
|
|
Return on average capital employed (ROCE) (A+B) / C
|
|
|
22.2
|
%
|
|
|
15.9
|
%
|
(1)
|
Interest expense related to income tax reserves is included in the adjustments to as reported -
net income, net of tax.
|
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
72
|
Discretionary Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Calculation and
Reconciliation
Discretionary Cash Flow is defined as net cash provided by operating
activities excluding changes in assets and liabilities. Discretionary Cash Flow is widely accepted as a financial indicator of
an oil and gas company’s ability to generate cash which is used to internally fund exploration and development activities,
pay dividends and service debt. Discretionary Cash Flow is presented based on our belief that this non-GAAP measure is useful information
to investors when comparing our cash flows with the cash flows of other companies that use the full cost method of accounting for
oil and gas producing activities or have different financing and capital structures or tax rates. Discretionary Cash Flow is not
a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities,
as defined by GAAP, or as a measure of liquidity, or an alternative to net income.
Free Cash Flow is defined as Discretionary Cash Flow (defined
above) less capital expenditures and investment in equity method investments. Free Cash Flow is an indicator of a company’s
ability to generate cash flow after spending the money required to maintain or expand its asset base. Free Cash Flow is presented
based on our belief that this non-GAAP measure is useful information to investors when comparing our cash flows with the cash flows
of other companies. Free Cash Flow is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative
to cash flows from operating activities, as defined by GAAP, or as a measure of liquidity, or an alternative to net income.
|
|
Year Ended
December 31,
|
(In thousands)
|
|
2019
|
|
2018
|
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
|
$
|
1,445,791
|
|
|
$
|
1,104,903
|
|
Changes in assets and liabilities
|
|
|
(85,026
|
)
|
|
|
163,460
|
|
Discretionary cash flow
|
|
|
1,360,765
|
|
|
|
1,268,363
|
|
Capital expenditures
|
|
|
(788,368
|
)
|
|
|
(894,470
|
)
|
Investment in equity method investments
|
|
|
(9,338
|
)
|
|
|
(77,263
|
)
|
Free cash flow
|
|
$
|
563,059
|
|
|
$
|
296,630
|
|
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
73
|
EBITDAX Calculation and Reconciliation
EBITDAX is defined as net income plus interest expense, other
expense, income tax expense, depreciation, depletion and amortization (including impairments), exploration expense, gain and loss
on sale of assets, non-cash gain and loss on derivative instruments, earnings and loss on equity method investments, cash distributions
received from equity method investments, and stock-based compensation expense. EBITDAX is presented based on our belief that this
non-GAAP measure is useful information to investors when evaluating our ability to internally fund exploration and development
activities and to service or incur debt without regard to financial or capital structure. EBITDAX is not a measure of financial
performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities or net income, as
defined by GAAP, or as a measure of liquidity.
|
|
Year Ended
December 31,
|
(In thousands)
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2018
|
|
Net income
|
|
$
|
681,070
|
|
|
$
|
557,043
|
|
Plus (less):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense, net
|
|
|
54,952
|
|
|
|
73,201
|
|
Other expense
|
|
|
574
|
|
|
|
463
|
|
Income tax expense
|
|
|
219,154
|
|
|
|
141,094
|
|
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
|
|
|
405,733
|
|
|
|
417,479
|
|
Exploration
|
|
|
20,270
|
|
|
|
113,820
|
|
(Gain) loss on sale of assets
|
|
|
1,462
|
|
|
|
16,327
|
|
Non-cash (gain) loss on derivative instruments
|
|
|
57,642
|
|
|
|
(86,063
|
)
|
Earnings on equity method investments
|
|
|
(80,496
|
)
|
|
|
(1,137
|
)
|
Equity method investment distributions
|
|
|
17,453
|
|
|
|
1,296
|
|
Stock-based compensation
|
|
|
30,780
|
|
|
|
33,147
|
|
EBITDAX
|
|
$
|
1,408,594
|
|
|
$
|
1,266,670
|
|
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
74
|
Net Debt Reconciliation
The total debt to total capitalization ratio is calculated by
dividing total debt by the sum of total debt and total stockholders’ equity. This ratio is a measurement which is presented
in our annual and interim filings and we believe this ratio is useful to investors in determining our leverage. Net Debt is calculated
by subtracting cash and cash equivalents from total debt. Net Debt and the Net Debt to Adjusted Capitalization ratio are non-GAAP
measures which we believe are also useful to investors since we have the ability to and may decide to use a portion of our cash
and cash equivalents to retire debt. Additionally, as we may incur additional expenditures without increasing debt, it is appropriate
to apply cash and cash equivalents to debt in calculating the Net Debt to Adjusted Capitalization ratio.
|
|
Year Ended
December 31,
|
(In thousands)
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2018
|
|
Current portion of long-term debt
|
|
$
|
87,000
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Long-term debt, net
|
|
|
1,133,025
|
|
|
|
1,226,104
|
|
Total debt
|
|
$
|
1,220,025
|
|
|
$
|
1,226,104
|
|
Stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
2,151,487
|
|
|
|
2,088,159
|
|
Total capitalization
|
|
$
|
3,371,512
|
|
|
$
|
3,314,263
|
|
Total debt
|
|
$
|
1,220,025
|
|
|
$
|
1,226,104
|
|
Less: Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
(200,227
|
)
|
|
|
(2,287
|
)
|
Net debt
|
|
$
|
1,019,798
|
|
|
$
|
1,223,817
|
|
Net debt
|
|
$
|
1,019,798
|
|
|
$
|
1,223,817
|
|
Stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
2,151,487
|
|
|
|
2,088,159
|
|
Total adjusted capitalization
|
|
$
|
3,171,285
|
|
|
$
|
3,311,976
|
|
Total debt to total capitalization ratio
|
|
|
36.2
|
%
|
|
|
37.0
|
%
|
Less: Impact of cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
4.0
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
%
|
Net debt to adjusted capitalization ratio
|
|
|
32.2
|
%
|
|
|
37.0
|
%
|
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
75
|
Finding and Development Costs
Drill-bit finding and development cost is defined as costs incurred
in exploration and development activities as defined by GAAP divided by reserve extensions, discoveries and other additions. All-sources
finding and development cost is defined as costs incurred in property acquisition, exploration and development activities as defined
by GAAP divided by the total of reserve extensions, discoveries and other additions and revision of prior estimates. Drill-bit
finding and development cost and all-sources finding and development cost are presented based on management’s belief that
these non-GAAP measures are useful information to investors to evaluate how much it costs to add proved reserves. These calculations
do not include the future development costs required for the development of proved undeveloped reserves and may not be comparable
to similarly titled measurements used by other companies.
|
|
Year Ended
December 31,
|
|
|
2019
|
|
2018
|
Costs incurred in oil and gas property acquisition, exploration and development activities (In thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exploration costs
|
|
$
|
20,270
|
|
|
$
|
94,309
|
|
Development costs
|
|
|
761,326
|
|
|
|
778,574
|
|
Exploration and development costs (A)
|
|
|
781,596
|
|
|
|
872,883
|
|
Property acquisition costs, unproved
|
|
|
6,072
|
|
|
|
29,851
|
|
Total costs incurred (B)
|
|
|
787,668
|
|
|
|
902,734
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Extensions, discoveries and other additions (Bcfe) (C)
|
|
|
2,116
|
|
|
|
2,244
|
|
Revision of prior estimates (Bcfe) (D)
|
|
|
47
|
|
|
|
780
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Drill-bit finding and development costs ($ per Mcfe) (A)/(C)
|
|
$
|
0.37
|
|
|
$
|
0.39
|
|
All-sources finding and development costs ($ per Mcfe) (B)/(C + D)
|
|
$
|
0.36
|
|
|
$
|
0.30
|
|
|
- 2020 Proxy Statement
|
76
|
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